Sonia Kundra Singh's Blog

So here is my take on the book Behind Closed Doors. It has its chilling moments and you wouldn’t want to miss what I have to say about it.

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Here are my choices of five top romances. They make me smile, laugh and cry. I love reading romance for a number of reasons and watch my video for more such conversations…

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Hi everyone, been a little busy with my own life but am back to doing what I love most i.e talking about books.

Anyone who wants to get their books reviewed then contact me and I will get back to you. I will also do a video about the book if I like that book.

Book: ARJUN, Without A Doubt

Author: Dr Sweet Shinde

Publishers: Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd

Rating: 5/5

Arjun, without a doubt, is a saga, a tale of betrayal and love torn warrior. If you have read the Mahabharata or (watched the series), you would know what the story is all about. Somehow the lines between the wedding of Drupadhi with the five Pandavas has been blurred, giving us the casual outlook to pologamy in those times. However, no one actually told us what the two went through- Arjun, who won his bride fair and sqaure while Dharupadi, who was yet to fall in love with this mixed character of a man who was neither a king or a brahamin, who holds her hand and feels the softeness of the luxuries that must never have been denied her.

The writer, Dr Sweety has given it quiet a thought and really have gone through nuances of these two characters, gotten into their minds and deliberated what could-have-beens. However, what I find fascinating about this book is its romance, that seeems to linger in your thoughts for a long time. There is no actual use of words such as ‘sex’ and perhaps the author has tried to maintain its decency with words, and somehow aced it brilliantly. Being a reader, I always go for a very detailed description of two people in love how they consumate their love. But in this book, I was just happy to read their thoughts, their ache to be with each other yet when Arjun is forced to give away his right as a husband, and share Dhrupadi with his brothers, It tears him apart. The surprise element is maintained throughout, even though you would know about the story. The writer has not let the stories that she has heard from the past tarnish her imagination. She has given this story a whole new prespective, something that I appreciate a lot. She has made me dig into my sciptures and question the intentions of some characters- for example, Yudhisthar- who is supposed to be the loving, dotting eldest brother, yet he never looses a chance to show that the other four are under his thumb and that what he wants, he will get. Or Bhishm Pitama- who is supposed to be the only ‘righteous’ royal blood, doesn’t stand by his orphaned nephews or his daughter-in-law. And you know that the so-called good is just ‘less evil’.

And the year that Draupadi spent with Arjun is the most beautiful part of the book. Both are happy, things suddenly seem right only to take her happiness away when the crused dice match begins at Hastinapur. She is a strong woman, knows her place in the palace and keeps husbands in tow, letting them know that she is extremely unhappy with being bargained away to win the dice match. These instances, her pain, her trust is all shattered. Her cruel laugh, when the husbands tell her that they meant to put her hut in the center to protect her, is the testimony to how much she distrusts them now. Her only hope is seeing the end of hastinapur.

What’s Hot?

Arjun, is a true soldier, he loves with all his heart, gives away to the only woman he would ever love and respect, yet is unable to claim her because of the social norms. He never learnt to say ‘no’ or disobey his mother or elder brother. He keeps regretting the decision that Draupadi had taken all by herself. The Mahabharata starts and he knows that he wouldn’t be fighting for anyone but for himself. No one has actually been in ‘right’ here. He would be the lesser evil and that’s that. His questions to Krishna makes the demi god ache for him too. Krishna turns out to be the link between the two love lorn characters and brilliantly portayed. Without him, this book wouldn’t have made sense. Without Krishna, Arjun woud never survive or know what to do next.

What’s Not?

There is hardly any flaw in the book and you tend to be mesmerized with every one who is trying to keep up with the pace of the novel. The characters are built just to give you an idea of what made the Mahabharata happen and why it could have been prevented if not for the betrayal of Yudhisthar. I think you understand why Arjun is as helpless as everyone. Yet I feel he is only a warrior and doesn’t think much and only before the war of pandavas and Karauvas.

This tale, retold in Dr Sweety’s words has really won my heart and this one is certainly a keeper.

(This is a sponsored post and all the views are unbiased and honest)

Book Title: THE ROSH BUSH

Author: Priyanka Lal

Publisher: Author Pride Publishers

Rating: 5/5

Available on: Kindle and Online stores

My Take

A book that’s intimidatingly  thick but if you love books that will not just end in a jiffy then this one is certainly worth the look. The story of Kadambari and her attitude towards life makes you want to give up your worries because this girl is out there to win hearts. There are many characters, with two heros- Shapath and Rudra. Both are different, both loveable in their own way.

