In The Footsteps of Rama: Travels with the Ramayana- Book Review

In The Footsteps of Rama: Travels with the Ramayana by Vikrant Pande and Neelesh Kulkarni

Genre: Non-Fiction, Travelogue, Indian History 

4.5 Stars 

Are you one of those who wondered about the places mentioned in our epics? Did you want to know where Chitrakoot is on our Indian map or where Hanuman met Rama and Lakshmana for the first time? 

Well, you aren’t alone. The authors of the book, Vikrant Pande and Neelesh Kulkarni, have done all the hard work locating the places mentioned in Ramayana. The duo visited the places along with their spouses to talk to the locals and gather more information. 

The result of their extensive exercise is this book that takes us across the country in the footsteps of Rama. The book focuses on the places Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana traveled during their exile. What makes the book an enriching experience is the various versions and additions of folklore related to Ramayana. Each place has a history, created, written, and sometimes rewritten. 

Some tales are obscure, with most details lost between generations. A few are have been safeguarded for the future to learn, and others have added new colors to bring more vibrance to the region. Imagine coming to know that certain famous incidents in the epic may not have even happened in reality! This book showcases all that and more to show that the beauty of the epic lies in its various versions. 

The writing style is casual, with dashes of humor to make you chuckle or even laugh out loud at times. After all, one can hardly travel to multiple destinations without things not going wrong sometimes or another. From enterprising shop owners to humble teachers, well-learned researchers, and temperamental guides, the authors meet them all in their long journey. 

The local folklores are shared in a different font (though in even smaller text) to make it easy for readers. The narration is seamless and lighthearted almost throughout the book. The research is evident as they tried to list out the places mentioned in several versions of Ramayana.

However, what surprised me was the lack of mention of Badrachalam, Khammam in Telangana. The town has been synonymous with Rama’s name for centuries. The temple itself is from the 17th century. The region is considered a part of Dandakaranya, where the trio lived before Sita was abducted. 

Source: Temple Tour Guide

In fact, the banks of river Godavari, the Papi Kondalu (West Godavari, Andhra), and the forest are said to bear the signs of the three of them living in exile. 

Source: RVA Temples

Nevertheless, it must have taken a tremendous amount of planning and patience, not to mention countless hours spent making this book a reality. Kudos to the authors for coming out with such a wonderful book. 

Like a few others, I’d love it if they can add images and maps to the book. Being able to at least see the pictures of the places would be great. 

Before I conclude, I would like to add a small note about a couple of typos in the book. One place where Garuda was replaced by Rama, and a few other places towards the end where Ramji (driver) was written as Ramaji and Ramji. These are minor errors and don’t affect the reading experience. 

In the Footsteps of Rama is a gateway to enter the world of Ramayana and exploring the epic and the two countries (India & Sri Lanka) in a new light. As someone who grew up watching and listening to Ramayana, this book was a delight to read.

This review is a part of the Thousand Reviewers Club hosted by the Indic Book Club and Indic Academy. I thank the team for the review copy. The opinions expressed above are my own. 

Leaving you with a small video. Enjoy!

 

Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery- Book Review

Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery by Julia Golding

Series: Jane Austen Investigates Book 1 (Standalone)

3.7 Stars

Set in 1789, the book has Jane Austen as a young thirteen-year-old, playing detective at the Southmoor Abbey. Jane has to take her elder sister’s place as Lady Cromwell’s companion for a week during the celebration of her son’s coming-of-age birthday party. 

Jane has a bet with (one of) her brother to solve the mystery of Abbey’s ghost. As a non-believer of ghosts, she is determined to unearth the truth. 

However, Jane realizes there’s a lot more to solve as incidents happen one after another. The list of suspects is increasing. Luckily, she finds an ally in Luke, the stable boy, and Deepti, a young Indian laundress with several talents. 

Can Jane solve the mysteries without risking her life in the process? 

