Winter is often portrayed as a cold, harsh season, but in Rashika Ranjini’s latest poetry collection, “Whispers of a Snowfall: Celebrating the Pensive Beauty of Winters,” she offers a unique perspective on this often-neglected season. Through her delicate and lyrical writing style, Ranjini captures the melancholic beauty of winter and explores the complex emotions that the season can evoke. The result is a powerful and thought-provoking collection of poetry that will leave a lasting impression on the reader. Through her collection, the author not only spell bounds the readers but uses her world to convey a depth of thought that comes through the minimal words that she uses. One of the standout features of this book is the author’s use of vivid imagery and sensory details. In each poem, Ranjini transports the reader to the world of winter, where the snow whispers secrets and the cold wind stirs the soul. Her descriptions of the winter landscape are both beautiful and haunting, painting vivid and memorable images in the reader’s mind. For example, in the poem “The stranger seller at Snowslope,” she writes: “We’ve got some lovely joy capsules/ He offered, “I’ll give you a fine price.”/ “I’d rather have some lunacy pills,” I replied..” The use of imagery and sensory details in this poem and others like it sets the tone for the rest of the collection and provides the reader with a glimpse into the pensive beauty of winter while keeping the readers fixed on the happenings of the life of an ordinary human. “Whispers of a Snowfall” has such poems that take them to the lands of wonder. Even though the world she depicts is inspired by reality, yet it seems to be set in a different world altogether. But poems like “The stranger seller at Snowslope” keep the readers fixed on the present world. Another strength of this book is the author’s ability to explore complex emotions through her writing. Whether exploring themes of solitude, loss, or renewal, Ranjini’s poems are infused with a sense of introspection and contemplation. Her words flow seamlessly, painting vivid and memorable images in the reader’s mind, and her delicate and understated use of language is truly a joy to behold. Every poem captures the sadness and finality that can accompany the winter season but also hints at the promise of renewal and a fresh start. Moreover, through her words, the author paints a landscape that is run by the merriment of winters and transports the readers to the snow-filled landscapes that send cool breezes through the text. Ranjini’s writing style is both lyrical and poignant, and her verse has a musical quality that is both calming and haunting. The poems in this collection are often short and to the point, but they pack a powerful punch, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. The author’s delicate use of language, combined with her insightful observations, make this book a must-read for fans of poetry and introspection. “Whispers of a Snowfall” is one of the few poetry collections in its league that reaches the readers through its simplistic style that is accompanied by grandeur, grace, and a different perspective on winters and their meaning for the author. This meaning eventually becomes the same for the readers too, as they connect with the author’s words and begin to see the winter full world through her eyes. In conclusion, “Whispers of a Snowfall” is a beautifully written and thought-provoking collection of poetry that offers a fresh perspective on the winter season. Rashika Ranjini’s lyrical writing style and insightful observations make this book a must-read for fans of poetry, winter, and introspection. Whether you are a fan of winter or simply looking for a thought-provoking read, “Whispers of a Snowfall” is the book for you. The poems in this collection will take you on a journey through the quiet, contemplative world of winter, where the snow whispers secrets and the cold wind stirs the soul. The poetry collection is highly recommended for all those readers who look forward to reading a collection that comes as a breath of freshness, unique perspectives, and subjects that are interesting, entertaining, and seem equally dreamy. While the book is likely to introduce the readers to a whole new perspective that comes through the words of the poet, it will also enthrall them with her uniqueness and the concise manner in which she uses her words to convey deeper thoughts.
