AithalBesprekingen

"The Man From Afghanistan" by Aithal is a captivating story that's easy to get into. It follows the journey of a man from Afghanistan who finds himself in a strange new world.

The story starts with the man's arrival in a new country, where he faces many challenges and encounters various people along the way. As he navigates through this unfamiliar territory, he learns about himself and the world around him.

Aithal paints a vivid picture of the man's experiences, making it easy for readers to imagine themselves in his shoes. The characters are relatable, and their interactions feel genuine.

The pacing of the story is steady, with enough action and intrigue to keep readers hooked. However, there are moments when the plot feels a bit predictable.

Overall, "The Man From Afghanistan" is an enjoyable read that offers insight into the human experience. Aithal has crafted a compelling story that will leave readers thinking long after they've finished the book.

An amusing, anecdote-filled account of arriving in America from Mumbai in the early 1990s. The author interrupts himself with tangents along the way, as he relates his arrival in New York, move to Florida, and eventual residence in California. He relies on his growing network of friends and relatives as he navigates a new job in a new country. It's both corny and charming.

I'm giving it a 3-star to remain neutral. I have tried to read the book several times but for some reason, I cannot read it.

The first book I read by Aithal was 'India was One', which is absolutely charming. Shortly afterwards, I learnt he is an Indian living in America. The question did vaguely cross my mind, 'I wonder how/why he finds himself in the US'. Well, now, from this very engaging and interesting account, I do!

Fortunate to be in the path of opportunity, he didn't really have to overcome extreme adversity whilst building his new life in the US; it all worked out comparatively hassle-free for him. It was, yes, a big, big leap, a massive change of culture and very distressing to leave his nearest and dearest for a while, but a job, a (modest) income, some good friends and relatives were all instrumental in making his transition that bit easier.

It's a very enjoyable 'memoir', learning how Aithal gradually fitted into his new way of life with his wife and family, and how he gradually adapted to the very different customs, family dynamics, food and way of life in the US.

It's an easy read…Aithal engages the reader as if he or she is sitting right there beside him having a bit of a chitchat! Pop it on to your ereader…you won't regret it.

I love this book a true master piece

I have conflicting feelings about this book. On the one hand, I'm a recent Indian immigrant myself and a lot of the stories here are relatable either by first-hand experience or stories heard from others in the community. It feels wonderful to be seen and to read an immigrant story that I can see myself in.

On the other hand, I also had reflected back to me a host of assumptions many Indians (including myself) make before we arrive in the US -- ideas about gendered roles in cooking, commentary on a co-worker's body, etc. I suspect that the generation difference between the author's and mine also plays into some of this thinking. Regardless, these were unpleasant detours along the mostly enjoyable narrative of the book.

While many FOBs (common diaspora lingo for Fresh off the Boat, aka brand-new immigrants) can probably see their triumphs and joys reflected back to them, I suspect those of us who came here as students in the more recent decades have had significantly different experiences. The universal themes of Indian grocery stores, the importance of community that can relate to our unique experiences, and the struggles of navigating sub-par healthcare and transit systems are probably abiding though.

I suspect this would be a quick, fun read for Indian immigrants (or really, any immigrants) but I also sense an opportunity for people who have grown up in the US and are curious to learn about the nitty-gritty of the Indian immigrant experience. Your friends, coworkers or partners are probably immigrants and the task of uprooting yourself to start all over in a new-to-you society is not an easy one.

I received a free advanced copy received from LibraryThing in exchange for my honest review.

