Dalal's Street by Anurag Tripathi (Book Review: 3.5*/5) !!!

1797th BLOG POST -->>

There are few topics on which Indian authors don’t write much but these are the topics if brilliantly written, wonderful stories can be crafted out of them which can make readers excited and eager to know about this world. One such topic I wanted to read from a long time was on the world of stock market but unfortunately, I couldn’t find any book from an Indian author. Recently, a book with the title “Dalal’s Street” caught by attention and I directly picked it up and completed it this weekend in spite of busy schedule.

The book is written by Anurag Tripathi- this is his 2^nd book after Kalayug. The book is of around 200 pages and I must say the writing style of Anurag is very fast-paced which makes it easy for you to complete this book in minimum sittings as you go on turning page in excitement and eagerness of what would happen next. The way author starts the book focusing on four characters who are just getting out of college and trying to choose the stream they would want to work ahead in the future, the book gives you great expectations on their chemistry and journey ahead. In the beginning chapters itself, author also gives reference and backdrop of a man who is father of one of these characters which makes the read more interesting as it sounds like the screenplay of some movie.

After the story starts post introduction of characters and the way these people start juggling in this world of stock markets where everything is grey and confuses them as they find it difficult to understand how exactly the market plays, the story starts becoming intriguing. Here onwards, author uses his research and knowledge about Stock market up to his best abilities. Author tries to manage to assure that his readers understand the terms and jargons of Stock market before they end up getting confused as to what is happening with these characters and their clients in the book.

I liked how author was able to cover everything- in spite of Stock being the main focus of the book, there are also pieces of love, romance, betrayal, lust, greed, violence, action, technology etc. The pre-climax is very greatly managed and when you think the story has ended, the last chapter really surprises you with the twist. How the whole market and scenarios can be changed and manipulated by just one man scares you and next time, definitely, you shall have multiple questions whenever someone would ask you to buy shares of some organization. The book really gives you many information about Stock and Shares and in the end, author shares the glossary which I appreciate a lot.

Now talking about the few drawbacks- I feel author did justice mainly to the two male characters but missed out the other two females completely. They are just brought about in between to bring little bit of twists to the story but they don’t have great story of their own. Also, I feel that author could have added elements of mafia, politics involvement, bankers etc. to make the story more dynamic than it already is. I also felt that sometimes author really went deep into the jargons and integrities of the topic which makes it little hard for normal readers like me to immediately understand what is happening and what are the consequences of few actions that the characters are performing.

Overall, this book is fast-paced and narrated very well. I give this book 3.5* out of 5.

Thanks.

WRITING BUDDHA 

Shadow of the Past by Mayank Manohar (Book Review: 4.25*/5) !!!

1796th BLOG POST -->>

Well, you can only thank yourself or the destiny when you pick up the right book to read or movie to watch at a particular moment of your life. I just got done with my birthday and I don’t know how people actually celebrate it as I feel very lonely and isolated on this particular day of my life. Just after my birthday ended, I picked up this book named “Shadow of the past” written by the debutante author, Mayank Manohar, knowing that I am at my vulnerable self and this book shall trigger lot of emotions which it did many times. The book is published by Fingerprint Publication in around 167 pages.

Beginning with the writing style, I must say Mayank has written this book in the most perfect way it could have been written. As people like me who have been reading new Indian authors since a decade can understand how painful it is to pick up a love story or romantic novel because of them being too cliché and cheesy due to the treatment of characters and story. But I am glad that I can say I am finally writing about a common love and break-up story written in a very spectacular manner. I could feel the sense of reading a Bollywood script with every sentence and scene. This is how much possible author makes it for you to imagine! And what more do you need from a book, isn’t it?

