Author– Fredrik Backman

Previous Works– A Man called Ove, Bear Town, Us against You,

Blurb-

It’s New Year’s Eve and House Tricks estate agents are hosting an open viewing in an up-market apartment when an incompetent bank robber rushes in and politely takes everyone hostage.

For Anna-Lena and Roger, busy buying-up apartments to fill the hole in their marriage, it’s something else to talk about.

For Julia and Ro, panicky parents-to-be, it’s yet another worry.

Lonely bank manager Zara only came here for the view.

While 87-year-old grandmother Estelle seems rather pleased by the company . . .

As the police gather outside, the anxious strangers huddled within try to make the best of a very sticky situation – but could it be that they have a whole lot more in common than meets the eye?

Review-

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman revolves around a bank robbery, which is not really a bank robbery, but more of a hostage situation, maybe not even that. It’s the story of an apartment viewing, on a New Year’s eve and the lives of people who came to see that apartment.

This book speaks a lot about anxious people, the way they might think, and the way they are all so different from one another. Anxious People is about unopened letters, unreceived invitations, new beginnings in life, new beginnings to old stories, and new life itself.

Fredrik Backman’s books have always been about people and their minds. The book enlightens on how different people, from different places of success in their lives, can be very same after all. The characters range from newly-weds to successful lady bosses and many others in between. One particular thing that I loved about this book was, this might not be professional help, but it surely is like a soft pat on the back, for people suffering. Most of us really need that, a tiny voice in our head that says everything will be okay.

The characters can seem stupid at times, even one might feel like a rabbit-head (pun intended), but then, that’s the same with humans. We are quite stupid, especially when it concerns people we care about. It is beautiful when such stupidity is demonstrated and celebrated as it does in this book.

This book is also an example of unexpected kindness. It explores the idea of humanity and how we are capable of making great changes. Great changes need not be great after all. They can be small things that make a big difference, even if it’s for one person. It also enlightens the idea that people have good in their hearts, there is warmth in cold, and care in ignorance. The only step to go further is to express the good.

Also Read– Review Pen: Ikigai By Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles

Each and every life connected to this book has something for us to learn from. It doesn’t need to be a motivating lesson, but it surely is something to look forward to. The book carries a lot in itself, hence it’s entirely upon the reader what they would like to take away. As someone who has learned a lot from books, I would advise the reader to try and read between the lines. Try to get the general idea from the situations, rather than focusing on the situations themselves.

Ratings- 4.5 stars out of 5

This book has nothing about clinical anxiety. It is simply the anxious feeling that people have about the simplest things of life and how life is much more than that. This book reflects on caring about things and taking action.

The book is a lovely read. It was even a bit disappointing for me when I completed this, as I knew that I would not be able to be a part of the lives of its characters anymore. It might even give the reader a hangover, and they might want to take a moment before they start reading another. This is surely another of the wholesome, feel-good books that a reader would end up recommending their fellow readers. I would recommend this to you too.

Reviewed by- Banaja Prakashini

This review has been featured in Twinkl, as part of their To Be Read List 2022: Top Book Picks From Authors and Bloggers article.

Buy the book-
Amazon

Reviewer’s interest-

The post Review pen: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman appeared first on Banaja Prakashini.

Book– Accelerating Digital Success

Previous Works–  From Start-Up to Global Success: The Zensar Story, What we really want?

Blurb-

Worldwide business transformation is taking place across multiple industries as organisations are trying to gain a competitive advantage by launching new digital journeys quickly, rapidly and in an agile manner. The COVID-19 transformation and the inexorable push towards a ‘new normal’ for all processes and businesses will definitely see a complete reimagination of work. Digital reengineering will be the new imperative as technologies swarm into the extended workplace, processes get reengineered, design thinking enables a complete rearchitecting of the customer and other stakeholder journeys and touchpoints, and new skills and cultural change become the new imperative for human resource functions as well as the C-suite of all corporations.

Through this book, CEOs, CFOs, CIOs and CDOs of organisations, who have embarked on the journey of digital transformation but have not been able to fully realise the benefits, will gain insights on aligning their existing investment with newer initiatives, as well as develop a proper roadmap for their digital future. Through the plans and deeds of real-life examples of those who have attempted and achieved digital acceleration on their own or in client organisations, readers will learn the proper methods of creating multiple digital accelerators, how to culturally align to new agile ways of delivering rapid solutions and become aware of new mantras of the API economy which can out digital success on steroids!

Review-

Accelerating Digital Success by Ganesh Natarajan, Uma Ganesh, and, Lavanya Jayaram,  is a take on the digital advancement of Indian brands, post the COVID era.

The book has chapters dedicated to explaining the state of digital affairs in India when in-person work was largely valued. Even though digital marketing had sowed its seeds, other sections of the business were yet to follow. The descent of Coronavirus, and the succeeding lockdown, forced the companies into a frenzy of digitization. The more service a brand had to offer, for the customer on the couch, the more advantage they had.  About numerous years of digital advancement, happened in 2020, in India, compared to what had been achieved prior to that. As the result, not only were brands providing better service to their customers, they also were able to get the attention of new potential customers.

