Iron Goddess by Dharma Kelleher

 

Title: Iron Goddess
Author: Dharma Kelleher
Paperback: 269 pages
Publisher: Alibi(June 28th 2016)
Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Gay and Lesbian
Read: eBook
Stars: ★★★☆☆
Buy On: Amazon US

Summary:

(Goodreads)

Shea Stevens is biker royalty. Her father was the president of the Confederate Thunder Motorcycle Club. Under his watchful eye, she learned how to pick locks, disable alarms, and hot-wire cars like a pro. But all that is ancient history. Or so she thought . . .

After a stint in prison, Shea has worked hard to make a quiet, happy life for herself in Arizona. She spends her time bonding with her big-city girlfriend and running her bike shop, Iron Goddess Custom Cycles, with her dedicated team of misfits. But when one of her employees is shot and three of her specially commissioned bikes are stolen, Shea’s new life collides with the criminal underworld she tried to leave behind.

Shea knows better than to trust the police. So, with her Glock on her hip, she takes the investigation into her own hands. Shea’s search for the bike thieves leads her straight to her father’s old gang—and her estranged sister, whose young daughter has been kidnapped by a rival club. The last thing Shea wants is to be caught in the middle of a war—but if she learned one thing from her old man, it’s that when someone comes at you, you push back. Hard. And that’s exactly what she’s going to do.

My Review:

Note: I received this book from Alibi (a Random House Imprint) via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cover: Grunge and rugged.

Paper and font: Easy on the eyes.

Readability, language: Easy on the mind.

Being a biker myself, the story of another female biker instantly appealed to me and I picked up Iron Goddess. I thought it would be a good insight into the biker culture of America.

Shea is an ex-motorcycle club member who now custom builds bikes for women and is happy in her new life. Until suddenly the old world comes calling when her shop get burglarised, her estranged sister turns up and her niece gets kidnapped. Will Shea be able to get her bikes back? Can she rescue her niece? And keep her sanity and distance from the old life of violence? That’s the story.

Apart from being the name of Shea’s bike shop, Iron Goddess the title is also a metaphor for the strength she must find in herself. I quite liked the cover with its rugged colour tones and graphic. The blurb is a good test of what to expect in the book.

I found the plot new and different, I haven’t read a story like Iron Goddess before. Dharma Kelleher surprised me constantly, I kept guessing what would come next but she always had an ace up her sleeve. I like books that keep me on my toes.

I’ve never been to America or Arizona where this story plays out but the descriptions of the mountains, valleys, city roads, traffic, sudden rains and more, made it all very real for me.

Shea’s strength and will to fight was something I admired but her stubbornness to not stay out of trouble got to me a few times. And then there was her sister and the chauvinistic men who really got my goat. Iron Goddess has a varied cast of characters and I enjoyed the diversity in the book. The characters of Iron Goddess feel real, their emotions and reactions easy to associate with.

Dharma Kelleher uses simple language that makes for fast reading and the story is fast paced too. The climax is good but unexpected and took me a while to accept.

Overall, Iron Goddess was an enjoyable read and I recommend it if you are looking for a fun, action-packed diverse book. I learned a thing or two about American Bike Culture too!

Buy On: Amazon US

About the Author:

 
A biker chick, Dharma Kelleher writes gritty tales about renegades, outlaws, and misfits. She has a degree in journalism and over the years, has worked as a news director, a construction worker, a goldsmith, a caregiver, and a web developer. Some of her favourite authors are Lawrence Block, Elmore Leonard and Jim Butcher.

 
Author Links:
Website │ Goodreads │ Twitter
 
 

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

 

Title: First Comes Love
Author: Emily Giffin
Paperback: 380 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books(June 28th 2016)
Genre: Womens Fiction, Chick Lit
Read: eBook
Stars: ★★★☆☆
Buy On: Amazon India | Amazon US

Summary:

(Goodreads)

Growing up, Josie and Meredith Garland shared a loving, if sometimes contentious relationship. Josie was impulsive, spirited, and outgoing; Meredith hardworking, thoughtful, and reserved. When tragedy strikes their family, their different responses to the event splinter their delicate bond.

Fifteen years later, Josie and Meredith are in their late thirties, following very different paths. Josie, a first grade teacher, is single—and this close to swearing off dating for good. Determined to have the future she’s always wanted, Josie decides to take matters into her own hands.

On the outside, Meredith is the model daughter with the perfect life. Yet lately, Meredith feels dissatisfied and restless, secretly wondering if she chose the life that was expected of her rather than the one she truly desired.

