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Redovnik
U Indiji razorenoj terorističkim napadima, među stanovnicima Mumbaia, koji su pod stalnom bombaškom prijetnjom, jedan dječak će nakon pogibije svog oca policajca odustati od svojih sportskih snova i postati najveći lovac na teroriste u povijesti. Pitanje je samo hoće li ga njegova potraga odvesti predaleko i gdje je granica osvete i zločina.
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Published January 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 6, 2016
The Monk by Akshay Shroff is a page turner novel which chanes the mind sets of the people. This book's theme is a well debatable topic.
9789384382162-500x500.jpg
Cover- The cover is fantastic and seems contradicting from the picture shown. The gun in man's hand tell some other story that we cannot predict. The colour scheme is eye pleasing.
Title- The title is perfectly thought as the revolves around that only. We get the literal meaning only in the end.
Blurb- Ten-year old Lakshya Gaitonde dreams of following a career in cricket like his idol, Sunil Gavaskar. But destiny has other plans for him. He loses his father, Police sub-inspector Rajaram Gaitonde in the Mumbai terror attack of March 1993. He decides to follow his father's footsteps and becomes a police officer. In the July 2006 serial train blasts on the Mumbai suburban network, he loses his mother and fiancée. In consultation with the Commissioner of Police, he devises a diabolical plan to crush the menace of terrorism at its roots. Does he succeed? How does he manage to avenge the killing of his parents and his beloved? Why does he finally don saffron robes? About the Author Akshay Shroff has been a successful advertising sales consultant of domestic and international media, spanning over three decades, first in New Delhi followed by Mumbai. He has been associated with voluntary organizations like the Lions and the Junior Chamber International in senior positions and also with trade bodies like the Delhi Advertising Club and the Press Club of India. Married to Jayna since February 1981, he has been a responsible family man, a doting father of Rohan and a loving father-in- law of Stuti. Has a Bon Vivant nature, nurturing friendships since over five decades. Travel, trekking, reading and writing have been his passionate hobbies. Lover of animals and Nature, dogs have been his companions on and off. While THE MONK is his debut novel, writing will now be his full time engagement.
PLot- The plot is beautifully woven. THe story revolves around Lakshya Gaitonde who aspired to be a cricketer at the age of 10 but all his dreams take a halt after the dark clouds of terrorism strikes his life.This book is an elucidation of his struggles till the end.
Characterisation- The author has beautifully portrayed his characters. The character of Lakshya is intense and really powerful. He is Vitthal for his mother and an apple of eye of his father. Life takes a turning point when his father dies and then after 13 years, his mother and his fiance. His dream of becoming a cricketer ends up in vain which further adds a fear of acceptance in him.
The father is a police man whose name is not mentioned till the end of the novel. He is honest, dutiful and a caring parent. He is an idol for Lakshya. He plays a cameo role in the book and his presence is short lived as he dies in attacks but his values always stay wih Lakshya.
Seema is Lakshya's fiance who loves him from the core of her heart. She is beautiful and easy to connect with but when she dies, readers shed fresh tears for her.
Style- The style of writing is lucid, clear and condensed. The way the author has given every inch detail of attacks and about terrorism is impeccable. Further, the narrative style is mind blowing. Some sentences are eye catchers and this book seems flawless and the marathi words are catchable but it is requested if the author can mention translation for those who are totally naive about this language.
9789384382162-500x500.jpg
Cover- The cover is fantastic and seems contradicting from the picture shown. The gun in man's hand tell some other story that we cannot predict. The colour scheme is eye pleasing.
Title- The title is perfectly thought as the revolves around that only. We get the literal meaning only in the end.
Blurb- Ten-year old Lakshya Gaitonde dreams of following a career in cricket like his idol, Sunil Gavaskar. But destiny has other plans for him. He loses his father, Police sub-inspector Rajaram Gaitonde in the Mumbai terror attack of March 1993. He decides to follow his father's footsteps and becomes a police officer. In the July 2006 serial train blasts on the Mumbai suburban network, he loses his mother and fiancée. In consultation with the Commissioner of Police, he devises a diabolical plan to crush the menace of terrorism at its roots. Does he succeed? How does he manage to avenge the killing of his parents and his beloved? Why does he finally don saffron robes? About the Author Akshay Shroff has been a successful advertising sales consultant of domestic and international media, spanning over three decades, first in New Delhi followed by Mumbai. He has been associated with voluntary organizations like the Lions and the Junior Chamber International in senior positions and also with trade bodies like the Delhi Advertising Club and the Press Club of India. Married to Jayna since February 1981, he has been a responsible family man, a doting father of Rohan and a loving father-in- law of Stuti. Has a Bon Vivant nature, nurturing friendships since over five decades. Travel, trekking, reading and writing have been his passionate hobbies. Lover of animals and Nature, dogs have been his companions on and off. While THE MONK is his debut novel, writing will now be his full time engagement.
