Confessions on an Island – Ayan Pal

                              

If you have ever witnessed Russian Matryoshka Dolls, those intriguing little nesting figures that magically appear, one after the other, from one single doll, you will realize how similarly Ayan Pal’s resourceful imagination produces stories, one after the other, in easy succession.

‘Confessions on an Island’ talks about a storyteller who gets trapped in her own maze of tales, a sinister man who holds her ransom for apparently his own devious ends, and an island that listens, patient and sympathetic, an unwilling witness to the events being played out on it.

The storyteller is thrown into an unexpected situation. “It had seemed like the perfect plan. But maybe it was a little too perfect – for someone else.”

The hint of intrigue stays with the reader throughout the book keeping him teetering on the edge of his seat. Every story narrated leads to another born out of the one that went before, “one Matryoshka popping out of another till there is nothing but emptiness that remains.” The rules are simple; the stories have to continue, much like a Scheherazade routine being played out by her, “like the trapped princess from the Arabian Nights”. The abductor reveals his mind slowly, revelling in his “mind games and manipulations”. Once the storyteller begins to fathom a little of what is on his mind, she also begins to tease him with possibilities.

Ayan proves that he is a master storyteller as he opens out the recesses of his mind to reveal glimpses as varied as Sita and the golden deer with silver spots, the Greek legend of the siren luring voyagers into the sea, the iconic bronze splendour of Copenhagen’s “The Little Mermaid” whose face echoes the pain that only she can see, “the Nordic and Scandinavian interpretation of classical cuisines by executive chef, Rene Redzepi, ‘The Wooden Walk’ that transports one to medieval England, and shape-shifting demons. He is meticulous in his details as he describes the island in Sabah, in Malaysia, and that “the mountain rising like a sentinel in the Northeast is Mount Kinabalu”. Food also plays a vital role in the book as varied cuisines are described with loving detail.

As a bitter-sweet tableau of lust and hate is played out, with intermittent moments of longing, the mysteries get cleared up, one by one, as every tale brings forth a further twist, till the very end when the reader is silenced with a denouement that overwhelms, as all the loose threads get woven together to form a perfect tapestry.

Ayan displays a writing style that proves compelling when he tells his medley of tales, but at times there is a vulnerability that moves one to tears. One is filled with a compulsion to read on as each story casts a shadow on events looming ahead, finally bringing an end to “this mangled story of passion”.

The novel ends on a note of hope which suggests that a sequel could well be in the offing, “with someone else, some other day.” That day will be worth waiting for, as another “literary jigsaw” turns into yet another “gripping novel”.

To buy Confessions on an Island

http://www.amazon.in/Confessions-Island-Ayan-Pal/dp/9385854135

The Broken Boat - Nitin Soni

                           

It is a rare pleasure when a young poet voices his thoughts on the plight of humanity so emotionally. Nitin Soni, known popularly as the Curly Poet, has proved why he has such an impressive fan following. His poems revolve around issues that impact the world, issues which need to be addressed, like poverty, racism, rape and heartbreak.

The first poem titled ‘Resurrect’ creates an atmosphere of sorrow in the midst of joy, and sets the tone. The poet’s heart obviously bleeds for oppressed women, as is revealed in many of the poems in this collection. ‘Ravages’ rends the heart with a plea to save girls, sisters, mothers and daughters from “those beasts/Who molested humanity, love, affection, brotherhood, sisterhood/And celebrated wickedness.”

‘Oh, Ugly Woman’ berates the men who mock at “a painted ugly woman/ who always ends up in bed, /In blood.” ‘Even She’ is an inevitable reminder of the life of a whore, which ends on a truly poignant note. While ‘And Golden Apples’ holds a horrifying hint of incest, ‘Womb-to-Tomb’ encapsulates a girl’s tiny lifetime in one pithy line – “She went from womb to tomb.”

