Boomerang Posted by Drac , Sunday, June 23, 2013 at 8:08 AM, in Labels: book, fiction, Leadstart

Title: Boomerang

Author: Rajshri Raajgopal

Publisher: Frog Books

Genre: Fiction

Boomerang – what you threw away comes back and how it hits, a quite appropriate title for the story of protagonist’s life, in the novel by Rajshri Raajgopal. 

Anna’s craving and quarreling of love, her battles with society, her desire of a beautiful future and her veiled past marks the stratagem of this book. Sounds tedious? Well, it’s not. This book stands out from the crowd of hundred others written on the similar subject. Even been set on a traditional background, it is a modern story with realistic characters even in bizarre situations and with passions laid delightfully on the pages. 

The writing is fresh and acts as the strongest plus point of this book. The pace of the story increases with the number of pages; it begin steadily slow and you will find yourself clinging at a cliff until the climax, which is rather unforeseen and makes the entire tale go up by a rank. 

Coming to the cons, I felt the dialogues were weak. Maybe the author wants to connect the character more with the reader than with other characters, or maybe it is the conversation. Also, continual story flow is a very important part of a good book, as how you are seeing is almost as important as what you are seeing. Though a few snippets and poems glued in this novel might have provided a better platform for building characters and relate to the reader, I found them unnecessary.  Author could have saved a few pages by avoiding them, as on the whole it is a hardcore drama/suspense and not a chick-lit. 

Overall, it is a startling debut and my hopes are raised for the upcoming works of the author. Highly recommended for every girl and most of the boys who understand and enjoy a good fiction. 

Rating: 4/5 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author for reviewing purpose. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Shoes of the Dead Posted by Drac , Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at 10:30 AM, in Labels: book, fiction, Rupa

Title: Shoes of the Dead

Author: Kota Neelima

Publisher: Rupa Publications

Genre: Fiction

Shoes of the Dead by Kota Neelima not only have a catching title but also captivating content.

Gangri, whose brother committed suicide owing to all the debts his farming cursed on him, is fighting for a dead man’s rights. On the other hand, a young politician Keyur Kashinath, bestowed by political powers transcended due to his father’s legacy is looking forward to embark his mark in the dirty politics. When their world collides, what the reader gets is a story filled with farmer’s plight, dark face of government politics and image of a shattering society caged with false anticipations.

One would say there is nothing left to say when it comes to such a concept this book is based upon. And they might be right. Shouldn’t one read Premchand instead? And one might be wrong. People like us, belonging to a foremost middle class group either believes that things are getting better – ‘Hey there is a new chain of XYZ brand in the city.’ or ‘It rained good this year.’ Or, we believe things are getting worse – ‘What petrol prices hiked again!’ or ‘Are you kidding me, no subsidy on LPG?’ But the fact is things have always been the same for the farmers of this nation. Government, politicians, society and corrupted professionals, everyone constitute for it. And maybe they will be this bad for a long time, unless a struggle begins, one such portrayed in this novel.

But that’s not all what the author has to offer. She has also taken into account of politician’s thinking. Something, I don’t remember I witnessed anywhere else; and hence an applauding effort.

Writing is refreshing and next to perfect. It feels good to learn that you are investing your time in such a book whose author has done a tremendous research. The confidence, anger and urges are conveniently conveyed with moderate flow, quite appropriate for such a story. No, it’s not a drag.

The only bad part I came across is that many-a-times I felt the dialogue between characters as superficial. Reminds you of something you may have heard somewhere. Also, it makes the characters to lose a bit of credibility.

Overall, this is a fresh read which you begin with a sigh of relief that it’s not going to be in the junk shelf of your library and complete with lots of thoughts and emotions storming through your brain. Recommended for every reader who need food for thoughts, particularly those who can’t miss a day’s newspaper.

Rating: 4/5 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Blogadda.com as part of their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”