Book review of Her Last Wish

Book: Her Last Wish

Authored by Ajay K. Pandey

This book is provided by Arudha Club in exchange for a genuine review.

Blurb:

His father's over expectations only ruined his self-confidence further with each failure. A ray of hope walked into his life as his wife, a charismatic personality spreading joy wherever she went. Everything is going per plan, but darkness comes knocking soon. He finds out that she does not have much time to live and takes it upon himself to fight all odds – even his family, if need be – to help her fight her medical condition. His father sees his own redemption in helping them, he knows his son will be a winner only if he will fight for her, with her. Will a defeated son prove himself to be a good husband? Will the father-son duo together be able to change the course of fate? Her Last Wish is an inspiring story of love, relationships and sacrifice, which proves once again how a good wife makes the best husband.

Author:

Ajay K Pandey is currently working with Cognizant, Pune. Although he grew up with a dream of becoming a teacher, destiny landed him in the IT field. Travelling, trekking and reading novels are his hobbies. Travelling to different places has taught him about different cultures and people and makes him wonder how despite all the differences, there is a bond that unites them. Trekking always inspires him to deal with challenges like a sport. 
Reading is perhaps what makes him feel alive. Apart from writing, he wants to follow his role model Mother Teresa and make some contribution to the society. 
 His debut novel You Are The Best Wife was based on his life events and went on to become a bestseller soon after its release. It charmed many hearts and inspired several others to live every moment with love, peace and happiness.

Verdict:

I have read this book in a straight and it got completed within a day. By this statement, you can understand how much I liked this book. The beauty of Ajay's writing is that he has used his own feelings and life events in such a way that you would like to read them one after the another.
This book consists of a story of a man who is down in spirits and termed boring which is partly due to the load of his father's aspirations on him and partly due to his own self. Then, after a good search he finds a girl for him who also has her own story. The circumstances lead to she marrying him and its the story of their love, their imperfect matching still they both cover up and fight the odds to stay together.
Then , one day the man, (protagonist) comes to know the unhealthy condition of his wife. Then, the journey of his wife's revival, his efforts and his dedication in fulfilling what she wanted to do before she gives up. This promise of his husband leads to the tittle, HER LAST WISH..!!
The book is from Shrishti Publications and hence the cover and page quality is good. The cover is touching and portrays the sense of what story has to offer and communicate to the readers. The content has been laid out well and the editing has been done pretty well. Thus, editor has done a good work as well, in the proof-reading too.
It is very rare to read such kind of book which are good and become your favorite after you complete them.
To me, this book is one of the best one and I have archived this for further reads.

Ratings:

Cover: 2/2
Plot & Characterisation: 3.5/4
Editing & Proof-reading: 2/2
Language skills: 2/2
overall: 9.5/10

on RATOMETER: 5 stars (on scale of 5)
A must must read...!!

Buy the book from here:

Her Last Wish

Reaching out the author:

facebook: facebook.com/AuthorAjayPandey
Twitter: @AjayPandey_08
mail him on: ajaypandey0807@gmail.com

Book review of Colorful Notions

Book: Colorful Notions The Roadtrippers 1.0

Authored by Mohit Goyal

Snapshot of the book I have (paperback)

Author:

Mohit Goyal holds his Master's degree from Cranfield University, England. A successful entrepreneur for past 11-years; he is currently heading an international logistics conglomerate with presence in several Asian countries. He resides in New Delhi.

1. Cover

It comprises of three guys, two sitting in car looking out and one is a girl seeking the way to go ahead. It describes the outline of the book which is about three guys, two boys (Shashank, Abhay) and one girl (Unnati) who are on their trip around the country. It is a good cover over all.

2. Plot & Characterisation

There are three youngsters Sashank, Abhay and Unnati who set out on an extraordinary trip in Abhay's Ford Ecosport. Idea, conceived by Abhay, to accomplish an adventurous trip of 10000 kilometers around India, with a list of twenty five places which represent our country's culture, heritage and beauty. During the journey, Abhay keeps up his talent with camera, Unnati uses her voice and face. The final nail is the selfies they take at the twenty five places with the number placard with them.

