I left this book sometime last year. I began it immediately after reading the first book but somehow couldn't sustain the interest to complete it. Then I picked it up yesterday night on a whim and finished reading in one sitting. It's similar to the first one but easier to read. Maybe I do like this a little more than the other. Hard to say. Both are good books.

Though the earliest recorded edition here shows 2007, I've had the book in the mid to late 90s. Lost my first copy and found another almost a decade later.
It was my first favorite story and continues to be even today.

The title and the blurb more than tell us what the book is about. And yes, this is not for the fainthearted. The story has enough crime, drug abuse, and gore to do justice to the title.
Talking about the plot would mean I might give away the storyline or the twists, so I’ll keep it brief.
The timeline goes back and forth between the present, past, and present. We also see the backstories of our lead characters. A major portion of the book is dedicated to the psychopath. The lover holds it all together while the cannibal drifts in and out in the second half of the book.
I wish she (our cannibal is a girl) had more space in the book when her story was the most moving compared to the other two.
The plot had been well-thought-out, which is always a good thing when it comes to this genre. The references to 90s pop culture reminded me of my school days. If only we had such good music even today. Sigh!
Considering that this is a debut work, it’s quite decent in terms of execution. No complaints with the plot, either. But the narration dilutes the story in many places. Information dump is a big no in novels. Some characters don’t need too many details when they have little role to play in the book.
While I had no issues with the sprinkling of Hindi, I did wish the narrative style was crisper and sharper. Stories like this one need the readers to stay hooked. Monotones can deliver the opposite results. And the recurring scenes of drinking and drinking and drinking do not add much to the plot.
If I were to use my reviewer’s voice, I’d say- edit, edit, edit. Tighten. Tighten. Tighten. Remove the fluff and make the crux of the story stand out. That will put the focus on the characters and allow for a better character arc.
Overall, this is a decent debut work by someone as young. The author just needs to keep writing and improving his craft.
We have a promising writer amongst us, and I wish him all the very best in his future endeavors.

I have the author’s non-fiction books on my TBR. When I saw that he has a fiction work, that too a collection of short stories (most of which are satirical), I knew I had to read these first. As a short story writer and a fan, I value these more. I was glad when I read the author’s note and found out that he also likes short stories and feels sad that they don't have as much fame anymore.
Coming to the book, the stories are based on India (obviously) with Indian and a few foreign characters, with their quirks, musings, thoughts, and lamentations.
With themes like life, society, friendships, politics, ambitions (or the lack of them), and most mystic semi-fantasy lands bound together in a single book, Life over Two Beers is an alluring mix of short stories and a couple of verses.
Most stories are satirical, while the mythical ones are metaphorical in nature. That’s some combination, and it sure works in this book. Though the writing isn’t what I’d call ‘awesome’, it suits the tone of most stories, and that’s what matters.
If you are a fan of light humor laced with some introspection and a few digs at the ‘intellectual elite’, this book is for you. None of the stories are deep, though some will make you think.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable book if you don’t high expectations and want something fun to read.

4.5 Stars

People who know me know how much I love to read (and write) short stories. Imagine a book with a bunch of stories in different locations, with varying themes and a multitude of characters. And when friends publish their collection of short stories, it is always special.
Goya by Priya is one such book I’ve been eager to read for a while. We have been working closely for the past year, and I appreciate her determination, humor, and dedication even more.
Coming to the book, this is a delightful collection of 27 stories belonging to different genres. Most stories are short, crisp, and still manage to pack a whole lot of emotions. The biggest story happens to be my favorite, and why not? It’s detective fiction. Nothing like a crime waiting to be solved to make me happy.
I’ve already read a couple of stories online, and one of them has been my absolute favorite-
The Second-best Bed. I’m not going to list all my favorites (don’t worry) but will mention that there’s a story for every reader.
From science fiction to YA to family drama and historical fiction, Goya is an array of genres, colors, and emotions. The writing is lucid and flows like a gentle river. You can drift from one story to another and not feel any jerks, even though the stories are far from being connected to each other. There isn’t even a common theme in the book.
Still, it took me less than two hours to read from the first page to the last and remember the stories as well. Goya is a dreamy and delicious book (minus food, of course) for readers who enjoy short doses of interesting characters.
Grab your copy today and step into the world where words carry the readers to distant lands.
*****
P.S: I have been lucky enough to get an author-signed copy of the book.

This is a heartwarming and lovely collection of short stories narrated by the favorite grandmother. The grandfather steps in to share a story or two, much to the delight of the kids. Though the book is aimed at kids and pre-teens, there is something beautiful and nostalgic when reading this book, irrespective of one's age.
After reading Mahashweta, my first book by Sudha mam, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy her style of writing. But this book answered my question.
Or maybe I went in more prepared because I knew what to expect from her works. This is definitely a favorite and is something I can reread when feeling low. It's as warm as the hug of a grandparent. Beautiful indeed.