The book can sure come in handy, while designing your business strategy, or simply gaining a better perspective on the evolution of consumer requirements in the pre-COVID period and the ongoing post-COVID era.

One might assume that the book speaks only of the digital counterparts of a business, but thankfully, the authors did not limit it to that. The reader can get insights on how to expand their business on the digital grounds, and also go beyond that. As the impact of digitization has opened new opportunities for brands, it has also increased the competition for them. For brands to survive and flourish in such an environment, they need to better themselves, and this book sure does provide the help. It encourages the readers to brainstorm on what their next step could be, to make their consumers get the most of their service. The book does it quite subtly as well. In a way that provides motivation, but without spelling it out in clear sentences.

The authors have tried to focus on the different components of a business. From business infrastructure, investment in digitization, service enhancement, all the way to suggestions on employee productivity. They have added those, and much more.

Each chapter has been divided into sections, which just made the reading more informative, as I knew the subject being dealt with, and could come back to topics I could not understand in the first try.

Also Read- Review Pen: The Quantum Reality of Life by Saravanan Marimuthu

Another remarkable part of the book that I would like to focus on, it provides the answer to the question, “Will digitization and RPA replace human necessity in jobs?”. The answer is a straight yes, the book explains how the requirement of upgrading the industry, would require humans to upgrade their own skillset. With the rise of technology, the demands and the qualifications in need would also rise, which is a perfect opportunity for people to prepare and educate to be in demand in the future.

Ratings- 4.5 stars out of 5

From the point of view of someone who hasn’t studied Business Administration, I did feel left out in certain areas. But from the perspective of someone who has read research articles and reviews, the book has had its material well-presented, with advice, case studies, and conclusions to derive in the end. So, feel free to Google certain things that you were not able to grasp, no shame in that. For the students who are pursuing any degree in Business Administration, I think this book would be of great help to your curriculum. It provides sufficient content for a good seminar or mid-semester project submission.

Reviewed by- Banaja Prakashini

Buy the book-

Amazon

Reviewer’s interest-

About Ganesh Natarajan-

Ganesh Natarajan is co-founder and chairman of 5F World and Lighthouse communities Foundation and a director of State Bank of India, GTT, Skills Alpha, Kalzoom Advisors, Principal Center for AI & Advanced Analytics, Hinduja Global Solutions, SVP International, Educate Girls, the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network. Ganesh Natarajan is the author of Business Process Reengineering, BPR- A CEO GUide, Knowledge Management, Knowledge Force (with Uma  Ganesh). Winds of Change, Through the Corporate Lens, What we really want (with Lavanya Jayaram), Inspired and From Start-Up to Global Success.

About Uma Ganesh-

Uma Ganesh is Co-Founder and Chairperson of Global Talent Track, which provides live training and digital platforms for talent development in Asia. She is also a board member of Skills alpha, Centre for  Advanced Analytics and AI, and Emoha ElderCare. She was earlier the CEO of Zee TV’s Education business. She is the co-author of the book, Knowledge Force.

About Lavanya Jayaram-

Lavanya Jayarama is a high-energy marketing and strategy professional. previously CMO of ZEnsar Technologies and is currently a passionate change agent focused on driving innovative business strategies and business improvements for technology companies.

The post Review Pen: Accelerating Digital Success by Ganesh Natarajan, Uma Ganesh, Lavanya Jayaram appeared first on Banaja Prakashini.

Book– The Quantum Reality of Life

Previous Works– Debut Novel

Blurb-

Seeking is a natural attribute of mankind that propels us through time to find answers to the known unknowns. But in today’s materialistic world, the notion of seeking has been misdirected, forcing us to create false identities attached to our artificially created concepts. And when such identities are challenged, we build emotions which constitute our actions to protect them, often resulting in destructive outcomes.

In this book, I have tried to explore & elucidate few perplexing questions, to which we all seek answers, through the concepts of Science, Religion & Spirituality. But is it possible that these three concepts of mankind are essentially the same, which have been interpreted by our ancestors in different ways at different points throughout our history? And could science be the unifier of all these concepts that can then be quantified & summarized into a single accepted Theory of Mankind? Can our latest discoveries in Quantum Mechanics & its associated theories help us in achieving this objective?

Review-

The Quantum Reality of Life by Saravanan Marimuthu is a non-fiction that correlates spirituality and its various other counterparts to science and mostly physics.

The book does notable justice to its title, by linking reality to the quantum of everything that denotes the most probable explanations.

The concept of life itself is a debatable topic. While the fanatics choose to believe anything that goes in accordance with their beliefs, the realists tend to question whenever they cannot find the right reason behind something. With the two sects separated since the start, it’s rather tough to find a common ground. This book does the effort to do so.

