Review of 'Chronicle of Urban Nomads' by various author

Blurb: The Chronicles of Urban Nomads, is a collection of fast-paced stories, exciting enough to compel you to read them all at one go! Romance, drama, action, thrill, and mystery abound, meticulously crafted by twenty emerging stars of the literary world, and edited by a seasoned hand from the industry.
These stories were chosen through a nationwide hunt by Readomania, combined with the opinions of emerging authors, seasoned editors and established authors. The result is a potpourri that will force you to think beyond the ordinary.

Even as a bewitchingly beautiful saree narrates her story, a girl tries to deal with a dilemma in her arranged marriage. While riot-struck children walk alongside conscience-driven saviours, characters play hide and seek through a book, even as lovers ‘book’ a date with destiny. There is a flicker of hope, of a mother who has lost her child, as well as the agony of a friend who cannot forget her past life. Fear nudges your soul, even as aspirations drive you up the tallest wall; on one occasion, a game of heart and mind will tempt you to choose, while in another, an engagement ring will engage with its tale of choosing duty over desire. Here, even as a child’s innocence creates a strong relation in a new life, a man builds a bond with death’s absolute finality; we see hopes of revival in a worn out relationship, even as someone embarks on a quest to find a lost identity.

This melange of characters, situations, attitudes and emotions brings to life an exciting realm of fiction that you definitely wouldn’t want to miss. Readomania welcomes you to be a part of a literary journey to a realm of the superlative where pages turn, hearts beat, and the mind gleefully wanders to places you might have never been before.

Verdict:
Section I: Imagine

Confession of a Benarasi Sari – Ayan Pal
The name is such intriguing that one can’t stop himself from reading the story at one go. Ayan Pal has narrated the feelings of a bewitchingly beautiful Benarasi Sari in delightful words. The way the whole story is portrayed through the eye of a Benarasi Sari, is just wonderful. Being a Bengali, I can very well understand the perspective of writing this story and can easily say that this story will entertain all types of readers.

The Blue Slippers – Krithi Jayakumar
The second story in the category of Imagine does complete justice to its genre. Being one of the shortest story of the book this story conveys the feeling of two friends and the happiness surrounding Blue Slippers. My favorite part was the end which will definitely give the readers goose bumps.

The Wait – Ashay Abbhi
The most interesting thing about this story is the protagonist who is narrating the story. The readers will definitely become bewildered just like me after finding the narrator of the story. The pain was described in exact words and the name also seems perfect for a story like this. After reading the third story, I understand why the category is named Imagine.

My Soulmate – Janneker Lawrence
The word Soul Mate denotes a lot of connotations. The author have very efficiently hid the identity of the soul mate of Kumar (the main protagonist) till the end and when it discloses, the readers will appreciate the skill of the author. The story is executed in a different way which I am sure will hook the readers.

The Masterpiece – Rounak Nayak
I would say the name is perfect because this story is indeed a masterpiece. I loved the story thoroughly. Again to do justice to the genre, here the narrator is a diary. At first the frequent juggling of the scenes seems to be a bit confusing but the way the end is written will undeniably bring tears in 

the reader’s eyes. My personal favorite in this genre.

A Vicious Battle – Aravind Sampath
This story is about the most famous battle that we all witnessed at some past of our life, between our own heart and mind. This story revolves around KK, a boxing champion who have to choose between his heart and his mind inside in the boxing ring. The story has a wonderful message for the readers at the end but comparing to the previous stories, this could have been written in a better way. To know why KK had to made the choice inside the ring, one must read the story.

An Engagement Ring – Purnima Verma
This story follows the previous stream and here the story teller is an engagement ring. This story is simple and have been written wonderfully. The story has a very strong story line but the author was somehow carried away with the flow of the story and at places the ring lacked the limelight. Overall a nice story with a nice ending.

A Little Nugget of Fear – Deepti Menon
The beauty of this story is the wonderfully chosen words and the way of describing the scenes. The readers are going to love the way the author portrays the whole story through the eyes of an inner self. The rich content and the flawless narrating style makes this story one of the best of its series.

EFIL – Bhaswar Mukherjee
The story has an essence of its own and will make the readers cherish the flavor. The different content perfectly suits the different name. I appreciate the author for creating such a unique character and his ability to keep readers hooked from the very beginning with his narrating style. I can easily say the readers are going to love the ending which brings the harshest truth of the story.

