Devil in Pinstripes

"An Insider's fictionalized account of what goes on in the murky world of corporate politics.."

Author: Ravi Subramanian

Published By: Rupa Publications

ISBN: 978-81-291-1551-5

About the Author:

Ravi Subramanian, an alumnus if IIM Bangalore, has spent two decades working his way up the ladder of power in the amazingly excitingly and adrenaline-pumping world of foreign banks in India. It is but natural that his stories are set in the backdrop of a financial services industry. He lives in Mumbai with his wife Dharini, a biotechnologist turned banker, and daughter Anusha.

Devil in Pinstripes is the second book in the trilogy of banking chronicles.

Connect The Author:

WEBSITE                  TWITTER

Book Blurb:

Through the loves of Chanda and Amit, a starry eyed, ambitious MBA, who joins New York International Bank (NYB), this racy narrative set in the milieu of modern day high pressure competitive banking, walks you through the power packed aisles of New York International Bank and the sharpest of its minds. Join Amit as he blindly follows the Machiavellian plans of his mentor Aditya Bhatnagar, who plays devious power games with almost everyone in his quest for success and fame, outwits and out-thinks Gowri, his arch rival and political maestro par excellence, even as he walks the tight rope in his relationship with Chanda. Are they all Gods of banking or masquerading Devils in Pinstirpes?

My Reviews:

This was my first pick of the ‘Thriller’ genre and to be honest I was not disappointed. The book has a good plot and the suspense is kept till the last keeping the reader curious upto the last page of the book.

The story starts with Rakesh Shrivastava handcuffing Amit Sharma (the protagonist of the story). Then the Author has beautifully described Amit’s past events and the present ongoing incidents simultaneously. This book is all about the things which happens/might happen in a corporate bank or any corporate sector.

The story moves with Chanda (Amit’s wife) leaving her biotechnologist career and joining the banking sector. If not the best, things were going pretty well for the married couple. Then suddenly Aditya (corporate giant and the head of NYB) transfers Chanda to NFS (a financial branch of NYB) to make everything stable between the married couple. But thing went from bad to worse when Amit was transferred to NFS counter question Gowri (dictator of NFS).

The story then builds up describing the clashes between Gowri and Amit and the former being agitated as Amit proved to be a thrown in his one man leadership. So what will happen in the end?? Who will outclass whom?? What was the crime of Amit for being arrested??

All the answers are in the book, read it to know.. (what will be the use if I write everything here).

The book is in a way like the AC signal with ups and downs, somewhere you will feel, ‘wow, what a great plot’ and sometime you will end up throwing it.

On a personal note, I loved the beginning, indeed it was superb but the climax and the ending left me slightly disappointed. At the start, Amit was arrested with a non-bailable warrant and I felt as if he has done a big crime but the ending was pretty weak. No one is arrested for such things. 

P.S. I got this book as a winning prize, in a contest organised by Mr. Yatin Gupta. 

My Rating: 4/5

( A good pick if you are looking for a good Thriller book but a Teenager looking for some romantic stuffs should avoid picking it )

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The Storm in my Mind...

              Ami, Kolkata and Confessions

Author: Ayaan Basu

Published By:Srishti Publishers

ISBN:978-93-803-4999-2

About The Author:

Ayaan Basu is a striving author, an avid blogger and a columnist fighting his days between MNC-clad work schedule, writing and veracious travelling routine. Being single, apart from writing, he was also a singer/guitarist for a Kolkata based rock band – Driftwood.

To his credit, he alse has a collection of Bengali poems as a book and several short stories, this is his first attempt at penning a novel.

You can contact to him at:  Ayaan Basu

Book Blurb:

When Aryan Roy stepped into a college life to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a successful engineer, little did he know that he was in for a journey of a lifetime. Anushka and Kaira turn his sojourn into a memorable one – in both good and not-so-good senses

The Storm in my Mind… is a collective narrative of events, habits, stereotypes and idiosyncrasies revolving around the contemporary society of Kolkata. It is a storyof love as much as it is of hatred, passion, friendship, trust, misunderstandings, nostalgia and a boy’s incomparable love for his city. It is the story of Aryan, his Kolkata and his mellowing heart that makes confessions of the times he has seen.

