Website Review : Zoutons.com

Like most other girls I love shopping. The smell of new shoes, clothes and books - who doesn't love that!! But being a student and shopping are two things which don't exactly go hand in hand. Being a student almost equates to being perpetually broke, you just cannot buy all that you want. E-retail websites  are a boon for everyone, especially students which provide awe-worthy sales round the year so that we don't just get to buy all sorts of stuff at one place without having to move an inch from our homes but also get them at amazingly cheap prices.

Coupons websites make things even better for us. Who doesn't love getting things a little cheaper than what the tag says? What if you could get an additional discount on the already slashed price? Zoutons.com is a new website I found where you can find innumerable deals and coupons for almost every website you can think of. Once you register and subscribe for their mails, you get updates on great deals and offers that you just can't resist

categories of deals

One of the best things about this website is how easy navigating  it is. Any layman can access the website without any difficulty. The website has uncountable coupons for all sorts of websites like Myntra.com, Flipkart.com, Zovi.com, Snapdeal.com, Prettysecrets.com, Jabong.com, Ebay.in, Amazon.in and plenty others.

Myntra.com is one of my most favourite stores online when it comes to buying clothes, shoes and accessories. This store not just has an amazing collection to offer but also gives superb discounts all the time. If you like Myntra.com as much as I do, you can click here to directly go to the Myntra coupons.

There are separate tabs on the top which list coupons and deals according to sections like "Top Categories", "Top Stores", "Top Brands", and "Top Banks" which make searching for your code extremely easy and saves a lot of time. You can alternatively use the search bar to specify the exact website or category you want instead of using the tabs.

One great tab on Zoutons.com is the Top Banks section which has a huge list of banks and cards like HDFC, Kotak Mahindra, HSBC, Maestro, Visa, ING Vysya and others which provides bank/card specific deals on different websites.

Another interesting feature is the Add Coupon section where one can add interesting deals that you have come across online.

How to get a deal or use a coupon?

Using the website is super simple. All you have to do is search for the website or category you are searching for deals in. Once you locate the deal/coupon you require, click on the button which says "Click to Activate Deal" or "Click here to see code". A pop up box will appear which will instruct on how to proceed next.

All you have to do next is copy the code provided and paste it in the coupon/voucher code box during check out as you normally do and your discount is added!! There is a small box right beside each deal where the success rate of each coupon is rated. Every user is suggested to rate a coupon/ deal after using it for the benefit of the other users. Also a small section below shows when the deal was successfully used last to check how active it is.

Pop up tab with instructions

Best features-

• Easily navigable layout.
• Coupons for innumerable sites.
• Separate tabs for specific categories.
• Extra tab for bank/card specific deals.
• Success rate of each coupon specified.

If you love getting great deals and discounts while shopping online, this website is a must visit.

Till Next,

Book Review: Silver is for Secrets

"Keeping secrets doesn't bring people together; it only pulls them apart."

1st Published: 2005

1st JAICO Impression: 2013

Number of Pages: 277

Price: Rs. 199/- (This was a review copy sent by the publishers.)

ISBN: 978-81-8495-423-4

About the Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz is an American author of young adult fiction novels, best known for her Blue is for Nightmares series. Her works, which feature teenage protagonists, blend elements found in mystery and romance novels.

Synopsis: 

School is over, and now Stacey, her boyfriend Jacob, and their friends have rented a beach cottage for the summer. But then Stacey has nightmares warning of forthcoming death- predicting the cruel death of Clara, a mysterious girl with a secret.

And now Jacob, the only one who understands Stacey's magic, is keeping secrets, too. Is Jacob betraying Stacey's trust or protecting her from revenge and tragedy?

Excerpt:

"So maybe I'll see you around later," she says.

I nod and extend my hand to hers for a shake. And that's when I know. When I feel it. It's like my skin has iced over inside her palm. Like a million tiny ice-needles have just splintered into my veins. 

Clara is going to die.