Section II: Musing

The Last Letter – Dipankar Mukherjee
The name of the story sounds familiar and common but the content isn’t the same. The story is short and compelling. The narrating style is so strong that within these four pages the readers will break into tears. This is how a short story should be written, short, distracting and intriguing.

The Face on the Canvas – Pradeep Moitra
A nice name for a story like this. The narrating style is simple and will help the readers to visualize it in a better way. I believe this story will become more gorgeous if the start was a bit different or improvised. The end makes up for the flaws and will keep the readers thinking even after completing the story.

Arranged Marriage – Japneet Boyal
This is the story of Kashish and Rohan and how an unborn child removes the invisible wall between them. The start of the story is very good and the fluent narrating style will force the readers to complete the story in one go. The author has a wonderful skill of describing the feeling of the protagonists which will definitely reach the hearts.

Bachelor and Baby – Jagdish Nadanalli
This story is the best one can get from the second section. When a reader buys an anthology, I am sure, they always search for a story like this which have a flawless and simple language, interesting and motivating storyline and which will leave a lasting effect on them. Kudos to the author for framing such a delightful story.

Hopes and Promises – Rahul Biswas
This story is from the author who wrote the most interesting author bio. It tells us about a second chance, about keeping hope alive, about keeping promises and that is why I say the name is perfect. I felt the frequent jumping from scenes disturbs the flow of the story and the end could have been framed in a different way which would have attracted the readers more.

A Shackled Destiny – Sharavya Gunipudi
Again a very compelling story with a strong narrative. The feeling of a mother who has lost her child has been portrayed wonderfully. Without dragging scenes the author has very efficiently described the affection a mother holds for her son. The truth at the end brought tears in my eyes.

Rendezvous – Shloka Shankar
The author has chosen quite an uncommon name for her story and it suits the content perfectly. The narrating style is the main and the only beauty of the story and the delightful describing power of the author makes up for the simple content.  Comparing to the earlier stories I found this story a bit weak of the series.

Hide and Seek – Niranjan Navalgund
A different story from a talented individual. After completing the story, the first thought which crosses my mind is that this author knows how to play with words. The way he has framed the whole story and the way he draws the end will leave the readers gasping for more. The narrating style supports the storyline perfectly and keeps the whole story effortless.

Mandira – Anupama Jain
Here the name of the main protagonist is Mandira and the whole story revolves around her. The powerfully described scenes will make the readers think of the phase the protagonist was going through. I would have liked the story more if the author had drawn the end in a distinctive manner. The end was not that good as the intriguing beginning.

Finding Mia – Roopa Raveendran Menon
This is possibly the best way to end a book like this. I loved the way the author has focused on the details and has dragged out the beauty by placing perfect words at exact scenes. The story line might have been a bit simple but the story telling skill of the author makes up for that. Again a beautiful ending of an unfussy story.

This book is undoubtedly one of the best anthology released this year. Each and every story has focused on different aspects of life and will make the readers think, though I loved the Imagine part more than the Musing part. My two favorite stories in Section I is The Masterpiece by Rounak Nayak and A Little Nugget of Fear by Deepti Menon; my two favorite stories in Section II is The Last Letter by Dipankar Mukherjee and Bachelor and Baby by Jagadish Nadanalli.

Title: Chronicles of Urban Nomads
Publisher: Readomania
Page Count: 175
My Rating: 4.5/5

Available at –

Amazon – http://www.amazon.in/Chronicles-Nomads-collection-Unputdownable-stories/dp/8192997502/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413038022&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=Chronicles+of+Urban+Nomands

Review of '12 Strokes of Life' by 'Durgesh Shastri'

Blurb: 12 strokes of life is a collection of 12 short stories. From the hilly terrains of Matheran to the IT hub of the country, from the historically rich city of Bihar to one of the fastest growing cities of India, Coimbatore, these stories are set in varied locations. From an overconfident youth longing for success to a determined old man termed insane by neighbors, from a married lady in search of true love to a young girl fighting against all odds to overcome her worst fears, the characters are very much alive and can be related to people around us.

