Book Review: Terror in Islamabad by Amar Bhushan | Spy Fiction

 

Book Review

Terror in Islamabad by Amar Bhushan

Terror in Islamabad by Amar Bhushan

Author: Amar Bhushan

ISBN: 978-9390327669

Genre: Crime, Thriller & Spy Fiction

Length: 170 Pages

Publisher: HarperCollins India (20^th November 2020)

My Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/2LkBP0s

About the author:

Amar Bhushan joined the Indian Police Service in 1967 and was assigned to Madhya Pradesh. For seven years, he dealt with crime and law and order problems but remained a reluctant policeman. When the opportunity for working in intelligence organizations came, he grabbed it and never looked back till he retired as the chief of India’s foremost technical intelligence agency. He began the second innings of his career by briefly serving in the BSF intelligence, State Special Branch, and Intelligence Bureau and ended up working in the Research and Analysis Wing for the next twenty-four years.

His last published work, Escape to Nowhere, remained on bestseller lists for eleven weeks. He lives with his wife and daughter in Bangalore but seldom misses an opportunity to visit his granddaughters in the US and his mother in Jasidih, a village in Jharkhand.

Amar Bhushan

Author Page: https://harpercollins.co.in/author-details/amar-bhushan/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmarBhushan9

REVIEW

Review Summary

Terror in Islamabad by Amar Bhushan is a short spy fiction book inspired by true events relating to you the story of an Indian intelligence operative on a diplomatic assignment in the capital city of Pakistan where he is subjected to the savagery by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), although he has committed no indiscretion during his complete course of stay and mission under the constant surveillance of the counter-intelligence team (simply put, without any evidence); an evocative tale offering you a portion of the agonies and terror inflicted upon a courageous agent due to strained Indo-Pak relations makes you aware of the darker shades of their profession that the spies who endure so much pain, live with an unknown danger lurking around all the time, all for the country and still find themselves ignored and unrecognized by the very people who recruited them; this staggering account of the protagonist’s perilous journey will find you in his shoes, anxiously running across pages, negotiating with situations until the very end.

Review

The book is set in Islamabad in the year 1994. The story starts with the last working day of Veer Singh at the Indian embassy as a cultural attaché, which is his cover job while actually working as an agent for India’s External Intelligence Agency under an assumed name – Amit Munshi. Veer Singh stands apart from all of his predecessors and maybe his successors. Mr. Singh as an agent has got really unique and out of ordinary hobbies, and a rather basic modus operandi. He is a practicing tantric, a discipline he learned during his adolescence. He has got skills for face-reading and analyzing horoscopes, which helps him in maintaining a good rapport with the high commissioner and his other colleagues.

The last working day turns out to be his worst nightmare come true.  The formidable enemy – an intelligence agency that is accused of being involved in 1993 Mumbai blasts, and other terrorist activities has caught ‘Amit Munshi’ for unwarranted reasons.

The theme mainly focuses on the vicious interrogation of ‘Amit Munshi’ by ISI goons, but the author also explains the situation of the Indian diplomats and spies – to start with, how the protagonist ended up landing a job of a spy in Pakistan. How does he live surrounded by the counter-intelligence people in disguise, round the clock; police tailing him around wherever he goes? The book also provides a basic understanding of the covert operations the agents are expected to do despite the given circumstances. So it’s obvious, to give you a context, that an agent’s life is not as happening as we’re shown in the general category of spy movies or series. This may be fiction but what I loved about this book is that there is no exaggeration, neither in narration nor in the plot.

The book is considerably short but you will have all your questions answered between two cover pages, whether it’s related to the setting or the storyline. My most favorite part of the book is the vivid portrayal of Mr. Singh’s confrontation with the ISI, which made me realize how fatal this job could be. Not only could I see the world through the protagonist’s eyes, but also my body felt numb as I sat stunned, reading the book without a single pause.

Happy Reading!

========================

Disclaimer: This article is intended for review purposes only. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful.

