Book Review : Maharaja in Denims – Khushwant Singh

A true page-turner, this book takes you through the various stages of the protagonist, Hari Sandhu’s life as he discovers that he is not just a modern–ameer-shehzaada but the re-incarnation of the Sher-e-Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh whose empire extended from Tibet to the deserts of Sindh and is spoken of with great grandeur and pride even today.

After seeing his elder brother die right before his eyes in ruinous car crash, Hari becomes an estranged personality showing disinterest in all the things he once pursued. With great care he is restored to his original swanky self where he enjoyed the upscale privileges of driving expensive SUV’s, dating the hottest girls and getting what he wants the way he wanted it. All this continues until, all of a sudden, flashes of a distant past start disrupting his Present. And as the story takes the reader deeper,  he begins to find answers that trace his behaviour and sudden outbursts to that of one of Punjab’s greatest rulers. Will this affect his real life? Will he find the true love of his life or will his fancy for harem girls and night-stands come in the way of his unrequited love? Will he stand up to the expectations of his family or prove to be an utter disappointment to them? These answers lie in his Self Discovery where he faces the harshest of truths, virtually transcending into different eras and feels being part of the riots, massacres and fiery battles that one broke the Golden Nation that India once was into several shattered pieces. He realises he was meant to be what he had once been.

And this Realisation awakens his inner spirit and unearths the reality of the current situation before his once indifferent eyes. A boy who found attending classes cumbersome is now dreaming to be an extremist politician to bring about the change he wishes to see. The Maharaja’s essence and passion seem to be flooding into him and getting outsourced into all the spheres of his life as he transforms and becomes sensitive to the reality. He is pulsating with an inborn energy waiting to thwart away those who tarnish his Nation. Personally, he evolves from being a nineteen-year old with lustful thoughts into a man who understands the meaning of love and protecting whom he values.

This book shows how embracing your past can actually strengthen the foundations of your present and lay the early plinth to your Future. There is no running away. Your demons have to be faced squarely in the eye. And pain and failure are but a part of an ongoing struggle that gives a meaning to your life, which is all about understanding your Calling and pursuing it with all your heart.

With interesting elements of surprises, beautiful outbursts of passionate love, heartbreaking scenarios that bring tears to your eyes to springs of hope that leave you in an afterglow of having travelled a rich literary journey embedded with jewels of the past, painted with scenes from far beyond our frontiers and tales of valiant fighters.

It takes a while for you to step out of the Heritage Caravan that this book takes you on with an interesting tale with baffling revelations. The characters, be it Hari’s striving father; shielding mother; altruistic Suzanne; his witty Prof. Deshbeer or the  buddy in Birmingham, Rocky Singh…have been sketched just pertinently to complement the depth of the story without distracting the reader into alleyways. Beautifully written with honesty, political eloquence and unpretentiousness in a way that the reader is hooked right from the beginning to the last page. You will be glad you made this trip as you can count on the ending to leave you surprised and gasping for more.

My Brother’s Wedding – Andaleeb Wajid

The fragrance of fried boondis as they are gently molded into delicious ladoos… the excited banter that fills the air as wedding guests and relatives mingle over a cup of tea… and the sounds of wrapping paper being used to cover expensive ghagras (that cost a fortune) and jewelry. Add a protagonist with a confused love story of her own, family drama, last minute decisions, secrets, emotions, guilt and lust…topped with a BLOG…and you get the recipe somewhat right.

My Brother’s Wedding is a delectable read right from the start. It’s the story of a young girl, Saba whose brother Zohaib is getting married in a month’s time… while she has to focus on her exams, a cute yet crazy love story, secrets that could break all hell loose and trying her best to NOT get married , her self . And to make this all the more interesting, she has all these interesting characters in her life who just can’t catch a  break…like her own elder sister Rabia… ‘ who walked around thinking there were fashion photographers clicking pictures of her every angle and profile.’ And that’s just the beginning. Did I mention the Ultra Hot Uzair, yet? Um, I guess I’ll let you come to it yourself when you read the novel!’