The poet writes on Love with equal ease. The poem ‘Do You Know” celebrates a pair of eyes creating circles around his heart, as he transfers “joyful glances into her eyes”. ‘I Saw Her in my Eyes” is a beautiful love poem. “The mirror I saw/It laughed in my face/ I couldn’t believe my eyes...” meanders all the way to the last two lines. “You are a stranger/On this beautiful boat.” The boat which is beautiful here turns “to an old dying and defeated boat” in ‘Poor Mother’, echoing the symbolism of the book's title.

These are but a few poems, and the young poet has many more to offer. One poem, in particular, titled ‘Of Religious Scarf’ brings an ironic smile to the face with its apparent simplicity. It is obvious that there is much more poetry in Nitin Soni’s soul, and I do hope that he strives to bring it out in yet another volume.

My Last Love Story - Falguni Kothari

A poignant and heartwarming novel by Falguni Kothari

MY LAST LOVE STORY 

BY 

FALGUNI KOTHARI

BLURB

Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes’s, Me Before You, My Last Love Story is a heartbreaking and poignant tale about the complexities of trauma and whether love can right a wrong. 

*** 

I, Simeen Desai, am tired of making lemonade with the lemons life has handed me. 

Love is meant to heal wounds. 

Love was meant to make my world sparkle and spin. 

Love has ripped my life apart and shattered my soul. 

I love my husband, and he loves me. 

But Nirvaan is dying. 

I love my husband. I want to make him happy. 

But he is asking for the impossible. 

I don’t want a baby. 

I don’t want to make nice with Zayaan. 

I don’t want another chance at another love story. 

***WARNING*** 

Weepers, keep tissues handy.

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About the author

Falguni Kothari is a New York-based hybrid author, and an amateur Latin and Ballroom dance silver medalist with a semi-professional background in Indian Classical dance. She writes in a variety of genres sewn together by the colorful and cultural threads of her South Asian heritage and expat experiences. When not writing or dancing, she fools around on all manner of social media and loves to connect with readers.

My Last Love Story is her fourth novel.

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Tales of Sunshine – Sundari Venkatraman

A ray of sunshine is a powerful pick-me-up, that warms the cockles of the heart, and Sundari Venkatraman has used this little truth to create her latest anthology titled ‘Tales of Sunshine’.  From the eye-catching cover itself, which is a cornucopia of pleasant little snapshots, to the stories within, she takes care that enough sunshine is showered on her readers.

The narrative is simple, and the words chosen with care, fly off the storyteller’s pen with ease. Whether it is the large-hearted Raj who lays off people in his company by offering them a wonderful sop in ‘A Ray of Sunshine’, or the smart, high-flying Rekha who finds an unexpected solution to her own domestic problem in ‘Until Death Do Us Apart”, the reader is carried along. Sundari touches upon the dilemma faced by modern-day students whose parents and loved ones expect too much of them in the choices they make in life. Preeti finds herself akin to “a bone that was being fought over by a couple of ferocious dogs” in ‘Life Goes out Of Control’, as Kiara strives to make her son, Aarush happy in ‘Breaking Free from the Mould’, a truly exemplary tale. While ‘Exam Fever’ leaves the reader with a smile, ‘Is Grandpa Home?’ evinces a tear. ‘The Elephant in the Room’ is another well-written story that evokes a sense of familiarity, as it deals with a problem that is all too real. ‘A Promise Given’, ‘Day Dreaming Mercenary’ and ‘Rakesh Nath’s Recovery’ are examples of what the anthology is all about – human interest.

Sundari Venkatraman has proved, yet again, the felicity of her writing style. This book , her seventh so far, uncomplicated and doused with sunshine, strikes the right chord with the readers.

Dark Things by Sukanya Venkatraghavan - Review

"A story is only as true as you believe it to be.”

“What if the maiden was the monster?” the tagline jumps out at you; if that isn’t intriguing enough, Sukanya Venkatraghavan catapults you into a whirlpool  where you end up gasping, as you land in the midst of a world populated by Yakshis, Gandharvas, Huldras and Apsaras. 'Dark Things' published by Hatchette India starts off on the premise that “...monsters exist. They roam the earth. They scope the sky. They haunt the underworld.”