Roadtrippers' experiences at different places are interesting to read. During the story, the author has provided several tips as what to do and what not but when the storyline took a romantic twist, the focus was shifted from the places and landmarks. With perspicuous narration, dexterous character craft and unique theme, author has succeed in hooking the readers to the book and the book content draws the reader attention more than a few times.

What's make me to hook with the novel is "Road trippers" as from seeing it makes me to travel along its not a novel which says normal romantic tale it stands unique, Not a fast or slow pace in narrations its gone straight way what requires not in anyway confuses with characters, the characterisation is good and a simple English when language and vocabulary concerns.

Of the three, Abhay is being alone from childhood and his jealousy over Sasha and his relationship with Unnati or the friendship of Abhay & Sasha or Sasha and Unnati's romance,and their adventure in journey at Corbett safari, as Sasha being foodie and Unnati with her wonderful voice-over in 10*5 Ford Ecosport, it gives fondly experience even without exploring the places out there.

The story after taking a romantic turn, looks more like a romantic tale and talks about a love triangle rather than the storywhich it promised us in the starting.

3. Editing & Proof-reading

The editing has been done in a good manner and no such errors have passed my eyes. The proof-reading has been done is a comprehensive manner too as mistakes are less when compared to other Indian Publication houses.

4. Language Skills

The language used in the book is good one and is reader friendly. The reader will not have to look for meanings here and there and ponder over them for their meanings.

Verdict:

It is a travelogue involving three friends who decide to take a road trip and make a movie out of it. Easily readable language, smooth twists and clever writing makes this novel an easy and interesting read. The characters are quite relatable and easily likeable. The author builds up the story in an unusually entertaining manner that strikes the right chord with the readers. It is engrossing, interesting and enjoyable. The only negative point I found were the predictability of the story. The events seemed too obvious. Lest, the story is awesome and easily onetime read.

Ratings:

Cover- 2/2

Plot & Characterization- 3/4

Editing & Proof-reading- 1.5/2

Language Skills- 1.5/2

Overall- 8/10

On RATOMETER: 4⭐ (on scale of 5)

A good one time read!

Book Review of 'Thank You Love'

Book: Thank You Love

Authored by Ayush Gupta 

Book and my laptop (2 important assets :D ) 

Author:

Ayush Gupta is an engineer by education and is a pass out of DIT. This is his first novel and aspires to spread love with his writing. He spans his career in 3 occupations; author, businessman and a speaker.

1. Cover

The cover comprises of a boy in posture of meditating and  with tagline of "Taking love beyond words" promises us with the link of love and spirituality in the story.

2. Plot & Characterisation

The story is having a lead of Rayan, who is the protagonist. It starts interestingly with Rayan stuck in a bus somewhere in unknown place. He then finds a hut, where he meets a sage kind of person. Then, after a time he goes on to telling the twists and turns which he faces in his love life and how everything goes from bad to worst. The story line moves around Rayan and his love, Akshita.
After a lot of trouble, when Rayan is not capable to handle the stress and pressure of lost love it's interesting to see how things fall back into pieces for Rayan after he meets that man in hut.
The character of Rayan is strongly built, or he is the one speaking, a kind of monologue with Akshita, Shivai and Akshita's friend are main characters.

3. Editing & Proof-reading

The editing of the book has been below par and there have been mistakes both grammatical and typing. The errors can be noticed more than often. I wish, the book had lesser errors.

4. Language skills

The language used in the text can be easily comprehended. The typical reader will not have any problem with the language used in the book.

Verdict:

This is the first book from Ayush Gupta and seems like he needs to up the level. The book starts with offering substantial but gets lost in the middle. It's a tale of a person and his unending love but it gets more and more twisted when the author is got into the intricacies of the personal talks and issues.
If you like to know the evolution of a person from a lost love and life to an evolved state, you can go for this. I wish, it had more discussion on meditating than love life tantrums which may irk the reader.

Ratings

Cover- 2/2
Plot & Characterisation- 2/4
Editing & Proof-reading- 1/2
Language skills- 2/2
Overall rating- 7/10

on RATOMETER: 3.5⭐ (on scale of five)
Can read, if you wish to!

