Category: From My Bookshelf

There are lots of books stacked on my bookshelf. When I pick one of them, I dive into the amazing world created by an author as soon as I open the cover. However, there is always “the end” written on the last page of the book. Have you ever felt that you are in the same world with those characters? Witnessing those scenes written on pages in your hand, hearing voices of characters speaking dialogues scripted for them? There are a few books which have taken me in their world. And I must say, they are magnificent. Valentia created by Rajamayyoor Sharma is on top of my head as far as Indian fiction is concerned while James Clavel has taken me to mediaeval Japan. I have roamed around London with Sherlock and Poirot.

And yet, the journey in those realms, started from the cover page, has its end marked. The author takes the characters by hand and takes them to their destination by the end of the book. They fulfil their destiny. If a writer chooses to give happy moments at the end, we enjoy them. If it’s a tragedy, characters at least get closure at the end. Many times, I wish to ask the author if he or she has forgotten to write something for me? What about my destiny at the end? What about my share of the closure? Haven’t you thought about me as an uninvited traveller on this journey when you wrote a book?

Here you will find my reflections on my readings. Hope you will also enjoy these stories as much as I did.

  • Byomkesh Bakshi – The Best Indian Crime Fiction

    Byomkesh Bakshi – The Best Indian Crime Fiction

    My interst in the crime fiction as a genre developed over the years of reading. I distinctly remember who introduced me to the thrill of solving the mystery. Rajit Kapoor playing Satyanveshi Byomkesh Bakshi got me hooked on this kind of stories. I used to watch this series religiously on DD National back when I was very young. Later the love for Crime Fiction developed and I discovered many more master storytellers like Sir Arther, Agatha Christie, Jeffrey Archer, Suhas Shirwalkar, Anita Nair and many more. But, Sharadindu Bandopadhyay, a Bengali writer of Byomkesh Bakshi had sadly left my mind. I wasn’t aware if his works are translated into English or not.

    When I started listening to audio books on Storytel and Audible, I suddenly remembered of him. I thought of checking if any of Byomkesh stories are available to listen to. I was happy to see not only his stories are translated but are even available in audio format!

    What to expect

    Sharadindu had written more than 30 stories but Monimala Dhar has translated only 7 of them in this book. I listened to the audio version of the book which was narrated wonderfully by Sumit Kaul. All the stories from the book are fantastic and give a full satisfaction of reading a crime fiction. However, a particular story has stuck with me. Story titled ‘The Avenger’ is translated from the original story with a title Achin Pakhi.

    When Byomkesh and his writer friend Ajit were invited to a wedding in a small town near Kolkata, they met a retired police officer who had settled down in that town. Officer narrate them a story of his last case before retiring which he could not have solve. Police had apprehended few suspects carrying a body of a dead woman on a cot. On investigating, nothing wrong was revealed and they were set free. However things took a sharp turn when the main suspect got murdered by unknown person. Police couldn’t get to the bottom of this. Now after every lead has gone cold, it’s up to Satyanveshi Byomkesh to take up a case or not to find the truth behind it.

    All the other stories from this collection are equally intriguing and interesting to listen.

    From the blurb

    Detective fiction has never lacked devoted fans. The undying popularity of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot vouch for that fact. In the early thirties, a detective by the name of Byomkesh Bakshi made an unobtrusive entry into the world of Bengali fiction. He preferred calling himself a satyanneshi, a seeker of truth, and within days was a household name, courtesy his cerebral skills and the exciting situations he found himself in. In the tradition of Doyle and Christie, Byomkesh is accompanied on his adventures by his friend, Ajit, slightly obtuse and the perfect foil to him.

    About the book

    • Title: Byomkesh Bakshi Stories
    • Publisher: Roopa Publishing / Audible Studios
    • Published: 7 November 2018
    • ASIN: B07K6YDKQQ
    • Length : 6 hours and 26 minutes
    • MRP : ₹287.00

    My Rating

    Stories: 4/5
    Narration: 4.5/5
    Production: 5/5

    Overall Rating: 4.5/5

    Where to buy

    Should you read it?

