Saturday, February 24, 2024

Spreading Joy: How Joyalukkas Became the World's Favourite Jeweller Joy Alukkas , Thomas Scaria , Nidhi Jain | Book review

Book review:

Whenever I went to purchase jewellery I used to wonder about the lifestyles and struggles faced by any jeweller. A few days back, when I went to purchase a few books on a book fair I stumbled on a book I planned to read. This was none other than Spreading Joy, a memoir of a jeweller. I wanted to know more about him and his journey to becoming the World's Favourite Jeweller.

Spreading Joy is an engrossing and insightful memoir of a leading jeweller. In this book, the author shares that he is one of the fifteen kids of his parents. He was obedient and reluctant to do anything for his father from the beginning. He loved to explore new places, roam around on his bike to follow his father's commands and do any work related to moving from one place to another. 

His siblings never considered him worthy of any business and felt beyond competition. As per the needs and customs of the family, his siblings got married soon and were involved in business responsibilities leaving them devoid of proper education. But the need of time, he was asked to complete college so that business could be expanded. His adventure-filled curiosity made a path for him to explore his luck in UAE after his marriage to Jolly. 

He took the help of his known people to seek a visa and explore the place over there so that he could open a showroom in UAE. The author here shares his struggles in finding a sponsor for him and then finding a place where he can open a showroom over there. He shares how he got a sponsor and the one who became his mentor for opening a showroom later turned out to be a strong competitor. But he never gave up his efforts, patience and perseverance and opened many showrooms one by one in varied places.

Slowly and steadily he grew up as a famous entrepreneur and a famous personality. The core values taught by his father made his pillars of strength and guided him to make practical decisions even after the partition of the Alukkas family business. He shared a jovial and understanding relationship with his family and a respectful grandparent of six grandchildren.

The author has shared his insightful journey of hardships and struggles to his success. The language is lucid and evocative. The way he shared his learnt concepts of finance and business is really praiseworthy.

Quotes from the book that piqued me:
💎"Finance is the lifeline of any business, so a core understanding of finance is mandatory if one wants to become a great businessman".

💎"No matter how hopeless your circumstances seem to be, and how helpless you feel, the best way forward is to take action. To shake off the feeling of despair and get up and do something, instead of waiting for a solution or a grand stroke of luck."

💎"A powerful brand cannot be built overnight. It demands continual investment in product innovation, branding and marketing."

Overall, this book is an inspiring memoir full of interesting stories and anecdotes. The books had some of the family pictures of Joy. And most of the inauguration pictures had Joy and his wife together. This increased my respect for him. I respect him for giving his wife equal rights, respect and love she deserves. The book is filled with beautiful quotes that we can completely resonate with. Highly recommended!

This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Bohemian Bibliophile.


Purchase: Spreading Joy

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Life is for Living by SHAILESH KUMAR | Book review

Book review:

"Life is for Living" is an engrossing and mesmerising tale of a middle-class boy. The story reminds the reader of the strong determination to do anything and how your surroundings can make you a bit more mature than your age at a tender age.
 
The story is set in the early 90s with a typical Indian household background. The story starts with Shiva's childhood when he was saved by his elder brother from drowning during the Kumbh Mela. He shares a unique bond with his elder brother, Veer, who always stands out as his protector. Shiva like other young children has hesitation and fear from his father. 

I was intrigued by the early journey of Shiva, and his school days, each of his class snippets is insightful and predicts his reserved and shy nature. The financial conditions of his family, when Veer wants to prepare for IIT or Roorkee, depict the general scenario of most middle-class families.

The story turns interesting as he decides to attempt JEE and make his way through IIT. As little Shiva dreams vividly, will he be able to achieve his goals amidst the chaotic household, a crush and his friends?

The author's charming composing style engagingly catches little family minutes. The engaging characters resound with general tensions and disappointment and deal with an illustration of exploring the future while moving on to bigger and better things.

The most grounded component is the father-son relationship, exhibiting how Shiva's dad holds nothing back from Veer. Whether it's the connection among Shuba and Veer or Shiva's companionships, every association is complicatedly caught and wonderfully depicted. 

