Soaring Dreams

How's The Book - The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:42:00 +0000

Yasuko Hanaoka is a single mother who dotes on her daughter Misato. She works at a lunchbox shop and leads a normal life in Japan. That is, until her ex-husband Togashi comes to create trouble in her life, and she ends up killing him.

Tetsuya Ishigami is a middle-aged mathematical genius who was forced by circumstances to work as a high school teacher. His life is all about equations and formulae. And Yasuko, whom he secretly loves.

When Ishigami learns about the murder, he decides to protect Yasuko and her daughter from harm by setting up a seemingly perfect alibi.

Detective Kusanagi of Tokyo Police is unable to solve the mystery of Togashi's murder, and seeks help from Manabu Yukawa, an Assistant Professor of Physics at the Imperial University, who is incidentally Ishigami's old competitor and classmate. Although Kusanagi detests Yukawa, he cannot do without Detective Galileo, as Yukawa is fondly known among the police.

With Yukawa's help, the Tokyo Police department comes across gaping holes in Yasuko's alibi. Will Yasuko be arrested? Will Yukawa see through his old competitor's plan? Will Ishigami be able to save Yasuko and Misato from a terrible fate?

The Devotion Of Suspect X is a crime thriller, but with a twist. At the very beginning of the novel, the murder and murderer are revealed, but the book is crafted so well, that the lack of the whodunit factor does not take away even a little bit of the edge-of-the-seat anticipation that draws me to thrillers.

Yasuko is portrayed beautifully, and one cannot help but side with her, despite knowing that she is the murderer. In fact, all the characters in the novel have been given a noticeable amount of depth, making them extremely believable, be it the detectives or even people who make occasional appearances. The relationships between the characters are extremely real, and yet subtly changing as the story progresses. From crushes to sheer hatred, every layer of emotion is dealt with in a believable manner.

I particularly liked the generous sprinkling of mathematical ideas throughout the novel which I found to be food for thought.

Reading the book was almost like watching two chess grandmasters take on against each other. Every time a move is made, the scales tilt in the opposite direction. Ultimately it comes down to who will play well enough to beat the other in this battle of genius minds.

The book will keep you hooked till the end, and the ending is worthy of being compared to the twists of Sidney Sheldon's novels. So unique, that you wouldn't even dream of it.

A lot of credit for this wonderful novel goes to the translators as well, because I have read many books where the magic is lost in translation, but this book is not one of them.

I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves mystery or puzzles.

Oh, and I did some snooping around and found out that this novel is the first in the Detective Galileo series which has two more novels and some short stories. Needless to say, they are on my to-read list now.

Fact sheet :

Title : The Devotion of Suspect X
Author : Keigo Higashino
Original Language : Japanese
Translated into English by : Alexander O. Smith with Elye J. Alexander
Genre : Crime Fiction
Verdict : Must-read

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Like A Rose

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Everything in life is so temporary. In fact, life itself is no more permanent than a blooming flower. No one knows when or how the flower will wither, or whether someone's going to tear it away. And yet, the rose blooms. Fearlessly. It knows it has to die, and yet it lives. And that too, so beautifully.

I wish we could live like that. I wish we could love without worrying about what will happen in the future, whether or not the person we love will love us back. I wish we all had the courage to grow up amongst thorns and yet love, like that's what we were born to do.

Image Source : WeHeartIt.com

How's the Book - Honey The Hero by Emlyn Chand

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 02:11:00 +0000

Honey is a parakeet who lives with her mother in the Australian Outback. Honey loves finding out new things and works very hard to satisfy her curiosity. One day, Honey comes across a family of humans watching Superman on TV, and she is intrigued by the way Superman helps people. Little Honey decides that she wants to be a superhero.

Honey gets a disguise since she can already fly. But can honey be a good superhero? Or is she going to fail at being a superhero because she is so small?

Honey The Hero is a lovely chapter book for kids and the protagonist is completely adorable. The story's theme should resonate well with little people and though I feel the illustrations could have been better in some places, Sarah Shaw has done quite a decent job.