As the anniversary of their tragedy looms and painful secrets from the past begin to surface, Josie and Meredith must not only confront the issues that divide them, but also come to terms with their own choices. In their journey toward understanding and forgiveness, both sisters discover they need each other more than they knew . . . and that in the recipe for true happiness, love always comes first.

My Review:

Note: Thanks to Penguin First to Read Program for offering me the book to read and review 🙂

Cover: Simple and clean.

Paper and font: Easy on the eyes.

Readability, language: Easy on the mind.

Blood is thicker than water isn’t just a proverb I learned in school but also, a life lesson. Life taught me that family comes first, they don’t judge but love you for who you are, they stick with you when others shirk you off. And that siblings share a bond, a very special bond.

So, when I first heard of Emily Giffin’s book on the All the Books podcast it caught my attention and I picked it up when Penguin offered it though their First to Read program.

First Comes Love is the story of two sisters and their bond. 15 years ago, when they were in their twenties they lost their elder brother Daniel in an accident. The loss of a sibling changes their life as they struggle to cope with their grief and loss. Over 15 years it’s impacted their relationship too. Will they be able to save it?

I loved the cover, it’s simple and clean. The title’s appropriate and the blurb sets the stage quite well.

I’ve read stories of siblings reuniting before so the plot isn’t all new but it still was different. All the layers and twists involved in Daniel’s accident created a world that was easy for me to associate with. All that was happening felt real.

The sisters, Josie and Meredith feel real and believable; I found myself liking them and disliking them based on the situation. Pain of the loss of a loved one is easier to deal-with with family, but loss can also easily make a wedge between them. I’ve experienced this, so I found myself sympathising with Josie and Meredith as they dealth with their individual loss, and found strength in each other again.

The language of the book is simple and easy but the pace was a little slow for me and that spoilt the climax for me. That said, I enjoyed reading Love Comes First right to the end.

A good read if you are into family drama. A story anyone with siblings can associate with. Go ahead read it, it does stand up to the hype.

Buy On: Amazon India | Amazon US

About the Author:

 
Emily Giffin is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law. After practicing litigation at a Manhattan firm for several years, she moved to London to write full time. She now lives in Atlanta with her husband and three children. First comes Love is her eighth novel.
 
Author Links:
Website │ Goodreads │ Twitter
 
 

Destiny of Shattered Dreams by Nilesh Rathod

 

Title: Destiny of Shattered Dreams
Author: Nilesh Rathod
Paperback: 254 pages
Publisher: Rupa Publications(May 20th 2016)
Genre: Contemporary
Read: Paperback
Stars: ★★★★☆
Buy On: Amazon India | Amazon US

Summary:

(Goodreads)

An insider’s view into what goes on behind the glittering facade of corporate stardom, DESTINY of SHATTERED DREAMS is a fast-paced
tale of a brilliant young man’s meteoric rise. It is also a moving portrayal of the fallibility of love.

Ambition, passion
and raw courage are Atul Malhotra’s key aides to realizing his dreams as he learns the art of gambling for high stakes. What follows is a game of treachery, infidelity and murder.

The book lays bare the sordid corporate-politico nexus that compels this once middle-class boy to deftly learn the ropes and negotiate a world where dirty deals and power plays can make or break lives, where one wrong choice could be fatal.

A tale of yachts and hidden Swiss accounts, sordid affairs of lust, intrigue and exhilarating highs, Nilesh Rathod’s Destiny of Shattered Dreams is also the story of innocence forever lost.

My Review:

Note: Thanks to Nilesh Rathod for offering me his book to read and review 🙂

Cover: Eye-catchy

Paper and font: Font could have been bigger

Readability, language: Easy

I had mixed feelings when I first picked up Destiny of Shattered Dreams, the story of a man’s rise and fall in the corporate world. Corporate drama isn’t really my thing or maybe all books I’ve read until now of that type haven’t worked for me.

Either ways I’m tentative about those types of books but Nilesh Rathod’s book did sound interesting so, I took the shot. Glad I did too, I breezed though it and enjoyed reading it.

Atul Malhotra is a boy who comes from simple beginnings and with shear hard work has climbed the ladder. Now he has his own company and powerful political people have invested in it. But with big money comes big trouble.

The cover is a colour spread of red and blue representing dreams with a jagged crack running through it. Between the cover and title, clear expectations are set of shattered dreams. The blurb also sets the same expectation.

The story is mostly set in Mumbai but other cities like Delhi and Geneva also feature as work and holiday destinations. Mumbai is present in the story in the background but it doesn’t play a predominant role.