The story of the book is almost like the stories of movies such as YJHD, KKHH or you can say from Karan Johar’s genre but the treatment given to it with beautiful language, conversations, emotions etc. is way too commendable. I liked all the letters in the book as it really made me feel lump in my throat while reading them. They are damn too emotional. Also the book and story tells and focuses majorly upon the decisions a human being takes, the way friends don’t understand your priorities if you don’t belong to the herd, how you lose your best person due to that, how then you stay in its memories throughout life, how you find a new person yet can’t understand what to do when your best person returns back at the same time etc.

The pre-climax is very well managed by the author which actually moves the story tremendously. Talking about the climax, the last paragraph is too open for you to be surprised and shocked for some time. I just couldn’t believe what I read which made me read the paragraph multiple times which made me realize that it’s an open ending and there’s a chance we can find its sequel soon. I would request author to bring it out soon as the way he is writing romance right from his 1^st book itself is very promising and I would like to read him more.

Talking about the drawbacks of the book- I feel author should have included little more quality time between Rehan and Arpita as somewhere I felt this beautiful relationship didn’t get the importance it deserved. Also, I felt the story gets too filmy at times where important events are postponed or cancelled just like that which takes the story away from reality. Author could have also made the protagonist little more powerful in terms of the maturity in taking decisions but I won’t say much on this because few characters are meant to be imperfect for making the story it is. This book is definitely the Kabir Singh of romantic books. Lastly, the cover page is beautiful but I would have appreciated it more if characters looked Indian rather than Foreigners. Indians look great- only if we, ourselves, stop considering ourselves inferior to Whites.

Overall, this is truly a very beautiful book and as all of us have gone through break-ups, we shall relate with it somewhere or the other. Before providing my final rating, I would say that author did a great job my not adding intimate scenes just for the sake of making the book juicier. Now, finally, yes, I am giving this book 4.25* out of 5. I am myself surprised that a love story is being rated so highly from me but who deserves- deserves completely.

Thanks.

WRITING BUDDHA 

Birthday Post:- 10 Life Lessons I learned in my 20s

1795th BLOG POST -->>

So, finally, the worst fear has become true- I have left my 20s behind and stepped into my 30s. I don’t know if one should be happy about this growing up thing, but it makes me feel very scared. Who doesn’t like being in 20s forever? This has been the best of the three decades of my life. I managed to complete my Graduation, Post-graduation and a part-time Post-Graduation too. I got my first job and five different designations. I got into reading and it became life- 510 books and still counting.. 40 books done in 2019 itself. I explored writing which I never knew I enjoyed so much and ended up writing 1800 Blog Posts. I also got several opportunities of rubbing my shoulder with celebrities at events where I got invited as Blogger. I also tried and now I am reviewing Health and other products on Instagram and enjoying even this. Finally, in the late 29, I started Youtubing and I already have 3 videos on the platform and ended up having a century of subscribers.

What I have shared above are few of the major events between my 20 to 30. Along with them, there have been many small but catalysing moments which impacted my life for good. Now that I have turned 30, I can look back and suggest few things which people in their 20s should take care of. This is the advice to all the boys and girls who have just crossed their teens and are nervous about what to do in their 20s like how I am feeling while entering my 30s.

So here are few points which shall definitely help you in your 20s--

1.       Start Exercising- Nothing above health

This is the one thing where I couldn’t concentrate due to my workaholic nature as I always kept myself involved in one or the other tasks but this has made my body very weak for which I’ll have to face low energy and immunity throughout my 30s and even in future if I don’t make Exercising, cardio, jogging, gyming, running, yoga my regular lifestyle. And let me tell you- there will be times when you would want to enjoy and explore a lot, but your body won’t support you hence please ensure this is the first thing you start if you have already not started.

2.       Learn to spend time alone

In your teenage, you spend most of your time with your friends, television, internet, movies etc. but never concentrate upon who you really are. This impacts a lot when you are in college or go out for searching job. You don’t realize who you are and that gives you an identity crisis. Hence, learn to be alone at times. Just sit quietly for 15-30 minutes daily and do nothing and just think about things you have gratitude for and what do you feel about yourself. If possible, try meditation and make it your lifestyle. It changes your perspective altogether.

