Book Vue

Buy From Amazon.in Title:  The Spy Author: Paulo Coelho Genre: Fiction, Drama, Biography Pages: 208 Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited ISBN- 13:    978-0670089536 Rating: 4/5 The Spy  by Paulo Coelho is based on the personal life of Mata Hari, the famous exotic dancer. The book begins with the execution of Mata Hari by the French firing squad when she is found guilty of being a spy. The story then takes us back to when she was a married woman and how she begins her journey from being a penniless new comer in Paris to a rich and popular exotic dancer who seemed to have the most powerful people at her feet. Her dancing and beauty stood out from the rest because of her independent way of life. And how, during the first world war, she was found guilty of committing treason, albeit of no fault of hers, and was sentenced to be executed. The book is a short read highlighting only the personal high and lows of Mata Hari. The narrative is divided into two, f

With the Clifton Chronicles done, I decided it was time I did a top 5 post by one of my favorite authors, you guessed it, Jeffrey Archer. I must add, I haven't read all of his books but with whatever little knowledge I possess, I wish to reveal my top 5 reads and hope that this helps you, whether you are new to the author or are looking to read one of his books. Please note, I haven't included any of his short stories and plays here. They can make a different post, what say? So, let's begin! P.S - Click on the images to buy from Amazon.in 1. Kane and Abel My first pick has to be Kane and Abel. Although it is the first book in a series, it has to be Archer's finest work. The story includes everything from drama, romance, politics and rivalry and is sure to leave a lasting impression on the reader. A must read. 2. False Impression False Impression brings a smile to my face whenever I think of it. What an amazing story line and the climax, absolutely unpr

Buy From Amazon.in Title:  This Was A Man Author: Jeffrey Archer Genre: Fiction, Drama Pages: 400 Publisher: Pan Macmillan UK ISBN- 13:    978-1447252252 Rating: 4.4/5 The intense Clifton chronicle continues and ends(sadly) with the last book of the series,  This Was a Man . The book takes the saga forward with heart touching moments scattered across the pages of this epic series, one like no other. Emma rises high in her carer as she is appointed the Minister of Health by Margaret Thatcher's government. But this is not the end of the line for her. Meanwhile, Harry decides to begin his final William Warwick novel which he wants to accomplish as per his late mother's wishes. Giles finds out about Karin's secret and on the other hand, Lady Virginia refuses to get out of their lives. Little Freddie is a young boy now who idolizes Giles, primarily for his flair in cricket. Seb is busy tackling Desmond Mellor and Jim Knowles as they resurface again. Jessica

Buy From Amazon.in Title:  Open Eyed Meditations Author: Shubha Vilas Genre: Non Fiction, Self Help Pages: 280 Publisher: Fingerprint! Publishing ISBN-13:  978-8175993907 Rating: 4/5 The author, Shubha Vilas, graciously sent me a copy of this book and I feel so privileged and honored for the same. He is a spiritual and a motivational speaker and through this book, he shares a part of his vast knowledge with us to help improve our lives. I guess it is safe to say that this book is a self help book. It is a unique module that teaches us how to cope with our situations and come to terms with the mystery, that is life.  Open Eyed Meditations  talks about various vices and issues faced by us and relevant examples borrowed from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata help the readers to relate to their current situations. The book contains practical tips that can be applied to our day to day lives and different aspects, both personal and professional.  In my opinion, th

Buy From Amazon.in Title:  The Cosmic Clues Author: Manjiri Prabhu Genre: Fiction, Crime, Mystery Pages: 324 Publisher: Jaico Publishing House ISBN-13:  978-8184954791 Rating: 3.8/5 The Cosmic Clues  is the first book of an astro detective series. The author, Manjiri Prabhu, has tried her hands at a new approach to solving crimes and I quite like that. I was curious and excited to find out what it was all about. So, here's the summary. Sonia Samarth opens an investigation venture named Stellar Investigations in Pune. But what sets her apart from other detectives is that she uses her astrological skills to help solve cases. She and her assistant, Jatin, are successful and soon gather attention. When the popular (and good looking) TV anchor, Mohnish, befriends Sonia, they develop more than just a friendship bond. Mohnish and Sonia together discuss about catching the ever so sly criminal, known to the world only as The Owl . In the mean time, Sonia keeps receiv

Image Courtesy: http://www.tatalitlive.in/ 'Tis the season of literary festivals all over the country. And another one is coming up closer to home. It is the Seventh Mumbai International Literary Festival, also known as TATA Litlive 2016 in Mumbai. Save your dates from the 17th to the 20th of November. Click here to visit their website for more information. Follow them on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram .

