Bought: Destitute Yet Defiant by Sarah Morgan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

One more modern love story, among the millions of them thronging the market place, from Mills and Boon series.

Storyline: Jesse, a girl who spent her childhood in the shoddy downtown areas along with her brother Joe and his friend Silvio, grows up to be a singer in a cheap bar. She lives a debt-ridden life, after the death of her brother, until she meets Silvio after many years. Silvio had grown up to become a billionaire and comes back for his childhood crush Jessie, only to realize that she is leading a tough life. Jessie, though initially mistakes Silvio for having been responsible for his brother’s death, later, realizes that he was actually supporting him then and her, now. Similarly, Silvio also mistakes Jessie to have resorted to prostitution, to earn money, but later discovers that she only uses her voice but not her body. Meanwhile, Silvio introduces Jessie to his rich lifestyle and finally makes her a big star singer. Jessie, who didn’t want to be a hindrance to Silvio’s extravagant life, leaves him only to be followed by him afterwards to confess his love to her. They marry and live happily ever after.

Pros: Another soft love story from the author which takes the reader through like a cool sail on pristine waters. Jessie’s poverty and her simplicity seem to have made Silvio to love her rather than her outward beauty. This is the best part of the love story as the author made it a point to ascertain once again that True Love simply does not arise out of just physical features.

Cons: Somehow I always felt that Mills and Boon series always tends to show the women in their story mentally strong initially but ultimately become weak and fall for the men whom they love. Here, I felt that Silvio had made a clever investment in Jessie, as a businessman rather than a true lover. The question still remains as to whether Silvio would have married Jessie, if she was not gifted with her golden voice. I see this kind of love more of a business deal and than anything else.

My rating is 3 out of 5


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Self Discipline: The Ultimate Self Discipline Guide - How To Build Good Habits, Develop Self Control, Beat Procrastination & Achieve Personal Goals by Richard Carroll
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

A booklet of how to build good habits, develop self control, beat procrastination and achieve personal goals. Many useful steps to achieve both professional and personal goals have been briefly suggested. Some of my favorite tips that I personally found might be useful are 1) taking a pause to re-channel or refocus energy when something goes wrong 2)Getting good amount of sleep after stressful moments and 3)stop procrastinating in order to achieve what one wants in targeted time periods.

The author should have included some live examples to make the book more interesting. Nothing new in the tips suggested. Could have been better.

My favorite quote in the book

“Resting is taking a break after a few days of work, while procrastinating is not doing anything even before the work started”

My rating is 2 out of 5


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Durbar by Tavleen Singh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Tavleen Singh, a prominent Punjabi born journalist of Indian press and media, has revealed some of the astonishing facts about Indira Gandhi and her successors, which I think that every Indian who has a passion towards evolution of Indian politics must read. I would like to congratulate her for bringing out this startling book of her career as a journalist cum political analyst.

The book opens with the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, the last Prime Minister of the Congress party from the Gandhi dynasty and ends with the same. All the events that pre-existed before this assassination right from the start of his mother, Indira Gandhi, taking over as prime minister of India, were efficiently narrated in the best possible chronological order. The iron hand politics of Indira Gandhi and her dictatorial thought policy about the Indian mentality has been clearly elicited in her actions with respect to the declaration of Emergency in 1975, usage of Income tax raids over all those who acted against her Government, her cunning actions against the Muslims at the same time protecting her vote bank in the disguise of secularism, and finally bringing in the dynastic culture to Indian politics. Her inefficiencies with respect to handling Hindu-Muslim divide, Kashmir issue, Punjab terrorism and North East imbroglio was well highlighted with real facts. The way Indira Gandhi exploited the Indian masses through her charm and family history can never be forgiven. A similar kind of treatment from her son Rajiv Gandhi after her assassination has kept Indian economy and development much below world standards mainly due to his incapacity to understand what India wants and heavy reliance on his closed and inexperienced peers from higher echelons. His poor foreign policy and ineffective Government measures failed to eradicate poverty and raise the literacy levels to desired standards even after having kept the political power with their family for almost thirty years, after Independence. His assassination came as a surprise to the world and continued the passing over of the throne to his subtle and equally inefficient foreigner wife, Sonia Gandhi. Wonder when we Indians would stop worshiping the so-called dynasties of the royal class with white skins and start encouraging those amongst our own color and talents!

Pros: The tough life of a passionate political journalist is the strength of this work.This book brought out many facts and figures about how the Nehruvian socialistic ideas have been implemented in the worst possible ways, mainly due to short-sighted approach and inefficiency of his successors. Poor literacy levels, absence of free media, rampant caste divisions, huge rich-poor gap, central control of economic activity, heavy reliance on peer groups who are close to the family but with minimum practical approach and lack of cultural understanding about the different ethnicities prevailing in India were some of the reasons why the Gandhi family had failed to bring about the desired economic and social development of the country. On top of all these factors, the major demonic culture of “dynastic inheritance” introduced by Indira Gandhi is said to be the main concern of today’s india, which spread to each and every corner of the country and even the lowest administrative units, like a dangerous virus.

Cons: This book seems to have been written from the critical point of view on the Indira Gandhi family. Though there were many facts about the ills of her administration, there were also some popular welfare policies which have created lasting impressions in the minds of Indian masses. The author’s tone seems to be carrying some kind of affinity towards her Punjabi background and the injustice that she felt when her State’s problem was dealt by the Gandhi family, in a way not acceptable to her. Apart from the above, there should have been some mention about Indira Gandhi’s husband and how she rose to be the Prime Minister of India after Jawaharlal Nehru.

