Bookish Indulgences

15 April, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta April 15, 2013 2

#SpecialFeature :: #BookReview of A Knowing Look and Other Stories by Rebecca Emin

Now Presenting:

*** SPECIAL FEATURE - April'13 ***

So far on Special Feature April

1st April - Introducing Rebecca Emin

8th April - Book Review of New Beginings

From the heat of the African plain to the chilled winter air in rural England, this book will take you on a journey via a collection of emotive short stories.

Birth, death, and some of the challenges that arise in between are covered in this selection of fiction for adult readers.

When I first started to read, I used to avoid reading short stories because I used to feel that the ending came a bit too soon. It is only in the recent times that I have started to appreciate how difficult it must be for an author to tell a story effectively within the limitations.

Ms.Emin has not only packed this book with a wide range of stories, but has successfully managed to make each story special. When I say a wide range, I mean a wide range in every aspect – the settings take you from Africa to England in a jiffy and the emotions will take you from the highest high to really low, yet her writing style remained balanced throughout. She had me from the very first story, ‘A Knowing Look’ that touched my heart. ‘Class of 1990’ was nothing like anything I have read before. ‘On the Corner of Clerk Street’ with its amazing twist had he reading the story twice in a row before moving on. ‘Listen’ and the last piece ‘You light up the sky’ were brief yet thought provoking.

Also, the funny thing about my short stories is that every time I read them over, I find something new. It may be just a sentence that appeals to me differently or sometimes a story creates a totally different impression. So, I will surely be picking this book up for a second time after a gap. In the meantime you guys can pick this up without hesitation. The book is some 50-60 pages and so a quick read (unless you end up reading a story more than once like me).

What other Readers have to say:

"These stories are small emotional packets of prose." ~~ Sadie Forsythe on Goodreads

"Rebecca Emin's writing ebbs and flows with the realities of life as she engages the reader on specific journeys through birth, living and death." ~~ R.J Leflar on Amazon

"An excellent collection of short stories and flash fiction, varied in content and eloquently written – and leaving the reader wanting more." ~~ Marit Meredith on Goodreads

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Giveaway

This month we will have 5 lucky winners! Isn't that awesome news? Well, Ms.Emin has offered to giveaway 5 copies of her books to 5 winners. The Winners can choose between Paperback Copy of 'New Beginnings' or Digital Copy of either 'A Knowing Look' or 'When Dreams Come True'!

So what are you waiting for? Enter in the rafflecopter below for your chance at winning!

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12 April, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta April 12, 2013 0

#BookReview :: The Devil Colony (Sigma Force #7) by James Rollins

Deep in the Rocky Mountains, a gruesome discovery—hundreds of mummified bodies—stir international attention and fervent controversy. Despite doubts to the bodies’ origins, the local Native American Heritage Commission lays claim to the prehistoric remains, along with the strange artifacts found in the same cavern: gold plates inscribed with an unfathomable script.
During a riot at the dig site, an anthropologist dies horribly: burned to ash in a fiery explosion in plain view of television cameras. All evidence points to a radical group of Native Americans, including one agitator, a teenage firebrand who escapes with a vital clue to the murder and calls on the one person who might help: her uncle, Painter Crowe, director of Sigma Force.
To protect his niece and uncover the truth, Painter will ignite a war across the nation’s most powerful intelligence agencies. Yet, an even greater threat looms as events in the Rocky Mountains have set in motion a frightening chain reaction, a geological meltdown that threatens the entire western half of the U.S.
From the volcanic peaks of Iceland to the blistering deserts of the American Southwest, from the gold vaults of Fort Knox to the bubbling geysers of Yellowstone, Painter Crowe joins forces with Commander Gray Pierce to penetrate the shadowy heart of a dark cabal, one that has been manipulating American history since the founding of the thirteen colonies.
But can he discover the truth—one that could topple governments—before it destroys all he holds dear?