PLot- The plot is beautifully woven. THe story revolves around Lakshya Gaitonde who aspired to be a cricketer at the age of 10 but all his dreams take a halt after the dark clouds of terrorism strikes his life.This book is an elucidation of his struggles till the end.
Characterisation- The author has beautifully portrayed his characters. The character of Lakshya is intense and really powerful. He is Vitthal for his mother and an apple of eye of his father. Life takes a turning point when his father dies and then after 13 years, his mother and his fiance. His dream of becoming a cricketer ends up in vain which further adds a fear of acceptance in him.
The father is a police man whose name is not mentioned till the end of the novel. He is honest, dutiful and a caring parent. He is an idol for Lakshya. He plays a cameo role in the book and his presence is short lived as he dies in attacks but his values always stay wih Lakshya.
Seema is Lakshya's fiance who loves him from the core of her heart. She is beautiful and easy to connect with but when she dies, readers shed fresh tears for her.
Style- The style of writing is lucid, clear and condensed. The way the author has given every inch detail of attacks and about terrorism is impeccable. Further, the narrative style is mind blowing. Some sentences are eye catchers and this book seems flawless and the marathi words are catchable but it is requested if the author can mention translation for those who are totally naive about this language.
July 28, 2017
The Monk...By Akshay Shroff.
From cover of the book it seems 'The Monk' will be based on individual crime thriller, but actually it is a fast paced emotional story of the boy who lost his family in the name of terrorism.
It has all ingredients of emotions like dream, ambition, hatred, revenge, love and patriotism.
Majorly story revolves around act of terrorism faced by India and world time to time, it starts with Rajaram Gaitonde a quite subtle and satisfied villager turn Sub Inspector.
He saw the dream that one day his son will become world-class cricketer and Lakshya too moving in absolute planned path.
Officials asked Rajaram to join Mumbai Police.
He was happy for Lakshya that now his son can perceive his dream at good cricket academy.
One unfortunate day Rajaram Gaitonde lost his life in Mumbai terror attack of March 93 Bombay Stock Exchange bomb blast and resulted Lakshya to leave his dream of being cricketer.
Lakshya decided to join IPS actually to catch the culprit behind the terror attack.
He successfully completes his training for IPS and joins force as ACP in ATS team. But destiny has more worst plan in store for him as he lost his mother and fiancé in the July 2006 serial bomb blast on the Mumbai local train near Mahim.
Now, Lakshya has only one goal in life to eradicate the very cause of terrorism.
So whether he succeed or get killed or becomes pride/shame for the nation.
For that you have to read the story of "Lakshya Rajaram Gaitonde".
Author Akshayji has maintained swift pace no boring moments keeps readers occupied till the end.
Scenes are really well scripted, all the mentioned characters are truely justified for such an gripping storyline.
I highly recommend this story to read by every strata of the community.
Thanks Akshayji, i feel one fine day Monk Returns.
...innervoicekdv... Kuldeep D Verma
From cover of the book it seems 'The Monk' will be based on individual crime thriller, but actually it is a fast paced emotional story of the boy who lost his family in the name of terrorism.
It has all ingredients of emotions like dream, ambition, hatred, revenge, love and patriotism.
Majorly story revolves around act of terrorism faced by India and world time to time, it starts with Rajaram Gaitonde a quite subtle and satisfied villager turn Sub Inspector.
He saw the dream that one day his son will become world-class cricketer and Lakshya too moving in absolute planned path.
Officials asked Rajaram to join Mumbai Police.
He was happy for Lakshya that now his son can perceive his dream at good cricket academy.
One unfortunate day Rajaram Gaitonde lost his life in Mumbai terror attack of March 93 Bombay Stock Exchange bomb blast and resulted Lakshya to leave his dream of being cricketer.
Lakshya decided to join IPS actually to catch the culprit behind the terror attack.
He successfully completes his training for IPS and joins force as ACP in ATS team. But destiny has more worst plan in store for him as he lost his mother and fiancé in the July 2006 serial bomb blast on the Mumbai local train near Mahim.
Now, Lakshya has only one goal in life to eradicate the very cause of terrorism.
So whether he succeed or get killed or becomes pride/shame for the nation.
