Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

Saturday, December 28, 2013

When a simple autograph can bring smiles

Jennifer Lopez (珍妮弗·洛佩兹)
Jennifer Lopez (珍妮弗·洛佩兹) (Photo credit: pamhule)
Recently, I visited my old office mates who had purchased a copy of my book. On seeing me, all of them broke out into such big smiles that lit up even the darkest corners. Wasting no time, they formed a beeline with their copies for my autograph. And when they got one, their happiness knew no bounds.After signing all the copies, I thanked them and proceeded to the exit. I left the place but what didn't leave me was the thought that just a simple autograph from a debutant author could bring so much joy. I was both, honoured and humbled.

I know I'm not that great an author or a big public figure. But come to think of it, the simple things of life hold so much joy. Just like an ice gola on a hot summer afternoon or your pet licking your face. If a simple autograph which hardly takes a minute can bring some joy then why deprive someone of it? I know this is not going to boost sales or increase my social standings, but still, its better to have a choice than not. Hence, for those who would prefer an autographed copy I have opened the Nelton D'Souza brand store at www.neltondsouza.com where my books would be sold at the MRP of INR 199/- and with free shipping. All the books would be personally autographed by me. And yes, the proceeds would go to charity.

My book is on relationships, love and life but it doesn't talk of the immense joy it brings to people. I wish I could write a book on that, but wonder if it would ever have an end. 
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Friday, August 23, 2013

Presenting my first book - State of the Heart


Ramakrishnan Subramaniam, Head, Internal Systems, Syntel Inc calls it a wonderful collection of short stories covering so many beautiful facets of human relationships.

Anish Sarkar, Author, Benaami, says its a collection of heartwarming stories which makes you believe in the beauty of life. 

Need we say more?

Presenting the 'State of the Heart' - short stories on relationships, love and life. 
My book has been nothing short of a dream come true that has survived the test of time. After a year of writing the stories the following 6 months only saw constant rejections from publishers and delays – change of project, extended hours at office with no weekends and my father’s sudden illness. 


An outcome of my observation of the people around me, be it in the bus to work or on the street, my book has stories about real people -  the ones you didn't think were so interesting. In short, it could be a story about you or someone like you. My book may not be a great piece of literature but yes, behind every single word you shall find immense passion. 

It shall be available for purchase online (autographed and at a discount) from 31st August. In addition, a part of the proceeds of every book will go towards charity. 
Links and details to be shared soon on www.neltondsouza.com

You can also win 3 personally signed copies of my book. For details visit http://www.facebook.com/AuthorNeltonDSouza/posts/317077528437485


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Tuesday, December 04, 2012

BOOK REVIEW-WRONG MEANS RIGHT END




Book: Wrong Means Right End

Author: Varsha Dixit
Publisher: Rupa
Price: Rs. 140
(i got it from Blogadda for Free in a review program)




How often you find a romantic story equipped with genuine friendship which overcomes all mishaps and misunderstandings, only to find her to fight all out to save her best friend’s marriage while taking help from someone whom she dislikes the most and then falling in love with that very person. In the meanwhile doing the best she can for the person she loves so dearly as such he can start a new beginning, only to find herself distanced and cursed for life. The climax, for instance required a brilliant display of willingness coupled with raw feelings to forge his (from her counterpart) Love back, all these and more thespians to find a partner for life… This story is for all those people who love to  read a story of Love, Lust, Hatred, Jealousy, Revenge, Friendship  and true Love;  This story is for you all …!!!


Wrong Means Right End is a Sequel of ‘Right Foot Wrong Shoe’ one of the best sellers published back in 2009, which marked the debut of Varsha Dixit into the Writing world. Wrong means Right End is centered on a Single Working Mom (Sneha Gupta) and her utter disinclination towards love after her failed marriage…

  
The main plot of the story is carefully wound around a series of incidents  which were focused on Sneha, a Divorced ,Single mother, Hardworking and belligerent person finding a True love in Nikhil (Nikhil Chandel) whom she surely doesn’t like, She Loathes him to be exact. 


The First part of the story revolves around Nandini Sharma (Sneha’s Best Friend) trying to find an ideal Match for Sneha enforcing further strains on Sneha. Sneha on the other hand though with her extreme unwillingness is laid back with her BFF efforts to find a man, though invariably finds pleasures in her plight.