The book started rather well. Jane is portrayed as a cheerful, quirky, and witty teen. She carries a notebook to write down her observations. She is smart, not really sensible, but clever enough to solve a mystery despite the obstacles. 

The tone is lighthearted, and you can hear Jane muttering at times. The actual mystery starts almost halfway through the story. It’s not much of a mystery either. However, it should suit the target audience, middle graders. The writing is consistent and a little juvenile. That’s a plus. Jane is 13 years old. That’s how she is supposed to be. Her family is considered rather eccentric and reminds us of the Bennet family. 

There were times when Jane seemed more like a mix of her heroines in the book. This could go either way with fans. But yeah, it’s rather hard to imagine Jane Austen playing an amateur detective, resembling a historical version of Nancy Drew. 

The author did her best to show a positive portrayal of Indian characters, Deepti and her father, Arjun. I’m glad to see that. However, I do wonder how a girl from Maratha, belonging to the warrior/ bodyguard community can call Jahangir the great Mughal emperor. Her loyalties will be with the Maratha kingdom, not the invaders. 

I understand where it comes from. The internet is full of portraying invaders as noblemen and whitewashing the killings of millions of natives. 

That’s a minor point that stayed with me because I belong to the country. 

Going back to the story, it did fall a little flat in terms of the ‘ghost'  part, which was supposed to be the central theme. The other incidents take more prominence, and the ghost is more or less reduced to being used as a prop. Though it’s a decent mystery for middle graders, it could have been better. 

Overall, the book shows promise. I feel that the next one would be even better. Looking forward to reading book two in the series. Pick this one as a light and casual read for kids. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley, Lion Hudson Ltd, and Lion Fiction.

#JaneAustenInvestigates #NetGalley

The Clockmaker's Wife- Book Review

The Clockmaker’s Wife by Daisy Wood

Publication Date: 27th July 2021
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, General, WW II Fiction 

3 Stars 

**This review contains spoilers**

1940, London: Britain is under attack by the Germans with bombs dropping at random. Nell Spelman has no choice but to escape the city to keep her and her daughter alive. She misses her husband Arthur, a clockmaker who keeps the Big Ben chiming on time. 

A sudden call from Arthur, followed by his disappearance, causes Nell to reach London and find out what went wrong. The search leads Nell into darker places, and as the mystery unfolds, Nell has to risk her life to save the day. 

2021, New York: Ellie has been dissatisfied with her life for a long time. When she meets her mother Alice in a nursing home one day, Ellie finally decides to know more about her past. Using her grandmother’s beautiful watch, she goes all the way to London to dig out the truth. 

But will Ellie find what she wants? How does the truth change her life? 

With such an attractive cover and premise, I had high hopes for this book. Dual timelines are interesting to read. The book started strong, and though I didn’t like Nell as much, I was interested to know how the story progressed. 

Then came Ellie and her mother, Alice, a teeny baby when things got worse in 1940. Alice grew up, found Jeff, got married, and left for the US. Ellie is her only child, a 38-year-old, single woman and an owner of a kitchenware store in NY. 

Both Ellie and Nell have the same name, Eleanor. The nicknames were a good touch. Ellie wants to find the truth about her mother’s past and wants to connect with her step-aunt, Gillian. She books her flight and flies to London right before the New Year of 2022. I was told the flights between countries are expensive during this time and had to be booked in advance. For someone with limited resources (mentioned quite a few times), this seemed a little odd. 

And soon enough, Dan, Ellie’s best friend’s brother and childhood crush, also hops on a flight on impulse to help her in London. 

Anyway, back to Ellie’s search, which is the crux of the story. Not once did it look like Ellie really wanted to know about her grandmother or even her mother’s childhood. It’s her friend, Beth, who searches Alice’s house for the clue. It’s Beth who finds it after Ellie gives up. 

Then this lady jumps to conclusions and declares that her grandmother is a fascist because she found a pamphlet and a party symbol in the old bag. She goes to London with almost no research. It’s Dan who calls her to share the news of Nell’s death anniversary. 

