Latest Book previews

13 Steps to Bloody Good Luck  rs 100

Life isn’t always easy. There are people who seem to drive through it with hard work and talent. There are others who just fall by the wayside. Then there are those who seem to find luck wherever they go. They seem to have some mysterious way of attracting luck, empowering them in all that they do. But is it possible to attract luck? Is there some way of training ourselves to become lucky? In this book, Ashwin Sanghi reveals that luck isn’t a fickle mistress always on the run. She’s well within reach,

Playing It My Way: My Autobiography : Price: Rs. 899 offer rs 720

When he was a young boy, Sachin Tendulkar's brother  introduced him to a game which was to change his life and the lives of millions of Indian. The young boy was a natural cricketer, but practiced for hours on end, standing strong when others would have fallen. His coach egged him on, challenging him to up his game. And he did, becoming more than just a star in the cricketing firmament. He went on to become the youngest Indian player in international cricket, winning the hearts of millions of fans as he blazed his way to century after century, rewriting record after record.

2014 : The Election that Changed India rs 599 offer rs 500

The book tracks the story of the crucial elections which changed the face of the Indian political scene. The elections saw the destruction of the ruling Congress party and an outstanding victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party. The author analyzes the results of the election and provides his perspective on a new style of campaigning. The author draws a panoramic picture of the elections which changed India, from the various scandals that crippled Manmohan Singh and UPA 2, and the mistakes of Rahul Gandhi to the strategies of Team Modi. This book offers great insights and a thorough analysis of the 2014 elections.

Your Dreams are Mine Now price rs 175 offer rs 150

Your Dreams are Mine Now explores the romantic relationship between Rupali and Arun. They are complete opposites and have nothing in common when it comes to their interests and priorities in life. Rupali is a small town girl and an idealist, whereas Arun is a Delhi guy with keen interest in youth politics. A major scandal on the college campus brings them together and somewhere along the line they fall in love with each other. Set against the backdrop of heavy campus politics in Delhi University, Your Dreams are Mine Now will make for an engaging and riveting read for those who enjoy love stories

And then One Day : A Memoir  Price: Rs. 699 offer rs 575

Naseeruddin Shah’s memoir depicts his extraordinary journey from a feudal village near Meerut, to Catholic schools in Nainital and Ajmer, and finally to stage and film fame in Mumbai. Along the way, he narrates his passages through Aligarh University, the National School of Drama and the Film and Television Institute of India, where his life actually started to change. And Then One Day is a compelling tale, written with uncommon honesty and elegance, infused with tongue-in-cheek humour. There are also emotional portraits of family members, darkly amusing accounts of his school days and the vibrant roles of directors and actors he has worked with, including Shyam Benegal, Girish Karnad, Ebrahim Alkazi, Om Puri and Shabana Azmi.

Nehru and Bose : Parallel Lives Price: Rs.599  offer rs 500

Nobody has done more harm to me than Jawaharlal Nehru,' wrote Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939. 

Had relations between the two great nationalist leaders soured to the extent that Bose had begun to view Nehru as his enemy? But then, why did he name one of the regiments of the Indian National Army after Jawaharlal? And what prompted Nehru to weep when he heard of Bose's untimely death in 1945, and to recount soon after, 'I used to treat him as my younger brother'?

Makers of Modern Asia Price: Rs. 895 offer rs 725

Dr. Guha brings out his scholarly insights yet again in Makers of Modern Asia. He reworks our perception of the contemporary Asia and its role in world's political affairs, based on its political leaders who served to launch what is now augured as the Asian century. The growth of the Asian countries is not only measured based on economic parameters like per capita income, share of global trade or gross national product, but also on the importance of political decisions these countries make that have their effect on a global platform. The book discusses various decisions and struggles that nationalists went through to build the countries of their vision. The list includes Gandhi, Chiang Kai-shek, Ho Chi Minh, Mao Zedong, Jawaharlal Nehru, Zhou Enlai, Sukarno, Deng Xiaoping, Indira Gandhi, Lee Kuan Yew and Zulfikar Ali Bhutt

