Thursday 29 September 2016

Book Review: Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah {Agatha Christie's Poirot}


Book: Closed Casket

Author: Sophie Hannah

Pages: 384

Read: The paperback edition featured here; You can read the first few pages of the book by clicking on 'Preview' below as well as buy the book via Amazon.in



Read in: 3-odd hours

Plot Summary: 'What I intend to say to you will come as a shock....'

Lady Athelinda Playford has planned a house party at her mansion in Clonakilty, County Cork, but it is no ordinary gathering. As guests arrive, Lady Playford summons her lawyer to make an urgent change to her will - one she intends to announce at dinner that night. She has decided to cut off her two children without a penny and leave her fortune to someone who has only weeks to live....

Among Lady Playford's guests are two men she has never met - the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool of Scotland Yard. Neither knows why he has been invited...until Poirot starts to wonder if Lady Playford expects a murderer to strike. But why does she seem so determined to provoke in the presence of a possible killer?

When the crime is committed in spite of Poirot's best efforts to stop it, and the victim is not who he expected it to be, will he be able to find the culprit and solve the mystery?


General Thoughts: I am a big Agatha Christie fan! Love her books, love the good common sense life lessons therein and whenever I am not sure what to read (aka big, fat reading slump!), I invariably pick up an Agatha Christie book. This is the second book that the Agatha Christie estate has commissioned Sophie Hannah to write. The first book- Monogram Murders- has been reviewed here

Things I Liked: 

1. The premise of the book was very interesting. There is a massively dysfunctional family, a matriarch who has semi-inappropriate feelings for a charming outsider, a sudden change in a will, which leaves people unhappy- basically, a perfect recipe for murder. What is not to like? *says with a non-creepy smile* 

2. The family dynamics of the Playford clan is really, truly messed up and interesting. There is pretty much everyone at the mansion who has a motive to murder someone! So, that makes the mystery quite interesting. 

3. The murder, the account of the eye-witness and how Poirot and Catchpool go about solving the case is also pretty interesting. 

Things I Didn't Like: 

1. There is a reveal about an event in that happened in the past, which makes it pretty clear who the real murderer is. It reveals a really strong motive for murder, but the book plods on for about a 100 more pages, which it didn't have to! 

2. There were a bunch of unlikable characters in this book, which was the point of it, I guess but most of Agatha Christie's book had, at least, a few characters that were likable, so this book did stray from that formula, so to speak. 

Rating: 3/5 
This new series of Poirot books are quite decent, but not really the same as the original- obviously! Definitely worth a read, though. 

Tuesday 27 September 2016

Haul/// Stationery Haul- Paperclips from Created by Danielle

Hello! 
I recently got some seriously cute stationery mail. I've wanted some decorative paper clips for a while and after a lot of looking on Etsy, I found these beauties and fell in love. 
So cute! These bookmarks/ planner clips are made of super soft felt and are from a store called Created by Danielle



Meet Sir Koala Bear.. he is super cute!  





A pretty flower. Look at all the details on it! 





And this BEE! OMG!! So cute! 




Hedgehog! Always wanted a hedgehog something, anything! 



An elephant! I am a big elephant lover! 




Ditto for Hippos! Super cute! 


No autumn in Bombay but who doesn't like leaves! 



A pink whale! What is not to love?! 




A big coffee lover needs a coffee to-go clip! :) 




Here is the whole gang.. just hanging out! :) 




I am so in love, I can't even pick a favourite. They are all so lovely. Well made, each of their faces and even expressions are so clear and adorable. 
I am going to use these as page markers in my planner and of course as bookmarks as well. 

Have a great week, everyone! 

Monday 26 September 2016

Monday Moods: Monsoon Musings.

Hello! 

This Monday I am already missing the monsoons. I am missing cloud cover. Rainy days. And all that the rains bring with them. Last week was a gloriously rainy week but this week seems bone dry. 
I am for one not looking forward to the October heat. The unbearable mugginess! Ugh! 

But for now let's focus on the lovely rains! 
:) 









There is something magical about the rains. 
I really hope they stay a little longer. 
:) 

Have a great week ahead. 

Sunday 25 September 2016

Stationery Sunday: Chic Sparrow Joy Set Up

Hello! 

This week for Stationery Sunday I want to share the set-up of my Chic Sparrow Fauxdori in Joy. I have been in love with Traveller's Notebook since it first arrived in my house! :) I have used her since then...from mid-July I think.
I keep her in my handbag, as my on the go journal. 
And as a journal in which I journal all of my social outings. Where I went, what I did and things like that. I also use it to make lists--- things I need...groceries and otherwise. A very handy, dandy way  to keep track of all things and it's the perfect size to keep in my handbag, no matter how big or small my handbag is. 

Let's see what my Joy looks like. 
I plan on decorating it a bit more..I have some page markers and cute bits on the way. 


'Joy' from Chic Sparrow is vibrant, slightly mustard-y yellow. It is a perfect bright and happy colour. The leather is not stiff and moulds very well to the notebooks inside. 





The first 'insert' (notebook) I have inside is this little grid notebook from PaperGeekCo on Etsy




Did some decoration on the first page- to set the tone for this little book. This is my notebook for documenting little outings, short trips etc. At the end of the year, I love going back and looking through my little 'outing' books. 