She has a huge heart, loves her books and has an equally healthy attitude towards sex and boys. Her only friend Nilanjana is mostly a spoil sport because when things do not go according to her, then she just gets pissed off! Amber (as the protagonist) is fondly called falls hard for Sheath, the bad boy of her school. He is handsome, tall and lean and very popular too. All the things that Kadambari is not. She is instantly attracted to him and after tricking him into being her boyfriend to save him from a girl who wanted him, she succeeds to grabbing his attention with her sweet gestures. He seems a little off sometimes but he does try to win her heart and promise to love her forever, so and so that he proposes that they get married as soon as possible.

They are seventeen and they new found curiosity for sex has been written in just right amount of finnesse. Obviously if you expect the writer to maintain a decorum than she really doesn’t and thats what makes this such a kick-ass kind of a novel that ever woman should read. There is hesitation, excitement, incitement, phone conversations leading to exploring more sexuality that tries to get the reader into the minds and day of their teenage years. And how naturally the writer just shows us the story of Kadambari that you really feel for the girl. She comes from a lower middle class family, money doesn’t come easy but even that doesn’t stop her from giving Shapath the money for the trip to Puri. Something about the guy is fishy though. He says he has the powers to communicate with the unknown and Kadambari is so much in love with the guy that you kinda feel as if she is being taken for a ride. And its completely upto you if want to believe it or not. He does has his doubts when he decides to tell his parents about his relationship and from that moment onwards things just are not the same. Kadambari has to forgo her dream of pursuing medicine because her parents don’t believe in her anymore. Shapath in the other hand, just moves on with his life. In any case, most of the people in her life do except she doesn’t let that deter her from being what she always wanted to be- Independent.

He doesn’t seem like the same person like he was before and as a reader I felt cheated as well. Lot of things that he had said to Kadambari seems like a hoax for his momentary benefits- Like the time he says he has cancer, Or when he doesn’t take her calls because his parents don’t agree to their match. Obviously the mentality of Indian parents have been shown to the hilt as in, trying to make sense of how the society works than being happy with the fact that their children are happy.

Kadambari’s struggles make this book as a whole. There are obviously no happy endings without any pain. The second half of the book is completely opposite of the first one. Here we see a very confident, educated side of the heroine. The sensuous nature of hers comes out beautifully with a loving husband who makes her fall in love all over again- to believe in love and how to trust whole-heartedly again.

What’s hot

The book has some steamy sex scenes and if you are like me who loves a good hot romance between good writing then this is the book you have to pick up. But you know what, pick it up because this books has feelings that are going to touch your heart, a story that opens doors to many possibilities and characters that will linger long after you are done with the book.

What’s not

The title was certainly confusing to begin with. The writer did try to make sense of it in the end but a title focused on the heroine would have made a difference. Although there is hardly anything I didn’t like in the book. This is a really nice one and you would love it if you just want to spend hours reliving your school days.

My Take:

A simple story, a practical girl Shalini and a man torn between his family values and his love for her Karthik all comes to a standstill when they plan to commit to each other. Rajpath is the place where they meet after office hours, hence the title is appropriate to the content. The omnipresent narration makes it difficult to give in because all it does is report the feelings, the conversations and the life of Shalini, which is not how a love story should be portrayed. There is hardly any chemistry and the insignificant talks on government job that puts you in a lull forgetting the plot for a while. I am sure Mishra had tried to put Shalini’s aspiration before anything else and that somehow took a little time to digest. Her relationship with everyone seems a little stoic even with her love interest. In trying to write a novel close to reality, it just falls apart.

Casteism and forced marriage seemed to fill just a few pages of the book and maybe the reader would come to know of a new term- Zabaria Shaadi, otherwise it really passes off as a dull narrative of a life that as a reader I would really not be interested in. Shalini comes off as a woman who can do anything for her man and is more transparent than Karthik. Karthik hardly has any heroic characteristics to him. He seems more like a pain in Shalini’s life than a positive influence. Karthik seems to be more bothered on how his brother would react to her and if they had said no, he would have just left her in a lurch. Being a Bihari, he seems to think that his side of the family has more traditions than any other. And when his prejudices of typecasting a Delhi girl start, it grates on the nerves. The undertones of sexual intimacy fails big time. It felt like the writer was uncomfortable with the whole concept of sex and love and wanted desperately to convey a social message than write a story.

What’s Hot?

The study tour had some good moments where Shalini tries to fit in but falls apart because she misses home and a female group. Her falling in love with Karthik becomes more like a mystery to me. He does care a lot about her but only because he wants to keep up the good impression but later in the novel his attitude is just damning. Shalini does have a great relationship with her parents and she comes out as a girl whom one could be comfortable with. Her bravery in the end when she rescues Karthik is commendable yet unappreciated when she plans to make the culprit pay.

What’s Not?

The language used, strains the entire novel. There is no flow to the conversations, some even have been narrated in paragraphs. Personally, dialogues make a novel. Feelings that have been told than shown doesn’t work at all. I had a hard time finishing this one but since it’s the author’s first attempt I am hoping for a better one next time.