The Devil Colony is the seventh book in the Sigma Force series and my first exposure to it. I haven’t read any other book in this series but felt confident enough to go in as the series seemed to be standalones with common characters. In this story, Sigma Force gets involved in a case of the death of a research team member in a cave in Utah. Painter Crowe is put in charge of the case and is under pressure for earliest possible closure. He also realizes that his niece is somehow involved as she was last seen leaving the cave as the explosion took place. It is also apparent that two groups called, The Guild and True Bloodlines are involved in this case.

The author takes his time to introduce his repeat cast which made it really easy for a first timer like me. I especially loved Seichan's character since it’s the most complicated and difficult to predict. Gray Pierce can hold his own too and is the perfect partner for Seichan. Painter Crowe is also an interesting character to get introduced to. It seemed that he was back on the field after a long time, yet he warmed up to me immediately.

The plot is in the line of something that I haven’t read in a long time. It weaves together history and fiction along with science, suspense and action in a way that in the end it is much more than just a historical fiction. Usually with these kinds of books (with scientific concepts) I often have to go back and look up the initial explanations/introductions. But the author has spread out and explained his concepts slowly and really well making things easy enough for everyone to understand. What was most interesting to read was the chain of events depicted in the book… a cave explosion in Utah could very well result in the geological meltdown of the western half of United States.

Trust me this novel was action packed page turner and anyone interested in this genre should immediately pick it up. As for my part, I will be sure to catch up on the previous installments of the series as soon as possible.

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11 April, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta April 11, 2013 0

#BookReview :: Truly, Madly, Deeply by Faraaz Kazi

What happens when the most popular guy in school falls in love with his beautiful female equivalent?
A pompous Rahul is head over heels in love with Seema, a shy lady from the same school. After a whirlwind of innocent encounters, their teenage romance blossoms but the two never confess their love for each other. Friends and even a few teachers approve of their relationship which is no secret to anyone thanks to Rahul’s flaunting nature.
Seema, on the other hand, finds it difficult to handle the unnecessary attention she gets due to Rahul’s ostentatiousness. What follows is a series of misunderstandings and ego clashes causing them to drift apart.
Rahul loses his popularity, his numero uno status, his sanity and ultimately his love. By the time he realizes what he has lost, it’s too late. He takes desperate measures to woo her back and win back her love. But will Rahul ever get back Seema? And will Seema ever realize how much Rahul loved her and all the misunderstandings that transpired between them? Is there really any room for misunderstandings in love? In today’s world, can a person’s first love ever be his last?
This teenage love story seeks answers to all these and more as it alternates between the past and the present events in the life of Rahul and makes you wonder; do all love stories have a happy ending? Or do all love stories end, ever?

This is the story of Rahul and Seema – both good looking, in the top half of the class and popular. While Rahul is the extrovert and flaunting senior, Seema is the shy junior. They paths keep crossing and they do fall in love with each other. They never directly confess their love for each other but it’s a well-known fact that even most teachers approve. But what is a love story without some agony in it. So enter a bunch of mean kids who create misunderstandings between the golden couple. So much so, that Rahul loses his position not only in front of Seema but also in front of the whole school. Unable to stand his loss, Rahul leaves the country in order to be able to put back his life together. Will this particular love survive over the years and distance?

The plot is simple – a boy and girl fall in love, drift apart because of petty misunderstandings and whether they will eventually find their way back to each other or not. It is difficult to be different when the storyline is one that has been visited, revisited, reinvented over and over again by so many authors. What Faraaz Kazi has to offer in this novel is the feel of innocence that’s been lost somewhere in the way of selling sex. The author has expertly woven the story together with that refreshing innocent and untainted love and I absolutely loved that aspect of the story. And as for the characters, most of them are just like someone you knew during your school days… they are pretty true to life. Rahul seemed a bit over-matured for his age at times though.

Imagine your school life with lots of background music, a bit more colour, and spotlight on two particular students – yes, that’s what this book is like. A bit too influenced by Bollywood Masala Movies, it retains the entertainment factor from them. Though overall it was a good time-pass book, it is in the end just that – a time pass book that will make you smile, misty eyed and even a bit sentimental about your school/college life. But I don’t think it is a book that will leave a lasting impression and that’s shame because Faraaz Kazi sure knows how to play with words.