A fun read.

Fact sheet :

Title : Honey The Hero
Author : Emlyn Chand
Genre : Children's Lit
Format : Chapter Book
Verdict : A fun read for kids.

Book Cover from : GoodReads.com

Disclaimer : This book was sent to me by the author for review, but that has not affected my review. If you would like to get YOUR book reviewed on Soaring Dreams, please see my Book Review Policy.

It's All About You

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:28:00 +0000

You can never make everyone happy. For that matter, even pleasing a single soul can be nastily tough. So, the best you can do is to follow your heart, and do what makes YOU happy. After all, it's your life. And you are the most important character in this choose your own adventure novel.

Image Source : Peanuts.com

How's the Book - Bantaism by Niranjan Ramakrishnan

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:57:00 +0000

Like most people, I was introduced to Santa and Banta through sardar jokes. And more often than not, these sardar jokes, that have flooded our inboxes for years now, have been a constant source of amusement for us. But is there any deeper meaning in these little humorous tales that has escaped our eyes? That is a question that Bantaism explores.

The book is a collection of Banta Singh jokes (with many references to Santa. After all, Santa and Banta go together like engineering and vellapanti) with the author's thoughts on the stories. The slim book is structured in a simple manner, with the author's commentary following each joke. The commentary picked out little nuances that often escape our eyes, and connected them well with day-to-day life.

Some of the jokes are downright hilarious, and the rest chuckle-worthy. A good, varied collection, for sure, but arranged somewhat haphazardly. It's tough to find any theme linking between the stories, which was a bit uneasy for me at first, but the book slowly grew on me. I really feel that a different structure would have made the book a more enjoyable read.

The author's commentary is one of the most insightful interpretations of jokes that I have comes across. Some of them really got me thinking, but at times, I found myself disagreeing with the author's viewpoint, and that kind of dampened the fun a bit for me.

I would say, definitely worth a one-time read for the sheer fun of the jokes.

Fact sheet :

Title : Bantaism - The Philosophy of Sardar jokes

Author : Niranjan Ramakrishnan (Bhai Niranjan Singh 'Amrikawale')

Genre : Humour

Verdict : Good company for a boring day.

Image Source : RupaPublications.com

Disclaimer : This book was sent to me by the author for a review, but that has not affected my review. As I've said before, I review from the heart, not from the mind. If you would like to get YOUR book reviewed on Soaring Dreams, see my Book Review Policy.

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall, Who's The Confused Of Them All?

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:25:00 +0000

The three things every girl has wanted to know at least once in her lifetime :

1. Has any girl ever looked at her and thought “She's beautiful! I wish I could look like her”?

2. What is going on in the mind of her crush/boyfriend/better half?

3. Is she looking fat?

;)

Image Source : WeHeartIt.com

Tell Me Something Tuesday - Book Boyfriends

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:01:00 +0000

Cambria Hebert is hosting this really cool meme on Book Boyfriends. You know, the characters in books that make you go "I wish I had a BF like that!" or get you all dreamy-eyed.

*thinks about MM*
*loses focus*
*buzzing sound of mosquito brings her back to reality*

So, here goes my list of book boyfriends, in chronological order:

1. Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery. Sure he didn't get along well with Anne at first, but he was cute enough to leave his job for Anne.

2. Fitzwilliam Darcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. He was totally droolworthy. Not to mention so kind and thoughtful and manly.

3. Ryan Oberoi from Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat. I had a huge crush on him. Loved the way he took everything so casually, could do anything for his friends, and of course, looked fantabulous.

4. Bill Weasley from the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling. He was stylish, loved his family, a curse-breaker (that's uber cool!) and had a great sense of humour. And for the record, I certainly don't mind the werewolf-attacked face.

5. Edward Cullen from the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. Vampire. Immortal. Sexy. Loving. Chivalrous. Need I say more?