The stories belong to different genres and try to send across a message to the reader which is though everyone paints a unique picture of life based on their experiences; it never stops to amaze us. After all, life has infinite strokes. Read the 12 strokes of life to know the hues and shades of the journey of a few.


Verdict: ’12 Strokes of Life’ is a collection of twelve short stories written by author Durgesh Shastri. Each every story has a different message to deliver and a different tale to tell which I think is the most interesting fact about the book.

The name sounds very impressive and will definitely drag the reader’s attention. Twelve stories which tell different tales of life can easily be termed as the strokes of life. I appreciate the designer for such a wonderful cover which makes the first impression quiet striking.

This is not regular that an author choosing to write an anthology collection because I think conveying a message through a short story is much tougher that conveying through a full fledged novel but this author has shown the guts and came up with a short story collection which is commendable. Needless to say; the author has a story teller within and also has a fluent narrating style. The easy going words will help the readers to maintain the flow. 

Each and every story has a very good message to convey. Not every story ends with a good note but will definitely have something to learn from the story and I believe that is where the author has focused more, on giving a moral. Stories have different scenes, different background and have unfolded in different states of India, which makes this book all the more interesting. All the characters are so real, that one can easily relate them.

At times I felt few stories lack description, few stories feel like they are written in a hurry and there are few which couldn’t connect with the readers. A few editing errors are also spotted here and there. I would appreciate the author for this attempting and would love to read some more in from his in future and would expect that he will keep this things in mind.

There are four or five stories which immensely touched my heart but the best of the series was ‘The Anonymous Donor’

Final Words: A very nice attempt by Durgesh Shastri and I appreciate the author’s effort for penning down wonderful short stories which left lasting effects among the readers.

Title: 12 Strokes of Life
Author: Durgesh Shastri
Publisher: Gargi Publishers
Page Count: 160
My Rating: 3.5/5

Available at – 
Flipkart - http://www.flipkart.com/12-strokes-life/p/itmdwkewtmckhytt?pid=9788192960906&otracker=from-search&srno=t_3&query=durgesh+shastri&ref=45b27e85-b0ca-4a3d-9490-64578c8a5f80

Amazon - http://www.amazon.in/12-Strokes-Life-Durgesh-Shastri/dp/8192960900/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1410097520&sr=8-2&keywords=Durgesh+Shastri

Fusion - A Mingled Flavour Mocktail: A Review

Blurb: It is an anthology which consists of 25 such stories that will steal your heart away. It is not just a book but a journey of emotions that will take you for a roller coaster ride. With every page you turn, words will strike the chord of feelings and emotions will grip you in a manner that you won't feel like keeping the book aside till you reach the end.

Verdict: The wonderfully designed cover will definitely turn the heads of the readers and the name suits the theme of this anthology. 

The Heir - Renuka Vishwanathan
 The story of the heir was something that I believe to be the perfect start to the book. Along with the pain and agonies, it surely shows what in real a society is. How we base and conclude everything on the basis of pure assumptions. It left me speechless at the end.

Dance of Life - Shreya Kumar
The story meant for every girl, Shreya has done her best in writing the story. It teaches everyone to stand up and fight the world for their well-being and not being selfish. It surely is the dance of life.

Telephone - Ayaan Basu
The third story of the book. The story of a ‘stranger’ calling another ‘stranger’ and talking to her on a rainy day is quite interesting to read. A blend of emotions, the feeling inside the story remains one of its plus points.

Strings - Mehek Bassi
the most eye catching thing about the story was the narrating style. The thought process behind the story has been commendable. I would salute the writer for penning down a story of a physically challenged mother and daughter. Undoubtedly one of the best.

Affair @ Online - Neelam Chandra Saxena
A story that also shows us what the evil side of the social networking sites can be; it teaches us that one should not trust someone so easily. Written in a very lucid language, the story gives us a wonderful moral at the end.

Twilight - Purba Chakraborty
This story of Anand and Shalini is mostly about long lost love in the hands of society and their coming back on one fateful journey, how the twilight is of importance and what happens thereafter is what the story is all about. I liked the narrating style of the author.

The Red Lahori Dupatta - Paromita Bordoloi
Having read so many love stories in the book, this story just added to the feel. A very wonderful story of a guy from Lahore, Nayontaara and her best friend. This story is bound to bring brings tears. Just a few errors were avoidable.

