Elephants in the Room by Suraj Laxminarayanan
Published by The Write Place on 08/2018
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 600
Format: ARC
Goodreads

What is a better crime fiction novel where a crime revolves around not the detective who tries to fit pieces in a puzzle? A book that focuses on the crime, it’s after effects and the turmoil every individual involved goes through. Such is a book written by Suraj Laxminarayanan called Elephants in the Room.  

Set in Chennai this book is the debut of Suraj Laxminarayanan in the world of crime fiction. The plot revolves around a bank heist that leads to the story of three gangs coming face to face as the events in this book unfold. A group of friends plans a bank robbery which they think to be foolproof. They get into every detail and leave nothing out of their blueprint. It is kind of an Oceans’ 11 but here only 5 members are the mastermind behind it. They try to start their careers as robbers by mugging pedestrians to get hands-on experience. 

Things get interesting when another gang of robbers who have already established roots in the crime decides to rob the same bank on the same day with heavy weaponry. Bonds are developed among criminals but as they say, there is no honor among thieves, things get ugly.  

The storyline is a long one, written in more 590 pages, it intelligently unfolds every event and the reason behind the action taken which helps a reader like me to develop perspective. This also keeps it interesting until the end. The theme does not only revolves around the crime that is committed but every emotion exposure each character go through which leads to a thrilling drama that is lightened by occasional comic moments. 

I never expected this novel to be a thrilling one. The plot did sound interesting at the start and looking at the length of the book, I did wonder how the author will reach the conclusion of this tale which is full of twists and turns. He is imagination and construction of plot did exceed my expectations and so did his writing style. Written from a third person’s narrative there is not a single element I could find the can be said as a dragging one. He even provides insight into Chennai’s culture and its geography which I am nothing but unfamiliar. The characterization could have been better but I do not solely blame the author since there is a huge cast to manage.  

This book is an attraction for crime readers as it does not follow a traditional path of the subgenre but tries to redefine the perspective both of the reader and the writer because of its highly appreciable and well-organized plot.  

4 out of 5! 

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Unforeseen by Chandan Sen Gupta
Published by Notionpress on 23/03/2018
Genres: Fiction, Thriller
Pages: 340
Format: ARC, eBook
Goodreads

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Dystopia by Manoj Jain
Published by The Write Place Genres: Fiction
Pages: 146
Format: Paperback
Goodreads

With a peculiar cover Manoj Jain, this is his 5th book release. I have read some of his work in the past and has expressed my views accordingly. I am on a firm belief that writer Manoj Jain’s work is mostly targeted to the length of a novella, he is definitely trying to accomplish something there.

The storyline of his latest novel revolves around the peculiar nature of a child and their parents. The theme of this novella is everything related to a childhood. The pain of growing up, teenage angst, role identities, and parenting. A spirit is constantly present guiding these children and oversees their journey in the beautiful fantasy land of Shambala, a kingdom where children start their travels and are protected and taken care of.

These children continue their journey, skipping along the path till they reach a dark forbidding gate, which like some powerful vacuum sucks them inside and into the next kingdom of Dystopia. The plot starts around the reunion of five friends where they recall the past wounds and a memory to resolve why a young girl had to kill herself at the age of eighteen.

The writing style is up to the mark here. What I liked about this whole storyline is how the author has used the spirit of Dystopia as an expression that closely resembles a parent as an adult who guides a child during their from the young age to their teenage years and helps them to emerge as adults. As a reader, one can clearly observe the psychology from this end. Next, the thing I like about this novella is how Manoj Jain engages a reader like me in his twisting and turning of the storyline.

I read this book in one go and I am sure you will enjoy reading it to. If you are a parent, this might turn on an internal debate with your subconscious mind for the good or the bad but beware, that the message this novella wants to spread, must be taken seriously.

4 out of 5!

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Influencer by Brittany Hennessy
Published by Citadel on 31/07/2018
Genres: Nonfiction
Pages: 254
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Netgalley
Goodreads

Brittany Hennessy does a great job on writing a book about that targets Instagram as the platform to promote your work. Appropriately titled, Influencer: Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media this book makes you understand the strategies behind the Insta-popularity/lifestyle.

As a blogger myself, I started Instagram very late. I do not think it is important to be on every platform personally if you are one man army but I do think Instagram is a great core source of Digital Marketing in the modern day world. After using it for seven months now, I find there are two kinds of people on it, the one with many followers and the one lesser followers. I am not taking spammers and shameless promoting agencies into account.

I find Instagram works differently from social media platforms such as Twitter which in my opinion is more diverse and flexible. On Instagram, people are there to spread the word out of their book, blog, product, service, etc. by using hashtags and lots of them. It is easy to engage the audience but to build one is, of course, a game of patience, some smart decisions and working hard to promote your content. Once you have gained enough audience or number of followers as what they call on it, you can start monetizing. There is no hard and fast rule monetization. I have seen people with a lesser number of followers (that means, only in few thousands) monetizing greatly. Thus, this is what the book is about.