For that you have to read the story of "Lakshya Rajaram Gaitonde".
Author Akshayji has maintained swift pace no boring moments keeps readers occupied till the end.
Scenes are really well scripted, all the mentioned characters are truely justified for such an gripping storyline.
I highly recommend this story to read by every strata of the community.
Thanks Akshayji, i feel one fine day Monk Returns.
...innervoicekdv... Kuldeep D Verma
August 9, 2017
The Monk kept me hooked with its gripping storyline, complex characters and some true-to-life situations on terrorism. Author Akshay Shroff has done commendable research on terrorism to write this book. This is not a book to be read in one sitting. The climax was most stunning. I see a master storyteller in Akshay.
October 23, 2016
“There are no wrong turnings. Only paths we had not known we were meant to walk.”
― Guy Gavriel Kay, Tigana
As readers, what do we look for in a book? Good plot, strong yet magnetic protagonists, mystery and efficient dialogue delivery, isn’t it? Don’t we often get allured to the titles too? ‘The Monk’ might sound ordinary but it is a perfect example of contradiction (a combination of statements, ideas, or features which are opposed to one another). This is definitely that one book which should not be judged by its cover.
Lakshya Gaitonde, the male protagonist, is hard-bitten by the realities of life. With a dream of becoming a successful cricketer one day, he burns the midnight oil only to suffer in the hands of his destiny. He loses his father in a terror attack in Mumbai. And the action has an equal and opposite reaction. The ambition to shine with the bat changes to a desire to curb terrorism with the gun. No sooner does he settle in the profession, than his fiancée and mother die in a train blast. That was it. He had to avenge the deaths of his loved ones and to do that he came up with a fiendish plan of putting an end to the terror attacks.
The tables are turned when Lakshya fails to realize that there are charms about the forbidden that make it ineffably desirable. In the process, he becomes a sinner. But does every sin need a punishment? What if the sin committed results in something good? But Lakshya is not bothered about the outcome; his desire to quench the life of the terrorists is bigger than anything else. But will his plan reap benefits?
‘The Monk’ definitely has a lot more to it than it might portray. The elucidation of major terror attacks in Mumbai makes one relive the trauma; it makes one break out in a cold sweat! The title is contradictory to the cover page and that opens multiple doors for the curious minds. However, I felt that the blurb said a lot. Another drawback was the lack of space on each page; there was too much text and the desperate attempt to finish the book in less number of pages was evident. This could have been worked upon. Also, I missed the English translation on many pages.
Nevertheless, Gargi stands up to its name and yet again a fine story is given to the readers.
Overall, a fun-filled, action-packed novella that will lift up the spirits of all the Indians who have the deep desire to fight the bad.
― Guy Gavriel Kay, Tigana
As readers, what do we look for in a book? Good plot, strong yet magnetic protagonists, mystery and efficient dialogue delivery, isn’t it? Don’t we often get allured to the titles too? ‘The Monk’ might sound ordinary but it is a perfect example of contradiction (a combination of statements, ideas, or features which are opposed to one another). This is definitely that one book which should not be judged by its cover.
Lakshya Gaitonde, the male protagonist, is hard-bitten by the realities of life. With a dream of becoming a successful cricketer one day, he burns the midnight oil only to suffer in the hands of his destiny. He loses his father in a terror attack in Mumbai. And the action has an equal and opposite reaction. The ambition to shine with the bat changes to a desire to curb terrorism with the gun. No sooner does he settle in the profession, than his fiancée and mother die in a train blast. That was it. He had to avenge the deaths of his loved ones and to do that he came up with a fiendish plan of putting an end to the terror attacks.
The tables are turned when Lakshya fails to realize that there are charms about the forbidden that make it ineffably desirable. In the process, he becomes a sinner. But does every sin need a punishment? What if the sin committed results in something good? But Lakshya is not bothered about the outcome; his desire to quench the life of the terrorists is bigger than anything else. But will his plan reap benefits?
‘The Monk’ definitely has a lot more to it than it might portray. The elucidation of major terror attacks in Mumbai makes one relive the trauma; it makes one break out in a cold sweat! The title is contradictory to the cover page and that opens multiple doors for the curious minds. However, I felt that the blurb said a lot. Another drawback was the lack of space on each page; there was too much text and the desperate attempt to finish the book in less number of pages was evident. This could have been worked upon. Also, I missed the English translation on many pages.
Nevertheless, Gargi stands up to its name and yet again a fine story is given to the readers.
Overall, a fun-filled, action-packed novella that will lift up the spirits of all the Indians who have the deep desire to fight the bad.
