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Mango People In Banana Republic
Ravi Bhalerao is a top of the rung business strategy consultant struggling with two disquiets in life – a festering career disillusionment and a festering wound in his posterior. Stung by an unfair performance appraisal, he pulls off an outrageous stunt at his workplace, drops off the urban map and reaches his ancestral land, a village in drought-prone Vidarbha. There he encounters India in its elemental form. Convinced that his destiny is somehow entwined with that of his country, he sets off on a truth-seeking mission. On that mission, he finds love, revolution and most importantly, a redemption for the disquiet in his rear.
Anand is a former physicist on a spiritual quest through esoteric India. He realizes that the path to realization is beset on all sides by gurus, their cults and their boundless quirks. As he hops from one ashram to the other, he grows convinced that liberation does not come with a user manual in a neat little box.
Wrapped in light-hearted, almost tongue-in-cheek prose, 'Mango People In Banana Republic' is a tale of an Indian’s search for personal identity, against the backdrop of a country divided along fault lines of countless social identities. Teeming with a cast of characters and ideas that encapsulate modern India, the tale ascends from the gross to the sublime, much like the Kundalini powers some aspire to acquire. With a steady pace, and gentle mocking humour, this book is an absorbing read and a laugh.
Anand is a former physicist on a spiritual quest through esoteric India. He realizes that the path to realization is beset on all sides by gurus, their cults and their boundless quirks. As he hops from one ashram to the other, he grows convinced that liberation does not come with a user manual in a neat little box.
Wrapped in light-hearted, almost tongue-in-cheek prose, 'Mango People In Banana Republic' is a tale of an Indian’s search for personal identity, against the backdrop of a country divided along fault lines of countless social identities. Teeming with a cast of characters and ideas that encapsulate modern India, the tale ascends from the gross to the sublime, much like the Kundalini powers some aspire to acquire. With a steady pace, and gentle mocking humour, this book is an absorbing read and a laugh.
246 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2018
3 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
June 16, 2018
The thing that took my attention was the uniqueness of the title “Mango People in Banana Republic”. I was really attracted to the book. I did all possible research for the book, I checked reviews on Goodreads & Amazon. Mixed reviews Especially one talking about satirical black comedy style writing made me go for this book.
I have received this book 10 days back, and I would like to thank author and WritersMelon for arranging this review copy for us. I would like to share my experiences of first few pages of the book. The book has seven chapters, each chapter names with one of the seven chakras of the human body. The index page gave me feeling that I am going to read” some mental/spiritual / enlightenment based fictional book Contrary to the index, the satirical first chapter reminded me of “Coinman” book. That time I thought the book is going be corporate satire or black comedy. But the feeling was changed as I progressed towards other chapters.
Coming to the story, protagonists of our story are Anand and Ravi. Anand was a physicist by profession but lack of mental peace was bothering him. He tried looking for the solution in various babas and ashrams. He went to various places but was not able to find solace. In the end, he took the help of self-meditation and went to the bank of the river for some lone time to meditate. On another hand, Ravi was a living life of a corporate employee. His life was full of issues that any ordinary corporate guy would face. But he did something that normal people didn’t at his workplace, this landed him in jail. After jail, he went to his village in Vidarbha where drought is a normal issue. There he met with the burning issues of our country India face to face. Somewhere in his mind he was feeling that he was destined for a bigger role and to know his identity he set on a journey. He also ended up on the same river bank where Anand had taken refugee.
So overall it is a different story. It will take you to some of the grass root issues of Rural India. It will show you differences in ideologies and lifestyle. A recommended read for serious readers.
Detailed Review Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.com/2018/0...
I have received this book 10 days back, and I would like to thank author and WritersMelon for arranging this review copy for us. I would like to share my experiences of first few pages of the book. The book has seven chapters, each chapter names with one of the seven chakras of the human body. The index page gave me feeling that I am going to read” some mental/spiritual / enlightenment based fictional book Contrary to the index, the satirical first chapter reminded me of “Coinman” book. That time I thought the book is going be corporate satire or black comedy. But the feeling was changed as I progressed towards other chapters.
Coming to the story, protagonists of our story are Anand and Ravi. Anand was a physicist by profession but lack of mental peace was bothering him. He tried looking for the solution in various babas and ashrams. He went to various places but was not able to find solace. In the end, he took the help of self-meditation and went to the bank of the river for some lone time to meditate. On another hand, Ravi was a living life of a corporate employee. His life was full of issues that any ordinary corporate guy would face. But he did something that normal people didn’t at his workplace, this landed him in jail. After jail, he went to his village in Vidarbha where drought is a normal issue. There he met with the burning issues of our country India face to face. Somewhere in his mind he was feeling that he was destined for a bigger role and to know his identity he set on a journey. He also ended up on the same river bank where Anand had taken refugee.
So overall it is a different story. It will take you to some of the grass root issues of Rural India. It will show you differences in ideologies and lifestyle. A recommended read for serious readers.
Detailed Review Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.com/2018/0...
May 20, 2018
t's always great to read a book when it not only has an interesting cover and title but a great story as well.
The writing style and narrative are witty and gripping. At the beginning of the book, Ravi's narrative is especially hilarious. The book gets unexpectedly serious after that. I really liked Ravi. He was sarcastic, sassy, and he questioned a lot of things. There are some jokes on the current state of the world due to westernization and technology. There is a lot of politics involved in the story. The plot takes a spin in the middle of the book as does Ravi's life. The book is written in a very free and bold manner.
This is an extremely enjoyable book. it keeps you hooked and makes you think about a lot of things. I highly recommend it.
Thanks to WritersMelon for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
The writing style and narrative are witty and gripping. At the beginning of the book, Ravi's narrative is especially hilarious. The book gets unexpectedly serious after that. I really liked Ravi. He was sarcastic, sassy, and he questioned a lot of things. There are some jokes on the current state of the world due to westernization and technology. There is a lot of politics involved in the story. The plot takes a spin in the middle of the book as does Ravi's life. The book is written in a very free and bold manner.
This is an extremely enjoyable book. it keeps you hooked and makes you think about a lot of things. I highly recommend it.
Thanks to WritersMelon for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
February 22, 2020
Someone had gifted Mango People in Banana Republic to my husband and I ended up reading it before he did. It's not bad but not good enough. Confused? That's how I felt because it was difficult to fathom that a person (the protagonist) would witness so many changes in his life and would actually take the extreme steps that he took. It's a good attempt by a first time writer. He seems to have tried his best to leave as few loose ends as possible. The inclusion of spirituality for resolving modern day challenges, is appreciable. Yet, I wish the author could make the story more practical and less spicy.
May 14, 2018
Mango People In Banana Republic is a riveting tale enwrapped in different shades of life and the society. The gripping writing style of the author has brought us a beautiful piece to ponder over and reflect upon several layers of our inner and outer surrounding.
The book explicates the seven chakras constituting our body, namely – The root chakra, the sacral chakra, the solar plexus chakra, the heart chakra, the throat chakra, the third eye chakra, and the crown chakra. With each chapter, the author continues digging into the depths of these concepts by relating them to the lives of its two main characters – Ravi and Anand.
Ravi is a smart crumbling professional grappling with his job in IT industry. Anand is a former physicist who resorts to a distant place to relieve his tension and chase the peace. The accounts of their lives give us a fresh perspective. The incidents of their lives make us contemplate over the realities in which we live. It emphatically talks about the need for clarity of purpose. From the screwed up life of an IT professional to his unprecedented transformation, the book is an insightful ride to different stages of transcendence. It makes us realize that the state of free expression is indeed Ananda.
The book focuses on the current scenario of journalism and compares it to what it should be in reality. It also speaks at stretch about the two main spaces surrounding our existence – the problem space and the solution space. Several instances throw light on the halo of spirituality that embraces our existence and stresses on the fact that perhaps, Rebellion is the key to unlock the meaning of life. One does not necessarily have to rebel against the society but it can also be against our inner spirit. One should be able to brave his weaknesses, his timidity, his insecurities, and his fears which might turn out to be his nemesis.
The wisdom smeared over the pages of this book profound in meaning awakens the consciousness of its readers. It helps him to traverse through the layers of spirituality. It blesses him with a new perception of life as it goes on discussing the journey of an ignorant man towards the echelon of spiritual awakening. Awareness is absolute. A self-aware man can do wonders with his life as well as with the world. And this is what Anand does to Ravi.
The flow of language and clarity of expressions would enhance the reading experience. The variety of themes, characters and their influence is sure to keep the readers hooked on the book. The blurb is interesting enough to pull the readers. However, the cover isn’t enticing. The narrative is subtle and the development of the characters, marvelous. The whole content of the book has got the magic to uplift our brains and channel our energy towards the right direction. I am in awe of the book and the author’s ability to carve a well researched and well-written book.
If you are the one who is a lot much into spirituality, if mind-invigorating fiction interests you, if the change is what you seek, then go for this wonderful book!
The book explicates the seven chakras constituting our body, namely – The root chakra, the sacral chakra, the solar plexus chakra, the heart chakra, the throat chakra, the third eye chakra, and the crown chakra. With each chapter, the author continues digging into the depths of these concepts by relating them to the lives of its two main characters – Ravi and Anand.
Ravi is a smart crumbling professional grappling with his job in IT industry. Anand is a former physicist who resorts to a distant place to relieve his tension and chase the peace. The accounts of their lives give us a fresh perspective. The incidents of their lives make us contemplate over the realities in which we live. It emphatically talks about the need for clarity of purpose. From the screwed up life of an IT professional to his unprecedented transformation, the book is an insightful ride to different stages of transcendence. It makes us realize that the state of free expression is indeed Ananda.
The book focuses on the current scenario of journalism and compares it to what it should be in reality. It also speaks at stretch about the two main spaces surrounding our existence – the problem space and the solution space. Several instances throw light on the halo of spirituality that embraces our existence and stresses on the fact that perhaps, Rebellion is the key to unlock the meaning of life. One does not necessarily have to rebel against the society but it can also be against our inner spirit. One should be able to brave his weaknesses, his timidity, his insecurities, and his fears which might turn out to be his nemesis.
The wisdom smeared over the pages of this book profound in meaning awakens the consciousness of its readers. It helps him to traverse through the layers of spirituality. It blesses him with a new perception of life as it goes on discussing the journey of an ignorant man towards the echelon of spiritual awakening. Awareness is absolute. A self-aware man can do wonders with his life as well as with the world. And this is what Anand does to Ravi.
The flow of language and clarity of expressions would enhance the reading experience. The variety of themes, characters and their influence is sure to keep the readers hooked on the book. The blurb is interesting enough to pull the readers. However, the cover isn’t enticing. The narrative is subtle and the development of the characters, marvelous. The whole content of the book has got the magic to uplift our brains and channel our energy towards the right direction. I am in awe of the book and the author’s ability to carve a well researched and well-written book.
If you are the one who is a lot much into spirituality, if mind-invigorating fiction interests you, if the change is what you seek, then go for this wonderful book!
May 4, 2018
The Title! Yes! Isn’t it appealing enough to push your mind to think about it. What thoughts comes to your mind when you go through the title? Well! Have you heard of Seven chakras or kundalini?
This book is involving recital of genuine position of country’s citizens, spiritual awakening, country’s regime and backdrop.
Ravi Bhalerao, a strategic consultant, the main protagonist of the story left his job at Payne Consulting in an appalling ridicule fashion. Then, he visits his village in draught prone Vidarbha. Disheartened by the state of the farmers, he decided to work for them. After being downcast, he ended up in Dandakaranya. And the end of the book, he is at distinct path altogether.