Even though I have read quite a few books in this field, the author’s effort is worth appreciation. The table of contents reflects the execution plan of the book. Starting with the explanation of Quantum mechanics and then following with the concept of thoughts was a rather proper approach. Since the entire existence of beliefs are a result of the thoughts we have, explaining their nature first, before trying to throw light on anything that might remotely challenge an individual’s faith was indeed a smart choice. Even though a reader might be willing to handle some criticism, it is always the right choice to go slow and as in this case, with explanations.

Also Read- Review Pen : Meeting Yama by Manoj V Jain

Then the book moves to the birth of the human body with the evolution chapter and then the main event starts with the introduction of religion, spirituality, and the various notions of existence. The proper description of the rest chapters, if provided, will make the review, spoiler ridden and might ruin the experience of the reader who chooses to read the review first. The rest of the chapters try to enlighten the most debated spiritual aspects and hence need no explanation for the nature of connectivity they possess.

Physics is the most highlighted simplification of the book, which indicates the author’s interest in that area. There are other aspects like biology, psychology as well, used to provide a better understanding, but the use of physics stands out the most. The use of the technical terms can be noticed, which might be off-limits for a layman.

The book is an interpretation of the author’s thoughts and hence should be read with no personal expectations.

The chapters conclude that be it the beliefs, the teachings, or the logical explanation behind any statement, what makes the most impact are the actions of an individual.

Ratings- 4 stars out of 5

Even though not in layman’s terms, the book does the best possible to be self-explanatory for the reader. But the best possible might not be enough for all. The book may appeal to the ones who are looking for challenging reads. When not from the related field, the book needs to be thoroughly read, with a bit of the individual research from the reader’s part. This makes the book a commitment of sorts and the reader should be ready for it.

Reviewed by- Banaja Prakashini

Buy the book-

Amazon

Reviewer’s interest-

About Saravanan Marimuthu-

Saravanan Marimuthu is a dynamic, young and successful second generation entrepreneur, and an active traveler having explored more than 30 countries around the world. The author holds engineering in the Electronics background and proficient management skills. Being an avid reader, he developed great interest towards physics, cosmology and spirituality.He went on to discover the depth of various speculations about life, ended up having unanswered questions and ambiguous thoughts. His search for the known unknowns led him to author this book. Here are his thoughts drawing analogies and correlations between the modern theories of physics and ancient beliefs of spirituality & religion.

The post Review Pen: The Quantum Reality of Life by Saravanan Marimuthu appeared first on Banaja Prakashini.

Book– Meeting Yama

Previous Works– Dystopia, Ramona, A Man from Mandu

Blurb-

From the moment we are born, we start our journey towards death. Some walk slowly, others run towards it, some skip and dance their way there, while others crawl.

In his seventh book, author Manoj Jain dwells on the uncomfortable topic of death. Interspersed with stories from Indian mythology, Meeting Yama is set in the mystical city of Varanasi where all answers are given if one is willing to listen.

Amrit, Rajat and Surya, three visitors meet each other in this city and find resolutions to the issues that they carry within them.

If you are reading this, then there is probably something in the book that is meant for you.

Review-

Meeting Yama by Manoj V Jain, is an account of three men, being mysteriously drawn to Varanasi and their quest for the unknown.

Amrit, Rajat, and Surya have very different lives and different woes.

Amrit has had to see his only family slowly drift away from him. His desperate attempts to make life easier for his mother had not stopped the curse of time. A part of him stays wondering whether his mother knew he was thankful for her.

Rajat, a doctor who lacks empathy and sees everything through the lens of science. For him, it’s all black or white. The city he visits on friendly advice teaches him the grey in human lives. He feels the significance of his family, more than their worldly tags of wife, mother, and father.

Suraj, a travel company co-owner, and his crippling marriage. He sees a deity calling to him in his dreams and searches all travel destinations in the hope of finding it. The city, Varanasi, though fills him with certain ideas, it also enlightens him on a certain loss that haunted his family. Above all, Suraj finds the hope that had left him, years ago.

Also Read- Review Pen: Past Dwellers by Samridh Seth

The character Amrit is a homosexual. There has been a rising demand for LGBTQ rights in India. This little step, of making a character in his book, part of the rainbow community, shows how the author is not ignorant and wishes to spread awareness. The gesture is extremely thoughtful.

One of the remarkable things the reader witnesses is Rajat’s change in perception. I wouldn’t have believed that people change in a day. Their minds do not broaden, they don’t start accepting different things, all of a sudden. But it usually takes the right situation to resonate with our thoughts. We feel ready to accommodate more, after that. The same happens with Rajat.

The book is very helpful in understanding the concept of death. Though a necessity for life to flourish, it’s not easy to explain death and its significance to every. This book tries to simplify it and has slipped the gist of it to the readers, between those stories. I had suggested this book to a high-schooler, who was rather distressed about the death of someone close. The book did the work, it really helped the person accept the loss.

The language is simple, hence the book can be read by young people who wish to understand death.

I did expect the book to be different than what it was. I would admit, my expectations weren’t high, but I liked the concept.