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Book Review: The Paradise Conflict by Abhishek Ghosh | Dystopian Fiction

Book Review

The Paradise Conflict by Abhishek Ghosh

The Paradise Conflict by Abhishek Ghosh

Author: Abhishek Ghosh

ASIN: B08KSHFTCV

Genre: Dystopian Fiction

Length: 150 Pages

Publisher: Novel Nuggets Publishers (5^th October 2020)

My Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/37uMAWL

About the author:

Abhishek Ghosh

Instagram: @abhishekghosh_write_mania

Facebook: @abhishek.ghosh.376

Twitter: @Abhishe67403471

REVIEW

Summary of the book

The Paradise Conflict is a dystopian fiction which is set in a world where freshwater is scarce, air is filled with hazardous pollutants, everything is covered with UV-protection sheets; needless to say, masks are essential; in addition to the misery of this world, the remainder of the population and infrastructure is administered by the Imperial regime. The surviving water bodies are heavily guarded by Imperial outposts and common people are being killed by them, for the inequality this regime is entitled to. The comfort of living and surviving is only meant for the governor and his Imperial servants, not the common people.

This situation cause the rise of a group of people who choose to stand against the regime, the Rebels. This first book in the series portrays a battle between the Rebels and Imperials with a set of characters that are interconnected in a way. The Rebels are looking for ‘the lost paradise’, which is thought to be thriving with all the natural resources and free of any pollutants, hidden somewhere and the wicked tyrant that governor is, makes every effort to stop the rebel activities.

This oppression, revolt, and a ray of hope form the foundation for the story. The book consists of many action-packed segments that are quite entertaining. The main characters are very well-developed considering their arcs, inclination, actions, and the choices they make throughout the book. The book portrays dictatorship, governor’s never-ending greed for power and comforts, which reflects in his corrupt and hollow empire as a huge disparity among subjects, and destruction. Apart from that, there are interesting elements like treachery and many surprises. 

My Opinion

I liked the story and the message the book delivered through my personal reading of it. The setting and the characters are formidable. Gayatri – the Rebel leader, Judy – the second-in-command, Mitra – a bounty hunter, and Arjun – the Imperial admiral were some of the memorable characters I enjoyed reading. The plot involving ‘the lost paradise’ was really interesting to follow. However, the thing which bothered me throughout the book was – plain and naïve writing style. It was like, the bigger picture is there – the mission, the goal, two parties, but it lacked the minor yet important details. Also, it had the problem of ‘tell, don’t show’. There were ample amount of unnecessary dialogues that could have been elaborated in expositions. Whereas, I expected more of the dystopian world, an enhanced and detailed version of this.

Happy Reading!

========================

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Book Review: Apophis by Raj Anand | Science-Fiction

 

Book Review

Apophis: Into the Folds of Darkness by Raj Anand

Apophis by Raj Anand

Author: Raj Anand

ISBN: 978-1648508981

Genre: Science Fiction

Length: 456 Pages

Publisher: Notion Press (24^th September 2020)

My Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/36KfD8p

About the author:

Savinder Raj Anand is a writer, architect, professor, father, and a long-distance runner with a wanderlust to explore and write stories that traverse across diverse cultures.

Raj Anand

Instagram:@rajanandbooks

Facebook: @rajanandbooks

Website: https://www.rajanandbooks.com/index.php

REVIEW

Apophis by Raj Anand is a Science-Fiction book that brings several disciplines together including, science, philosophy, history, astrophysics, and shamanism to fight off the apocalyptic danger posed by this asteroid with 2.45 kilometers diameter and weight more than 360,000 metric tons, moving straight towards the earth. The book is highly educative in terms of facts and information regarding great philosophers and historical events from across various civilizations; very conveniently embedded in the plot.

The most interesting aspect of the book is the central conflict that is between two organizations – the Crypteia, and the lineage of Lazarok (who are committed to protecting the Kleos) and the Kleos – five sentient beings (9-year-old reincarnations of ancient philosophers). The first half of the book depicts how Lazarok shields the Kleos ever since their birth and brings them together on their ninth birthday. The second half portrays how the Kleos, collectively set out on a journey to the mission they are destined to accomplish. They prepare themselves for the intergalactic war which is imminent.

The very conception and the elements the author has involved in the book make it stand out from other books in the Sci-Fi genre. The book combines a lot of contemporary and historical facts to form a large network that justifies scores of unusual events of the past, which makes it seem realistic. There are some vivid, action-packed scenes and other mind-blowing theories to give you an unforgettable experience. The author has incorporated representation from different countries, their culture, myths, legends, and philosophies.