Rating: 2/5

My Take:

The story about two brave soldiers who are passionate about their country and a woman who loves yet give up easily. Arpan, the narrator plays an important role in the story. The idea is fresh and the action in the novel takes some of the excitement because this is not just a love story. Its about brotherhood and life where you could just do anything for the ones you love. Sameer, the hero is a flawed character. He is obstinate, full of himself and a rake. He plays with women for his gain and somehow that attracts the girls even more. The story of why Sam is serious in his life is narrated by Arpan- his brother from another mother. Arpan had shared a childhood with Sam and knows literally everything about his life. His love story, Shradha and his family.

The romance and the innocence of school love is portrayed beautifully here. And if you ever want to remember your first crush then this book will give you a preview. I could almost feel the hustle bustle of students in the class, the flirtatious Soni, Shradha’s attitude towards the ‘Bad-Boy’ Sam of her class and Arpan’s undeclared love for her. What is weird that Arpan is never in any relationship in his life and that kind of saddens me when he visualises his life through Sam.

Shradha come from an typical Indian family where you are raised to be the best daughter and marry off the guy that your father will choose. But her live-in relationship with Sam proved otherwise and she elopes with Sam when her father disapproves strongly. What happens to her father next shakes her to the core, a reason why she refuses to be with Sam ever again.

A book that has all the ingredients to make it a typical “Bhagat” novel yet the scenes are deeper and surprisingly entertaining. Why I say surprise? Because the book cover did nothing for me to pick up and read for sometime but then why should I not look beyond the that? Maybe we reviewers are getting shallow on that context. This author really had some great things to say through his characters and if you are ever in the deeper end of the ocean then this novel will answer some of those unasked questions. Kushwaha is obviously very poetic. He loves inserting poetry now and then and you could also imagine a song sequence if you could sing the words.

The book tends to gets too preachy and if you want the story to move on then it will take sometime for you to get past the lectures that Arpan gives. Somehow every character has something intelligent to say which is just not digestible.

Some of my favourite lines are:

“People may kneel by the power of money, but true blessings are earned by power of will, the intention to help them who are incapable of helping themselves”.

“There is nothing more painful than living a lonely life without being a culprit for it”.

What’s Hot?

I like how the author pulled of the army background with a flourish and he does know his art, which makes me look forward to another book of his. A tale that ends like no other novel has ever. The scenes between Sam and Shradha has been described with a panache and the chemistry is sizzling yet sweet. Couples argue, make love and then make-up, it’s not always a bed of roses.

What’s Not?

I blame the editor for the horrible mistakes in the book. ‘Hairs’ for Hair and silly grammatical errors that puts a reader off for a reason. The symbol ‘&’ for the word ‘and’ which really gets to me.

Still this book is worth a look if you like to read something different than the usual love stories. Its really very close to reality and the ending is just heartbreaking, yet totally how a friendship should be all about- sacrifice.

Rating: 4/5

The Plot: 

A young woman is making a living faking it as a cut-price psychic (with some illegal soft-core sex work on the side). She makes a decent wage mostly by telling people what they want to hear. But then she meets Susan Burke.

Susan moved to the city one year ago with her husband and 15-year-old stepson Miles. They live in a Victorian house called Carterhook Manor. Susan has become convinced that some malevolent spirit is inhabiting their home. The young woman doesn’t believe in exorcism or the supernatural. However when she enters the house for the first time, she begins to feel it too, as if the very house is watching her, waiting, biding its time . . .

My Take: As you begin to read- you quickly get through a few pages of risqué language that Ms Flynn is so good with. Her writing makes another impact on the reader and I go without judging. After all I do come back to her again and again and wonder when her next book would be out.

As you read about a con-artist who works as a whore keeping the psychic business on the side for show. She is good at it and in the beginning we see how monotonous the job was. She is alright with giving the women her fake psychic advice while getting into the male customer pants, literally and earning her keep. Coming from a downtrodden family, she is thinks her everyday job as a kind of promotion. Her favourite customer, Mike was actually a book enthusiast like her and that makes him the memorable one. She is very methodical about her business and she makes sure everyone leaves happy.

Susan Burke, the woman who has problems at home approaches her. Seeing this as an opportunity to make more money, she plans to get inside the house and keep using her fake powers for a year or so. But the Carterhook Manor gives her the vibes of an eerie, she had not thought about. Susan is troubled by the step-son who keeps threatening to kills others and even her own son. Obviously something about Miles gives everyone the creeps.  Will the truth about the Carterbook Manor be out? Will Miles really kill everyone?

These are the questions that come to mind while you go along with this short story of 64 pages. Its an entertaining read who is looking to pass an hour. And I do hope that it expands as a novel because the ending did leave loose ends that i wish to know more about.

What’s not?

Its just too expensive for one short story. It would reach a greater audience if the price reduces. But then Gillian Flynn is now a famous name, obviously making loads of money for her publishers.

