Spotlight and Review of The Dove's Lament by Kirthi Jayakumar

ALL ABOUT THE BOOK 

NAME OF THE BOOK : THE DOVE'S LAMENT  AUTHOR : KIRTHI JAYAKUMAR  PUBLISHER : READOMANIA  MEDIA MENTIONS: *SOON TO BE UPDATED

WHAT REVIEWERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE NOVEL

Heartwarming, heart wrenching…stories that appeal, yet appall. Hats off to Kirthi Jayakumar who sees so much at such a young age. Usha Narayanan, Author of Pradyumna and The Madras Mangler. - 5 Stars.

This will make you think, question and feel. Every chapter is built around a real incident but unlike news reading small threads of emotions are weaved in  - making you one with the story, however much you might hate it. - Rubina Ramesh, Writer, Blogger and Reviewer. 5 Stars.

WHAT IS THE STORY ABOUT?

The Dove's Lament is a journey that takes you around the world, bringing to life the human side of conflicts that tear people apart. From the genocide in Rwanda, to war-stricken Bosnia, from child marriages in India to prostitution and drug trafficking in Colombia, these stories traverse a microcosm of reality. Be it the manifestation of Bacha Baazi in Afghanistan, or the fight for paradise on Earth, Kashmir, the repertoire of stories lend a soul to what otherwise remain a muddle of news reports and statistics. Through these stories, Kirthi embroiders a tapestry of the unvanquished human spirit in varied shades, and shakes you up to the reality that surrounds you.

My Review

The Dove's Lament is a bemoaning of the human race! 

It talks about their actions, behavior, and conduct towards thy brethren that has led to bloodshed, fightings, and massacre since emotions could not be controlled as pride, and ego came in their way. The author brings out the plight and the quandary of the victims via these twelve fictitious stories that have actually happened as real life incidents thus giving the urban reader a stage to not only read, but also feel the fear, the panic, and the despair of the sufferers when they faced such demons. 

The author's storyline was riveting as most of her words dug deep into my skin leaving a mark and a stain on my heart with shame and disgust for the way we treat thy kinsperson.  After each of her imaginary stories, she has highlighted the actual incident that had happened year or years back. No doubt, they made headlines then but today they made me visualize up close and personal thanks to her vivid stories. 

“Ugly truths are the biggest source of indigestion in humans.” 

― Raheel Farooq

I commend the author, Kirthi Jayakumar for her endeavors to actually bring out the sensitiveness of the sufferer. The characters emotions were neatly woven around the incident thus making the reader passionately involved as she got entwined with the individual's fear, agony, and pain. 

There is nothing to dislike in this book. More so since it is giving out the truth. Unfortunately, the ugly truth, that 's hard to digest and embrace since mankind is suffering, and being tortured. Although, we cannot hear their cries, but their pain could be felt via these outlandish and grotesque stories that the author has weaved thus, helping to create awareness in this society.

 It is a work that is utterly brilliant but also very shameful from humanity's perspective. I would applaud Kirthi's endeavors in bringing out the facts thus, making it a highly recommended read. 

BUY @

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Kirthi Jayakumar is a Lawyer, specialised in Public International Law and Human Rights. She has diversified into Research and Writing in Public International Law, Arbitration and Human Rights, besides Freelance Journalism. Working as a UN Volunteer, specializing in Human Rights issues in Africa, India and Central Asia and the Middle East, Kirthi has worked extensively with grass root organizations that focus on women's rights, and also run a journal, academy and consultancy that focuses on International Law, called A38. Kirthi is also the founder of the Red Elephant Foundation, an organisation that works for the empowerment of women.

---

STALK HER 

Wordless Wednesday #97

Grapes were on this branch.

However, the fruit was eaten, devoured for its sweetness, and leaving the twig all bare, and lonely.

Thus, making this sprig useless and into the compost bin.

I want to correlate this twig with our body, which could be termed as a skeleton once we lose our breath and die.

This skeleton is of no use, and will either be burned or buried. All will be remembered is the personality, charisma, emotions of the person.

