This book is the perfect advocate of Indian culture we need right now. Eye-opening, thought provoking, and often rebellious, Culture during Crisis appThis book is the perfect advocate of Indian culture we need right now. Eye-opening, thought provoking, and often rebellious, Culture during Crisis appeals us to restore and preserve old Indian norms, traditions and language. India in itself is a whole which we often forget during times of western modernisation and thinking. It is really very easy to forget what we are when we aspire to be like everyone else. Kudos to the author for literally making us sit and listen to what she has to say, with our eyes wide open and acknowledge the fact that we're somehow neglecting what we had stood up for once. Every little aspect of Indian culture has been beautifully highlighted, urging us to see the true beauty of the place we live in. Even non-Indians will find immense pleasure reading this gem of a book....more
Well, this was fun! The last book by McManus wasn't up to the mark for me, but this one was surprisingly refreshing and adventurous. I was worried traWell, this was fun! The last book by McManus wasn't up to the mark for me, but this one was surprisingly refreshing and adventurous. I was worried traversing too much on the same land might leave some old footprints difficult to scrub off, but McManus pulled it off quite efficiently. She hasn't yet lost her sheen despite writing so many on the same arc.
Brynn Gallagher is a teenager who's an aspiring journalist, and now she's back in her old town uncovering the secrets concerning the murder of her favourite teacher four years back. I absolutely loved Brynn. She's a no-nonsense, zero-tolerance kinda protagonist who sticks to her business despite all odds being hurled at her. And, I also loved Tripp. He's quite the conventional, popular-guy, teenager but he eventually proves to be so much more than that.
I literally flew through this one. Read it really fast and I wasn't expecting that, especially after the disappointment that was her last book. The plot was really unpredictable, going around in circles, so it was really fun to decipher the whodunit game. The suspense stretches along to the very epilogue. Also, there are references to the other mysteries from McManus' other titles, so it's gonna be fun for those who read the. If you're into YA thrillers, this one's definitely going to be worth a late night rendezvous!...more
I do not know how to rate this book but I know it's brimming with possibilities. It projects a spectrum of imageries bound with this world and beyond.I do not know how to rate this book but I know it's brimming with possibilities. It projects a spectrum of imageries bound with this world and beyond. I haven't read a book that I understood and did not understand at the same time before. Reading the blurb gave me an idea of what it might be and these were my guesses : an unlikely friendship, found-family, magical realism, etc. And what it actually was : yes, magical realism indeed (rather a whole bucket of fantasy?), a bunch of words (dialects?) that didn't make sense at all, folklore and myths I wasn't aware of, and of course, a story that enticed me and confused me all at the same time. I can't imagine the glee of the readers who were able to completely understand this. They must be so proud and content! I do believe I require someone to write a complete analysis of this novel so I can understand the imagery and symbolism, because without the help this book is just words to me (okay, may be not just words, I might have exaggerated a little). However, I can't say I haven't understood anything at all. I did get a few parts, I did understand the fluidity of time, some of the hidden implications and honestly, it gave me pure joy. Only 152 pages, yet I believe a detailed analysis of 500-pages or more can be easily written on it. Also, there's a weird kind of comfort in the words that I did not understand. It almost made me trippy and the narrative was dancing and floating all along. There's a certain lightness that made me go in, try and understand what I may and read on till the end. If you ask me what's it about, all I can tell is it's about a boy name Joe, who has a lazy eye covered by a patch. He lives in a house with a magical Chimney, all on his own. He meets a rag-and-bone man named Treacle Walker one day who trades a pot and a stone for Joe's pajamas and a lamb's bone, and his life changes forever. What follows is a feat of adventures through mirrors, a bog that comes alive, and a sky that cracks open to reveal the claws of a Cuckoo. However, be warned, it is no child's tale. At least it didn't seem so to me. If you have read Treacle Walker and really understood it, pray tell and we shall discuss it!...more
Ranga Rao's prose is vivid and lyrical. The beautiful landscape of the Coromandel has been brought to life along with the people who inhabit the area.Ranga Rao's prose is vivid and lyrical. The beautiful landscape of the Coromandel has been brought to life along with the people who inhabit the area. Be it Miss Beston, the British lady or the two Indian women : Granny Appachchi and Worker Aunt, she befriends. I had a little difficulty understanding the characters at first as I delved right in without reading the blurb (I like to be surprised, tbh), but then it settled in on itself. After that, I did finally read the blurb and everything became clearer.
