Storizen Magazine November 2020 | Elizabeth Day by Storizen Magazine

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NOVEMBER 2020

STORIZEN

BEING HUMAN WITH IMPERFECTIONS

ELIZABETH DAY Exclusive Feature on PAGE 8

Now Available on:

Cover Story Being Human With Imperfections Elizabeth Day

Brand Partners Aleph Book Company Bloomsbury India

Book Reviews Swapna Peri

Editors Pria Raiyani Saurabh Chawla

Fingerprint Publishing Hachette India HarperCollinsIndia

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Pan Macmillan India Penguin India Roli Books Rupa Publications Westland (An Amazon Company)

WHAT'S INSIDE 27

EDITOR'S NOTE

COVER STORY Being Human With Imperfections - Elizabeth Day

- HarperCollins India

- Pria 20

HOT OFF THE PRESS Sometimes Ivory, Sometimes Sand by Mahek Jangda

HOT OFF THE PRESS My Life in Red and White by Arsène Wenger - Hachette India

- Penguin India

HOT OFF THE PRESS I am No Messiah by Sonu Sood

- Penguin India

HOT OFF THE PRESS Patriarchy and the Pangolin by Aditi Patil - Hachette India

HOT OFF THE PRESS How To Improve Concentration by Aditi Singhal and Sudhir Singhal

HOT OFF THE PRESS PHOOLSUNGHI by Pandey Kapil

- Penguin India

HOT OFF THE PRESS The Joys of Compounding by Gautam Baid - HarperCollins India

- Hachette India

HOT OFF THE PRESS Terror in Islamabad by Amar Bhushan

HOT OFF THE PRESS Balance by Deanne Panday - Penguin India

HOT OFF THE PRESS Billion Dollar Loser by Reeves Wiedeman - Hachette India

WHAT'S INSIDE 34

STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE Some Winters Are A True Bliss

Essential Items and Other Tales During Lockdown by Udayan Mukherjee

- Aparna Mukherjee

- Swapna Peri STORIZEN EXCLUSIVE Short-Story – Giving Method to the Madness

STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE

- Swapna Peri

Colors of Fall - Vidya Shankar

- Swapna Peri

- Saurabh Chawla BOOK REVIEW Fabulous Four Battle Zoozoo the Wizard by Rajesh Talwar - Swapna Peri

BOOK REVIEW Tales from the Himalayas by Priyanka Pradhan - Swapna Peri

BOOK REVIEW The Heavenly Alphonso by Madhulika Ra Chauhan

STORIZEN EXCLUSIVE Giving Structure to your story

BOOK REVIEW Myths and Legends From Around The World by Sowmya Rajendran

- Madhulika Ra Chauhan

BOOK REVIEW

STORIZEN POETRY Seasons of Love... - Madhumathi H

To read Storizen on the web, visit storizen.com. Follow Storizen on Instagram @storizenmagazine.

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from the editor

calling all writers!

DO YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF STORIZEN FAMILY? You can also be a contributor. Mail us your entries at talktous@storizen.com. Your smart ideas and inputs help us create our informative issues.

"I pray this winter be gentle and kind--a season of rest

from the wheel of the mind." This quote by John Geddes suits the situation in 2020 as we all are fighting the battle with the pandemic. Bidding adieu to the fall and welcoming winters, we believe that this change in season brings joy and peace in everybody's life and wishing the same, we present you this issue of Storizen. We all fail at some point of time in our life, be it in relationships, exams, but the point to be noted is that failing at something makes you human. With this beautiful thought, we are excited to feature the English novelist, journalist, and broadcaster - Elizabeth Day in an exclusive interview with Storizen. Elizabeth talks about how people yearn at telling their failure stories and how failing at something makes you human. Do check out the feature story on page 8. Book lovers, we are aware of the fact that the reading bug has bit you. Like always, we have ten new hottest book releases to make you busy this weekend. Do check out "I Am No Messiah by Sonu Sood". We want our readers to get value out of every piece of article we share. This issue is no different. Do check out the exclusive articles by Madhulika Ra Chauhan along with mine to help you in your writing journey. Packed with five book reviews and wonderful poetry, this issue is surely going to make you come back again and again to read it. I truly hope you enjoy this issue and spread the love by liking, commenting, and sharing. Before signing off, I believe that you all are safe and sound and taking all the necessary precautions in these unprecedented times! Happy Reading!

editor@storizen.com Saurabh Chawla, Editor in Chief

COVER STORY

"There’s a yearning to talk about our imperfections and how they make us human. Our failures are what connect us: they reveal our truest selves.

- Elizabeth Day

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Being Human With Imperfections by Pria I woke up to the chilly breeze of the dawn. Winters have finally arrived. Moreover, I was excited for my conversation with the author of the month, the one who inspired people, made them speak of their failures and in turn, learn from it, Elizabeth Day. We all face failures. The point is what we learn from them. Elizabeth started a podcast 'How to Fail' in July 2018 out of passion. The idea she brought in was to talk about her own failures and what she learned from them. She has taught the people who have failed that they are not alone. The biggest of the personalities we see out there, also failed at some point in their lives.

COVER STORY

In Failosophy, Elizabeth Day brings together all the lessons she has learned, from conversations with the guests on her awardwinning How to Fail podcast, from stories shared with her by readers and listeners, and from her own life, and distills them into seven principles of failure. Practical, reassuring, and inspirational, these principles offer a guide through life’s rough patches. Getting ready for the call with the author herself, I poured myself the only thing I need in the morning Black Coffee, I prefer it strong! The clock struck 12:30 as I completed my daily morning chores after waking up from my deep slumber. The Zoom call was about to begin. I was getting Goosebumps as the topic of our discussion was a failure. An avalanche of thoughts flooded my mind, reminding me of the smallest of the things when I failed! I struggled to switch my mind from the thought of failure to the small things I have succeeded in. As I was waiting for the Zoom session to begin, a blink on the screen and a beautiful face popped up! 10

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We all fail, right? Bringing in the question of failure about which I was feeling a bit uncomfortable earlier, but not now, thanks to Day. Inspired by her great podcast, 'How to fail', I was really going to learn something from her. "I did it as a personal passion project but was astounded when it became very popular in the UK. Ironically, it has turned out to be one of the most successful things I’ve ever done and it made me realize that people really wanted to talk about failure," she said.