Anand Reddy, another main character, a physicist, left everything behind him with the aim of seeking spiritual awakening. He moves from one ashram to another learning meditation, shanti mantras, yogic knowledge and the techniques used by Gautama Buddha for self-realisation.
The mention of seven chakras have been used to divide the book into seven parts. The meaning of these somehow gets related with the series of events and it’s absorbing how the last one clinch.
I was surprised how the paths of both the main characters crossed. Where in the midst of reading, I have coined about the Anand’s fate to be somewhat opposite.
Besides, I was jolted up at the happenings in the end of the book and amazed how the author has managed to change the complete scenario of Ravi from the beginning of the book to the end.
The book also includes realistic account of farmers’ state and sharp exposition of country’s welfare parties and groups. The interwoven of the story with drama, satire, awkward humour and spirituality is laudable.
The narration was impressive though in first half, I felt too much use of hefty words restrain the reading flow. Also, in the first half, the story of Ravi was little pulled.
Why to read this book
With it’s catchy title and book cover, the story is a thought provoking satire. I would definitely recommend this book to all the contemporary fiction lovers.
This book is involving recital of genuine position of country’s citizens, spiritual awakening, country’s regime and backdrop.
Ravi Bhalerao, a strategic consultant, the main protagonist of the story left his job at Payne Consulting in an appalling ridicule fashion. Then, he visits his village in draught prone Vidarbha. Disheartened by the state of the farmers, he decided to work for them. After being downcast, he ended up in Dandakaranya. And the end of the book, he is at distinct path altogether.
Anand Reddy, another main character, a physicist, left everything behind him with the aim of seeking spiritual awakening. He moves from one ashram to another learning meditation, shanti mantras, yogic knowledge and the techniques used by Gautama Buddha for self-realisation.
The mention of seven chakras have been used to divide the book into seven parts. The meaning of these somehow gets related with the series of events and it’s absorbing how the last one clinch.
I was surprised how the paths of both the main characters crossed. Where in the midst of reading, I have coined about the Anand’s fate to be somewhat opposite.
Besides, I was jolted up at the happenings in the end of the book and amazed how the author has managed to change the complete scenario of Ravi from the beginning of the book to the end.
The book also includes realistic account of farmers’ state and sharp exposition of country’s welfare parties and groups. The interwoven of the story with drama, satire, awkward humour and spirituality is laudable.
The narration was impressive though in first half, I felt too much use of hefty words restrain the reading flow. Also, in the first half, the story of Ravi was little pulled.
Why to read this book
With it’s catchy title and book cover, the story is a thought provoking satire. I would definitely recommend this book to all the contemporary fiction lovers.
June 21, 2018
Mango People in Banana Republic is as quirky and savage as it sounds.
The story revolves around two characters- Ravi, who is fed up with being treated like garbage by colleagues at a leading consultancy firm and Anand, a former physicist who is in search for liberation and his preferred method is hopping from ashram to ashram, waiting for someone to lead him to this path of self-discovery.
Here's why you should read the book:
-Style of writing: The characters have no filter to their thoughts and the book is full of remarks that will tickle your funny bone. The plot is full of sarcastic remarks and so damn relatable, especially as an Indian.
-Fucked-up-ness: The characters are screwed by their colleagues and their work beyond repair and this brings a certain texture to the plot. Ravi is poked and prodded by his colleagues whereas Anand is chasing the unknown because his work as a physicist make him realize that it was worth nothing.
-The plot: The plot is definitely unusual because of the characters. Ravi is spontaneous whereas Anand is more of a calm person. Fucked up but definitely willing to relax and find out his path. While Ravi is happy with the fact that he is taking crazy steps just to get back at life, Anand thinks he is a normal guy who deserves what he wants.
Here's what I didn't like:
-The plot: I mention this again because I found the writing getting monotonous and boring at times. Sarcasm has been overdone at places and I somehow, find that extremely annoying.
-Logic: The randomness of the book fails to hold on to a logic or theory and keeps jumping from scenario to scenario just to make it more dynamic and grab attention.
While the book has definitely invoked mixed feelings, I did like the quirky side of the book. The book is a reminder of what would happen if we all could be so frank and rebellious in real life. Oh! what a world would that be :P
Read the book for the heck of it and it will leave you with a satisfied grin.
The story revolves around two characters- Ravi, who is fed up with being treated like garbage by colleagues at a leading consultancy firm and Anand, a former physicist who is in search for liberation and his preferred method is hopping from ashram to ashram, waiting for someone to lead him to this path of self-discovery.
Here's why you should read the book:
-Style of writing: The characters have no filter to their thoughts and the book is full of remarks that will tickle your funny bone. The plot is full of sarcastic remarks and so damn relatable, especially as an Indian.
-Fucked-up-ness: The characters are screwed by their colleagues and their work beyond repair and this brings a certain texture to the plot. Ravi is poked and prodded by his colleagues whereas Anand is chasing the unknown because his work as a physicist make him realize that it was worth nothing.
-The plot: The plot is definitely unusual because of the characters. Ravi is spontaneous whereas Anand is more of a calm person. Fucked up but definitely willing to relax and find out his path. While Ravi is happy with the fact that he is taking crazy steps just to get back at life, Anand thinks he is a normal guy who deserves what he wants.
Here's what I didn't like:
-The plot: I mention this again because I found the writing getting monotonous and boring at times. Sarcasm has been overdone at places and I somehow, find that extremely annoying.
-Logic: The randomness of the book fails to hold on to a logic or theory and keeps jumping from scenario to scenario just to make it more dynamic and grab attention.
While the book has definitely invoked mixed feelings, I did like the quirky side of the book. The book is a reminder of what would happen if we all could be so frank and rebellious in real life. Oh! what a world would that be :P
Read the book for the heck of it and it will leave you with a satisfied grin.
May 6, 2018
Starting from corporate world to politics to spiritually, this short book has a lot to offer.
What happens is, Ravi just can't take the corporate shit anymore and decides to go away from the life he's living. Then he goes to his native village, and in order to help the natives there, gets involved in various tribal groups. Anand, a former physicist looks for liberation and somehow gets it. It is when their paths get intertwined that the spiritual element comes in.
The story is super fast, but not in a way that feels it is rushing. The pace of the story does well with the idea driven right to the readers. Even though there is nothing grand about the narrative, it still impressed me with witty details and clever remarks.
The characters, especially the protagonist, were fun to read. However, the characters are not the stronger point of the book.
The book keeps the reader hooked throughout. I felt that the first half was much more entertaining and promising. Even though the second half was not as good as the first one, it sure did have some great things to present as well.
Overall, the book is a refreshing read and a reader can pick it up when looking for something very different.
What happens is, Ravi just can't take the corporate shit anymore and decides to go away from the life he's living. Then he goes to his native village, and in order to help the natives there, gets involved in various tribal groups. Anand, a former physicist looks for liberation and somehow gets it. It is when their paths get intertwined that the spiritual element comes in.
The story is super fast, but not in a way that feels it is rushing. The pace of the story does well with the idea driven right to the readers. Even though there is nothing grand about the narrative, it still impressed me with witty details and clever remarks.
The characters, especially the protagonist, were fun to read. However, the characters are not the stronger point of the book.
The book keeps the reader hooked throughout. I felt that the first half was much more entertaining and promising. Even though the second half was not as good as the first one, it sure did have some great things to present as well.
Overall, the book is a refreshing read and a reader can pick it up when looking for something very different.
June 25, 2024
Complete Review : http://www.bookaapi.com/book-review/m...
June 9, 2018
Title: Mango People In Banana Republic
Author: Vishak Shakti
Publisher: The Write Place
Published on: 1st January 2018
Pages: 238
Binding: Paperback
ISBN:978-9387282179
BLURB
Ravi Bhalerao is a top of the rung business strategy consultant struggling with two disquiets in life – a festering career disillusionment and a festering wound in his posterior. Stung by an unfair performance appraisal, he pulls off an outrageous stunt at his workplace, drops off the urban map and reaches his ancestral land, a village in drought-prone Vidarbha. There he encounters India in its elemental form. Convinced that his destiny is somehow entwined with that of his country, he sets off on a truth-seeking mission. On that mission, he finds love, revolution and most importantly, a redemption for the disquiet in his rear.
Anand is a former physicist on a spiritual quest through esoteric India. He realizes that the path to realization is beset on all sides by gurus, their cults and their boundless quirks. As he hops from one ashram to the other, he grows convinced that liberation does not come with a user manual in a neat little box.
COVER PAGE
The cover page of the book is very different and unusual in shades of black, white and red. I found it quite unusual as it has an image of an Indian saint with a barcode on his face. It is attractive and funny.
REVIEW
Mango People In The Banana Republic by Vishak Shakti is a very interesting satire book and it's been quite a long time since I read a satire. The story revolves around Ravi Bhalerao who is a business strategy consultant in a firm and gets frustrated with his daily professional life and decides to quit everything and the other character is Anand, who is on a spiritual quest to find his own self.
The story line of the book is quite different and very interesting having different elements such as of disappointment, betrayal, love, affection and spirituality. It is an engaging blend of these elements in which author has also discussed about the various problems which are existing such as the problems faced by the farmers, political issues, naxalites etc and the events are very well described in a detailed manner with various twists. There are also some scenes of Rama and Dasaratha.
The book is written in a simple, easy and in a flowing language. The narration and the writing style is also very solid, witty and magnetic that one is not able to put the book down and story line moves at its own pace, neither too fast nor slow. It is divided into seven chapters based on the seven chakras of the human body which are the Root chakra, the Sacral Chakra, the Solar Plexus Chakra, the Heart Chakra, the Throat Chakra, the Third Eye Chakra and the Crown Chakra.
The two male protagonists are Ravi and Anand and apart from them other characters are Madhu, KR,Rama etc. The characters of the male leads are very well developed. I really liked the character of Ravi as it was really fun to read about him. He was sassy and sarcastic. The book is not so heavy, it is light which will make you laugh as well as make you think a lot about various issues.
When I read the title I was quite confusesd but after reading the book I got it. Mango means 'aam' which means 'common' in English language and Mango Republic means a country which is unstable. Thus, the title is very well justified. Overall, it is very enjoyable read which is humorous, witty, enlightening and insightful. I really enjoyed reading it a lot and I would recommend this to the satire readers.
Author: Vishak Shakti
Publisher: The Write Place
Published on: 1st January 2018
Pages: 238
Binding: Paperback
ISBN:978-9387282179
BLURB
Ravi Bhalerao is a top of the rung business strategy consultant struggling with two disquiets in life – a festering career disillusionment and a festering wound in his posterior. Stung by an unfair performance appraisal, he pulls off an outrageous stunt at his workplace, drops off the urban map and reaches his ancestral land, a village in drought-prone Vidarbha. There he encounters India in its elemental form. Convinced that his destiny is somehow entwined with that of his country, he sets off on a truth-seeking mission. On that mission, he finds love, revolution and most importantly, a redemption for the disquiet in his rear.
Anand is a former physicist on a spiritual quest through esoteric India. He realizes that the path to realization is beset on all sides by gurus, their cults and their boundless quirks. As he hops from one ashram to the other, he grows convinced that liberation does not come with a user manual in a neat little box.
COVER PAGE
The cover page of the book is very different and unusual in shades of black, white and red. I found it quite unusual as it has an image of an Indian saint with a barcode on his face. It is attractive and funny.
