Download or read book In the Shadow of the Taj written by Royina Grewal and published by Penguin Books India. This book was released on 2007 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: I Asked A Young Man In A Ghetto In Agra If He Had Ever Seen The Taj Mahal. Taj Mahal? He Said. I Haven T Seen It, But Yes, I Have Heard Of It. It Is In Delhi. Agra Has More Than Mere Mention In The Hindu Scriptures. And The City S Position Of Strategic Importance Astride Important Trade Routes Historically Attracted Empire-Builders Ranging From The Lodhis And The Mughals To The British. Now, Says Royina Grewal, Agra Has Fallen Prey To A Lassitude That Has Caused Large Swathes Of The Once Magnificent Capital Of Emperors Akbar, Jahangir And Shah Jahan To Succumb To Decay And Haphazard Development. Delving Into Myth And History, Drawing Deep Conclusions From Her Lengthy Conversations With Varied Citizens Of Multi-Cultural Agra, Grewal Weaves Grand Strands From The Past With The Humbler Textures Of Present-Day Agra To Explain Why The Home Of The World S Best-Known Monument Has Been Allowed To Disintegrate, And Why The Once Mighty Yamuna Is Merely A Stream Of Sludge. But There Is Hope, Says Grewal. Drawing Inspiration From The Many Enlightened Individuals She Met On Her Peregrinations In And Around Agra, She Points To Ways In Which The City Can Be Saved. In The Shadow Of The Taj May Be A Map Of The City S History, But It Can Also Be A Drawing Board That Offers Insights For A Sustainable Future.
Download or read book Shadow Princess written by Indu Sundaresan and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2010-03-09 with total page 437 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Critically acclaimed author Indu Sundaresan picks up where she left off in The Twentieth Wife and The Feast of Roses, returning to seventeenth-century India as two princesses struggle for supremacy of their father’s kingdom. Trapped in the shadow of the magnificent tomb their grief-stricken father is building for his beloved deceased wife, the emperor’s daughters compete for everything: control over the imperial harem, their father’s affection, and the future of their country. They are forbidden to marry and instead choose to back different brothers in the fight for ultimate power over the throne. But only one of the sisters will succeed. With an enthusiasm for history and a flair for rich detail, Indu Sundaresan brings readers deep into the complicated lives of Indian women of the time period and highlights the profound history of one of the most celebrated works of architecture in the world, the Taj Mahal.
Download or read book Shadow of the Taj written by Lara Bernhardt and published by . This book was released on 2021-07-27 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Lara Bernhardt writes with ferocious honesty and tenderness, laying open the ugly world of the trafficking of young girls with a bright spear of hope."-Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times best-selling author of The Deep End of the Ocean How much would you risk to save one child? Leslie Matthews travels to India with her husband on a business trip, never expecting it will turn her life upside-down. During a trip to the zoo, she meets Raveena, an orphan desperate for someone to save her from a harrowing fate. Leslie tries to rescue Raveena from a sordid, exploitative underworld, but powerful and brutal men hold the girl and don't intend to let anyone take her. Leslie tumbles into a terrifying underworld of systemic abuse she knows nothing about. But she won't stop until Raveena is safe, regardless of the cost. In a battle against impossible odds, Leslie wagers everything she has-including her life-to free Raveena. Shadow of the Taj is a deeply moving, inspirational novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. A must read!
Download or read book The Shadow Factory written by James Bamford and published by Anchor. This book was released on 2009-07-14 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: James Bamford has been the preeminent expert on the National Security Agency since his reporting revealed the agency’s existence in the 1980s. Now Bamford describes the transformation of the NSA since 9/11, as the agency increasingly turns its high-tech ears on the American public. The Shadow Factory reconstructs how the NSA missed a chance to thwart the 9/11 hijackers and details how this mistake has led to a heightening of domestic surveillance. In disturbing detail, Bamford describes exactly how every American’s data is being mined and what is being done with it. Any reader who thinks America’s liberties are being protected by Congress will be shocked and appalled at what is revealed here.
Download or read book The Feast of Roses written by Indu Sundaresan and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2003-05-27 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A rich historical tapestry...Sundaresan colors the life of a fascinating woman whose female wiles inspired the Taj Mahal" (Booklist). The love story of Emperor Jahangir and Mehrunnisa, begun in the critically praised debut novel The Twentieth Wife, continues in Indu Sundaresan's lush second novel, The Feast of Roses. Here, Mehrunnisa comes into Jahangir's harem as his twentieth and last wife. This time Jahangir has married for love, and members of his court are worried that Mehrunnisa could exert control over their futures. Their concerns are well founded. Mehrunnisa soon becomes the most powerful woman in the Mughal Empire in spite of a formidable rival in the imperial harem who has schemed and plotted against her from the start. She rules from behind the veil, securing her status by forming a junta of sorts with her father, brother, and stepson -- and risking it all, even her daughter, to get what she wants. But she never loses the love of the man who bestows this power upon her....
