bookerworm's review against another edition
3.0
I love Anuja's books. She is the only chick lit Indian author I read and her books are my guilty pleasure. But this book is my least favourite. It reads like a Bollywood movie and though I liked the lead characters, I wish there were more scenes with both of them. There wasn't enough in the book about the characters. It is like an action movie.
viveknshah's review against another edition
4.0
Giveaway in exchange of a review
Baaz ke maaphik, a breezy read trying to capture camaraderie between three friends who could have been in an engineering college, army cadets or in a sports team, a love story between polar opposites, patriarchial societies, war , pacificism and she does a good job at that trying to balance it all. Though I wouldn't be surprised if this was converted into a Bollywood movie (Preity Zinta playing "Tinka" Dadyseth) in the manner and perspectives the book progresses through and that threw me a bit off.
Amongst the many divisions India has, civil and defence have been two different worlds and this book tries to capture the ordinary lives with extraordinary missions in the air force especially around the 1970s. A lot of puns like Kuch Bhi Carvalho are littered and usage of coll. English gives a homely desi feel and I find myself able to relate to the ecosystem she has created.
Baaz ke maaphik, a breezy read trying to capture camaraderie between three friends who could have been in an engineering college, army cadets or in a sports team, a love story between polar opposites, patriarchial societies, war , pacificism and she does a good job at that trying to balance it all. Though I wouldn't be surprised if this was converted into a Bollywood movie (Preity Zinta playing "Tinka" Dadyseth) in the manner and perspectives the book progresses through and that threw me a bit off.
Amongst the many divisions India has, civil and defence have been two different worlds and this book tries to capture the ordinary lives with extraordinary missions in the air force especially around the 1970s. A lot of puns like Kuch Bhi Carvalho are littered and usage of coll. English gives a homely desi feel and I find myself able to relate to the ecosystem she has created.
maim_mona's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bookishmusingsbya's review against another edition
3.0
What I personally enjoyed about the book was some of those terrible puns (Kuch Bhi Carvahlo, for example). She literally made me laugh out loud at a couple of points in the book. (I'm surprised nobody ever called Ishaan Baaz Turd, though. But then again, my terrible puns are the worst kinds of terrible puns). I also loved how much time she spent describing Ishaan (delish, that boy). Physically and his cockyness. (Right up my alley, if he weren't in the military). I've never gotten to read physical descriptions of guys in this much detail, while the girl's physique was thoroughly deemphasized. (Of course she wears a bikini and guys go crazy, but we don't know what colour her eyes are, or what she's wearing at the moment, which almost never happens). I like how Ishaan gets confused about basic (to me) English words.
I'm not calling this the best book I've read this year. I'm not calling it flawless, or a literary masterpiece either. But it was a definite cheap thrill. [a:Anuja Chauhan|1637550|Anuja Chauhan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1380174467p2/1637550.jpg]Anuja Chauhan has definitely grown as an author, in my opinion (should I be saying shit like this? Idk. But we've established I'm a snob). This is much, much better than [b:The Zoya Factor|3840329|The Zoya Factor|Anuja Chauhan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411336569s/3840329.jpg|3885170]The Zoya Factor. It's got me piqued enough to consider reading more of her. It does have a certain je ne sais quoi.
For a more detailed review, check this link out
I'm not calling this the best book I've read this year. I'm not calling it flawless, or a literary masterpiece either. But it was a definite cheap thrill. [a:Anuja Chauhan|1637550|Anuja Chauhan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1380174467p2/1637550.jpg]Anuja Chauhan has definitely grown as an author, in my opinion (should I be saying shit like this? Idk. But we've established I'm a snob). This is much, much better than [b:The Zoya Factor|3840329|The Zoya Factor|Anuja Chauhan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411336569s/3840329.jpg|3885170]The Zoya Factor. It's got me piqued enough to consider reading more of her. It does have a certain je ne sais quoi.