This being his debut novel, I guess we can safely say that he is an author to watch out for. And my suggestion to him would be to next pick up a storyline with bit more depth and cause because I feel that he can surely do better.

10 April, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta April 10, 2013 0

#BookReview :: Always on My Mind (The Sullivans #8) by Bella Andre

Lori “Naughty” Sullivan finally falls in love in ALWAYS ON MY MIND, the new book in Bella Andre’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling series about the Sullivan family.

After a tragic loss three years ago, Grayson Tyler left his life in New York City behind and started over in the rolling hills of the California coast. He's convinced himself that all he'll ever need again is the blue sky, a thousand acres of pasture, and the crashing waves of the ocean. Until one day, Lori Sullivan barges into his life and promptly blows his emotionless and solitary world to shreds, driving him crazy as only a woman nicknamed “Naughty” can. But will Lori be able to convince him that it's safe to love her...and that forever isn't actually out of reach?

I was first introduced to the Sullivan family when Bella Andre was touring with Novel Publicity. Since then I have had the chance to read all the seven books prior to this one in the series. I won’t say that they were all outstanding and equally good. While a couple of them stood out, for me, in the series, remaining were all entertaining reads.

‘Always on My Mind’, eighth book in the Sullivan family saga, focuses on Lori, the Naughty Sullivan. She had been in a not so healthy relationship before. But then she met Grayson Tyler. Grayson has his past and baggage which had practically forced him to give up his fast paced life in New York and settle in the country side. We all know that Lori isn’t the kind of girl who is scared to speak the truth and is known for stirring up trouble. So when the course of the ‘naughty girl’ and the ‘damaged man’ collides, there is little wonder that tempers fly and chemistry sizzles through the pages.

Having had some glimpses of Lori in the previous books, I had picked up this book with certain expectations about her character. I was sadly disappointed as the Lori in this story is so very different from the Lori we have previously seen. But then I guess people do make a complete fool of themselves when they are in love. Grayson is a hard man to crack. He is dealing with a lot of grief over his wife’s death and he doesn’t make it any easier for anyone to reach out to him. At some points he was so annoying that I just wanted to smack him on the head. But in the end, they do turn out to be a perfect match for each other.

This is one of those books in the series that I would classify as ‘entertaining read’ as the characters didn’t really manage to create that pull for me. But being a Bella Andre Novel, one can always count on to see some good language and great narration. She has a certain consistency in her style of writing that I have come to admire.

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09 April, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta April 09, 2013 1

#BookReview:: The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna

Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination – an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her ‘other’, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known – the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love – to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive...

I had heard so much about this book before picking it up, that I started reading it the moment it arrived in mail. There was so much hype about it and couple of other bloggers that I follow had recommended it to me over and over. And now that I have finished reading it, I am glad to report that, all that hype is well deserved.

‘Lost Girl’ takes you to a world where humans can order an echo to be made of their loved ones so that in case they lose someone to death, the echo can take their place. Our protagonist is a 16 year old echo who has named herself Eva after an elephant. She is an echo of a girl called Amarra who lives in Bangalore, India and thus has spent her whole life in the way Amarra lives her life. She is supposed to know what Amarra knows, like what Amarra likes, hate what Amarra hates and basically be a carbon copy in every way. Echoes are not supposed to live their own lives or have their own wishes. Afterall, when a human dies, the echo has to take their place and live their life for them. Eva is special. Her guardians, Mina Ma, Erik, and Sean love her and have often tweaked the rules for her. Eva has experienced things and has the love other echoes couldn’t have. But when Amarra loses her life in a road accident Eva is forced to leave everything and take her new place.

The author has created a mesmerizing world, I tell you. On one hand the Weavers (creators of echoes) have been portrayed as mysterious, omnipresent and powerful people who can create life from mere ash and bones. It is very clear that they are not to be trifled with. On the other hand are the echoes, who have no life of their own. They are forced to live the life of the human they are destined to replace. Then there are the humans. While echoes are illegal in many countries, human find a way to ‘order’ for echoes. They are supposed to bring hope to the survivors, yet somehow I felt that the echoes were there so that the survivors didn’t have to deal with loss, grieve and move on. Then again, the way some humans look at echoes, as if they are stealing somebody’s life and that they have no feelings or wishes/rights of their own was so appalling.