Ratings- 3.5 stars out of 5

This book is not exactly for seasoned readers. If the reader has been through books that provide a deeper meaning of life, the book doesn’t provide anything more. It might disappoint mature readers, so the audience becomes limited to amateur ones.

Reviewed by- Banaja Prakashini

Buy the book-

Amazon

Reviewer’s interest-

The post Review Pen : Meeting Yama by Manoj V Jain appeared first on Banaja Prakashini.

Book– Past Dwellers

Previous Works– Debut Novel

Blurb-

The past is not a permanent state of being, but a stepping stone to the future. Instead of dwelling on the mistakes and regrets of the past, learn from them and open your mind and self to a new tomorrow, one that will be brighter, more enriched than before.

With the author’s own experience of pulling himself out of the clutches of the past, he explains a few very important but relatively simple life lessons to learn to let go of your past and maximise your present to build your future. These include:

Making wise choices.
Being conscious of the value of time.
Knowing the people you spend time with.
Using your senses to observe and absorb your environment.
Understanding your abilities and being able to tap them carefully.
Most of all, building a strong foundation and never stopping learning, evolving, and growing.

Don’t stay in one place, move on, and build your own future by being present in the moment!

Review-

Past Dwellers by Samridh Seth, is a work of non-fiction on self-development.

The book tries to summarize the various aspects of life that one needs to concentrate on, to achieve success. It has sixteen chapters, each dedicated to explaining a thought process or experience. These experiences can be traced back to the author’s dealings in his past life.

The book enlists a set of 15 steps in the end, with an extra section entitled, “Past Dweller’s Guidebook to the Present”. Each of the steps mentioned follows a short description. These steps can be included in one’s daily life to bring change. The change in approach and these steps included, may be beneficial for the practitioner.

The book might serve as a good coffee table book because of the minimalist yet beautiful cover. The presentation and arrangement of chapters are quite neat. A sketch at the start of each chapter really adds to the charm.

Ratings- 3 stars out of 5

The book is titled “Past Dwellers”, and the blurb speaks about ways to deal with your past, which is very different than the content of the book. There was very little mention of dealing with the past. If it’s about dealing with the past, acceptance is most important. When a reader picks a title, they have certain expectations, and the book underdelivers in that point of view.

Also Read- Review Pen: The Fishbowl by Vivek Kumar

The chapters are very skillfully titled, the goals are made clear, but the approach could have been better. The advice in the book is very aggressive. For momentary motivation, it would be very helpful, but if followed for too long, would cause the individual to burn out. The process isn’t advisable for longer terms. While it’s good to have an energetic take-off, like the words in this book, to stay in the air, one needs patience and kindness. The sort of kindness that one shows to themselves so that they can heal from the past.

When I picked the book, I was expecting some healing words that real past dwellers need. I was expecting the book to be a calmer journey towards the present. A book that could help readers to accept their past mistakes and misdoings and give them another chance to do well with their lives. One would expect the book to be full of experiences that the author had chosen to share with their readers, but it’s not the case. The book is not going to appeal to people who can only be influenced by an example and not mere words.

While this sort of motivation might work at times, but will it work for everyone? There is an old saying, the same boiling water that softens the potato, will harden the egg. The motivation might work for younger individuals who can get emotionally charged from those millionaire quotes on social media, but this won’t be applicable for the older audience who have had more experience with life. A book that is written during the lockdown of 2020, lacks in its values regarding patience, which is quite an irony.

Charging at life, head-on is a great start, but as one goes through life and experiences a diversity of situations, the importance of taking it slowly becomes evident.

This book was quite some motivation, but will it reach the right audience, who are very specific? This kind of motivation may be applicable to a very limited section of society.

Reviewed by- Banaja Prakashini

Buy the book-

Amazon

Reviewer’s interest-

The post Review Pen: Past Dwellers by Samridh Seth appeared first on Banaja Prakashini.

Author– Vivek Kumar

Book– The Fishbowl – Story of the Storyteller

Previous Works– To catch a smile, To Catch A Butterfly, Love, Me & Bullshit

Blurb-

It’s all just a fishbowl
you are sleeping inside
and when you wake up
it will be gone.

— The cloaked man.

Remembering childhood as it used to be before it was devoured by reality, this E-Book straddles the twin worlds – of an imaginative little boy and of the boarding school realities – in a rural India town. A heartfelt narration of teenage tales, of rebellion and romance, of friendship and alienation, ‘The Fishbowl’ recreates a surrealistic but real world. And if you look close enough, you will find a reflection of yourself in it, for no man or woman is untouched by the passage of time and its after-effect on childhood memories.

Review-

The Fishbowl – Story of the Storyteller by Vivek Kumar, is about a young boy’s life, as he leaves the comfort of his house and ventures into the world at a young age. The narration leads us through the exposure of his young mind to the various sets of people. Seeing his classmates, who even though his age, possess very different personalities. The young boy is able to relate to a few of them, and for some, he simply stays back and observes.

He starts seeing the various mundane activities of his school life, as something different. Incorporating his imagination into them, he sees them in a new light. His mind comes up with characters, and then he gives them a story and at times a purpose, which is often forgotten after the night’s affair.

