4 Stars

The book is written by a licensed mental health therapist and mom, Christina Furnival. She uses a simple yet effective story to show that kids should start setting healthy boundaries and assertively deal with bullying.

While I’m not sure how much of it would actually work in real life (some kids can be very aggressive), this book sure is a good place to start teaching about the importance of boundaries. As someone who believes in this rule, I like how the author introduced the topic to the younger folk.

Instead of telling kids to simply be nice (which is also perceived as being a pushover), the book shows that one can be assertive and kind. It’s important to have a healthy friends circle, and that means, saying a firm gentle yet firm no to bullies.

Of course, the book should be read by adults and kids. If adults are unwilling to understand bullying, kids are bound to suffer.

The illustrations are breezy, light, and cheerful. There’s a set of questions at the end to help start a discussion about setting healthy boundaries. It’ll encourage adults and kids to take the much-necessary step in the right direction.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and PESI Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#TheNotSoFriendlyFriend #NetGalley

3.5 Stars

The best part about the book is the illustrations. There really isn’t any story here. A mouse asks a sad ghost why it’s sad, and the ghost has an answer for everything. The final reveal leads to Halloween, which the ghost loves the most.

If you want a cute mindless book that’s more like an introduction to ghosts’ lives, this would your pick. If you want a moral or a lesson for the kids, you’ll need to find something else.

Focus more on the illustrations as they are the life of the book. The detailing is quite good and eye-catchy.

I received an ARC from NetGalley, Reginetta Press, and BookBuzz.net and am voluntarily leaving a review.

#WhyDoYouCrySadGhost #NetGalley

4.5 Stars

From being a land of universities like Takshasila and Nalanda, which attracted scholars from across the world, why is India struggling to regain its dignity and establish its ancient language? We know what had happened to the universities, no matter what a progressive scholar wants us to think. Books don’t burn themselves, nor do build crumble overnight.

Sanskrit is much more than just a language. It is the root that holds the country deep down and keeps it alive. Kill the root, and you kill a country. Plain and simple.

Sanskrit Non-Translatables talks about how even the simplest words in Sanskrit have been given wrong and superfluous meanings, which led to the ancient scripts being reduced to nothing more than a jumble of words. A word without its original meaning has no value in a paragraph. That is what has been happening with Sanskrit.

The book explains how by learning the actual meanings of Sanskrit words and not equating them with insufficient English terms, we can save the language from being butchered and declared useless. This is an attempt to prevent the dilution of diverse identities. In a world that wants to have a diverse workforce, why is being an Indian Hindu a bad thing?

Aren’t our identities being replaced with the so-called polished and civilized versions as the West wants us to be? Why should we not resist this attack on our identity?

Sanskrit Non-Translatables explains how a Sanskrit word should be understood. It talks about Shabda- Brahman- the dhvani (sound) and artha (meaning), interconnected in a Sanskrit word.

A Sanskrit word starts with vibrations. Call it energy waves if it makes things easier to understand. The vibration is a combination of the sound and the object. It is a manifestation of the sound and its meaning.

An alphabet is called an Akshara in Sanskrit, which means imperishable. That’s how the language is, eternal and indestructible. The book explains the role of Vyakaranam (grammar), Madhyama (medium), and the importance of the Bija mantra, the source of vibrations in Sanskrit.

There is an easy-to-understand table in the book for ready reference about how-
• Kavya is not poetry
• Kama is not lust
• Naga is not naked
• Atman is not soul
• Prema is not love
• Shakti is not Energy

And many more. There is another chart at the end of the book that explains the difference between the Sanskrit word and its so-called English equivalent. There is a detailed bibliography in case one wants to look up the references.

Sanskrit Non-Translatables is much more than an attempt to decolonize the brainwashed generations. It is about teaching the citizens that they should try to look beyond the popular opinions and learn how a culture has been able to survive as many attacks. It is a nudge to understand that one has to take pride in their culture if they need to have an identity of their own.

If my review made you curious, I suggest you pick up the book. The writing is dry and sounds more like a thesis paper at times. But you will gain new insight into how civilizations have been destroyed. Remember that there are people out there who have no idea about the origins of their land because there is no one left to tell them the truth.

And if the review made you order the book without a second thought, I wish you the very best. May you learn the intricacies of this beautiful language. It is not easy. I’m a newbie too, and still am guilty of trying to find equivalents in English. I’m trying to change that and hope you will also try. We don’t have to apologize for being Hindus or for learning Sanskrit.