I have lived the ups and downs of being and echo with Eva. She is indeed a special girl who has a mind of her own and is brave. I loved Sean for being the person he is. I loved Lekha for being a true friend, Nikhil and Sasha for being understanding and Mina Ma and Erik for giving Eva a chance at her own life just by being there for her. Ray frankly irritated the hell out of me. Ophelia was a total mush. Adrian played the part of an antagonist well enough but not to the build-up he got. And frankly speaking I still can’t decide what to think of Matthew. The plot accommodates such a wide variety of characters and each of them are well developed.

The writing style of the author was really simple. I didn’t have to look up a single meaning. Yet the narration was anything but simple. It is so beautifully done that you can almost picturise each character and situation in the mind’s eye. The flow is smooth and at no point did I feel that the story was dragging. I tried to look up whether the author has lived in Bangalore or not, but her website only says that she is currently living in England. I have a feeling that the author must have lived in Bangalore (or atleast in South India) for a while because she has captured the essence of the Bangalore citizen so well. I mean locations and landmarks can be googled, but to capture the thought process and mentality of the local people in such an authentic manner, the author must have spent some time there. If not, then I simply have to bow down to her research on it.

Overall, it’s a page turner and an exciting book to read. It is a must read for all dystopian lovers. I hope there’s a sequel soon.

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08 April, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta April 08, 2013 4

#SpecialFeature :: #BookReview of New Beginnings by Rebecca Emin

Now Presenting:

*** SPECIAL FEATURE - April'13 ***

So far on Special Feature April

1st April - Introducing Rebecca Emin

Sam Hendry is not looking forward to starting at her new school. Things go from bad to worse as the day of truth arrives and all of her fears come true... and then some.

When Sam meets a different group of people who immediately accept her as a friend, she begins to feel more positive.

With her new friends and interests, will Sam finally feel able to face the bully who taunts her, and to summon up the courage to perform on stage?

This is the story of Sam Hendry… A girl who is about to leave her comfortable environment of primary school and her friends to start at a new school where there isn’t a familiar face that she can count on. She doesn’t really want to go leave her friends and ‘start over’ again, but has little choice in the matter. To make her worst nightmares come true, she is picked up as a target by the bully of the school. As grim as her life seems to be, she soon finds friends and a group that she can belong to. The drama club at the new school gives her a chance to express herself, nurture her talents and a group of friends – the silver lining of her life.

The first and foremost thing about this book is the subject matter that is carefully dealt with – Bullying. As we know that bullying is a real problem faced by many – be it in school or at work place. When at a work place, an adult has more experience and grit to deal with it. But at school level it is a bigger problem because a child is more impressionable and fragile at that stage and bullying can cause some serious damage both physically and emotionally. The author, Rebecca Emin has handled the subject very carefully. While on one hand she has depicted situations very effectively, on the other hand she has also shown that there is a way for everyone to deal and overcome such situations. When a child’s self-confidence is broken, it is very difficult for them to confide in someone and ask for help. But, I feel that even grown-ups should be aware of how it affects a child so as to be on guard and pick out the signs.

Besides dealing with bullying, this book also deals with the everyday life of a soon-to-be teenager. Sam’s life involves her friends, her talent, her interests and her first crush and the plot line effectively covers it all. It was so refreshing to read about life through such innocent eyes. It made me wish to go back to those days of my life. The references to different music and tv shows made me smile to myself.

My only complaint with this book was that I wish that the author had given us a bit more indepth look at the lives of the different characters. Otherwise, this was a very sweet book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Being some 150-160 pages it is also a fast read. I would suggest everyone to read this book – youngsters to realize that there is always a way to deal with bullies and for grownups to be aware of the effect of bullying on their children.

