Firekeepers of Jwalapuram by Vamsee Juluri (Book Review)

Book details 

 

Title – Firekeepers of Jwalapuram  

Author – Vamsee Juluri 

Genre – Fiction 

Publisher – Westland Publications Private Limited. 

No of pages – 315

 

Prime characters – Hanuman, Vaishnavi, Vishwamitra, Jambavanth, Riksharaja

 

Other characters – Tara, Ruma, Sugreeva, Angada, Buhab 

 

The Review 

In the past, I have reviewed some amazing mythological fictions and so I was excited to read this book. Unfortunately, I am so disappointed with this novel ‘Firekeepers of Jwalapuram’ by author Vamsee Juluri. While others must have had a pleasant experience and a good opinion about this book but I’d like to back my opinion with certain points.

 

When I started reading this novel, the first chapter gave me the impression of an interesting start. But by the time I reached page number 98, I realized that so many words and sentences are repeated innumerable times. I thought I was wrong and so I went back to page number 9 and I counted the number of same sentences and words that are repeated throughout the novel. 

 

The novel has to have well-crafted descriptions of people and places. I found there is no character building or creative descriptions of the places. I had to keep guessing the meaning of balances, matter, and Ganeshas. Words like students and squad could’ve easily been replaced with more appropriate words such as disciple and group. I didn’t get a single wow moment in this novel.

 

The words like boulders nodded, shouted, exclaimed, exhaled, slightly, some of them, the hunger of fire, looked, noticed, and smiled are used so many times that at one point I had to take a break from it. The language is very mediocre. The English language is rich with its descriptive words, idioms, comparatives and phrases but all I could read in this novel so many repetitive words. The approach taken in this novel is so casual like hey Buhu (short form of Buhab), old hag, newcomers, beast, dharma protection squad and creatures that it loses its authenticity. After the end of every sentence, a lot of adverbs have been used such as softly, fiercely, loudly, feebly, quietly, silently, encouragingly, indifferently, etc. 

 

Same words	Repeated
Smiled / a weak smile/ smiled awkwardly/wry smile/smiling	144 times
Nodded	62 times
Slightly	20 times
Laughed	57 times
Looked at each other/looked at /looked up	35 times
Shouted	43 times
Intently /stared intently	21 times

 

 

To back my opinion, there are some paragraphs and sentences that I’d like to mention here: 

 

PAGE NO 270

“Yet, Vali, from so close, looked very different from the powerful and awe-inspiring figure she had seen that night. He looked at them with a vacant expression and nodded slightly. He became distracted by something, perhaps a fly, and followed it with his eyes.” – My question is why a powerful figure like Vali gets easily distracted by a fly? What does exactly the author want to establish here? Does Vali have a powerful or idiotic personality?  

 

PAGE NO 275

“Go on, go on, enjoy the family time,” Buhab said loudly. Jambavanth looked at him suspiciously. Ruma muttered something about Buhab to Vaishnavi and giggled.” – (I have shortened the paragraph)

Again, I don’t find anything funny in this paragraph but just a boring, non-conclusive paragraph for me. 

 

PAGE NO 280

“Jambavanth nodded and made some sounds softly as if trying to understand his different point of view honestly. – Why would he make sounds for what? What is this sentence suggesting? 

 

PAGE NO 82 

I couldn’t understand the objective of stone-pelting by the Kamdhenus incident mentioned in this novel. The description also does not sound authentic. 

 

PAGE NO 102

‘We are in a delicate position, ‘ Tara finally said. 

Sugreeva laughed cynically. ‘That is my mother…. About to be made into raw mango pachadi or a mishmash by these… by these… fools! (I’ve shortened this para) - Again this paragraph doesn’t make me smile. 

 

PAGE NO 222

In the process, he bumped into one of Riksharaja’s palanquin bearers. 

‘Idiot!’ she snapped at Buhab. 

The palanquin bearers chuckled. ‘Master idiot!’ they whispered. – What’s so funny in this incident? 

 

REPETITIVE AND MEANINGLESS SENTENCES AND WORDS 

On the same pages, sometimes it laughed, sometimes it is smiled. These words are sprinkled generously throughout the novel that made me put down this book and then begin reading again. 

