Book Review: Many Ramayanas, Many Lessons by Anand Neelakantan

 The Ramayana is an epic and a timeless guide that imparts wisdom at every turn, helping us navigate life's complexities. It offers profound insights into diverse situations, teaching us how to make righteous choices and emerge with a sense of fulfillment. And it is also true that one has read and viewed various versions of the Ramayana. If you are wondering why there are various versions with varied perspectives when the tale was simple, then you will find the answers in the book Many Ramayanas, Many Lessons by Anand Neelakantan.

Book Review: Make Epic Money by Ankur Warikoo

 Do you wish to be wealthy today, tomorrow, day after day, and year after year? 

If you nodded "yes" four times, then you’re at the right post to learn more about it. 

On Dhanteras, we all wish for prosperity and wealth to lead a happy life and be content with what we have. Many are working towards wealth generation, while others focus on making wealth last longer. In the book Make Epic Money, Ankur Warikoo shares ways to generate wealth from your present situation. The book explains how you can leverage your assets and make your money work for you. 

Book Review: The Adventures of Ed-a-Mamma: Ed Finds A Home by Alia Bhatt

When Alia Bhatt, a renowned Indian actress, stepped into the world of children's literature with her debut book, The Adventures of Ed-a-Mamma: Ed Finds A Home, it was a moment that sparked curiosity and interest. We've delved into the pages of this unique creation, and here's our review of Ed Finds A Home by Alia Bhatt, the first book she's published with Penguin Publishers. 

Book Review: The Adventures of Ed-a-Mamma: Ed Finds A Home by Alia Bhatt

Book Cover: 

The book cover of Ed Mamma's Finding a New Home is a subtle illustration with colors of a young girl sitting with her pet. This beautiful cover sets the tone of the book.

Author of Ed Finds A Home: 

Alia Bhatt had a vision for the book and the series Adventures of Ed-a-Mamma. The book is co-authored by Vivek Kamath & Shabnam Minwalla. So, all the backslashes received on social media about Alia Bhatt turning author in just a few days have answers. 

Cute yet Futuristic Story Plot: 

The name of the girl in the Alia Bhatt's book is, of course, Alia! 

Alia, the lead character in the book, often needs clarification as she hears many sounds and does not know their source. She tries to figure it out but has no luck. One day, Alia meets a puppy and falls in love with it, and then she realizes that she has superpower and can listen to animals and other living beings. She wishes to keep the puppy as her pet, but her parents disagree. Will she convince her parents to keep a puppy, or does she have to bid goodbye for you to read?

Iluustrator: Tanvi Bhat

In every children book, the illustrator's role is pivotal, and in the case of Ed Finds a New Home, it's no different. Tanvi Bhat's illustrations are a visual treat, perfectly complementing the Story and characters.

Illustrator Tanvi Bhat has done a remarkable job setting the book's tone as soothing and clear characters with the correct expressions. The puppy Ed is so adorable with a bow. Colors in the book are aesthetic and have a soothing effect on the reading experience.

What's the best in the book:

• Alia is a kind girl who wishes to help everyone. Empathy is an important lesson to teach children early, and author Alia Bhatt has done a fair job in this regard.
• Saving the environment is the need of the hour, and the book holds the key element.
• Having the crow as the narrator of the story is really interesting.
• The swift thinking of Alia makes the story move at a good pace.
• Alia's parents are not showcased as traditional but in a contemporary household setting. Such changes in storytelling are essential as children perceive things as they see. 
• The book instills in young children a sense of responsibility towards the environment.
• Adventures of Ed Mamma: Ed Finds a New Home is the first book in the country to be printed on FSC certified paper.

Where you can grab the book:

Book: Adventures of Ed Mamma: Ed Finds a New Home

Author: Alia Bhatt

Publisher: Puffin Books

Genre: Children Book (Age: 5 years and up)

Online: Amazon & all leading online platforms

Pages: 35

My Rating: 5/5

Final Word: 

If you wish to select a storybook that imbibes compassion for pets, empathy for the environment, and respect for elders, this is the book you can choose. It is perfect for children aged 3 to 8. In her debut book, author Alia Bhatt has done a star job. As Alia Bhatt's movie has smashed all the records, the first book in the series is all set to make a high mark with everything right.

