Deliver me to Beauty's new Address- Oman

This post is a part of the "Beauty has an address" contest by Indiblogger in association with http://www.omantourism.gov.om/

So, here is the activity for the contest
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Wow, with so many beautiful options and so many amazing activities, it is hard to pick just one. Well, as I am a nature lover and an ocean enthusiast, if I have to narrow it down, I think it will be Al-Dimananiyat islands Nature reserve.

I think after a daylong shopping and merry-making in the capital city Muscat, this reserve will be a nice way to unwind and get close to nature. According to the official website of Oman Tourism-

"Dimaniyat Islands Nature Reserve is located in Wilayat AlSeeb in the Governorate of Muscat and Wilayat Barka in Al Batinah, and lies about 18 kilometres off the coast of Barka (70 kilometres west of Muscat, the capital). Its total area is 100 hectares (247 acres) and is composed of nine islands. The reserve features pristine beaches on which the white sands are caressed by the sea’s crystal blue waters. This reserve has a rich natural heritage and is replete with several kinds of coral reefs, including some examples that are quite rare. The island is home to a large number of sea turtles that lay their eggs and nest there, as well as a magnet for migratory and indigenous birds. 
In 1984, the reserve was recognised internationally because it is located within the project of the Great Barrier Reef, considered an international nature reserve and one of the most beautiful diving locations in the Sea of Oman. 
Locally, the islands go by the following names: Kharabah, Huyoot, Al Jabal Al Kabeer (Um As Sakan). The latter is divided into two islands: Um Al Liwahah (Minaret) and Al Jawn that includes three islands. These islands contain more than 22 known diving sites, in addition to being perfect for snorkelling. Also, some people like to camp in the islands, especially in the period from October to February."  

Well, nine islands, that sounds like fun. I bet the pristine beaches would take the mind to tranquil serenity and peace. You can have a look at the pictures from the link given above- the beaches are so close to nature and the beauty is just untouched and pure. 

Imagine snorkelling in those blue waters and coming face to face with those colourful turtles. I bet it would be a whole other experience. Plus, since they are nine islands with more than 22 diving sites, there would be so much to do in terms of exploration. I think it is the perfect place to have a Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara trip with your college friends. It would a trip of one's dreams. 

Also, I have always been fond of corals, they somehow instill the hope in me that all is well with the World and everything is fine. They present the most untouched and beautiful structures of the Earth, and as this reserve promises to have a rich coral vegetation, it has to be a treat that cannot be missed. 

Also, for the photobug in me, these islands have both indigenous and migratory birds flocking them. I think it cannot get better than this. Just imagine the kind of photo-album I'd be having once I am back from this trip.

Ah! In my mind, I am already there. All I need now is to turn this into reality!

Oh man! Oman!

My Role Model- My Chachaji

I am writing about #MyRoleModel as a part of the activity by Gillette India in association with BlogAdda.com.

My Chachaji- Mr. Rakesh Kumar Shrivastava is my role model, he is youngest among his siblings and the sharpest in terms of intellect. I have learnt a lot from his stoicism and conviction. The anecdotes from his childhood and teenage always contain an element of eccentricity. He reminds me that it is fun to be different. He has never followed the rules, the set guidelines and has done what he has found to be right. I see him and I see a lone warrior constantly warding off the advances of mediocrity and herd mentality. He has never given in to the constant bickering of the society to live his life a certain way but he is the epitome of the fact that the only person who has a right over what you want to do and what you want to be is you. His sharp wit and sense of humour amuse me and he has kept the child in him alive just by following his heart.



He has always inspired me to excel in my studies and other stuff too. People ask me how I learnt cartooning, drawing, how I taught myself the art and also from where did I find the zeal to pursue it. A lot of the credit actually goes to my Chachaji. I still remember vividly, although I was a little kid at that time, when he gave me a guava leaf and asked me to replicate it on paper. That seed was the beginning of it all, that small event when you pat a kid's back the first time he does well- it triggers a cascade of events unfathomable.

He is also my role model for the way he has never used his above normal intelligence to show off or to win something. The pursuit of knowledge has always been his constant goal without any ulterior motive of money or fame. His eyes light up when he is given a difficult problem to solve and the childlike curiosity and the energy is something I can learn a lot from. If science has to prosper, it needs to recruit and reward more people like my Chachaji.

He also never seems to take anything to heart. This stoicism comes with a great deal of pride in self and being comfortable in one's skin I think. I have seen him smile in the face of his worst critics and it never bothers him when snide remarks are thrown his way. I guess, it is a mark of a genius that he never really gets tied down to petty emotions and has a clear and no nonsense approach toward life.
Yes, I have a lot more to learn from him but for now, I think I have made it clear why he is my role model. :)

Cheers!