Touring Destinations in January inside India

TOP DESTINATIONS TO TOUR IN INDIA

Tourism in AULI

Auli is one of the less explore hill stations in India. Auli, located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, is a new entrant in the tourist map of India. Located in the cradle of snow-capped mountains, Auli is one of the very few places in India where skiing is a major pastime. Gradually Auli is growing like other hill stations in India. The bitter cold winds, the vast snow-covered landscape, the sylvan mountains, all add up to make Auli a skier's paradise. Representing man's constant endeavor to triumph over nature, Auli proves to be an ideal locale for the daring.

• Location

Like many other hill stations in India Auli is situated in Uttar Pradesh. Auli is towards the north of the state and forms a part of the Garhwal mountain range. It is at a distance of 16 km from Joshimath, on the Badrinath route. The slopes, which are as high as 9000 feet above sea level, are covered with dense deodar and oak forests and this often reduces the velocity of the chilly winds to the minimum. The slopes offer a panoramic view of many a famous Himalayan peaks like Nanda Devi, Kamet, Mana Parvat and Dunagiri.

• Best Time To Visit

If one is an adventure freak, the best time to visit Auli is during the winter season. The period from late November to late March is generally considered ideal for skiers. As the winters set in, the mountains seem to extend to the firmament with arms of snow. From December to March, the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam conducts 7-day and 15-day courses for both amateurs and advanced learners.

• What this place offers?

Skiers are naturally provided with clean stretches of 10-20 km of snow-covered mountain slopes. Besides, there is a descent of 500 m from the ridge over a stretch of 3 km. The forests on the slopes also seem to help the skiers by reducing the wind velocity. In the months of February and March, Auli often hosts the National Winter Games. In a planned move, the Government and local authorities have involved the local Garhwali people to explore the slopes that rightfully belong to them.

By eight in the morning, one can see the first of the skiers and other adventure seekers. Until about four o'clock in the evening, when it gets chilly, cold and dark, the skiers make most of the slopes. For the best part of the winter season, Auli is blessed by an unusually large number of sunny days, but there are times when it snows heavily. In the evenings, the activity shifts from the slopes to the bukhari-warmed huts and resorts (bukhari: a quaint, wooden stove). People then generally pass their time listening to folklore and reveling in the local music of Garhwal in the lamp-lit rooms or besides the bonfires.

• How To Reach?

By Air - The nearest airport is Dehradun, about 298 km away. Rishikesh, about 235 km away, is the nearest railhead.

By Road - Regular road services are available from Delhi, Dehradun, Rishikesh and Hardwar to Joshimath, 16 km away. From Joshimath one can hire jeeps to Auli. One can also trek the five kilometer between Joshimath and Auli. For further information, contact the GMVN office at Rajpur Road, Dehradun or the UP tourism offices located all over the country.

Tourism in Nagaland

Nagaland is situated on the easternmost region of India. One of the seven sister states India, Nagaland is covered mostly by high-altitude mountains. The hospitability of the people here and their culture and tradition simply touch the heart. Moreover, the Nagaland is an ideal destination for trekking, rock climbing and jungle camping.

• Location

Nagaland is situated on the extreme northern east just below Arunachal Pradesh. It has on its long eastern strip the neighboring country Myanmar. The north is bounded by Arunachal Pradesh, while on its west lies the state of Assam. It is bordered by Manipur on its south.

High mountains, deep gorges, green valleys, twisty streams and exotic flora and fauna found in Nagaland give an idea about the physical features of the place.

• Best Time To Visit

The climate of Nagaland is comfortable all through the year. The temperature of the state ranges from 16°C to 31°C in summer (May to July) and 4°C to 24°C during winter season. The monsoon that spreads from the month of June to early September is marked by heavy rains.

• How to reach?

BY AIR -

The only airport of the state is at Dimapur, which connects Nagaland with Guwahati and Calcutta by regular flights.

BY RAIL -

The major rail head is at Dimapur, which lies on the main line of the Northeastern Frontier Railway.

BY ROAD -

The Nagaland State Transport Corporation plies regular buses from Dimapur and Kohima to Guwahati, the gateway of northeast India and Shillong.