But I finally settled down with MM (Michael Moscovtiz) from the Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot. He is just so perfect! And we are living happily ever after. Unless, of course, someone as awesome (unlikely) catches my eye. ;)

Image Source

7 Things I Learnt This Week – 1st Week Of April, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:07:00 +0000

1. It is a very bad idea to trust your best friend on the first of April. He may be evil enough to play a huge prank on you. And you may be prat enough to believe his story. 'nuff said.

2. Reading beauty blogs is more addictive than playing angry birds. If you don’t believe me, just take a look at Addicted to Blush, Peaches & Blush and Indian Vanity Case.

3. Listening to the song Raabta from Agent Vinod is not a good idea if you want to concentrate on engineering mathematics.

4. Dairy Milk Silk Orange Peel is NOT a good buy. I should've stuck with the regular, or fruit and nut varieties. Not only did I blow some fifty or sixty bucks on the damn thing, I had to wash it down with coke so I wouldn't die of bad aftertaste.

5. Kwality Walls tutti-frutti icecream has an uncanny resemblance with Britannia fruit cakes in terms of taste. Only, cakes don’t taste that good frozen, and I can’t take icecream for lunch to college the way I used to take cakes to school. *sighs*

6. Never fight with your six-years-old-and-soon-to-be-seven brother. Even if he is the one who is the culprit behind making noise, you are the one who will be blamed for causing trouble. Oh, and love all your aunts, especially the mothers of your little brothers, because they are the only ones who will come to your rescue, when your mother shouts at you.

7. Just let things be. Life will figure them out on it’s own. You don’t really have to poke your nose into everything, trying to manipulate things to suit yourself. There’s something called destiny.

Image Source : WeHeartIt.com

Perfection

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:02:00 +0000

I don't care what the world thinks of you, whether they like you or not. I just know that you're meant for me, and...

Image Source : WeHeartIt.com

The Game of Love

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:30:00 +0000

I know it's a dangerous game we are playing, and that one of us is going to lose soon. But this is one of those games where the loser wins, and the winner loses; the loser wins a lesson they will never forget, and the winner loses a wonderful person who loved them more than anything else.

Image Source : WeHeartIt.com

Little Ray of Sunshine

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:13:00 +0000

I just got the Sunshine Award from Sunil, of Arriere pensee! Thanks a lot Sunil. The award really made my day. The award is meant for “bloggers who are inspirational, and who have impacted your blogging or your life”, and it is really touching that you found Soaring Dreams to be worthy of the award.

Now, the rules of the award. The recipient has to-

Answer ten questions.

Post the award's logo on their blog.

Pass on the award to 10-12 other inspiring bloggers.

Link to the blogs of the recipients chosen, and comment on their blogs to let them know that they have been awarded.

Link to the person who nominated them.

Ten Questions:

Favourite Colour – Black AND Baby Pink. I haven't been able to pick a clear winner out of the two, ever.

Favourite Animal – Phoenix. Yeah, it's a mythical creature, but so what? :P

Favourite Number – Numero Uno!

Favourite Non-alcoholic drink – Orange juice.

Facebook or Twitter? - Facebook. I am practically addicted.

Passion – Reading.

Giving gifts or getting gifts? - Giving gifts and getting compliments. ;)

Favourite Pattern – Anything doodle-like.

Favourite Day of the Week – Saturday.

Favourite Flower – Tulip.

I am passing on the award to these fabulous bloggers.

*drumroll*

Dee

Sudeshna (No, it's not me! Yes, I do have narcissistic tendencies, but this is my sweet and cute namesake.)

Kudos to all of you for spreading the sunshine!

Real, Once Again

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 10:22:00 +0000

Dadu and I had our own little secret places all over the house and the neighbourhood. The forbidden balcony of the under-renovation ancestral house where we lived, where kids of our large joint family weren't allowed to go for fear of falling down, the half-broken birdhouse on the roof where pigeons still lived, the cycle repair shop where I wasn't allowed to go for fear of becoming more tomboyish than I already was, but where Dadu would take me anyway, so that I could look at my dream-bike – a purple BSA Ladybird. But our favourite place was the under-construction platform of the nearest railway station that was a five-minutes walking distance away from home.

