Bhoomija: Sita by Anand Neelakantan

​"Bhoomija: Sita" by Anand Neelakantan - It’s not her story!

This ebook is published by Westland in 2017 and has 24 pages. 

Although the name of this book is Bhoomija, it’s not the story of Sita. It’s about how Valmiki conceived Ramayan. The actual story in the book is of Krauncha birds that we all know. 

Valmiki composes a shloka spontaneously upon seeing the male Krauncha killed by a Nishada while mating. Here author diverges from the known story and gives it a twist. 

What is right and what is wrong? What’s right for one is wrong for other. In that case which is the one emotion that’s absolute? 

This twist given by the author is endearing and it gives a different dimension to Ramayana. Conception of Sita, though, could have been a little more elaborate. 

Why did I read this book? Author. Length. 

What I didn't like?  Conception of Sita.

What did I like? Everything else.  

Recommend reading. 

A special day by Sourabh Mukherjee

​"A special day" by Sourabh Mukherjee - Poignant!

This e-book is published by Shrishti publishers and distributors in 2018 and has 22 pages. This is a book in ‘It’s all about love’ series. 

Mike gets a deserved career enhancing opportunity of lifetime, but lets it go because he has to be in Goa on that day, a special day. 

Why does Mike decline? What’s the special day?

The story is delivered in first person by two characters Mike and David. Mike lets the Opportunity go. David has difficulty in remembering things. It’s a short, intense, poignant, emotional story that doesn’t let you go. The story never slacks. Although it’s somewhat predictable, it leaves you contemplating and hits you hard. 

Author deserves credit for such a good story. 

It’s a very small short story published as e-book. 

Why did I read this book? Size. 

What did I like? Everything. 

What I didn't like? Umm…

A must read. 

Lynchpin: The best laid schemes of mice and men by Siddharth Maheshwari

​"Lynchpin: The best laid schemes of mice and men" by Siddharth Maheshwari -  Action thriller!

This book is published by One point six technologies Pvt Ltd  in 2021 and has 290 pages. This is author’s debut novel. 

ATC Jaiprakash Mathur causes midair collision of two commercial aircrafts in Mumbai. A group of terrorists sabotages a surrender function of another group of terrorists resulting in death of the surrendering terrorists, two ministers and many others. Chief Justice of India is shot dead. Hindu Muslim riot is instigated in Meerut. Naxal violence erupts in Jharkhand as a Naxal leader is gunned down by people in police uniform. There are bomb attacks. There are Drone attacks in Calcutta.

What is happening? Why is it happening? What is the objective? Who is the Lynchpin?

These are events designed to cause socioeconomic distress in the country. Each one is precise. Either it disrupts social harmony or economic activity. 

Inspector Vikram Aditya Singh from Indian Police sees a link in these unrelated incidents. With the help of his friend DSP Ranbir Roy of IB he convinces the powers to be and they both head the task force. RAW, Army, IB, Police and other agencies collaborate. 

Author doesn’t spend time in travails. The action begins from the word go and doesn’t stop till the end. Although the story is fast paced and action packed, the plot is a little weak. Some of the things are too simple for a plot that has national and international consequences. Especially the recording of confession is naive. 

Author uses names of real life persons from different fields for the characters like Manoj Tiwari, Jagmohan Reddy, Ravindra Jain, Anirban Ghosh for the characters that have no connection to real life person. 

He calls a 3BHK apartment in Worli, modest. Phew! He has never stayed in Mumbai. In Mumbai it’s more than comfortable, lavish. The terrorists travel in black Range Rovers. How difficult is it to spot a Range Rover in India? Shouldn’t they have used a less conspicuous car?

Chapters are titled with colloquial phrases. The titles are Interesting and it’s a novelty. I collected a couple of new/out of the way words like soigné, petrichor. 

What about title? Lynchpin is a pin that keeps the wheel attached to the Axel. Looks like Lynchpin is a famous book name. I found at least six on Amazon. 

Why did I read this book? Cover. 

What I didn't like? Flaws as mentioned. 

What did I like? Action.

Recommend reading. 

The return by Erin Knightly

​"The return" by Erin Knightly - Wow!

This book is published by James Patterson’s BookShots (Penguin Random House UK) digital in 2016 and has 86 pages.  This is a book of Sunnybell series.  

Ashley had fallen for Mack head over heels when she was a teenager. But he broke her heart. Now Mack McLeroy is a professional Bull rider. Ashley Montoya wanted to become a barrel racer (a kind of obstacle horse racing) but couldn’t become professional barrel racer due to terminal illness of her mom. A Bull riding accident brings Mack back to Sunnybell for convalescing. They both need something from each other and it’s not love. They hate each other. 

What is it that Mack wants from Ashley? What does Ashley want from Mack? Will they help each other, kill each other or fall in love?

Book starts with a Bull ride. Man Vs beast. Beast wins! Man is injured badly. Professions of the lovers is the USP of the book. A very out of the way and interesting one. Author takes us to the heart of Texas with Bull riding, ranches, cowboys and horses. The tu-tu-main-main between the protagonist is endearing.  They are hurt, they hesitate in acknowledging the attraction and magnetic pull and shun or insult each other to overcompensate. 

Ashley is beautiful. She is still attracted towards him. She finds him sexy even when he is disheveled. She feels flutter in her stomach when he is around but she can’t forget how he has ditched her and broke her heart and wants to punish him for it. Mack has a reputation of a playboy but this girl still unsettles him. He regrets the way he treated her and considers her the prickliest girl in town. He is probably the most handsome Texan and is also good at heart.

It’s a love story. Being a BookShots book, it’s small and quick read. How to fit the love story in few pages? Do away with the lovers being introduced and attracted towards each other. They already know each other, rather hate each other, when the story starts. 

Author, Erin Knightly, has done a very good job. She has captured the emotions perfectly, be it lovers tiff, lust, love, attraction, insecurity, helplessness, and channeled them to make an effective story. Texan background gives it an exotic feel. Blurb of this book doesn’t do Justice to it. The blurb makes the story look shallow. In reality it’s sensuous. 

I found interesting English sentences worth mentioning in this book. They make the book exotic. Some of them are:

Frozen molasses made more progress than he had. 

Less fun than eatin’ dirt. 

Her sarcasm as thick as mud. 

As surely as a bear with a thorn in its butt. 

This book has little used words, used mainly in North America like Dang, stoked, britches, bronc, limber, daggone. It adds to the exoticism of the book. 

Why did I read this book? Goodreads rating.

What I didn't like? Umm….. 

What did I like? Everything

Definitely recommend reading.