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03:02
At 03:02 on a Sunday morning, the world as we knew it came to an end.
Mumbai suddenly went black — no electricity, no phones, no internet and no working cars. It was as if someone had turned off the master switch of our civilization, turning us back hundreds of years overnight. We learned that it was not just Mumbai, but much of the world that had been impacted.
We also learned that it was no accident. A deadly enemy was behind it. An enemy that was now in our midst, seeking to conquer us and destroy our way of life. This is how our war for freedom began. A war that was to be waged not on the borders or by the Army, but in our homes and streets, with us as the soldiers.
This is our story.
Mumbai suddenly went black — no electricity, no phones, no internet and no working cars. It was as if someone had turned off the master switch of our civilization, turning us back hundreds of years overnight. We learned that it was not just Mumbai, but much of the world that had been impacted.
We also learned that it was no accident. A deadly enemy was behind it. An enemy that was now in our midst, seeking to conquer us and destroy our way of life. This is how our war for freedom began. A war that was to be waged not on the borders or by the Army, but in our homes and streets, with us as the soldiers.
This is our story.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2016
85 people are currently reading
347 people want to read
About the author
Mainak Dhar
58 books277 followersAfter finishing his schooling at Modern School, Barakhamba Road and his under-graduation at Hindu College, Delhi, Mainak Dhar graduated from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He has spent two decades in the corporate sector — starting with Procter & Gamble in India. He spent eighteen years with P&G, fifteen of them outside India across the Asia Pacific region. In 2014, he moved back to India as the CEO of the India operations of a major consumer products multinational.
A self-described cubicle dweller by day and writer by night, Mainak is also the author of over a dozen books, some of which have been bestsellers in India and abroad. These books have been translated into Turkish, Vietnamese, Japanese, French, German and Portuguese. He lives in Mumbai with his wife, Puja, and their son, Aaditya. When not at work or with his family, he can usually be found working on, or thinking about his next book. Learn more about him and contact him at www.facebook.com/AuthorMainakDhar.
A self-described cubicle dweller by day and writer by night, Mainak is also the author of over a dozen books, some of which have been bestsellers in India and abroad. These books have been translated into Turkish, Vietnamese, Japanese, French, German and Portuguese. He lives in Mumbai with his wife, Puja, and their son, Aaditya. When not at work or with his family, he can usually be found working on, or thinking about his next book. Learn more about him and contact him at www.facebook.com/AuthorMainakDhar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
September 13, 2018
Good Job
The story of 03:02 starts with a blackout in Mumbai city at 03:02. People took it lightly and went back to their bed. When they woke up in morning finding no electronics or electrical device working, their life became miserable. A strong heart guy Aditya took things in hand and started directing people to constructive work. Living in a same society for years and not knowing people personally was a common thing in today's world. But blackout brought people together. People who usually seen in lifts and parking lots became partner in daily activities like food, water and other scavenging.
Link to Detailed Review - http://chevusread.blogspot.in/2016/09...
Well story doesn't end with just one society but same things happened to 70% of world. Which brought anarchy along with blackout. Police, militia and government had their own struggle to keep things in order. Without law and order in Mumbai and many other cities things go beyond imagination. Story was focused on Mumbai specially Patch between International Airport to Powai region. In initial days Aditya faced lot of resistance from society people who were considering power outage was just a temporary phenomena, but as time progressed they understood it was not gonna end soon.
Using his common tactics and other's help Aditya kept securing his and neighborhood societies from looters and thugs. But they got big shock when they learned the most feared and brutal terrorist group is just 4-5 km away from there location. Instead of giving up to terrorist, Aditya and his Azad Hind Fauj fought till end. (Well I don't want give every twist and turn in my review)
The story of 03:02 starts with a blackout in Mumbai city at 03:02. People took it lightly and went back to their bed. When they woke up in morning finding no electronics or electrical device working, their life became miserable. A strong heart guy Aditya took things in hand and started directing people to constructive work. Living in a same society for years and not knowing people personally was a common thing in today's world. But blackout brought people together. People who usually seen in lifts and parking lots became partner in daily activities like food, water and other scavenging.
Link to Detailed Review - http://chevusread.blogspot.in/2016/09...
Well story doesn't end with just one society but same things happened to 70% of world. Which brought anarchy along with blackout. Police, militia and government had their own struggle to keep things in order. Without law and order in Mumbai and many other cities things go beyond imagination. Story was focused on Mumbai specially Patch between International Airport to Powai region. In initial days Aditya faced lot of resistance from society people who were considering power outage was just a temporary phenomena, but as time progressed they understood it was not gonna end soon.
Using his common tactics and other's help Aditya kept securing his and neighborhood societies from looters and thugs. But they got big shock when they learned the most feared and brutal terrorist group is just 4-5 km away from there location. Instead of giving up to terrorist, Aditya and his Azad Hind Fauj fought till end. (Well I don't want give every twist and turn in my review)
April 13, 2017
Aditya woke up one day in complete blackness around him. Nobody yet knows what is going on. He is about to figure out that the world has stopped working. Every machine has come to a halt. He is devastated to see such scenarios that he never thought was possible and so are we.
But the question remains unrevealed here. Who is behind this?
What powers is Aditya fighting from? Will he ever be able to conquer these enemies of the entire world or will his sacrifices go in vain?
To unfold the how and what, Mainak Dhar takes you to an adventurous expedition and you won't say No!!
03:02 grabs hold of your attention totally. The author has demonstrated his mastery in neck-breaking thrillers. He has vividly described the action scenes. The battles you fight with the protagonists are priceless. When he's around you, everything else seems to be a war zone and you are electrified with this voyage.
The black cover with the timings scribbled over the book provides enough suspense it required. Some well-designed plot twists were certainly uncommon as I've not encountered such finesse in any other novel. Although a little predictable, the author has cleverly penned down this entertaining piece of work.
Brevity, candid, straightforwardness nature of writing has compelled me utmost. Spectacular character portrayal was another thing on my list. Fast-paced storyline was all too wonderful.
Recommended for thriller admirers!
April 15, 2018
I picked up this book on an impulse after reading an excerpt. The story talked about almost everything coming to a standstill at 03:02 one morning. No electricity, no cars working, no mobile signal, ……
I was right with respect to the story – it was certainly interesting, and also different. Aaditya is doing well on a job and has just recently been promoted. In that sense life could not better. While growing up, being from a family where many have served the armed forces, he has a touch of fascination for it but settles for a well-paying desk job. The scenario was the result of a massive terror attack. While the main character – Aaditya, is based in Mumbai, India, this was a global attack with many nations impacted.
However, that morning changes everything. The world as people had known it has changed. A lot of the action is around Powai, Mumbai, an area I am very familiar with and it was nice to read how the places I frequent often figure in the story. Aadi motivates the local residents to resist and fight back. The local residents taking the fight to the terrorists is what this book is all about.
While the story is good, there are a number of other aspects of the book which are not quite appealing. A lot of the scenarios are far fetched and many of the characters acquire and display amazing tactical and fighting skills all of a sudden. So much so that the armed forces at a later stage look to Aadi and team for advice. There are a number of incidents which come across as being deliberately introduced for political correctness. A movie was a better format for this narrative. While, the fight the civilian population takes to the terrorists is appealing, there is too much of the same thing across the story.
Sadly, the narrative does not quite carry through the novelty of the story. And yet, for it’s different story, it is worth taking a look at.
My rating: 3.4 / 5.
I was right with respect to the story – it was certainly interesting, and also different. Aaditya is doing well on a job and has just recently been promoted. In that sense life could not better. While growing up, being from a family where many have served the armed forces, he has a touch of fascination for it but settles for a well-paying desk job. The scenario was the result of a massive terror attack. While the main character – Aaditya, is based in Mumbai, India, this was a global attack with many nations impacted.
However, that morning changes everything. The world as people had known it has changed. A lot of the action is around Powai, Mumbai, an area I am very familiar with and it was nice to read how the places I frequent often figure in the story. Aadi motivates the local residents to resist and fight back. The local residents taking the fight to the terrorists is what this book is all about.
