A Gentleman In Moscow

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I have always averted from reading Russian novels. They have this gloomy story, sombre shades and often filled with melancholy. This is what I had heard about the Russian books. When I finished reading this book, I found the description to be quite accurate.
This story might be relatable to some because of current lockdown situation in many places over the world. The protagonist, Count Alexander Rustov, is sentenced to house arrest for life in a hotel right in the heart of Moscow city. We cannot stay inside the comforts of our home for a couple of days and he has to live for life. So the premise was interesting. I was curious to know how he will live his whole life when within few pages he was standing on the edge of parapet, trying to end his life. But the story unfolds beautifully from there on. 
This book takes you down the memory lane, into a restaurant which serves you nostalgia as aperitif, shaken and stirred, along with three course nostalgia, which brings forth a bouquet of memories which remind you of some fragrances which you might have forgotten by passage of time. 
I loved almost everything about this book. The characters, especially Count and Sofia, they will be difficult to forget. I will remember them as real people. I cannot complain anything about story, characters, writing. There isn’t much room for that. What I can complain is the fact that it bombards too many unfamiliar words which I have to look often into dictionary. Then there is usage of Russian and French which I have guessed. Didn’t have the patience to translate it online. Also, a few more pages of romance between Count and Anna would have been like cherry on cake. 
All in all, it’s a fantastic read. One which might help you change your perspective about life in current situation. Or maybe even in future when everything is normal. Full marks from me. 
P. S: I wouldn’t have thought of reading this one if it wasn’t for Geetika who gifted me this one my birthday. Thanks so much ❤️

गुढीपाडवा २०२१

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गुढीपाडवा २०२१

चैत्र शुक्ल प्रतिपदा, प्लवनाम संवत्सर, हिंदू नववर्षनिमित्त खूप खूप शुभेच्छा. नवीन वर्षात तुम्हाला उत्तम आयुष्य आणि आरोग्य लाभो ही ईश्वरचरणी प्रार्थना. 🙏🏻

The Wrath Of The Hellfires

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Remember guys waiting for two years to find out why kattappa killed Bahubali? I had to wait for almost 3 years for the conclusion of this series. The wait was painful but now that I have read the final book in the series, it was worth it. 

Vikramaditya Veergatha #4

Devas and Asuras continue planning and plotting to snatch the Veeshada dagger which contains Halahal. Both failed to acquire the dagger in spite of attacking Ujjayani multiple times. The Navratnas are still unaware of their full potential but they are ready to face anyone to protect their city and its citizens. The enemies underestimated the Navratnas under the leadership of Vikramatitya. Will they continue to do so? What happens to the dagger and Halahal? What happens to the feud between Vikramatitya and Kalidasa and Vararuchi? Read this final book in the series to find out. All the questions have been answered.

What I really like about the book.. 
This last book in the series is unputdownable. Just like the previous ones. The language and the way it’s written is beautiful. I felt that the author has achieved mastery in storytelling. I would be disappointed if he doesn’t publish a book every year or two. The chapters are long and thus switching between the narrative is not irritating like previous books in the series. The whole series doesn’t twist the Bharatiya cultural figures in a disrespectful way. I have read so many books on “Indian Mythology” genre where the author did such a criminal act. This series might be the only exception. There is no commentary on discrimination in Bharat or lectures on caste system. There is no pseudo feminism which has also become a common exploit for writers in this genre. There is magic. There is action. There is drama and a hint of love. This is pure fiction that will only entertain you throughout the book and the series. And closures. I am sucker for them. There is closure to every sub plot which I hadn’t expected considering the size of the book. 

What I didn’t like.. 
This is 556 pages book which should have been a bit fatter. There were some sequences in climax which were cut short. The infighting between kingdoms have been sidelined. If you carefully notice, the Navratnas never realized their full potential which is supposed to be the core of the story. Throughout the climax, I was waiting for Vikramatitya to say something like Navratnas Assemble on the lines of Avengers Assemble which would have been high point for a fanboy. 😀

Everything said, I recommend not just this book but the whole series. I am waiting for publishers to release box pack of the series signed by the author. By far, this is the best series I have read in any genre. Beg, borrow, steal. But read this whole series. 

