Book Review: 10 Indian Monarchs Whose Amazing Stories You May Not Know by Devika Rangachari

Title: 10 Indian Monarchs Whose Amazing Stories You May Not Know

Author: Devika Rangachari

Publisher: Duckbill Books and Publications Pvt Ltd

‘10 Indian Monarchs Whose Amazing Stories You May Not Know’ by Devika Rangachari is a lively, readable account of the lives of 10 monarchs who ruled over India and the adjacent lands during the late ancient or early medieval times starting from the 7th century.

Many of the rulers mentioned in this compendium are known names though their stories are not relayed as often. While some may be known to readers, most will not. Needless to say, the accounts we read here are the ones that the author found compelling and obscure to some extent.

Among historian and award-winning novelist Devika Rangachari’s subjects are those who will be familiar to most readers, such as Ajatshatru and Bindusara, and those who are not household names including Abbakka and Didda. Almost all overcame great odds to influence their world.

There are very few women rulers written about in history textbooks, not just in India but all over the world. Since most monarchies were patrilineal, the majority of the rulers were men. However, history has seen several prominent female rulers who left indelible mark in the sands of time. Rangachari’s attempt of including these forgotten heroines in this collection is commendable.

Packed with intriguing facts, this comprehensive volume is the perfect introduction to India’s rich and utterly fascinating royal heritage. As the language of this collection is fluid, it doesn’t come across like a history textbook. A small but charming detail about the book is that at the end of each chapter there is a short snippet about how the current geographical regions in India correspond to the kingdom of the erstwhile rulers. This helps visualize the country as it was ages ago.

The well-told stories can be read independently of one another and in any order.

A solid introduction for those who know little about the rulers of the yore.

Dr Devika Rangachari is an award-winning children’s writer whose book, Queen of Ice, was on the White Raven list, won the Neev Young Adult Book Award and has been optioned to be made into a movie/ television series. She is also a historian who has conducted post-doctoral research on gender in early medieval Indian history. Devika is inordinately fond of reading (especially historical fiction), chocolates, potatoes, and exploring bookshops and libraries. She would happily spend her time among her four loves were it not for her lovely-but-stern editors who occasionally compel her to write.

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I'd like to thank the publisher for letting me review the book. I do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading!

* I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

** Picture courtesy: Amazon.in, Google

Book Review: 10 Indian Women Who Were The First To Do What They Did by Shruthi Rao

Title: 10 Indian Women Who Were The First To Do What They Did 

Author: Shruthi Rao

Publisher: Duckbill Books and Publications Pvt Ltd

Award-winning writer Shruthi Rao’s ‘10 Indian Women Who Were The First To Do What They Did’ is a compendium of 10 strong, trailblazing women who have left an indelible mark in their respective fields for future generations to measure up to.

In this book of 'The 10s' series, the lives of women scientists, pioneers, athletes, and diplomats are explored and celebrated. The minibiographies introduces the major accomplishments of each featured female personality, helping this book to double up as a fun read and as an informative lead-in to further research.

Compressing an entire lifetime into a few pages is a feat and Rao has done a commendable work in providing the basic details alone of the 10 women who were the first female achievers in their chosen area. These women are from diverse fields and their stories are different as are the challenges they faced.

Of the 10 highlighted females, most are familiar names from the late 19^th century and early 20^th century. Rao acknowledges the difficult nature of choosing a select list but also claims that she was most inspired by the women about whom she has written as their stories are the most compelling. She has also included at the end of each chapter few other names from India as well as around the world who achieved greatness in their fields. This volume will surely awaken future change-makers.

As an introduction to women’s power and possibilities, Rao’s choices rise above the rest.

Shruthi Rao studied to be an energy engineer and worked as a software professional until her story-gobbling-monster-daughter pulled out the writer lurking inside her. She writes for both adults and children, and is a freelance editor. She loves books, science, trees, desserts, hikes and the internet.

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I'd like to thank the publisher for letting me review the book. I do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading!

* I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

** Picture courtesy: Amazon.in, Duckbill

Book Review: Karma Fights A Monster by Evan Purcell

Title: Karma Fights A Monster

Author: Evan Purcell

Publisher: Duckbill Books and Publications Pvt Ltd 

Evan Purcell’s ‘Karma Fights a Monster’ is the first book in the Karma Tandin: Monster Hunter series, which is set in Bhutan. It is the story of an average twelve-year-old kid, Karma, who fights all sorts of monsters including demonically possessed appliances that frequent the quaint town of Jakar.

