Book: The Thirteenth Day
Author: Aditya Iyengar
Available At: Flipkart

"The Thirteenth Day" is a fresh new perspective to the Mahabharat that will force you to think again. The new perspective is set in the present times and is relevant in the social scenario as well. I got this book as part of the "Flipkart Book Review Program."

The tale is told by three persons - Yudhishthira, Radheya and Abhimanyu. It is a fresh new take on the age-old story and it forces you to think. Yudishthira is seen since ages as the administrator but in the book he is revealed as a person who did not have the people's vote of confidence at all. Instead the people's choice winner was Bhima and Yudishthira was actually seen as a spoilsport by all. The book is also humorous to boot and its uncanny gems force you to lighten up, when you least expect it. He is clearly one of the most under-rated and misunderstood characters in the whole story. This novel does bring his contribution to light and correct the injustice, but it is a long way to go before he finally gets his due.

Radheya or Karna, the king of Agra also takes part in the story and shares the story from his view-point. He is ridiculed no end for his supposed humble ancestors. The book is a stark reflection of the present day society as well. Never mind the fact that thousands of years have passed since Mahabharat took place. There are some things that haven't changed and will never will.

The book is fast-paced and keeps the reader hooked till the very end. However, the ending does seem a bit abrupt.

All in all, a remarkable debut by Aditya Iyengar. The book is littered with some remarkable humorous gems and some great anecdotes. It is well-researched and authentic to boot.

Review of “The Wedding Photographer” By Sakshama Puri Dhariwal

Book: The Wedding Photographer

Author: Sakshama Puri Dhariwal

Available At: Flipkart

First of all, being a through crime and thriller buff, i do “not” enjoy chicklit books, at all. But the surprise is that this breezy, wonderful read by Sakshama Puri Dhariwal may have just converted me. I am astonished to say this, but its true. I got this book as part of the “Flipkart Blogger Review Program.”

I finished this book in just two sittings, as it has a complete hold over the reader. It is the story of a journalist-cum-photographer Risha and her billionaire beau Arjun Khanna. They meet on a flight, sparks fly and the rest, as they say is history? No, No, not so soon. It is a tale that is woven with care over real-life situations like misunderstandings and the fragile ego. 

The punjabi influence over the script will keep you in splits and sometime during the narrative, you might also crave for a Patiala Peg. Don’t say that i didn’t warn you! The typical punjabi pronunciations will also humour you, no end.

Arjun Khanna is a typical businessman and a super-successful one at hand, who hates journalists with a vengeance. It’s too bad that his lady love’s main profession is also the same, which doesn't appeal to him at all. He thinks that she wants to make money out of him, by splashing his private pics all over the Page 3 tabloids, but he couldn’t be far away from the mark.

The gurus and all the sundry guru-mas’s sect is also made poked, prodded and made fun off, in this hilarious book. Arjun’s mom is a die-hard fan of a particular guru-maa who seems to have an affinity for Tanishq diamond sets, botox injections, perfect selfies and high-rise apartments.