The book starts and ends with the same situation, that is the threat is closing in on the earth and there is a single ray of hope – the Kleos with their shamanic powers and great wisdom. The end is fairly satisfactory as the Kleos achieve what seems to be a fully-powered weapon. The timeline is not linear owing to the fact that international travel and time-travel are the major aspects involved, although it is easily comprehensible and the structure complements the mysterious storyline. Set in December 2021, there is a lot going on in past, present, and future with regard to ancient history & philosophy, the international & Crypteia conflict, and the intergalactic conflict respectively. Some characters like Lazarok, Claire, and Neerja are outstanding. The setting and location the author has chosen are justly compatible with the mysterious and warlike storyline.

 

What I disliked about Apophis?

The thing I most disliked about the book was that it is charged with plenty of nouns and numbers, which is not the exact problem but they were used for unnecessary detailing. The aggregation of Greek, Chinese, Japanese, and Egyptian philosophy and setting didn’t help much in this matter. The nouns were difficult to read, let alone the pronunciation.

The writing style seems to follow the ‘tell, don’t show’ tactic which suspended the illustrious and creative aspect of the novel. For instance, the author has mentioned names of highways and buildings, adding extra emphasis on nouns and overlooking the actual details of the surroundings. The book seems to focus only on two parties, ignoring the common people. It would have been really fulfilling to read the perspective of a commoner.

I adored the first half of the book where each reincarnation (9-year-old sentient beings) of great philosophers is introduced separately with their lineage, special abilities, etc. But when they come together, I couldn’t differentiate between them. As I mentioned earlier, the book is very informative; largely this knowledge is shared via dialogues overstressing the characters. While I enjoyed the plot and conception, I couldn’t keep up with the character arcs and what I said about surroundings.

 

Conclusion

Well, this doesn’t change the fact that Apophis has a lot to offer from science to philosophy to action to humor. This book won’t let you down on that front. Pick this up if you want to know how these nine-year-olds fight against the Crypteia and aliens.

Happy Reading!

========================

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Book Review: Sunset by the River by Sameer Saxena | Contemporary Romantic Thriller (2020)

 

Book Review

Sunset by the River by Sameer Saxena

Sunset by the River by Sameer Saxena (cover design: @roughworkk)

Author: Sameer Saxena

ASIN: B08H18J8D5

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Thriller

Length: 174 Pages

Publisher: Flipping Pages (29^th August 2020)

My Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/2FJMBLB

About the author:

Hailing from Jhumka city – Bareilly, Sameer Saxena is currently working as an Assistant Manager in UCO bank, posted in the hilly area of Uttrakhand. He has completed his graduation in Mechanical Engineering in 2013 after which he worked as a teaching associate for two years, before joining the bank.

Sameer wrote short plays for college cultural fests which were played in various colleges. He was the mentor of his college club and actively participated in various college activities like anchoring, paper presentations, and short plays. He was often called by his faculties to write the speeches for them and from there he has taken a step further to write his first novel, “Sunset by the River”, five years back.

Sameer is an active social media enthusiast and writes articles, blogs on a wide range of topics.

Sameer Saxena

Instagram: @authorsameer

Facebook: @sam.saxena13

Twitter: @Author_Sameer

REVIEW

Summary

Sunset by the River by Sameer Saxena – a contemporary romantic thriller, can be seen as an eye-opener for the society we currently live in, where people don’t recognize mental health as essential as physical health, be it for stigma or lack of awareness and resources; at the same time the book –  with its simple, ordinary yet unique and special characters – is a paragon of Indian coming of age romance where the author sets out to tackle some very serious issues such as unethical faith healing, exorcism, challenges for psychiatry in India and so on; incorporating elements of love, laughter, agony, friendship, suspense, and contemporary romance, this book will keep you glued to flipping pages until no page is left unturned as it emanates immense pleasure and a sense of responsibility towards society.

Narration

Sunset by the River is narrated in third-person POV and for once it shifts to first-person POV when it is needed. The writing style is simple and consistent throughout the book, although the tone is exciting at times. The language is again comprehensible and could be read by anyone including beginners. Additionally, Sameer Saxena has succeeded in keeping the suspense.