Every evening, Dadu would make some excuse to mom and Thakuma (Dadi) to take me outside the house for a walk, with the promise of not taking me to the railway station, as I had narrowly escaped an accident in that area once, and Thakuma believed the place to be unlucky for me.

We would start with a walk around our garden which Dadu had created from the scratch, where he would quiz me on the many facts about various plants he had told me, and every time I gave a correct answer, I was allowed to tickle one of the many touch-me-not plants, watching the leaves furl with amazement.

On the way to the railway station, we always stopped at a small tea-stall, where Dadu had his evening tea and I had two sweet biscuits that looked like sunflowers, with sugar crystals making a thin crust on the top. They were my absolute favourite at that time.

The way to the railway station was through a series of small lanes, in which puddles formed in the monsoon. Dadu and I would walk up to the under-construction platform and sit on a bench. I would count the number of trains going to the left and going to the right; the idea of up and down trains was still alien to me. I was three years old.

I waved goodbye to trains that passed, and some passengers, assuming that I was waving to people and not the train, would wave back to me. On occasions, I would count kites in the sky, sometimes grouping them by colour, sometimes by size and sometimes by the shape of their tails. And I always told Dadu that one day I would grow up and board one of those trains and go to a far away place.

About an hour later, when the sun would be about to set, and birds started flying back to their nests, Dadu and I would get up and walk back home.

The railway station has transformed into a junction now. The muddy paths have become roads. The then under-construction platform is now flanked by multiple platforms that are busy with commuters at all times, and the solitary bench where Dadu and I sat has been replaced by a series of seating areas that can accommodate many people at a time.

I have my own purple Ladybird now, and I still go to the station often. But alone. And only when I have to go somewhere by train. I no longer have the leisure to sit for an hour in the evening in the platform everyday, waving to trains passing by, or counting kites in the sky on Independence Day. The tea-stall which used to sell sugary biscuits is now a bustling restaurant that has a banner which says “Chainese Moghlai Veg Nonveg” (sic).

Dadu hasn't been to the station for a long time now as he is not well. It's been more than a decade since I went to the station with him. But even today, when I pass by the place where the bench was, I see a small girl waving at trains as fast as her small hands would allow, and her grandfather sitting beside her, looking happily at the smiling girl, handing her sugar-crusted biscuits. And I feel as if I am three years old again, and it's all happening for real once again.

Image Source : WeHeartIt.com

This is an entry for the Kissan 100% Real Blogger Contest on Indiblogger.

How's the Book - Tamasha in Bandargaon by Navneet Jagannathan

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:37:00 +0000

Bandargaon is a fictional suburb in Mumbai that has an upbeat, colourful life of its own. Its residents, too, come with their myriad variety of emotions. Sunrise Apartments, Jinias Chai House, Jaanam Desi Bar, and the Purana Qila are places that witness the heartbreaks, dreams and hopes of the residents of Bandargaon from close quarters. And the author provides a glimpse into the lives of the residents of Bandargaon through this novel.

All thirteen chapters of the book are devoted to a melange of characters like the local beauty Shalini, who is wooed by both Chagan and Vinayak, and keeps changing her mind all the time when it comes to choosing one of the two suitors, Lakshmibai, Shalini's mother, whose favour Vinayak tries to win in order to get Shalini’s hand in marriage, Sajjanpur, the local politician who refuses to give up on his dreams of winning a seemingly impossible election, Chitrahar, the roadside beggar, Sultan, the irritable grocer who has to deal with Khopdi, the extra-friendly street-dog, and other characters like Miranda, the mortician who seeks answers from a priest, C Chatri, the local contractor, Geetha, Anand, and Shimpi.

The story proceeds with the plots woven in a somewhat overlapping manner, yet nicely connected and completely coherent. There is a constant presence of the element of humour all through the book, that is simple, yet powerful. There is a presence of nice punchlines throughout the book, that left their mark on me.

