spokensilence9's reviews
219 reviews

Rise of Dharma by Semanti Chakraborty.

First of all let us take a minute and appreciate the author for writing such beautiful and interesting book making the righteous king yudhishthira as the centre character and giving us all an insight into the mind of the king whom Krishna supported much to make him the crowned King of hastinapura after the great kurukshetra war.

The story is very much is the epic, just from the least considered and most misunderstood character's perspective.

What could you possibly look for in this book?

-This book certainly develops a new perspective on the focused character in the book.

-Vivid Narrative style has made this book a bit more captivating read.

- The newly added details into the epic's underrated or less concentrated episodes made this more interesting.

- The usage of peculiar vocabulary is another thing that I really really liked.

- How the author has managed to develop a new perspective on the most misunderstood character, without damaging the original Mahabharata script is very very impressive.

I believe in the case of mythological retellings, details add life to the story. "The more, the merrier", and that is what exactly happened in the case of "rise of Dharma" as well.

Overall a very captivating and gripping read.

Do I recommend this?
Yes, whoever likes mythological retellings with detailed narrative shouldn't miss this book.

Beginners Guide to Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security by Abhinav Ojha.

It is simple and straight to point.

This book covers all the topics related to Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security in a simple yet very effective way that a student/who wants to learn ethical hacking could easily understand and do hands-on practice without much trouble as well.

The author has talked about everything related to the subject in such a way, by the end of the book you'd find yourself either practicing the techniques or searching for more insights to dig deep into the topic.

Though the information is very basic, so people who are already in the field and know how cyber security services work and has hands-on experience as well wouldn't find this book much interesting.

It is totally for Noobs, yeah beginners.

Do I recommend this book?
Yes, Absolutely. The content in this book exactly justifies the title. It indeed is a beginner's guide to Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security services. Go for it without a second thought if you're a noob.

• The Book talks about various tales from history, some of them were popular and some of them are those which are discussed very less or not at all. So, obviously reading about those unpopular tales was a great experience for me.

• My favorite point, this one - how the author Manu S. Pillai has added his touch of sarcasm to the essays is quite funny yet thought provoking.

• All the essays have their own essense and importance, so one can just open any essay from the book and can read it without reading any previous stories. All the short story lovers, where are y'all at?

• How the author questioned the patriarchal norms that were practiced, some are still in practice in the most engaging way keeps the reader going on.

Let's take a minute and go "Awww

Seeing old aged people whose kids got settled in abroad and these aged people spending their time alone, feeling lonely is something we all have been seeing since years now in India.

Dopehri is the story of one such aged woman, amma bi. She lives alone in a haveli haunted by her own loneliness and melancholy in the afternoons exactly at 3 pm (dopehri) until sabiha comes, who stays with her in her haveli as a lodger/ paying guest. Sabiha forms a daughter like bond with bi and amma bi as well treats hee just like her daughter. When sabiha goes out of town for work purpose, the turmoil amma bi faces clearly depicts how much she got attached to this young lady and step forward to help when sabiha falls in trouble.

Since this book was a novella and a fast paced one with its own moments to laugh and empathise with, definitely a must read for everyone who is looking to read something light from Indian Literature.

Hailing from Telangana and growing up in Samaikhya Andhra Pradesh, Then a school going kid trying to understand the situation that is going on in the state, why schools were closed for months? Why everything else is also bandh? Why the curfew? Not just me, but every kid back then during the Telangana state formation movement was equally confused and tried their best to understand what is going on.

Every Telugu states' citizen is kind of familiar with Telangana Agitation movement, and yes there were definitely so many questions went unanswered and ignored by the government. Similarly, Everyone is also familiar with the casteism in the Telugu State Politics, and the role they play in deciding the public's future.

This book particularly provides the unbiased insights about the Agitation movement and all those ignored questions. The lucid and homely narrative makes readers feel that movement going on infront of us all over again.

Do I recommend this book?
Yes, Definitely. Whoever wants to know briefly in a clear cut way about the Telangana Agitation movement must read this book. This could be your first choice into knowing about the politics that lead to the formation of our "new" state.

Undertow by Jahnavi Barua is one of those books that you want to finish reading soon, but also want to cherish each and every expression that's presented in it.

Did I ever thought a tale about dysfunctional family from the perspective of the third generation child would be so interesting and will be covering the aspects like what impact does casteism has on people's lives, how the political activities would effect the commoners and each point, Everytime raised is equally thought provoking.

