Half Girlfriend - Chetan Bhagat

Self - clicked image.

Read PULKIT'S REVIEW OF THE BOOK

MSM Speaks: With the success of stories in both readership and film viewership, Chetan Bhagat's titles have come a long way. But he was never my first choice in picking up books to read. I must admit, I never respected the fact that he wrote in simple English. I stand corrected, because writing simply is one of the toughest things that a writer has to do, if he wants to connect to his readers (especially if the readers are the masses, who would rarely pick a book). With due respect to Mr. Bhagat and his writing prowess, I believe Half Girlfriend is written keeping in mind that it will be adopted as a movie. Anywayyyyyy, so I received this book as a gift and I decided to give it a go right away. The story is of Madhav Jha (A Bihari, so am I, but I will get to that later), who is an ace basketball player, and accordingly, is six feet tall and handsome prince of Dumraon, which is a sleepy hamlet in Bihar. He gets through St. Stephens College, New Delhi, even though, as Madhav says, his english at that time was bound to give us headaches. Nonetheless, stereotyping aside (since Mr. Bhagat has rightly addressed all the stereotypes of Bihar and Bihari people - and I mean it in a real, non offensive manner) he unexpectedly makes through the college entrance interview on the basis of his star basketball playing skills. Not to forget, the cheeky answers he gives to the panelists (Score one for Madhav!!)

Fraught with fear and the anxiety to fit in, Madhav Jha gets the biggest and unexpected twist of fate at Stephens, he falls in love, with Riya Somani, who is portrayed as the beautiful, rich and sophisticated Delhi girl, who co - incidentally is also a basket ball player. The plot becomes drab with Madhav trying to get her attention, but afraid to open up, while Riya eventually gives him attention - much like the basket ball that passes from hand to hand and you get BASKET!! But Riya is complicated. Very much so. I could not figure out her exact character, nor to be honest, I understood Madhav well. She toys with Madhav, who apparently is constantly horny. 

The story becomes insightful at places where Madhav reminisces about his mother, the Rani Sahiba, the gap between the rich class and the low class, the impossibility of striving in this nation without good English. Good pointers, Mr. Bhagat. However, Riya Somani, after spending ALL of her time with Madhav, decides that she cannot be Madhav's girlfriend (friend-zones him) and offers a compromise - to be his Half Girlfriend: Meaning I-will-hang-out-with-you-but-we-will-not-do-any-of-those-things. It gets whacky when Riya Somani suddenly disappears and Madhav makes his way back to his village - to turn the fate of his mother's school. At this point the story becomes very engaging, though I must tell you that we Biharis don't eat Litti Chokha all the time! What comes in for Madhav next is an opportunity to meet Bill Gates, learn English (courtesy Riya Somani) and find his life upside down, when he thinks that finally things were on track. The chase for love begins and the character of Madhav grows but I feel, certain things were rushed which could have made great impression if they were given a time to develop. 

For me  Half Girlfriend was more like Forrest Gump meets Queen meets Jab We Met plus a flurry of movies that came to my mind while reading.  BUT! You can finish the book quick and it will leave you with light heart (and head) and an impression, that even Chetan Bhagat has matured somewhat as a writer that the masses love. 

My Rating: 2.5/5

Love's Labour by Andy Paula

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LOVE'S LABOR: General Fiction, IndiRom

AUTHOR (Bio from Indireads): Andy Paula has been a corporate trainer, traveler, voracious reader and a blogger, who decided one day to never crush other dreams of publishing books, when she reviewed them and decided to tweak her own work. She also writes a food, travel and thoughts blog called Food Stall, Yatra and  iThink 

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EXCERPT:

“I want to talk to you after lunch,” Piali’s plea sounded more like an order.

“Yes ma’am.” Sathya did not sound surprised, at least he did not show that he was. Piali quickly finished her lunch and other chores and headed towards the door.

Don’t be foolish, Pia. You’ve met him just two days ago. Let him go away thinking you’re a smart woman, not a nervous teenager. Why did her inner voice have to start talking at the wrong time? Damn. I’ve already made a fool of myself, lemme just go ahead with it. No, Piali Roy, you’ll stop right here, right now. This man is engaged to be married.

“At your command, Your Highness.” Sathya had caught up with her and was waiting for her to speak. Piali’s throat was dry. Collecting herself quickly, she put her chin up to face the man. Sathya Nair should never know the effect he had on her.

“I wanted to talk to you about the skit.”

“The skit? I don’t believe it.” Sathya shook his head incredulously.