    If you can’t read Bangla, this this is the best way to enjoy these master pieces written by Sharadindu Bandopadhyay. You will not regret it that’s my word!

    This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. For more about my views on books, click here.

  • Frank Notes on Life in Khushwant Style

    Frank Notes on Life in Khushwant Style

    I remembered picking up this book from a newly opened crossword. Till that date, I had only heard name and fame of Khushwant Singh, a grand old man of letters. This was the first of his books I picked up. Though cover with a photograph of this old yet confidant man enticed me to buy, the book actually landed in my over-increasing pile of TBRs.

    His work is far from a light read and just for this reason, I had left the book once only after getting in just a few pages. But I picked it up once again after some years. This time, I decided to give it a serious read and man, I was blown away! His writing is so raw and true to his believes that some people will be turned away with it.

    What to expect from this?

    When he wrote this one, he was at the age of 96. He opens the book with this topic, about being old! In the later pages, he opens up about his views on sex, love and marriages. He talks about his relationship with his wife Kaval and the rough patch in their marriage. He also writes about his worries, insecurities and much more.

    Next he moves on to the people he came across in his life, few he liked, he respected and some whom he trashed with his pen. He had trashed the religious fundoos (his word for fundamentalists) from all the religions including his own with harsh strokes of his pen. Khushwant took a strong stand against Bhindranwale for which he was on their hit list for years. He shares his views about politics, terrorism and the riots of 1984.

    Even being agnostic himself, he writes elaborately on various religious scriptures and what he finds good in them. There is a long piece on Sikh community in the book along with one on the city of Delhi. Khushwant shares his love for Urdu language and especially for Urdu poetry, where he tells us how he enjoyed translating works of great poets in English and his favorites amongst those legends.

    From the blurb

    In Absolute Khushwant, India’s grand old man of letters tells us about his life, his loves and his work. He writes on happiness, faith and honesty. And, for the first time, about his successes and failures, his strengths and weaknesses, his highs and lows. He tells us what makes him tick and the secret of his longevity; he confesses his deepest fears and what he holds dear. He writes about sex, marriage, worship and death; the people he’s admired and detested. With personal anecdotes and rare photographs, Absolute Khushwant is uncompromising, moving, and straight from the heart.

    About the book

    • Title: Absolute Khushwant
    • Publisher: India Penguin
    • Published: Feb/2019
    • ISBN: 9780143068716
    • Length : 212 Pages
    • MRP : ₹250.00

    My Rating

    Content: 3.5/5
    Cover Design: 3.5/5
    Ease of reading: 2.5/5

    Overall: 3/5

    Where to get your copy

    Should you read it?

    Does a social commentary catches your attention? If the firm views don’t bother you, you are in for a treat. Just take up the book with open heart and give it a go. Not every one will enjoy this one.

    This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. For more about my views on books, click here.

  • With Love; From Aditya’s book-shelf to BlogchatterA2Z

    With Love; From Aditya’s book-shelf to BlogchatterA2Z

    It’s this time of the year when a blogger starts panicking about what should one write throughout the month of April as their entries for April A2Z. Because April is just around the corner and you have no clue about what to write. If you are a part of a community, then a pressure might get more. Few of your fellow bloggers have already scheduled half of their posts. I am one of those who is panicking at the last moment. However, my favorite thing in life has come to the rescue like a best buddy. Yes, I am talking about books cause I can’t write 26 posts about coffee alone.

    Good fellows at Blogchatter; our lovely blogging community; have decided to dedicate this A2Z for “Blogging and Friendship”. And for me, books are the perfect friend who will be with you when you are alone. In fact, a book is a friend who lets you be alone even if you are surrounded by a crowd.

    My love for books is a well known fact for my close friends and family. It has gone to that level that now I don’t get anything but bookish stuff as gifts on various occasions. (I am thinking how no one has thought about the Kindle e-reader as a gifting option? 😉) So I thought it would be a great idea to talk about 26 books which I enjoyed reading during this year’s April A2Z.

