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Failing to Succeed

22 Saturday Jul 2017

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51XfUgJgTYL.jpgAuthor – K. Vaitheeswaran

Rating – 5/5 stars

Number of Pages – 224

Publisher – Rupa Publications

Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they cannot lose.

Bill Gates

An e-commerce which was a way ahead of time and despite getting the first-mover advantage shuts down in 2013 when e-commerce exploding in India. What went wrong which led to a downfall of Fabmall/IndiaPlaza?

Failing to Succeed is not a guide book to succeed, it gives an insight into the entrepreneurship and startup. This book filled with some of the aspects of e-commerce start-ups like fundraising, customer insights, behind-the-scene industry happenings.

IndiaPlaza/Fabmart came into existence in 1999 as an online retailer when there was hardly any competition in online retail to give them a fight, after few years of successful e-tailing they opened their offline stores, was largest chain of supermarkets in India at that time acquired by Aditya Birla group.

Vaitheeswaran tells the tale of the rise and fall of IndiaPlaza, India’s first e-commerce company lasted for 14 years. The day it started from a dream and nurtured over a span of fourteen years and the day it all ends. How? Why? He reveals it all.

He discloses that an inexplicable set of events that destroyed what could have been a profitable business. He stumbled not only once but many times and trials and tribulations gave him a hard time dealing with business failures and pitfalls. An entrepreneur he was always remained hopeful and stayed till last.

If you are planning to launch a new venture or dream to become an entrepreneur or working in a start-up or a non-fiction or biography reader or a reader looking for a good book or a student. This book is for you.

A true and honest account everyone must read.

It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.

J.K. Rowling

Author Bio

Vaitheeswaran, widely hailed as the ‘father of e-commerce in India’, co-founded India’s first e-commerce company Fabmart.com (later rebranded Indiaplaza.com) in 1999. In 2001, he co-founded the Fabmall supermarket chain, which was subsequently acquired by the Aditya Birla Group and rebranded ‘More’.

Vaitheeswaran has advised global brands, including Deloitte, Diageo, and Tata, among others, in their digital initiatives; mentors several start-ups; and is well known in the Indian start-up scene. He is a popular speaker on entrepreneurship at industry forums and Institute, including IITs and IIMs.

He lives in Bengaluru with his wife and son. You can reach to him at Twitter@vaitheek

Buy this Book Here: Amazon

‘I received a copy from Publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.’

 

Promises of a Firefly

19 Wednesday Jul 2017

Posted by in Fiction

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35524980.jpgAuthor – Anupam Patra

Rating – 4/5 stars

Number of Pages – 210

Publisher – StroyMirror

Promises of a firefly is a collection of beautifully crafted and heart touching stories of you and I and the world we live in. Each story has a unique flavor, blended with an equal measure of love and pain. It is difficult to choose the best story among eleven because each story has its own beauty and no story becloud the other.

The book is a short story collection of eleven stories. The story Petals in the Wind is the story of a girl Akanksha, living a lie. She has to make a difficult choice to defend her family to break down but at a cost of losing someone dear to her and played an important role in bringing happiness into her world. Games we never forget is a story of two childhood buddies bonded over a game but another game played with them years later and this time the rules are set by the fate.

The stories of unbroken promises, fate, desires, and betrayal weaved with meticulously chosen characters and their stories tell tales of life and death. These stories characters came out of our prized relationships, family, friends, and someone we long lost still stays in our heart and holds a big part of our memories, we like to travel back with them down memory lane.

I love the book and love the stories. Each story will embark you on a different journey of love and betrayal and you will meet along sinister and brave hearts. Each story is written with perseverance and passion. The book is an emotional joy ride. The book lived to my expectations.

Author Bio

Anupam was born and raised in the millennium city of Cuttack in Odisha. He finished his schooling and graduation while growing up in the thousand- year-old city’s narrow lanes and ambient warmth. In spite of the necessity of having to pursue science and then law for a career, his love for art has always shone the light of his soul. He used to teach and has worked as a banker prior to taking up public service as his profession. An avid lover of all forms of art, he confesses to find comfort in telling stories.

