Bookish Indulgences

20 March, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta March 20, 2013 1

#bookReview :: Frisky Business by Clodagh Murphy

Romy Fitzgerald always planned to go the conventional route: boyfriend, marriage, children. Motherhood via cupboard sex at a costume party with a stranger dressed as Darth Vader didn't feature on her to-do list. But when she gives birth to her son Luke nine months later, he turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to her. As Luke gets older however, Romy knows that at some point she's going to have to tell him about his father. Trouble is, she never found out 'Darth's' real name. But when an old flame arrives back in her life, the plot thickens.
Kit Masterson was always 'the one who got away' and now he's back from New York and seems intent on playing happy families with Romy and Luke. But Kit has his own secrets to hide ...As Romy begins to wonder if she'll ever find her mystery man from the party, she learns that in real life secrets rarely stay hidden, especially when it comes to love. But will Romy find her dark knight or will she be left to raise Luke (Han) solo?

Romy Fitzgerald is a ‘good girl’, who has always had her life planned out. Good education, a nice career, a nice boyfriend and marriage. Knowing her, one wouldn’t expect her to do something like having sex with a stranger and ending up pregnant. But that’s exactly what happened. While Luke’s arrival into this world wasn’t exactly planned in Romy’s life, she loves her son and wants a good life for her son. She wishes to be able to tell her son about his father but her endeavors to finding out his identity had failed. Then her ex-boyfriend comes back to town with his flirty brother, things start to change.

‘Frisky Business’ is essentially a sweet love story. The plot is simple and predictable. But don’t let that keep you from picking this book up.

The story is supported by a number of very interesting character. Romy is a strong and likeable girl. I liked the way she takes everything that’s thrown at her and just moves on with her life. She is not dependent on anything or anyone to enjoy and make the best of her life and has a certain ‘individuality’ that I loved about her. Besides our protagonist, there are a host of characters that you will absolutely love. Ethan, Lesley, May and Danny have their own contributions to the story.

The author’s wit and sense of humour is really an asset for her. I mean to have Romy name her son Luke because he was Darth Vader’s son – that put a smile on my face the moment I read it in the summary of the book. I had innumerable moments of laughing while sitting alone in my room with this book and reading out loud some portions to my better half. Plus, with her writing style there’s not a dull moment in the book. I have to admit that when the book first arrived at my doorstep I was a bit taken aback with its size, because I couldn’t imagine a love story – with no mystery/ suspense (Oh, I don’t count Kit’s Secret as it was pretty clear to me from the beginning) or action sequence to be able to hold my attention for that long. But once I started reading it, it was over too soon – or it seemed so.

It’s a light and fun read for the weekends!

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19 March, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta March 19, 2013 2

#BookReview :: Just One Day (Just One Day #1) by Gayle Forman

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Allyson Healey has been sheltered all her life. When her parents send her for a conducted tour of Europe, she had no choice. Her only consolation is that her best friend would be going on the trip too. As the trip comes to close, Allyson’s first impulsive decision results in her meeting a cute Dutch boy called Willem. With another on the spot decision, Allyson finds herself in Paris in the company of Willem. But they have only one day before Allyson has to return home. Intending to make full of this opportunity, Willem and Allyson traipse through the city while sparks fly between them. But when Willem disappears after a night of passion, Allyson returns with a broken heart. Once college starts, Allyson lacks the enthusiasm for anything at all until she finds friends in the most unexpected places. Backed by her friends, she embarks on a journey that leads to certain realizations.

The plot seems to be simple enough at a glance, but I can tell you it is not so. While it’s a boy meets girl, then they are apart and then they find each other again sort of a plot, there are other aspects about it too. While on her journey to look for Willem, Allyson actually discovers her true self and that was the most satisfying aspect of the book. The bonds of friendships that Allyson forms over the year are really encouraging and show that there are nice people all around us who are willing to help us.