June 17, 2017
I met Akshay Sir through my Facebook profile one fine day. I send him a friend request and saw this wonderful looking novel at his page. THE MONK! such a beautiful name for the novel but the gun at the cover is quite amusing :) I have to read it.
The next moment, I just ping sir for the review copy and got the affirmation within a minute, with lots of good wishes from his end.
Now let comes to the novel- THE MONK.
1.The Monk is the story of Lakshya Gaitonde who dreams of becoming a cricketer but life has different plans for him.
2. The story is about his journey of avenging the wrongs done to his family due to terrorism and finally embracing saffron robe.
3. The title of the novel is perfect with the image of a gun and the trigger ready to be pulled. This gives the impression that the book is a thriller. However, the book is much more than any other thriller.
4. An interesting one, the author taking inspiration from the terror attacks leashed on Mumbai over a period of time weaves a story.
5. In short, journey of the terror attacks in chronological order and at the same time gives us an insight into its psychological impact on the protagonist Lakshya Gaitonde.
6. Nevertheless, Gargi stands up to its name and yet again a fine story is given to the readers.
7. The narration is perfect .
8. The cost of the novel is affordable.
9. The writing style is simple and engaging.
10. Full credits to the author for his extensive research.
Thanks Akshay sir for this opportunity and a amazing novel written by you!
I personally love the plot and the story evolve around the protagonist. I finished this novel in just 2 days and felt very good after a fantastic read.Well, today I can very well say that I have read a novel about Mumbai Terror Attacks. An engaging read, it is! It is surely an engaging novel that you can buy and read any day.
From my side its 5/5, so guys please go to the amazon link and buy this amazing novel- The MONK today!
The next moment, I just ping sir for the review copy and got the affirmation within a minute, with lots of good wishes from his end.
Now let comes to the novel- THE MONK.
1.The Monk is the story of Lakshya Gaitonde who dreams of becoming a cricketer but life has different plans for him.
2. The story is about his journey of avenging the wrongs done to his family due to terrorism and finally embracing saffron robe.
3. The title of the novel is perfect with the image of a gun and the trigger ready to be pulled. This gives the impression that the book is a thriller. However, the book is much more than any other thriller.
4. An interesting one, the author taking inspiration from the terror attacks leashed on Mumbai over a period of time weaves a story.
5. In short, journey of the terror attacks in chronological order and at the same time gives us an insight into its psychological impact on the protagonist Lakshya Gaitonde.
6. Nevertheless, Gargi stands up to its name and yet again a fine story is given to the readers.
7. The narration is perfect .
8. The cost of the novel is affordable.
9. The writing style is simple and engaging.
10. Full credits to the author for his extensive research.
Thanks Akshay sir for this opportunity and a amazing novel written by you!
I personally love the plot and the story evolve around the protagonist. I finished this novel in just 2 days and felt very good after a fantastic read.Well, today I can very well say that I have read a novel about Mumbai Terror Attacks. An engaging read, it is! It is surely an engaging novel that you can buy and read any day.
From my side its 5/5, so guys please go to the amazon link and buy this amazing novel- The MONK today!
November 4, 2016
"Fighting terrorism is like goalkeeping. You might be a saviour to a thousand brilliant lives, but the only shot which people will remember is the one which gets past you."
Based on that one lost aim, Lakshya Gaitonde was told of his fate there and then by the judiciary.
Penning down this heart breaking journey, Mr. Akshay Shroff has surely shown us the face of the grieve loss one can possibly face just because some XYZ has decided to explode your city.
The Monk is a book which will take you through the rollercoaster ride of fear, grief and the pain of losing someone but apart from this, it will also show you how eradication of fear, can lead to eradication of terror in humanity and Lakshya has surely put up some hefty goals for that.
All these years, ever since Lakshya lost his father, he has dropped his dream to be a cricketer to the nightmares which haunt him. Deciding to never pick up the bat again, he steps in the same profession as his father, Rajaram Gaitonde. As a reporting inspector in the Anti Terrorism Squad in Mumbai, he plays his cards well to his seniors until the last blow. Another serial attack and Lakshya loses his mother and beloved. It was the final blow to his composure, he checked in for a favourable moment and meets his senior with a diabolical plan.
With nothing to lose, he steps into a trap which wasn't just dangerous but also deep. Returning back would have been his defeat, staying might cost his life, yet to save a thousand lives, he stayed and he won.
Had I been in his place, I might have just cribbed about me being unlucky, yet a broken soul decided to save a lot many to be broken and that's something I'd personally really appreciate, or I should say bow down to.