Vaidehi Taman Talks About Her Latest Book “LIFE BEYOND COMPLICATIONS”
Vaidehi Taman has been a journalist for 20 years and is the Founding Editor of Afternoon Voice and The Democracy. She is an Investigative Journalist from Mumbai, who believes in fighting against all odds in the fourth estate, for which she has been bestowed with three Honorary Doctorates in Journalism. She has contributed significantly to society as an editor, ethical hacker, philanthropist, and author. In the past, she has worked with many major media houses such as The Times of India, Free Press Journal and Sunday Observer. She has three other books to her name. An Interview with Author Vaidehi Taman The Rise Insight: Congratulations for the launch of your recent book “LIFE BEYOND COMPLICATIONS” How did you come across Sadhguru Shri Riteshwar’s story? Vaidehi Taman: I am journalist, met Sadguru in one award event and form there we developed an affinity. His lifestyle is mesmerising, when I probed further I came to know many aspects of his life. The Rise Insight: What was the inspiration behind writing this book? Vaidehi Taman: There are many saints in India who went to jail under some or the other allegations. Sadhguru Shri Riteshwar ji only saint who started his spiritual journey from jail. He understood the pain of under trials and also what one faces when wrongly convicted. He worked intensely for the jail reforms and also brought peace behind bars. The Rise Insight: What was your goal in mind when you wrote this book? Vaidehi Taman: My intention is to tell people life is all about the choices we make. Sadguru had many choices but he chose spiritual path and elevated in life. He gave up all materialistic pleasures and walked his path. I wanted to tell my readers when our life goes beyond complications, we remain with compound solutions. The Rise Insight: What do you want readers to learn from this book? Vaidehi Taman: Many things, my Job is to write and convey, what one has to receive is reader’s choice. The Rise Insight: What are your other upcoming publications? Vaidehi Taman: My first Hindi novel Vedanti. It is a unique love story. I believe on this earth LOVE is the only hope. But unfortunately love is mistaken. This love story emphasises the need of Brahmacharya, means to stay in conduct within one’s own Self. The Rise Insight: Do you think you have an affinity for the genre of non-fiction? Vaidehi Taman: Not at all, my next book is purely a fiction The Rise Insight: What are the aspects of the life of Sadhguru Shri Riteshwar that inspired you a lot? Vaidehi Taman: His royal way of living and wisdom to win over the odds. The Rise Insight: What challenges did you face while writing this book? Vaidehi Taman: Absolutely no challenges, I have already mentioned I am journalist and investigating facts and assessing it is not difficult for me. Rather I enjoyed each moment while writing it.
“Niyatinati – the ultimate justice of Karma” by Aruna Shaibya: Book Review
Sometimes, one lifetime is enough to show the different phases of time and impact the personality of a person into an entirely different and unique person. The fact that a person is a product of the circumstances holds true when one reads “Niyatinati- the ultimate justice of Karma” by Aruna Shaibya. Through her story, the author shows the different phases of a person’s life and all that goes into the making of his personality on the whole. It also takes the readers into the different points of time in the protagonist’s life where there are sad times and happy times and times that make them wonder about the untold stories that exist in society and the life of a person. It also raises several issues of power, honesty, the corrupt nature of people, and the innocent being a victim in a major case. In that sense, the novel rises from being a simple story and becomes a writing for a social cause. “Niyatinati” has an interesting title that bears impressions throughout the story. Even though the readers can understand its meaning, its relevance at different levels makes sense when they read the story till the end. In one word, the title sums up the whole idea of the novel and yet does not spill the beans explicitly. This is the beauty of it. It is only later when the readers start exploring the book in depth and understand the happenings in the light of being a design of destiny that they experience the hold of destiny in people’s lives and its relevance on the whole. Although the effects of Niyatinati silently resonate in the book, they make their mark in the later phases of the novel when the protagonist resolves to finish the unfinished business of his father. It is here that the powerplay of destiny makes absolute sense. When Shaibya’s novel begins, the readers are taken into a happy world where everything seems perfect and more of a dream life. Things begin in an ideal world where everything seems perfect and falls into place like the