Allyson, at the beginning of the novel came across this ‘good girl’ who always did the right things and not much of spontaneous person. But then as ‘Lulu’ she lets go of her inhibitions and tries things spontaneously. Then again we see a heart broken side of her. But what I loved most about her was the stubborn and ‘won’t give up easily attitude’ that she later takes on. I liked Willem too. He is a free spirit! But I can’t help but wonder what secrets does he keep? I must say, I didn’t care for Allyson’s mother that much. She came across this overbearing lady, who always knows what’s best for her daughter and not realizing that while she is trying to live her own dreams through her daughter, she was actually kind of suffocating her child.

I loved reading Allyson’s journey, even though her doubts and insecurities about herself often made me want to whack her, she ultimately picks herself up and make a stand for what she wants. I admire her for it. My only problem (if I can call it that) was that I wished that the pace of the novel would be a bit faster. Other than that, Gayle Forman’s language and style of character development is simply marvelous. A must Read!

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18 March, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta March 18, 2013 3

#Author Interview: Bob Atkinson, Author of The Last Sunset

I was born and raised in Fort William, in the Scottish Highlands. At the age of seventeen the age old curse of the Highlands, lack of work and opportunity, led me to follow the same military path taken by many of my predecessors.

While serving with the army in Northern Ireland I met my future wife; the lovely and diminutive Ruby, inspiration for at least one of the female characters in The Last Sunset.

After leaving the army I moved to Belfast, where together Ruby and I lived through many of the worst years of the Troubles.

Eventually, very much the worse for wear, we brought our young family of three home to the Highlands.

The lochs, hills and glens are like balm to the soul, and have inspired storytellers for as long as people have lived in these glens.

The Last Sunset is simply the latest in a long line of tales inspired by this ancient land.

Connect with him on Facebook or Twitter or his Greyhart Press Bio Page

What was the inspiration for the book?
I was inspired to write this book by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland. His army brought such mayhem and slaughter to The Highlands that the effects are still felt to this day. Thirty years after Culloden, Dr Samuel Johnson toured the area. What he saw inspired him to quote the Roman biographer Tacitus: "They have created a desert and have called it peace".
I live in an area that is not only stunningly beautiful, but is also incredibly rich in history. Within a twenty mile radius of Fort William lie five historical battlefields. On many hilltops can be found the ruins of ancient forts that were built before the time of Christ.

Inhabited for thousands of years, many of the glens lie empty now, cleared of people during the evictions of the 19^th century. The past continues to scar this land. There are glens within a few miles of Fort William where a person can walk all day without seeing another living soul. Once well populated, these places have long been left to the wind and heather.

The past hangs heavy here, and occasionally - just occasionally - you can sense moments from those days. A brief scent of peat smoke in a ruined settlement. The tang of manure amidst the green swathes of a shieling that haven’t seen cattle in two hundred years.
I think “The Last Sunset” was my way of repopulating the empty glens; relighting the peat fires in the ruined houses, as it were.

Tell us a little about the book, and where it’s available.
“The Last Sunset” is a romantic, time-travel adventure set primarily during the Jacobite rebellion of 1746.
The world is dotted with places around which the wheel of history briefly turned: Stalingrad. Waterloo. Gettysburg. The skies above England in 1940. Likewise for a few months in 1745/46, the Highlands occupied one of those crossroads of history.
The story seeks to pose that great question of speculative fiction: What if?

After all, who knows what kind of world we would inhabit had events transpired differently here?

The book is available from Amazon.com., Amazon.co.UK. Smashwords, Kobo, diesel and Nook.

How old were you when you wrote your first piece?
I began writing poems and short stories while I was in the army. It was a way of alleviating the boredom, I suppose. Some of my friends would ask me to write poems for them to send to their girlfriends. It didn’t do much for my own love life at the time, unfortunately.

What was it, and in what genre?
The first piece of fiction I wrote was a horror story set in a particularly dark and foreboding forest near our camp in Osnabruck, Germany. None of the guys would go anywhere near this forest after dark. The place had such a forbidding atmosphere.
Only a few years ago I discovered that that forest was the site of a horrendous battle between the Roman Legions and local Germanic tribes.
The idea that certain places can retain a powerful imprint from former times is something that’s explored in “The Last Sunset”.

