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Book Review - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows It's 1946. World War II has just ended, and the victims and survivors of the German Occupation are slowly gearing up for a new beginning, all the while dealing with the trauma of the war. Juliet, a columnist in London, is bored of writing the usual stuff and looks for something refreshing and different. She receives a letter from a certain Dawsey Adams from Guernsey, Channel Islands, informing her that he had come across a book with her name written on it, and asking her for information about bookstores in London. One letter leads to another, and gradually, Juliet gets introduced to the enigmatic and charming The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society which had its foundations over a roasted pig. Soon Juliet finds herself corresponding with its various members and over shared stories of grief, courage and hopeful beginnings, becomes a part of their community. I am a huge fan of the epis...
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Book Review - Poby & Polly: Choosing Happiness by Jyoti Prateek

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Poby & Polly: Choosing Happiness by Jyoti Prateek Available in Kindle Unlimited edition This book is a collection of short and beautiful stories based on the conversations between Polly and her friend / guide / mentor Poby (a polar bear). The conversations are centered around the daily lives of Polly and Poby, their experiences and how Poby transforms simple events into unforgettable and poignant life-lessons.  The conversations are delightful and possess a world of wisdom. The descriptions of the places that Polly and Poby visit bring the locales to life for readers. There is a soothing element to every story. The stories have been written at leisure and reading them feels like an exercise in mindfulness. The soothing aura of the scenes, coupled with Poby's wisdom make for a delightful reading.  Some of the insights shared by Poby are priceless in their wisdom. 'I am on the side of the day, Polly. Whatever it brings, I've decided to greet it with a smile.' 'Let...
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Book Review - Kailash Within by Parikshit Khanna

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Kailash Within by Parikshit Khanna Available in Kindle edition. The title of the book drew my attention to it. Mount Kailash is a dearly held dream that I hope to fulfill someday by whatever grace is bestowed to me.  This book is a collection of fifteen chapters, each one based on the priceless wisdom of Shiva Purana. Every chapter narrates a story from the Purana and gives a brief glimpse into the metaphorical truth contained in the story. Then the author describes how we can incorporate the lesson in the present day and overcome the challenges of modern life.  There is also a section in every chapter titled Kailash Practice that advocates a simple method for inner reflection and meditation. There are questions for reflection that make you ponder over things that feel seemingly trivial but which end up occupying a large part of our days and lives.  The stories have been narrated in a simple and concise manner. The lessons to be incorporated in modern day feel extremely r...
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Book Review - The Kaalansh Chronicles by Krishna Paswan

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The Kaalansh Chronicles by Krishna Paswan (Books 1 and 2) Available in Kindle edition Twenty-seven year old Ishaan Vardhan is an archaeological conservator. While working on a stepwell in Gujarat, he saves a man from death and makes a startling discovery about himself.  Ishaan is a Kaladhar - someone who can transfer life-essence to another being, but at the cost of precious time from his own life. Everytime he transfers life-essence, he would age reasonably.  But that is not all. His discovery alerts a covert group named as the Sabha whose mission to keep the existence of people like Ishaan, a secret. There are various groups under the Sabha and not all are in favor of allowing Ishaan to live.  Accompanied by Tara Sen, an epigraphist, Ishaan struggles to escape from the people sent to kill him. Only, he doesn't know who can save him, and whom he should trust.  The narrative is quiet fast-paced. The plot is steady with a believable storyline. The chapters, while shor...
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Book Review - Chandogya Upanishad By Naveen Goyal

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The Chandogya Upanishad is a collection of stories of wisdom that aim to awaken the seeker to the ultimate truth - that which we search for outwards, is within us, that we are both the seeker and the sought.  The author has presented these stories in a beautiful and poetic way that is both mesmerizing and enthralling. There is a certain rhythm to the narrative which has been clearly written at leisure and deserves to be read so.  The book begins with a description of what an Upanishad really means, and then proceeds to share its wisdom through timeless stories that strike the right chord and linger in the deep recesses of our memory.  The book talks in detail about the various Vidyas or sciences mentioned in the Upanishad - Madhu Vidya (The Honey Doctrine), Sandilya Vidya, Dahara Vidya and more such theories which have been presented in a clear, concise and poetic manner. I was left in awe and wonder at the simple yet immensely beautiful explanations of these sciences....
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Book Review - What We Carry Back by Shubham Bhardwaj

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This is a story of four friends. Aariv, who is struggling under the weight of a goodbye that never came. Maya, who is confused about her orientation towards love, and struggles quietly not just for acceptance but also for clarity. GDR, whose MO is facts and careful planning, micro-managing even. And then there is Rohan, who is about to get married and for ten days, he wants to live a life where nobody needs him for any work.  Rohan calls for a trip, and the rest agree with lots of speculation, plans and ideas.  Four countries and ten days later, each one gets what they were seeking (and sometimes didn't know that that's what they wanted!). The narrative is breezy and casual with lots of good and clean humor. The camaraderie between the four is typical of people in their mid to late twenties, trying to find humor when life shocks them with events they didn't accept. The narration of places has been kept to bare minimum, just enough to present a clear picture of the scene. Th...
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Book Review - The Longest Talk by Avery Baines

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The Longest Talk by Avery Baines Available in Kindle edition A question triggered the concept of this book. 'Do you think they're okay?' Dorothy and Harold, married for five decades, were sitting quietly on a bench when a girl passing by saw them and asked this question to her partner. In a society where loud noise and constant communication are held as sure signs of normalcy, perhaps their silent presence on the bench came off as strange. And that is the whole essence of this book - the importance of solitude and personal space in a relationship. The book is narrated by both Dorothy and Harold. Dorothy grew up in a silent yet loving household, and considers silence as an integral part of her personality. Harold, on the other hand, grew up in a family where there was a need for constant work and effort, and hence feels the need to talk constantly, to plan everything and to micromanage his life and his relationship with Dorothy. This difference almost threatens their relatio...
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