Kevein Books and Reviews

Rusty Goes to London is a throwback of Ruskin Bond’s yesteryear, highlighting his dream to become a writer at a very young age. So, through this book Ruskin (as goes Rusty) tried to explain the kind of struggle he had to become an established writer. Rusty, a boy from the hills of Dehradun, wants to be a very good writer and also wishes that his book should be sold abroad. Thus, he sets on a journey to reach London. Upon reaching there, he takes up a clerk’s job and manages to pen down a novel. Much to his amazement, he finds a publisher but fails to achieve the anticipated success he had in his mind. While staying there he experiences various thrilling activities and meets the greats like Sherlock Homes and Rudyard Kipling. In the end, he returns to India to write books all his life and leaves the world’s glamour which does not suit him.   Rusty Goes to London by Ruskin Bond is an agreeable read to Mr. Bond’s young readers. This book is the fourth in the Puffin’s new s...

Half Girlfriend by Chetan Bhagat is based on a very popular literature theme – Conflict of interests and characters due to various aspects such as financial distance, cultures, grooming and societies. Being Bihari epitomizes a lot such as peculiar with some obstinate determination and a fixed kind of mind set. So, in this book Madhav is a Bihari boy who happens to fall in love with a Non-Bihari girl Riya, unlike Madhav, Riya is rich and ravishing and descends from Delhi, a metro city. They are on the verge of becoming good friends, when this cheap lad, consider riches shallow, soft, caring manner as a love for himself, a manifested blunder that often occurs with new lovers. Madhav, the poor boy proposes Riya. She goes upset and like a selfish distances herself from this rustic fellow. And in continuation consoles Madhav and also offers him a proposal to be his friend but the half way. No full boyfriend, no loving, no intercourses. But the boy, being smart about himself, ...

So, what’s the problem with new, modern, trendy Indian writers?  A few surveys suggest that they write stories that are known to their readers’, hence loose grip over a good readership. The theme and the stuff of the book are truly warts and all. A married woman is unhappy because the past she lived was jam-packed with betrayals; moreover her current husband is all but incompatible in a more than one sense. Evidently, her life is on a tossing path, she needs her past back at any cost to sort out the tales of incomplete or midway left desires. Hence, the present is reproaching her and there is an overwhelming urge to go back to that life which seems now unapproachable. The Secret Wishlist by Preeti Shenoy is another ordinary story, compromising the above mentioned stuff. The cover page is catchy enough to make readers fool. So, judging a book by its cover is totally inapt for this book. No description of nature, cultural settings – as a journalism technique the writer ...

After ‘Swami and Friends’ and ‘The Bachelor of Arts’ came a masterpiece ‘The English Teacher’ in 1945, by R.K Narayan, the third and final one of this series. The book is based on common but riveting theme – conflicts of characters. It is a super-class novel for all sorts of readers. In fact, the only writer of India, of whose books can be enjoyed equally by both parents and children. It’s an incredible feat so far, remained untouched. Krishna is an English teacher, who is unhappy with his routinely life. Hence, he always conflicts with his inner desires and much more into retrospection. The advent of his wife and daughter alters the course of his life outlook and he began towards a different experience. Krishna understands while living with family that his life has some meaning, it is not just the way he assumes often. He is more into quest for himself and obsessed with personality development. Following the death of his wife, a melancholy period ascends over him, to a...

The writer, journalist by profession, is set out to Kabul post 9/11 attack for an extensive coverage of activities. Through this book – The Bookseller of Kabul – she tried to fictionalize the accounts or rapport she shared with the book seller, Sultan Khan. She lives with his family for few months, explores traditions, women alcoves and vernacular customs appertaining to their lives post 9/11. As the story unfolds, grip over characterization and conflicts lose plot and seems a failed attempt. Readers may feel it as a boring read, truly an undeserving book to grab such false attention online as well offline. The publication of this book questions the integrity of renowned publishers, at international level, at times they do not opt in for quality work just prefer getting anything through ostentatious writers or journalists. The era ascended by Wilbur Smith, Salman Rushdie, Ken Follet and many a prominent writer now seems gone. Publishers should consider maintaining literature-...

Shobha De shot into literary limelight by writing her first novel, ‘Socialite Evening’ which is Lawrencium in expression. Her other works which generally start with the letter ‘S’ are, Starry Nights, Sisters, Sultry Days, Strange Obsession, Snapshots,   Second Thoughts, Shooting from the Hips, Small Betrayals, Surviving Men and Speed Post. She founded and edited three popular magazines – Stardust, Society, and Celebrity.   She was a consulting editor to ‘Sunday’ and ‘Megacity’. At present, she is a freelance writer and columnist for several newspapers and magazines. Shobha De is a celebrity novelist, writer, and columnist of India, mainly known for casting female characters and interesting feminism in her books.