Book Review : 2 Peg Ke Baad by Nikita Lalwani

Book- 2 Peg Ke Baad

Author- Nikita Lalwani

Genre- Fiction (Short Stories)

Publisher- Srishti Publishers


Blurb-

What happens when you are two pegs down and all your memories are a little hazy?

14 stories, 14 drunkards and 14 instances of rage, negligence, comedy, realization and many more.



Title and Cover-

Well thought of, actually it seems the first point of the book in real terms. It indicates the start-up or an idea in a more glorified way. A well suited name of course.

On the other hand, with a simplistic name the author could have added more images to the cover related to what one is about to see in the book. Still a large glass of alcohol wasn’t much depressing too. Overall a nice effort.


Characters-

All the stories had one common element, the 2 pegs down characters who were ruling the book like hell. I loved the characters of some stories because of their unique characteristics and usage of voice in a very perfect and proper way.

From all the people casted in the book I liked, Rosita, Laxmi, Satpute, Ayesha and Kiara. They were magnificently crafted.


Review-

“2 peg ke baad” is a nice collection of stories ranging from one genre to other. The beauty lies in the concept which is used very smartly by the author. The stories in the book show colours of various orders and thus it saves the reader from the boredom which the discontinuity of short stories can cause.

“My last painting” is a normal story but what I liked about it is the fact that how the transitions were shown in one’s life and in the characters, with the help of just one simple paragraph. It was a powerful one and it brought the essence of serenity. I was disheartened by the ending, and that can be seen as a good sign or a bad one too.

Next in queue is “When all that mattered was a gun”. The story didn’t end the way I was thinking and that is why I loved it. It was nice to see the bonding, friendship and the aura of younger and chirpy days. The story had enough amount of suspense to blow your mind and a lot of comic elements to lighten you completely.

“Drive in-sanity” is another hilarious tale of two girls who are out to enjoy but somehow the 2 pegs that they have gulped down have made things a bit awkwardly funny. The changes in the tales are the best parts because it suits the theme in a very prominent way.

Further I loved “Rosita in the bar” because I found the main lead very dark and mysterious and it is because of her character that the story turned out to be a bit spooky in a nicer way. I loved how the narrator was telling the story and how things progressed. Was I expecting a little different end, umm, yeah.

Then all the stories which were lined up in the end were superb because they were wide in their aspect. “It’s not a love story” is not a love story (chuckles). It’s a story about a weird bond which two people share and what roles they play in each other’s life. The concept was mingled well with the book because a person is more open and exuberant once he/she is a little down. The story was a great encounter.

“Euphobia” on the other hand was comic fantasy, executed well with some right amount of gestures and fear used here and there to bring out the best. I couldn’t believe the end and that is why the story topped the list.

I thought the author was at her best in the story “Epilogue” because she showed a lot in a very few pages. It is the best story of the book, followed by “What happens in Banaras....” and “Euphobia”, then I can line up “Drive in-sanity” and “It’s not a love story”.

Summing up- The 14 short stories were great in one way or the other. But sadly not all the stories were up to that mark. When you are reading a collection then one expects the next story in the line to be better than the previous one. Here some stories were less shiny and thus only around half of the total stories could leave an impression and they were definitely extravagant.


Eye-catchers-

“...that is how it happens in most of our Indian families. Education to please relatives, marriage to please more unpleased relatives, then kids to please relatives who have suffered all the other pleasures of life.”

“I would like to marry a person who can speak up at the right time and not just over beer.”

“It is advisable that to overcome a break up one must get engaged to something and not someone.”

“...the world inside of me is much prettier and it comes up only once the rest of the world fades away.”


Turn-on’s-

• Different emotions brought from the same background.


Turn-off’s-

• Stories like “A walk with...”, “How we...”, “Apology...” etc had portions which were heard. Some things seemed to be picked from a movie to be very frank.

• In some stories the predictions building up in my mind worked, making the stories sober, less interesting and below the mark.


Recommendation-

Missing light humour, 2 peg ke baad can be your pick for a light read.


