Book Review #10: Jaratkaru: The Princess who saved Naga clan: An Untold Story of first genocide of Aryawarta

Title: Jaratkaru: The Princess who saved Naga clan: An Untold Story of first genocide of Aryawarta

Author: Dr. Priya Dandage
Publisher: ‎ Evincepub Publishing
Copyright: 2023
Language: English

Genre: History Mythology Epics

Shelving Location: History

Dewey Decimal Classification: 294

Writing Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Narration: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cover/Title: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Concept: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review:

Jaratkaru: An Untold Story of First Genocide of Aryawarta by Dr. Priya Dandage is a captivating narration which has explored an untrodden story from Indian Mythology. The book vividly revolves around the themes of responsibilities, sacrifices, vengeance, dutifulness. Jaratkaru is both intriguing and empowering. She is the epitome of love and sacrifice - not for a person but for her clan. She places responsibility before selfishness and ego.

Ancient Indian History has created epics such as  The Ramayan and The Mahabharat. From time immemorial, Indians have grown up listening to the stories of these legends. Ramanyan is known to instil in us the values of respect and sacrifice while Mahabharat teaches us the Ideals of life.

After reading "The Shiva Trilogy" and "Ramchandra Series" by Amish Tripathi, I was on the lookout for a similar historical read. Thanks to the author - Dr. Priya Dandage, I am totally mesmerized by her book - Jaratkaru - an untold story of first genocide of Aryawarta.

Naga King Takshaka vowed to avenge the inferno triggered by Arjuna. He poisoned Arjuna's grandson - Parikshit. Parikshit's son - Janmajeya swore to kill the entire Naga clan from Aryawarta. The book narrates these and many unknown incidences in a very captivating manner. The resultant conflicts see a future of extinction. At a point, where there seems no hope of saving the Naga clan, comes forward Jaratkaru - the princess and the sister of King Vasuki. The princess is deeply in love with Prabhasa. however, destiny and King Vasuki have planned something else for her.

What will Jaratkaru do now? Will she be able to forget the love of her life or will she be dutiful toward her clan and responsibilities?

The book is written in a very lucid and flowing language by Dr. Priya Dandage. The story is intertwined with many different characters and yet there is no thread which is left loose. The characters, the landscape and our ancient history has been marvellously depicted and narrated by the author.

Jaratkaru is a fascinating and thought provoking read which reiterates the adage - "With Great Power comes Great Responsibility."

Get your copy of the book "Jaratkaru: The Princess who saved Naga clan: An Untold Story of first genocide of Aryawarta by Dr. Priya Dandage" - Amazon

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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Book Review #9: Happiness Comes in Threes

 

Title: Happiness Comes in Threes

Author: Dan Gabrati
Publisher: ‎ DestinX Inc
Copyright: 2023
Language: English

Genre: Self Improvement  Positive Thinking Self Help Relationships

Shelving Location: Self Help

Dewey Decimal Classification: 150

Writing Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Narration: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cover/Title: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Concept: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review:

One of the first books on Self Help and Improvement through Journaling which I have come across is "Happiness Comes in Threes" by Dan Gabrati.

The book serves as an introspection for every individual. It helps us to identify our true self through examples and small set of "to-do" exercises. 

The author takes us on a smooth journey of identification, analysis and solutioning of our perceived self. In this book, Dan Gabrati has provided us with a step-by-step framework to identify self-defeating behaviour, overcome our fears, emotional imbalance and live a happy and contented life. The journaling method used here is truly praiseworthy.

The author expounds the three pillars of happiness as follows:

1) A healthy body and a mind

2) Moments or conversations (with self or loved ones)

3) Positivity

Some of the "To Do" exercises for us are:

👉Goal Setting and their analysis w.r.t. achievement / non fulfilment
👉Identification of pains
👉Dealing with fear
👉Overcoming of rejections and anxiety, emotional imbalances
👉Exploring of new opportunities

All throughout the book, the exercises provide us with motivation and acceptance of our existing self, forgiveness for others by freeing ourselves from anger and resentment.

On a personal note, I really like the revelation that "Acceptance does not mean defeat, it means Move On"

In due course of reading and journeying with this book, we discover our thoughts, fears, emotions, problems and also conclude everything with a strong solution.

The exercises and questions at the end of every chapter are excellent tools of self discovery and self improvement.

The book is especially recommended for all those who are feeling low at most times in their life and need a constant dose of motivation!

Get your copy of the book "Happiness Comes in Threes by Dan Gabrati" - Amazon

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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Resh Susan: Keep writing until you find your voice

Resh Susan or @thebooksatchel dwelled into journaling as a hobby way back in the year 2015. Her website and book reviews are an absolute treat to the eyes. Her posts are captivating. Hats off to her photography and the props!

Trust me, her website and Instagram handle are actually a "Satchel" - a mixed bag of reviews, pictures and her notes which simply add to the beauty of her writings.

Chinmayee Bhange interviews Ms. Resh Susan on the occasion of "Write a Review Day" which is celebrated on May 3.

Picture Courtesy: Resh Susan

Please tell us more about yourself.

Hi, I am Resh Susan. I run The Book Satchel (https://www.thebooksatchel.com/)and a monthly newsletter Satchel Notes (https://reshsusan.substack.com/)

How long have you been blogging? Tell us more about the idea behind "The Book Satchel"

The Book Satchel has been live since Dec, 2015. I was at a stressful time in my life and wanted an outlet for creative and bookish thoughts.

