‘Of Love & Second Chances

Hello & Welcome Back Book Lovers.

Today in our hot seat we feature Debut Author Shreya Prabhu Jindal of ‘ Another Chance at Life’.

An English professor by day and a dreamy author by night, Shreya takes you on a journey of emotions with her new novel and will leave you gasping for more. Her book is very realistic in nature where emotions and relationships are portrayed beautifully and are maturely handled.Her book talks about what happens when you lose the first love of your life.

Articulately  put and well narrated through the protagonist Aditya, Shreya gives you an insight on life after love and the myriad of pressures associated with it and how do you move on.

It is a book to watch out for those looking for something different to read from the clichéd love stores.

To know the author up close and personnel, here is excerpt of her interview with us.

1.  Tell us something about the character ‘Aditya’ that readers will love about him.

Well, I don’t know about the readers, but for me Aditya is an average guy trying to deal with really difficult and tragic situation as best as he can. There is nothing particularly extraordinary about him, except maybe his ability to not look at things in black and white. I think he deals with the constant hatred and mistreatment of his Professor with a lot of compassion and understanding.

   2. Everybody loves a good love story, but your book deals with life after love. What inspired you to write such a story

Well, I think that loss and heartbreak are universal facts of life, but people don’t deal with them in a realistic manner. I have found that many novels and movies which deal with life after love tend to be too sentimental and unrealistic. I wanted to try and write about this in as realistic a manner as possible. But actually, the story for me started when I got the idea for the relationship between Aditya and the professor, Krishnan, not from the love story. The complex, antagonistic, and multi-faceted relationship between the two characters is what I had envisioned first, and the love story sort of got added on to that.

3.  You chose to write from the point of view of a male protagonist for your debut book, as a lot first time female authors prefer to play a safer bet and chose female protagonist. Any particular reason..

Actually, for me, I would find it more difficult to write from woman’s point of view. Over the years, it just so happened that all my favourite literary or film characters have been male. I think because of that, I am a lot more comfortable with the male perspective.

4. One book or movie that you can’t forget..

Harry Potter! I was part of the generation that grew up waiting for the next book to come out, and I will never forget the rush of getting a new Harry Potter novel after a year long wait.

5. The person that inspires you the most

J.K. Rowling! She’s a living example of the classic rags to riches story. The tale of her success is truly inspirational.

6. Any reviews or critique by your readers that really touched your heart

I received one very moving review on Facebook, where the reader said he really enjoyed my work and asked Allah to bless me and my pen. I was very flattered by such high praise!

7. Do you think in this publishing boom scenario, do you feel that authors need to be aggressive and competitive to reach out to readers via various mediums?

I think it has become both easier and harder for aspiring authors. There is a lot of opportunity and demand for young writers now, and it is comparatively far easier to publish a novel than it ever has been before this boom. However, because there are so many books of similar genres being published, it is very easy for a book to be lost among the hundreds of new titles. It is therefore very important for authors to use various mediums, particularly social networks and blogs, to promote their books as aggressively s possible.

8.  Do you think good books make good movies, your thoughts and any plans on the same?

I think with advancing technology it’s becoming increasingly easy to adapt books with a lot of creativity as well as remaining faithful to the spirit of the original. I would love my novel to be adapted into a movie someday. I sort of visualized it as a movie even while writing it, and a lot of people have said it’s very cinematic.

9.Your current reads

I am, sadly, not reading much these days except children’s notebooks! School teaching doesn’t leave you much time. However, I hope that I will be able to read a few more books during the summer.

10.  Pet Peeves

I hate sentimentality in literature and movies. If a dialogue seems too cheesy or over the top, I often stop watching or reading immediately. I like books and movies that deal with emotions with as much realism as possible.

11.   Your favorite city and why

I have lived all over the place, and I love big bustling metros most of all. I think I will always have a soft spot for Mumbai, since that’s where I was born.

Publisher: Penguin India

Price: Rs 199

Signing off for now

Until next time Geeks.

And don’t forget to drop in your comments.

For details and queries write to crosswordconnect@gmail.com

Happy Reading!

Crossword Bookstores.

Book Review: ‘Pax Indica: India and the World in the 21st Century’

Hello & Welcome Back Book Lovers

We are back with your dose of Bookipedia.

Today we have a very interesting and in depth review written by Our new Guest Geek Blogger Katherine Abraham (Lets hear some applause).

