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Daniel's Diary
When Mrinalini, an art restoration expert, ventures into the ruins of Rang Mahal and the Palace of Sumangarh, an accidental discovery of a skeleton and a manuscript detailing the exploits of Daniel, a Portuguese artist, opens a window to the forgotten era of grace and grandeur. The blossoming of love between a Moghul Emperor and a Rajput princess, is seen through the eyes of a foreign traveller, who himself falls in love with the Rajput princess. The plot revolves around Daniel's quest for beauty and passion, the ecstasy and agony of love. He meets the famous courtesan Mahamaya only to lose her. It also draws a modern day parallel in the life of Mrinalini, a woman who seeks refuge in artistic pursuits and architectural ruins when relationships in life confuse her. Will she be able to decode the clues left behind by Daniel? Will the curse of centuries-old unfulfilled love break into a happy ending for Mrinalini?
368 pages, Paperback
First published February 5, 2014
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March 27, 2015
“There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment.”
----Sarah Dessen, an American author
Rajeshwari Chauhan, an Indian author, pens her very first book called, Daniel's Diary which reflects two love stories from two very different generation- one from Mughal period and another from coming-of-age era.
Synopsis:
When Mrinalini, an art restoration expert, ventures into the ruins of Rang Mahal and the Palace of Sumangarh, an accidental discovery of a skeleton and a manuscript detailing the exploits of Daniel, a Portuguese artist, opens a window to the forgotten era of grace and grandeur. The blossoming of love between a Moghul Emperor and a Rajput princess, is seen through the eyes of a foreign traveler, who himself falls in love with the Rajput princess. The plot revolves around Daniel's quest for beauty and passion, the ecstasy and agony of love. He meets the famous courtesan Mahamaya only to lose her. It also draws a modern day parallel in the life of Mrinalini, a woman who seeks refuge in artistic pursuits and architectural ruins when relationships in life confuse her. Will she be able to decode the clues left behind by Daniel? Will the curse of centuries-old unfulfilled love break into a happy ending for Mrinalini?
Although, I'm not much into Indian authored books, but sometimes, I do read such books if the synopsis happens to captivate my mind. Likewise, Chauhan's book's synopsis allured me to read the book. I believe Mughal period is the most romantic as well as very enchanting period in our historical timeline. Chauhan has crafted a multi-layered love-story based on Mughal era as well as the modern era, which is highly evocative. And while reading, I could easily feel the author's dexterity on archeological structures, historical paintings, restorations, artifacts, and most above all her choice of eloquent words.
The author have engraved her plot with all the right emotions, thus making the whole reading experience a thrilling as well as an emotional roller-coaster ride. Laughter, fun, mischief, sadness, heart-break, palpitations- it was a complete package of emotions.
The mystery- the whole storyline is actually based on a strange mystery about a Portuguese court-painter of Mughal emperor Akbar killing the court-dancer, Mahamaya. And the mystery unravels with two love-stories unfolding side-by-side. I liked the aspect of how the author tried both the love stories to unfold with same pace and with same feelings. Moreover, the author managed to move between two timelines with ease and perfection and without causing much confusion for the readers. When the author shifts the scene to the Mughal time period, the descriptions become too long and uninteresting, yes it was intricate, but some unnecessary descriptions could have been avoided, especially every occurrence in King Akbar's life, I mean, I believe the author has done a complete research but too much historical facts in the plot can mar the charm and the essence of any story.
The writing is absolutely fantastic, although, at times, the narration became too dull or too heavy or too lengthy or too unnecessary. The characters are all well-developed, striking and vivid. The pace of the book is bit slow, because of too much intricacy in the descriptions. Overall, it's an engrossing book with too much history and a little bit of fun.
Verdict: This book will appeal to the historical as well as contemporary romance readers.
Courtesy: I received a review copy in return for an honest review.
----Sarah Dessen, an American author
Rajeshwari Chauhan, an Indian author, pens her very first book called, Daniel's Diary which reflects two love stories from two very different generation- one from Mughal period and another from coming-of-age era.
Synopsis:
When Mrinalini, an art restoration expert, ventures into the ruins of Rang Mahal and the Palace of Sumangarh, an accidental discovery of a skeleton and a manuscript detailing the exploits of Daniel, a Portuguese artist, opens a window to the forgotten era of grace and grandeur. The blossoming of love between a Moghul Emperor and a Rajput princess, is seen through the eyes of a foreign traveler, who himself falls in love with the Rajput princess. The plot revolves around Daniel's quest for beauty and passion, the ecstasy and agony of love. He meets the famous courtesan Mahamaya only to lose her. It also draws a modern day parallel in the life of Mrinalini, a woman who seeks refuge in artistic pursuits and architectural ruins when relationships in life confuse her. Will she be able to decode the clues left behind by Daniel? Will the curse of centuries-old unfulfilled love break into a happy ending for Mrinalini?
Although, I'm not much into Indian authored books, but sometimes, I do read such books if the synopsis happens to captivate my mind. Likewise, Chauhan's book's synopsis allured me to read the book. I believe Mughal period is the most romantic as well as very enchanting period in our historical timeline. Chauhan has crafted a multi-layered love-story based on Mughal era as well as the modern era, which is highly evocative. And while reading, I could easily feel the author's dexterity on archeological structures, historical paintings, restorations, artifacts, and most above all her choice of eloquent words.
The author have engraved her plot with all the right emotions, thus making the whole reading experience a thrilling as well as an emotional roller-coaster ride. Laughter, fun, mischief, sadness, heart-break, palpitations- it was a complete package of emotions.