At the slightest hint, Ellie is ready to give up and drop everything because she known her grandmother is a fascist. Really? Surprisingly, someone unrelated to her tells her to look beyond what she sees and keep an open mind. 

Ellie finds a few transcripts and comes to the same conclusion; again. It’s not until Dan arrives that she starts to put any effort to find out more. Even then, Dan is the one doing most of the work. Imagine going to an old woman’s house knowing she might have information about the grandmother but not even being interested to wait after knocking on the door! A 90+ old lady isn’t going to run to the door, is she? 

The author did try to give Ellie a few redeeming attributes by making her take care of her step-aunt. Somehow, throughout the book, Ellie seemed immature, self-absorbed, and judgmental. Not the kind of heroine one would like to read for long. 

Nell wasn’t exactly a strong character either. Her intro didn’t do her much justice and made Arthur seem more capable and efficient. As the story progressed, the roles reversed. We get very little about Arthur. Nell’s character has better development compared to Arthur (and Ellie). Some of the scenes seemed farfetched, but I was willing to overlook them. At least, there was some action and tension in the 'historical' track. 

The love track doesn’t do much either. We don’t know enough about any character to root for them. I still liked Alice and Gillian for their grit, even if they sounded rude most of the time. They had some bite, after all. 

The book has an epilogue of sorts and ends on a happy note. That’s one plus because I like happy endings. The narration picks up speed after the first 25%, so that’s another plus. Some of the descriptions seemed a bit extra (this is coming from someone who loves imagery and descriptive prose). 

Overall, The Clockmaker’s Wife is a decent story spanning different genres and timelines. The premise needed a better execution and an even better character development.  

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon Publishers and am voluntarily leaving a review. 

#NetGalley #TheClockmaker’sWife 

In Another Light- Book Review

In Another Light by AJ Banner 

Publication Date: 5th Oct 2021
Genre: Psychological Family Drama, Women’s Fiction  

3.5 Stars 

Phoebe Glassman, a mortuary cosmetologist, lost her husband Logan three years ago. She’s been more dead than alive since then, drifting through days in a haze while completing her job at Fair Winds. On the day of the third death anniversary, a body arrives at the mortuary, changing Phoebe’s life forever. 

Pauline Steele, the dead woman, is around a decade younger than Phoebe and looks like a long-lost twin. The resemblance between them is too striking to ignore. Phoebe is still in shock when she spies a unique butterfly tattoo on the woman’s arm. She knows exactly where she last saw the design. 

Fueled by curiosity, Phoebe digs through the dead woman’s belongings and finds an old faded photograph of herself from a few years ago. Phoebe is now determined to unravel the mystery that binds her and Pauline together. The more she tugs at the tangled threads, the complex things get. It doesn’t help that she’s close to losing her sanity and sometimes wonders if she’s already gone crazy. 

But she fights on and finally finds answers to some of her questions. Does she find peace too? 

The premise and the cover of the book were intriguing enough for me to request it. The beginning is strong, and the narration picks up speed as we read on. There are hints scattered from the beginning to give us a glimpse of the secrets kept hidden from Phoebe. 

There are several twists and turns, doubts, questions with no answers, and whatnot to take the story forward. Phoebe’s emotional state weakens, and that should have made me feel sad for her. Somehow, from start to finish, I couldn’t connect with Phoebe on any level. Sure, I don’t relate to her. Still, I could have empathized with her. 

Sadly, I could feel only a wee bit sad when reading about her pain. It’s a devastating loss on many levels, and yet, it didn’t touch me as I wanted it to. There was a thick glass between us that refused to let us connect. 

It’s only the fast pace and my desire to see if my analysis was correct that made the book interesting. I did get it right, so I would give the author a few brownie points for not bringing a twist I didn’t expect. 

The ending is quite satisfactory, that’s another plus because I like happy endings. There are still some left-out loopholes, but at least the last page didn’t leave wondering about everything. 