Anyway, this story revolves around how Saba manages all the chimichaga of the wedding and goes through these tumultuous emotions… by writing a blog to maintain her sanity and anonymity. Will she be able to handle herself as the pressure builds up, secrets come undone and things begin to fall-apart or does she succumb to take  a new route, altogether? 

The novel is written in an easy-flowing manner that makes it really enjoyable. There are moments of humor that your funny bones would surely relish. Also, I love the details with which the author describes everything… right from the wedding preparations, the shopping sessions at Commercial Street as well as the ‘catch-your-breath’ moments. Also, there are steamy scenes. Now just because its not her wedding, it does not mean that the protagonist doesn’t have her share of lovey-dovey, crazy-with-passion moments. The novel also very aptly portrays how traditions meet our modern system…how they may come in the way of the new generation… and also, how these values actually enhance the newbies’ lives and bring stability into them.

Published by Rupa Publications, this book is now available at all leading bookstores and online, too 🙂 Tell me how you like it !

Arrividerci !

Strange Angels , A Novel By Lili St. Crow

In an age where Vampires, werewolves and magicians rule the roost, or shall I say, Covers Of Novels… Lili St. Crow delivers a fantasy fiction thriller(now, a series of 5 Novels) where-in the Vampire plays the Evil-Rule-The-World-Control-Freak in contrast to the Gorgeous, lovable heroes that most page-turners now offer.

Dru Anderson (Hunter, Knife-thrower, heart breaker) , the hero of the Novel is a no-nonsense Hunter… Nope, she’s not after Silver Foxes or White Tigers, she’s after the dark creatures that haunt the Real World, the part of this world that runs like a secret parallel Universe right under our nose. She along with her father, a prodigy at Hunting and an impeccable taskmaster have set out on a trail to avenge the death of her Mother and his Wife, who was killed ages ago by Sergei, better described as the King Royal of the Blood-sucking Vampires.

But things veer off the track almost instantly when Sergei takes her away the only relation Dru holds close to her heart, a Father by mercilessly turning him into a Zombie and setting him after her…. forcing Dru to shoot her Dad’s re-animated Corpse with a 9mm.

Now alone, in a cold and lonely world filled with you-name-it creeps and a fatal quest awaiting her, Dru gears up instead of throwing herself into the well of misery. She stops at nothing.

Masking her fears and hurt under a curtain of Iron-willed and Brave Persona she begins to travel towards her Goal. En route she meets Graves, a Goth high school drop-out good at algebra and addicted to smoking and cursing.

Things fall harder for the two when Graves gets bitten by Sergei’s Broken Werewolf on a chase and he transforms into a Loup Garou. Destiny then leads them to the Schola, THE place for young Werewolves and all-things-no-human to Hone their skills and get Disciplined by the Order.

Well, that is where the Story starts to heat up as Dru meets the dashing, mysterious and super-strong Christophe. Does that affect Graves and her Friendship? Is she ever able to get over the guilt of causing Graves so much pain and turmoil?

No time to waste, as a dark cloud of Betrayal , Fatal Dangers, Deep-earth-shattering-secrets, family legacies and God-knows-what-all!

What’s interesting about this novel is that it is not based upon true love or even magic… but simple TRUE GRIT and ACTION that makes you want more.

With interesting new species like Sevotchas (Partial Vamps and Partial Humans) , Loup-Garou (The non-furry and Dominant versions of Werewolves) she captures the reader’s interest instantly.

The teenage slang, hard life, innuendos, hurt and toil make it all the more awesome.

This being her debut novel speaks volumes about her talent.

This novel ensures a satisfying read if you dig fantasy fiction; blood, gore and action; Bad Ass Villians(who are indestructible), anti-Damsel-in-distress Heroines and a whole lot of Mystery and Ammunition.