Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Self-Help, supernatural

Deceptive Gods by Lorne J. Therrien Sr.| Book review

48724057._SY475_

Title: Deceptive Gods: Confronting the Divine and Demonic: Exploring a Revolutionary New Approach to Angels, Demons, and The Unseen Spiritual World That Guides Us 

Author: Lorne J. Therrien Sr.

Pages:347

Blurb

Lorne J. Therrien’s Deceptive Gods is among the best books on spiritual warfare. On his path to win God’s heart, Lorne J. Therrien experienced angels that appeared as bright as the sun, the comforting embrace of the Holy Spirit that would come and go leaving him in a euphoric state, and darker-than-night hooded shadows that lingered on the sidelines, watching. It is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God’. But when his empathic ability recognizes a similarity in the energy of the angels, demonic hooded shadows, and the Holy Spirit, a red flag is raised. Does he accept what has been written, or trust his intuition and test the God he loves? Making no assumptions, Therrien lets empathy, intuition, and thorough research guide the way, arriving at a clear understanding of both human and non-human nature. The opportunity presents itself with an unexpected visitation at a former monastery, and the game begins. Therrien invites a student curious about spiritual communication to join him as he confronts and converses with the divine and demonic to learn the true identity of the invisible presence. Deceptive Gods is one of the best books on angels and demons and will be of great value to readers interested in Christian mysticism practices and spiritual communication.

My review

The world that we live in is deluded with misinformation that inadvertently leads us to misery. Deceptive Gods by Lorne J. Therrien Sr. is an attempt to defog and demystify these beliefs. Faith and supernaturalism are connected together to obtain monetary advantages. We can’t find many books which talk about truth like this. Because creating deception about supernaturals is a part of the selfishness in humans. I was always skeptical about the books written in this genre. Because either they are misleading or filled with unrealistic explanations. But I found an entirely new approach in this book. The author never tries to hide anything. He immersed himself in this. He narrated clearly of his experience. This is a close to real-life experience ever you came across in these genres.

Due to this unreserved nature in the narration, all of my doubts are cleared as I read through. The author starts with basics and he takes time to explain and clear all misbeliefs. This helps me to approach the content through an open mind. The author used a conversation style between him and one of his students throughout the book. This way he teaches and answers every doubt we may encounter on the way. The world of paranormal and supernatural are tempting for certain people to delve right in. But the author clearly explains what we may face if we made that decision.

I really liked his explanation about why these supernatural beings are trying to connect with us. This reasonable explanation is enough to demystify popular beliefs. How he has approached this subject from a reader’s point of view is absolutely great. This is the most believable explanation on this subject you can ever have.

Rating:5/5

 

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Fiction, Science Fiction

The Quarter Percent by Lily Nicole|Book Review

 

54803781._SX318_Title:The Quarter Percent

Author: Lily Nicole

Pages: 285

Blurb

It is summer 2030. Truth is the weapon and profit is the territory. Over thirteen intense days, combatants wage war, wielding influence and prestige. Behind the screens, wealthy recluse Marvin Stone has unimaginable power and rewrites the rules of the game. As the rules change, a former fashionista struggles to adjust. On the continent, the popular and charismatic King Cordial of Vale works covertly to undermine his rivals. His youngest daughter, Costmary, is in the cross-hairs. Rue, his older daughter, takes on an exciting new challenge and Gala, Cordial’s first-born, when she is named Princess Regent, forges new ties and unveils her master plan.

My Review

The Quarter Percent by Lily Nicole is a unique dystopian science fiction blending politics and technology together. The plot has many parallel storylines which are woven together through mutual connections.

Set in the near future, the book begins giving a glimpse of the technical takeover on our day-to-day lives. Every information ever put out on the internet is now archived into a ten cubic meters of nanocellulose and silicon called Pai. Every user can point your device to this jelly block to access their data and modify them according to their taste. Access to this unique technology is only given to an extremely rich quarter percent of the population. This manipulative illegal technology which is controlled by a group of eight companies called The Conglomerate plan to market their product in the near future. This will cause a phase-out of the internet and the rise of Aeterna, the replacement. The source code of Aeterna is owned by Marvin Stones’ technology firm, Stone Technology Partners, LLC.