It does look like I’m a minority, and most people liked the book (until now). I’m glad for them. Personally, it didn’t offer anything new or exciting.

Overall, In Another Light is a fast-paced story about a traumatic women’s quest for truth while battling her pain and loss. 

On a side note, I don’t why I thought this was listed as a thriller somewhere. NetGalley says it is women’s fiction, and I call it a psychological family drama. Oh, well, it’s not a thriller per se despite the pace and suspense. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.

#InAnotherLight #NetGalley 

Medusa- Book Review

Medusa by Rosie Hewlett

Genre: Fantasy, Mythology Retelling

4 Stars

When I saw the cover and the blurb, I knew I had to read it. The book is 204 pages long but feels even smaller. I could finish it in 2 hours (though it was divided into two days) and must say I'm impressed by the author's voice.

The story is written in the first-person narrative, with Medusa tells us her version of history. The Stream of Consciousness worked very well as the story progressed. It made the narrator's voice stronger and clear.

We've seen and read different versions about Medusa, and all of them show her as a monster who went on a killing spree. She has been a fascinating part of mythology for centuries.

In fact, when my writer friends and I were planning our first horror anthology, we decided to use powerful mythological characters to represent each of us. A friend shared an amazing picture of Medusa (she found it on the internet) for me, and I decided I would be Medusa. I loved her power and liked to imagine her backstory.

Source: https://images.app.goo.gl/8wZ8kkKbEUyS2fK36 

This book ticked almost all boxes and provided me with an intriguing version of Medusa. Retellings are always tricky. There's a thin line between a hit and a miss. This one is a hit because the narration held my attention from start to finish. I enjoyed the growth in the relationship between Medusa and her sister. The underlying introspective tone was another plus. 

Yes, I do wish there was more depth to the details. But guess the author would have had to tinker too much with the original. And research is never easy with topics like this. Also, there's the risk of turning the book into an emotional drama rather than the assertive version of what it is now.

For a debut author, this is an impressive work, and I look forward to reading more from her. 

Maybe she could cut down a few adverbs in the next book. I do like the strength of the narrative. 

Overall, Medusa has been a lovely retelling, a feminist version with a controlled voice (not something I see in all feminist works).

I received an ARC from Netgalley and Silver Wood Books. 

#Medusa #NetGalley 

The Dartmoor Murders- Book Review

The Dartmoor Murders by Stephanie Austin

Devon Mysteries – Book 4 (Standalone)
Publication Date: 17th June 2021
Genre: Cozy Mystery

3.8 Stars

Juno Browne inherited Old Nick (an antique store) when the owner died (in the previous book, I guess). Now she has to find a way to run the store while recovering from injuries (from book 3) and try not to get into any more trouble.

But when she opens the wardrobe that’s a part of her latest purchase to fill the store, a body tumbles out onto the floor. Juno has no idea who the dead man is, nor does she know if the crooked seller Fred had anything to do with this.

Another death happens in succession, and Juno tries her best to not get into the mess. It’s hard when the police can’t find anything, and she’s not satisfied not knowing the truth. The dead man’s twin brother arrives, wanting Juno’s help to solve the murder. She’s Devon’s amateur sleuth, after all.

Things start to happen, and Juno is in the middle of it. Not everything is related to the murders, but it’s up to Juno to sort the mess, or so it seems. Can Juno find the killer without risking her neck in the process?

I haven’t read any of the previous books in the series but had no trouble following this one. Some characters are recurring, but it’s easy to understand the relationship between them. The book is more of a cozy mystery than a suspense thriller. The story progresses at its own pace, adding more subplots as we read. Luckily, the subplots are also tied up before the book ends.

Reviewing this book is turning out to be tough. I liked the story enough but was impressed or wowed by it. Somehow, the allure of the cover and the title (main reasons why I requested the book) seemed a bit missing in the story. That said, the book is nowhere dull. I’m going to read the previous books to get a better idea.