natural course of life. “Niyatinati” takes the readers into a world that has talented college students with big dreams and hopes to achieve the heights of success based on their educational experience backed up by support from their families. This reflects in their behavior as well as their conduct among themselves and their peers. In the midst of this, they equally experience the highs and lows of life, only to understand who is there for them and who is not, thus resulting in the filtering of the right people. Thereafter, when the plot is constructed, the author gives it a twist that would not have been anticipated by the readers anytime in the plot. While this twist shows the characters, it leaves the readers lost in equal shock and wonder about how unpredictable life can be and how one moment is enough to change a person’s life, their share of responsibilities as well as the fact that life’s goodies may not always last for long. This holds true in the context of the plot of “Niyatinati.” The author shows how destiny pulls the strings of people’s lives and how everything that happens for a reason also has a fundamental purpose in determining the meaning of the life of any person. On observing “Niyatinati” closely, the readers also notice numerous themes and questions of relevance that the author covers in the novel. These range from personal to social issues and issues of universal relevance. Dheeraj’s troubles to adapt to different societal requirements, Vivek’s family’s short-lived happy days, his father’s and sister’s fate, and the fate of many girls like his sister, which is shown through Mrigi later and the contributing characters who also show a different side of life through them all address the different themes of ‘Niyatinati.” In this sense, “Niyatinati” has a wider significance on a universal level due to covering different issues at the same time. It also raises the serious issue of the innocent being prey to cunning and corrupt individuals who make the lives of others miserable in order to fill their treasury. While this issue disturbs the readers, it also opens their eyes to the unspoken reality and the stories of many who do not find mention anywhere and mostly die the same way. Hence, “Niyatinati” also becomes a novel for a social cause. Since it is available in both Hindi and English, it is likely to attract a larger reader base. This book is recommended to all readers who are interested in reading fiction and works that are of social relevance and hold a universal validity at the same time. It would also be enjoyed by people who are interested in reading books that evolve through the different phases of life and show the different sides of characters as life progresses and unfolds further.
The CLOWN: The Rakshasa Gana by Author Piyusha Pushp – Review
As the popular Hollywood Actor Keanu Reeves has said, “When you truly understand Karma then you realize that it is you who is responsible for everything in your life!” Well, with that same theme this remarkable title, “The CLOWN: The Rakshasa Gana” by Author Piyusha Pushp has been written & presented to the readers. The book is one of its kind and very different from most of the other literary fiction titles. A great presentation about the theory of the different levels of the Ganas (Inbuilt Nature) has been made where all 3 Ganas, be it the Deva Gana (Devine) or the Manushya Gana (Human) or the Rakshasa Gana (Demonic) have been highlighted by the author in this volume! Author Piyusha Pushp has done her Masters in the field of Biochemistry and she is passionate about teaching the subjects of Physics & Chemistry. She feels excited about reading, researching & developing utilitarian practices from the Sanatana Literature. Author Piyusha is a fitness freak and she is very much passionate about Yoga too. She is a person with a positive mindset & attitude who believes in the strong value systems imparted by her parents to her. Well, she is passionately associated with Non-Government Organizations that supports a chain of orphanage as well as old age homes. Author Piyusha Pushp is married to Pankaj Lochan, who himself is an author of several management books and other literature titles. Readers can find this title, ‘The CLOWN: The Rakshasa Gana’ on any of the top online marketplaces and the book is available in both paperback as well as in e-book format. This amazing title, “The CLOWN: The Rakshasa Gana” by Author Piyusha Pushp is a sequel to the title ‘SIGMA, as life sums it all’ by Author Pankaj Lochan (Author’s Husband) and the second part of the ‘Karmic Short Stories Trilogy’ by the husband-wife author duo. The real people & the true events of their life has inspired the stories in this trilogy. The book is also about Sanatana, the fountainhead of ancient Indian wisdom and explores deeper layers of the belief system with a lens of human nature, its impact on the social ecosystem and the ways it may