Location, Setting, and Characters

The story is set in Delhi, Rajasthan and Japan of the years 2018-19. The story starts off in Japan, where Ayaan, the protagonist is working on his dream project. The story hooks the reader as soon as it starts when Ayaan receives several calls from India. Ayaan immediately returns to India and relates the past events of his life to his friend Hiteish before leaving. And so the story unfolds gradually. Ayaan, Monisha – Ayaan’s best friend and colleague, and Tripti – Monisha’s friend form a trio. The location and setting have an implicit effect on the characters, their behavior and it reflects in their lifestyle. Japan – where this ‘sunset’ from the title belongs to – has got one of the beautiful expositions to its account. Besides, there is one more place, which is of crucial importance to the plotline, has been described with extreme care, keeping it as realistic and neutral as possible, leaving it on readers to form an opinion. 

Theme

Contemporary or coming of age romance could be considered as the central theme of this novel. The early career life and college life are portrayed simply, being careful not to exaggerate. The relationships between characters seem natural and quite relatable. Although the author tried not to overplay these ordinary characters there are instances with the cinematic touch, in a good way. There is another theme – mental health care in India – that holds great significance in this novel. It makes you aware of the current condition of psychiatry in India. The book also confronts exorcism and brings it into question for its ethicality, which, in some cases of healing practices doesn’t conform to. They are potentially dangerous and are not in line with ethical principles – autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Moreover, the theme goes on to convey a powerful message that is beneficial in all aspects.

Plot

The first half of the book narrates how the trio gets together as close friends, while the second half is a thriller that conveys the darker truths of society’s wretched perception towards mental illnesses and our mental healthcare system.

“Not a single person would tell their boss if they were having a panic attack, or they were feeling depressed, or they were experiencing any sort of anxiety. Because in our society, these symptoms are not considered as diseases; rather they are used slangs to bully."

My Views

When I started reading this book, I didn’t expect so many surprises and shocks. It was a pleasure reading the kind of romance this book captures. The best part about the book is that it’s not at all what you would assume it to be. It is really nice to see debut novelist breaking through numerous cliché romance tropes, which many popular Indian authors fail to do. Also, I commend the choice of subject the author has made to be addressed.

While the main characters were well developed, I felt that there could have been extensive roles to be played by the families involved, particularly Monisha’s character. Again, the length of the book felt short as I expect to see more of these characters and this fascinating story.

Happy Reading!

========================

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Book Review: Once There Was Me by Bobby Sachdeva | Changing Perceptions

Book Review

Once There Was Me: The Extraordinary Life of an Unknown Indian by Bobby Sachdeva

Once There Was Me by Bobby Sachdeva

Author: Bobby Sachdeva

ISBN: 978-9389109559

Genre: Semi-autobiography (Fiction)

Length: 420 Pages

Publisher: PanMacmillan India (30^th June 2020)

My Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/3kP7k0d

About the author: 

Bobby Sachdeva is a storyteller and a businessman based in Amritsar. While his profession and his circle of interaction marks him out as an outsider in literary circles, his radical views on religion, society and tradition make him stand out as an unconventional writer from among the non-literary common people. Several of his short stories are under consideration by media houses. He is currently producing short films based on these short stories in Punjabi and Hindi. Apart from 'Once There Was Me', he has a short story collection titled 'Stories of Us' to his name.

Bobby Sachdeva

Instagram: @ibobbysachdeva

Twitter: @iBobbySachdeva

Facebook: iBobbySachdeva

Check out my review of 'Stories of Us', a short story collection by the same author, here.

REVIEW

Summary

Once There Was Me by Bobby Sachdeva is a semi-autobiography sharing the candid-est account of the true events, long and short battles against disgraceful circumstances and some victorious and joyful moments that are entrenched in the author’s heart; narrated with a touch of fiction, it directs your attention to the more serious problems of the Indian society and exterminates the silly notions we are holding on to for so long unnecessarily; exposing the ruthless & corrupt institutions, leaders and con men, it brings us closer to the idea of rationalism; this truly extraordinary journey of a commoner will entertain you and more importantly, will help you as a mirror to this world.

***

Once There Was Me is obviously narrated in first-person POV by Bobby AKA Gurvinder Singh Sachdeva. The language is very simple and consistent throughout the book. The writing style is densely informative, evocative and funny at the moments. The events in the author’s life are portrayed chronologically, divided into plenty of chapters with appropriate titles.