Did it take a long time to get your book published?
I started writing my novel in 2001, and finished the original version about a year later. Over the next few years I revisited the manuscript, cutting, pruning, gralloching.
‘Gralloching’ is a Scottish word which means to disembowel. It’s a word that is almost onomatopoeic. You can practically hear intestines spilling onto a wet hillside.
Finally, about two years ago, when it was pared down to its leanest form, I began sending it off to publishers and publishing agents

Do you have a "lucky charm" or "lucky routine" you follow when waiting for your book to be accepted by a publisher?
After a manuscript had been submitted, I would avoid walking under ladders. I’d throw salt over my left shoulder. Help old ladies across the road. Avoid black cats. Smile at traffic wardens. Be nice to children (the little rascals) and just generally do anything to create a credit balance in the Karma account.
Somehow or other this mish mash of sycophancy and superstition paid off. I had the great good fortune to have my book accepted by Greyhart Press. Greyhart is an independent, up and coming publishing company, based in Bedfordshire. The company is run by Mr Tim C Taylor; himself a writer of considerable talent.

What genre would you place your books into?
My book contains elements of time travel, nuclear catastrophe, romance, adventure, humour, and tragedy. Basically, therefore, I would place it in the Dystopian, time-travel, romantic, action adventure, tragi-comic genre. And if there isn’t such a genre, then there should be.

Does any of your personal favourite authors influence your style of writing? If yes, then who and how?

I love the work of the late great Ray Bradbury. His ideas may be a little dated now, but his writing style is crisp and economical, at the same time wonderfully expressive. Any would-be author would be well advised to invest in a collection of short stories by this brilliant writer.

Is there a personal quirk that you have given to one of your characters? If yes, then what is it and who did you give it to?

A number of the reviewers have commented on the strength and individuality of the characters. One in particular said she liked the fact that although the main female characters were diminutive they were also extremely feisty. (I’m guessing this was written by a diminutive, feisty reviewer)

Of course the female characters are based upon the women in my life, all of whom are small, but pack a hefty wallop.

Time for Top 3:

Books :

The October Country by Ray Bradbury

Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

The General Danced At Dawn by George Macdonald Fraser

Authors :

John Prebble - for his books on the Highlands

Charles Dickens - for his unforgettable, multi-faceted characters

Ray Bradbury - for showing the rest of us how it should be done

Actors:

Dakota Fanning

Haley Joel Osment

Robert De Niro

Artists (Music/Art) :

The Beatles - (of course)

The Eagles - The best band to come out of America.

Runrig - A Gaelic rock band who have a huge following in Germany, Scandinavia, and of course in Scotland.

Things on your Bucket List :

See the Great Pyramids

Visit the battlefield cemeteries of World War One.

Walk along the Great Wall of China.

Attend the Hollywood premiere of The Last Sunset, starring Dakota Fanning & Haley Joel Osment.

What is the one thing that you wish that every reader would take away from your novels?

A number of reviewers have said they’d welcome a sequel to The Last Sunset, so that’s very gratifying. Beyond that, I would love it if people were encouraged to visit the area in which the story is set. It truly is one of the most beautiful and historically rich areas in the British isles.

Anything else that you would like to tell to the readers, both who have read and are about to pick up a copy?

Without giving too much away, the story centers on a supernatural event which is closely based upon a story told to me by an intelligent and well educated woman. One night, while camping in a lonely glen, she and her partner watched a little piece of Highland history being enacted. She told me what she saw were not ghosts, but some kind of time displacement.

About the Book

The year… 1746.

Around Fort William, the Scottish Highlanders are in revolt and the Redcoats are coming…

Suddenly… time shifts… people from different eras are dumped at this one turning point in history.

In the future, Nuclear Armageddon has caused this powerful blast through time, but why?

Can history be changed?

Or is the future doomed to witness… The Last Sunset?