be course-corrected. The ‘3 Books’ in the trilogy are based upon the three Ganas – Rakshasa, Manushya and Deva well, this particular volume: The CLOWN is about the Rakshasa Gana! The book is masterfully written and the author has done an excellent job of bringing the world of the Rakshasa Gana into the limelight. The characters are richly drawn and the plot is filled with twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The author has very well used the Indian mythology and folklore as that is something, which adds a sense of depth and richness to the story. Well, the readers would find an incredible collection of stories through the “7 Reading Worthy Chapters” presented by the author in this book. Coming to the choice of the Book Title, we find that the title “The CLOWN: The Rakshasa Gana” for this book, which is a collection of short stories based upon the beliefs of the Sanatana Literature is certainly an appropriate one. Moreover, with reference to the collection of chapters added to this book by the author the book title makes complete sense. In addition, it is a very ‘Catchy Title’ and this is something, which makes the book even more interesting, as the title itself compels you to pick up this book for a read. In this case, the title is giving a very interesting & thrilling vibe so you would feel the urge to go inside the book. In addition, I must mention that the title of this book is much “Justified” with regards to the sequence of the chapters in this book. Undoubtedly, it is a very apt title for this title and the author had been extremely wise to go for a book title like this one! Well, if we go over the Readers’ Connect part for this book then interestingly we can note that this title, ‘The CLOWN: The Rakshasa Gana’ is written in a real appealing manner. In addition, the various chapters in this title are indeed engrossing & fascinating and the narration carried out by the author is so amazingly lucid, that it would totally hook the readers until the very last page of this incredibly written title. Moreover, it should be noted that this is one such title, which will make the readers think about the stories inside this book for several times, even after completing the book. The book covers a great story revolving around some of the main characters and the incidents of their lives. The manner in which the events will occur in the lives of the prime characters is certainly going to bind the readers and feel the thrill while going through this amazing novel. The book is an interesting read and the author has narrated the events in a real clever manner that will make the readers go deep in the storyline! Now, coming to the final part, i.e. the Book’s Verdict where I must mention that a title like, “The CLOWN: The Rakshasa Gana” is for sure a MUST READ one& deserves a chance by the readers. The book is most certainly a collection of reading worthy stories for the people of all ages and is written in a very clever manner. We do not get to see much amazing titles very often in the market so it will be a great deal for the book lovers to give this title a chance. In addition, author Piyusha Pushp deserves all the appreciation for her honest & hard work in this title! Overall, this particular volume is a gripping and powerful novel that is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers. The author’s skilful use of the Indian mythology and folklore, combined with well-drawn characters and a thought-provoking plot, simply makes this book
Life Beyond Complications by author Vaidehi Taman is a coming of age story of a young boy and his serendipitous introduction to spirituality
Life beyond complications by author Vaidehi Taman is a coming of age story of a young boy and his serendipitous introduction to spirituality and spiritual practices of Hinduism through a chance meeting with the Shiv Sena Supremo Bala Saheb Thackeray. This is a work of non-fiction and a fresh, confessional, insightful view of a young boy’s journey from ignorance to a better understanding of himself and his spiritual senses. It is a tete-a-tete with Sadhguru Shri Riteshwar who was not born as his public persona but was a commoner unaware of his spiritual obligations and far from the quest to understanding his place in the universe and the beauty of the Creator. The book talks about his journey as a young boy from Jharkhand who became a student leader in undivided Bihar at the age of 20. He led the student wing called ABVP of a leading political party of India named BJP. As a leader of ABVP he was a karyakarta and a staunch believer and flag bearer of the ideals of the party which are deeply rooted in Hindutva. It was in the year 1993 that he came across a gathering in which Bala Sahed Thackeray was giving a speech enthusiastically which instilled in him the values that he was working on and he felt inspired by that speech to further the cause of Hindutva. This made him put his