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05 April, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta April 05, 2013 1

#GuestPost :: Tina Martin, Author of Accidental Deception

Why Do I Write

Why do I write? That’s a good question and a question that I get a lot. Most of my friends and family think writing is difficult and very time consuming. Well, they’re right. It is! But if you find your passion, something that you enjoy doing no matter what, then you’ll do it. That’s what writing is for me. It takes me into another world of which I create. I control the weather, the people, the settings – the power is in my hands. There’s something exhilarating about that.

Introduce us to your book.

Accidental Deception is book one of a trilogy. It is a novel that I started a few years ago when the recession was in full swing. I often wondered how life on the street was for homeless women. How much harder was it for them to survive than men? So after brainstorming for a while, I came up with the perfect concept for a novel – a homeless woman (Shayla Kline), a wealthy man (Carter Williams) – two opposites who have more in common than they think. Would he come down off of his high horse to help a homeless woman, or is he too good to waste time trying to help someone other than himself?

The setting for the novel is Charlotte, North Carolina.

Tell us more about the main characters.

Shayla Kline is homeless. She lost everything she’s ever owned and she almost lost her mind when her fiancé, Jacob Dempsey committed suicide. She’s given up on life and doesn’t even have the desire to live.

Carter Williams is a high-level executive in the banking industry. He’s a bachelor, has been selfish all his life and to everyone on the outside, it seems he has it all together. But he’s secretly suffering the death of his mother and brother. He stumbles upon the homeless, Shayla Kline while walking to his office building one cold day and debates whether or not he should help her. When he finally decides to offer some assistance, he finds out something about her that almost knocks him off of his feet – she’s the fiancée of his recently deceased brother, Jacob. Throughout the novel, he keeps this a secret from her but when he starts to feel a spark in his heart for her, he knows he’s in trouble. Now he has an internal struggle of love versus loyalty – should he love the only woman who could get this close to his heart, or be loyal to his brother.

Is there a message in your novel?

Yes! Although I transformed this story into a love story, it still offers a lesson for my readers. No matter what your financial situation in life, we can all help each other. And when you see a homeless person, think about how you would feel if you were in their shoes.

About the Author

Tina Martin is a fiction author from eastern North Carolina. A recipient of the Outstanding Achievement in Poetry Award from the Famous Poets Society, she now uses her creativity to pen novels which include Secrets On Lake Drive, Another Man's Treasure, The Baby Daddy Interviews and Accidental Deception. She is also the author of two short stories - Vacation Interrupted and The Crush and one poetry book, Love Like Yours. Tina resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with her family. Read more about Tina and read excerpts of her novels at her website: www.tinamartin.net.

About the Book

Accidental Deception is a story about love versus loyalty, the tug-of-war that dictates every action Carter Williams will take after he stumbles upon a homeless woman, Shayla Kline, in Uptown Charlotte. Completely out of character for the usually self-centered bachelor, he puts his life on hold to spend a few nights with the stranger in the hospital.
That’s when he makes an earth shattering discovery – Shayla was the fiancée of Jacob, his estranged brother. His brother who hated him. His brother who recently committed suicide. His brother who, despite the animosity between them, wrote him a suicide note asking him to take care of Shayla.
Out of guilt and fulfillment of Jacob’s final wish, he moves Shayla into his home and gives her everything she needs to start over. The more she confides in him, the deeper their relationship grows and Carter not only wants to help her, he finds himself wanting desperately to love her, to be a man for her, to give her everything his brother could not. There’s only one problem – Shayla does not know that Jacob was his brother. Now, Carter wages an internal war within himself with his own morals – morals that tells him he should be loyal to his brother by not pursuing Shayla. But it’s hard to walk away from the only woman that has been able to awaken his heart.