Buy the Book

16 March, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta March 16, 2013 0

#BookReview :: Certain Jeopardy by Jeff Struecker, Alton Gansky

This Review was Originally written for Indie House Books

Check out the original post at : Certain Jeopardy Book Review by Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay

Six American men live behind a protective façade, their real work hidden from neighbors and friends. Different in countless ways, they are intimately the same in one: at any moment their lives can be altered with a phone call, and their actions may change the world.

They are Special Ops. And one team’s mission is about to hit certain jeopardy status when the discovery of an Al Qaeda base in Venezuela becomes secondary to thwarting the transport of a nuclear weapons expert from that training camp to Iran.

Informed by the true combat experience of Captain Jeff Struecker and finessed by award-winning novelist Alton Gansky, Certain Jeopardy is an immersing and pulsating fictional account of what really happens at every level of a stealth engagement: the physical enemy encounter, the spiritual war fought within a soldier, and the emotional battles in families back at home.

The story follows the lives of six special ops operatives and their immediate family. They live a kind of dual lives because they can never reveal what they really do. Their lives take an interesting turn with a simple phone call as three pairs of special ops soldiers move to a new assignment separately, yet together. As the lives of these six men change with the dire situations, so do the lives of their partners back home.

The character portrayal has been done to perfection as each character have their own personalities and quirks. The story is written from various point of views giving us an idea about what each of these people are thinking or going through. The six soldiers – ‘Boss’, ‘Colt’, ‘Doc’, ‘Junior’, ‘Shaq’ and ‘Goat’ – each have distinctive voice in the novel and together they made for a great cast. The plot is genuine and action packed without a single dull moment. From Al-Qaeda base in Venezuela to Nuclear weaponry in Iran, from kidnapping to abortion, this book covers a wide range of things. The only problem I faced was the author’s style of writing. I thought it to be a bit ‘dry’ and kept on wishing for a little more description of the surroundings and bit more expressive.

But what I loved the most about this book was its take on religion and faith. While some of the characters were Christians and they practiced their faith the others weren’t as keen. While the author made some points about faith at no point did it get too overbearing. Also, while the people in this line of work are truly appreciated, one often overlooks the struggles of their family. Spending lengths of time away from their partners, the wives have their own fights to live through.

The climax is the deal clincher though. I had a great time reading through this book and would recommend you to give it a try.

Buy the Book

15 March, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta March 15, 2013 3

#SpecialFeature:: #Spotlight on The Two Krishnas / The Exiles by Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla

Now Presenting:

*** SPECIAL FEATURE - March'13 ***

'The Two Krishnas' has been released in India under the title of 'The Exiles'.

In the tradition of A Fine Balance and The Namesake, The Two Krishna is a sensual and searing look at infidelity and the nature of desire and faith. At the center of the novel is Pooja Kapoor, a betrayed wife and mother who is forced to question her faith and marriage when she discovers that her banker husband Rahul has fallen in love with a young Muslim illegal immigrant man who happens to be their son’s age. Faced with the potential of losing faith in Rahul, divine intervention and family, she is forced to confront painful truths about the past and the duality in God and husband. The Two Krishnas draws inspiration from archetypal Hindu mythology and romantic Sufi poetry, evoking unforgettable characters to explore how, with a new world come new freedoms, and with them, the choices that could change everything we know about those we thought we knew – including ourselves.

Watch an interview of Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla discussing The Two Krishnas

Read an Excerpt

Pooja shut the door behind her and faced the standing full-length oval mirror in the bedroom. Her home, silent now that Ajay had sprinted off with his friends, became a charterhouse again, a place where belongings lay everywhere but nobody but herself seemed to reside anymore. Without the pandemonium of TV, or a soundtrack of music, you could hear the ghosts, their phantom sounds marking past moments of shared laughter.

She began to unwind her sari, keeping her eyes on her reflection. Folds of chiffon fell without protest on the carpeted floor, a pond of gold paisleys in an ocean of saffron. She continued to shed endless yards of it, thinking of Draupadi, whose honor Krishna had defended when her five husbands, the Pandava brothers, had gambled her away to their Machiavellian half-brothers. She unhooked her blouse, stepped out of her gagra and stood naked with only the gold bangles on her slender wrist, the voluptuous earrings dangling against the velvety mane of her black hair, the almost glowing bindi on her forehead.