 

1.      The fire burned in Vaishnavi’s head 

2.      The fire of anger rose in Vaishnavi once again. 

3.      He felt the fire of anger inside him

4.      Vaishnavi said, a confident smile in her eyes, though her face seemed strained by pain and concern.

5.      Hanuman allowed himself a smile too.

6.      He shook his head and smiled.

7.      Vishwamitra raised his eyebrows but calmed himself. 

8.      Always the children, always the same excuse Riksharaja said. 

9.      He got up and smiling 

10.  Ruma accepted his words with a smile.

11.  They looked at each other sheepishly. They looked at each other again – page no 83

12.  Ruma squeezed his hand and smiled. 

13.  Tara smiled, but said firmly. 

14.  She put it in her mouth, slightly curious, and slightly alert. 

15.  Dragging them here and there

16.  Here and there, they picked up long sticks. 

17.  Who took his instructions and ran here and there. 

18.  Tomorrow and tomorrow Vaishnavi added. 

 

The words like looked up, smiled, laughed, intently, looked at each other, stared, whispered, here and there are generously spread on the side by side pages so many times. AS A READER, I REALLY WANT TO JUSTIFY MY POINT AND I WANT TO BE VERY HONEST IN MY REVIEW AND SO I HAVE GIVEN THIS PAGE NUMBERS TO LOOK INTO. (P.S. I HAVE EXCLUDED SO MANY PAGE NUMBERS) 

116-117, 122-123, 136-137, 167, 174, 204-205, 227, 232-233, 234-235, 238-239, 241, 242-243, 262-263, 270-271, 278-279, 282-283, 286-287, 296-297, 303, 84-85, 102, 116, 122-123

 

WRITING STYLE 

I do not want to be harsh but this novel disappointed me in many ways and I do not like the fact especially when somebody uses extremely simple language. There is no clarity of the plot, places, or people. A lot of repetitive words and sentences make this novel quite dragging. 

 

THE BOOK TITLE & COVER 

The title is okay. The cover is perfect. 

 

Rating

1.5/5 

 

Karma Kola by the Well-known Author Deepak Kaul (Book Review)

Book details 

 

Title – Karma Kola 

Author – Deepak Kaul  

Genre – Fiction 

Publisher – Amazon Kindle 

No of pages – 95

 

                                                                                        Buy now on Amazon

The Review

 This is the second time I got the privilege to review Deepak Kaul's book. Last time, when I reviewed his debut novel 'Corpokshetra', I was massively impressed with the fresh perspective of Mahabharata. He presented well his witty side and so, the expectations have increased who have read his first book. And then, he kept reading a lot of books, and today, there are many books in his kitty to call himself proudly as a well-established author. Since I love reading British and American literature a lot, I hardly used to take interest in Indian authors. Long back, my perception about Indian writers and authors was broken as many authors have emerged as strong storytellers. One of them is Deepak Kaul and I feel great when I get selected to review his books. Let’s talk about Karma Kola!

 

Although the book is hardly a 95-pager, he has improved and grown as a well-known author. It is an easy-breezy read. Take one large cup of coffee, settle yourself in one of the coziest corners of your home, and enjoy reading this book. I wouldn't release any spoilers as they are hardly 10 short stories. However, one of the short stories that I liked the most was strategically placed as the last story of this book. The short stories impeccably depict human emotions and the author has given a twisting or surprising end to each story. You are left to guess what exactly the end meant. Yes, that’s the way the author keeps you hooked to each story. In the beginning, I did not have that spellbinding effect on me but as I read further they surprised me. Somewhere you may feel that there would have been more stories. Alas! Short stories meant to be short stories, aren’t they? 

 

The book is available in Kindle version. These days, many Indian authors are trying their hand at short stories collection, and only a few of them excel at it. Deepak Kaul has already earned his spot as a notable writer. I wish this brilliant author for his future writing escapades.

 

Writing Style

 Rich in vocabulary. May take some time to understand the context of the story.

 

The Book Cover & the Title 

The cover gives me an impression of seduction. I guess our karma also tempts us to do both wrong and right things and then repent our actions. That’s what I can interpret the cover. The title is apt given the theme of the stories. 

 

Rating 4/5

Oh big yes for this author! I recommend Karma Kola and his other books too! 