Before the story begins, Karma has already fought several monsters and saved his peers and townsfolk. In this story, we see him fighting a shark-faced librarian who is also the strict new teacher with way too many rules. She loves books and her shark-daughter more than anything and takes her role as a librarian very seriously. Karma stumbles over her secret identity and wants to eliminate her for the safety of everyone around him. However, he isn’t so sure if she is really dangerous to others ones he sets out to reveal her secret to the world along with his best friend and look-out Chimmi. To him she comes across as a normal—though a monster—mother who reads her daughter the bedtime story of the three little pigs that his father read for him when he was younger. Having lost his father, this small gesture tugs at Karma’s heart.

However, one thing leads to other and even though he doesn’t intend to, the secret is out in the open. Karma realizes that he has made a mistake; more so when his friend, the beautiful Dawa, says so. He tries to rectify his mistake and is successful. But is he really mistaken? Is the librarian really harmless or is there some ulterior motive?

Purcell’s writing is easy to follow and hilarious. The characters bring out a smile on the reader’s face effortlessly. Karma and all the other students act and talk like middle-school Americans though the story is set in Bhutan. The country serves only as a backdrop and we don’t much come across the culture or lifestyle of Bhutan. But this is not a complaint in any way.

Through this monster story, Purcell has tried to introduce the issues that kids face in their lives and how everyone has to struggle against their worst impulses. His cool, shark monster represents something that we can all understand and relate to — teachers and their ways.

The story is still pleasantly entertaining and fast-paced. For monster lovers, it’s a winner.

Evan Purcell is an American teacher who has worked in Zanzibar, Kazakhstan, China and Russia. He's spent two years in the beautiful kingdom of Bhutan, where he hikes, sings karaoke badly and eats way too much of the delicious local food. He has published six novels for both adults and children.

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I'd like to thank the publisher for letting me review the book. I do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading!

* I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

** Picture courtesy: Amazon.in, Google

Book Review: Unlucky Chumki by Lesley D. Biswas

Title: Unlucky Chumki
Author: Lesley D. Biswas
Publisher: Duckbill Books and Publications Pvt Ltd

Lesley D. Biswas’ ‘Unlucky Chumki’ is the tale of a girl who is taunted by everybody in her village for being the symbol of bad luck. This chapter book is Duckbill’s newest addition to their ‘hOle Book’ series meant for young readers who are slowly making the transition from picture books to something more text heavy.

The book’s eponymous protagonist, Chumki, is deeply saddened and troubled because of the label that she has to bear on her tiny shoulders like a huge burden. She doesn’t have any friends owing to this. Even the adults avoid her, thinking she’ll bring them bad luck. Some are even scared of her. Her younger brother, Aki, is the only one initially who doesn’t believe any of this. Nonetheless, he spreads rumours about her older sister to his own advantage.

While Chumki is a kind, good person who likes to stick to rules, Aki is a careless, reckless, fun person who is always into some mischief. But the two love each other and in spite of all their bickering look out for each other. It is Aki who actually chalks out a plan to help her sister lose the tag of being unlucky.

The way their grandmother, Dadi, treats the two reflects the mindset of the older generation who cannot but help themselves from discriminating between boys and girls. We see how while Chumki is discouraged from going to school and expected to help her mother with the domestic chores, Aki is left to his own devices. But the book holds out hope for all.

The story is easy-to-read. The fact that it tackles a serious issue like discrimination in such a sensitive way is an added bonus. Chumki’s story shows us how people suffer when we label them through our stereotypes, judgments, and prejudices. Without any blatant moralizing, Biswas shows her readers the power of empathy—of treating others with equal dignity and respect.

Anupama Ajinkya Apte’s delightful illustration of Chumki and her friends is modern, funny, and expressive. It brings out the theme of the story very well.

Children will return often to enjoy the endearing characters and fresh design.

Lesley Denise Biswas grew up in McCluskiegunj, and dreamed of playing cricket. But instead of a bat, she ended up with a pen in her hand. Currently based in Kolkata, she’s a freelance writer who enjoys writing children’s stories the most. She’s also passionate about nature, gardening and bird photography. 

After a fifteen-year stint as a software engineer, Anupama Ajinkya Apte decided to pursue her childhood passion for art. She loves drawing quirky characters. An avid Urban sketcher, she deeply enjoys working in watercolours.