Day-to-day problems that the people face, be it the shortage of water or the wide-spread corrupt system; everything is given a touch of humour and made an entertaining read. Even the dull happenings are presented in an entertaining manner. Though the storyline was a simple one, it did have its fair share of twists and turns, and kept me turning the pages.

The characters are extremely well-developed, and I could identify some of them with people I know in real life. I guess they have this universal appeal, being common people with common problems, with the usual ups and downs in their lives that we are used to experiencing in our daily lives.

The dark sides of the society have also been explored from time-to-time. But everything has been kept balanced, and I found it quite tough to classify the book into any particular genre.

The author Navneet Jagannathan has made a nice debut with Tamasha in Bandargaon, and I would definitely read a sequel of the book, which seems plausible, as the author has left many story threads open. Also, the careful development of the characters would seem like a waste if a sequel doesn’t follow. Another round of the tamasha would be nice treat!

I liked the book a lot, and found it to be an engaging read. The desi tadka that has been incorporated in the story every now and then only makes it a more enjoyable read. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a popular fiction take on the real India.

Fact sheet:

Title: Tamasha in Bandargaon

Author: Navneet Jagannathan

Genre: General Fiction

Publisher: Tranquebar Press

Verdict: An enjoyable read. I recommend.

Book Cover from : Infibeam.com

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

10 Ways To Know You Are Addicted To Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

1. Facebook is the first website you visit everyday, and also the last.

2. You firmly believe you will miss out on news that will change your life if you don't check your notifications every few hours.

3. You cannot remember what your parents told you last night, but you can quote your best friend's status update from last night without missing a comma.

4. You display the thumbs up instead of saying how much you like something, without being aware of it.

5. You have visited your friends' walls/timelines three times more than you've been to their homes.

6. You create events for seemingly regular things, like going to school or bunking college.

7. You like every page that you see, unless it grosses you out.

8. Your news feed is flooded with updates from people you hardly know, about things you hardly want to know about.

9. You have a "real-life" best friend and a "Facebook" best friend.

10. You read this, smiled on a lot of points, decided to share it on Facebook and now you're thinking "How did she know?"

Um, I'm thinking of cutting back on Facebooking. I won't quit, but it's getting out-of-hand. I so need a Facebook-Addicts Anonymous. Oh wait, there is one!

Image Source : Garfield.com

Enigma

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:46:00 +0000

Not knowing what will happen in the future is just not good enough an excuse to not follow your dreams. Of course you don't know what will happen. If you did, what would be the whole point of working towards it? Would you still feel the same thrill of fighting if you knew you would win? Would you even bother to put on the skates if you knew it wasn't your forte? Would you still be blown away by the joy of winning if you already knew you were meant for victory?

You don't even know if there's going to be a tomorrow. But you still live, don't you? You still hope for a better future. You still wish to wake up one day with everything just perfect.

Just do it. The fog will part, and you will see what's beyond soon enough. And you never know what's waiting for you. It could even be your biggest dream come true.

Image Source : WeHeartIt.com

The Apolcalyptic Post

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:48:00 +0000

This is an awesome comic strip I found on the internet. If you happen to know the source, kindly drop a comment so that I can attribute it to the rightful owner. And in the meantime, I hope you have a good laugh!

PS - For the record, I don't believe the world will end in 2012. This cannot happen. I cannot die without being a graduate. God would never do that to me. ;)

Zombie? Ha ha!

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:59:00 +0000

I know all you care about is yourself and you, but trust me, I can see through everything that you do. I do wish I hadn't put my mind in front of you when I didn't know you'd see my brain as edible, but really, I am not scared of zombies. You are just one of those things I am getting rid of. Now. And I don't need frozen peanuts to see you fall apart. The sunshine within me is enough.