Love - a Vague Puzzle - Nehali Lalwani
The story has done its best in defining love with the wonderful and meaningful couplet in the beginning of the story. Though I felt that so many conversations marred the feeling of the story.

How to Kill Boredom - Arjun Pereira
This story, though a light read has much to offer. In comparison, a bit low but still it gives the readers a nice time with it. I felt that it could’ve been written in a much better way.

Unsaid Words... - Swarupa
Lost love? Love that was left unsaid. The story of Raksha and Rajeev is this and much more. Full of emotions and strong feelings, a nice describing style adding the cherry on the cake, it is a must read.

The Housewife and the Goon - Renu Sethi
Another form of love written in a very unique and interesting way, this story has a lot to offer in one plate. Rajbeer and the housewife- the story has different things to teach. The presentation is the main attraction.

Slaves of Soul - Heena Ahuja
The story where good prevails over evil, the fight of injustice and justice. The way the story has been described was really well. Though I felt that even more drama would’ve made this story a potboiler.

The Blind Fold - Shalini Katyal
blind folded in love? What happens then? The side effects of not telling anyone about it and the consequences. This story has it all. In a nice narrating style, there were some silly mistakes in it; but a nice one time read.

Anesthesia - Manshi Bhatia
The lost ‘male’ support after the death of her father and finding solace in new ‘social networking’ friends, was the story of Nikita. Akshay was different in itself. What happens when they meet is something the readers would love to know. A few punctuation errors marred the feel of the story but above all, a nice read.

The Angel - Ishita Bhown
To me, I would like to term it a page turner. A daughter in need of help in a big city and an unknown stranger helping her in it. Yes, the story shows human nature in two sides. A one stretch scene with an exceptional description leaves the readers wanting for more.

Stone Cold - Nikhil Chandwani
Given the title of the story, it is yet an unusual story with a very different approach. A perfect page turner, it gave me Goosebumps while flipping the pages. Through the eyes of old parents, it is undoubtedly the best and a must read.

That Unexpected Encounter - Elora Rath
Such encounters can happen any time in our lifetime. That incomplete love; or the person who left you, without saying anything. The writer gives this and much more. There were a few typing errors; but apart from that a nice read.

Its Forever… Its Love!!! - Vinita Bali
I liked the way the story has been etched in a wonderful way. Written in a very precise way, the story was also a very nice one. Though I felt that a bit more interesting plot would’ve enhanced the feel of the story.

Simplicity - Col. Mahip Chadha
Simplicity is a very important form of human kind. The kanchas being one of the simplest people around. The story depicts the simplicity of those people. If written in a more interesting way, it could’ve grabbed the reader’s attention for long.

Born under Bad sign - Warishree Pant
First of all, I would like to congratulate the writer for opting for such a topic. The feeling of homosexuality is very nicely written in the story. One surely has tears at the end.

Play 4 Change - Roshan Kumar
A story which does its best in promoting both music and politics. In an enriching and whole new format, this was one great read. Though, I personally dislike the use of any particular party’s name; apart from that, a nice read.

This Was Written - Surabhi Thukral
The anguish by an unwanted relation, the trauma of divorce, unsaid love, and friendship. This was the story of Anu and Sarthak in a few words. The end, though, was predictable. All in all, it was a nice read.

Love, Lust and Loot - Anjali Vasvani
I always have had a fetish for murder mysteries and this writer has given us just that. In a very sweet and simple way, it surely gives the mystery a nice touch. I really liked the narrating style.

Will you cross the skies for me? - Neha Zahir
This is probably one story which I don’t want to speak much about. Sitting here I am speechless after reading it. Everything was so perfect about it. The narrating style, descriptions. It stays with you much after keeping the book down.

Menaka - A lost Apshara - Simsom Biswal
The story of Menaka. Prostituon. How two lives are 2 sides of the same coin? Everything is written here. I would term it as an answer to all questions. What happens when they meet and at the end? This story brings upon a perfect end.

The fusion of wonderfully etched stories have given this book a whole new meaning.  Mehek Bassi, Nikhil Chandwani and Ishita Bhown being the star attractions of the book. The punctuation and grammatical errors were few but they weren’t able to mar the feel of the book.