The book's depiction of companionships and familial ties is unquestionably practical; it mirrors the tears, reflections, and contact times that we have all common. A transitioning story furnishes readers with a practical image of that time, occurring during the 1990s and mid-2000s.

In general, "Life is for Living" is a fascinating excursion that makes an engraving and motivates a new regard for life's significant encounters. Worth reading, do grab it!

Examinophobia | Tips to get rid of Exam Phobia


 Introduction

With the onset of February month when teenagers or adults are trying to dive deep in love or seek new love, school-going children are facing the fear of exams that are about to be held in March. These little children are under immense pressure from parents and teachers. Parents are taking extra pains to find extra time so that they can prepare their kids for exams and they can score good marks. 

Almost every home who have school-going children faces the same sense of stress and anxiety. Little kids are mostly noticed under the eye of their mothers who keep a strict watch on their studies and try their level best to make them prepared. At times mothers of these kids are seen to be more learning rather than kids themselves.

Teenagers are consistently pushed towards tuition classes so that they can make their concepts clear and take as many tests as possible. Many teens are seen digging deep into studies or waking up all night and learning their concepts. 

In this ongoing scenario, the children who can cope with pressure survive. But the ones who take this pressure to a certain limit face health issues or make serious decisions if face failures. This phase of preparing for exams has a long-lasting impact on children.

What is Exam Phobia or Examinophobia?



Test fear or exam fear is the anxiety toward tests. It is an unexplained, extreme feeling of dread toward a circumstance (assessments) that prompts evasion of the circumstance. This exorbitant and silly apprehension about tests prompts expanded degrees of nervousness in understudies and deteriorates with no legitimate assistance or direction.

 Let's discuss these reasons for their overstress and anxiety :



👽 Children do not study consistently. They leave their curriculum for exam time. During exams when they cannot adhere to the topics they adopt irrelevant methods to cope with pressure from parents. 

👽 Some students could not understand the topics because of varied reasons. Some have the poor capability or understanding to indulge in the concepts, at times some teachers are not clear enough to the students but the fault is put on the shoulders of the kids themselves. 

👽 In schools where rich students study are seen to be delving into drugs or sometimes kids are diverted towards the wrong means of drinking by poking peers or wrong company.

👽 Extreme stress over exams.

👽Feeling dubious about the assessment process.

👽Worried about the outcomes after the outcomes. Particularly, in families where guardians aren't supportive on the off chance that the researcher scores less.

👽High assumptions from guardians, family members, and society.

👽Lack of certainty could lead to a fear of tests when presented with a stressful situation.

👽Poor nurturing may be one of the principal reasons. The climate where the scholar grows influences the character of the researcher. Inside the house where guardians always quarrel, the youngster grows up as an unreliable individual or a person with low self-esteem. During tests, this weakness could create more pressure and cause examinophobia.

Examinophobics experience the ill effects of hypertension, serious assessment stress, failure to concentrate, and unexpected amnesia. Such side effects could cause adverse results intellectually also as genuinely. The children could experience the ill effects of heaving and the runs. Assuming the researcher is uncovered to worry for a drawn out time of your time, it could lead to sorrow also. Exam dread or fear of tests is pervasive however it's one of the littlest sum recognized disorders. The most extreme sum since it is essential to know the delicate idea of this request, it's even more vital to kill it, to deal with the extraordinary mental condition of youth.

How to overcome Exam Phobia?


1. Early Amendment:

An early amendment will assist you with finishing reading up for the test before time. You will have adequate opportunity to update each subject from the schedule. This way you won't pass up any subjects and will be good to go for your tests.

2. Make Your Schedule:

Each understudy has an alternate technique for contemplating. In this way, it assists with making your plan, according to your prerequisites and inclinations. Think about how much time you can sit in one spot and concentrate without getting diverted. Set the schedule and concentrate in like manner and you will see your uneasiness levels altogether lower.