While the story is good, there are a number of other aspects of the book which are not quite appealing. A lot of the scenarios are far fetched and many of the characters acquire and display amazing tactical and fighting skills all of a sudden. So much so that the armed forces at a later stage look to Aadi and team for advice. There are a number of incidents which come across as being deliberately introduced for political correctness. A movie was a better format for this narrative. While, the fight the civilian population takes to the terrorists is appealing, there is too much of the same thing across the story.
Sadly, the narrative does not quite carry through the novelty of the story. And yet, for it’s different story, it is worth taking a look at.
My rating: 3.4 / 5.
November 22, 2018
I finished reading this book in less than 72 hours and so you can guess, how exciting this thriller was.... once i started reading it, i could only put it down once i have read it fully...
The basic plot of the novel is a blackout in mumbai, which later turns out to be an attack by the ISIS..
All the chip enabled devices, transport system, electricity has ceased to work and a havoc starts that is when Aaditya takes the responsibility of keeping everyone safe against a much powerful and brutal enemy...
The biggest factor here is that no armed forces or police is there to help the general public and only they can help themselves....
After the blackout how the people use their different skills to survive the present day is amazing to read.
The dependency of humans on devices is highlighted..
The situation in a war zone is described.... and all this in a form of story.
The different encounters of the civilian armed force led by aaditya against the isis is exciting..
The planning of the strategies to fight and to survive is worth reading.
This was one of the best thrillers I have read and will try to read more books by the author....
A totally exciting and entertaining thriller....
If you are a thriller fan, you can not and should not miss this...
The basic plot of the novel is a blackout in mumbai, which later turns out to be an attack by the ISIS..
All the chip enabled devices, transport system, electricity has ceased to work and a havoc starts that is when Aaditya takes the responsibility of keeping everyone safe against a much powerful and brutal enemy...
The biggest factor here is that no armed forces or police is there to help the general public and only they can help themselves....
After the blackout how the people use their different skills to survive the present day is amazing to read.
The dependency of humans on devices is highlighted..
The situation in a war zone is described.... and all this in a form of story.
The different encounters of the civilian armed force led by aaditya against the isis is exciting..
The planning of the strategies to fight and to survive is worth reading.
This was one of the best thrillers I have read and will try to read more books by the author....
A totally exciting and entertaining thriller....
If you are a thriller fan, you can not and should not miss this...
December 7, 2018
03:02 is a must read book which will make you read till the end making you think what's next. This is my second book of this author after Alice in deadland. Would say that author is really a very great artist of thinking such fictional stories making it real. Coming to the book this book is about Aditya who gets a promotion of becoming CEO of a company which remains his dreams till the end due to the blackout a day before he takes the post at the so mention time mentioned as the title of the book. Hereafter how the world of Aditya changes who becomes a hard-core insurgent or a militia man from a four walled engaged in meetings CEO. How Aaditya becomes a leader to whom all look out for his guidance and advice. Going through this book author has created a Syria war in our Mumbai streets from Powai to the airport. Looked the concept used which makes the author unique in style of writing. Overall it's a very very good Goodread .. 😊
March 31, 2019
A must read for every Indian
I sat up late into the night, my head pounding, my eyes hurting reading feverishly. Its 1:00 pm now, I'm unable to get the characters out of my head. I know that the fear of being ruled by ISIS is real. I hope we never have to face a deadly attack like this. But, it is not too late to be prepared, at least mentally.
It is a must read.
I sat up late into the night, my head pounding, my eyes hurting reading feverishly. Its 1:00 pm now, I'm unable to get the characters out of my head. I know that the fear of being ruled by ISIS is real. I hope we never have to face a deadly attack like this. But, it is not too late to be prepared, at least mentally.
It is a must read.
June 18, 2020
I enjoyed it but felt in quite a few places that the speeches and the events became rather repetitive. It's a great book to boost morale and patriotism, that much I'll say. :)
October 2, 2016
2.5 stars.
After celebrating his promotion till midnight, Aditya wakes up at 03:02 a.m. to find complete darkness, switched off mobile and not working fridge. Assuming it a normal power cut, he goes back to sleep. 7 in the morning, nothing has changed. Everything has stopped working even elevators and automobiles.
Can this be considered as normal power cut? There’s definitely something serious! What went wrong? Who’s behind this, and why? Someone whose intention is definitely dangerous.
The book is all about unfolding these mysteries, chasing the troubles and fighting with them.
Sounds intriguing? It does! And it is.
The book started off really well. I was eager to know what was this all about, thinking 'what next'. But, after some pages it becomes very slow and repetitive. It’s not uneventful. So many things happen but these things seem like a whirlwind. Whirling at the same place, going nowhere. And, this made my mind whirling with so many questions. Such stories need to be fast paced, but here, 150 pages and there is no lead, no cues.
The writing is good, but I didn’t think it’s very intelligent, especially in the first half (Or maybe I didn’t get that as several things go unexplained).
For example, nothing is working, but someone manages to start the generator, and the elevator starts working. Interestingly, no one in the nearby society is eager to know that how people of Aditya’s society have managed to do so! Just two days of power cut and everyone is just concerned about water and food supplies. Come on! We keep our kitchen stocked enough to manage for couple of days, don’t we? We have gas cylinders to prepare foods.
People are looting and killing for food supplies (even guards of a politician!). There are several shops (not just electronically operated malls) where people can easily buy goods. They are thinking about fetching water from swimming pools! If generator can work, then why can’t motors work for water storage? A woman suggests to grow their own foods in the garden! And, Aditya’s feels that she is a genius! I mean really? No one is trying to approach the authorities to know what actually went wrong.
The author has tried to prove that everyone except Aditya is dumb. Everyone needs Aditya’s lecture to realize what’s wrong or right in this difficult situation (an elderly man is reading novel lighting his torch until Aditya lectures. A politician refuses to cooperate until someone lectures). Everyone is coming to Aditya’s society as if it was a refugee camp. I wondered why that person who started the generator was not trying to start another generator in the society nearby.
It was so disturbing. Sometimes, it seems like a moral/social story.
There’s no strong female character with prominent role, still I liked the character of Megha and the way her relationship with Aditya burgeons slowly.
As I said the writing is good. The plot/theme of the book is unique. It is packed with action and insights. So if you like action thrillers/science fiction, (It didn’t give me the feel of science fiction though) you may like it. Going by the wonderful reviews, you should try this! For me, it was a confusing read (And the confusion killed the excitement), But that's just me.
After celebrating his promotion till midnight, Aditya wakes up at 03:02 a.m. to find complete darkness, switched off mobile and not working fridge. Assuming it a normal power cut, he goes back to sleep. 7 in the morning, nothing has changed. Everything has stopped working even elevators and automobiles.
Can this be considered as normal power cut? There’s definitely something serious! What went wrong? Who’s behind this, and why? Someone whose intention is definitely dangerous.
The book is all about unfolding these mysteries, chasing the troubles and fighting with them.
Sounds intriguing? It does! And it is.
The book started off really well. I was eager to know what was this all about, thinking 'what next'. But, after some pages it becomes very slow and repetitive. It’s not uneventful. So many things happen but these things seem like a whirlwind. Whirling at the same place, going nowhere. And, this made my mind whirling with so many questions. Such stories need to be fast paced, but here, 150 pages and there is no lead, no cues.
The writing is good, but I didn’t think it’s very intelligent, especially in the first half (Or maybe I didn’t get that as several things go unexplained).
For example, nothing is working, but someone manages to start the generator, and the elevator starts working. Interestingly, no one in the nearby society is eager to know that how people of Aditya’s society have managed to do so! Just two days of power cut and everyone is just concerned about water and food supplies. Come on! We keep our kitchen stocked enough to manage for couple of days, don’t we? We have gas cylinders to prepare foods.
People are looting and killing for food supplies (even guards of a politician!). There are several shops (not just electronically operated malls) where people can easily buy goods. They are thinking about fetching water from swimming pools! If generator can work, then why can’t motors work for water storage? A woman suggests to grow their own foods in the garden! And, Aditya’s feels that she is a genius! I mean really? No one is trying to approach the authorities to know what actually went wrong.