MSM Speaks: One of the best things about Indireads novels is that most of them create a hopeful end, at least the ones I have read. Love’s-Labor is no exception to a happy ending tale. It is a heady mix of Bollywood romance with a heavy dose of realistic tadka. The story features Piali,  a school teacher, who is not merely your average order-following woman. She is beautiful, smart and has her head on her shoulders. Plus the son of the Chairman of the school is smitten by her. Sathya, a man of integrity and personality, never thought he would be finding the love of his in a teacher who was at his school. Their chemistry is undeniable and the world is noticing it. 

The real challenge is to convince Piali's parents, the very strict Mr. Roy and his wife, Piali's mother, who is understanding but does not want to hurt her husband either, after all it is the question of alliance between a Bengali and a South Indian family. The journey of Piali and Sathya to marriage is filled with ups and downs and how they overcome it, is worth a read! Little cheesy in some places, and a little filmy in others, Love's Labor is a romantic reader's delight!

You can get the e-book for Love's Labor HERE at Indireads.

A Scandalous Proposition by M.M.George

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A SCANDALOUS PROPOSITION: General Fiction, YA, Indirom

AUTHOR (Bio from Indireads): M.M. George is the pen name of Mimmy Jain. Mimmy lives in London and edits stuffy academic books and journals when she is not dreaming up frothy romances. Mimmy has been writing as far back as she can remember. She won her first national award for writing in the International Year of the Child, at the tender age of 14.

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She had her first romantic story published around the same time in a national magazine. For many years, she wrote a humor column, which was published under various names in India Week, The Financial Express and National Review. As Mimmy Jain, she has been a mainstream Indian journalist for the last 27 years and has worked in senior positions at publications such as The Economic Times,The Times of India, The Financial Express and Mint.

BOOK(S): A Scandalous Proposition  is her debut e-novel.

SYNOPSIS:

When Ranbir Dewan offers to make small-town girl Mira Talwar his mistress for six months, she is shocked 

and refuses outright. But fate has other plans for them. Will the sensual attraction Ranbir and Mira share 

mature into something more substantial?

EXCERPT: 

She blushed and tried to bring her hand down, but her dupatta was caught in her earring. She pulled at it impatiently, but it refused to budge. She was just about to tear it away recklessly, when she heard the scrape of a chair and then felt his warm breath on her neck as a long finger extricated the flimsy material from the little bell in her ear. She closed her eyes to quell the thudding that started suddenly in her heart.

“You still haven’t learnt how to get yourself out of sticky situations, have you?” said a soft voice in her ear. She shivered suddenly as Ranbir caught hold of her hand, forcing her back against him, his fingers rubbing softly on the sensitive skin of her inner wrist. “These are the Dewans you are tangling with, Mira. Be very careful.”

MSM Speaks: Ah! After a long time, I read a book of this genre, Chick-lit that is. And let's just say "A Scandalous Proposition" is a fantastic mixture of Fifty Shades of Grey, Ekta Kapoor's Family Saga and some invisible background Hindi music. I mean this in a good way, don't be judgmental, you! It is a tiny package of handful of pages and works like a charm. 

Mira comes to New Delhi to find a job with her mother and younger sister, Reema and finds herself in a sticky position hard enough to extricate herself from. Unpredictably, she does find a way out of it, only to land in another hot boiling soup cooked by Mr. Ranbir Dewan - touted to be the hottest bachelor, who is also a heart breaker. But he cannot ignore Mira, the one who wears shimmering earrings and bangles that would irritate the hell out of him, but also fill his silence with music. He finds himself irresistibly attracted to her and despite her initial apprehensiveness and hostility, she reciprocates like dew drops, not in earnest. 

Not all is birds and bees with them though, mind you! They have very real issues to deal with, their sister and brother respectively who have got themselves into trouble, together. Now it is on these seemingly polar magnets to reconcile the situation and work their way around the scandalous proposition which Ranbir gives to Mira, who like any dignified woman, declined. But somewhere deep down her heart, she finds herself imagining the forbidden prospect. Ranbir's and Mira's journey beyond the physical attraction is worth a read. Totally mazedar read!!!!! MSM Recommends!! 

You can get the e-book here at Indireads

Newton's Law Reversed: 'Conflict - Some evade, some efface, while most embrace' by Howard Roark

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NEWTON'S LAW REVERSED Conflict - Some evade, some efface, while most embrace: General Fiction

AUTHOR: Howard Roark, a Chennai based Software Engineer, who derives pleasure from interchanges on psychology and philosophy. 

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BEST SELLER(S): NEWTON'S LAW REVERSED Conflict - Some evade, some efface, while most embrace is his debut novel.