Arpita Says:

A book with a title that seems interesting, and a synopsis that would certainly pique your curiosity, "Silver is for Secrets" can raise your expectations. Whether it meets those expectations, however, is another matter. The story is the sort which definitely draws you in- it's the kind of plot that one would wish to watch on a screen, too. It has a protagonist with a special 'gift', as well as a heroic figure who is full of intrigue, and flesh and bone supporting characters who manage to chalk out a place for themselves instead of getting sidelined as I had expected they would be. Even though this book is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone novel.

The plot is centered around Clara, a girl that these friends come across while on holiday. Stacey is certain that Clara is in danger and she is determined to help save her- even if it could spell danger not only for herself but also for her friends. The action of the novel is driven by the attempt to figure out who could want to harm Clara and how to stop them. But the twist is, Stacey has had dreams in which Clara seems to threaten her. Apparently, the girl has got secrets which no one should find out because if they do, she will make Stacey pay.

There are moments when one feels as if the author is winding the reader up. It seems like there could be nothing wrong with Clara except perhaps an attitude problem and a flirting disorder. She hardly seems the type to keep deep, dark secrets. She is certainly not the stereotypical mysterious stranger with a brooding look and alluring persona. She is bubbly and surprisingly shallow which doesn't seem to fit in with the image she creates for herself in Stacey's nightmares about her.

There is, however, a formidable character who features in the novel and makes up for the lack of mystery in Clara's case. A certain photographer who lives in one of the beach houses nearby makes an appearance and becomes a cause for genuine concern. This character could have added a very interesting angle to the plot but he is poorly sketched and therefore fails to live up to the reader's expectations. While one cannot say that the basic issue underlining the story is frivolous, the photographer could have given the story more depth and made it a matter of serious discussion.

What was disappointing about the book is the way the author has dragged the plot- this book could have been even shorter had it not been for a number of sub-plots which are hardly relevant and only seem to be there to fill pages. Moreover, one can notice that there is a lack of sympathy towards most of the characters. The end might trigger some emotion in the reader, but the rest of the time one feels exasperated with each and every character at some point or the other. Jacob's stubbornness leaves one completely annoyed especially when it becomes obvious that his secrecy is what leads to disaster even if his intentions were noble. His habit of biting his lip is reminiscent of Bella from Meyer's "Twilight" series and it does not help the reader like him any better. Nevertheless, Stacey and Jacob are characteristically 'good' people, with magic that they apparently inherited from their ancestors. Both try to use their gift to save lives, as is evident from their attempt to protect Clara and the characters' frequent mention of incidents that occurred in the past.

Amber comes across as the most entertaining character in the story. Her sense of humor, which might border on the crude at times, is a source of comic relief and sure is superior to that of PJ, whose name seems quite symbolic of his Pathetic Jokes. Chad and Drea seem genuine and caring but with flaws which make them seem quite realistic even if they hardly make an impression on the reader. Clara happens to be the most frustrating individual one could come across. A hopeless flirt who feigns innocence whenever she is caught red handed while creating problems for other characters, she rarely gains sympathy as a victim.

The plot has several twists and turns, some of which can leave you surprised. Ghosts of the past seem reluctant to let go of Stacey while there already seems to be a premonition of danger in her path ahead. The end, no doubt, was unpredictable, even if the revelation of the culprit's identity was actually not so surprising. The book concludes on an unexpectedly melancholic note.

It's the kind of novella you can read on a journey to kill time. Otherwise, you may skip this one.

Rating: 2/5

Website Review- Elaborestore.com

Did I ever tell you that I have a special love for scarves and stoles? I absolutely love how versatile they are and how easily that can make or break an outfit. A bright colored scarf or stole can instantly  jazz up an otherwise plain outfit. There are innumerable ways you can wear your scarf or stole. If you are like me who doesn't like having anything wrapped around her neck for too long, you can turn your beloved scarf into a très chic bandana or make a bow with it and attach it to your handbag. If you are the artsy kind, you can always do more fun stuff like make a DIY camera strap out of your scarf!!

So, when the people at Elaborestore.com asked me to review their website, I was more than delighted to check what they had in store. And gladly for me, they did not disappoint at all. Elaborestrore.com is your one stop solution for stoles, scarves and shawls with a huge collection of designs, prints and colors to suit every sensibility and all the pieces are very reasonably priced to suit every pocket.