REVIEW
Mango People In The Banana Republic by Vishak Shakti is a very interesting satire book and it's been quite a long time since I read a satire. The story revolves around Ravi Bhalerao who is a business strategy consultant in a firm and gets frustrated with his daily professional life and decides to quit everything and the other character is Anand, who is on a spiritual quest to find his own self.
The story line of the book is quite different and very interesting having different elements such as of disappointment, betrayal, love, affection and spirituality. It is an engaging blend of these elements in which author has also discussed about the various problems which are existing such as the problems faced by the farmers, political issues, naxalites etc and the events are very well described in a detailed manner with various twists. There are also some scenes of Rama and Dasaratha.
The book is written in a simple, easy and in a flowing language. The narration and the writing style is also very solid, witty and magnetic that one is not able to put the book down and story line moves at its own pace, neither too fast nor slow. It is divided into seven chapters based on the seven chakras of the human body which are the Root chakra, the Sacral Chakra, the Solar Plexus Chakra, the Heart Chakra, the Throat Chakra, the Third Eye Chakra and the Crown Chakra.
The two male protagonists are Ravi and Anand and apart from them other characters are Madhu, KR,Rama etc. The characters of the male leads are very well developed. I really liked the character of Ravi as it was really fun to read about him. He was sassy and sarcastic. The book is not so heavy, it is light which will make you laugh as well as make you think a lot about various issues.
When I read the title I was quite confusesd but after reading the book I got it. Mango means 'aam' which means 'common' in English language and Mango Republic means a country which is unstable. Thus, the title is very well justified. Overall, it is very enjoyable read which is humorous, witty, enlightening and insightful. I really enjoyed reading it a lot and I would recommend this to the satire readers.
May 27, 2018
There are times when you look at a book and desperately want it. You have no idea how the book might turn up or how the writing style or story would be. But knowing all these pointers, still, you kinda crave for the book, Mango People in Banana Republic is that book which I really wanted to read. Maybe my intuition guided towards it, I don’t know but what I can say is that this book is worth the read.
One actually doesn’t need to get intrigued much, the description does its job. There are so many minute details thoroughly written by the author, it becomes very difficult to put the book down. Nowadays it has become a trend in a way to leave the corporate world and start exploring. There are so many unknown opportunities lying out there no one has any idea about and that’s exactly what Ravi wants to search for. On the other hand, Anand being a physicist goes on to look for spiritual enlightenment. The most fascinating part for me was the transitions happening all across the book, starting from the Conference rooms in Electronic City, Bangalore through the dry farmlands and Ancient forests in Central India all the way to the Himalayas.
Talking about the characterization of every single individual. The author has dealt with that side very beautifully and thoughtfully. Every single character has its own charm and weirdly, the character takes its shape as the story builds up. The character of Ravi, his sarcasm, and his confusions is so relatable. Including the character of Anand and Devang, in a way I find all the character’s story merging in a way. They all are very much relatable and especially if you understand the issue of corporate life.
The title is beautifully wacky Mango People In Banana Republic, don’t you just love the title. A very light-hearted book which is nice. All the three characters are teamed up in such a smooth manner. The few aspects of Kundalini powers which come in between I found it a little out of the place. Other than that, the book is written at a steady pace, the writing style is smooth and simply which is an added bonus and I am in love with the book cover truly. I am going to be recommending this book to those who want to go for a light read with a touch of an unusual story.
One actually doesn’t need to get intrigued much, the description does its job. There are so many minute details thoroughly written by the author, it becomes very difficult to put the book down. Nowadays it has become a trend in a way to leave the corporate world and start exploring. There are so many unknown opportunities lying out there no one has any idea about and that’s exactly what Ravi wants to search for. On the other hand, Anand being a physicist goes on to look for spiritual enlightenment. The most fascinating part for me was the transitions happening all across the book, starting from the Conference rooms in Electronic City, Bangalore through the dry farmlands and Ancient forests in Central India all the way to the Himalayas.
Talking about the characterization of every single individual. The author has dealt with that side very beautifully and thoughtfully. Every single character has its own charm and weirdly, the character takes its shape as the story builds up. The character of Ravi, his sarcasm, and his confusions is so relatable. Including the character of Anand and Devang, in a way I find all the character’s story merging in a way. They all are very much relatable and especially if you understand the issue of corporate life.
The title is beautifully wacky Mango People In Banana Republic, don’t you just love the title. A very light-hearted book which is nice. All the three characters are teamed up in such a smooth manner. The few aspects of Kundalini powers which come in between I found it a little out of the place. Other than that, the book is written at a steady pace, the writing style is smooth and simply which is an added bonus and I am in love with the book cover truly. I am going to be recommending this book to those who want to go for a light read with a touch of an unusual story.
May 19, 2018
3.5/5
To read the full review, click on the link below 👇
https://storyofabooknerd.blogspot.in/...
'Mango People In Banana Republic' has an interesting plot line, that revolves around two characters, Ravi and Anand, and talks about some of the serious issues of our society.
Ravi Bhalerao, is a senior strategy consultant in a prestigious company of Bangalore. Dissatisfied with his corporate life, he decides to quit his job. After getting rid off all his material possessions, he sets off for his hometown, Sankatpur, a drought-prone village in Vidarbha. On the other hand, there is Anand, a former physicist on his journey to achieve spiritual attainment, who hops from one ashram to another in search for peace. There are also some short chapters in the novel, describing other supporting characters such as Devang, Ravi's boss in the consulting firm and about Madhu, Ravi's true love.
The narrative pace is normal, neither fast nor too slow. Language is simple and rich in vocabulary, mixed with perfect doses of humor and sarcasm. The story starts on a light note, but as it started progressing, it touched upon some serious topics of our society like, plight of the farmers, work of various political parties, activists, Naxalites, spiritualism and many such other issues relevant to our society. The book seems to have been very well researched as, all this has been presented in a realistic way.
The title of the novel is very funny and catchy, however, I was confused by the cover design. The book is divided into seven parts or seven 'chakras', but I couldn't connect the 'chakras' with that of the plot line. Characters are not very strong, but well described. Also, how the two main characters meet each other is very surprising, and that is when the spiritual element comes in the story.
I am not very fond of genres like spirituality and satires, but this book didn't disappoint me. Overall, 'Mango People In Banana Republic' was a refreshing read. This book is recommended to all those who enjoys reading satires.
To read the full review, click on the link below 👇
https://storyofabooknerd.blogspot.in/...
'Mango People In Banana Republic' has an interesting plot line, that revolves around two characters, Ravi and Anand, and talks about some of the serious issues of our society.
Ravi Bhalerao, is a senior strategy consultant in a prestigious company of Bangalore. Dissatisfied with his corporate life, he decides to quit his job. After getting rid off all his material possessions, he sets off for his hometown, Sankatpur, a drought-prone village in Vidarbha. On the other hand, there is Anand, a former physicist on his journey to achieve spiritual attainment, who hops from one ashram to another in search for peace. There are also some short chapters in the novel, describing other supporting characters such as Devang, Ravi's boss in the consulting firm and about Madhu, Ravi's true love.
The narrative pace is normal, neither fast nor too slow. Language is simple and rich in vocabulary, mixed with perfect doses of humor and sarcasm. The story starts on a light note, but as it started progressing, it touched upon some serious topics of our society like, plight of the farmers, work of various political parties, activists, Naxalites, spiritualism and many such other issues relevant to our society. The book seems to have been very well researched as, all this has been presented in a realistic way.
The title of the novel is very funny and catchy, however, I was confused by the cover design. The book is divided into seven parts or seven 'chakras', but I couldn't connect the 'chakras' with that of the plot line. Characters are not very strong, but well described. Also, how the two main characters meet each other is very surprising, and that is when the spiritual element comes in the story.
I am not very fond of genres like spirituality and satires, but this book didn't disappoint me. Overall, 'Mango People In Banana Republic' was a refreshing read. This book is recommended to all those who enjoys reading satires.
May 9, 2018
Book is honest and witty with doses of sarcasm and humour. I must admit that the tone and language and flow was entertaining.This book can light easy and inspiring read but it can also be contemplated for the depth of its topic and experiences. Excellent writing style.The Book revolves around its central character Ravi Bhalerao.The book has everything Corporate world wgere Ravi works as business strategy consultant, political world -drought prone state and Naxals blood bath.Spiritual world -path of realization through spiritual guru and their cults.Book is all about Mango people (Aam Admi) and their struggle.A book for boring summer afternoon.
June 13, 2018
The first thing that you notice in this book is the title which is unusual and appealing and the cover. The blurb gives out a lot about the book. True to the description , this is a humorous and light-hearted read by Vishak Shakti.
The book revolves around the lives of Ravi and Anand who are tired of their corporate lives and want an escape. The narrative is in the first person and written in the form of a drama. The writing style is lucid and easy to comprehend. The plot is not only realistic but also intriguing. With the perfect balance of humor and satire blended with realistic approach to life is not easy to pull off but the author has done a commendable work in here.
To make it a little on the edge . the author has included the Kundalini powers and the seven chakras constituting our body, namely – The root chakra, the sacral chakra, the solar plexus chakra, the heart chakra, the throat chakra, the third eye chakra, and the crown chakra. As the story progresses , these details are explained in context to the story.
A humorous light hearted read. Recommended.
The book revolves around the lives of Ravi and Anand who are tired of their corporate lives and want an escape. The narrative is in the first person and written in the form of a drama. The writing style is lucid and easy to comprehend. The plot is not only realistic but also intriguing. With the perfect balance of humor and satire blended with realistic approach to life is not easy to pull off but the author has done a commendable work in here.
To make it a little on the edge . the author has included the Kundalini powers and the seven chakras constituting our body, namely – The root chakra, the sacral chakra, the solar plexus chakra, the heart chakra, the throat chakra, the third eye chakra, and the crown chakra. As the story progresses , these details are explained in context to the story.
A humorous light hearted read. Recommended.
May 17, 2018
Before I begin, I must tell you that my review is going to be long. Now you might wonder, why would that be? Now now don't get upset, I'm certainly going to mention the factors which will really live upto your delightful weekend read. So kindly stick with me till the end!
The book lives upto its reputation by not only satiating my taste, but also provides a better perspective & understanding of the importance of love, life, freedom, patriotism, selfless love, true love, family & bond cherished between people.
Hardly we find any books that have so much power & potential in them to leave a mark in our hearts, a spark that lingers for a lifetime.
Mango people in banana Republic is a totally different kinda book, a unique concept which explores various topics of life which are often overlooked by many. The book talks about freedom, war, pain, self-identity & extrapolates many things on similar accord. The surprising fact is that, the sense of humour in every section of the book is worth commenting on. Hence, I can proudly proclaim that this is one of the most hilarious book ever read by me.
The world can be seen truly only if it's felt from inside. True beauty can be felt only when a person is alive. If you wish to seek a true difference to this indifferent world, then understand & feel from the depths of your soul. Only by moving freely & setting themselves free, one can derive a true insight. One who feels the pain of others can express it into light. To inhale all negativity inside with each breath & exhale positivity
for everything we've ever felt.
Life is all about choices & the choices we make shape our destiny, future & the path that lies ahead of us. For some it's blissful, for others it's cruel. Some may think it's fair, some unfair. However, this is the law of nature, game of life. No matter what you do, no matter what you seek, this is the way of life, one has to accept it, respect it & cherish it for as long as they can.
"Noone lives long in a war."
Set in a political backdrop, where millions of innocent lives are lost in chaos, clashes of cultural viewpoints, depth of religious shackles, political games & warfare of communities. All for nothing, but mere pleasures of some sickminded officials, aristocrats, bureaucrats, psychotic government officials who misuse their power for political fallacies.