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04 April, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta April 04, 2013 1

#BookReview :: Untruly Yours by Smita Shetty

To some Natasha Iyer has it all - Living the life of an affluent NRI, wife of a prominent Psychologist and mother to a cheeky 11 year old. However, behind closed doors, cracks are beginning to appear in her seemingly comfortable relationship with her professionally consumed husband, Rakesh. Although Rakesh seems content with his alpha neatness-fetish-melodramatic wife and bright son; Natasha yearns for romance, passion and excitement. Ironically, the Psychologist husband fails to read between the lines and Natasha is left to her own devices to deal with her unresolved emotions. An unexpected call from India takes her through a journey of self-discovery with her devastatingly handsome work colleague, Steve. She uncovers in some aspects urban India has changed considerably but equally, deep-rooted social issues still prevail in the so called modern, educated, changing society. A chance encounter with her 'blast from the past' - Veer, adds to the emotional rollercoaster ride. Her one-man-woman status of many years has failed to equip her with vital tools to deal with the unanticipated surge of attention from Steve and Veer. As she attempts to master the finer points of courtship, flirtation and seduction; her life spirals out of control. Natasha is compelled to make tough decisions about her love, friendship, marriage and parenthood.

This is a story revolving around a modern day female protagonist, Natasha Iyer. Natasha is a Bengali girl, married to a Tamilian who has now earned the status of an NRI. At first glance, she has it all. A well-to-do husband, a glamourous job, an eleven year old son and friends and colleagues she can depend on. But as one takes a closer look at her life, one realizes that not everything is as it seems. Her husband is completely focused on his career and a son who is almost handful. She doesn’t get along well with her mother-in-law and has only her father-in-law who sympathizes with her. End of the day, she is lonely and yearns for romance and companionship from her spouse. When a call from India takes her on a trip back home, she decides to take some time in order to find herself and look for what she really wants for herself.

This is a story that essentially deals with the journey of a woman, who is dealing with her mid-life crisis and trying to rediscover herself. We take on a rollercoaster journey as we meet Natasha, Rakesh, Steve, Priti and Veer. Intent on clearing her head about her relationship with her husband, Natasha is also forced to deal with other situations back at home and nothing is as easy as it should have been. My only concern in the whole story was the turnaround time in the mentality of Natasha’s friend who had tried to commit suicide.

The story is told simply with a dash of humour. The characters and situations may mostly present a sense of deja vu for most of the readers and it is simply because the author has managed to keep the characters and most of the situations very true to life. Most of us will be able to identify with one of the characters in the book and if not then we certainly know someone who can. There’s ofcourse a happy ending, but the story deals with the ups and downs of life that comes before the ‘happily ever after’ and ends with a positive note.

Overall it was an entertaining read that managed to keep a hold on me till the end.

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03 April, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta April 03, 2013 0

#GuestPost :: Being an Indie Author by Sadie S. Forsythe

Sadie Forsythe hails from the South Eastern United States, lives in North Western England, and is a fan of all things Japanese. She holds degrees in Anthropology/Comparative Religion, International Criminology, and Social Change. She loves local coffee shops, geek culture, everything bookish, & tea (steaming with milk & sweet iced). She is married with two daughters and an imaginary dog.

When Debdatta mentioned writing a guest post about the experience of being an indie/self-published author I was a little overwhelmed. There's a lot that could fall under that simple umbrella. The fun of developing a kernel of an idea into an actual book, the feeling of accomplishment on finishing the story, the endless ennui-inducing hell of editing (only to find one more damned error), the anxiety of publishing it for the world to see...the waiting...then indescribable joy of the first good review, or the soul crushing despair of the first bad one, the realization that promoting that book really might prevent you from writing a second one, or the stupefying shock the first time a real-life reader recognizes you could all fill a short article like this with ease. But when I really sat back and thought about what aspect of being an indie author had affected me the most, none of that came to the fore. What has has the most meaning for me is the realisation that I AM AN AUTHOR.

Growing up I was a reader. No, I was a READER! I was that kid hanging upside-down on the monkey bars reading Nancy Drew, The Babysitters Club, and every Christopher Pike book ever written. I was that teen in the back of the classroom with her nose buried in the Stephen King novel she'd stashed in her math book. In university I read not only the books assigned in my lit classes, but those of my roommates too. (Though, I only occasionally wrote their papers for them.)

