Book Review: The Other Side

Authors: Faraaz Kazi and Vivek Banerjee

Published by: Mahaveer Publishers

Genre: Fiction, Horror

ISBN: 9789350880760

No. of pages: 320

Price: INR150

Synopsis: 'The Other Side' is a collection of thirteen tales of the paranormal world; a world that our eyes refuse to see, our ears deny hearing and our senses ignore the feel of. This is a book for someone who is brave enough to take up this invitation to journey through uncharted waters along with the authors, who were inspired by some bizarre experiences to pen down this work, where the lines of reality have been blurred by the footsteps of imagination. 

Each story takes the reader on a tour de force of unadulterated horror and draws upon the deepest tear in the human mind - the fear of the Unknown.

Review: I have never read horror till now and so when I received the opportunity to read and review the book, I grabbed it with both hands. From being publicized a lot, be it online or through book launches, 'The Other Side' has definitely garnered lot of hype around it. And when you have the synopsis like above and 'Hindu' quoting it to be engrossing, surprising which comes to shock you and you are in a vice-like grip then one must be pretty sure that the book has substantial material on offer to the readers. But sadly, it doesn't.

Out of all the thirteen stories that the book has to offer, only one story was able to spook me and give goosebumps and that is 'A Mother's Love'. Rest all the stories are even below mediocre if I may say so. There isn't an iota of spookiness in the stories, forget the unadulterated horror that the synopsis quotes. Though I have to credit them for coming out with thirteen different tales that dares you to visit alone but it simply falls flat. I felt the stories lacked behind in imagination as where there is no imagination there is no horror.

I had planned of writing a short review of all the thirteen stories but after reading the book I felt it will be a monotonous exercise to simply state that the story didn't spook the living day lights of me.

The only positive thing in the book I felt are the quotes before the start of each story and it is nicely proof read making it a bit more interesting to read.

Overall: Yes, one can dare to visit alone even at night and wake up without having nightmarish and spooky dreams. It hardly evokes fear in you.

Ratings: 2.5/5

"This book review is a part of The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program. To get free books log on to thereaderscosmos.blogspot.com"

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Book Review - It's Never Too Late

Author: Shilpa Choudapukar

Published by: Become Shakespeare.com

ISBN: 978-81-928166-5-4

Genre: Fiction

No.of Pages: 115

Price: 149 INR/ 3.99$

Synopsis: The story is about a fiction editor by the name Avantika Mahajan who wants nothing else but to be surrounded by books. Life leads her to Rahul Kalyankar and eventually marrying him. Her life seemed perfect and complete until her world shatters when Rahul asks for a divorce. When life looks pointless and grim for Avantika, Alex Logan enters her life only to change her life completely. Can love happen again in Avantika's life? Can you trust someone again with all your heart after the pain, tears and suffering you sustained? Find it out...

Review: 'It's Never Too Late' is one of those books which is easy to comprehend; the story as well as the characters. I took the opportunity to read the book judging by the blurb and the no. of pages as I had a long train journey ahead of me. But I must say, the story give me the most relaxed company one can ever get. With just over 100 pages, the book can be completed within no time.

The characters of Avantika and Alex are nicely etched showcasing the difference in culture but Love follows no culture. The way in which Alex shows respect, helps, supports Avantika in any which way to come out of her divorce is pretty heart-warming. The way Alex's character portrays maturity is difficult to find in people of today's time. Such is the way the character is etched and it is perfect, without any flaws. Also, not following the customary drama about 'He is not of our caste' is a delightful welcome at a latter part of the book.

The story flows like a warm breeze and as said before can be read at one go. 

The only thing I felt missing in the story is about including some more drama and spice to make it look elaborate, bulky and to garner the wow expression that a romance novel needs. But without any proof reading errors and nice story-line, the book is a nice read.

Overall: A nice read without any over the top characters to accompany you in the journey of Avantika's life. Read if you just want to relax your brain muscles and have a refreshing afternoon.