The author has tried to prove that everyone except Aditya is dumb. Everyone needs Aditya’s lecture to realize what’s wrong or right in this difficult situation (an elderly man is reading novel lighting his torch until Aditya lectures. A politician refuses to cooperate until someone lectures). Everyone is coming to Aditya’s society as if it was a refugee camp. I wondered why that person who started the generator was not trying to start another generator in the society nearby.
It was so disturbing. Sometimes, it seems like a moral/social story.
There’s no strong female character with prominent role, still I liked the character of Megha and the way her relationship with Aditya burgeons slowly.
As I said the writing is good. The plot/theme of the book is unique. It is packed with action and insights. So if you like action thrillers/science fiction, (It didn’t give me the feel of science fiction though) you may like it. Going by the wonderful reviews, you should try this! For me, it was a confusing read (And the confusion killed the excitement), But that's just me.
August 20, 2016
Skip it. This isn't intelligent writing for starters. Yes, it's fiction and I was gripped by the idea the book presents. But the way the story unfolded was a bit over-the-top and realistically unreasonable. I mean you the defence forces, with intense training to operate with and without technology, being less capable than civilians is a tad far fetched. Definitely, Skip it.
March 2, 2023
Review:
Think what will happen if one day there's huge electricity faults in the city and we go in black out situation. But what if it doesn't end there?? But with it the cars, the mobiles, the landphones, everything is stops and there's no way to know what is going on beyond your eyes or other cities and countries?? The book is sets up in this chaos.
The book starts with the introduction of our hero Aditya, and a little introduction of where he lives. And the very next chapter we see the chaos happens, and how Aditya with the help of others tries to survive with the people in his building and help others outside too.
So basically the story grips me from the very second chapter. And also as I started this book without reading any synopsis or anything. Just know the author, as I have read some of his previous works and know he writes thriller books, and assumes it will be another one. Which it is. But this cluelessness makes the crisis that we see in the book, more interesting to me.
I like the premises, the fast paced, thrilling aspect of the story. I like the plot, Aditya's character and even though it's a fiction, how the author somehow makes it more realistic, as what starts to happen after the blackout and how the people reacts to it. Also like how the story progress and the action packed climax to the beautiful, hopeful ending.
Definitely a book worth a read.
P. S- All through the book it reminds me of two Korean Dramas I have recently watched, Happiness and Sweet Home, as all these three have a building, full of tenets and fights for survival amidst the crisis. And that's where the similarities ends.
Think what will happen if one day there's huge electricity faults in the city and we go in black out situation. But what if it doesn't end there?? But with it the cars, the mobiles, the landphones, everything is stops and there's no way to know what is going on beyond your eyes or other cities and countries?? The book is sets up in this chaos.
The book starts with the introduction of our hero Aditya, and a little introduction of where he lives. And the very next chapter we see the chaos happens, and how Aditya with the help of others tries to survive with the people in his building and help others outside too.
So basically the story grips me from the very second chapter. And also as I started this book without reading any synopsis or anything. Just know the author, as I have read some of his previous works and know he writes thriller books, and assumes it will be another one. Which it is. But this cluelessness makes the crisis that we see in the book, more interesting to me.
I like the premises, the fast paced, thrilling aspect of the story. I like the plot, Aditya's character and even though it's a fiction, how the author somehow makes it more realistic, as what starts to happen after the blackout and how the people reacts to it. Also like how the story progress and the action packed climax to the beautiful, hopeful ending.
Definitely a book worth a read.
P. S- All through the book it reminds me of two Korean Dramas I have recently watched, Happiness and Sweet Home, as all these three have a building, full of tenets and fights for survival amidst the crisis. And that's where the similarities ends.
September 2, 2016
War and terror redefined
*
Review of '03:02' written by Mainak Dhar
*
The best thrillers are one long terrifying climax. But terror isn’t something that only the terrorist brings along. And the climax? Well, it invariably begins long before the actual battle. It is all these smaller battles that add up for the final blast… but hey, the reader of this thriller that I am reviewing is already shaken and stirred and is thinking much before the action starts.
A reader of thrillers thinking? Sounds improbable because most thrillers race with each other to give you a massive adrenalin bolus and then sit back to watch you caught up by imagined fear. It is almost as if the author has set up the stage and then simply sits back with a bottle of chilled beer to contentedly watch readers crawl through goose-bumps that the words on a mere page have transformed into. This thriller, however, is quite different.
03:02 by Mainak Dhar is not only about ‘terrorists, rogue states like North Korea, jihadi elements in the Pakistani army, or indeed, a combination of any and all of those’… and there are ‘no air power, no drones, no tanks’ emerging out of every page to shell the reader with an evil grin. Yes, there are ‘men with guns in the darkness’ but they are not always from the invading forces. So what is this novel all about?
I would actually divide the novel into roughly two halves trying to define terror in entirely different ways. The first half begins with an electromagnetic pulse blast that brings to a standstill almost everything with electronics in it. With this key component of this century rendered useless, the reader comes face-to-face with a population that is stranded, isolated, and utterly confused. The beginning is gruesome without an overdose of what is gory because as a reader I realised how difficult it is to survive in conditions that are no longer sane in a modernistic sort of way. I mean, imagine the effect on people if the primary attack is to make every gadget and every device dysfunctional… no, nothing is blown to pieces, no lives lost, and yet everyone feels marooned and unable to do anything. This part of the novel zooms speedily into such a scenario and the ways in which it has the potential to fragment even a well-entrenched society.
This part is about people for whom ‘terror was something we saw on TV or online, and even when it intruded close to home, it was something that happened to someone else’. These are people of a city, which happens to be Mumbai in the novel, who ‘don’t make anything or do anything that actually means something to anyone. Our lives essentially revolve around numbers on a spreadsheet. If those numbers are good, we prosper, and if they’re bad, we suffer.’ These are people who have ‘become used to a world where we didn’t really have to solve basic problems, we just had to know whom to call. Now that we had to find answers to such questions ourselves, we were all out of our depth.’ Page after page is about people torn apart and the protagonist attempting to inject a semblance of cohesiveness into them all. The pages are all about the entire structure of society as we know it to be coming apart at the seams and looters adding to the woes. Yes, everything ‘looked so big, so solid, indeed our lives seemed so predictable and stable – only now were we realising just how fragile a foundation it had all been built on.’ Such is the power of Mainak Dhar painting this dismal scene that I trembled as I read about a world that ‘we no longer have the comforting filter of the TV screen to excise us from the situation. We cannot change this channel. There are no cops to call, or blame. We have to deal with this.’ The first part is where terror strikes in a unique way and of people finally climbing over the barriers that a comfortable life builds slowly and surely over time, to get ready for the actual onslaught of terror.
The first half is about people discovering the ‘soldier somewhere deep within’, the realisation that ‘it doesn’t matter if you stand a chance or not, but whether it’s a fight worth fighting’, and finally acknowledging that ‘the only label that counts in the world is whether you are a coward or not’. The novel is less about shelling and killing, though they are all there in sufficient amount, and more about how we are defined ‘by how we react when those who matter to us are in danger.’...
... review continued on my blog.
Please click on the link below to read the complete review:
http://passey.info/2016/07/war-and-te...
*
Arvind Passey
http://www.passey.info
-
*
Review of '03:02' written by Mainak Dhar
*
The best thrillers are one long terrifying climax. But terror isn’t something that only the terrorist brings along. And the climax? Well, it invariably begins long before the actual battle. It is all these smaller battles that add up for the final blast… but hey, the reader of this thriller that I am reviewing is already shaken and stirred and is thinking much before the action starts.
A reader of thrillers thinking? Sounds improbable because most thrillers race with each other to give you a massive adrenalin bolus and then sit back to watch you caught up by imagined fear. It is almost as if the author has set up the stage and then simply sits back with a bottle of chilled beer to contentedly watch readers crawl through goose-bumps that the words on a mere page have transformed into. This thriller, however, is quite different.
03:02 by Mainak Dhar is not only about ‘terrorists, rogue states like North Korea, jihadi elements in the Pakistani army, or indeed, a combination of any and all of those’… and there are ‘no air power, no drones, no tanks’ emerging out of every page to shell the reader with an evil grin. Yes, there are ‘men with guns in the darkness’ but they are not always from the invading forces. So what is this novel all about?