His little imagination, plays with the boundaries of nightmares, shadowing his dreams and waking him up in cold sweat.

Like every growing child, Roshan experiences adolescence, along with it, comes curiosity and the loss of innocence to knowledge. This part of the story may fill the reader with nostalgia, because of its similarity to our own childhood. There were certain activities that the boys indulged in, of which I personally do not approve. But I also have no means of claiming that young boys do not behave that way. The possibilities are certain.  There were instances where Roshan, could have embarked on a path that would deteriorate him eventually, but the circumstances did not favor. Those were a clear reminder to the reader, that Roshan, even if a little misled at that moment, was a pure soul.

The book will make the reader travel back in time and relive their own memories of school life. Our attractions as kids, and our fascination towards something new. Our curiosity and willingness to find the explanation for things we did not know. It all comes back. I remember myself, smiling fondly at some childish encounters as I was reading the book.

I liked the fishbowl approach as it gives a prequel vibe, where they reveal the main character’s back story. But I’m not sure if I can appreciate it, as the book is not a prequel and happens to be a standalone so far.

The book sports a cover with a child’s head in a fishbowl. It depicts the mind of Roshan, which stays within the boundaries he made for himself. The cover is surely a great choice and in fact makes the viewer curious about the content and the plot.

Ratings- 3.2 stars out of 5

The book can be a bit difficult to read. The narration is extremely passive and sometimes to make sense of certain paragraphs, re-reading is required.

The appearance of the cloaked man happens every now and then, but the purpose of his visit is still blurry to me. The evolution of the storyteller from the story-dweller was to be blamed entirely on the circumstance and society. The fishbowl was the place for Roshan, a safe and secure haven for him, which can also be his bubble. He stayed in his bubble and was happy and comfortable in it. He was forced to come out of the fishbowl when he realized how he had to struggle to strive in the world.

The character of the cloaked man seemed unnecessary, whatever the boy went through, the man had no part in it, it seemed like he was just a figment of the boy’s imagination, not a confidant with whom the boy could discuss his ideas, if not real. The boy was going to be out of the fishbowl, one way or another, the man did not save him, nor did he play any part in changing the boy’s fate. The character seemed like an addition that would provide enough reason to confuse a reader.

Also Read- Review Pen: Ikigai By Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles

I would admit it took me a while to get my thoughts on this book together, I wanted to know the purpose of the boy’s imagination.

The boy’s imagination contributed nothing to the book’s plot, it could have been skipped altogether. The book could have been a sole coming of age story and I would say it would be more enjoyable.

The adventures of the boy in his head were a distraction for the reader which strays the reader from the path of the real storyline. One would spend too much time, trying to figure if there is another side to the story when all it is about is a kid’s transition from boyhood to adulthood.

The book is a good read no doubt, but it may test the patience of the reader, especially when it leads you on with a different expectation but ends up with another. You don’t understand where the book is headed until the last chapter. The last chapter truly throws the light on the book’s purpose and makes everything clear, but the narration makes it difficult for the reader to stay till the end.

It was a particular relief for me when I completed the book because most things fell into place. I was happy to know that the storyteller who was at first only living the story, had decided to take the reins in his own hands and the title started making sense. But what the ending also made me wonder was, will a reader have the patience to sit through the chapters, only to discover the ending which is worth it.

I appreciate books that provide an effortless reading. Books that make you turn pages in anticipation. Endings are important, but a book should also make the entire journey enjoyable for the reader. This is where the book fell short. The destination was beautiful but the journey could have been better.

You enjoy something more when your expectations are lived up to. It would be better if the reader is able to figure what to expect because so far I think some seasoned readers would be able to grasp the concept, while beginners will lose track, but then, seasoned readers have high expectations which the book’s uncertainty doesn’t deliver.

Reviewed by- Banaja Prakashini

Buy the book-
Amazon

Reviewer’s interest-

About the author-

Vivek Kumar is a Brand consultant based out of Mumbai. “The Fishbowl” is his fourth work of fiction. Film-making is his other pursuit. The author of ‘The Fishbowl’, Vivek Kumar, studied in a Government-funded boarding school, situated on the outskirts of a Tier-III city in Central India.  Vivek Kumar ‘s earlier works are (1. To Catch A Smile – CinnamonTeal, 2008, 2. To Catch A Butterfly – PustakMahal, 2010, 3. Love, Me & Bullshit! – Srishti Publishers, 2012). He can be reached at vivglobal@gmail.com

The post Review Pen: The Fishbowl by Vivek Kumar appeared first on Banaja Prakashini.

Book– Ikigai – The Japanese secret to a long and happy life

Previous Works– Ichigo Ichie

Blurb-

The people of Japan believe that everyone has an Ikigai- a reason to jump out of bed each morning. Inspiring and comforting, this book will give you the life-changing tools to uncover your personal Ikigai. It will show you how to leave urgency behind, find your purpose, nurture friendships, and throw yourself into your passions.

