Book Review – 31 Miles

31 Miles - Book Review

From social entrepreneurship to being the Chief Architect of a literature and cultural festival; from being the director of the National Institute of Jewellery in Delhi to penning down a novel, Vinita Bakshi has quite a multi-faceted personality.

31 Miles is her debut foray into writing. Does it work? Let’s check it out.

The blurb goes like this –

Mansa has the perfect family life—a husband, two daughters and a big house. But she feels that something is missing. After shifting to a major city, she decides to take the reins of her life in her own hands, she decides to step out and seek a career.

While enjoying the new-found freedom and confidence, she completely immerses herself in her work and her new life. Till one fateful day when she finds herself embroiled in a passionate affair—with an online lover. And then everything falls apart!

31 Miles is the story of a woman who rediscovers herself after marriage, and works towards self-emancipation. Will she give it all up for the elusive mirage created by the stranger? What turn will her life take next?

Vinita’s portrayal of Mansa’s world is so life-like. She’s had an arranged marriage and is happily settled as a homemaker with two daughters. Or is she really ‘happily settled’? Though her husband is really supportive and caring, she feels that there’s something missing in her life. We hear about so many Mansa’s around the world day in and day out, don’t we?

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A habit am proud of..

Blogging - A way of life

Blogging – A way of life

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Rewind about 13 years and you would see me writing a few small editorial columns for Times of Oman – the largest daily in the Sultanate of Oman. At that time, I only wrote a few opinion pieces here and there and when they actually got published, I was delighted enough to cut each of the articles carefully and store them in my personal file.

As the years went by, I became a part of a few editorial committees of college fests but didn’t really write much in the true sense of the word. It’s only when I started my blog in 2009 that I actually discovered my real passion for writing and expressing my thoughts about anything and everything under the sun.

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My blogging journey..

My blogging journey..

My blogging journey..

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We all take inspiration from various sources in our lives be it friends, family or even the experiences they have gone through at different phases in their careers. This helps us in learning the steps to be taken to achieve success and avoid failure. It serves as a motivation to achieve great heights in our careers.

While I did write a few editorial columns in Times of Oman and was part of the editorial committee of Riviera (the international fest at VIT University), it wasn’t until I started my blog in 2009 that I got serious about my writing.

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For the love of writing..

For the love of writing..

For the love of writing..

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As someone has said, there is nothing greater than the power of the written word. For me, writing is that activity which makes my world go round. It connects me to life and happiness in every possible way. Writers have the power to dream and create a new world with new characters. This combined with the ability of writers to weave varied emotions is what helps me connect myself with writing.

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Book Review – Killing Ashish Karve

Killing Ashish KarveSource: http://xw-img-a2.buildabazaar.com/img/books/b2/f4/books-9788172345310c721dfb2f4.jpg.999x600x550.jpg

Salil Desai is an author and filmmaker who has published two novels and a couple of short stories. ‘Killing Ashish Karve’ was first published as ‘The Body in the Backseat’ in 2011. Does it work? Let’s check it out.

The blurb goes like this –

Senior Inspector Saralkar is back at his desk after spending a rather annoying week at a ‘Secrets of Living’ course, especially for police officers and he is itching for some action now. Luckily, an exciting new case turns up right away!

The body of Ashish Karve, a local businessman has been found in the back seat of his car. To PSI Motkar, Saralkar’s diminutive assistant, it seems to be a straightforward case of suicide. But Saralkar’s sharp mind is agog with the dark possibility of murder.

As the case unfolds Saralkar finds enough motives for people, be it Ashish’s business partner, his wife, his brother, his friend, his brother-in-law or even strangers to want to do away with him!

Is the senior inspector becoming too fanciful in his imagination or is he on the right track in assuming that Ashish was killed? Delve into this deliciously thrilling whodunit and walk along with Senior Inspector Saralkar and PSI Motkar as they set out to sift the truth from lies and half truths.

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