3. Have an Arrangement Prepared:

Outline an arrangement for getting ready for your tests in light of which subjects need more consideration and which are the subjects you are exhaustive with. Make cheat sheets, stream outlines, charts, and pictures while amending, and afterwards, utilize these for somewhat late correction before your tests.

4. Blend Subjects:

Concentrate on all subjects equally. Distribute a particular measure of time to update each subject, despite how troublesome or simple it could be. This way you will have changed every one of the subjects without passing up any.
On the off chance that you have any trouble in a specific subject, get your questions cleared by your educators or guardians. Staying away from subjects that appear to be extreme will just prompt apprehension about that specific test and lead to a horrible showing in that paper.

5. Get ready Notes:

While concentrating on a subject or updating a part, record highlights of significant places, like dates, occasions, individuals, occurrences, and so forth. Utilize these while composing replies to make them rich and noteworthy.

6. Enjoy Reprieves:

At the point when you make a schedule for your correction, ensure you dispense in the middle between. Reading up for extended periods is burdening for the psyche and the body. It additionally prompts interruptions and loss of concentration.
Have some time off each little while and invest that energy in accomplishing something you appreciate, like a side interest, such as singing, moving, painting, or simply conversing with your folks or companions. This revives the psyche and works on your fixation and your energy levels.

7. Rest soundly:

A decent night's rest is fundamental for a solid psyche and body. Ensure you get an undisturbed 8 hours of rest consistently. Try not to work really hard! All things being equal, rest early and get up early so you can plunk down to concentrate in the mornings with a new psyche.

8. Keep up with Your Penmanship:

A decent penmanship works on your possibilities scoring great imprints. Understudies will more often than not disregard their composition as they attempt to complete their papers in time.
Settling mock tests before tests will give you enough composing practice and an opportunity to neatly work on composition. It will assist you with working on finishing your test in time by speeding up.

9. Try not to Contrast Your Presentation And Others:

Continuously recall that each understudy is novel. Their capacities vary thus will their exhibition in tests. Guardians/Parents should make sure to cease contrasting their kids and others, as there will continuously be a distinction between the two.

Understudies ought to likewise try not to contrast their presentation and that of their companions and spotlight their work. This will decrease the uneasiness among understudies and assist them with showing up for their tests with a quiet brain.

10. Incorporate Headings and Subheadings:

While replying, utilize headings and subheadings. This assists the inspector with understanding what you have replied and how. Make little passages as opposed to composing long ones. This causes your composition to seem neater. It will have a decent effect on your teacher and increment your possibility of scoring great.

Conclusion 

Exams are a part of life so instead of fearing for it, FACE IT! One should never forget that these exams are only meant to make us more capable and not devoid us of our essential qualities of resilience, patience and courage. Parents should become the strong support system for their kids and help them dive from this difficult phase easily and not be judgemental about the outcomes. Stay positive, stay healthy!
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Bohemian Bibliophile.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

A Not So Bollywood Meet Cute by Miya Malai


 A Not So Bollywood Meet Cute

by Miya Malai
Publication date: January 6th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Katrina Shah just wants out of the fame game, away from her high-profile family’s drama. But dodging the spotlight? Tough luck. Especially when she collides with Hollywood’s golden boy, Evan Kristof. Her heart doesn’t seem to have received the memo to steer clear of him.

Evan’s used to the spotlight, the parties, the glitz. Yet, he’s craving a break, some peace. Then he meets Katrina, and suddenly, tranquility’s the last thing on his mind.

As they both try to escape their pasts, sparks fly between the girl who wants anonymity and the movie star. But can they navigate crazy families, an over-the-top wedding, and their undeniable chemistry without getting burned? Their fling might just turn into something much bigger than they bargained for.


The Master of Midnight by William Michael Davidson | GIVEAWAY


 The Master of Midnight

by William Michael Davidson
Publication date: May 10th 2024
Genres: Adult, Thriller

Synopsis:

Finding bodies is part of the job for Detective Otto Haines, but when a victim’s limbs are found in two public parks miles apart from each other, he is utterly confused. Most speculate that it must be some sadistic killer, bent on mutilating his victims and leaving his “calling cards” behind in the ghostly hours of the night.