I received a pretty floral printed 100% modal stole which is super soft. What I loved most about the stole is that it does not irritate my skin even after wearing it for a long time. Modal fabric is almost like cotton but only better because it is color fast and pills (formation of bubbles) much lesser than cotton. Here is how the stole I received looked on the website-

Link

A comparison between the one I got and the picture on the website-

Pretty much identical, don't you think so?

The highlights of the website-

•  Free shipping on all orders (including international ones).
• Product delivery guarantee in a week (I got mine in 2 days).
• A discount coupon of INR 250 for your first purchase when you sign up which can be redeemed for a purchase of INR 1000 or more.
•  A huge collection of scarves, stoles and shawls in every color possible for both men and women.
• Free gift wrapping on request.
• The picture shown on the website is true to the actual product you receive. Detailed descriptions of the product is provided.
• You can use coupons from their coupon partners like CouponRani.com, CouponDekho.in, Couponation.in and others to get more discounts on the already discounted prices.

Do you like scarves? If you do, make sure you check out the vast collection at Elaborestore.com

Till next,

Passing on some love

It has been a really long time I passed on an award to a fellow blogger. Arpita and I had already done too many of these tags and awards posts and they were getting pretty repetitive, so we thought of not doing them anymore. But, this time I just had to give the Versatile Blogger award to an amazing blogger and one of my very favourite people on this planet, Aniesha. Why you ask? Because she totally deserves it. Aniesha is currently pursuing her M.Phil degree in Comparative Literature. She has already published a book, The Secret Proposal and has already signed the contract for her second. She can literally conjure a story/poem out of the most mundane conversations and incidents!! She is also an amazing cook, makes really cute doodles and stuffed toys.To top it all, she is an amazing person and one of the kindest people I know.

So, I decided it was time to pass on some love and this award to show my appreciation and admiration for the amazingly talented person she is. She blogs at Aniesha's Musings. Do check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Aniesha, you are required to do a post and tell us 10 things about you we don't know as yet.

Till next,

P.S.- My signature (the one above) was made by Aniesha, isn't it super cute?

Book Review: The Greatest Works of Kahlil Gibran

FIRST JAICO IMPRESSION: 1991

THIRTY-FIRST JAICO IMPRESSION: 2013

ISBN: 81-7224-134-8

GENRE: Philosophy/Parable/Poetry/Novel

PRICE: Rs. 299/- 

(review copy  from the publishers.)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Khalil Gibran (January 6, 1883 – April 10, 1931) was a Lebanese artist, poet, and writer. Born in the town of Bsharri in the north of modern Lebanon, as a young man he immigrated with his family to the United States, where he studied art and began his literary career, writing in both English and Arabic. 

In the Arab world, Gibran is regarded as a literary and political rebel. His romantic style was at the heart of a renaissance in modern Arabic literature, especially prose poetry, breaking away from the classical school. In Lebanon, he is still celebrated as a literary hero.

He is chiefly known in the English-speaking world for his 1923 book The Prophet, an early example of inspirational fiction. The book sold well despite a cool critical reception, gaining popularity in the 1930s and again especially in the 1960s counterculture. Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, after Shakespeare and Laozi.

What you might have not known about the author: Due to a mistake at a school in the United States, he was registered as Kahlil Gibran, the spelling he used thenceforth.

SYNOPSIS: 

The Greatest works of  Kahlil Gibran by Jaico Books is an omnibus collection of 12 books including The Prophet, The Wanderer, Sand and Foam, The Madman, The Forerunner, The Earth Gods, Nymphs of the Valley, Tears and Laughter, Between Night & Morn, Secrets of the Heart, Spirits Rebellious, and The Broken Wings.

The Prophet is a book of 26 prose poetry philosophical essays. The prophet, Almustafa, has lived in the foreign city of Orphalese for 12 years and is about to board a ship which will carry him home. He is stopped by a group of people, with whom he discusses topics such as life and the human condition. 

