Deepa
It is always a pleasure to read the first book in any series - seeing how it all started. This first story in the Asterix series does not disappoint. It introduces most of true main characters and their quirks- how they are and mostly, why they are as they are. Also it emphasises early on that it is the sheer cunning and wit of Asterix, not merely his physical strength (thanks to the potion) that won the day. The level of detail in the illustrations is unparalleled. One of my all-time favourite comics.
I love the Miss Marple series of books. I love the idea of a gentle, old lady knitting away silently, not missing a single trick. She is sharper than most of the professional detectives and police forces combined, thanks to her skill of observing people and learning from life. Maybe it is because I'm quite the opposite, that she intrigues me so. Great story, great characters and a great mystery.
Such a wonderful book. It inspires me to be a much better and happier person in my home. The suggestions are all very practical and doable. The French are far from being perfect - as the author herself says. But there is so much that could be learned from their culture. I've already implemented several ideas from this book and it has made all the difference. I'm so grateful I picked up this book - another keeper for my bibliothèque 😍
A simple, refreshingly short self- help book. Usually authors drag on and on about their ideas. I have read several books in this genre that could have been condensed to one-tenth of the actual page count. This book is very crisp, to-the-point and definitely easy to implement. An age-old idea too - nothing ground-breaking, but, packed in a nicely compact package and very likely, far more effective than the 600-odd page tomes.
Another book recommendation by the same person who recommended Bride. This is supposed to be a “Romance” read, but clearly my tastes differ. I do love a nice romance, but I much prefer tales of normal people living a loving life. These authors seem to be competing on describing gory/smutty/vomit-inducing scenes. Here both the mml and the mfl are serial killers - both equally sadistic and brutal. They inevitably end up liking each other and the violence continues, albeit in a ewww kind of way. I suppose there is an audience for this type of thing, but I'm not it. I'll be steering clear of this person's recommendations from now on.
Read Congo for a reading challenge to read two similar bills with similar plot (Amazonia was the second book). Michael Crichton books are a staple in my library. This is a book I've had for decades, I know the story so well- in and out. Clearly these exploration stories are fascinating to me - the thrill of the trail, the mysteries and challenges within, the raw power of nature, the new species (the creativity of the authors in creating them!). Unfortunately, almost always, the humans come out of the entire episode empty-handed, having destroyed (or nearly destroyed) whatever they set out to find - it was the same in Amazonia, in the movies like Anaconda etc. Pity!
Oh, and of course, Amy, the teen gorilla who communicates in sign language, was the best character ever.
This second instalment of the Harry Potter series is so funny. The chapters involving Dobby were so hilarious that I was grinning and laughing like an idiot while reading those. Mrs. Weasley is also unintentionally a hoot in this book. Also we learn a little bit more about Voldemort's younger days. As always, Dumbledore sprinkles around his wisdom - so many quotable quotes. It is a wonder how the small details all add up in the later books. J K Rowling is a genius.
A quick read, well worth it. Jam-packed with lots of Eastern philosophy. Practical, common sense that I just needed to hear once more. Eating in moderation, diet rich in local fruits and vegetables, regular physical activity, building great relationships, positive attitude towards life, emotional resilience, more nature, less technology - everyone knows these mantras. Those who follow them live long and happy lives. Must reread once in a while to remind oneself of these timeless truths.
Yet another interesting “magic” fantasy story. There seems to be a soaring popularity for these kind of books. Whatever the trope, I sure loved this book. There is indeed a lot of magic, but then there are the human connections too. The birth mother who was never much of a mother, the step mother who was much more of a mother. The strange relationship between the estranged sisters, and the fun, bantering relationship between the employer(?) and the employee. Definitely an interesting book; it is popular for a reason.
Both the books Little Women and Good Wives are stories out of a lost era - where goodness, kindness, chivalry, truthfulness, sincerity and loyalty were valued and appreciated. So also were womanly qualities like homemaking, gracefulness, demure-ness, agreeable-ness and surrender. Books like these are always a great reminder to strive to be better. It is good to be reminded to be good. Idealistic, yes. But good, nonetheless.
This is perhaps my most favourite non-fiction of all time. Reading about the Queen would be fascinating to me under any circumstances; I have long admired her. In this gem of a book, the author has dissected the Queen's life mantras and packaged it into neat, bite-sized standalone chapters. This book here is the best possible life advice with a healthy dose of old-fashioned pragmatism, a little bit of stoicism and a great deal of common sense. It covers all aspects of one's life - eating, working, playing, thinking, aging... Long Live the Queen has a permanent spot in my bookshelf forever.
A very well-written memoir. Maharani Gayatri Devi's life was a life of extremes. She was born into a world of privilege, grew up in the lap of luxury, sheltered in her youth and yet, in her later years, rose magnificently to the physical and emotional challenge thrown at her during the dark days of the Emergency. Her love for her country and her people shines through these pages. Reading this book made me feel like I have time-travelled through those tumultuous days. A long lost world. A long lost breed of people, who believed in doing what's morally correct, not what is convenient and most profitable. Not a fast read, by any means. But worth it to get a glimpse into an uncommon life well lived.