Download or read book Wanderings in India written by John Lang and published by . This book was released on 1859 with total page 434 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book TAJ written by Timeri N. Murari and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When his queen, Arjumand Banu - Mumtaz-i-Mahal, the Chosen One of the Palace - died, Shah Jahan wanted to build a monument that was the image of his perfect love for her. For twenty-two years, twenty thousand men laboured day and night to fulfil the emperors obsession. The result was the Taj Mahal, a marble mausoleum lined with gold, silver and precious jewels. This powerful novel narrates the story of the Taj on two parallel levels. The first one tells the passionate love story of Shah Jahan and Arjumand till her death through the voices of three main characters - Arjumand, Shah Jahan and Isa, Arjumands favourite eunuch. The second recounts the later years of Shah Jahans reign, the building of the Taj Mahal and the bloody pursuit of the fabled Peacock Throne by his sons. Intertwined with the narrative about the building of the Taj is the story of Murthi, the Hindu craftsman sent as a gift to the emperor to carve the famous marble jali around Arjumands sarcophagus. In this complex and fascinating book, Murari has written much more than a historical romance. He has skillfully recreated the period against which the story is set: the opulence of the palace and the grinding poverty of seventeenth-century India, the vicissitudes of Shah Jahans reign and the often bitter conflict between men of different faiths
Download or read book The Twentieth Wife written by Indu Sundaresan and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2003-02-18 with total page 424 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The story of Mehrunnisa, the daughter of servents who became the an empresses of the Mughal empire.
Download or read book Book of Ganesha written by Royina Grewal and published by Penguin UK. This book was released on 2009-07-20 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, is easily the most recognizable and loveable of Hindu deities. But pinpointing his various attributes is not quite so simple. He is at once the portly, merry, childlike god and the sage, complex philosopher. He is the presiding deity of material wealth and the lord of spirituality. He removes all impediments for his devotees but creates all manner of difficulties for the transgressors, man or god. And associated with every aspect of Ganesha-be it his extraordinary birth, his elephant head, his broken tusk, his vehicle (the mouse), his appetite, his anger-are scores of myths, each more colourful than the other. In this thoroughly researched and delightfully narrated book, Royina Grewal gives us the many stories of Ganesha, exploring their significance and how they reflect the times and the cultures during which they originated.
Download or read book The Shadow Queen written by Bertrice Small and published by Harlequin. This book was released on 2012-09-01 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mourn me but briefly. Then find your destiny, Lara, my love, my life. Now let me go… With those words, the spirit of Magnus Hauk, Dominus of Terah, departs his body—leaving the fate of his nation to his wife, the half faerie Lara. While Lara's son Prince Taj is well loved by the people of Terah, he is too young to rule, so Lara must obey Magnus's dying command and govern in his stead. Yet some in Terah still believe that a female must never wear the crown…and Lara and her children will face old enemies who are not finished with their schemes for revenge. But one hope remains—Lara has a powerful ally in Prince Kaliq of the Shadows, though never was there a more seductive friend or foe….
Download or read book Dateline Islamabad written by Amit Baruah and published by Penguin UK. This book was released on 2007-06-06 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It was an assignment that was at once challenging and intimidating. I was going to be setting foot on --enemy'' territory.' Amit Baruah was one of only two Indian journalists allowed to be based in Islamabad during three tumultuous years of Pakistan's history. The author recounts with some amusement his family's experience of life in Islamabad society between April 1997 and June 2000"all of it conducted under the suspicious gaze of Pakistani intelligence agents who shadow Baruah, his wife and daughters everywhere, including into friends' living rooms. He records his frustration at being disallowed from reporting freely on the ground many events that defined Indo-Pak relations, even as death or kidnapping forever stalks him. Three incidents haunt Baruah the most: not being cleared to attend the funeral, in 1998, of John Joseph, the bishop of Faisalabad who committed suicide in protest against Pakistan's -blasphemy' laws; being forbidden to view the wreckage of an Indian Air Force plane shot down during the Kargil conflict of 1999; and being prevented from entering Afghanistan from Pakistan to report on the Kandahar hijacking later that year. And yet, says Baruah, despite all the personal and professional difficulties he faced in Pakistan, his stint in Islamabad"and his exchanges with so many friends he cannot name"proved to be the most exciting and enriching in his career. While admitting the difficult nature of his job as a foreign correspondent in a hostile nation, Baruah recalls the joys of meeting generous, like-minded people in a country whose regimented stance on India"and its press"is less than friendly.