I would actually divide the novel into roughly two halves trying to define terror in entirely different ways. The first half begins with an electromagnetic pulse blast that brings to a standstill almost everything with electronics in it. With this key component of this century rendered useless, the reader comes face-to-face with a population that is stranded, isolated, and utterly confused. The beginning is gruesome without an overdose of what is gory because as a reader I realised how difficult it is to survive in conditions that are no longer sane in a modernistic sort of way. I mean, imagine the effect on people if the primary attack is to make every gadget and every device dysfunctional… no, nothing is blown to pieces, no lives lost, and yet everyone feels marooned and unable to do anything. This part of the novel zooms speedily into such a scenario and the ways in which it has the potential to fragment even a well-entrenched society.
This part is about people for whom ‘terror was something we saw on TV or online, and even when it intruded close to home, it was something that happened to someone else’. These are people of a city, which happens to be Mumbai in the novel, who ‘don’t make anything or do anything that actually means something to anyone. Our lives essentially revolve around numbers on a spreadsheet. If those numbers are good, we prosper, and if they’re bad, we suffer.’ These are people who have ‘become used to a world where we didn’t really have to solve basic problems, we just had to know whom to call. Now that we had to find answers to such questions ourselves, we were all out of our depth.’ Page after page is about people torn apart and the protagonist attempting to inject a semblance of cohesiveness into them all. The pages are all about the entire structure of society as we know it to be coming apart at the seams and looters adding to the woes. Yes, everything ‘looked so big, so solid, indeed our lives seemed so predictable and stable – only now were we realising just how fragile a foundation it had all been built on.’ Such is the power of Mainak Dhar painting this dismal scene that I trembled as I read about a world that ‘we no longer have the comforting filter of the TV screen to excise us from the situation. We cannot change this channel. There are no cops to call, or blame. We have to deal with this.’ The first part is where terror strikes in a unique way and of people finally climbing over the barriers that a comfortable life builds slowly and surely over time, to get ready for the actual onslaught of terror.
The first half is about people discovering the ‘soldier somewhere deep within’, the realisation that ‘it doesn’t matter if you stand a chance or not, but whether it’s a fight worth fighting’, and finally acknowledging that ‘the only label that counts in the world is whether you are a coward or not’. The novel is less about shelling and killing, though they are all there in sufficient amount, and more about how we are defined ‘by how we react when those who matter to us are in danger.’...
... review continued on my blog.
Please click on the link below to read the complete review:
http://passey.info/2016/07/war-and-te...
*
Arvind Passey
http://www.passey.info
-
August 30, 2020
03:02 describes once in a century event just like Covid-19. The book starts with the personal life of the author and his career acceleration. Then he slowly starts describing the catastrophe that was to begin. Starting with the electricity outage and then subsequent shutting of the entire city of Mumbai. Initially, everyone is shocked and amused at the new order of life. The event here is far far different from Covid-19 but the situation is strikingly similar:
1) The entire city is shut
2) The grocery and medicine shops are also not open
3) There is hardly any traffic on the roads
4) The air has become cleaner due to a halt in human activities
5) No more maids and servants at disposal
All these happen within the vicinity of Powai and Vikhroli. The author has described each lane of Powai, Vikhroli, and Andheri in a highly captivating manner. It is like you can see the entire city in front of you. The book also describes how rich and upper-class people behave when the social order, that placed them at the upper end of the society, crumbles. This book was written years before the Covid-19 struck and yet the human emotions and consequent actions have been described accurately. It shows that the author comprehends human behavior quite accurately and pens down in a lucid fashion.
Then comes the final combat with the enemies. The enemy is much powerful and ruthless. However, any enemy can be defeated if the people decide to fight with unity and the right spirit and that's what exactly the book shows. I cannot describe much about the fight and the enemy as it will be a spoiler for you. But trust me, this enemy is something you would have not thought of in your wildest dreams. If you are looking for a Sunday getaway, this is the book.
About the Author: There are few authors who have carved a name for themselves. They tend to force you to pick up a book just by their name. I can surely say Mainak is one of them. I have read 11 of his 13 books to date and not one has disappointed. I have managed to complete his books withing 48 hours of starting it.
1) The entire city is shut
2) The grocery and medicine shops are also not open
3) There is hardly any traffic on the roads
4) The air has become cleaner due to a halt in human activities
5) No more maids and servants at disposal
All these happen within the vicinity of Powai and Vikhroli. The author has described each lane of Powai, Vikhroli, and Andheri in a highly captivating manner. It is like you can see the entire city in front of you. The book also describes how rich and upper-class people behave when the social order, that placed them at the upper end of the society, crumbles. This book was written years before the Covid-19 struck and yet the human emotions and consequent actions have been described accurately. It shows that the author comprehends human behavior quite accurately and pens down in a lucid fashion.
Then comes the final combat with the enemies. The enemy is much powerful and ruthless. However, any enemy can be defeated if the people decide to fight with unity and the right spirit and that's what exactly the book shows. I cannot describe much about the fight and the enemy as it will be a spoiler for you. But trust me, this enemy is something you would have not thought of in your wildest dreams. If you are looking for a Sunday getaway, this is the book.
About the Author: There are few authors who have carved a name for themselves. They tend to force you to pick up a book just by their name. I can surely say Mainak is one of them. I have read 11 of his 13 books to date and not one has disappointed. I have managed to complete his books withing 48 hours of starting it.
October 22, 2016
03:02 for Difference
03:02 it makes me to go into the world of author's imaginary and creativeness with acceptability.
It is about what if the enemies attacks us when we are not really ready for anything, a complete blackout in the major nations all through the world in 03:02 am where it starts and it comes to an end. Read it by yourselves then revealing it.
An wonderful Sci-Fi and creativeness with page turning thrills. Never made me to feel bore completely makes me to think about the possibilities of blackouts and their efforts.
Book cover is so impressive with the black background and title with contrast colurs & printed with city and warrior backgrounds.
Narration, characterization and again storytelling. I'm sure you'll also wonder with his imagination. No flaws overall.
My rating 4.5/5
03:02 it makes me to go into the world of author's imaginary and creativeness with acceptability.
It is about what if the enemies attacks us when we are not really ready for anything, a complete blackout in the major nations all through the world in 03:02 am where it starts and it comes to an end. Read it by yourselves then revealing it.
An wonderful Sci-Fi and creativeness with page turning thrills. Never made me to feel bore completely makes me to think about the possibilities of blackouts and their efforts.
Book cover is so impressive with the black background and title with contrast colurs & printed with city and warrior backgrounds.
Narration, characterization and again storytelling. I'm sure you'll also wonder with his imagination. No flaws overall.
My rating 4.5/5
September 17, 2016
Please visit http://www.guptakaushal.in/2016/09/bo... to read the complete review of the book.
03:02 is a fictional story which revolves around the plot of a complete blackout in the metropolitan city of Mumbai and then the world at large. The story is about the combat and the fight back by everyone, it is about the survival first and then the existence.
Mainak Dhar has taken the complete liberty as far as fiction is concerned, so some things, however unrealistic they sound in a real life scenario, can be ignored as a part of the overall story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to read something that revolves around science, geeky stuff, war and fiction.
03:02 is a fictional story which revolves around the plot of a complete blackout in the metropolitan city of Mumbai and then the world at large. The story is about the combat and the fight back by everyone, it is about the survival first and then the existence.
Mainak Dhar has taken the complete liberty as far as fiction is concerned, so some things, however unrealistic they sound in a real life scenario, can be ignored as a part of the overall story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to read something that revolves around science, geeky stuff, war and fiction.
October 27, 2016
Mainak Dhar’s previous book Chronicler of the Undead is the only dystopian novel I had read in a long time. His latest offering 03:02 seemed a tad different, moving to the thriller and mystery genre. That was reason enough to pick it up for review as I’ve been a fan of Mainak’s writing. It’s always perspicuous and pleasing to read. From what I’ve read by him so far, I surely can’t complain about the form of writing. It might be the content that varies from each book to the other and creates a difference in quality.
03:02 is an interesting take on a thriller, blended with mystery and most importantly, terrorism.
Read the full review here: https://oneandahalfminutes.com/2016/1...
