Review-False Ceilings by Amit Sharma

FALSE CEILINGS 

by

AMIT SHARMA

Blurb

Born in the lush mountains of Dalhousie in 1930, Shakuntala is a pampered child of a wealthy builder. On her wedding night she is gifted a secret to use wisely when the time comes. 

From the green valleys of Dalhousie to a village in Punjab reeling under the communal violence of 1947; from the Delhi of 1950s with its intoxicating smell of freedom to the Delhi of 1970s soaked in the hippie culture; from the Delhi of 1984 smelling of burnt tyres to the Delhi of 90s raising its Frankenstein of urbanization, the cancerous secret breathes with her, infects her. It is accidentally passed down, hidden under insecurities and jealousies, locked in its meaninglessness and leaving a trail of ruin. 

When her great- grandson accidentally discovers the secret in 2065, he is perplexed by the malice that flowed in his family's blood. Was it just the secret or his family would have destroyed itself even in its absence? Why was their love never greater than their unsaid expectations from each other? 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amit Sharma

Amit Sharma's first fiction book titled False Ceilings has been published by Lifi Publications. The book launch happened on 12 Jan 2016 in the World Book Fair in Delhi. 

Amit has been working in a Software Firm since the last ten years. He lives with his family in NCR. His wife is a teacher and they are blessed with a daughter who is in her terrible twos. 

Amit always keeps a book and a portable reading light in his bag (much to the amusement of his fellow travelers). His other hobbies include watching world cinema, travelling, digging into various cuisines, cooking, listening to music, painting, blogging, making his daughter laugh and helping his wife with her unnecessary and prolonged shopping.

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My Review :

          I received a free copy of this book from the author in return of my honest review.

          The story line of False Ceilings travels through generations … from past to well into future.

          The main protagonist of the story is a wooden almirah with holds a secret compartment in its ceiling. And this secret compartment hides a secret wrapped in a yellow piece of cloth, which is handed down from one generation to other not as a blessing but as a cursed piece of possession. False Ceilings starts in an era where each household used to have secret cellar in a room or a compartment in their almirah or bookcase.

          False Ceilings is a little slow read, with characters from each generation going into flashback in past or fast forward in future. The author has incorporated many pre-independence and post-independence era happenings and many other incidences which had happened nationwide, which had caused uproar in lives of many people in past. The way author has used them is his story to show how the characters have been affected or influenced by those incidences is noteworthy.

          The author has also depicted various relationships of a family and how it effects the next generation in creating an opinion about that person or individual.

          

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Review - Wrong Means Right End by Varsha Dixit

Wrong Means Right End  

by 

Varsha Dixit 

Blurb 

Readers fell in love with Sneha and Nandini, two best friends who stuck to each other through heartbreak and joy in the bestselling novel, Right Fit Wrong Shoe. Now they are back in a delightful sequel that follows the two women as they begin the next phase of their lives in Mumbai.

After a failed marriage, Sneha, a single working mom, has no time, or inclination, for love. She resists every matchmaking attempt made by the overzealous Nandini, married to industrialist Aditya. But then the past intrudes in the form of the gorgeous and rich, Nikhil, who brings along Gayatri to break-up her ex-fiance, Aditya's marriage. Sneha enlists Nikhil's help to salvage the situation. But how does she even talk to a man who clearly loathes her? As Nikhil and Sneha try to grapple with their egos and combustible chemistry, love blossoms.

Wrong Means Right End, an exuberant story about love and friendship, is filled with surprises and a wicked twist at every turn.

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About The Author 

Varsha Dixit, the best selling author of four successful contemporary romance books. Her debut book, Right Fit Wrong Shoe was a national bestseller for the year 2010. Varsha was a part of the Indian Television Industry and worked as an assistant director and online editor. She considers herself a dreamer who thinks deep but writes light. Even though creativity is gender free, Varsha feels blessed and enriched to be a woman. Currently, with her family, Varsha resides in CA, USA.