SUMMARY (From the back cover): 

On a trip to meet an ailing relative in Gangaikondacholapuram, Akash is introduced to conflict when a simple village girl, Ganga, trespasses his thoughts. His mind fails to elude Ganga, and being overwhelmed by the new found emotion, his attempts to free himself of his battles only grip him tighter.As his mind flits between Ganga and Ganesan, another tormented soul, Akash's only reprieve could have been a banter with his father, when unexpectedly he hears the news of his father's expiry. Little did he know that his father's demise and the ensuing trip to the village would alter his cynical view of the world. In this journey from boyhood to manhood, Akash derives profound meaning through his retrospective deliberations on his dead father's words.

EXCERPT:

"From atop the hillock, the world looks open as he lies on the grass beneath a benevolently-spread and richly-leaved Gulmohar as the wind whistles by his ears causing a light and steady hum. Caused by nothing, an easy calmness ensues.

I wish I could forget my identity and enjoy the beautiful stillness of this moment. Appa once said 'Identity breeds the self. The self breeds ambition. Ambition breeds passion. Passion breeds strength. Strength breeds vanity. Vanity breeds...' Yes! And because of all this, the stillness no longer has any beauty left. Much like an effect being the cause of another effect, my joy is caused by this now.'"

MSM Speaks:

Hello! Long time no see and a new book review!!! Again I have been trumped by a debut novel (If you have read my previous reviews, you would know what I mean). NEWTON'S LAW REVERSED Conflict - Some evade, some efface, while most embrace stands out among others due to its hand sketched illustrations and cover. The author's narrative style vacillates between the present and the past, ruminating on the protagonist's father's words. The tale begins at Ganagaikondacholapuram, a small village to which Akash belongs. Post his father's death he recounts what he observes in a resigned and judgmental manner. Being from Mumbai, he is quite critical in his outlook of the village folks and their demeanor. He falls for Ganga, a simple, English speaking girl (I will mention the relevance later) and rescues her from a sticky situation, evolving into a better man. He meets a set of people - Ganesan , Velu, Suresh and others, who show him the different view of the world.

I personally had to struggle a lot to keep up with the narration style, because the transition between Akash's past and present was not very smooth. I found the character's musings (which kept interrupting the flow of the story) distracting and annoying at places. To break the stereotype of belonging to a culturally rich and beautiful South Indian state, the character "abhors" idlis and the villagers. I felt the writer tried too hard to ensure that the reader does not mistake the protagonist to be a gentle and mature person. Too hard. Akash's views on people's language and the superfluous usage of words ruins the book a little for me.

NEWTON'S LAW REVERSED Conflict - Some evade, some efface, while most embrace is a one time read. 

My rating 2.5/5 

NEWTON'S LAW REVERSED Conflict - Some evade, some efface, while most embrace @Frogbooks - Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd.

ISBN 978-93-82473-99-2

Author's Copy, the book is available at Rs. 145 on flipkart.
Number of pages 172.
Illustrations by Ms. Divya Palaniappan

The Winds of Hastinapur By Sharath Komarraju

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THE WINDS OF HASTINAPUR: Historical Fiction

AUTHOR(s): Sharath Komarraju has previously penned two brilliantly thrilling novels and has now ventured into telling an epic tale from a different perspective. He resides in Bangalore, dedicated to writing wholly. His website can be accessed here

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BESTSELLERS: Murder in Amravathi, Banquet on the dead. The Winds of Hastinapur is his third novel.

SYNOPSIS (From Back Cover): The tale begins when Ganga  was cursed and sent to Earth. She lives among the mortals and bears seven children to Shantanu, the King of Hastinapur, all of whom she kills. With the eighth, she leaves. That boy, who returns to Earth, will prove to be the key to the future of Hastinapur. The story, as told through the lives of his mother Ganga and stepmother, Satyavati, is violent, fraught with conflict and touched by magic. 

A lady of the river who has no virgin daughter to carry on her legacy. Celestials who partake of a mysterious lake they guard with their very lives, sages overcome by lust, a randy fisher-princess - these and other characters lend a startling new dimension to a familiar tale. Sharath Komarraju does not so much retell the epic as rewrite it.

"My hair is white and thin now. In a few moons, the Goddess will claim me and I do not have a fresh young virgin by my side to absorb my knowledge and take my place once I am gone. The Mysteries of Ganga and her Sight will vanish with me, and the Great River will become nothing more than a body of lifeless water....It is my intention therefore, to tell you this story as it happened and as I saw it happen."

EXCERPT:

You smell bad.

Do I? 