***

The story starts with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots following the assassination of Mrs. Indira Gandhi. It gives you a closer look at the lives of Sikh people in Delhi at that time. What all it took for innocent people to survive. The mass murders, burning of the properties owned by Sikh people, sexual assault, lootings and acid attacks. This all brings back memories associated with one of the darkest times that India has witnessed, the partition 1947. Jasbir Singh, Bobby’s father recounts the horrors of the partition.

The author narrates his life before 31^st October, 1984; his school life in Delhi and Amritsar and the kind of treatment he received there; categorically for being a Sikh, financial crisis and the gentle Harbir (one of my most favorite chapters), his friend. After the riots, restoration of self-esteem becomes a prime necessity. Hence, Bobby gets influenced by the Sikh hardliners and believes that the extremist Sikh movement will bring back the dignity and identity of his community.

The mental conflicts begin when in his teenage years, Bobby notices that the caste system is prevalent in every community including his own but he also knows that Sikh gurus always preached oneness and love for all. The author send across this profound message that the true meaning of any religion can only be attained by learning its history and origins.

The perceptions change and the hatred offered by the preachers and the separatists find no space in the author’s heart anymore. On the other hand, militancy is at its peak in Punjab and has made it very difficult for businesses. And to top everyone’s miseries, politicians decide NOT to end this violence. Divisive politics is nothing new to India; it has been in practice since British Raj and quite recently we have seen the repercussions that how commoners, especially the poor ones fall prey to this filthy politics and the fight between two ideologies (mostly the religious polarization).

Bribery

We may cry at the top of our voices that corruption needs to end but somewhere deep down we all know the reality. Currently, we often see the media exposing government officials, police and so on, but is that all? Sometimes, people (especially the ones who can afford it) feel the need to get things done via such means because they don’t find it feasible to abide by the rules. As the author encourages you to ask questions, why is it like that? What about the people belonging to the lower socioeconomic classes? Apart from bribery, what about the big scandals of rich people? We know enough causes and consequences of the corruption to start contributing towards the lower Corruption Perception Index (CPI).

The American Episode

Here, Bobby has narrated his journey to the US quite elaborately. America might seem to be more acceptable, but even there discrimination existed on the basis of race. Although, on the other hand, people are treated more equally at the workplace irrespective of their role. The author frequently compares and highlights the major differences between the US and India and their citizens based on his experiences, which help us determine what are our collective strengths and weaknesses as being Indians.

Unethical Medical Practices

This one is a very important subject that the author has addressed. As there are always some defaulters in every profession, medicine is not an exception. There are a lot such doctors who run their hospitals just for money and patients’ health is their last concern. They hide the real situation and keep hoarding money until you run out of cash. This is scary enough that you won’t want to trust doctors so easily. As we are in the middle of this pandemic, several cases have surfaced where the reports were manipulated so that they can loot and mentally torture the families to death, just because they’ve got enough money to pay the bills? Just imagine what all could be going on right now as you read this, how many lives would be lost by now unnecessarily?

Obviously, all doctors are not the same. It’s just a few greedy people who are generally evil-minded. I totally respect all the Covid-19 frontliners who at the risk of their lives, are working hard and fighting against all odds. And I would request you all that don’t add to their difficulties. Stay Safe.

Fraudulent Godmen

Last but not least. I completely agree with the author when he says ‘Where there’s money, there’s a Guru.’ We all are aware of these types of fake babas who have accumulated a large sum of money over the span of a few years, who have neither done well to their followers nor the underprivileged. The author proposes that this excess money should be used for the country’s development. However, there’s another concern that the leaders to whom they help create vote banks; how to trust them with this money?

***

Bobby Sachdeva has successfully sent across the message. All the above-mentioned issues badly impacted the author’s life, but he never gave up. The book comprises a lot of intimidating details (including financial details), which makes you think why are we not getting taught this in academics. The book has the potential to initiate discussions on numerous social issues. I would recommend this book to every Indian, for it will change your perceptions. This book really brings about a good change and encourages you to ask questions, which is the most important take away from the book. Besides, it’s too adventurous to miss out on.

PS: All 'the author' and 'his life' pointers in the above article represent the fictional character and events.

Happy Reading!

