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

Forget Me Not by Diana Dawn|Review

51gXzpm8pCL

Title: Forget me not: Book-2 of Whispering Willow series

Author: Diana Dawn

Pages:119

Forget me not by Diana Dawn is the second installment of her 7-book Whispering Willow series. From the first book of this series, “Fallen snow” she has created an enchanted world of magic and fantasy for the retelling of an age-old fairytale. The first book ended in a perfect cliffhanger and I was eagerly waiting to read the next one. This one picks up the story from exactly where she ended in the last book without any glitch.

The story of Princess Snow is getting many more twists and turns in this part. The major change I felt when reading was the transformation of Snow’s character. She was portrayed as naive, innocent, and someone who is living in fantasies. But here the author gave a new dimension to her character. Although she is as much as innocent as in the first book, but now she has gained much confidence and added some maturity to her decisions. The author is trying to create depth for her characters here.

I personally liked the love sequences of Mitch and Snow. Their love deepens and they’re becoming soul-mates here. Sit back and enjoy their journey which is progressing to mutual trust and understanding. Dawn opens this book with a fast-paced narration to bring a thriller mood to the story. Then everything calms down and a slow ride of romance starts. In the end, again the fast-paced action sequences came into play. Thus she ends the story on a high note.

From my perspective, to drive readers through a large book series, this kind of fabulous writing skill is necessary. I felt that all main characters are multilayered and she scratched only the surface. This alone adds some unpredictable sense to the  story. I have absolutely no idea where she is heading with this story. Diana is mounting suspense through her flawless narration. I’m hopelessly thinking that she may reveal something. But again she draws curtain at a cliffhanger. Read and enjoy!

Rating:5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Travel memoir, Travelogue

A brown man in Russia: Lessons learned on the Trans-Siberian by Vijay Menon|Review

40245440._SY475_

Title: A brown man in Russia: Lessons learned on the Trans-Siberian 

Author: Vijay Menon

Pages: 232

The world is fighting against a pandemic. People are tied to their homes for an unpredictable period. As a travel enthusiast, it is a dreadful period which no one wants to remember. But books can rescue anyone from any danger. Travel memoirs are one of my favorite genres because thry let me travel without leaving my home. I adore them. From the title itself, we can deduce that this is a journey of a brown man to Russia via trans-Siberian.
From the first page itself the author is calling the readers to join this journey with him. His parents were keen to inculcate an unconditional love for travel in him from a very young age. He was a 5-year-old boy who received National Geographic magazine as a Christmas gift. Here he is now planning to travel across Russia through Trans-Siberian railway to Mongolia to celebrate Christmas along with his Duke friends and this too in the heart of winter! The journey was not smooth, it has its ups and downs. But the author has managed to tell a travel story with a pinch of humor.

His unquenching thirst for adventure is the most striking part of this memoir. Perhaps it is the core that drives this story alone. But you can’t blend adventure with unpreparedness. It was something that I didn’t approve of. As a traveler it is essential to know and prepare for your journey especially if you are going to a totally strange country. But if I think about this from a new perspective, I can find some sort of adventure in it. Vijay’s struggle in Russia with language and people might be a lesson for some and adventure for some others. Anyway he managed to narrate his experience flawlessly.
I believe that only the writing skill can rescue an author in a travel memoir. The ability to narrate travel experiences without losing their underlying emotions, let alone drive the story. Apart from the portrayal of the scenic beauty of Russia through words, I liked the element of honesty and friendship he has. They made this journey even more sweater. If a reader can give his undivided focus to this memoir, then he could experience a beautiful journey with these friends through Trans-Siberian to enjoy a Mongolian Christmas.

Reccommended for every travel enthusiasts out there.

Rating:5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, historical fiction, Memoirs

Slaves, Masters and Traders: Historical Fiction by H. Ann Ackroyd|Review

images

Title: Slaves,Masters and Traders: Historical Fiction

Author: H. Ann Ackroyd

Pages: 546

“Slaves, Masters, and Traders: Historical fiction by H. Ann Ackroyd is a novel which is written in the background of true events of the slave trade which was prevailed in the 18th century.  Slave trade was one of the most disastrous events in the history of mankind. It was an unjustifiable crime by all means. If we look back to history, we may encounter that the slave trade was done by the noblemen of the society. The Africans were dragged from their home and transported to faraway lands to be a slave for the rest of their lives. The people who are born free in their native land were captured, abused, and forced to work and serve without any justice. Through this book you can relive these events. It is a story that has to be told over and over. Because it is the living evidence of the extend of racism in people’s minds.