And there are problems along the way. As Detective Haines tries to hunt down this killer, he must also deal with his rookie partner, Serena Grimm, while trying to keep a secret from his past out of the spotlight. As the trail to the killer becomes a labyrinthine search with shifting suspects and no end in sight, the impossibly horrific nature of these crimes forces Otto to reconsider everything he has known about good and evil.


GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
  • Paperback copy of The Master of Midnight 

Kilo by Sybil Bartel | GIVEAWAY

Kilo
by Sybil Bartel
(The Alpha Elite, #9)
Publication date: February 8th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Breacher.

Navy SEAL.

Mercenary.

Being a breacher on the Teams wasn’t a job, it was my drug of choice. Detonating charges, the blast waves going through me, I lived for the rush of tactical explosive breaching. As long as I kept my brothers safe and didn’t eat a piece of frag, I never looked past my next mission… until I screwed up.

Miscalculating a blast zone, I took a hit. Then I was benched from active duty, told I’d taken one too many subconcussive blows, and forced into medical retirement. 

Except the Navy wasn’t the only home for an explosives expert. Alpha Elite Security took me in, and I got to keep my addiction—right until a mysterious redhead walked into my blast zone and suddenly, I needed a new fix.

Code name: Kilo.

Mission: Detonate.

KILO is a standalone book in the exciting Alpha Elite Series by USA Today Bestselling author, Sybil Bartel. Come meet Kilo and the dominant, alpha heroes who work for AES!

 Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d04251235677/


Thursday, February 15, 2024

How to Edit Generative AI Content in 2024: 16 Rubrics to Craft Compelling Content Faster by Shanu Shah | Book review


 Book review:

This book expects to give an all-encompassing methodology and a thorough aide with an agenda for powerful man-made intelligence instrument use. This part is fundamental for guiding content makers in altering content to accuracy and flawlessness, guaranteeing it is sans blunder.

The book is separated into three sections: precision, refinement, and customization. The primary area constructs the establishment for rightness, validity, and intelligent investigation. The subsequent segment channels the substance to decide its fulfilment. Every part in this segment has the best common circumstances or issues while using computer-based intelligence and offers moves toward structure-altered answers or steps. In the last segment, the creator finishes the whole cycle with imagination.

The most effective method to produce is to make sense of what prohibits things to forgo giving blunders in the substance and where they can be utilized. Botch artificial intelligence in all actuality does happy maker work, spelling and sentence structure are generally normal of all. Rather than expressing authentic subtleties, it concocts no dependable substance which is challenging for the readers to accept and consequently declines in traffic, uncaring toward some subjects, and having believable sources make harm notoriety, imagination and intricacy of the work make it hard for one to depend upon.

This book offers a bit-by-bit guide for those looking to dominate simulated intelligence in their substance creation. She gives important experiences into 16 painstakingly made rubrics, giving substance makers the devices to upgrade the quality and effect of generative computer-based intelligence-produced content.

The author's style is clear, succinct, and implanted with pragmatic models and a helpful agenda. She doesn't avoid specialized subtleties, investigating jargon utilization, accuracy, stream, and organizing given explicit man-made intelligence apparatuses. This approach prepares you to use the qualities of simulated intelligence while making up for its deficiencies.

The author has underlined the enlightening examination on man-made intelligence and essentially what is man-made intelligence and you additionally separate between the generative computer-based intelligence and customary man-made intelligence. One of the primary concerns of this book was to give and share different and various ways where we can make and address our missteps that can occur during the assistance of computer-based intelligence and make them more genuine and unique.

All in all, this book is an important expansion to the library of anyone with any interest at all in excelling at moulding computer-based intelligence-created content. Worth reading, do grab it!

#bookblogger #bookishlife2022_ #blogchatter #nonfiction #nonfictionreads #reads #reading #artificialintelligence

When Longing Becomes Dangerous: A Look at Sanjay Tamta’s If Longing Could Kill

  When Longing Becomes Dangerous: A Look at Sanjay Tamta’s If Longing Could Kill There is something inherently unsettling about a quiet moun...