Promises of a firefly is Anupam’s debut book.

Buy this Book Here: Amazon

‘I received a copy from Author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.’

tinytale #22 ‘Just-write’

17 Monday Jul 2017

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I gaze at the page a little longer and it stared back blankly. It incites me to write, like talking to me, and saying ‘come on; write something, I look better with words’.

‘I can’t, I am sad and distressed.’ I said.

‘Then write, sad and distressed.’

‘Are you mad?’ now it’s making me angry too.

‘Just write like you always do. Take your pen and put it on me and write the first thing came to your mind.’

I write.

‘I can’t write.

I am sad.

I am distressed.

I am writing this because I am sad.

I am writing this because I am distressed.’

A smile clock in from the corner of my lips. It’s definitely looking prettier. It’s no more a blank page and no more blank stares. I painted it with my words. What are looking at me now is me.

Just Write.

My Hanuman Chalisa

16 Sunday Jul 2017

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81WZfkGiFLL.jpgAuthor – Devdutt Pattanaik

Rating – 5/5 stars

Number of Pages – 182

Publisher – Rupa Publications

Sankat te Hanuman chudavae. Man, kram, vachan dhyan jo lavai.

Problems, Hanuman takes away. When the heart, action, and word are fixed on him.

-Chaupai 26, Hanuman Chalisa

In Indian mythology, Hanuman was born to Anjana and father Kesari. Hanuman is also called the son of the deity Vayu or Pawan (wind God), who according to several stories, played a role in his birth. Hanuman is an ardent devotee of Rama, a major deity of Hinduism, he is the seventh avatar or incarnation of God Vishnu. Hanuman is one of the central characters of the epic Ramayana, one of the largest epics in world literature, consisting nearly 24000 verses.

Hanuman Chalisa was composed by Tulsidas four centuries ago in Awadhi, a dialect of Hindi spoken in the Gangetic plains around the cities of Awadh or Ayodhya, Kasi or Varanasi.

Chalisa means a poem of forty verses. However, Hanuman Chalisa is composed of forty-three verses and out of these forty-three verses, forty verses are chaupai or quatrains (verses with four short, rhythmic segments). Framing these are three dohas or couplets (verses with two long, rhythmic segments), two at the beginning and one at the end of Hanuman Chalisa.

When you read Hanuman Chalisa, not just read it, try to understand the meaning behind it. It will give your insecure mind more peace than reciting it as a text. It is not easy to understand Awadhi. My Hanuman Chalisa is written to bring a simpler version for the devotees of Hanuman or anyone who is interested in Hinduism or mythological readers.

Easy to read and understand and illustrations by the author himself make the book lively and interactive. He is a master storyteller and the book is a must buy. Take my words and go for it.

Within infinite myths lies an eternal truth

who sees it all?

Varuna has but a thousand eyes

Indra, a hundred

You and I, only two.

Author Bio

Devdutt Pattanaik is a mythologist, author, illustrator, columnist, professional speaker and management theorist. He writes and lectures on the relevance of mythology in modern times. He has written over 700 articles in newspapers, and thirty books, which includes bestsellers such as My Gita and Business Sutra: A Very Indian Approach to Management. His shows on television include Business Sutra and Devlok with Devdutt Pattanaik. He lives in Mumbai.

See his full collection of books here.

For more information on Devdutt Pattanaik and his books, visit devdutt.com

You can reach to him at Twitter@devduttmyth

Buy this Book Here: Amazon

‘I received a copy from Publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.’

The Brain loses the Game

13 Thursday Jul 2017

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35479277.jpgAuthor – Thomas Marchante

Rating – 3/5 stars

Number of Pages – 185

Publisher – String Publishing

Brain loses the game is a crime and detective story of Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Handler who is trying to crack a mystery of missing witness. Charlie works as a run-of-the-mill body chaser, but never tracked a missing eyewitness before. Albeit finding him is not so important for the client, but, to defend against the defendant.

