BOOK REVIEW 5: MOST AND MORE

 Author - MAHATRIA RA
 Genre - Motivation

Well this is my debut in reviewing a non fictional book. “Most and more” is highly motivational and the author shares the wisdom he has gained through his lifetime research. He guides us through the path of success and happiness through simple techniques. 

The book starts with an incident from where the author’s life starts. Every chapter is so neatly drafted through various incidents of his life and what he learnt from them and what he wants us to learn is conveyed as a simple yet effective message at the end of the chapters. 
The book enlightens us in various aspects of life. It promises to inspire us through many thought provoking quotes like – 

• Metaphorically, relationships are like bank accounts – emotional accounts. Some accounts are over deposited. Some are over drawn.
• How can you expect today’s result by yesterday, when the very process is going to begin only tomorrow? 
• In life, most people reach where they reach because someone who cares for them helps them to see further.
• In faith, even what seems wrong, will eventually turn right.
• If you walk the path everyone walks, you will only reach where everyone reaches.
• The question is not “Out of everything which is the best” but “How to get the best out of everything”

Once when I was done with the book, I experienced a new me. 

This very line from the book, 

“The mind of the man is the man. Change the mind and you have changed the man”

  had worked out on me too. I assure when you pick this book in your hand you will probably put it down at its 242nd page only.

Suffering from Breakthroughs, Hardships, battling between mind and heart??? 

“Most and More” is a medicine! 

This book is purely dedicated to every soul who is striving to lift himself / herself and in turn, lift the world, is the ideal gift to those whom you care for.  

Rating - 5/5 (Strikes the chord!)

Price - Rs 500/- (Hard Cover)

Year of Publication - 2011

No. of Pages - 242

BOOK REVIEW 4 : THE MANGO SEASON

Author - Amulya Malladi

This novel is kind of similar to “A Good Indian wife” about which I reviewed here. They have so much in common right from NRI Authors, Indian Vs Western culture differences, the Brahmin families, etc.

The Plot:
Priya Rao leaves India when she was 20 and returns back after 7 years with the news that she is engaged to Nick Collins, an American, a person whom her family knows nothing about. She belongs to a very orthodox Telugu Brahmin family and her relationship status is going to break their hearts.  Like just another Indian family, Priya’s parents want her to get married to “A Nice Indian Boy”. She stumbles to handle their expected disappointment and finds it very hard to choose between her love for parents and her love of life. 

Priya tries to reveal the secret to her family at various occasions but it isn't that easy as Nick thinks. She wants to be the same old good, obedient daughter but also realizes she must live her own life. Every Indian girl can easily identify themselves in Priya and understand well the pressure she faces. 

MY REVIEW

Although the first few chapters seemed quite deviating with the recipes, the novel certainly has a strong grip. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of a Mango season, the summer in India, bride-seeing ceremonies and the intra-family interactions. The story is guessable but the way it unfolds is quite nice.The mails which Priya and Nick share, shows their intimacy. Priya is clear about what she wants but hesitates to express. Her reluctance to speak about Nick is little irritating but it is completely understandable from her point of view. 

It is really a power packed story of Love, Tradition, Culture, Family Values and how we Indians get lost in the middle of everything without having the courage to stand up for what we want in life and going ahead by the decision taken by our respective families. I totally loved Priya’s character, as any Indian girl from a typical Brahmin family would have faced this sort of pressure. The final twist in the story and Priya's convo with her father is remarkable.  

If you are looking for a quick summer read, The Mango Season is a great choice.  

Rating : 4/5

Price : Rs 758/- (Hard Cover)

Publisher: The Random House Publishing Group

Year of Publication: 2004

Number of pages: 272

BOOK REVIEW 3 - A GOOD INDIAN WIFE

AUTHOR – ANNE CHERIAN
Story line
The novel sets it start at SFO, where Neel (Suneel) a Non Resident Indian works as anesthesiologist in a local hospital. He is in his early thirties living an American life and wants his wife also to be an American. He decides to live with Caroline who is blonde haired and blue eyed. At this juncture, Neel receives a call from India where his grandfather is at dead bed. So many twists and turns happens and Neel weds Leila out of compulsion. Shocked and irritated Neel, decides to continue his relationship with Caroline under the shadows.
Leila, soon after stepping into her house in SFO, realizes what kind of a person her hub is and how she had fell into the trap. Going back to India would not work as Leila has 2 younger sisters and their life would be at stake. So she decides to cope up with her marriage. She first tries impressing Neel but miserably fails. So she tries to discover her new location and explores independently. Neel on the other hand gets to know about Caroline’s intentions and Leila (Lee) handles the situation well and grips her husband and gets to her side! 
The author has well narrated the feeling Lee finally gets when she was being loved by Neel. This is a very different “Arranged marriage story” and shows how the couple makes it work. Lee’s integrity and courage makes her win the battle of her married life..