The characters are very real flawed people who I found myself encouraging at times and getting so irritated with at others. The shallowness of us human beings is so apparent though the story and characters of Nilesh Rathod. At times I also felt the characters were very stereotypical in their reactions, I’d expected a more liberal modern outlook in a contemporary book.

Right at the start within 20 pages I knew Atul was going to go to jail but as he told his story Nilesh Rathod captured my curiosity and held it right to the end. The pace of the book is good but I felt the climax was very clichéd and it dampened the end for me.

The book was an easy read in language and structure and I breezed through it. But I felt that there was too much poetry (it’s translation) and philosophy through out and that also took away from my enjoyment of the book. That said, if you like contemporary corporate or business drama, this book will fit the bill really well. A good fast read!

Buy On: Amazon India | Amazon US

About the Author:

Nilesh Rathod is a businessperson, writer and poet.Destiny of Shattered Dreams is his debut novel and he is currently working on his second novel. He lives in Mumbai.
 
 
Author Links:
Website │ Goodreads │ Twitter │ Facebook
 

Twin Reflections by Elizabeth Joseph (The Maze of Mirrors #1)

 

Title: Twin Reflections
Author: Elizabeth Joseph
Paperback: 170 pages
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.(January 2016)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Read: eBook
Stars: ★★★★☆
Buy On: Amazon India | Amazon US

Summary:

(Goodreads)

The maze of mirrors has been accumulating energy for ages. When Vera and Mark unwittingly find themselves trapped in the maze, its passages prove to be the least of their problems. Its magic can be a great tool or weapon, as Queen Missena is learning, and they are at its mercy. As they travel through, the illusions created by the maze takes them to places unexpected and dangers unforeseen.

But Vera has magic of her own. Will her magic help her and Mark escape the maze? Or will they be trapped inside forever?

My Review:

Note: Thanks to Elizabeth R. Joseph for offering me her book to read and review 🙂

Cover: Simple and childlike.

Paper and font: Easy to read font.

Readability, language: Easy on the mind.

I picked up Twin Reflections on a whim, without much research, so it was only at the end after I’d enjoyed the book, that I got to know the author was a teenager, she’s just 14, I was stunned!

This is a story of another world, with magic, and some people of this world have powers and auras. There’s something brewing in the kingdom, like a rebellion. There is also a Maze of Mirrors that is like AI, created but now out of control.

The Queen of the Kingdom can maybe control it but she’s new and doesn’t know the ropes yet. And there are these twins, a brother and sister pair who stumble into the labyrinth and now have to fight with all they’ve got to get out of it.

I was lost in all the detail and all that was happening at the beginning of the book but as I progressed it started to fall in place. There’s a lot happening in the story as Elizabeth Joseph creates this new world and sets the stage for a promising series.

The characters of the twins, Vera and Mark are well described and I felt like I knew them. All the other characters too evoked emotion as I found myself rooting for them, especially Queen Missena when she has this epic fight in the labyrinth.

That was one of my favourite scenes. Towards the end of the book there is this cat fight between two magicians that I enjoyed ( 😛 the secrets out, I like cat fights). Another scene that I vividly remember is when the pins drops and Vera sees through the labyrinth, understanding it’s workings, a very Matrix like moment.

The cover is simple drawing of a girl looking into a mirror, like those seen on children’s books and that mislead me into thinking this would be a simple book. But it isn’t, this is a complex story with many layers and subplots. I’m amazed that a 14 year old mind could envision all that and put it on words too, at 14 I was only reading books. 😀

This book is for ages 14 and above and I highly recommend it. There are some bits where I felt it got very muddled and unclear but it doesn’t take away from the story and I hope Elizabeth Joseph’s writing gets better through the series, like Christopher Paolini’s in the Eragon series. The story holds so much promise for an entertaining series.

Buy On: Amazon India | Amazon US

About the Author:

 
Elizabeth Joseph is a 14 year old 9th grade student in Kansas City. She has written several short stories, poems and plays during her elementary and middle school years. She started writing Twin Reflections in the 5th grade and completed it 3 years later in 2015.

Author Links:
Website │ Goodreads │ Twitter
 

Six Degrees by Various Authors, (Edited by BlogAdda)

 

Title: Six Degrees
Author: Various Authors
Paperback: 422 pages
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing and BlogAdda.Com (2015)
Genre: Young Adult/Adult
Read: Paperback
Stars: ★★★★☆
Buy On: Amazon India | Amazon US

Summary:

(Goodreads)

As part of their #CelebrateBlogging initiative, BlogAdda.com, ran the first edition of Game of Blogs in September 2014. Five characters and their descriptions were provided. The objective was to write a fictional story revolving around these characters. Bloggers came together as teams and after three rounds filled with its own set of twists and turns, three stories made it to the end.