Charlotte Handler or Charlie hired by a lawyer for handling a case of a missing person whom they want her to find. She started with obvious possibilities by tracking the trace they may leave behind like tracking bank accounts, his wife, his friends, faking herself as someone else but nothing comes in hand except that she comes to a conclusion it is not a regular missing case. She went further and further and ready to do or go any extent to solve the mystery and find the person.

No one knows anything. No trace. Is he actually missing? Is he dead? Is he taken? Is he running? Or is he hiding?

In a surprising twist, the missing witness socialite wife disappeared without a trace which complicated the case. Will Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Handler able to solve this puzzle and find the brain behind the mysterious disappearances one after another.

‘Brain loses the game’ is a crime and mystery story of a missing witness. It is a simple and a good read. Charlie is a one-woman team. She thought the case will give a boost to her career as a private detective unknowingly she gets herself in trouble. The case looks simple at first but it wasn’t. She played and reasoned with her mind and a chess master theory always worked for her. Will it work this time?

Author Bio

Thomas ‘Tommy’ Marchante lives in the imagination of the author with a wife and several children. He is thought to live in Brooklyn but may reside at the intersection of surf and serf. He writes to honor Sara Paretsky, Robert Parker, Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams. He does not have any cats. He comes up with his new book ‘Brain loses the game’, a slightly absurd mystery of a female private detective Charlie Handler.

You can reach to him at Twitter @tommymarchante

Facebook/tommymarchante.

Buy this Book Here: Amazon.in Amazon.com

‘I received a copy from Author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.’

tinytale #21 ‘Birthday’

12 Wednesday Jul 2017

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He made a decision. He is not going to school today. He will make an excuse.

It’s his birthday. He wants to celebrate with his friends, but can’t, he doesn’t have that much money to treat them. What if they make a joke of him! No, he will not go to school. It’s just a matter of one day. Everyone will forget tomorrow and no one will make fun of him.

Mother made his favorite dish, Kheer. He ate and sits with his books but his mind wandering to school and he saw his friends smiling, reading, playing football.

It’s afternoon, everyone must have gone home by now. He thought.

He heard the doorbell and his mother call him to come and see. He stands flabbergasted. His teacher, Raghav sir and classmates standing at the door with a box in his hand. Everyone said it together.

‘Happy Birthday Sonu’

Author Interview – Priyanka Sharma Kaintura

08 Saturday Jul 2017

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Hello Readers,

Today we have Priyanka Sharma Kaintura, author of My Jiffies with us. Priyanka is a seasoned marketing communications professional. As a communication professional, there has always been a perpetual spectator inside her. She writes about society, love, relationship and mythological interpretation. Let’s know more about her and talk to her about her book and writing journey.

Welcome to our Blog Priyanka.

Tell us about yourself. Who is Priyanka Sharma Kaintura apart from the author of My Jiffies?

Priyanka Sharma Kaintura is a backpacker with no agenda. The one with people as destinations!

What inspired you to write a book?

Human vulnerabilities and their tussles to dress them in words or in silence, inspire me to write. I am a compulsive observer and explorer of people which is why I write on subjects related to society, love, relationships and mythological interpretation.

Did you always want to write a book?

No, I didn’t really have any plans or aspirations from the beginning. It was when I realised that people truly like reading me! Before that, whenever a friend told me – you know Priyanka you should be writing. Or Priyanka, have you ever thought of putting together a book. I would tell myself they are just too kind. Or they love me and hence say sweet things to me. Or they just happen to be a few who like listening to me. So I told myself – No, it isn’t really much.

One day a friend pushed me to make a page on FB and that’s when I wrote my first story. Then I started writing regularly. The more I wrote the more stories germinated. One thing led to another and I touched 10K readers on my page. Most of my stories were met with a response which told me they are striking a chord. And that’s because the readers see themselves in it. I found that it was quite like I was telling their untold musings.