प्रेषित

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यावर्षी वाचून आवडलेलं हे दुसरं थरारक पुस्तक. खरं तर ही एक विज्ञानकथा आहे. पण प्रत्येक पानागणिक आपली उत्कंठा वाढवणारे आहे. सदतीस वर्षांपूर्वी ही कथा लिहिली आहे यावर विश्वासच बसत नाही. आपल्या काळाच्या मानाने लेखकाचे विचार व कल्पकता कितीतरी पुढे होती याची जाणीव हे पुस्तक वाचताना होते.एक वैज्ञानिक, प्रिंगल, अवकाशात अजून कुठे जीवसृष्टी आहे का याचा शोध लावतोय. ते सुद्धा लपून छपून मिलिटरीच्या यंत्रणेने. एका अपघातात त्याचा मृत्यू होतो. जवळजवळ चाळीस वर्षानंतर एका युवा जोडप्याला एका शेतात एक मूल सापडते ज्याचे नाव आलोक ठेवले जाते.

लहानपणापासून हा आलोक समवयस्क मूलांपेक्षा जास्त बुद्धीवान असतो. कुटुंबाचा फॅमिली डॉक्टर आणि मुलाचे शिक्षक त्याच्यावर लक्ष ठेवून असतात कारण त्यांना हा मुलगा विशेष आहे हे कळून चुकते. कथानक पुढे सरते तसे हा मुलगा एक परग्रहवासी आहे याचा उलगडा हळूहळू होत जातो. पुढे आलोक काय व कशासाठी करतो हे अत्यंत सुंदर पद्धतीने लिहिले आहे.

सुरूवातीला म्हटल्याप्रमाणे हे पुस्तक उत्कंठा वाढवणारे आहे. एकदा वाचायला सुरुवात केली मग सहज सोडवत नाही. लेखकाने उत्तम प्रकारे विषयाची मांडणी केली आहे. साध्या भाषेचा प्रयोग केल्याने वाचावयास कठीण जात नाही. चुकवू नये असे हे पुस्तक मुद्दामहून वाचा. नक्की आवडेल यात शंका नाही. 

Manat – Book Review

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मनात

मानसशास्त्र हा असा विषय आहे ज्याच्यावर एवढी वर्षे दुर्लक्ष होत होते. पण जसजसा काळ बदलला, जीवनशैली बदलली तसे याला महत्त्व मिळत गेले. मला मानसशास्त्राविषयी खूपच ओढ. लोकांच्या नकळत त्यांचे बोलणे, त्यांचे हावभाव यांचे निरीक्षण करत असतो. एवढं असूनही या विषयावर कधी वाचन केले नाही.

मनात हे पुस्तक सामान्य माणसाला मानसशास्त्राची माहिती देण्यासाठी लिहिले गेले. मानसशास्त्राचे वेगवेगळे पैलू यात मांडले आहेत. भाषा रंजक ठेवण्याचा लेखकाने अत्यंत प्रामाणिक प्रयत्न केला आहे. पण सुरुवातीच्या काही प्रकरणानंतर तोचतोचपणा जाणवतो. प्रत्येक प्रकरण एकाच साच्यात घालून तयार केले आहे असे वाटते. मधल्या पानांत तर मानसशास्त्र सोडून मानसशास्त्रज्ञांच्या जीवनाविषयी जास्त पाने खर्च केली आहेत. यामुळे सुरुवातीला आपले लक्ष वेधून घेणारे हे पुस्तक नंतर नंतर कंटाळवाणे होऊ लागते. असे असूनही या पुस्तकात मानसशास्त्राविषयी प्रचंड माहिती दिली आहे. जवळपास या विषयाचा संपूर्ण इतिहास संक्षिप्त स्वरूपात मांडला आहे.

ज्यांना मानसशास्त्राची आवड आहे त्यांच्यासाठी हे पुस्तक एक पर्वणीच. बाकीच्यांना हे कंटाळवाणे वाटण्याची संभावना आहे. वाचायचं ठरवलंच तर हळूहळू वाचा. कारण यात घेण्यासारखे खूप काही आहे.