Deep Ties

  The cover image of Aashisha Chakraborty's debut novel, 'Mis(s)adventures of a Salesgirl', catches the eye as the traditional Chennai landscape reveals a modernity that transports the reader straight into a story that promises to be entertaining. Shobhaa De’s endorsement adds to the feel - ‘Young and interesting’. Further praise is showered on the young author within the book by seasoned voices. At the age of 25, the world seems one’s oyster, or so one would think. Enakshi Chatterji, a germophobe and a bit of an introvert, has a job in an IT organization. Wanting a bit of fun and time before she is pushed on to the matrimonial bandwagon, she decides to do her MBA at the prestigious IISM. However, when she mentions that she wants to go in for sales and marketing, her mother reacts in shock, leaving unanswered questions in Enakshi’s mind. Exactly a year later, she begins her summer internship at Telescion where she receives a jolt when she realises that she has to intern...

  Blurb On Amazon:  We all feel a certain way during different times and think that we're alone in living through it all. Maybe our experience is unique,  maybe the way we react to a situation is exclusive to us. But that sentiment we feel in a particular moment, that's not ours alone. We are bound by the way our minds feel various emotions, right from anger to excitement, and from fear to pride. Dive into the world of these emotions through poetic expressions in this book. Each poem focuses on one single sentiment with the intention to show how each emotion or the way we feel because of them, can make or break us; while also convincing you that it's completely normal to experience such things. These emotions are mostly what we would conventionally refer to as 'negative' but reading about them in these 40+ poems would surely leave you feeling positive. Genre: Poetry Pages: 92 Format: Kindle eBook Price: Rs.73 / Available on Kindle Unlimited Author Manali Manan Desai...

  The month of August is here with all its leonine tempestuousness, and life follows suit. The month ahead is one of hectic activity, and I visualise myself hopping from project to project (No, I am not talking about the Blogchatter Bloghop, mind you!) there is no time to stand and stare, as the poet put it, but only time to dip a finger in all the pies ahead. The 75 th year of Independence has come around; a year of much rhetoric as old vows are renewed, and patriotism is the most toted word on every Indian’s tongue. This year, the national flag can be flown on rooftops of common citizens, a gesture that will make hearts fly as high as the flag itself. My only hope is that the national flag be respected as much even after the 15 th . Often, my heart breaks to see tiny plastic flags lying on the road and in garbage heaps once the day is done. One thing I would like to work on in August is try and prevent the people around me from doing so. Working in a school gives me the leeway...

                  depositphotos When I was a little girl, I remember being fascinated by the story of Pinocchio, the little wooden puppet who was naughty and yet so sweet. Geppetto, a carpenter, created him and looked upon him as a son. What I was petrified about was the bit where Pinocchio’s nose grew longer and longer every time he told a lie. I made sure that I stuck to the truth as far as possible, even though I had a tiny snub nose which could have done with some growing.     That was the first time I heard the song ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ from the animated movie, Pinocchio, (1940) sung by Cliff Richards for Jiminy Cricket. The wonderful Julie Andrews also sang a version of it. “When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true.”                                                    Jiminy Cricket ...

  A choice between reading and writing? Would that be a choice at all? No, siree, it would be more of a Hobson’s choice, a kind of a “my way or the highway”! The most popular example of Hobson’s choice is “I’ll give you a choice; take it or leave it.” Pinterest   When I was just a little girl, (no, I am not singing ‘Que Sera Sera’ here!), I was surrounded by books of all sizes and shapes. My parents, my grandparents, every person I knew, and his neighbour, were voracious readers. You could not enter my home without being waylaid by a book. Of course, the tastes varied – my grandfather read the Bible, the Gita and literature in all its glory, my grandma was more into cookery books and pampered us by creating delicious pin wheel sandwiches. Dad and Mom were more into fiction, but they did share a love of the classics. So, from an early age, I was happy listening to interesting content from books from all the adults in the family. When I started reading on my own, it was as...

The yellow cover with its twin bottles of pepper and salt is one of the cheeriest images I have seen in a while and the message conveyed by the author, Asfiya Rahman, at the beginning is even more heart-warming. “This collection of short stories and flash fiction is a small attempt to remind us that life is messy and adventurous and full of surprises.”   A statement that impels one to dive headlong into the stories that follow! The eleven stories are filled with life, (pun intended), as they fill one with good cheer, along with a sense of anticipation. The first story titled ‘Romantic Adventures’ brings a smile to one’s face as Nachiketa bungles a rendezvous with the attractive Ketaki, a tale told with good humour. ‘Bhai and NRI’ is imbued with dramatic irony and brings out the fascination of Indians with Bollywood.   As one goes through the stories, the sense of anticipation increases, especially as the flash fiction tickles the imagination and ends with a twist par...

“Our mother earth is a treasure trove of incredible things and selflessly pours its benefits for all of us. It beholds a plethora of lessons to impart. These precious learnings are the essence of life that keeps life growing and glowing.” These words by the two authors encapsulate the learnings that follow in this slender, but meaningful, book. The cover image is pleasing, a human hand enfolding a palm leaf protectively. Mother Nature takes one’s breath away with her beauty and splendour. As Autumn is ushered in, the season of new beginnings, representing maturity and ripeness, one is reminded of John Keats’ ‘Ode to Autumn’ which begins with “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”. The lesson of Autumn teaches us to be grounded and be ready to recreate ourselves. The idea of freshness is conveyed through four haiku poems that stress on the above lesson. The chapter ends with two thought-provoking questions that help one to self-introspect, a pattern that is followed across all th...