Download or read book The Shadow Lines written by Amitav Ghosh and published by Penguin Books India. This book was released on 2010-01-26 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Opening in Calcutta in the 1960s, Amitav Ghosh's radiant second novel follows two families -- one English, one Bengali -- as their lives intertwine in tragic and comic ways. The narrator, Indian born and English educated, traces events back and forth in time, from the outbreak of World War II to the late twentieth century, through years of Bengali partition and violence, observing the ways in which political events invade private lives.
Download or read book Beasts Made of Night written by Tochi Onyebuchi and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2017-10-31 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "...The beginning of a great saga..." —NPR.org "This compelling Nigerian-influenced fantasy has a wonderfully unique premise and lush, brilliant worldbuilding that will consume you until the last page."—Buzzfeed "...Unforgettable in its darkness, inequality, and magic." —VOYA, Starred Review "...A paean to an emerging black legend."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review Black Panther meets Nnedi Okorafor's Akata Witch in Beasts Made of Night, the first book in an epic fantasy duology. In the walled city of Kos, corrupt mages can magically call forth sin from a sinner in the form of sin-beasts—lethal creatures spawned from feelings of guilt. Taj is the most talented of the aki, young sin-eaters indentured by the mages to slay the sin-beasts. But Taj’s livelihood comes at a terrible cost. When he kills a sin-beast, a tattoo of the beast appears on his skin while the guilt of committing the sin appears on his mind. Most aki are driven mad by the process, but Taj is cocky and desperate to provide for his family. When Taj is called to eat a sin of a member of the royal family, he’s suddenly thrust into the center of a dark conspiracy to destroy Kos. Now Taj must fight to save the princess that he loves—and his own life. Debut author Tochi Onyebuchi delivers an unforgettable series opener that powerfully explores the true meaning of justice and guilt. Packed with dark magic and thrilling action, Beasts Made of Night is a gritty Nigerian-influenced fantasy perfect for fans of Paolo Bacigalupi and Nnedi Okorafor. iBooks Most Anticipated YA Books of the Fall io9’s All the Science Fiction and Fantasy Books to Keep On Your Radar This Fall BuzzFeed’s 22 YA Novels You’ll Want To Read From Cover To Cover This Fall A 2017 BookExpo Buzz Book A Junior Library Guild Selection
Download or read book Shadow of the Swords written by Kamran Pasha and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2010-06-22 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An epic saga of love and war, Shadow of the Swords tells the story of the Crusades—from the Muslim perspective. Saladin, a Muslim sultan, finds himself pitted against King Richard the Lionheart as Islam and Christianity clash against each other, launching a conflict that still echoes today. In the midst of a brutal and unforgiving war, Saladin finds forbidden love in the arms of Miriam, a beautiful Jewish girl with a tragic past. But when King Richard captures Miriam, the two most powerful men on Earth must face each other in a personal battle that will determine the future of the woman they both love—and of all civilization. Richly imagined, deftly plotted, and highly entertaining, Shadow of the Swords is a remarkable story that will stay with readers long after the final page has been turned.
