“She read books as one would breathe air, to fill-up and live..”.
That’s the thing about books..they let you travel without moving your feet.
A warm hello, dear #bookstagrammers !! I am bringing my #marchwrapup2020 with today’s post!
I read 14 #booksbooksbooks in #march2020 and what makes it even more exciting is; ✨ I read more of international authors this month (5), wrt my #bookstoread goal this year!
➕ ✨ I read a load of ebooks (7/14) too!
➕ ✨ I was on 5 #booktours this month, which was my this month’s #bookstagramer goal..
So I am all smiles and happy to #wrapup #march2020 on a good note.
My thanks and congratulations to all the #publishersofinstagram, who brought in amazing reads and for all their support!
The #bulletjournal having premium quality buff paper is by @shoonyaakar (inking stories of thought).
I would also like to thank the wonderful authors, who bring about such amaziiiiiing work forward, for us, the readers.
@authormelodycarlson @terrylynnthomasbooks @susancountauthor @terriwangard @author_khemlata_negi @carryonpd @pulkitsharma82 @alejandra_guibert @sujaykantawala @mehoolparekh @piyabahadur @sanjay03031959 @damyantig @ankit_singh399 May your creativity flourish manifold and you continue to bring us unique, original, thought provoking reads! #authorsofinstagram I read varied genres this month, for which I am both happy and grateful.
Beginning #april2020 on a positive note.
#stayhomestaysafe #readabooktoday #qotd Why/how did you join #bookstagram ❓ Do check the pics
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A COMMON MAN is a Memoir by Sanjay Chandra, who has penned down his JOURNEY OF LIFE in this beautiful read. Born in a middle class family, in a small town of India, he talks about the ‘TIMES’ in the year 1959, when he was born and continues the describing the ‘LIFE’ of a Common Man till 2010 and concludes it with an open ending, stating it’s a “conclusion, but not the end”.
He began his professional career with Indian Railways, after completing his professional degree in electrical engineering. He first quit his railway job to join a government company and then quit to join the private sector. Later he quit the private sector to become an entrepreneur and a writer.
Therefore, a person, a common man, who has had his share of ups and downs, has experienced the government and private sector both in addition to the challenging field of entrepreneurship, must have not greyed his hair under the sun. A Memoir from such a person would obviously be full of wisdom and experience.
It is short, very relatable, autobiographical in nature with a chronological account of events. The simple narrative style makes the read very engaging. It’s well crafted to keep the curiosity of the reader alive till the very end. The title is perfect for the content and the cover showing the mob of common man on the railway platform with a train is so in line with the context of this memoir. The beautiful cover is by Saurabh who can be reached @pramanik.watercolour
We have heard and read, many times, never underestimate the power of a common man. This book gave me a very calming vibe, an excursion I am glad, I took. Books help us go places when we have to stay where we are and this book did just that.
I don’t choose to be a common man..it is my right to be uncommon if I can..I seek opportunity- not security..I want to take the calculated risk, to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed..to refuse to barter incentive for a file..I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence, the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopias. By PETER O’TOOLE.
A Memoir is a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge. It is more or less a subset of an autobiography. All memoirs are – at their heart – autobiographies, not all autobiographies are memoirs. An autobiography is the story of the author’s life, while a memoir is a sliver of that. It’s the same difference as between a whole cake and a slice of cake.
Sanjay Chandra, writes he was fascinated by the story; of a child in Oliver Twist, of a child till he’s an adult in Pip and of a child till his old age in David Copperfield. The book begins with the year 1982 and is titled “Journey”. It starts with a train journey, from old Delhi railway station till Bombay (now Mumbai). He was 23years old at that time and had joined the elite Railway Services. It describes in detail, the first day of the author, the train journey experience, the difficulties he faced, the initial rush of being a class-1 railway officer… He also talks about how he used to catch glimpses of TV, movie stars, singers and authors, off and on on his travels.
The story moves backwards to the year 1959, titled as “Landmark” when the author was born to a middle class family. It talks about history of India, pre and post independence era, the life in those times. He talks in detail about this ancestors and about few things which have not changed till date. Each and every detail that the author shares has a story to tell and an experience which enriches and a lesson to learn.
In the next chapter, titled “Steps”, he talks about the time between 1959-1970, the incidents during the formative years, true raw accounts of his innocent, carefree childhood. He mentions little small anecdotes, snippets from his childhood and what did he learn and gain from those experiences.. Chronologically, the story moves on with precious lessons to learn and experiences to enrich.
The author, Sanjay Chandra, concludes with an ending note saying “no child is born common, but it’s life can be common or special as it chooses.” I chose not to remain common. He has started writing with the hope that his voice touches lives and others re encouraged to lead a life less common.