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My review 

            Wrong means right end starts from where Right Fit Wrong Shoe had ended. Nandini and Sneha, childhood buddies, who have promised to have each other’s back, go to any extent to see her friend happy. Varsha’s first book was full Bollywood masala; so I had expected more of Bollywood songs, titles & scenes, but was disappointed (sigh!)

            In the first part of the trilogy, Sneha tries to fix up broken relationship of Nandini and Aditya. In this part, Nandini wants Sneha to get hitched after her divorce. It's nice to read how well Varsha has incorporated characters and plots from her first book. You don’t feel any character has just jumped out from nowhere. Loved the way Varsha has portrayed the characters of Sneha and Nandini as independent, level-headed women who wants to make a mark of their own.

            Nandini, inspite of being married to the big Sarin scion Aditya, still wants to make an identity of her and Aditya gives his full support. (Sigh!)

            Nikhil, who appears to be arrogant at first, soon develops a soft corner for Sneha and her cute little bundle of joy, Advey. How Nikhil helps Sneha save Nandini and Aditya’s marriage from Aditya’s ex-fiancée and Nihkil’s family friend Gayatri and in the process falls hopelessly in love with Sneha, who like a furious tigress wants to protect her cubs (in this case her bestie and her marriage). Also we come to know of his past and how he wipes away his slate clean before he makes a new start is commendable.

             Varsha, loved the way you didn’t make the story end as we may have expected. Just when I thought Nik and Sneha are gonna to be together, you introduced a twist which was mind-blowing. But as they say, all that ends well ends well.

            I just can't wait to read the last part of this trilogy.

           In short, Wrong Means Right End is a light hearted, romantic, un-put-down-able book. If you like to read romantic stories, have a good sense of humor and just want to laugh till your stomach aches and you fall off from the chair and get tears in your eyes, go grab this book and enjoy three hour of relaxation.

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Review-Encounters by Sumana Khan

Encounters
Someone's Always Waiting

by 

Sumana Khan

Blurb 

ENCOUNTERS is a potpourri of five sumptuous stories involving a motley crew of protagonists. Skating along the borders of fantasy and paranormal themes, the stories track incredible and poignant journeys of self-discovery, tracing the cathartic aftermath of fleeting encounters.

My Review 

          Very rarely you come across an author, whose creations you are reading for 1^st time and you think why I didn’t read her books before?

          Sumana, I am falling short of words to praise your work, your talent in writing, the way you kept me hooked till I finished each story is totally mesmerizing.

          I received Encounters through The Book Club for an honest review. And I would say I totally loved it. Like in her first story in the book First Love, I fell in love with the writer, the characters, the plot, the cover picture…

          First love left me spell bound, The storyteller had me awed, Reminiscence left me with tears in eyes and ache in heart, Happiness clinic left me thinking and last but not the least Best Friends made a permanent place in my heart.

          Loved the way Sumana has woven the plots, which leave the reader so engrossed, that I actually imagined myself there, characters playing in front of my eyes. Out of five stories, First Love, Happiness clinic and Best friends touched me a lot.

          I read the book twice and both the times it left me short of words, gasping for breath till I reached the end of a story.

Encounters-Someone’s Always Waiting, is a mixture of fantasy fiction, paranormal fiction, personal loss of a close one, natural calamity, finding one’s identity and reason of existence.

          Each story is of different genre and it leaves an everlasting mark on readers mind.

          My Verdict on Encounters – Someone’s Always Waiting … If you want to enjoy a good engrossing read, Encounters is one you must definitely go for. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Sumana was born and raised in Bengaluru, Karnataka, where she went on to graduate with a BSc in Electronics, much to the surprise of her teachers, and relief of her parents. In what can only be described as a quirk of fate, she ended up as an IT consultant - a role she essayed for more than a decade. She then moved to the UK where she quit her job and pursued academic and literary interests. The result of this pursuit has been two Masters, one published book, quite a few manuscript drafts, and above all, being stone-broke perpetually.

She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several books.  

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Review-Panorama by Shilpi Chaklanobis

Synopsis

          A turbulent relationship between a mother and a daughter takes a sudden turn when the daughter stumbles across a past that she never knew.