Overall worth a read!! 

Positives
1. Indian Culture – Well described
2. Virtual tour of SFO through Lee’s eyes ;)
3. A gripping happy end. 

Negatives

1. A bit stretched at some chapters.


Rating : 4/5

Price : Rs 755/- (Hard Cover)
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Year of Publication: 2008
Number of pages: 376

BOOK REVIEW 2 : HOUSE OF CARDS

About the Author –

Sudha Murty was born in 1950 in Shiggaon in north Karnataka. She did her MTech in computer science, and is now the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. A prolific writer in English and Kannada, she has written nine novels, four technical books, three travelogues, one collection of short stories, three collections of non-fiction pieces and two books for children

Story-line
Mridula, a simple village girl, lives in Aladahalli in North Karnataka. Her very description is inspiring  -

“Mridula was not like everybody, she was different. She had enormous enthusiasm for life and unlimited energy for reading, cooking and sketching. It seemed that sun rose for her and the rainbow colors meant only for her”. Every day was to be lived to the fullest and every beautiful moment to be enjoyed”

Subsequently she falls in love with Sanjay, a doctor and they get settled with their respective government jobs at Bangalore. Though Sanjay & Mridula upgrade in their status, they drift away from each other. Sanjay and their son Sishir forms team against Mridula and leaves her depressed. To add on, Sanjay keeps siphoning funds to her sister and mother without Mridula’s knowledge and uplifts their status too. “Wife is the last person to hear” works out well in this novel. Being completely ignored by husband and son, Mridula decides to go back to her village on their 25th wedding anniversary. Will Sanjay go to Aladahalli? What happens next is the climax of the story!  

Ratnamma's (Sanjay’s mother) character is worth noticing because of which Mridula could make a decision to move out and lead an independent life! 

The language is very simple and the characters are very much realistic. Lovely script, depicts the exact feeling of any female facing discontentment in married life despite a love marriage! The story-line takes us to the peak of emotions totally sunk in the oceans of reality where even a hard hearted person would shed tears! 

Rating 4/5 

Price - Rs 147/-
Pages - 232
Publisher - Penguin Books India
Published - 2013

BOOK REVIEW 1 : BY THE RIVER PIEDRA

This is my second favorite from Paulo Coelho after “The Alchemist" 

The story goes thus –

The female protagonist Pilar, reconnects with her childhood friend after 11 years who had spent his life travelling around the world and discovering the feminine side of the God while she has learnt to bury her feelings. Time has transformed Pilar into a Strong and Independent woman, and her childhood friend as a Charismatic, Spiritual leader. The book is far more beyond “a normal love story” as it describes their love towards God as well. This is for sure a take  on Love+Philosophy+Spirituality. The best part of the novel was Pilar’s battle between her heart and mind. 

Thought Provoking Quotes -  

1.    Some things in life are worth fighting for to the end.

2.    Perhaps because, we are not the ones who write the best moments of our life.

3.    Somewhere God throws the dice and you are chosen. From then on, winning or losing is only a question of luck!

The twist -  

    According to the legend, River Piedra was so cold and frigid that anything that fell into it - leaves, stones, feathers...all turned to stone. Since the title says "sat down and wept" i thought it was all a sad story, but the happy ending totally surprised me. The male protagonist's name is not mentioned throughout. 

     There are some novels which even after finishing it off, you just cannot let it go and this is one such. Coelho always through his simple language teaches us greater lessons and touches our hearts. The simplicity in the novel has beautified it even more. 

     I highly recommend it! A must-read. 

Rating - 4.5/5 

Price - Rs 254/-
Pages - 180
Published - 1994
Publisher - Harper Collins