Bring meaning and joy to every day with Ikigai.

Review-

Ikigai – The Japanese secret to a long and happy life, by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles is a well-researched portrayal of its title.

Ikigai can be assumed to be similar to finding the purpose of life. It’s about doing something that you truly enjoy and would enjoy for the rest of your life. The association of you and your Ikigai, should bring about positivity in you and should also help you grow as a person. In a true sense, it could mean indulging in a certain activity that not contributes to your existence but also brings immense pleasure for you.

The authors, Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles explain the origin of the term and the history related to it. The book is the result of a thorough study that has been conducted by the authors, with one of their destinations being Ogimi, a village in Okinawa, Japan which is famous for its long-living residents. The 80+-year-olds consider themselves as young and contribute to the community one way or another. Though the study for the book explores various subjects such as wellness of the mind, indulging in physical activity, to distinguish between tasks worthy of attention, etc, a majority of the conclusions can be traced back to the interaction with the Ogimi residents.

Also Read- Review Pen: The Girl With The Lower Back tattoo by Amy Schumer

The book includes some points for light therapy and also encourages the reader to find their purpose. If not found, to keep looking. The techniques mentioned in the book, for both therapy and physical activity, can be utilized in day to day life to monitor ourselves. The authors try to help the reader, in dealing with their current lives by opening a door of sorts to the Japanese secret. Not only they let us in, but they also give a step-by-step procedure on how we could turn our lives for good. The practice is extremely practical and they can be used by students, professionals, parents, and the elderly alike.

The tone of the book is very soothing and projects as if the reader is actually a listener. The language is both sophisticated and enriching, which definitely contributes to a better reading experience. The findings were very to the point and there was no beating around the bush. They were all backed by evidence, hence the book is more of a research article than a person’s personal take on the subject. The authors were very impartial in their work, so the book may be applicable to a wide range of people as it provides different alternatives for overall wellness.

Ratings- 4.8 stars out of 5

A few of the advice from the book that can be listed are, to stay active, take it slow, surround yourself with good friends, get in shape, smile, be thankful, live in the moment, etc. Though the takeaways from the book seem to be very mundane, the way they have been explained in the book is worth the read. The positivity that can be derived from each of the mentioned pieces of advice, has been beautifully explained, linking it to how it has been able to used by individuals in their lives and how a purposeful life has lead to their happiness.

Reviewed by- Banaja Prakashini

Buy the book-

Reviewer’s interest-

The post Review Pen: Ikigai By Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles appeared first on Banaja Prakashini.

Book– The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo

Previous Works– Debut Novel

Blurb-

From award-winning comedian, writer, producer and actress Amy Schumer comes The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, a thoughtful, honest and hysterical collection of (very) personal essays.

Never one to shy away from the uproarious, challenging and remarkable moments that make up life, this exceptionally candid book will have readers wincing with recognition, nodding their head in solidarity and laughing out loud. Written with Amy’s signature candour, she reflects on her often raucous childhood antics, her hard won and incomparable rise to comedic stardom and the courage it takes to approach the world with astounding honesty every single day. Surely the most anticipated collection of the year, Amy shines bright as a friend, daughter, sister, unforgettable comedian and most notably, a masterful (and always entertaining) storyteller.

Review-

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer is a memoir. I could have called it an autobiography (because that’s what it is), but the author has specifically mentioned that the book is not an autobiography. She has gone ahead and added that she would write an autobiography when she is ninety, so this is not it.

The book is about Amy Schumer’s journey into the world of comedy. A well-known face in the comic industry, Amy wasn’t all she is. Though the book is about her struggle, it doesn’t paint a clear picture of what Amy wanted to be as a child. The only crystal clear point we get from the book is, she loved performing. Be it dancing, singing, acting, or telling jokes, Amy loved being on the stage, it gave her a sort of high.

In the book, Amy Schumer talks about her sex life. How her jokes on stage make her seem like a rather irresponsible lady, even when she has had just one one night stand (Spoiler alert! Sorry!). She talks about her family, her relationship with her mother, her father’s Multiple Sclerosis, her sister’s companionship, and also a bit about her brother. She recalls all those weird activities that she had done in her past and all the important lessons that she had learned from it.

Also Read- Review Pen: World’s Best Husband by Nandita Saini

Reading the book feels like you are in a conversation with the author, and she is talking to you about life. There aren’t too many important takeaways from the book, but simply the usual moral of working hard and being nice. The author shares her experience about the life she has had and the unapologetic love she has for everything that feels right. She empowers you to embrace yourself.

There were times when I felt that the book was written because the author wanted to point out that she wasn’t an overnight success because of the TV show Last Comic Standing, she had worked hard to be where she is. In all reality, it’s true. She has mentioned in the book how she caught the comedy bug and would go from one place to another, trying to get a spot to perform, just so that she can be better. She writes about how she felt when she realized she wasn’t good enough but worked hard to have more content and jokes so that she would be better.