She bent down, hands on knees, to look him in the eye. 
He nodded at her.
The man and woman were still making their way out of the boat, lugging the bundle of pots and clothes along. The ferry girl led the boy a few paces away from the bank and whispered to him,

Do you want to see some magic?

Magic? 

She reached into the crook of her blouse and brought out a little cloth bag. After untying the knot, she slid two fingers through the mouth, and when she brought them out again, their tips were swabbed in a white, powdery substance. She rubbed her fingers on her palm, then rubbed her both her palms together.

Watch now.

She said, and ran her hands once over her arms, shoulders and face.

There, that should do. Now do you still smell me? 

MSM Speaks: It is such an enlightening experience to have a book of a friend in your hand and to not be biased, to not form an opinion even before reading it and to let go of all preconceived notions you may have. Such was an experience of reading The Winds of Hastinapur. I read it with detached attached emotions and with each page I saw a new story unfurl and a new perspective was formed in my mind with every chapter.

This wonderful tale of epic times is from the perspective of women. Mr. Sharath had previously hooked me onto his 'Murder in Amravathi' and 'Banquet on the Dead' (Read the review by Nimue Here), which I read in 5 hours top. The Winds of Hastinapur started with a pace, which was slow in build up and since I sucked at history, despite reading Mahabharata twice, I decided to keep taking break. But after few pages, I just could not keep the book down and officially finished the book in three hours!! 

The book is divided into two parts; Book 1 is from the perspective of Ganga and Book 2 is from the perspective of Satyavati. The tale starts with Ganga becoming a pawn in undoing a curse and continues to bring to fore the ever present divide between the Celestials on the Meru and the Earthmen. She bears seven children but kills them all, only for the curse which was not even bestowed on her and with the eighth child, she relinquishes her throne and returns, only to make a choice, which changes the history and set such things is motion which are both terrific and magnanimous in nature. Her son Devavrata, goes on to become a force to be reckoned with, but nursing a curse that passed on from her mother and the destiny on Meru.

In Book 2, the story is of the Earth, separate from Meru and its mysteries but holds a key to the future of this epic tale of Hastinapur. Satyavati, not very different from Ganga has her own curses to deal with and a price to pay to the Goddess whom she underestimates. She has to make choices, which are destructive for her sons - and  her step son, who is the true king of Hastinapur. Will she be a mother or will she lose her head as she did, when she was the innocent Kali. 

I was impressed by the narration and the poise and control with which the author has narrated a tale, which has always been from the perspective of men of the war, from the perspective of the women. The story is very very refreshing and I found myself curious all the while, not wanting the story to end. I immediately wanted to read the sequel, there are two more upcoming in 2015 and I am so gonna pre-order them!! Wonderful structuring of the story and the play with words. Every character has been portrayed in a manner which is clear and crisp and does not get mixed up! Loved the book!! MSM Absolutely Recommends!!

My Rating: 4.75/5 (The cover didn't impress me much)


The Winds of Hastinapur @ HarperCollins Publishers India 2013

ISBN 10 9351160874
ISBN 13 9789351160878

I bought it from flipkart.

flipkart price: Rs. 186 + 40 (delivery charges)
Number of pages: 320

None but Him by Tina G.

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NONE but Him: Fiction

AUTHOR: Tina G. The author is a housewife who was born in Chandigarh, Punjab. She was brought up and educated in Punjab and is currently residing in Rajasthan. She has a penchant for reading and writing. This book is her first attempt at carving a niche for herself as a professional writer. (Bio from notionpress.com)

BEST SELLER(S): None but Him is Author's debut work.

SYNOPSIS (From notionpress.com): 

Manyata woke up in the morning with a headache and realised that she was locked in Param’s embrace. She could feel his constant breath against the nape of her neck. She didn’t move and shut her eyes again lest she wake him up. Her eyes filled with tears and her throat was choked. Whatever happened between them was totally uncalled for.

When Manyata’s mother, Mamta, walked out of her husband’s home, Manyata too left with her. Though she had her inhibitions about going to Chandigarh but for the sake of her mother, she had to. But what she feared happened and she had no choice but to dance to the music. The person she didn’t want to meet ever came into her life again and she realised that she had never got over him. Though she had tried to get him out of her system but her heart was not smart enough. She realised that it was none but him for her.

EXCERPT:

Manyata’s heart was pounding as her mind was in a great turmoil. She had always kept herself engrossed in her studies and then in her job, but the memories which she had tucked away in a little corner of her heart had come to the fore and flooded her thoughts. She could not evade them. The past had come to haunt her. Manyata smiled to herself slyly. She needed to be comforted more than her mother. Five years ago, when Manyata had gone to Chandigarh for her cousin Sheetal’s wedding, her whole life turned upside down. Those bitter-sweet memories had often made her break down into tears. She had cried herself to sleep many a night.