Title: Fusion - A mingled flavour mocktail

Publisher: Dream House Publiscation

Page Count: 215

My Rating: 4/5

Available At -

Flipkart - http://www.flipkart.com/fusion-mingled-flavour-mocktail-25-classic-stories-english-1st/p/itmdx7x3xtug23ex?pid=9789384180980&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=fusion-+a+mingled+flavour+mocktail&ref=e7d57230-1866-444c-bf6f-2c201226390f

Amazon - http://www.amazon.in/FUSION-A-mingled-flavour-mocktail-Selected/dp/938418098X/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406966996&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Fusion+-+A+mingled+flavor+mocktail

Crumpled Voices - Shades of Suffering: A review

Blurb: Crumpled Voices – Shades of Suffering is a collection of short stories based on social issues. A common thread of the prevailing societal evils and injustice binds them together. This anthology comes directly from heart and life. These days, humanity is suffering to such an extent that we found it difficult to stay quiet. So, this is our small beginning towards awakening the masses.

The fiction level is nil as each day we all witness horrendous crimes like Rapes, Acid Attacks, Domestic Violence, Honour Killings, etc. We all have been a witness to such heinous crimes in our day to day life, our near and dear ones might have experience them closely too. We have almost grown up among them, felt them following us. We constantly live in fear of the unknown, fear of being the victim to any of the criminal activities multiplying around us. These days when no place is safe, including the web, our voices need to be heard.

Protest must begin from somewhere, and we have used our pen which is mightier than the sword to express our anguish. An echo of many unimaginable atrocities lurks within us, engulfing us in its shadow. Through each of the story in this book, we have tried to highlight one such aspect of horrifying crimes. This is an initiative that can also work as a boost up for all those who have been suffering but have chosen to stay quiet so far.

Verdict: This anthology comes in our hands in the exact time when we have to raise our voices against all the odds. The name ‘Crumpled Voices’ perfectly suits the theme which represents the different shades of suffering. The wonderfully written blurb will encourage the youth to make this book a immediate pick.

Down The Way – Ila Garg
This poem gives this book a well needed kick start. The author has very efficiently crafted her words to portray the feeling of a tree. This poem ends up with a noble message which makes this poem one of the best of the series.

This is Who I am – Ila Garg
A story about a boy who finds himself a bit different at a very early age and gets attracted towards his best friend. This story shows us that side of our society which bounds us to convey our own feelings. A nice story with a sad ending.

Karma Returns – Pulkit Gupta
The story starts on a usual note with Devika and Rajesh enjoying their happy married life.  The end will leave the readers in complete awe. In the middle I felt the author has stretched a bit while describing the scenes in Kashmir.

The Last Whisper – Tanya Srivastava
This is a perfect name for a story like this. The narrating style of the author will catch the reader’s attention. This story tells us about how Shalini has to face the wrath of her husband and the end teaches us a lesson to all those women who are keeping mum in these situations.

It is Honourable – Abhik Chakraborty
Readers can witness a very horrendous crime while reading this. The gripping narrating style and the wonderfully framed plot will help the readers to visualize each and every part of the story. Honour killing is a conservative topic to write about and the author had done proper justice to it. The end will break the readers into tears.

The Curious Case of Missing Brahmins – Abhishek ‘Atul’
When all the stories are showing us about the sufferings or the problems, this story tells us what can show us the light. The way Keshav has described what we are lacking in our society now will definitely ring a bell among the readers. 

Color of a Butterfly – Promilla Qazi
This is the story of Megha, how she grew up, how she faced the wrath of his father when her mother chose to elope, how she found Nitin and at the end what made her well-settled world upside down. I felt the storyline is a bit weak comparing to the earlier stories but the narrating style protects the flow.

Indira’s Story – Smita Salins
This is one of the most inspirational story of this anthology. The most interesting thing of this story is the author has kept everything true and clear without using fictional characters and sequences.  Every reader is going to learn a lot from the journey of Indira.

The Corrupt Me – Nitesh Chitranshi
The author has done a great job by delivering an effective message through this story. The story line is simple but the end will leave readers thinking. The author note is written very efficiently and perfectly suits the theme of the book.

The Fatal Pride – Sreelekha Chatterjee
A nice story with a catchy name which will definitely drag the reader’s attention. The author has adopted a very likeable narrating style decorated with simple words. I appreciated the author for making such an unanticipated ending.