About the author-

Dr. Nikita Lalwani considers to be married to writing and is very happy with that. Swimming, spiritualistic, reading, learning new languages are her other girlfriends. She authored her first non-fiction work Live Life... Stop Analysing It when she was 16. Nikita believes that destiny happened to be destiny, but writing is where she truly finds herself.


Connect with the author-

• "http://www.2pegkebaad.com"

•"https://www.facebook.com/2pegkebaad"

• Twitter - @2pegKeBaad


Buy the book-

• Amazon link-
http://www.amazon.in/gp/aw/d/938266565X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470758039&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX118_SY170_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=2+peg+ke+baad+by+nikita+lalwani

Book Blitz : Rightfully Wrong Wrongfully Right by Varsha Dixit.

#askvarsha contest
Ask Author Varsha Dixit a question on your blog and she will answer you in her own unique way. Watch out this space for more. Only the best questions will be selected.

My Question for #askvarsha is..

More efforts are needed in - creating a strong lady character or making the tale sound a little less feministic?

RIGHTFULLY WRONG, WRONGFULLY RIGHT

by

Varsha Dixit

Blurb

Love is in the air again…this time it’s steamy, bold and manipulative!

Gayatri and Viraj both are products of childhood trauma. Yet they were able to survive, one because of her shrewdness and the other because of his genius. Rightfully Wrong Wrongfully Right, the final part in the best selling ‘Right and Wrong’ love trilogy is the story of these two damaged souls.

Gayatri Dutta, the poster child for rich spoiled diva is fighting to escape a life of servitude her tyrant father is hell bent on pushing her into. Her past string of failures have her backed against a wall. Lonely and desperate!

Viraj is a con who uses his genius to perpetuate his isolation. His life once of violence and abuse has left him cynical and cold. He shuns the society and its hypocrisies. 

And then Gayatri and Viraj cross paths. She needs him and he despises her.

To Viraj, Gayatri, is the epitome of all that he despises, shallow, manipulative and the kind who uses her beauty as a weapon. Or is she?

Gayatri sees Viraj only as a means to an end. She is sure that Viraj with his nerdy demeanor, owlish glasses and crude behavior will be easy to manipulate and walk over. Only he isn’t!

Grab your copy @

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Excerpt from #RWWR

‘I can do this, I can do this, I can...’ Gayatri wound her fingers tightly around her cellphone as she made her way to the cubbyhole Viraj called his office. I did not expect a freaking hug, but a polite ‘how are you’ wouldn’t kill that man. She rapped her knuckles on the door.

Viraj swung the door open. ‘What?’ His brows were furrowed and his lips, pursed.

Gayatri remembered what Nikhil had said to her once. Dr Viraj owns and runs this lab. He was the only one you needed to impress! ‘It’s my first day here!’ Gayatri could hear her voice shake. ‘Could you tell me...’

Gayatri scuttled out of Viraj’s way as he leaned out. ‘Find an empty room, do your work there. You are free to leave any time you want. You are free to come or to not come.’ The door shut on her face.

Flabbergasted, Gayatri kept staring at the door. What just happened? She cleared her throat. I should not piss him off anymore. ‘Thank you for this…this job.’ Her voice was as uncertain as the look on her face.

Viraj tugged the door open again. Gayatri flashed a smile at him and opened her mouth to speak but he stopped her short. ‘I don’t like talking. Find a room and stay there.’ He shut the door on her again.

 Asshole! Gayatri fisted her hands and retreated. I can do this! I am doing this! Bigger picture, please! Gayatri paused and peeped inside the first lab that she stumbled upon. The place was quiet except for a low hum of machines. Gayatri pushed the doors open and walked inside the lab. It was empty. ‘Does anyone else work here besides the mad scientist?’ She leaned against one of the steel racks. The door flew open behind her. With a big grin she turned to greet the person coming in. ‘Hi! I—’ she froze. It was the mad scientist with a bunch of papers in his hand.

Viraj noticed Gayatri at the same time. A familiar irritation flashed in his eyes. ‘Not this room. Not my lab! Find another room!’ He spoke with cool authority.