Remember- Sanskrit is not a dead language. It is the root of our land, and we will nourish it back to its original glory.

This review has been posted as a part of The Thousand Reviewers Club. Thank you, Indic Academy and Indic Book Club, for a copy of the book.

*******
Read the full review on my blog- Sanskrit Non-Translatables- Book Review

Artificial intelligence is taking the world by storm. It’s the in-thing and a necessity in today’s world. Whether we know it or not, like it or not, AI is here to stay. But what does it mean to the common public?
We know what AI is capable of in the industries. But is the same automation a boon in our lives? How does it affect our future generations? What about data privacy? What about letting a system take control over your thoughts, ideas, opinions, and every aspect of your life? What does it mean to third-world countries? Is India in a position to set terms, or are we destined to be enslaved by the global leaders again, albeit in the name of technology and digital colonization?
The latest release, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Power: 5 Battlegrounds by Rajiv Malhotra, discusses these topics and much more.

The book has been divided into five categories-
• AI and Economic Development and Jobs (unemployment due to AI is not a myth or a distant reality)
• AI and Global Power (How the US and China are fighting for domination)
• AI and Psychological Control and Agency (Surveillance capitalism, Data Rights, and Moronization of the masses)
• AI and Metaphysics (Algorithm vs. the Being)
• AI and India’s Future (right now, there is very little to cheer about)

What about India's future? We are, sadly, at the bottom of the table. All our so-called knowledge and intellect have gone into building data systems for other countries. Our data is bartered to import AI technology that could have been developed within the country.
The author doesn’t shy away from calling a spade and spade and pointing out that the politicians, in their usual political games and appeasement, refused to even consider AI as a game-changer, let alone a threat to the nation. The author points out how our laws are outdated and ineffective when it comes to protecting data.
Overall, this book is informative and terrifying. That makes a must-read, even though it might give you sleepless nights. A small consolation is that the author says he is working on the next book, where he provides solutions to the problems listed in this one. I hope it comes out soon and the people who make decisions read and understand it.

*****
This review has been posted as a part of the Thousand Reviewers Club hosted by the Indic Book Club and Indic Academy. Thank you, Indic Book Club, for a copy of the book.

*****
Read the full review here

The book exposes some brutal truths about what happened to the Hindu refugees who fled from Bangladesh (East Pakistan) to India in the hope to lead decent lives (or at the least have a place to live and be alive). May 14-16, 1979 were the darkest days where the sky, land, and sea turned red with blood, and the cries of the victims echoed in forced silence.
If the people responsible for the massacre weren't the self-proclaimed champions of the poor and needy, aka the Left Front govt., this incident would have been known by every single Indian. The survivors wouldn't still be waiting for justice even after the current WB CM promising to take up the cause and conveniently forgetting their existence.
***
Detailed review to follow.

4.5 Stars

Are you one of those who wondered about the places mentioned in our epics? Did you want to know where Chitrakoot is on our Indian map or where Hanuman met Rama and Lakshmana for the first time?

Well, you aren’t alone. The authors of the book, Vikrant Pande and Neelesh Kulkarni, have done all the hard work locating the places mentioned in Ramayana. The duo visited the places along with their spouses to talk to the locals and gather more information.

The result of their extensive exercise is this book that takes us across the country in the footsteps of Rama. The book focuses on the places Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana traveled during their exile. What makes the book an enriching experience is the various versions and additions of folklore related to Ramayana. Each place has a history, created, written, and sometimes rewritten.

The writing style is casual, with dashes of humor to make you chuckle or even laugh out loud at times. After all, one can hardly travel to multiple destinations without things not going wrong sometimes or another. From enterprising shop owners to humble teachers, well-learned researchers, and temperamental guides, the authors meet them all in their long journey.

However, what surprised me was the lack of mention of Badrachalam, Khammam in Telangana. The town has been synonymous with Rama’s name for centuries. The temple itself is from the 17th century. The region is considered a part of Dandakaranya, where the trio lived before Sita was abducted.

Nevertheless, it must have taken a tremendous amount of planning and patience, not to mention countless hours spent making this book a reality. Kudos to the authors for coming out with such a wonderful book.

Like a few others, I’d love it if they can add images and maps to the book. Being able to at least see the pictures of the places would be great.

This review is a part of the Thousand Reviewers Club hosted by the Indic Book Club. I thank the team for the review copy. The opinions expressed above are my own.