So, hats off Mr. Akshay Shroff for penning down such thrilling novel, which made me realise that not every loss is a loss, it's on us on how we may wish to comprehend that loss in our favour.
Based on that one lost aim, Lakshya Gaitonde was told of his fate there and then by the judiciary.
Penning down this heart breaking journey, Mr. Akshay Shroff has surely shown us the face of the grieve loss one can possibly face just because some XYZ has decided to explode your city.
The Monk is a book which will take you through the rollercoaster ride of fear, grief and the pain of losing someone but apart from this, it will also show you how eradication of fear, can lead to eradication of terror in humanity and Lakshya has surely put up some hefty goals for that.
All these years, ever since Lakshya lost his father, he has dropped his dream to be a cricketer to the nightmares which haunt him. Deciding to never pick up the bat again, he steps in the same profession as his father, Rajaram Gaitonde. As a reporting inspector in the Anti Terrorism Squad in Mumbai, he plays his cards well to his seniors until the last blow. Another serial attack and Lakshya loses his mother and beloved. It was the final blow to his composure, he checked in for a favourable moment and meets his senior with a diabolical plan.
With nothing to lose, he steps into a trap which wasn't just dangerous but also deep. Returning back would have been his defeat, staying might cost his life, yet to save a thousand lives, he stayed and he won.
Had I been in his place, I might have just cribbed about me being unlucky, yet a broken soul decided to save a lot many to be broken and that's something I'd personally really appreciate, or I should say bow down to.
So, hats off Mr. Akshay Shroff for penning down such thrilling novel, which made me realise that not every loss is a loss, it's on us on how we may wish to comprehend that loss in our favour.
October 28, 2016
The Monk is the story of Lakshya Gaitonde who dreams of becoming a cricketer but life has different plans for him. Forced by circumstances, he chooses another path but tragedy strikes his life again and he is left with no one to call his own. The story is about his journey of avenging the wrongs done to his family due to terrorism and finally embracing saffron robe.
The story begins on one fine day which is like any other normal day in a middle class family and then moves on to the lives of the protagonist and also the people surrounding him. I will start with the cover of the book which is highly intriguing and creates a natural urge in the reader to read the book with its cover image. The title of the novel is in total contradiction with the image of a gun and the trigger ready to be pulled. This gives the impression that the book is a thriller. However, the book is much more than any other thriller.
The concept and the plot are interesting and the writing style is impressive, but the execution could have been better. However, the author shows promise considering the novel is his debut book. The author has been successful in portraying the struggles and post-traumatic stress disorder of the protagonist Lakshya he undergoes after the death of his father.
The story is captivating and the book is a sure page turner. I enjoyed reading the book.
I received a free copy from the publisher in lieu of an honest review.
The story begins on one fine day which is like any other normal day in a middle class family and then moves on to the lives of the protagonist and also the people surrounding him. I will start with the cover of the book which is highly intriguing and creates a natural urge in the reader to read the book with its cover image. The title of the novel is in total contradiction with the image of a gun and the trigger ready to be pulled. This gives the impression that the book is a thriller. However, the book is much more than any other thriller.
The concept and the plot are interesting and the writing style is impressive, but the execution could have been better. However, the author shows promise considering the novel is his debut book. The author has been successful in portraying the struggles and post-traumatic stress disorder of the protagonist Lakshya he undergoes after the death of his father.
The story is captivating and the book is a sure page turner. I enjoyed reading the book.
I received a free copy from the publisher in lieu of an honest review.
October 29, 2016
A fast paced thriller , set in our current times. The Monk doesn't fail to excite & take you to place which usually is reserved for writers of the calibre of Archer or a Follet. The story has its usual bumps but the narration if very precise & sharp. The fact that stands out is the detailed description of events which have unfolded in the past , it takes you back in time , not pleasant ones but they are a stark reminder of what our country and we as individuals have gone through in the name of "Jihad".
The author deserves credit for writing a book which doesn't falter in terms of the concept which it embarks upon. The book demands a sequel , the protagonist's character has been built quite robustly & its defined quite well. In short its a must read book.
The author deserves credit for writing a book which doesn't falter in terms of the concept which it embarks upon. The book demands a sequel , the protagonist's character has been built quite robustly & its defined quite well. In short its a must read book.
March 12, 2018
The Monk - a story so complete in itself.
The author conducts his characters with ease and finesse of a director conducting a motion picture. The pain, anguish and trauma Lakshya (protagonist) undergoes stays with you at least till the next morning!!