It is narrated by Juno, and we see her quirky humor scattered throughout. The insights into her life are entertaining as she regales them in a dry tone. Story-wise, there are no unexpected pull-the-rug moments, so that’s a plus. I did guess the killer and even the reason to an extent. It was fun to see my guess confirmed.

Overall, The Dartmoor Murders is a good book for a lazy afternoon. Pick it up when you don’t want to rush through a book. It’s not a slow read by any means, but things take time to get to the end. Remember, it’s a cozy mystery.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Allison & Busby.

#NetGalley #TheDartmoorMurders

The Keepers of Metsan Valo- Book Review

The Keepers of Metsan Valo by Wendy Webb

Publication Date: 5th Oct 2021
Genre: Paranormal, Mystery, Nordic folklore-based

3.8 Stars

Metsan Valo is an ancient family house on Lake Superior. After her Mummo’s (grandmother) death, Anni Halla goes back to the house to meet the rest of the family and know about Mummo’s will. Anni and Theo, her twin brother, grew up in Metsan Velo, listening to stories about forests, vaki (forest spirits), and the pact between the Halla family and vaki.

As the family arrives, one after another, tension fills the house, and mysterious events take place around them. The caretakers, Martin and Meri, talk in circles and don’t make much sense. Why are the woods angry? Who wants to harm the family that’s still grieving the loss of their beloved elder?

Even before Anni can find answers, a tragedy strikes, followed by another. Things are spiraling out of control, and Anni has no idea how to find a way out. Can she believe in her Mummo’s tales and find a solution before it is too late?

This is my first book by the author, and I thoroughly enjoyed her prose. It is evocative and strong. The setting is my ever favorite- an old home in a forest full of secrets. The hint of paranormal suspense and the setting are the main reasons I requested this book.

The characters are well-written, and some of them have a surreal touch. This complements the storyline very well. The relationship between the twins felt warm, loving, and comforting. The family drama is controlled and sorted (a little too easily solved, maybe).

I liked how Anni is neither overly eager to believe in the folklore. But at the same time, she doesn’t hesitate to consider the possibility. It added to her character and made her quite real.

The suspense builds during the first half and continues in the second. The consistent increase in suspense led me to believe that there would one a major climax (a showdown of sorts) to match the rise. That’s where I was disappointed. The climax drifted and settled without any drama. I kept waiting for it, and the ends were already being tied and tidied.

That one scene I felt was crucial to the central plot was mentioned in less than a page (more as an afterthought)! What started as a 4 + book ended up less than 4. Still, the book has closure and even a happy ending. And I could finish it in two days (though I read past my reading time).

I’ve added 2-3 previous books of the author to my TBR just to enjoy her prose and the paranormal elements. Some reviewers mentioned this book is different from the previous ones, and that got me curious. Let’s see how I feel about them.

Overall, The Keepers of Metsan Velo is a lovely book if you like the same elements as I do. However, don’t expect much in terms of unfolding the suspense and acting on it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing. 

#TheKeepersofMetsanValo #NetGalley

P.S: I’m off to read more about vaki and Nordic folklore.

The Bookshop Murder- Book Review

The Bookshop Murder by Merryn Allingham

Flora Steele Mystery #1

Publication Date: 26th July 2021

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery

4 Stars

Set in the sleepy town of Abbeymead in 1955, Flora Steele, a young bookshop owner, is shocked when the reclusive crime writer Jack Carrington discovers a dead body in her old store. The police call it a natural death, but Flora is doubtful. When rumors spread about the bookshop being haunted, Flora starts to lose her business and savings.

Having no one to call her own after Aunt Violet’s death, Flora is determined to unearth the mystery behind the death. After all, how can a healthy young man die of a heart attack? Why was he in her bookshop, and when did he even enter?

Flora enlists Jack’s help to get to the bottom of the mystery, only to stumble upon more deaths in the process. Why are people related to the Priory dying, and why is the new owner not bothered about it?

The list of suspects keeps changing, and Flora is even determined than before. How can she let the killer get away? So what if the police are least interested?