There’s a fear, as you say, that if they get something wrong, they will be publicly judged. And because we live in an age of social media, it’s true to say that there is much less private space to make mistakes.

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Talking about her book Failosophy, she continued, "After two years of the podcast, I realized not only that certain themes kept coming up again and again but that I also had this incredible resource of collective wisdom from my guests that had changed the way I lived my life for the better. So Failosophy came about as a distillation of all that - it explains seven key ‘failure principles’ and offers pragmatic, aspirational, and helpful advice from a range of people, including myself, on what do when you encounter a crisis or a bump in the road." There are insights and quotes from former guests to her podcast including Malcolm Gladwell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Alain de Botton, Meera Syal, and many more. The Human Connection The thoughts were getting in sync now. I felt my nerves getting relaxed. The perfection we see in the Instagram posts of the people and how good they seem to be in the pic, that's not the thing that NOVEMBER 2020

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connects us as humans, but failure surely does connect us as humans. "There’s a yearning to talk about our imperfections and how they make us human. Our failures are what connect us: they reveal our truest selves. I also think that it’s refreshing to hear celebrities talk about things going wrong - it offers a more genuine interview experience," I agreed to her with a nod. Going Leaps and Bounds Everybody has one main failure in life that changes how they actually, see their life. For Elizabeth, it was her failed marriage. The failure of marriage and not being able to be a mother taught her about the fact that there are certain things beyond one's control.

One has to go on and I agreed to her words," I never thought I would be divorced at 36, in much the same way as I never imagined I would not be a mother. It made me realize that for all those years I’d spent working hard, trying to please others, and attempting to be ‘perfect’ (utterly impossible, I now realize) there were things in life that lay beyond my control. These failures made me re-evaluate the kind of life I wanted to live and withstanding them made me realize I was stronger than I thought. I recall how I failed at one point in my life and slowly regained the confidence to come out of it. One has to change the way they look at things including the failures. This really helps in understanding what you could or could not do.

There’s a yearning to talk about our imperfections and how they make us human

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Dealing Failure

with

the

Fear

I have seen many of my friends in schools, colleges, giving exams, struggle with the failure aspect. This has been a trend, especially for youngsters. I wanted to know Elizabeth's take on this subject. To my surprise, she was also approached by the youth in their 20's to help them cope up with the fear of failure. I loved the way she responded - "There’s a fear, as you say, that if they get something wrong, they will be publicly judged. And because we live in an age of social media, it’s true to say that there is much less private space to make mistakes." I agree on the part of having much less or almost negligible private space because of social media, I believe people need to be aware of what they are being exposed too and what part of their lives they want to expose to the public. NOVEMBER 2020

Adding to that, Elizabeth said, " What I say to them is twofold: one thing to remember is that if you never take a risk, you never learn. The most interesting people are always the ones who have failed in order to understand what it takes to succeed. Without failure, there can be no evolution." And what's the second thing? I was curious to know. She resumed with a smile, " The second thing to say is that STORIZEN MAGAZINE

COVER STORY

when we feel fearful, that can often be a signifier of growth. We’re frequently scared of the unknown, but sometimes the unknown is an opportunity we’re denying ourselves. Many of us struggle with self-worth, but feeling like an imposter in your own life is never going to fulfill you - if you don’t take the risk and reap the possible rewards, there will be others who take your place. We need to step into our own power."

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The Inspiration We all have someone who inspires us. When asked about the person who inspired her the most, she named her best friend and psychotherapist, Emma. She smiled and said, " She has always been there to reassure me that tough times will pass, and she is able to set my mind at rest and protect me from my own insecurities. I love her so much."

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Being Regret Free One thing I always remind myself is to be free of any regrets. But as it's said, easier said than done, some experiences and failures make you regret that decision of yours! I turned to Elizabeth to understand how she tackles this. I was quite astounded by her answer, " I don’t have regrets because I know that I’ve learned from every single thing that I wished didn’t happen at the time - and every single thing has brought me to where I am now, for which I’m extremely grateful. But I had a beloved ex-boyfriend who was killed when he went to cover the war in Iraq as a journalist. He was 24 and I wish I had had the chance to say goodbye. Otherwise…winning Prize?!"

the

Booker

She adds further to it, "Resilience and, by association, optimism. I believe in the fundamental beauty and goodness of life, no matter what it throws our way.

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Cherishing the Old Memories I wanted to be a journalist, to have a taste of the world of media, but sometimes life has something different for you. I wanted to know about the journalism journey of Elizabeth, the stepping stone. I was super glad to register her reaction! She responded gleefully, "Ha! This will date me… My first column was published when I was 12 and it was about the pop stars Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan and how I felt that there were too many Australian soap stars on the charts. Years later, I got to interview Kylie Minogue for The Sunday Times and she was absolutely lovely."

A Ray of Hope Failure is something that can shatter many people. Failosophy can definitely help you in understanding that it's not a failure if you fail. It's just that you are human. I agree with it as reading through the book, I could also relate the same with my life as well. I was wondering about how the Failosophy book was helping the people out there. Elizabeth was happy to share her answer, "I’ve been getting lovely feedback. I’m hugely honored to find that readers are turning to Failosophy to get them through the toughest times in their lives. I had one message from a mother whose son was undergoing chemotherapy who said that Failosophy was helping her a lot. I truly could not ask for more than that." I was literally speechless by her answers and glad that i got a chance to talk to her! I realized that an hour had

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almost past and I didn't want to take more of her time from her busy schedule. I thanked her for her time and we both bade adieu. Subscribe to Storizen to learn more about your favorite authors and to receive tips on writing and marketing your books combined in a single package – Storizen Magazine personally in your inbox! Follow @storizenmagazine on Instagram Connect with us on facebook.com/StorizenTV Follow us on twitter.com/storizen Follow us on Issuu and never miss another issue from us

About Pria - Young mesmerizing freelance blogger, social enthusiast, an economics graduate from Jharkhand University with Master in Child Psychology. She is hardworking yet crazy, a passionate reader, an ardent music fanatic, an avid caffeine lover, and a maniacal animal lover too. She has been a part of numerous anthologies, articles, and write-ups for newspapers and magazines which are multi-linguistic. She has also written screenplays for YouTube series.