I absolutely loved the bond these women shared and how deep their connection was. The cultural difference, the British outlook, the Indian perspective and life in the middle with patriarchy ever so ripe, has been portrayed with a kind of prowess and deft that had a moving impact altogether. There's a sense of nostalgia as the author describes 19th Century India. There is also an addictive resonance to the narrative and it just keeps flowing effortlessly. You wouldn't know when, or rather how to stop.
I absolutely loved how starkly different the lives of women were in the times of the British Raj. If you loved The Hungry Tide, you're going to love Those Women Of The Coromandel too....more
Very inspiring and motivating. If we are able to apply these in real life, I think we will all be hugely benefited. It's a short book yet it needs to Very inspiring and motivating. If we are able to apply these in real life, I think we will all be hugely benefited. It's a short book yet it needs to be savoured slowly to really understand the true meaning behind each trait that is essential for achieving success in life. The author has efficiently correlated science and spirituality to give us an understanding of how and why things work respectively. Definitely recommend....more
This book has such a unique outlook and approach that it makes this one distinct from other self-help books out in the market. It explains how art canThis book has such a unique outlook and approach that it makes this one distinct from other self-help books out in the market. It explains how art can help us heal and turn our life around for the better. Really enjoyed every bit of it and would recommend it to all. And I'm really curious about mosaic art now. This book has rekindled my love for all things art, and I might just pursue something new this time. If you're in that phase of your life where you've lost a little bit of faith and inspiration, then it's the perfect time to pick this book up. It's definitely going to make things better with loads and loads of wisdom and encouragement!...more
Absolutely gorgeous and larger than life. A Doctor's Journey by Bornali Dutta is a meticulous description of the lives of doctors and the inner workinAbsolutely gorgeous and larger than life. A Doctor's Journey by Bornali Dutta is a meticulous description of the lives of doctors and the inner workings of the field of medicine. There's so much to know and learn, so much to understand. We only see a doctor for who he is and hardly notice where he or she has come from or the journey they had to make to get there. Also, their daily lives and the lives of the people intertwined with theirs, everything was thrown light upon so we get the full picture....more
I was having a hard time finishing this book and almost dnf'd it. Then I picked it up again, and it felt different on the second try. I wonder if all I was having a hard time finishing this book and almost dnf'd it. Then I picked it up again, and it felt different on the second try. I wonder if all the books we dnf deserve a second chance like this one? Having watched (yep, not read. Yet) Karen McManus' One Of Us Is Lying, I was eager to read my first McManus. Somehow, I felt the same vibe. I haven't read many YA thrillers, but I gathered this is what the genre entails (hence the similar vibe?). I loved the trio of Ivy, Mateo and Cal. I love it when old friends come back together to renew that same flare they once shared. I was happy to see them united. But a murder and body makes it even more memorable than they would have wanted (gala time for the reader though, huhahaha).
Anyway, I guess no thriller is complete without the spices of lies, secrets and deception. And we're served just that. I loved how it kept me guessing until the very end. There always appeared to be a motive until the author swerved it (yet again) to a different direction altogether (thanks author!). I wouldn't call this novel phenomenal. It didn't have that effect on me, tbh. But it doesn't make it mediocre either. So if you're new to the genre, I believe McManus is a decent choice. More than decent, actually....more
I haven't read many books on holocaust and concentration camps. Probably just The Boy In The Stripped Pajamas. While that book was heart-wrenching, thI haven't read many books on holocaust and concentration camps. Probably just The Boy In The Stripped Pajamas. While that book was heart-wrenching, this one felt like a non-fiction. And to a certain extent, I believe it is.