I'm not sure if I completely like the book. I did not like the beginning- it just dragged on and on. I did not, definitely NOT, like the ending. It seemed like a cop-out, a way way out, non-committal, too yellow to let the right guy win conclusively. Maybe it was supposed to “not be a cliche” ending. Perhaps. I'll say this though - the characters are really interesting, the plot is good and the ending was unexpected (for me), even while feeling inconclusive (my opinion). Definitely not a bad book.
A reread. But frankly, I had quite forgotten the story; so it was as good as a fresh read. The writing is crisp and fast-paced with lots of symbology and iconology (real or half-real) thrown in. Snippets of ancient lore, conspiracy theories and history makes the tale very much interesting to me. I was reading the book in an anytime-I-could-fit-it-in kind of way. A mystery I loved before, encouraged me to look up so much artwork, then and now. The topic of pagan feminine goddess worship is so similar to Hinduism, esp in South India. Very intriguing.
Great book. Read it as part of “two books with similar plot” prompt. This Is the kind of thing that makes me glad I am trying these reading challenges. Definitely a writer to keep in mind for future reads. Loved the deep jungle vibe, the interesting botanical descriptions, the integration of myths and science, and of course the characters. It is very much like other books of the same genre, yet with a fresh take on “what inconceivable mysteries might be hidden inside the impenetrable jungles “. Will be trying out other books by Rollins.
I do so love the Nancy Drew books. There are like a cozy comfort throwback to my teen years. Such a light hearted, gripping mystery tale wrapped up in a short, sweet story. Also I realised how uncomplicated the youth are in these books. There is so little talk of mental struggles and moping around. There is so much proactivity and enterprise, instead. A very much different world back then, I think. Love it. Oh, and these books are great for readathons. Quite easy to find books that match prompts and a fast read.
Such a fun book. Typical Wodehouse tale. Complicated, confusing and utterly convoluted- in a really, really funny kind-of-way. Lovely ladies, dapper gents, a few mischief-makers, and of course, the charmingly clueless Lords of the manors with a battalion of interfering sisters, aunts and cousins. Loved the story, as always. Wodehouse never disappoints.
A precursor of the Harry Potter style of fantasy books - a shorter and simpler story. It also reminded me so much of Enid Blyton, but with much more complex world building. I was surprised by how quick a read this book was; I was expecting a long-winded explanation of the fantasy, and a much more complicated plot. Good book. Definitely recommend. Will keep the next books on the series in mind for future reading.
My first TikTok-sensation, Wattpad-type book. And I'm not happy. The story itself was not bad at all. An arranged marriage between a vampire and a werewolf - Fun! I loved the sassy dialogues, the oh-so-predictable character traits of the leads, it was all good and easy to read. But then towards the end, for some bizarre reason, the author decided to turn this into a steamy, awfully spicy, vomit-inducing tale. Too graphic. Far too graphic and disgusting for my taste. This book would have been rated much higher if it weren't for those last chapters.
Such an awesome book. Marley, the loopy Labrador “evader” is so much fun and such a wonderful “character”. Marley is a great example of how a pet is so much a part of the family, a part of us. John Grogan‘s writing is wonderfully engaging; I felt like I was romping around with Marley myself. I laughed so much while reading the book and I even cried quite a bit towards the end. A wonderful book. A must read for all pet lovers.
My first ever Wodehouse - the one book that started it all. Today I've amassed quite a good collection of Wodehouse books. This was lent to me by my mother's colleague - bless the day. This book is a standalone novel adapted from a Broadway musical also penned by the author. The story is a hilarious romance; our hero is George Finch, the kind of guy who couldn't “say boo to a goose”. This is such a fun, cozy, easy read - I'm smiling all the time, and laughing out most of the time while reading it. Love it so much that I've got the paperback, hardcover and ebook versions.
Such a fun, cozy, fuzzy book. An easy romance with a sprinkle of sparkly magic. I am already wondering if there will be a sequel. I read this book as part of several reading challenges. This was such a popular choice for Book Clubs. And I get it. Totally get it. Interesting that there is also quite some life-wisdom within these pages. Niceness versus Kindness... Home is worth finding, even if it takes a while... This is going to be one of my comfort reads, go-to book for that warm, sweet, smile-on-my-face feeling.
A book I've had for ages, but never got around to reading it. A fantasy tale very similar to Lord of the Rings, but not as complicated. At least that is the impression I got from reading this book - the first in the series. I like fantasies and world-building, but prefer more easy to read books like Harry Potter. Even while the story was interesting. I had to push myself to finish the book. I had the same experience with Lord of the Rings too, but I do like the story of Eragon. It's quite interesting. I however, don't think that I'll be completing the series this time.
Another great book from J K Rowling. Books getting darker as the years pass. Harry comes face to face with death - unnecessary and sudden. He also learns to accept the inevitable with courage; some things simply cannot be changed - a hard lesson for the toughest among us. I also realised that most of Dumbledore's dialogues are “Quotable quotes”, really! Great story-telling. Can't wait to continue the series.