"Because no matter what, taking a life is not the right thing to do."
It all begins on a softnote where the central character Ravi Bhalorao (a strategy consultant in a top business firm) is contracted with a fistula, who's seeking a medical remedy or help from a doctor. He faces an another ailment, a rivolting career disillusionment.
Stung by an unfair performance appraisal (conspiracy plotted by his sadist boss), he pulls an outrageous stunt at his workplace & ends up landing in jail. Later, he visits his ancestral land, a village in Vidarbha (a drought-prone area) where he encounters our country India in its elemental form. On that mission to find himself, he's convinced that he has a bigger role to play for the society. His destiny which is greater than he contemplated, has now set on a journey to seek truth, own identity, love, revolution & predominantly, a redemption (remedy) for his rear.
Anand (a former particle physicist working on the cutting edge of fundamental research) is on a spiritual quest through esoteric India. He realises the path to realisation is beset by gurus, spiritualists & countless quirks. A deep research of the facts which is encompassed with contemporary India, the tale ascends from gross to sublime, which is solsticed by the Kundalini (spiritual) powers which many aspire to acquire.
"Every revolution begins with a fire in the belly."
One of the most hilarious instances from the books are quoted below :
"Your rating is directly proportional to your propensity to turn around & bend over, so you can pay your WiFi bills".
"O brother, who shalt fornicate with thine own sister".
"Hello sir, I'm behenchod bhalerao, its a pleasure to meet you. I'm here to shove some business strategy up your ass. It won't hurt I promise, at least not until next quarter".
"Zombies in formals, my brethren, they're everywhere. Marching to work with laptop bags, like disgruntled schoolkids".
"Hope is a painkiller that causes cancer".
Cover is really beautiful. It's simple, yet beautiful. The way historical aesthetic life along with modernization (losing true values of life) has been portrayed is truly remarkable.
Title is cleverly selected & justified accordingly. It's terrifyingly true, the way the meaning of it has been explained in the book carefully.
Language is beautiful, exquisite & totally satisfying. I was satiated by the vast depth & the message conveyed. The tounge-in-cheek prose, along with good vocabulary made the book totally impeccable & impossible to put down.
Another surprising fact, which I loved about the book is the artistic header which has been given to each section which adds another spice to the book. The book has been divided into 7 sections. Each section resembles a chakra (energy point in our body) & describes them effortlessly with the help of 'Wikipedia.'
Another interesting fact which I forgot to mention was the reference to 'Ramayana' has been done in some places where dots gets connected to the leading character of 'Lord Ram' adds another appeasing factor to it, a feather to the cap indeed! The book talks about a lot of energies, resonance of energies, synchronisations, metamorphosis & resemblances with an aesthetic life.
To say, overall I loved the book. It's a worth read, meant to be read again & again. I recommend this to all who wish to read a unique book, with a totally offbeat genre. A really unique book with a totally different off-beat genre. Packed with lots of hilarious humour, it's a must read, one of a kind.
The book lives upto its reputation by not only satiating my taste, but also provides a better perspective & understanding of the importance of love, life, freedom, patriotism, selfless love, true love, family & bond cherished between people.
Hardly we find any books that have so much power & potential in them to leave a mark in our hearts, a spark that lingers for a lifetime.
Mango people in banana Republic is a totally different kinda book, a unique concept which explores various topics of life which are often overlooked by many. The book talks about freedom, war, pain, self-identity & extrapolates many things on similar accord. The surprising fact is that, the sense of humour in every section of the book is worth commenting on. Hence, I can proudly proclaim that this is one of the most hilarious book ever read by me.
The world can be seen truly only if it's felt from inside. True beauty can be felt only when a person is alive. If you wish to seek a true difference to this indifferent world, then understand & feel from the depths of your soul. Only by moving freely & setting themselves free, one can derive a true insight. One who feels the pain of others can express it into light. To inhale all negativity inside with each breath & exhale positivity
for everything we've ever felt.
Life is all about choices & the choices we make shape our destiny, future & the path that lies ahead of us. For some it's blissful, for others it's cruel. Some may think it's fair, some unfair. However, this is the law of nature, game of life. No matter what you do, no matter what you seek, this is the way of life, one has to accept it, respect it & cherish it for as long as they can.
"Noone lives long in a war."
Set in a political backdrop, where millions of innocent lives are lost in chaos, clashes of cultural viewpoints, depth of religious shackles, political games & warfare of communities. All for nothing, but mere pleasures of some sickminded officials, aristocrats, bureaucrats, psychotic government officials who misuse their power for political fallacies.
"Because no matter what, taking a life is not the right thing to do."
It all begins on a softnote where the central character Ravi Bhalorao (a strategy consultant in a top business firm) is contracted with a fistula, who's seeking a medical remedy or help from a doctor. He faces an another ailment, a rivolting career disillusionment.
Stung by an unfair performance appraisal (conspiracy plotted by his sadist boss), he pulls an outrageous stunt at his workplace & ends up landing in jail. Later, he visits his ancestral land, a village in Vidarbha (a drought-prone area) where he encounters our country India in its elemental form. On that mission to find himself, he's convinced that he has a bigger role to play for the society. His destiny which is greater than he contemplated, has now set on a journey to seek truth, own identity, love, revolution & predominantly, a redemption (remedy) for his rear.
Anand (a former particle physicist working on the cutting edge of fundamental research) is on a spiritual quest through esoteric India. He realises the path to realisation is beset by gurus, spiritualists & countless quirks. A deep research of the facts which is encompassed with contemporary India, the tale ascends from gross to sublime, which is solsticed by the Kundalini (spiritual) powers which many aspire to acquire.
"Every revolution begins with a fire in the belly."
One of the most hilarious instances from the books are quoted below :
"Your rating is directly proportional to your propensity to turn around & bend over, so you can pay your WiFi bills".
"O brother, who shalt fornicate with thine own sister".
"Hello sir, I'm behenchod bhalerao, its a pleasure to meet you. I'm here to shove some business strategy up your ass. It won't hurt I promise, at least not until next quarter".
"Zombies in formals, my brethren, they're everywhere. Marching to work with laptop bags, like disgruntled schoolkids".
"Hope is a painkiller that causes cancer".
Cover is really beautiful. It's simple, yet beautiful. The way historical aesthetic life along with modernization (losing true values of life) has been portrayed is truly remarkable.
Title is cleverly selected & justified accordingly. It's terrifyingly true, the way the meaning of it has been explained in the book carefully.
Language is beautiful, exquisite & totally satisfying. I was satiated by the vast depth & the message conveyed. The tounge-in-cheek prose, along with good vocabulary made the book totally impeccable & impossible to put down.
Another surprising fact, which I loved about the book is the artistic header which has been given to each section which adds another spice to the book. The book has been divided into 7 sections. Each section resembles a chakra (energy point in our body) & describes them effortlessly with the help of 'Wikipedia.'
Another interesting fact which I forgot to mention was the reference to 'Ramayana' has been done in some places where dots gets connected to the leading character of 'Lord Ram' adds another appeasing factor to it, a feather to the cap indeed! The book talks about a lot of energies, resonance of energies, synchronisations, metamorphosis & resemblances with an aesthetic life.
To say, overall I loved the book. It's a worth read, meant to be read again & again. I recommend this to all who wish to read a unique book, with a totally offbeat genre. A really unique book with a totally different off-beat genre. Packed with lots of hilarious humour, it's a must read, one of a kind.
July 16, 2018
Mango People in Banana Republic.
Vishak Shakti.
The Write Place.
2018. Pp- 237.
So this is a weekend of pending reviews and here's the third one.
Blurb-
Ravi Bhalerao is a top of the rung business strategy consultant struggling with two disquiets in life – a festering career disillusionment and a festering wound in his posterior. Stung by an unfair performance appraisal, he pulls off an outrageous stunt at his workplace, drops off the urban map and reaches his ancestral land, a village in drought-prone Vidarbha. There he encounters India in its elemental form. Convinced that his destiny is somehow entwined with that of his country, he sets off on a truth-seeking mission. On that mission, he finds love, revolution and most importantly, a redemption for the disquiet in his rear.
Anand is a former physicist on a spiritual quest through esoteric India. He realizes that the path to realization is beset on all sides by gurus, their cults and their boundless quirks. As he hops from one ashram to the other, he grows convinced that liberation does not come with a user manual in a neat little box.
Wrapped in light-hearted, almost tongue-in-cheek prose, ‘Mango People In Banana Republic’ is a tale of an Indian’s search for personal identity, against the backdrop of a country divided along fault lines of countless social identities. Teeming with a cast of characters and ideas that encapsulate modern India, the tale ascends from the gross to the sublime, much like the Kundalini powers some aspire to acquire. With a steady pace, and gentle mocking humour, this book is an absorbing read and a laugh.
About the Author -
Vishak Shakti is a writer by compulsion. He writes to vent, to purge, to indulge, and sometimes just for the heck of it. He has written for publications such as MSN India, The Hindu, and Clean Bowled. He thinks that a good book has three essential ingredients – entertainment, artistry and relevance, in that order.
Review-
The cover and the title adds on to the beauty of the book. The uniqueness of the title and the quirky cover is all you need to pick this one up. The blurb does it next. The blurb in itself does justice to the book. It sets you up as a reader. You're bound to put it down only when you reach the last page, and I don't think I can say anything to better describe how I felt about Mango People in Banana Republic.
That's anything any reader needs and you get it all in one book!?
It's a delight to discover that the plot is as worth it. It keeps up the build up. The narration is eccentric and the plot is nothing less! The characters leave you alone to wonder and assume at some points, but it's a good alone and not a bad alone. They don't leave you hanging, but gives you something to hang on to, even beyond the book.
Mango People in Banana Republic is a book for every millennial who works his ass off today and has questions and doubts in his mind and heart. Vishak Shakti has managed to choose a unique theme, which can be one of the most relatable modern concerns of today, if used correctly.
The book might also leave you confused at some points, but it's worth the uncertainty. However, there could have been some improvements to keep up the essence of the book up till the end, but all in all, it was an above average read.
Giving it a 3.5 on 5 too, but still a must read.
So if you're looking for anything of a different kind to pick up and read, this book is for you. It makes you curious at all the right places and is worth the try.
Thank you @writersmelon for the #reviewcopy.
#bookstagramindia #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #review #bookreview #writersmelon #readdreamrepeat #blogger #bookblogger #delhibookstagrammer #indianblogger #indianauthor #igreads #mangopeopleinthebananrepublic
20 down @htbrunch #htbrunchbookchallenge #BrunchBookChallenge #htbrunch.
Vishak Shakti.
The Write Place.
2018. Pp- 237.
So this is a weekend of pending reviews and here's the third one.
Blurb-
Ravi Bhalerao is a top of the rung business strategy consultant struggling with two disquiets in life – a festering career disillusionment and a festering wound in his posterior. Stung by an unfair performance appraisal, he pulls off an outrageous stunt at his workplace, drops off the urban map and reaches his ancestral land, a village in drought-prone Vidarbha. There he encounters India in its elemental form. Convinced that his destiny is somehow entwined with that of his country, he sets off on a truth-seeking mission. On that mission, he finds love, revolution and most importantly, a redemption for the disquiet in his rear.
Anand is a former physicist on a spiritual quest through esoteric India. He realizes that the path to realization is beset on all sides by gurus, their cults and their boundless quirks. As he hops from one ashram to the other, he grows convinced that liberation does not come with a user manual in a neat little box.
