InklingsInsight

Book Name: Peace Pretty Please Author: Saniya Inamdar Publication: Evincepub Genre: Fiction Peace Pretty Please by Saniya Inamdar is a tale of two countries driven by war against each other, which leads to chaos and eventually peace. “Whenever any person from the two countries even thinks about war, or talks about it, let that person become lonely. Let the person’s children die, and if he has no children, let him die so that no other innocent person is served my untimely fate, and no parent has to become lonely like my parents.” - A wish that sets the story's premise and leads to the events that unfold in the book. The story starts with a kid on his deathbed, who tried enough to make a dead angel free him from death and let him live, but ended up making one last wish, which made people wonder what made a kid make such a wish. After his death, when his parents returned, they were doomed in their loss, and the news channels started flashing news of kids dying with similar fates,...

Book Name: Marigold and Rose Author: Louise Glück Publication: Aleph Book Company Genre: Fiction Marigold and Rose by Louise Glück is a fiction novella featuring twin sisters Marigold and Rose, as the title says. A cute and obsession-worthy work that will fill readers with delight and leave them with a lot of thoughts. Marigold and Rose are born, and their parents play a key role in their growth. The story starts from their birth until they turn one, and in between, how their behavior and instincts play a different role throughout will make readers giggle and feel shocked at times. How both the sisters are way different makes them the perfect twins. The characters are Marigold, Rose, and their parents, who have been talked about in this little book of fiction. Marigold, an annual being, is in love with books and also wants to write a book, which eventually she writes in her dream. But the sad part is that Marigold keeps questioning her life and her existence. On the other hand, re...

Book Name: Almond Author: Won-Pyung Sohn Publication: HarperVia Genre: Fiction “I have to act to give you what you want, and I can’t. It’s just impossible. So please stop now. Everyone’s acting like they’re scared of you, but they’re actually laughing at you.”  -Yunjae (unable to express his emotion) to Gon (bullying)  Note for Readers: This book contains portrayals of murder, bullying, violence, trauma, and loneliness. Almond by Won-Pyung Sohn is a story of hope, resilience, friendship, human conditioning, and, of course, subtle humour amidst the seriousness of the protagonist's struggles and loss. The story follows a teenager named Yunjae, who was born with a brain condition called alexithymia, which makes it difficult for him to identify, express, and process his own emotions, even in the gravest situations, such as when his mother is brutally attacked and his grandmother is shot right in front of his eyes. While the crowd stands frozen in terror, Yunjae simply watche...

Book Name: Colony Diaries Author: Anupam Parganiah Publication: Astitva Prakashan Genre: Fiction Colony Diaries by Anupam Parganiah is a nostalgic ride back to childhood in the 90s, set within the close-knit confines of residential colonies. The story follows families living in the colonies of Bhilai Steel Plant, C3, and HSCL, separated by a canal. It features different families whose children attend two schools, BPS and NPS. The narrative primarily revolves around the Verma family, which has two children. As the story begins, the elder child, Guddi (aka Rinika), is admitted to NPS for its higher standards and reputed curriculum, while her younger brother, Amit, continues studying at BPS. As Rinika adjusts to her new school, Amit struggles with a strict teacher who constantly finds new ways to punish him. However, this is only a small part of the story. The novel beautifully captures colony life through children's after-school adventures, women's kitty parties, and, of cou...

Book Name: Mostly Mundane Author: Saugata Chakraborty Publisher: Red Grab Genre: Fiction Format: Paperback Print length: 78 pages  Rating: 3.5/5 Mostly Mundane by Saugata Chakraborty is a collection of short stories with few of them interconnected, though the protagonist of each story remains the same.   Blurb on Amazon Is your existence feeling a bit... predictable? Do the words ""chore list"" make you contemplate a permanent nap? If the thrill of alphabetizing your spice rack has worn off, you desperately need Mostly Mundane in your life. This isn't your standard how-to, find-your-purpose, or unlock-inner-peace self-help drivel. Prepare to have your mind delightfully scrambled by the sheer brilliance of the utterly ordinary. Mostly Mundane exposes the hidden hilarity waiting in the shadows of your routine. From the existential implications of facing a not so amused life skills teacher in a PTM to a weekend eating out going awry, this book turns the ever...