The mystery- the whole storyline is actually based on a strange mystery about a Portuguese court-painter of Mughal emperor Akbar killing the court-dancer, Mahamaya. And the mystery unravels with two love-stories unfolding side-by-side. I liked the aspect of how the author tried both the love stories to unfold with same pace and with same feelings. Moreover, the author managed to move between two timelines with ease and perfection and without causing much confusion for the readers. When the author shifts the scene to the Mughal time period, the descriptions become too long and uninteresting, yes it was intricate, but some unnecessary descriptions could have been avoided, especially every occurrence in King Akbar's life, I mean, I believe the author has done a complete research but too much historical facts in the plot can mar the charm and the essence of any story.
The writing is absolutely fantastic, although, at times, the narration became too dull or too heavy or too lengthy or too unnecessary. The characters are all well-developed, striking and vivid. The pace of the book is bit slow, because of too much intricacy in the descriptions. Overall, it's an engrossing book with too much history and a little bit of fun.
Verdict: This book will appeal to the historical as well as contemporary romance readers.
Courtesy: I received a review copy in return for an honest review.
October 8, 2014
I received the book from the author for an honest review.
When I received the book in the post I was really excited about this interesting book. As a book reviewer I like to be open-minded in my selections, and once again I enjoyed the book I have chosen.
Since this is a book written about India, their culture and ways it took me a few pages to really understand the author's writing style. After that I became engrossed within the story, taken back and forth to the past and present of the story and the way the plot evolved.
I really liked Daniel's character, his narration gave you a better understanding of the times, the culture and beliefs of the people from India. A story that is well layered, that keeps on building as the author tells her story in a very easy going writing style. Filled with descriptive and comical scenes. Bubbles caused for a few smiles through out the book. His character just anchored the rest of the characters, making it a very believable story with realistic characters.
Really like the cover as well. Thanks for this unique opportunity.
When I received the book in the post I was really excited about this interesting book. As a book reviewer I like to be open-minded in my selections, and once again I enjoyed the book I have chosen.
Since this is a book written about India, their culture and ways it took me a few pages to really understand the author's writing style. After that I became engrossed within the story, taken back and forth to the past and present of the story and the way the plot evolved.
I really liked Daniel's character, his narration gave you a better understanding of the times, the culture and beliefs of the people from India. A story that is well layered, that keeps on building as the author tells her story in a very easy going writing style. Filled with descriptive and comical scenes. Bubbles caused for a few smiles through out the book. His character just anchored the rest of the characters, making it a very believable story with realistic characters.
Really like the cover as well. Thanks for this unique opportunity.
May 19, 2015
The book starts well with Mrinalini, an art restoration expert, going to Sumangarh and deciding to visit Rang Mahal. In between, the book seems to slow down when the author describes the Moghals in the beginning, only to pick up soon after.
Two stories run in parallel - one is that of Daniel, a Portugese, who is in India and becomes one of the favorites of the Moghal Emperor, Akbar - both of them in love with the Rajput Princess, Jodhabai. Daniel never declares her love and once she falls in love with Akbar, he leaves the kingdom. He never declares his love. He then reaches Sumangarh to meet the courtesan, Mahamaya, whom he also marries, but loses.
The second story is that of the Mrinalini and Suraj Sing, who is also under disguise.
Overall, a good novel, worth reading.
Two stories run in parallel - one is that of Daniel, a Portugese, who is in India and becomes one of the favorites of the Moghal Emperor, Akbar - both of them in love with the Rajput Princess, Jodhabai. Daniel never declares her love and once she falls in love with Akbar, he leaves the kingdom. He never declares his love. He then reaches Sumangarh to meet the courtesan, Mahamaya, whom he also marries, but loses.
The second story is that of the Mrinalini and Suraj Sing, who is also under disguise.
Overall, a good novel, worth reading.
March 20, 2014
We see into the book that the people with different culture connecting across the miles for various purpose building relationships.
I would say that the story is a mix of education, interesting historical facts, war and bloodshed, drama and melodrama which will melt you through the journey of reading. Away from the novels today which print the stories of fast moving love lives in metro. This is about the treasure hunt of emotional turmoil; of historical restoration and prejudices. So do catch the pages of imperial ride with fire in your heart. I assure, you would love the trip!
I would say that the story is a mix of education, interesting historical facts, war and bloodshed, drama and melodrama which will melt you through the journey of reading. Away from the novels today which print the stories of fast moving love lives in metro. This is about the treasure hunt of emotional turmoil; of historical restoration and prejudices. So do catch the pages of imperial ride with fire in your heart. I assure, you would love the trip!
March 26, 2014
The book shows two stories—one happening in modern world, while the other already happened in the past. Mrinalini, an art restoration expert, goes to Sumangarh for her work, and fells for the charm of the ruins and history of the place. During one of her exploratory walks in the ruins, she discovers a skeleton and Daniel’s diary, the account of a Portugese artist who lived during the reign of Akbar. The story then moves through Mrinalini’s search for relationship, and Daniel’s search for passion penned in his diary.
What I Liked
1) Mughal Era’s story- Let me confess you that I love that era. If you ever gave me a time machine, I’d like to go and see how those people lived. I think I have a love-hate relation with Jodha-Akbar’s story. I never could understand how an immortal love could thrive between them when he had so many wives. But then, that’s what reels me in. I have devoured literature about them to understand this concept, and this book was no different. I’m not very sure about the history portrayed is correct or not; I read it like another story, like any other fiction.