What genres of books do you generally follow and review?

I am a mixed bag. I enjoy a scary dystopian read as much as a pacy thriller or a literary read. I have a soft corner for magical realism. And I love a book that entertains.

According to you, what makes a good book? The plot or the author?

I try not to associate the person who wrote the book to the characters in the book. A book stands out by its plot, characters, language or structure. In short, a book should move the reader in some way.

How does a certain book achieve its "Best Seller" status? Also what are your tips to newbies in the Book Writing Platform?

My only tip is to keep writing until you find your voice.

How much time does it generally take from receiving a book to posting its review? What is the general flow that you follow?

It depends on the book in question. I don't have a strict flow. I will usually jot down what works for me in the book and what doesn't, and then elaborate.

In this scenario of information overload and binge reading habits, your blogging and Instagram posts have opened up a new avenue for book enthusiasts. What is your message for like minded people?

Do what you like and what you have the time for. You are still a reader if you read but don't post on social media. But if you enjoy posting on socials, you definitely should.

What advice would you share for naïve book bloggers?

Keep writing without being discouraged by view counts.

How many books do you read in a month? And how many are on your shelf right now as TBR?

I have no idea to be honest. I am a moody reader. So the number of books read can vary from 10+ to 1. As for TBR, it is never ending.

Any three books which are very close to your heart and why?

I enjoyed Arundhati Roy's God of small things for the beautiful prose, Normal people by Sally Rooney for the way it cast a spell over me, Stay with me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ for the storytelling.

Has it ever happened that you felt as if you were one of the characters in the book? Which was that book?

Not really. But I've definitely been moved by the characters in books, whether or not I feel a personal connection. A recent book that comes to mind is Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason.

Do your family / friends support you in this venture of book blogging?

Yes, I guess.

What’s your preferred medium to discuss books – your blog, Twitter or Instagram?

I like them all for different reasons—Instagram for the photos and captions, Twitter for the brevity, and the blog for longer content.

What tips would you share for getting more likes / followers on Instagram handles for book reviews?

No tips to be honest. Be consistent and engage with the bookish community to build relationships.

Social Media is ever evolving. How do you adapt yourself to this scenario?

I wouldn't say I have adapted well.

Do you think likes / reviews on Instagram handles has a deep impact on the psychology of the readers?

I don't know. We can't really forget the fact that a 'like' on Instagram is not for the book, but for the photo, and to a smaller degree, the caption. An amazing book can receive smaller number of likes. As for popular books, the algorithm definitely aids them and they gain more visibility, and hence more engagement.

What are your favourite Bookstagram accounts?

I follow many lovely bookstagram accounts and it is difficult to choose a few.

Who inspired you to Book Blogging?

It was more of a spontaneous decision than an inspired one. But of course, over the years I have been inspired by many contemporary bloggers.

Who are your favourite Book Bloggers?

Some of my favourites are — https://www.thebooksatchel.com/best-book-blogs-to-follow/

Social Media:

Book Satchel

Instagram

Twitter

Book Review 1: Sita's Kitchen by Raghav Khanna

 

Sita's Kitchen / Author: Raghav Khanna / Publisher: Rupa / Total Pages: 212

Category: Non-Fiction

Read Time: 24 hours

Rating: 3 stars ⭐⭐⭐

'The food...it was good, ' he said. 'But not something one expects in the middle of the road in Himachal,' he added as am afterthought.

'So, if you ate this food in Chandigarh or Delhi, you would not be surprised?'

'No, it is not that.'

'Then what is it?'

'Perhaps it is that. It's unusual, unusually exquisite to be in the middle of a highway littered with traditional dhabas to find a place where the decor, the menu and the food bring flavours from thousands of miles away,' he added.

Arun Mehra - owner of Bellissimo - an elite restaurant in London and Sita Pandit - owner of a small time tea stall in Himachal are the protagonists. The story begins with a casual business visit to Himachal by Arun and his friend - Ben. The cooking and its subtle ingredients take these two visitors by surprise when they learn that the chef is a small time village girl - Sita. Sita's cooking skills are put to test every time Arun comes to her small dhaba. And as destiny might have it, she is being invited to the world on the other side - London by the Master Chef owner himself. The constant nagging by Arun and Ben and the reluctant Sita who has a secret desire to be amongst the one who get a chance to make their dream come true is what sets the tone of this book.

After much "No Means No" dialogues, Sita finally lands in the glamour world of London and finds herself in the Bellissimo restaurant. She learns the nitty-gritties of the kitchen from Anwar Chacha. She whole heartedly admires the Chief Chef (and her rival) of this restaurant and learns that life is not easy after all. You need to master the tricks of the game if you are playing it! 

All throughout the book, we come across a food platter with names such as Bircher Muesli, Fruit and Granola Parfait with yoghurt, Haak Ravioli, Rigatoni alla Carbonara, Nihari Ossobuco etc.

The casual descriptions of these various dishes sketch a picture for themselves (for those like me who have not tasted any of these) and make us feel a part of the kitchen. The journey is so refreshing and enchanting for kitchen enthusiasts.

'The food is global, so too can be the chef,' is the line that might summarize this sumptuous book😊 

Get your copy here - https://www.amazon.in/SITAS-KITCHEN-Raghav-Khanna/dp/9355201893