The novel revolves around Ardra, the Yakshi, “a beautiful unreal creature with invisible wings and bits of storm in her hair.” Her journey begins as she strives to go back into her memories, which have been rudely torn apart by Hera, the Empress of Atala and the evil Queen of Secrets, an overpowering figure who has a terribly devious plan that threatens to upset the balance of the world, and rip its fabric apart.

A number of memorable characters strut across the stage – Dara, the Slayer with “deep, soul-crushing heartbreak” in his jewel-blue eyes who has been hunting monsters for centuries, the handsome Dwai who has a secret in his past that makes him uniquely himself, the winsome Menaka, the bent Dakini (shades of Manthara?) and a Minotaur-like creature in the Tower under Hera’s control.

Who is Ardra and why is she different from her fellow Yakshis? “What the Yakshis didn’t have was freedom. What they lacked was destiny.” However, Ardra proves this statement wrong, as she survives catastrophes, more often than not, unwittingly. The novel starts off like an orchestra, instrument by solitary instrument, and plays on till it reaches a crescendo as strong forces face one another in the New War that is fought, till wrongs are made right and memories restored.

What takes this book beyond the realm of mere fantasy is the beauty of the language employed by the author. A few examples go thus:

“The music was her, her eyes were full of the strange creatures in the sea, green like new magic from the skies” and secrets that glowed “faintly in forgotten corners, in mysterious mind-nooks, in lost memory maps.” Such exquisite usages, the concept of the sun blooms and the description of the Enchanted Forest of the Fireflies make this book a work of literary art.

 Sukanya seems to take parallels from Greek literature when she talks of Tarini, the River of Death, and its boatman, and Hera who is strangely Medusa-like.

The book also mirrors the concerns of the journalist within the author as Ardra says, “The stories I heard on Prithvi about what humans did to one another were sometimes so unsettling that it felt as though the lines between our worlds were blurring.” This was echoed by Dwai later when he remarked, “Sometimes there is no difference between humans and monsters; the lines are blurring.” 

And as you put the book away, your mind still bustling with the vivid imagery, the fragrance of the winsome Yakshi with “the frangipani-shaped magical tattoo on the inside of her wrist,” remains with you.

Tales of Sunshine by Sundari Venkatraman

A collection of heartwarming stories by the prolific writer of romance, Sundari Venkatraman!

BOOK BLITZ

TALES OF SUNSHINE

(A collection of short stories)

by

Sundari Venkatraman

Blurb

TALES OF SUNSHINE is a collection of ten short stories that bring hope.

“A Ray of Sunshine” is about young Raj who’s terribly upset when many people in his team lose their jobs. But is he able to do anything about it?

“A Promise Given” is about Sachin, the poor, rich, young man; and the pregnant Aparna.

“Life Goes out of Control” is the story where Preeti, an only child, is a bone of contention between her parents.

Rakesh Nath has slogged throughout his life to become rich, to suffer a massive heart attack at 57. Read “Rakesh Nath’s Recovery” to find out more...

“Exam Fever” is about Renu and her anxious mother, Maya. Renu wants to play truant from studies while Maya is terribly worried about her daughter’s exams.

“Until Death us do Part” is the story of Rekha, the 35-year-old COO of an MNC. She finds love or does she?

Ansh adores his grandfather. But his mother Anu is scared of her son spending time with the Alzheimer patient in “Is Grandpa Home?”

The “Daydreaming Mercenary” is Reema. She blows up her sister Rita’s hard-earned money. But are things what they actually seem?

“Breaking Free from the Mould” is the most difficult thing as a human. With so much pressure from his Grandma, will Aarush pursue his calling?

“The Elephant in the Room” is in the first person where the poor Nandita talks about her friendship (?) with the rich Shruti.

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About the author

Tales of Sunshine is the seventh book authored by Sundari Venkatraman. This book is an anthology of human interest stories. Other published novels by the author are The Malhotra Bride, Meghna, The Runaway Bridegroom, The Madras Affair and An Autograph for Anjali—all romances. She also has a collection of romantic short stories called Matches Made in Heaven. All of Sundari Venkatraman’s books have been on Amazon Top 100 Bestsellers in India, USA, UK & Australia many times over.

