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Arjun's Diary: The Call to Battle
Arjun's Diary - The Call to Battle is a story which connects the past with the present - a tale of how a shy student became the world's greatest warrior of his time. What connects Sandhya, an NRI returning back to India on her cousin's wedding, Raghav - an ex-armyman, GK Sethi - a multibillionaire, a nameless hermit high in the mountains; to Arjuna - the timeless hero. We will hear a tale from the past - a tale which has never been told. The year is 3067 BC and the Pandavas have just joined their Gurukul. An exciting time awaits them. They will learn about weapon protocols, chariot warfare, the strategy of war; but above all they will learn about loyalty, courage and presence of mind. Gurukul itself is faced with strange happenings. It's defenses have been breached but nothing taken, a student has been abducted but then abandoned, a foolhardy enemy wants a war it is likely to lose. Elsewhere, a thief throws back a booty of gold coins stolen by him. Why is all this happening and how does the fate of Hastinapur rest on the secret that Arjun carries but himself does not realize it?
Find out all this and more as Arjun's Diary - The Call to Battle takes you on a thrilling adventure through time and space.
Find out all this and more as Arjun's Diary - The Call to Battle takes you on a thrilling adventure through time and space.
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First published March 8, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 27, 2019
This is a very nice, interesting story written on Mahabharata making Arjuna as the protagonist. It starts a bit slowly and you have to stick with it before it actually starts and transports you to a magical time.
Pros:
The world the author weaves is amazing. His attention to detail in making this world real is something a lot of writers can learn from. The description of the Gurukul life, the boys romping and having their escapades, a hint of a future romance, a conspiracy, political intrigue...it’s very well described. I specially loved how the various weapons and weapon systems, different subjects and their way of teaching etc has been described by the author. It shows that he had a very clear picture of what he wanted to portray, and he has done it amazingly. The characters of the princes are likable, energetic young boys up to all sorts of mischief. Bhima is a very engaging elder brother to the protagonist.
Cons:
The grammatical errors. Really this is my only grouse. The book needs a sharp editing, and it would be perfect.
Pros:
The world the author weaves is amazing. His attention to detail in making this world real is something a lot of writers can learn from. The description of the Gurukul life, the boys romping and having their escapades, a hint of a future romance, a conspiracy, political intrigue...it’s very well described. I specially loved how the various weapons and weapon systems, different subjects and their way of teaching etc has been described by the author. It shows that he had a very clear picture of what he wanted to portray, and he has done it amazingly. The characters of the princes are likable, energetic young boys up to all sorts of mischief. Bhima is a very engaging elder brother to the protagonist.
Cons:
The grammatical errors. Really this is my only grouse. The book needs a sharp editing, and it would be perfect.
September 17, 2017
Good blend
A good blend of ancient history and contemporary world done seamlessly
My congratulations to the author for this interesting book
A good blend of ancient history and contemporary world done seamlessly
My congratulations to the author for this interesting book
March 18, 2014
As the book description says, this isn’t a mere retelling of the Mahabharata but an authentic and alternative story from the perspective of the immortally famous hero – Arjuna. It is a faced paced and gripping tale that interweaves 3000 BC with the 21st Century where unusual events from assassination to rebellion take place in the Kuru lands and nearly dislodge the house of the Kurus, altering the fate oif the whole nation unless the truth is found out at once.
It is hard to give a wider review of the book without turning this into a spoiler but I really enjoyed reading this work as the author interspersed quite a bit of humour and witticisms in the characters and there is plenty of real action akin to an action movie but in a manner that is so well detailed and obviously informed that it made my whole reading experience feel very real and exciting.
In fact the author describes the characters, the times, the art of war and weaponry with so much detail that it made the characters of the Mahabharata every bit as real and human as the characters of Raghav and Sandhya of the 21st century; they have their flaws, their idiosyncrasies and good points. From meeting Drona to the assasination attempts on the house of Kuru, the descriptions of the internal politics, alliances, cousinly rivalry, weaponry, history and so much more, right up to the twist that marries mythology and reality, the author shows a great deal of skill in his imagination and knowledge.
What I really loved was the brilliance of the story plot; what can be more exciting than being made to feel as if remnants of history and mythology still live and can touch our lives in this modern age. The book ends with a cliff-hanger that will keep you waiting for the next part. I’d recommend this book to everyone especially to those who love action and fantasy.
It is hard to give a wider review of the book without turning this into a spoiler but I really enjoyed reading this work as the author interspersed quite a bit of humour and witticisms in the characters and there is plenty of real action akin to an action movie but in a manner that is so well detailed and obviously informed that it made my whole reading experience feel very real and exciting.