2) Diary entries- My second fascination in literature is diary entries and letters. This book was no exception to it. I absolutely loved Mahamaya and Chhimiya in it. Pity they appeared in the last and few pages! My favorite scene was the moth scene in which the romance rises to a crescendo.
What Irked me
1) Head-hopping telling style of the story- I can see why this style was necessary to condense the story in 359 pages, but I didn’t enjoy the way Mrinalini’s present day story was told. I felt distanced as the sentences jumped from one character to another, without showing any dialogue. This style was once quite famous, but it robs all the joy of even a strong story for me.
2) Diary Entries- I know I mentioned that I liked them above, but I can like and unlike the same thing, right? My love for diary entries means that my expectations with them are quite high. I loved the way author showed slow wooing and anguish of Jodha-Akbar in these entries, but missed seeing more of Daniel. Although it was a diary of Daniel, much of its beginning entries revolved only around the Mughal Emperor’s story. I’d have loved them more if they’d been like the later entries which I read twice or thrice.
3) Incredible Present story incidents- There were a few incredible story scenes with Mrinalini which actually made me laugh. I could see the reason why they were introduced, but they were so filmy that I couldn’t help myself but laugh.
Overall Opinion
I wonder if it was me, or the book really. I liked the story that was in the book, but not the present which was telling the book. As I said above, I felt distanced from the present story characters like Mrinalini and Surajsinh. It left me with an odd dissatisfaction that something more should have been shown in the story.
But, my views aside, Ketan Mehta, a veteran filmmaker, has actually appreciated the novel. It does show the glimpses of that bygone era. Probably it’s my taste for more active novels, or maybe my high expectations, which left me thirsting for something more. Who knows maybe we’d see its narrative turned into a movie.
What I Liked
1) Mughal Era’s story- Let me confess you that I love that era. If you ever gave me a time machine, I’d like to go and see how those people lived. I think I have a love-hate relation with Jodha-Akbar’s story. I never could understand how an immortal love could thrive between them when he had so many wives. But then, that’s what reels me in. I have devoured literature about them to understand this concept, and this book was no different. I’m not very sure about the history portrayed is correct or not; I read it like another story, like any other fiction.
2) Diary entries- My second fascination in literature is diary entries and letters. This book was no exception to it. I absolutely loved Mahamaya and Chhimiya in it. Pity they appeared in the last and few pages! My favorite scene was the moth scene in which the romance rises to a crescendo.
What Irked me
1) Head-hopping telling style of the story- I can see why this style was necessary to condense the story in 359 pages, but I didn’t enjoy the way Mrinalini’s present day story was told. I felt distanced as the sentences jumped from one character to another, without showing any dialogue. This style was once quite famous, but it robs all the joy of even a strong story for me.
2) Diary Entries- I know I mentioned that I liked them above, but I can like and unlike the same thing, right? My love for diary entries means that my expectations with them are quite high. I loved the way author showed slow wooing and anguish of Jodha-Akbar in these entries, but missed seeing more of Daniel. Although it was a diary of Daniel, much of its beginning entries revolved only around the Mughal Emperor’s story. I’d have loved them more if they’d been like the later entries which I read twice or thrice.
3) Incredible Present story incidents- There were a few incredible story scenes with Mrinalini which actually made me laugh. I could see the reason why they were introduced, but they were so filmy that I couldn’t help myself but laugh.
Overall Opinion
I wonder if it was me, or the book really. I liked the story that was in the book, but not the present which was telling the book. As I said above, I felt distanced from the present story characters like Mrinalini and Surajsinh. It left me with an odd dissatisfaction that something more should have been shown in the story.
But, my views aside, Ketan Mehta, a veteran filmmaker, has actually appreciated the novel. It does show the glimpses of that bygone era. Probably it’s my taste for more active novels, or maybe my high expectations, which left me thirsting for something more. Who knows maybe we’d see its narrative turned into a movie.
February 12, 2015
Aha! Daniel’s Diary, finally something which fits into the category of ‘classic literature’ Rajeshwari Chauhan, women with the magical hands, has described the Mughal era so realistically that it seems to be her first hand experience. As if it was not Daniel but she present over there at some point of time with the King Akbar and Begum Jodha at Agra (in case Daniel was for real not fiction). The smoothness with which the story moves from the contemporary place Sumangarh to 1560s Agra is where the readers flow profoundly. Mrinalini, though young and in the prime of her life shows her fondness for the historical paintings, buildings, scripts and her concern for them gives a shine to her personality. When looking at Arrow, her boss in a way, she has glimpses of a prince she always imagined in her dreams and read in poems. Her liking towards Sumangarh increased when she found Daniel’s diary. In a way this diary of Daniel was the reason behind her proximity with Surajsingh. It was an amazing journey into the 16th century from an eye of a Portuguese artist. The narration and the vocabulary used to describe the minutest things related to Islamic and Hindu culture, the forts and mahals, the festivals and weddings, the royal family and common citizens is eye-widening and mind-bobbling. This novel is not only historical but also thrilling. The suspense keeps on developing with the pages and revelations are sometimes heart breaking and sometimes heart pleasing. Daniel’s anguish of love and his falling in love with the court dancer Mahamaya is actually pious. The dreadful separation of both and the aftershocks of these incidents on Daniel will surely put readers into tears. One remarkable thing to be noticed here is two contradictory pairs at Sumangarh. On one side there is a concerned pair of Mrinalini and Surajsingh who at the stake of their lives and in disguise want to save the historical treasure of the country i.e. the paintings, scripts, Rang Mahal, valuables of Mughals and antics. Whereas on the other hand there is callous pair of Suman and Arrow who in the lust of pelf are ready to use, sell and make a show of these things. Both the pairs belong to the same era and yet a wide difference in their preference. Couplets in the middle of the prose make it a novel perfect. The minor characters too are finely crafted. Personally the only thing that I can’t decide is what I liked the most. The present time or the diary of Daniel because whenever the story jumped from Daniel’s diary to the present time I got irritated and when from present it went to the diary I got irritated again (well take it as a compliment). Ms. Chauhan I would be desperately waiting for your upcoming work and I swear then I won’t keep it in without reading. Keep writing and keep spreading a moral message as done here.