The three stories in this book are a fascinating example of how one set of characters can have interesting lives with completely different dimensions. Six Degrees is a result of how collaboration can truly breed creativity in the modern day world of connected living.

My Review:

Note: Thanks to BlogAdda for offering me this book to read and review 🙂

Cover: Simple and pleasing.

Paper and font: Easy to read font, thin paper 🙁

Readability, language: Easy on the mind.

Why did I choose this book: This is a rather unique book, a collaborative effort of many bloggers, each story written by 10 people together.

Many months ago BlogAdda ran an activity called Game of Blogs. Teams of Bloggers were created and all teams was given the same set of characters and rules to create a story. These are the best three stories selected by a panel of judges.

The title isn’t clear at first glance and after reading my guess is that it relates to Six degrees of separation between the characters, stories and the storytellers. The cover is covered with a crowd of various types of smiley faces. A predominantly black and white cover with the title in blue. The colours make for a cover that is simple and pleasing to the eye. The blurb is to the point and explains the creation and objective behind the book.

All three plots were new to me and, so different from each other, they took me by surprise. One a sci-fi, second a murder mystery and the third a thriller-romance with LGBT characters! ❤️

Set in present day, all three stories have Mumbai and Delhi as the setting with Mumbai being the main stage. The cities are used well to support and push the stories forward.

The character set is mostly the same for all three stories, there’s Shekhar Dutta, Tara Dutta, Roohi Dutta, Jennifer Joseph, Cyrus Daruwalla and Arya Ahuja. Across stories these characters have some things about them that are the same, like Shekhar, Tara and Roohi are a family, Roohi is a little girl, Jennifer is a photographer, Cyrus a Law student,… But in each story the characters are also different and it’s was fascinating to see the same characters being different in each story. There were also supporting characters, but they were not common to all.

When I started out I wondered about the writing and my enjoyment of it but my fears in this case were baseless. Even though the writing style keeps changing through the book, between stories and in each story (expected with a large team of writers), the glue holds and it held my attention through out.

Each of the stories is written well but my favourite was the first because the plot was unexpected, the writing crisp and there were no sappy scenes. The last one was slow and melodramatic but I did like it too. It’s the in-between story that didn’t fit my bill, with lots of psycho poetry. But I did really like the Inspector Java character and the climax. I didn’t see that one coming.

With shortish stories, there aren’t many subplots and none that are unneeded. Each story builds well to the climax but once or twice I felt the drag and caught myself checking how many pages were left. There was also the goof up with Inspector Java, who’s brother-in-law is discussed at the beginning of the story but towards the end he’s declared single and a romance is broached.

All said and done, this book is a keeper for multiple reasons. As a blogger, it’s a matter of pride at the work of other bloggers. Then there’s the collaboration of over 30 people in the writing of this book. And lastly the fact that the stories themselves are a good read.

I recommend Six Degrees if you are looking for a hatke light & easy read, it’s refreshingly different [sorry for the cliché 😀 ]. Suitable for all ages except maybe young kids.

Buy On: Amazon India | Amazon US

The Authors:

 
BlogAdda (Editor), Anmol Rawat, Preethi Venugopala, Soumyaa Verma, Tina Basu, Ashutosh Bhandari, Paresh Godhwani, Prerna Maynil , Ramanathan P, Shoumik De, Srilakshmi I, Sneha Bhattacharjee, Hemant, Shamim Rizwana, Nirav Thakker, Tushar Mangl, Ritu Pandey, Sharon D Souza, Oindrila De, Anupriya Mishra, Vaisakhi Mishra, Tinu Menachary, Gauri Kamath, Ritesh Agarwal, Aayan Banerjee, Raghu Chaitanya.

Compulsory Text: 6 Degrees is India’s first book published through collaborative blogging, written completely by bloggers for the Game of Blogs activity at BlogAdda. Know more about Game of Blogs here. You can buy 6 Degrees: Game of Blogs if you liked the review. 🙂
 

How To Get Your Heart Broken by Rose Fall

 

Title: How To Get Your Heart Broken
Author: Rose Fall
Paperback: 398 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Platform (March 21st 2016)
Genre: Young Adult, New Adult
Read: eBook
Stars: ★★☆☆☆
Buy On: Amazon India | Amazon US

Summary:

(Goodreads)

A self-proclaimed cynic, Eli is unsurprised by her boyfriend’s betrayal. Yet, its impact goes beyond what she realizes; a cruel bet, an array of secrets, and a thousand lessons not yet learned teach her how to trust again as an unlikely boy shows her a kind of love she never knew existed.