          The golden period of a professor’s life is tainted by questions about his purpose until one night gives him all the answers he needs.

          Desperate times test us all but when hunger drives a girl to do the unthinkable, her life changes forever.

          Woven around lives of the people around us – the shy girl on the metro, your domestic help, your neighbors and perhaps even you – this collection of short stories will take you on a bittersweet journey that explores the spectrum that is part of any human relationship and all the complexity and chaos that secretly dwell within homes and hearts of India.

Often laced with element of introspection, the stories are sure to change the way you see the world around you …

My honest Review

          I received a free copy of this book directly from author for reviewing her book.

          Panorama – as the name suggests gives us a wide view of people around us. Each story, when you read touches a cord in you, as each story has a hint of reality.

          Each story explores a relationship in various situations, like how a mother struggles to fulfill her daughter’s desire to have chapatti with curry, whereas a politician mother has plans for her journalist daughter who is going to expose her wrongdoings, a child’s memory of their pet dog, a father’s typical reactions on seeing his daughter unwell, a story of two friends who meet after a long time and catch up with their lives, and so many stories which are day-to-day happenings around us.

          These stories though fictional, but when you read them you feel their pain, their joy, their suffering… like while I was reading Second Tsunami, the end left me gasped and shocked.

                   I would say Panorama is about various emotions that one experiences at some or other point of life. Inspite of being a debutant author, Shilpi has done a good job. The stories, the use of simple language, the way she has conquered human emotions are awesome.

         Nice work Shilpi…Loved the cover picture of the book.

About the author

Shilpi Chaklanobis hails from the beautiful city of Kanpur and has spent majority of her adult life in Delhi. She is currently heads the digital marketing division at an MNC. The amalgamation of her years spent amongst the quiet, calm streets of a small city and the hustle and bustle of a metropolitan like Delhi has lent her a unique perspective towards life. She aims to translate her experiences and understanding of human relationships into stories that not only move people but also resonate with them. She believes that the beauty of a story lies within its ability to be interpreted by the reader in the way they desire s is evident from her writing. Apart from writing, she spends her time devouring books by dozen. This is her first endeavor as a writer and her writing not only shows promise, but also has a sense of sensitivity that compels you to think about lives you touch every day.

You can contact and know more about the author by visiting :

http://mybookshelf.in/
https://www.facebook.com/ItsMyBookshelf/
https://plus.google.com/114978768739258769926/posts

Book name : Panorama – A collection of Short Stories

Author : Shilpi Chaklanobis

Total number of pages : 134

ISBN : 978-93-5206-966-8

Binding : Paperback

Cost : 150 Rs.

Genre : Fiction

Language : English

Publisher : Notionpress.com

Where we can buy the book from

Amazon: http://www.amazon.in/Panorama-collection-stories-Shilpi-Chaklanobis/dp/9352069668/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460390493&sr=8-1&keywords=panorama

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29756017-panorama?from_new_nav=true&ac=1&from_search=true

Review-Rukhsat by Sujit Banerjee

RUKHSAT THE DEPARTURE 

BY 

SUJIT BANERJEE

Blurb 

Where a story stops, another one begins. The thing with them is, they never walk alone. They always walk with a group of friends. Each reaches its own climax. Then with a final gasp of mortality and despair, fade away. No, they never die, they multiply. To the extent that the original gets lost and new ones are born. Over and over again. Yes, they get lost. No, they never die. They live on, permanently etched in the book of time. And from there, we borrow them and bring them alive. Again. And again. Here are twenty six of them, some standing alone and some chatting up with their long lost friends. When they depart, they leave a lingering fragrance of nostalgia and curiosity. What happened then?

Twenty-six alphabets, twenty-six names, and twenty-six short stories. Each exploring one unique emotion, taking you into the dark recess of the mind. Some frothy and most of them dark. Most standing alone and some facing a mirror, where the same story comes alive in two different ways, through two different protagonist . Meet myriad characters - from the single-minded prostitute to the man on the railways station bereft of any memory; a woman desperate for a biological child to a dead man's trial. Meet a jealous lover with a twisted brain and a gay man's memory of a one-night encounter. Meet twenty-six such characters arrested and sentenced for life inside the pages of a book. Each one leaving an indelible mark on your soul.

