Chronicler of the Undead by Mainak Dhar

Author:Mainak Dhar
Title:Chronicler of the Undead
Westland Books
178+Pages
review copy via writersmelon

                   I'm a huge fan of Horror films.But when it comes to books,I try to avoid them as far as possible.Somehow,I feel that the 'scare factor' is lost when it's read.I had tried reading a couple of Stephen King novels a couple of years back ,but couldn't finish them as the 'horror element' didn't work for me at all.So,when this new book by Mainak Dhar came to me for review from writers melon,I was a bit apprehensive initially to pick it up as it belonged to the horror genre.Anyways,I decided to give it a try as it wasn't a very lengthy book.
                   Mainak Dhar is one of the few Indian authors who writes Horror fiction(well,I've done my bit of research on him by now).Set in the backdrop of  a Zombie apocalypse,'Chronicler of the Undead' is a horror tale laced with humour.The hero/narator is an army man- turned -writer who is the last man surviving after the ZA.He is staying in an isolated mansion on top of a hill and is currently running out of food and water.With zombies roaming around in the streets,his survival instincts are put to test.However he chronicles his day to day activities and his struggles for survival in his journal.

                            There aren't many characters in this book apart from the protagonist,the Zombies and the 'gentlemen' whom he encounters.Pretty soon he realizes that it's not only the 'Morekos' whom he has to fight with.The book is essentially about the hero's fights for survival and has traces of movies like 'I am Legend'.

                The book didn't 'scare' me that much but with it's twists and turns,it did manage to surprise me a few times.The language used is pretty simple and conversational without any literary pretensions.It has got a nice suspense towards the end and at less than two hundred pages,this is the kind of book which can be finished in just one setting.On the downside,'Chronicler..' is definitely not everyone's cup of tea and if you are looking for a breezy romantic tale for your weekend reading,this is just not the book for you.

Verdict-On the whole,the book is an entertaining read.I'm giving it a 3 out of 5.

-nikhimenon

Book Review - Herogiri - Mainak Dhar

Mainak Dhar, this is his second book I have read and it has left me wondering how the hell he gets ideas for writing his books. His first book that I read was The Cubicle Manifesto, which is a self help book and makes you think about your professional life and how to stabilise it with your personal life. Herogiri is nowhere near that. It is out and out masala book which is an absolute page turner. 

The book opens with a bank robbery. A guy in his twenties who looks like as if he doesn't eat anything and wears big glasses. He somehow manages to give those robbers a run for their money and ends up being a hero for everyone. Only he knows the truth, what had happened that day. Arnab, the protagonist of the book is an orphan, who is working as an assistant librarian in a Delhi University college. His boss, head librarian Jayantda, is a tough guy to please and keeps taunting Arnab for something or the other. 

Arnab has his own issues with the crime in the city. He manages to save a girl from being raped in a city bus and also teaches a lesson to some rich brats who are always on hunt to rape one woman or the other. In this course, he realises that he has developed some super powers. He takes help of Khan Chacha, who is an ex-armyman and develops these powers and becomes the guardian angel of Delhi. Then comes the real task, a terror attack in Delhi and Arnab had to deal and shake hands with all those people who had tried to harm in time and again. The plot of the book keeps getting better and better as it progresses. 

Mainak Dhar's writing has got style. He knows the which nerve of the reader he has to hold and carry on with the plot. Herogiri is also getting made into a movie. Director Riya Kapoor is doing it and I would definitely catch up with the movie as well. If you are looking for an out and out masala book with loads of action and innocence personified, pick Herogiri by Mainak Dhar, you would love it. I am sure. 

Book Source : Publisher
Publisher : Random House India
Genre : Fiction
ISBN : 9788184001334 

The Cubicle Manifesto - Mainak Dhar

Title : The Cubicle Manifesto

Author : Mainak Dhar

Pages : 115

Genre : Self Help

Publisher : Ebury Press
ISBN : 9780091947972

I got this book few hours back. The title was intriguing and I picked it up. Hardly 115 pages this book has but its a complete eye opener. The book has been categorised under "Self Help" section by the publisher, but I would say its much more than that. If you ask me to summarise this book in one line, I would like to put it this way

"Its all about prioritising, making rules and follow them religiously"

This is what the book tells us in an rather way and a huge shout out to Mainak Dhar, the author, to coming up with it. I absolutely loved it.

Honestly, when I read the author's note, I was a bit disappointed. I thought, its another of that "Gyaan Giving" books. Towards the end of the author's note, I was absolutely sure, this one I am gonna drop in midway. But, the first chapter took me by complete surprise.

Mayukh is a happily married man and has his dream job. But, his work life is taking  a toll on him. One morning when he is too scared and going berserk about the current project that he is working on, he realises that his computer has been attacked with a virus named "The Cubicle Manifesto". Just imagine, how pissed off you would be, when something like this would happen to you.

The virus was nothing more than nagging girlfriend. Telling him, what to do, what not to do, how to do and turned Mayukh off so badly that he wanted to smash his laptop on the floor. Little did he know, what the virus was up to, when he realises that the virus is actually trying to help him, and thats when things start getting better for Mayukh and how? Well, for that you need to read this book.

I have often seen and have experienced myself that when you are at your workplace, there is this eerie tension and baggage that you always carry on your shoulders. Well, if you read this book, you would know why it is like that. Mainak has come up to sort out the issues in quite an interesting and appealing way which I am sure, if someone is facing the Cubicle Tyranny, would instantly connect to and would try to implement the things being told in the book.

Give it a shot, you workaholics. I am sure you would not regret reading this one.

(Review asked by Random House)