Review of Run Dad Run by Shil Niyogi

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Rating: 5/5

I picked up this novel by Shil Niyogi because the premise sounded like a mix of family drama and mystery, and right away I was pulled in. The story begins with a disappearance that never gets old as a mystery, and from there it slowly unfurls into something strange and moving. The book is published by Om Books International, and the pages keep that balance of tension and emotion well.

The Story

At the heart of the plot is a father who vanishes without a trace, and how that loss echoes across decades. The children grow up carrying pieces of the past and, one by one, develop uncanny abilities that change how they see the world. The buildup from a personal family tragedy to encounters with darker forces felt organic to me — the mystery always moved forward, and there were enough turns to keep me guessing without feeling lost.

Characters

I liked how the three siblings felt different from each other. Each power is tied to their personality, and that helps the relationships stay believable. The father’s absence is never just a plot device, it’s the emotional center that makes me care about the siblings’ choices. Even the secondary characters around them add weight to the story instead of just filling space.

Writing and Pacing

The writing is clear and often cinematic. Scenes that lean into the supernatural are described in a way that made me picture them easily, and the quieter family moments gave those intense scenes real consequence. The pace mostly works — there are times when the middle section slows as pieces are set up, but I didn’t feel bored because the emotional thread kept me invested.

Themes and Feel

What struck me most was how the novel treats power as both gift and burden. It’s not just about cool abilities, it’s about how those abilities change your life and attract attention you do not want. The book also asks, in its own way, what we owe our family and how far we’ll go to find the truth. Those themes stuck with me after I put the book down.

A Small Critique

If I have to point out something, it’s that a couple of explanations toward the end felt hurried to me. I would have liked a little more breathing room when a few big reveals happened, just so the impact could land more fully. That’s a very small thing in a book I otherwise enjoyed.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this is a gripping read that blends mystery, family emotion, and supernatural elements in a way that kept me turning pages. I felt connected to the siblings and cared about what happened to them. If you like stories that mix heart with a slow-creeping sense of danger, this one will likely sit well with you.

Review of From Gandhi to New Gandhi: A Political Odyssey through Ghosts and Resurrections by Piyush Srivastava

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Rating: 5/5

When I picked up this book I expected a simple history lesson, but what I found was a thoughtful, sometimes sharp conversation across time. Piyush Srivastava does not write like a dry academic. He writes like someone who has read a lot, thought a lot, and wants the reader to think along. The book asks big questions about how ideas that shaped modern India have lived, died, or been reborn in new forms.

What the book covers

In plain terms, the book traces how the Gandhian moment in our history has been interpreted, contested, and repackaged by later leaders and movements. It looks at the lives and legacies of major personalities and at key events that changed the political tone of the country. The author connects past controversies and episodes to the political debates we hear today, and he tries to show both continuities and ruptures rather than taking a single side.

Structure and style

The book is arranged as a series of thematic chapters rather than a strict year-by-year narrative. That makes it easy to read in chunks. The language is conversational and direct. I liked that the author mixes historical description with interpretation, so you get facts, context, and an opinion that is clearly flagged as his. The tone felt like a long, intense newspaper feature rather than a textbook.

Key personalities discussed

The book spends time with the towering figure whose name is in the title. It examines how his ideas were lived and sometimes questioned in later years. The author also places other major political figures in the story to show how different strands of thought influenced India’s path. The effect, for me, was like seeing a family tree where branches cross and sometimes choke each other.

About the author

Piyush Srivastava brings his journalistic experience to the pages. That background shows in the book’s attention to incidents, quotes, and political detail. You can tell the author has covered politics for many years and uses that eye to pick moments that illuminate larger arguments. I found his perspective useful because it reads as someone writing from the field rather than from an ivory tower.

What I liked most

What stayed with me was the balance. The book does not simply praise or condemn. It asks whether certain political ideas are worn out or cleverly reborn. I appreciated chapters that pulled in specific events and personalities to test the bigger claims. The writing pulled me into thinking about political memory and how leaders are remembered or reinvented. Those sections felt lively and grounded.

A very small critique

If I have to point out one small thing, it is that sometimes the book moves quickly between episodes and assumes you know the background. I wished a couple of sections had just a little more context for readers who are not familiar with every historical event mentioned. This is a tiny ask because overall the book explains its main points clearly.

Who I think should read it

If you follow Indian politics, or if you are curious about how historical ideas shape present debates, this book is for you. It is especially good for readers who like political argument written plainly, with concrete examples. I would recommend it to people who enjoy books that make you rethink familiar names and events without being preachy.

Final note

Reading this felt like listening to a knowledgeable friend who wants to unsettle easy answers and invite conversation. The book kept me thinking long after I closed it, and that, for me, is a sign of a worthwhile read.