The plot thickens when Marvin Stone decides to rewrite the rules of the technology over the course of thirteen days. This will disrupt many lives depending on social media and the internet. The equations of marketing and advertising are going to take a toll due to this. This storyline is blended with the life of King Cordial of Vale, whose family problems have started spilling into the media. The King and his daughters are trying to squeeze the last drop of profit and power through covert plans.

This is not a simple story that can be expressed through a few lines. The story is getting complicated with the introduction of new characters. This complexity adds suspense and thriller elements in the story. The satirical account of family politics to gain more power and profit is portrayed very accurately. When people lose their ethics and only concentrate on profits, their grounds also change. This leads then to unquenchable greed to impair their opponents and rise above them. The human nature to wage war for their selfish goals is the soul-cause of the fall of humanity. This story explains them all. With accurate turns and twists, the plot never loses its charm.

The creative mind behind the story demands a huge applause. It is not easy to weave many storylines together and combine them to a single concept. The author has done this job very well. This book is absolutely a great treat for readers.

Rating: 5/5

Purchase here: Amazon.in  https://amzn.to/3iquCr7

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Quotes, Self-Help

The Leader’s Book of Inspiration: Quotes and Insights for Today’s Leaders by Michael Elliott|Book review

41110014
Title: The Leader’s Book of Inspiration: Quotes and Insights for Today’s Leaders
Author: Michael Elliott
Pages: 170
Blurb
The Leader’s Book of Inspiration is a work of extraordinary insights for self-driven go-getters. Whether you are an entrepreneur, illustrator, writer, executive, or pastor, a leader needs a book s/he can lean on for inspiration. This is that book. Drawing from the greatest kings, authors, artists, poets, philosophers, and religious minds of all time, and amassing over 300 lessons for the 21st-century leader, this refreshing collection of quotes delivers a wealth of eternal knowledge, that is sure to stand the test of time. The Leader’s Book of Inspiration is an essential addition to any personal library. There is everything to gain by igniting the imagination through profound words of inspiration. This book will be your spark.
My review
Life is all about goals and dreams. It is a quest for our own purpose. We have the freedom to uses our limited years of life for our own good or for doing good to others. Not all can manifest their own destiny. When we fail, we seek guidance. Those who have walked the same path before are the best mentors to choose from. This is why we rely on motivation to supplement our endeavors. But extrinsic motivation is always something short-lived. Intrinsic motivation only emerges from our own inner self. What we can do for this is to fall back to the knowledge from great visionaries and leaders to build strong morale.

This book is a great collection of quotes from almost all the visionaries who have ever walked on the earth. The insights range from poets to Kings, authors to philosophers. I must say it is a great addition to my personal book collection because it serves as a constant source of motivation. The author has divided this book into nine parts, each one discusses the insights from a particular group of leaders. This composition helps to read and accept things that best suits each one of us.

Rating:5/5
Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Self-Help

Hang Shakespeare by Robert Boog| Book review

51abDloqrXL._SY346_

Title: Hang Shakespeare: But not DeVere, a True story Mystery Solved

Author: Robert Boog

Pages:123

Blurb

Ever wonder why people doubt that William Shakespeare was the “true” author of the poems, plays and sonnets? In this book, not only will you discover three reasons why to doubt, you will also learn why William Shakespeare, a young man from the provinces, a man without wealth, connections or a university education should be hung!” His close friend and rival, Ben Jonson wrote these words in 1623. This man knew the “real” author MUCH better than modern scholars like Stephan Greenblatt or James Shapiro, wouldn’t you agree? “Many books that question Shakespeare’s authorship will claim he could not have written the works because of his lack of education or upbringing but this book does not. Anybody can write anything. However, when Elton John sings songs written by Bernie Taupin, they simply sound better. And that is reason number one we should doubt the authorship.”
Why hang Shakespeare? Because in the 1620’s, thieves were hung.
Using an interesting concept that does NOT focus on snobbery or money to explain WHY, author Robert Boog claims to have solved this 400+ year old, true story mystery. Do NOT take someone else’s word for it. Then, join the conversation.
Bringing together little-known historical facts as well as the scant, but incontrovertible things written about the “real” author, Mr. Boog, who claims NOT to be an expert, explains things in a comfortable yet convincing fashion.
Shakespeare’s MOTIVE to steal: it wasn’t the money or the fame. It was something else that makes perfect sense.
Causation: Who created the First Folio PROVES Shakespeare could NOT have written the plays.
Common sense: Why this nobleman needed a pseudonym makes perfect sense.
Stylometry: why it fails when the age of an author’s writing sample is unknown.
Occam’s Razor: why the most logical choice for the “real” author is the one with the university education in MATH, not English.