I read this book "Confessions of an Indian Immigrant" written by Mr. Aithal with much amusement; it is an optimistic narration, full of freshness, cheerful and enthusiastic! The tone is disarmingly naive, anecdotes flourish on every page!
Quotes:
"You must be wondering why the first floor is upstairs. Aren't you already on the first floor? Not in India. The floors begin with the ground floor, the first floor, the second floor, and so on. It's one of the Americans have difficulty wrapping their heads around."
Quote:
"I didn't know what a diner was. For a long time, I thought that dinner was misspelled. I attributed it to the American way of spelling things. You know-check instead of check, tire instead of tire, curb instead of curb, and so on. In addition to these, I learned a whole new set of vocabularies such as a walkway and
not a footpath, sidewalk instead of pavement, soccer instead of football, and so many more. These are all British words. To make things crazier, we use some words in India that mean totally different things here or are not used in America. Case in point, okay. We call them lady fingers in India. Or an eggplant.
Quote:
"Nowadays we are so dependent on our smartphones that they are getting smarter every day, and we humans are getting dumber. We tend to use our fingers instead of our brains. And we call that progress"
Quote:
"When I came to this country, I was the stone at the top of a pyramid, supported by others. Over time, I descended the pyramid to become a support stone for a newcomer be the top.
Will you be that support stone to help someone on the pinnacle?

In summary, a pleasant book, without pretensions, of an emigrant from India who comes to settle in the country of opportunities, the US, and his peregrinations over time.
The point of view of the wife, who leaves India and all her family (!) come to join her husband! It's incredible, because it's the opposite that takes place there: it's the husband who follows his wife and settles down with his in-laws.

In criticism, I would have appreciated more explanations on what a Brahman is: he is linked to the God Shiva, is the guarantor of good order and a follower of non-violence! (unlike the US).
It is the highest rank of the four castes of India which have hierarchized the country since British colonization in the 19th century.
The Brahmins are "the mouth from which issue the words and the quintessence of purity".
Reading the author's opinion would have been fascinating since we Westerners know nothing about India's religious past.

Also, I would have liked to read more information regarding the word "Jain Gujurati". According to my little acquaintances, it would come from the Jainism religion: the one who tries to go towards the spiritual path - which reinforces asceticism -
Jainism is also the most weakly represented religion in India, and mainly distributed in the economic and political sectors.


I encourage the author to describe in more depth his experience, but also the cultural history of his country.½

The plot could be told in a few words, not even a paragraph. The rest of the book are just details, trivia details. Quite disappointing.

As an Afghanistan veteran I was super interested in this book, and was thrilled to know I was selected as a reviewer on LibraryThing. There are two parts this book, and you can feel the change. The parts that take place in America, and the part that takes place in India, which shares exactly 0.0 miles of border with Afghanistan. The story of the murders in America are interesting, and then the story relocated to India and the details just get way too complicated. Why wouldn’t the local India police take jurisdiction? Or the CIA? And how did this killer get halfway across the world without detection? The world of 2022 is represented in this book, but none of the 2st century cultural awareness. This just isn’t a well written book. It could have been shorter. Or when the killer flees, bring in another character. It’s all very one note.½

I should point out straightaway that this is a ‘to be continued’ book. Now, I’m really not too fond of books that don’t ‘end’. I don’t mind the hint of sequel, but I just don’t want to have to read another book to get to the conclusion. A personal bug, but if you like books in a series to stand lone, perhaps you'll want to know that this one doesn't!

That aside, the book was a rather compelling read: a sci-fi adventure but a story with social commentary. One that has you feeling a little uncomfortable (because you know it's true) at the message being conveyed.

Three astronauts are on an important mission. It’s the last for one of them and the first for another. They are heading for a planet that may have water, and if there’s water, there may be other discoveries to be made. The journey is bumpy. Very, very, very bumpy. Loss of contact with control is beyond distressing, but they manage to land, albeit unconventionally. They've landed somewhere. Not back at base—it’s obvious from their surroundings—but terra firma at least. American terra firma. Or is it? All they have to do is find some people, some civilization, some means of communication to let base know the mission was incomplete but that they are safe. That’s all. Can’t be too hard, can it, despite the unfamiliar terrain?

Despite the fact I couldn't engage with the characters—they were a little bland—it wasn't hard to be drawn into the story. The author has obviously thought very hard about something he needed to say and used his creativity and imagination to do so. It worked.

