JFK : Book Review

Book: JFK

Author: Jhangir Kerawala

Published by: Grey Oak Publisher

Year of publication: 2012

Cover design: Trinankur Banergee

Price in India: 199/- 

Source BlogAdda

Story: One can say, the story is inspired by the Noida serial murders 2005-2006. It makes only a part of the story. The rest of it is weaved interestingly around it and with it.

The story starts with an unexpected murder, a secret girl friend and an unknown black mailer, giving the impression of a masala pot boiler. And true to that, there are many Bollywoodish or say Tollywoodish moments.
However, as the story moves forward, there are enough material like an antique statue with a secret chamber in its body, a relevant insurance policy, a secret society on the park street etc to raise the curiosity level of the reader and keep one going.
The story keeps shifting pace and does not allow laxity. It slowly gets complicated sometime in the middle and the ending is believable and practical.

Writing Style: The writing style is casual and comfortable. You do not have to own a dictionary for this one. Most of the, the language is colloquial and regular. The author has kept the writing basic and that somewhere helps in understanding the complicated plot. 
Mention of landmarks of Kolkata like park street and KC Das sweet shop makes the reading appealing.

Main Characters: 
Jatin Karunamayee is your common man in the middle of a life threatening and unnatural situation. Although, he is jobless and careless as a husband, he is a good friend and a god human being. 
This story is about his rise as of a hero, where he manages to help capture a serious criminal. His thought process is balanced and easy to relate to. He is someone who lives in your neighborhood, perhaps right down your lane. 

Montu is your typical Bengali babu, he wears his white dhoti with pride. He has a friendly nature and makes the perfect side hero. But is that all to him?

Good quote from the book: "He did not want his shoes to get wet as he had noticed it's sole had started to peel off. With age, this sole too left it's body".

Bad quote from the book: "His last pay check was about fifteen thousand rupees.  Not something comparable to Mukesh Ambani's he knew, but it sufficed with some savings".

In conclusion, the title may sound international but the story and and it's taste is very Indian, somewhat Bengali. If you like adventure and on the road thriller, this one should not disappoint you. 

Know the author:

Before plunging into the creative field, Jhangir a commerce graduate from Kolkata, paid his dues for almost ten years as an accountant and then went looking for adventure and travel, by making a lateral shift into sales. After five years of selling refrigerators he knew that the streets he traveled had a story to tell and that he had a story to tell. After experimenting with a comic series, cartooning and short stories for children, JFK is Jhangir’s debut into the world of novels.

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com . Participate now to get free books!

Kolkata Khabar~

There is a long list of things that I would like to change in my world. I am sure, I can impress you with all of it. However, here is a wish that is small and very close to my sensibility.

Since living in Kolkata, I have noticed these Rickshaw pullers. Yes, I rode on a few too. By now, some of them know me. They call out to me when they see me waiting for a cab. And if I am going anywhere near, I give in, to their invites. 
Most of them do not wear slippers and all of them are old in age. I like to chat with them and they do not mind my curiosity. They seem well aware of local politics and amaze me of their intelligence.
Somewhere deep within, I wonder, if is this how God planned this world? My thoughts are fleeting and I forget about it all, as soon as I reach my destination. 
The other day, I was crossing Gol Park, a corner in Kolkata. It is not exactly a corner, it is quite central to Kolkata. Here, time seem to have stopped tick tocking. It is like a part of history that is trying hard to fit in. It has lost it's sparkle, speed and is struggling to impress. I stopped here, to soak in the atmosphere and click a few pictures. I was running late and I was not carrying my camera. Here  are some pictures that I took on my mobile.
If I had the power to change something, I would change the lives of these Rickshaw pullers. Give them a world free of menial labor, a world free of neglect and disregard. If I had the power to change something, I would give them the power to choose a life that does not ignore them, that celebrates them. 

Some action for this one.

And this one had free time.

No customer around for most.

Competition for Rickshaw dwellers.

And roads are full of Auto Rickshaws.

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

Spare Me The Horror~

Sorry, removed for further editing. I seriously suck at it, so do not hold your breath :p

Diary Of An Average Woman~

Monday:
Dear Diary,

It has been almost fifteen years to my marriage and I am still waiting for life to happen to me. I am still waiting for every one to take notice of me. I feel restless and incomplete. My husband is always busy and my children have no time for me. 

Tuesday:
Dear Dairy,
Tomorrow, My husband is returning from Singapore. I wish, he would stop and look into my eyes and ask me how I have been. But I know as soon as he is back, he would hand me down his jacket and call his office.  

Wednesday:
Dear Dairy,
At the airport, while waiting for my husband, I browsed through a men's magazine. The cover girl wore a lot of make up and a tiny yellow bikini. Surprisingly, her features were similar to me, nothing great. However, her breasts could stop traffic on Howrah Bridge. That gave me an idea.

Thursday:
Dear Dairy,
I have finally decided to change myself. No, I am not posing for magazine covers. Nevertheless, I plan to turn heads. I am tired of being an average looker, an average student, an average wife with an average life. I am going in for breast implants. With hubby dear's contacts, I have managed to get an appointment on Saturday with the best plastic surgeon in town. 