Releasing shortly

Something Happened on the Way to Heaven : 20 Inspiring Real - Life Stories Price: Rs.250 offer rs 200

The inspiring true stories of the interesting people who inhabit the pages of Sudha Murtys books leave an indelible impression on us. But the books are able to chronicle the stories of only the men and women Mrs. Murty has actually come across herself in the course of her social work. There must be so many more wonderful stories that many others have to share. Something Happened on the Way to Heaven is a collection of twenty such memorable true life stories. Handpicked by Sudha Murty from a contest run by Penguin, they capture the hope, faith, kindness and joy that life is full of, even as we make our way through the daily grind. Moving and uplifting, this is an anthology that will engross and delight every reader who believes in the goodness of the human heart.

Intrapreneurs @ Mjunction : The Making of an E-commerce Giant Price: Rs. 395 offer 350

Intrapreneurs @ Mjunction, a first-of-its kind book in India on intrapreneurship, documents the meteoric rise of mjunction services ltd, an E-commerce company whose visionary leader empowered his team to think and work like entrepreneurs. What followed is a growth story that is both unique and awe-inspiring. From humble beginnings-the company began as a 50:50 venture promoted by Tata Steel and SAIL-mjunction rose to become world's biggest e-marketplace for steel.

Driving Honda: Inside the World's Most Innovative Car Company  Price: Rs. 699 offer rs 600

For decades there have been two iconic Japanese auto companies. One has been endlessly studied and written about. The other has been generally underappreciated and misunderstood. Until now.

Since its birth as a motorcycle company in 1949, Honda has steadily grown into the world's fifth largest automaker and top engine manufacturer, as well as one of the most beloved, most profitable, and most consistently innovative multinational corporations. What drives the company that keeps creating and improving award-winning and bestselling models like the Civic, Accord, Odyssey, CR-V, and Pilot?

Old and RARE limited-edition compendium on the great spectrum of India's rich heritage.

For bibliophiles and those interested in the cultural history & heritage of India, here is an old and RARE limited-edition compendium on the great spectrum of India's rich heritage. This richly illustrated book contains scholarly chapters by the leading lights on Indian fine arts, performing arts, tribal life and folk arts, literature & languages, archaeology, astronomy, mythology & religion, flora & fauna, and the entire gamut of India's rich cultural and social heritage. 

INDIAN HERITAGE

Edited by: Vasanti Muzumdar

Publisher: Indian Council for Social Welfare, 1981 - Rare & Out-of-Print Limited FIRST Edition

Format: Hard-bound Coffee Table Book with dust jacket

Size: 23 cm x 29.5 cm

Pages: 176 pages + 138 plates.

Condition: Pre-Owned. Very Good. Pages clean and unmarked. Binding tight. Slight shelf-wear to the dust jacket around the edges/corners, the book itself is in Excellent condition.

Cost: Rs. 3500/-

This excellent volume was never reprinted and is especially rare to find in such good condition.

A picture of the cover and the complete content page is attached herewith for better understanding the wide scope of this book.

Asif Mandvi's 'No Man's land'

About No Land's Man:
If you're an Indo-Muslim-British-American actor who has spent more time in bars than mosques over the past few decades, turns out it's a little tough to explain who you are or where you are from. In No Land's Man Aasif Mandvi explores this and other conundrums through stories about his family, ambition, desire, and culture that range from dealing with his brunch-obsessed father, to being a high-school-age Michael Jackson impersonator, to joining a Bible study group in order to seduce a nice Christian girl, to improbably becoming America's favorite Muslim/Indian/Arab/Brown/Doctor correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

This is a book filled with passion, discovery, and humor. Mandvi hilariously and poignantly describes a journey that will resonate with anyone who has had to navigate his or her way in the murky space between lands. Or anyone who really loves brunch.
A mix of humorous stories, heartfelt observations, and misfit mayhem, No Land’s Man is a quintessentially American story - a laugh-out-loud account of a second-generation immigrant’s search for meaning and identity in an increasingly confusing world.