February 17, 2014
Mrinalini is an art restoration expert and she visits the Palace of Sumangarh to help Arvindsinh, the owner, restore a few paintings so that he can convert the Palace into a heritage hotel. In due course, she finds the skeletal remains and diary of a Portuguese artist, Daniel, who apparently lived during Akbar's rule.
Half the book deals with the life of Daniel, his stories about the court of Akbar and also the unfortunate twists and turns that his life take that lead to the mysterious death of the love of his life. The other half of the book is based in the present day and follows Mrinalini and the escapades of the royal folk of Sumangarh that leads to a dizzying climax where a centuries old puzzle gets solved.
The parts about Sumangarh is full of humour with lovely dollops of romance and adventure. I personally felt the part of Daniel's diary that outlines the love story between Jodhabai and Akbar was a tad superfluous. Who hasn't seen the 2008 epic film by Ashutosh Gowarikar, Jodhaa Akbar? In fact, the entire time I was reading this part, the image of Hrithik and Aishwarya danced before my eyes and I couldn't shake off the feeling of deja vu. Still, I enjoyed the subtle sensuality between Arbar and Jodha and his gentle wooing of her. I feel this part could have easily been edited so as to reduce the length of the book and make the book more affordable for the average reader. At 295, this is a pricey book and I wished it had been cheaper, but with 370 pages, I guess it's got a lot of bang for the buck. The latter part that described Daniel's love story was more interesting. Mrinalini's search for the truth and the unravelling of the mystery towards the end were the best.
Rajeshwari's Daniel's Diary is very well-written and well-researched book. It's obvious that the author has taken great pains to make sure that each aspect of the novel is perfect. There something for everyone here...romance, humour, poetry, history, mystery, art and many captivating characters. It made me realize that a book does not need sleazy scenes and smutty words to be entertaining and thank you for that. I wish the author all the best for her future books.
Half the book deals with the life of Daniel, his stories about the court of Akbar and also the unfortunate twists and turns that his life take that lead to the mysterious death of the love of his life. The other half of the book is based in the present day and follows Mrinalini and the escapades of the royal folk of Sumangarh that leads to a dizzying climax where a centuries old puzzle gets solved.
The parts about Sumangarh is full of humour with lovely dollops of romance and adventure. I personally felt the part of Daniel's diary that outlines the love story between Jodhabai and Akbar was a tad superfluous. Who hasn't seen the 2008 epic film by Ashutosh Gowarikar, Jodhaa Akbar? In fact, the entire time I was reading this part, the image of Hrithik and Aishwarya danced before my eyes and I couldn't shake off the feeling of deja vu. Still, I enjoyed the subtle sensuality between Arbar and Jodha and his gentle wooing of her. I feel this part could have easily been edited so as to reduce the length of the book and make the book more affordable for the average reader. At 295, this is a pricey book and I wished it had been cheaper, but with 370 pages, I guess it's got a lot of bang for the buck. The latter part that described Daniel's love story was more interesting. Mrinalini's search for the truth and the unravelling of the mystery towards the end were the best.
Rajeshwari's Daniel's Diary is very well-written and well-researched book. It's obvious that the author has taken great pains to make sure that each aspect of the novel is perfect. There something for everyone here...romance, humour, poetry, history, mystery, art and many captivating characters. It made me realize that a book does not need sleazy scenes and smutty words to be entertaining and thank you for that. I wish the author all the best for her future books.
March 20, 2014
“Daniel’s diary”
Rajeshwari Chauhan, an artist, freelance writer has great potential of creating paintings as well as creative writing. She belongs to Royal family Chhota-Udepur. Her passion for history and conservation of heritage has resulted in wonderful work” Daniel’s diary”. The moment I started reading it, the world around me started melting and I joined Mrinalini in her journey. A superb work, which needs no praise, no criticism as it is like Love, only those can understand its value, who has enjoyed it. It is great combination of suspense, romantic, history, mystery. Many genres in one.
Mrinalini, an art restoration expert, is hired by one royal family, who wants to transform the palace into heritage hotel. During her task of restoring, she stumbles upon a mystery and revelation of it leads Mrinalini back into era of Moghuls, where a foreigner describes love story of Moghul emperor and Rajput princess. The story continues with many ups and downs, many surprises and OMG facts.
“Daniel’s diary” is really a delightful work of literature. After reading many worthless popular fictions, it was really like finding oasis in desert. Beautiful description of lovers’ situations, similar in both era. Historical as well as modern era. Through characters of Mrinalini, Arrow, Surajsinh and Suzan, Rajeshwari portrays pleasant portrait of emotions of lovers. A must read for those who believe that love can be explained only through unnecessary detailed description of sex. Love can be explained through ‘stolen glances’, ‘foot games under table’, ‘rude behaviour on surface and intense care in deeper’. Something really solacing who wish to read something genuine, something to remember and enjoy, not for time pass. Language is also poetical, it really keeps line between hard and simple language. The beginner reader won’t need dictionary and well-read will enjoy its fluidity.