Friday:
Dear Diary,

Today, I called my son's hostel. His football team had won some match and he was in the middle of a boisterous party. Even though, I call him once a week, he had no time for me. My thirteen year old daughter is always in her room, on the computer. At times, I feel she lives in a hostel too.

Saturday:
Dear Diary,
I went to the clinic on my own, I want to surprise my family. I met a panel of thee doctors. They asked me multiple questions. I assured them that I knew what I was getting into. They asked me to go through routine physical check up. A lady doctor checked my breasts. I felt shy but she made me comfortable. 
‘There is a lump on your right breast. It may not be cancerous. But we need to do a mammography to be sure. I will write down the tests that you need to take. We should be ready to meet you again in about a week's time. Best of luck!’ she said with a straight face.

Sunday:
Dear Diary,
My head is still spinning. My mother had Breast cancer. I tried to keep a positive frame of mind. Medical science has progressed since then. My husband is in shock. He did not take the news very well. He is positive the lump in my breast is not malignant.
I realise, my husband may not be the most romantic person in the world but he cares to hold me at night. He makes sure I am safe and well cared for. My kids will be worried too. Maybe, my son is too involved in school. But his grades are high. My daughter is in her own world but she stays home, unlike some of her friends who party late. My ‘Cup of life’ is full. It just needs to be stirred by me. 

Tomorrow:
Dear Diary,
I am keeping my fingers crossed for a good report. I am never again thinking of spicing up my life in an unnatural way. For me, the only way to go forward in life is by opening my eyes to the glories of this life and making the most of what I have.

Source Google

PS: I dedicate this piece of fiction to October : National breast cancer awareness month. 

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

You and I...

You and I, we go together

Like copy and paste

Like recycle bin and waste

Like wifi and server

Like chat and a lover

Like power and connection

Like message and notification

Like a bug and antivirus

Like touch screen and stylus 

Like mail and edit 

Like Junk and delete

Like Space and backspace

Like refresh and escape

Like F2 and F4

Like Battery and charger

Like key board and monitor

Like power point and picture

Like e-book and kindle

Like search and google
Like youtube and upload
Like video and download

Like facebook and status

Like blogs and comments

You and I are forever~

Source Google

Free Books Give Away~

‘Waking up, now that September has ended’. 

October is here and it is time for me to indulge in some good heart warming action. The month of October is special to me in many ways. Yes, it is my Birthday month and more than that it is also the month when two years back, two of my short stories were noticed on blog sphere and were published in an anthology of short fiction stories by 26 Indian women writer, titled Ripples.

To celebrate that and to thank all my blogger friends who support and cheer me, I have decided on this free books give away. yes, I would be giving away two copies of Ripples for free. 

Here is about Ripples:

Price: 195/-

Released in October 2010.

Publisher: APK Publishers.

Following is the text on the back cover:

One drop fell. And another. Creating ripples in still waters...

When you bring together 48 stories from 26 exceptionally talented Indian women writers, you can expect imaginations, passions, and emotions to set pages aflame. Ripples is the result of one such effort. It is an anth

ology of short fiction stories that showcases superior creative writing and is a great representative of contemporary Indian women’s writing. Though the stories vary greatly in genre, style of presentation, and length, the issues and choices faced by the protagonists of the stories are exemplary in their portrayal of the duality and contradictions of the contemporary world. Written with great dexterity, eloquence, and sensitivity, these stories are sure to leave their lasting ripples on your mind and heart. With stories by first-timers as well as by national and international award-winning writers, this book is a must-read for one and all!

The contributing writers to Ripples are (in alphabetical order):

Aaleya Sen
Abha Iyengar
Anita Satyajit
Asha Francis
Bina Gupta
Dagny Samrock
Fehmida Zakeer
Ghazala S. Hossain

Irene Dhar Malik
Jayati Dasgupta
Monideepa Sahu
Nupur Roopa
Pervin Saket
Pushpa Ramachandran
Richa Wahi
Ritu Lalit
Shaily Sahay
Sharada Balasubramanian
Sucharita Dutta-Asane
Sudha Sharma
Suja Sukumaran 

Suneetha B

Suseela P. Ravi
Tikulli Dogra
Vasundhara Ratakonda
Vibha Batra 

~

To get this book, all you have to do is:

1- Follow this blog

2- Go here and Like my facebook page 

3- Please leave a witty comment, why you want to read this book?

Two deserving participants will receive a free copy each, of the book Ripples. 

Disclaimer: This give away is from my own pocket. You will need to provide your postal address and mobile number, in case you are the winner. It is required for sending the book. Thank you~ 

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

This give away is closed now. I want to give a copy to each of the participants for they all are my inspiration and motivation. But like they say,  if wishes were horses beggars would ride.
Here are the two co-bloggers who will be receiving a copy of Ripples each,

Amit Agarwal and Subhorup Dasgupta.