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I'd like to thank the publisher for letting me review the book. I do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading!

* I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

** Picture courtesy: Amazon.in, Google

Book Review: Pops! by Balaji Venkataramanan

Title: Pops!

Author: Balaji Venkataramanan

Publisher: Duckbill Books and Publications Pvt Ltd

Balaji Venkataramanan’s ‘Pops!’ is the story of seven-year-old Arun, who is going to meet his father for the very first time due to a series of events which led to this unusual situation. We see the events unfolding through Arun’s eyes over a period of one year during which time he gets to know and appreciate his father in the visiting centre of a family court where parents separated from each other come to meet their children.

Arun is a recognizable, three-dimensional boy who comes from a broken yet happy family. He is precocious but likable. Very little of the actual reasons for Arun’s parents divorcing is revealed in the story. This doesn’t deter the flow of the story. If anything, this only strengthens the protagonist’s voice as children can hardly comprehend the complexities that adults around them seem to keep adding in their lives.

The second important character in the book is that of The Man – Arun’s nameless father. He is reckless and acts like a clown. He’s an entertainer, constantly performing for an audience no matter where he is. Whatever his faults, he loves Arun and goes to great lengths to get his son like him.

While there’s some unhappiness and insecurity in the lives of the adults around Arun, his world is dictated by the innocence of childhood. The emotional beats are believable with characters well-enough developed that readers can empathize.

Venkataramanan’s writing is rich in observations. His use of language is absolutely straightforward and simple. His style is accommodating. The tiny illustrations at the bottom of every page, which give a quick glimpse into what’s going on the page in the story at the moment, are quite endearing.

Though the narrative is by a mere boy of 7, this is a book that can be read by people of all age groups.

 

This sweet, emotionally perceptive book, which talks about transition of sorts, is peppered with just the right amount of slapstick humour.

Like most middle-class boys, Balaji Venkataramanan completed his engineering, joined the IT bandwagon, went onsite and started paying EMIs. Then the bubble burst and Flat Track Bullies happened. A native of Chennai, he’s mighty proud that he comes from the land of idli-sambar, Rajinikanth and the CSK.

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I'd like to thank the publisher for letting me review the book. I do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading!

* I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

** Picture courtesy: Amazon.in, Google

Book Review: The Lies We Tell by Himanjali Sankar

Title: The Lies We Tell
Author: Himanjali Sankar
Publisher: Duckbill

Himanjali Sankar’s ‘The Lies We Tell’ is the story of three teens, standing at the cusp of adulthood, who are trying to make sense of life and its meaning.

Sankar moves the plot nimbly, creating such an engrossing story of teenage life on the margins that readers will find it difficult to leave the book before it’s done.

17-year-old Irfan Ahmed’s life is thrown upside down when his girlfriend Uma breaks up with him. What is worse is that she has left him for his best friend Rishi, souring the bond of their friendship. Sensitive by nature, Irfan has been already grappling with the departure of his older sister Sanya whom he adores more than anyone else. Hit by life thus, Irfan stops playing cricket, gives up music, cuts himself off from all his friends, and withdraws into a world where his only solace comes from writing emails to his sister.

The wholly realistic view of adolescents getting influenced by what they hear, see, and experience and how their fragile psyche cope up with the goings on has been beautifully shown through Irfan and Rishi. The sudden revelation of certain things gives the book a whole new dimension and we are left marveling at the writer’s genius. Irfan’s portrayal from a gentle soul to a vengeful victim is affecting. So is Rishi’s spiraling life. He comes across as the antagonist of sorts. Through their eyes the writer is seeing and showing the complicated lives within nuclear families where everyone is living a separate life. She talks of broken homes, broken hearts, and broken people.

Sankar readily touches upon the issue of mental illness among children. With the world evolving at the pace it is, the lives of children, especially adolescents, have become quite complex. In the writer’s own words, the young adults don’t always understand the “jaded socialised behaviour of adults.”  

An astoundingly surprising plot with a respectful, authentic rendering of mental illness.

Himanjali Sankar grew up in Kolkata. She completed her masters and MPhil in English Literature from JNU, New Delhi. She has taught English to undergraduate students and been an editor with various publishing houses. Her first book for children, The Magical Adventures of Skinny Scribbles, was published in May 2012.

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I'd like to thank the publisher for letting me review the book. I do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading!

* I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

** Picture courtesy: Amazon.in