Calling myself a bibliophile just doesn't feel adequate. I prayed for the next book in a series like drought-struck farmers pray for rain. I worshiped books and as an unavoidable consequence I also idolized authors. In my mind I placed them on tall, stiletto thin, tottering, ivory pedestals as somehow above the reach of such mere mortals as myself. They were my gods. So the twin realization that, even if not represented by one of the big six, I was still now an author and as such could blithely socialize with other authors was awe-inspiring. It was one of those unexpected light bulb moments that leave you gaping, open-mouthed in public, with no concern for decorum or appearances. It was, quite simply, identity shifting and it was incredible. After I shook off the stunned immobility I clambered up onto my own lofty pedestal, raised my arms and roared. Though let's be honest here, I stabilized be base a little bit first.

The knock-on effect of becoming something I had always idolized was that suddenly my heroes and heroines were human. It's such a small thing, but really blew my preverbal mind. Ok, so Anne Rice or J.R. Ward aren't going to be returning my calls anytime soon, but every time I get an email from Giacomo Giammatteo, Aaron Overfield, Wynne Channing, or Leigh Parker my heart flutters a little. Anytime I post a review that gets even the most rudimentary note of thanks from another author, it swells. I'm now part of the community, a community I thought forever closed and inaccessible. I'm reassessing a lot of what I thought was or wasn't possible as a direct consequence of this realization and I'm liking what I'm seeing. My horizons are expanding.

When I started writing what would eventually become The Weeping Empress I was just committing to paper some ideas that had been rattling around in my head. I wasn't yet thinking of it as a book. If I had been I doubt I would have found the experience of becoming an author quite so shocking. It would have been a lot easier in some ways, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I think it took that shock to the system for me to be bold enough to make the mental transition and take the coveted title of author. Otherwise I might have remained a writer forever, no matter how many books I publish. It leaves me feeling a little breathless and blessed.

Am I the only one? Has anyone else had a similar or strikingly dissimilar experience? If you're another indie, what stands out for you as the most important aspect of being an indie or self-published author? If a reader, can you relate? I'd love to compare notes.

About the Book

Chiyo Alglaeca was happy in her life. That is, until it was all taken away. Forced into notoriety, stalked by a mysterious cult, hunted by the emperor, and facing betrayal at every turn she clings to the only safety she can find: two enigmatic men and the sharp bringer of death, Salvation. The Weeping Empress explores the devastating effects of loss, the hunt for redemption, and the price of destiny. It questions the true meaning of evil and asks what monster is not also an innocent?

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02 April, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta April 02, 2013 1

#BookReview :: Asura- Tale of The Vanquished by Anand Neelakantan

The epic tale of victory and defeat… The story of the Ramayana had been told innumerable times. The enthralling story of Rama, the incarnation of God, who slew Ravana, the evil demon of darkness, is known to every Indian. And in the pages of history, as always, it is the version told by the victors, that lives on. The voice of the vanquished remains lost in silence. But what if Ravana and his people had a different story to tell? The story of the Ravanayana had never been told. Asura is the epic tale of the vanquished Asura people, a story that has been cherished by the oppressed outcastes of India for 3000 years. Until now, no Asura has dared to tell the tale. But perhaps the time has come for the dead and the defeated to speak. “For thousands of years, I have been vilified and my death is celebrated year after year in every corner of India. Why? Was it because I challenged the Gods for the sake of my daughter? Was it because I freed a race from the yoke of caste-based Deva rule? You have heard the victor’s tale, the Ramayana. Now hear the Ravanayana, for I am Ravana, the Asura, and my story is the tale of the vanquished.” “I am a non-entity – invisible, powerless and negligible. No epics will ever be written about me. I have suffered both Ravana and Rama – the hero and the villain or the villain and the hero. When the stories of great men are told, my voice maybe too feeble to be heard. Yet, spare me a moment and hear my story, for I am Bhadra, the Asura, and my life is the tale of the loser.” The ancient Asura empire lay shattered into many warring petty kingdoms reeling under the heel of the Devas. In desperation, the Asuras look up to a young saviour – Ravana. Believing that a better world awaits them under Ravana, common men like Bhadra decide to follow the young leader. With a will of iron and a fiery ambition to succeed, Ravana leads his people from victory to victory and carves out a vast empire from the Devas. But even when Ravana succeeds spectacularly, the poor Asuras find that nothing much has changed from them. It is when that Ravana, by one action, changes the history of the world.

