I haven't read In Other Words...

In Altre Parole...

In Other Words

Neelanjana Sudeshna Jhumpa Lahiri is a name I had to write about in my pages every moment. And the rest she created was history. I never had anything much to brag about, but one. I don't know anything to speak about, but one. I have even learnt few Italian phrases and words, not because my favourite writer had learnt it for some nearly twenty years, but for that one. 

A lot later I realised what I read was not her. In Other Words was a blur to me. Why did I be so happy after reading it? After all, I read the award winning translator, Ann Goldstein. I then consoled myself that I at least had a grip on her ideas. But how is that possible? Language is like a flow in the oceans. I will flow with the waves, ebb with the tides. There was no point in consolation. I never understood Jhumpa Lahiri's memories, stories, and nostalgia in her book. What I read was just English. And this was the prime reason why I chose to keep my inner spirit walking up and down. I never wanted the sprint of Italian to die in me. I want to keep it alive...alive like nothing else in my life. 

In Other Words is in a haze for me. There are distinct shadows in the book. Starting from its cover to the blurb. Everything is hazy and indistinct. 

Indistinct ideas with shadows all around

Someday I will read Jhumpa Lahiri's In Altre Parole. Someday I too will be able to know her language...till then I want to keep her other books close to my heart since no one knows it better than me, how she had changed me in particular and my life in general. Never in my dreams did I feel that there exists such a form of love, a love which keeps you alive and make you realize that nowadays were never just days. I can relate to her, I can witness her in whatever I write. Is such a world for an aficionado? 

11th July, Calcutta. 

Review of The Monk

The Monk

Written by Akshay Shroff

About the Author: Akshay Shroff has been a successful advertising sales consultant of domestic and international media, spanning over three decades, first in New Delhi followed by Mumbai.
He has been associated with voluntary organizations like the Lions and the Junior Chamber International in senior positions and also with trade bodies like the Delhi Advertising Club and the Press Club of India.
Married to Jayna since February 1981, he has been a responsible family man, a doting father of Rohan and a loving father-in-law of Stuti.
Has a Bon Vivant nature, nurturing friendships since over five decades.
Travel, trekking, reading and writing have been his passionate hobbies.
Lover of animals and Nature, dogs have been his companions on and off.
While THE MONK is his debut novel, writing will now be his full time engagement.

Storyline: Ten-year old Lakshya Gaitonde dreams of following a career in cricket like his idol, Sunil Gavaskar. But destiny has other plans for him.
He loses his father, Police sub-inspector Rajaram Gaitonde in the Mumbai terror attack of March 1993. He decides to follow his father’s footsteps and becomes a police officer.
In the July 2006 serial train blasts on the Mumbai suburban network, he loses his mother and fiancée.
In consultation with the Commissioner of Police, he devises a diabolical plan to crush the menace of terrorism at its roots.
Does he succeed? How does he manage to avenge the killing of his parents and his beloved? Why does he finally don saffron robes?

Review: I received the book on 27th June and completed its review by 29th. This evidence is enough to mention that the book was that much engrossing. The protagonist was well sketched and the character draws your attention from the very first line when Gaitonde goes to solve a ransacked house.

I am not used to reading thrillers a lot but I must say this book was more inspirational than thrilling which is a good point. The usage of words, metaphors and different figures of speech were flawless and the editorial team of Gargi publishers missed out few grammatical errors. It's written like a matured writer and would definitely ask everyone to try this book. It's overall a beautiful read. Unless and untill you read till the till last line, you wouldn't leave the book. It's that much engrossing! Akshay Shroff has done a great job with his debut book. While you read the book, the sentence construction and simplicity, you will never know that it's a first time writer.Even the cover of the book was thrillingly designed.

I would love to rate the book a 3.5/5

Publisher: Gargi Publishers

 Genre: Fiction/Thriller