Never Found Land Author: Durriya KapasiPublisher: Half Baked BeansRating: 3.5/5 Packed with action and thrill, ‘Never Found Land’ is the sequel to the first of its kind ‘Once upon a Genie’ by Durriya Kapasi. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it. Durriya Kapasi’s world of fiction might not sound plausible but it transports the readers to a utopian paradise for sure because that world runs on love and trust. The glittery dust of her writing skills touches all her characters and brings them to life! Solomon, son of Daisy and Khalil (the genie) is in the quest to pursue his career and that’s when tables are turned,…

Batman’s Guide to Life Author: Chetan Soni Publisher: Half Baked Beans Publications Rating: 3.5/5 All our life we study, we grow, we learn, we get a job, we earn and in the midst of all this, we forget to live. Amidst the chaotic urban life, Chetan Soni’s debut book comes are a refresher. He is one of the few who understands the difference between sarcasm and verbal irony. Coupling wit with humour, the author presents us with 60 pages of a light dose of entertainment. Better known as the ‘Mark Twain’ of Half Baked Beans, Chetan Soni has been entertaining the virtual audience with his words on social media. He aces…

Table for One Author: Neha Bindal Publisher: Half Baked Beans Rating: 3/5 Khalil Gibran has advised trusting in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity. Rules are for the rulebooks on the bookshelf; life is out there in the open! It is absolutely fine to break free from the mundane reality and dream (read desire) for something unconventional once in a while. ‘Table for One’ takes us on a journey that explores the frenzy of freedom concealed beneath the façade of sophistication and social stigma. Taara, a round character who is shown to have the avowed intent of not falling prey to love (again), is relatable and…

Lovestruck Author: Prasupta Roy Publisher: Half Baked Beans Publishers Rating: 2.5/5 It is believed that whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light. Books are meant to educate and broaden our thinking capacity. Even when the story is fictitious, the purpose of reading the book is to enjoy those few moments in the parallel reality. ‘Lovestruck’ is a story that might give rise to a squabble owing to its unconventionality but at the same time, it fails to leave an impact. It is a story about love, infidelity and lust. With nothing new to offer the readers, ‘Lovestruck’ is the…

A New Dawn Author: Kamini Kusum Publisher: Half Baked Beans Rating: 2.5/5 There are times when we hate the words and then there are times when we love the words. When those words fill you with a weird evangelical enthusiasm, you like the book. And when those words are as interesting as watching the paint dry, you dislike the book. ‘A New Dawn’ is like the latter. An anticipated story, monotone expressions and precipitous climax put the plot on the line. Shravan and Mugdha are the two protagonists who embark on the quest of finding love. As time passes, they realize their affection for each other. However, soon destiny pulls…

Malana Cream Author: Shalini Singh Publisher: Half Baked Beans Rating: 3/5 “When you smoke the herb, it reveals you to yourself.” ― Bob Marley Isolated from the rest of the world, Malana, a side valley to Parvati Valley in Himachal Pradesh, grows the finest weed in India after Kerala Gold. Though the latter is difficult to get because of the stringent government policies, one can easily get their hands on Malana Cream. Now that Malana Cream has gained popularity amongst the young, people/ tourists have started coming out from the woodwork. ‘Malana Cream’ by Shalini Singh is a hands-on account of the journey of two travellers, Ranvir Singh- a bigot,…

Final Illumination Author: Farrah Begum Publisher: Half Baked Beans Publishers Rating: 3.5/5 “The monster I run from is in me.” Isn’t this true? We all are victims of human foibles that might be a result of our character flaw or any weakness. But with time, doesn’t this minor weakness start taking a toll on us? Zubeida displays the same in this story. Her life is near perfect when she is young; finding a flaw is equivalent to finding a needle in the haystack. But as the time takes leaps, the internal demons that were missing in action throw her off balance. Brought up by a single parent (mother), Zubeida’s character…