There have been times when Amy Schumer has been forced to fit into society’s unrealistic and pathetic standards for women and she readily speaks against it.

This book is of a woman who feels sorry for herself at times, and still respects and loves herself. She stands tall in the face of the hate that people spread and happily gives them the finger. This book is so honest that I feel women would relate to it a lot. They would relate to the days they have felt unwanted, unloved and the days when dark clouds hover over them. They would also relate to the days when they had felt enough and full as the sun has finally decided to shine. This book is like a pat on the back saying, “We all make mistakes, we all have done things we aren’t proud of, but that doesn’t mean we can’t shine”. And above all, this book makes you laugh, quite a lot.

Ratings- 4.5 stars out of 5

This book isn’t for everyone. This isn’t something that you would recommend to a fellow reader if asked, but you would be glad that you read it. This is just a book that is supposed to be picked without any expectations. It is also a one-time read, but the one time you read it, you won’t want to put it down until you have completed it.

Reviewed by- Banaja Prakashini

Buy the book-

Amazon

Also Read-

About the author-

Amy Schumer has proven herself one of the entertainment industry’s leading forces as a stand-up comedian, actress, writer, producer, and director. Her smash hit television series Inside Amy Schumer has won a Peabody Award, a Critics Choice Television Award, and two primetime Emmy awards. She wrote and starred in her first feature-length film, Trainwreck, which dominated the 2015 summer comedy international box office and was nominated for two Golden Globes and won a Hollywood Film Award for “Comedy of the Year.” As a stand-up comedian, she continues to tour to sold out shows around the world.

The post Review Pen: The Girl With The Lower Back tattoo by Amy Schumer appeared first on Banaja Prakashini.

Book– World’s Best Husband

Previous Works– Debut Novel

Blurb-

We have read stories of Love-Marriages, Arrange-Marriages and Love-cum-Arrange Marriages. This is a heart-warming story of an Arrange-cum-Love Marriage of a 24-year-old boy Advik and 22-year-old girl Nandini. Too busy in enjoying their life and too young to think about marriage. How did their thoughts change about marriage in just 2 days after they met? Perfect first Arranged-Date, Perfect courtship period, Perfect bonding and Perfect togetherness before and after marriage. Then what caused her to be despondent and depressed after marriage?

This is the story about how Advik changed her perspectives, helped her resolve her issues and strengthened the bond of love and attachment.

Women say Men change after Marriage, here a wife is happily saying she changed herself for her husband. What made her believe totally in him and have blind faith on him?

Their issues are not just theirs. They are faced by many girls after marriage, in our society.

How can every Advik and every Nandini make a difference in their life and bring about a Change in Society? Let’s uncover their enchanting love story.

Review-

World’s best husband by Nandita Saini, can be called the story of almost every woman in India, who gets married. Now the ending and the plot twists might be different but the central idea remains the same.

Nandini nearly had her life figured out when her parents dropped the wedding bomb on her. With the plans for her future and a career ladder to climb, she decided against marriage but went ahead with meeting the guy, just to make her family happy.

Advik seemed to be everything that Nandini had wanted for her. The good looks, the charm, the simplicity and above it all, the respect with which he treated her, won her over and she was eager for the wedding bells to ring.

As the two got ready for their journey called life, the usual obstacles that a married couple faces in India, come into the scene.

The initial parts of the book can be called boring. For someone who has read dreamy love stories and even the crazy ones, the book would really be challenging to keep reading. But then the author adds the cheese (I could say spice but it isn’t spicy, so cheese it is). The ending, unlike what I had expected was a deep lesson.

Also Read-Review Pen: Paltan Tales & Random Jottings by Col KK Sharma

Women in India are worshipped in the temples and abused inside homes, hence women empowerment tends to preach women to stand up for their rights. I had expected the book to end with a confrontation between the girl and her in-laws. I had assumed she would make them understand that they should learn to respect her as well. The opposite happens, and though it might not seem the best way to end the story, in all practicality, I congratulate the author for doing so.

Years of being looked down upon, and we have cultivated a habit of rebelling against anything that doesn’t accept us. The author throws the light on a rather understanding side of marriage. Advik urges Nandini to try and cope with his family who has no understanding of the concept of respect for her.

It seemed out of place to me. Trying to make peace with someone who doesn’t even respect you, by bowing your head in front of them, its definitely a revolting idea. But then reality hit me. Not every situation is in favor of you, and no path is flowery. If the road to a happy married life goes through people with an age-old mindset, some sacrifices can be made. This is what the author highlights and it is true. After a certain age, certain kinds of people never change. Their ideologies will be absorbed in them, a slight effort for change will feel like an attack. And to confront such people with a modern mindset, would only add arguments and sour faces in your life.

The book would be a great read for beginners and even the ones who enjoy light reading.

Ratings- 2.5 stars out of 5

The book is not for seasoned readers. The writing could be improved to a great extent and any additions could be made to the storyline. The lesson was a, one mention in one chapter, I would have appreciated it more had it been a slow realization rather than a conversation.