I have fallen in love with it. I read it continuously five times, still feeling like reading it again.
Story and plot- 5 out of 5
Language- 5 out of 5
Flow- 5 out of 5.
March 21, 2014
A writer succeeds in the true sense when his /
her imagination conquers the sense of reality of
the readers, dragging them to another world,
another time period or another level of emotions
which they havnt ever thought of and leave
them there for a while ! Congratulations to
Rajeshwari Chauhan, author of Daniel's Diary
for this is exactly what she has done ! Now a
days rarely an Indian book do justice to the
language called English, giving the reason that
the story and situations are Indian and so we
can do anything with the language in name of
'Indianisation'... Here the author has done an
admirable job in portraying purely Indian
situations keeping the soul of language intact !
Perfect flow of story, well edited, altogether
feeding both the emotional & intellectual
aspects of the reader, who longs for a standard
and different reading, to the fullest ! A book that
stands out with its head holding high in a
market flooded with so called romantic chick-
lits !
All the very bests to the author and waiting for
her next masterpiece !
her imagination conquers the sense of reality of
the readers, dragging them to another world,
another time period or another level of emotions
which they havnt ever thought of and leave
them there for a while ! Congratulations to
Rajeshwari Chauhan, author of Daniel's Diary
for this is exactly what she has done ! Now a
days rarely an Indian book do justice to the
language called English, giving the reason that
the story and situations are Indian and so we
can do anything with the language in name of
'Indianisation'... Here the author has done an
admirable job in portraying purely Indian
situations keeping the soul of language intact !
Perfect flow of story, well edited, altogether
feeding both the emotional & intellectual
aspects of the reader, who longs for a standard
and different reading, to the fullest ! A book that
stands out with its head holding high in a
market flooded with so called romantic chick-
lits !
All the very bests to the author and waiting for
her next masterpiece !
March 3, 2014
Truly soul-stirring. The words make you feel royal, when you start sailing through it you feel as if you are sitting in a royal palace and travelling through an amazing era, an era of 'mystery', lots and lots of it.
Each and every character touches 'each and every chord' of your emotion, be it love, passion, anger, pain and agony. The two stories were so entwined with each other that you cannot detach yourself from any of the character. You feel like Sherlock Holmes, you feel like a lover longing for the beloved, its truly a well-written, well-perceived and well-executed piece of writing. The authoress has presented her part of soul to the readers.
The couplets woven between the story carries immense depth, they reverberate in your senses...
Some people prefer tears over wine...
Who says that nothing is permanent....
Each and every character touches 'each and every chord' of your emotion, be it love, passion, anger, pain and agony. The two stories were so entwined with each other that you cannot detach yourself from any of the character. You feel like Sherlock Holmes, you feel like a lover longing for the beloved, its truly a well-written, well-perceived and well-executed piece of writing. The authoress has presented her part of soul to the readers.
The couplets woven between the story carries immense depth, they reverberate in your senses...
Some people prefer tears over wine...
Who says that nothing is permanent....
March 28, 2014
The author seems to have put in her heart into the book for she has brought in things close to her heart – the royal family set up, creating and restoring paintings etc. Mrinalini, an art restoration expert is hired to work her magic and tranform the royal palace into a top-notch heritage hotel. During her excavations and snooping around, she stumbles upon Daniel’s Diary which held stories of love and admiration the various characters developed for each other.
The language is good and there it needs to be said that I enjoyed reading this historical romance even though I am not much deep into the genre. The book blends history, romance, war, drama and emotional ups and downs. On the whole, an enjoyable book.
The language is good and there it needs to be said that I enjoyed reading this historical romance even though I am not much deep into the genre. The book blends history, romance, war, drama and emotional ups and downs. On the whole, an enjoyable book.
March 22, 2014
Its tuff to describe what I felt after reading Daniel's Diary in words... I was so involved in the book that I almost forgot everything. The cover, the pages, the quality everything was calling me to it self so I couldn't leave it unread for long. As far as the plot is concerned, we get to learn a lot about Akbar and his dynasty, a pot about Jodhabai and ofcourse Diniyal (Daniel)... This book is such a genre which I generally dont read, but after the book,I feel like reading and re reading this genre again and again..!! Wishing loads of luck to the author!! For a more detailed review, visit- www.vanyasnotebook.blogspot.in
September 29, 2018
I will give 4/5 for this novel of Rajeshwari Chauhan.
The emotions expressed in this book is difficult to explain. A Portuguese person coming to some unknown country with his sister and completely gets absorbed there. His admiration and respect for "amber princess" and respect for Akbar. He spends his entire life in those memories of a lady whom he loved and the lady he adored, in some remote jail of Rajasthan. His pain is difficult to describe and it is heart wrenching too. Ending is sad but emotional . I found this interesting .
The emotions expressed in this book is difficult to explain. A Portuguese person coming to some unknown country with his sister and completely gets absorbed there. His admiration and respect for "amber princess" and respect for Akbar. He spends his entire life in those memories of a lady whom he loved and the lady he adored, in some remote jail of Rajasthan. His pain is difficult to describe and it is heart wrenching too. Ending is sad but emotional . I found this interesting .