    If you have also read the book, we all can talk about it in the comments. Share our notes on what we enjoyed in the book or didn’t. So, don’t forget to join me on this bookish trail for the month of April and enjoy my 26 book recommendations. and for more bookish content, click here.

  • नदीसाठी नादखुळा असलेल्या एका नदीष्टाची गोष्ट

    नदीसाठी नादखुळा असलेल्या एका नदीष्टाची गोष्ट

    एखादं पुस्तक वाचण्यापुरते कोणाकडून उसने घ्यावे आणि वाचून झाल्यावर हे पुस्तक संग्रही असायलाच हवे असे फार फार दिवसांनी आज मनोज बोरगावकर यांचे नदीष्ट वाचताना झाले. तसे पाहिले तर हे पुस्तक वाचायला तसा ४ वर्ष उशीरच झाला. अगदी प्रकाशनच्या दिवशी विकत घेऊन वाचण्यासारखे हे पुस्तक आहे यात अजिबात शंका नाही. आमच्या नाशकाच्या वरच्या बाजूला उगम पावणारी नदी पुढे जात जात नांदेडच्या बोरगावकरांना इतकी माया लावते, हे वाचताना केवळ गोदेच्या पाण्यावर पोसलेला अजून एक पिंड म्हणून की काय माझे एक वेगळेच नाते या पुस्तकाशी जोडले गेले आहे.

    विनायक पाटील यांनी पुस्तकाला अभिप्राय देताना म्हटल तशीच पुस्तकाची शैली अगदीच वेगळी आहे. पण पुस्तक खाली ठेवावे वाटत नाही इतकी मनाची घट्ट पकड घेणारी आहे. निवडून काढावे आणि मधून मधून वाचत राहावे असे खूप सारे विचारधन या संपूर्ण पुस्तकात पानापानावर विखुरले आहे.

    मलपृष्ठावरून

    विषय चाकोरी बाहेरचा आहे. शैली पहिल्या धारेची आहे. थेट कोंडूरा किंवा बनगरवाडीची आठवण करून देणारे लिखाण आहे. ‘नदीष्ट’ ही मनोज बोरगावकर यांची केवळ कादंबरी नाही, तो आहे त्यांच्या प्रत्यक्षदर्शी आणि अनुभवसिद्ध घटनांचा कसदार ललित गद्य हुंकार. ‘नदीष्ट’ ही मराठी कादंबरीविश्वातील अकरावी दिशा आहे.
    —
    विनायक पाटील, नाशिक

    पुस्तकाविषयी

    नांव: नदीष्ट
    लेखक: मनोज बोरगावकर
    पृष्ठ संख्या: १६८
    प्रकाशक: ग्रंथाली प्रकाशन
    आयएसबीएन-१०: 9357950702
    आयएसबीएन-१३: 978-9357950701

    माझे रेटिंग

    कथा: ५/५
    लेखनशैली: ५/५
    मुखपृष्ठ: ५/५

    एकूण रेटिंग: ५/५

    कुठे मिळेल?

    तुम्ही वाचायला हवे?

    आजवर जर तुम्ही ही कादंबरी वाचली नसेल तर मग पहिल्यांदा जवळच्या दुकानात जा, तुमची प्रत घेऊन या. आणि अगदीच घरबसल्या हवं असेल तर ऑनलाईन मागवा पण हे पुस्तक वाचायला विसरू नका, टाळू नका. वाचून झालं की नक्की सांगाल, अगदी उत्तम आहे म्हणून….

    माझ्या आवडीच्या पुस्तकांबद्दल अजून माहिती हवी असेल तर इथे क्लिक करा.

  • Charming Spell of Desai’s “Shriman Yogi”

    Charming Spell of Desai’s “Shriman Yogi”

    In honor of the former president of India late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Maharashra celebrates “Reading Inspiration Day” on 15th of October. On that occasion I wrote a post about the book which inspired me in the world of books. It cultivated a hobby of reading. It was a Marathi post. Today I have the opportunity to bring that book in front of a wider audiance through Blogchatter’s bloghopping prompt.