The author’s narration has a place for improvement, while the writing has an important meaning, it would be great to see the writing style to be molded into something better, which would add even more substance to what the author wishes to convey via her story.

Reviewed by- Banaja Prakashini

Buy the book-

Amazon

Also Read-

About Nandita Saini-

Nandita Saini was born and brought up in Gujarat, India, in a family of a Government official. She is an Electronics and Communication Engineer and Master of Business Administration by Education. She is a Data Scientist by profession, passionately pursuing her career in Artificial Intelligence. She earned the title of ‘Winner of Best Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence Solution’ by Dubai Government Organisation. She likes to continuously upgrade her skill set and explore new exciting ventures in her life. She currently lives in Dubai with her loving family, who is her biggest support system, motivation, and strength. Her day never completes without exercise, yoga, music, and spending quality time with her family. She is passionate about exploring new places and world cultures with her family and friends.

Women Empowerment is very close to her heart. She stepped into writing to pour out her innermost feelings, touch lives, hold hands, and collaborate to make this a better place.

The post Review Pen: World’s Best Husband by Nandita Saini appeared first on Banaja Prakashini.

Book– Paltan Tales and Random Jottings

Previous Works– Debut novel

Blurb-

Soldiering is a tough job, and guarding the frontiers of the nation is a responsibility shouldered by the soldiers with their lives at stake, leaving behind their kith and kin. While there are few whose valor and bravery are recorded and recognized, there are many others who remain unsung. They live an isolated, rugged, and dangerous life, threatened not only by the enemy but also by nature, where they serve. ‘Paltan Tales’ is a collection of sixteen short stories related to the rigors and tribulations experienced by soldiers who don the uniform as a profession. ‘Random Jottings’ are memoirs of the author’s participation in two wars and counter-insurgency operations. They provide an insight into their world of success, failure, destruction, and death, narrating the mental trauma and the physical dangers, which the soldiers face.

Review-

Paltan Tales & Random Jottings by Col KK Sharma is an anthology of short stories that a soldier had picked from his life in the war. Most of the stories are derived from some event or incident that the author had come across in his life. The stories cover a wide range. From the call of the night to the ambush at sight, the reader finds a great variety of stories to relish.

Our soldiers are tried to be paid well in exchange for the sacrifices they have given to their nation. Luckily, the country is at peace for now. Amidst the fight to conquer the virus and the occasional terrorist and Maoists that threaten the wellbeing, our country still stands strong as a nation perfectly able to protect itself, because of the thousands of soldiers who have dedicated their lives to the country. But then the situation wasn’t always the same. There were times of war when the country needed good men at its borders and the book revolves around that time.

The book is composed of 16 short stories and four chapters with random notes of the war-time. The short stories as I mentioned before are, diverse and explore various aspects of life, related to that of a solider. A runaway child, a runaway soldier, encounters with death, a love story lost in the waves of time, a love story lost in the clutches of illiteracy, and a lot more. The last four chapters contain random notes which are probably diary entries. If all taken into consideration, they add up perfectly well and paint the picture of a soldier’s life where suffering is an inescapable truth and the only comfort comes from adjustment.

Also Read-Review Pen: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas

The stories are definitely worth reading but the attention goes to the jottings in the end. Apart from being informational, as I got to know so many things that I had not known before, you get glimpses of the life a soldier lives. Away from home, with the thought of your loved ones in your head, wanting to go back but stopped by duty. It’s amazing how even after wanting so badly to go home, having the constant fear of death, of not being able to see their families, these men hold the fort and even come to each other’s rescue. Maybe that’s the mayhem of war, you want so much but at the time of need, the country stands first.

I had a notion that soldiers are not afraid. Maybe their training period is so tough that it changes the meaning of life for them and eventually, the nation becomes everything. Thanks to this book, I know the mundane side of that. The soldiers are simple men who have their own set of emotions. They want to be loved and remembered. But when bullets wheeze past and their life is on the line, their unconscious minds make them choose duty, and bravery takes over.

The last four chapters with the random jottings were something like journal entries from the author’s time. I made another observation from those chapters. None of the jottings had any specific information that could have been valuable to anyone reading the entries. All events were recorded after they happened and care was taken that no location is revealed in the settings. If these are actual war-time notes, they have been cleverly written to give the pleasure of writing but care has been taken that it would not be useful if they ever fall in the hands of an enemy.

Ratings- 3.5 stars out of 5

The book is great for a one time read. It isn’t something that you would go back to, but you definitely love to recommend these tales to your friends. It’s worth savoring the experience.

The presentation of the book was fine, but there are some improvements that could be done for a better reading experience. For instance, Random Jottings of 1965 War, the chapter is written in an active voice, while the next chapter is written in a passive voice, making the latter more comfortable for reading. They also prove to be two chapters that provide for comparison.

Reviewed by- Banaja Prakashini

Buy the book-

Amazon

Also Read-

Col KK Sharma-

The post Review Pen: Paltan Tales & Random Jottings by Col KK Sharma appeared first on Banaja Prakashini.