Book Review : Tuki’s Grand Salon Chase

Tags

book, book review, parul sharma, review, tuki's grand salon chase

When I first read about the book, it reminded me of the movie “Everybody says I am fine” where the main protagonist is a hair stylist and can read what the person is thinking while cutting the hair. While no such thing happens in the book with Tuki, the book is filled with small nuggets about all aspects of running a salon and includes a decent share on the customers, their thought process etc.

The story starts in “Nancy Factory”, an upmarket and one of THE hair salons of Mumbai which was started by predictably someone called Nancy and where now Tuki, Rene and Jene (nancy’s daughters) work as hair stylists.

The book takes us through the emotions and the struggle of Tuki so well while she deals with trying to make a mark of her own in the industry and yet holds on to her relationships. It takes us the politics of relationship and work, takes us to through the mind of a girl who is lost and trying to get the bearings of her life back.

The book is laced with humor and wit, which is so categorically Parul’s style and yet seemed to have matured. If you have read the author’s previous work as well as her blog you will know what I am talking about.  The other thing that I loved about the book was how well the characters were defined and how they felt real. One could easily identify with Tuki, the middle class who has so many dreams and is desperately trying to fit herself in Mumbai fashion, Tuki’s stay at home dad who is somewhere trying to defy the notion that all stay at home dad’s are useless. Brenda, a new mother who is just not able to deal with motherhood and life away from home.

The book by far according to me is Parul’s best work yet, Parul dear you just raised the bar and the expectations from your next book.

Go grab this one, for a easy yet brilliant read

Book’s FB Page – https://www.facebook.com/TukisGrandSalonChase

 

Gulabi, Bemba and a head : Book Review (The Spy Who Lost Her Head by Jane De Suza)

Tags

book, review, the spy who lost her head

When a friend has written a book and you pick it up, it’s always a tough situation. What if you don’t like the book? What if it doesn’t match up to the expectations you have from your friend. Will your friend’s funny bone reflect in the book or will it fall flat on your face. These were some of the thoughts with which I started reading “The Spy Who Lost Her Head by Jane De Suza”. Jane is a fellow blogger (blog link) and has become a friend too. Her blog Jane Kidding is a hilarious read I kid you not and that is what reflects in the book too.

The book is about Gulabi, a village belle who comes to town to search for her man, her BEMBA (read the book to know what it means, I am not gonna tell you) and turns into a James Bond style super spy. The city takes Gulabi with surprise and the effect of Gulabi and her Queen English is similar on the city and its people. In the process of finding her Bemba, Gulabi, who somewhere becomes Pink Rose in the book, lands with an additional head which she inturns loses and creates a mystery.

The book is a roller coaster ride of humor, I kid you not when I say that there is no moment in the book when you will not be laughing out aloud. The characters are very well defined and clearly seem to have a mind of their own. Whether its Gulabi herself or the landlord which she keeps forcing to believe is her Bemba, Tanya the other roommate and a journalist who tries hard to turn the village belle in a city girl.

The only little small crib I had from the book was that the climax somehow seemed a little rushed to me. Else it kept me laughing and engrossed through and through.

In the end like I said on Gulabi’s FB page “me spending two nights with you. Laafffing too much and then crying with laffter. My head is hurting with laffter but I am still spending night with you. Gulabi you are too good. My Bemba might get angry with me but I am still spending night with you laffing :)”

Go pick up the book now and I promise you won’t regret.

Rating 4/5

Book The Spy Who Lost Her Head by

Authors  Jane De Suza

Price Rs 250/-

Flipkart Link – BUY HERE

 

Product Review : Tata Indica VistaD90

Tags

blogadda, product review, review, tata indica vista d90

I am a driving fanatic is no news to the regular reader of the blog and most regular readers know would know that husband is an automobile fanatic too. So when there was an opportunity from Blogadda to review the new Tata Indica Vista D90 I lapped it up really quick 🙂

The car was allotted to me for 3 days so that I can experience it fully, I thought it was a wonderful initiative by Tata Motors and Blogadda. When the car arrived last Saturday to my house, I was out and as soon as I came home I took it for a drive braving the Saturday evening traffic.  The first thing that strikes you is the space in the car which is excellent considering it’s a small car, especially in the back seat where my really tall friend V felt comfortable too and pointed out the same thing.

The car has a fabulous suspension which feels rock solid on road and makes the ride very comfortable, the horrible speed breakers in the city don’t really break your back and that to me is a huge plus considering how Bangalore is full of those ugly ones. Also what we liked about the car was the handling and the driving comfort which is basically a result of the brilliant suspension and a refined engine, the combination makes the car a pleasure to drive.