Over the centuries, there have been various versions of the Epic Ramayana. Debut author Anand Neelakantan has delivered us with a very refreshing new look at it with his novel ‘Asura’.

The story starts at the point where Ravana is defeated in his battle with Rama and is waiting for death to take over him. Then the story then goes back to Ravana’s childhood and then progresses thereon. It’s almost like a Biography of Ravana that is narrated alternately from the Demon King and Bhadra’s point of views. It was exciting and mesmerizing to meet a poor and ambitious boy who fights his way to ascend to the throne. He seemed more like a common man, with his share of mistakes and darkness in him, than an antagonist who deserved to leave behind a legacy that still has us burning his effigy. The other voice in this novel of Bhadra, a common man, with an extraordinary life. He is probably the most significant insignificant character in this storyline.

‘Asura’ manages to paint a picture in front of its readers that shows that Ravana, in fact, was more human than we imagine. He isn’t the larger than life persona with ten head on his shoulder, instead he is an ambitious person backed by the support of many people. He initially had the best in his mind for his subjects, but power brings corruption with it and like most people we know in the position of power, Ravana too fell for it. Also, I must warn that not all believers of Prince Rama will like this book. Every picture has two sides and this story is told from the opposite end of Rama and not everything we see will paint a pretty picture.

The author’s style of narration is flawless and loved his way of incorporating known information in a new light.

I have to admit that I have often wondered whether Ravana was this big-bad villain that Ramayana made him out to be. The reason being simple enough, even after kidnapping Sita and keeping her captured for so long, Sita’s honour was never compromised. That’s more than what we can say for most men of our generation. On the other hand, Rama is unable to trust Sita on her return as he believed that she had betrayed him which ultimately resulted in Sita taking the ‘Fire Test’ to prove her innocence. I can’t be the only one to have noticed the irony and the unfairness of the situation. I guess that made it easy for me to accept Asura’s story that so much easier.

The author has managed to put a forward an amazing rendition of the epic with finesse and amazing twists.

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01 April, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta April 01, 2013 7

#SpecialFeature :: Introducing Author Rebecca Emin

Under "Special Feature" every month I feature a Special Author.

During this month I put up 4/5 posts about the Author/Book, including Interview / Review / Excerpt / Guest Post / Author Bio / Fun Facts or whatever else we can come up with. Also on the first day of the month we will launch the Giveaway contest along with the first post and will announce the winner on the last day of the month.

So be sure to check out my blog every 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th of every month for something new :)

Now Presenting:

*** SPECIAL FEATURE - April'13 ***

About the Author

Rebecca Emin lives in Oxfordshire, England. Her debut novel, ‘New Beginnings,’ was published by Grimoire Books in January 2012. In May 2012, Rebecca self-published her second novel, ‘When Dreams Come True’, which is also for older children.

Rebecca enjoys writing flash fiction and short stories and has had several flash fiction stories included in fundraising anthologies. ‘A Knowing Look and Other Stories’ is a collection of Rebecca’s short stories which was published in November 2011.

Rebecca is also an author for Ether Books who publish short stories and essays to mobile devices via the Ether app.

Her Books

From the heat of the African plain to the chilled winter air in rural England, this book will take you on a journey via a collection of emotive short stories.

Birth, death, and some of the challenges that arise in between are covered in this selection of fiction for adult readers.

Sam Hendry is not looking forward to starting at her new school. Things go from bad to worse as the day of truth arrives and all of her fears come true... and then some.

When Sam meets a different group of people who immediately accept her as a friend, she begins to feel more positive.

With her new friends and interests, will Sam finally feel able to face the bully who taunts her, and to summon up the courage to perform on stage?

Charlie is happiest when biking with Max and Toby, or watching films with Allie. But when Charlie reaches year nine, everything begins to change. As her friends develop new interests, Charlie's dreams become more frequent and vivid, and a family crisis tears her away from her friends. How will Charlie react when old family secrets are revealed? Will her life change completely as some of her dreams start to come true?

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