In fact the author describes the characters, the times, the art of war and weaponry with so much detail that it made the characters of the Mahabharata every bit as real and human as the characters of Raghav and Sandhya of the 21st century; they have their flaws, their idiosyncrasies and good points. From meeting Drona to the assasination attempts on the house of Kuru, the descriptions of the internal politics, alliances, cousinly rivalry, weaponry, history and so much more, right up to the twist that marries mythology and reality, the author shows a great deal of skill in his imagination and knowledge.
What I really loved was the brilliance of the story plot; what can be more exciting than being made to feel as if remnants of history and mythology still live and can touch our lives in this modern age. The book ends with a cliff-hanger that will keep you waiting for the next part. I’d recommend this book to everyone especially to those who love action and fantasy.
February 5, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed this book and I have not been compensated in any way.
This book merges a story in the present day with an ancient story called the Mahabharata told from the viewpoint of Arjuna.
The present day story focuses on Sandhya who is an Indian woman working in IT who wants to live in the US where she currently works permanently. She is in India to attend a cousin's wedding and is trying to work out how to tell her parents about that decision as she knows they would prefer she lived in India and married. She is also trying to understand her old friend Raghav so they can catch up on old times.
The ancient story is told by a hermit that helps Raghav (friend of Sandhya, ex-army and bodyguard), GK Sethi the billionaire and his daughter who employed Raghav. They agree to hear his story in return for his help.
I found both stories pleasant on their own, I understood the event that meant that Raghav heard the ancient story, but I didn't really understand the connection between the two stories apart from the main characters that heard the ancient story being in the modern story in some way. It was pleasant to read and I enjoyed the ancient story but it ended there.
This book merges a story in the present day with an ancient story called the Mahabharata told from the viewpoint of Arjuna.
The present day story focuses on Sandhya who is an Indian woman working in IT who wants to live in the US where she currently works permanently. She is in India to attend a cousin's wedding and is trying to work out how to tell her parents about that decision as she knows they would prefer she lived in India and married. She is also trying to understand her old friend Raghav so they can catch up on old times.
The ancient story is told by a hermit that helps Raghav (friend of Sandhya, ex-army and bodyguard), GK Sethi the billionaire and his daughter who employed Raghav. They agree to hear his story in return for his help.
I found both stories pleasant on their own, I understood the event that meant that Raghav heard the ancient story, but I didn't really understand the connection between the two stories apart from the main characters that heard the ancient story being in the modern story in some way. It was pleasant to read and I enjoyed the ancient story but it ended there.
December 21, 2016
Arjun’s Diary – The Call to Battle is a young adult book that was written for an Indian audience. Despite not being Indian, I enjoyed the story quite a bit. The story begins with Sandhya who is an Indian woman living in the US and working in the IT field. She returns to India for her cousin’s wedding.
She’s hoping to tell her parents that she wants to relocate to the US permanently but isn’t looking forward to telling them that because she knows it’s their hope she’ll stay in India and get married. She meets Rhagav, and old friend, at the wedding and learns he is the head of a security company now.
Rhagav leaves on a job to protect a business man and his daughter as they travel up the Himalayan mountains. While they’re there, they are stranded and meet a mysterious hermit who lives in a cave. To thank him for saving them, they agree to listen to his story. His story takes place in 3067 BC in the days of Mahabharata’s Gurukul. This begins the second part of the story which is an epic adventure.
I found Arjun’s Diary – The Call to Battle absolutely fascinating. I loved learning more about current day Indian culture in the beginning part of the book as much as I was fascinated by the story about the warrior Arjun. The story is full of lots of interesting details and information which makes it an absolute delight to read. Highly recommend.
She’s hoping to tell her parents that she wants to relocate to the US permanently but isn’t looking forward to telling them that because she knows it’s their hope she’ll stay in India and get married. She meets Rhagav, and old friend, at the wedding and learns he is the head of a security company now.
Rhagav leaves on a job to protect a business man and his daughter as they travel up the Himalayan mountains. While they’re there, they are stranded and meet a mysterious hermit who lives in a cave. To thank him for saving them, they agree to listen to his story. His story takes place in 3067 BC in the days of Mahabharata’s Gurukul. This begins the second part of the story which is an epic adventure.
I found Arjun’s Diary – The Call to Battle absolutely fascinating. I loved learning more about current day Indian culture in the beginning part of the book as much as I was fascinated by the story about the warrior Arjun. The story is full of lots of interesting details and information which makes it an absolute delight to read. Highly recommend.
January 28, 2017
I mean what's the effing point?
These stories are done to death. Can u atleast except anything new here? No u shouldn't.
If you are a serious reader who takes every point of the story seriously, then this is NOT the book for you.
The e-book was given to me by the author himself. I really wanted to like it.
I don't write continue this review. Just avoid it if possible and if not possible.
These stories are done to death. Can u atleast except anything new here? No u shouldn't.
If you are a serious reader who takes every point of the story seriously, then this is NOT the book for you.
The e-book was given to me by the author himself. I really wanted to like it.
I don't write continue this review. Just avoid it if possible and if not possible.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews