Have you ever read a Bollywood movie without songs? Yes, you read my sentence correctly; reading a Bollywood movie. I just did! I have also rated the movie as 2.5 stars. You see, I am a very generous critic like the most popular news paper of India. That folks is how I would review Chetan Bhagat’s new book, Half Girlfriend.
The book (not novel, not story) starts with the main character visiting the author. We see a flash back, not necessarily in black and white, followed by the continuation of the book. The start was somewhat good, and I was wondering whether this is the first book, not related to Chetan’s life, which is engrossing. Alas, it was not the case. The book is monotonous with a lame romantic thread and expected twists and turns specifically suited for our 100 crores blockbusters. The sequence of events is like this: boy meets girl, girl dumps boy, guy meets gal, gal leaves guy and then the typical Bollywood happy ending (it is the same boy/guy and girl/gal; I used different words to indicate their aging). You can actually visualize some of the characters (only Alia is in the cast as of now) who have been finalized for this movie.
Regardless of the book’s popularity, every book by Chetan has been adapted in to a movie. We even got to see Sohail Khan in One Night at a Call Center (this is the worst book by the author, according to me). But with the new book, it seems that the author himself has taken great pains to write a move in a book format. Buy this book at your own risk (it isn’t risky to buy or read, but the statement makes sense when you finish reading the book). Look for the best deals before you buy one. I seriously got this book at a throw away price, during the slugfest of e-commerce portals. Try your luck to get the cheapest deal. Do not blame your luck for reading this book.
Give you feedback on my review in the comments section!
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
E-file IT Returns for FY 2013-14 in India
I have created this blog entry to help people in filing their IT returns online. It is mandatory for individuals, including salaried taxpayers, earning more than Rs 5 lakh taxable income during the financial year ended March 31, 2013, to E-file IT returns.
Disclaimer: This should be used only as a helping guide. You still have to use your brain while filing the returns. The author is not liable for any inadvertent errors in this document. Use this document at your own risk.
Post your comments to provide feedback.
Some important links:
Income Tax Department E-file website: https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/e-Filing/UserLogin/LoginHome.html
Information on filing your tax return: http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/archive/filing_your_tax_return.pdf
Know your jurisdiction/ward: https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/e-Filing/Services/KnowYourJurisdictionLink.html
Know your IFSC code: http://bankifsccode.com/
First time users have to register with the IT department for e-filing returns.
Click the image to enlarge.
Disclaimer: This should be used only as a helping guide. You still have to use your brain while filing the returns. The author is not liable for any inadvertent errors in this document. Use this document at your own risk.
Post your comments to provide feedback.
Some important links:
Income Tax Department E-file website: https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/e-Filing/UserLogin/LoginHome.html
Information on filing your tax return: http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/archive/filing_your_tax_return.pdf
Know your jurisdiction/ward: https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/e-Filing/Services/KnowYourJurisdictionLink.html
Know your IFSC code: http://bankifsccode.com/
First time users have to register with the IT department for e-filing returns.
Click the image to enlarge.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Sycamore Row by John Grisham
Sycamore Row is the sequel to John Grisham’s debut novel, The Time to Kill. I strongly urge you to read his debut novel because of its gripping story. Even though you have not read the debut novel, and you still want to read Sycamore Row, then go ahead. There is nothing much to lose. The stories are not related. Only few prominent characters and some places are repeated in the new novel.
Seth Hubbard, a loner, suffering from cancer and an undiscovered millionaire, hangs himself from a sycamore tree. He has hand written his final will, cutting off his immediate family from his estate. He has left 90% of his estate to his black maid/nurse, Lettie Lang; 5% to his church and 5% to his long lost brother. He wants only one lawyer, Jake Brigance, to ensure that his wishes are met.
Jake Brigance is the feisty lawyer who won the Carl Lee Hailey case in the prequel of this novel. Though his victory didn’t catapult him into big league and riches, Jake has earned a lot of respect and popularity in his city. He earnestly takes this case forward doing his best to safeguard the last will of his deceased client. It is his first case where he can charge per hour is another matter. He is ably supported by his seldom sober former boss, Lucien Wilbanks and a heavy weight divorce lawyer, Harry Rex Vonner. The local sheriff, Ozzie Walls, also helps Jake in his pursuit of justice.
The story is about how Jake fights the case, both inside and outside the courthouse. It also involves the background and present of the many families associated with the outcome of the case. There are ample twists and turns in the narrative to keep the reader hooked to the novel. The only hindrance/drawback in the plot (especially for me), was the innumerable characters in the story. Seth’s family, their lawyers, Lettie Lang’s family, their lawyers, other supporting characters, additional characters, the list goes on. If you are good at remembering names, then you can enjoy the novel in a better manner. I am not degrading the story. The story is good and has twists and turns to keep you engrossed till the end. Add this to your library and enjoy reading.
Seth Hubbard, a loner, suffering from cancer and an undiscovered millionaire, hangs himself from a sycamore tree. He has hand written his final will, cutting off his immediate family from his estate. He has left 90% of his estate to his black maid/nurse, Lettie Lang; 5% to his church and 5% to his long lost brother. He wants only one lawyer, Jake Brigance, to ensure that his wishes are met.
Jake Brigance is the feisty lawyer who won the Carl Lee Hailey case in the prequel of this novel. Though his victory didn’t catapult him into big league and riches, Jake has earned a lot of respect and popularity in his city. He earnestly takes this case forward doing his best to safeguard the last will of his deceased client. It is his first case where he can charge per hour is another matter. He is ably supported by his seldom sober former boss, Lucien Wilbanks and a heavy weight divorce lawyer, Harry Rex Vonner. The local sheriff, Ozzie Walls, also helps Jake in his pursuit of justice.
The story is about how Jake fights the case, both inside and outside the courthouse. It also involves the background and present of the many families associated with the outcome of the case. There are ample twists and turns in the narrative to keep the reader hooked to the novel. The only hindrance/drawback in the plot (especially for me), was the innumerable characters in the story. Seth’s family, their lawyers, Lettie Lang’s family, their lawyers, other supporting characters, additional characters, the list goes on. If you are good at remembering names, then you can enjoy the novel in a better manner. I am not degrading the story. The story is good and has twists and turns to keep you engrossed till the end. Add this to your library and enjoy reading.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
The Kill List by Frederick Forsyth
The new book from Frederick Forsyth’s stable does justice to his genre of thrillers. It has all the standard elements of spying, suspense, action, vengeance, etc. The title of the book has no major relevance to the story. The author does mentions the what and how of the kill list. There are two main characters in the book: preacher and tracker. The story revolves around these two characters.
There is surge in jihad, perpetrated by unsuspecting individuals. The big brothers, US and UK, are worried as this new phenomenon of jihad was never heard off. Individuals who have no history in violence are taking to jihad, to target equally unsuspecting citizens. There is a pile of bodies. The governments realize this sudden outburst is only because of one person and he is identified as the preacher. Then we get to know about the tracker, the person who is assigned the task of eliminating the preacher. The story talks about how these two primary characters evolve; how the tracker outsmarts the preacher; how the good triumphs over the evil. We get to know how these two individuals are supported by individuals who share the same ideologies.
There is also a subplot about the Somali pirates and their business of hijacking ships. My personal opinion is that the sub plot does not add substance except for stretching the novel by a couple of ten pages. There may be arguments that this subplot is the means by which the preacher is lured out of his den. I tend to disagree.
The readers are kept in the dark about the details of one important communication between the tracker and the preacher. We can only second guess the contents of this communication. This mystery remains a mystery.
Overall the book is a good read and also good to have in your private library. What is lacking is the direct dual between the two main characters. It seems that one character is not even aware of the danger lurking for him whereas the other character has all the resources and means to accomplish his task. The vengeance angle is also very subtle. Anyhow enjoy the book!
There is surge in jihad, perpetrated by unsuspecting individuals. The big brothers, US and UK, are worried as this new phenomenon of jihad was never heard off. Individuals who have no history in violence are taking to jihad, to target equally unsuspecting citizens. There is a pile of bodies. The governments realize this sudden outburst is only because of one person and he is identified as the preacher. Then we get to know about the tracker, the person who is assigned the task of eliminating the preacher. The story talks about how these two primary characters evolve; how the tracker outsmarts the preacher; how the good triumphs over the evil. We get to know how these two individuals are supported by individuals who share the same ideologies.
There is also a subplot about the Somali pirates and their business of hijacking ships. My personal opinion is that the sub plot does not add substance except for stretching the novel by a couple of ten pages. There may be arguments that this subplot is the means by which the preacher is lured out of his den. I tend to disagree.
The readers are kept in the dark about the details of one important communication between the tracker and the preacher. We can only second guess the contents of this communication. This mystery remains a mystery.
Overall the book is a good read and also good to have in your private library. What is lacking is the direct dual between the two main characters. It seems that one character is not even aware of the danger lurking for him whereas the other character has all the resources and means to accomplish his task. The vengeance angle is also very subtle. Anyhow enjoy the book!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Only Time Will Tell - Jeffrey Archer
"The Clifton Chronicles is Jeffrey Archer's most ambitious work in four decades as an international best seller" says the cover of the novel. I disagree. There are much better novels than the current one by Sir Archer.
It so seems that the author has tried to cash in on one of the plots of his previous novel "As the Crow Flies". The sub-plot is the previous novel tends to become the primary story in the current novel. You will also not be surprised to see that the narrative of the new novel is very identical to this novel. These "issues" need not be considered as complaints as they are good for the novel but you get the déjà vu feeling. Comparing the volume of "As the Crow Flies" with the new book, I can safely assume that the volume is cut short to bring it out as a series. I would always love to read a "huge" novel.
Coming back to "Only Time Will Tell", if you just read it as an independent work without comparing it with others, you definitely will like it. Though it is a slow starter, it grips its readers as it progresses. The story encompasses the life of Harry Clifton, the central character who is made to believe stories about father's death. The author deftly takes you through the lives of characters related to Harry in their own perspective. You "enjoy" the feelings going through the characters' mind during the same events.
Incomplete blog...
It so seems that the author has tried to cash in on one of the plots of his previous novel "As the Crow Flies". The sub-plot is the previous novel tends to become the primary story in the current novel. You will also not be surprised to see that the narrative of the new novel is very identical to this novel. These "issues" need not be considered as complaints as they are good for the novel but you get the déjà vu feeling. Comparing the volume of "As the Crow Flies" with the new book, I can safely assume that the volume is cut short to bring it out as a series. I would always love to read a "huge" novel.
Coming back to "Only Time Will Tell", if you just read it as an independent work without comparing it with others, you definitely will like it. Though it is a slow starter, it grips its readers as it progresses. The story encompasses the life of Harry Clifton, the central character who is made to believe stories about father's death. The author deftly takes you through the lives of characters related to Harry in their own perspective. You "enjoy" the feelings going through the characters' mind during the same events.
Incomplete blog...
Sunday, November 13, 2011
The Litigators - John Grisham
Buy it, read it and enjoy it! The latest book by Grisham is gripping. The beginning is new, ending is predictable but the journey in between is par excellence. Here is a book which has all the elements of a good story; hope, despair, crime, passion, failure, success, wit and deceit. The author deftly infuses laughter even during the unlikely situations.
The cast: A graduate from a highly regarded institute, a street cop turner lawyer and one other lawyer who specializes in hustling and chasing ambulances.
Welcome to Finley & Figg, a boutique law firm. It specializes in schemes (some of them shady) which help the partners in making a quick buck. The senior partner is a former street cop and the junior partner is an innovative advertiser (bingo card!!??). The partners have never worked on anything which requires them to face a jury. They handle petty cases and are happy with their job. The Harvard Law School graduate enters the firm. He is burnt by his past work, and has literally escaped from a high paying job and an equally nasty manager. Street law is different and the new employee has to learn it on the job.
Under such circumstances, the junior partner stumbles on to a case which he presumes is the right means to hit a jackpot. The original plan is to play second fiddle to another major law firm and reek in the easy moolah. Alas, this fails and the boutique law firm is pitted against a giant corporation with unlimited resources at this disposal. The trio, until now, has only worked towards building their plaintiff list, rather than the actual merits of the case. Now they face the daunting task of fighting against an impossible lawsuit. They have no option but to fight it out, or else they face another lawsuit for malpractice.
True to his style, the author never lets you down with the courtroom situations. I couldn’t help, but laugh out loud on many confrontations in the novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope you do the same. A must have inclusion in the library of every John Grisham fan.
The cast: A graduate from a highly regarded institute, a street cop turner lawyer and one other lawyer who specializes in hustling and chasing ambulances.
Welcome to Finley & Figg, a boutique law firm. It specializes in schemes (some of them shady) which help the partners in making a quick buck. The senior partner is a former street cop and the junior partner is an innovative advertiser (bingo card!!??). The partners have never worked on anything which requires them to face a jury. They handle petty cases and are happy with their job. The Harvard Law School graduate enters the firm. He is burnt by his past work, and has literally escaped from a high paying job and an equally nasty manager. Street law is different and the new employee has to learn it on the job.
Under such circumstances, the junior partner stumbles on to a case which he presumes is the right means to hit a jackpot. The original plan is to play second fiddle to another major law firm and reek in the easy moolah. Alas, this fails and the boutique law firm is pitted against a giant corporation with unlimited resources at this disposal. The trio, until now, has only worked towards building their plaintiff list, rather than the actual merits of the case. Now they face the daunting task of fighting against an impossible lawsuit. They have no option but to fight it out, or else they face another lawsuit for malpractice.
True to his style, the author never lets you down with the courtroom situations. I couldn’t help, but laugh out loud on many confrontations in the novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope you do the same. A must have inclusion in the library of every John Grisham fan.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Revolution 2020 - Chetan Bhagat
Revolution 2020 - Love.Corruption.Ambition screams the title!
Start reading the book and you really wonder what made Chetan write such a mediocre "tale" (if you can call it a tale). There is no essence in the plot (if you can call it a plot), no soul in the message (if you can consider it as a message) and nothing to look forward to the narration. This book is full of crap, which has got nothing to substantiate the elements given in the tag line or the title. You have to put a deliberate effort to read the book because you have paid for it. The only saving grace (if you can call it grace) is that this book is better than One Night @ the Call Center.
The story revolves around three friends, two guys and a gal, begins from their school days, and culminates when the gal marries one of the guys. Why the gal chooses her husband is one strand of the story. The other strand is how both the guys succeed in their ambition, one who craves for money/power (the main protagonist) and the other who fights corruption. The supporting cast includes an ailing father who wants his son to become an engineer, a situation about the coaching classes and hostel life where the author is an expert, a politician who does his usual job, and Varanasi, where the drama (if you can call it drama) unfolds. Then there is the education system, a couple of escapades of the love birds and the major sacrifice (which was typical for Bollywood movies till date). What you don't have in the entire book (no, I will never call it a novel) is substance. There is neither wit nor humor, there is neither suspense nor drama and there is neither love nor passion.
If this piece of work can get the tag of a novel, then anyone with a little knowledge in the Queen's language can become a novelist. Sorry Mr. Bhagat, but the book is a complete let down. Let's hope that you deliver something to match the caliber of Two States if not Five Point Someone.
Start reading the book and you really wonder what made Chetan write such a mediocre "tale" (if you can call it a tale). There is no essence in the plot (if you can call it a plot), no soul in the message (if you can consider it as a message) and nothing to look forward to the narration. This book is full of crap, which has got nothing to substantiate the elements given in the tag line or the title. You have to put a deliberate effort to read the book because you have paid for it. The only saving grace (if you can call it grace) is that this book is better than One Night @ the Call Center.
The story revolves around three friends, two guys and a gal, begins from their school days, and culminates when the gal marries one of the guys. Why the gal chooses her husband is one strand of the story. The other strand is how both the guys succeed in their ambition, one who craves for money/power (the main protagonist) and the other who fights corruption. The supporting cast includes an ailing father who wants his son to become an engineer, a situation about the coaching classes and hostel life where the author is an expert, a politician who does his usual job, and Varanasi, where the drama (if you can call it drama) unfolds. Then there is the education system, a couple of escapades of the love birds and the major sacrifice (which was typical for Bollywood movies till date). What you don't have in the entire book (no, I will never call it a novel) is substance. There is neither wit nor humor, there is neither suspense nor drama and there is neither love nor passion.
If this piece of work can get the tag of a novel, then anyone with a little knowledge in the Queen's language can become a novelist. Sorry Mr. Bhagat, but the book is a complete let down. Let's hope that you deliver something to match the caliber of Two States if not Five Point Someone.
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