The car has a decent music system which though gave me a little crack here and there when we were tuned into the radio but the sound quality when playing a CD is pretty decent. It also has the feature where you can connect your mobile phone to it and use it as an integrated system, we tried it with all three phones we had, iPhone, Samsung Galaxy SIII and Nokia and it worked seamlessly with all of them. It certainly is a feature that will aid one’s city driving considering the pace of life we lead these days.

The plastic quality and finish and the general interiors of the car are a big improvement on the usual tata ones, much better than before. It also has a driver information system which tells you – the average of the car, kilometers that the car will run before the next refuel (which for people like me is a big plus, I am always running to the petrol bunk when its almost at the end of its reserve, because I keep forgetting, the reminder in your face I am sure will be useful) apart from the time and the temperature.

The think that I didn’t like much in the car was the fact the gear box could have been smoother, it is jerky and the gear shift is not really as smooth as it should be. Also on the ratting is noticeable when you are on high speeds. The other thing that I thought was the sluggishness of the car till it reaches 2400 rpm. So when you start the car and till you reach 2400rpm it feels really sluggish and as a result you need to down your gears pretty often to be able to keep up your speed and pace.  However once you reach 2400rpm the pick is fabulous and it reaches 4000rpm like a breeze. Peaks out at 4500rpm and between the 2400rpm and 4500rpm it almost drives like a petrol car.

Truly we had pleasure driving the car around for 3 days and at the end of it when they came to pick up the car they did a small video shoot which made me so embarrassed, I have told them to share it with me when its ready and I will share it here when I get it. Till then some final words on the car by the driving crazy family

N says

“It was a pleasure to drive, I think with Vista D90 Tata has finally got the small car right and a car which is capable of giving Maruti Swift a run for its money”

Me

“A small car which is ideal for the city drive with its driver information system, integrated phone support, an ideal car for the busy lives we lead these days”

And O says (yes when we are both saying something, how can he be left behind)

“Looks good, like the speed which it goes after 2000rpm, I like the speed”

 

Book Review | Live From London by Parinda Joshi

Tags

book, book review, chiclit, fiction, indian author, indian fiction, reading, review

  

I love reading chicklits, and the first look of this book promised to be everything that a chicklit is supposed to be – a smart but slightly confused girl, a good looking hunk who might be her saviour, good friends, steamy romance, mushy feelings and to add to it London. I knew its a book that has to be read.

Live from London is primarily a story of Nishi Gupta, who came to live in London with her parents after her father got transferred, loves playing guitar and her bunch of friends Riya, Sarah and Zac. After finishing her education at a respectable college in London, she decides to play a risk with her career by wanting to join the music industry to prove the world that she has got it, to recover from the terrible hurt and embarrassment on her disastrous appearance in “Britain’s Got Talent”.

Against her Indian and conservative parents she sets out her struggle to make it somewhere with a cold and calculative boss but things turn around with the entry of America’s new pop star, Nick which predictably results in a steamy affair. Along with the love life, Nishi’s career begins to look good too with a song deal coming her way till the world decides to do a u-turn on her.

The book is a fast and easy read, written in a casual conversational language. I finished it in a single sitting during my Bangalore-Delhi flight. What I liked about the book was that it makes you realise that Parinda Joshi has promise for a better future, the characters were well formed and thought about. The book has it humor moments too, doesn’t drag around the story. Sticks to it and says is decently well

However inspite of all this, the book didn’t leave me fully satisfied. Why you ask? Couple of reasons and the top most being, like all Rupa books its not been copy read properly. It has grammatical errors and quite a few of them at that. And I have said that before, I can’t stand when that happens. For God’s sake there is some responsibility a publishing house has to take too.

The second reason that it left me wanting for more. I mean the book at times seemed hurried through, as if someone was under pressure to finish it for a deadline or as if short story has been forcibly converted to a novel.

But the book is surely a good addition to the fast emerging Indian Chicklits, books like this make me feel yes there is hope that may be just may be someday we will have an India Sophie Kinsella too?

Final Word : A fast and easy Indian chicklit with well defined characters. I would a good flight companion for people who like reading this genre.