MSM Speaks: Oh, what a wonderful surprise this was! I had started reading with the prospect that this love story would be as predictable as others and I would have to just get over with it. But how wrong I was. After a couple of pages, I realized that I was so wrong! The protagonist is a self made woman who has been going through a lot since her childhood. Her parents are separated and she sticks to her mother and moves to the city where her past memories of love and heartbreak come back to haunt her. In a freak coincidence, she ends up being with the love of her life, in an arrangement which she had never anticipated in her worst day dreams! 

I thought the book would be predictable, but Ms. Tina has proved me wrong! You cannot judge this simple love story by following complex ideas! The words are simple and smooth with emotions that each and everyone of us can connect to. The transition to the portions of Manyata's life may not flow seamlessly but as a debut novelist, Ms. Tina has a promising future ahead! It's a love story with a lot of twists! I wish her all the best! MSM Recommends!

My Rating: 3/5

Author's e-book copy.

Princess Trilogy (Book #1) by Jean Sasson

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PRINCESS - THE TRUE STORY OF LIFE INSIDE SAUDI ARABIA'S ROYAL FAMILY: Non-fiction, Biography Memoir, Religious.

AUTHOR(S): Ms. Jean Sasson worked for Dr. Nizar Feteih, the head of the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre. For the first two years shewas in charge of doctor's meetings, but later was promoted to the high-ranking position of Medical Affairs Coordinator, which basically meant she was Dr. Feteih's right hand. In 1978 she traveled to Saudi Arabia to work in the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh where she met Peter Sasson, her future husband. They married in 1982 and Sasson left the hospital after four years of service, but the couple remained in Saudi Arabia until 1990.During their time in the Middle East, the Sassons made many friends, including members of the royal Al-Saud family, who visited the hospital. The most notable of these friendships was between Sasson and "Princess Sultana", the princess about whose life The Princess Trilogy tells. Sasson is currently based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Image Source: Jean Sasson

BEST SELLER(S): Princess Trilogy, Princess Sultana's Circle, Princess Sultana's Daughters, Princess, The Rape of Kuwait, Ester's Child, Mayada, Love in a Torn Land, Growing Up Bin Laden, For the Love of a Son and American Chick.

Read Swarnali's Review of the Same Book here!

SYNOPSIS (From Goodreads): Sultana is a Saudi Arabian princess, a woman born to fabulous, uncountable wealth. She has four mansions on three continents, her own private jet, glittering jewels, designer dresses galore. But in reality she lives in a gilded cage. She has no freedom, no control over her own life, no value but as a bearer of sons. Hidden behind her black floor-length veil, she is a prisoner, jailed by her father, her husband, her sons, and her country. Sultana is a member of the Saudi royal family, closely related to the king. For the sake of her daughters, she has decided to take the risk of speaking out about the life of women in her country, regardless of their rank. She must hide her identity for fear that the religious leaders in her country would call for her death to punish her honesty. Only a woman in her position could possibly hope to escape from being revealed and punished, despite her cloak and anonymity. Sultana tells of her own life, from her turbulent childhood to her arranged marriage - a happy one until her husband decided to displace her by taking a second wife - and of the lives of her sisters, her friends and her servants. Although they share affection, confidences and an easy camaraderie within the confines of the women's quarters, they also share a history of appalling oppression as everyday occurrences that in any other culture would be seen as shocking human rights violations; thirteen-year-old girls forced to marry men five times their age, young women killed by drowning, stoning, or isolation in the "women's room," a padded, windowless cell where women are confined with neither light nor conversation until death claims them. By speaking out, Sultana risks bringing the wrath of the Saudi establishment upon her head and the heads of her children. But by telling her story to Jean Sasson, Sultana has allowed us to see beyond the veils of this secret society, to the heart of a nation where sex, money, and power reign supreme.

EXCERPT: 

Ownership of my body and soul would soon pass from my father to a stranger I would call my husband, for Father had informed me I would be wed three months after my sixteenth birthday. I felt the chains of traditions wrap tightly around me; I had only six short months of freedom left to savor. I waited for my destiny to unfold, a child as helpless as an insect trapped in a wicked web not of its own making.

MSM Speaks: A friend recommended this one to me, as I was craving for something real to read. I started off with preconceived notions about Saudi Arabia and Middle Eastern countries. This was an eye opener in so many ways. It's the story of Princess Sultana, the youngest princess of the House of Al Sauds, who always, at some personal level, tries to resist the restricting shackles of certain Islamic traditions. She is the first one to defy her most pampered brother Ali by not giving in to his threats and tantrums. She also goes a step ahead to make his life miserable. Her tantrums and trickery are fun to read, revealing her fiery and unfettered spirit. 

