BOOK REVIEW 6 - OH SHIT NOT AGAIN

NOVEL – OH SHIT NOT AGAIN

AUTHOR – Mandar Kokate

Genre – Fiction Humour

THE PLOT

The protagonist Raj moves to a new locality, befriends with Sam, Andy, Seema and Arti. They coordinate and conduct various events and enjoy life together. Many incidents occur some funny, some tragic, affairs, murder and etc. Finally Raj is pushed into a complicated situation. Will he escape the series of intrigues he is caught in?? 

MY REVIEW

The book cover says “National Best Seller” Page 1 says, “You may die laughing” I bet these two phrases mislead me to get this book. Reading the blurb, I thought it must be interesting. The story-line is not so bad, but the way it has been drafted is so pathetic. It just goes on and on and on. It was neither so interesting nor gripping and it demanded me to finish it off soon and go ahead with another novel. Genre being “Humor” I was searching for that factor all through the novel, but it ended. Extra Marital affair which Sejal wants to have is very childish. And Raj, How on earth he gets attracted to every gal and still think it is love? Arti, Neha, Sejal and Seema too???

The whole novel never mentions what are the characters doing..Like studying? Working? Or doing nothing? God knows. At times it looked too filmy. I sure know writing isn’t that easy. Even blogging isn’t. But the new age authors  should really take proper inspiration from the national bestsellers, look up on their language, grammar, style and incorporate it before publishing it as a novel.

P.S - Review first; novel next!  

Rating – ?? (Oh definitely not again!)

BOX SET BOOKS (1) - RAVINDER SINGH

NOVELS 

•  I Too Had A Love Story
• Can Love Happen Twice?
• Love Stories That Touched My Heart
• Like It Happened Yesterday

Author - RAVINDER SINGH

1. I TOO HAD A LOVE STORY (ITHALS) 

        Genre – Romance/Tragedy

The author’s very own love story which touched over a billion hearts, making it a best seller. The novel is in the first person where the author narrates the relationship between him and Kushi (Late). The book describes the story of two different persons with different goals who met on a Matrimonial site, how their love blossomed and how Mr Fate intervened! 

I read the novel as soon as it was released and so there were no much of book reviews available. “Had” in the title alarmed me that it had a sad ending but I never thought it had a tragic ending. The very feeling of being in love is perfectly narrated. The romantic episodes and few dialogues were so touching! The author manages to capture each and every emotion absolutely perfectly. 

“She died. I survived. Just because I survived, I died everyday”

By the end of the book, I was literally in tears and could feel each and every emotion of the author as if they were my own.  

Definitely worth a read, for it makes u feel the feelings of first love!! 

Rating 5/5

2. CAN LOVE HAPPEN TWICE? (CLHT) 

        Genre – Romance

This is the second novel by the author. The book takes you through life of Ravin, after Khushi left him. He moves to Belgium for a project and accidently meets a girl Simar, an Indian, (from Gurgaon) at a gym who pursues MBA in Belgium. The book is filled with funny moments, great dialogues and a clean love story. After a masterpiece is written and a benchmark set, it is very difficult to redo the magic. I completed this book in just a day. A cute romantic story which just gets you along. There were certainly a lot of hidden truths in some dialogues. It teaches today’s youth the meaning of a true love and understanding. Better plot, and nicely described. 

Some nice dialogues from the book – 

• “Alcohol makes people speak from their hearts. I was yet to have share of my alcohol. I was yet to speak from my heart.”
• “Things didn't work between the two of them, because they loved the same person. He loved her and she loved herself” 

Overall, a nice one-time summer read! 

Rating 4/5

3. LIKE IT HAPPENED YESTERDAY 

This is the third fictional novel by the same author. This is completely a different genre and unique from his previous novels. The author takes us through his journey into his past and of course into our childhood memories. It seemed to be a bit slow in the start, but mind gets refreshed by reading it as u can relate yourself with the situations that we might have found ourselves in our young times (Hesitating to go to school, hospitals, injections, Photo studio etc). It cleanly describes the feelings of big happiness in small victories. Nicely portrayed and deserves a praise. The book is not the kind of literary thing but it reminds us some of the happiest childhood moments. 

A very light read to revisit one’s childhood. 

Rating 3.5/5

4. LOVE STORIES THAT TOUCHED MY HEART

Edited By Ravinder Singh.  

A set of 25 love stories handpicked and compiled by the author. Each story is very unique. A few were very touching and some may definitely bring tears in your eyes.  This is the by far the best love stories collection I have read till date. 