Not that an intellectual's take on terrorism has caught my eye here - but the sensitivity of his mind's eye catches my attention. Each detail, every scrutiny of his brilliance reflects through the complete narrative. Even the very short lived character sketch of Seema leaves an impression.
To say something about the way Akshay Sir has handled the story in Pakistan... he's intimidating here. He could have been in fair knowledge of the diplomatic anatomy, only this would supply an answer!
All in all, I wish the Monk Returns!!
The author conducts his characters with ease and finesse of a director conducting a motion picture. The pain, anguish and trauma Lakshya (protagonist) undergoes stays with you at least till the next morning!!
Not that an intellectual's take on terrorism has caught my eye here - but the sensitivity of his mind's eye catches my attention. Each detail, every scrutiny of his brilliance reflects through the complete narrative. Even the very short lived character sketch of Seema leaves an impression.
To say something about the way Akshay Sir has handled the story in Pakistan... he's intimidating here. He could have been in fair knowledge of the diplomatic anatomy, only this would supply an answer!
All in all, I wish the Monk Returns!!
July 10, 2019
Book Title: The Monk
Author: AkshayShroff
Format: Paper Back
Book Title:
The title of the book is ‘The Monk' is unique and mysterious
Book Cover:
The cover of the book is a digital image of a guy holding a gun with the city of Mumbai as a backdrop.
Plot:
What if a sober person becomes dangerous due to various circumstances? What if life becomes tragic even after planing it in the most decent way possible? What if an unknown person becomes responsible for a man's personal life's wrath?
The dreams, goals, and happiness can be shattered by fate and time. One such story is ‘The Monk’ where a little boy’s dream to become a cricketer is shattered by fate and threw him in an ambiguous state and made him a police officer like his father. LakshyaGaitonde loses his father in Mumbai attacks and as he grows up he becomes the police officer. He loses his mother and fiancé in the Mumbai train attack in 2006. His heart rages with fury and he seeks revenge and fights against the dark powers, so-called terrorists.
Will he succeed in his mission? Will he take revenge on those who killed his dear ones?
Read this interesting book ‘The Monk’ by AkshayShroff
What I like:
1. The plot and the storyline are planned and portrayed well.
2. The protagonist, Lakshya Gaitonde’s character is strong and steady. His character brings the essence to the story.
3. A reader can feel a sense of agony through the protagonist's character
4. The intrinsic details of certain events, sequences and conversations were awesome
What I didn’t like:
The font of the book was very small and it was laborious work to read the book fast. Other than this, the book is an absolute gem.
Narration:
The narration is good. It takes the readers on a thrilling trip.
Language & Grammar:
A clear language with neat and uncomplicated grammar is used in the book
My Final Verdict:
An interesting book with an ultimate revenge story to eradicate the evil powers disguised as humans.
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover:3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Language & Grammar: 3/5
Final Rating: 3/5
Author: AkshayShroff
Format: Paper Back
Book Title:
The title of the book is ‘The Monk' is unique and mysterious
Book Cover:
The cover of the book is a digital image of a guy holding a gun with the city of Mumbai as a backdrop.
Plot:
What if a sober person becomes dangerous due to various circumstances? What if life becomes tragic even after planing it in the most decent way possible? What if an unknown person becomes responsible for a man's personal life's wrath?
The dreams, goals, and happiness can be shattered by fate and time. One such story is ‘The Monk’ where a little boy’s dream to become a cricketer is shattered by fate and threw him in an ambiguous state and made him a police officer like his father. LakshyaGaitonde loses his father in Mumbai attacks and as he grows up he becomes the police officer. He loses his mother and fiancé in the Mumbai train attack in 2006. His heart rages with fury and he seeks revenge and fights against the dark powers, so-called terrorists.
Will he succeed in his mission? Will he take revenge on those who killed his dear ones?
Read this interesting book ‘The Monk’ by AkshayShroff
What I like:
1. The plot and the storyline are planned and portrayed well.
2. The protagonist, Lakshya Gaitonde’s character is strong and steady. His character brings the essence to the story.
3. A reader can feel a sense of agony through the protagonist's character
4. The intrinsic details of certain events, sequences and conversations were awesome
What I didn’t like:
The font of the book was very small and it was laborious work to read the book fast. Other than this, the book is an absolute gem.
Narration:
The narration is good. It takes the readers on a thrilling trip.
Language & Grammar:
A clear language with neat and uncomplicated grammar is used in the book
My Final Verdict:
An interesting book with an ultimate revenge story to eradicate the evil powers disguised as humans.