03:02 is an interesting take on a thriller, blended with mystery and most importantly, terrorism.
Read the full review here: https://oneandahalfminutes.com/2016/1...
October 15, 2016
A very different concept - well done in executing it well. But I guess there were too many places where the author keeps on telling the same thing over and over again - that we are not in the same world before that first 03:02. I got a bit frustrated about that and . The way Mahadev's character was built is commendable. I guess some more characters should have been given much more depth than just Aadi. He's not a superman boss! :-)
September 17, 2016
Actual Rating: 3.5
October 24, 2016
Read my review on:
https://pgalmora.wordpress.com/2016/1...
https://pgalmora.wordpress.com/2016/1...
March 6, 2020
Unique Story
It was all together a different Experience. I have never read a Thriller like this Before. Go for it. I'm sure you will not get Disappointed.
It was all together a different Experience. I have never read a Thriller like this Before. Go for it. I'm sure you will not get Disappointed.
October 3, 2019
Everyone has a soldier inside us but we keep him hidden expecting others to fight for us, but when the lives of our family, loved ones & the people around us are in danger that soldier comes out to fight his own battle.
Throughout our life, we chase the material wealth & titles only to realize one day that they doesn't help when we are facing a deadly enemy, what saves us that our courage, the inner fighting spirit, our love for the nation and surely the support of people whom we never bothered to mingle with.
"03:02" is Our story. At 03:02 on a Sunday morning, the World as we knew it came to end.
Mumbai suddenly went black - no electricity, no phones, no internet and no working cars.
It was as if someone had turned off the master switch of our civilization, turning us back hundreds of years overnight. It was not just Mumbai, but much of the world that had been impacted.
It was no accident but a deadly enemy was behind it.
The story is not about a war that was to be wagged not on the borders or by the Army, but in our homes and streets, with us as the soldiers.
It is the battle fought by the Civilians who realized that the enemy was in their midst, seeking to conquer us and destroy our way of life.
The battle that begins to save their life turns to be a battle with a great goal to kill every single enemy they see in front of them.
The civilians who have thought that their country should only be saved by the soldiers, decides to save their Nation.
This is how our War for freedom began, from our homes and our own streets.
Every line of this book will motivate the reader. The words of prime minister was really inspiring and emotional.
The way people stood with supporting each others showed the unity of Nation.
Azad Hind force fought for our nation before Independence and once again it fought after Independence.
Vande Mataram is not just song but is it is an emotion of people of India.
The use of Vande Mataram at the crucial time fills fighting Spirit among the civilians.
The battle at the Airport and the celebration of "Diwali - The win of Good over the evil" was really impressive.
The story is so gripping & unputdownable.
The narration was lucid.
Each character Is plotted strongly.
The Sacrifice made by each character was emotional.
The intention and attack of enemy was barbaric and the punishment of that barbaric act deserved no Mercy but only a death punishment.
I would like to address this book as a patriotic one.
The story concludes with strong message " Even if our whole world is painted black, you can start to light it up again. All it needs is each of us to realize that we should stop waiting for someone else to provide the spark; that the spark lies within each of us.
Strongly recommended to everyone.
Throughout our life, we chase the material wealth & titles only to realize one day that they doesn't help when we are facing a deadly enemy, what saves us that our courage, the inner fighting spirit, our love for the nation and surely the support of people whom we never bothered to mingle with.
"03:02" is Our story. At 03:02 on a Sunday morning, the World as we knew it came to end.
Mumbai suddenly went black - no electricity, no phones, no internet and no working cars.
It was as if someone had turned off the master switch of our civilization, turning us back hundreds of years overnight. It was not just Mumbai, but much of the world that had been impacted.
It was no accident but a deadly enemy was behind it.
The story is not about a war that was to be wagged not on the borders or by the Army, but in our homes and streets, with us as the soldiers.
It is the battle fought by the Civilians who realized that the enemy was in their midst, seeking to conquer us and destroy our way of life.
The battle that begins to save their life turns to be a battle with a great goal to kill every single enemy they see in front of them.
The civilians who have thought that their country should only be saved by the soldiers, decides to save their Nation.
This is how our War for freedom began, from our homes and our own streets.
Every line of this book will motivate the reader. The words of prime minister was really inspiring and emotional.
The way people stood with supporting each others showed the unity of Nation.
Azad Hind force fought for our nation before Independence and once again it fought after Independence.
Vande Mataram is not just song but is it is an emotion of people of India.
The use of Vande Mataram at the crucial time fills fighting Spirit among the civilians.
The battle at the Airport and the celebration of "Diwali - The win of Good over the evil" was really impressive.
The story is so gripping & unputdownable.
The narration was lucid.
Each character Is plotted strongly.
The Sacrifice made by each character was emotional.
The intention and attack of enemy was barbaric and the punishment of that barbaric act deserved no Mercy but only a death punishment.
I would like to address this book as a patriotic one.
The story concludes with strong message " Even if our whole world is painted black, you can start to light it up again. All it needs is each of us to realize that we should stop waiting for someone else to provide the spark; that the spark lies within each of us.
Strongly recommended to everyone.
December 8, 2016
Review originally posted in Abby's Shelf: http://wp.me/p7MnAP-ck
03:02 by Mainak Dhar is a fictional thriller which revolves around the city of Mumbai which is under a complete blackout due to unknown reasons. After a grand celebration of his promotion with his friends the protagonist, Aditya wakes up at 03:02AM just to find complete darkness all around. Initially he believed it to be a normal power failure and thus decided to go back to sleep. But later when he woke up at 07:00AM the situation stands unchanged which is something to worry about especially in a city like Mumbai.
A quick study of situation provides him a clearer picture that it’s not a normal power failure but something more serious as even cars and almost everything has failed to function. As the plot develops more details of the blackout, what caused it, its impact etc. are revealed which will definitely blow your mind. Revealing more about it may act as a spoiler for those who hasn’t read the book yet, so instead of going deeper into the plot I would love to share my review.
This well-developed plot along with strong and authentic characters keeps the storyline interesting and succeeds in keeping readers glued to the book with it twists and action scenes I enjoyed the technicality in the fighting sequences and also the detailed planning and methods they adopted to survive the crises. The author was able to convey the emotions of the characters which boosted my reading experience. But with all these, personally I couldn’t accept certain situations in the plot which I consider illogical especially as the plot downplayed the role and potential of the established defense systems in India. Again it’s just my personal observation which may or may not reflect the views of other readers.
Overall, 03:02 by Mainak Dhar is a good read especially considering that such plots still remains unattempted by most of the Indian authors which makes this book unique. This book is more like an Indian version of the Die Hard movie series. Recommended.
A complimentary copy was provided by the author/publisher via Goodreads Giveaway
03:02 by Mainak Dhar is a fictional thriller which revolves around the city of Mumbai which is under a complete blackout due to unknown reasons. After a grand celebration of his promotion with his friends the protagonist, Aditya wakes up at 03:02AM just to find complete darkness all around. Initially he believed it to be a normal power failure and thus decided to go back to sleep. But later when he woke up at 07:00AM the situation stands unchanged which is something to worry about especially in a city like Mumbai.
A quick study of situation provides him a clearer picture that it’s not a normal power failure but something more serious as even cars and almost everything has failed to function. As the plot develops more details of the blackout, what caused it, its impact etc. are revealed which will definitely blow your mind. Revealing more about it may act as a spoiler for those who hasn’t read the book yet, so instead of going deeper into the plot I would love to share my review.
This well-developed plot along with strong and authentic characters keeps the storyline interesting and succeeds in keeping readers glued to the book with it twists and action scenes I enjoyed the technicality in the fighting sequences and also the detailed planning and methods they adopted to survive the crises. The author was able to convey the emotions of the characters which boosted my reading experience. But with all these, personally I couldn’t accept certain situations in the plot which I consider illogical especially as the plot downplayed the role and potential of the established defense systems in India. Again it’s just my personal observation which may or may not reflect the views of other readers.
Overall, 03:02 by Mainak Dhar is a good read especially considering that such plots still remains unattempted by most of the Indian authors which makes this book unique. This book is more like an Indian version of the Die Hard movie series. Recommended.