Rating 4/5

Get the "Box Set" here - Flipkart

NOVEL VS MOVIE - (3) THE DA VINCI CODE

NOVEL : The Da Vinci Code (2003) By Dan Brown

MOVIE: The Da Vinci Code (2006) By Ron Howard

CHARACTERS – Jacques Sauniere, Robert Langdon, Sophie Neveu, Silas, Sir Leigh Teabing. 

GENRE – Adventure/Thriller

The Plot

Harvard Symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in Paris. The Curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, and he has baffled his body with various symbols which he knew would be visible to all but could be deciphered only by Robert Langdon & French Cryptologist Sophie Neveu. There starts the race throughout the castles and cathedrals of Europe. Adding spice to the story, the late curator, had preserved with him an ancient breathtaking secret, which Langdon and Sophie tries to trace and finally accomplish it. 

Character Analysis:

Langdon’s knowledge about the symbols, religions, history, the interconnected relations between them makes one spellbound. He is likable, good-hearted and trust worthy. When Sophie wonders how she would all alone trace the secret, Langdon assures her that he will be by her side. Sophie replies, “Just because you will be there with me, Jacques Sauniere has connected both of us to search The Holy Grail”. It is really hard for me to believe Robert Langdon is a fictional character, who was portrayed by Tom Hanks in the movie.The character was created by Dan Brown as a fictional alter ego of himself or "the man he wishes he could be" (Source : Wikipedia)

Sophie is a unique character, quick-wit, agile, caring and compassionate. She hints Langdon to escape the murder case as he was the prime suspect to the eyes of French Police. She is highly motivated to solve the mystery as her grandfather was the one who was murdered. She tries linking the childhood puzzles her grandfather ever gave her and continues her journey of the mystery along with Langdon. She is a self-motivated woman, who does what she wants no matter what others tell. 

My Review :

International Bestseller. 18 Million copies sold in the last decade. 

I read this book when I was in tenth grade. Of late, I got to watch the movie. It’s been adapted extremely well. It is not that easy to convert a novel to a movie especially when it describes about the entire ancient history way back from the period of Jesus.  I felt the story so real as if it was happening in front of me. The entire race through Europe for the search of the secret, happening in a single day is unbelievable yet interesting. Dan Brown has well connected himself with the readers through his simple language and crisp chapters. The alternative chapters’(Alternate scenes in the movie) talks about different incidents at different places and finally everything gets correlated. Sir Leigh Teabing’s character is worth noticing. Starting from his warm welcome till his gun point at the protagonists, there are so many twists and turns in the story and every chapter unfolds a thrill. When Langdon and Sophie find out the secret during their journey, Langdon finally figures out the location of the Grail. 

Absolutely worth a watch and worth a read! 

Rating 4.7/5 

NOVEL VS MOVIE - (2) THREE MISTAKES OF MY LIFE

Novel – 3 MISTAKES OF MY LIFE! (2008) by Chetan Bhagat

Movie – KAI PO CHE (2013) by Abhishek Kapoor

Characters - Govind Patel, Ishaan Bhatt, Omi, Vidhya, Ali

THE PLOT

"3 Mistakes" novel starts with the story of Govind Patel (Govi), a mathematician and a businessman. With two wonderful friends around Ishaan (Ish) and Omi, he decides to start his own Cricket Academy and Tutorial. They set a location for their business outside the temple, pooling in money through various resources. Govi realizes his dream is not going to be an easy chase and strives hard for it. Omi, being persuaded by his Uncle (Bittu Mama) deviates into Politics, perhaps in a wrong track.  Ish, a true cricket genius , decides to coach the young teens on Cricket. Ali is a gift to the entire story where Ish notices Ali’s talent challenges him and fights so hard to fulfill his dreams. Ish sees his own reflection through Ali and coaches him the best regardless of Ali being a Muslim. Vidhya (Ish’s sister) is being tutored by Govi on Ish’s request and their “tutorial” classes gradually change to “Love-making” classes. 

• With the presence of Socio-Political factors, will the trio win in life?? 
• Will Ali make it up to the International Tournaments? 
• Will Govi succeed in his love ? (His best fren's dear sister)

NOVEL VS MOVIE

Some differences between the movie and the novel -  

1. Novel – At the end, Omi is killed. 

    Movie – Ishaan is killed. 

2. Novel – Vidhya  plays a deliberate role.

    Movie – The scenes in which Vidhya appear are not much effective.