With time I met more people and more situations, my observations became wider and richer. That is when the idea for the book came about. I just decided to reach out to more readers.Myjiffies1

How much writing a book has changed you?

It’s not so much the process of writing but the response to my writing that changed me. I think writing gave me a window to understanding people better, which also eventually nourished my writing. I understood human behaviour from the way people consume content. I took notice of their choice of what to engage with when they read something that touches them or what they choose not to. I am more receptive a person now.

It’s been almost 3 months since your book release. How you deal with negative reviews/reactions of the readers, if any, you have received so far?

I haven’t had any negative reactions to the book yet. At least no one told me to my face or wrote a negative review. Perhaps it’s too early in the day. But yes, I have faced criticism on my blog. To answer your question as to how do I deal with it, I would say I welcome all reactions. If I am happily accepting the plaudits I must be ready for the brickbats as well. So, I never ignore any comments, leave alone purging them. I try and respond to each one, address them and if I gather there is an issue worth everyone’s energy and time, the next piece of writing could be an oration on the same.

What is your favourite part of the writing process and why?

Discovering the topic or a plot to write about. That’s a huge kick for me.

Any writing project you are currently working on?

Writing is a journey which will continue. In the course of this excursion, I cannot predict what I will run into. I have a few book structures in my mind that I am toying with, it could be all poetry, or a love story or something mythological. I would really like my readers to stay tuned. Still better tell me what book they want from me!

The observations are continuing and My Jiffies are being rolled out even after the book.

How do you manage a work-life balance?

Do you ever have to balance eating with your life, or breathing or walking? It’s the same way for me. The expression is at the core of who I am. I do it through writing, reading, speaking, listening, painting or any other possible form of receiving or delivering expression.

Which author do you admire most and why?

Elif Shafak for her evident sensitivity in the writing style. J K Rowling for her power of imagination. Khushwant Singh for his wit and ruthless humour. Paulo Coelho for his understanding of life.

Myjiffies2Any advice for aspiring writers?

A good book can be different from a successful book.

Final words for the readers of My Jiffies?

I like to hear from you! Please express to me what you like and what you don’t.

Buy this Book Here:  Amazon

Read review of ‘My Jiffies’ on the Blog Here

Connect to her:

Website: priyankasharmakaintura.com

Email: priyankaintura@gmail.com

FB –  https://www.facebook.com/MyJiffies.PriyankaKaintura/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Instagram – https://instagram.com/https://www.instagram.com/kainturapriyanka/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/MyJiffies

Once Upon a Genie

07 Friday Jul 2017

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34348132.jpgAuthor – Durriya Kapasi

Rating – 4/5 stars

Number of Pages – 190

Publisher – Half Baked Beans

Have you heard the stories of genie? Well, you definitely watched Aladdin. The boy who loved Princess Jasmine and found a genie in a lamp. This genie did not come out of a lamp but from a bottle in which he was trapped by a witch who happened to be the grandmother of Daisy, the protagonist.

Once upon a genie is a story of a young girl Daisy who lost her grandmother and had no one in the world to be called of her own. After she died, Daisy finds out about a treasure box and a bottle inside it. She opened the bottle and a handsome genie came out of it. Khalil Muwahid, the genie gave her three wishes in gratitude of freeing her. The sooner she asks, the sooner he can go back to his land of jinn. She got terrified seeing him at first but gradually there was a strong connection between them, the bond of love.

The story doesn’t end here. Daisy’s best friend, Darren fell for her and suppressed his love seeing Daisy happy with the genie. The Jinn world amended their law and genie can live with Daisy forever only if she will not ask for the third wish. Who will she choose? Does she ask for the third wish?

The first thing crossed my mind after finishing the book is I want that genie. I believe in magic and love everything magical. Books are my that magical window through which I travel the unknown, unseen world.

