Lavender Orchids

Myths and LegendsAuthor: Sowmya RajendranPublisher: Rupa PublishersRating: 5/5 Myths and legends act as a foundation for learning and understanding modern Literature. While many don’t believe in knowing about the myths, I feel they are important as they narrate the ancient tales about the world and the experiences of mankind. This, in return, rekindles our curiosity to know more about the past that eventually acts as the compass for our future. Therefore, Myths and Legends is just the book that will re-tell every legend and help the readers take a plunge into folk Literature. A compilation of 22 stories from across the world, Myths and Legends comprises the stories on creation,…

The Curious Case of the Boarding SchoolAuthor: Mahanaz MirPublisher: Rupa PublicationsRating: 3/5 When children are sent to the boarding school, they become more independent and lead a life on their own terms. Even though the rules and regulations bind them a little, the choices experience freedom, for the parents are not there to keep an eye on them. That’s why they say that the best friends are found in the hostel. The Curious Case of the Boarding School is a story of a young boy, Sameer, who struggles to come to grips with the new reality- his life in Kingston High Boarding School. After an elaborate affair of trying to…

26/11 BraveheartAuthor: Praveen K. TeotiaPublisher: Rupa PublishersRating: 4/5 Brave men rejoice in adversity just like the brave soldiers triumph in war. One of the deadliest attacks on India is still the 26/11 attack in Mumbai. The eerie silence of the night was penetrated by some ear-piercing sounds that not only left the listeners aghast but also made them bleed. Who could be better at narrating the minute-by-minute experience of what went into getting the situation under control meanwhile putting so many lives at stake than the person who witnessed this massacre up close? 26/11 Braveheart is a heart-wrenching account by the ex-MARCOS Praveen K. Teotia. He shares how a soldier…

Batla HouseAuthor: Karnal SinghPublisher: Rupa PublishersRating: 4.5/5 What happened in 2008 would have remained a mystery or a half-baked truth had this book not come out in the public domain. Just like how Praveen Teotia wrote a heart-wrenching account of his deadly encounter with the terrorists in the Taj, Karnal Singh, the officer-in-charge of the raid in Flat no. 18, Batla House, pens down a spine chilling thriller that narrates the actual events that led to this encounter. Several lives were risked and blood was shed too. This event is still remembered for the political bigotry and the influence of the top organizations. Yet, in spite of so much that…

Bhagwad Gita for MillennialsAuthor: Bibek DebroyPublisher: Bibek DebroyRating: 4/5 Life is mostly busy for the millennials. The work pressure and the inability to find adequate time to brush up the roots often misleads the mind into believing that one can make do without certain important life lessons. I am not a preacher and thus, I shall not preach whether one should read Bhagwad Gita or not. I would just write about the plus points and the negative points of the book in question. Bhagwad Gita for Millennials is a handy self-help guide to understanding the scripture in an easy and fast way. The book offers translated versions of the life…

The Vision of Wisdom: Kabir (Selected Sakhis)Translator: Chandan SinhaPublisher: Rupa PublicationRating: 4.5/5 I have always been fascinated by the idea of small verses that often project a stark reality that we fail to notice while living this chaotic life. Some time back, I had got a chance to read Looking Within: Life Lessons by Lal Ded. I was thrilled to read such a beautiful book and now I got a chance to read the selected (also translated) sakhis by Kabir. It was such a quaint experience reading these short musings that store so much wisdom and learning. The Vision of Wisdom neatly translates the emotion and the purpose of the…