3.       Save Money

It is easy to say that money can’t buy everything but let me tell you except the 1^st point above and few people, money can almost buy everything. It is very necessary. Hence, develop the habit of saving at least 20% of whatever you shall start earning and I tell you when you shall reach your 30s and look at what you have already saved whereas your peers have not even begun, it gives an incredible feeling that your life is getting sorted.

4.       Experience Everything

In the quest of saving a lot of money, don’t become miser which I ended up becoming. Haha! Try experiencing everything once even if it is out of budget. I am not saying that go for Dubai trip when your salary is only 10,000 a month but anything that shall not impact your pocket very highly, do not back out. When you are in a group and people talk about something which you have never experienced, it gives a very big inferiority complex hence better than that is spending some money.

5.       Make Less Friends but Worthy Ones

This is the biggest problem that one encounters when one has already got associated with a company which always talks about useless stuffs and not something which can empower you and change your lifestyle and color your world. It is great to plan traveling, going for hang-outs etc. but it’s more important to talk about careers, future and priorities. You are more or less as powerful and weak as a personality as per the people you hang-out with hence kindly change it if you are actually wasting your time in chit-chatting and Whatsapping with these people on useless things.

6.       Get into Relationship

This is not as easy as it sounds because not everyone is lucky to find a partner. Haha! But I tell you when you get into relationship, if it is something that adds value in your life, you shall grow twice than you are currently doing. But in case you get a bad partner, you learn to end relationships in a better way. In case nothing good comes out of the relationship at all, at least, you have gone through heartbreak which again triggers somewhere in you to become a better person in life. And you never know you might end up finding your life partner.

7.       Learn as much as you can

Never feel shy of getting yourself enrolled in any kind of courses even if it is not related to your field or career. If you feel like, get into it, learn the art or skill, and keep practising what you learnt. It makes you understand the different dimensions of life. And it opens your mind to accept any work in future after college. You know economy gets hit and recession comes at any point of time, these skills help you keep earning with your unlimited skillsets. Otherwise, you shall end up getting jobless and clueless about future.

8.       Develop a Hobby/Passion

Remember one thing- what you learn in college, everyone does. Everyone attends the same lecture and gives the same exam. What you do at workplace is what everyone around you of your department is doing. There is nothing great about it which shall uplift your life and spirit. It is your hobby or passion that you pursue after the college/work that empowers you and gives you your identity. I started reading and blogging from the day I joined by Graduation and let me tell you, I have marched through many depressing moments just like any other thing without getting too much impacted by it. Also, I got many opportunities and attention just because of this.

9.       Read as much as possible

If that’s your hobby and passion like me as discussed above, then it’s sorted but if it’s not then I would recommend you start reading. Start with newspaper. Then pick up a book the title or cover page of which interests you. You can also subscribe to Amazon Kindle Unlimited which is very affordable and gives access to unlimited books or join a library. You can also subscribe to the magazines. Read Bhagawad Geeta. Read everything that comes across you except Twitter-Facebook-Instagram timelines. They are waste!

10.   Weekends are the Key to Success

What you do on your weekends define you! Yes! This is the last point and the most important one. If you just sleep or binge-watch movies or end up in a fast-food joint/mall and spend the whole day there with your friends, I am telling you these are 104 days of the year. More than a quarter of the year. Use it effectively. As I already said- Join classes or courses that elevates your personality and moots you onto the next stage whereas your friends and competitions shall be wasting their weekends in the above mentioned useless activities.

I hope you find the above points effective. Let me know when you touch your 30s if following the above tips helped you feel better or not. I would be waiting for your response. Even if you are 29, you can start following them. Even 3 months of lifestyle is effective, a whole one year can transform your life completely. And if you are 20, think what you can do to yourself in next 10 years. This is one of the most exploratory decade of your life hence God Bless You All and yes, don’t forget to wish me a Very Happy Birthday!

Few pictures from my Birthday:-

Thanks.

WRITING BUDDHA