Remote Sympathy is not a story. It's a saga, an era, a directory of the past. Through four different narratives, we get multiple perspectives and a bird's eye view of the atrocities of Weimer, Buchenwald Nazi concentration camp.
To be perfectly honest, it was a difficult read at times. Too much pain, too much distress, but the truth needs to be told. The vivid descriptions of the insides of the camp was extremely uncanny and nightmarish to picture. Can't imagine what the 'prisoners' had to go through and deal with. Such unimaginable agony, pain and trauma has been brought to life with words on paper and the author did not pull any punches.
I can't think of a way to ever say goodbye to this book because it's going to haunt my mind forever. It's a horror that has happened in reality and I guess that is the hardest part. Very well deserved to be longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction this year. I don't think this book is for everyone. Definitely not for the faint heart, so make sure to check out all the triggers before picking this one up.
Can't begin to explain what this book did to me. This is the first book that I actually annotated, and it felt so good, so wholesome!
Reading THREE wasCan't begin to explain what this book did to me. This is the first book that I actually annotated, and it felt so good, so wholesome!
Reading THREE was like peeping through a hole. You don't really get the whole picture unless you're brave enough to open the door all the way. THREE here is not just a number, it's a feeling. They say there can only be two halves of a soul. I say, what if there are three instead?
Nina, Adrien and Etienne are bound together by an invisible thread that even they can't sever, ever. Nina's the heart, Etienne the leader and Adrien, well he's something else.
I swear this book does things to you. It gets to you in a way that you can't really shake off. It is emotionally raw, heart wrenching and often numbing. There's a lot of love, a lot of pain and then there's also a sort of healing.
And also, I was certainly not prepared for those climaxes and sudden revelations. THREE is the story of common life, tribulations, friendship, love, sacrifice, redemption and many other things. It is the other name for 'Life happened.'
This is the second book that I'm reading from @europaeditionsuk, (the first one being The Lying Life Of Adults by none other than Elena Ferranté) and I must admit I absolutely freaking love everything they publish. The kind of books they offer to us readers is profoundly resonating and deeply personal. I'm currently reading REMOTE SYMPATHY (also from Europa) and it's no surprise that I'm enjoying that as well....more
In this eclectic collection of stories from one of the best storytellers in the world is a treat to all Bond fans. And Song of the Forest, the story tIn this eclectic collection of stories from one of the best storytellers in the world is a treat to all Bond fans. And Song of the Forest, the story that is also the title of this book has never been published before. So there's that! I absolutely loved reading these stories again. I had forgotten about some of them, but reading them again made me nostalgic and reminded me of my school days. Those were the days that I used to devour these stories and felt like a legit reader for the first time in my life. Will also be thankful to Ruskin Bond for that feeling. I honestly can't choose just one story from this collection of 15, 'cause all of them are equally enticing and beautiful....more
This gorgeous book talks about mythical and magical Creatures from all of Indian myths and cultures. The book is divided into five parts, Sky, Earth, This gorgeous book talks about mythical and magical Creatures from all of Indian myths and cultures. The book is divided into five parts, Sky, Earth, Air, Water and others. These 55 stories are marvellous and they also introduce the unversed to the huge and myriad culture of India as a whole. I especially liked the diversity in this book, where stories from different states of India have been put together. This book is also extremely informative and fun to read. It's almost like an encyclopedia of mythical creatures, which I believe is a first. Also, there are a five illustrations of creatures depicting the 5 types which are really lifelike and make this a more enriching experience!...more
This is an absolutely breathtaking fantasy world that I would love to visit again. It's an adventure full of magic and mayhem and it reminded me of ThThis is an absolutely breathtaking fantasy world that I would love to visit again. It's an adventure full of magic and mayhem and it reminded me of The City of Brass (another one of my favorites). I can't begin to describe the beauty that this book is, because it's perfect no matter which way you at it from.