3.3 Stars

Jensen is back home in Copenhagen and working as a journalist for Dagbladet. Her day starts with discovering a dead body that leads to more murders. She calls Henrik, the DI and her (ex) lover, to the crime scene.

The case is nowhere easy to solve, nor is Jensen’s sinking career and messed up life. Can she unravel the mystery and solve the mystery with or without Henrik’s help?

Will it save Jensen’s career? Is that what she wants? What makes the crime different from others? Is it a serial killer on a spree or someone with a motive?

*Unpopular Opinion*

The blurb and the cover were so good, I grabbed the book as soon as I saw a friend add it to her TBR. Since the book was less than 230 pages, I was confident about finishing it in a couple of days. There started my trouble. It took four days to finish the book. Yeah, that too when I’ve been on a reading high. I’ll keep my review brief and to the point.

What I like about the book:

• The structuring of the plotline. The elements are revealed in stages. There’s no information dump anywhere.
• Jensen is not an easy character to like, but she gets better in the second half. It’s not her prickly nature that was a problem, but her way of drifting through.
• Almost every character is flawed. I wished even Aziz had some kind of flaw. Maybe in the next book.
• No unexpected twists or pull the rug moments to shock the readers.
• A female sleuth in noir who isn’t simply a rehashed version of the traditional male detective.

What I wish could have been better:

• A little more about Jensen to understand her better. I realized that this is the first book in the series (and another case is left unsolved for the next book), but it’s hard to root for someone who doesn’t seem fully into her own story (the lead character).
• Too slow for a thriller or even suspense. Though there’s some sort of information or update in most scenes, the overall narrative dragged.
• Infidelity is something I don't really like. When the lead characters are part of it, it’s hard to empathize with their pain or conflict. I still admire Jensen for being so honest about it. And yeah, Henrik’s a jerk.
• I don’t prefer sweeping political statements in fiction unless they are very much necessary. Neither do I want to spend time researching the political scenario around the world nor wonder about the author’s inclinations.
• Jensen pretty much doesn't bother about the case allotted to her because she’s solving this one. And she makes a causal statement about a certain death at the end. It looked like not all deaths are equal (which is, of course, very true in this world).

To sum up, My Name is Jensen is perfect for readers who like slow-burn suspense that sets the stage for a series or at least a sequel (I wasn’t aware of it).

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Muswell Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#NetGalley #MyNameIsJensen

3.5 Stars

Jen is a GP in the same small town she grew up in. She’s also newly widowed, a mother to a teen son, and currently pregnant. She’s grieving the death of her husband when things start to crash around her.
Who is the mysterious man who claims to know her so well? What is it that she doesn’t remember? Can she ignore the breaking shards of her marriage before her husband died?

How will she survive the pressure mounting on her from all sides?

The cover is fab, and when the title appeared too frequently on my timeline, I went ahead and requested an ARC.

Now, I’m in two minds about it. For starters, don’t focus on the blurb. It’s a roundabout representation of the storyline.

Second, the first half is too slow to sustain interest. This is my second consecutive slow book, and that doesn’t work in its favor (sorry). The second half is a lot better, but the story makes more sense only when you read the author’s note. And no, don’t read it first if you want to enjoy at least half of the book.

Third, the characterization is decent, and I liked how I couldn’t fully trust any of them. However, Rhonda could have had a little more role towards the end. Don’t look for character growth here. The graph goes the other way (it’s a thriller, after all).

Fourth, some of the story seemed too far-fetched, even with the explanation. And an important theme has been dealt with, but it comes at a time when the focus is on revealing the mystery, and that dilutes its impact. I feel a topic like that needs more space, especially since it’s not as uncommon as we want to pretend.

The good news is that a part of the twist was well executed. It makes up for some of the other stuff. The book is pretty much a mix of things, and for me, the result is the same.

To sum up, The Trapped Wife is an intriguing thriller if you are willing to deal with the first half of it with some patience. If not anything else, you’ll at least get to talk about quite a few themes from the book.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily leaving a review.

#NetGalley #TheTrappedWife

4 Stars

This is a short and quick read about Arnold Junior, a young boy from the Reservation. I picked it for the banned book prompt for a reading challenge.

The writing style is matter of fact, crude, silly, dry and dark. I don’t think this kind of humor was meant for young ones. It’s brutal in a satirical and ironic way. Hard to describe it exactly, but it’s not for everyone.

I can see why some people loved it while others hated it with every living cell in their body. I fall something in between, closer towards the loving side, of course. It’s the kind of book I needed after two not-so-great reads.