Nandini Sharma married to industrialist Aditya Sarin (Also a closed friend of Sneha), found herself clutching to a narrow thread of marriage after distancing herself from Sneha thanks to a self proclaimed friend Mona and her lustful school friend Gayatri. At that moment Nandini required a person (Sneha) who has intense attachment to Aditya and Nandini’s wellbeing to come to their rescue with the help of Nikhil Chandel.


Nikhil Chandel, emotionless, astute,  handsome and a rich industrialist who hates Sneha to its prime in a view to do good (to Nandini and Aditya) falls in love with Sneha through a series of incident and couldn’t back out from the feelings that were growing within him, finally revealed the dark secret of his life to Sneha. Sneha in her dignity of always doing the best thing took Nikhil to meet her ex wife Alisha only to find herself losing the only love she had in her life.



With all those minute details and the realistic view of the characters where one could always identify oneself fitted in the script anywhere and everywhere…The best part according to me was the climax which was well framed one where Nikhil Chandel  finally came berserk to justify himself and his long lasting love to Sneha.  Though Sneha was hurt beyond repair, it needed the helping hand of Nandini, Aditya, and Gayatri to play their part to conclude a well knitted love Story.



If there’s anything I didn’t like in this book is it’s mundane and terrestrial events before the final concluding part…if it were any longer it would have really took away the main jest of the story…yes I know there has to be mysteries before the climax but the story went coherent with non responsive array of incidents. Few more twists molding up to the climax would have been ideal.



In spite of plot which is being overused…it was a good read as it touched the feelings as one could always identify oneself in it. With enduring storyline, realistic characters and many heartfelt events this is a book to read…For More Read Wrong Means Right End by Varsha Dixit.


This review is a part of the http://blog.blogadda.com/2011/05/04/indian-bloggers-book-reviews and http://anjan5.blogspot.com/2012/12/book-review-wrong-means-right-end.html" target="_blank" > Book Reviews Program at http://www.blogadda.com">BlogAdda.com . Participate now to get free books!

Saturday, December 01, 2012

Book Review: 31 by Upendra Namburi


I don’t know of many books that use the days of the month in a theme. And to have exactly that many chapters as the days in the month is indeed different.

31 by Upendra Namburi is a spacy thriller based in a bank. The month of March probably may not be of great importance to a common man but ask a banker and he’ll describe as a month which can make or break his career. After all March is the last month of the financial year in India and the numbers in this month are all that matters to everyone, be it the company, markets, common man or even the country.

31 is another thriller that’s based in one of the up market banks in India. It’ the last month for the financial year to end and just like in cricket where you can’t say anything till the last ball has been bowled so it is in banking. As you progress through this book, with its setting you’ll wonder whether you are reading a debut novel or another Ravi Subramanian. There is no lack of twists and turns and politics and affairs. You may get frustrated with the same things going on but guess in a work place these things are the order of the day.

Not revealing much, the book is a story about a very simple, regular performing guy called Ravi Shastry. In fact Ravi’s story is so common that it’s very relatable. He has an irritating boss, team mates who jump at every position and opportunity on offer, top management who’s decisions don’t make any sense and more rivals and competition than friends one can bank upon. Plus with time slipping away by the minute you have absolutely no time even for a small break to make sense of the situation. 

The fast pace of the story leaves you for me. To your good luck there is an affair Ravi is involved in, his wife which feels sidelined and forget the promotion that Ravi is working hard for, it’s his job that on the line. 

Through this intense maze of things, relationships and numbers Ravi becomes a person you feel for. The rush of things makes sure you keep the pages turning. How he jostles with things between his personal and professional life and fights it on his own is applaudable. 

The best thing about this book is the ending. Upendra has very smartly dealt a question. Not a close-ended one but an open-ended. It’s neither fairy tale like nor depressing types, it’s just right, just perfect. Thankfully, it doesn’t go down Chetan Bhagat’s Revolution 2020 which shattered my heart and let me see things crystal clearly.

The Verdict: If you are time constrained and looking for a book that would not make you late by even a minute then this one is for you. If you’re wondering how then the countdowns in the book will help you keep check. 
The Good: This book has all the qualities for a thriller and will definitely leave you wanting for more.
The Bad: It gets over very fast.
My Rating: 4/5

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This review is a part of the biggest Book Reviews Program. for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!
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