Hennessy guides you from how to start at the lowest level that is having zero influencers. From creating content worth double tapping and using hashtags to get discovered, not getting banned and delivering is what makes an impact on your audience. With things live Instagram TV, I have seen people who used live streaming services like Twitch or YouTube are now using it. Why? The answer is simple. It works on mobile which is easy to use in terms of setup (all you need is the app) both for the influencer and audience member.

The book is well organized and offers man practical methods that if put in practice, Hennessy assures that it will bring results. I cannot say that if I agree or not with her, because not everything is for everyone but I do think some of the methods she has described are not long term. The book offers insights from a few beauty, fashion, lifestyle and photographers who are digital influencers. This is the most valuable part of this book I find since many of the stuff they say did not sound biased towards using one social media platform such as Instagram.

The writing style is good but since it is more of a how-to book, there is no proper paradigm to value it thoroughly. Even though this book is 250 pages long, I think it could have been shorter. Some of the content I find is irrelevant to the core idea of the book.

3 out of 5! For two reasons. One it concentrates on only one Social Media Platform, which is great, but I am not interested in it more than I am using it right now. Secondly, some of the content does sound like dragging elements just to fill in the pages, as I have mentioned this book could have been shorter. If you are getting started on Instagram or want to to know how it works, this book is for you.

If you are book blogger read this post on how to promote your Bookish Instagram Posts: 10 Bookish Hashtags to Follow on Instagram

The post #BookReview: Influencer by Brittany Hennessy appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

How To Earn $10,000 While Learning To Code by Rob Percival
on 19/05/2014
Genres: Nonfiction
Pages: 65
Format: eBook
Goodreads

Learning how to code is a common asset these days for the interested ones. As a full-time software engineer and a volunteer of a nonprofit organization such as freeCodeCamp where an individual can learn how to code and become a web developer by following a dedicated curriculum. I can say it is a great “asset” that you can add in your set of skills. However, there are many misconceptions about it such as it is not learn-and-earn. You have to be smart enough to do the hard work like you would do in any other field.

Rob Percival is an acclaimed tutor who teaches web development through his famous course The Complete Web Development course 2.0. This book is sought of a companion to the course but on reading it, I can say it act mostly as an independent ebook. Learning to code is not about working 9 to 5 for an organization and provide services. It can also be about running your own business products where even though you do not code majorly, you can gather the team has enough knowledge on how to leverage the team by building an app or some other product that uses web/mobile services. Or you can travel full time and work on your laptop, the choice is yours.

The money is in all three different ways I mentioned and it does matter how to earn that. This is the core theme of Rob’s book. He provides insights on how you can start developing a mindset such that you can monetize your knowledge and skill work as per your own wish. All the millennials reading this review could take a look at this book right now. In the book, Rob follows a model of 6 to 8 months where he briefly describes how an individual can progress up to $ 10000 (USD) estimation of wealth. The amount described is not guaranteed and not the timeline. Even though Rob describes different methods, not every method is doable or suitable for an individual.

The book has simple language so if you are even a bit familiar with programming and freelancing, this book is readable. Though, I am disappointed by the lack of in-depth insights from a guy like Rob Percival who has served in the industry for so many years. Also, the methodology Rob describes in this book to earn a certain amount from this skill or turn it into a full time living, certainly needs devoted energy to put in long hours, curiosity to learn new things because you will be like almost every week or even every day, be patient and kind to your self cause your tolerance level be really tested like never been before.

3 out of 5!

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One of the hardest thing about blogging is consistently writing and publish blog posts and for that, you have to keep coming up with the ideas. Often times, I find myself blank when thinking or writing a blog post that is not a book review. I haven’t posted a non-book in a while.

So I thought, I’d try to help others who might find themselves in the same situation as of me. Below in this post, I compile a list of 10 (ten) ideas for possible blog posts for a book blogger. It follows a pattern of ten days in which you have to consistently write. Does not matter that you post them one after the other, I do not want to interrupt your blogging schedule.

To complete this challenge all you have to do is for next at least draft these topics I mentioning. I do hope after going through the list, you will become a blog post idea generating machine.

Day One: [Book Haul/Currently Reading/Recently Read/Weekend Reading/Bookstagram #xxx]

Post pictures of your shelves, books, kindles or the one you are recently bought and cannot wait to read.

Day Two: Discuss a character

I love writing in-depth posts. I also love reading in-depth posts about characters. A character can be good or bad, twisted or naive and you can tell this reader by spotlighting one.

In past, I have written a few posts like this. One is an essay I wrote a few years back on one of my favorite Scottish detective John Rebus.