========================

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Book Review: 355 Days by Deeba Salim Irfan | Crime-Thriller

Book Review

355 Days: Pursuit of Freedom by Deeba Salim Irfan

355 Days by Deeba Salim Irfan

Author: Deeba Salim Irfan

ISBN: 978-9388766074

Genre: Crime Thriller

Length: 240 Pages

Publisher: LiFiPublications Pvt. Ltd. (1^st January 2020)

My Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/3fOAyci

About the author: 

Deeba Salim Irfan is an award-winning poet and a brand expert. She has been writing since childhood, ever since she had to leave her parents who were in Iran, to live with her grandparents back in India. Deeba’s 3 books have already been published internationally in the last 8 years. Her first novel, URMA, was published in 2012. The translation in Urdu followed and so did the nomination for an award by Urdu Press Club. Next, a collection of poetry was published in 2016, CHARCOAL BLUSH and was a finalist at the Book Excellence Awards in Canada.  She serves as the Chairperson of the Advisory board of the ‘Young Author Awards’ for traditionally published authors under the age of 30. For over last two decades, Deeba is residing in Dubai with her husband and three children.

Deeba Salim Irfan

Instagram: @deebzirfan

Twitter: @deebzirfan

Website: http://deebasalimirfan.com/

REVIEW

Summary

355 Days by Deeba Salim Irfan is a crime-thriller fiction inspired by true events which takes you on the emotional and spiritual journey of a falsely accused protagonist who survives 355 days in captivity and emerges on the other side with a new purpose for his life; this super-engrossing story discloses how media represents distorted facts on an impulse and exploits the ethics of journalism, illegal use of third-degree torture, systemic corruption apparently stating─ “money is everything” and portrays the unanticipated impact on relations during the crisis; filled with surprises, brilliant characters, this cleverly-plotted book will often make you go OMG!

Quote from 355 Days

Narration

355 Days: Pursuit of Freedom by Deeba Salim Irfan is about what characters experience throughout these days of imprisonment, each fighting their own battle. The book is written in third person POV revolving around three main characters─ Aadesh, his wife Maya and the lawyer Nasha. The language is simple, comprehensible and the writing style is truly captivating. The book is well-structured, providing an accurate picture of what’s going on in their (characters’) minds and the outside world, avoiding anything that does not contribute to the storyline.

Setting and Characters

The story takes place in years 2015-16 when a British-Indian business tycoon, Aadesh Dixit gets arrested for his involvement in a murder case. The locations involved in the story are Gurgaon, Delhi, Tihar Jail and The United Kingdom. Aadesh Dixit owns a chain of restaurants in London as well as in India. He is planning to open one of his outlets at the Hauz Khaz village as one of the flagship restaurants. Maya─ Aadesh’s wife is a strong mother who bravely manages her two kids and the household while their father is away at Tihar Jail. Nasha─ a celebrity criminal lawyer is well-known for always standing by the truth. She is one impressive character who has all the qualities of an ideal detective and a lawyer.

Quote from 355 Days

Theme

355 Days shows you how a life of imprisonment can affect a person in jail and the immediate family, especially when the person is innocent. It all starts with media passing fallacious judgements based on their sources just to gain viewership. This may further deceive anyone who is watching to believe something that is not entirely true, causing unrepairable damage to lives involved. The author has done a commendable job at research and portraying the functioning of Tihar Jail. Apart from how characters are coping with the situation, the second most prominent aspect of the book is life in Tihar Jail. At times the book directs the reader’s attention to some sensitive issues like harassment, sexual assault, bribing, bloody skirmishes and the ways prisoners resort to, for money.

Plot

Each page helps forging ahead the plot. Each page will make you question yourself, what if you were in the place of those characters. Would you be able to survive even a single day of that anguish? What it feels like to be separated from your parent or children or spouse? Most importantly, waiting to breathe freedom that has been snatched for the crime you haven’t committed. But there is this thread of hope, on which they are hanging on. Having a strong faith in yourselves can save you. So, here are these main characters putting on brave fronts, making it as bearable as possible for the people they love.

Quote from 355 Days

My Opinion

355 days has a lot in store for you from spirituality, faith to bravery and helping others. There are a lot of quotes that I came across and noted them down as they are foundational and of core values. Each page has something new to offer. Not to forget, dialogues are outstanding and a very important part of the book because of the court hearing sessions. Who would not like a book with such formidable characters and an awe-inspiring plot? Definitely recommended.

Happy Reading!