As a part of her growing up, she sees her older sisters, especially Sara, who goes through a reckless marriage, with its horrible pains and atrocities, going through the turbulent times quietly. She feels like a trapped bird and manages to break some rules with her sharp tongue. She faces the loss of her mother along with certain stark realities when she becomes of a marriageable age. However, fortunately, she gets married to a man who loves and respects her. Princess Sultana regrets that she could not do much in the public domain, however, small small steps taken by her make for a positive change in the attitude of at least the Royals. Islamic traditions of halawa, abaya etc. are depicted in great detail. 

All in all, it makes for an emotional read, that touches you and takes you in a stride with Sultana's emotions. However the only issue that I had with the (auto)biography was that I did not feel satisfied with Sultana's ferociousness. I felt there was something incomplete or missing in the entire write up. But that's just my opinion and it should  not stop you from picking this one up. Princess gives a wonderful and real insight into the life of Saudi Arabian women. MSM Recommends!!

My rating: 4/5
PRINCESS - THE TRUE STORY OF LIFE INSIDE SAUDI ARABIA'S ROYAL FAMILY @ Bantam Books (Transworld Publishers) (c) The Sasson Corporation 2004
ISBN 978-0-553-81695-2
flipkart price: 231/-INR

Envy - by Coleen Nolan

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ENVY: Chic-Lit, Urban Fantasy, Fiction. 

AUTHOR: Ms. Coleen Nolan (48), is UK's popular TV presenter and a panelist on ITV's Loose Women. She is also known as a runner up in the Celebrity Big Brother 2010 and was also an active singer in her Band - The Nolans. She also writes an Agony Aunt column in Daily Mirror and is infamous for her outrageously flirty behaviour. 

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BEST SELLER(S): Upfront & Personal (Autobiography, 2009), Mum to Mum - Happy Memories and Honest Advices from a Real Mum (2010) and Envy (2010).

SUMMARY: 

In the glamorous world of television, 

no one is quite who they seem...

Television favourite, Karen King has enough on her plate. She's already torn between her cheating husband and the sexy much younger man she's just met. But life's about to get a lot more complicated for the presenter of the late night hit show Girl Talk. 

EXCERPT: 

Best Friends Make the Deadliest Enemies.

'Hello! And welcome to Girl Talk!' Julia purred. 'Settle back for your nightly dose of the best news from the best of friends.' She paused and shot a dazzling smile at the others as the director cut to a close-up of Lesley, ever the professional, smiling back despite her pounding head.

Karen King gazed at the women on the either side of her and braced herself for another hour of fake friendship played out in front of millions.

MSM Speaks: You can happily strangle me once you recover from the pink haze I am throwing at you! ^_^ 

Ahem! So yes, prior to Envy I had no idea who Coleen Nolan was and when I did try to dig something, I found out she was no less than a mixture of our lovely actors (certain Ms. Queen-erawat and Ms. Rakhibandhan). Excuse the jibe. I was asked to pick this one up to see the character of Karen King, who also is the protagonist of the book. 

The book deals with the usual, dirt below the carpet reality of the television (fashion/film/modelling - just replace) industry. Karen King dapples with her weight issues, a flighty husband whom she divorces and also with the success that she seems to be gaining suddenly. There are also her co-presenters on Girl Talk and real life "friends" - Julia Hill, Lesley Gold, Faye Cole and Cheryl West. 

Julia Hill being the oldest (Oops. The most experienced) and a yesteryear A-Lister Celebrity in her younger days is always bossy. She deals with ill-effects of Botox and heavy handedness,making herself many unnamed enemies. Lesley Gold is always drunk, trying to outdo her feeling of loneliness and lack of love. Faye and Cheryl have a thing going on, where Faye lacks the guts to come out of the closet - being married to a local superhero Army Guy. Cheryl is her own person and I really appreciated the portrayal of her character in the book.

The book deals with all these women's stories running in parallel and interconnecting at various points.  Karen's character is portrayed with realistic grey shades, but the writer, in order to make her look like the hero, has made her behaviour a bit unrealistic - too naive and sweet, for someone who is in the TV industry. Secrets of all the women are revealed in the due course of the book and unsavoury vengeances take place between the so-called friends. It does get pathetic at some places, however the twists towards the end made me sit on the edge of my chair. It also shows that no matter where you stand in the fight, if you stand up for yourself, eventually you will come clean - as a winner. 