Book : Live from London

Author : Parinda Joshi

Publisher : Rupa

Rating : 3/5

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

The Boss Is Not My Friend

Tags

book, book review, review, the boss is not my friend

First thing first I love the cover, second I love the name  There is no truth bigger than this in corporate world… “The Boss is not your Friend” full stop whatever he says or whatever you think other wise  And the book makes this simple thing clear in a not so crude manner. I mean when we say Boss is not your friend, it doesn’t mean that boss is you enemy either and one should head his way with a sword…

The book starts by proving that “Corporations are evil” and the way it does that one is sure that what lies ahead is a great entertaining read with insights in our everyday mad world…. And the point he makes is what me and N have discussed many a time between us. Companies run for business and nothing else. Employees just happen to be a part of it, fine there could be companies which could say they are employee friendly and sure they are but still “Corporations are evil”  and read the book to know why

Vijay has an amazing sense of humor that is evident all across the book, in the jokes he cracks or the advice he dishes out in not to preachy way or even the alternate name of the chapters like for eg  “Banging the Boss” . He keeps the book light which is a pleasant surprise specially considering its actually a non fiction which are not really my cup of tea. I don’t do a lot of non fiction but this book held my attention till the end.

The book took me back to many a moments where I have argued with the HR, or wanted the curse the boss under my breath and as an added advantage is the brilliant quiz in the book…

Any person with some experience in the corporate would love the book, N also read it and read it one sitting that too and that is a big thing to say when it comes to him, he usually takes ages to finish a book. Left us both wondering why didn’t some one get the idea of writing this before, what took it so long 😉

The book also left me craving to go back to corporate though I used to say I hate it but I think I still do but the book made me realise that there are many things I miss about that life too. Small things that did make the life I had bearable and fruitful. May be I am ready to go back and sending the book was god’s err blogadda’s way of making me realise that he he

For me the book was a nice entertaining read around the corporate world which teaches a thing or two without being preachy

Rating – 3.5/5

 

Books I have been reading | Post 23

Tags

books, NaBloPoMo, review

Its been long I have updated the page I keep for the books I read, reviews have been slow on the blog too for reasons I dont seem to understand. So I thought may be listing the books I have read in the past month or so with short reviews might be a good idea. Will do detailed reviews for some of them soon but as of now here is the list

Jaane bhi Do Yaroon By Jai Arjun Singh : I love love love the movie Jaane bhi do yaroon, its right up in my most favourite Hindi movies, have watched it N number of times and I think its cult work of Hindi Cinema so when I first heard of this book I knew I had to read it and to top it all Jai’s blog is one of the few first blogs I started reading ever. The book brings back to the satirical comedy that Jaane bhi do yaaron was. In his own signature style and imagination that can only be Jai’s, he takes us through the making of the book, what was the thoughts of the legendary Kundan Shah when he thought of the movie and what brilliant actors like Naseer and Ravi Vaswani bring to the film. It makes you aware of what Jaane Bhi Do yaroon wanted to achieve even if one has missed the dark humour in the movie which frankly the initial few times I did. If you like the movie I would highly recommend the book. It made me want to see the movie all over again with the perspective Jai showed.

Rating – 3.5/5

The F-Word – I have already done a review here

Women and the weight loss tamasha by Rujuta Diwekar – I have read the first book by Rujuta when it came and I loved it for the simple and sensible advice to weight loss and the effort towards the size 0 figure. And I felt the same way when it came to this book, she makes it feel so logical so common sense business that you one wonders why is that we follow such simple things in life? drink enough water, dont give up on anything completely, understand your body all this and much more. In this book she deals with weight loss as well as other problems we women have and how to be healthy through them, PMS, pregnancy, menopause. And everything she says makes sense. My only wish with her books is that she gets someone with a better command over language write it for her because God knows she is terrible in that department 😛

Rating 5/5 for the tips 1/5 for the language and editing

Highway on my Plate by Rocky Singh and Mayur Sharma – Now I don’t there is anyone who would have not seen the show HOMP, I love the show and I love the way Rocky and Mayur bring balance to the show, one vegetarian the other cringes his nose when it comes to eating veg food, I love the energy they bring to the show. I love the fact that they do try and find lesser know eatries and showcase them and they love traveling too, what is their not to love though I know purists will cringe at my choice and the fact that I love them but somehow they remind me of me, the foodie in true sense. They love to eat not just eat gourmet. In this book they take you through the country and the highway eateries. Thought typically all of them are not really on highways. It takes you the through the lesser known cuisines of the east, takes the south indian food beyond idly dosa and the punjabi food beyond beyond tandoori chicken. I loved the book though I hate to admit that book lacked the punch of the show, the book has its own mistakes but I would still say its a book to read and to keep forever in your traveling back if u like to explore the city you are visiting.