He say, parents still consider engineering and medical, the traditional safe career options, to be the best choice for their kids despite numerous other better-paying career options. The pure intention behind this book is to inspire the common man, from the middle-class background, to do something different.
A must read especially for teenagers who are deciding their career paths and are still confused, for parents who force their dreams on their kids and for the common man who is struggling, juggling his job and personal responsibilities.
Priced at a nominal price point of INR 195/- @amazon.in for paperback and for INR 120/- @amazonkindle for the ebook version, it’s a must read. Published by Notion Press in Sep.2019, it is a quick and enlightening read with 9 chapters covering 153 pages.
It’s a fresh read, in terms of concept and also coz it’s just released, so it is as fresh as a newly baked yum cake!
The publishing house’s name definitely gives it an edge and an added appeal to the audience.
The cover illustration and design by Neelima P Aryan, is very catchy!
It’s reasonably priced although it’s a 200+ pg book.
The plot, revolving around social media is so in line with the present times. And here’s a catch too! This book is a lot lot more than social media, love and couple goals..as the cover suggests.
It’s coming soon as a web series on voot
A heady mix of dreams and desire, this is a story of undying love in the face of society’s most dangerous beliefs.
This is the 4th bk by d author, I think and he’s done a fab job at that!
16 chapters encompassing 56 days of journey by 4 women (who left their regular life, homes, families and comfort) in 6 countries.
1. JB- founder of Hyderabad’s all women motorcycle riding group @bikerni
2. Shilpa Balakrishnan- left her corporate job
3. Shanthi- constable in Telangana Police
4. Priya Bahadur- mom to two daughters.
What inspired them to follow this dangerous, at times maddening, adventure trail❓
Author @priyabahadur recalls once-in-a-lifetime journey through Southeast Asia.
A trip from #hyderabad along the east Indian coast and the NE of India, weaving through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam ALONG THE RIVER MEKONG, and finally to Cambodia.
The COVER gives one a detailed insight to what to expect from the book. (Priya Bahadur, @panmacmillan incredible India, road to mekong, a map, 4 powerful 400cc beasts, 4 women bikers and the tagline: four women six countries 17000 kms- an adventure of a lifetime). Well all these details on the cover say a LOT.
MY TAKE:
This book, each and every chapter gave me something to ponder about..
It talks abt 4 women, from different strata of life, who somehow gathered courage to leave their comfortable normal life routine and go on a bike ride.
The author has a very interesting NARRATIVE. It is WITTY, SARCASTIC, PEPPY, a CONVERSATIONAL style and VERNACULAR at instances.
It felt like listening to the author narrate her rendezvous, first hand, face to face. LOVED it!
The book also helped in increasing my geographical knowledge, for sure plus it helped me wonder..how demographics..culture.. cuisine..looks.. language..and so much more..change as we move from one place to another..a matter of few Kms..
It inspires one to follow his dream and do something more in his life than the redundant routine of eat work sleep.
The Beautiful sunsets and their picturesque description by the author, stole my heart.
It also reminded me of a beautiful memory, wherein I drove a bajaj pulsar, my brother’s, first time and had the time of my life!
Looking forward to more from the author, definately following her.
#qotd For her: have you ever driven a bike❓If not, do you want to❓
#qotd For him: How would you feel if your sister or mother or wife went on an adventure on a bike ❓
This book will always be a gem on my bookshelf.
Applaud these COURAGEOUS women for following their dream!
#blurb For fifty-six days, four women left their ‘regular lives’, homes, families and comfort, to ride their motorbikes through scenic landscapes, inhospitable terrain and diverse regions. In this process, they covered 17, 000 kilometres through six countries. What inspired them to follow this dangerous, and at times maddening, adventure trail? In road to Mekong, Piya Bahadur recounts her once-in-a-lifetime journey through Southeast Asia. With little prior experience in expeditions of this nature, The group successfully planned and executed an exhilarating trip from Hyderabad, through the East Indian Coast and the Northeast of India, weaving through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, along the river Mekong, and finally to Cambodia. By the time they returned, the lives of these audacious women had changed forever. Piya takes the reader along on her travels through places rarely visited by the itinerant Indian and shares the new World that unfolds as she journeys from being a working mother constrained by her own inhibitions to a confident traveller accepting of whatever adventures life has to offer.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Piya Bahadur went to the US to do her master’s and lived there for several years until, one day, she felt that her two daughters needed to be closer to their grandparents and moved back to India. Before the motorcycling bug bit her, Piya was Regional Officer at the US-India Education Foundation and before that, worked at the Indian School of Business. Piya is currently working at her startup, which makes software to help small businesses, especially women-owned, run more efficiently. She is happiest when she is on long walks with her children, or on the road, singing along to Kishore Kumar songs. Now that both her daughters are in college, Piya lives in Hyderabad with her husband, their cocker spaniel, and a black cat that pretends to be their pet.
noorthebookworm 