Book Review: I Shall Always Love You by Shilpa Jain

I intended to make the best of the last few days of my holidays before I go back to, read, dive into, the last semester of my Master's.

After attempting to rewrite the first draft of my first novel, I decided to take the last week off and read some light hearted romance and I chose:

Here's my review:

The Beginning:

To be perfectly honest, the beginning didn't take me hook, line and sinker.

The first few paragraphs of the story seem to drag with philosophical and rhetorical question which made me desperate for the start of the story.

Initially, the characters Shiv, Arjun and Saloni seemed like a typical love triangle which I wasn't really looking forward to.
But I persisted because, hey, I already had the kindle book. So, why not? And I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Plot

The reincarnation concept is not a new one in Indian literature. Yet, I loved it just the same. The two dimensions are very well written. And once you get past the first part the second part will have you hooked. The mystery of treasure and kidnapping in the latter part is very intriguing.

The Characters

The characters in the previous incarnation had much depth. However, in the present incarnation the characters fall flat and seem like the well endowed upper class urban youth. Their recollection of the past is the only thing of intrigue. However, once the past lives are explained, they do start to make sense.

The Writing

I thought that in some parts, the voice would change from past to present. But the story had a good continuity. And as previous mentioned, the plot was engaging.
The history and the art aspect of the story is described beautifully without making it seem like an art lesson.

Final Word

I would definitely recommend this book to a romance lover, who wants a plot in the story. This was definitely my cup of tea. And the author does a great work with the story. But my advice would be that the cover did not go well with the story. It just shows the book as a cliche romance and there is no element of mystery that the book is filled with.

Book Review: The Irony of a Happy Muharram by Syed Amjad Ali

Syed Amjad Ali tastefully remarks on the irony of the average Indian Muslim. And I am all for it.

As an Indian Muslim, growing up in a non-Muslim majority you know you are different. It is not a bad thing, per se, to be different.

But it continues to be ever so amusing in my life. And perhaps, if the author is to be trusted, in every Muslim's life.

Now, even though stereotypes might claim that the only thing Indian Muslims think about is biryani, bombs and four wives. We are not that different. And Indian.

I think this book will go in my list of must read simply because it is highly educative about the life of Indian Muslims. And maybe, wipe off many of the stereotypes, which are usually, unintentional, more or less well-meaning can get a bit tiring.

It has been centuries since Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and other religions have co-existed amongst each other in India. I think it is not too much to ask that we learn about each other, and even, what irks the other, it will add to the peaceful co-existence.

I don't think any average Indian wants to fight or war anything, religion included.

The USP of this book is that it educates in a humorous way, without going into heavy details of the faith. It is simply saying, that's how I live, that's how you do. And we can co-exist... If you spell my name right. 

Kudos to the author who writes about his own experiences and lays out some hardcore truths in a humorous way - which perhaps, opens up conversation towards understanding each other.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Link to the purchase: Click Here

Genetic Lottery - A Poem By Arshi Dokadia

Every curve of her body,

Every edge, every plain,

Carved carefully in his memory,

Haunting his dreams,

Stroking her ego,

Harboring her insecurity.

Apprecieative glances,

Scans her body as she passes,

Every able bodied male,

Would stop and stare.

Every nook, every curve, every edge,

Engraved in her memory,

With every appreciative glance,

She feeds off her misery.

Her hair past her waist,

Shiny locks, teasing her hips,

Light skin, fair eyes.

She knows she’d be a beauty to behold,

A Goddess among women,

An object of subjective envy.

Yet, she is lost,

Trying to find if,

She is worth it all,

And where she stands…

Is it because of her ability,

Or because she won the genetic lottery.