My Reviews:

The book is a quick, short and a good read. It is only of 158 pages and more or less it seems as an autobiography of the author, Ayaan Basu.

The Story is something like this,

In a technology dominant era, where social networking sites are common, Aryan meets Anushka through Yahoo Messenger and falls in love with her after some days of chatting and spending some time together. The day he gets sure of his feelings for Anushka, he proposes her. But Anushka denies his proposal as she was already in a relationship with Rupam.

Hearing this from Anushka, Aryan’s dream scatters, he felt bad for him and tried his best to move on. As the time passes, Aryan gets closer with Kaira (Anushka’s school friend.) They began to date for some time and finally Aryan admits to Kaira how much he has starting love her. Kaira understands Aryan’s feeling and they both gets into a relationship.

But before anything else could happen Anushka says that he wants to return back to Aryan’s life and she discloses a deep secret of Kaira. Aryan then feels being cheated and…….

(I think it won’t be good if I write everything here, you must read the book to know the climax.)

On a personal note, I am disappointed with the Author’s writing. I feel as if he was in some hurry to start and finish the book; lack of maturity in the story. One more thing, various places of Kolkata as described in the book shows about Author’s love for his hometown but somewhere I feel readers want a book not a tour guide. The Climax is somewhat different from the other such stories.

Again, the book is small and it takes 3-4 hours to finish, so if you are tired off, of your works, then you may read it to get relaxed. A good Friday read..

My Ratings: 3/5 (A Good Read)

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The Thing Between You and Me

Author: Sagar Sahu

Published By: Srishti Publisher

ISBN: 978-93-803-4906-0

About the Author:

Sagar belongs to the village, Kansabel of district Jashpur, Chhattisgarh. He completed his schooling from Bilaspur and later graduated from MLB college of Excellence, Gwalior in 2008 with a degree in commerce. “The Thing between You and Me was during his second year. He is a movie freak and likes the buzz of ad hoc journeys. Actually the book was just an expression during a filmy turn of life but later it gave him an eternal impression.

Sagar can be contacted at: www,mysamvedna.com

Book Blurb:

“Those who don’t believe in love - like you, or don’t have the permission to love someone – like me, often become a part of historical love stories,”

Samvedna – a typical South Indian girl – says to Saransh, a dying-to-be-wealthy MBA aspirant. He has lovely friends, a rich job, and his Aphrodite – Samvedna.

Still Saransh searches for something.

What is he searching for? How? And Where?

My Review:

This is a poor book.. Wait!! I am not saying about the writing or the story. Unlike other books which start from IITs and IIMs, this book has characters from a small educational institution and that’s why I call it ‘poor’. The story is mainly about Saransh, his dreams and his lady love, Samvedna.

Well in short the story is something like this,

Saransh, son of a Naxal, joins a management college at Nagpur and there he meets with Rahul, James and Sikander. And it is in the management college where he met Samvedna and falls in love with her at the very first sight. As the story goes, Samvedna falls in love with him. But this love in Saransh’s life distracts him from his ultimate dream i.e. to be rich. So instead of love, he chooses his dream and sacrifices his only love, Samvedna.

So what happens next?? Can Saransh be happy ever after?? Can Samvedna forget his love?? To know read the book (what will be the use if I write everything here.)

“When Life goes filmy” – is the tag line for this book and that attracted me to pick it up and read. Well, I have read some other reviews of the book and they say this book is a bestseller. I am not disagreeing to that but I am not agreeing to it either. There isn’t any greatness of this book, it’s like the same love story which I have read. If you are beginner in reading novels, you must pick this book.

The ending of the book is emotional, it might make you cry but on the other hand you may also feel how filmy is that and that’s what the book speaks..

“The Thing Between You and Me – When life goes filmy….”

My Ratings: 3.5/5 (A Good Read)


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Broke-Up ??? Now time to MOVE ON !!!

Are you a Teenager??

Or, Are you in your Twenties now??

Anyways in love, age is just a number and it has nothing to do with your relationships.