August 5, 2016
There is a moment in “Daniel’s Diary” when Akbar says to Jodhabai “But, Amber Princess. you have been hurting yourself all this while; how can I forgive you for causing this much distress to yourself?” and at that moment I could see the beauty of this story. These story is peppered with moments of glory like this. There are absolute moments that can grow and make you fall in love with themselves. However, the whole story does not hold up in the same way.
The thing about novel writing is, often it is a walk upon a highly held tight rope, and sadly there is no cushioned heaven underneath. You need to achieve a kind of balance to make the story reach across the stars. this is what this story sorely lacks. When it starts, the narration is pretty peppy, but, it is also distracting as soon enough the lack of dialogues shine through. Are dialogues absolutely necessary to drive a book? Absolutely not. However, a dialogue between the author and the reader should be established in order to make the story flow effortlessly. Here the story never really connects that bridge for me, it goes on and on for pages without any sort of images that will appeal to you, leaving the reader with the feeling that he is being told everything and seeing almost nothing.
The lack of scenes that will hold you affects the book throughout and parts of the book could have done much better is the author had made the characters speak instead of taking the responsibility upon herself as the narrator for the most part.
Talking about characters, I never really understood the role that Bubbles was supposed to play here. A child can be a vital addition to a lot of stories but, I asked myself again and again what purpose he really served. There is a particular montage where the author described his mischievous feats, however, they seemed unnecessary. Even as a person there to provide some comic entertainment or respite, he failed that purpose.
Mrinalini, the protagonist had the potential to become one of the best characters I have read, however, even she became quite a caricature when early on in the novel she seemed to be doing the work of a governess, a cook, a hotel manager, an interior decorator, all while she was in the place as a professional with real time obligations. It struck me more when throughout the story she was the one character whose voice took a long time to come by. Even though she arguably had some of the best scenes in the story, she also had one of weakest presences, not somebody who I could particularly classify as a very effective character.
However, enter Daniel, the hero who I quite like. He explores and has a sense of wit. He is also quite positively charming in his ways. There were particular scenes between him and other characters which came alive because of his presence. Same goes for Mahamaya whose presence was magnetic for the short while she was there.
Mahamaya is a character who could be used in a much better way if she was given more place in the text. For the most part the saga of Akbar and Jodhabai read well, but, sometimes it feels like a glorified history book because of the way it is told.
The ending too, does not resonate well with the story. The last arc seems to be quite rushed. The end for Daniel especially leaves a lot to be desired.
While, the author does a credible work with research and the language, the story suffers throughout because of the difficulties with narration. It screams out for something that would take it up and make it seem better than what it is.
I would admit, the idea of the book appealed to me. I read through the beginning for a lot of times before I actually started delving within the book because I hoped somehow to be captured by the book in the first few pages alone. However, the novel took a long while to find a comfortable footing. The idea of this novel is good, and I would love to see more works from this author. However, right now, this piece of literature asks for much more finesse.
Rating – 2/5
Verdict – An wonderful idea that demands much more finesse in its execution
The thing about novel writing is, often it is a walk upon a highly held tight rope, and sadly there is no cushioned heaven underneath. You need to achieve a kind of balance to make the story reach across the stars. this is what this story sorely lacks. When it starts, the narration is pretty peppy, but, it is also distracting as soon enough the lack of dialogues shine through. Are dialogues absolutely necessary to drive a book? Absolutely not. However, a dialogue between the author and the reader should be established in order to make the story flow effortlessly. Here the story never really connects that bridge for me, it goes on and on for pages without any sort of images that will appeal to you, leaving the reader with the feeling that he is being told everything and seeing almost nothing.
The lack of scenes that will hold you affects the book throughout and parts of the book could have done much better is the author had made the characters speak instead of taking the responsibility upon herself as the narrator for the most part.
Talking about characters, I never really understood the role that Bubbles was supposed to play here. A child can be a vital addition to a lot of stories but, I asked myself again and again what purpose he really served. There is a particular montage where the author described his mischievous feats, however, they seemed unnecessary. Even as a person there to provide some comic entertainment or respite, he failed that purpose.
Mrinalini, the protagonist had the potential to become one of the best characters I have read, however, even she became quite a caricature when early on in the novel she seemed to be doing the work of a governess, a cook, a hotel manager, an interior decorator, all while she was in the place as a professional with real time obligations. It struck me more when throughout the story she was the one character whose voice took a long time to come by. Even though she arguably had some of the best scenes in the story, she also had one of weakest presences, not somebody who I could particularly classify as a very effective character.
However, enter Daniel, the hero who I quite like. He explores and has a sense of wit. He is also quite positively charming in his ways. There were particular scenes between him and other characters which came alive because of his presence. Same goes for Mahamaya whose presence was magnetic for the short while she was there.
Mahamaya is a character who could be used in a much better way if she was given more place in the text. For the most part the saga of Akbar and Jodhabai read well, but, sometimes it feels like a glorified history book because of the way it is told.
The ending too, does not resonate well with the story. The last arc seems to be quite rushed. The end for Daniel especially leaves a lot to be desired.
While, the author does a credible work with research and the language, the story suffers throughout because of the difficulties with narration. It screams out for something that would take it up and make it seem better than what it is.
I would admit, the idea of the book appealed to me. I read through the beginning for a lot of times before I actually started delving within the book because I hoped somehow to be captured by the book in the first few pages alone. However, the novel took a long while to find a comfortable footing. The idea of this novel is good, and I would love to see more works from this author. However, right now, this piece of literature asks for much more finesse.