‘I was just looking!’ Gayatri smoothed her ponytail trying to mask her nervousness. He had her in knots.

Giving an indifferent shrug, Viraj walked past her. Gayatri got a whiff of his aftershave; it smelled clean and crisp, like water with a twist of lemon. At least he doesn’t stink like his manners! Gayatri stood there quiet and confused.

A loose paper slipped from Viraj’s hand and landed on the floor.

‘You dropped some paper!’ Gayatri said, her voice friendly.

‘Ignore it. Like you, it is not going anywhere.’ Viraj pulled a portable stool and took a seat in front of an electronic panel fixed to a bigger panel.

Gayatri gritted her teeth and grinned with the ferocity of a wild animal that could pounce any moment.

Unknown to her, Viraj gave a similar smile except his was more like the wild animal that had pounced and won.

‘I’ll go and find a room. Thank you!’ Swiveling on her heel, Gayatri headed for the door.

Something stopped her—her father’s face and the realization that two weeks ago she had physically fought for herself, and now she had to fight again but with her mind instead of hands. I have to win over Mr Madness. Maybe I could wear a beaker over my head and tattoo the periodic table on my arms!

‘If you are trying to open the door telepathically, let me be the first to tell you it is not working!’

Gayatri exhaled noisily. Scathing and sarcastic, what more could a woman ask for? Taking a few calming breaths, she slowly pivoted to face Viraj, specifically his back as he sat hunched fiddling with the panel in front of him.

 ‘I’m sorry if I have offended you somehow. I really need this job. And also, I’m qualified for it. I can show you my degrees. I can really make a difference here.’

Hearing Gayatri’s words and her apologetic tone, something melted inside Viraj...again. But to keep up appearances, he turned rude. ‘I’m busy!’ he barked.

 ‘Please Mr Viraj, give me—’ Just then, without warning, someone swung the door open. Gayatri wasn’t prepared for the push. ‘Ouch!’ She toppled. Her desperate hands grabbed the first thing in the vicinity—a steel rack. The rack shuddered violently and some of its contents landed on the floor.

‘What the hell!’ Viraj bellowed jumping to his feet.

Gayatri winced. A large electrical component had crashed into her hand ‘The door just opened, pushing me in,’ she said shaking her arm in pain.

 Viraj glared at the door. He instantly lost the frown and his mouth eased at the ends. ‘Oh it’s you! Come inside!’

Huh, Hyde turns Jekyll! Gayatri spun around.

A timid, bespectacled, five-foot-nothing girl, her long hair in a tight braid, clad in a pastel-coloured salwaar kameez, stood at the door. Her skin was smooth and her hands kept tugging at the dupatta around her neck ‘Sorry to interrupt! Dr Kalra wanted to show you some tests he is about to run in lab 2.’ She then glanced at Gayatri. ‘I’m sorry if I hurt you. It was an accident.’

Gayatri was about to speak but Viraj cut her off. ‘She’s fine. Let’s go!’

Viraj went out with the girl, not even sparing a glance at Gayatri.

Astounded, Gayatri watched them leave.

Urghh…the shit-faced scientist actually smiled and that too at that girl! Gayatri kicked the steel rack. It shuddered again! Shoot! Before anything else would fall on her, Gayatri went after the scientist and the simpleton.

Did you like the excerpt? Author Varsha Dixit offers you four of her chapters free.

Read the First Four Chapters Free!!

About the author

Varsha Dixit

Varsha Dixit, the bestselling author of four successful contemporary romance books. Her debut book, Right Fit Wrong Shoe was a national bestseller for the year 2010. Varsha was a part of the Indian Television Industry and worked as an assistant director and online editor. She considers herself a dreamer who thinks deep but writes light. Even though creativity is gender free,Varsha feels blessed and enriched to be a woman. Currently, with her family, Varsha resides in CA, USA.

You can stalk her @

                   

  

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Destiny of Shattered Dreams - Reviewing Contest

WRITE A REVIEW CONTEST!
Win a Kindle every week and a grand all expenses paid VIP trip to the JLF.