• Tourist Attractions

Kohima, the capital city of the state, has a number of sites that are worth visiting to get an insight of the place's rich history. The World War II Cemetery that lies in a beautiful surrounding, the Cathedral of Reconciliation with its striking red roof, the Bara Basti, the Nagaland Museum, Nagaland Zoo and Park are some of the attractions of Kohima.

The sites near Kohima include the tribal village of Khonoma, Dzulekie (famous for waterfalls), Jopfu Peak, Dzukou Valley, Dimapur, etc.

Tourism in Goa

Goa is definitely the best tourist place for India. "The pearl of the east," Goa is known for its Gothic churches, crumbling forts, palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves, ferry rides, bubbly folk music… the list is endless! With its 131-km-long coastline, Goa is an important locale in every tourist's itinerary. Sun, sand and sea being the major attractions, Goa trip is a perfect heaven for the ones who need and want relaxation. Goa Beach Resorts always add to the fun. Christian Pilgrimage tours to Goa are extremely popular. Besides pilgrimages Goa is famous for honeymoons also.Goa, Honeymoon Packages are extremely popular with Indians. Goa, honeymoon packages cater to the needs of the tourists with varying budgets. The all-inclusive Goa, honeymoon packages tour too make interesting options.

• Location

The location of Goa makes it easily accessible. Travelling to Goa, the best tourist place for India is comfortable. Situated on the western coastline of India, the Union Territory of Goa is sandwiched between the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. The capital Panaji is at a distance of 592 km from Bangalore and 593 km from Mumbai. The waters of the Arabian Sea wash the coastline of Goa. It is split into two districts-North Goa (STD Code: 0832) and South Goa (STD Code: 0834). North Goa includes the capital city of Panjim, the former capital of Old Goa, Fort Aguada and Candolim, Chapora, Vagator, and the beaches Calangute, Anjuna, and Baga. South Goa includes Vasco da Gama Bogmalo, Margao, Colva and Benolem. Being near to the sea, Goa enjoys a maritime climate, with April and May being very hot. The Goa Beach Resorts sitauted on the beach sides are the best way to enjoy Goa. Christian Pilgrimage tours to Goa are usually taken up around the Christmas and New Year.

• Best Time to Visit

The fun and frolic Goa is one of the most popular destinations in India. Its topography and climates are such, that the state can be visited anytime of the year. However, Goa possesses different flavors, which can be relished only during particular months. Thus, it is always better to know about the seasons of this beach paradise, before heading on for a trip. Listed below are the seasons and the best time to visit Goa:

Winter (October to March)

Winters are the best time to visit Goa. It’s that time of the year when the upper half of India shivers in biting cold, but Goa calls for celebration. Numerous festivals and events knock the doors of this state during these months. Sunburn, Christmas, New Year and Goa Carnival Festival are some highlights that define the perks of traveling to this part of India during the winter months. Plus, the weather stays absolutely pleasant; around 28°c (Day) and 21°c (Night).

Summer (April to June)

It is the time when the heat peaks to its prime in Goa. Day temperatures stay in the mid-30s (around 35°C). As Goa resides on the shores of Arabian Sea, its weathers majorly carries a lot of humidity. Thus, summers is the time when you are bound to experience heat with a lot of humidity.

Rainy/Monsoon (Mid-June to September)

Goa welcomes the rains with a heartwarming welcome. Starting from the middle of June, frequent showers use to be the order of the day. If you love the monsoons, then Goa is certainly the place for you. Often the state is characterized by fun and frolic beach parties, but during the monsoons, the lush greenery of Goa takes the front row.  The weather stays pleasant and drenched, and is perfect for nature trails and camping expeditions.

• Tourist Attractions

Goa, the best tourist place for India offers several tourist attractions. Beaches and churches are the key tourist attractions in Goa. Christian Pilgrimage tours and Goan Carnival attract numerous visitors. In the local dialect, Goa is often referred to as "Goa Dourada," (meaning "Golden Goa") because of its beaches, forts, churches, Waterfalls, seminaries, and Caves. Today, Goa Beach Resorts are attractions in themselves.