A complimentary copy was provided by the author/publisher via Goodreads Giveaway
February 18, 2023
"03:02" is a fictional thriller written by Mainak Dhar that keeps the readers at the edge of their seats till the end.
The story is set in the city of Mumbai, which suddenly experiences a complete blackout due to unknown reasons, and the protagonist Aditya wakes up to this strange situation. This marks the beginning of a thrilling and engaging journey for the readers as they join Aditya in his struggle to survive in this new world of darkness and chaos.
The author has beautifully captured the essence of Mumbai, and the sudden darkness in the city creates an eerie and tense atmosphere that keeps the readers hooked.
The author has done an excellent job of describing the challenges and dangers that the characters face in this situation, and this makes the story very engaging.
The writing style and narration of the story are simple and easy to comprehend, which makes it accessible to a wide range of readers. The plot is well-structured and moves at a good pace, with enough twists and turns to keep the readers engaged throughout. The descriptions of the events and the surroundings are vivid, and the author has a way of painting a picture in the reader's mind, making the story come alive.
The characters are well-crafted and bring a lot of depth to the story. The conflicts, alliances, and power struggles among them make the story more complex and engaging.
The theme of the book is very interesting, and the author has done an excellent job of exploring it through his characters and their actions. The book is a page-turner, and readers will find it hard to put down until they reach the end.
The writing style and narration are simple, which makes it accessible to a wide range of readers. The book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good thriller and wants to experience a journey through the dark and chaotic streets of Mumbai.
The story is set in the city of Mumbai, which suddenly experiences a complete blackout due to unknown reasons, and the protagonist Aditya wakes up to this strange situation. This marks the beginning of a thrilling and engaging journey for the readers as they join Aditya in his struggle to survive in this new world of darkness and chaos.
The author has beautifully captured the essence of Mumbai, and the sudden darkness in the city creates an eerie and tense atmosphere that keeps the readers hooked.
The author has done an excellent job of describing the challenges and dangers that the characters face in this situation, and this makes the story very engaging.
The writing style and narration of the story are simple and easy to comprehend, which makes it accessible to a wide range of readers. The plot is well-structured and moves at a good pace, with enough twists and turns to keep the readers engaged throughout. The descriptions of the events and the surroundings are vivid, and the author has a way of painting a picture in the reader's mind, making the story come alive.
The characters are well-crafted and bring a lot of depth to the story. The conflicts, alliances, and power struggles among them make the story more complex and engaging.
The theme of the book is very interesting, and the author has done an excellent job of exploring it through his characters and their actions. The book is a page-turner, and readers will find it hard to put down until they reach the end.
The writing style and narration are simple, which makes it accessible to a wide range of readers. The book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good thriller and wants to experience a journey through the dark and chaotic streets of Mumbai.
March 1, 2023
03: 02 as the intriguing title indicates is an exhilarating thriller. This book starts with a bang and the story keeps getting entertaining with every chapter before it reaches an explosive finale.
The story starts precisely at 03:02 AM on a Sunday morning when the entire city of Mumbai plunges into darkness. Soon we learn that not just Mumbai, but much of the world has been impacted. With no electricity, no phones, no internet, and no working cars, the entire modern human civilization comes to a standstill. We also learn that a deadly enemy is behind it, seeking to conquer and destroy the world. Our protagonist Aditya emerges as an unlikely hero in the midst of the crisis. Will he be able to save the world?
As a thriller, 03:02 has a perfect start and it drops you right in the midst of the action. The book paints a grim picture of how the entire world can come to a standstill. The author describes a doomsday scenario with the world falling into chaos with all the looting and rioting and gang wars. The story is both terrifying and believable because of how realistic the chances of happening such an event is. The writing is brilliant, especially the action scenes which perfectly capture the action making them feel so vivid.
The story is fast-paced with lots of unpredictable twists and turns that will keep you hooked right to the end. The story accurately captures the human dependency on power and gadgets. The characters including Aditya are really well crafted. It was interesting to read how the characters evolve from common individuals to brave fighters. The book has some detailed battle scenes which are a delight to read for any action fan.
Overall, 03:02 is a highly entertaining action thriller with a crisp plot and some exciting twists and turns. If you love a thriller with lots of action, you will enjoy this book.
The story starts precisely at 03:02 AM on a Sunday morning when the entire city of Mumbai plunges into darkness. Soon we learn that not just Mumbai, but much of the world has been impacted. With no electricity, no phones, no internet, and no working cars, the entire modern human civilization comes to a standstill. We also learn that a deadly enemy is behind it, seeking to conquer and destroy the world. Our protagonist Aditya emerges as an unlikely hero in the midst of the crisis. Will he be able to save the world?
As a thriller, 03:02 has a perfect start and it drops you right in the midst of the action. The book paints a grim picture of how the entire world can come to a standstill. The author describes a doomsday scenario with the world falling into chaos with all the looting and rioting and gang wars. The story is both terrifying and believable because of how realistic the chances of happening such an event is. The writing is brilliant, especially the action scenes which perfectly capture the action making them feel so vivid.
The story is fast-paced with lots of unpredictable twists and turns that will keep you hooked right to the end. The story accurately captures the human dependency on power and gadgets. The characters including Aditya are really well crafted. It was interesting to read how the characters evolve from common individuals to brave fighters. The book has some detailed battle scenes which are a delight to read for any action fan.
Overall, 03:02 is a highly entertaining action thriller with a crisp plot and some exciting twists and turns. If you love a thriller with lots of action, you will enjoy this book.
October 18, 2017
03:02
Definitely a goodread. I'm so glad that the author had chosen something other than the cliched zombies or epidemics for this book.
The story narration was so engrossing that I was able to seamlessly step into the shoes of the main character. I didn't even read the blurb for the fear of spoilers and it was worth it. The beginning had just the right amount of pace and suspense so as to keep the reader intrigued.
The story was a very good blend of action, emotion, love (not romance). There were moments when my blood boiled, my eyes rained, my heart raced with fright and ached with a pang of jealousy and pain of loss. The absence of steamy, hot scenes accentuates the author's confidence in the story to tie down the readers.
This might be one of the reasons I was able to connect with this book so much: as a child (even in my engineering), whenever a class was boring, I would venture off into my imagination where a group attacks our class and I would fight them heroically. That is what the main character did in this book.
Some may say that the protagonist having so many resources was not realistic. But let me tell you this, if he didn't have them, the book would've ended before it even began. And I was engrossed enough to not bother questioning the veracity of the technical details mentioned and that's what I care about ultimately.
What really bugged me after completing the book was what happened to suri. He filled in for the antagonist for the first half and dropped off the radar after that.
And one more thing I liked about this story was the protagonist didn't carry the whole burden of carrying the story forward it even for that matter, ending it, thereby not needing to break out of the reasonable reality of this fictitious story.
Definitely a goodread. I'm so glad that the author had chosen something other than the cliched zombies or epidemics for this book.
The story narration was so engrossing that I was able to seamlessly step into the shoes of the main character. I didn't even read the blurb for the fear of spoilers and it was worth it. The beginning had just the right amount of pace and suspense so as to keep the reader intrigued.
The story was a very good blend of action, emotion, love (not romance). There were moments when my blood boiled, my eyes rained, my heart raced with fright and ached with a pang of jealousy and pain of loss. The absence of steamy, hot scenes accentuates the author's confidence in the story to tie down the readers.
This might be one of the reasons I was able to connect with this book so much: as a child (even in my engineering), whenever a class was boring, I would venture off into my imagination where a group attacks our class and I would fight them heroically. That is what the main character did in this book.
Some may say that the protagonist having so many resources was not realistic. But let me tell you this, if he didn't have them, the book would've ended before it even began. And I was engrossed enough to not bother questioning the veracity of the technical details mentioned and that's what I care about ultimately.
What really bugged me after completing the book was what happened to suri. He filled in for the antagonist for the first half and dropped off the radar after that.
And one more thing I liked about this story was the protagonist didn't carry the whole burden of carrying the story forward it even for that matter, ending it, thereby not needing to break out of the reasonable reality of this fictitious story.