Wrapped in light-hearted, almost tongue-in-cheek prose, ‘Mango People In Banana Republic’ is a tale of an Indian’s search for personal identity, against the backdrop of a country divided along fault lines of countless social identities. Teeming with a cast of characters and ideas that encapsulate modern India, the tale ascends from the gross to the sublime, much like the Kundalini powers some aspire to acquire. With a steady pace, and gentle mocking humour, this book is an absorbing read and a laugh.
About the Author -
Vishak Shakti is a writer by compulsion. He writes to vent, to purge, to indulge, and sometimes just for the heck of it. He has written for publications such as MSN India, The Hindu, and Clean Bowled. He thinks that a good book has three essential ingredients – entertainment, artistry and relevance, in that order.
Review-
The cover and the title adds on to the beauty of the book. The uniqueness of the title and the quirky cover is all you need to pick this one up. The blurb does it next. The blurb in itself does justice to the book. It sets you up as a reader. You're bound to put it down only when you reach the last page, and I don't think I can say anything to better describe how I felt about Mango People in Banana Republic.
That's anything any reader needs and you get it all in one book!?
It's a delight to discover that the plot is as worth it. It keeps up the build up. The narration is eccentric and the plot is nothing less! The characters leave you alone to wonder and assume at some points, but it's a good alone and not a bad alone. They don't leave you hanging, but gives you something to hang on to, even beyond the book.
Mango People in Banana Republic is a book for every millennial who works his ass off today and has questions and doubts in his mind and heart. Vishak Shakti has managed to choose a unique theme, which can be one of the most relatable modern concerns of today, if used correctly.
The book might also leave you confused at some points, but it's worth the uncertainty. However, there could have been some improvements to keep up the essence of the book up till the end, but all in all, it was an above average read.
Giving it a 3.5 on 5 too, but still a must read.
So if you're looking for anything of a different kind to pick up and read, this book is for you. It makes you curious at all the right places and is worth the try.
Thank you @writersmelon for the #reviewcopy.
#bookstagramindia #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #review #bookreview #writersmelon #readdreamrepeat #blogger #bookblogger #delhibookstagrammer #indianblogger #indianauthor #igreads #mangopeopleinthebananrepublic
20 down @htbrunch #htbrunchbookchallenge #BrunchBookChallenge #htbrunch.
May 10, 2018
I can’t stop wondering how the author came up with such a piece of work!!
i am trying to list everything i understood and felt while reading it…
Politics……Romance…..spirituality…. mythology….chakras…..meditation yoga…Murder…. Farmer suicides… Shock…. Weird…. Madness… irritating. Thought provoking….goose bump…sharp twists…Raw… insightful .. eyeopener….humour… oprah winfrey ….YouTube.…
and yes there were corporate stuff and technicalities and physics too – i didn’t understand the technicalities of strategic consultancy...an alien thing to me but Physics…since I am a physicist i got this.. yay..…..
…
…
…
honestly i may need more than one read to get all this correct.
To pull off all of it in one book is unreal. Its a mix of many genres meaning it has something for everyone.
Well i will try to give you an insight on the insides of the book.
The character Ravi who is as confused as few of us not able to comprehend and make sense of the path of his life hence takes abrupt decisions doing weirdest things beyond our imagination . The character Anand who gives up a lucrative career and go in search for peace and meaning.. now that is something even i am thinking of doing..
A woman activist living life on her own terms. A harassing, pain in the ass boss. A Professor who becomes a rebel after his family is murdered.
Welcome to bare, real, raw, unfiltered take on life which is nothing but a mess. The end of the story is for people who believe in believing faith and spirituality and it may take days to actually comprehend the explanation the author presents on the meaning of ‘NOW’. heaven knows i tried but couldn’t wrap my head around it but i loved that part maybe just one more read and i will get through it. All the science and spiritual facts you will find in the book are taken from references listed in the beginning itself.
There were parts of it which were interesting and insightful like the chakras stuff.. the meditation courses anand takes..The whole farmer suicide fiasco was very appalling, the government’s high handedness on the farmers suicide was an eye opener .. like i said before the last bit of one on one spiritual conversation between anand and ravi was food for thought .. the quantum physics bit that comes up now and then makes sense..
when i first started ,it looked simple but as the story started developing it got confusing there were many characters to follow and make sense of because though they initially don’t seem to have any co-relation ,at the end they cross each other’s path.I found it partly Engrossing.
There comes a small part on the life of God Rama and dhashratha and it was a breath of fresh air for me as Ravi’s life was making me feel too miserable. The meditation sessions felt relaxing, comforting and real.
There were few things i didn’t like but there were few which were indeed new to me and getting to know new facts and to get a different perspective is the perks of reading. My opinion is mixed on this book but 5 star for the narration, writing style, language or however you put it. The author amazes you with a display of his extensive knowledge and thought provoking counter arguments he presents on various issues . It was like he was waiting to vent out, showcase his skills and to get his point across and he did well on that. i liked his way of expressing and presenting facts through stories like the way he did here by merging more than one genre… With this signature style the authors next work is awaited on.
I got this book from the author and writersmelon for a honest review
i am trying to list everything i understood and felt while reading it…
Politics……Romance…..spirituality…. mythology….chakras…..meditation yoga…Murder…. Farmer suicides… Shock…. Weird…. Madness… irritating. Thought provoking….goose bump…sharp twists…Raw… insightful .. eyeopener….humour… oprah winfrey ….YouTube.…
and yes there were corporate stuff and technicalities and physics too – i didn’t understand the technicalities of strategic consultancy...an alien thing to me but Physics…since I am a physicist i got this.. yay..…..
…
…
…
honestly i may need more than one read to get all this correct.
To pull off all of it in one book is unreal. Its a mix of many genres meaning it has something for everyone.
Well i will try to give you an insight on the insides of the book.
The character Ravi who is as confused as few of us not able to comprehend and make sense of the path of his life hence takes abrupt decisions doing weirdest things beyond our imagination . The character Anand who gives up a lucrative career and go in search for peace and meaning.. now that is something even i am thinking of doing..
A woman activist living life on her own terms. A harassing, pain in the ass boss. A Professor who becomes a rebel after his family is murdered.
Welcome to bare, real, raw, unfiltered take on life which is nothing but a mess. The end of the story is for people who believe in believing faith and spirituality and it may take days to actually comprehend the explanation the author presents on the meaning of ‘NOW’. heaven knows i tried but couldn’t wrap my head around it but i loved that part maybe just one more read and i will get through it. All the science and spiritual facts you will find in the book are taken from references listed in the beginning itself.
There were parts of it which were interesting and insightful like the chakras stuff.. the meditation courses anand takes..The whole farmer suicide fiasco was very appalling, the government’s high handedness on the farmers suicide was an eye opener .. like i said before the last bit of one on one spiritual conversation between anand and ravi was food for thought .. the quantum physics bit that comes up now and then makes sense..
when i first started ,it looked simple but as the story started developing it got confusing there were many characters to follow and make sense of because though they initially don’t seem to have any co-relation ,at the end they cross each other’s path.I found it partly Engrossing.
There comes a small part on the life of God Rama and dhashratha and it was a breath of fresh air for me as Ravi’s life was making me feel too miserable. The meditation sessions felt relaxing, comforting and real.
There were few things i didn’t like but there were few which were indeed new to me and getting to know new facts and to get a different perspective is the perks of reading. My opinion is mixed on this book but 5 star for the narration, writing style, language or however you put it. The author amazes you with a display of his extensive knowledge and thought provoking counter arguments he presents on various issues . It was like he was waiting to vent out, showcase his skills and to get his point across and he did well on that. i liked his way of expressing and presenting facts through stories like the way he did here by merging more than one genre… With this signature style the authors next work is awaited on.
I got this book from the author and writersmelon for a honest review
May 25, 2018
First off, let me say that I finished the entire book in one sitting, cover to cover. I absolutely loved how the story pulled me along for a roller coaster ride of emotions. It begins with Ravi, a strategy consultant with a painful fistula going to a physician. I did not think that it was possible for problems in the butt to be a source of so much hilarity. The best part was that we see this theme as well as this style of writing for the entirety of the book.
The book follows different characters on their journey to enlightenment, each in their own way. After a performance appraisal gone horribly wrong, Ravi is disillusioned about the corporate world that he lives (or survives) in. He decides to give up the entrapment of materialistic things and returns to the village that he grew up in. Here we are treated to explicit details of the hardships in a drought affected land that mainly depends on farming for their livelihood. It highlights how the Government cheats people out of their right to survive and does not even give them their basic necessities.
In the meanwhile, we see a former physicist undergoing spiritual awakening in various ashrams across the country. At the same time, Ravi falls in with the Naxal crowd and has a few adventures himself. I am not a very political person so I took all the Government-vs-Naxal/Maoist/Guerrilla activities at face value without analysing it beyond what was given in the book. The fact that they stressed on ‘we do not harm civilians’ was nice, if only it were actually followed. I was surprised that Ravi was let go so easily after hearing the horror stories of people who wish to quit any powerful underground organization.
Ravi and Anand meeting each other seemed a bit too coincidental. Anand healing Ravi’s longstanding fistula with just a simple meditation session was hard to believe. Even if such healing was possible, it would seem that it would take a bit more time and energy, not to mention practice and patience to be able to transform the physical body. The end with the reappearance of Madhu was too good to be true. I was glad that the author left a bit of ambiguity on that front.
On the whole, I really did enjoy the book even though I was not so sure when the political part came on. It did not bore me nor did it seem preachy. It was an incredible effort by a first time novelist and I can’t wait to read more from Vishak Shakti.
The book follows different characters on their journey to enlightenment, each in their own way. After a performance appraisal gone horribly wrong, Ravi is disillusioned about the corporate world that he lives (or survives) in. He decides to give up the entrapment of materialistic things and returns to the village that he grew up in. Here we are treated to explicit details of the hardships in a drought affected land that mainly depends on farming for their livelihood. It highlights how the Government cheats people out of their right to survive and does not even give them their basic necessities.
In the meanwhile, we see a former physicist undergoing spiritual awakening in various ashrams across the country. At the same time, Ravi falls in with the Naxal crowd and has a few adventures himself. I am not a very political person so I took all the Government-vs-Naxal/Maoist/Guerrilla activities at face value without analysing it beyond what was given in the book. The fact that they stressed on ‘we do not harm civilians’ was nice, if only it were actually followed. I was surprised that Ravi was let go so easily after hearing the horror stories of people who wish to quit any powerful underground organization.
Ravi and Anand meeting each other seemed a bit too coincidental. Anand healing Ravi’s longstanding fistula with just a simple meditation session was hard to believe. Even if such healing was possible, it would seem that it would take a bit more time and energy, not to mention practice and patience to be able to transform the physical body. The end with the reappearance of Madhu was too good to be true. I was glad that the author left a bit of ambiguity on that front.
On the whole, I really did enjoy the book even though I was not so sure when the political part came on. It did not bore me nor did it seem preachy. It was an incredible effort by a first time novelist and I can’t wait to read more from Vishak Shakti.
May 29, 2018
Originally Published on Just A Girl High On Books.
"I received a free copy of this book from Writer's Melon in exchange for an honest review."
There is "often a rarity" that a book with a beautiful cover and an intriguing title comes alone. Mango People in Banana Republic was one such book to me. With an exciting blurb, the whole package (before I read the book) did nothing but add a great amount of curiosity in my mind. I wanted to know what it was about.