Book Review: Spiritual Anatomy: Meditation, Chakras by Daaji

In a world where only one thing is precious to a person, it is Happiness. Yes, in the materialistic world, Happiness, and eternal peace of mind are what we all long for in our lives. Today, we are sharing the book Spiritual Anatomy: Meditation, Chakras, and Journey to Meditation, authored by Daaji.

Who is this book for?

Have you ever felt the urge to stay calm?

Do you look for Happiness after a hectic day?

Do you quest for the means of peace through various channels?

If you answered all three questions with a big YES, then you are on the right page to delve into a book review of Spiritual Anatomy.

Book Review: Mom Says You Need to be Strong by Aditi Gupta

 A mother is the backbone of a child who teaches kids the valuable lessons of life. The role of a mother in raising the child is very crucial as the learnings she imparts to the child are ingrained deep in the child's mind.

Today, we bring you from our bookshelf "Mom Says You Need to Be Strong," which speaks about the lessons from a mother to her children irrespective of age. A teenager finds solace in a mom; a toddler needs the cuddle from the mom to feel safe, and youngsters search for answers for their indecisive minds in their mom. So, mom is there for all, irrespective of what age you grow. 

2024 Reading Challenge & Book Recommendations

Reading books is like a meal; our day continues unless we read a chapter or two. Last year, we read 40-plus books and reviewed 26 of them. This year, we are also taking up the Blogchatter TBR Challenge to document the number of books we read. 

What's different in Book Reviews at AuraOfThoughts

Exploring Genres

This year, we are focused on exploring more genres than our comfort and shall include Booker Prize, debut authors, and regional books. This challenge shall bring us closer to more perspectives.

Book Review: AI Rising-India's Artificial Intelligence Growth Story

There is AI everywhere, in the form of smart machines or innovative systems that empower our daily lives. Over the last eight decades, AI systems have become more powerful and in the future its, applications may increase beyond our imagination.

Can AI replace humans? What exactly is AI? What is the progress of AI in India?

Book Review - Unbroken by Indrani Mukerjea

If you believe in karma, then there is no place for fear, is what Indrani puts across in her book "Unbroken."

Book Review - Unbroken by Indrani Mukerjea

She was torn, betrayed, and accused but stood their firm, "Unbroken." The book Unbroken, The Untold Story by Indrani Mukerjea is about her journey, narrated in her own words.

Unbroken speaks about the life of Indrani Mukerjea, who was accused of murdering her daughter, Sheena Bora. This high-profile case has been buzzing the news channels for quite some time now. The book reflects some bitter truths about Indrani's high-profile life and how she stood unbroken throughout her troubled journey.

The cover: 

The cover portrays the intense face of Indrani, which puts across the message of the title "Unbroken."

Book Review No Shadow Without Light by Luke Gracias

With time, a person evolves, and with time nature changes. No Shadow Without Light by Luke Gracias is a fiction book that is a sequel to 'The Devil's Prayer.' The book deals with a subject relatable to everyone who loves nature and wishes for a sustainable life. Let us look at the gripping fiction story that takes you worldwide.

Book Cover: 

The plain black cover with a cross and devil sign merged keeps it clear that the story revolves around God & the Devil. A pinch of light sparkling at the cross justifies the book's title.

Story Plot: 

The story is set from the year 2014 to the year 2021 when Siobhan is on the hunt to find the reason for her mother's death. Her sister Jess and grandmother Edith are not involved at the start of the hunt, but later on, they are also roped in by the circumstances. Siobhan has to find 12 pages to save the world from falling into the devil's hand, and each step to each letter is filled with many difficulties. Inspector Luca Reginalli played a crucial role in the story walking hand in hand with Siobhan at each hunt for the Page. Can Siobhan gather all the pages of the letter, or does she stake her loved ones, for it is totally worth reading it?