About Aasif Mandvi:
Aasif Mandvi is a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. As a writer, Mandvi is the recipient of the 1999 OBIE award for his critically acclaimed play, Sakina’s Restaurant, which was performed and conceived by Mandvi, and was adapted into the film, Today’s Special. Some of his theatre credits include the Broadway revival of Oklahoma!, as well as Homebody/Kabul, Suburbia, and Disgraced. His film credits include Premium Rush, The Proposal, The Last Airbender, The Internship, and Million Dollar Arm. Mandvi’s television credits include Jericho, Curb Your Enthusiasm, E.R, Sleeper Cell and HBO’s upcoming The Brink, on which he also serves as writer and producer. He lives and works in New York City.
First Annual IAAC Literary Festival: http://www.iaac.us/Literary-Festival2014/index.htm

THE CARAVAN AND WRITERS OF INDIA FESTIVAL COMPETITION

THE CARAVAN AND WRITERS OF INDIA FESTIVAL COMPETITION

The Caravan joins hands with the World Writers’ Festival, an initiative of Columbia University and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, to call for young Indian writers to apply to participate in the Writers of India Festival, taking place in Paris between 18–21 September 2014. The festival will feature writers and critics such as Akeel Bilgrami, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Vikram Chandra and Kiran Desai. It hopes to foster  connections between students and early practitioners of creative writing from India and around the world, and be a fruitful meeting ground between new and established writers.

The organisers will select five previously unpublished writers of fiction or poetry to travel to Paris and attend the festival. These writers will be matched up with five students of Columbia University’s MFA in creative writing program, to allow for exchanges between their worlds and their work, and hopefully to form personal and professional bonds which will nourish their writing, both now and in future.

If you are an unpublished poet or writer of fiction with a manuscript in progress, please write to us at caravanwoif@gmail.com with the following:

– A cover letter introducing yourself and your work

– A sample of up to 3000 words from your manuscript or work in progress

– A statement that your submission is your own work and previously unpublished

– A scan of the last page of your passport (which contains your identity information and its date of expiry)

Should you be selected, the festival will cover the costs of airfare and stay, and provide unrestricted access to all events at the Writers of India festival.

The last date for entries is 25 July 2014. The entries will be judged by a jury jointly associated with The Caravanand the World Writers’ Festival. All participants will be notified via email of the status of their application by 5 August 2014.

The criteria for eligibility in the competition:
– You must be an Indian citizen, resident in India
– You must be at least 18 years old
– You must have a valid Indian passport
– You must not be affiliated with The Caravan or the World Writers’ Festival in any official capacity

Please bear in mind that we will be unable to consider applications attached to non-fiction or journalism of any kind.

Femina Fast Fiction Contest 2nd Edition

Fugly, Hindi Bollywood Film movie Review, Johnson Thomas, Rating: * *

Fugly, Hindi Bollywood Film movie Review, Johnson Thomas, Rating: *  *

Fugly(Hindi) Rating: *  *  Invoking ‘Hit’ titles, serenading ‘hip’ ineptitude, this ‘Dilli’ youth centered bromantic drama follows the ‘FUKREY’ route to a ‘Rang De Basanti’ climax but has very little in-between other than a series of desi rhythm and beat heavy music videos. This sort of so-called story is old hat now!

         

Hindi Film Review

Johnson Thomas

Just Ugly!

Film: Fugly             

Cast: Mohit Marwah, Vijendra Singh, Kiara Advani, Arfi Lamba 

Director: Kabir Sadanand

Rating: *  *

 Not much inventiveness is required to make a movie these days. ‘Fugly’ is a brainless attempt at following the ‘Fukrey’ success story. Notice the pre-release publicity  pattern that almost completely attempted to follow in that supposedly ‘hit’ film’s footsteps. And why not? With a story that doesn’t steer too far away from the ‘Fukrey’ goal post, but, for some add-on game playing with dirty politics and corrupt cops- to tank-up on complexity. ‘Fugly’ in fact tries to own several facets of well-loved hit films. It incorporates the ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ trick of getting three guys and a girl together in a display of Bromance, the ‘Delhi  Belly’ attitude of irreverent loutish don’t care type lay-a-bouts getting haplessly embroiled in intrigue not exactly of their own making, and the ‘Rang De Basanti’ fortitude of developing patriotic fervor to fight against injustice- all squashed up together in an offering that appears as clueless and tedium inducing as it is  misleading.

