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Book Review: Mahagauri

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Book Name: Mahagauri Author: Nitya Neelakantan Publication: Rupa Publications Genre: Myths , Legends & Sagas Mahagauri by Nitya Neelakantan is a blend of mytho-fiction and a fast-paced   thriller exploring the journey of an ordinary woman who time-travels across centuries in the kingdom of Saptapuri. Review Mahagauri follows the story of Gauri Vishwanathan, a senior scientist at a top defense lab who ends up time-traveling due to a mishap in a lab experiment that randomly throws her from the present to centuries ago, bringing her recurring nightmares or dreams to life. She lands in an unknown world out of thin air, and nobody knows where she comes from when she appears in the middle of a battleground. Due to a written prophecy, her savior knows she has a divine role in their world and takes her to a safer location to help her heal, with the help of his sister Vidushi, who is a renowned doctor and the chief Vaidya of that time. Gauri is puzzled when she regains conscious...

Book Review: Delhi Disco

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Book Name: Delhi Disco Author: Shikhar Goyal Publication: Ebury Press (imprints of Penguin)   Genre: Crime Thriller, Mystery & Suspense Delhi Disco by Shikhar Goyal is a fast-paced Indian crime thriller and murder mystery that keeps readers engaged and surprises them with twists and turns. Review Delhi Disco follows the story of Neil Ramamurthy, an Indian-origin American DJ who is on a mission to win back his ex-girlfriend. He travels from America to India for the first time for some local gigs in New Delhi, as his ex-girlfriend Sameera lives there, so that he can stay close to her and put in all efforts to convince her to get married. The story is not merely about their love story, but more than that, it is about a successful woman entrepreneur who wants to thrive in the market by reviving her parents’ dream project, Kapital, the club they curated together before they met tragic deaths. Readers will discover the truth in the book and will be surprised to know how differe...

Book Review: The Start-up Founder's Guide To Digital Marketing

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Book Name: The Start-up Founder’s Guide to Digital Marketing Author: Pramod Maloo Publication: Harper Business Genre: Non-Fiction (Marketing, Management) For many start-up founders, digital marketing feels overwhelming, expensive, or meant only for experts. The Start-up Founder’s Guide To Digital Marketing by Pramod Maloo is a structured, step-by-step manual for start-up founders to understand digital marketing in a nutshell, starting from scratch. Review Most often, founders find it difficult to navigate the challenges that come with not being able to make effective use of digital marketing to expand their brand, product, or business. This book acts as a tool to empower entrepreneurs to handle digital marketing on their own. The book is divided into three sections: - Learn the Game - Play the Game - Slay the Game It is thoughtful of the author to craft these sections, as running a business is like a game with multiple levels. First, the gamer learns the game, then plays it, and...

Book Review: The Music Makers

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Book Name: The Music Makers Author: Rohini Paranjpe Sathe Publication: Om Figment Genre: Literary & Contemporary Fiction The Music Makers by Rohini Paranjpe Sathe is a novel that explores varied themes through an eye-opening story about the fractured lives of two sisters and their families, with music as a backdrop throughout the sequence of incidents that unfold until the mystery is solved and music ultimately wins. Review The story is set in Maharashtra, primarily in Pune and Mumbai, as the two families involved live in these cities respectively. From the streets of Worli, Mumbai, to Pune, the book follows the life of a man, Kartik, who has grown up with the trauma of not being able to stand up against his father for all the troubles he inflicted on him and his mother. From depriving Kartik of what he loved to separating his mother from her family and manipulating her into believing that her family members were jealous of her status, his father’s actions shape Kartik’s emoti...

Book Review: Rebellion in Verse: Resistance and Devotion in the Tamil Bhakti Movement

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Book Name: Rebellion in Verse: Resistance and Devotion in the Tamil Bhakti Movement Author: Raghavan Srinivasan Publication: Penguin Viking Genre: Indian History.   “Rebellion in Verse: Resistance and Devotion in the Tamil Bhakti Movement” by Raghavan Srinivasan is an evocative exploration of how, during the Bhakti Movement, poetry was used to challenge social barriers. Review The book is supported by hymns to keep readers entertained and understand the rawness of the thoughts through a lyrical approach. It frames the Bhakti movement as a radical, grassroots revolution that democratized the divine. What readers will explore in the book? Social Stratification: The Egalitarian Spirit (it is one of the chapters as well in this book) is the root of this book that showcases how poetry, hymns and songs were not limited to any specific community, caste or creed but meant for everyone from leather workers, lower caste panas, fishermen, outcast devotees etc. Excerpt from the book: “What...

Book Review: The Divine Duel

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Book Name: The Divine Duel Author: Pratik Sahay Publication: Bookleaf Publishing Genre: Science Fiction “Over time, the scars of the tragedy become less visible, but they remain etched in the hearts and minds of those affected forever.”      The truth of living a life: “Once broken, forever aware.” With this thought and similar philosophical undertones, The Divine Duel by Pratik Sahay is a fusion of science fiction and many sub-genres including drama, family dynamics, and mythology. Review The plot follows the story of three friends, Anugrah, Lokesh, and Ahsan, and how their lives changed, bringing Anugrah as the central character who was navigating through his life between struggles, relationships, grief, and betrayals, not just from friends but also being disowned by his father, who killed himself by jumping into the fire that Anugrah set to take revenge on his stepmother, who was mistreating his father. But the story is not about this; it is way beyond the present...

Book Review: The Canterville Ghost

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Book Name: The Canterville Ghost Author: Oscar Wilde Publication: Serialized in The Court and Society Review Genre: Classic Fiction The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde is a classic ghost story that will make readers laugh instead of frightening them. From the ghost’s experiences to the kids’ notorious feats to trouble the ghost, this short read will keep readers engaged. Review The story follows the Otis family as they buy Canterville Chase even when everyone warns them about the existing ghost in the mansion. What starts as a mere purchase leads to a series of events happening here and there in the family that keep troubling Mr. and Mrs. Otis. The family is still not convinced or afraid of the ghost, as when the centuries-old bloodstain is spotted, it is at once cleared with Pinkerton’s Champion Stain Remover. There are more such scenes where the Otis family tries to consider the ghost as another person and keeps providing him with things like lubricants to repair his chains. Th...