Buy From Amazon.in Title:  One Indian Girl Author: Chetan Bhagat Genre: Fiction, Romance Pages: 280 Publisher: Rupa Publications India ISBN-13:  978-8129142146 Rating: 3.8/5 One Indian Girl   is the latest book by Chetan Bhagat. I pre ordered it from Amazon.in as the summary spiked enough interest in me and I was certainly curious. Here's what the book is about. The story begins with a wedding setup in Goa. Radhika Mehta is getting married to Brijesh Gulati and the entire clan from both the bride's and the groom's side has arrived. While Radhika is gearing up for her massive destination wedding, she surprisingly finds her two ex boyfriends, Debu and Neel at the venue, each one wanting to marry her. Debu was her boyfriend in New York, where she had first started her banking career. Radhika's hard work and diligence paid off and she began earning more than what Debu could imagine. Or handle. Due to her career oriented nature, Debu breaks

Buy From Amazon.in Title:  Closed Casket Author: Sophie Hannah Genre: Fiction, Murder mystery Pages: 320 Publisher: William Morrow ISBN-13:  978-0062458827 Rating: 3.6/5 Closed Casket  is the latest Hercule Poirot mystery by Sophie Hannah. I wasn't impressed by the first book by the same author, The Monogram Murders , but had hopes for this one. To the review then, shall we? Lady Athelinda Playford, a popular children's mystery writer, is hosting a party and Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool are invited. Lady Playford doesn't give any reason for inviting a detective and an inspector to her house but when she makes the announcement of her new will at the dining table, Poirot is confused and his grey cells, agile. Lady Playford has changed her will to leave everything she owns to Joseph Scotcher, her secretary, who has only a few weeks to live. Her children are to get absolutely nothing. The mystery further causes confusion when Joseph is brutall

Buy From Amazon.in Title:  The Calling - Unleash Your True Self Author: Priya Kumar Genre: Non-Fiction, Self Help, Motivational Pages: 166 Publisher: Books That Inspire ISBN-13:  978-9352589708 Rating: 4/5 When the author asked me if I would review this book, I accepted, fully aware that it was a non fiction book. It could have been the title or the summary but something made me want to read the book. I now know, that it was my calling! I have read books like these in the past, I won't deny, but only some have the ability to make a lasting impression.  The Calling   is one such book by Priya Kumar, who is a motivational speaker and has authored several books. The book is described as a spiritual adventure and it does absolute justice to the title. Let us get down to the summary. The Calling  is a story about Arjun, who finds himself in an all time low in life. He is at the brink of a divorce, not to mention his challenging career. The story begins with Arjun driv

Download this book from Juggernaut here . Buy From Amazon.in Title:  You Will Love Again: A Guide to Healing from Heartbreak Author: Dr Shyam Bhat Genre: Non-Fiction, Self help Rating: 4/5 You Will Love Again is a self help book for those who, unfortunately, are dealing with heartbreak. The author is Dr Shyam Bhat, a psychiatrist, who has experienced heartbreaks in the past himself.  First things first. I love the title. It radiates so much optimism that any curious mind wouldn't hesitate to pick it up. The book begins with how people feel soon after their breakup or divorce. The author takes us through various situations (with examples) of how a human mind and body behaves or reacts to such depressing feelings. The hurt that follows can be crippling for some, even to the extent of going into depression, which is sadly so common these days. The book explains how to tackle issues related to breakups, like anger, forgiveness etc. It teaches how

Download this book from Juggernaut here . Title:  More Than Just Friends Author: Faraaz Kazi Genre: Fiction, Romance Rating: 4/5 More Than Just Friends is a book by Faraaz Kazi, best known for his debut novel- Truly Madly Deeply . Although this is my first time experience with the author, I've no doubt that his other books would be just as good as this one.  The book is about Preeti's life journey beginning from her childhood. She has a disturbing childhood. Preeti's dad meets with an accident and is paralyzed waist down. Due to the added responsibility, Preeti is sent away to her grandmothers along with her elder brother and he becomes her confidant, the only person she trusts. A sad turn of events breaks Preeti's heart and she loses all hope and desire to be happy. And then she meets Sameer. Preeti finds friendship and love once again and couldn't have been more content. But fate decides to play with her a

Buy From Amazon.in Buy From Jaico Books Title:  False Witness Author: Randy Singer Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Crime Pages: 428 Publisher: Jaico Publishing House ISBN-13:  978-8184955651 Rating: 3.4/5 It's my first time reading one of Randy Singer's books. False Witness is a legal suspense, although not entirely John Grisham- ish . Let's get to the plot and I'll share my thoughts after. Clark Shealy is a bail bondsman whose wife, Jessica, is kidnapped by the Chinese mob. What they want in return from Shealy is to find an Indian mathematician named Professor Kumari and deliver him. Professor Kumari is the designer of an algorithm, which gives the user access to all kinds of sensitive information on the internet. Shealy reluctantly agrees fearing for his wife's life. He succeeds in rescuing her but the Chinese mafia are not done with them yet. After four years, Shealy and Jessica are on the run again and this time they drag the lives of a couple

Buy From Amazon.com Title:  Chalk Dust : Stories Author: Pedro Freire Costa Genre: Fiction, Short Stories File Size: 1777 KB Print Length: 107 pages Publisher: Editorial Bizancio Lda ASIN: B01HQ3JPZ4 Rating: 3.8/5 This is an e-book that I received from the author for a review. Chalk Dust: Stories  is a collection of seven short stories based in Portugal.  The stories describe the typical way of life of the Portuguese with great detail and effectiveness. They are set in different time periods and the focus is on how the slow, laid back life of the villagers can sometimes have an interesting turn of events, some sad and some fascinating. Particularly, stories namely The Private Life of Ilda Gomes , Loyal to the End , Chalk Dust and The Honour of Gamblers showcased a  fine combination of humor and sentiments. But the other stories were a tad too detailed and persistent for my liking.  Altogether , the book is a good read for most of the part. I must mention, the writin