pen.books.and.scalpel

BOOK NAME:  YELLOWFACE AUTHOR NAME: REBECCA F. KUANG GENRE:  SATIRE / CONTEMPORARY FICTION / PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER PUBLISHER: THE BOROUGH PRESS - HARPERCOLLINS BOOK BUY LINK:  https://www.amazon.in/Yellowface-anticipated-thriller-SUNDAY-bestselling-ebook/dp/B0B4BTBKB7 BOOK COVER IMAGE: BOOK REVIEW: After hearing so much about the author and her books, I finally decided to give in to the hype around her latest release. I was initially dubious, given that popular books usually don't work well for me. But my god, was I so wrong? I would have regretted not reading this book earlier if I had let it pass. June Hayward and her Chinese-American friend, Athena Liu, are celebrating the latter's success in her apartment for bagging a Netflix deal on her literary wonder. But unfortunately, the day of celebration turns into a horrid mess, and June has to witness Athena die in front of her eyes helplessly. She is haunted by Athena's ghost forever as she cannot get her out of her m...

BOOK NAME:  UNBROKEN AUTHOR NAME: INDRANI MUKERJEA GENRE:  MEMOIR PUBLISHER: HARPERCOLLINS INDIA BOOK BUY LINK :   https://www.amazon.in/Unbroken-Indrani-Mukerjea-ebook/dp/B0CD3P54WN BOOK COVER IMAGE: BOOK REVIEW: It's 2015 - my early 20s era and I was intrigued by the incessant "flash news" about a big shot murder case that runs across all the channels. The reports claimed that Indrani Mukerjea had been arrested for allegedly kidnapping, strangulating and burning her daughter with the help of her ex-husband and driver, who later confessed to the above. Indrani spends six years in jail and is later bailed out due to a lack of corroborative evidence against her. She later writes a memoir about her traumatic childhood, her "struggles" in jail, how she was wronged by everyone she loved and that she is not guilty. First of all, I thought this book would have something meaningful from the author's POV that is opposite of what the media is portraying. But this...

BOOK NAME:  THE INDIAN CONTINGENT  AUTHOR NAME: GHEE BOWMAN GENRE: NONFICTION - HISTORICAL RECORD PUBLISHER: PANMACMILLAN INDIA  BOOK BUY LINK :   https://www.amazon.in/Indian-Contingent-Forgotten-Soldiers-Dunkirk/dp/9390742099 BOOK COVER IMAGE: BOOK REVIEW: For the month of independence this year, I wanted to read a book on Indian soldiers who devoted themselves to the nation and whose history had been erased from records. I did not plan to read a book focusing on soldiers from a particular community. But I remember seeing an online post recently that argued why no Muslims are found in the army or navy and alleged that they are largely anti-nationals, even though I know many of my Muslim friends and relatives who are a part of the defence. Yes, I don't differentiate between soldiers coming from different communities and backgrounds, even after I came across this questionable post. But I just wanted to see if I could find a book focusing on their history. Luckily...

BOOK NAME:  MUTHULAKSHMI REDDY: A TRAILBLAZER IN SURGERY AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS AUTHOR NAME: V.R. DEVIKA GENRE: NONFICTION - BIOGRAPHY PUBLISHER: NIYOGI BOOKS BOOK BUY LINK :  https://www.amazon.in/Muthulakshmi-Reddy-Trailblazer-Surgery-Pioneers/dp/9391125670 BOOK COVER IMAGE: BOOK REVIEW: Being a medical professional, I have come across Dr. Muthulakshmi's story plenty of times before. But it's a pleasure reading about her every time, and I always discover a little more about her in every read. This book is a concise biography about the most important details of her life and her contributions to the field of medicine, social welfare, politics and women's rights. Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy was the first woman to enter an all-boys school under the Maharaja's rule. She was also the first Indian woman to enter a medical college (Madras Medical College) and pursue surgery later. Coming from a community that was shunned and outcasted by others, in a time when women's righ...

BOOK NAME: INDEPENDENCE  AUTHOR NAME: CHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNI GENRE: HISTORICAL FICTION  PUBLISHER: HARPERCOLLINS BOOK BUY LINK :   https://www.amazon.in/Independence-Chitra-Banerjee-Divakaruni/dp/9356294585 BOOK COVER IMAGE: BOOK REVIEW:   In 1947, in the remote village of Ranipur in West Bengal, life was all good for the local Doctor Nabakumar and his daughters - Deepa, Jamini and Priya. Deepa is sharp and innocent at heart and is blessed with an enchanting beauty. Though Jamini is a skilled artisan and caretaker of her family, she finds herself unloved and aloof. Priya is forthright and ambitious and wants to follow in her father's footsteps. Though Nabakumar and his wife always find themselves with contradicting opinions, their love bonds the family into a tight-knit one.  While Amit and Priya hope for a beautiful future together and for Nabakumar's family a peaceful life, riots break out in most parts of India which gets dirty in West Bengal. Each of...

BOOK NAME:  THE ZAMINDAR'S GHOST AUTHOR NAME: KHAYAAL PATEL GENRE: MURDER MYSTERY PUBLISHER: HARPERCOLLINS INDIA BOOK BUY LINK :   https://www.amazon.in/Zamindars-Ghost-Khayaal-Patel/dp/9356993025 BOOK COVER IMAGE: BOOK REVIEW: It's the year 1933, and the sleepy town of Ooty is beaming with tea estates, beautiful landscapes and haunted bungalows. The late Zamindar's son, Arjun Rana, who was presumed dead, returns mysteriously after six years of his disappearance. None other than his only surviving family member, his wife, Archana Rana, awaits his return in his haunted manor. Arjun also reunites with his childhood friend, Ishita and his teacher, Sharvani Mehra. After Arjun's return, Ooty turns dull and disastrous with a series of murders that don't seem to have any motive. Some suspect the revolutionaries' spy, and some suspect it to be the dead Zamindar, Digvijay Rana's ghost avenging his untimely death. But who is it that really wants them all dead? Who...