For a more detailed review, check this link out
limrika's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book in one sitting. Its good as her first three books. The plot is entertaining and it keeps you going. Ishaan "Baaz" Fauzdaar's character is definitely the one that is the most endearing and you find yourself rooting for him. The plot itself- Bangladesh Liberation War and the Fighter pilots of Indian Air Force is very fascinating and she does an awesome job with the whole plot and most of the characters. It's especially interesting because even though this is supposed to be a book of the "masala"chai genre the author has touched subjects like whether war is justified, is there a limit to loyalty to your country etc. She gives us two sides of it and you are free understand them and to take your own stand. The only character I didn't like in the book is Tinka. Anuja Chauhan was probably trying to make her a real human character with flaws and imperfections. I love imperfect, grey characters but Tinka is just insufferable at times. I would have appreciated if the author gave her an arch that made me like her in the end but nothing of that sort happened. She had zero character development. I ended the book feeling like she's still the arrogant, privileged, phony person she was before and though Ishaan and her romance made sense it's hard not to wonder whether they would have made it in the long run with such fundamental differences. I realize I am starting to sound like Juhi! Anyways, if you are looking for an entertaining book go for it. If you are a sucker for soldier movies or shows this is a must.
rinz's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
any book that has me gasping for air at 3am deserves 5 stars
readwithshashank's review against another edition
3.0
Completed BAAZ by Anuja Chauhan. Trying not to spoil the suspense much for any readers but feel free to skip the details anyway. :)
Was a simple to read, fast paced read which kept me engaged all through. It's basically the life/ love story of Ishaan "Baaz" Faujdar set against the 1971 Ind-Pak conflict that led to creation of Bangladesh.
Baaz is a superstar pilot in IAF who despite not flying the elite aircraft, turns out to be a hero of the war; and wins over the heart of his lady love and so many others. The book though engaging, seems unrealistic and slightly filmy at times. It does keep the reader interested though all along and could finish the book 'Baaz-ke-maafik'.
I could almost almost visualize Baaz, Raka, Maddy, etc and hoped I had better imagination for Tinka and Harry Rose, who've all been described wonderfully.
Definitely a good read and one am happy to have picked. :)
Was a simple to read, fast paced read which kept me engaged all through. It's basically the life/ love story of Ishaan "Baaz" Faujdar set against the 1971 Ind-Pak conflict that led to creation of Bangladesh.
Baaz is a superstar pilot in IAF who despite not flying the elite aircraft, turns out to be a hero of the war; and wins over the heart of his lady love and so many others. The book though engaging, seems unrealistic and slightly filmy at times. It does keep the reader interested though all along and could finish the book 'Baaz-ke-maafik'.
I could almost almost visualize Baaz, Raka, Maddy, etc and hoped I had better imagination for Tinka and Harry Rose, who've all been described wonderfully.
Definitely a good read and one am happy to have picked. :)
look_whos_reading's review against another edition
3.0
With the characteristic Ishaan “Baaz” Faujdaar cockiness, I gave this book 4 stars as soon as I started reading it. However, when I came to the climax, I knocked off a star because...... WHO KILLS OFF THE HERO OF A ROMANCE NOVEL AFTER HE’S FLATTENED THE HEARTS OF EVERY READER WHO HAS KNOWN HIM?!
What kind of joke is this? Granted, not all romances end happily ever after. Granted also that martyrdom is romanticised often. But NOTHING excuses this “Baaz ke maaphik” stunt that Anuja Chauhan pulled over our eyes at the last moment. Dhat teri ki... will now have to immediately read another feel good romance to forget this catastrophe.
Jokes aside, the writing is top notch as usual, kudos to the writer on picking a subject so raw and making it so real with words that leap off the pages, literally!
What kind of joke is this? Granted, not all romances end happily ever after. Granted also that martyrdom is romanticised often. But NOTHING excuses this “Baaz ke maaphik” stunt that Anuja Chauhan pulled over our eyes at the last moment. Dhat teri ki... will now have to immediately read another feel good romance to forget this catastrophe.
Jokes aside, the writing is top notch as usual, kudos to the writer on picking a subject so raw and making it so real with words that leap off the pages, literally!
stationeleven's review against another edition
3.0
i'm actually quite thoroughly confused after reading this because i still am not sure how to think of nationalism & war & how they're linked, and i'm not sure where this book fits within how i look at things? anuja chauhan as always, however, deftly & delightfully deals w presenting everyone's perspective and diving into and out of different characters' thoughts; writes ridiculously easily and effortlessly and wittily; and presents ridiculously endearing & REAL characters. she has said something about how moral science has no place in readable fiction (which i'm not sure i agree with; i think the intentions of sending or not sending out messages within fiction doesn't always match up to what actually happens) but i'm probably going to be thinking about this book for a while.