Rating 3.5/5

Chankaya’s Chant – here is my review. Read the book now if u haven’t already 🙂

The 4 hour body by Timothy Ferris- this is a book about fitness, life and food. very interesting read detailed review coming up soon

To be continued in the next post………..

Going Plum with Wella | Post 22

Tags

color, hair, hair color, NaBloPoMo, review, wella

Now who doesn’t want hair like Dimple, I have always been in awe of her specially her hair… and I have always experimented with my hair a lot, so when I saw the Wella Program at Blogadda I was like why not. After much thinking and twittering around I decided to chose the color options ad Plum and Mahongy Brown partly convinced in my mind that I will go for Mahongy and becuase there was a problem in the availability of the color I wanted the package arrived a little late than expected. Though once the packet arrived the confusion in my head started again. Plum or Mahogny and this time N solved it by asking me to go for Plum 😉 so it was

I applied the color and I like how it doesn’t stand out too much inside the house but dazzles when I am out in the sun 😀

The color packaging contain

1. pre color almond treatment

2. color

3. post color conditioner

So as instructed by the leaflet included I applied the pre color treatment and after that applied the mixed color, waited for 45 minutes and applied the conditioner after rinsing. I love the conditioner is the first thing I have to say, makes my hair so smooth and manageable and for my short hair there is enough to use for the next 5 or some times atleast

On the whole my hair feel great after the color application if not gorgeous like Dimple’s…. what I would have loved additionally would be cape in the box to prevent the color stains on my dress… else it was perfect resulting in a plumed hair me 😀

I AM | Day 7

Tags

I AM Movie, NaBloPoMo, review

I had first heard of IAM long ago on Facebook when someone send me the fan page and I was totally amused and happy to see the movie being produced by the help of social media. The movie has about 500 producers like you and me and I think the lowest contribution being as low as Rs 1000/-. Its amazing how social media comes together to support something they like. But after I read about it, it was just another movie for me whose update I used to keep getting on mt FB page till CSA started because someone put us in touch with Onir the director of the movie. He and Sanjay Suri who has acted in the movie did a twitter chat for us on the issue of Child Sexual Abuse. I also came to know that the CSA story in the movie is actually based on the story of Harish Iyer who is a CSA survivor and gender activist, a person from whom it is difficult not to be inspired by

So when the movie released I was very sure I wanted to see it. The movie is essentially a collection of 4 stories stringed together, I AM AFIA story of a woman (played by Nandita Das) who wants to be a single mother but not by adopting but by carrying the child, I AM MEGHA (played by Juhi Chawla) story of a Kashmiri Pandit who lost her house and roots in the restless Kashmir and the emotions that she herself refuses to acknowledge, I AM ABHIMANYU (played by Sanjay Suri) thats the child sexual abuse story, story of a boy abused by his step father and I AM OMAR (played by Rahul Bose) which is about GAY rights and deception

The movie is sensitive and raw, it doesn’t go overboard trying to sensationalise the issues. Treats them with right amount of exposure of the issue. Personally for me I think the one that touched me most was I AM Abhimanyu, it could be because I have just gone through the whole CSA month and come to know Harish but I think thats an issue very rarely dealt in Hindi Cinema forget about dealing well.  I AM Afia touched on an issue which is coming up fast in the modern day society and deals with it pretty well, Nandita Das was as usual good in the role and BTW I loved her styling just represented her the T. Rahul Bose I think I have no words left for him, the man is brilliant, he can bring any just about any character life with his acting and I AM Omar moved me a lot, it was the favorite segment of N. The part that least impressed me was I AM Megha the plot was good but some Juhi didnt seem to add the punch in the role.

All in All I would say I AM is a great watch, a rare movie that truly tries to deal with the issues it takes up, whether it does make a difference of not only time will tell…

Book Review | Hunger Games Series | Post 4

Tags

book, book review, catching fire, hunger game series, hunger games, mockingjay, NaBloPoMo, review

So did you come here thinking I will be doing Thursday challenge unfortunately I don’t have that luxury as I do it on the project 365 blog, so TC is here  for those interested

And all those who are (includes me) excited on so many people doing the marathon together I have a good news for you. Some more people have joined the fun please see the updated list here, also I have added the link to the updated list in my sidebar for those who wanna check at anytime who all are participating So now to the main post, Lets talk about Hunger Games

Some days back when I asked around in twitter for a book reco to buy my first book in Kindle lot of people suggested Hunger Games till that time I had heard of the name sometimes too but I wasn’t fully aware of what the book is about. Couple of tweets exchanged with some people and within 15 minutes I was convinced that it is a book that must be read. And I connected by Kindle to the wifi, went to the amazon store and there bought the book, within seconds I had the book in my hands (that’s one of the things I am loving about Kindle, instant gratification, we are a generation which doesn’t like to wait for anything, always in hurry the instant generation as my mom calls us)