The book is divided into chapters dealing with love, marriage, children, giving, eating and drinking, work, joy and sorrow, houses, clothes, buying and selling, crime and punishment, laws, freedom, reason and passion, pain, self-knowledge, teaching, friendship, talking, time, good and evil, prayer, pleasure, beauty, religion, and death.

The Wanderer, The Forerunner, Tears and Laughter, The Madman, Between Night and Morn, The Secrets of the hearts, are collections of assorted poetry prose parables with philosophic or at times even spiritual undertones.

Sand and Foam is a collection of Poems and Sayings.

The Earth Gods is a beautiful composition from the point of view of three Earth Gods who study what goes on Earth and keep discussing their observations and issues. One of them wants to get rid of his immortality.

Nymphs of the valley, Spirits Rebellious, and The Broken Wings are a collection of fictional short story parables.

EXCERPTS:

"We wanderers, ever seeking the lonelier way, begin no day where we have ended another day; and no sunrise finds us where sunset left us. Even while the earth sleeps we travel. We are the seeds of the tenacious plant, and it is in our ripeness and our fullness of heart that we are given to the wind and are scattered." ~ The Prophet

"Half of what I say is meaningless, but I say it so that the other half may reach you." ~ Sand and Foam

"The bad omen of one is the good omen of another." ~ The Lion's Daughter, The Forerunner

"Substantial things deaden a without suffering; love awakens him with enlivening pains." ~ A Poet's Voice: Part 1, Tears and Laughter

"Alas! Sleeplessness has weakened me! But I am a lover, and the truth of love is strong. I may be weary, but I shall never die." ~ Song of a Wave, Tears and Laughter

"I am sweeter than a violet's sigh; I am more violent than a raging tempest." ~ Song of Love, Tears and Laughter

"Yea, in your own soul your Redeemer lies asleep, And in sleep sees what your waking eye does not see." ~ The Earth Gods

"This tide of ever remembering and forgetting; This ever sowing destinies and reaping but hopes; This changeless lifting of self from dust to mist, Only to long for dust, and to fall down with longing unto dust, And still with greater longing to seek the mist again." The Earth Gods

Favorite lines: "My daughter, we ourselves are the infinately small and the infinately great; and we are the path between the two." ~ The Path, The Wanderer

Interesting Fact: The opening lines of "The Prophet" plays heavily on the "immortal" quatrains (Century IV, Q30-Q31) of the largely discredited works of French "seer" Nostradamus. Interestingly, Gibran's full name is Gibran Khalil Gibran and to which the "number of the beast" 666 of the Book of Revelation (which is itself regarded by Biblical scholars as a dubious work) could easily have been ascribed by Gibran as referring to himself. These unfortunate coincidences most likely inspired Gibran's opening lines of "The Prophet".

SURYEA SPEAKS: 

The first thing that one notices when one first begins reading this book is a sense of familiarity. This sense of deja vu might be due to certain commonalities between Gibran's philosophy and our own spiritual experiences. Since he believed in the unity of all religion and even had strong connections with the Bahai'i faith, people of most religions would enjoy his writings. 

"The  Prophet" for example is an impressive compendium of different aspects of life. Often quite practical, often the metaphysical; there is no doubt that Gibran's words manage to transport you to a different magical realm and ultimately makes up to be an interesting read. Unlike Aesop the Gibran parable is hardly moralistic. It leans more on bleak irony and naturalism. Though they both rely heavily on personification. 

I'll cite a few examples here:-

Themes like: "A rich man locked inside his iron safe, perishing from hunger amid heaps of gold."

Imagery like: "Look at the Darkness, giving birth to the Sun."

The comparison between the materialistic and the sincere (which is considered Godlike) is central to Gibran's writings.

The thing I liked the most about the poems and sayings collected under "Sand and Foam", was the artwork between the lines. Not to mention, the author's very own illustrations that have been used in this edition. The cover page artwork is also up to the mark.

The only issue that I had with this copy is that the page numbers were not in proper sync with a master "contents" table. The books were mentioned in an index but they had their own separate "page numbers" independent of a common "table of contents".

All in all, this is surely a collector's item. It is also the kind of volume that everyone should have at their homes. Happy reading!

(Reviewed by Suryea for Dreams and Drama)