 

No Limits by Mukesh Bansal (Book Review(

Have you been struggling with daily productivity? Do you feel lethargic to get out of the bed? Do you often spend more time spending in office to complete your work? Are you mesmerised with some people's capacity of finishing tasks in no time? 

If your answer is yes to all those questions mentioned above, then you might be lacking or not aware of the tricks required for optimal performance. There are many self-help books you would find in the market. However, what is so different that you should rely on Mukesh Bansal's latest book on optimal performance called No Limits. You probably have read all those self-help books long back and want to refresh your memories so that you can gear up yourself for refreshing and strong optimal performance once again.

No Limits is written with fresh outlook, coupled with ancient wisdom and modern science. Whether you are 13 or 30, everyone at some point of life needs motivation and fresh perspective to see and live life with full vigour again. And that's what 'No Limits' does to you. 

We human beings have lots of misconceptions about optimal performance. All we think is only a super human can possibly do this or that. However, the author has thoughtfully written this book, backed by scientific references to clear any misconceptions or presumptions you may have. Each chapter is well-explained by the author. 

Whether you have self-doubt about your talent or you actually believe that excellence just someone is born with. You will be surprised to read initial chapters on talent and excellence written by the author. He elaborates everything by giving various scientific references and experiments done by the researchers to support his claims.

If you haven't had thought before about having fixed mindset and growth mindset, then it is also well described by the author.

The book doesn't end with only theory and notes but it has lots of real life tricks and tips that you can use in your day-to-day life. Our skeptical mind always have notions about theories mentioned in self-help books but as you read one chapter after another your notions will be thrown out of window and curiosity will be heightened with excitement to try the hacks given in the book.

Let's take an example! How much sleep do we require everyday to perform at our best? The author sheds a light on the correlation between our brain and sleep. Ultimately, drawing our attention to the wellbeing of our mind and body.

No Limits is a book one must have handy to perform better and live quality life at all levels.

Rating 4/5

The Sinners by Sourabh Mukherjee (Book Review)

Book details 

Title – The Sinners 

Author – Sourabh Mukherjee 

Genre – Fiction 

Publisher – Srishti Publishers & Distributors  

No of pages – 191

This book is available on Amazon & Flipkart

Main characters – Vikram Oberoi, Sonal Verma, Ashwin Saxena, Devesh Nair, Manvi Oberoi

Other Characters – Agastya Bakshi, Aarati Bansal, Rakesh 

Blurb from the Book 

Vikram Oberoi is found dead in his penthouse. A few hours ago, his involvement in a sex scandal in NexGen Technologies made headlines across the world.

Who is behind the sinister a conspiracy that destroyed Vikram Oberoi, the philandering India Head of NexGen? Rivals within and outside the firm? One of his many jilted lovers or the miffed wife? A mysterious conspirator laying out honey traps to sabotage his plans? Or, is it the ghost of a sinful past that continues to haunt the Oberois?

The Sinners is a fast-paced thriller with a shocking twist that unravels against the backdrop of corporate warfare, illicit relationships, and ruthless seduction games.

My Review 

The story begins with a crime scene wherein a big honcho Vikram Oberoi is murdered in his penthouse. Nobody knows whether it’s a murder or a suicide and soon the story progresses with the several characters being introduced such as Sonal Verma who has newly joined the company and has her eyes set on Vikram. He is regarded as a Casanova of the office. He breaks up with his secretary Aarti and soon begins an amorous affair with Sonal. His wife has no clue about his several affairs and she is as clueless as about her dead marriage life.

This is a story about love, lust, revelry, office politics, and betrayal. The author has depicted different emotions of a human being with several characters in his story as if to convey how our fleeting emotions can bring turmoil and trouble in our life. The revelry between two corporate giants like NexGen Technologies and Alpha; then Aarti and Manvi’s invulnerability towards Vikram and the soured friendship between Vikram and Ashwain – all these angles keeps the story somewhat entertaining but lacks suspense value. The end is almost predictable. The plot could have been better if the author wouldn’t have taken inspiration from Bollywood. The silver screen has injected us the revenge bug so badly that even the author couldn’t resist himself for adding that angle in the story.