Final Thoughts – A commendable job indeed and no wonder Ms Flynn makes the best of her writing and connects with her reader at a different level.

Rating: 5/5

The Plot: WICKED above her hipbone, GIRL across her heart

Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker’s troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille’s first assignment from the second-rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. (Via Goodreads)

My Take: What makes this novel so very creepy? Because it’s literally about sharp objects. A book that opens up so many windows to what a woman could be. Its clearly a woman central novel with issues relating to deep down rejection in childhood. A heroine who wants love and affection and wants a family. Her boss is most of a father figure who sends her home to report about the missing girls in the town and honestly Camillie rather eat dust than do it. But she goes and she gets to meet her family who gave me the creeps obviously. A step father who sits uninterestedly and perpetually ignores her existence unless her mother, Adora is bothered. What I like about Gillian Flynn is her emphasis on the woman who is bad and I mean in the true sense (weirdest badass). She keeps an eye on her characters and what they are upto and when the reader actually comes to a conclusion we are just hit right on the face! It’s like she is saying that, “whatever you were thinking, I just was fucking with you”.

And she is good at that!

And am becoming so obsessed with the writer that I would just read anything she would write. Even a draft that she must have been lying around in her dark basement that she says is her writing space.

Camille half sister, Amma who enjoys watching animals being slaughtered is one character that could make you puke. She is pure evil in true sense with her goal being the best daughter her mother could have. Adora spoils her, searching for the daughter Marian, who died years ago with unknown reasons. Adora loves herself and she wants her daughter to listen to do, do everything she wants the to do. While that’s happening, girls are missing in the town with their teeth missing. Camille goes in search for truth but fails, falling for the charms of the Richard.

Camille also has a psychological disorder where she cuts herself because of the pain she feels, she wants to feel on her body. That makes her body really scarred and she is afraid of being revealed. The character is really likable yet you feel really awful for how she is raised to be. Neglected by her mother because she couldn’t measure up. The reason behind the girls going missing is going to spook you so don’t you dare go to the last page because your couldn’t handle the suspense.

“Sometimes I think illness sits inside every woman, waiting for the right moment to bloom. I have known so many sick women all my life. Women with chronic pain, with ever-gestating diseases. Women with conditions. Men, sure, they have bone snaps, they have backaches, they have a surgery or two, yank out a tonsil, insert a shiny plastic hip. Women get consumed.” 

― Gillian Flynn, Sharp Objects

Final Thoughts: The book is soon going to come as tele series and I am glad after the DARK PLACES disaster movie. The books are good and I am glad to have picked it up.

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Surrender

Starts the very bitter multi billionaire with an unappeasable sex drive, wanting a mistress for three months. His only intention is to keep them well, make them 24/7 available, having sex with no commitments. One could say that you even love this deal better than anything close to commitment. Arianna Harlow is a simple college dropout who has been trying to take care of her sick mother whose accident had been caused because of a car accident. She blames herself for it all the time. She needs so serious money and really doesn’t have anything to go by even if to have a decent meal. I found her truly likable and relatable. She seems like any student trying to make ends meet when she looses her only support. Rate creates an interview and finds himself drawn towards her despite her repeated “No”. And you know how alpha males loves a ‘No’ and how they make it to a ‘Yes’. Rate is also a family man when it comes to his parents and his sisters. Only with women he tends to get unemotional. But with Arianna he falls…although they end up having sex (several times), she refuses to give in. I sympathise with her so many times because she really doesn’t want to get into all this unemotional crap. Rate sounds delicious with his amazing sex drive and he keeps wowing his future mistress.

The writing is smooth and I love the flow of the story. So many times I had to keep my emotions at check (most of the times I didn’t). I think Ms Melody has truly connected with her readers in this one. The language used to describe the intimate scenes are kept decent only the imagination plays a bigger role here, tantalising the readers to feel what the protagonists feel.

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Rafe has finally has his mistress. Arianna succumbs to his charms, well, mostly because he is amazing in bed, and also because she was anyway having sex with him and had to save her mother from the financial disaster- by getting her house and shop back. Rate moves her into an plush condo and has her on call 24/7. She is falling in love and he relaxes his rules by letting her have fun with ‘work’.

The book has to be read if you want to know more about what happened to them. Although I really wasn’t interested in Shane and Lia (race’s sister). She seems like a shallow woman while I like Shane’s integrity. But it’s good to have a few other characters to read as well. I think Melody has given us a master piece with a power-packed emotional eroticism romance novel that a fan has to read.

What’s great about these two books?

It’s a family journey towards finding love through sex of course and I love it! Especially the hot sex scenes written with such ease as if Melody had it all figured out!

Final judgement:

I needed a little more emotions from Rafe but then I have yet to read the other two. I still love everything about the books.