A Bright and Talented Young Reader, She has beautifully articulated the book for us.

 Do Read the Review below and drop in your Comments.

 And all those who still want to be part of our Crossword Geek Blogger Program do write to us at crosswordconnect@gmail.com.

 

India’s Diplomatic Conundrum: Pax Indica

“Pax Indica” is the thirteenth feather in the cap of the Author- Diplomat turned Politician Shashi Tharoor. This engaging read stretches over 11 chapters and 428 pages, written with precision, clarity and an idea to introduce Indians and non- Indians to the concept, crux and complexities of India’s Foreign Policy.

At first sight the image on the book jacket which depicts an Indian Elephant trudging over the Globe may render the reader a feeling that the book is sure to lead the argument on the hallowed Indian ‘Superpower’. However the very first few pages make it amply clear that the Author has no remote inclination of declaring India as a Superpower just yet. Page 351 of the book dispels all doubts on this issue in a single question, “Can we be taken seriously as a potential world leader in the 21^st century if we do not develop develop the institutions, the practices, the personnel and the mind-set required to lead in the global arena?”

The Latin title ‘Pax Indica’ literally translates as ‘Peace – India.’ One is forced to contemplate if there should in fact be a question mark at the end of that phrase because as one reads through, the views evinced come off as rather tangential, as it highlights the reasons India is struggling with to make Peace in its neighbourhood.

Staying true to the Historian in him Shashi Tharoor begins by re- visiting the past, reminiscing the tenets of the Nehruvian policy and then poses the question, “What would a ‘Pax Indica’ look like?” The answer to this is found in the ensuing chapters.

Eliciting views comes naturally for someone who has spent more than half his life in the global arena. The superiority of this book lies in the fact that each chapter begins with a briefing on the historical ties that each of these countries shares with India while gradually steering its way to the present situation and the current posit of these relations. The book which serves as an exposé goes on to elaborate on the capricious Indo- Pak relationship laying the bare facts without feigning optimism. While the author talks of the need for better relations, the book poses a lot of questions with fewer answers. One would expect a diplomat to share his blueprint for solutions to the same.

The author adopts a positive note on Afghanistan’s ability to develop as a hub of trade which will prove instrumental in connecting central and south Asia. The Author refers to his tenure as the Minister of State for External Affairs while subtly dropping a line on the superficiality of the Indian Foreign Policy when he uses the phrase ‘Official India’ on page 89.

The Grand Finale in the book namely its last two chapters are expansive, educative, eye- openers on questions a lot of IFS aspirants have been asking and the lacuna that exist in the Indian Executive.

As to the question on NRIs Shashi Tharoor very aptly sums their importance in three simple words : Pride, Support and Investments. The author continues to give the readers the idea of Dem0cracy and Diversity.

Structurally, the book is well divided. Each paragraph centres around a single thought. The paragraph ends and so does the point of focus.

It is commendable that the Author ensures to draw the attention of readers to the neglected Indian Foreign Service and weaves the past problems encountered by various Ministers and the laxity on the part of successive governments although he himself is a part of the system.

The book however falls short in a few places especially when dealing with Indo- Maldivean relations. One gets the feel that the passage has almost been hastily jotted down, perhaps in the quest to avoid leaving any country. Given the author’s current political standing one can only presume that a policy of caution has been maintained consistently.. At many levels the Author’s hopes for a shared world vision and a Multi polar world is appreciable but rather a distant dream as of now.

The essence of the book lies in the Author’s statement, “Diplomatic initiatives need to be converted into commercial, touristic and investment opportunities.”

A recommended read for all, those expecting the book to be a deep and intense analysis of Indian Foreign Policy must read the Author’s Acknowledgments where he explicitly states that ‘Pax Indica’ is an ‘extended analytical essay devoid of footnotes and reference material.’

The size of the book need not intimidate any reader worried about a heavy read. The target audience in this case is rather wide because the wealth of information is of interest for young readers while the nuances of Foreign Policy making are sure to attract older readers.
With a perfect blend of history, culture and diplomacy, Pax Indica: India and the World of the 21^st Century, is a light enjoyable read on a rather heavy topic!

Giving it a 4/5 for its style of writing and 3.5/5 for its content.

Publisher : Penguin India

Author: Shashi Tharoor

Price: Rs 799