Image Source : WeHeartIt.com

How's the Book - Chicken Soup for the Indian Soul : A Book of Miracles by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Raksha Bharadia

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:44:00 +0000

Chicken Soup for the Indian Soul : A Book of Miracles is a collection of 101 real-life stories contributed by people from various walks of life, of different ages and most importantly, with different beliefs about the existence of god before these incidents happened in their lives.

The book starts with an introduction by Ms Bharadia, which is, in itself, a story worth being told. In fact, the introduction sets the tone of the book nicely and once you start reading the book, you're already lost in page after page of sheer miracles.

There are sections ranging from 'The Healing Power of a Prayer' to 'Everyday Miracles', each with its own theme, but they are all bound by the fact that they advocate the presence of god or an angel or a higher power, whatever you prefer to call it. The book is well-structured, with each section beginning with a beautiful quote that can rival the beautifully written anecdotes that are short, simple, and crisp. Maintaining the old adage of “Brevity is the soul of wit”, the stories are absolutely free from fluff of any kind. They all get straight to the chase. I also noticed that although the stories have been contributed by different people, the editing has been done so well that you will hardly notice a change in the author. They all gel together very well.

From unbelievable recoveries from diseases to strange incidents that have no explanation whatsoever, but changed the lives of the people involved, this book has it all. Although, skeptics will be quick to notice that a handful of the stories can be explained through famous psychological phenomena which you'll come across in Wikipedia, the fact remains that most of them are really miraculous.

When I started reading, I made a mental note to pick out the best of all the stories but by the time I was done with the book, I was so moved by each and every word, that I was unable to pick any favourite. This is a book which can lighten up a gloomy day, give you some hope when you are in the deep pangs of despair and most importantly, nourish your soul just like a piping hot bowl of chicken soup nourishes your body.

I think anyone who is agnostic should go through this book for sure, not to mention believers. And even atheists will find a lot to ponder about. I can say so for sure because I have changed teams from believer to atheist to agnostic, and now back to being a believer. And trust me, you won't regret picking this book up.

Like every other book in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, A Book of Miracles is truly inspiring and has a strange calming effect on the reader. I think it is going to be one of my “go to” books whenever I feel low. I have a feeling that this book is going to bring about in my own life, a miracle.

Fact-sheet:

Title : Chicken Soup for the Indian Soul : A Book of Miracles

Authors : Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Raksha Bharadia

Genre : Inspirational

Verdict : Must-read

Book cover from : Infibeam.com

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:54:00 +0000

It is not always that there’s a way to reach your goal. Sometimes, you end up at a dead end, with dark woods in front of you, and every hurdle you’ve cleared so far behind you. You don’t want to turn back and end up where you had started from, but neither can you think of any way to cross the woods. You know what you should do when such a thing happens? You should create a path of your own.

Yeah, it won’t be easy. It might even drain you of all your energy. But I can promise you won’t regret all the hard work when you finally reach your destination.

Image Source : WeHeartIt.com

FamILY

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:56:00 +0000

We were strangers in a strange place, with our hearts filled with hope and fear. We were put together in the battle to survive, and despite being so different from each other, we formed a team. We fought with each other, but we also helped. We tried to outdo each other, but we still celebrated our successes and failures alike. The fact remains that we are not sisters by blood, but I can still count on you to stick with me through thick and thin. I guess we are finally family.

Image Source : WeHeartIt.com

Jadoo Ki Jhappi

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:46:00 +0000

Even though we all hide behind false smiles, I think what makes us feel better is not when someone buys our lies and smiles along with us, but when someone really looks beyond the fake smile, sees our pain, gives us a tight hug and says “No matter what you’re going through, I am always there for you”.

Image Source : WeHeartIt.com

The Real New Year Party

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:44:00 +0000

*Wakes up*

*Looks around*

*Notices new calendar on her bedroom wall*

Me - Mom! I told you I don't want religious pictures in my room. It clashes with the décor badly.

Mom - Happy new year to you too!

Me - It's already 2012? *Scratches head*

Mom - I thought you'd like a new calendar in your room.