    There’s a cupboard in my house, my grandma’s cupboard. It’s filled with all sorts of books. This is the story of my entry into the enchanting world of books. I must have been in 4th or 5th standard back then. But back in those days, my interaction with that cupboard was limited to stealing some glances at them if the door is open. My grandpa used to be a member of big public library in Nashik. So those borrowed books was in house too. But I never felt like picking one up and read.

    But one day, it was all supposed to change.

    I think it was a summer break for my school. I dared one afternoon and opened that cupboard. While browsing through the shelves, reading book titles and author names on spines of well stacked books. However, one particular book caught my eye. It was quite a huge chunky book. But the size didn’t grab my attention. Binding of the book was unique. Unique yellowish hard bound cover was unmarked. It didn’t bear any title, any name. I grabbed that book and took it out. It felt quite heavy at that time, with 1000 plus pages in a hard cover binding. I opened the cover and title in bold orange caught my eye.

    “श्रीमान योगी”. For obvious reasons, i couldn’t understand the meaning of the words. Yet I stated reading it. And man, what a joy it was! Ranjeet Desai is the man who showed me the what joy of reading meant. There must be something about Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj back in school that year, to story in book felt much more gripping and interesting than chapters of my textbook. I was oblivious to the greatness of this author. I finished the book in straight 3 days, loosing track of food, sleep, playtime and all other attractions which a 10 years old kid could have in late 90s.

    After this, there was no turning back

    I got hooked on the habit of reading. I started picking up the books borrowed from library. Many of which I have left unfinished as I couldn’t understand a thing in it at that age. But I have read this particular book number of times. Even now, I pull this one off the shelf and start reading from a random page. It still gives me the same pleasure. Recently I bought two short story collections of Desai’s stories. I have finished बाबूलमोरा and will start मोरपंखी सावल्या now as my next read.

    Fortunately for you all, Vikrant Pande has translated this Marathi book into English and Harper Collins has published it Under Name of “Shivaji: The Great Maratha”. So, grab your copy and let me know what you think.

    This post is a part of Blogchatter Blog Hop. If you want any more book recommendations click here, and to listen to my poetry audiobook, checkout this.

  • Very Moving Tale of Partition – The Map & The Scissors

    Very Moving Tale of Partition – The Map & The Scissors

    2022 is an important milestone for independent India. We are celebrating 75 years of our independence from the yoke of the British Empire. And yet, there is a frill of sorrow to this whole celebration and achievement. On the eve of our independence, our country broke and a new nation was born on our two sides. The Map and The Scissors by Amit Majumdar is the story of this partition and the men behind this.

    Whole partition thing is so tragic that any book on the subject can turn into lament and bashing of the other side. However, Amit has traded this path so nicely that you never feel it has gone down that slippery slope.

    Why you should read it?

    The way Amit builds his characters has a very unique charm to it. You can see them come alive in front of you and start acting out the scenes he has written for them in his book. Secondly, Amit has rightly played on the middle ground and not taken any side. Both the sides are developed equally and got their dues. There no “Right Side” and “Wrong Side” in his book. He has dramatized the history in form of this historical fiction.

    Frankly speaking, I was attracted to this book because of it’s title as I am a professional map-maker. And the fact that there’s a map on the cover sealed the deal for me. I loved the way Devangana Dash has designed this cover. Full marks to the design!

    About the book

    Title: The Map and The Scissors
    Author: Amit Majumdar
    Pages: 330
    Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

    My rating

    Story: 4/5
    Cover Design: 5/5

    Overall rating: 4.5/5

    Where to Buy

    Should you read it?

    If you are looking for unbiased story around partition of India, you should definitely consider this book as your next read.

    This review is powered by the Blogchatter Book Review Program. You can read more of my book recommendations here.