"The queen of Indian beaches," Calangute is a stretch of 7 km. Baga beach is a handy commuting point to Anjuna. At a distance of 7 km from Panaji is the beach of Dona Paula, which is a good site for relaxation and sunbathing. At a distance of 6 km away from Margao is another beach, Colva, which offers good accommodation. Calangute, Baga, Candolim, Colva are dominated by package tourism. Anjuna, the traditional rave center is popular with the bag packers. Benaulim falls between hype and hip, and is filled with beach shacks and low-key Goa beach resorts. Arambol in the north and Palolem in the south are idyllic by nature. Other famous beaches include Miramar and Agonda. Goa Beach Resorts along these beaches in Goa are excellent accommodation options.

The Dudhsagar waterfall and Arvalem waterfall attract many tourists every year. The rock-cut caves of Khandepar and Arvalem are also worth mentioning. The Pilar monastery, Saligao seminary, and Rachol seminary attract the religious minded travelers.

While nature has been so generous to Goa, man too has contributed a lot to Goa's beauty. The strong Roman Catholic community, with the active support of the erstwhile Portuguese rulers, has had a number of churches built in this picturesque locale. In Panaji, one must visit the church dedicated to our Lady of Immaculate Conception, and the Chapel of St. Sebastian. No doubt that Christian Pilgrimage tours to Goa are so popular.

The Goa State Museum, the Secretariat, the statue of Abbe Faria in the capital is a must see for lovers of art. The largest of the churches in Goa, the Se Cathedral is in Old Goa and is flocked by thousands of tourists every year. The holy shrine of Basilica of Bom Jesus, also in Old Goa, houses the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier.

It is a famous pilgrimage center among the Roman Catholic world. Most Christian Pilgrimage tours include visits to these churches of Goa. Other famous churches are the Convent and Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Church of St. Cajetan, Church of St. Augustine Ruins, Church and Convent of St. Monica, Church of Our Lady of Rosary, Chapel of St. Anthony and Chapel of St. Catherine-all of which are in Old Goa.

Fort Aguada is worth a visit to savor the nostalgia of the Portuguese regime, especially in its lighthouse and the Aguada jail. Terekhol Fort in the Arambol beach has been now converted to a hotel. The Museum of Christian Art in Rachol Seminary and church and the Braganza House near Margao are also worth a visit. Besides these, to get a glimpse of the Hindu population in Goa, one has to visit Ponda. The Kerkar Art Complex in south Calangute is also an important tourist center. The Wednesday flea market at Anjuna is an important trading center for handicrafts from Kashmir to Gujarat.

• How to reach?

BY AIR -

Popular as Dabolim Airport, Goa International Airport is the nearest airport, roughly 2 km away from the city center of Dabolim and 25 km away from the state’s capital Panjim. The airport is well-connected to several places such as Delhi, Mumbai, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Pune. Further, travelers can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach their main destination.

BY RAIL -

The state has two important railheads, namely Margaon Railway Station (37 km away from the capital Panjim) and Vasco-da-Gama Railway Station (28 km away from Panjim), which are well-linked with some important cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Lucknow and Jaipur. There are various buses and taxis available that will help you to travel further. Apart from these two, Karmali Railway Station (13 km away from Panjim) and Thivim Railway Station (24 km away) are the other two railheads, which you may opt for.

BY ROAD -

Goa is easily accessible by road from nearby states. Interstate and intrastate bus services are regularly available. It is well-connected by road to important cities of the country like Hubli (155 km), Kolhapur (234 km), Mahabaleshwar (407 km), Pune (461 km), Bangalore (562 km), Mumbai (604 km), Mysore (617 km), and Shirdi (630 km).