Plus point for that one. If you have some time to spare for a light, bitchy read. Pick this one up. 

My rating: 2/5 (FL can Laugh at me, as always. Please someone gift me good books!) 

Envy by Coleen Nolan @Pan Books (2010)

ISBN 9780330516983

Price: INR 248/- (flipkart)

Pages: 336

Only Love is Real: The story of soulmates reunited - By Dr. Brian Weiss

Image source: Self-clicked.

ONLY LOVE is REAL: Spirituality, Psychology and Metaphysics.

AUTHOR: Dr. Brian Leslie Weiss, MD (68) is a traditional psychotherapist. In 1988, during one of his sessions, he was astonished and skeptical, when one of his patients began recalling past-life traumas that seemed to hold the key to her recurring nightmares and anxiety attacks. His skepticism was eroded, however, when she began to channel messages from “the space between lives,” which contained remarkable revelations about Dr. Weiss’s family and his dead son. Using past-life therapy, he was able to cure the patient and embark on a new, more meaningful phase of his own career. Dr. Weiss is graduate of Columbia University and Yale Medical School. He is also the Chairman Emeritus of Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami. (From the official website http://www.brianweiss.com/)

Image Source Dr. Brian L.Weiss, MD

BEST SELLER(s): Many Lives, Many Masters; Miracles Happen; Through Time Into Healing; Messages from the Masters; Same Soul, Many Bodies; Mirrors of Time: Using regression for Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Healing; Meditation: Achieving Inner Peace and Tranquillity In Your Life; Eliminating Stress and Finding Peace; and Healing the Mind and Spirit Cards.

SYNOPSIS (From the Blurb):

                       We all have a soulmate, someone who is special to us.

In his books, psychiatrist and past-life therapist Dr. Brian Weiss describes the extraordinary case of two of his patients, Pedro and Elizabeth, whose shared lives and lifetimes unfolded quite separately in his office. Could they have loved - and lost - each other across time?

Dr. Weiss explains that you may be awakened to the presence of your soul companion by a look, a dream, a memory or a feeling. Finding and reuniting with your soulmate will bring you profound bliss and happiness, safe in the knowledge that you are together always, to the end of time.

EXCERPT:

I have been here before,

But when and how, I cannot tell;

I know the grass beyond the door,

The sweet keen smell,

The sighing sound, the lights around the shore.

You have been mine before -

How long ago I may not know:

Just when at that swallow's soar,

Your neck turned so,

Some veil did fall, - I know it all of yore.

- DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI

You never forget the hurt, but, as time passes, you can live around it. After a decade of pain, we began to understand about the immortality of souls.

MSM Speaks: There are certain genres which people usually don't find themselves attracted to and at the risk of stereotyping, I would say - religion or spiritualism is one such genre. You either need to have a keen interest or a hunger to hold on to the knowledge and wisdom delivered until the end. I came across this book after few of my friends mentioned Many Masters, Many Lives as something that I should pick up. However, Only Love is Real was given to me by one of my friends. To be honest, I did not open it until few days back because of the mental block that it must be highly boring and well, clichéd. 

The book starts off at a pretty slow pace to make the reader familiar with terms and issues to be dealt with in Past Life Regression Therapy. Dr. Weiss introduces little verses at the beginning of all the chapters to make them more intriguing. I really loved the verse that I have given in the excerpt - it is in essence, all of what Dr. Weiss is trying to say. He starts with Elizabeth's session who is suffering from anxiety and bad relationships. She is also in deep sadness regarding her mother, whom she lost. A lot of her problems are dealt with and a marvellous connection is brought out to her previous lives. 

In another session, Dr. Weiss is dealing with a Mexican patient Pedro who has been suffering from a lot of mental stress and physical stress. Also, he has recently lost his older brother and therefore, feels an incredible sense of loss that seems to be rooted beyond this lifetime. 

Two parallel therapies are taking place - two parallel connections are being drawn. Masters from the other side meanwhile give messages worth reassessing our position in this world. Yes, we are indeed a tiny speck, but we are also one of a kind, the sui generis. Dr. Weiss does not impose what he believes, just gives his take on the principle of past life regressions.

I had to finish this book, and yes, somewhere somehow, even though the contemporary upbringings tell us to believe otherwise, I ended up feeling hopeful about myself. A complete feel good book. 

My Rating: 4.5/5

ONLY LOVE is REAL@ Piatkus UK (www.piatkus.co.uk) 2004

ISBN 978-0-7499-1620-6
Number of Pages: 176
Price: INR 225 /- (flipkart)

Succubus Dreams (Book Three): Georgina Kincaid Series by Richelle Mead

Original Picture from the Website

Best Selling version of the Cover.