The bizarre series of events designed to engulf the four friends in a fight for justice against all odds is for one devoid of any clear cut mitigating factor. Dev( Mohit Marwah). Devi(Kiara Advani), Gaurav(Vijendra Singh), Aditya( Arfi Lamba) are the four friends here. One doesn’t really get to understand why they are friends in the first place other than a stray dialogue that establishes them as ‘langotiya’ yaars.  Dev has a patriotic streak and is close to Devi , who with her armed forces widow mother(Kunika Lal) survives on sales of homemade farsan( by the looks of it), and forever delayed pension. Gaurav, an aspiring world champion boxer,  comes from a political haryaanvi family, with his father aiming for Chief Minister. And Aditya, pet-named shithead, because of his family’s well-established and successful business in ceramic toilet products, is also lovingly referred to as haggu(shitty), relating to the fact that he’s always the one scared shit of the consequences. Now for the stupidest plot ever. Devi gets pawed by a shop owner called Nunnu( don’t know if that was a pun intended) and subsequently the four decide to teach Nunnu a lesson. But as it transpires Inspector Chautala( Jimmy Shergill in villainous plumes) prevents them from carrying out their plan and works his own in instead- successfully embroiling them in a potential murder wrap for which they are expected to cough up  close to 60 lakhs to be set free. Chautala and Imple, his understudy, track the four while they come up with the weirdest of ideas to get hold of the cash. From dipping into their own personal savings, stealing away a sack full of it while an income tax raid is on , working as hit men to organizing drug parties for the yuppie set, the four friends try it all and still come up short. In a misguided attempt to break the stranglehold one of them attempts self-immolation and the resultant furor from the news fraternity is expectedly stereotypical.

The biggest problem here is that you just can’t drum up any empathy for this quartet of misfits who one would think, deserve every fallout experienced.  The plotting is derivative and haplessly contrived. The series of music video intercepts( song and dance breaks) only make the cinematic experience even more untenable. The dialogues are quite simply as nonsensical as the title of the film. The performances from this new set of actors are competent enough but the poorly drawn characters and the contrived circumstances make it uninvolving. The super-talented Jimmy Shergill makes  a valiant attempt to mark up the interest but it appears too facile in a sea of ineptitude- to make any difference whatsoever.  If only the youthful zest represented in the musical interludes carried into the tale, there just might have been a little bit of excitement to be had. Kabir Sadanand appears to have borrowed the template to be followed without really understanding the intricacies behind it’s successful mechanics. As it is, this one stretches disbelief too far and makes this ‘brand’ of  intellectually depraved entertainment appear terribly unappealing!

Johnsont307@gmail.com

         

Movies(Best releases) of the Week/13thJune2014/Johnson Thomas

      

                                 

Movies(Best releases) of the Week/13thJune2014/Johnson Thomas

How to train your Dragon 2(English/3D) Rating: *  *  * ½ As beautiful and imaginative as the first installment, this one makes you want to be able to fly! Rich , Vibrant and colorful enough to entice even the most jaded of viewers.

    

Grace of Monaco(English) Rating: *  *  * Kidman, Full of GRACE! A luminous  performance from Nicole Kidman lifts this movie from out of the doldrums of limited appeal brought on by it’s unambitious fictional script. It’s not a bio-pic on Grace but a fictional account that dresses up political sentiment in the hopes of giving the Star Princess a much more heroic turn. Yash Raj Entertainment’s maiden International foray is a creditable effort as Pumped-up Performances, production values and technical effort are up there with the best!