After Eli finds her boyfriend cheating on her, she seeks an escape. She heads to the beach to spend the summer before college with her two best friends. When Eli is unable to move past the betrayal, the girls devise a distraction; a bet about their handsome neighbor. Yet their thoughtless competition goes too far and their friendships are tested as they began to wonder how much they really know about each other and themselves. In the chaos, they manage to learn the truth about love, self-acceptance, and the journey back from rock bottom.

My Review:

Note: Thanks to Rose Fall and YA Bound Book Tours for offering me this book to read and review 🙂

Cover: Soothing…

Paper and font: Easy on the eyes!

Readability, language: Easy on the mind.

Why did I choose this book: It was the cover that first attracted me, and the premise also seemed promising, so I thought, why not…

Eli who has just broken up with her boyfriend (who she caught cheating) is nursing a broken heart and wants to take revenge on all men out there. Rachel her best friend finds a way to do just that, only it’s one man – their good looking neighbour… Well, the books about that, but its also about 3 best friends, coming of age and finding oneself.

The title ‘How To Get Your Heart Broken’ makes sense but only in a round about manner. The cover is lovely, the mellow colours, the girl with her head on a boys chest, it all makes for a feel good cover, pleasing to the eye. The blurb is promising.

The plot was a new one for me, I never read something like this before. It’s clear quite early in the book that Eli is out to take revenge and break a heart like hers was broken. But, there are sub-plots, twists and surprises as the story goes along, some adding to the story and some adding pages to the story.

The story is set on a beach someplace (I just can’t remember if it was mentioned), the 3 girls are taking summer break before heading off to college and their separate ways. Rose Fall’s descriptions of the houses along the beach and the little beach town have stuck in my mind, the little blue house Eli, Rachel and Ash live in, with Ash’s grandfathers relics, felt so real.

Eli, Rachel and Ash are the main characters and each one’s life is explored as the story rolls along. Each one of them has a troubled past that they have to make peace with before they move on. This to me was the interesting part of the story, more relevant than the broken-heart-revenge bit and I felt Rose Fall did not do justice to the girls and their story.

Jessie the boy who is the target of the revenge, seems like an interesting character but here again Rose Fall falls short as the depth his character would have had is missing.

The story is structured well, I really liked how each chapter has a title that is linked in someway to the story of that chapter. Rose Fall also does not leave any loose ends and ties up the story she is telling well.

For me the story was slow paced (may not be for others), but I think that was because the story didn’t grip me at any point, I didn’t get sucked in and start to turn the pages waiting for what was going to happen next. It all didn’t build up to the climax, and when the climax did come, it felt disconnected. (There is a letter Eli writes at the end, that seems so unlike the girl I’d got to know through the book.)

‘How To Get Your Heart Broken’ is written from the POV of Eli, except for some parts where Ash’s perspective is shown through her diary. Rose Fall uses simple language and sentence structure that makes the book an easy read. I did find a lot of missing words though, mostly prepositions and some grammar errors. But these may not be there in the final book published as I think I read an ARC.

I liked reading the book but I do wish Rose Fall had given it more depth and explored more. I did like her writing style though and would like to see what she comes up with next.

Overall a good book but for the right age or person I think. I would recommend ‘How To Get Your Heart Broken’ to those younger than and in their early twenties.

Buy On: Amazon India | Amazon US

About the Author:

 
 
Rose Fall was born in New York City to Senegalese immigrant parents. She is currently studying Communication and Global Studies at UNC Chapel Hill.
‘How to Get Your Heart Broken’ is her debut novel.

Author Links:
Website │ Goodreads │ Twitter

Giveaway:

 
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Sherlock Holmes The Missing Years: Timbuktu by Vasudev Murthy

 

Title: Sherlock Holmes The Missing Years: Timbuktu
Author: Vasudev Murthy
Paperback: 270 pages
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (January 5th 2016)
Genre: Detective, Drama
Read: Hardcover
Stars: ★★★★☆
Buy On: Amazon India | Amazon US

Summary:

(Goodreads)