My Review

Life is all about learning. Learning new things, questioning, and changing perspectives. We need an open mind for accepting the arguments and conclude a subject on the basis of evidence. I have been reading plays and sonnets by William Shakespeare since my school days. I have never ever thought to question Shakespeare on his authorship. I have come across this book rather accidentally. But this was really an eye-opener for me on this topic. Hang Shakespeare by Robert Boog holistically covers historical and logical evidence that questions William Shakespeare’s authenticity to its core.

The author has gone through every possible document to reason his arguments. Some of the details from these documents are unbelievable. They clearly state that the real author of these iconic plays is Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, not Shakespeare and people actually know this fact and they have openly expressed it through their writings. Apart from the mind-boggling content of this book, I was mostly impressed by its structure. The author has a good idea about presenting a controversial topic with proper introduction and know how to reason his arguments without diverting from the main question. The way he has structured the book to support his arguments is remarkable. He has included every possible detail in this subject which varies from Shakespeare and Edwards’s personal, professional, and literary experiences. He has also examined the plays, sonnets of Shakespeare for clues to support his arguments.

What I learned from reading this book is, it is important to question any popular belief and analyze to reach our own opinions on that matter. This experience is a way forward in our overall life.

Rating:5/5

Purchase here: Amazon.in https://amzn.to/31kyqDu

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Fiction, Young-Adult

I’m lucky because you were born: My twenty-five (25) reasons by Zara Achou|Book review

51IPENg23AL._SX260_

Title: I’m lucky because you were born: My twenty-five (25) reasons

Author: Zara Achou

Pages: 27

This is a beautiful illustrative storybook for our little ones and for ourselves. Parenthood comes with a lot of happiness and responsibilities. Our little ones become the center of our chaotic life in no time. They bring joy to every small thing. We reborn at the moment we became a parent. It is indeed a new turn in our lives. But this happiness came only with that much high responsibility. The upbringing of a child is a difficult process.

This creative, colorful, and meaningful illustration can make this job a lot easier. The author has put down very unique words along with the illustrations. Those words are the heart of pictures. They completely reflect the parent’s love for their child. Capturing these raw emotions is not easy. But the author has done it with ease. Show this book to your child and say I love you to them. Their eyes will widen and their heart will be filled with happiness. They never forget how you made them feel.

The beautiful moments of parenthood should be shared with our little ones without losing their essence. This is the best way for that.

Rating:5/5

Purchase here: Amazon.in  https://amzn.to/2Pg6Gdn

 

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Fiction, Indian Authors

Binge and Nothingness by Juan Kaius| Book review

51h19J7t1eLTitle: Binge and Nothingness

Author: Juan Kaius

Pages:75

Blurb

If you are suffering from an existential crisis, do not read this book!

This is the story of Juan, a 25 year old boy, who after binging the joy out of everything, food, drugs, and entertainment, realizes that the only way left to fill the void is to fall into it. Thus, he embarks on one final journey – to jump off the top of a hill and end his life on a ‘high’ note. By doing this, he intends to set an example for his peers, all depressed and directionless individuals, who can follow him and attain the truest form of freedom. But does fate have one last absurd joke to play on him?

Set in McLeodganj, a mystical sanctuary of Tibetan Buddhism, this is a satirical take on our generation’s futile search for the meaning of life.

My review

Binge and Nothingness narrates a story of a 25-year-old young man who is suffering from an existential crisis. He is always in search of his life’s purpose. He has tried everything to extract pleasure. His search hits a dead end and he decides to give up his life. He is ready to embrace death for reaching a new “high”. He decides to jump off from a cliff at Triund, Dharamkot. But what if life has some other plans, waiting for him?

I really loved this story because of its uniqueness. I never ever came across a story like this before. The existential crisis of the new generation is embedded very carefully in the storyline. The explanation of this unique philosophy often drifted me from reading. The thoughts of Juan kept me thinking about those concepts much deeper. His views resonate with the present world very accurately. The observations of author in all the things mentioned in the story such as drugs, meditation, spirituality, life, greed, and lust is hundred percent correct. This alone glued me to the story until the end.

