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Blurb View:

Resonance –  We often use the term, “frequency matching” in our daily life to define compatibility. Our frequency does not match, we do not get along? We are not in sync? We are not on the same page etc? When people of similar frequencies (wavelengths or within the same range) come together – output is not a simple sum of individual work, but exponential. In science we term this phenomenon as resonance. Output at this stage is beyond any logical limit. Three young kids, with different family backgrounds and outlook meet during their graduation days at IIT-Bombay campus and become close friends. Although, individually they are in sync, but the same is not true for their interaction with the world. How will their relation withstand the conflict of family and society pressure? How do their character shape out, as they traverse from an educational environment through the corporate world to the realm of the social-political world? Inspired by the real events across the globe from the last decade, Ravindra Shukla brings you the characters based story – struggle and triumphs of a young generation and their relevance in the current socio-eco-political era.

Review:

Both the cover and blurb of the book seemed quite uninteresting at the first glimpse. I wish the publishers had paid a little more attention in composing the blurb, as it plays a very important role in attracting readers. The book is targeted towards young readers, mostly in or aiming to be in IITs or similar institutes. I consider it as a poor blend of ‘Rang De Basanti‘ and ‘Five Point Someone.’ The book is themed on a set of moralities and messages to the young. However, it is another editorial disaster.

This book is about three main protagonists – Rahul, Neerav and Richita who are entwined by fate. They are burdened with issues pertaining to their families, careers, values and other norms. The first half is laden with various incidents of college life overdone with sermons on a plethora of topics. The dialogues are way too many, curt, dry and interlaced with complete sentences in Hindi. The book is printed with double spacing between the lines to increase in volume, a whopping and boring 383 pages. The climax is drab and predictable.

Authors these days concentrate more on the content than the form, resulting in books with horrendous English. It is a pity that they don’t bother with what they write as long as they send whatever ‘message’ across to the readers. A bad book doesn’t only mean one which makes no sense, but also one which is written badly – or precisely, in bad English. A book preaching certain moralities and creating awareness about grave issues among the youth is definitely welcome, with the caveat of sensible writing. The author got carried away with his way of writing about relevant issues and sending a message. While I appreciate his efforts in writing the novel, I cannot accept the misuse of English language. He would have done a better job writing these as essays in a non-fiction book than making it a dry ‘Fiction/Drama.’

P.S. – A word to the Leadstart editors – it is gradually tending to impossible reading your work.

My Rating: 1/5

About the Author:

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Ravindra Shukla is an engineering graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. He has been working in emerging technology and business analytics in IT software technology. His professional experience includes working with consulting firms – PWC and IBM in USA for 15+ years. He is a member of the Film Writers Association, Mumbai. His interest includes – writing fiction, literature and movie scripts apart from sports, movie and travelling across the globe. Author can be contacted at ravindra.shukla@gmail.com or http://www.ravindrashukla.com.

Book Details –

Language: English, Author(s): Ravindra Shukla, Genre: Fiction/Drama

Publisher: Leadstart, Year Published: 2012

Binding: Paperback, Edition: First, Pages: 383

ISBN-13: 9789382473008, ISBN-10: 9382473009

This book review is a part of “The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program”. To get free books log on to thereaderscosmos.blogspot.com.

This review is also shared with the Indian Quills Reading Challenge at The Tales Pensieve.