Still wondering what Sherlock Holmes was doing between his reported death in 1891 and his reappearance in 1894? All the world knew that Sherlock Holmes died at the Reichenbach Falls, tumbling over the jagged cliff in a deadly embrace with his nemesis Moriarty. But for history’s greatest detective, death was only the beginning. Rumors abounded that Holmes had been sighted advising the Japanese emperor, studying with the Dalai Lama, and protecting the president of the United States, but only Dr. Watson knew the truth. From 1891 to 1894, Sherlock Holmes was dead to the world and having the grandest adventures of his career.
It begins when an Italian scholar travels from Venice to 221B Baker Street, to beg the help of the legendary detective. He carries an ancient parchment, written in the hand of Marco Polo himself. It is a rubbing made from a brass disc found in the libraries of Kublai Khan, and it was torn in half centuries ago to protect the world from a terrifying secret, one that, apparently, first Marco Polo, then another great traveler, the Moroccan Ibn Battuta, took dramatic steps to guard. Where, if anywhere, is its missing half?
Holmes springs into action. He fakes his death at Reichenbach, and proceeds undercover to Venice. A murdered scholar, an archivist from the Vatican, British imperial politics and, of course, the dire hand of Moriarty propel Holmes and a surprised but resolute Dr. Watson, playing the roles they assumed in Morocco, on a perilous journey down the Sahara to the ancient city of Timbuktu and beyond. In deepest Africa, Holmes will confront ruthless criminals, an ancient culture, and a staggering surprise.

My Review:

Note: Thanks Vasudev Murthy for offering me his book to read and review 🙂

Cover: Beautiful!

Paper and font: Smellishous…

Readability, language: Requires Time and Attention

Why did I choose this book: I have been a fan of Doyle’s work and Holmes is one of my all-time-favourite detectives. So, this was natural progression, plus it was Doyle who left this back door ajar…

By making Sherlock disappear for a few years Doyle created a space that has been filled by so many and so much. This is Vasudev Murthy’s second book in this space. In this pastiche Sherlock Holmes goes on an adventure that involves eternal life, Ibn Batuta, Marco Polo, Tuaregs, Moriarty and Timbuktu.

The title is clear and sets the right expectations by informing the reader that the book is about Sherlock Holmes during the years he was missing, it also indicates where he was or where this book is set. I really liked the cover which is detailed with well chosen font and colours. The little detail of Holmes pipe was a nice touch. The blurb on the inside of the jacket cover is long and somewhat complex but that is a good indicator of what to expect from the book.

The book I received was a hardcover and I must say after a long time, I’m impressed by the print quality of an Indian Book. The paper smells lovely, the font is well laid out and reads easy, and the binding makes me want to keep this book on my shelf. It’s worth noting though that this book is published by Poisoned Pen Press and printed in the USA, so my calling it an Indian Book, in all aspects may not be correct.

The plot is brand-spanking-new and not like any other Holmes novel I have read. There are clear connects with Watson’s style of narrating but Vasudev Murthy also adds his own style and goes on tangents all his own. The objective is clear right at the start, and we know that Holmes is on a quest. The story follows mostly a linear path with subplots being a part of the main narrative rather than separate entities.

The main story is set in Africa, in the environs of Timbuktu but Holmes also visits Rome and Venice. Set in the 1890’s Vasudev Murthy shines here, no matter anything else about the book, in research he gets full marks. The people, places, time and situation are described in so much detail that it’s clear the author spent good time studying his subject, he also seems to have found good subject experts.

Apart from Holmes and Watson, who to most extents are described and behave as I’ve known them, there a bunch of other characters, each described in detail so that I could imagine each one of them and even felt a fondness for a couple of them. One character though stays through majority of the book – Hasso Ag Akotey the chief of the Tuaregs, he doesn’t play a vital role but plays a constant role. There is also the Pope and Moriarty who make appearances in the book.

The story is structured well and has a streamlined flow but it’s complex. I had been warned by the author and I’m passing on the warning. This book isn’t a light read, it requires time and attention. I had to focus and pay full attention to the book, and reading fast was out of question, as I had to slow down and absorb every bit so that I would be able to put it all together as it drew to climax.

Vasudev Murthy has drawn out an elaborate plan that covers a large time and space but in it all he keeps a hold on all the ends and leaves no loose ends. The pace of the story is constant right to the end, a slow and steady pace that’s more academic than thrilling.

The story is narrated by Watson which is consistent with how Doyle went about it, though at times it’s Watson telling it as it was told to him by key characters, and at those times I felt a break in the flow and a slight disconnect. Vasudev Murthy’s hold on all the languages he uses is clearly good, well, I can’t vouch for the French, Arabic and Tamasheq but his English definitely had me reach out for the dictionary often.

In summary this is a good book but only for die hard Sherlock Holmes fans who have the time to do some intense reading. Deeply researched and well written, this book comes recommended by Roger Johnson, the Editor of The Sherlock Holmes Journal and having read the book I now see why. Pick it up at your own peril, for this is heavy and you’ve been warned. 🙂

Buy On: Amazon India | Amazon US

About the Author:

Vasudev Murthy writes on music, humour, management and crime. A violinist and animal rights activist, Vasudev lives with his family and five snoring dogs in Bangalore, India. He has been published by Bloomsbury, HarperCollins, Editora Vestigio (Brazil), Poisoned Pen Press, Sage, Rupa, LiFi, Gamesman (Korea) and Kokushu (Japan).