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Other books by the author

The Malhotra Bride

Meghna

The Runaway Bridegroom

Flaming Sun Collection 1: Happily Ever Afters From India (Box Set)

Matches Made In Heaven

The Madras Affair

An Autograph for Anjali

                                                           

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An Autograph for Anjali

The novel opens with 47-year-old multi-millionaire Jayant Mathur getting shot at point blank range with his own pistol. Radha, the daily help, finds the body, soaked in blood, much to her consternation, and Inspector Phadke comes into the scene. He finds the widow, Anjali Mathur, who “appeared beautiful, though she was as still as a statue” in a state of shock, along with Parth Bhardawaj who claims to be a family friend.

The plot thickens as Phadke asks all the right questions. Was Jayant the suicidal sort? Why did he and his wife, Anjali, sleep in separate bedrooms? Was this the act of a burglar? If so, why did the alarm not go off? Who would benefit after Jayant’s death?

Soon a plethora of characters appear – Jayant’s old parents, Makarand and Chaya, anguished at their son’s untimely death, his older sisters, Smita and Nandita, and their husbands. Smita’s husband, Rana, is introduced as a blusterer and trouble-maker. He “talked big and helped none”, misleading the police and the press through his wild allegations.

It is clear that Parth is in charge here, a fact that Rana disapproves of. The former handles the police and the forensic people, keeps the press at bay and holds the situation together. Arjun, Jayant’s and Anjali’s son, who is studying at Kingston University, is grief-stricken as, to him, Jayant was a larger than life figure, a hero and a successful businessman whom he idolized. Arjun adores his lion-hearted mother as well, and at the moment, his entire life has fallen apart. One cannot help liking the young boy who veers between moments of bewilderment and maturity.

Samrat, who runs a one-man show detective agency, is brought in by Parth to investigate the case, and to find the murderer before the police and the media bungle things up.

While the story starts off as a thriller, there is an intense interplay of emotions, as various relationships get thrown into focus; those between Anjali and Jayant, Anjali and Parth, and Jayant and Seema, his executive assistant. As various startling facts are unearthed during the investigation, Parth’s character comes into prominent focus, as a man ten times as wealthy as Jayant, and an internationally acclaimed writer of thrillers and travelogues. His piercing silver eyes on a tanned face are the icing on the cake.

Anjali, who has her own demons to deal with, goes through the throes of stoicism and despair, and even falls into the slough of depression, as she goes through life like “a bird with clipped wings”. However, a chance to redeem her life comes when she meets Parth, who urges her to work for him as a researcher for his next novel. She opens up her heart to him, as he looms “like a rock in the midst of a stormy sea”. As she trembles on the threshold of finding happiness again, Jayant gets killed.

The questions continue, unabated.  Why was Jayant murdered? Who was the murderer and what was the motive behind the murder? Did Jayant have enemies or was it a business rival who knocked him off?

‘An Autograph for Anjali’ begins with a murder, but even as the investigation gets underway, it is the romantic angle that is more explored. Sundari Venkatraman’s expertise at weaving romance comes across effectively, as her characters come to life, breathe and love fiercely. The novel glides smoothly as the readers grapple with emotions of sorrow, anticipation, suspense and joy, with no false notes that derail their concentration. The words are simple, but effective, the emotions carefully woven for maximum effect, as the story winds its way to a satisfying denouement.

If one has to look for a flaw, it is in the characterization of Jayant, who comes across as a spoilt and pampered brat, the youngest of three siblings, and a man who, despite being a contemporary businessman, has still a core of conservatism and patriarchy in his soul. However, this is not a flaw to be attributed to the pen of the author, but to the existence of such men even today, who appear worldly-wise and modern, but are just the opposite in real life!

Sundari has a penchant for bringing forth social issues in her novels. Here she deals with the problems that married couples could go through if they are incompatible. The issue of severe depression is also touched upon and dealt with. However, it is apparent that Sundari is a fan of the ‘happily ever after’ theme, which recurs in her books, and leaves the reader in a happy place.

Verdict: Highly readable!