I always love to read historical fiction books because they are always the perfect blend of creativity and history. This one also didn’t disappoint me. The book is comparatively thick because the author has narrated the story in-depth through these pages. These kinds of large books need a compelling narrative and unputdownable story to successfully lead the reader through these pages. In my opinion, this kind of beautiful narrative alone can drive the story. The author is narrating three main storylines in parallel. Three different backgrounds, three different cultures, and very different humans too. It was a perfect pleasure to delve into a historical fiction book that is sailing through smooth storylines.

From the story of black tribal family to the life of a black slave family and their masters in Lousiana, it was a journey that a reader can cherish in their whole life. The book is also a treasure of insights from history. A reader can learn many things through this book along with a heartfelt story.

Another highlight of the story is character built-up. Strong characters can only drive the story forward. Here, the characters are created to perfectly blend with the storyline. Each and every character is unique and attention-grabbing. Again the beauty of powerful writing skills.

Recommended for every reader who likes to read historical fiction.

Rating:5/5

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

“The Potter and the Clay: Hard pressed on every side but not destroyed” by Ellis Lucas|Review

51M76BY0zuL

Title: The Potter and the Clay: Hard pressed on every side but not destroyed

Author: Ellis Lucas

Pages: 198

“The Potter and the Clay” is an autobiographical book written by Ellis Lucas who turned his life all around through his faith in Jesus. This is a powerful testimony of a man who went through every hardship one can felt in a lifetime and managed to find the light at the end of the tunnel.

This is not a typical motivation book you might see in the market. The story he is telling through these pages is real. We can literally feel the pain that he was gone through. He was at the utmost point of despair. At the endpoint of his life, he found the love of Jesus. This reinvention gave him a rejuvenated and renovated path of life.

This testimony is not only inspiring but also compelling us to believe in God. He assures that we will reborn on the day, we let Jesus come into our life. Such a peaceful yet powerful narration of the life!

This is a captivating read indeed. The words are connected through emotions. The chapters are flowing through his life events without any flaws.

A must-read.

Rating:5/5

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

Wanted by Ellis Lucas|Review

414uDDoUj9L

Title: Wanted

Author: Ellis Lucas

Pages: 228

Faith is a gift, some people are born with it, some will achieve it someday. But it is our fate that either we find it or not. The path of self-healing starts with belief. The best knowledge I gained from this book is how faith can heal any mind, whether it is torn or not. “Wanted” is a book of enlightenment. It is the torchbearer of hope and love. Ellis has penned down an amazing testimony of his life. His transformation is something that cannot be described through words. He led the most disastrous life and at the ultimate point of despair, he found the hope, the healing, the life.

He begins the book by giving a glimpse of his own life. His life itself is most inspiring. Throughout the 15 chapters in the book, he is reinstating only one most important point, why you are the most wanted by Jesus, how you can find the path of self-realization and happiness. The author has used a very different kind of writing style. He structured the journey of self-realization through these 15 chapters, from finding Jesus to healing your mind. These perfectly organized ideas are enough for a human to embark a change on their mind. A change which can lead you to enlightenment.

The one thing I felt when reading is the pure joy. Ellis is the happiest man who dedicated his life to helping people in need. So his inner joy flows through his words. Where there is innocence there will be happiness. I can literally felt it throughout the book. I found a bible inside this book. The author used numerous bible verses to explain human nature and behaviors. Every chapter ends with invaluable insights.

This is one of the greatest reads I have ever read. It has the power of inspiration and enlightenment. I totally recommend this one.

Rating:5/5

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

Instagram for Authors by Bonnie Baguley|Review

41Biyijar9LTitle: Instagram for Authors: An A-to-Z Guide To Finding More Readers and Selling More Books on Instagram 

Author: Bonnie Baguley 

Pages: 53

Instagram for authors by Bonnie Baguley is a complete guide for authors who wants to boost their sales and popularity through Instagram in the shortest possible time. Instagram marketing is a powerful yet inexpensive way for advertising products and driving traffic to your website. As a debut author, they might face many hurdles to establish themselves in the industry. As specified in the title it is an A-to-Z guide for taking over Instagram especially as an author. More than half of the content written to specifically addressing the authors. But anyone keen to develop and grow their Instagram account could gain more knowledge from this book.

Everything about Instagram is detailed through 10 chapters in this book. From getting started to master analytics and advertising is explained in this short book. This is a concise and structured guide to master the best future social media platform. How the author has arranged this vast information systematically is a wonderful matter to discuss. She answers every question that may arise, why it is a valuable tool and how can we proceed. It is a step by step guide for the authors. Even she includes the what are the photo editing apps, scheduling/automation tools available as a reference in the end.

Only a good reader can become a good writer. As Virginia Woolf said, read a thousand books, the words will flow. So, I think that this is an essential guide for every reader out there, who is aspiring to be an author someday. This is a must-have.