She stepped closer to the mirror and looked at herself, drawing her uncertain hand over her skin. Her flesh broke out in little goose pimples. By all accounts, she was still a beautiful woman, able to turn heads wherever she went. She should have seen that her skin was still smooth and soft. The few wrinkles that traced through her tea-colored skin were more like beautiful rills racing across a seastrand, the curves in her body like sensual dunes in which to lie.

But she could see none of this.

Instead she saw Rahul’s rejection, how time had carried out its careless dalliance with her body. She saw the brackets etched permanently around her full mouth, no longer just an indention from the smiles she had reserved for Rahul. She saw – not the ampleness of her breasts or the tamarind in her nipples – but their weight and slump. She ran her hand over her belly, no longer the taught landscape of a young girl but that of a mother, soft and fleshy. Is that when it stopped? She wondered. Did he stop wanting me, looking at me the same way after I gave him his son? Or did it begin before that, after the nightmare back home?

She summoned more strength and let her fingers traverse further, into the thatch of hair where she wanted him again, recalling the last time he had come to her, angry, grueling, backbreaking. Yes, she would take him any way he would come to her, especially if he was suffering. He was her husband, her lord, and the years had done nothing to dissipate her desire for him. After all this time, she still burned for Rahul.

Raves & Reviews

“Serves as an exploration of love in its many forms: romantic, familial, and filial, among others. The novel provides a refreshing view of life and love in Los Angeles, particularly in the South Asian immigrant community…The Two Krishnas isn’t strictly an immigrant narrative, a coming out narrative, or a religious narrative but rather lies somewhere between them all…The book draws a distinct line between love and passion and the way in which those feelings move us to action…A poignant mediation on love and relationship. The novel prompts reflection on how we form our identities and ultimately questions our duties to our families and ourselves.” – Los Angeles Magazine.

“Stands to be added to such to be added to novels such as The Namesake and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan as a story that blends relatable human drama with the tapestry of different cultures.” – Frontiers Magazine.

“Plays out like a modern Shakespearean tragedy. Krishnas is a multilayered, richly written story exploring a sexless marriage, a family drifting apart, the trappings of middle age, the thrill and fear of newfound same-sex love and the cultural insights of those that have immigrated to our country.” - Instinct Magazine.

“As with Ode to Lata, his (semi) autobiographical debut novel about a young Hindu man coming to terms with being gay, out Indian author, Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla continues to write about provocative subject matters.” - Advocate Magazine.

"The Two Krishnas is a...love story set in contemporary Los Angeles that is both up-to-the-minute and drenched in a romantic doom as riveting as the myths of ancient India. The skillfully plotted story of divided loyalties has so much heart it's at times painful to read, but is far too honest to put down - a fascinating read." - Andrew Holleran, author of the Stonewall Book Award-winning novel, Grief.

"In his elegiac, yet redemptive new book, Ghalib Shiraz examines sexual politics, gender orientations, and how the clash between what is and what should be can fester deep wounds...Dhalla takes relationships into deeper, more murky territory." - Elle Magazine.

"World clash and lives are destroyed...It's pretty sad that women being married to gay men and then feeling undesired and unloved is as universal a theme as the resultant destructive infidelity...Ghalib peppers his story with full-on drama and describes both the city of Los Angeles and the lives of its desi immigrants extremely evocatively." - Verve Magazine.

"Another masterfully written novel by the brilliant young writer Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla, an accomplished filmmaker and author of the critically-acclaimed novel, Ode to Lata. This fiction novel is simply wonderful...A powerful and interesting novel." - Sahara Time (New Delhi)

"A book about love coming out of the closet, and since it is not exactly between man and wife, there is inevitable trauma in the family...Dhalla has detailed all this with fascinating humanity and compassion and we find ourselves immersed in the story without having to cope with our own conservative heterosexual reservations that the subject normally, and unfortunately, evokes." - Afternoon Despatch & Courier (India)

"The Two Krishnas is a beautiful, sometimes joyful, yet heartbreaking exploration of love in all its manifestations. Here it is many days later, and I still find myself thinking about Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla's insights into the fierceness and frailty of the human heart. Oh, the things we will do for and in the name of love. Dhalla is a brilliant young writer, and his novel is exquisite, drenched in emotion, and timely." - Lisa See, best-selling author of Shanghai Girls and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

"In The Two Krishnas, a novel filled with unexpected turns and beauty, Ghalib Shiraz has examined with perceptive compassion the complex and heart-wrenching ties that bind families, and the secret desires that pull them apart. - Chitra Divakaruni, best-selling author of The Palace of Illusions.