And of course, it perpetuates that ever-present question…do we really know what's out there?

I have to admit that if I was in a bookshop I would have walked straight past this book. So, when I was given the opportunity to read it, I checked out a few reviews on it and, although a little apprehensive, decided, well, why not. I thought: what do I really know about India other than the Taj Mahal, Bollywood, Imran Khan and a cracking good Vindaloo on a Friday night? Well, alright, not that little – but my point is, I don’t know much. The reviews seemed to suggest that there would be something to learn from the book. My apprehension was happily misplaced. The first chapter – more of a prologue – drew me in straightaway. Whilst the novel is fictional, the story of boy-meets-girl-marries-girl (Jai and Kaahi) is interwoven with a treasure trove of facts about India – sometimes in the characters’ conversations, sometimes as explanatory paragraphs. The author’s uncomplicated style never makes the latter heavy-reading. The facts that are interspersed in the conversations do make the dialogue a little strange at times, especially between the two main characters – it’s sometimes hard to believe that two people in love would actually talk like reference books – but you become so engrossed in the information you overlook this. Even the references to cricket (which to my mind is marginally more exciting than watching paint dry) are interesting.

If you separate the story from the factual content, you are left with a rather unsubstantial, rather frail boy-meets-girl tale, which would not stand alone. If you separate the factual content from the story, you have an ordinary, but easy-to-read guide book that could sit happily next to a Lonely Planet guide. Put them together you have a unique, enjoyable book that has you caring deeply about Jai and Kaahi’s life and future and the opportunity to learn more about the richness of India’s tapestry of culture, language, food, costume, religion, customs and geography. The author has now managed to put India on my bucket list of places to visit. I wish all my geography books had been written like this – I might have learnt more.

This book is quite a little gem.

3 stars in this 2 star only for making reader understand that India is one and there is prosperity in diversity. And it's rightly said roam around India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari u will find Maharashtrian Punjabi Gujarati etc etc ... but not a Indian. However leaving aside patriotism this book does not have a proper story. The story is very slow from the 2nd chapter till 13th chapter, Did not understand what the author is trying to imply is he trying to show a good married life of Jai and kaahi or about being an Indian. Agreed for non Indian readers it's difficult to understand what is Maharashtra's or Gujarat's culture to simplify this author has added small synopsis for each thing which is good but it should have been little short it's too elobarative which is not required. Using Devnagri script for tea and yaar was needless, was it for showing we are Indians?? I would be giving the book a single star but as this book gives an example in the end chapters if India is divided what will happen and to make India one and to show India was one and India is one and will always remain one will give 2 more stars. overall i would rate as a ok Goodread.... 😐

India Was One by An Indian is a novel that is a bit hard to describe. The author who goes by An Indian was born in Mumbai, India and came to America in 1989. He has lived in New York and Los Angeles. I met the author on Goodreads and was offered a copy of the book in return for review.

The book is divided into roughly two sections. The first three quarters of the book is is the story of Jai and Kaahi, a young couple who met in college and marry. Jai comes from a well to do family in northern India. Kaahi from southern India. Jai will work at his family's business interest in Los Angeles. This part of the book is a wonderful story and shares so much information about India, its regions, food, and experiences. It also shares the couples experiences on their initial trip to Los Angeles. The cultural information is great as well as how others see America.

There is a particularly long topic of cricket and baseball through out the book. This provides another excellent cross culture examination. There is a melding of Indian traditions in Indian communities in America and the couple experiences in the Indian immigrant/resident alien community. The cultural lessons alone make this book worth reading.

The last quarter of the book let me down. My willing suspension of disbelief could not keep up with the events at hand. The author has a great idea, but it could not be believably done in the sixty or so pages of the book. I will leave that as it is and not give away the plot or climax.

If you would like to know more about India and its culture, this novel does an excellent job of explaining it as well as giving an immigrant's view of America. The splitting of India could have been a novel in itself. It needed much more room to develop into a plausible story.