Book Review- Suicide at IIT- Ravi Kumar R

Title- Suicide at IIT
Author- Ravi Kumar R
Publisher- Book Banyan
ISBN- 9789351561842
Pages- 87 (Actually the story ends at Page 54)

So, I get this email from the author requesting for a review and a few monthes later, I am holding this lean book with many blank pages in my hands. The author is an IIT Kharagpur graduate and this is actually his third book. He hails from Hyderabad and reside there at present.
The cover of the book is eye-catching and the graphic of suicide paints a curious picture. India's map gives it a political hue which is intended and intelligent. The pages are crisp and the font is appropriate, easy on eye. There are no syntax or typographical errors of major consequence.
Franz Kafka's quote- "One of the first signs of the beginning of understanding is the wish to die." can well be called the book's tagline and it's all downhill from there. The story revolves around a suicide by a student named Siddharth in IIT Kharagpur. Apparently there was a message behind this untimely death and that is explained in these 54 pages. It is more of a short story that you can finish in one hour and then regret reading it. It has self-righteousness written all over it and all logic is thrown out the window to make a point.

The story suffers from the Jesus-ification of personalities and at one point, it turns into a mystery which is easy to predict. As far as the message is concerned, there is no message except that there is need to change. The issues that this suicide hopes to solve range from women empowerment to Hindu-Muslim unity to inclusive development and so on. The suicide letter is more like a rant from Rahul Gandhi's speech. I apologise if I hurt any sentiments with my words but, as a reviewer I have to be honest with my readership. The novel is a preachy piece of work with no clarity and it isn't layered either. It is a bad bollywood masala movie that comes and goes without anyone noticing. Even Karl Marx would disown this radical piece of work due to sheer lack of pragmatism.

The saving grace (somewhat) of the novel is that it is short and the language is free from errors and lucid. I wish the author works more on the narrative skills and contents because he has the raw material but the maturity of thought is far from sight. The last 40 pages which are almost blank except for the headlines from a utopian future (all because of one freaking suicide) are each like nails in the coffin of the book.

I'd give this book half a star.  

Book Review- Love Kills- Ismita Tandon

Title - Love Kills
Author- Ismita Tandon
ISBN- 978-93-5029-835-0
Publisher- Harper Collins Publishers India
Genre- Fiction/ Whodunnit
Price- Rs 299/-
Pages- 241


Thank you Indiblogger for this wonderful opportunity. The book I am about to review right now was sent to me under the GetPublished program by Indiblogger and Harper Collins. It has been a great initiative and I'd love to be a part of it in the future too.
Coming to the book, it falls in the Agatha Cristie's genre of mysterious storylines which are gripping and complex at the same time. It was easy on eyes in terms of both printing quality and language. I was able to finish it in less than three days in very few sittings. The author Ismita Tandon is a poetess who blogs at lesserknownpoet.com. She has authored two books before this one viz. Love on the Rocks and Jacob Hills.

The cover design by Trinankur Banerjee is exquisite and it piques the reader's interest with the scinitillating art and fonts that stand out starkly. The image of a dead lady with a fallen wine glass and a sketch lying near it paint a curious picture. It is definitely one of the nicer covers that I have seen so far. The back cover is red- the colour of both passion and blood and carries an introduction to the protagonist Johny Will who is the founder of Thy Will- a deaddiction centre for the rich and famous in the sleepy hill station town of Monele; his fiancee Mira, who dies of an overdose of morphine. Then we have characters of Officer Ray, Johnny's assistant Sera, Johnny's cousin-slash-half brother Zac and Zac's mother Adele. Almost revealing too much, maybe out of the confidence in her own story-telling, the author sets the mood for the book.

The novel is written in first person accounts of all the characters that constitute the prime suspects or important people in the novel. Switching turnwise to various first person accounts disrupts the pace of reading the story somewhat and sometimes may confuse you as to whose account you're reading. It is an interesting style but I think if there were so many characters, choosing one or two persons for narration eg. Johnny Will (protagonist) and Officer Ray (Investigator) would have been better.

I would put the novel in pulp fiction category because of the sheer volatility in the characters. It is a world where anybody might sleep with anyone and hormones run high. If I might be forgiven for sounding like a sexist, I'd say that the novel is somewhat feminine in its broodings; which may be a put off or a turn on based on your taste. One drawback of running first person accounts throughout the story is that you are showing the story from various perspectives and in a whodunnit, it becomes difficult to hide who is the murderer if the reader is let into the brains of all the characters. This unnecessary challenge that the author took up, was duly met with the help of vague language and situations which were open to interpretation. All in all, it was a display of wit and the best part is that there are no loose threads as you finish the novel.

There is a certain European air about the novel and it is less Indian in terms of not only the characters' names but the situations too. It is not a coming-of-age novel by any means, as it caters to the basal senses of thrill and voyeurism. Despite the high promises at the beginning, the characters who were given complex roles, end up in the simpler black and white cages which was disappointing.