Rupa Publications present a book review contest for bestselling debut novel ‘Destiny of Shattered Dreams.’ Buy a copy, review it on selected sites, post the link on the author site and bingo! Chance to win a kindle every week followed by an expenses paid trip to the next Jaipur Literary Festival. T & C Apply.


Contest Terms & Conditions:

1. Aspiring contestants require to read and review the novel ‘Destiny of Shattered Dreams’ on Amazon, Flipkart, Infibeam, Goodreads, YouTube, Sapna or Crossword websites.
2. Simply copy the link of your review and paste it on the author website http://www.nileshrathod.in on the contest page.
3. All entries received each week will be judged by 50 participating bloggers each week, the entry posting the most votes will be adjudged the entry of the week and will win an Amazon Kindle each week.
4. Winning entries of the week will be posted on the website and must identify themselves for claiming the reward.
5. A grand prize will await one of the 12 winning entries of each week for the final prize, 2 VIP passes to the JLF along with shared accommodation for 2.
6. Employees of Author Nilesh and Rupa Publications are not eligible to participate.
7. Entries received upto Sunday Midnight will be eligible for entry for the previous week and will be declared on Tuesday on the author website.
8. Minimum of 10 participants required to qualify for a prize.
9. Readers claiming the reward must present a purchase invoice along with proof of ownership for review posted to claim the reward.
10. Contest open on Monday 14th July ’16. Grand prize to be announced on 13th Oct ’16.
11. All reviews are expected to be honest reviews and the ratings have no bearing on the rewards.

Book Blitz : The Secret of God's Son by Usha Narayanan

BOOK BLITZ

THE SECRET OF GOD'S SON

by

Usha Narayanan

Blurb

With this cruel curse on Krishna, Queen Gandhari plunges mankind into the unspeakable evil of the Kali Yuga. 

It is up to Pradyumna to try and reverse the dire prediction. To journey into terrifying realms, confront Yama and Shiva, and to vanquish the Kali demon. In order to do so, he must shed all that holds a mortal back—his arrogance, his fears, his baser instincts… He must lead his people out of the swirling vortex of greed, disease and misery. And there is one powerful weapon still…the secret surrounding Pradyumna’s origin.  

Will he uncover it in time to fight off the cataclysm? 

In the answer lies the destiny of all humanity! 

Grab your copy @

Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Flipkart

About the author

USHA NARAYANAN

Usha Narayanan had a successful career in advertising, radio and corporate communications before becoming a full-time writer. She is the author of The Madras Mangler, a suspense thriller, and Love, Lies and Layoffs, a light-hearted office romance. The Secret of God’s Son is the sequel to her bestselling book, Pradyumna: Son of Krishna, which was published in July 2015. 

When she’s not juggling travel, writing and interviews, Usha reads everything from thrillers to romances, provided her cat isn’t fast asleep on her Kindle. She would love to hear from her readers here: author@ushanarayanan.com 

You can stalk her @

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Media mentions

Praise for Pradyumna: Son of Krishna: 

“Usha Narayanan has taken a quantum leap . . . to the outright spine-tingling narrative from the leaves of a time before. This book is Indian writing coming of age" Femina

"Like the best of our mythological tales, this too, is a multilayered one . . .There is valour, there is cowardice, there is glory, there is shame, there is sex, lies and deception" The Hindu

"This engrossing tale takes readers on a mythological saga" Times of India

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Book Review : A Broken Man by Akash Verma

Book - A Broken Man

Author - Akash Verma

Genre - Fiction

Publisher - Srishti Publishers


Blurb -

K.K. has touched the rim of the sky but somehow he is craving inside for what he has left behind. While narrating his tale to his driver he touches some deep secrets of his life once again.

Chhavi is the most energetic lad in the premises but not everyone is happy to see happy faces and raised fingers.

What happens when some hard facts hit on the faces of Krishna and Chhavi? Will things rot more or any new pathway will open up for them?


Title and Cover -

The first look at the cover and title both fails to impress because the insight is not powerful but still it is working in general terms. A man who is shown on the cover is bent a little with a lot of things passing through him of different hue and order, it maybe shows the hardships which the main lead has to go through and how life is testing him with different things. The title on the other hand is working in the same manner, reflecting ideas but not to the core.