It is rare for me to give a book 5 stars. This one probably should have only 4.5 or so. But then, I read the translated version. The narration moves back and forth between the present and the past. It also changes the POVs from one character to another.
But none of it mattered. The topic the book deals with is something that matters to me (a lot). Reading news that’s different from what’s presented, seeing the artful turn of phrases, and delving deeper into topics that are labeled communal has become a part of life. The patterns are easy to trace once you know what to look for.
This book is a mirror- a reflection of what has been happening for decades. The tone when dealing with the progressive Prof Shastri is spot on. The indignant righteousness he exhibits when he knows he is wrong and his mastery in manipulating people and situations to suit his ideas show what we see every day on social media. The sarcasm (of the writer) is easy to miss if one is not aware of the pattern. It’s that subtle.
Lakshmi alias Razia starts to question her decisions 28 years after she has lived with them. The nudge comes in the form of Hampi ruins. It is further fueled by devastating news. She is torn, undecided, and begins questioning her role, her actions, and if she was even who the world credited her as. Was she really a progressive woman if she had to convert from her religion to another to marry her love?
When she stumbles upon vast resources (books) to look at things from another perspective, to get material for the Hampi project, nothing prepares her for the brutal truth that shakes her to the core. All the theories spun by the progressive historians are the opposite of what has happened. The more she reads, the more questions fill her mind.
This doesn’t help her relationship with her husband or her son. What else can be expected, though? Lakshmi strides forward, digging deeper and deeper. Thirty thousand temples lay destroyed. If the progressive minds worked hard to create alternate history, the ‘communal’ historians risked their lives to make sure that history didn't get erased.
Why is it that asking about a temple ruin is labeled communal when the act of demolition is not? It’s supposed to work both ways, isn’t it?
Why is the need to distort and whitewash history is strong? What’s wrong with accepting that yes, the Mughals have destroyed temples? What’s wrong with acknowledging the violence inflicted when the survivors are still haunted by the horrors of the past? Why can’t we give them a chance to declare that the actions of their ancestors will not be repeated?
Why does a mere questioning for equal rights turn a person communal? Why does a feminist and a modern-day woman not ask the same questions to every religion? What does it reflect? Why are the ones who question this hypocrisy lectured about women's oppression and rights? Is women's oppression really confined to one religion? The answers are uncomfortable. No one wants to talk about them.
Aavarana dares to do it. Lakshmi’s transition from a progressive converted woman to a woman with a wider perspective of life is not easy. It’s hard. It’s brutal. It’s filled with anguish, self-loathing, helplessness, and rage. Her realization that no amount of truth is going to convince those with an agenda pushes her into depression.
Amir, Lakshmi’s husband, is struck between conflicting emotions. The control of his religious teachings takes him further away from his wife. Does it give him a happy life? We can guess the answer. He is still a man who has always loved his wife- his strong, intelligent, and no-nonsense wife.
But the gap between them has widened too far. He’s done something he shouldn’t have done. Oh, he knows it’s not a crime. But…
All characters in the book are flawed; humans in their real form who are in no way perfect. But how many of them realize the truth?
The more one reads the book, the more it hurts. Not because the truth is uncomfortable. Some of us are used to it. But because the reality is even worse. There are way too many Prof. Shastri’s out there. The helplessness that fills and explodes in Lakshmi can be found in so many of us. It’s like a knife twisting the guts and taunting us for not being able to heal.
Does she win at the end? No. It is never that easy.
Does she lose? No. She cannot afford to lose. She cannot risk giving up. The truth has to be told. We deserve no less.
The fight is on. It isn’t for Supremacy or control. This fight is for survival. It is for real equality; not the twisted version of it. It is for justice.

P.S: If you truly want to know more, make a note of the bibliography at the end of the book. It's a treasure trove of history. And this history is not pretty.

P.P.S: If you intend to read the book, do your eyes a favor and pick the Kindle version. The paperback by Rupa Publications has been printed specifically designed to harm readers’ eyes. That font, ugh!

4.5 stars

The book is a delightful collection of 17 short stories, all with some or other kind of twists at the end. However, none of them are abrupt, jarring, or out of place. The language is simple and easy to read. That increases the reading speed quite a bit. It took me less than an hour to finish the book, and I was smiling at the end of it.
Be it the cute little kid, a disguised superhero, or a helpless woman, each story has something for every reader. If you are having a reader's block, try this book. There will be one story you'll connect with, and that'll clear your block.
Overall, a fast-paced engaging read.