Author Links:
Website │ Goodreads │ Twitter │ Facebook

30 Days of Daal by Pragati Bidkar

 

Title: 30 Days of Daal
Author: Pragati Bidkar
Paperback: 153 pages
Publisher: Amazon Digital South Asia Services, Inc. (2 edition, 25 November 2015)
Genre: Cookbooks
Read: eBook
Stars: ★★★★☆
Buy On: Amazon India | Amazon US

Summary:

(Goodreads)

30 Days of Daal shatters the myth that cooking Indian food is complicated. The author has taken authentic daal recipes from the corners and heartland of India and made them simpler.

Whether you are a busy urban cook, or someone who is new to cooking Indian food, 30 Days of Daal will make it easy for you. The book contains attractive photos of the daal dishes and has precise step by step instructions with special notes when needed. There is also a section on how to stock an Indian pantry.

Daal is an essential component of an Indian meal, and is cherished as a source of vegetarian protein. Daal is the very soul of India. 30 Days of Daal allows you to cook and enjoy a different daal every day of the month so you never get bored.

My Review:

Note: Thanks Pragati Bidkar for offering me this book to read, use and review 🙂

Cover: Colourful

Paper and font: Easy on the eyes

Readability, language: Could be better

Why did I choose this book: Daal is my soul food, I could eat it everyday and not get bored of it. It’s what I make when I’m down in the dumps and even when I’m happiest. So, 30 Days of Daal is perfect for my first cookbook review. 🙂

30 Days of Daal is what the title says, 30 different types of daal from across India, in all it’s various styles and varieties. It covers daals from the simple Yellow Moong Daal to the Parsi Dhansak and Oriya Dalma.

This is a review of the first edition of 30 Days of Daal, however there is a new edition available now and things might be a bit different in it.

This book starts of with an introduction to what is Daal and explains why this simple lentil curry is so important to the Indian cuisine. This is followed by 30 recipes of a variety of daals and at the end there are details of all the lentils, rice, spices, oil, and cookware used and where you can get them. This section is specially helpful for Non-Indians or Indians who live in the US.

Daal Methya or Fenugreek Flavoured Daal with Chili Oil and ivy gourd palya as the vegetable dish

I tried out the book on my Kindle and on three ebook apps on my Android Nexus 6. I had hoped that it would be easier to use on the phone, as it would be handy in the kitchen and would be in colour, but I was disappointed by the books rendering on the phone. On all three apps the layout was bad and navigation difficult. Even on the Kindle the layout is a little off, but it worked well and was easy to use. Sadly, that meant I had to live with no colours.

Each recipe has an image of what the daal looks like, the set of ingredients needed and the method of preparation. The instructions are simple to follow and Pragati Bidkar has also added notes to make it easier for the first timer. For e.g. she reminds you that chillies splutter and that you must stand back to avoid getting splattered by oil.

One thing that was glaringly missing for me was the serving size. It meant that in some recipes I landed up making too large a quantity for the two of us and we had to eat the same daal for 4 meals to finish it. I’m not complaining too much about it, only because the daals turned out well. 😉

Smoky Black Masoor Daal with Coconut and banana poriyal as the vegetable dish

For some ingredients that are difficult to source outside India, special notes are added about substitutes. This helped me too (even though I live in India), as some of the ingredients aren’t easily available here too. Like Goda Masala, which is Maharashtrian and isn’t available at most stores.

I tried out the Daal Tadka, Daal Methya, Black Masoor Daal with Coconut and Tomato Daal and they all turned out well. As you can see for trying out, I choose the simplest recipes I could find but I flexed a bit and experimented a bit too with a couple. I’m looking forward to trying out the slightly complicated (to me) ones like – Daal Bukhara, Parsi Dhansak and Panchmel Daal from Rajasthan.

Over all this is a good book to have in the kitchen, as it can add much variety to a simple everyday dish like daal. I recommend it for all who love the Indian cuisine, especially if you like cooking it. 😉

Buy On: Amazon India | Amazon US

About the Author:

 
Pragati is the founder and creator of the vegetarian food blog KamalKitchen.com. She started experimenting in the kitchen at a young age and since then has traveled to many places and absorbed regional cuisines and influences. She focuses on using local produce and selective herbs and spices. Her next book ‘Rice Bowl: Vegetarian Rice Recipes from India and the World’ will hit the stands on March 1st, 2016.