(As told to Pria) pria@storizen.com

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In Failosophy Elizabeth Day brings together all the lessons she has learned, from conversations with the guests on her award-winning How to Fail podcast, from stories shared with her by readers and listeners, and from her own life, and distils them into seven principles of failure. Practical, reassuring and inspirational, these principles offer a guide through life’s rough patches. From failed exams to romantic break-ups, from career setbacks to confidence crises, from navigating anxiety to surviving loss, Failosophy recognises, and celebrates, the fact that failure connects us all. It is what makes us human.

Listen to How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

We are Sure You got a brilliant idea for a story Let us know when you write it and publish it. We'll help you spread the good word.

talktous@storizen.com

HOTthe OFFpress 'We stood up for ourselves, Laila, when no one would... That's a victory.'

Laila Jagir, the daughter of the powerful councilman of the district of Rahat, has a flair for politics and has been raised with bold freedom. As she grows into a woman, she is unwilling to settle into a life of constraints. In the faraway district of Mahlah, Jasmine Mir's world has been shaped by her father's disappearance. Brought up by her conservative mother, she only knows how to suppress her own voice, not raise it. But when Jasmine leaves home to find her father and Laila gets married in a political trade-off, their fortunes reverse overnight and the two girls are brought together by fate. 20

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HOTthe OFFpress The first book by one of the most successful, respected and legendary football managers of all time, Arsène Wenger

There is only one Arsène Wenger - and for the very first time, in his own words, this is his story.In this definitive autobiography, the world-renowned revolutionary football manager discusses his life and career, sharing his leadership principles for success on and off the field and recalling vivid tales of guiding Arsenal to unprecedented success.One of the most influential figures in world football, Wenger won multiple Premier League titles, a record number of FA Cups, and masterminded Arsenal's historic 'Invincibles' season of 2003-2004 and 49-match unbeaten run. NOVEMBER 2020

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I am No Messiah

Sometimes, a little nudge from the universe pushes one to find his raison d'etre in life. If actor Sonu Sood had given in to the celebrity syndrome of sitting in his ivory tower and expressing his generosity by remote control, he would have never come face to face with the trauma of India's migrant labourers or understood that a food packet was a woefully inadequate substitute for a ride back home. 22

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STORIZENEVENTS

Sonu Sood is an international film actor, producer, entrepreneur and social worker. He has won several awards for his work in films. He is also the recipient of the United Nations Development Programme's SDG Action Award for his humanitarian work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The stories of his migrant rescue mission feature in school texts in Andhra Pradesh as lessons in ethics. A fitness enthusiast with exemplary people skills, Sonu is now a household name. He resides in Mumbai with his wife, Sonali, and their two sons, Eshaan and Ayaan.

ABOUT THE BOOK Sometimes, a little nudge from the universe pushes one to find his raison d'etre in life. If actor Sonu Sood had given in to the celebrity syndrome of sitting in his ivory tower and expressing his generosity by remote control, he would have never come face to face with the trauma of India's migrant labourers or understood that a food packet was a woefully inadequate substitute for a ride back home. During the nationwide lockdown, imposed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, when a wave of poverty-stricken migrants set out on foot to make their arduous journey back home, the value of seva, service to mankind, instilled in him by his parents, spurred Sonu Sood into action. From taking to the streets NOVEMBER 2020

and reaching out to the stranded, to setting up a dedicated team and making arrangements for national and international transport, Sonu managed to help thousands of helpless and needy workers. Thus, began his 'Ghar Bhejo' programme, carried out like a humanitarian mission. Chartered flights, buses and trains were sanitized and paid for. Distress calls from all over the world were answered. Soon, the movement snowballed into a campaign for providing jobs, medical facilities and educational aid to workers. The silverscreen villain transitioned into a real-life superhero.

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HOTtheOFF press Patriarchy and the Pangolin is at once brilliant natural history field guide and travel and feminist treatise.

When two young women are hired to carry out conservation research, they discover that India is a large jungle – larger than they ever imagined.

STORIZENEVENTS

When two young women are hired to carry out conservation research, they discover that India is a large jungle – larger than they ever imagined. Their study of trees reveals a complex world in which the greatest threat to pangolins and imperilled species is Indian men and patriarchy. Tramping across North India, the women encounter men, man-made obstacles, and bureaucratic corruption, but forge ahead with satire and self-deprecating humour. Their many stories give us the voices of people and species oppressed or marginalised. Several anecdotes show daily battles against research methods and policies that bury lived life in dry data.Environmental research is more about lives and livelihoods than data, says Aditi Patil. She makes us feel the pulse of life hidden by statistics. Women farmers, forest dwellers, rustics, and researchers come exquisitely alive in this entertaining and persuasive book.

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Aditi Patil was born in Mumbai. She has worked on diverse conservation projects with WWF India, Columbia University, and the Gujarat Forest Department.

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HOTthe OFFpress

There are 13 aspects in life, that lend it meaning, purpose, happiness and peace. When each of these aspects is in harmony, you are in perfect balance with yourself. These are relationships, home environment, finance, career, health, physical activity, joy, spirituality, home cooking, creativity, education, social life and the effect of climate change on our health.In this book, Deanne explores each of these topics to help readers achieve the balance that she has found in her life and benefit from the deep love, success and good cheer that accompany it. Everyone is unique, so rather than list out a strict regime, Deanne outlines a blueprint for everyone to design and tweak on the path to their balance.

HOTthe OFFpress Based on true events, Terror in Islamabad is a gripping thriller that will have readers turning every page breathlessly till they reach the end.

Working undercover as cultural attaché at the Indian Embassy in Pakistan, Veer Singh is on a top-secret mission – with his life, and many others’, at stake. All for the nation. And the truth. As an agent of India’s External Intelligence Agency in a foreign country, with which relations are strained at best, Veer navigates threats and evades suspicion … for a time. Soon it becomes clear that counter-intelligence forces are out to get him, even though they have failed to find proof of his activities. How long can a lone man survive when confronted with a formidable enemy on its own turf? NOVEMBER 2020

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The Joys of Compounding

Curated reflections on life and learning for all investors, investment enthusiasts, and readers seeking a dose of practical wisdom

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STORIZENEVENTS

Gautam Baid, CFA, is portfolio manager at an SECregistered investment advisor based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Previously, he served at the Mumbai, London, and Hong Kong offices of Citigroup and Deutsche Bank as senior analyst in their healthcare investment banking teams.