Obviously, it was about exactly what the blurb said. The book was the story of Ravi, a strategic consultant struggling in his life with his career and a wound in his posterior. The thing is, Ravi works his ass off to get a huge pay, and he is almost always underpaid. Well, there shouldn't be a doubt about that considering how our world runs nowadays. But then this irritation towards his salary and his job and this resentment towards his life makes him completely sick of his job. So sick that he does something outrageous in his office, jeopardizing (and in fact, ending) his career in all. Now I won't go into details about that. Because well...
It took me a good few pages to understand what the title meant, and when I realized what it did, all I could think was, "Darn you, how can you be so foolish?"
Anyway, as I read the book, I saw the story of Ravi and Anand—two people not connected to each other in any way—develop. And I still have no idea why exactly was Anand even placed in the novel. I mean, I know the start. I know the end. But what happened in the middle? You never told us!
Other than that, the book seemed good. I enjoyed Shakti's writing style. His narrative was interesting and kept me going. More often that not, his characters left me wondering what their intentions were. I wouldn't go as far as to say that they mesmerized me, but they did leave me thinking.
All in all, they left me a whole lot confused.
The book was amazing, no doubt but Ravi seemed like a maniac, to be true. His actions and thoughts suggested nothing but that.
Yet, I adore the book because of how it dealt with two of the major issues in our modern day India. Farmer suicides and terrorism. Which is why, it became one of the awesome novels in my collection.
What I didn't like, though and what irked me the most was that the story seemed a tad bit far-fetched. It appeared to me, at points more than one, that this book started out great, but sort of lost its essence somewhere toward the end.
Or maybe the book is amazing as it is. And maybe that's just me?
"I received a free copy of this book from Writer's Melon in exchange for an honest review."
There is "often a rarity" that a book with a beautiful cover and an intriguing title comes alone. Mango People in Banana Republic was one such book to me. With an exciting blurb, the whole package (before I read the book) did nothing but add a great amount of curiosity in my mind. I wanted to know what it was about.
Obviously, it was about exactly what the blurb said. The book was the story of Ravi, a strategic consultant struggling in his life with his career and a wound in his posterior. The thing is, Ravi works his ass off to get a huge pay, and he is almost always underpaid. Well, there shouldn't be a doubt about that considering how our world runs nowadays. But then this irritation towards his salary and his job and this resentment towards his life makes him completely sick of his job. So sick that he does something outrageous in his office, jeopardizing (and in fact, ending) his career in all. Now I won't go into details about that. Because well...
It took me a good few pages to understand what the title meant, and when I realized what it did, all I could think was, "Darn you, how can you be so foolish?"
Anyway, as I read the book, I saw the story of Ravi and Anand—two people not connected to each other in any way—develop. And I still have no idea why exactly was Anand even placed in the novel. I mean, I know the start. I know the end. But what happened in the middle? You never told us!
Other than that, the book seemed good. I enjoyed Shakti's writing style. His narrative was interesting and kept me going. More often that not, his characters left me wondering what their intentions were. I wouldn't go as far as to say that they mesmerized me, but they did leave me thinking.
All in all, they left me a whole lot confused.
The book was amazing, no doubt but Ravi seemed like a maniac, to be true. His actions and thoughts suggested nothing but that.
Yet, I adore the book because of how it dealt with two of the major issues in our modern day India. Farmer suicides and terrorism. Which is why, it became one of the awesome novels in my collection.
What I didn't like, though and what irked me the most was that the story seemed a tad bit far-fetched. It appeared to me, at points more than one, that this book started out great, but sort of lost its essence somewhere toward the end.
Or maybe the book is amazing as it is. And maybe that's just me?
June 18, 2018
The plot of the book Mango People in Banana Republic (MPBR) authored by Vishak Shakti is similar to ‘life’, you do not know where the story is headed to. The protagonist working in MNC with awesome career prospects to kill for and in a jiffy quits the same. Leaving the urban life, he has toiled hard for, behind he heads towards the rural region – to his ancestral property. Destiny turns out to be in jesty mood, as Ravi realises that one thing he can do here is starve. Such is life!
Well, after a lot of here and there, Ravi did manage to find direction to his life which takes him to mountains, but that’s not the end of his journey. His story encompasses life in a metro, village, jungle, jail, mountains and a lot more. His evolution as a human being is the essence of the book.
On the other hand, we have Anand, who is in search of an answer to his spiritual quest. As far his career and job are concerned he has done that all. After leading a family life with well-paying job as a NASA physicist, he decides to go ashram hopping. After a fairly dissatisfied spiritual realisation he leaves and ashram and just vanishes… well quite literally from the story, only to appear magically again.
On a serious note, the story is very relatable to the youth. In India, a major chunk of the young working generation is running out of patience to continue with their highly paying, yet meaningless jobs; their minds wander towards making a difference in the country and improving the current state of the nation and moreover, finding a purpose to their lives. Some take drastic steps, while others wait to be lead.
Coming back to MPBR, the story is interesting because, (just as our lives), there are several twists in Ravi’s life. The author has curated the ups and downs of his life, thoughtfully. You can feel the character’s loneliness in the narration. Moving away from the individual lives, the author has penned down heart-wrenching details about the rural regions of the country – how poor are exploited and how their situations are further exploited by organisations, parties, etc.
Vishak’s writing style has satire, sarcasm, realism and is impactful. The other characters which are curated in full honesty bring life to the story. The cover is weirdly interesting and creates curiosity.
My Rating: 3 stars
Well, after a lot of here and there, Ravi did manage to find direction to his life which takes him to mountains, but that’s not the end of his journey. His story encompasses life in a metro, village, jungle, jail, mountains and a lot more. His evolution as a human being is the essence of the book.
On the other hand, we have Anand, who is in search of an answer to his spiritual quest. As far his career and job are concerned he has done that all. After leading a family life with well-paying job as a NASA physicist, he decides to go ashram hopping. After a fairly dissatisfied spiritual realisation he leaves and ashram and just vanishes… well quite literally from the story, only to appear magically again.
On a serious note, the story is very relatable to the youth. In India, a major chunk of the young working generation is running out of patience to continue with their highly paying, yet meaningless jobs; their minds wander towards making a difference in the country and improving the current state of the nation and moreover, finding a purpose to their lives. Some take drastic steps, while others wait to be lead.
Coming back to MPBR, the story is interesting because, (just as our lives), there are several twists in Ravi’s life. The author has curated the ups and downs of his life, thoughtfully. You can feel the character’s loneliness in the narration. Moving away from the individual lives, the author has penned down heart-wrenching details about the rural regions of the country – how poor are exploited and how their situations are further exploited by organisations, parties, etc.
Vishak’s writing style has satire, sarcasm, realism and is impactful. The other characters which are curated in full honesty bring life to the story. The cover is weirdly interesting and creates curiosity.
My Rating: 3 stars
June 11, 2018
Mango People in Banana Republic is a story about Ravi Bhalerao who works as a Strategy Consultant with of the bigger firm and is suffering from fistula. He is not satisfied with his job and feels that his life is lacking purpose and with this feeling he decides to leave his job and leave in search of the purpose which will give his life a purpose and satisfaction of doing something that will give his life a satisfaction of doing something purposeful instead of doing the same work every day. In this hope he leaves everything behind and travels to various places finally landing in his home town where is touched by the life that the poor farmers are leading and he is driven to do something for them and help them to better their lives. In trying to help the farmers an event occurs which shouldn’t have occurred which leads him to cross paths with various activists, political parties, Maoists, Communists and spiritualists.
Anand Reddy, a former NASA scientist comes to India on a spiritual quest and visits various ashrams in search of true insight and freedom. He finally realizes that a person gets true realization from within and to be free from all the boundaries and be free man has to sacrifice greater things in life to achieve one’s wishes. To know, if Ravi is finally successful in making his life purposeful and if he is successful in helping the poor plight of the farmers and if Anand Reddy is successful in his spiritual quest read Mango People in Banana Republic
My thoughts:
I liked the writing style of the author. The book was a roller coaster ride of emotions. The author has penned down the plight of farmers in our country very aptly. We get to see the true side the rural people lead where they don’t get the basic amenities and the Govt. policies made for the poor such as the employment schemes and the mid-day meal plan for the children also don’t serve the purpose for which they are set. The book truly puts us to think if the people of our country are truly independent? Are promises actually kept by the authorities in this welfare state or they are just tell-tale statements? Overall, I liked the book and I am looking forward to read many books from the author.
Anand Reddy, a former NASA scientist comes to India on a spiritual quest and visits various ashrams in search of true insight and freedom. He finally realizes that a person gets true realization from within and to be free from all the boundaries and be free man has to sacrifice greater things in life to achieve one’s wishes. To know, if Ravi is finally successful in making his life purposeful and if he is successful in helping the poor plight of the farmers and if Anand Reddy is successful in his spiritual quest read Mango People in Banana Republic
My thoughts:
I liked the writing style of the author. The book was a roller coaster ride of emotions. The author has penned down the plight of farmers in our country very aptly. We get to see the true side the rural people lead where they don’t get the basic amenities and the Govt. policies made for the poor such as the employment schemes and the mid-day meal plan for the children also don’t serve the purpose for which they are set. The book truly puts us to think if the people of our country are truly independent? Are promises actually kept by the authorities in this welfare state or they are just tell-tale statements? Overall, I liked the book and I am looking forward to read many books from the author.
April 30, 2018
Before I started reading this book, I was intrigued by it's title and also cover.. When I finished reading, I felt that Author's narration of story and characterization has made this book a very interesting and a good read!!!
Ravi Bhalerao works as a Strategy Consultant in one of the bigger firms and he feels that his life is purposeless and boring..He realizes that he misses something vital in life and he also suffers from severe physical pain due to anal fistula..His physical pain and office politics makes him fully depressed and he quits his job..He travels to new places seeking answers to numerous questions..He is worried on seeing the poor status of farmers in his village and he tries hard to help them..This leads him to cross paths with activists, political parties, maoists, communists and spiritualists..Whether he finally gets answers and the way he gets transformed in the end makes this book an engaging read..
Anand Reddy, a former NASA scientist, comes to India on a spiritual quest..He visits various ashrams in search of true realization and liberation..He finally realizes that everything is within an individual and it requires greater sacrifice to achieve his wishes.. Author had told this story through Ravi and Anand..The way both these characters meet is interesting..
Author explains about various problems faced by farmers and also politics in our country..Many politicians, activists have their own understanding of core issues and they believe that only they can provide solutions!!!! But in the end, problems are not solved and it becomes complicated..
This story revolves around lives of Ravi, Anand and Author talks about important issues in our country with humour, sattire and also about role of spirituality and self realization in life..
Overall, I feel that this book is a good, interesting and an engaging read and I enjoyed reading it!!!
My rating for this book is 4/5.
Ravi Bhalerao works as a Strategy Consultant in one of the bigger firms and he feels that his life is purposeless and boring..He realizes that he misses something vital in life and he also suffers from severe physical pain due to anal fistula..His physical pain and office politics makes him fully depressed and he quits his job..He travels to new places seeking answers to numerous questions..He is worried on seeing the poor status of farmers in his village and he tries hard to help them..This leads him to cross paths with activists, political parties, maoists, communists and spiritualists..Whether he finally gets answers and the way he gets transformed in the end makes this book an engaging read..
Anand Reddy, a former NASA scientist, comes to India on a spiritual quest..He visits various ashrams in search of true realization and liberation..He finally realizes that everything is within an individual and it requires greater sacrifice to achieve his wishes.. Author had told this story through Ravi and Anand..The way both these characters meet is interesting..
Author explains about various problems faced by farmers and also politics in our country..Many politicians, activists have their own understanding of core issues and they believe that only they can provide solutions!!!! But in the end, problems are not solved and it becomes complicated..