If You are in a relationship from last decade or if you are a month old couple this blog isn’t going to help you. But if you had been in a relationship and its present status is broken and this might help you in some manner.

No matter how much one tries, to get completely over your –ex is a hard thing and sometimes even after a year of break up, you cry and scream to get him/her back. The harder you try to forget your’s someone special, the deeper you fall in love with them. So there are some steps which should be followed if you want to get completely over your –ex.

1. ACCEPT IT:

Yes, accept it. Admit it that he/she has left you. Don’t waste your time thinking that they might return. Even if they do, the relationship will never be the same again. So it is better to fix your mind and heart that the relationship is all over. Put a big “END” mark to that and never allow your past ghost to haunt you again.

2. Don’t be an EMOTIONAL FOOL:

You are living in a 21^st century; the century where sex is easier to get than love. If you are thinking about your physical relationship with you –ex and considering it as your biggest guilt then you are an emotional fool. It might sound wrong, but you have to move on. You have to be rude, you have to be harsh on yourself. You just have to forget anything and everything that is somewhat related to your past.

3. Do anything, DISTRACT yourself:

Yes, this is what you have to do. Distract yourself, keep yourself busy in doing something or other. If you have a passion towards writing, photography or something other then take a step forward towards your dream. You will never get time to think about that person if you get busy in doing something.

4. A FRIEND in need is a Friend indeed:

You remember you have friends, siblings and parent too. Okay you may not share everything with your parents but you can speak out your heart to your close siblings and to your best friend. Tell them about how you are feeling, do remember that friendship is always greater than love. Turn out to that person whom you trust and you really cares for you.

5. Don’t STALK, just MOVE ON:

I might be talking rubbish but this is yet another way to get over your –ex. If you are strong enough and you think you can get into a relationship then stop crying and move on. Go to that person who loves you, now don’t say that you don’t have any who loves you.

Last but not the least, never ever stalk them or their social networks account. If you want to move on just delete all their mails, messages and block them from your social network accounts.

The One You Cannot Have

                                                    " How Long Does it take to heal

                                                                  a broken heart ??

                                                              Can you ever forget that one

                                                      perfect relationship you had ?? "

Author: Preeti Shenoy

Published By: Westland Ltd.

ISBN:978-93-832-6068-3

About The Author:

Preeti Shenoy is among the best-selling authors in India. Listed among the Forbes List of the 100 most influential celebrities of India, Shenoy has varied interests ranging from photography and yoga to sociology. After a brief stay in the UK, Shenoy, who is married and a mother to two children, currently resides in Bangalore. Her latest book, The One You Cannot Have (published by Westland Ltd) released in November and has been gathering enthusiastic, positive reviews from readers. She has also given talks at many prestigious educational institutions, across the country, including IITs and IIMs.

Connect The Author:

Facebook :  Click Here

Twitter:  Click Here

Book Blurb:

Anjali knows who she wants-she wants Aman.

Aman too knows who he wants-he wants Shruti.

Shruti and Aman were once inseparable. Theirs was a love that would last forever and more. Then, out of the blue, Shruti left Aman. A devastated Aman moved abroad in the hope of forgetting Shruti and to heal. Shruti married Rishabh.

Now Aman is back in India and looking for a fresh start. But he is still haunted by memories of his love. Can he ever break free from it? His head tells him to move on, to find love with Anjali, but his heart won’t listen. 

No matter what he does, Shruti’s shadow looms large. Can there be a ‘happily-ever-after’ for any of them???

My Review:

I am pretty much confused where to start from, Preeti Shenoy is one of those Indian Authors whom I love, respect and admire. She is the one whose one book is different from the other, unlike others, whose books have the same plot.

The book “The One You Cannot Have” has everything, it speaks of an unconditional love and it also says what a mature love story could be really like. Unlike other teenage love story books this book speaks a mature love story; a story that is less fictional and more real. Apart from love, the book also speaks of the relationship between a girl and their in-laws. And the best part, more or less the book speaks of pros and cons of marriage.

In short story is something like this,

Aman and Shruti were in a relationship for 4 years. They had never assumed of future without each other; a complete inseparable couple. But life wasn’t that easy as they have thought and certain condition left them with no other way but break up.