I consider the implications carefully on the rare occasions when I give a low star rating because I think the reviewer’s role should be to encourage and publicise creative writing talent, bring out the best aspects of a piece and help future work by pointing out where improvements in the writer’s craft can be made. It isn’t my job to go around smiting and discouraging hard-working authors, but I also have a duty to warn readers if something isn’t a masterpiece and they would be wasting their time. This particular author has published at least one good book previously, so I think he will be a gentleman and accept my thoughts about his work and then write a much more endearing adventure next time.

The sentences in this work flow better than their cousins did in the first novel of the series, so that’s a plus. There is a fantasy element to the story too, as it features a space ship which arrives on Earth and ferries the characters between dystopian future locations.

In my opinion, there is no science fiction in this book because the criteria for that is usually to present a plausible explanation (framed in the physical laws of science for a technology) for a device that has not yet been invented, or has not yet been made to operate practically. The technology in this book includes solar panels, projection of images onto surfaces, stun guns, refining water and magnetic levitation (MagLev trains); all of which have already been invented and are in use. Therefore, this could be better classified as near future political fiction with a fantasy travel element.

Having used the word “political”, that brings me to the bullseye problem, which not only lets this work down but deliberately usurps and poisons it. At the time of writing, the author was clearly traumatised by the outcome of an election in the USA (perspective footnote for aliens: the loudest 1 of the 199 countries on our planet). Just to clarify, I have no interest in either of these political sides but can appreciate that this event must have dominated many people’s thinking at the time, filling their minds like the sun in the sky, so the result was deeply polarising in that country. Many of the supporters of the marginally losing ideology became very angry and attached obsessive importance to this outcome, in extreme cases becoming over-emotional and fanatical. The author of this book was politically committed when writing Return to Earth and his voice takes over this story, channelling this personal political angst openly, but by doing so he loses the readers’ hearts and minds. This isn’t the first time that’s been done. Shakespeare’s only failed play was Timon of Athens and if you read that work (because nobody performs it), the thing that ruined it was the endless, miserable, negative ranting. In this book, there’s a miserable ending too. Maybe Aithal can step out like Shakespeare did and eclipse this work with original and entertaining brilliance next time. Who knows? Perhaps RTE is just a bad day at the office, an exception to the rule.

In summary, this is not an enjoyable work of fantasy or a flight of science fiction imagination. It is a bitter diatribe of one-sided political lecturing that has been disguised under a sci-fi book cover. Many readers will agree with the ideological viewpoints, although most people’s red hot fury cools as time passes and perspective returns, but this book is still a Trojan horse deployed with the single purpose of delivering a rant. The style of delivery may even push the reverse intention and unite undecided people against the author’s ideology. Objectively, the book has academic value as a snapshot of social history, an emotional flare-up preserved in amber for all time. Isn’t that a lovely thought?

Hypothetically, even if the author is completely correct (we can’t tell yet) and a voting decision taken recently will destroy the future of the human race, I would advise that this is the wrong way to present that prediction because it scares the majority of readers away. If you lose public goodwill, it doesn’t matter whether you are the new Nostradamus or Shakespeare because without any readers, your thoughts won’t go anywhere.

Every entertainer has heard a boo at some point in their career. The best of them have reflected on when and why the mood changed against them, adjusted their style, knuckled down and tried again. That would be a positive ending to this story. I like happy endings.

This is a science fiction and fantasy adventure which has a lot going for it but, sadly, it has also been compromised a little by forces which drag it back like unnecessary luggage. I’ll try to explain.

The best elements of this novel are the imaginative interludes on a strange planet, the world building and unusually sustainable plan for future society, the science fiction architecture of mushroom-like habitations that rise out of reach when the twin moons flood the land, the use of hoverpods and the concept of brability. With caveats, I have to acknowledge the by now traditional use of science fiction as a vehicle to force introspection in us; to make us re-evaluate what we are doing to the world, our mistakes and where we are going. That is science fiction’s job, absolutely, but the message has to be approachable and subtle as preaching openly tends to put readers off.

