Lights! Scalpel! Romance! - Book Review

LIGHTS! SCALPEL! ROMANCE! by Jas Kohli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What drew me to Lights! Scalpel! Romance! was its attractive cover. The book didn't disappoint either. This is the story of Dr. Nipun and Dr. Nistha. They have joined the Nirog Hospital. They are pursuing their Master of Surgery course under the guidance of Dr. Ujwal who is considered God of surgery.

Hospitals have serious atmosphere. That is how we have seen them in books, films and real life. But in Lights! Scalpel! Romance! the author makes us wear comic lenses and the hospital incidents come out to be humorous. This is the USP of the book.

The book is extremely well written. It makes you laugh. The characters are so well written that you feel for them. This is the success of the writing prowess of the author. Read this one. It will definitely bring a smile on your face in today's trite world.

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Shhh! Don't Talk About Mental Health : Why Being Quiet is No Longer an Option - Book Review

Shhh! Don't Talk About Mental Health by Arjun Gupta
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In India there is stigma around mental illness. That is why book like Shhh! Don't Talk About Mental Health : Why Being Quiet is No Longer an Option must be given a warm welcome.

The book is written from the perspective of Yashasvi who is depressed and about to end his life. The book is not just his story. It is a primer on mental health issues, the mental health service providers. It also deals with the role of the government and the society on this issue.

The book hooks you right from the first page and you will not stop reading until you have finished reading the entire book. The language is simple and lucid. I really liked the way the author has discussed complex topics relating to mental health in simple, easy to understand language. The book is a well researched work and every human should read it. Mental health issues are on the rise. Reading this book will help you discern the same at the right time. This book is the need of the hour.

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Who Killed Liberal Islam - Book Review

Who Killed Liberal Islam? by Hasan Suroor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There is a misconception that you can't be a liberal and a Muslim at the same time. The book Who Killed Liberal Islam by Hasan Surror takes this question head-on. In doing so it examines the Islam practised in India and abroad. It discusses the causes of decline of liberal Islam in India.

The following lines from the book will serve as eye openers.
'Sharia is the biggest obstacle to change,' according to historian S. Irfan Habib. This despite the fact that the Quran is only one of its four sources along with Qiyas (human reasoning), Ijma (consensus) and Sunnah (sayings of the Prophet), most of which were written some 200 years after the Prophet's death and many having no authenticity. A number of practices justified in the name of Sharia, have no Quranic sanctions.

Today when the patriotism of every Indian Muslim is put to test, the following observations of the author are timely.
It is often forgotten or wilfully overlooked that a majority of Muslims chose to stay back in India in a massive thumbs-down to the idea of a Muslim homeland. We are the inheritors of their values. Faced with a choice between an exclusionist Muslim nationalism on one hand, and inclusive secularism on the other, they had no doubt what was the right thing to do.

The author says that India has a long history of liberal Muslim reformers who were also deeply religious and often used religion to sell their reforms. He cites the examples of Sir Syed Ahmed, Zakir Husain and Abul Kalam Azad.

This is a book of great scholarly work. It is a well researched commentary replete with real life examples. Every person should read this book for this book is a small attempt to bring peace in today's strained world.

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Dark Destiny - Book Review

Dark Destiny is the debut novel of Kamal Kant, and in spite of being a first timer I must say that he has done a great job.

This is a thriller and hooks you to the story within the first few pages of the book. You are eager to know what happens next. There are ample twists and turns to leave thriller fans satiated. The characters are well etched. The narrative swings between present and past.

The premise used by the author is fresh. This is the story of a man Aditya whose American dream has utterly failed. He has had a heart break and one fine day he is arrested for treason, murder and drug trafficking. This is something I have never read before. Hence, I liked this book even more.

Overall, Dark Destiny emerges as a winner on all counts. Go for it. You wont be disappointed.

Chiranjivi The Begining Book Review

CHIRANJIVI, The Beginning by Vasant Kallola
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Chiranjivi The Beginning is the latest novel by Vasant Kallola. This is indeed a wonderful work of fiction. The story is set in the aftermath of war of Mahabharata. Chiranjivi picks up the threads of the story a thousand years after the war. This is the story of Govind, a common man who saves the world from destruction when a mighty sage owes to annihilate it.

What I really liked about the book is that the author paints vivid pictures with his words. You feel like you are watching a movie. This is indeed success of the author. The language is simple. The plot is intriguing with many twists and turns. The author has hinted that a sequel to this book is soon to follow. I am eagerly waiting for it. Chiranjivi is certainly a book not to be missed.

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Who Wants to Marry a Mamma's Boy and other stories - Book Review

Who Wants to Marry a Mamma's Boy and other stories is a collection of short stories by Manjula Pal. It strings together the emotional journeys of a diverse set of women at different stages in life.

The writing is simple and most of the stories have happy endings. Ask any married person and they will agree that at a certain point they felt that they have made the wrong choice. What if they could turn the clock behind and marry the person whom they loved. The story Love is Also a Compromise deals with such a situation and has a fairy tale ending. This is undoubtedly the best story in the collection.

I also liked When Krishna Came to My House. You feel happy when the well off family adopts a street child. But the story has a tragic end, which I really didn't like.

This collection of short stories takes you on a journey of volatile emotions. It is certainly worth a read. 

Slave Technology - Book Review

Slave Technology by Biju PR deals with the burning topic – the evil effects of social media.

The book is divided into eleven sections. The first one deals with bragging on the internet. The Rise of Digital Ghettos tells how women are vulnerable in the digital space too. It tells how posts by women receive more likes and comments compared to those which men receive. The third and fourth chapters deal with gossip and hate campaign over the internet. Sexism and Narcissim over the internet are discussed in chapter six and seven. The rest of the chapters deal with relationships, scam artists, love and censorship.

Thus the book discusses all the evils which the social media has let out of its bag. However the book doesn't offer a single solution as to how to reduce the use of social media and this is its largest drawback. If you are interested in reading a book only about the bad effects of the internet, you may like the book, but you are looking for practical solutions it will turn out to be a huge disappointment.