Book Review - Do Epic Shit by Ankur Warikoo

Self-help books are my favorite genre as I genuinely believe learning is a lifelong process, and one can learn at any point in life. With a keen interest in these books, I am sharing my honest review of the much-talked book "Do Epic Shit" by Ankur Warikoo.

Book Review - Do Epic Shit by Ankur Warikoo

Book Title & Book Cover:

The book cover is as plain as it can be, yet the simplistic approach with the font and color makes the book peep out through bookshelves when you want to look out for it. The book will grab your attention with bold fonts and a yellow cover. The book title may sound a little weird, but Ankur Warikoo hits the bull's eye by writing a title in slang that today's youth understand and follow.

Book Review :The 5 Laws of Financial freedom by Neha Jain

Freedom in all means makes a person joyful and live happily. One of the freedoms we shall focus on today is financial freedom. All would agree to the quote “"Financial freedom is mental, emotional, and education process." By Robert Kiosaki. Are we conscious about financial freedom while working for finances 24*7 . If you wish to assess your financial freedom, take this quiz on financial freedom .

Today we are sharing our views about the book “The 5 Laws of Financial Freedom, A practical handbook for the financial well-being of Indians” by Neha Jain popularly known as digimother.

Book Cover:

The book cover is simple with the book title and subtitle; the appealing color yellow on the cover makes a reader believe that financial laws can be understood by a naïve person too.

 

Book Concept:

The book covers 5 laws in the step by step manner explaining to the reader the importance of money and how we need to make a good relationship with money. The book is divided into 5 chapters each starting with a reason to learn about finances to attain happiness and ultimately the freedom to manage life.

Book Review : Good Intentions By Kasim Ali - Not just Love Story Book

Actions can lead to changes in life, and the intentions of a person can make him/her place never thought of. Intentions of a person are showcased through words and actions, let us see if the Good Intentions got on the right track.

Book Title & Book Cover: 

Good Intentions by Kasim Ali's book cover grabs attention instantly as the book title is written in bright colors. The caricature of the lead characters of the story finds its place on the cover.

Children Fantasy Book Review : Bibi Blundermuss and the Tree Across the Cosmos

Have you ever encountered your fear face to face and the need to face it because the lives of your loved ones are at stake? Well, in the book "Bibi Blundermuss and the Tree Across the Cosmos",  written by Andrew Durkin has to face it.

The children's book with a strong message of the win over your fears and identifying your strengths has done complete justice to the storyline.

Book Cover:

The cover of this children fantasy book has Bibi looking confused among the woods, the color combination of the cover is apt to take you to the fantasy world where trees have their own world and challenges. Stick in Bibi hand, gives us a hint of her being fighter in the story. 

Book Review : The Devil's Whispers by Lucas Hault

When one step towards mystery leads to another ,you are entering a world where any turn could be devilish or a step away from humanity.

Book Title & Book Cover:

The Devils Whispers by Lucas Hault will take you on a journey that is different, unseen and heart wrenching. The cover has a castle on a dark night day with eyes piercing from behind. The cover creates a mystic effect.

Plot Gerard Woodward visits the castle to meet Mr Mathers to process his will. But soon finds that he is locked up in the room and when tries to create a channel of freedom he starts feeling feeble besides missing his beloved Raleyn . Soon the unseen forces make things worse and things turn upside down. How Gerard escape route gives him more trouble to him and his loved one keeps readers at the nick of chair. Besides one mystery unfolds to find another one, each thread getting tangled in the story to make it complex as we move further.

The 5 Best Books Read for 2021

Reading has been an integral part of our life and the year 2021 has been a great year in terms of reading for us. We have successfully completed the reading challenge where we had set a reading target of 52; apart from that, we have also read around 20 short ebooks. If you are one who wants to ace the reading, then the post “How to ace in reading” will help you to do so.

In this blog post, we are sharing a few of the books that were the best read for us in 2021. 