ABOUT THE BOOK Value investing is not just a system for success in the market. It is also an intellectual toolkit for achieving a deeper understanding of the world. In The Joys of Compounding, the value investor Gautam Baid builds a holistic approach to value investing and philosophy from his wide-ranging reading, combining practical approaches, self-cultivation, and business wisdom.Distilling investment and life lessons into a comprehensive guide, Baid integrates the strategies and wisdom of preeminent figures whose teachings have stood the test of time. Drawing on the work of investing greats like Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, and Ben Graham, as well as philosophers and scholars, he artfully NOVEMBER 2020

interweaves the lessons learned from his many teachers. Baid demonstrates their practical applications in the areas of business, investing, and decision making and also shows that these ideas can be applied to one’s own life with just as much reward.

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HOTtheOFF press The book aims to help you harness the power of concentration for personal and professional growth, and overcome distractions through simple, research-based and time-tested exercises.

Our world today is filled with distractions that demand our attention every few seconds.

STORIZENEVENTS

Our world today is filled with distractions that demand our attention every few seconds. The constant messages, notifications and pop-ups have a huge impact on our physical and mental health, making it difficult for us to concentrate on any task. In such a fast-paced world, attention is our most important resource. But we are largely unaware of the key role it plays in shaping our everyday lives.The book aims to help you harness the power of concentration for personal and professional growth, and overcome distractions through simple, research-based and timetested exercises. It showcases various techniques used by maths and memory experts Aditi and Sudhir Singhal, and digital wellness coach Bala Kishore, in their own lives. About the Authors Aditi Singhal and Sudhir Singhal, founders of Dynamic Minds Group, are international memory trainers, mathematics educators, authors and motivational speakers. They have to their credit the Guinness World Record for teaching the largest maths class.

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HOTthe OFFpress

Babu Sahib! You must have heard of a Phoolsunghi--the flower-pecker--yes? It can never be held captive in a cage. It sucks nectar from a flower and then flies on to the next.'When Dhelabai, the most popular tawaif of Muzaffarpur, slights Babu Haliwant Sahay, a powerful zamindar from Chappra, he resolves to build a cage that would trap her forever. Thus, the elusive phoolsunghi is trapped within the four walls of the Red Mansion.Forgetting the past, Dhelabai begins a new life of luxury, comfort, and respect. One day, she hears the soulful voice of Mahendra Misir and loses her heart to him. Mahendra too, feels for her deeply, but the lovers must bear the brunt of circumstances and their own actions which repeatedly pull them apart.

HOTthe OFFpress In its earliest days, WeWork promised the impossible: to make the workplace cool.

Based on more than two hundred interviews, Billion Dollar Loser chronicles the breakneck speed at which WeWork's CEO built and grew his company. Culminating in a day-by-day account of the five weeks leading up to WeWork's botched IPO and Neumann's dramatic ouster, Reeves Wiedeman exposes the story of the company's desperate attempt to secure the funding it needed in the final moments of a decade defined by excess. NOVEMBER 2020

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Some Winters Are A True Bliss BY APARNA MUKHERJEE

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One fine morning, as I opened the window of my room, I caught sight of fog all over my complex. Cold breeze was blowing outside. The leaves of trees were scattered under a tree. Mist covered multistorey buildings. Everyday, I used to see a woman selling flowers from my window. Today, all I could see was a vague color of a printed yellow color saree. But, I could not see the woman's face properly due to extreme fog. The chills of air touched my skin, making me realize that after a long wait, winter has knocked our earth's door that year. Winter has always been my favorite season since childhood days. Standing near the window, I was recalling those sweet memories when my mother used to yell at me for not wearing pullovers and sweaters. How I miss those days so much! As hours passed by, I started getting ready for my morning jog. As I opened my wardrobe to pick my jogging outfit, my eyes fall on the mirror which was attached to one side of the wardrobe. I noticed grey hair which was as white as the color of milk and was shining like silver in the sunrays. The white color amidst my black hair made me upset for the time being. "Am I growing old? It was the only question which was NOVEMBER 2020

revolving around my mind all day. I noticed not just one but many grey hair which was telling me that the time has arrived to bid adieu the golden days of your youth. I came close to the mirror to see how old was I looking. To my dismay, my eyes again caught sight of the fine lines close to my cheeks. I did not pay attention to the fine lines, as I was only seeing the white hair which was making me worried. In order to brush off those depressed thoughts, I occupied my mind in work. All day, I kept myself busy in various household tasks. Still, my mind was flying back in the morning scene which made me realize my aged look. "Was I really getting old or was it my illusion"? In order to stop myself from thinking the same disheartening images, I shifted my mind to the television shows. The colder months which I used to enjoy previous years showed me a bitter truth of life. Just as leaves shed from trees, my youth started fading away. The cold breeze was piercing my skin, refraining me from enjoying the colder months. In the commercial breaks, I happened to see an advertisement of a hair color product. The advertisement claimed that the users will be able to get their black hair back after using STORIZEN MAGAZINE

the product. "Why don't you use this product?" asked my mind to me. I grabbed my sweater and made up my mind to walk to the nearby cosmetic store to buy the hair color product. I used to see the commercial advertisement of hair color products many times, but I never felt the urge to use the product. I wore the sweater which was lying on a table and I latched the door from outside.

Some mornings change your thoughts and perceptions. Next morning, when I opened the window again, the outside view was a bit clearer than the previous day. On one side, I caught a glimpse of leaves which were falling off a tree. On the other side, I saw news buds of flowers in my small garden. Along with the colorful flower buds, I saw fresh green leaves were growing in the flower pots.

As night was drawing close, the temperature started dipping and the cold air darted through my sweater, piercing my skin again. Owing to cold weather, my feet refused to move fast. As I was close to the cosmetic store, I halted for a while to think again about my action which was about to take up. "Should I use the hair color or not?" "Was the hair color worth buying?" For a moment, I was at sea. Then, a woman passed by me flaunting her black silky hair which helped me stick to my decision. After battling with my mind, I purchased a pack of hair color from a store. Since morning, my mind was disturbed by the sight of gray hair. The product in my hand gave me a permanent solution of getting rid of my white strands of hair.