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover:3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Language & Grammar: 3/5
Final Rating: 3/5
December 19, 2016
Plot/ Story-line: An interesting one, the author taking inspiration from the terror attacks leashed on Mumbai over a period of time weaves a story. During the course of the same he takes the reader on a journey of the terror attacks in chronological order and at the same time gives us an insight into its psychological impact on the protagonist Lakshya Gaitonde.
The story sees the metamorphosis of a cricket loving kid to a responsible police officer and is filled with the agony that one goes through on losing a beloved one to mindless terror attack. At the same time it emphasis the fact that the ultimate sufferers are not the big-wigs but the ordinary citizens whose only crime is that they are at the wrong place at the wrong time.
The book is a bag of emotions. While on the one hand you get to experience romance on the other hand you also see how that very romance can kill something inside. There is violence and there is empathy too. There is honesty and a sense of duty on the one hand and greed and on the other hand. In fact one comes across the myriad shades of life in 217 pages.
There are some interesting twists and turns and there is suspense in the air after the first half. But it is the climax that is truly worth looking out for.
Read more at https://geetaavij.wordpress.com/2016/...
November 5, 2016
Story in a nutshell:
The protagonist of this novel, Lakshya is a die-hard fan of Sunil Gavaskar and dreams of becoming a cricketer. His father Rajaram Gaitonde, a sub-inspector is proud of his son and tries his best to fulfill his wishes. Lakshya stays with his father and his mother, Shanti. They are a happy family. Destiny plays a foul game with them. Rajaram is killed in the terror attacks in 1993. Shanti and Lakshya are broken. The death of Lakshya's father awakens something inside him and he decides to become a police inspector just like his father. Lakshya's dedication and hardwork bears fruit and he finally becomes a police inspector.
Life seems to be a steady and smooth sail for Lakshya until the 26/11 Mumbai Attacks. Destiny plays a foul game, yet again. Lakshya loses his mother and fiancée. Heartbroken Lakshya meets the Commissioner of Police with a plan to put a stop to terrorist activities. Is his plan got approved by the Commissioner? A few days later to his meeting with the Commissioner, Lakshya goes missing. Where is he? What was his plan?
Review:
The cover shows a picture of a man with a gun in his hand and a view of the city of Mumbai and the title reads 'The Monk'. Isn't it ironic? With this curiosity in my mind, I started reading this book.
The story primarily talks about the terror attacks on Mumbai. The plot is intricately woven. The author seems to have done a lot of research before penning down this novel. The lucid language and excellent narration with strong characters makes this novel an interesting read. The pace of this story is moderate. The topic around which this story has been plotted is a sensitive one and you need to know each single detail about the incidents. I liked the way author briefed the minute details. The narration has been done in third person and is done quite well.
I feel that the font size could have been increased a little for every page appears too stuffed.
I have read many books that talked about the Nirbhaya case but none about the terror attacks on Mumbai. Well, today I can very well say that I have read a novel about Mumbai Terror Attacks. An engaging read, it is!
I rate:
Cover: 4/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Story: 4/5
I rate 'The Monk' with 4/5 stars.
The protagonist of this novel, Lakshya is a die-hard fan of Sunil Gavaskar and dreams of becoming a cricketer. His father Rajaram Gaitonde, a sub-inspector is proud of his son and tries his best to fulfill his wishes. Lakshya stays with his father and his mother, Shanti. They are a happy family. Destiny plays a foul game with them. Rajaram is killed in the terror attacks in 1993. Shanti and Lakshya are broken. The death of Lakshya's father awakens something inside him and he decides to become a police inspector just like his father. Lakshya's dedication and hardwork bears fruit and he finally becomes a police inspector.
Life seems to be a steady and smooth sail for Lakshya until the 26/11 Mumbai Attacks. Destiny plays a foul game, yet again. Lakshya loses his mother and fiancée. Heartbroken Lakshya meets the Commissioner of Police with a plan to put a stop to terrorist activities. Is his plan got approved by the Commissioner? A few days later to his meeting with the Commissioner, Lakshya goes missing. Where is he? What was his plan?
Review:
The cover shows a picture of a man with a gun in his hand and a view of the city of Mumbai and the title reads 'The Monk'. Isn't it ironic? With this curiosity in my mind, I started reading this book.
The story primarily talks about the terror attacks on Mumbai. The plot is intricately woven. The author seems to have done a lot of research before penning down this novel. The lucid language and excellent narration with strong characters makes this novel an interesting read. The pace of this story is moderate. The topic around which this story has been plotted is a sensitive one and you need to know each single detail about the incidents. I liked the way author briefed the minute details. The narration has been done in third person and is done quite well.