One has to hand it to the author for successfully guarding the mystery and keeping the reader hooked till the end. The novel is addictive and it grows on you, whether you like it or not. Even if your taste differs, you cannot put it down for the simple reason that the pace of the novel is kept such that there is a new event unfolding at every other page. Reading it is like sitting with a punster, you know you might not like the joke but you want to hear it anyway, just to know the answer.

The character descriptions are vivid and lively by even international bestsellers' standards, the language is lucid and the poetess in the author has found expression at certain places which was more of a speedbreaker in terms of pace of reading. I feel, and this is just an opinion, that the author fares much better in the prose department than poetry. Of course, it is a matter of individual choice. The problem with first person accounts is also that if there is inconsistency in the thoughts and actions of a character, the plot gets messy. It happens at two-three places but I'd forgive the same for the sake of originality and innovation. I think the best from Ismita's pen is yet to come and for that she has to be braver than this. In terms of the title of the book too, I think she could have done better.

I'd rate this novel with three out of five stars. ***/5

Happy reading!

The Sun Comes Closer

The Cookie Is Crumbling?

Book Review- The Emperor's Riddles- Satyarth Nayak

Title- The Emperor's Riddles
Author- Satyarth Nayak
Publisher- Amaryllis

• ISBN-10: 9381506450
• ISBN-13: 978-9381506455

Price- Rs 269 (Flipkart), Rs 239 (Amazon)
Genre- Historical Fiction
Pages- 396

This review is a part of the book review program by The Reader's Cosmos.

"Satyarth Nayak is an author, script-writer and journalist based in Delhi. In 2011, two of his short stories were selected for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. As a TV journalist, he has worked with premiere news channels like NDTV and CNN-IBN. The Emperors Riddles is his first full-length novel."

Now this is book that underpromises and overdelivers. Classic way to win. I didn't have great expectations as I had never heard the name of the author. The cover design looked mysterious and enigmatic but didn't quite build up the tension maybe because of the font selection. The cover didn't fall into the stereotypical Dan Brown-ish legacy where bold, embossed fonts, declaring the author name and book title leave a lasting impact. One cursory look at the front and back covers and you come to know that it falls in the genre of historical fiction with the likes of the Amish Tripathi and Ashwin Sanghi recommending it. I turned a few pages expecting a few yawn-worthy descriptions of historical events, I didn't even intend to start reading and ended up reading 50 pages non-stop! I realized I had just found a gem and had to do proper justice to it by reading it with the respect that it deserved.

"More terrifying than the savage murder of historian Ram Mathur on the ghats of the Ganga are the questions that follow. The letter carved on his face, the cryptic mail he sends his daughter Sia after he dies, more murders piling up. Desperate for answers, Sia turns to esoteric writer and friend Om Patnaik. But what begins as a hunt for the killer, becomes an extraordinary trail of riddles strewn across the country, that must end at the gates of an enigma. Patnaik and Sia race from one riddle to another, towards a royal secret that has remained alive for centuries."

So, I began again and was overwhelmed by the writer's knowledge about ancient Indian history, I think a lot research must have gone into making of this book. The book easily floats past eras, taking you to flashes of events in Indian history that find relevance in the present day India. (I am trying hard to give you no spoilers here). The character of Om Patnaik has hints of Robert Langdon (created by Dan Brown) in him complete with a weird phobia and vulnerable personality but I think the similarity crept unknowingly and the writer more than compensated for it by his vivid descriptions from the Indian and mostly Buddhist history. The character called Sia Mathur is given the female protagonist part but due to other powerful female characters in the book, she doesn't quite take the centerstage. Ram Mathur's character although doesn't get much space but is important in the story.

I think there were some moments of confusion in the novel when the author switches back and forth from past to present but, it all becomes clear in the later part of the novel. The novel is best enjoyed if read twice, it is a story that has multifold dimensions and repeated readings will make it even more enjoyable.

The language is well-knit, lucid and the writing style is reader-friendly. One thing is for sure that Satyarth Nayak is here to stay. There are a few typographical errors which I forgot to mark but I am sure, the further editions will take care of that.

The book is divided into multiple chapters so, you never feel burdened by the enormity of text as there is always a chapter ending and a new one starting. It can get on your nerves if you are not quite a history buff but, in that case, I think you should read the last few chapters, ruin the surprise and then come back and read the chapters that you find confusing. Or maybe just put a bookmark there and read them later with clarity.

Now, who should be reading this book. I definitely do not recommend it to those who are regular Dan Brown readers or those who have just finished reading The Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi. The book does draw a lot from the contemporary authors of the same genre and that might upset the reader's mind if it is not open enough. I recommend it to those who have been into other genres and want to test the waters before jumping into the genre of historical fiction. Also, those with keen interest in Geography and History of India will find this joyride amusing. I'd also recommend it all the first timers, believe me, it is much better to start with these books. Put that "Five Point Someone" down and pick this one up!

All in all, I'll give this book three stars out of five. Three is a factor of 9! What a coincidence! (You'll understand the joke once you read the book)

***

Happy reading!