Me - Yes, mom, I would. Only not anything that is so old-fashioned.

Mom - Fine, I'll put this one up in the living room. *Turns to leave with calendar in her hand*

Me - Mom, I love you. *Sheepish grin*

Mom - Hungry, are you?

*Bigger sheepish grin*

Um, that about sums up the way I began the year with a bang. Happy New Year to you!

Image Source : WeHeartIt.com

How's the Book - The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:39:00 +0000

Tilottama is a mistress of spices – she is one of those gifted few who can talk to spices, and can invoke their secret powers to cure troubles in the lives of others. In a life marked with an unusual childhood as a celebrated psychic and many years as a pirate queen, Tilo has already grown tired of the normal life. She knows she is meant for something special, and when she discovers that she is to be the mistress of spices, she embraces her destiny happily.

But when she comes across a mysterious American, she does the one thing that she is not supposed to do – she falls in love. Now she has to choose between her forbidden desire and her magical powers, for she cannot have them both. What will Tilo choose?

The Mistress of Spices is laden with beautiful prose that reads like poetry, and yet has a down-to-earth feel to it. The story closely follows the lives of Indian immigrants chasing their dreams in America, and the many complications that arise from trying to choose between what they should do, and what they want to do. The book’s structure makes it a very pleasant read, and I couldn’t help but marvel at Ms Divakaruni’s skillful writing that made even the strangest of fantasies alive in my mind.

Tilo is an image of what every woman really is, deep inside. And she has been portrayed with such honesty that it’s hard not to become Tilo when you’re reading the book, and feel her every emotion flow through your own veins.

Fact sheet:

Title : The Mistress of Spices

Author : Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Genre : Lit fic

Verdict : A must-read.

Book Cover from : Amazon.com

Alchemy

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:31:00 +0000

As different as two people could ever be. She, with the smile that can wipe away anyone's tears. He, with eyes that can pierce through any lie. She, as carefree as a butterfly. He, the epitome of danger. She, summer personified. He, spreading the chill of winter. Together, they merged into one soul. And then, magic happened.

Image Source : WeHeartIt.com

How’s the Book – The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

noreply@blogger.com (Sudeshna Das) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 12:29:00 +0000

Mia (Amelia) Thermopolis is a high school fresher, studying in Albert Einstein High School with her childhood bestfriend Lily Moscovitz. She is socially awkward, not popular in school, and dreads Maths. Her life is tough as it is, but it becomes tougher when her mother starts dating her Algebra teacher, the boy she has a crush on starts hanging out with her bitter rival, and oh yes, when she finds out that she is not Amelia Thermopolis.

She is Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, the princess of Genovia, a small European principality. How will Mia deal with all this?

The Princess Diaries is one of the best chicklit books I have read so far. No sooner did I start reading the book did I feel as if Mia was an old friend, and I, her confidante. I found the book to be extremely therapeutic, as I could identify with every emotion that Mia feels, and the equations she has with various people in her life. This book will leave you feeling so much better than you were feeling before you started reading it.

Fact sheet:

Title : The Princess Diaries

Author : Meg Cabot

Genre : Chicklit

Sequel : The Princess Diaries : Take Two (Princess In the Spotlight)

Other books in the series (American titles in parentheses) : The Princess Diaries : Third Time Lucky (Princess In Love), The Princess Diaries : Mia Goes Fourth (Princess In Waiting), The Princess Diaries : Give Me Five (Princess In Pink), The Princess Diaries : Sixational (Princess In Training), The Princess Diaries : Seventh Heaven (Party Princess), The Princess Diaries : After Eight (Princess On The Brink), The Princess Diaries : To The Nines (Princess Mia) & The Princess Diaries : Ten On Ten (Forever Princess)

Companion Books : Valentine Princess, Project Princess, The Princess Present, Sweet Sixteen Princess, Princess Lessons, Perfect Princess & Holiday Princess

Verdict : Every girl should have this book on her bookshelf.

Book cover from : Amazon.com