Rating – 2/5
Verdict – An wonderful idea that demands much more finesse in its execution
March 28, 2014
Daniel’s Dairy, is Rajeshwari Chauhan’s Historical saga of pain, betrayal, agony and Eternal Love. The chance discovery of the Daniel’s Dairy leads Mrinalini on a journey which finally leads her to discover true love. The story draws a parallel between Mirnalini’s story and Daniel’s Story. As she uncovers the past she begins to unravel her life’s Plans too.
Mirnalini is a modern woman, who knows what she wants and is in the eternal quest of true love. Her relationship with the aristocratic Arrow and Suzan is very rocky from the very beginning. Surajsingh is the genial man with genial manners and a loveable attitude, but is also very mysterious and is hiding something. Mrinalini and Surajsingh fall into a very cordial relationship from the very beginning. The other characters in the present time, like Dadasaheb, Bubbles and the entire royal family make for really interesting incidents and create many anecdotal instances.
The historical characters, their depiction and the environment created by the author while writing the dairy is very detailed. Mahamaya though makes a late and very small appearance, her presence is very impactful. The other characters add on to the pomp and the grandeur of the Rajput era. Daniel, according to me is the best written character in the entire book. The way she portrays, Daniel is quite real and the emotions he is going through hit home most of the times.
The story and the characters are very powerful; especially the historical portions of the book leave me wanting for more. Every time the dairy entry ended I could not wait for the next one. The most fascinating part of the book is the Dairy and Daniel’s Story and the treatment of it in a very detailed manner. The play of emotions is very beautifully used by the author to create and draw a parallel between the past and the present.
What needed to be worked on according to me is the narration. In some places, like where the foreign tourists come to stay for two days, the narration gets too dry and the fact that dialogues are not used becomes very evident. Also I wanted to see more of Mahamaya. The story is so focussed on the Moghul Emperor and the Rajput princess that Daniel and Mahamaya’s story gets somewhat side tracked. More description of their relationship and interaction could have probably worked wonders for this story.
Other than that this is a very powerful Saga. Rajeshwari Chauhan has created such an impact, and it is very evident that she belongs to a Royal family. I expect many more winning historical sagas from her.
To read more please vist http://jaibalarao.wordpress.com
Mirnalini is a modern woman, who knows what she wants and is in the eternal quest of true love. Her relationship with the aristocratic Arrow and Suzan is very rocky from the very beginning. Surajsingh is the genial man with genial manners and a loveable attitude, but is also very mysterious and is hiding something. Mrinalini and Surajsingh fall into a very cordial relationship from the very beginning. The other characters in the present time, like Dadasaheb, Bubbles and the entire royal family make for really interesting incidents and create many anecdotal instances.
The historical characters, their depiction and the environment created by the author while writing the dairy is very detailed. Mahamaya though makes a late and very small appearance, her presence is very impactful. The other characters add on to the pomp and the grandeur of the Rajput era. Daniel, according to me is the best written character in the entire book. The way she portrays, Daniel is quite real and the emotions he is going through hit home most of the times.
The story and the characters are very powerful; especially the historical portions of the book leave me wanting for more. Every time the dairy entry ended I could not wait for the next one. The most fascinating part of the book is the Dairy and Daniel’s Story and the treatment of it in a very detailed manner. The play of emotions is very beautifully used by the author to create and draw a parallel between the past and the present.
What needed to be worked on according to me is the narration. In some places, like where the foreign tourists come to stay for two days, the narration gets too dry and the fact that dialogues are not used becomes very evident. Also I wanted to see more of Mahamaya. The story is so focussed on the Moghul Emperor and the Rajput princess that Daniel and Mahamaya’s story gets somewhat side tracked. More description of their relationship and interaction could have probably worked wonders for this story.
Other than that this is a very powerful Saga. Rajeshwari Chauhan has created such an impact, and it is very evident that she belongs to a Royal family. I expect many more winning historical sagas from her.
To read more please vist http://jaibalarao.wordpress.com
May 28, 2014
The book (Daniel’s Diary) deals with two love stories: one set in history and the other is modern day love story. The book has a lot to offer rather than just being a love story. For me, reading this book was sojourn from boring daily life. Unlike the popular genres of romance novels, the book has chosen its own path. The historical love story is described in minute detail with splendor. At times it feels that you were present at the time when the story was taking place. One comes to know a lot about the traditions and customs of Mughal era.
The book also deals with the story of a modern day girl, Mrinalini, an energetic girl with high dreams and pleasing personality.
The author is hundred percent successful in recreating the Mughal era in this book. It was nice to know about the gallantry of Rajputs. At times it feels that you are watching a movie. The characters are fully alive and not merely caricatures. There are characters for whom you really care and you feel bad when something wrong happens to them. I particularly liked the love story that blossomed between Daniel and Mahamaya. And there is a wonderful exchange of couplets between both of them.
The modern day love story between Mrinalini and Surajsinh is beautifully woven. First, there was a friction in talks between both of them. But as the story rolls ahead, this friction turns into affection.
As the story reaches towards the climax one may literally start biting his nails, though the whole book is full of suspense. And the suspense is not created by using old clichés; in fact the book is full of originality. Though every book has some faults in it but I was not able to find any fault in this book.
I would recommend this book to every reader, though I specially want the young readers to read this book. I am sure the author has given birth to modern day classic by writing this amazing book
The book also deals with the story of a modern day girl, Mrinalini, an energetic girl with high dreams and pleasing personality.