Characters 

-

I loved the variety of characters in the book. From time to time I saw people who were showing mind-sets of very vast order. In the start there were college students, then there were some political goons, also there were two families who were poles apart and it was a great show.

From the major characters I loved K.K. and Chhavi. They being the main protagonists were highly shown and also with expertise.

From the minor characters there were some great people, like, Gope, Panditji and Krishna’s mother. All three of them showed very wide characteristics like that of rage, power, dedication and what not.


Narration -

The narration of the book was smooth, chapters were divided well and the action was in full form from time to time. The third person narration worked as the cherry on the top as it opened more space to understand the characters well. The small elements which the author added here and there in the story added some charm on the not so ruling story. The background, setting etc was well showed by the author. The aura of college, village and moving life in a big city was built nicely. Thus variations easily hit the vision.


Review -

What happens when two people meet in a college, Love? Well, the old setting of a college fails to bind my mind. But there were things that were the saviour. The book starts with a promising aura. What has happened in the past of a man is the question that the author poses in front of the readers. I was highly excited to peep in his life but sadly he didn’t have anything extra-ordinary to show me in the flashback.

The story picks up with energy and it is this part only that makes the story interesting. The college politics is not a naive topic. The heated atmosphere is well shown by the author and he has tried to bring the environment of requisite order in front. The meetings and agendas were interesting to note. The Chaar Saval were enchanting. One can imagine a college dealing with such atrocities and a group of people trying their best to bring things in front. The whole surrounding was created well.

Then comes the turn in the story which was okayish for me. It might affect some readers but I found it very Bollywood movie types.

Every turn that comes thereafter was highly and highly predictive.
What I loved about the book are the topics. The college politics, the value of a girl and expectations the family draw from her, the disturbing elements in the surrounding, the power and reputation that comes with position and the ever-lasting love which is not easy to sail through. The mind set of people who come from backward classes is shown in depth.

A broken man came out to be a very simple and bland tale of two people. The author has tried to make the story stand out of the box by adding things which are worthy to note but it failed to create an ever-lasting impression. And why was it so? It was because the tale wasn’t fresh. It was the same old drama that one sees in different novels from time to time.

Summing up- The book was a nice break for me because I wasn’t reading love stories from a long time. The easy read made me finish this book in a day with not much difficulty in understanding the facts. If and if the author had tried a bit more to renew his book with a different plot, setting and backgrounds then it might have worked.


Eye-catchers -

•“Politics is known to suck everyone inside; even those standing at the periphery.”

•“Every encounter has the potential to change something within your life.”

•“The two greatest fears in a man’s life are the fear of debt and fear of people whom he cares for.”

•“Sometimes the love for our children comes in the way of what our children love.”

•“Love is a double-edged sword. It has the ability to push you into the deepest of hells and also the power to redeem you from it.”


Turn-on’s -

•The inspirational tale, from ground zero to the sky.

•Concept of untouchables not leaving the roots of the country even after so many rules and education. The ugly face shown by the author and the pain of the affected ones is presented well and it is mixed up in the tale nicely.

•Easy language.


Turn-off’s -

•No such turn which was new and never heard of.

•The same old concept of two highly different people.

•Same background, same sort of antagonists, same drama. Nothing new.


Recommendation -

The book can be a pick for new readers who are looking for some easy reads. Also who are fond of simple love stories can give it a try.


About the author -

Akash Verma is an entrepreneur. His work has taken him across the country, and he finds this experience very relevant while giving shape to his stories. He has published two bestsellers till now. Akash is currently based out of Gurgaon, India. He is fascinated by Cinema, Literature, History and Travel.


Connect with the author-

•www.akashverma.work

•https://www.facebook.com/akash-verma

•Twitter- @akashverma1970


Buy the book -

•Amazon link- http://www.amazon.in/gp/aw/d/9382665692/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468783967&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=a+broken+man+by+akash+verma&dpPl=1&dpID=41iex4ijSWL&ref=plSrch