1. Club you to Death by Anuja Chauhan

The story of 'Club you to Death' begins with Brig. The Dogra family visit the club and the next day the gym trainer Leo is found dead, the Crime Branch chief ACP Bhavani has been called to solve the case in a few weeks as this is a high-profile club and many fingers are being pointed to renowned persons. When the investigation begins ACP finds many loopholes in the club and also comes to know the past of the people who they are trying to silently shun under the carpet. All the interconnections of the people lead to many investigations that help the ACP to unravel the mystery in the end.

Young Blood By Chandrima Das : 10 College Horror Tales

Book reviews have been one of the most important segments of our blog, and giving our commitment towards it we bring to you all the first book reviews of the year 2022.

Reading varied genres has been our conscious effort to increase our reading horizon, so we bring to you horror book reviews.

 

Book & Book Cover :

Young Blood, Ten terrifying college tales by Chandrima Das is a book in the horror genre. Book Cover has a title in the center in bold blood-red color with benches in the backdrop. Background color being greyish green gives a perfect start to read the book.

 Story plot:

Book has 10 ten tales based on college days, and the haunted places are visited by college students besides all the horror stories related to the college or hostel are created by the author in each chapter. The bizarre story that does around college can be a true event in today’s life. Sometimes students take a leap of faith and start venturing the haunted sites on their own, and that is when the trouble starts. Does each hunt be adventurous and fun or do students remember these incidents as the dark patch of their life? The page-turner book holds you with most of the stories.

Paranormal effect: 

The storyline has the paranormal activities mentioned with a smooth flow that makes the story spooky and takes you to the edge where a reader has to decide what is real and what is not.

BookReview: Crime Thriller Faith And The Beloved: Kochery C. Shibu

Trust, is the foundation for the love but what happens when the trust is shattered by loved ones. The book 'Faith and the Beloved' by Kochery C Shibu displays varied angels of faith and many ways to protect their loved ones.

Book Cover :

The red book cover represents love and revenge too. And the book cover has a heart where one side is diamond, and another side is blood; it goes perfectly with the track of the story. The book cover is designed by Misha Oberoi.

Book Review Pinkoo Shergill Pastry Chef : Dream to become Chef

We are in a world where the change is constant and the change has to begin with the mindset. The book Pinkoo Shergill Pastry Chef by Vibha Batra published by Scholastic brings in the spark of change with the storyline. The detailed review shall give you insights into the book and whether you wish to pick this one for your or your child.

Book Cover & Book Title:

The book cover is very appealing with a multi-storied colorful cake and chef Pinkoo Shergill with chef cap and whisker. There is a shooting board in the backdrop too that gives us the hint of the entire blurb of the book. The title Pinkoo Shergill Pastry Chef essays the passion of Pinkoo towards baking. 

Book Review Mystery Book : The Pandora’s box was left open

Pandora's box and the stories related to it always make a person curious to know more, the mythical story of the Pandora box is that a man left a box with her lady and she opened it out of curiosity, and then emotional and physical curses were released to mankind. This is an ancient Greek myth. The book titled ‘The Pandora’s box was left open’ by Dyumani Maheshwari made us also inquisitive to read the book. And we picked this at the #BookChatter at Blogchatter. So, let us see in detail the book fair at the curiosity level.

 

Book Title & Book Cover:

The title ‘The Pandora’s box was left open, Part 1st’ makes the reader incline towards the book, and being 1st part makes sure you have not missed any of the stories. The book cover has graphic images of detectives and their search for clues. With revolver and Mysterious file in the backdrop urges the reader to start the book and look for mysterious file talk.

 

Midnight's Star : Friends to Lovers Book by Shilpa Suraj

Love has no boundaries and it crosses every hurdle. 

This stands true in the book titled ‘Midnight’s Stars’ by Shilpa Suraj in the Blogchatter book review program, where we write an honest book review in exchange for the book.

Book Cover & Title:

The book cover has a dashing man with shades with a slight frown. So we come to know though he is rich there is some problem in his life. When readers read the blurb they get more connected with the cover as the leading man of the book ‘Dev Arya’ is posted on the cover and he is visually impaired. The title does justice to the storyline.