This book came out in the 1970s. With a brazen confidence to predict the twists and turns,I dove into this suspenseful drama. Even the epic crime stories celebrate family. We’ve seen a celebrated Mafia Don certifying a man’s honour based on his strong familial bonds. However, the stellar storyteller Sidney Sheldon weaves a wild tale in Bloodline. “Do not let the straightforward suits and polished ties fool you” is the gist of this story. Man’s inherent greed is fueled by his insatiable needs. There’s a dirty rat race going on inside the most sophisticated conference rooms of the tallest ivory towers. Competition is a common thread that connects everyone in the social pyramid. When Sam Rolfe, the key board member of a multi-million-dollar pharmaceutical company, dies in a fatal accident, all hell breaks loose. Elizabeth, his daughter and the future president of Rolfe Pharmaceuticals, is a baby in the woods. While being pressurized to sell the company’s shares and bring in private invest

War is Peace! Ignorance is Strength! Freedom is Slavery! It's an accepted fact that 1984 is the OG of all dystopian thrillers. Long ago, I watched a  dark science fiction movie by the name "Zero Theorem". It certainly gave me an understanding of the world in its advanced age of revolution and technology. That was cataclysmic enough to portray the evils of a power-intoxicated Mankind. This book is a fictional account of how through the eyes of a man called Winston Smith, George Orwell imagines our world's political landscape in the year 1984. Winston is a duty-bound citizen of Oceania immersed in waves of mass cults constantly proclaiming their nationalism and love for a staunch authoritarian saviour,' Big Brother'. Bound by terrifyingly unique ministries and Party protocols, Oceania keeps waging wars against Eurasia and Eastasia in order to maintain the internal social pyramid. After all, Hierarchy yields power and Ingsoc (English Socialism) is fuelled by fear

Not a day goes by when we don't think of the past at least once. Our thoughts are imprisoned by the sundry choices that still haunt us occasionally. "If only I could go back in time and change things" is a wishful thought we all once had. "Before the coffee gets cold" is as perfect as that piping hot morning coffee blend which offers much-needed mental peace. Every sip gets better as seconds slip away. Stories of 4 strangers connected by their visits to a time-honoured cafe take readers on a caffeine-loaded journey to their past. Nunaced dialogues complement this fascinating experience generously. By accepting the cleverly devised Time Travel protocols, these individuals have sensitively come to terms with the fact that a visit to the past won't alter the course of the present or the future. A glimpse at the familiar before a tragic change took over their lives has brought closure to those who chose to sit on the coveted chair which has transcended obsolesce

  Every school has an exclusive tree. A tree that wasn't just a provider of shade on sunny afternoons to lunch under but something of a quiet onlooker that stood steady against the backdrop of changes. We had Banyans, Peepals, Neems and Jojobas decorating the school compound like ornate Chandeliers. Flowers rained from the Cassia Fistula a.k.a the Golden Shower tree kept us busy as we created arty arrangements on the muddy ground. Those patterns lasted until the sound of school bells and a dash of cool winds dispersed everything. The Copper Beech set in the beautiful village of Shancarrig invoked my dormant childhood memories. At times, we deliberately lock up good moments in a corner of our brains lest it should arouse tearful nostalgia. Let the good old days stay tucked in because earnestly missing something isn't going to bring it back. It was a painful reminder of how much things have changed and how much we missed cherishing those moments when we had it all for ourselves.

A Play Dough is soft and colourful. Such are our minds when we are young and vulnerable; ready to be moulded under influences and external pressures. Laurie Kenyon, the main character in "All Around The Town" is diagnosed with Dissociative Personality Disorder as a result of a traumatic childhood experience. Abuse is the root of her pain. As can be seen in many incidents in her life, the imaginary characters in her head become her secret caretakers with the sole goal of protecting their host from the perpetrators. This worked well in a nightmarish situation but fell through when everything became normal and natural. I read in a blog that specified how the current society has pushed people to have panic attacks just by the thought of making it late to work. This stress provocation leads to increased cortisol levels, affecting one's physical well-being. Our ancestors froze, flew and fought at the sight of danger in caves while we use similar survival tactics to stay in our

The beach has always intrigued me. It's the feeling of home that makes travelling to or residing in coastal areas a heavenly experience. That way, Tahiti is now on my bucket list. Rain or shine, from now on, my spirit to visit the islands in French Polynesia will remain staunch. Stories that are raw, fresh, original, and organic stand the test of time, whereas those that are polished to suit the intellectual needs of readers fail to leave a meaningful footprint. frangipani   belongs to the former category. Survival struggles for women across the world are more or less the same. No surprises there. Materena Mahi brought back memories from my childhood and replayed conversations I had with my mom at our kitchen table. Despite the endemic cultural conditioning, women are naturally free-thinkers. Lack of financial independence and self-love has pushed them into the web of unhappy family units where they are expected to take care of everyone around them at the expense of their dreams, d

When I chanced upon the term "Saganism" a few years ago, it sounded like a cult that promoted spiritual philosophy. To me, the name "Sagan" gave the idea of an enlightened saint, a cosmic time-traveller robed in white, telling tales about the universe. Immense self-control helped me not to google the hell out of Sagan, as I was determined to know him only through his books. Consequently, the universe greeted me with a copy of "Broca's Brain" at a Crossword store in a mall. There it was, and it was about time too. Wanting to understand the mysteries of space without having to revisit my physics lessons, I trusted Sagan and dug deep. What I found, understood, and realised blew my mind. We all would have already done enough brainwork to reflect on the afterlife, near-death experiences, interstellar, extraterrestrial life, planetary functions, etc.   Sagan breaks it down so easily yet presents it with the right amount of mystery, leaving his readers to

Deep inside the trenches of a beautiful soul lies a dark, decaying belief built upon generational evils that are waiting to be revived. The right fuel will stoke that fire. It would only be a matter of time before our grandiose facade falls. Intricately woven by language, clothing, cuisine, creativity, and culture, that pseudo-veil is an ephemeral mask behind which we all collectively play hide-and-seek. The best-dressed gentleman in the room can insidiously enjoy watching the withering assets behind the tattered blouses of a street beggar. Even her puny child’s lifeless eyes would fail to invoke empathy.   An Instagram model mourns the sudden passing of her boyfriend, first alone and then with their friends, families, and social media followers. An adventurous act led to an untimely demise. As condolences gently boiled down to consideration, her need for attention shot up. One of the content creators has now become content. On the pretext of wistful remembrance, the grief-stricken gir

 "Puppet on a Chain is an electrifying thriller set against the backdrop of Amsterdam that presents a plot subsuming crimes connected to a rampant dope supply chain. The Kingpins behind this massive menace are big-time supported by the Church and its residents. Paul Sherman, the uncompromising protagonist comes with his wit, precocity and prowess to give whatever it takes for the downfall of this drug empire. As young minds and their lives keep getting consumed by the joy powder, Mr. Sherman and his fearless team of women-Belinda and Maggie embark on a dangerous mission oblivious to the risks and pitfalls staring at their faces. Under such dicey circumstances, the group picks up clues from shady nooks and corners going all in to figure out a permanent fix. The plot keeps the readers hooked on its omnifarious characters and their peculiar natures, prompting them to question everyone's intentions till the end. That, for a crime thriller, is a must-have. The author has produced a