The Paradise – Prachi Priyanka
This story will show the readers a different side of a girl. Unlike others; this story, revolves around a husband who slowly finds the bitter side of his wife. In the league of stories about raising voices, this stands alone with its unusual aspect. Kudos to the author for such an attempt.

Nature’s Revenge – Shruti Mall
The storyline of this story can a bit weak but it carries a memorable message which readers are going to find after reading the last paragraph of the story. How Parihar lost his family in a same way in back to back incident and why it's called ‘Nature’s Revenge’ is the main prospect of the story.

She Was Raped – Nitin Soni
In an anthology like this readers eyes always search for a poem like this. This poem tells the condition of our country. It is the prestige of our country which is getting raped. I appreciated the compiler for putting this poem in the perfect possible place.

The Crescendo of a Grand Symphony – Harsh Rai Puri
The storyline is nice and gripping but the narrating style was a bit confusing. The author had mentioned the timeline in almost each paragraph to clear things but I felt the frequent jump from past to present will confuse the readers.

A Letter to God – Sandeep Sharma
The author has portrayed the feeling of a 10 year old girl named Radha in this story.  Readers will love the matured narrating style. The letter will bring tears and the end will bring a smile on readers face. This story will leave a lasting effect on readers hearts. 

Eighteenth Birthday – Nibha Gupta
After reading the first paragraph, readers are going to anticipate what this story has to offer. How a sister protects her sister by leaving her in an orphanage and she herself took all the rage from her drunkard father.  The end will leave readers with tears in their eyes and smile on their face.

The Indecent Profession – Durgesh Shastri
If you do something wrong it will definitely haunt you down sometime in the future, this is the main message lying inside the story. A wife was forced to kill herself in front of her husband just because she denied the indecent proposal of the husband. Readers will love the last paragraph where lies the punishment for the husband.

Light – Shrruti Patole Clarence
This story teaches what one should do if someone becomes a victim of these horrendous crimes. Instead of keeping mum to protect the image in the inhuman society one should raise the voice, this is what the author has tried to portray through this story.

Freedom – Ketaki Sane
A beautiful story line with a mesmerizing narrating style. The narrating style is so smooth that only after completing the whole story readers can make out that this story has a very deep inner meaning and a wonderful flavour of freedom.

A Second Chance – Gayatri Aptekar
The author has very efficiently narrated two stories at a time. How two girls got neglected by their parents at  a very early age, one- because she was born as a girl and the second- because her parents are busy chasing money. One should read the story to know who got the second chance and how.

The Newspaper Reader – Chandrapal Khasiya
This is one unique story. I value the author’s imagination power to frame the story in such away. How difficult it is for a blind woman to answer those innocent questions of 12 year old baby who is finding it tough to gulp down the tragic headlines of the newspaper.

Together We Can Make a Difference – Priyanka Bansal
This author has chosen a very trendy topic to write about. Maximum people of our society are unaware of HIV+ and this story will definitely make the difference. As the title says, after reading this story, readers will definitely think of making a difference.

Don’t Decolorize Me – Priyanka Bansal
Applauds to the author for writing such a fascinating poem in such a delicate topic and choosing such an appropriate name. Acid attacks are so much in the news now and reading this kind of poem will surely give a hard time for reader’s brain cells. This is the best way to end a book like this. 

Final Words: This is one of those rare kinds of anthology which comes up with such wonderful stories and poems. Each and every write-up is showing a different side of our society, different shades of suffering. I appreciate the initiator for coming up with this theme. For me The story of Abhik Chakraborty and the poems of Ila Garg and Priyanka Bansal are the best of the series.

Title: Crumpled Voices – Shades of Suffering
Publisher: Gargi Publishers
Page Count: 208
My Rating: 4.25/5

Moonlit Matinee - And love takes over: A Review

‘Moonlit Matinee – And love takes over’ the name has perfectly complemented the cover. Any reader can easily pick this book by its wonderful cover. After reading the blurb and the foreword by Nandita Bose any reader can imagine the wonderful journey they are going to have throughout the book.