========================

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Book Review: Stories of Us: The Common Man by Bobby Sachdeva | Short Stories

Book Review

Stories of Us by Bobby Sachdeva

Stories of Us by Bobby Sachdeva

Author: Bobby Sachdeva

ISBN: 978-9389109023

Genre: Short Stories

Length:  254 Pages

Publisher:  Pan Macmillan (6^th December 2019)

My Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟🌠

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/3hdAbt5

About the author: 

Bobby Sachdeva is a storyteller by choice and a businessman by profession. He writes stories to highlight the problems with norms and standards in our changing society and believes that these perceptions can change. In all his writings, Bobby Sachdeva engages with the problems in the lives of common people and the ways to resolve these. In the last two years, he has written more than a dozen feature films, web series, and tele-serials and his popular book of short stories titled Stories of Us. Apart from writing, Sachdeva has produced nine short films in Hindi and three feature films in Punjabi and started a fully equipped studio, Ajab Productions, in his hometown Amritsar where he lives with his family. The production of his first full-length Hindi film will begin in 2021.

Bobby Sachdeva

Instagram: @ibobbysachdeva

Twitter: @iBobbySachdeva

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iBobbySachdeva/

REVIEW

Summary

Stories of Us by Bobby Sachdeva, a collection of 41 short stories exploring a broad range of lives belonging to diverse social groups of varying wealth, power, status and race where the author directly questions the status quo regarding social, political and economic issues to make readers contemplate about the pressing subjects such as blind faith, discrimination, acquisitiveness and modern-day relations with some brilliant plotlines and some nebulous and abstract stories; strongly condemning our ways while sometimes offering values and ethics you may want to cultivate in your lives.

Narration

Stories of Us: The Common Man by Bobby Sachdeva depicts the struggles of the common man who has to constantly fight against the unscrupulous system. All short stories are narrated in third-person POV except a few. There is one symbolic illustration at the beginning of each story. At the end of the stories, Bobby Sachdeva asks thought-provoking questions to no one in particular but the society. The language is very easy and thus anyone can enjoy the book. The writing style is straightforward and consistent throughout the book.

Setting and Characters

Each story is set in different premises that are pretty much contemporary. The locations include India’s metro cities, villages and a couple of times a foreign country as well. Basically, the book captures the flaws in our society that we Indians intentionally or helplessly allow to exist. Many of the stories seem to reflect the oversimplified images of some characters just like we see in movies or TV shows but cannot be denied completely. There are many stories that follow families blindly adhering to godmen and superstitions without much rational thinking. While there are characters who share a complicated relationship with their families. Some characters are very focused on chasing money leaving behind their families and dreams. There are: fanatic leaders, RTI activist, parents, the only son of the family, eunuchs, daughters, rag pickers, garbage collectors, weak and poor, wealthy and powerful criminals and so on.

Theme

Based on the various themes, these stories can be categorized into 4-5 sections including faith & beliefs, family & relations, wealth & economy and discrimination & harassment.

Maximum number of stories were only focused on the godmen, blind faith, superstitions and unnecessary belief systems. Some of them are brilliant, delivering a strong message and addressing very specific affairs, whereas other stories are poorly executed with the same logic as others.

The second group of stories talks about relationship dynamics, hasty decisions, suspicion, work-life balance, internet affected families, parental expectations, unrelenting children and so on.

The third group involves stories regarding class consciousness, acquisitiveness, social responsibility, unlawful activities and other issues. Here, the author criticizes the government for abrupt implementation of laws after which the people are left alone to bear the consequences.

In the last group of stories, the author throws light on pressing issues like manual scavenging deaths (Do their lives don’t matter?), the life of eunuchs, molestation, threats to the safety of underprivileged & mentally ill people and so on.

My Opinion

Stories of Us raises the voice for the common man but on the contrary, some of the stories are very short and vaguely expressed that it fails to be effective enough. However, there are many stories that stand out from the rest having suitable and realistic plotlines to broach the subject we are turning deaf ears to. I would definitely recommend this to every Indian as it has the power of initiating the change.

I would like to share a few stories that moved me:

The story about attacks on RTI activists.

The story in which an exploiter financially debilitates a retired woman.

The story of humanity prevailing at the risk of a job.

The story depicting that a stray dog’s life is more valuable than an underprivileged girl.

Happy Reading!

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