From loya staying over with her estranged grandfather, having petty arguments with her mother - which is quite similar to the relation her mother Rukmini has shared with her grandmother Usha. This book kind of defended my argument that "like mother - like daughter" bonds. Though the mothers here love their daughters deeply they do not have it in them to accept the choices of their kids, similarly the daughters have immense respect for their mothers, they still chose to stick to their grounds. Rukmini is both, the mother of Loya and the daughter of Usha.

The descriptions author has given about the food, places and the emotions the characters are undergoing makes you feel and enjoy every moment of it, you'll be transported to Assam in your head.

I couldn't particularly make it anything about what the cover has with the story until I reached very end, and oh boy! Did I understand anything? I don't know. Just like all the great books, even Undertow ends without a proper closure.

Oh yeah, did I mention about the little Assamese historical events that are included in this book?


Do I recommend this book?

Hell Yes! Everyone with a messed up and melancholic mind will enjoy this book to the core, and the rest too, enjoy reading it over the crust.

Note:- If you have a thing for poetic and detailed descriptions, this book is THE ONE for you!

Ironically a book that talks how the technology (specially kindle and audiobooks) is effecting local bookstores, I've read as an e-book.

I'm guilty as charged.

Author Shaun Bythell is the bookseller of Scotland who own the biggest bookstore of the country and runs a bookclub as well, every point the narrator has stated will slap us all (who buys books online now - specially from Amazon) right in the face (My personal feeling).

Through The Diary of a Bookseller, the author has given us glimpse of how customers behave in bookstores, and how the bookstore staff and owner feel about certain questions asked by customers are very much heartwarming and also there were few chuckle out moments here and there - particularly the satires that the narrator makes on few customers' choices.

Being a Booklover, I myself saw/ and sometimes still see the dream of beginning a Bookshop, The Diary of a Bookseller has discussed all the ups and downs, particularly downs, a local second hand bookstore, with rare collectibles and signed editions, the demand they have in market, the profit they make after selling, literally everything.

I really liked how the author has narrated it all in a journal format, noting down the orders they recieved online on each day and how that day went in the bookstore is felt like a #that'sthedream moment to me.


Do I recommend this book?
Yes, people who love books that are about books will enjoy this quick, funny, and satirical biography/autobiography of a Bookseller.

PS:- if you have access and allowance, please do buy a paperback copy of this book when you want to read. I'll be buying it too, if not now, definitely later, in the far far future.

Damn! Should have read these books earlier. I liked the characters, the clues, the narrative, the illustrations, EVERYTHING.

What greed can do to a person is and what people may give up in the search of mundane luxuries is unimaginable, yet greed drives us all. Even if it's not for luxuries, it is something else. Greed for love, greed for attention, greed for survival and many more.

Tarikshir : The Awakening by Khayal Patel is the combination of horror with mythological touch, set in the British India period.

The story is set in 2 iconic timelines, One being the era of Lord Ram, the other being the British India. The story begins in the lord Ram era where a greedy monkey,
valikesh enters Ravan's palace in search of Gold, but finds something else that threatens its life, eventually killing the monkey.

Then the story moves forward to a small princely state of Rajasthan in British India, from where the story gets more gripping. However there are certain sequences where it felt wasn't really necessary for the story, but they indeed has to be a part there that made this book un-putdownable.

Albeit I felt the book was a bit dragged, specially the prologue of valikesh's sequence is very much dragged. The book will take its time to intrigue you into feeling more involved, when it finally does, This is The Book.

Do I recommend this book?

Yes, it is a perfect blend of thriller, horror and touch of historical and mythological fiction. Whoever enjoys a little brain food, with thrillers and mythological details, can go for it.

Murder before carnival is set the time of Durga Puja in kolkata, where a murder takes place in the premises of durga maa idol. The rest of the story's premise follows how the protagonist (Ahana, consultant psychologist) will find the culprit, will she or not?


Pros:-
- A short read. Straight to the point, no unnecessary drags.
- Character background insights within the short time worths appreciation.
- Good for beginners who are yet to read murder mysteries.


Cons:-
-I personally felt the sudden changes in narrative perspectives could get tiring to the readers.

- the murder mystery somehow lacks to pull of the interest that will keep the readers hooked to it until the very end.

Overall this book makes a good one time read.