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Meet the Cast 

Abhimanyu – In the Beginning

I felt the poison of anger raging around me, inside me, pulsating like an entity; anger at the one who betrayed and the one who took advantage of this betrayal. The anger of not being able to stop both. Then the flash of knife and the flowing blood, shimmering in the flames of the torches inside the chamber. Screams followed by hushed voices; bodies being dragged down a flight of stairs. The sound of digging and burying. Later, ruins all around as empires fell and one intrigue chased another through time while swords sliced and arrows whiz past, seeking hearts. Who was I and what was all this about? Why were most of the images that flitted through my head always dark and tinged with red? Rarely, very rarely were they warm and loving. So rarely were they, ever like the sun shining on a cold and shivering memory.

My Honest Review

I received this book from The Book Club for writing an honest review.

26 alphabets, 26 names, 26 short stories…

WOW….Hats off to Sujit Banerjee for thinking of such unique theme for the April A to Z Blog challenge and then getting it complied into a book.

            Each alphabet gave rise to a name. Each name gave rise to a title and each title to a story. Each story is unique like its name, as if each name is a story itself. Each story is linked with previous one is one way or other. As if each character in the story is continuing with his/her version of an incident. Each protagonist is putting forth his/her point of view as seen through their eyes.

            Rukshat, The Departure – as the title of the book suggests, each character at end of story has to depart with something close to his/her heart; something from their character, something from their soul.

            Some stories touches a chord in your heart and makes you feel sorry while some leave you guessing, but not happy, as Rukshat of anyone or anything always makes a person sad. Departure of a child or parent or a friend or a lover or any person who is close to heart is not which one wishes to experience. But as it is said each and every thing which arrives has already a time fixed for its departure. Whatever comes has to go after it's time is over.

            Loved the way Sujit Banerjee has woven short stories interlinked with each other. It makes you feel, you are reading a novel and not short stories. You feel instant connection when you read stories with real life incidences.

            So, if you want to so some serious soul searching kind of reading, Rukshat is one. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Born to Bengali parents in Lucknow, I grew up in Patna where I finished my post-graduation in Psychology and ended up becoming a tour operator instead of a Psychologist! Which was 

good since a Bengali born in UP and reared in Bihar does not make a great Psychologist! Am I now glad to be in tourism? It has taken me all over the world including places you would have never heard of. Eh? How about Tlacotalpan? It’s in Mexico.

Destiny had other plans as well so I became a reluctant healer. A crazy Shaman in Mexico set the ball rolling and it has rolled all the way to Delhi. Today I both heal as well as read Tarot cards. My wife thinks I am mad. My friends think I am weird. I guess I am both. 

My first story was published in a magazine when I was seventeen. The Editor made such a hash of it that I stopped sending out my stories but I continued writing. Then I broke my heart and started writing poems; first in Hindi and then in English. All personal collection. They still remain personal. I do shudder when I read some of them! Then the short stories came back and written over two years - now is a collection.

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Skills in today's world

          In today’s competitive world, you need skills to make it to the top. Everyone wants to be at the topmost level of the pyramid. But what does it take to be at the top - Sheer luck or skill and determination?

          I would say if you have the skill and determination, luck will always smile at you. But normal education doesn’t provide us the necessary skill training, or prepare us to face the real competitive world. But now-a-days people are recognizing the need of special training to groom the kids from a young age so that when they face the real world they are ready to face the challenges with a brave heart.  Recognizing a child’s strength and weakness, providing him/her with support and encouragement helps the child to grow up in a confident person.