September 15, 2016
Woah! That is my first reaction after reading the book. Not that I don’t have any other expression to give but because of the fact that this is the best reaction that would express what I am feeling. Usually, I let any book I read sink in before I write a review because that gives me time to clear my head around my first reaction and how I read the whole book but for this book, I couldn’t let that happen for that would ruin what the book did to me. So as soon as I finished the book (which, by the way, I finished in 5 hours and that too including 1 hour of lunch in between because I am a slow eater!) I sat to write the review. Mainak Dhar’s 03:02 is a wonderful book much beyond what it promises to deliver.
According to the blurb- At 03:02 on a Sunday morning, the world as we knew it came to an end. Mumbai suddenly went black- no electricity, no phones, no internet and no working cars. It was as if someone had turned off the master switch of our civilization, turning us back hundreds of years overnight. We learned that it was not just Mumbai, but much of the world that had been impacted. We also learned that it was no accident. A deadly enemy was behind it. An enemy that was now in our midst, seeking to conquer us and destroy our way of life. This is how our war for freedom began. A war that was to be wagged not on the borders or by the Army, but in our homes and streets, with us as the soldiers. This is our story.
I am grinning as I admit this but it is you who I can admit this to, right? The thing is, I have fallen in love with the cover. The first and the foremost reason of getting this book was the cover. I have a soft spot for black and this cover had me at first glance. The second reason has to be the fact that it is a thriller and the blurb of the book. The whole idea of what is happening or what might happen made me pick this book up. When I held the book in my hands, the different elements of the cover made me more intrigued.
For me, as an extensive reader, now a day, it is tough to find a movie or story that does not seem predictable to me and so this story was a fresh change. Somewhere in the back of the mind even if you have something about the plot, the writing engrosses you so much that you tend to forget that and get absorbed by what the author wants to describe. Another confession coming up! While reading this book, I was so absorbed that my surroundings got hazed out. So when I finally got up, I could almost feel the things happening in the book happening around me.
While having my lunch, I thought about the people in the book. What would happen if such a blackout ever happens to us? As I type this, I still feel spooky. Such is the effect of the book on me. To those who think I am exaggerating, read the book to know. I would wait for your take on it. Now, coming to the characters of the story. I usually have the habit for falling in love with a character by the end of the book but this time I didn’t fall in love with any. No! Before you think that the characters were bad, let me break your thoughts here. I loved the characters and all of them. I rooted for them, urged them on, and cried for them throughout the book. As I have already mentioned, I felt that I was myself there in the scene.
This also gives an idea of how well the author has narrated the book. The twists, turns, emotions are there in every page of the book. As a reader I can say this much that if you are reading this book at a stretch and you take a break, you would be itching to get back to the book. If I have to speak about my favourites of the book it has to be of course Aditya from whose point of view the book has been written. The General, Akif and even Nitesh. The book has its high points and they make you stick to the book. Low points? I don’t think there were many. Oh wait, there weren’t any.
Speaking of the cons of the book, grammar wise and narration wise there weren’t any. But I would like to speak of one complain I have with the book. Even though I totally understand that a love story makes any book all the more relatable but this book had so much going on that was a love story really important? I also understand that the author wanted to concentrate more on the story rather than their love story but since the love story was introduced, couldn’t be there something stronger there? I felt (and that is completely my opinion) that the woman in consideration here lost a solid character after the love story blossomed.
Apart from that, the book kept me at the edge of my seat and is undoubtedly one of the best I have read this year. I never thought I will cry through a thriller book but I did. Through the story, the author has tried to bring in a wonderful moral and message to the readers and I am sure he has successfully put that thought across. The spark lies within each one of us, after all. The real danger mentioned in the book? I am not giving spoilers! For me, this book is a 4.75 out of 5 and I look forward to read more and more from the author. Oh! By the way, even though this doesn’t make much sense or is nowhere related to the book but I am listening to the title track of the film Mirzya on repeat mode as I write this review down (which I have been hooked onto for some unknown reasons) and I have no clue why I can even imagine Aadi as Mirzya.
According to the blurb- At 03:02 on a Sunday morning, the world as we knew it came to an end. Mumbai suddenly went black- no electricity, no phones, no internet and no working cars. It was as if someone had turned off the master switch of our civilization, turning us back hundreds of years overnight. We learned that it was not just Mumbai, but much of the world that had been impacted. We also learned that it was no accident. A deadly enemy was behind it. An enemy that was now in our midst, seeking to conquer us and destroy our way of life. This is how our war for freedom began. A war that was to be wagged not on the borders or by the Army, but in our homes and streets, with us as the soldiers. This is our story.
I am grinning as I admit this but it is you who I can admit this to, right? The thing is, I have fallen in love with the cover. The first and the foremost reason of getting this book was the cover. I have a soft spot for black and this cover had me at first glance. The second reason has to be the fact that it is a thriller and the blurb of the book. The whole idea of what is happening or what might happen made me pick this book up. When I held the book in my hands, the different elements of the cover made me more intrigued.
For me, as an extensive reader, now a day, it is tough to find a movie or story that does not seem predictable to me and so this story was a fresh change. Somewhere in the back of the mind even if you have something about the plot, the writing engrosses you so much that you tend to forget that and get absorbed by what the author wants to describe. Another confession coming up! While reading this book, I was so absorbed that my surroundings got hazed out. So when I finally got up, I could almost feel the things happening in the book happening around me.
While having my lunch, I thought about the people in the book. What would happen if such a blackout ever happens to us? As I type this, I still feel spooky. Such is the effect of the book on me. To those who think I am exaggerating, read the book to know. I would wait for your take on it. Now, coming to the characters of the story. I usually have the habit for falling in love with a character by the end of the book but this time I didn’t fall in love with any. No! Before you think that the characters were bad, let me break your thoughts here. I loved the characters and all of them. I rooted for them, urged them on, and cried for them throughout the book. As I have already mentioned, I felt that I was myself there in the scene.
This also gives an idea of how well the author has narrated the book. The twists, turns, emotions are there in every page of the book. As a reader I can say this much that if you are reading this book at a stretch and you take a break, you would be itching to get back to the book. If I have to speak about my favourites of the book it has to be of course Aditya from whose point of view the book has been written. The General, Akif and even Nitesh. The book has its high points and they make you stick to the book. Low points? I don’t think there were many. Oh wait, there weren’t any.
Speaking of the cons of the book, grammar wise and narration wise there weren’t any. But I would like to speak of one complain I have with the book. Even though I totally understand that a love story makes any book all the more relatable but this book had so much going on that was a love story really important? I also understand that the author wanted to concentrate more on the story rather than their love story but since the love story was introduced, couldn’t be there something stronger there? I felt (and that is completely my opinion) that the woman in consideration here lost a solid character after the love story blossomed.
Apart from that, the book kept me at the edge of my seat and is undoubtedly one of the best I have read this year. I never thought I will cry through a thriller book but I did. Through the story, the author has tried to bring in a wonderful moral and message to the readers and I am sure he has successfully put that thought across. The spark lies within each one of us, after all. The real danger mentioned in the book? I am not giving spoilers! For me, this book is a 4.75 out of 5 and I look forward to read more and more from the author. Oh! By the way, even though this doesn’t make much sense or is nowhere related to the book but I am listening to the title track of the film Mirzya on repeat mode as I write this review down (which I have been hooked onto for some unknown reasons) and I have no clue why I can even imagine Aadi as Mirzya.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2023
Congratulations to the author Mainak Dhar for writing a wonderful book which will not only keep you hooked till the last page, but also force you towards deep thinking. The concept of the book is interesting, engaging and unique.This book shows the same when the protagonist Aditya wakes up at 03:02 a.m. and it was dark everywhere. The situation was no electricity, no phones, no internet and no working cars in the city and nobody knows what happened suddenly. The life takes a turning point in everyone's life. Situation become worse due to robbery, attacks, lack of food and water.
With the thrilling and the special forces taken place in the story made the read complex yet the language used by the author is simple and easy to comprehend. The writing style and the narration is smooth and perfect. The title and the cover of the story made to intrigue more. There is an interesting storyline and a fast-paced plot. The story looks very real and you can literally feel the flow of emotions inside you. The author has beautifully described each and every detail in a very catchy yet simple manner in 342 pages and you will be hooked to the story till the last page. He plays with your mind throughout the book and you cannot predict what’s coming next in the story.