कविता: 'मन' , मेरे तुम्हारे मन को समर्पित

कविता : मन
रचनाकार: रजत दीक्षित

मन जब मेरा बच्चे का था ,
मनोविकार से हीन सा था ।
माँ बाप के सानिघ्ध के पास ,
बाहर की दुनिया से दूर-दूर सा था ।।

सोचता था बड़ा होने का कभी, हो गया हूँ ,
अब पता चला है,खाली सा है सब यहाँ।
न वो स्वतंत्रता है, न स्वछंदता है विचारों की ,
है तो बस लोगों के झूठ और विकार।।

मन अब मेरा तरसता है ,
उस तरह स्वतंत्र, प्रेममयी, स्वछंद रहने के लिए ।
कहता हूँ इसिलए, जी लो ख़ुशी से ,
क्या पता, ढूंढ लो तुम अपना बचपन यही कहीं ।।

Poem: 'A Friend of Mine'

Poem:

A Friend of Mine

Context:

This is for the amazing friendship bond we have shared. You are a very friendly person and it brings me immense joy to write about you. It's long time when I wrote this stuff about you but felt like editing and formatting it will bring more happiness on your face. 

KEEP FLOURISHING babe :D

Miss Ayushi Gupta , Future Chartered Accountant :)

Content:

Hey! There to my near and dear ones;

I'm here to tell about a friend of mine.

It might seem to be awkward to you;

But she deserves to be told in hues.

She is a kind, you won't find everywhere;

Made of sound & humorous mental software.

I can bet, every mutual friend 'll agree to this;

In talks, when absent she is missed.

This is just not a tribute to her goodness;

Also her dimples add tonnes of cuteness.

We call her 'ayuhi' , 'ayuhihi' or whatever;

Does she ever minds them? Never.

She is our group's energy packet;

Named Ayushi Gupta, all fun in one sachet.

Our Friendship time.... :D ;)

Book Review of 'Think With Me'

Book: Think With Me 

Authored by Subrata Roy Sahara 'Saharasri'

Author
Subrata Roy Sahara is a well known businessman. This is his second book following 'Life Mantras' which was a national bestseller. These two books are a part of 'Thoughts from Tihar' trilogy, which intends one is yet to come.

1. Cover
A person is sitting on the side rocks, seeing in reflection and hence depicting the title precisely which is Think With Me. A good gripping cover it is fora book and also a stealing your attention type. Overall , a good choice of cover design.

2. Content
This book is about those five five points on which author feels dire changes are required. They are:
*Electoral system & Leadership
*Population
*Education system
*Media
*Religion
Subrata Roy has done a thorough work on these points and discussed things in detail. He has suggested measures to control the aggravated situation of the various points.
In these 112 pages , he has elaborately discussed the dire need of change and tells about what we could have achieved and what we have achieved.

3. Editing and Proof-reading
The editing is superb. As the book is from Rupa Publications, it is expected that they will nail it with no errors whatsoever. It's the same case again. No errors came across to my reading experience.

4. Language skills
As this kind of book has a mass appeal and that's why, the language should be lucid and simple to understand. The author has done the same in this book to make it even better.

Verdict:
A good attempt by him as all these are sensitive issues and nobody talks about them. You can't think of having solution to them. By this book, he has tried to show a road map to follow for solving them.
I loved this book, personally and I would like to recommend all those who feel that something needs to be done for the country. This book encompasses the major points in which degradation has gone to a newer level. Even if 50% suggestions are applied, it would help the nation in a big deal. The nation needs a big overhauling.

Ratings
Cover: 2/2
Content: 3.5/4
Editing and Proof-reading: 2/2
Language skills: 2/2
Overall: 9.5/10

on RATOMETER: 5⭐ (on scale of five)
A must read !!

कविता: ' वर्ष ' - New Year's Meaningful Wish!!

वर्ष : (रजत दीक्षित)

एक वर्ष हूँ , अभी नव हूँ ।

उत्साह तरंग से परिपूर्ण हूँ ।।

छोटे छोटे पलों में तोड़ लेना मुझे ।
उन सारे पलों को जी लेना तुम ।।
हर रिश्ते में दम नया भरना तुम ।
रुकना मत, अगर हों आँखे नम ।।

क्योंकि मैं भी बीत जाऊंगा ।
एक याद बन के रह जाऊंगा ।।
क्यों न उस याद को तुम सजा दो ।
जीवन को सार्थक और प्रफुल्लित बना दो ।।

With this poem of mine, I wish you all the very best in this coming year, 2017.

It does not just become a number, but marks your life with numerous memorable events.