The sight of green leaves and blooming flowers started budding positive thoughts in my mind. The trees shed their old leaves and new leaves and flowers start growing and blooming again which is a part of nature. The same holds true for myself. Why should i use a fake color on my hair when the white color is the symbol of naturalness. When you are in the peak of youth, you look beautiful. As you age, the fine lines start appearing on the surface of the skin and the color of your hair changes naturally. When we can appreciate white skin, then why cannot we appreciate white hair? I dumped the pack of hair color in a trash can. Just as mother nature

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embraced the fall of leaves in winter, in the same way, I embraced the natural color of white on my hair.

In a few words, Aparna defines a woman who beholds high aspirations and firmly believes in expanding her horizon. She holds a Master degree in English from Mumbai University. By profession, she is an online Senior Content Writer and Blogger who writes informative articles for various Indian, UK and US blogs and websites. Her poems got published in the digital Reflection Magazine and in the Indian literature website named Facestory's.com. She is a budding author too. Her first story on romantic theme got published in a book named "Memoirs Of Love". Her second story in another anthology will be publishing soon.As a person, she is open-minded, down-to-earth and amiable in nature. Her world revolves around creativity. She wishes to make her mark in the literary world, hoping to leave an indelible imprint on her readers' minds.

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SHORT-STORY –

GIVING METHOD TO THE MADNESS

MADHULIKA CHAUHAN

While writing evolves with the writer and changes its’ hues, the words gain more depth as the writer matures. Maturity here doesn’t refer to age. It can be the kind of writing and ideas one is getting exposed to, and the time one devotes to the art of writing. Short story is one of my favorite form of writing, characterized by its brevity. As a child, being a poor eater, I was put through a story-a-meal diet to keep me interested enough throughout the meal and thus stories became an addiction with me. One of the early influencers were Ruskin Bond, Carolyn Keene and Jeffrey Archer.Short story is perhaps one of the most difficult form of writing as well, as you do not have the luxury of time and words to delve into the nuances of each character. It’s a tease – the short story, which tickles the readers imagination and makes him want more. It lingers through the readers mind, even after the text finishes.

Even though the thought of writing can be quite overwhelming and intimidating, there is always a method to the madness. In this article, we will explore the short-story structure and how it can help you craft your own short story.Many writers, like Sylvia Plath, began their esteemed careers by writing short stories before 'graduating' to novels — while others have made it their bread and butter. Short stories are often published in literary magazines or anthologies made up of entries from one or more writers. For those unfamiliar with the form, here are some stats to help you out: A short story is a piece of fiction typically no longer than 10,000 words. Most short stories are only 3,000 to 7,000, but Micro-fiction might less than 500, and

A longer “short” story might be as many as 20,000 (novellas start around 30,000 words) NOVEMBER 2020

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THE STRUCTURED APPROACH A traditional short story or a novel follows the following structure: Inciting Moment: An inciting incident is an event that hooks the viewer into the story and sets everything else that happens into motion. This moment is when an event thrusts the protagonist into the main action of the story. Exposition: The exposition is the introduction to a story, including the primary characters' names, setting, mood, and time. Conflict: The conflict is the primary problem that drives the plot of the story, often a main goal for the protagonist to achieve or overcome.

build toward the climax of the story. Climax or Turning Point: Climax is the highest point of tension or drama in a narratives’ plot. Often, climax is also when the main problem of the story is faced and solved by the main character or protagonist. Falling Action: The falling action of a story is the section of the plot following the climax, in which the tension stemming from the story's central conflict decreases and the story moves toward its conclusion. Resolution/Denouement: The resolution, also known as the denouement, is the conclusion of the story’s plot. It’s where any unanswered questions are answered, or “loose ends are tied.”

Rising Action: Rising action refers to the part of the story after the characters and setting are introduced and where the events of the story begin to create suspense as the character faces conflict. The rising action of the story includes the events that help to 40

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NOVEMBER 2020

TAKING A DIFFERENT ROUTE While you might not have the time to hit the number of plot points included in the traditional story structure of a full-length novel, this kind of story should still be comprised of exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, and denouement. Of course, you can always experiment with how you present these five elements when you start writing. For instance, let your story start In Media Res — or "in the middle of things." In other words, your story begins in the middle of the narrative, usually with some sort of crisis occurring to jumpstart your story. From there, the rising action towards the climax occurs. After the climax comes, the traditional falling action and denouement. This structure works particularly well for short stories, as it brings readers immediately into the main conflict of the story — which is important when time is of the essence. In the end the secret to great writing will always remain that – a secret. For David Foster Wallace, it was about fun. For Henry Miller, about discovery. NOVEMBER 2020

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Susan Sontag saw it as selfexploration. Many literary greats anchored it to their daily routines. And yet, the answer remains elusive and ever-changing. So do explore your own secret and create your very own story. Goodluck! Madhulika Ra Chauhan is a digital marketeer by day and a passionate writer by night. She lives in China with her super curious son and an ever busy husband. Her articles have appeared in Ezine, FWD Media and DailyO

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NOVEMBER 2020

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COLOURS OF FALL- PART 1 VIDYA

SHANKAR

Vanaja stood at her balcony, sipping warm jasmine tea and looking at the bright blue bits of a pleasant autumn sky she could discern between the thickly packed leaves of their mango tree that fanned her with the coolness of a lilting autumn breeze. She was on a high and it definitely was not because of the jasmine tea; it was caffeine free. She turned around and looked through the balcony door into her living room. There, upon her work table, instead of her laptop, sat the reason, or reasons for her inexplicable joy— little jars of colour, some brushes, pencil, eraser, sharpener, and a brand new drawing book. She smiled to herself as she recollected her conversation she had had with her father earlier that day. *************** ‘Appa, I have joined an art class. Very soon, I’ll be making all the beautiful paintings I have always desired to paint.’ ‘Art class? At your age?’ It was as if her second sentence was unsaid, and the excitement that quivered in her voice was nonexistent. But it didn’t surprise her at all that her father only focussed on her first sentence. She had expected this reaction from him. After all, what else could one expect from someone NOVEMBER 2020