3. Novel – Ali is sent to London for a surgery.

    Movie – This doesn’t happen. 

4. Novel – Govi narrates the whole story, as Chetan Bhagat listens to him.

    Movie – Chetan’s son (Ishaan) enters the big screen, as there is a twist in the story.

MY REVIEW

Of all Chetan’s novels, “3 Mistakes” is my personal favorite. It kept me going in all the chapters as it was based on a real life story. “Kai Po Che” however disappointed me to an extent. It was not fully adapted from the novel as there were some major changes. I could not keep guessing the fact as in how Ali made it up to the International Tournament without Ishaan all these years! The movie was really worth a watch, inspirational and all that., but definitely not for the one who had read the novel. There are so many romantic scenes in the book, adding up spice to the already burning Cricket and Politics. Abhishek Kapoor reveals a grip on the buddy bonding theme and all the three actors leave an indelible mark. “Kai Po Che” is definitely worth a watch but the original story still remains in the book :) 

Rating - 4.5/5 

NOVEL VS MOVIE - (1) LIFE OF PI

Novel – Life of Pi- Yann Martel (2001)

Movie – Life of Pi – Ang Lee (2012)

Genre – Fantasy Adventure

Main Characters – A boy (PIscine Patel ), a tiger (Richard Parker) and a life boat.

Story-line

Piscine Patel (Pi) an Indian presently living in Canada, narrates his story of survival in a ship-wreck at the age of 16 losing his family and being stranded upon in the pacific ocean with a life boat and the Bengal Tiger.

The Plot

Piscine Molitor Patel is named after a swimming pool in France. He was tired of being called “Pissing Patel” and changes his name to Pi (π) Patel. Pi’s father owns a zoo and Pi takes good care of the animals and develops love towards them. He is a Hindu – vegetarian but he is introduced to Islam and Christianity at the age of 12 and he chooses to follow all the three as it is all abt “Loving God”. 

Pi’s father decides to immigrate to Canada so that they can sell the animals at North America. They all board into a cargo ship, bringing the animals also with them. Unfortunately, the ship wrecks. Pi spends 227 days in the Pacific Ocean initially with hyena, zebra, orangutan and finally with the tiger Richard Parker. 

Novel Versus Movie

Here are a few differences which I spotted between the movie and the novel – 

    1. The Opening – 

   Book starts with “This book was born when I was hungry” and some 16 pages of author note.

   Movie starts with “This is a story that will make you believe in God”  (Jumping straight into the story)

    2. Pi in hospital – 

    Book – There is a detailed expression of Pi’s time in hospital after being spotted at the Beach of Mexico. It tells about the love and care, the nurses showed despite language differences.

    Movie – There is a scene where Pi meets only the Japanese Officials who enquire him about the wreck (Climax).

    3. Pi’s girl friend – 

Book- There is no such mention about Pi’s love episodes.

Movie – How on earth will a movie be directed without adding spice of Romance to it? Ha!

    4. Pi’s family – 

Book – Way-through the book, the author hints “The story has a happy ending”

Movie – In the Climax, the writer meets his family when they enter home as Pi introduces his Wife, Children and Pets. (Pleasant Surprise factor) 

    5. Tanker ship at night –

Book – A giant oil tanker comes close to Pi, but doesn’t notice him and quickly disappears

Movie – This never happens.

MY REVIEW 

     This is basically a tale of the survivor, conversing with himself and the Bengal Tiger. It is not so overwhelmingly positive or negative but it is set plainly great. Surviving in the Carnivore island and the Meerkats has a touch of fiction, where in reality it hardly happens.  Pi’s mother narrates him the story of Lord Krishna which is amazingly visualized. 

      An immaculate story of battle between life and death. The narrator through his simple yet clear explanation , attracts the readers/audience. Lessons about Science and Spirituality is worth mentioning. 

      Well, coming next to “This story will make you believe in God” does strike the chord. When pi actually survives from the unknown island, the storm and etc, he prays God and the touch of his body over the sands of Mexico makes one believe, there does exist God, because it is no simple for a man to have survived (227 long days) with an oversized CAT!! 

The sea adventure is very inspiring but it lacks suspense factor, as we all know Pi had survived the wreck and was narrating the story to the author. 

Life of Pi movie is a “Visual Treat”. People who haven’t watched or read the same, I would recommend you to watch the movie first for the better understanding of the story! 

A feast for eyes than a food for thought :)

      Rating 3.5/5