This story revolves around lives of Ravi, Anand and Author talks about important issues in our country with humour, sattire and also about role of spirituality and self realization in life..
Overall, I feel that this book is a good, interesting and an engaging read and I enjoyed reading it!!!
My rating for this book is 4/5.
May 15, 2018
The story starts in a lighter note, with the main protagonist Ravi Bhalerao visiting the doctor to a find a diagnosis to fistula. Then it gathers a serious tone with him becoming increasingly discontent with the job. Ravi senses an opportunity during an important meeting where he pulls off an outrageous stunt that lands him in jail for a night.
He contemplates on his life's journey among other things and embarks on a journey to his native place, Vidarbha.
Anand Reddy, a NASA scientist is doing the rounds of various spiritual centres in the pursuit of the perfect state (Ananda)
Experience a rollercoaster ride of love, betrayal, spiritual awakening amidst the clash of ideologies in the land divided on countless social identities.
The chapters were divided on the basis of the seven chakras. The events occurring in a chapter were in sync with the significance of the chakras. The narration was subtle and the pace was neither rushed nor too slow, it was perfect. Snippets from Rama's life were narrated in parallel in accordance with the events unfolding in the life of the protagonist.
The humour quotient packs a solid punch. The internal monologue of Ravi is hilarious and you will laugh harder, every time you read it. The scenes of bloodbath are gory and will send a chill down your spine. The extensive research the author has undertaken to justify certain events is evident. Some of the incidents in the book are in direct comparison to real life incidents (The scene where a farmer commits suicide in a political rally actually happened in the country few years ago) The plight of Ravi may relate to many people working in the corporate sector. The language is rich and the writing style is excellent.
I couldn't connect with some of the concepts concerned with spirituality. Again, it's a personal opinion, it may vary from person to person. The ending was quite unrealistic.
He contemplates on his life's journey among other things and embarks on a journey to his native place, Vidarbha.
Anand Reddy, a NASA scientist is doing the rounds of various spiritual centres in the pursuit of the perfect state (Ananda)
Experience a rollercoaster ride of love, betrayal, spiritual awakening amidst the clash of ideologies in the land divided on countless social identities.
The chapters were divided on the basis of the seven chakras. The events occurring in a chapter were in sync with the significance of the chakras. The narration was subtle and the pace was neither rushed nor too slow, it was perfect. Snippets from Rama's life were narrated in parallel in accordance with the events unfolding in the life of the protagonist.
The humour quotient packs a solid punch. The internal monologue of Ravi is hilarious and you will laugh harder, every time you read it. The scenes of bloodbath are gory and will send a chill down your spine. The extensive research the author has undertaken to justify certain events is evident. Some of the incidents in the book are in direct comparison to real life incidents (The scene where a farmer commits suicide in a political rally actually happened in the country few years ago) The plight of Ravi may relate to many people working in the corporate sector. The language is rich and the writing style is excellent.
I couldn't connect with some of the concepts concerned with spirituality. Again, it's a personal opinion, it may vary from person to person. The ending was quite unrealistic.
June 22, 2018
Cover: 4.5/5
Title: 5/5
Blurb: 4/5
Presentation: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Final Rating: 4/5
When I picked this book, I couldn't get the context about the book, but as I progressed with the story, I understood what it meant exactly. The cover depicts a Common Man (Mango, which translates to Aam, and in Hindi, Aam means Common) who is blinded by an Product Bar Code, which simply means focusing on the material world, and losing the purpose of our Life.
The Title too seemed very peculiar, but the plot made it clear how common people struggles in today's world. Banana Republic simply suggests the variety of social people with different personalities, backgrounds, and mindset.
The protagonist of the Story, Ravi was working in an MNC with a very bright future, leaves his job to find the purpose of his life. He visits his Ancestral house, then keeps on wandering here and there, Jungles, Mountains, Metro, and many more places.
The twists and turns in Ravi's life at some times were funny, at sometimes totally unimaginable.
There is one more important character, Anand, who too leaves his Job with NASA for spiritual journey of life.
The Plot in someway or the other is completely relavant to the context of India. The author Vishak Shakti has done a really good job with the Book, this efforts are reflected with his research of Rural regions of the country.
The Book has all the elements, it has sarcasm, imagination, funny punches, incidents close to reality. Some good vocabulary was used throughout the novel.
The Narration was absolutely perfect, it kept me hooked throughout.
I liked how he has tried to explain many things through his novel, "High Paid Jobs of Youth can't keep them happy and Satisfied", "Real situations of the rural regions", "How politicians does everything out of their malice and agenda".
All in all it was a good read. It was somewhat a good blend of reality, spirituality and attitude of politicians.
Title: 5/5
Blurb: 4/5
Presentation: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Final Rating: 4/5
When I picked this book, I couldn't get the context about the book, but as I progressed with the story, I understood what it meant exactly. The cover depicts a Common Man (Mango, which translates to Aam, and in Hindi, Aam means Common) who is blinded by an Product Bar Code, which simply means focusing on the material world, and losing the purpose of our Life.
The Title too seemed very peculiar, but the plot made it clear how common people struggles in today's world. Banana Republic simply suggests the variety of social people with different personalities, backgrounds, and mindset.
The protagonist of the Story, Ravi was working in an MNC with a very bright future, leaves his job to find the purpose of his life. He visits his Ancestral house, then keeps on wandering here and there, Jungles, Mountains, Metro, and many more places.
The twists and turns in Ravi's life at some times were funny, at sometimes totally unimaginable.
There is one more important character, Anand, who too leaves his Job with NASA for spiritual journey of life.
The Plot in someway or the other is completely relavant to the context of India. The author Vishak Shakti has done a really good job with the Book, this efforts are reflected with his research of Rural regions of the country.
The Book has all the elements, it has sarcasm, imagination, funny punches, incidents close to reality. Some good vocabulary was used throughout the novel.
The Narration was absolutely perfect, it kept me hooked throughout.
I liked how he has tried to explain many things through his novel, "High Paid Jobs of Youth can't keep them happy and Satisfied", "Real situations of the rural regions", "How politicians does everything out of their malice and agenda".
All in all it was a good read. It was somewhat a good blend of reality, spirituality and attitude of politicians.
May 17, 2018
It has been a long time since I read a satire. I like to read this genre because it is difficult to write and I always appreciate the efforts of the writer in attempting it. However, every satire is not a good one. There has to be a good blend of both the aspects of it to make it a perfect one. I got this book as a review copy and here is my review of it.
The story talks about the state of life of a typical common man. Ravi is a man working in the corporate sector and you will find many people like him around you. Anand is someone who is on a spiritual search mode. What happens in the story is something that you will find happening around you. It is the story of common man. It is not just about their lives but it is about the entire society. It is how the society is functioning and how people are trying to adjust to it and battling their struggles. It is something with which you can connect and the satire has been used in the right proportions. You will have to read this book to find out more about it.
Beginning with the cover of the book, I was confused that why such a cover was designed. It arouses curiosity that why someone like a sage is there on the book cover with a barcode. But it became clear on reading the book that it was something related to the lives of the protagonists. The title is funny and gives an idea that the book will have funny elements in it. The plot is just another common man’s story. The narration is impactful and strong. The author has an eye for detail and it is visible from his narration.
Pick up this book if you enjoy reading satires. You will laugh and think about serious issues while reading this book.
Cover- 4 / 5
Title- 4 / 5
Narration- 5 / 5
Plot- 3 / 5
Overall- 4 / 5
The story talks about the state of life of a typical common man. Ravi is a man working in the corporate sector and you will find many people like him around you. Anand is someone who is on a spiritual search mode. What happens in the story is something that you will find happening around you. It is the story of common man. It is not just about their lives but it is about the entire society. It is how the society is functioning and how people are trying to adjust to it and battling their struggles. It is something with which you can connect and the satire has been used in the right proportions. You will have to read this book to find out more about it.
Beginning with the cover of the book, I was confused that why such a cover was designed. It arouses curiosity that why someone like a sage is there on the book cover with a barcode. But it became clear on reading the book that it was something related to the lives of the protagonists. The title is funny and gives an idea that the book will have funny elements in it. The plot is just another common man’s story. The narration is impactful and strong. The author has an eye for detail and it is visible from his narration.
Pick up this book if you enjoy reading satires. You will laugh and think about serious issues while reading this book.
Cover- 4 / 5
Title- 4 / 5
Narration- 5 / 5
Plot- 3 / 5
Overall- 4 / 5
May 22, 2018
Mango People in banana republic is story of Ravi Bhalerao who is a strategy consultant and not happy with his job. He is struggling with his decaying career and health issues. Due to an unfair appraisal, he does something outrageous and flees to his ancestral land in search of his identity and some peace. He goes to his native place, Vidarbha. There he encounters India, in its bare form. He is disappointed by the struggles of the farmers and thinks of doing something for them. In the middle of that, he finds love in Madhu, who also fights for the welfare of villagers. But that didn’t last long because of her unfortunate death. This starts a series of event which leads him to consenting to blow up a temple! Meanwhile, he meets Anand who is a former particle physicist, on a spiritual quest. Anand helps Ravi understand more about his body and mind and cures his medical condition somehow. There are many twists and turns before it all ends.
It is a book with so much power which will definitely leave something with you. Language is sleek and satisfying. The tongue in cheek satire is interesting to read. It talks about power of mind and body in a non-preachy manner. The book has been divided into 7 sections based on Chakras and each chakra has been described beautifully. Cover is simple yet really beautiful. Title is pretty catchy but justified.
Overall it’s worth reading multiple times. If you want to move away from monotonous stories and genres this is the book for you with a totally offbeat story and genre. It tells you to let go of all the negativity in order to succeed and move forward. Give it a shot!
My Rating: 4/5
It is a book with so much power which will definitely leave something with you. Language is sleek and satisfying. The tongue in cheek satire is interesting to read. It talks about power of mind and body in a non-preachy manner. The book has been divided into 7 sections based on Chakras and each chakra has been described beautifully. Cover is simple yet really beautiful. Title is pretty catchy but justified.
Overall it’s worth reading multiple times. If you want to move away from monotonous stories and genres this is the book for you with a totally offbeat story and genre. It tells you to let go of all the negativity in order to succeed and move forward. Give it a shot!
My Rating: 4/5
June 23, 2018
I found this title interesting and it drew my attention instantly into this book. I must say. It certainly made me want to read it as soon as possible. The title can’t be more apt than this to plot. Cover is also nice it’s a different one i have seen recently. It’s always great to read a book when it not only has an interesting cover and title but a great story as well. The story is divided into seven chapters based on the seven Chakras of the human body which are the Root Chakra, the Sacral Chakra, the Solar Plexus Chakra, the Heart Chakra, the Throat Chakra, the Third Eye Chakra and the Crown chakra. Each chakra will revolves around two main protagonist of the story Ravi And Anand and live revolves around them. Language is simple and lucid to read and connect with the story and being engaged throughout the story. All in all, a good easy book to read, a book which won’t require the use of a dictionary, a book which even an amateur reader would love to get indulged in. The plot is unique; the storyline is gripping as well as intriguing and the narrative takes the story forward flawlessly. The style of narration and the pace are perfect. The author has balanced emotions and humor in the story throughout. The characters be they the protagonists or the supporting souls, are well articulated, thus making it easy for the reader to relate to them, their views, their actions and reactions. An engrossing read that’s capable of keeping the reader on edge till the very end. Looking forward to read more to read more works by the author.
The book I would surely recommend to all readers.
The book I would surely recommend to all readers.