The back cover says – Welcome this ‘season of Love’ with never before effort by thirteen resplendent writers to pen most fascinating love scripts. Cheer the feeling of love with ‘Moonlit Matinee’ and love takes over. It is an unparalleled concept and the blend of Anecdotes, Sonnet, Lyrics and Ballad. This curbs the tale of Lust, Hatred, Sacrifice and Revenge in Relationship but finally it’s Love which ultimately overshadows everything.

Bon Voyage by Harshita Srivastava
First of all I would like to congratulate the compiler for putting this story on the beginning. A wonderfully written story of Khushi and Akash, which will make every reader smile till the end. The simple narrating style of this story gives this book a perfect start.

Emptiness by Pulkit Gupta
A sweet story with a fresh narrating style makes this story one of the best of its series. The mesmerizing tale of Rachit and Radhika will keep readers spell-bound. Thumbs up to Pulkit Gupta for his story telling skills.

Rasgulla by Abhishek ‘Atul’
The captivating plot of the story will make every reader realize how much a girl have to face, when it comes to marriage. The simple narrating style forces the readers to ignore the downfall of the story.

Wish You Were Here by Ila Garg
A well written story by Ila Garg. Any reader can easily visualize the whole scenario played by Aakash and Vaani. A perfect love story with an unexpected ending.

The Rosemary Letters by Ashish Sharma
It is a story written in a poetic form, a ballad. The story unfolds with its every word. A unique way to show the devotion of Meera to Lord Baanke Bihari.

All I Want Is You by Sonia Kundra Singh
A perfect name for this story. A simple love story of an Army man Abhimanyu and Devyani and how the love of theirs helps them to overcome the complications.

The Love Story by Harpreet Makkar
The story of two lovers and how destiny brings them together. Nice story line but can be narrated in a better way.

The Gift by Ishita Bhown
After facing couples of obstacles, Jiah found Raj. The way the author described the support of Raj is something any reader can look forward to. A wonderful storyline with the perfect ending.

Bollywood Affair’s by Ayaan Basu
This story is definitely going to be one of the best of its series. A different story with matured narrative style. The story unfolds how Farzin and Nishant meet, fall in love and their struggles. Any reader can easily say that Ayaan has done a wonderful job with this story.

Flavoured Smoke by Pratham Devang
This story starts when Aviral and Aisha finds each other after five years, accidentally in an unexpected place. The end is interesting, I think readers going to love the end.

Lyrics of Lavish Rain by Rachna Sheth
Rain is the best thing that can make any atmosphere romantic and the poet perfectly described the feeling of a rain in the form of a ballad. A wonderful composition.

Cupid’s Arrow, Bull’s Eye by Siddhartha Yadav
This story starts with a very good perception but the end could have been better. A triangle love story with a predictable end, though the narrative style is good.

Ehsaas – The Feeling by Pulkit Gupta
Once again Pulkit’s mesmerizing narrating style and hear-touching plot can make any reader glued to the story. The story perfectly supports the name.

An Ode to Relationship by Nandini Garg
This poem at the end makes this book complete. The poet efficiently described different natures of love. This poem makes any reader close this book in a good note.

This book is perfectly edited by Harshita Srivastava and efficiently compiled by Pulkit Gupta. My three favorite stories from the book are from writers Ayaan Basu, Ishita Bhown and Pulkit Gupta (in no specific order). Overall it is a 3.5 on 5 for me.

A Phase Unknown - Woman A Tribute : A Review

First of all, I would like to congratulate Shreyashi Phukon for initiating such a wonderful concept. Efficiently edited and compiled by Sharanya Bhattacharya & Nilesh Gowardhan makes this 16 heart whelming woman oriented stories and poems a perfect show stealer.

The back cover says – I WAS NOT BORN, I came as a Blessing, and you tried to murder me before even letting me see this amazing world. I grew up to Dream, Aspire and Achieve, and you Raped them with my body and soul. I became your wife to Support and Beautify your lives and you Burnt me alive for not filling your room with money. I gave you life, praying for your happiness and success but got tears of helplessness and aloofness in return… Yes, I was a woman, who was born to be Loved, yet got Ditched, Sacrificed and Isolated to Smile, Move On and Forgive. Let’s celebrate the unknown phase of my voyage through a unique amalgamation of 16 stories and poems, dedicated to every “HER” for being a “WOMAN”.

