Book Review - When I Fell In Love With Life by Geetha Paniker

Title: When I Fell In Love With Life
Author: Geetha Paniker
Pages: 234
Publisher: Partridge Publishers

About the book

An anthology of writings from a cancer survivor whose therapeutic writing will guide, inspire, and heal your soul. She lays bare all the aspects of private suffering yet points out how she overcame each challenge with grit, determination, and a healthy dose of childish delight and wonder. Profound thoughts narrated in a simple language. Her words and wonderful ability to blend with her surroundings yet stand out by absorbing the essence of it all; will challenge you to look at life through a rebel's twinkling eye. Journey with this nature-loving, soul-searching, deep-thinking powerhouse. See what it feels like to touch rock bottom and build a solid foundation for a life made on her terms. A truthful story that continues to redefine the norm and gives you a glimpse into the life of a true survivor.

Review

What does it mean to survive a life-threatening illness? Well, I’d like to quote one of my favourite singers, Kelly Clarkson, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” It is what Geetha Paniker, the author of ‘When I Fell in Love with Life’ feels too. At least that is what I gathered after reading her inspiring novel. Cancer is nothing one can get through without learning a valuable life lesson. Her story eloquently demonstrates how seemingly insurmountable adversity can bring forth surprising courage and strength to those who have faced the most difficult situation in their life. This book also tells that when things go wrong courage, grit and determination matter a lot since success does not come from quitting but from the simple belief that you can get through anything if your mind is set.

Geetha Paniker has a very candid style about her writing that urges one to read on. The way she has written her experience is superbly complementary for she hasn’t just given the ugly side of her illness; rather she has romanticized the disease itself so much so that it doesn’t terrify to turn the pages. She calls her illness an "Emperor of Maladies" and at certain times mentions it as a creeping crab. There is no false sentimentality, there's no Pollyanna, no posing. Through her narration one gets to see beyond the emotional fall-out of confronting cancer. The book contains several inspiring quotes and optimism blended with a lot of positivity. Her poems also need special mention for they are profound. There is a powerful cumulative impact on the reader that lingers.

This is a fine book. I'm sure it will have special meaning for both cancer survivors and cancer victims alike. But just as importantly, for many of us who are neither of these, it also helps us better understand ourselves.

About the author

Geetha Paniker is a retired primary school teacher. She has a unique ability to find beauty around when pain rains on her and it is this pain that keeps her grounded and humane. She is a teacher at heart, but God and nature are her teachers, and she draws lessons from everything around—from the mist on the mountaintop to the dewdrop on a blade of grass. She hails from Anthikad, a village in Trichur, and lives in Chennai.

Buy Links

http://www.adlibris.com/fi/kirja/when-i-fell-in-love-with-life-9781482851564

http://www.amazon.in/When-Fell-Love-Life-Survivor/dp/1482851563/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443279627&sr=8-1&keywords=When+I+fell+in+love+with+life

http://jansona.hol.es/when-i-fell-in-love-with-life-musings-of-a-cancer-survivor
http://www.booktopia.com.au/when-i-fell-in-love-with-life-geetha-paniker/prod9781482851564.html

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

 

Book Review - Milan (A Wedding Story) by Simi K. Rao

Title: Milan (A Wedding Story)
Author: Simi k. Rao
Pages: 162
Price: INR 132.00
Publisher: Kando Books

Blurb

When a daughter turns marriageable age, what should a responsible father do? Easy--wed her to the most suitable boy who comes knocking on the door. Jai Bharadwaj, Mili's father and owner of The Serenity Tea Estate in the idyllic Nilgiris would've probably liked to do the same, but being who he was, he had to ask her first. What would she say?

Review

‘Milan (A Wedding Story)’ by Simi K. Rao is fun to read, light and easy to understand: a chic lit through and through.  Reading it reminded me of all the romances I used to guzzle down as a teenager. Back then I didn’t worry about the writer; I just picked up any book printed by Mills and Boon. The books used to be lighthearted romances, full of human side of things and with an almost linear story-line involving a girl and a boy who fell irrevocably in love and had a happily-ever-after. There was usually a lot of information about the food, clothing and different destinations. ’Milan’ fits into that category very snugly.