thoughts into action and he called for public prayers among the masses and started to conduct Maha arti. His immediate presence and influence at such a large scale rattled the ruling party and the then government asked for immediate actions to be taken against him which led to him being convicted in a false murder case. This shook his mother to the core and made her die of shock. This became a major turning point in his life which is also the major climax of this book. Prison is where he became closer to his spiritual self but did not lose touch with reality. He began to hear about the problems of prisoners in his jail and started to fight for their rights and their needs. This made others look up to him as a reformative revolutionary. In jail he continued with spreading the word of spirituality and brought about spiritual awakening among the prisoners through conducting prayer meets and satsang. After the four years in jail, he was transformed into a completely different person who became closer to his spiritual self and did not have any inclination to return to worldly life. This is the point that he became the Sadhguru that he is revered as now. This book is a sneak peek into the life of one such ordinary person who became extraordinary by firmly holding on to the light of faith that is within each individual but is realised by few. He is a believer of Shri Krishna and his word Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran only. He acknowledges that happiness and sorrows are temporary part of life but the real goal is to unite with the inner light within all people which is a part of the higher light. The realisation of this is the realisation of higher spirituality that will lead to spiritual awakening and overall betterment of life. The book is an inspiring read and one that instils hope in the reader that despite all the mistakes that people make, despite their ordinariness and all the worldly temptations, they can all transform themselves and unite with the goodness of the higher world setting their goals in place. Author Vaidehi’s writing style is simple, easy to follow with apt vocabulary and clear explanation of thoughts. There is no circumlocutory manner of noting anything. The language is formal and respectful of the topic at hand. All these incorporate the twist of fate that brings an honest soul towards its goal of becoming one with their real duties in this world and make them exemplary through their good deeds. It is this clear, straight forward manner of relaying the journey of Sadhguru Shri Riteshwar that makes for an interesting read. The book does not dictate anything to the reader but leaves the reader to absorb the core values that Sadhguru Shri Riteshwar’s life resonates so that the reader may whole heartedly and in an open minded manner deduce the morals and key takeways from his life. This is done so that they may imbibe these lessons in their own daily lives and bring about a lifestyle change. The goal of the book is clear. It is about showing people real living examples of how being at one with one’s inner light of faith and having their goals adjusted to causes that benefit humanity will eventually bring about betterment for themselves and those around them. Not once is Sadhguru Shri Riteshwar talked of in terms of someone who is out of this world. It is his journey from being ordinary to an extraordinary individual that makes his story so relatable and worth replicating. At around 80 pages, the book is a short read though it is deep and thought provoking. The book also has a lot of beautiful, colourful photos of high definition that makes for an engaging read. Title: LIFE BEYOND COMPLICATIONS: tête-à-tête with Sadguru Shri Riteshwar Author: Vaidehi Taman (http://authorvaidehi.com/) Genre: Biographies & Autobiographies/ Spirituality Publisher: Astitva Prakashan Reviewed By: Tasnima Yasmin Order Book: Amazon
Pyaari – Tarawali Ek Satya Katha – Book Review
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लेखक रजनीश दुबे के इस हिंदी प्रेम प्रसंगयुक्त शीर्षक, “प्यारी – तरावाली एक सत्य कथा” की समीक्षा शुरू करने से पहले, मैं बता दूं कि लेखक ने इस उपन्यास के साथ एक शानदार प्रयास किया है। पुस्तक में कुछ मुख्य पात्रों और उनके जीवन की घटनाओं के इर्द-गिर्द घूमती एक महान कहानी शामिल है। जिस तरह से कहानी आगे बढ़ती है वह वास्तव में अविश्वसनीय है; और इस अद्भुत उपन्यास के माध्यम से पाठकों को रोमांच का अनुभव कराएंगे।
Book Review : The Blossoming Lotus by : J.P. Desai