After reading this novel, I realized how our men so weak when it comes to quick flings or one night stands. Be it Vikram, Agystya or Rakesh, the moment they are lured by an attractive woman, they feel weak in their knees. Again, it’s very disappointing to see Vikram is mainly stereotyped by creating his image as a Casanova. The women in this novel are shown as weak individuals such as Manvi. She is trying to find ways to please her man and instead, she commits a sin by luring a just-out-of-college intern and seducing him sexually. It is the idea of an author as the plot is mainly based on everyone’s weakness. 

Although the author has successfully managed to exploit human weaknesses by depicting various emotions, the story lacks the charm and suspense value completely. The author has taken every effort to pepper the story with lots of twists and turns. The plot has the potential to become a good motion picture if only the loose ends are fixed by the experienced directors.

Has Vikram got murdered or committed suicide? What’s the real story of Sonal and what’s her purpose? Is Ashwin the mastermind of this whole political game? These and many questions will be raised in your mind when you read this story. Till the time, I am leaving some questions left to you. 

I will recommend this book to those who enjoy reading filmy drama and a twisted love story. Find out more in this novel called ‘The Sinners’! 

The Best Part

I liked the author’s writing style as he ends up every chapter with some loose hints for you to find.

The No-So-Good Part 

No need to stereotype the characters! The story is very much predictable. 

The Writing Style 

The author’s writing style is very simple to understand and follow.

The Book Cover & The Title 

The book cover is enticing enough for a reader to pick up this book. A girl in a red dress, holding a wine glass and the backdrop of tall corporate buildings – gives an idea that the story is based on corporate life. 

The title is very apt as each character in this story has sinned in his/her way. 

Rating 3/5

About the Author 

Saurabh Mukherjee has written two psychological-thriller novels and three short story collections appreciated by readers, critics, and the media. He works in a senior leadership position in a global technology firm. He speaks frequently in technology conferences in India and abroad and has authored a popular book on emerging technologies.

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A Useful Death by Sriram Chellapilla (Book Review)

Book details 

Title – A Useful Death 

Author –Sriram Chellapilla 

Genre – Fiction

Publisher – Westland

No of pages – 416

This book is available at Amazon & Flipkart

Main characters – Partha, Seema, Harish, Varaprasad, Mohan Krishna

Other characters – Student Union Leaders, Prof. Hussain, etc.

Blurb from the book 

Aspiring actress Priya is dead. It’s a suicide, and rumor has it that Anil, son of a politician and former Telugu-movie superstar Mohan Krishna, drove her to it. Just another film-industry scandal? Or something bigger, much bigger?

Partha, hired by Mohan Krishna’s family to handle the crisis, thinks so. Why won’t such a powerful father defend his son, Partha wonders? Is there an intra-family war? Whose interests are playing out in the media and on social media? Is a political game afoot or is this all connected to Mohan Krishna’s own dubious past? And why are student unions getting involved?

Book Review 

The book opens with the scene of aspiring actress Priya’s suicide (at least it looks like though) but it takes you to enjoy the ride full of twists and turns. The author has taken a lot of effort to make each chapter interesting by giving vivid descriptions of various events. Priya is dead and Partha (Former journalist) is approached by Mohan Krishna’s family to help them solve the mystery of her death as their son is accused of murder. Now, Partha, Seema, and Harish are trying to solve this puzzle with their various tricks. Till the end of this book, you are forced to think who could be the culprit. The author has successfully maintained the curiosity of the murder as you keep questioning yourself about the murderer. 

You doubt the intention of each character from this story like Varaprasad’s sudden disappearance from the crime scene, student union leaders’ strange behavior and reaction towards Priya’s death or whether Partha and his team are genuine enough to unravel the mystery or are they trying to cover up for Mohan Krishna’s family. 

You will be entertained with every new twist in the story as you move on to the next chapter. A crime thriller from an Indian author brings a fresh breath of air in Indian literature! 

The Best Part 

The angle of the story is not something new but it is highly entertaining as the author keeps you hooked with his twists and turns. 

The Not-So-Good Part 

Very lengthy, unnecessary descriptions can be a turn off for readers! 

The Writing Style 

The language is simple and uncomplicated. Any reader can easily connect with the story. 

The Book Cover & the Title 

The title justifies the story. However, the book cover could have been more appealing. 

Rating 

4/5

Recommendable to those who enjoy reading crime thrillers!