The story opens with Mili Bharadwaj, the heroine, who’s back home after completing her graduation in music and has no idea about the future that awaits her. Enters Ahaan Kapoor, the hero, with a marriage proposal that the family is only too happy to accept. Mili has certain reservations initially since he’s the same guy she used to bicker with during their schooldays. Of course, he’s no longer the nerd he used to be. He’s all suave and irresistible with a prestigious job. Unbeknownst to Mili, he has harbored a crush for her for as long as he can remember. She doesn’t take long to fall head over heels for him either. Then starts their sugary courtship up until they get married and beyond.

‘Milan’ follows the old school but routine charm of a Bollywood romance seen one too many times. Indian marriages are known to be over-the-top, sometimes outlandish and generally maddening. Ms Rao has given a walk-through of this experience in detail. The last few pages give it a ‘guidebook’ feel. She has even included few recipes! Clearly it’s for the benefit of the overseas reader, who I presume are her target audience.

After reading cover to cover I felt that the only drawback is that the story is sweet to a fault. The sweetness almost choked me. Another fact that irked me is the use of ‘adjectives.’ They adorn almost every other sentence. That said, the book is everything a person seeks when in need of a diversion from boring journeys or idle thoughts.

About the Author

Simi K. Rao was born and grew up in both northern and southern India before relocating to the U.S., where she has lived for several years. She is the author of multicultural contemporary romantic fiction.
The inspiration for her books and other creative projects comes from her own experience with cross-cultural traditions, lifestyles and familial relationships, as well as stories and anecdotes collected from friends, family and acquaintances.
Rao enjoys exploring the dynamics of contemporary American culture blended with Indian customs and heritage to reflect the challenges and opportunities many Indian-American women face in real life.
Much of Rao's down time is devoted to creative pursuits, including writing fiction, poetry and photography. She is an avid traveler and has visited many locations around the world.
A practicing physician, Rao lives in Denver with her family. Her published works include Inconvenient Relations and The Accidental Wife. She is currently at work on her next release.

Book Links

Amazon

Contact the Author

Website I Blog I Facebook I Twitter I Goodreads

Book Review - Bliss of Dark Solitude by Amitava Chaudhuri

Title: Bliss Of Dark Solitude

Author: Amitava Chaudhuri

Pages: 63

Price: INR 195.00

Publisher: Authorspress

Review

Amitava Chaudhuri’s ‘Bliss of dark Solitude’ is a well-structured collection that celebrates such emotions as joyousness, heartbreak, rebellion, remorse and loneliness through ruminative verse. The everyday and the eternal mix here. The insights into humanity that are contained in each and every poem remind the reader of the wonder tucked in every corner of life. The words and format are gentle and full of utility. It is conversational, arresting and makes you want to respond. The poems are more of a narrative style and herein rest the poet’s capacity to engage. There’s nothing extraordinary being said, yet what is said suffices. For instance, ‘In this painful lifetime it seems, / We shall meet, but only in dreams’ (Adieu); ‘I grief, I find reason / To go on living’ (I Love My Pain); ‘A thousand pious souls / Worked as my footholds’ (The Lonely Path).

The poet deals with the concept that we are scared of the dark and the darkness that solitude brings. According to him, a potent combination of these two conditions can indeed be a bliss for it gives us the opportunity to discover the most alien thing we have within us – our own heart. As we delve deep within ourselves, we find surges of emotions, sometimes dark, sometimes euphoric. He has chosen poetry to portray such emotions.

   

Cons

The poems do not stay with the reader after the book's closed. Some of the poems are self repeating.

Verdict 

Without a reader, a poem is nothing. Poetry lovers will find something to enjoy in this book though not be inspired necessarily.

About the author 

Amitava Chaudhuri is Mechanical Engineer by profession, and works for the Indian Railways. His first novel was published in 2009, and his second book – a collection of short stories was published in 2013.

Book links

http://www.flipkart.com/search?q=bliss+of+dark+solitude&as=off&as-show=off&otracker=start

http://www.amazon.in/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=bliss+of+dark+solitude

Contact the author

amitava.chaudhuri@rediffmail.com