Post-Breakup Aman moved UK and Shruti married Rishabh. They were separated and made apart but somewhere deep within neither of them were able to forget to one another.

So, after 2 years Aman decided to move back to India. It is then he met with Anjali, the girl who fell in love with Aman.

The marriage life of Shruti was pretty fine but all her past ghost haunted him back when Rishabh got to know about Aman. Things changed, their marriage life weren’t the same anymore, the trust between the duos broke. Rishabh’s behavior changed, the so called love between him and Shruti began to tremble.

So, will Shruti be able to get back Rishabh’s trust or will she go back to Aman… 

Can Aman find his lost love in Anjali or will he wait for Shruti ?? 

If you want to know what happens next, you must have to read this book and I know you will definitely love reading this book. (what will be the use if I write everything here)

P.S : I admire Preeti Shenoy but while writing this review I was totally unbiased.. And I just can't wait to unveil my prized possession; a signed copy by Preeti.... 

My Rating: 5/5 ( A MUST READ )

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To read my reviews for other books of Preeti Shenoy, click here:

1. Life Is What You Make It
2. The Secret Wish List

ERROR CODE :: LOVE

                                                            "Not Every Story, Has A Hero..."

Author: Suman Bhattacharya

Published By:Srishti Publisher and Distributors

ISBN:978-93-826-6506-9

About the Author:

Suman Bhattacharya is an Electronics Engineer by education and a Software Engineer by profession. Bugged by his old love for literature, he decided to share a story with the world that he started penning years back as a student.

He is an avid reader and a prolific viewer of movies in different languages, and has a passion for freelance journalism. Having his origins from Kolkata, Suman s now settled with his wife Karpur at Noida.

In his own words: “If Error Code Love” can influence even one Indian teenager’s life, I’ll feel privileged.”

Contact the Author:

Facebook:  Click Here

Twitter:  Click Here

Book Blurb:

“I would give anything right now to reverse the clock by 24 hours. But my karma won’t let me, I have to compensate for what I’ve done.”

Kolkata, 2008:Driven by a crazed love, Dev, our next door shy software engineer commits the biggest mistake of his life. Over 72 marathon hours, he loses his education, career, love, and life by a single act of madness.

Bengaluru, 2012:Years later, Dev reaches Bengaluru in search of a better life. Destiny brings him face to face with his first love again. He chases the same impossible dream only to find himself burning and falling in love.

Error Code Lovetakes you on an epic journey through the roads of friendship, jealousy, obsession, mistakes, redemption and ‘love’. It raises questions allied to grey areas of teen emotions and lets you find the answers within.

My Review:

Error Code Love is a Triangular love story, oops sorry, it’s a quadruple love story.. Sorry again, ECL(Error Code Love) is a simple yet beautiful love story of Dev and Neera.

The story starts with Dev reaching Bengaluru to start life afresh leaving back all his past. He gets welcomed by his best friends, Rishi and Isha. Both were his engineering college mates, in fact Isha was Dev’s first official girlfriend.

So the story in short is somewhat like this,

It was during their engineering college days when Dev fell for Neera. But before he could propose, Neera was already in love with Neel. This hurt Dev’s ego, he then decided to show Neera that even he could possess a girlfriend.

Dev, then proposed Isha (his best friend who cared for him). Isha took Dev’s proposal seriously and accepted. Their relationship lasted around six months and then happened that thing which changed everyone’s life altogether. That incident devastated Dev’s career, it took his so called relationship, and took everything from Dev giving him with a LOSER tag.

Well, what would be the use if I write the entire story here, you must read it to know more. And as a book reviewer I would say that this book doesn't have a different or a heart touching story but definitely it has an interesting story to tell. You can realize the pain and agony only if you could get into the shoes of Dev and assume yourself as him.

On a personal note, this is the lengthiest book I have ever read but even for once I didn't thought of putting it down. To be honest, I was half way down, around 150 pages and the book gave me no idea what the real story is. The Author gets full mark for keeping the suspense for so long without making bore. 
To be precise, I didn't feel bore even for a single time during the whole read and the Author gets full credit for that.

My Ratings: 4/5 (An Interesting Read)

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