One of the arguably good or bad elements of this novel must be the information dump at the beginning. I quite like information dumps because I learn a lot in a condensed form and I think it was a good tool in this story to have a broadcaster reading from NASA’s detailed press information release, as that was a good excuse for technical context that would not normally be in a conversation. I don’t object to this element personally but I know readers often dislike information dumps as they can sound dry, like cut-and-pasted material from the internet, so that may or may not be your thing.

The negative aspects were on show as well and some of them can be attributed to the author being clever enough to have learned multiple languages, of which English is not the first tongue. I would never have the confidence to write in a different language and would be astounded if people didn’t suspect it wasn’t my first, so have to make an adjustment for some imperfections. An independent second pair of eyes is recommended if you are brave enough to do this though.

Having said that, a conveyor belt of short sentences reads unimpressively and an average of 8.3 words per sentence is poor when compared to the supposed average of 14 in literature. The average number of characters per word in this is also unusually low at 4.2. Then there’s the repetition. My analytical toy tells me that this 86,000 word text uses the word “he” 1,917 times and that the word “He” is the first word in 699 sentences, “His” accounts for another 89 and “The man” scores 27. All of this could be fixed and some of that work can be done by simply turning two short sentences into one with a conjunction. As a footnote, the sequel to this book does not have the same readability problem.

I do wonder why a surface to orbit space shuttle is used here as a deep space exploration vehicle and I also wonder how a vessel that small sent off in search of water might return with a supply copious enough for anyone to bother with. If much of the water on Earth has been spoiled, wouldn’t the new supply also become contaminated once it enters the water cycle? If the shuttle can make water from hydrogen, why doesn’t it just park on the runway and do that instead? Maybe I misunderstood. Another thing I didn’t follow was why a layer of poison gas beyond the atmosphere of a planet would be a problem, as no one would be out there unprotected to breathe it. I think it would also be torn away at the first sign of a solar flare. The character called Kim is essentially an emotional reactor, i.e. the boys do something and she registers a reaction like Faye Wray in King Kong. With the success of feminism, many writers have tried to even the balance for female characters and I see the author has attempted this by making her an expert in two subject areas, but the squealing is still a bit old fashioned.

Some simple typos appeared as I read through this, so there were issues left over after the copy editing. “The Untied States” was amusing, but there are also unnecessary double spaces in a few sentences, a couple of full stops and commas badly positioned or with gaps in front of them (e.g. “It was disc shaped with what looked like , rivets, on its edge”) consecutive repetition of words such as “whether whether”, “down down” and “on on”, then one “splitt up”, a “truely” and “It’s fur was black”. Another unintentionally funny line was “They are far more inferior than we are”, which suggests the aliens accept that, like humans, they are inferior to something else but not as much as the humans are.

The other issue which a fraction of the readership will find hard to stomach is the Christmas Carol (Dickens) effect. To be fair to the author, this book can be regarded as a snapshot in world history because he’s been writing a science fiction story at a time when heavy political events were unfolding in the background – specifically, the appointment of a divisive and undeniably polarising American president. I don’t want to get into the political rights and wrongs because the US is not my country and I though both candidates were worrying but I can observe that the author got distracted by this very political time and had very strong feelings against one side, which crept highly visibly into the story. The story therefore started as enjoyable and imaginative sci-fi adventure but the author’s voice became formidable when lecturing on gun control, pollution, global warming, religion, over population and the election, to the point where the reader has natural sympathy for those points but wonders what happened to the lovely sci-fi adventure. I’m not against conveying an educational message, but this was strong stuff and detracted from the enjoyment. In London, there’s a place called Hyde Park Corner where you can stand on a box and say these things for as long as you like, if anyone cares to listen. In case you wondered, the Christmas Carol technique is to show a future disaster to the characters and then give them an opportunity to go back to a previous point in time and lecture us all to not go down that alley (meaning not vote for that particular figure). If that real life figure turns out on balance to be beneficial, emphasising the if, by signing a huge peace treaty for example, it’s too late because the book is in print, so following this strategy is always a gamble.