Some decorated pages. I love using washi tape and bigger washi tapes as individual stickers! 




The grey ikat print is a folder made out of lovely paper is from Analog Stationers




This is a doodle of me made by my sister! :) 

We would highly recommend Traveler's Notebook system if you want a notebook system that is flexible and highly customisable to your needs. For instance, in the same notebook, you can have inserts (booklets/ notebooks) for journaling, planning, to-do list making, bullet journaling.. whatever you fancy! Also, highly recommend Chic Sparrow as a maker- great quality, quick shipping and a lot of variety in leather! 

Have a great week ahead, folks! :) 


Friday 23 September 2016

Friday Favourites: Armcandy + Watch + Notebook + Bookmark + Room Decor!

Hello! 

And a Happy Friday to you :) 
Mine has been a rainy one. The Bombay rains has been very good this year by the grace of God. I am not complaining. We needed this rain. 
Also the fantastic weather is such a blessing. 
I am living for it! 
:) 

Now it's time to list some of my favourites in recent times. 



1. Arm Candy/// I love this bracelet stack I put on a few days ago. A mix of things...a mad dash of colour and bits. 
Amethyst and Lapis Lazuli. 
From L-R: Either Or
Fabindia bangles 
Aquamarine bracelet. 


2. Chumbak Watch/// These cats just make me very happy. 



3. My New Walls/// I recently re-did the walls of my bedroom. I had a lot of Etsy/ whimsy art on it, which I loved but it was time for a change and time to add newness to my room. 
I was at The Delhi Art Gallery in Kalaghoda recently and I bought some art prints from there. And these are on my wall and they look fantastic! I am so in love with my room right now. 


4. Fox Love/// This pink Fox bookmark is an old love of mine and isn't she the prettiest?! 
It's from Kikkik


5. Little Journal/// I did a little cover up job on my little Field Notes sized notebook. It's a Project Life card that I think goes well with the colour of my notebook. 

Have a good weekend folks. 
:) 




Thursday 22 September 2016

Book Haul/// Books of September, Part- III (Books from Bargain Book Hut)

Hello! 

This is going to be a super mini book haul. 
Like really tiny. Only 2 books! 
:) 

I love popping into Bargain Book Hut time and again to see what books they have on super discount. I got both of these books for really, really cheap. Nothing makes my heart happier. 








Books Bought..

The Tiger's Wife by Tèa Obreht 
Om Shanti Babe by Helen Limon (I got this book for only Rs. 99! I couldn't pass it up) 

Also how adorable are these free bookmarks?! 
So cute! 

Happy Reading Folks :) 

Wednesday 21 September 2016

Wishlist Wednesday: Hello Paper Cat Magnetic Bookmarks.

Hello! 

Happy Wednesday Folks! 
And this Wednesday I want to bring you a little wishlist of joy. Of some beautiful magnetic bookmarks from a darling little shop I've recently come across called Hello Paper Cat  
it has the cutest paper goods-- bookmarks, dashboards for planners and prints. Give the shop a look and I promise you'll come back charmed and want to get a bunch of stuff. I want to get some goodies soon...I already have some super cute bookmarks on the way..will haul them once they get to me. 

For now let's jump into some of the beauties from Hello Paper Cat. 






Seriously, aren't these just the cutest things you've ever seen?! 
I love, LOVE the Cactus ones. So pretty! 

:) 

Perfect little companions to reading. 

Happy Reading Folks. 

Tuesday 20 September 2016

Book Haul/// Books of September, Part- II ( Kitab Khana Books!)

Hello! 

Time for another little haul of books. 
This time from one of my favourite little bookshops in Bombay- Kitab Khana. 
I was in Kitab Khana last week and walked away with four books. 
I wanted to buy more...I was feeling super speedy, but I honestly didn't find anything I loved enough to buy. 

But these books I loved and I am so excited to get my reading on.
Also I have my Christmas reading sorted! Yay me. 2 of the Vintage Classics to read during the last week of December. You know you are a true blue bookworm when you've got your Christmas reading figured out in September. 

Let's see what I've got...








Books Bought

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg 
A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks
A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi (read and loved)
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena (read and reviewed) 

I loved that I've already read 2/4 books in this haul, it makes me feel really good. 

Happy Reading folks! 


Monday 19 September 2016

Monday Moods: 145 Kalaghoda.

Hello! 

For this week's Monday Moods I want to share a delicious meal I recently had at 145, Kalaghoda  
I had heard loads about this place and especially about their Freak Shakes! They looked so lovely and I especially wanted to try the Nutella Milkshake, honestly anything with Nutella in it makes my heart sing. 
We (my sister and I) went there at noon and opted to get a few light nibbles. 
I got some Hummus with Chicken and my sister got a breakfast thing- The Kickstarter. 
And of course we got the milkshakes, which were delicious! 
I enjoyed the drinks much more than I did the food. Next time I might try some of the main courses.








The milkshakes are seriously amazing! So good! I highly recommend. 

Hope your Monday was a good one. We had a super rainy and cloudy day in Bombay and I am not complaining! 

Happy Reading folks :)