Book: The Blossoming Lotus Author: J.P. Desai Publisher: Evincepub Publishing (2022) Reviewed By: Neel Preet “Poetry is the play of right words with some of the most in-describable emotions, while poets are those players who plays with the beautiful words and makes way to compose these heart touching and soulful poems for us!” Reviewing this beautiful poetry collection book, “The Blossoming Lotus” by Author-Poet J.P. Desai has been a very satisfying experience to me since I started my writing journey as a poet. And now whenever I get a chance to review a Poetry Collection book, I not only enjoy reading these new and expressive poems, where the Poet conveys some unheard messages through their words, but also I get the opportunity to learn something new regarding the composition of poetry, each time! About the Author: The Author, J.P. Desai was born and brought up in the remote village of Maharashtra in India where the poet passed his primary school while working as cowboy, supporting in the field. He struggled hard, suffered a lot working and studying from S.S.C. to graduation, post-graduation. He kept changing jobs from child labour to the clerk, finally settled, and made personal and family development as a secondary school teacher. He earned additional income teaching English in the tuitions classes. He successfully taught English as a subject for 35 years. He has been reading English literatures throughout the life, but did not get time enough to think and write anything. His novel “Thank you Dad” was published after the retirement based on educational experience. The extensive travelling enriched the overall knowledge. Presently he has published an English poetry collection, “The Blossoming Lotus.” Book’s Theme & Introduction: Poetry – This book, The Blossoming Lotus is having a long collection of poems, one after another. This poetry collection book presents the beautiful poems on the floral offerings by the Kashmiri gardens at the feet of the snow crowned mountain Himalaya and the picturesque landscapes of the Sahyadri Ranges. It highlights the Nation’s past, present glory. The illustrations in the poetical form of the social well beings are also covered. The Marital Love is an outstanding, unique feature under which its characteristics, the foundations are precisely, artistically displayed to meet the pleasure unending. All the poems have been blossomed, born out of the enormous grief, strain, agony of death of the Poet’s wife late Kamal which is befitting the title “The Blossoming Lotus!” Book Title: The title, “The Blossoming Lotus” for this poetry collection book is certainly an appropriate one, with reference to the collection of poems added to this book by the Author. In addition, it is a very ‘Catchy Title’ and this is something, which makes the book even more interesting, as the title itself compels you as a poetry lover to pick up this book for a read. In this case, the title is giving a very positive and beautiful vibe so you would feel the urge to go inside the chapters and try to understand the Author’s expression of words! In addition, I must mention that the title of this book is much “Justified” with regards to the poems in this book. Undoubtedly, it is a very apt for this poetry collection book and the Author had been extremely wise to go for this title. Book Cover: The portrayal of “A beautiful Lotus in the water body along with greenery and hill” in the book’s front cover is not just giving a very “Specular Impression” but also, creating a very optimistic and beautiful vibe just like the Book’s Title! The readers can interpret the book cover design in a thousand different ways as per their sense of interpretation, but the most common interpretation could be that the illustration on the book cover is showing the beauty of the Mother Earth! Readers’ Connect: The way, Authorhad expressed himself with his well versed poems in this poetry collection book, “The Blossoming Lotus” is something really incredible and is undoubtedly an enough reason for you to shift your focus towards his poems and give this book a chance. It is the poets, who plays the pivotal role in touching the inner cords of our emotions and making us believe and think the way their words intend to and Author-Poet,J.P. Desai had done this job in an exceptionally top notch manner! Moreover, the Author had beautifully expressed his feelings through his soulful words and had given a Strong-Start to the poems; also, you can see that most of these poems had retained their flow until the very end, which gives you an immense amount of satisfaction as a poetry lover. Verdict: A Book like “The Blossoming Lotus” is for sure a Must-Read oneand deserves a chance. The way author had penned down his emotions and feelings through his writings will make you go deep into the poems and find out the hidden meanings of the words, used in these poems. Author J.P. Desai is a promising poet, who is very honest with his emotions, which makes his writings honest and reading worthy as well. Book Link: https://www.amazon.in/dp/9354463762/
“Mixed Emotions” By Lakshita Bhargava-Book Review
Children’s fiction is one of the most upgraded forms of writing – teaching children (and parents!) about the world around them, benefitting by the short stories, inputting it to use and perform in reality, living the childhood, modifying the child’s perceptions, reliving the bliss of one’s life.