who had given up on life decades ago and was expecting a death that didn’t seem to have any intentions of visiting him! Her father. The only one left of four parents that she and her husband shared. She wanted him to know, and irrespective of what he said, just his knowing was blessing enough for her. Vanaja didn’t find it irritating; she was beyond all that now. She had better things to focus her energy on than losing it over meaningless irritations, be it her father’s negative attitude or the world at large. Moreover, she loved her father dearly. Her father. Winter had come upon him unannounced when his wife died all of a sudden. Maybe, she too didn’t want to leave him. And her children. It was as if she hadn’t lived life ully. But her sojourn on this planet—in her physical role as Vanaja’s mother, as her father’s wife, as someone’s daughter or daughterin-law, as someone’s friend — was over and she had to move on. Her father knew that, and had eventually come to terms with it too, or so it seemed, because he had soon resumed his daily activities. Yet, Vanaja felt he never did pick up his life again. It was twenty years now, and he still went through each day STORIZEN MAGAZINE

with just one thought, one desire. To be reunited with his wife. Living with that one prayer, he became winter— cold, pessimistic, irritable, unreasonable, uninspired. A far cry from his usual encouraging self. Vanaja was surprised at how he had transformed physically too. From a man of handsome features and stature that made heads turn and look at him again, he had, quite too soon, shrunk to a shadow, a wizened old man with white hair and white flowing beard. ‘Yes, Appa, art class. The art teacher takes classes for adults too’ ‘Adults must mean someone in their thirties, not fifty, like you.’ Vanaja smiled at the typicality of her father. Of course, her father couldn’t see her smiling. He didn’t have a smart phone with which they could video call. It didn’t make a difference anyway; he wouldn’t have understood her smile. ‘No, Appa, she does. In fact, some of her adult students are as old as sixty and seventy. Even you could learn art from her if you wanted.’ ‘Me? What will I do with art lessons? I am almost eighty, and at my age, every day is a step towards the grave. Those old people must be out of their minds. And you are foolish to get into this at your age. I am sure these are not free classes. You will 46

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have to pay for them. And the cost of art materials! What is the need for these classes now? You may not be old as yet, but you are not young anymore. For how many more years do you think you can go to work and earn? Shouldn’t you be saving for your old age? As it is, you are just out of an unfortunate crisis that’s drained you of your bank balance. Or, is this another way to make money? By selling your paintings? If that’s the case, then it makes sense.’ Vanaja winced at the reference to the “unfortunate crisis” that had drained her husband and her not only of their bank balance but also their peace of mind, social respect, and to an extent, their health too. It was like a long-drawn-out summer when sweltering heat and rising temperatures affect mental patterns, lead to fatigue, and nothing seems to happen except the escalation of discomfort with just no relief from the onslaught. But Vanaja and her husband were a pair of warriors, never giving up, rising every time they went down until the “unfortunate crisis” was a thing of the past. It definitely was not easy, they made errors of judgment, they often slipped and faltered, but they also learnt a lot of life lessons along the way. NOVEMBER 2020

It was a couple of years now since temperatures had begun to cool, and Vanaja was thankful for the autumn that was setting in. The black and white family drama of summer was gradually getting grey overtones and though Vanaja was grateful for the changes, she felt their life could do with some colour now. Their years of summer had taught them not to look for colour from outside but to bring out the hues and shades within them to light.

To be contd...

NOVEMBER 2020

Vidya Shankar, a “book” in the Human Library, and an editor with Kavya-Adisakrit (an imprint of Adisakrit Publishing House), says poetry is not different from her. The author of two poetry books The Flautist of Brindaranyam (in collaboration with her photographer husband, Shankar Ramakrishnan), and The Rise of Yogamaya, she has received several literary awards and recognitions. She also adds meaning to her life through yoga and mandalas.

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GIVING STRUCTURE TO YOUR STORY By Saurabh Chawla

Everybody has a story to tell. Writing a perfectly crafted story or a novel plays a crucial role in making your book the next best seller and be an award winning novel. Readers get to know about the story gradually. It's like unwrapping a gift. To reveal the contents inside, readers do not know what is going to happen next as they turn the pages. They wonder what's inside, and keep on wrapping till they find the surprise. The point is to collect the intriguing pieces of information, build a structure, ponder over the tone of the story, how it will be unraveled, build the perfect characters, and spice it up with the wonderfully architected plot. Carefully plan each step. It's like taking your reader on a trekking trip up in the mountains. The reader climbs from foothold to foothold to reach towards the end of the story. If the foothold is missing, the reader gets stuck. With this, the progress ends. This is something an author would not like to have at all. In this article, we will share some tips of giving that perfect structure to your story that your readers will embrace.

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Uniformity There are two aspects of using the concept of uniformity while writing your novel. One, is the use of words. The words you decide to be included on a particular page create a mood or a vibe for the story you intend to tell. This can be done by choosing how to place the words strategically. Sometimes, authors use verses to highlight a piece of information. Using verses can be very dramatic. But be careful, using it too many times can make your reader feel cheated. It's like turning a full-fledged manuscript into a few artsy words. Use free verse if it is relevant to the story, because it actually contributes to it, not to appear cool. Always keep a big picture in mind. Another way to nurture the concept of uniformity is to keep the tone of voice same throughout. If you choose to narrate your story in first person, keep it that way throughout. If you choose the story to be told using the third person, maintain the same format throughout.

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Story Premise Starting a story can make t or break it. It's always said, 'never judge a book by its cover' but psychologically speaking, it happens. Similarly, when it comes to giving your story a structure, the order of the events is important. The most important part is the starting. I enjoy reading mystery, thriller, Crime novels. In all of my favorites, I have noticed one thing, they grab your attention and hook you up. Intriguing the readers and giving them a sense of curiosity, makes them turn that page and read on. they wonder the whats,whens, hows, and whys of the events taking place. The information that is provided may seem complete at the first glance but as soon as you go on reading the story, things unfold themselves and you realize that there were missing pieces.

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A sense of curiosity is created and all of this is projected to the reader with the assistance of structure. Adding Sections Most of the times we see sections added in the novels. They are added to give a signal to the reader about location, time or sometimes the point of view of the characters. Always plan to place the sections at strategic places in the story. The reader should be able to connect the same with the flow and not something that is placed out of the blue. One of the most common problems while including sections is that a quick reader might not be able to catch up with them. But that depends. Once they read it and move forward, they will definitely see the contribution the section has made to the storyline. Building the perfect structure impacts the experience of reading the story. You want your story to take people places. Give them a ride to remember. A straight forward approach of telling your story might also work and it's up to the author to decide what the readers of their books to experience.