Rating: 3/5*

This review is for Become Shakespeare.com

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Frozen

He took the first sip from the glass of malt which he had prepared and sat on the recliner adjacent to the window.

Aksh, once a teetotaler had turned alcoholic due to the tragic accident involving his wife and his 5 year old kid.

Bereaved and bereft of smile, melancholy had engulfed him as his life had come to a sluggish halt.

Days, nights, dates, months didn’t matter to him as he only awaited the arrival in his huge Mughal style patriarchal house.

Just as he turned his face from the window, Aksh froze when all of a sudden he saw his wife standing in front of him, scars all over her face, asking for some ice.

This five sentence fiction is written for the topic 'Frozen' at Lillie McFerrin Writes

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The Past Life

She asked him to relax and started with the breath control exercises that precede hypnosis.

The room went pitch dark as candles flickered, casting different shadows on the wall.

‘Wherever I go, I see you, your presence all over my shoulders. In my sleep you warm me, in my dreams you scare me...

...Our eternal bond of love surpassing the seven seas, to be together in transience.’

‘How do I tell her about you, about the bond that we share, about our ceaseless love?’ How?

The past life regression therapist smiled as she diagnosed the problem and its potential solution.

      "Everybody’s got a past. The past does not equal the future unless you live there." - Tony Robbins

Linking to the Write Tribe's 100 words on Saturday prompt 'How do I tell her about you'

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Movies (Off)beating the Commercial Cinema

Offbeat cinema also known as parallel cinema found it's wings in early fifties. Yes, the black and white era of television where prominent filmmaker Satyajit Ray started this trend. And from there on there is no looking back.

Different varieties of films, genres, art form have been tried through offbeat cinema and that too with a modest budget. As time flied by many filmmakers did choose to raise their budget and offer interesting, hard-hitting films affecting various strata of our society. And the trend still continues.

So here I am presenting the five offbeat films of present era which according to me are must watch.

• Udaan (2010) - One of the most intitutively written and lovingly crafted film Udaan, is packed with emotional, resonating moments that one goes through as a kid chasing dreams. A strong story telling and a perfect visual setting makes it even more wonderful to experience this flight apart from some strong hard hitting performances. A truly 'coming of age' film which is definitely a must watch for every individual.

• Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006) - Khosla Ka Ghosla is a light hearted movie on how illlegal land grabbing takes place and the tricks applied to release the land from the land grabbers. A film which almost every middle class individual can relate to, as sometime in their lives they must have or may faced such situation. The film also won a national award for best feature film in Hindi and it speaks about the performances, story and screenplay. A must watch movie and a must to be included in every offbeat films listing.

• Dasvidaniya (2008) - There is always a question on ones mind when he is on his death bed... Have I lived my life with full zest and enthusiasm and cherished its moments? But what, when one day you come to know you just have three months before you take the route to heaven? This film is about a 37 year old who has only three months to live his life wherein he comes out with a bucket list of ten things to do and sets out to do them. A must watch film which is also referred by its pun line 'The best Goodbye movie ever.'

• My Brother Nikhil (2005) - This film is about the protagonist Nikhil, a state all time swimming champion, the  trials and tribulations he faces when he is diagnosed by HIV. How his life alters for the worst and how he fights it along with his sister and friend, the only two persons by his side. With very emotional, heart rendering moments this film is an eye opener for the entire society on how an HIV infected person is treated and how he should be treated. 

• Ship of Theseus (2013) - This film explores the questions of identity, beauty, justice, meaning and death through the stories of an experimental photographer, an ailing monk and a stockbroker. The movie through its characters asks you very tough questions on the choices that you make as an individual. The move sails through effortlessly with wonderful performances all round and also touches hearts. Touted to be one of the most significant film to come out from Hindi Cinema is definitely a must watch. 

***********

Just like the movies above, there is another offering in Hindi Cinema in the form of Miss Lovely.

