This is the story of Vivek and Lucy and their love for each other. Vivek is missing for two years, feared dead in a flight that could not land in Bhutan due to poor weather conditions and the plane is presumed to have crashed. Lucy is trying to pick up pieces of her shattered life as she is asked to travel to Sri Lanka for work, where she meets a look-alike of Vivek, who does not recognise her.

The above broadly describes the storyline, which should lead to a predictable happy ending, as Vivek makes an entry in the story somewhere in the middle of the book. It is the twists and turns in the story that make it interesting.

The language is simple and easy to read. My complaint is about editorial inputs – grammar and vocabulary. A fast read, which will appeal to movie buffs.

The review is by Sanjay Chandra, author of The Gymnast and The Life and Times of a Common Man.

Contact sanjaychandra59@gmail.com for Book Reviews, Author Show, Guest Blogs, and Creative Writing Workshop.

Circumstances can bring out the worst or the best in us. We may endlessly argue about the bad in a person, but there is also good, which may manifest in adversities.

This Pulitzer award winner novel is about the best that a human being can be. Marie Laure’s father builds a model of their Paris neighbourhood for her to navigate the real streets when she goes blind at the age of six. German occupation of France forces them to flee to Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast to live with a grand-uncle, with a national treasure in his custody. He builds another model of the new neighbourhood for his daughter.

In a parallel track, Werner, an orphan in Germany, is enchanted by a radio. He goes on to master the skills to repair radios, and joins the Germany of Hitler, as a tracker of radio signals by the resistance. Travelling through different countries with the German army, he lands in Saint-Malo.

Here, the paths of the two orphans merge. Here, they display the strength of character, that raises them beyond the ordinary.

This is a heart touching story that makes you believe in the good in you in the difficult times that we are living in.

The review is by Sanjay Chandra, author of The Gymnast and The Life and Times of a Common Man.

Contact sanjaychandra59@gmail.com for Book Reviews, Author Show, Guest Blogs, and Creative Writing Workshop.

Women have been traditionally relegated to the background since eons, more in a supportive role to the family. The bias continues to this day, despite more of them now coming forward and successfully managing both professional and domestic roles.

This book is an attempt by the author to showcase the story of one such strong female. She has her own individuality and does not hesitate in expressing her feelings. This is the new woman. In fact, there are few other women in the story, who are equally strong; and pursue their desires.

The book deals with one aspect of the modern woman – her physical desires, and her pursuit of the same, even outside of conjugal bed. Her other pursuits – personal or professional are mentioned in passing.

The author has handled a bold subject with sensitivity so that it does not turn into erotica.

The review is by Sanjay Chandra, author of The Gymnast.

Contact sanjaychandra59@gmail.com for Book Reviews, Author Show, Guest Blog, and Creative Writing Workshop.

Past is the stepping stone to future. A good or a bad future is for us to build on the foundation of life gone by. But what if the past is not the immediate past, not even decades old, but one that goes back centuries! And if it was so traumatic that forgetting it is a tempting invitation!

The book is the story of Kashmir, not only in the present, but one that is built on centuries of persecution. Aditya is a young priest, who returns to renovate a temple, demolished eons ago, and whose ancestors perished in a futile attempt to save it.

Next to the ruins is a mosque, and Anwar is the son of the Imam. He has vowed to create an Islamic Kashmir. Torn between her love for the priest, and her faith, is Zeba, sister of Anwar.

This is a great story – of a search for roots, and about the strength of forgiveness. There is yet hope – for the future.

The review is by Sanjay Chandra, author of The Gymnast.

Contact sanjaychandra59@gmail.com for Book Reviews, Author Show, Guest Blogs, and Creative Writing Workshop.

A young woman – she is the sister of the evil sarpanch; her husband – a young man liked by the villagers and a leader to the underprivileged for which he is murdered on the behest of the village head; the young man’s precocious sister; the beloved Raja Saheb; a young doctor settled in USA; and his wife.

The village festival held every 12 years is the setting where all the characters come together. Miracles happen during the mela as Lord Shree comes down amongst the devotees to bless the devout and finish evil.

As I started reading the book, I was certain that I would not like the story – I am not a fan of the supernatural genre. I was mistaken. It was a light breezy read once I had gotten over my initial shock of miracles. Besides, I have been a big fan of the many Bollywood potboilers, and the story reminded me of the movies from the 70s.

The book needs few editorial inputs.

The review is by Sanjay Chandra, author of The Gymnast.

Contact sanjaychandra59@gmail.com for Book Reviews, Author Show, Guest Blogs, and Creative Writing Workshop.

This is another story from small-town India, and the dreams of the young coming from middle-class families. This fictional account is written by an army officer.

Ameya is the lead protagonist. He grows up like any other child till he meets a distant relative who works in the army. He is fascinated by the olive greens, and starts dreaming of joining the forces. But dreams are not enough to attain something in life. There are failures. He does not give up. It is the story of every child who is passionate about its dreams and uses failures as stepping stones to success.

The story of achieving something worthwhile has been written by innumerable writers in times past, and many more will write in future. The plot is timeless. This novel too had the potential to be bracketed in the same category, but for a few flaws.

There are grammatical errors in the narrative. The entire process of admission to NDA is explained in great detail, which would not be of interest to every reader. Each chapter starts with a motivational quote and ends with sometimes short and other times long sermonising passages. That makes reading tedious after a few chapters.

On the positive side, the book is a good ready reckoner for youngsters wanting to join the armed forces.

The review is by Sanjay Chandra, author of The Gymnast.

Contact sanjaychandra59@gmail.com for Book Reviews, Author Show, Guest Blogs, and Creative Writing Workshop.

This is a story set in the harsh realities of our times. It is a multi-layered story about two subjects – women emancipation and the caste system. The line between the two is often blurred as both are treated almost at par in a patriarchal society – they do not have a voice or say in their lives.

Latha is introduced in the first chapter as a spirited child, often scolded by her mother for bullying the boys in the neighbourhood, but indulged by her father. She belongs to an upper caste family in a small town in Tamil Nadu. As she grows into adolescence, and then adulthood, she starts noticing the way her father treats the lower caste tenants ruthlessly. This is a facet of her father that she cannot reconcile to, apart from the fact that the society continues to be male dominated where girls do not have a say in pursuing studies or selecting a life partner.

Without revealing the plot, I can only say that I am looking forward to reading the other two books in this three book series.

The review is by Sanjay Chandra, author of The Gymnast.

Contact sanjaychandra59@gmail.com for Book Reviews, Author Show, and Creative Writing Workshop.