NOVEMBER 2020

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STORIZEN REVIEW

THE STORY OF ADVENTURE, MAGIC AND FANTASY! With a nice combination of friendship and responsibility, the author has crafted the character of Samara very beautifully

Reviewed by Swapna Peri

Of late, I have been liberal in my choice of choosing the books. Maybe, due to COVID times, books are helping me out to scrap off the pressure. I have read many books from this genre, the fantasy genre to which I have always been reluctant. This book 'Fabulous Four Battle Zoozoo the Wizard' by Rajiv Talwar did not disappoint me. The book is a perfect choice for the readers who are more onto fantasy fiction mixed up with adventure and magic. In this book, what I liked is the story. Typically, the story is taken a back seat, but the narration is always the best when it comes to

STORIZENREVIEW

BOOK REVIEW

such fantasy fiction. Likewise, here I enjoyed the fantasy world creation. The readers are easily lost in the beautiful world created by the author in the story. The descriptions were so rich and fabulous, especially the emotions and the actions. It is no doubt that the reader reading would actually feel hungry.

Vijyant Thapar

NOVEMBER 2020

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The Book

A Must Read

The story is set up in the kingdom of Nonamia. On an unfortunate day, the King and the Queen are kidnapped. Princess Samara is brave enough to fight against every odd and evil to get her parents back home safely. This is where the fight between good and evil starts.

In this book, the story's thematic approach and sequences are very interesting. The book gives a vivid moving story that enthrals the readers once they finish it reading. For many good reasons, I decided to read his other books irrespective of any notions on this genre.

Book Review

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My Final Verdict The story of adventure, magic and fantasy!

Rating Final Rating: 4/5 Swapna worked as SAP Consultant for 10 years in Major IT companies. Reading has always been her passion and occasional painting her hobby. She decided to quit her job, look after the family and pursue her hobby of reading and painting in a larger way. Thus, her big leap into book reviewing has paved a way and has been successful to date. Reading challenges interest her a lot and visiting book fairs is her favorite thing. She believes that there is no good back or bad book, but only books. Writing unbiased reviews is her strength and she is appreciated by fellow reviewers and readers for the same. An anthology of musings with her paintings is her pending dream!

@swapna.peri @sappy_dreamz_unlimited @swapna508

NOVEMBER 2020

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Honest and Heartwarming Tales From the Mountains Reading is a good habit. Reading good books is the best habit. Reviewed by Swapna Peri

Some Stories Have Morals, Some Have Secrets

The book is truly an entertainer. The stories are so varied in the narration that the reader is given a choice to select the favourite in the list.

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NOVEMBER 2020

About the book

A Must Read

The book is basically targeted to the children. Some stories have morals, some have secrets, some have lessons and some scare too. The book is truly an entertainer.

The language is simple and easy. As the target audience is the children, author Priyanka has taken care in presenting the stories in a universally accessible way. An engaging narration in every story is observed.

BOOK REVIEW

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Reading is a good habit. Reading good books is the best habit. Good books give information that when processed in an individual's brain, a certain amount of productive thoughts are generated. These thoughts further develop into ideas. The ideas always have the power to completely change the life of the individual or his fellow people. If the reading habit is inculcated in children's young minds, a path towards a healthy lifestyle is created.

valleys of Himalayas, because of the universal appeal, they are quite impressive.

Reading also improves selfconfidence and positive thinking. Also, reading improves the vocabulary and communication skills of young minds. When these young minds are given a chance to read books that have stories which teach life in many manners, the thought process automatically improves. In this connection, my thoughts about this debut book by author Priyanka Pradhan will have a profound effect on the reader's mind because, the stories are honest, plain and vividly beautiful. The reason for such remark is because though the stories belong to the 58

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Book Review

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My Final Verdict Honest and heartwarming tales from the mountains

Rating Final Rating: 5/5 Swapna worked as SAP Consultant for 10 years in Major IT companies. Reading has always been her passion and occasional painting her hobby. She decided to quit her job, look after the family and pursue her hobby of reading and painting in a larger way. Thus, her big leap into book reviewing has paved a way and has been successful to date. Reading challenges interest her a lot and visiting book fairs is her favorite thing. She believes that there is no good back or bad book, but only books. Writing unbiased reviews is her strength and she is appreciated by fellow reviewers and readers for the same. An anthology of musings with her paintings is her pending dream!

@swapna.peri @sappy_dreamz_unlimited @swapna508

NOVEMBER 2020

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STORIZEN REVIEW

TOUCHING, THOUGHT-PROVOKING & INTRIGUING REALISTIC TALES With an accessible language and understandable vocabulary, the book is written that suits the reader of any age who understands what the world is now going through.

Reviewed by Swapna Peri

This year has been tough for everyone in the world. Each and every soul, be it human or any other living being is facing troubles. The pandemic has affected the world and its people in many ways. The lockdown months have devastated many lives. People have been experiencing frustration, anger and anxiety. A person of every age group has been falling prey for these conditions apart from the fear of getting infected by the virus. This mere fear has also drawn the relationships between people adrift and created a void. No community gatherings have shown people how to spend in precarious times.

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NOVEMBER 2020

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BOOK REVIEW

In the book, there are stories that talk loud, but in a sublime level about caste, economic class disparity, haves and have not's, death and after death consequences, political scenarios and its effects. The stories range from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. But, what stands highlight is that every story as an undercurrent emotion along with a moral that which if, gets inducted into one's mind, a person will be ready to fight any kind of unusual happening in the world. There is humour, sadness, reality checks and darkness in the stories. The cover image of the book in black and white shows the good and the bad, happy and the sad etc., analogies that reflect in one's life. The author has also touched the subjects like poverty, abuse, discrimination and arrogance. Vijyant ThaparEvery story also warns the reader the need for preparedness when a mishap of any type happens.

The Book

A Must Read

This book is a collection of ten short tales. The title of the book - Essential Items And Other Tales from a Land in Lockdown clearly states that the stories are inspired from ten vastly different walks of life and their experiences in India, all tied together by the common theme called lockdown.

With an accessible language and understandable vocabulary, the book is written that suits the reader of any age who understands what the world is now going through. And yes, definitely the book is quite entertaining in terms of the storytelling.

Book Review

STORIZEN REVIEW

My Final Verdict Touching, Thought-provoking & Intriguing realistic tales.

