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Book Review: Think Eat Live Smart by Dr Anjali Hooda Sangwan
Think Eat Live SmartAuthor: Dr Anjali Hooda SangwanPublisher: Rupa PublishersRating: 3/5 It has been correctly said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The sedentary lifestyle has led to the deterioration of eating habits and consequently, diseases are gradually conquering our body. There are many books in the market that describe the importance of eating healthy and staying fit. And all of them advocate for the same rules. However, some are easy to comprehend and follow, while some reek of fame that comes along with the published book. ‘Think Eat Live Smart’ by Dr Anjali has chapters describing different components of a healthy diet- implemented with…
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Book Review: Someone Exactly Like You by Esha Pandey
Someone Exactly Like YouAuthor: Esha PandeyPublisher: Rupa Publishers Rating: 3/5 Love is an unplanned emotion. It can embrace anyone at any point in time. Since contemporary fiction has become trite now, the hackneyed storylines seldom draw any attention. Likewise ‘Someone Exactly Like You’ is an example of old wine being presented in a new and decorated bottle. However, the strong narrative and the command on the characters is something to look forward to. The story revolves around Veer, a malevolent man who is successful despite his odious behaviour. Busy untangling the knots of his past, he meets Natasha in a chance encounter (read in a filmy way). Natasha’s days as…
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Book Review: Oxygen Manifesto by Atulya Misra
Oxygen ManifestoAuthor: Atulya MisraPublisher: Rupa Publishers Rating: 4.5/5 Oxygen Manifesto is not a step back into the dark primitive ages. It is a leap forward to get back what is most valuable for life. We often hear that each individual is different. But what we fail to realize is that Earth is the only common thing we all possess. This makes it all the more important to preserve this planet and restore its natural glory. ‘Oxygen Manifesto’ is a realistic account of how the planet is suffering at the cost of urbanization, consumerism, technocentrism, unplanned construction and defective agricultural policies. This narrative is a satirical and fact-based account of how…
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Book Review: The Detective Diaries by Supratim Sarkar
The Detective DiariesAuthor: Supratim SarkarPublisher: Rupa PublishersRating: 4.5/5 In a world where everyone is way too exposed owing to the Internet, it becomes very easy to get your hands on the personal details. Isn’t that risky? Solving cases now has become a bit easier because cracking clues from social media is feasible. But what about the strategies that were employed when the Internet wasn’t there? ‘The Detective Diaries’ is an answer to this question because it narrates eleven stories (read episodes) from the archives of Kolkata Police. Supratim Sarkar has done a wonderful job of weaving the narrative and executing the plot by serving the right amount of suspense and…
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Episode 4- Mandargiri Jain Temple (Karnataka)
Picking up from where we left last, this episode will unravel a location (a temple to be precise) that hasn’t come into the notice of the majority of the travellers. Shaped like a peacock feather, this temple is a pilgrim centre for the Jains. Mandargiri Jain Temple, also called as Basadi Betta, is located 60 km ahead of Bengaluru. Just adjacent to the temple is a small hillock (Mandargiri Hill) that offers a short trek route to the top. One can climb a flight of approximately 500 steps and then treat the eyes with four ancient temples- 2 built in the 12th century and 2 built in the 14th century.…
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Episode 3- Chitradurga Fort (Karnataka)
In our last post, we described our journey to Vani Vilas Sagar Dam. From there, we headed to Chitradurga Fort. Blimey! The heat made our experience terrible. Chitradurga Fort is located in the Chitradurga district of Karnataka, India. The construction of the fort dates back to the 13th century by the rulers of the Chalukyas and Hoysalas dynasties (Vijayanagar Empire). The fort has been built in a series of seven concentric barricade-like walls and has various secret passages. There are citadel, masjid, warehouse, ancient temples and storehouse of oil and grains. En route Chitradurga Fort the driveway is beautiful, for you can see small hillocks lined with windmills. The road…
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Book Review: Diversion of Death by Thalorh Balram
Diversion of DeathAuthor: Thalorh BalramPublisher: Leadstart PublishersRating: 2/5 It is said that pain eases with time but the wounds do not disappear. The scars still tell a story. ‘Diversion of Death’ is a love story that is not only clichéd but also predictable. Revolving around Arjun, a resolute young boy who hails from a middle-class background, and Aananya, whose mind is befuddled with the concept of class distinction, this story is about how their paths cross in the journey called life! Believing in the saying that fortune favours the bold, Arjun decides to burn the midnight oil and ace the test given by life. He works his way up the…
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Book Review: Loggie by Sapna Kappal
LoggieAuthor: Sapna KappalGenre: Children’s bookPublisher: Leadstart Publishers Plot SummaryOne of the most common problems of adolescence is fitting into society and dealing with bodily and environmental changes. This is not only limited to humans but also animals. ‘Loggie’ is a story of a young turtle for whom adjustment to the new life after a mishap becomes the bane of her life. The story, though short, has many life lessons that will help deal with loss and also encourage the children to value their family and friends. Area A: TextUsing rhyming quatrains as a medium of communication along with structured sentences, the author presents the conflict of the plot neatly and…
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Book Review: Twice Upon a Time by Payal Kapadia
Twice Upon a TimeAuthor: Payal KapadiaGenre: Children’s bookPublishers: Penguin Publishers Who doesn’t love Princess’ stories? The idea of getting everything done at one’s beck and call and living a luxurious life hypnotizes every young girl. But we have mostly seen this concept arise in movies. ‘Twice Upon a Time’ is one such chick flick novella that traces interesting lives of Nyla and Keya. Much like ‘The Princess Switch’ and ‘Monte Carlo’, this book also describes a bizarre encounter between the twins and explores the plethora of problems that follow. Area A: Text The best part about this story is the witty narrative that is quick to grasp. The satire is…
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Why is ‘Us’ one of the most gripping psychological thrillers after ‘Get Out’?
Warning: Spoilers Ahead! The African-American storytelling has found a stronger pitch after Jordan Peele’s Get Out. His sophomore attempt through ‘Us’ passes the muster and leaves the viewers hooked to their seats. A psychological thriller that explores the mangled identity of the United States in the 80s also touches upon a very important aspect of the duplicitous nature of humankind. The subtle reference made in the movie is enough for the viewers to realize the purpose of the art. The movie explores one of the less explored settings of horror genre-a carnival. Young Adelaide (Madison Curry) wanders off towards the isolated house of mirrors, aptly titled as ‘Finding Yourself’, and…