There’s no preaching, heavy prose, or even any ‘show’. It’s pretty much ‘tell’ the story and repeat them throughout. Yet, it worked for the book because, hey, our narrator is a thirteen-year-old boy from Reservation, and this is his ‘diary’. He also happens to have health issues (water in the brain) that make him different from others. I like tough topics to be dealt with sarcasm and dark humor rather than heavy preaching. This one scores points here.

There are several references to sex (obviously), and it did remind me of Norwegian Wood at times. I somehow expected the tone to be crude and blunt, so it didn’t really put me off. But I didn’t like how women were objectified. Understandable in a way. Still, it doesn’t mean I have to like it, and I don’t.

What I enjoyed the most were the illustrations done in three different styles. They are simple sketches but are so full of life and emotions. Too good!

I remember adding this book to my TBR sometime last year. It was a recco based on sun signs (this was for Taureans). I can see why. The writing style, especially the dry humor and the careless tone, is so in sync with our likes (at least mine).

Leaving you with an excerpt I loved:

It was a snowless Thanksgiving. We had a turkey, and Mom cooked it perfectly. We also had mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. It was a feast.

I always think it's funny when Indians celebrate Thanksgiving. I mean, sure, the Indians and Pilgrims were best friends during that first Thanksgiving, but a few years later, the Pilgrims were shooting Indians.

So I'm never quite sure why we eat turkey like everybody else.

"Hey, Dad," I said. "What do Indians have to be so thankful for?"

"We should give thanks that they didn't kill all of us."

We laughed like crazy. It was a good day. Dad was sober. Mom was getting ready to nap.

3 Stars

Disclaimer: I picked this up as a memoir for a reading challenge because I prefer lighthearted memoirs.

The author is an NRI, a US returnee in India, and it shows on every page of the book.
It has been written for the US audience, and I’m not sure how much they’d be interested in without feeling overwhelmed and confused.

The Indian readers, on the other hand, would have had many more experiences with cattle (at least many of them would). There’s quite a lot of information overload, a good lot of taken from other sources. Even some of the initial statements seem to be rather carelessly summarized from news portals.

Also, I could do without some of that high-flying attitude implicit in the overall tone. Moreover, the book is quite disjointed. I wasn’t surprised to read in the author’s note that these were first shared as individual installments. The stitching together of various incidents to create a book is quite evident.

That said, Sarala is a wonderful character, or rather person, and her grit, resilience, persistence, and acceptance of life are not uncommon in people whose livelihood depends on cattle rearing.
I lived in the same street where a family had buffalos and cows at home and was into the diary business. The smell of cattle is hard to miss, even on people. But what’s more apparent is their hardworking nature and their determination to lead a dignified life. Yeah, they aren’t perfect by any means. Some of them are aggressive and (over)protective of their cattle. Can’t blame them either. They lose everything if they lose even a cow.

I didn’t even have to imagine Sarala. I’ve seen her every day for almost two and a half decades. We’ve gotten milk from them (though we had another milkman).

We know their pain when they don’t find their cows. They drive through the same roads, enquiring if anyone has seen a certain cow grazing in the open lands. The cows could be stolen, bound, and carried off to the butchers, and they wouldn’t even know until it’s too late at times. Imagine someone stealing your livelihood for their personal gains.

It does make one wonder why cows are left to graze outside on the roads. The answer is simple. Feeding a cow is costly. They eat a lot (to produce milk twice a day), and the milkmen wouldn’t have any money left if they had to feed the cows. They give them as much as they can afford and leave the cows to graze in the open and eat their fill. That’s why running a gaushala (a shelter home for cows) is so darn expensive and needs donations to care for the cows and calves.

Even today, we get milk from our milkmen (or boys, they are young guys), and well, we prefer it over the packeted version. By the way, we get buffalo milk for daily use and cow milk during festivals.
And hey, we used gaumutra in our new home because we couldn’t bring a cow (it wouldn’t fit in the elevator). Just throwing in some ‘shocking facts’ as the author did in the book.

Now you see why I’m not really impressed by the book. I like that it was about Sarala, but that’s about it. The author’s latest book seems to be a lot better than this, so I might pick it up.

*****

Note: A lot of 'educated' people on social media make jokes and call Hindus cow-piss drinkers. They think that the gaumutra jibe signifies their superior intellect. It is not. Instead, it is a sign of Hinduphobia. It is not funny. Neither does it make them cool or woke.