Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Travel memoir, Travelogue

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

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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

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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, 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 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

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

Gut healthy by CW Piper|Book review

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Title: Gut Healthy

Author: CW Piper

Pages: 45

Genre: Health and Nutrition

 

They say, Health is wealth and it is absolutely true considering our current worldwide scenario. In these days of self-isolation and home quarantine, we should think more about our health. Developing a good immune system is an absolute necessity for all humans now. We should gain more knowledge about the human body for this. For that, Gut healthy is a good book to know more about our own body.

The author explains all the basic and advanced knowledge about our body in simple and easy to understand terms. It is written as simple as that anybody who is interested to know more about the human body can understand everything in this book easily.

When I saw the title, Gut healthy, I thought that it will only talk about our gut. But he begins with gut and gradually moves to all other sections of general wellbeing. It is quite interesting to know about what is happening inside our system. From the introduction of the book itself, he clarifies that the gut is not an unimportant part of our body as we think. The gut produces more than 20 important hormones that control our appetite to mood swings. The gut microbiome is the single most important thing which maintains the health of skin, brain, weight, ability to absorb nutrients and more. By reading the introduction of this book itself, we can understand that gaining more knowledge about our gut is essential to improve our health.

After the introduction, the author unravels everything about the gut in a systematic manner. First, he introduces digestion in general and then the role of the microbiome. After he explains all the facts about a healthy gut and its abnormalities. After giving a basic knowledge about the gut he then concentrates on the diet that we can adopt for improving our gut microbiome. It includes what to include and what not. After that, he gives a brief idea about the diseases we may encounter due to an unhealthy gut too. This is an amazing guide for a beginner to understand and modify their system for better health and lives.

The standout in this book is indeed the writing style. A structured, well crafted with accurate information conveyed through simple language. This is a must-read for all because it deals with the single most important thing in our life, health. The valuable information provided in the book will help every reader to understand and modify their gut microbiome for better health.

Rating:5/5

 

 

 

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Indian Authors, Self-Help, Thriller

Rape Trial by Bidisha Ghosal

Rape- a word which carries a lot of weight, emotions and pain. Over the years, rape and rape stories become a common headline in the media. They lost news value, because they became a consistent column in newspapers. Our patriarchal society judge this unforgivable crime as a mere deed. Over the years there has been many voices which came out to demand justice to the victims. But unfortunately many struggles end up in vain.

The victim, a more accurate word is a ‘survivor’, has to live the rest of her life in pain and disgust because of this societal attitude. The society will never stand with the victim. So this story has to be told over and over again until it is heard by everyone.

Rahul Satyabhagi is a wealthy businessman who exploits the judicial loopholes and escapes after committing a grave crime, raping Avni Rambha. Will he able to stand behind a thin veil all the time?

The emotions which a survivor goes through in different stages of life cannot be expressed through words. Because it is that much intense and complex. The author has done a sincere attempt to portray these struggles. Justice can be denied if you have influence and wealth. But the justice will be served at last. The author ends it in a positive note hugging hope.

Rating:4/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fiction, Indian Authors, non-fiction, Uncategorized

Daughters of The Brothel: Stories from Delhi’s Red-light District

Title: Daughters of The Brothel: Stories from Delhi’s Red-light District

Author: Deepak Yadav

Publisher: Bigfoot Publications Pvt. Ltd

Pages: 224

Few words

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“My nath utrai (Taking off the nose ring) was performed when I was twelve or thirteen. The initial days were tough but now it gives me pleasure. I have inherited the art of making love from my grandmother.”
-Roopal, a sex worker from the Bedia community in brothel number 56.

Nath Utrai ceremony is nothing but the auction of the girl by the highest bidder near Bharatpur in Rajasthan.

“Everyone believes that all hijras are castrated, but this is not true. We call it nirvana. Castration is usually optional. It cannot be forced upon a hijra.”
-Sharmila, a eunuch from the streets of Varanasi

The narrator spends a considerable amount of time in G.B. Road, the famous red-light district in New Delhi during his stint with an NGO. He records the narratives of the sex workers of brothel number 56, insights of their daily lives, local lingos, quarrels, and the ins and outs of their business with an honest stoicism that does not dilute the terrible pathos of their lives.

Through this voyage within the walls of pleasurable cells, the writer learns that the G.B. road is an inexorable web…but only because the women trapped in it believe it to be so.

Review

From the title itself, it is evident that this is not a book for everyone. This is not a story of romance and love. These are the real-life stories of a lesser-known section, often termed as taboos of the polished society we live in.


The author gives insights into the daily lives of sex workers, prostitutes, and transgenders of the G. B road, the infamous red-light district of Delhi. These are not just stories. The author has written this as a mix of conversation and his own thoughts. The writing style is captivating.


Every account is unique. We can either read this book for leisure or for gaining knowledge. Knowledge about the hard life of girls, how they are treated at home and how they end up here and there bitter experiences. You can’t close this book without a heavy heart.

Rating:4/5

Buy here: Amazon

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fiction, Indian Authors, Indian Mythology

Queen of Hearts by P.G. Van

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  • Title: Queen of Hearts
  • Author: P.G. Van
  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • Print Length: 223 pages
  • Buy now: Amazon

Blurb

Waking up in a strange place and not remembering anything, not even her name, she remembers him, not as her husband as she is told, but something about him seems familiar!

Why does her mind remember only him and nothing else?

In an unexpected change of circumstances, he has to bring her home as his wife. She becomes vital for him to close a deal, and he needs to make her believe she is his wife until the contract is finalized on his dream project.