@swapna.peri @sappy_dreamz_unlimited @swapna508

NOVEMBER 2020

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A Fascinating Story Reviewed by Swapna Peri

STORIZENREVIEW

When I first started reading this book, I did not realise the magic it is going to do. The first story in the book How Nu Wa created the world?, from China blew my mind. The vivid description, the intrinsic detailing and the narration caught my attention. Since the lockdown, I have been reading excellent books, but deep down in mind, there is some unknown pressure due to the ongoing events in and around the world. Being a book from the children literature, this book has hugged me with its fantastic stories and warmth.

NOVEMBER 2020

Author Sowmya is known for engaging narration and accessible language in her books. Her previous books have been reachable to the young readers for attractive writing skills. In this book also, she has given the readers an ala-carte of short stories from all over the world. A consistent way of presenting good stories to the young minds is her strength, and in this book, which happens to be my second book of hers, her writing stays atop.

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BOOK REVIEW

Sometimes being a dimwit or a child lost in the past times is what I love to become. And this is entirely possible when I read children's books. This might look funny, but the reason for reading the young people's literature has two advantages. One is it helps me forget the reality for a small amount of and second is to understand how the books enhance a kid's mind and thoughts.

What to Expect This book by Sowmya is basically targetted towards children and young kids who always come with questions like how did the world start, who created the world or how did humans come onto the earth. The Story The book has twenty-two stories that belong to different places, and these are categorised into three.

Book Review

STORIZEN REVIEW

How entertaining is the book This book by author Karnal Singh, an IPS 0fficer of Delhi Police is an excellent piece of work. The action sequences mentioned in the book are so well detailed and described that they give absolute chills. The information, facts and figures in the book are so well accurate that every reader will be mesmerized with the action episodes in the book.

Rating Final Rating: 5/5

Swapna worked as SAP Consultant for 10 years in Major IT companies. Reading has always been her passion and occasional painting her hobby. She decided to quit her job, look after the family and pursue her hobby of reading and painting in a larger way. Thus, her big leap into book reviewing has paved a way and has been successful to date. Reading challenges interest her a lot and visiting book fairs is her favorite thing. She believes that there is no good back or bad book, but only books. Writing unbiased reviews is her strength and she is appreciated by fellow reviewers and readers for the same. An anthology of musings with her paintings is her pending dream!

@swapna.peri @sappy_dreamz_unlimited @swapna508

NOVEMBER 2020

STORIZEN MAGAZINE

A Nice and Gripping Short Story! Not every story is long, or not every story is spoon-fed. Reviewed by Swapna Peri

Some Stories, Long or Short, Teach Us New Things

Not every story is long, or not every story is spoon-fed. This is my second story of Madhulika, and as said earlier for another story, this short story also stands apart from the rest of all the short stories I read in 2020.

STORIZEN MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2020

About the book

A Must Read

Some stories, long or short, teach us new things. I am lucky to have read this story and came to know a new profession. In the tale Amla, the protagonist is a psychic medium. I was not aware of the existence of such a job.

The best things come in compact packages is what I feel about this story, and I repeat this statement once again.

BOOK REVIEW

STORIZEN REVIEW

feel about this story, and I repeat this statement once again. The story is available for free on the Juggernaut app and dear author, kudos for the story.

She is given this duty after her father's death with the help of the priest. From then, without any hiccup of fear, she takes up the job. This story is set up when she talks to that person who is sidelined by his wife and brother both mentally and physically. From the beginning of the story, his conversation with Amla is the story based on. The climax will surely surprise every reader. Not every story is long, or not every story is spoon-fed. This is my second story of Madhulika, and as said earlier for another story, this short story also stands apart from the rest of all the short stories I read in 2020. Be it the narration or the plot or the characters or the feelings portrayed or the thrill the narration gave is wonderful. The best things come in compact packages is what I 70

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Read On -

NOVEMBER 2020

Book Review

STORIZEN REVIEW

My Final Verdict A nice and gripping short story!

Rating Book Title: 3/5 Book Cover: 3/5 Inside the book: 3/5 Characters: 3/5 Narration: 3/5 Language & Grammar: 3/5 Final Rating: 3/5

@swapna.peri @sappy_dreamz_unlimited @swapna508

NOVEMBER 2020

STORIZEN MAGAZINE

STORIZENPOETRY

Seasons of love… by Madhumathi H. Among the autumn leaves That bear the beautiful colors Of a season's musings Happy yellow laughter, orange whispers Winking in purple, blushing in red Some feathers of autumn wrap our soul, in hues of love While withering, and drifting... Mysteriously beautiful, is the fall A carpet of colors that embraces decay, as Another journey of birth As hopeful as the brown bold Earth... As the colors begin to hibernate Colder winter spreads its freezing roots and veins Walking under snow flurries We shiver, and quiver Carrying a frozen heart, looking through pale eyes... Yet It is the chilly winter, that handholds us Towards love that feels like sunshine To find a heart that becomes our summer The tip of our cold nose, touched by cosy steam From the soup, served by a kind soul Love is a kettle, a cup of tea 72

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NOVEMBER 2020

STORIZENPOETRY

A quilt, to snuggle into Love is a kind shoulder, a gentle hug... Each day, Winter whispers, ‘’Love is a verb''… Winter is bliss, to slide into a peaceful quietness The healing silence that fixes the broken strings From the violins and harps of conversations Though cold outside, winters are reminders Of the soul's tenderness What warmth is love That is not given, shared... Hands wiping the tears, and A kiss on the forehead that Plants hope, paints happiness A shoulder to lean on Hand-in-hand walks, an anchor to each other Love is anything that Becomes a bonfire To thaw the frozen heart And heal the frostbite of the soul... Vivid heart-prints blossom When love is poured, and not sprinkled or spilled Every autumn Becomes a canvas of joy Every winter a cosy warm quilt When love is the color, and fabric of life... NOVEMBER 2020

An ardent lover of Nature, Poetry(English and Tamil), Photography, and Music, Madhumathi believes, writing is soul's Metamorphosis, a kaleidoscopic view of life through words. She loves to spread mental health awareness through writing, strongly believing in the therapeutic power of words, and takes part in related awareness activities to break the stigma, and reiterate the importance of empathy. Madhumathi's poems are published in anthologies of Poetry Society India, Chennai Poetry Circle-CPC, India Poetry Circle-IPC, and Poetic Prism. Muse India, International Writer's Journal, Science Shore, Our Poetry Archives, Positive Vibes are some of the e-zines her poems are published with.

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