Book Review : Business Business: The Untold Story by Avinash T V
If you want to be realistic about business success, then books about business failure must adorn your bookshelf. The Story conveys the cautions that most of the youngster has forgotten nowadays in the rush of opening a startup. A study, revealed that aspiring entrepreneurs can learn from business failures only if they understand the consequences of decisions, assessments, inactions or actions that caused past failures. This is beneficial if they realize how to use this knowledge to successfully run their next enterprise. And it can only happen when aspiring entrepreneurs read books like “Business Business: The Untold Story” written by Avinash T V that teach the value of success. Beginning from the middle class family story, four friends lived with their parents with an aspiration to become successfully and get installed into a latest version of adaptive technology, but they were in a dilemma. They wanted a company registered the same day, but were at level zero gain. All their research for the entire week went into the drain, and nobody willing to take their name back. With Naveen’s drastically nature, all were in a shock, when someone own ditches. This book goes deep down into the darker side of launching a start-up business, and the innumerable pitfalls that Indian entrepreneurs have to overcome. The book is full of derisive observations, fascinating anecdotes, and some stunning customer insights. And ofcourse you wouldn’t like to miss those behind-the-scenes happenings in the start-up ecosystem. This is one of the must-read books about business failure for industry professionals, investors, business school graduates, aspiring entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in India’s fast-growing start-up environment. A compelling narrative, “Failure to succeed” is all about the search for ways to progress and achieve success, despite repeated setbacks. If you are planning to launch a new venture or dream to become an entrepreneur or working in a start-up or a non-fiction or biography reader or a reader looking for a good book or a student. This book is for you. “Business Business : The Untold Story” is a one-of-a-kind book that suggests its readers to learn from their mistakes. According to author Avinash T V, learning from mistakes is the only way to ensure that the same mistake is not repeated. A guide for entrepreneurs and business professionals, the book offers knowledge, and the necessary tools to craft success by embracing every failure, be it large or small. It inspires budding entrepreneurs and offers them strategic actions to convert failures into rewarding gains. Avinash TV’s book unveils both inevitable and likely setbacks and also gives readers practical approaches to quick self-judgment. It’s not a business book nor a fictional novel, instead of a mix of both, I loved the way Author put his entire story – hhe got an amazing style of expressing things. Going through the book was more like I was in her shows and living the moment. We just get to know more about his continuous struggle, trying to figure out what needs to be done to sustain – ultimately meeting her failure in the end. The book also talks about seed capital, fundraising, pitch deck, product-market fit, go-to-market plan, business plan, where to find investors, bridge round, EBITDA, Business model calculation – but no were in-depth details about the concept. It is not often that I read a book where I learn something valuable on every page. Avinash explains in down to earth terms the rise and fall path of mistakes and what type of mind set you need to turn them into fantastic learning experiences that make you a better person. They describe in detail what it took mentally and emotionally to overcome and transform their inner landscape via understanding their failures. I thought this would be a quick read but I was wrong. I took me almost two weeks to read it. It took so long because I needed to digest what I was reading and then self reflect. Avinash does not suggest I do this, I took it upon myself and I am grateful I did it.The benefits are amazing. Don’t be afraid to fail. In fact, failures often lead to success. Take inspiration from the failures, all of these failures were followed by perseverance and enormous successes. Stories in the book, too, offers important lessons one can relate with. Some of them are politics that play out in office every day or how insecurities drive people to act in a certain manner. Everyone would face or are bound to face such hurdles in an office atmosphere. Many of the characters in the stories show courage and deal with those situations with dignity, and mostly succeed. This book shows how it’s not just hard work and talent that determine entrepreneurial success. An unfair advantage is something unique and internal to each person that gives a competitive upper hard, and exists even without having worked for it. Even adversity can be converted into an opportunity, as the frameworks and examples in this book show. The authors’ framework for entrepreneurs goes by the acronym MILES: money, intelligence/insight, location/luck, education/expertise, and status. This book would inspire you to retain a certain amount of goodness in you while you aim for or occupy the corner office. That is the most important message of this book. It doesn’t pretend to tell you how to get there or be there. Avinash’s work is a great reminder that the rules for running a strong business and creating value haven’t changed. For one thing, there’s an essential human factor in every business endeavor. It doesn’t matter if you have a perfect product, production plan, and marketing pitch; you’ll still need the right people to lead and implement those plans. That is a lesson you learn quickly in business foundation. Which people are you going to back? Do their roles fit their abilities? Do they have both the IQ and EQ to succeed? Business Adventures is as much about the strengths and weaknesses of leaders in challenging circumstances as
Srivastav Vanagla collects stories that are related yet distinct from each other and explores human nature.