I mean, c'mon. Loulie al-Nazari is the one of the most badass woman I've read about in stories and she's gonna stick with me forever. This book oozes power and dangerous magic in a way that one would certainly feel entangled with it. I have read a few good middle-eastern based fantasies including Ember in the ashes and City of brass and let me tell you, this one's at par with them all. It's a retelling of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves but it is original and unique in itself.
The plot, the characters, the descriptions, everything mixes and mingles with one another to form the perfect pot that needs nothing else to serve a complete meal. Can't wait for book two tbh!...more
The moment I held Small Angels, I felt drawn to it. Something about the Mockbeggar woods, the mystery surrounding it, the uncanny narrative and the unThe moment I held Small Angels, I felt drawn to it. Something about the Mockbeggar woods, the mystery surrounding it, the uncanny narrative and the unspoken danger all came to life at once. A secluded church at the edge of Mockbeggar, a wedding, a disaster waiting to happen. What happens when one tries to shake the cobwebs of a past that is untamed and dangerous? It's Sam and Chloe's wedding, and the entire village is invited to the church of Small Angels. But with an ancient rage threatening to spill over the edges of Mockbeggar, how safe are things going to be? I loved how the entire story has been carried out, alternating between the past and the present. The villagers say when it comes to Mockbeggar, you must "leave it to the Gonnes". It's their business to deal with the malicious and it's okay to look the other way. However, they're now about to pay the price for their ignorance. Lucia Gonne isn't really a likable character, but I get her, eventually. She isn't really Lucia-the bad as her Nan portrays her to be, she's just curious. But sometimes the price to curiosity is life itself and she learns that the hard way. I loved Kate the most. She doesn't appear to be the protagonist at first, but she grips her ground soon, establishing her importance. Chloe is a timid character but she means well. When the Gonnes were described from the pov of the villagers, I found them weird. But when I read their povs, I found they're very human too. We judge people so often without realising the stuff they're probably going through. The relationship that the Gonnes have with the other villagers is somewhat based on this ideology. They're seperated, isolated, left to deal with the unknown on their own when it should have been their collective responsibility. I would say I was teeny-bit disappointed with that ending though. I guess I wanted more. Small Angels is a gothic horror that tells the story of love, betrayal, sacrifice and loss through an essence that is otherworldly yet starkly human.
PS : I received an invitation card to Sam and Chloe's wedding. I think I'll skip it though ...more
Is there's one literature that I don't remember reading, it's definitely Telugu. I'm not sure why I never ventured before (probably there weren't as mIs there's one literature that I don't remember reading, it's definitely Telugu. I'm not sure why I never ventured before (probably there weren't as many translations available mainstream, or obviously, I was living under a rock) but I'm so glad I finally caught up. Or at least, am beginning to.
Thanks to @alephbookcompany 's latest, The Greatest Telugu Stories Ever Told, I'm finally delving into a culture that has always intrigued me. The fact that these are all short stories aided to its expression even more. We get to read and experience from diverse perspectives, dissecting the very anatomy of this place and culture.
The stories are of people who are all the very same but different when closely looked at. The narration is impeccable and vivid, allowing the readers to dip not just toes but their entire lengths in these pool of words and soaking in the heritage and essence. Definitely recommend it to everyone....more
Chillies Chhana & Rasa is not just any book about food. It is a feeling of a deep connection with one's roots, family and history. Being a Bengalee myChillies Chhana & Rasa is not just any book about food. It is a feeling of a deep connection with one's roots, family and history. Being a Bengalee myself, I felt really special to have read this.
This book is a journey as the author narrates her story along with special bengali recipes. Food is an essential foundation of any culture, and Bengalees are already famous for their exquisite and feel-at-home cuisine.
Part history, part memoir and part food blogging, Chillies Chhana & Rasa is an ode to Bengal, its heritage of a culture and its people at a whole. Also, adored the interluding appearances of those little illustrations. Absolutely loved reading this one!...more
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