Thus, making our body just a bag of bones that helps us perform our actions.


Mantra for today: It's just a body. Let's go beyond ourselves!

--------

No Rules!

Link your clicked pictures, and let's have FUN.

1.	Utkalamrita	4.	MP UPPAL	7.	Ash
2.	Indrani	5.	Payal Agarwal
3.	Bikram	6.	Vellur aka Nithya Venkat

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

A Blessing in Disguise

 Mortgage over-due. Bank Balance in negative.

John is sitting on his dry land that has disintegrated due to lack of rains.

Now he has only one hope.

That his continuous bawling, sobbing could wet his land with the hope that he could reap the crops and gain his self-respect.

 Politics and Weather lead to the loss and debt.

While continuing with his sobs, he felt a few trickles.

Looked around, to no luck!

Looked up to see Nature joining him in his cry.

That made him euphoric since Mother Nature's whimper is a blessing in disguise.

-------

In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about the need for help in an extreme weather event. Is the help local or global? Does it arrive or the plea go ignored? It doesn’t have to be fire. Think about extreme weather occurrences and consequences.
Join in the fun at CarrotRanch.

Tornado Giveaway 2: Book No. 60: RI: HOMELAND OF UNCERTAINTY by Paulami DuttaGupta

Name of the Book: RI: HOMELAND OF UNCERTAINTY
Author: Paulami DuttaGupta

Read some reviews:

1. Rubina Ramesh 
2. Ruchi Singh 
3. Privy Trifles 

The Story:

Ri- Homeland of Uncertainty is adapted from the National Award Winning Khasi film by the same name.

Trapped in the limbo between ideology and conscience, Manbha finds him himself part of a terror outfit. An unexpected opportunity, anger, squalor and disillusionment - followed by and armed combat and injury lead to the soul- searching that form the substance of this moving tale.

You can also buy @

About The Author 

Paulami DuttaGupta 

Born in Shillong, many moons ago, with schooling at Loreto Convent, and an English Honors from St. Edmunds College, Paulami Duttagupta started her career with All India Radio Shillong. She had written and also given her voice to a few shows there. Later she came down to Kolkata and got a post graduate degree in Comparative Literature from Jadavpur University. She had also taken up a fancy to learning Spanish, but today confesses that she has forgotten most of it.

She has written for ‘The Times of India’ in the ‘Guwahati-Shillong plus Edition’ and also ‘The Shillong Times’. Television had always attracted her and was connected to the Bangla TV industry for about 6 years. She was associated with ETV- Bangla, Akash Bangla and Sony Aath in this period.

Having left her day job in 2012, Paulami took up full time writing. Her first novel, “Pinjar” released in early 2012.

Her second novel “Unplanned Destiny” released in 2014. She is also the screenplay writer of the national award winning Khasi film – “Ri Homeland of Uncertainty”.

“Ri” has been adapted into a novel and is releasing in Sepember’14.

She is currently working on her next project as movie script writer.

Apart from writing full length novels, she has written several short stories and articles. She has also contributed to the “Minds@work Anthology” and the “Family Matters International Anthology” in 2013.

Recently she has contributed to the “Learning and Creativity Anthology” , “Her Story Anthology”, and “Celebrating India – Love across Borders Anthology”.

When she is not writing or watching movies, Paulami is either reading biographies or classic pieces of literature. Cricket, food, cinema, books and music are an integral part of her life.

Stalk her @
Website | Twitter | Facebook

This Past Summer...

It has been in the news all over, California is facing a drought and this time it is severe since it has been four years, and the water reservoirs are depleting thus the rationing of water.

Short showers, No wasting water on landscaping or swimming pools and no fun water activities.

What a bummer, huh! 

Visualize this: School out!
High Temperatures during the summer and no fun activity revolving around water!
"Such a boring summer" as the kid would usually squeal with agony and distress.

But alas! Rules are rules thus, after a few exchange of dialogues between an adult and the kid; the conversation would die down with a usual, "oh! Man. Summer sucks!"

Sure it sucks. I totally get it!