Hunger games is a 3 book series based in Post apocalyptic world based in Panem (the former United States). Panem is divided into 12 districts and ruled by The Capitol to whom all the twelve districts supply essentials like clothes, electronics, coal, agriculture etc in return for the food Capitol gives them the rationed food. The main protagonist of the story Katniss, a 16 year old girl who lives in the coal mining district 12 were everything is less, whether its food, clothes or fun. Everyday survival is a huge issue and to top it all there are hunger games – the games started by The Capitol to remind all districts of the revolt they did against the capitol about 75 years back. 2 kids from each district are chosen every year to fight against each other to kill each other until one remains and the district from where the child is doesn’t remain hungry for that year. They get abundant food and clothing as a prize for killing the other 23 children. The whole event is televised for the people in The Capitol to enjoy for whom this the highlight sport of the year and for the districts to watch their children die in front of them and refresh the reminder that what one revolt did to them, to make them realise that who is the true ruler.

The book plays with the human sentiments of love, hate and passion. Makes us realise that in the end we are all animals living for the sake of entertainment along with the basic needs. It shocks you by the way people can create on the things people can take joy from. While reading we all know its a make believe fictional world but its not at all difficult to get lost into it and feel for it.

Now to the protagonist Katniss the very fact that she is female is enough to make me love her the regular readers of the blog will now but apart from that there is something about her that makes one admire her if not anything. She started hunting in the forbidden woods after her father died and made her best friend Gale, how she takes upto supporting her family at the age of 12, how she stands upto to prevent her sister from the hunger games. The best thing is that through the novel Collins has not tried to create pity on her as was the case with the shaking Bella of Twilight. She has a mind of her own, a conviction and intuition that is hard to beat and yet a weakness somewhere that is easy to catch. All in all her character seems very real.

The first book in the series Hunger games deal with what happens when Katniss and Peeta (the other child from District 12) enter the Hunger Game arena, will one of them come out alive?

The book is pacy, gory and makes you hate the world at time but is unputdownable. When I started reading the book for an two hours or so I couldn’t put the book down for anything, not even for a bio break. Initially I thought its the new kindle effect but it was soon clear its the effect of the book as I finished the whole series in 4 days flat. Everynight reminding myself dude its 1am in the night sleep and 1 would change to 2 and 2 to 3 when I would finally force myself to keep it down knowing very well that I have to get up at 7am.

And its not just the first book, all three books maintain the pace and keep up gripped to them. Read them that will Katniss be able to raise her voice against The Capitol? Will people realise its high time they did something to save their own children and most important Will the Hunger Games ever get over or just take another ugly turn?

Final Word : A fast pacy series, but a series which is more than mere fiction. According to me its the story of a brutal society, a society which we can become if we don’t keep things in check. Its the ode to democracy and a book which makes one realise yet again how important freedom and meeting basic needs is.

Book : Hunger Game Series (Hunger Game, Catching Fire, MockingJay)

Author : Suzanne Collins

Rating : 4/5

The F- Word : Book Review

Tags

book, book review, food, food writing, review

 

The first time I heard of this book was from Kiran who said that this book got her into kitchen 🙂 she was all praises of the book and being a foodie having cooking as one of the hobbies it promptly went into my must reading list…I bought it on the first chance I had and went along with Mita for a ride in her world….

BTW if u are still confused the F in the F-Word is Food 😉 The book is about the life and culinary journey of a woman who loves to cook and loves to feed people, loves to explore street food and get lost while talking to the person making it and noting down the recipe… Damn that is a description that fits me well too

CM, I’ll eat salad for dinner, just go easy on the veggies.’

‘But kebabs are meant to be minced mutton, Mom!’

‘Has CM cooked today? If she has, it must be diet food and I’m not eating!’

CM is the lead lady in the book BTW, the book is a mad account of a working women who manages the different tastes of everyone in a joint family… juggling between peanuts, pappad and kebabs she takes us through the culinary journey which can almost be termed “Sexy”. The story in the book is interwined with some out standing recipes from all over over… from Luckhnow to Rajasthan, from Thailand to Europe… a ride which I love taking

Summary : If you love food reading this is a book you will love

Rating 4/5

Book The F- Word

Authors Mita Kapur

Price Rs 599 (available on flipkart at Rs 485)

PS: Have u checked out my WW and TC on my all photo blog….