I feel that the font size could have been increased a little for every page appears too stuffed.
I have read many books that talked about the Nirbhaya case but none about the terror attacks on Mumbai. Well, today I can very well say that I have read a novel about Mumbai Terror Attacks. An engaging read, it is!
I rate:
Cover: 4/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Story: 4/5
I rate 'The Monk' with 4/5 stars.
October 25, 2016
‘The Monk’ is author Akshay Shroff’s debut novel and as you flip through the pages, the inexperience starts showing. While the premise of the book is very promising, the execution leaves much to be desired. However, the author does seem to have abundant potential and I would be waiting to read his next book.
When the story begins, the reader is drawn into the life of Lakshya Gaitonde-a ten-year-old boy aspiring to be another Sunil Gavaskar. The bond between Rajaram and Shanti-Lakshya’s parents is poignant. The post-traumatic stress disorder that Lakshya endures after the death of his father is penned lucidly, offering a deep insight into the mind of a tortured soul. The author displays the gift of painting vivid imagery with his words.
The story starts to meander, thereafter.
Lakshya’s covert stint as an undercover agent has not been given enough weight-age. There are too many characters (mostly Muslim) that enter and exit the story. The author could have focused more on Lakshya and his interactions with a limited number of characters. Another issue that irked me as the story progressed was the mixing up of fact with fiction. While ‘Hemant Karkare’ has been mentioned as a character, a ‘Dawood Ibrahim’ has been veiled by the name ‘Jalim Sheikh’. The author’s dislike for a certain religion is also much too overt when one reads page 70 and 71 of the novel; in fact, a few paragraphs are repeated.
The climax, well I have one word for it- preposterous…
When the story begins, the reader is drawn into the life of Lakshya Gaitonde-a ten-year-old boy aspiring to be another Sunil Gavaskar. The bond between Rajaram and Shanti-Lakshya’s parents is poignant. The post-traumatic stress disorder that Lakshya endures after the death of his father is penned lucidly, offering a deep insight into the mind of a tortured soul. The author displays the gift of painting vivid imagery with his words.
The story starts to meander, thereafter.
Lakshya’s covert stint as an undercover agent has not been given enough weight-age. There are too many characters (mostly Muslim) that enter and exit the story. The author could have focused more on Lakshya and his interactions with a limited number of characters. Another issue that irked me as the story progressed was the mixing up of fact with fiction. While ‘Hemant Karkare’ has been mentioned as a character, a ‘Dawood Ibrahim’ has been veiled by the name ‘Jalim Sheikh’. The author’s dislike for a certain religion is also much too overt when one reads page 70 and 71 of the novel; in fact, a few paragraphs are repeated.
The climax, well I have one word for it- preposterous…
October 11, 2016
On the surface, the author does well to hook you in. Lakshya Gaitonde, our protagonist, is a typical Mumbai lad. And by typical here I mean, Lakshya is a boy who has had to survive and live through some of the most gruesome terror strikes that the city has witnessed. One by one, the people he loves perish, leaving him battling with grief and hatred. On a mission to avenge the deaths of his beloveds, Lakshya infiltrates the enemy camp and ends up committing equally heinous crimes.
‘The Monk’ fleshes out a lot of what went down on D-Day, rather multiple D-Days, as it covers almost two decades of terror strikes in Mumbai, and even throws light on the German Bakery blasts in Pune. These details, although heartbreaking because you know the outcome, are quite in-depth – full credits to the author for his extensive research.
The writing and language go well together, simple and lucid.
For a debut novel, Akshay Shroff’s commitment to researching the minutiae is absolutely laudable.
A few things that didn’t sit quite well with me:
*Real names vs fake names
*Lakshya’s exoneration
*The title
‘The Monk’ wins in terms of detailing and presentation of facts. I only wish the author had not been in a hurry to finish. A couple more chapters wouldn’t have hurt!
‘The Monk’ fleshes out a lot of what went down on D-Day, rather multiple D-Days, as it covers almost two decades of terror strikes in Mumbai, and even throws light on the German Bakery blasts in Pune. These details, although heartbreaking because you know the outcome, are quite in-depth – full credits to the author for his extensive research.
The writing and language go well together, simple and lucid.
For a debut novel, Akshay Shroff’s commitment to researching the minutiae is absolutely laudable.
A few things that didn’t sit quite well with me:
*Real names vs fake names
*Lakshya’s exoneration
*The title
‘The Monk’ wins in terms of detailing and presentation of facts. I only wish the author had not been in a hurry to finish. A couple more chapters wouldn’t have hurt!
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