On the whole, this is a good science fiction story, written by a capable imagination and told by a very committed voice, which means well but isn’t subtle. Richard Dawkins similarly pitches his views in and angry style, although on a different subject. Most of the flaws I’ve picked up could be fixed or softened in a second edition if the writer was concerned, in hindsight, about the possibility of alienating a few readers. If the author is not particularly bothered about annoying people who hold opposing views to his own, then that’s fine too. There is a history of free speech delivered as an undercurrent in fiction books and that right must be protected. No matter what else you believe, believe in that.

Really did enjoy this book. It tells what is the most possible future of this planet we live in. Best character is Don, he can really think. He can argue to learn not to prove who is right. I recommend this book to everyone. Even if you do not pay attention to the characters (who by the way are awesome), then pay attention to their environment., there is something to learn.

If you read science fiction to escape reality for a few hours, then this book is not for you. The book is supposed to be about three lost astronauts who want to return to their timeline on earth. While this is the underlying premise behind the storyline, the book does not deliver. Most of the book’s rhetoric is about global geological decline and slavery in the future; the cause of which is tied to our current administration’s environmental policy and the divisiveness it creates in our population. I see this book as being a political blog pretending to be a sequel to a science fiction book.

There was a lot of political ranting in the “Beyond the Milky Way”, the first book in this series, but I attributed that to this being a fairly new author who happened to be wrapped up in a present-day political moment as he wrote the book. I rated that book highly as I saw potential in the author, Aithal. Many other reviewers criticized him for the political rants. After that, I would have expected him to take the criticisms to heart. He did not. Instead, Aithal chose to double down on the political rants in the second book.

I read the whole book hoping that he would redeem himself. He never did.

Although I agree with several of Aithal’s political positions, a book intended for sci-fi enthusiast is not the appropriate place to air these views. The title and description of this book are misleading. My expectation was that it would be escapist reading, not doom and gloom like today's daily news feed.

“Beyond the Milky Way” is a book by a new author who has a good future ahead of him as a Sci-Fi writer. The book was self-published. But, unlike a few self-published books I’ve recently read, Aithal did a good job editing “Beyond the Milky Way”. There were a few areas in the eBook version where phrases were repeated. But, this was a minor distraction when compared to the misspellings and lack of capitalization that I see in other self-published books.

As a criticism of the author, I think that his description of the books female character is behind the times. In the 40’s and 50’s, it was common to portray a woman as weak and easily frightened. But that is not how a typical woman brought up on a Texas ranch is seen today. Actually, no American woman wants to be thought of as such.

To further show this disconnect, Aithal’s female astronaut is squeamish about being in space and in high places. She screams whenever startled and macho male characters, like in a 50’s Sci-Fi book, quickly jump to defend this delicate creature. Also, there were no female characters among the alien leaders or their lieutenants. In the enlightened society that these aliens supposedly have, such a manifestation would be unlikely.

A female astronaut today, like a female executive, a female soldier, or a policewoman, is expected and trained to be confident when faced with uncertainties. American women do read Sci-Fi; portraying them as weak could turn them off to this author.

I sense that I’m being too critical, because, I liked the book! It’s about a team of astronauts who are on a mission to another planet in hopes of finding water for a parched Earth. They accidentally get sucked into a vortex that sends them across the galaxy to another planet inhabited by aliens that look like us but are more advanced with superior technology and communication skills. The astronauts begin to wonder if they’ve found Eden but soon become aware of problems among the aliens that are not spoken of.

The book ends with the astronauts taking the aliens’ only starship and returning to Earth. On escaping with the ship from a population of mutant aliens, some of these mutants get on board. Also on board is a stranded normal alien. These stowaways will undoubtedly be addressed in the second book in this series as it will start with the spaceship’s arrival on Earth.