Download or read book The Orphan Keeper written by Camron Wright and published by Turtleback Books. This book was released on 2017-10-03 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seven-year-old Chellamuthu's life--and his destiny--is forever changed when he is kidnapped from his village in Southern India and sold to the Lincoln Home for Homeless Children. His family is desperate to find him, and Chellamuthu anxiously tells th
Download or read book Savvy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell written by Taj McCoy and published by Hachette UK. This book was released on 2023-02-14 with total page 259 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'A feel-good, uplifting read' USA Today 'A heartfelt, hopeful, and humorous exploration of the importance of learning to love yourself . . . a joy to read' Booklist, STARRED REVIEW 'Reading a body positive book with a curvy women of colour who is a leading lady and NOT a sidekick, made me smile ear-to-ear. Savvy is a talented, compassionate, intelligent and fully developed character who made me stand up and cheer!' Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Savvy Sheldon spends a lot of time tiptoeing around the cracks in her life: her high-stress and low-thanks job, her clueless boyfriend and the falling-apart kitchen she inherited from her beloved grandma-who taught her how to cook. But when Savvy's world starts to crash down around her, she knows it's time for some renovations. Starting from the outside in, Savvy tackles her crumbling kitchen, her relationship with her body, her work-life balance (or lack thereof) and, last but not least, her love life. But as any home-renovation-show junkie can tell you, something always falls apart during renovations. First, Savvy passes out during hot yoga. Then it turns out that the contractor she hires is the same sexy stranger she unintentionally offended by judging based on appearances. Worst of all, Savvy can't seem to go anywhere without tripping over her ex and his latest "upgrade." Maybe Savvy should've started her renovations the other way around: beginning with how she sees herself before building a love that lasts . . . A sexy and heart-pounding romantic comedy that will make you stand up and cheer! Fans of Talia Hibbert, Ali Hazelwood and Jesse Sutanto won't be able to resist Savvy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell. Readers still aren't over Savvy Sheldon: 'I love plus-size positive love stories and it seems like there are so many coming out recently that I really need to catch up! This was definitely worth the read and I'll be reading more of McCoy in the future!' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'SAVVY SHELDON FEELS GOOD AS HELL was wonderful! I adored Savvy from page 1, and her journey to self love was wonderful to read. The food descriptions in this book!!! I caught myself cooking while reading because it made me so hungry. Plus her connection with Spencer was electric! I loved this one and can't wait for McCoy's next!' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'What a great story! I loved Savvy and I also loved Spencer, a man who ended up being much more than Savvy's contractor. Factor in a lot of tennis, a lot of cooking, and Savvy fighting the insecurities she had with her appearance, and Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell left me with a feel-good feeling' Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Another one to add to the favourites pile! I loved Savvy and getting to be alongside her on her journey to self-discovery!' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'LOVEDDDDD IT!!!!' Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I was enamoured with Taj's McCoy's debut. Savvy goes on one heck of a self-love journey post-breakup and I was cheering for her the whole way. Add a steamy romance into the mix and my heart sang as I tore through this book. This feel-good, empowering romcom will blow you away, guaranteed' Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This is a unique book that I think a lot of women, young and old alike will benefit from reading. It has a wonderful message wrapped up in a love story, full of affirmations for Black women especially, and an MC who everyone will want to root for. I read it in one sitting and couldn't recommend it more!' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Download or read book The Indu Sundaresan Collection written by Indu Sundaresan and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2013-10-01 with total page 1136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Internationally bestselling author Indu Sundaresan's “Taj Trilogy,” now available as an ebook boxed set, features three of her most critically acclaimed novels transporting readers back in time to India's renowned Mughal Empire. THE TWENTIETH WIFE: An enchanting historical epic of grand passion and adventure, this debut novel tells the captivating story of one of India's most controversial empresses -- a woman whose brilliance and determination trumped myriad obstacles, and whose love shaped the course of the Mughal Empire. Skillfully blending the textures of historical reality with the rich and sensual imaginings of a timeless fairy tale, The Twentieth Wife sweeps readers up in Mehrunnisa's embattled love with Prince Salim, and in the bedazzling destiny of a woman -- a legend in her own time -- who was all but lost to history until now. THE FEAST OF ROSES: The love story of Emperor Jahangir and Mehrunnisa, begun in the critically praised debut novel The Twentieth Wife, continues in Indu Sundaresan's lush second novel, The Feast of Roses. Here, Mehrunnisa comes into Jahangir's harem as his twentieth and last wife. This time Jahangir has married for love, and members of his court are worried that Mehrunnisa could exert control over their futures. Their concerns are well founded. Mehrunnisa soon becomes the most powerful woman in the Mughal Empire in spite of a formidable rival in the imperial harem who has schemed and plotted against her from the start. She rules from behind the veil, securing her status by forming a junta of sorts with her father, brother, and stepson -- and risking it all, even her daughter, to get what she wants. But she never loses the love of the man who bestows this power upon her. SHADOW PRINCESS: Critically acclaimed author Indu Sundaresan picks up where she left off in The Twentieth Wife and The Feast of Roses, returning to seventeenth-century India as two princesses struggle for supremacy of their father’s kingdom. Trapped in the shadow of the magnificent tomb their grief-stricken father is building for his beloved deceased wife, the emperor’s daughters compete for everything: control over the imperial harem, their father’s affection, and the future of their country. They are forbidden to marry and instead choose to back different brothers in the fight for ultimate power over the throne. But only one of the sisters will succeed. With an enthusiasm for history and a flair for rich detail, Indu Sundaresan brings readers deep into the complicated lives of Indian women of the time period and highlights the profound history of one of the most celebrated works of architecture in the world, the Taj Mahal.
