BOOK REVIEW : THE HELPLINE BY UDAY MANE

The Blurb
Samir is suicidal. Rachael works for a suicide helpline. Fate connects them through a phone call. And so begins Samir’s story of love, longing, errors, regret and a girl who changed his life. As his story reaches its conclusion, Rachael will know the true reason behind his suicidal tendencies. But this suicide helpline is not any ordinary service. There is more to the mysterious and yet so convincing voice of Rachael. As this new mystery begins to unfold, Samir is going to discover three things:

What is The Helpline?
Who is Rachael?
What is Samir’s own identity?

Every year, several teenagers in India attempt suicide because of failing relationships, dwindling careers, parental pressure or the competitive world. This story is about one such teenager, his early problems and the hurdles to cope with them. This story is about finding hope in the struggle. This story is about fighting for what you believe in and discovering your true identity. This is not a story about falling in love. This is a story of rising from a failed love story.

Meet the Author

Uday Mane was born in Pune and raised in Mumbai. He works as a marketing professional during the day and a storyteller during the night. He is an avid reader, and loves to collect classic books.

The Helpline is his debut novel that was launched in March 2014 at the hands of Padma Shri Paresh Rawal.

You can stalk him @
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAllegorist

Website: http://www.theallegorist.in/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/The_Allegorist

Goodreads : https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8119191.Uday_Mane

Amazon.in: http://www.amazon.in/The-Helpline-1-Uday-Mane/dp/9383562889?tag=googinremarketing6-21

Amazon.com : http://www.amazon.com/The-Helpline-Uday-Mane/dp/9383562889/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407656682&sr=8-1&keywords=the+helpline+uday+mane

Flipkart: http://www.flipkart.com/the-helpline/p/itmdut9chy7vkdnu?pid=9789383562886&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=The+Helpline+Uday+Mane&ref=1d5bc58a-42a7-40e1-8538-a43fb5f3fc47

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MY REVIEW :

Things I  liked :

(1) The novel has a good sub plot and Riya’s struggle with her brother Sidhhartha was pretty interesting.

(2) The short stories of Samir and detailed explanation of Riya’s painting were an interesting read.

Things I didn’t like :

(1) The main theme of story : A boy trying to commit suicide because his girlfriend was going to abroad for higher studies.

(2) Poor editing and grammar.

I wish all the best to the author for his works.

BOOK REVIEW : RAPID FALL BY ADIANA RAY

THE BLURB 

  Sonia and JD’s tempestuous attraction is as stormy as the rapids at

Rishikesh. Not even a dip in icy waters can douse the sparks that fly when they are around each other.

JD’s recent divorce, however, has left him commitment phobic and bitter, and he doesn’t seem to want more than a physical relationship. At heart, Sonia is conservative; can she bring herself to accept a modern ‘live-in’ relationship, or will she push him away with her demands for a commitment?

Buy @

Amazon.com | Amazon.in | FlipKart | Indireads

MEET THE AUTHOR :

The Author’s Thoughts

‘Sixteen and counting’ are the number of cities that I have lived in so far. I like to think of myself as a ‘Metronaut’. The myriad city cultures, the food, the hustle and bustle, the people are all elements of life that I thrive on and if you can have an ‘Astronaut’ why not a ‘Metronaut’ after all there are so many more of us out there?

I believe in the Zen tenet that every situation has a 1000 truths. It helps me write and it definitely helps when I am dealing with my two children. I like reading, I like cooking, I like travelling and I love sitting like a mindless zombie in front of the TV and if anybody says anything to that….Aha! a 1000 truths come in very handy.

I also write under a pen name M.X Steele. Why? My daughter thought Adiana Ray was too boring a name.

I do hope you enjoy reading all my work because I believe passionately that though we writers love pontificating and are totally in love with whatever we write; at the end of it all it is the readers that matter and above all what we write has to be ‘entertaining’.

You can stalk her @

Facebook | Twitter | Website

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MY RATING : 3

MY REVIEW :

Rapid Fall is a fast flowing romantic drama of two people, in their middle ages, looking for love. They meet in their professional lives and slowly, things become personal. The book is a fast read and took me less than an hour to finish it. The  theme is a simple love story, which follows the typical structure of thesis-anti thesis – synthesis. The incident at ‘ rapid fall ‘ was interesting as compared to the quotidian events in workplace. Monica stands out to be typical female best friend of a man. Reena and Sonia’s conversations did seem to be a little childish, as compared to their age.  The dialogues are neatly created and can be a treat for a reader who is fond of melodrama. One thing I would not support is the mention of Mumbai as “ the big bad city “  . It may enrage readers belonging to Mumbai as it has been said without logical reasons. Perhaps keeping it subtle would have been better. What I liked about the book is that it explores complicated relationships and throws light on the problems in a relationship which are affected by professional life, especially when the person is passionate about his professional life.  The  colorful cover too grabbed my attention.After a hectic day, one can easily take up the book for a read without straining the brain.  The theme and the background have been well chosen; however  character development would have been appreciated.

BAAKYO (IV) : WELCOME TO THE FAMILY

 

                                       

 

Breaking the dark of the night you have come,

Heralding a new beginning, a new eon.

The wait leaves the feet of the tired heart,

Your smile washes away the sores,

With all the love in our heart,

Baakyo : we welcome you !!

 

 

The words stopped letting go off the emotions unknown,

Feelings I never felt, till you were born.

I see the scratches of incompleteness healing by your smile,

My happiness plays with the look of your eyes,

My heart bathes in the foams of the new relation,

Baakyo : the child of truth and love !!

 

 

 

Accoutered with few words and feelings yet to discover,

I try to compose this little doggerel .

Happiness skips the expressions,

New emotions born every hour,

A new start, a new life,

 Baakyo : welcome to our family !!