Day Three: Tell The Story Of How You Loved Reading Books

Everyone has a story about how they fell in love with reading books and I (as your audience) am waiting to hear about yours.

See my post on the same topic!

Day Four: Book Cover Likes and Dislikes

I wanted to do this for a long time. Book covers can be a great asset to lure readers. But I have seen covers that have put me off even though that book is worth reading.

Day Five: Writing About Film/TV adaption of your favorite book

Or the one you have read. If you start writing this post, it will never be focused on or about only one book. You can build up a series of posts.

Day Six: Book Lists that are tied to a seasons and Holidays

This type of post is read by everyone. We all need books to add to our TBR or read it on an upcoming weekend/holiday.

Day Seven: Analyze Your Reading Year

Even though it been only nine months this year, you can write a post about analyzing how your reading year is going through. If you are on Goodreads, you can do it easily. Go to ‘My Books’ and then in the left corner there click ‘Reading Stats’ under the section ‘Your Reading Activity’.

• My Goodreads year 2017
• My Reader Profile Analysis which I recently posted with the help of BookSirens.com (for free)

Day Eight: Write about at least one blogging lesson

Share your experiences about blogging. What are you doing to keep your audience interested? What has changed or you put a lot of effort into learning from the point you started blogging up to now. Inspire others and give suggestions or advice. I often find Book Bloggers creative in this area.

Day Nine: Post an Author Interview/Book Blogger Interview

If you haven’t posted yet, this is the time. To complete this challenge, you will have to interview in whatever way you find suitable and post it.

Day Ten: What Genres You Do Not Like To Read?

In my opinion, this particular post will be great for your audience to read. You pick some genres that you do not read and tell them why.

Do you think you can complete this challenge?

These are the ten ideas I have come up initially but feel free to add or replace a post idea or two while doing the challenge.

Here is some swag for you to post/re-suse or spread the word about this challenge.

The Complete 10 Day Checklist

Download as pdf: 10-day-book-blogging-challenge

WINNER BADGES

WHEN You have completed the challenge successfully you can even brag about it by displaying the following badge in the colour of your choice:

Three more colours. All badges – Download

NOTE If you decide to the challenge, please post the link of your posts or the complete challenge below in comments and I will compile those links and spread the word for you. Inspire others!

You got inspired by this post and now you want to start a book blog? Let me help you. You can check out my ebook on Book Blogging which has tons of insights on how to get started and continuing building your book blog. A Blogger’s Manifesto is available on Amazon IN and US.

The post Ten Day Book Blog Posts Challenge #1 appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

Positive Eating: A guide to Everyday Health & Nutrition with easy to cook recipes on 2018
Genres: Nonfiction, Travel
Pages: 192
Format: ARC, eBook
Goodreads

Sports nutritionist Radhika Toshniwal has launched her book that tries to put emphasis on eating healthy. The book is titled, Positive Eating, A Guide to Everyday Health and Nutrition with Easy-to-Cook Recipes.

It does get clear from the title that book is full of recipes. The presentation of these recipes, however, is mind-blowing. I loved the artwork that comes along with every recipe turned into a dish. The content in the book presented is top notch, there is no doubt about that. I learned that some of the recipes are the result of unconventional combinations of ingredients which I found surprising. My favorite recipes were coffee related which are described at the end of the book.

Even though it is a nonfiction work, there is no voice or any other paradigm to judge this book. The author could have included a few words for some or every recipe or by putting more emphasis on the outcomes of eating healthy and how these recipes could be a start for someone who struggles with keeping their diet in control. The book unfolds these recipes to the reader or interested person but does not sell it and assumes the general idea of beneficial healthy eating which is okay but there are a ton of ways out there to eat well. The book certainly does not cover a large portion, nor it does explain how or why these recipes it contains.

3! If you are a foodie or a food blogger, a dietician or a nutritionist of your own, this book is for you. If you are curious enough about the unconventional ingredient combinations.

The post #BookReview: Positive Eating by Radhika Toshniwal appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

If you want to submit a book for a review please shoot me an email at amandeepmittal@live.com.

• If you just want to send me your book/ebook, you can. Hereby, I do not guarantee to offer book review or offer my opinion on it. This is free.
• If you want me to formally review your book, please note that I offer it as chargeable service.

Other services I provide on my book blog:

• Author Interview
• Book Spotlights
• Blog Tours
• Side-banner/Post-banner advertisement
• Social Media Post

Additionally if you are wondering about a book and would like my opinion just ask in the comment or again, shoot me an email! I’m happy to make recommendations. I’ve read a tons of books from a variety of genres.

If you want to get guaranteed multiple reviews/book promotions, Check out the Patreon page of this blog

Confessions of a Readaholic is live now for five years and I want it to continue this journey. I want to help more authors who are indie or new to the world of books by providing them services through this book blog. In five years, there have been many authors and teams who have become my clients and friends. Thus, to maintain this relationship and the transparency between us, I have decided to provide these services through a platform called Patreon.

