Book Review: A Bowlful of Butterflies

Author: Ritu Lalit

Format: Word

Language: English

Pages: 210

Price: Rs.195

Publishers: Rupa & Co.

ISBN Number:978-81-291-1845-5

About the book:

Having read Ishaan’s book the Bracelet and Ritu’s blogs- I felt I knew what to expect from the mother’s latest writing endevour-and when I finally started through the pages of A Bowlful of Butterflies-I had to chew my own words with a smirk on my face- “expect the unexpected”.
 
If you let loose Emma in the criss-crossing lanes of  NCR region you will bump into Chadni and her dangerous youthful two compatriots, Soma the ever dreamer and Amrit- the show stopper. But Chadni is not match maker- neither is Emma accidentally kissing her cousin!

It is just A Bowlful of Butterflies- quit thinking or even rhyming socialites. For Vicky, Vinni and Jogi are not three musketeers- they are brothers. And one of them parent is running away from a extremely suspicious wife- in to the arms of a lady by her own rights. But why is Vicky running into the arms of the music teacher of the locality every night? And how does Sarita tolerate the vicious gossip monger-sucking out unpleasant news from her and driving her to the brim of insanity.- Ritu states it right enough- growing up is fun with all its ecstasy and dangerous bends- with it's self analysis, complexities and living up to one’s dream. If it just got teens giggling from its pages- you are sure to get crushes and infatuations following. Expect some heartbreak and poetry running haywire as a result. Ritu’s Butterflies speak out from the leaves and dance about you as you proceed with the story. A brother leaves and another is suddenly questioning his dignity- beating away unworthy rogues and making a hell cry- each and every time he is held responsible. Boys take up solitude in some nonchalant gulps of stolen whiskey- when a girl has the sense to keep her calm (sorry- my favorite part- though- I fell for Vinni nevertheless).

A bowlful of Butterflies reminds me of all aspects of modern life- dished out to me is a bone china dish- with exotic salads spread over lavishly. If the story got published in an episodic manner in some distant magazine or weekly- I would have been thoroughly disappointed- since waiting to know what happens next would be intolerable. Simply because I could connect to the part of career choice dilemma- even with the peer jealousy and even with the way a mother would react to unforeseen circumstances unveiling in front of her- the story remains with me even when I close the book.  Thus each time the violin looks at me- I know- it is not Vikram Seth’s “An Equal Music”- but a teenager standing at the threshold of adulthood- playing out the deepest moods of her life in some starry night- with only the bow keeping her company.

About the author:

(quoting the author herself)

·          I am a single parent, office worker, blogger and author. My debut book A Bowlful of Butterflies is now available at bookstores around the country. I live in Faridabad, with my two sons, a daughter in law, three dogs a turtle and thirty fishes.  My second book, a fantasy fiction called HILAWI is being published by Prakash Publications.  I am currently working on my third book, dealing with women empowerment.  It is a political thriller full of intrigue and sleaze.

further details:

·         Bowlful of Butterflies Page

·         Blog : www.phoenixritu.com

Book Review: Dear, I Hate You

Author: Nitya Prakash

Format:Paperback & Hardbound 

Language: English 

Pages: 152

Price: 200

Publishers:Power Publishers, Kolkata 

ISBN Number: 978-93-81205-31-0

About the book:

A book that’s going to be a bestseller: seems to have vengeance and pathos etched out of the very heart that was once docile and innocent to the cunning ways of the world- the running praises of the book, and even my pixie ears told to give it a try. Time to time chat with the author- Nitya Prakash and the stunning cover made me do something only reserved for more dearie books. Yes! The trotter carried the book along with her, tucked safely in her backpack. Each time the co passenger dared to peep- I grew super possessive of Nitin, then of Toolika and then of Shenyl and Divya. Kicking off my addiction to bound papers (read books)- lets plunge into Nitin’s life and predicament- for every tear has a story to tell.

First of all the commoner lines. The story starts with an accident of a young man- and there is also a lady looming around- keeping me guessing- will there be chemistry between the two. I tell my athletic brain, “dude! halt- it’s got to be flashback!” and yes my voice was right. Dear, I hate you- is a story of a man craving inwardly for love and like most of his fellow “men” is confused when his heart wins over his senses. The “tin yaari “/ the three musketeers- Kabir, Manav and our Nitin seem to be tied from their days spent in cradles. And the ties thin out only when schools days bid them melancholic farewell. Life takes a full swing when Nitin encounters with his college life and becomes a soft victim of ragging. But is Dear I hate You about student abuse? No! it’s about a journey of a boy growing into a man- winning hearts, accolades and committing the mistake of not telling a white lie to his childhood crush. A death marks a black hole in his fate-making me thinking- stories of our lives or most original than the fiction we urge to pen down.

Nitya keeps telling me- Dear I hate you is based on real incidents. So there was one Toolika who loved one Nitin perhaps like Eustacia Vye- and also a friendly Shenyl  and a Divya—Keeping questions unanswered for readers to judge. Honestly Nitin, seems quite an emotional being- man of the world- not a playboy- but a playful boy- who grew up only when life was too eager to write down his ending chapters.

About The author:

Nitya Prakash is a versatile personality - a writer, a banker, a management expert, an investment consultant, corporate trainer, software engineer, motivational speaker, media man, columnist all rolled in one. He is the author of the much-hyped romantic novel ‘Dear, I Hate You'. He was born and brought up in the city of nawabs – Lucknow, UP (India). He did his computer graduation from Lucknow University followed by an Executive Services Management Programme from K.J.Somaiya, Mumbai and a Post Graduate Diploma in Banking Management from ICICI Manipal Academy, Bangalore. He has been an all-rounder. He is NSDL and AMFI certified, which enables him to work as an investment consultant. He had been the Chief Editor of “Chrysalis” Magazine - ICICI Manipal Academy. He is a ferocious reader and prolific writer and has been regular in writing many youth awakening articles in The Times of India and many other reputed magazines. He has co-authored two International Research Publications and presented many research papers at International Conferences. He has worked as an ‘International Trade Manager’ at ICICI Bank and also as a ‘Program Officer’ at MicroSave India. He is presently on the trail of his next novel “R.I.P.- Rest in Peace”. Apart from that he is also writing the screenplays for few major production houses in India and abroad. To pay his bills he works as an independent trainer and counselor in the management sector in India and also as a columnist with NewsLaundry.com . He can be contacted at prakashnitya@ymail.com


Further Details:


website: NityaPrakash.com
Fb page: dearihateyou