After reading the blurb and the foreword by Vinod Pardhi any reader can surely feel the urge to read the book. Let me start with first write up…

ON WOMEN’S DAY! By Titiksha Singhal

A perfect start to the book. I would like to give thumbs up to the compilers for putting this poem at the very beginning. This poem perfectly narrates the present condition of a woman in our society. The name sounds perfect for this poem. As a debutante author, Titiksha has done a commendable job.

SHE By Raviraj Ramavarapu

The fresh narrating style and the gripping storyline could keep any reader glued to the book. The beginning could have been better but the end of the story forced the readers to ignore the drawbacks of this story. The writers’ well chosen words reflect his grip on the language.

MY AFFAIR WITH THE HOOKER By Mahua Ray
A wonderful story with a perfect description style. I love the way the writer portrays the character of ‘Chhamiya’. The way the writer has described the main protagonist’s emotions, add to the glamour of the story. This story is definitely going to be one of the best of its series.

WITH LOVE… YOUR MOM By Riitik Babbar
This story has created an impact on readers with its beautiful and emotional tale. It will bring a smile on every reader’s face and will make reader’s cry till the end. The way the writer has written the write-up in the form of a letter seems captivating to a reader. Keep up the good work.

ENDEAVOUR By Ayushi Sharma
A unique storyline is chosen by the writer. The humiliation faced by a Taliban woman is definitely a touching tale. The narrating style is very much in the trend now. A few well-chosen words and a few more descriptive scenes could take this story to new height.

THE UNBORN By Saket
A nice topic chosen by the poet. This poem wonderfully describes the feeling of an unborn, the unsaid word of an unborn. A must read poem for every reader who wants to hear the scream of an unborn.

MY MOM STRONGEST By Dipti Pathare
A simple yet mesmerizing tale of love. Every reader is going to read this story with a smile glued to their face and at the end the readers will realize how efficiently the writer had portrayed every phase of a woman’s life. The writer’s attractive story telling skills makes this story a pure page-turner.

DAUGHTER’S FATE By Pranav Shree
A perfect name for a story like this. From this story all readers can realize how it feels to be a daughter in a men dominating world. The strong narrating style and wonderfully written poems make this story beautiful.

SHE IS WILD By Dr. Sasiprabha PS
This story is come to me a bolt of fresh air. A wonderfully described story, with a perfect ending to it. At times, readers like indirect morals rather than direct ones and this story justifies the statement. By reading every lines of this story, readers can easily figure out that this story is from an experienced writer. Looking forward to read some more of such kind of story from the writer.

I CAN BE A DEVIL TOO By Vinod Pardhi
From the beginning to the end this story is a fast paced one. The story could have been decorated in a better way by improving the standard of language used in it, though readers can look forward to the twist at the end.

BEING WOMAN By Priyanka Choudhury
The simple story perfectly matches the simple name. Apart from being the most short story of the book, this story definitely has something big to offer. At times, I feel this story has been written in a hurry.

SHATTERED DREAMS By Nilesh Gowardhan
With the help of his excellent writing style, any writer can turn a regular plot into an interesting one. This writer’s flaw-less writing style can make readers overlook the drawback of the plot. Any reader can fall in love with the way the writer narrated the story.

HAUNTING… PARANOIA… NEW BEGINNING By Shreyashi R Phukon
In this story the writer very efficiently described how much pain a rape victim has to suffer and brought forward a unique point that would make any reader think. The story seems a bit stretched so if it would have been a bit faster, it could have kept the reader more hooked.

WOUNDED WINGS, WAILING WOMEN By Devanshu
The name of the poem had increase the expectation for every reader and after reading the poem I can very well say that the poet had stood up to the expectation. A wonderful tribute to the infamous rape victim.

WHAT SHOULD I DO, I WANT TO LIVE By Ragini Singh
The simple narrating style of this writer can make any reader engrossed in this story. The story has a nice start but the end was not that satisfactory which might turn out to be one of the downfalls of the story.

AN INDEED CREATION By Shweta Kesari
The poet very nicely described various phases of a woman. This poem perfectly ends the book. Kudos to the poet for such a meaningful creation.

I think the story of DR. SASIPRABHA PS and of RIITIK BABBAR’s and the poem of TITIKSHA SINGHAL’s are undoubtedly the best any reader can get from this book. Overall I would like to rate this book 4 out of 5.