Me & My Bookshelf !

Earlier this month I had signed up for 52 books in 52 weeks reading challenge . In the introductory post, I mentioned that I will be posting reviews categorically. The category that I have chosen for January is Mythology.... I have a soft spot for Mythology. It is interesting and fascinating at the same time! So when The Aryavarta Chronicles Book 3: Kurukshetra came along for review @ Blogadda, I signed up for it without hesitation. This book is the third in the series - The Aryavarta Chronicles by author - Krishna Udaysankar.    I must admit that I have not read the previous books in this series but I was sure it wouldn't matter that much.It is the well known story - Mahabaratha and the author did not leave the reader in mid air. The Dynasties of the Aryavarta and the cast of characters is clearly mentioned in first few pages. The Author's note starts with  a gathering of scholars in circa second millenium BCE where this story / epic was narrated to...

The New Year is here and once again I am signing up for the 52 Books in 52 Weeks- Reading Challenge 2015.More details here. This challenge has many mini challenges as well . Unlike last year, this year I am  diving in with a plan!I seem to be more efficient when there is a clear plan on what I need to do or what has to be done.So I have decided to do a theme a month.[Please note that this is the theme that I intent to follow and not the rule for the reading challenge]. Updated: I have the names of the books written beside the theme for which the reviews are posted in this blog. To read the reviews click on the genres in the header.... Classics Indian writers  - The Mug of Melancholy, Gulabi,From Where I See Collection of short stories Historical fiction Foodie read - Books with a culinary touch , not cook books Books that were turned into a movie Mega Books[More than 500 pages in length] Philosophy / Religion / Mythology - Kurukshetra , Ramayana Humor Rob...

Last month, before Diwali, I was browsing through the shelves of one of the famous stores in the mall. I chanced upon this book and wanted to pick up a copy as I found the book to have some interesting facts. But since it was past the billing time, I could not pick up a copy.But I was very lucky to receive this from Blogadda for review! This book authored by Devdutt Pattanaik, attempts in unlocking the secrets of our ancestors by bringing into light the meanings of the stories,symbols and rituals of the Goddess. There are seven chapters titled Gaia's secret[Greek Goddess] Kali's secret  Gauri's secret  Durga's secret  Lakshmi's secret  Saraswathi's secret  Vitthai's secret In each of these chapters, the author talks about the balance of male and female entities in the society. It flows through each society, through the Gods and Goddesses and through various cultures and countries. And with that the book talks of how the women wer...

When Blogadda sent me this book for review, I had very high expectations. I have already read and reviewed Ravi Subramanian's Bankster and it was a very thrilling and 'hard to put down' read.I expected nothing less from his current novel.As I started reading this book, I was convinced that the book would live up to my expectations. The story line starts with a prologue -the the meeting between the President of Master Card International and the CEO of Visa International.And this happens in  2009 in New York, where some important decisions are charted out. l story starts with the murder of Gillian Tan in Washington DC while on his way to meet the President who also happens to be his pal. From there the story travels to New Delhi,Mumbai, Goa,New York,Rio and back and forth between these places and more. The story revolves around the world of bitcoins, a relatively new term for many of us.It is a sort of digital currency that was founded in 2008 by Satoshi...

This is a very old book that I picked from a used books sale. This is the first book that I read in the 'Prey series' and it is certainly a good one. Clara Rinker is a hit women, the smartest and best in her job plus is going to business school!. She is hired by a defense attorney - Carmel Loan as she wants to eliminate Barbara Allen and Clara gets the job done. This is unwittingly witnessed by a cop and so starts a series of shootings and killing. Clara and Carmel get together to wipe out the evidences and want to be about without a trace. But things don't go as planned when officer Davenport takes on the killing case and finds a thing or two about both these women. The ending is most unexpected and one of these women dies.Read this book to find out who it is... This book is a fast paced thrilled and after a while you feel sorry, sad and happy for the characters.. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a thriller.. Happy browsing......

Last month I received a copy of the book - Catching the Departed ,from the author for review. The author - Kulpreet Yadav ,is the founder -editor of Open Road Review,a literary journal with  global footprint.He is also the founder of the Asian Pacific Writers and Translators Association.This book was shortlisted for the Hachette - DNA 'Hunt for the Next Bestseller'. When I saw the title, I was sort of intrigued. I wondered if it would be something to do with supernatural things or a mystery solved after someone departed to the other world.Well, read on to know what it is all about! Read more of this review in my other blog. .. Happy Browsing...

This is one of the books that I got recently.Very recently ,actually,just 2 days ago! I finished reading it the same day I got this book in two hours flat!!It is one of those books that made me read till the end non stop. The story is about a family that plans to move to Singapore from London. A husband of British origin, a wife of Indian origin and their 14 year old son, settle down in Singapore. They hire a maid ,a young lady,Mary,to make things easy around the house. In reality, the house and the people are torn and tattered by the actions of the maid! Or that is what Mrs. Rashmi Kettlewood thinks... David Kettlewood has a weird way of pointing an empty gun at his wife after getting stupidly drunk and getting his way with her in bed. Rashmi catches her husband in bed with the maid in the same manner that he does it with her ,is inexplicably furious and decides to send back the maid. By the agency refuses to transfer her to another home within the city since the medical t...