The author is hundred percent successful in recreating the Mughal era in this book. It was nice to know about the gallantry of Rajputs. At times it feels that you are watching a movie. The characters are fully alive and not merely caricatures. There are characters for whom you really care and you feel bad when something wrong happens to them. I particularly liked the love story that blossomed between Daniel and Mahamaya. And there is a wonderful exchange of couplets between both of them.
The modern day love story between Mrinalini and Surajsinh is beautifully woven. First, there was a friction in talks between both of them. But as the story rolls ahead, this friction turns into affection.
As the story reaches towards the climax one may literally start biting his nails, though the whole book is full of suspense. And the suspense is not created by using old clichés; in fact the book is full of originality. Though every book has some faults in it but I was not able to find any fault in this book.
I would recommend this book to every reader, though I specially want the young readers to read this book. I am sure the author has given birth to modern day classic by writing this amazing book
November 29, 2016
Interesting - yes. Riveting - no.
This book is what I like to call a 'half and half' - it half made and half mucked up my day.
The story by itself is what makes it a good one time read - an art restoration expert comes to a renovated, soon to be turned hotel haveli, and discovers an ancient diary, written by a Portuguese painter who became a member of Akbar's court for some years. Two love stories unfold side by side - Akbar and Jodha's romance, as narrated in the diary, and the sort of love triangle that the protagonist of the book finds herself in.
That's all that's right and good about the book. The plot.
The language kills it all. Cringe-worthy in places, it absolutely distracts from the story, so much so that I had to time and again take a break from reading through the inane and banal sentences this book is liberally peppered with. I started to photograph some of the sentences, intending to quote them in my review, and then stopped because there simply are too many such examples of what I like to label as 'non native' writing.
This is how the book mucked up my day. When I read, I like to lose myself in the story, instead of penning a mental review, even as I continue to read. With this one though, the review started within the first 50 odd pages, and absolutely killed any pleasure I might have felt in reading an otherwise interesting plot.
The three stars are all for the premise, and for occasionally well written prose, mostly evident in the 'diary'. The rest of it is absolute tripe, and the author needs to maybe revisit, revise, and extensively restore this fine gem of a story to what it originally promised to be.
Read it only if you have patience, and nothing else to kill time with.
This book is what I like to call a 'half and half' - it half made and half mucked up my day.
The story by itself is what makes it a good one time read - an art restoration expert comes to a renovated, soon to be turned hotel haveli, and discovers an ancient diary, written by a Portuguese painter who became a member of Akbar's court for some years. Two love stories unfold side by side - Akbar and Jodha's romance, as narrated in the diary, and the sort of love triangle that the protagonist of the book finds herself in.
That's all that's right and good about the book. The plot.
The language kills it all. Cringe-worthy in places, it absolutely distracts from the story, so much so that I had to time and again take a break from reading through the inane and banal sentences this book is liberally peppered with. I started to photograph some of the sentences, intending to quote them in my review, and then stopped because there simply are too many such examples of what I like to label as 'non native' writing.
This is how the book mucked up my day. When I read, I like to lose myself in the story, instead of penning a mental review, even as I continue to read. With this one though, the review started within the first 50 odd pages, and absolutely killed any pleasure I might have felt in reading an otherwise interesting plot.
The three stars are all for the premise, and for occasionally well written prose, mostly evident in the 'diary'. The rest of it is absolute tripe, and the author needs to maybe revisit, revise, and extensively restore this fine gem of a story to what it originally promised to be.
Read it only if you have patience, and nothing else to kill time with.
November 26, 2014
My wordings for Daniel's Diary by Rajeshwari Chauhan Ma'am
Vijay Agrawal Sir so good of you to send me this book. This novel was a huge surprise for me. I loved the cover and the plot line sounded interesting.
Once I began with the book, it became like "must finish this book as soon as possible" read. I really enjoyed the book. It really drew me in. The suspense and the secrets kept building. The pieces of past that kept on revealing from page by page, it really kept my interest in the story.All the characters were very much fascinating. I was happy with the outcome.
Art, history,romance and suspense was like all in one package.
Being an history student, I really loved and enjoyed your work Ma'am.
Congratulation Ma'am for your wonderful piece of work. Eagerly waiting to read many more from your side!!!
Vijay Agrawal Sir so good of you to send me this book. This novel was a huge surprise for me. I loved the cover and the plot line sounded interesting.
Once I began with the book, it became like "must finish this book as soon as possible" read. I really enjoyed the book. It really drew me in. The suspense and the secrets kept building. The pieces of past that kept on revealing from page by page, it really kept my interest in the story.All the characters were very much fascinating. I was happy with the outcome.
Art, history,romance and suspense was like all in one package.
Being an history student, I really loved and enjoyed your work Ma'am.
Congratulation Ma'am for your wonderful piece of work. Eagerly waiting to read many more from your side!!!
April 14, 2014
Simply a wonderful read! Daniel's Diary takes a reader to that amazing journey starting from Mughal era to the present time.
An intelligent and balanced mix of facts and fiction opens doors to the unknown but very interesting facts of Akbar's time in very much captivating manner.
The book has two parallel plots, interwoven very artistically, portraying different aspects of true love through different characters.
A 'goodread' in true sense after long long time in Indian English Literature!
An intelligent and balanced mix of facts and fiction opens doors to the unknown but very interesting facts of Akbar's time in very much captivating manner.
The book has two parallel plots, interwoven very artistically, portraying different aspects of true love through different characters.
A 'goodread' in true sense after long long time in Indian English Literature!
December 14, 2014
i thin that this is a creative story.
April 29, 2015
This is a real time travel book which gives a feel of olden days in modern times. A must read for suspense with classy humor.
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