"Shiraz immerses us in his gripping narrative as he delves into the nooks and crannies of human desire and explores both its splendor and the havoc it can wreak. A formidably intelligent and adept writer, he has stretched my understanding of a world I know very little about with this touching and masterfully written novel." - Bapsi Sidhwa, author of New York Times Notable novel Cracking India.

"Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla writes with a voice that is both agile and compassionate. He renders scenes of great emotion with equal parts passion and precision. At it's core, The Two Krishnas is a classic tale of tragic, forbidden love, but Dhalla infuses it with an astute discussion of Hindu culture that should appeal to a broad cross-section of readers. - Christopher Rice, New York Times best-selling author of A Density of Souls and Blind Fall.

"The Two Krishnas is a powerful, sure footed novel of love, longing and loss that richly portrays life like no other work of fiction I've read. With his complex cast of characters and poetically drawn landscapes, Dhalla's talent shines and he shows us he's wise beyond his years." - Mark Jude Poirier, author of Goats and Modern Ranch Living.

Contact the Author

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Giveaway

Mr.Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla has sportingly agreed to giveaway 2 Autographed Copies of 'The Two Krishnas' to the residents of US and 1 Paperback of 'The Exiles' to a lucky resident of India.

I have set up two separate Rafflecopters one for US Entries and one for Indian Entries. Please enter in the right Rafflecopter.

Also, please remember I will be checking the entries.

All the Best!

a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

14 March, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta March 14, 2013 0

#BookReview :: Matched Trilogy by Allie Condie

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

After leaving Society to desperately seek The Rising, and each other, Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again. Cassia is assigned undercover in Central city, Ky outside the borders, an airship pilot with Indie. Xander is a medic, with a secret. All too soon, everything shifts again.

After coming across various reviews and tweets raving about this series I just had to get my hand on it. I waited for all the three books in the trilogy to be released before starting on it and only recently finished reading them.

Cassia is born into a Society where everything is controlled – from the amount of food they get, to their clothes to their Matches. In a way Cassia is lucky because at her matching ceremony she finds out that not only is her match from her own sector, which is very rare, but her match is her best friend Xander. But, there’s a glitch and the memory card with Xander’s details has a flash of another face – face of Ky Markham. In her confusion about the Society’s mistake, she feels attracted towards Ky. But the Society has more in store for her. Through a series of events, Cassie gets closer to Ky – as if fate or Society kept throwing them together – and they fall in love only to be ripped apart.

The second book starts a few months after where the first book ended. Cassie has spent a few months in the outer province looking for Ky. Her journey slowly takes her over miles and miles, guides by Xander’s and her grandfather’s messages. She hears about a rebellion, a rising against the Society and slowly gravitates towards it. She is once again united with Ky but only to make a tough choice that may as well part them. Unexpected bonds formed and unexpected betrayal mark the journey of these teenagers.

Third book narrates about Cassie’s double life as a sorter and as an agent of the rebellion, Xander’s life as medic with a secret and Ky and Indie’s life as a fighter pilot for the rebellion. The rising takes its chance and an epidemic disease grabs the society. Between playing their roles that of a rebel, finding a cure and working out their heart’s desire, these young people are forced to grow up fast. Will they see the Society’s downfall and a better future or will everything be just the same? Will they all survive? Will the star-crossed lovers find their way to each other?