What happens when the temporary set-up starts to seem real for him?

When she realizes what he had done, will he still be able to hold on to her?

My review

“Queen of Hearts: An Indian billionaire romance” by P.G Van is a typical romance story with the pinch of suspense throughout. From the title of the book, it is evident that, the story will be something filled with cheesy and steamy romance. But the blurb truly excites me to dive right into the book. It is because they’ve given a good blurb with a hint of suspense. I really liked it. The strength of this story is it is woven on the strong plot. The plot is somewhat seen in typical Bollywood films but I felt this plot is strong. The characters are framed well for a romance story. The usual anti-hero image at the beginning for the protagonist. His character changes to a good one because of the influence of female lead so and so. Every romance novel is filled with a turn and twist towards the end of the story and here also no escape from that. But overall, this novel gives a good reading experience. Altogether it is an easy to read and recommended for all romance lovers.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fiction, Indian Authors, Indian Mythology, Science Fiction, Thriller

The Last Avatar (Age of Kalki #1) by Vishwas Mudagal

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  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins India
  • Language: English
  • Buy here: Amazon

Blurb

In the not-so-distant future, India has fallen, and the world is on the brink of an apocalyptic war. An attack by the terrorist group Invisible Hand has brutally eliminated the Indian Prime Minister and the union cabinet. As a national emergency is declared, chaos, destruction and terror reign supreme. From the ashes of this falling world, rises an unconventional hero – a vigilante known only as Kalki. Backed by a secret society called The Rudras, Kalki, along with Nushen, the Chinese superhuman spy, must do the impossible to save his country, and the world. But who is Kalki? A flesh and blood crusader with a mysterious past? Or the Messiah the world has been waiting for? The future of human survival depends on a single man. Will he become the living God prophesied as the last avatar of Lord Vishnu, or will he fade away as an outlaw?

My take

Kalki is a topic which is overused over time by many prominent writers in India. Still, it is a good subject to let your imagination build on. Mainly because of the mythological and modern background of the character. That’s why this topic never goes off the style.

First things first. Iwas really intrigued by the cover of the book at first sight. The depiction of Kalki with the touch of Lord Hanuman wielding a mysterious but seemingly powerful weapon. The curiosity built by the cover alone deserves an honorable mention.

Coming to the story, this one has everything for every kind of readers. I was absolutely fascinated by the plot and sub-plots in the story. The subplots are the main highlight. Because the author has woven many stories in a single string and connected them well to build an absolutely massive plot. This plot holds together every character in the story. This is also a well-built foundation for his upcoming books in this series.

The world is on the edge of an apocalyptic war. An attack by the terrorist group Invisible Hand in the Indian parliament has eliminated the Prime Minister, Union ministry and cabinet. The national emergency is declared and the subsequent chaos paved the way for destruction and terror. From this total terror, an unconventional hero has risen who is know as The Kalki. The protagonist Kalki, who has a double life as Neel who leads the Astra Group which manufactures most modern technological types of equipment. He is backed by a secret society known as Rudras.

What is the intention of this terrorist group led by Master Zar and what is his hidden motive to attack Indian parliament in one go? Who is Kalki and what is his intention behind saving the world? Who is the secret society known as Rudras and are they have some hidden agenda?

There are many more questions are arising from each page of the story. Every page creates suspense. There are too many different characters and the imaginary world which the author bought to the reader is absolutely magical. This suspense along with twists and addressing the geopolitical situation of India and China, the author never leaves any stones unturned.

The protagonist has no flaws. He has superhuman strength and abilities makes him the reincarnation of God. But I felt the character of the villain is slightly underdeveloped. The strength of the villain has a huge part in making a hero.

Altogether, it is a very good story and worth your time. Every mythological-historical fiction reader ought to try this book.

Rating:4/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fiction, Indian Authors, Memoirs, Self-Help

Zero Not Out by Vamshi Krishna

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Blurb

Varun Krishna, hailing from a middle-class family, works hard to realize his dream of getting into one of the top IITs. During his four years of college, he would go on to make friends and mentors for life. He would also meet his first love Nitya Iyer during his first year in college.Due to some unfortunate turn of events, he had to part ways with her as soon as he finishes college because of which he would go on a self-destruction mode. How life takes him forward from such a miserable state to building a startup aimed at curbing suicides forms the rest of the story. Riding high on emotions while emphasizing the role of family during crisis time, the novel illustrates the theme of how a father is looked up to as a real hero by his son.

About the Author

Vamshi Krishna spends most of his time writing – code or stories. He says he is a software engineer by chance and a writer by choice. Apart from writing, he reads a lot about cricket, love, women, and stories of failures. He is also a fitness enthusiast and a huge fan of MS Dhoni.He says his 4 year journey at IIT-BHU is the best time of his life. He strongly believes that every student, for at least a couple of years in his early 20s should experience hostel life.’Nobody dies a virgin, life fucks everyone’ is the motto he believes in.’Zero Not Out’ is his debut fiction novel and prior to this, he authored a coding related book. This novel is inspired by his real-life incidents (and accidents).

My review

A nice story which is written in the backdrop of College life. The author presents Varun, the protagonist who struggles through career choices, love, heartbreak and recovery. This story ends with a positive note. Actually, the positivity and fight back start when Varun goes through the heartbreak. How he fought back and realizing the true purpose of his life is the core of this story. When we accept ourselves, every other thing will fall into its deserved place.