          So Mrs. Rashmi Praveen, an MBA and a Private Banker by profession was highly inspired to pursue Training as a profession due to her association with Landmark Education that made a profound difference to her life both personally and professionally. She was determined to design programs for children that equip them with different skills, methodologies and technologies to achieve breakthroughs in real life situations. Below is the profile of Simply Hire Resourses (I) Pvt Ltd, (SHRI) an organization which offers Life skill programs based on holistic learning methodologies right from Toddlers, to teenagers and Corporates. The company is tied up with various schools, colleges and corporate houses across Bangalore and spreading its wings across India soon.

          For More information click on

          Website link : http://shrindia.com/

          Facebook page link : https://www.facebook.com/shrindia2008/

Below is information about the organization profile :

SIMPLY HIRE RESOURCES INDIA PVT. LTD.

Simply Hire Resources (I) Pvt. Ltd., started in the year 2008, has established itself as one of the preferred partners for recruitment and training programs across different industries. The accolades and awards that the company has won in the recent past, is a testimony to the quality and excellence of its service delivery.

The company has been highly successful in imparting training programs for children, young adults and corporate employees, as a result of investing thoroughly in valuable human resources in its research and development team, thereby building a team of people with rich experience in the field of training and development.  

SHRI believes in upgrading itself with skills required in today’s ever changing world and has employed experiential learning methodologies across all its programs. The company offers a comprehensive school program “ARISE” that focuses on all co-scholastic requirements of a growing child. The program has been designed to provide value-based education, life skills, soft skills and academic skills that enhance the learning abilities of children while equipping them to handle real life situations. Alongside, the company provides counseling support to schools.

For college students, the company offers Personality development programs, training programs which enhances their Soft Skills, makes them efficient in their Communication and creates awareness among students about the importance of “Brand Me”. The structured program “AKME”, and “FASTRACK”, prepares students to face the challenges of the corporate world, while testing their aptitude through certified tests.

In today’s fast moving era, demands of the corporate world are ever changing. SHRI has incorporated training programs for companies across industries and are well equipped to bring about a transformation among employees thereby enhancing productivity over a period of time. The company has been successfully implementing its yearlong program-“ACE” and conducts short duration workshops based on the needs of the company. Our Communication Skills program has been highly successful in bridging the gap and building great working relationships among employees at companies.

The company is soon launching a career counseling tool for high school students and also its counselling wing. Also, the company has started conducting workshops for general public.

As part of its CSR initiative, SHRI conducts Public Awareness Programs, Road Safety Programs and various Civic Awareness Programs etc,.

Mrs. Rashmi Praveen receiving award

With Swamiji

SHRI has been awarded for its “Innovation in Training Programs by KSMBOA”, an association of SME business owners.

SHRI was one of the finalists among 19000 aspirants in the all India competition held by Economic Times in association with CIIE and Department of Science and Technology.(ET Power of Ideas, 2015)

Recently, SHRI has won the “Future of India award, 2016” organized by 1000 Petals in association with CNBC. Also, the company’s Chief Executive Mrs.Rashmi Praveen has won the “Woman Entrepreneur of the year” award for the year 2016.

The company’s R&D Head, Mrs. Farida Rizwan is a counselor and psychotherapist who use her experience in the field to create life-skills training programs based on real life challenges faced by people. She is winner of several blogging contests and has been recognized for her work by NGOs like RT90, Indian Society of Health Administrators Sahaya Hastha and many more. Her articles as well as articles about her have been published in daily newspapers like Asian Age, Times of India, Indian Express etc. Her video on her Cancer Survival Journey got her 7th and 8th position in a Selfie Contests organized in 2014 and 2015 by HCG.    She regularly blogs at www.chaptersfrommylife.com which has more than 2 million hits and shares her take on life through her quotes on https://www.facebook.com/FaridaQuotes/.

Farida Rizwan

Our Vision

Our Vision is to impart VALUE based education across different facets of society and create a totally TRANSFORMED WORLD for our future generation

Our Promise

• Qualified and reliable workforce with certification in skill-based training
• An efficient and innovative Research & Development Team
• A disciplined approach towards implementation of programs thereby ensuring quality of service delivery
• Highly effective experiential learning methodologies for training
• Skilled and experienced training personnel