REVIEW OF BOOK ONE

REVIEW OF BOOK TWO

SUCCUBUS DREAMS: Book Three, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Fiction, Supernatural. 

AUTHOR: Richelle Mead

SUMMARY (From the Richelle Mead Website):

Some days, a girl just can't catch a break...

…especially when the girl in question is Georgina Kincaid, a shape-shifting succubus who gets her energy from seducing men. First there’s her relationship with gorgeous bestselling writer Seth Mortensen, which is unsatisfying on a number of levels. It’s not just that they can’t have sex in case Georgina inadvertently kills him (generally a turn-off for most guys). Lately, even spending time together is a challenge. Seth's obsessed with finishing his latest novel, and Georgina's under demonic orders to mentor the new (and surprisingly inept) succubus on the block. 

Then there are the dreams. Someone, or something, is preying on Georgina at night, draining her energy, and supplying eerie visions of her future. Georgina seeks answers from Dante, a dream interpreter with ties to the underworld, but his flirtatious charm only leaves her more confused—especially as the situation with Seth reaches crisis point. Now Georgina faces a double challenge—rein in her out-of-control love life, and go toe-to-toe with an enemy capable of wreaking serious havoc among mankind. Otherwise, Georgina, and the entire mortal world, may never sleep easy again…

EXCERPT:

My words were cut off as a tall, Amazonian blonde nearly barrelled into me.

“Oh! You must be Georgina! I’ve been dying to meet you.”

I raised my eyes past Spandex-clad double-D breasts and up into big blue eyes with impossibly long lashes. A huge set of beauty pageant teeth smiled down at me. My moments of speechlessness were few, but they did happen. This walking Barbie doll was a succubus. A really new one. So shiny and new, in fact, it was a wonder she didn’t squeak. I recognized her age both from her signature and her appearance. No succubus with any sense would have shape-shifted into that!!! She was trying too hard, haphazardly piling together an assortment of pseudo male-fantasy body parts. It left her with a Frankensteinian creation that was both jaw-dropping and probably anatomically impossible. 

MSM Speaks: When one makes a come back, they start with their best (or so they think!) performances and in my kitty, the best reviews (loaded with sarcasm and not-so-subtle double entendres) are of the Young Adult Urban Fantasy Fiction genre (Yes, I cannot avoid them. They are like unhealthy junk food, they stick to you and swear to take you down with them!). So, if you remember any of my previous reviews about my Succubus Georgie, you can forget them and start like Tawny (The New Seattle Succubus), all squeaky clean and new.

So the plot starts with Georgie and Seth in a romantic relationship (You can figure that part on your own anyway), when Georgina starts to have unrealistically real dreams of becoming a mother and doing dishes and waiting for her man, the father of her child, while Sweet home Alabama plays in the background. For a fact, Georgie cannot procreate since she is a demon and second, the dreams leave her incredibly drained of her acquired (from the other men) energies. She seeks help from her mortal guide and old human friend, Erik who sends her to this ludicrous con man Dante - very powerful and very Dark, but who doesn't believe that our Georgie is a succubus. Story spirals ahead with Georgina truly trapped in the shit-hit-the-fan scenario, when she is stood up by a whole bunch of people. I sometimes don't understand that why Georgie doesn't use her Awesome powers. She just mopes like a normal woman. I tell you, it gets annoying! 

Unlike the previous two books, I found myself skipping pages in this one to jump to when the mystery-solving-searching-clues start, because seriously, I know Y.As appeal the most, to the teens with raging hormones, they certainly at some point of time, make me want to gag, Y.As that is, and not the teens. Exactly like in this third instalment. Don't take me wrong, I love Georgie, but there's only this much that I can take of the whole mortal-immortal love story. SO, I skipped to the mystery solving, which is pretty crisp and fast paced! There is a new immortal love story that helps Georgina to get out of the freaky dream scenario - also, as Georgina witnesses, how an Angel falls and becomes a demon. I loved that part. Finally, towards the end, she is saved by a whole bunch of Angels, Demons and Nephilliams but at the daunting cost of her personal life. Tsk Tsk. Richelle herself got bored after solving the mystery in this book. 

Image source

Oh, and on a random note. I am in love with Carter. (Who you ask? He is an Angel and Literally, Georgina's guardian angel).

You can just read my reviews of the series and be happy. You don't necessarily have to pick up the book, but if you do, I will be happy! :D

My rating: 2.75/5 (I couldn't give more)

You will find e-book links in the previous reviews!