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone especially to those who love to read thriller stories. Grab the book, it won't let you to get bored at any point. This book is a page turner from beginning to end. Language is simple with a good vocabulary. Author has done a great job.
With the thrilling and the special forces taken place in the story made the read complex yet the language used by the author is simple and easy to comprehend. The writing style and the narration is smooth and perfect. The title and the cover of the story made to intrigue more. There is an interesting storyline and a fast-paced plot. The story looks very real and you can literally feel the flow of emotions inside you. The author has beautifully described each and every detail in a very catchy yet simple manner in 342 pages and you will be hooked to the story till the last page. He plays with your mind throughout the book and you cannot predict what’s coming next in the story.
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone especially to those who love to read thriller stories. Grab the book, it won't let you to get bored at any point. This book is a page turner from beginning to end. Language is simple with a good vocabulary. Author has done a great job.
August 13, 2019
This is not an author that I knew of earlier. I just picked this book up from Amazon on an impulse. I quite liked this story that is about a society in Hiranandani in Mumbai. Adi, the protagonist comes home from a party one night and he realizes the next morning that the entire city has been plunged into darkness. The power goes out everywhere.
They think it’s just their area, but they find out soon enough that it’s the entire city, the entire country, and in fact, the entire world. There have been simultaneous terror attacks all over the world. Society as they know it has ended. They need to re-establish new rules, new laws, and they need to realign everything to make it work again.
There was an element of romance added to the book which I felt was quite unnecessary. For the most part, I enjoyed the book till up to about 75 per cent of the book (because I read it on my Kindle, and it tells you how much of the book you have completed). But then during the last 25 per cent of the book, it just turned into this Bollywood script, with guns and military tactics and warfare.
I was really finding it difficult to get to the last bit of the book. Overall, it was a good read but I doubt I will be picking up any more books by this author. Not because there’s anything wrong with his writing or with the author, but I don’t think that his writing is what I really like to read. So, I’ll probably give it a miss.
They think it’s just their area, but they find out soon enough that it’s the entire city, the entire country, and in fact, the entire world. There have been simultaneous terror attacks all over the world. Society as they know it has ended. They need to re-establish new rules, new laws, and they need to realign everything to make it work again.
There was an element of romance added to the book which I felt was quite unnecessary. For the most part, I enjoyed the book till up to about 75 per cent of the book (because I read it on my Kindle, and it tells you how much of the book you have completed). But then during the last 25 per cent of the book, it just turned into this Bollywood script, with guns and military tactics and warfare.
I was really finding it difficult to get to the last bit of the book. Overall, it was a good read but I doubt I will be picking up any more books by this author. Not because there’s anything wrong with his writing or with the author, but I don’t think that his writing is what I really like to read. So, I’ll probably give it a miss.
June 11, 2020
Apart from a creative name and amazing plot, the cover of the book is also very creatively designed and it looks very unique.
This book titled "03:02" written by Mainak Dhar and published by Westland Publishers, surprised me and made me curious as it was something about 03.02 am, the city of Mumbai suddenly going black with no electricity, no phones, no internet and no working cars. I just wanted to know more!
As I began reading, I was impressed with the way the story began. Eventually, the reader gets to know that a big terrorist group has invaded the city with all its forces. And then there is the protagonist who helps the people and when he comes to know about the terrorist group, fights it. The power of positivity and managing things with little resources is highlighted.
The book forces you to think about the unanswered question “What will happen if everything goes down one day?” with no technology, can we survive?
03:02 is a different type of war story - yet gripping. An ordinary person thrown into an extraordinary circumstance, like acts of terror, and how he copes with it and leads others with leadership and conviction, makes an interesting read.
I recommend the book to all the thriller lovers. Mainak Dhar proves that Indian authors can pull off thrillers with close knit storyline and action sequences with ease and conviction!
Full review here: https://intheclassroomoflife.blogspot...
This book titled "03:02" written by Mainak Dhar and published by Westland Publishers, surprised me and made me curious as it was something about 03.02 am, the city of Mumbai suddenly going black with no electricity, no phones, no internet and no working cars. I just wanted to know more!
As I began reading, I was impressed with the way the story began. Eventually, the reader gets to know that a big terrorist group has invaded the city with all its forces. And then there is the protagonist who helps the people and when he comes to know about the terrorist group, fights it. The power of positivity and managing things with little resources is highlighted.
The book forces you to think about the unanswered question “What will happen if everything goes down one day?” with no technology, can we survive?
03:02 is a different type of war story - yet gripping. An ordinary person thrown into an extraordinary circumstance, like acts of terror, and how he copes with it and leads others with leadership and conviction, makes an interesting read.
I recommend the book to all the thriller lovers. Mainak Dhar proves that Indian authors can pull off thrillers with close knit storyline and action sequences with ease and conviction!
Full review here: https://intheclassroomoflife.blogspot...
February 15, 2023
Got recommended by a friend of mine and I'm really thankful to him that I stumbled across this great book.
Firstly, huge respect and great appreciation to the author Mainak Dhar making such a series of masterpieces. The story is based on Mumbai when everything suddenly went black. This is a situation where the civilization has taken a pause. The rest you have to discover in the book.
The author has focused subtlety on each and every character; as a result, they've been more lively and contributed significantly in their particular positions.
A unique way of index is shown by the author. I really enjoyed this insightful book. It is so clearly and logically organised as well as being extremely readable.
The tales are easy to negotiate and it flows seamlessly. I have no authority to call the book bad. Because I was fascinated by the back cover of the book and it was the first time I got attracted to the name. Moreover, from the quality of the page to the description of the book, the author's choice of language, the specification of the language, the consonance of the language, everything has been shown to be skillful.
The final scenes & climax to the novel are truly compelling, pulling the reader more deeply into its raw energy & spiritual awakening.
This was a great read. I would like to recommend this book to my fellow readers.
Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review.
Must recommend.
Firstly, huge respect and great appreciation to the author Mainak Dhar making such a series of masterpieces. The story is based on Mumbai when everything suddenly went black. This is a situation where the civilization has taken a pause. The rest you have to discover in the book.
The author has focused subtlety on each and every character; as a result, they've been more lively and contributed significantly in their particular positions.
A unique way of index is shown by the author. I really enjoyed this insightful book. It is so clearly and logically organised as well as being extremely readable.
The tales are easy to negotiate and it flows seamlessly. I have no authority to call the book bad. Because I was fascinated by the back cover of the book and it was the first time I got attracted to the name. Moreover, from the quality of the page to the description of the book, the author's choice of language, the specification of the language, the consonance of the language, everything has been shown to be skillful.
The final scenes & climax to the novel are truly compelling, pulling the reader more deeply into its raw energy & spiritual awakening.
This was a great read. I would like to recommend this book to my fellow readers.
Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review.
Must recommend.
February 16, 2023
03:02 by Mainak Dhar is quite possibly of the best thrill ride I at any point read in my life. As the name of the book appears to be exceptionally imaginative and unique from others, the plot of the story is likewise extremely new and it will clearly knock off your socks off. When you begin perusing the book, it closely resembles a typical story of a man however the subsequent section makes a huge difference. It denotes the start of a conflict against terrible men.The story looks genuine and you can in a real sense feel the progression of feelings inside you. The creator has perfectly depicted every single detail in an exceptionally snappy yet straightforward way in 342 pages and you will be snared to the story till the last page. He plays with your brain all through the book and you can't foresee what's coming next in the story.
The book is extremely Persuasive and will rouse you with wonderful statements and it will drive you to contemplate the unanswered inquiry "What will occur assuming everything goes down one day?" with no innovation, could we at any point get by and the response is yes we can. It additionally covers numerous social points and assuming you are a business person you can gain numerous authority characteristics from the fundamental person of the story which won't persuade you to ever surrender.
Highly recommend.
The book is extremely Persuasive and will rouse you with wonderful statements and it will drive you to contemplate the unanswered inquiry "What will occur assuming everything goes down one day?" with no innovation, could we at any point get by and the response is yes we can. It additionally covers numerous social points and assuming you are a business person you can gain numerous authority characteristics from the fundamental person of the story which won't persuade you to ever surrender.
Highly recommend.
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