Book Name: Shameless in Stilettos Author: Ell P Publisher: Tara Press Genre: Mystery, Thriller and Crime Fiction  Format: Paperback Print Length: 308 Rating: 4/5 Shameless in Stilettos by Ell P is a crime fiction embedded with turns and twists to keep the readers on the edges of the bed. Book Blurb On Amazon Anant ‘f***ing’ Reddy is dead. A simple suicide is ruled a murder when the coroner finds something sharp embedded in his eye. His business tycoon father wants answers, so Inspector Meenakshi Rao has been ordered not to sleep, eat or drink till she finds the killer. Her suspects – 3 women who live in the complex where his mangled body was found. A desperate mother turned dominatrix. A woman with baby fever whose husband can’t get a rise without masturbating. A devout Christian and closeted lesbian with a voyeur fetish. With her own marriage in shambles, all that Meenakshi wants is to get stoned so that she can communicate with her dead son. Can she find the killer? Review ...

Book Name: A Seven Year Slip Author: Ashley Poston Publisher: HQ Genre: Paranormal & Time Travel Romance Format: Paperback/Ebook Print length: 384 pages  Rating: 4.5 /5 A Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston is a heartwarming tale that blends magical realism with contemporary romance. Blurb on Amazon An overworked book publicist with a perfectly planned future hits a snag when she falls in love with her temporary roommate...only to discover he lives seven years in the past, in this witty and wise new novel. Review The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston is a treat for contemporary romance lovers. The story revolves around Clementine and Iwan, who met in a time-slipping apartment that belonged to Clementine's aunt. The love story of a publicist and a passionate chef who accidentally fell in love when they were not supposed to after meeting in that magical apartment. Clementine would remind herself of the predefined rules of the apartment, which included, "Never fall in love ...

Book Name: The Devil’s Autopsy Author: Vignesh Sivashankar Publisher: Readomania Genre: Paranormal/Supernatural Thriller Format: Paperback Print length: 213 pages  Rating: 4 /5 The Devil’s Autopsy by Vignesh is a collection of spine-chilling short stories delving into the realm of the supernatural. Blurb on Amazon The Devil is dead. It’s time for its autopsy. What happens when crime investigators spot a deluge of paranormal forces in their examinations? A normal autopsy isn’t sufficient. What they need is a different autopsy—the devil’s autopsy. Five unsolved murder mysteries handpicked from the villages of Assam to the sophisticated skyscrapers of Mumbai that have a torrent of supernatural suspense hidden under the sheets. From the bestselling author of The Ten Commandments of Evil comes five standalone horror novellas where each tale promises to grip, terrify, and linger long after the pages turn. You'll go deeper into a vortex of suspense that challenges the very fabric of...

Book Name: Night At The Medical Campus Author: Siddharth Nirwan Publisher: Book Street Publications Genre: Horror Format: Paperback/Ebook Print length: 161 pages  Rating: 4 /5 Night At Medical Campus by Siddharth Nirwan is a horror novel that explores serial killing by a ghost. Blurb on Amazon Brutally murdered by the one she loved and her body dumped in a well on the medical college campus, Sanya’s bright and promising life is extinguished in a second. And it’s only the beginning as her body goes missing from the mortuary, never to be found again. Legend grows and the medical college students believe that Sanya still haunts the well where she was found. No one dares venture too close. No one dares to disturb her. Years later, notorious seniors force five first-year students into going to the haunted well and calling Sanya’s name thrice. No one is prepared for what happens next. Is the story of Sanya’s ghost true, or is it just a fabricated rumour to scare the juniors? Why is n...