Thus, mounting the pressure of how to keep this kiddo entertained without exposing him to lots of screen time. Thus, besides organizing play dates, night outs.

I tried out various tactics...some failed while some were partially a success while some rocked!

First off was exposing the kid to various delicacies of food and mind you none was cooked at home thus, avoiding bruising a mom's ego.

Introduced Dark Chocolate. He has been a fan of milk chocolate, but this was a totally new world for him, and I wish I could have clicked a pic of him. But now, this video will tell it all.


There was lots of Ice-Cream, Sundae Floats, Gelato's, and anything that would be freezing temperatures.

Introduced Chess. We played loads of it. I still suck, while he climbed three stairs to it. That expression of when he would defeat me....Priceless!

Music...lots of it. He played, I sang. Sometimes we allowed singers such as Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Andy Grammer to name a few in our home. The loud blaring music would throw away all inhibitions as we would jump and dance to it. Laughter was our constant companion during this practice and towards the end, we had developed a good appetite thus, giving justice to most of the cuisines that we tried.

The school started this Monday, and what I'll miss about summer is my kid's company. No doubt we argued over things, there were banging on doors, high pitched voices, but there were many smiles too! I will miss them all since good and bad is what makes the memories so memorable!!

Until next summer, which will be a water soaked fun season if and only if the El-Nino hits us this winter. I shall keep the above memories close by!

Mantra for today: Good and Bad, when mingled, leaves a distinct flavor just like enjoying dark chocolate; bitter and sweet.


--------

This has been a Finish the Sentence Friday post, where writers and bloggers gather together to share their versions of a completed sentence. This week’s prompt was “”What I’ll miss about summer…”
Hosts:
hosted by:
Me – Kristi Rieger Campbell (findingninee.com),
Lisa Moskowitz Sadikman (flingome.com) – this week’s sentence thinker-upper, and
Allison McGrath Smith (thelatchkeymom.com/)

Tornado Giveaway 2: Book No. 52: FINDING FISHER by Dakota Madison

Name of the Book: FINDING FISHER

Author: Dakota Madison

Read some reviews:

1. Linda Sims 
2. Paula Phillips 
3. Margaret 

The Story:

Franklin Smith was the perfect fiancé. He was at the top of our class at Stanford and had been recently accepted to Harvard Law. But Spring Break our senior year of college changed everything. He went back home to New Jersey and never returned. At his funeral I discovered a guy I never knew. His secret past. And a twin brother, Fisher, I didn’t know existed.

You can also buy @

About The Author 

Dakota Madison 

Dakota Madison has been writing since she learned to read and fell in love with books. When she's not at her computer creating spicy new romances, Dakota is traveling to exotic locales or spending time with her husband and their bloodhounds.

(A USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR, Karen Mueller Bryson writes contemporary romance under the pen names Dakota Madison, Savannah Young, Sierra Avalon and Ren Monterrey.)

Stalk her @
Website | Twitter | Facebook 

Tornado Giveaway 2: Book No. 50: METRO DIARIES by Namrata

Name of the Book: METRO DIARIES

Author: Namrata

Read some reviews:

1. Sundari Venkatraman 
2. Kritika Narula 
3. Sachin Prabhu 

The Story:

Love is one of the most amazing feelings on this earth, one that makes you the most powerful person or the most helpless person in a split second. These stories capture those feelings of despair, longing, love, lust, desire, want, dejection and admiration to create deja vu. Hold onto your hearts as you flip through these pages and take a walk down the memory lane, as "metro diaries" will revive your innermost feelings and imbibe in you the magic of love. Touching, amusing and deeply moving, metro diaries - love classics are tales that will hold you from start till end.

You can also buy @

About The Author 

Namrata 

Namrata is an investment banker who dreams of making a difference to the world, one word at a time. She romances life through her writings and aspires to make love the universal language. She is a contributor to various anthologies and e-zines along with having recently published her first solo e-book called Metro Diaries: Seventeen LOVE classics. She is also the editor for Writer's Ezine, apart from being a reviewer for leading publishing houses.

Stalk her @
Website | Twitter | Facebook