My favorite quote in the book:

“There are political families in other democracies but outside the Indian subcontinent the widow or the children of a political leader do not automatically claim the dead man’s legacy as if it were their birthright.”

My rating is 3.5 out of 5


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The Test of My Life by Yuvraj Singh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The author Yuvraj Singh is one of the most sought after cricketing star amongst the Indian youth. He is one player on whom the entire country relies upon when it comes to winning shots and saving the game from critical situations in International Cricket.
When his career was at its peak, this young player was one day diagnosed with a rare type of cancer called ‘Seminoma” consisting of a tumor in between his lungs and heart. That was the day from which he fought with this fatal disease and came out victorious after a year to be back again on the cricket field, playing for his country.
This book, which he wrote, surely brings out tears, particularly at the time when going through his tough times of chemotherapy at Indianapolis in USA. The side-effects and the pain caused while the battle between the medicine and the cancerous outgrowth is taking place inside the patient’s body, is quite excruciating. He could successfully bring in all his emotions with respect to how he was able to cope with the deadly pain….all because of his strong will and determination to go back to India and play his game, as before.
The best part of his life is that he set up a charity organization for cancer patients, named “YOUWECAN” to help detect cancer in people living in places where there are no proper hospitals and medical facilities. Very few celebrities go to that extent of helping the poor in fighting out the deadly disease, which, he could conquer and survive.

Pros: The author’s narration about his disease and the way he neglected it is a strong lesson to many who neglect their illness and avoid seeing a doctor, when something is really wrong with their bodies. His extremely strong will power to survive and play cricket again is the trait that every cancer affected patient should adopt in order to win over this deadly disease. The author’s concern for those who cannot afford the kind of facilities and financial power that he was bestowed upon is quite commendable. Finally, his encouraging words about the sanctity in social acceptance of cancer patients is to be well received and thanked.
I would definitely recommend this book to all those patients who are undergoing the painful Chemotherapy, to get that additional confidence to live on….

Cons: Having lost my brother to Seminoma twelve years ago, I still feel that cure for this disease is only for the rich and famous. Cancer deaths are just not the death of a person but a death of the entire family dependent on him. Many die because they cannot afford the kind of treatment Yuvraj could get. Many do not have access to basic pain killers even. Wonder when the real affordable generic medicine for all kinds of cancer would roll out to save lakhs of cancer-affected lives of the poorer world. There was no mention of his famous girl friend and where she was during his bad days.
The book is definitely not for those countries which do not play cricket. The actual interesting part of the book, as per me, is only from the middle, when the author actually starts describing his treatment and the aftermath. Prior to that, it was little boring!

My favorite quote in the book:

“Play the tournament for someone you love or respect or for someone who is special and has played a huge role in your life, Play it for someone you think you owe something to.”

My rating is 4 out of 5


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Jesus Christ: The Real Story by United Church of God
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A book brought out by The United Church of God, who claim to be the real and original followers of the doctrine of Love of God, established by Jesus Christ himself, definitely cleared many doubts in the followers of Christ and of course some of other religions too.
This book through various quotes from the Bible, brought out the simple truth about the return of Jesus Christ, for the second time into this world, this time not out of Love and Forbearance but with Wrath and Vengeance over all the mankind which failed to obey his long established Love of God, through his crucifixion.
Various myths about the birth of the Christ, his lifestyle, his family connections, his miracles, his preaching against the Roman priests, accusations upon him by his own community and disciples, his painful death through crucifixion, his resurrection from the grave, origin of the Cross, Origin of the names Jesus and Christ, and his message to his disciples etc have been scientifically explained in this book with chronological and documented details. Even a non-Christian would be convinced about the reality in the existence of the Son of God once upon a time and his sure-shot return back to this world, right at the time when mankind faces the verge of extinction.

Pros: Some doubts about the birthday of the Christ and the day of Resurrection have been so well explained. After reading this book, one would get a clear idea as to how the original Bible has been mis-interpreted and manipulated for the benefit of its present day preachers. The science behind the deadly punishment methodology of Romans called “crucifixion” is my favorite topic in this book. One would keep wondering about the startling revelation that Jesus came into this world long back just to fulfill the prophesies of the Old Testament and bear the sins of mankind but not to become the King of Jews: and that he is bound to come back this time not as the Christ the Saviour, but as Christ the Creator & Ruler of God’s own Kingdom.

Cons: Apart from some un-heard facts in the Bible, rightly revealed, I somehow felt that the book was targeted at creating fear amongst the non-followers of Christianity with respect to their chances of being expelled from the forthcoming Kingdom of God. Some questions like what was the sanctity of the religions and beliefs that existed many thousands of years even before the Birth of the Christ? And why only Jews and only the territory around the Middle Eastern countries was the center of discussion in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible? Were people of other parts of the world not a matter of concern to the so-called God? How does the father of Jesus, Jehovah look like? Why doesn’t He appear on Earth and put an end to all the sins and flaws of mankind forever? Why, What, and When....are the million dollar questions that need to be yet answered.

My favorite quote in the book

“Enter by the narrow gate, He tells us, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it”

My rating is 4.25 out of 5


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