Rating:5/5

Bye Here: Amazon IN Amazon.com

 

Amina Thajudeen Uncategorized

The Future of leadership in the age of AI by Marin Ivezic & Luca Ivezic|Review

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a reality that no one can deny. It is already made its first steps in market disrupting the reserved human resource chain. The future will be undoubtedly dominated by AI. To survive it is essential for us to develop our extream skills to beat the technology. It may sound impossible but it is the truth that we have to admit one day. 

I have seen many books written about the future technological advancements. But none of them provide informations better than this book. The concepts are crystal clear here. The best way to tackle any problem is to admit our weaknesses and rise above. We can’t fought with AI for so long. We can adapt our businesses according to the probable risk that would be created by AI in the future. The authors are experienced market risk researchers and they presented their years of wisdom through this book. 

After reading this book, I got an insight to the future problems that we are likely to confront due to the invasion of AI. But this book is different because they gave many practical leadership measures that we can adopt to manage this apocalypse. It is very important that everyone in this world has an insight to the future. Because if we start now we will cherish later. Also the flawless use of language and funny illustrations in the chapters helps the reader to sail through.

Rating:5/5

    Amina Thajudeen Uncategorized

    Fallen Snow by Diana Dawn|Review

    Young adult fantasy thrillers are the best! Fallen Snow is the first book of Whispering Willows series written by Diana Dawn. The story follows Princess Snow who is on the run from her evil step mother. She accidentally bumps into Steive in the woods and he takes her to the enchanted Whispering Willows. Will this be her new home? Will she able to find her “prince charming” in this new world?

    Dawn has created a new world by blending magic and mystery. She slowly unravels the multilayered mystery of Willows to the readers. The readers are slowly moving along with the princess Snow through this magic world. We will find love, danger, freedom and much more in this journey.

    The author used a simple and vivid language to create this magical world. The touch of romance felt like a cherry on top. The depiction of girly love by mixing the confused and innocent personality of Snow is believable. The characters are well developed because a reader can easily get connected to them. The author has laid down a good foundation for her next book by ending this one at the cliffhanger.

    Rating:5/5

    Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Motivational Quotes, Self-Help

    End The Panic: You are the hero during this Pandemic by Shabnum|Review

    41sZOnV0E9L._SY346_

    Title: End The Panic: You are the hero during this Pandemic

    Author: Shabnum Prosperity

    Pages: 26

    “End The panic” is a very short read dealing with the mental health of humans who are living in this Coronavirus pandemic situation. A short guide that will help everyone to curb their anxiety and gain control of their mind again. Due to the unpredictable situation created by this pandemic, every single person in this world is living every day in fear. This fear is slowly harming our immunity and making us much more vulnerable to this disease. In this situation, it is important to stay calm and overcome our weaknesses to beat the disease.

    This is an excellent book to guide the layman. It is written in a simple language in a structured manner. The author begins the book by narrating her own experiences which helps the readers to get connected to the facts she is explaining later. I liked the overall content in this book because they are practical advice. Dealing with self-isolation may create many mental strains. But when you read this guide, you can reinvent yourself to see the positive effects of self-isolation.

    A must-read in this pandemic days.

    Rating:5/5

    Buy here: Amazon IN

    Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fiction, Memoirs, Self-Help, short story

    My happily ever after by Sanjay Sharma| Book review

    Title: My happily ever after 

    Author: Sanjay Sharma

    Blurb

    Keshav is a small-town guy, who lands up in Delhi for his engineering degree in a well-known college. The twist in his tale is – he does not want to be an engineer. He wants to be an author. When fate brings him face to face with Aditi, he is stumped by her beauty and heavenly voice. Like him, her dreams lie elsewhere. She aspires to be a singer, and not an engineer.

    They bond over their dreams and passion, and a deep bond is forged. But just when things are going great between the two, a turning point pulls them apart. While she leaves him to pursue her dreams, he plunges into depression and anxiety.
    My Happily Ever After is a heartwarming tale of electrifying friendships, life-altering dreams, and everlasting love which will motivate you to live the life of your dreams.

    My review

    Romance stories always bring calm and gratitude to everyone’s heart because it is a story that we can relate to. The peace that they pour to our hearts is unmatchable. Keshav and Aditi’s love story is indeed a beautiful one. It is also narrated passionately. Everyone can pick up this book and read them without any hassles.

    I must say, it is not an entirely a love story. I liked this plot very much because it is more relatable to our lives. We all are trapped and living a life that others want to. We have dreams and we bury them because of unbearable stress and expectations. But some will stand straight until they achieve their dreams. This is the story of that someone.

    An inspiring read indeed. The simple yet powerful language is the biggest plus point. Overall a good and nice story.
    Rating:4/5