I must admit that it was an enchanting dystopian world that Ms.Condie has created. The detailed description of how the Society worked spanned over all the three books so that every time you pick up a book, you learn more about the Society. I have heard that the concept of the Society is lifted from a Lois Lowry series, but since I haven’t read that series myself, I don’t know if that’s true. You guys might wanna check it out for yourself.

Now on to the characters. Cassie, the protagonist, comes across as a confused girl at the beginning. But then as the story progresses, her character develops and you realize that being under the Society’s control all her life, a simple mistake from the seemingly perfect Society can throw a person off balance. I liked Ky too for his brave heart. But I loved Xander the most. Why do the best friends, the most caring soul, get left behind by the girls? Don’t get me wrong but even Ky is a good guy too, but Xander was such a sweet heart. I was glad to see that there was some hope for him in the end.

My problem with this series is that it was very slow. None of the books are less than 350 pages (I think the last one was over 500 pages). But when it comes down to it the plot isn’t that complex to need three books. There isn't much 'action' in the story to be enough for three books. The language and writing style of the author isn't anything extraordinary either. As a result I had the drag feeling throughout the three books and it felt really tedious to complete the series. As a single story with a faster pace, I might have enjoyed it.

Overall, I don’t think the books have much to offer.

13 March, 2013

Debdatta Dasgupta March 13, 2013 1

#Spotlight :: Author Andrea Buginsky

Andrea Buginsky is a freelance writer and author. “The Chosen” was her first book, and was followed by “My Open Heart,” an autobiography about growing up with heart disease. “Nature’s Unbalance” is the second story in THE CHOSEN series. Andrea plans to write more in the series. She’s already done with the first draft of book 3 and has a concept for book 4. You can find Andrea on her website, Andi’s Realm. Her books are available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Remember to sign up for Andrea's newsletter to stay up-to-date on all of her exciting events.

Her Books

Halli is a shy, young dwarf who has no idea of her true calling. When the evil Prince Gastle sets out to detroy the world of Phantasma, Queen Laurali of the Elves comes to tell Halli she’s a Holy Paladin with the power to heal, and will join The Chosen, a group of brave warriors being sent to defeat the evil beast and save Phantasma. Will Halli be accepted by her group, and be able to keep them alive through their adventures? Will the evil Prince Gastle be defeated, freeing Phantasma from his destruction? Only time will tell.

Reviews for The Chosen

“The action/suspense is fast paced and it keeps you reading right through to the end.” ~~ Penny Estelle on Amazon

“As for the story itself, I found it be a quick read and it kept my attention all the way to the end in one sitting.” ~~ G. B. Miller on Amazon

“Halli gains confidence in her abilities and the group grows to respect and trust her as the story progresses.” ~~ pepsiman on Amazon

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During a time of celebration for The Chosen, a mysterious force appears on Phantasma, threatening to destroy Nature and all of her creatures. Will The Chosen find and defeat this force, and save Nature before it's too late?

Reviews for Nature's Unbalance
"Natures unbalance was an excellent read, fun for those of us that grew up loving MMORPG's such as World of Warcraft or Dark Age of Camelot. I enjoyed it and, look forward to more works from this author." ~~ Stylianos on Amazon
"Love the series. Really believe I have been friends with the characters for a long time. Wish I could be part of the quest." ~~ Parkerfiveo on Amazon
"Buginsky's simple yet effective descriptions keep the reader on track, and come to a satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend this story, especially for reluctant readers!" ~~ K.c. Sprayberry on Goodreads

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Growing up with heart disease can be difficult, but it does not always have to alter your life course. MY OPEN HEART is written for young adults growing up with heart disease. It's meant to inspire them to chase their dreams, to show that they are not alone, and, perhaps, to help guide them through the maze of life with heart disease. Parents of children with heart disease and other chronic illnesses will find support and inspiration within this true story. We are not alone.

Reviews for My Open Heart

"My Open Heart is an inspirational book written from the heart." ~~ Kristina Howells on Amazon

"It's an inspiring read that would truly appeal to anyone who shares similar challenges in life." ~~ Michael D. Nanus on Amazon

"It was a short book, to the point and definitely written from the heart. Very inspirational." ~~ elleno on Amazon