Each chapter started with an illustration depicting a scene from that chapter, a nice touch. The illustrator, Darshini, has my compliments.

I’m looking forward to reading the next book in “The Galaxy Series”, “Return to Earth”. I noticed that it’s already listed on Amazon.

Really did enjoy this book. It tells what is the most possible future of this planet we live in. Best character is Don, he can really think. He can argue to learn not to prove who is right. I recommend this book to everyone. Even if you do not pay attention to the characters (who by the way are awesome), then pay attention to their environment., there is something to learn.

Beyond the Milky Way is an upcoming book, a story that fans of The Martian will definitely want to add to their reading list. I finished reading it in two days, it was very gripping and interesting. "Could humans survive living on another planet?" has always been an interesting topic, one that has a lot of controversy, and in this exciting book, three people dare to find out. The trouble is that although their new-found planet has the elements humans need to survive, it doesn't necessarily have the things that they're connected to emotionally, and to stay away from Earth will be the ultimate test to see just what "home" really means.

I'm really glad I got to review this book; there have been similar books in the past but none exactly like this that go into so much depth. It's part sci-fi, but also combines a number of other elements and explores human nature in a realistic and eye-opening way. Beyond the Milky Way will have readers questioning not just themselves, but the world (and possibly many other worlds) around them as well

** Like nothing else you'll ever read **

Return to Earth invites readers along on a journey home to the planet we know and love... or at least, that's what it seems like at first. But where's home? For our main characters, they find to their puzzlement that Earth is not at all what they remember it being. But a new kind of planet brings with it a new terrain to explore, a place both strange and familiar all at the same time.

I really enjoyed the first book in the Galaxy Series and I'm happy to see that its sequel not only followed suit, but brought something completely new and original along with it. It reminded me of that documentary series Life After People in many ways, but it's not just the setting that is interesting, but also the relationship that these four characters share with each other as they discover a whole new Earth that they never imagined. This novel has a great vocabulary, exciting intensity, creativity and depth, and I think it's definitely a cut above most other sci-fi books I've read. Emotional, imaginative, unforgettable and fun to read especially if you love travel, space or history, if you're ready to see the world with new eyes then I definitely recommend Return to Earth.

Return to Earth (The Galaxy Series Book #2) by Aithal is another winner! Although it is the second book in the series it can be read as a stand alone. The author gives the reader enough background info that the reader won't get lost in the story. I adored the first story and this one was great too. Lots of action, imagination, sci/fi, honest speculation of what could happen, great plot, and wonderful characters. I was given this book to read, begged really, and was not under any obligation to leave a review but I wanted to share this with everyone. Great book!

This story was a breath of fresh air a wonderful story I enjoyed reading this book but sorry to say it lacked some thing but I did enjoy reading it all the same I would be delighted to recommend this story to my friends. My sincere thanks to the author An Indian for the pleasure of reading this book so to all happy reading fromm me.😉😄

Beyond The Milky Way (The Galaxy Series #1) by Aithal is such a wonderful sci-fi book that once I started reading it I had to stay up during the night to finish it! I absolutely loved it! It is filled with such rich imagination that it was a true delight to read, I didn't want it to end! The plot was awesome with so many little twists and turns, surprises everywhere. The characters were totally unique in every way. I loved the world he created and the societies. The only problem I had was it was a cliff hanger! Ugh, I hate that!!! No cliff hangers should be allowed, ever! Have the book longer or second book ready. ugh. Anyway, the book is super awesome except for that minor detail. Worth reading for sure even with that little glitch. I am sure you will remember this book when the second book comes out, it is very memorable. Loved it!!!

I liked the concept of India getting divided into North and South India (as i never thought of it). The romance between Jai n Kaahi is fairly described :)
India being a country of different cultures and the real tensions that are described are very close..
If you are an Indian, Its a Must Read.....