Kabira khada bazar me mange sabki khair; Na kahu se dosti na kahu se bair.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn My rating: 3 of 5 stars My rating 2.5 stars. It is a psychological thriller. I added it to my over hyped shelf. But maybe because i don't like these thrillers who have only one or two characters and they keep ruminating throughout. There are no red herrings either. But all said and done some portions of the book are truly good e.g. All women knows that there biological clocks are ticking. Ageing 30+ woman can be lonely even if they are successful and in cosmopolitan city: " I think, I am so fucking lonely. I go home and cry for a while. I am almost thirty-two. That’s not old, especially not in New York, but fact is, it’s been years since I even really liked someone. So how likely is it I’ll meet someone I love, much less someone I love enough to marry? I’m tired of not knowing who I’ll be with, or if I’ll be with anyone. I have many friends who are married – not many who are happily married, but many married friends. The few happy ones are like ...

Kyonki Woh Beewiyaan Badalte Thay (English: Because they swapped wives) by Ved Prakash Sharma My rating: 2 of 5 stars Ved Prakash Sharma is one the most popular hindi pulp fiction writer, other being Surendra Mohan Pathak. He is known for miraculous outlandish plots and this novel is no exception. This is fourth novel in his Vibha Jindal series. Vibha Jindal is a rich heiress who takes only most complicated cases. The plot is based on the concept of wife swapping. Very rich couples swap husbands and wives for sexual thrill. The modus operandi is secret and they choose wives by drawing car keys or chits. If the key/ chit of own spouse is drawn the process is repeated. Then they spend a night together and later own don't even acknowledge each other. One of the wife doesn't agree and protests. And then one by one the members of elite club are murdered and their bodies are found naked with something written. Can Vibha crack the case? Is the murderer angel or demon? DO they des...

Entice by S. Layne My rating: 3 of 5 stars Laurie husband james sleeps with her best friend becky and she is debastated. In her anxious state she meets Liam who is a playboy and start a passionate affair witj him. This is the brief of story. Its sensuos, free flowing and keeps you interested. Its no high literature but rather a potboiler. You can read it once. Some excerpts : Except counseling. I scowl. Because counseling is for people who aren’t smart enough to work out their own issues. --------- I don’t even remember the last time someone hit on me. Has it been that long? A part of my femininity wants to preen and rub against him, have his hands run down my side at the thought that he believes I’m beautiful enough to want to have a drink with me. -------- But there’s still a part of me that wants to be at the bar at eight o’clock and see what a conversation with him would be like.Because after feeling so used and abandoned…and just hurt…that part of me wants to give James a tas...

Split Second by David Baldacci My rating: 4 of 5 stars I bought it in India international trade fair at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. I wanted to read a new thriller writer and the salesman suggested this. I am thankful to him. All it takes is a split second to ruin your career. Maxwell and king of secret service has this is common. Now both unite and try to redeem themselves. will they b successful? I enjoyed it thoroughly. It is a page turner. Kept me engrossed. Highly recommended. Sean is very fastidious and judicious. Michelle is very unorganised and spontaneous. Though Sean is more experienced and older but he is equally energetic. They complement each other and form a good team of investigators. The relationship is platonic though is wished it should be somewhat romantic. The pace is breakneck and mystery is satisfying. It gives very good thrill. Climax explains everything and ties up loose ends. Some excerpts: It only took a split second, although to Secret Service agent Sean ...

Bhakshak by Surender Mohan Pathak My rating: 4 of 5 stars Vintage SMP. Usual Sunil fare. A treat for fans of Sunil. A whodunnit and murder mystery. All the typical sunilian elements are present. चिराग कासनीवाल को रात के अंधेरे में अपने पड़ोस से मौत का फरिश्ता अपनी तरफ झांकता जान पड़ता था, जो अपनी बाहें पसारे उसे उनमें समा जाने के लिए उकसाता था, हर घड़ी उसे एहसास दिलाता था कि कोई अनहोनी होने वाली थी। क्या वो सच में हलकान पशेमान था या वो उसके दिमाग का खलल था ? View all my reviews

राम की शक्ति पूजा (Hindi Poetry): Ram Ki Shakti Pooja by सूर्यकान्त त्रिपाठी 'निराला' My rating: 5 of 5 stars One of the best. This is a long poem like Milton's paradise lost. It is about the war of Ram and Ravan metaphorically between good and evil. At the end of days war there is darkness everywhere even in heart of Ram. Here Ram is portrayed as a human and not God who has his moments of doubts. It is published in 1937 when India was under British rule and it has also to be seen in the context of moments of doubt about Indian freedom struggle. It is also the angst of poet himself. At the end of day Ravana proves to be formidable. Ram is in doubt. Ravana has abducted Sita and Ram has to free her. Ram is thinking whether he can rescue his beloved Sita. Ram ask eternal question "is the Shakti (Power) is always on the side of Evil" (also relate to british empire whose sun never sets and which has subjugated/ colonized whole earth by brute force). But he is a her...

A Casualty of Grace by Lisa Brown My rating: 4 of 5 stars A very heartfelt thanks to netgalley and Lisa Brown Books Carlisle for providing me a copy for reading and reviewing. I give 3.5 stars to the book. Two brothers Oliver and Simon become orphan and are put in an orphanage. They are sent to Canada in foster homes separately. Older oliver is very protective of timid and lost Simon. He is heartbroken when they are separated. Oliver is sent to a farm where the owner is very ruthless but the lady Liza is very kind. They develop an emotional bond and Liza manages to bring Simon to farm too. Oliver is happy to be united with Simon at the same time terrified because of Pritchard the owner. But surprisingly Pritchard is very lenient towards Simon, as he himself is dealing with his own demons. Oliver find solace in company of neighbour girl Helen. The story traces life stories of all of them. This is a very poignant and emotional story. The Language is simple but graceful. The story...