You can support this blog by becoming different type of supporter and in return you get access to different services.

Please Note that Becoming a patreon does not guarantee positive book reviews by me. I will continue to review books with the same integrity and honesty as I always do.

WAIT!

This week on Saturday (Sep 22) I am coming up with a new challenge for Book Bloggers. It is called 10 Day Book Blog Post Challenge. Stay tuned for more information on this!

The post Need a book review + Patreon Page? appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

Caina by Joseph Albanese
Published by Mockingbird Lane Press on 05/07/2018
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 174
Goodreads

Caina is a dark comedy thriller, a light-hearted novel written by Joseph Albanese. The story revolves around two siblings who are born only a few minutes apart. One is highly successful, the other is attracted towards trouble. This opposite nature of two brothers seems like a yin yang situation is what this book about.

Lee Tolan attracts trouble wherever he goes. In debt to multiple gang members, Lee is given a second chance in life to pay back his dues. After not seeing his twin brother for more than a decade, Lee is forced to overcome this strange nature of their relationship only to find that Grant, his twin brother dead but leaves a fortune behind. Soon Lee realizes that to claim this fortune, he has to turn into his brother for the DEA and fight the mob cleverly and do save a little for himself. From this point starts a dark comical thriller of the chase, sympathy, friendship, and love. During these events, Lee learns a lot about his brother and his dark secrets.

The plot is well constructed due to the following reasons. There is a lot in the storyline going in 170 pages that keep the reader on the edge. With themes of dark comedy and crime, this novel is well suited to be read in a seating or two. The timing of the climax is on the mark. However, I did not see any subplot emerging from the shadows of the characters. A subplot could give a reader some breathing space and thinking time as to what will be the turning point. This book does not. As a reader, you keep following the series of events with a variety of characters.

The characterization in this novel is above par. Realistic enough to digest and well suited with the plot. I do like how novel starts and then from there the story builds up. The author does a great job of providing the background of the protagonist in the start. Though in between, I did lose interest due to same nature of events getting repeated. The multiple gang members due was not necessary in my opinion. One such occurrence could have been enough.

3.5! An entertaining read overall.

The post #BookReview: Caina by Joseph Albanese appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

How To Travel Full Time by Colin Wright
Published by Asymmetrical Press on 06/11/2011
Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Business
Pages: 125
Format: eBook
Buy on Amazon

Travel is unexpected and uncomfortable and often the opposite of what you were expecting. #BookQuote #BookBlogging
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Published 7 years ago, How To Travel Full Time by Colin Wright still relevant today. It is not a complete how-to book but rather more of Colin’s philosophy on what makes him want to travel the world and earn to cover costs of travel or save money. Colin started traveling full time in 2009. Along with that, he was blogging and has already published a few ebooks but the main motivation that was that on his blog, he would ask his readers to vote for the country which they’d like him to move to. Sounds crazy, right?

The type of person who excels at long-term travel embraces these situations and sees them as opportunities. They’ll do what needs to be done, whether that means pulling new plans from thin air, hopping on another train, or finding…
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How To Travel Full Time is a pragmatic approach to kickstart your own journey. It is straightforward. The book clearly targets a mindset. Colin Wright has clearly stated in the book that traveling full time is not about reaching out to tourist places but is about getting lost intentionally. Learn about the new cultures, language or food, and provide a value wherever you go. The author of this book talks about common sense that I see few full-time travelers over YouTube and on their blogs still do not get, even in 2018 when there is so much content, advice, suggestion and resources to become one while you work your ass off.

To a person lacking dreams and causes and imagination, money is just another expensive bottle of liquor or VIP seat at the club; borrowed dreams from generations of advertising. #BookQuote #BookBlogging
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Colin is one of the first few digital nomads I would say. He has written a lot of books and is an advocate for minimalism. He offers how most people think traveling will turn in to a journey of nirvana and they will find a new self. If that is the mindset you want to set off, you are completely wrong. You will face problems with no conscious confidence and boldness. It is going to be uncomfortable. That is why I said, the main ideology behind this book is to observe and understand a mindset that you can merge along with your current one.

The idea most people have about travel is wrong. It’s not going to solve your problems. You aren’t going to go on vacation and become a person reborn. #BookQuote #BookBlogging
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Interesting read, the context is still relevant. It is inspiring because it makes me want pursue a similar journey. The writing style is simple but there are some glimpses that Colin Wright can be a good storyteller. Even though the book is around 125 pages, there is a lot to think about.

4 out of 5

Visit Colin on his website. If you’d like to read the book, you can buy it for $1 from here.

My notes and highlights from Colin’s Book are available to Read on Goodreads.

The post #BookReview: How To Travel Full Time by Colin Wright appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.