The Bookshop Murder is the first book in the series and an engaging cozy mystery set in Sussex. Flora is a 25-year-old single woman, running her deceased aunt’s bookshop (now her own), All’s Well. She has a simple and routine life with the dreams of traveling the world to keep her company during the lonely days.

Jack is a recluse who had no choice but to step out to collect his books from All’s Well when the boy running errands falls sick. He discovers a dead body during his visit to the store, and there starts the story. Torn between writer’s block and the unexpected feeling to help Flora, Jack teams up with her to solve the mystery.

The book stays true to its genre and gives us an enjoyable mystery to solve. It’s neither complicated nor silly. Flora and Jack balance each other rather well. Neither of them is always right or wrong. They have their strengths and weak points.

As the first book in the series, the story gives us quite a bit of detail about the lead characters’ pasts. This adds to the character arc. The subsequent books are likely to have a budding romance between the leads, and yeah, I’m looking forward to it.

The case is solved in this book, and we have a definite ending. Picking it up as a standalone, and you’ll still enjoy it.

Overall, The Bookshop Murders is an engaging book with books, deaths, and amateur sleuths. Don’t expect much except for a nice little crime, and you’ll enjoy it more.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture.

#TheBookshopMurder #NetGalley

The Audacity of Sara Grayson- Book Review

The Audacity of Sara Grayson by Joani Elliott

Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
4.5 Stars 

Meet Sara, a 32 yo greeting card writer with a teaching position at college. She’s the daughter of the great author Cassandra Bond, whose Ellery series 50 million copies and is being made into a movie. The fifth book of this suspense thriller is supposed to be released. But Cass passes away, and there is no book. 

She leaves a letter asking Sara to finish the book. Sara, and not her perfection-craving elder sister Anna-Kath! With barely any writing experience and even lower self-esteem, can Sara even take up the audacious responsibility? Her mother definitely wants her to. Her sister is supporting and encouraging her. 

But can Sara do it? Can she finish the book without help from the dreaded Phil? Can she overcome the hurdles set by Jane from Iris Publishing? What about the whispers of plagiarism, and who is this Meredith Lamb? 

The book is about Sara learning to get back her confidence in life (after her husband walked out on her a few months ago) and understanding that writing is not scary; it’s terrifying and soul-satisfying. 

The book is 400 pages long, and I was a bit skeptical in requesting it. I like my books small and compact. 

However, the writing was engaging, and the narration flowed well from start to finish. The book is a potpourri of emotions, and that made the characters more real. No one is perfect, and no one is really a villain or a baddie. 

While I didn’t identify with Sara, I could understand her insecurities and vulnerabilities. It’s no small feat to finish a book from a bestseller series written by another person. As a writer, I know just how stressful it is. It’s hardly surprising that Sara wants nothing to do with the book or the series. 

But it’s time she accepts a challenge and proves her worth. How long is she going to mop around? What follows is Sara’s journey of self-realization while digging up a dark past that further complicates things. 

The book has its share of romance, but it is sweet and comforting, a perfect balance to Sara’s growing anxiety. 

We see Sara understanding what it is to be a writer. The words on paper are just letters stringed together if the writer doesn’t feel them tear their insides, isn’t it? What I love most about the book is how writing is presented to the readers. There is no glossing over writer’s block. There’s no exaggerating the frustration or the satisfaction when words flow. Each chapter in the book starts with a quote from a writer, and I love them all. 

The book has several elements, and at times, I wanted Sara to go ahead and take the plunge. There were instances I fast read a few paragraphs to get on with the story. That’s just me, though. I’m not the kind that relates to anxious heroines who take helluva time to decide their next move. 

However, the relationship between the characters more than makes up for Sara’s indecisiveness. Overall, The Audacity of Sara Grayson is a warm and inspiring book for book lovers and writers. You won’t regret reading this one. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley, Meryl Moss Media, and Post Hill Press.

#NetGalley #TheAudacityofSaraGrayson