Honestly speaking, I have come across very few books that have the power to leave me astonished after reading. This is one of those rare books. The story is penned down very beautifully. The pinch of sarcasm till the very last page is something deserves a huge applause.

Rating:5/5

Purchase here: Amazon.in

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Quotes, Self-Help

DREAMS. GOALS. PLANS.: A Simple Guide for Turning Your Dreams into Goals and Goals into Plans by Danni White

 

43437394._UY630_SR1200,630_Title: Dreams. Goals. Plans: A Simple Guide for Turning Your Dreams into Goals and Goals into Plans

Author: Danni White

Pages: 102

Blurb

DREAMS. GOALS. PLANS. is a 31-day guide to helping you get from where you are now to where you would like to be. It is much more than another book on how to dream big, best practices for setting goals, or a checklist on how to plan your life and future. Instead, it serves as a simple guidebook of empowerment to help you think about your life and the opportunities available to you in new ways. When we open up to the possibilities, we find new ways of dreaming, propose better goals for ourselves, and make plans that excite us.

My review

Life is a journey, some may simply exist here and some may live their dreams here. Only a very small percentage of people become successful in their life. We all have some dreams and goals. But realizing these dreams are the hardest part. Usually, extrinsic motivation is short-lived. Feasible and long-term motivation only comes from introspection methods. Analyzing and examining our day-to-day habits is the only way forward. This book Dreams. Goals. Plans by Danni White focuses on changing and prioritizing our habits. The author has structured this book in way that its core values should make an impact on its readers.

I have read many books in this niche before. But what makes this one different is its applicability. The author never attempts to sugarcoat the harsh truths in this book. She put down the exact reality of the hardworking and successful people. Success never comes easy. If someone says it is easy then its a blatant lie. We subconsciously accept these lies because we are afraid to go beyond our comfort zone. This book serves as a detox for this mindset. Because of this nature, I felt refreshed after completing this book. This book gave me the clarity that I need for my thoughts. It is a practical guide to converting dreams to goals and then actionable plans.

The author has carefully chosen some meaningful quotes to convey her ideas. She included them at the beginning and at the end of each chapter. These quotes reflect the core values of successful people. Then she explains the concepts and actionable plans that one can derive from those words. This is indeed a unique plan for achieving our own goals. Because the action is the only thing that matters in the end.

Rating:5/5

Purchase here: Amazon.in

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Self-Help

ANTI CELLULITE GUIDE: Ultimate Guide to Cellulite Free Skin by Alein Ree | Book review

 

41aMNSIKs5L._SY445_QL70_ML2_Title: ANTI CELLULITE GUIDE: Ultimate Guide to Cellulite Free Skin

Author: Alein Ree

Pages: 48

Blurb

Ultimate Guide to Cellulite Free Skin offers simple and practical solutions in easy step guide to cellulite free skin! Extremely easy and short to read with no fuss has never been easier. This book explains what cellulite is and not, causes of cellulite, myths, misconceptions, explains why certain methods don’t work, step by step checklist, and solutions. It covers all possible causes of cellulite and guidance on how to get rid of it. Every woman is different and causes for cellulite are too, hence why we look at it from a holistic perspective. This book is up to date with current time so should be much relatable to women seeking solutions.

My review

Cellulite is the most common health condition that affects mainly women. It is also a matter of beauty and skincare. This book presents a holistic approach to this complex condition. As the title says, this is an ultimate guide for anti-cellulite skin. The author who is also a certified healthcare professional presents A-Z details about this problem through this book. We are living in a time, where information overload is clogging our judging abilities. The internet is filled with myths and facts. This creates misconceptions that eventually lead to mistreatments for cellulite. This causes more problems. So, the right knowledge about cellulite is essential. This short read has concise and accurate details. It is written to convey this health condition to laymen. Because of that, the author has devoted half of the book for busting myths around cellulite. This was an eye-opener for me.

After separating facts from myths, the author has then introduced a practical solution that every woman can adopt to cure this condition. This checklist includes every possible cause and its remedies. The author ends the book with the possible treatment options for cellulite.

This is a complete practical guide for this health condition which is written in a simple and lucid language. This is indeed a very helpful read and recommended for every woman who wants to learn more about their health and lifestyle.

