Monday, September 26, 2016

Agniputr - When Agni First Spoke

The story introduces a team of scientists who are engaged in research of paranormal activities. All is well till one young researcher disappears while investigating the sinister beliefs of a far flung village in Andhra Pradesh.

Shiela, boss of the missing scientist, Major Kant and two young researchers set out to find out the truth. The owner of the property that houses the secret to the mystery that looms over the little village is the charismatic Raghuram Surya, who is also a shrewd lawyer. What follows is a roller coaster ride full of fear, religious hocus pocus, political fights, hunger for power and more. Our scientific minds will refuse to accept paranormal stuff, but the writing style is so good that you would remain glued to the book, eagerly awaiting for a scientific explanation.

For example, when the explanation to discovery of parts of a motorcycle used by the scientist turns out to be a failed mission of dismantling the bike by local lads meaning to sell the parts off, our minds readily accept it.

The aftereffect of completing the book leaves you wondering at your own self. The demon is within ourselves, and there are people like tantriks who make a living out of our fears. 


The author very subtly encourages us to face any challenge that we are faced with, even if we are intimidated by it. We should trust the Almighty to be with us at all times, and believe that things would be sorted out at the end. We may lose something, but what God leaves us with is also priceless.

Saturday, September 24, 2016

The Flip

Let me set the mood for the book, before I tell you what I thought about it. Julie and Brad Evans are a couple who buys and sells properties in order to earn some money for a better future. The author uses the term "flip" in this sense: flipping of houses. Life for them continues to be mundane until they buy an ancient mansion, Bedlam House. What will they find in there?

The author puts forward an idea - although a house may have been vacated, the energy of the previous owners stay imprinted in the building; and the artifacts remain silent witnesses to many events.

As it happens, Bedlam House was not empty- there were spirits of Tessa Hemmings and Gerald Kanning who had not left the premises even though they had died quite a while ago. Playful and teasing by nature, Tessa not only enjoys teasing Gerald who had always been in awe of her, but also scaring human beings off the property. She takes fancy to Brad, and needless to say, hates his wife Julie. She tries to harm Julie while she was alone in their home, but the tables are turned when Brad and Julie decide to shift to Bedlam House as they have nowhere else to go to.

When I read the blurb, I was sceptical about the book for I am not very fond of paranormal settings. However, this book is quite enjoyable. The relationships between Brad and Julie, their friends and associates Sal and Willy, Tessa and Gerald have been portrayed beautifully. The confusion felt by each character as they individually feel that something is not so normal in there is vivid. 

Read the book to discover the secrets of Bedlam House and how "The Flip" turned out for Brad and Julie!
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