Human beings evolve continuously, and this dynamic process runs throughout their life. In the midst of this, they explore different shades of their lives and personalities and they rise from every challenge they face. As a reader, the title “The Lunar Heart” by Srivastav Vangala would seem quite intriguing to many. The book is an anthology consisting of 18 different amazing stories which are entirely fictional. Vanagla collects stories that are related yet distinct from each other and explores human nature through different perspectives through the eyes of the authors. The cover of the book is a soothing sight that indicates the peace which comes with the presence of the moon. It has a relaxing effect on the readers’ minds and welcomes them into the world of the lunar. “The Lunar Heart” is nothing but a metaphor used to convey human life. Humans are trapped in their emotions, feelings, constraints, and boundaries. Through the lessons life gives them, they learn their worth and bounce back with a stronger version of themselves. It may for once suggest a feeling similar to rising from the ashes, but on closer examination, there is a lot more that the stories are about. The author suggests that human life is not distinct from the Moon, which gets covered by night and revives to a full moon. The cover design and blurb also contribute a lot in signifying the same. Although the readers get a fair idea of what is to follow, yet they are prompted to start the book and read how the author relates the moon with human life. The concept may be intriguing for once, but it still strikes as interesting. Once the readers begin with the book, they get distinct vibes from the stories, which evoke mixed feelings of attachment, hatred, betrayal, and progression. The usage of such a technique doesn’t make the stories seem like a work of fiction. Instead, it compels them to think that the scenarios can be possible in a practical context too. On reading the first story, i.e. “Roses cannot complain about the weather,” the readers would have mixed emotions of finding the story to be both disturbing and inspiring at the same time. Allegorically, it suggests how looks should not be the only thing that can define the personality of a person. It is interesting to see how the narrator’s English teacher had played a significant role in giving a new direction to his life. Similar is the case with the story, “Cats.” There is a very peculiar thing about the author, i.e. Despite having the title “The Lunar Heart”, he was able to connect human behaviour with every object. The thing he painted on the canvas holds a very dark interpretation. The way he evaluated his ex-girlfriend’s behaviour with the cats will make the readers perceive the world and examine it through a completely different dimension. Other stories like “Death Seems to be a Chain Smoker,” “Glow in the dark,” “Candles in the Concrete Jungle” and others seem to be born from the thought of exploring humans and the darker sides of life and giving it unimaginable dimensions. It is interesting to observe how the author draws aspects of the life of a human being and draws comparisons with the different phases of the moon. How a person’s heart goes through different swings of mood is beautifully compared with the phases of the moon at the same time. The metaphorical associations cannot be ignored either. All eighteen stories carry a depth that can be visualized by critical thinking. They are distinct, unique and explore a universe from different viewpoints. Altogether, the anthology would introduce the readers to new worlds and new streams of thought. The language used by the author is easy to understand for any reader, and he features interesting and innovative plots. The stories are very diverse, and at the same time, they are also relatable for the readers. While building up his characters, the author seems to have done extensive research in their development as they appear unique and different from each other altogether. The readers who have an interest in reading short stories or anthologies can try reading “The Lunar Heart.” Even though Vangala features stories that are unique and different from each other, there would be one or the other story with which the readers can relate. They can take a leap into the world of the lunar and explore the different facets of life in a simplistic and multi-dimensional manner. Reviewed by Akhila Saroha