Author Links:
Website │ Goodreads │ Twitter │ Facebook

Love on 3 Wheels by Anurag Anand

 

Title: Love on 3 Wheels
Author: Anurag Anand
Paperback: 161 pages
Publisher: Srishti Publishers (December 6th 2015)
Genre: Contemporary, Drama
Read: Paperback
Stars: ★★★★☆
Buy On: Amazon India | Amazon US | Flipkart

Summary:

(Goodreads)

What Happens When Love and Destiny Come to Loggerheads?
Love on 3 Wheels is a saga of love, lust, aspirations and trickery that unfolds over a period of three days, propelling those in its midst into an unmindful frenzy.
Sargam: A young and ambitious girl misplaces a parcel purportedly containing a large amount of cash. This sets off a turn of events that are certain to leave their imprint on the lives of many.
Sharib Sheikh: An auto rickshaw driver whose fault is that he fell in love with the wrong person at the wrong time.
Dr. Abhigyan Kukreti: A prominent doctor who has more skeletons in his personal closet than a mid-size cemetery.
Ameena: A simple village girl who, like Sharib, finds herself at the wrong end of love.
Junaid: A swindler with his heart in the right place.
A Real Love Story that is bound to make your heart skip more than a beat!

My Review:

Note: Thanks Anurag Anand for offering me this book to read and review 🙂

Cover: Eye-catchy!

Paper and font: Feels good and reads easy.

Readability, language: I didn’t come across a lot of words I didn’t know, but I did find a few.

Why did I choose this book: I’ve read Anurag Anand’s previous books The Legend of Amrapali and Where The Rainbow Ends and liked them, so… well…

This a story of three people (well, actually 5 but three key people) over 3 days. Circumstances change each of their lives drastically and this is the tale of how it all comes about. Anurag Anand explores human emotions and imperfections through the story.

When I first saw the title and read the blurb I kept wondering how much the title – Love on 3 Wheels would tie in to the book, but having completed the book the title makes a lot of sense as it connects up with the auto that plays a big role in the story, it also relates to the unbalanced nature of love, something going along on 3 wheels. The cover is quite different from ones we see these days, it grew on me, plus it reminded me of covers past, of books bought from handcarts on railway stations. The cover and blurb both remind me of the good old Higginbotham days.

The plot is a many time told tale of interconnected lives and how one little thing sets off an avalanche of events in many lives. But the story feels interesting and I turned the pages in haste as I tried to find out what happens to each of the key players. Keeping the story short to events over three days is also a good ploy to keep it tight and fast paced.

Set primarily in Delhi the story moves across the city. I’m not very well versed with Delhi but it did feel like the little I know of the place. Anurag Anand has used the city and it’s people well to add to the story and give it good backing.

There are 3 key characters plus 2 main ones. Each adding to the story and weaving themselves in. The characters are described well and I felt for and against each of them. I really came to like Ameena by the end but found myself loathing Sargam for her selfish attitude and callousness, and feeling something akin to pity for Sharib, the self-absorbed lover with no trace of reality. The characters are flawed, real and I could relate to them.

Spread over three days, Anurag Anand introduces each character in turn as the events unfold. The conflict is clear in the initial part of the book and it resolves itself as the story progresses. The story winds up well too, it’s not a happy ending and yet it felt real and believable. There are no loose ends, all characters are accounted for except Dr. Abhigyan Kukreti, who just disappears.

Written in third person, Love on 3 Wheels is easy to read; there were just a couple of words I didn’t know. The language is simple yet its descriptive and absorbing. The pace of the story is good, it kept me turning the pages as the complications began. It was like watching a magician make a knot and then with a flourish unknot it. I didn’t realise when I reached the end, and after about half-way, I kept on till the end.

I quite enjoyed Love on 3 Wheels, Anurag Anand has done a good job as the book has left me thinking and mixed up in emotion. Each character has endearing characteristics, and frustrating mannerisms, their personal stories and backgrounds make a good backdrop for the choices they make and it’s repercussions.

YA & Above. I recommend this book if your are looking for a good fast read, the kind you want to take on journeys, be its bus or train or plane or even if it’s just a reading evening with coffee or wine in the cosy chair. 🙂

Buy On: Amazon India | Amazon US | Flipkart

About the Author:

 
Anurag is a banker who wrote his first book ‘Pillars of Success’ at the age of 25. After his first two non-fiction books, he has been writing in the fiction genre, and has written over 10 books.

Author Links:
Website │ Goodreads │ Twitter │ Facebook