Miss Lovely, an off-beat film directed by Ashim Ahluwalia is set in the lower depths of Bombay’s “C” grade film industry. It follows the devastating story of two brothers who produce sex horror films in the mid – 1980s. A sordid tale of betrayal and doomed love, the film dives into the lower depths of the Bollywood underground, an audacious cinema with baroque cinemascope compositions, lurid art direction, wild background soundtracks, and gut-wrenching melodrama. Miss Lovely is scheduled for commercial release on 17 January 2014.

You can check the trailer of the film below.

This post is a part of the Miss Lovely Activity in association with BlogAdda.

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The Night After The Storm

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 45; the forty-fifth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

The gale had slowed after what seemed like eternity. The entire surrounding was filled with dust that flew from faraway places with trees swaying dangerously, windows and doors banging, bringing the entire traffic to a halt.

On the contrary to the mayhem outside the inside was pretty serene with just the two sipping late night coffee. He was admirably dressed in an evening robe and she was looking like a seductress in her black camisole.

Seated across the table both the two were oblivious to the mayhem outside. Words had become superfluous as eyes did all the talking. Both continued to stare at eachother without even blinking an eyelid. Such was their ardour for eachother that lifting the coffee mug, sipping and putting it back on the table became mechanical. They only concentrated upon eachother.

While they kept holding eachother’s gaze, their feet began a furtive flirtatious caressing. Just a touch of his feet was enough to arouse her, arouse her in a way that no one could have ever. Her pulsating face became a dash of glowing emerald that left a wickedly sheepish smile.

‘Thinking of me honey?’ asked a playful Aban coming from behind and placing his mug of coffee on the table. But she didn’t reply. A pat on her back brought her back from her trance.

Aban placed the chair opposite to hers and sat. Coming straight from the shower he was dressed in an evening robe without even scrubbing his body. His damp hair and body left a cast on her as her heart skipped a beat.

Silence reigned.

Words became superfluous as eyes did all the talking. Both continued to stare at eachother without even blinking an eyelid. Such was their ardour for eachother that lifting the coffee mug, sipping and putting it back on the table became mechanical. They only concentrated upon eachother.

Things were happening exactly similar to what she was dreaming off and she did realize it.

‘Aha.. my sixth sense is working’! She exclaimed to herself with caution enough to suppress her excitement as she had not revealed it to Aban about her talent.

But her naughty mind decided to test her talent further.

She continued to stare at him without blinking her eyelids for that perfect concentration to know his next move.

But little did she know that even Aban was equal to her task as he acted in exactly similar way in which her sixth sense told her. You can term it as God’s gift for his impeccable understanding of his wife and her thought process or probably selfless and eternal love for his wife. Whatever it is, Aban certainly made sure that her so called sixth sense never failed.

Without wasting any time Aban rose from his chair, came closer to her and with a glee on his face said,’ Are you ready for the storm darling?’

***

There are stories and then there are love stories. There are love stories and then there are special love stories. As it is rightly said “Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back.

Aban and Ada’s Love story is the special one where there is selfless love for eachother.

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. Participation Count: 06

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Predator

‘It was indeed awesome to spend some quality time with you, Aks’, she exclaimed.

Aks simply beamed at her and speeded with one hand at the steering wheel and other hand exploring the inner contours around her thighs.

Sooner Aks advanced his fingers upwards and kept fondling with her breasts.

A sneak through the rear view mirror was enough for he sensed the blink of Som’s eyes signalling the beginning.

The fingers kept on exploring as she kept on moaning.

And suddenly Aks came closer to her and bit her hard around the neck. His teeth were no longer that of humans but protruded from the sides with piercing sharp tip. Blood oozed out from her neck, finding ways to stain the already red painted nail-polish.

‘Welcome to the world of Vampires, baby!’ Som exclaimed in delight as he had always cherished the entry of earthly people into their world. 

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

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