May 9, 2018
When I read the first few pages I thought this book is going to be corporate satire. Well, we all enjoy satire. Who doesn’t love a good laugh right? But the question that comes up is; do we really give a thought to the issue that is raised? And even if we do, do we actually do our part to correct the situation, or just think for a Second and then forget about it. But this isn't all about the Corporate issues, this book has got more to offer.
Ravi Bhalerao, if you're working in the corporate field for sure you will find people like Ravi in One in Ten people surrounded by you. They always tend to make efforts, but one or the other way it goes down the lane. They always have a chance to make a smart choice, but they always fail, one circumstance leads to another and at the end their own career will be at the stake.
Anand, a former physicist is now in search of spiritual quest. At a certain point in our life we feel like going to some unknown place leaving behind everything. Why? Because we can't face the problems. But only few people travels in this road, who isn't running away from the problems. Rather to find themselves in the world of spirituality.
Vishak's writing delivers an interesting plot where he brings out the social issues in the form of humor with the blend of the spirituality which makes the book to read in the one go. The character grows along with the narration. Characters like Devang, Madhu and KR brings some life to the narration. The inter fusion of the mythological character Rama brings some surprise to the readers. The references of the seven chakras didn't make any sense to me, maybe I failed to connect the dots with the main plot. I really loved the evolution of all the characters, especially Devang's character.
Overall, Mango People in Banana Republic is a soul-stirring satire. When one thinks of the contents of the book after finishing the book, it gives a whole new perspective to everyone that appeared entirely different during the initial reading. I'm looking forward reading more books from Vishak Shakti. One who enjoys reading Satirical fictions or a spiritual fiction should definitely pick this up, I'm sure it doesn't disappoint you. I give this book 3.5 out of 5 Stars!
Thanks to the author and Writersmelon for the review copy, in exchange for honest and unbiased review
Ravi Bhalerao, if you're working in the corporate field for sure you will find people like Ravi in One in Ten people surrounded by you. They always tend to make efforts, but one or the other way it goes down the lane. They always have a chance to make a smart choice, but they always fail, one circumstance leads to another and at the end their own career will be at the stake.
Anand, a former physicist is now in search of spiritual quest. At a certain point in our life we feel like going to some unknown place leaving behind everything. Why? Because we can't face the problems. But only few people travels in this road, who isn't running away from the problems. Rather to find themselves in the world of spirituality.
Vishak's writing delivers an interesting plot where he brings out the social issues in the form of humor with the blend of the spirituality which makes the book to read in the one go. The character grows along with the narration. Characters like Devang, Madhu and KR brings some life to the narration. The inter fusion of the mythological character Rama brings some surprise to the readers. The references of the seven chakras didn't make any sense to me, maybe I failed to connect the dots with the main plot. I really loved the evolution of all the characters, especially Devang's character.
Overall, Mango People in Banana Republic is a soul-stirring satire. When one thinks of the contents of the book after finishing the book, it gives a whole new perspective to everyone that appeared entirely different during the initial reading. I'm looking forward reading more books from Vishak Shakti. One who enjoys reading Satirical fictions or a spiritual fiction should definitely pick this up, I'm sure it doesn't disappoint you. I give this book 3.5 out of 5 Stars!
Thanks to the author and Writersmelon for the review copy, in exchange for honest and unbiased review
May 16, 2018
“Mango People in Banana Republic” is a term that was first used by Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi, a popular politician as a controversial remark which ended with him closing his Facebook. And hearing this book’s name that was the first thing that came to my mind but what this book actually is, wasn’t expected by me.
Written by Vishak Shakti, this book is a journey for the search of a unique identity in the immense country of India which is divided among numerous identities itself. And the characters we follow in this book are the ones that we can always see around us or maybe even in ourselves which make this book so appealing.
The plot which in the beginning felt to be focusing only on the business world turns out pretty wide and vivid as you read on.
This well-planned book centers around the present situation of news-casting and thinks about it to what it ought to be in all actuality. A few events of this book toss light on the radiance of deep sense of being that grasps our reality.
The book moves at a good paced around topics from farmers to Naxalites. Also, the style in which the author has penned characters is certain to keep the perusers snared on the book. The insight spread over the pages of this book significant in importance stirs the cognizance of its perusers.
This book, I would recommend to every single of one of those who is looking to read something humorous as well as enlightenment. The plot is deep as well as light so it can be a good refreshment from any heavy book.
Written by Vishak Shakti, this book is a journey for the search of a unique identity in the immense country of India which is divided among numerous identities itself. And the characters we follow in this book are the ones that we can always see around us or maybe even in ourselves which make this book so appealing.
The plot which in the beginning felt to be focusing only on the business world turns out pretty wide and vivid as you read on.
This well-planned book centers around the present situation of news-casting and thinks about it to what it ought to be in all actuality. A few events of this book toss light on the radiance of deep sense of being that grasps our reality.
The book moves at a good paced around topics from farmers to Naxalites. Also, the style in which the author has penned characters is certain to keep the perusers snared on the book. The insight spread over the pages of this book significant in importance stirs the cognizance of its perusers.
This book, I would recommend to every single of one of those who is looking to read something humorous as well as enlightenment. The plot is deep as well as light so it can be a good refreshment from any heavy book.
May 28, 2018
This is a story about a corporate strategy consultant, Ravi, who gets frustrated in his professional life and then one day decides to quit everything and live a life afresh. He goes to his native village which is in a drought prone area in Vidarbha, but doesn’t get satisfied, he then finds himself in between the adivasis and the Maoists, and then the story twists and turns and he ends up discovering the spiritual himself through Anand, in the foothills of Himalayas.
The story by Vishak Shakti is quite different than your run of the mill kind. It starts off in a corporate world and ends up in the Himalayas. The story has its share of politics, action, romance, spiritualism and a bit of sarcastic humour. The vocabulary is a bit on the heavier side and the conversation towards the end between Anand and Ravi does require a bit of concentration.
It is not one of the commercial pot boilers which could be made into a Bollywood film some day; you could compare this with one of the art movies where there is more attention to the content rather than entertainment.
The story also, I personally felt a lot of parts were quite unbelievable and hard to digest, but then full credit to Vishak, he has gone with the flow and wrote what he firmly believed in. It’s not an easy read, it’s one of those kinds which will make you concentrate hard and make your brains tick as you are reading.
Overall, a difficult but a good book to read, but only if you devote yourself to the book completely and not do ten things while reading it.
The story by Vishak Shakti is quite different than your run of the mill kind. It starts off in a corporate world and ends up in the Himalayas. The story has its share of politics, action, romance, spiritualism and a bit of sarcastic humour. The vocabulary is a bit on the heavier side and the conversation towards the end between Anand and Ravi does require a bit of concentration.
It is not one of the commercial pot boilers which could be made into a Bollywood film some day; you could compare this with one of the art movies where there is more attention to the content rather than entertainment.
The story also, I personally felt a lot of parts were quite unbelievable and hard to digest, but then full credit to Vishak, he has gone with the flow and wrote what he firmly believed in. It’s not an easy read, it’s one of those kinds which will make you concentrate hard and make your brains tick as you are reading.
Overall, a difficult but a good book to read, but only if you devote yourself to the book completely and not do ten things while reading it.
June 22, 2018
Blurb:
Ravi Bhalerao is a top of the rung business strategy consultant struggling with two disquiets in life – a festering career disillusionment and a festering wound in his posterior. Stung by an unfair performance appraisal, he pulls off an outrageous stunt at his workplace, drops off the urban map and reaches his ancestral land, a village in drought-prone Vidarbha. There he encounters India in its elemental form. Convinced that his destiny is somehow entwined with that of his country, he sets off on a truth-seeking mission. On that mission, he finds love, revolution and most importantly, a redemption for the disquiet in his rear.
Anand is a former physicist on a spiritual quest through esoteric India. He realizes that the path to realization is beset on all sides by gurus, their cults and their boundless quirks. As he hops from one ashram to the other, he grows convinced that liberation does not come with a user manual in a neat little box.
Wrapped in light-hearted, almost tongue-in-cheek prose, ‘Mango People In Banana Republic’ is a tale of an Indian’s search for personal identity, against the backdrop of a country divided along fault lines of countless social identities. Teeming with a cast of characters and ideas that encapsulate modern India, the tale ascends from the gross to the sublime, much like the Kundalini powers some aspire to acquire. With a steady pace, and gentle mocking humour, this book is an absorbing read and a laugh.
Review:
First of all the tittle of the book is quirky as same as the book.The tittle doesn’t give out anything about the plot.The book is witty,satirical comedy written in an interesting way.So it is revolving around around Ravi & Anand.Ravi is a corporate who is tired of his monotonous life.He is sick of oppression of government on common people, never ending chaos of city life.He is in pursuit of peace.
Anand is a man of science, who happened to go on exile under a mysterious circumstances.So eventually Ravis’ clueless mind find solace in Anand’s answers.
The way the story is being told is different with sarcasm on point.The author had pointed out lot of real issues of our generation as in stress life, frustration, hopelessness among the youth, the pent up anger on governments attitudes on third world issues.
But as a reader I felt at certain part the author lost the track, and he tried to condense the story.The book has dark humour, spirituality, politics, revolution in it’s story.
The book will make you think, aware your consciousness.The book has the potential to keep your attention.I’m looking forward to read more of authors work.
Note:I have received a review copy of the book from Writers’s melon in return of honest review.
Thank you so much for the book
Ravi Bhalerao is a top of the rung business strategy consultant struggling with two disquiets in life – a festering career disillusionment and a festering wound in his posterior. Stung by an unfair performance appraisal, he pulls off an outrageous stunt at his workplace, drops off the urban map and reaches his ancestral land, a village in drought-prone Vidarbha. There he encounters India in its elemental form. Convinced that his destiny is somehow entwined with that of his country, he sets off on a truth-seeking mission. On that mission, he finds love, revolution and most importantly, a redemption for the disquiet in his rear.
Anand is a former physicist on a spiritual quest through esoteric India. He realizes that the path to realization is beset on all sides by gurus, their cults and their boundless quirks. As he hops from one ashram to the other, he grows convinced that liberation does not come with a user manual in a neat little box.
Wrapped in light-hearted, almost tongue-in-cheek prose, ‘Mango People In Banana Republic’ is a tale of an Indian’s search for personal identity, against the backdrop of a country divided along fault lines of countless social identities. Teeming with a cast of characters and ideas that encapsulate modern India, the tale ascends from the gross to the sublime, much like the Kundalini powers some aspire to acquire. With a steady pace, and gentle mocking humour, this book is an absorbing read and a laugh.
Review:
First of all the tittle of the book is quirky as same as the book.The tittle doesn’t give out anything about the plot.The book is witty,satirical comedy written in an interesting way.So it is revolving around around Ravi & Anand.Ravi is a corporate who is tired of his monotonous life.He is sick of oppression of government on common people, never ending chaos of city life.He is in pursuit of peace.
Anand is a man of science, who happened to go on exile under a mysterious circumstances.So eventually Ravis’ clueless mind find solace in Anand’s answers.
The way the story is being told is different with sarcasm on point.The author had pointed out lot of real issues of our generation as in stress life, frustration, hopelessness among the youth, the pent up anger on governments attitudes on third world issues.
But as a reader I felt at certain part the author lost the track, and he tried to condense the story.The book has dark humour, spirituality, politics, revolution in it’s story.
The book will make you think, aware your consciousness.The book has the potential to keep your attention.I’m looking forward to read more of authors work.
Note:I have received a review copy of the book from Writers’s melon in return of honest review.
Thank you so much for the book
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