A good fiction is that makes you believe the unbelievable. The book lived to my expectations and I absolutely fall in love with the story. The beautifully made plot and the storyline. It is an unusual love story of a girl and a genie. Love is the strongest emotion and out of the ordinary pair of this story proves it. Read it to travel the magical world and feel the magic of love.

Author Bio

Durriya Kapasi was born and brought up in the East African country, Tanzania, while her ancestors were from Gujarat, India. She began writing her first book with the pen name Durriya Zaheer on an online storytelling community in 2014. The first story received reasonable appraisal and received nearly million reads online.

Durriya serves as a Creative Writing teacher at a local primary school, an editor of a reputed local magazine and sub-editor at online news site UdaipurTimes.com. She also contributes as a Wattpad Community Ambassador.

Durriya lives in Udaipur Rajasthan. Beside her utmost passion for English Literature and reading, she loves traveling and cooking. She is a Cancer survivor. Know more about her at durriyakapasi.com

You can reach to her at todurriya@gmail.com

Twitter@durriyaz

Facebook/durriyakapasi

Instagram@durriyakapasi

Buy this Book Here: Amazon

‘I received a copy from Author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.’

 

Vishnu

04 Tuesday Jul 2017

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81w8vxylmYL.jpgAuthor – Subhadra Sen Gupta

Illustrator – Tapas Guha

Rating – 5/5 stars

Number of Pages – 65

Publisher – Red Turtle (Rupa Publications)

You remember the stories of grandma. The stories are mainly centered on god and goddesses and their magical powers. The Avatar they took to protect mankind from destruction. Hindu Mythology believes in the incarnation of gods and goddesses on earth when they think it is time for them to come and protect the mankind from destruction.

Our childhood is filled with such stories of Devas, tales of their magical powers and how they used to defeat Asuras time and again. Each story is equally enchanting and full of magical and mesmerizing brave encounters. The rivalry between Asuras and Devas is never ending. Gods and Goddesses live in heaven, Swarga, below was the earth and under that was the netherworld of Patala. Here lived the Asuras who were the enemy of the devas and they were always fighting with each other.

Vishnu is a children’s book comprising three stories about Lord Vishnu, the Lord of preservation. This book has three delightful stories of Lord Vishnu, the god of gods. The most clever and witty, kind and generous and always come up with a plan to save the Devas from the Asura. Every story is beautifully told by Subhadra Sen Gupta and accompanied by magnificent illustration by Tapas Guha

This is a must read book for every child and must be in every child’s bookshelf. Parents should bring this book for their children and introduce to the world of literature and mythology. If your child hasn’t read anything before then this could be a great start for him. For all the mature readers, this is an excellent book to revisit your childhood and relive the most missed phase of your life. I cherished reading this book and beautiful illustrations are like icing on the cake.

Gift this book to your kid or one who loves reading.

Author Bio

Subhadra Sen Gupta has written over thirty books for children. Right now she is waiting for a time machine so that she can travel to the past and join Emperor Akbar for lunch. She loves to travel, flirt with cats and chat with autorickshaw drivers. If you want to discuss anything under the sun with her, email her at subhadrasg@gmail.com

Tapas Guha has been working for more than twenty years as an illustrator. He loves to draw comics and illustrates children’s book. Ruskin Bond is one of his favorite authors and he loves Tintin Comics.

Buy this Book Here: Amazon

‘I received a copy from Publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.’

tinytale #20 ‘Fifty-years’

03 Monday Jul 2017

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‘You are beautiful’, he said to his wife of fifty years.

In these fifty years, they aged from a young couple to an old couple of eighty years. They have two children and five grandchildren. They have seen the hard times, the good times, the times they felt like going their way and the time they fall in love again with each other.

One thing does not change is their love and yearning for each other. They still look for a time when they can sit together in peace or walk to the nearby café for a cup of coffee and a quiet corner and talk their heart out or catch some old days.

She looks into his eyes and smiled and said what he was expecting and listening from fifty years every time he compliments her.

‘I know’