Rating:5/5

Purchase here: Amazon.IN

 

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Self-Help

Gear Up For a Time Like This by Catherine Agada| Book review

41NTc08AcML._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_

Title: Gear Up For a Time Like This

Author: Catherine Agada

Pages: 128

Blurb

Do you know your purpose? At a time like this, can you still be sure about your purpose and mandate in life? And do you even understand the time and season we are in? And how to prepare to persevere and prevail in it? If you answer “NO” to any of these questions, this book is for you.

Our world, as we have known it, is changing! Through a virulent global pandemic, tumbling economies, rising unemployment, and widespread racial collisions, the norms, and the certainties of our world are collapsing right before our eyes. Are You Prepared For What is Next? Gear-up For A Time Like brings clarity to the situation, and “GOD’S RESET,” It offers a physical and spiritual guide to gear up for the challenges! This book answers the questions on why we are on earth at such a time and offers practical ramps’ for anyone uncertain, confused, and anxious about this season.

It allows you to stay focus, uncover, and live in the primary, as well as illuminates the unique purpose of your life for God’s desired destiny in you. After reading it, you will be able to identify your divine purpose and more, put a plan in place and ready to start immediately. Catherine Agada started writing this book on January 4, 2020, unaware that she would be peering prophetically into the future because she followed the Spirit of God’s leading. She believes we could rise from the ashes of today if we understood the season and the opportunities it presented. Are You Ready to Gear-Up?

My Review

Faith is the path to renovation and reinvention of our spirit. It is the path of enlightenment. For a time like this, faith can hold humanity together for a greater good. Gear up for a time like this by Catherine Agada is a practical guide to find calm amidst the storm. The world is falling into a depression. Everything is in chaos. But the Lord has all answers. We all are seeking answers from the wrong sources. That’s why we didn’t find any fulfilling answers yet. It is the right time to hold tight to our faith. It is the source of our inner power. It is the source of light.

The author has affirmed this belief through this book. She has addressed this difficult issue rather beautifully. The book is written as a circle. It starts with addressing the root cause of our existence. Why we are here? What is our purpose? What is our goal? She connects the readers to God through the initial chapters of the book. After that, she lays out the master plan to survive this uncertain time. It is an actionable plan based on core moral values of life and humanity. These principles are often neglected by us because we are so busy with our greed. But for a time, that is resetting our lives, we have to fall back to our basic principles. The next step is finding out our strengths, dislikes, and weaknesses. This plan not only encourages to rejuvenate our personality but also gives a fresh perspective to survive this pandemic. 

At the end of every chapter, there is a summary of the content. This is helpful for me to revise the core values of the book from time to time. Altogether it is an essential read to survive this pandemic era.

Rating:5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Fiction, Thriller, Uncategorized

Barn Tales: Book 6 of Whispering Willows series by Diana Dawn| Book review

53190741._SX318_Title: Barn Tale: Book 6 of Whispering Willows series
Author: Diana Dawn
Language: English
Pages: 109

Blurb

The evil witch and the Captain that Lily fears so have found their way into the Willows. Lily is torn between two men whom she loves. But can she sort out her feelings amidst the trouble that Margurite and the Captain could potentially cause for the village? Does the answer to their problems lie within the mirror…within a time hundreds of years ago back in the House of White kingdom? ‘Barn Tales’ is the sixth book in the Whispering Willows series.

My Review

Barn Tales by Diana Dawn is the sixth installment of the Whispering Willows series. In this part, the story is entirely focused on Snow’s identical sister Lily. The previous book ended in a cliffhanger, that made me eagerly pick this one and read as soon as possible. Just like all the other five books, the author Diana Dawn has not disappointed me a bit. She brilliantly crafted this book too.

With the presence of Captain Philippe and the evil witch Margurite in willows, the plot is exciting from the beginning. The author doesn’t follow the usual pattern of storytelling in this book. She is narrating two parallel stories throughout the book, one is the struggle of Lily to decide between Thomas and Nate, the other is the mysteries around Captain and witch. I must say, she had done a marvelous job through this storytelling. She has narrated two different aspects of a story without losing its emotions to the core.

Lily is not at all identical to Snow in appearance but also in character too. She is also confused in love, an emotion she never experienced before. The author has well presented her viewpoints on love and her tender character of not hurting anybody. I really liked Lily on these points.

I really missed Snow in most of the parts. The author has now shifted her focus to Lily’s story and didn’t allow her to appear not more than one percent of the story. But I’m really looking forward to the next part. Because there are many unanswered questions in this story. I badly want to unwind these mysteries.

Rating: 5/5