Monday 31 December 2018

2018 Favourites: Top 18 Books of 2018. {My Year in Books}



Hello! 

Here we are again. Standing on the last day of 2018, wondering how this year treated us and how it measured against other years.
As a read it makes sense to look back at my reading year and mull over the things I read and things I missed.

MY READING YEAR IN REVIEW//

1. I read 172 books!
Not bad at all. Funnily my own record of books read seems to be at odds with my GoodReads Reading Challenge. According to which I only read 162 books!
Weird!
I am not too fussed about it, at least not enough to go back and try to see which books I didn't add to my Reading Challenge.
171 is a good solid number. Fewer than last year but a number I can live with.

2. I read more classics and modern classics. I wish I had read more but I still did better than previous years and that brings me joy.

3. I read so much more non-fiction. Go me!

4. Followed quite a few reading themes.
Read only women writers for Femme March.
Read only Bengali books for All Bengali Books in April.
Read books from India and the Indian Subcontinent for All Indian Books in August.

5. Bought some great books, both online and offline.

6. Went to quite a few bookshops.

7. Bought a new Kindle! My darling Boi, my new Kindle Paperwhite who has made a huge difference to my reading life. So grateful for her.

8. Read a whole lot of thrillers and if know me, you know that nothing makes me happier.

9. I read from genres I don't usually read a lot from- poetry, memoirs, historical fiction and I even squeezed in two graphic novels! What a treat.

10. Since this blog is part of my reading life, I want to talk about my blogging too. I'll be honest this might not be the best blogging year, strictly in terms of numbers. I also failed to do full reviews of so many books I loved. This is something I want to fix in 2019.
Do more reviews.
Do reading wrap-ups.

My main resolution for 2019 is being more dedicated to my blog and being more 'serious' about my blogging.

Overall, 2018 was a good year for my Reading.
:)
Not perfect but good!



TOP 18 BOOKS OF 2018.

{IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER}

1. Those Days by Sunil Gangopadhyay/// I had this book sitting on my bookshelves unread since 2013!!! I don't know why it took me so long to finally make my way to it! I read this over Durga Pujo while I was in the hometown, and I LOVED it so much. A sweeping tale of Bengal's golden age. The scope of it was wide but it never lost the human angle. This was hands down the best book I'ver ever read, so good!
5/5

2. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones/// What can a marriage survive? How much can it survive? Can it survive a prison sentence? A false incarceration and the strain it can put on a new marriage. This book was so honest and unflinchingly real and sincere. I cannot recommend it enough, in fact if possible read it with a friend, this is a perfect read for a book club or a buddy read.
4/5

3. The Mothers by Britt Bennett/// A story of motherhood and young love and about numerous what ifs. Poignant and powerful and made me wonder if decisions made at a young age leave such a lasting impact on our lives. Thought provoking and wonderful.
4/5

4. The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish/// A charming and honest memoir of a truly original person, who is unabashedly herself. I find Tiffany Haddish hilarious and her voice really shines through in this book. It was funny and heartfelt and such a fun read.
4/5

5. Poonachi by Perumal Murugan/// Any writer that can make you care about a goat in this way is a genius. I was invested in Poonachi's life from the get go and was rooting for her well-being, sometimes entirely forgetting that she was a goat and fictional.
4/5

6. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Reid Jenkins/// A breezy, poignant and interesting story about the life of an actress in 1950s-80s Hollywood. This beautifully written book had me from the word go, I pretty much read it in one sitting. So good.
4/5

7. The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui/// A memoir of a first generation Vietnamese American recounting the immigration of her parents to America after the Vietnam War. It also showcases the struggles of immigrants and the process of trying to assimilate in a new country and culture. A fantastic read.
4/5

8. Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast/// Another graphic memoir about the writers experience caring for her geriatric parents. It was moving and so retable and wonderful. I should have read this ages ago. It was incredible.
5/5

9. Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo/// This book came so highly recommend and let me add my recommendation too! This is an incredible book about a marriage and the strain put on it by infertility and how society views a married couple without a child. A wonderful book, deeply moving and heartfelt and engaging.
4/5

10. Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal/// I won't lie the title of this novel did throw me off and put me off this book. I mean I am not a big reader of erotic stories, but I am so glad I read this book. It was full of delightful characters and an erotic story or two as well. It is ultimately a story of women supporting other women and even a murder mystery. So good!
5/5

11. Becoming by Michelle Obama/// Inspiring and amazing. I have always been an admirer of the Obamas and the grace and dignity with which they conducted themselves while in office. This was such a great book. It is entirely deserving of all the hype and accolades it's been getting.
4/5

12. Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markanda/// This one broke my heart. A story about farmers in the 1950s, what broke my heart was not just their story of strife and struggle but also how little has changed for farmers in our country in the last 50-60 years.
4/5

13. A River in Darkness by Masaji Ishikawa/// Another non-fiction title. This book takes us inside North Korea and shows the suffering of it's citizens and the constant state of fear and hunger they live with. Brutal, sparse and eye opening. This made for a compelling read.
4/5

14. Mrs. C Remembers by Himanjali Sarkar/// Read this in early January and I knew then it would make it to this list. A book about family and memory. Incredibly well-written and poignant.
4.5/

15. The Tattooist of Auchwitz by Heather Morris/// Part fact and partly fictionalised this book was stunning from start to finish. Heart breaking, obviously, but just full of grit and an inside look at life in a concentration camp. Brilliant! This book is truly one of the very best things I've read in a long, long time.
5/5

16. Last Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton/// A brilliant book about the revolution in Cuba- what it meant for the elite, what it meant for the masses and what it meant for those who were excited. Beautifully written and so, so moving! This is a must-read!
5/5

17. The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton/// Lovers of historical fiction are no strangers to the works of Kate Morton. While this book is not her personal best, but it is still an interesting and engaging read about the life of a young girl in England at the turn of the 20th century.
4/5

18. Bijnis Woman by Tanuja Chandra/// A collection of short stories from UP. Earthy, quirky and full of memorable characters. This book was a treat and made me deeply nostalgic for the time I spent in UP.
4/5


2018 you were full of great books and memorable characters and happy hours spent immersed in whole new worlds.

Thank you all of you for coming along for the ride and being a part of my reading journey.
:)

Here's to more good books and beautiful books in 2019!

See ya in the next year.
(Sorry I couldn't resist.)

Hope your New Year's Eve is going well.

Have a fun evening.
:)

Sunday 30 December 2018

2018 Favourites: Favourite Bags of 2018.

Hello! 

If you didn't know this before, let me tell you now- I am a complete bag lady. 
I LOVE LOVE LOVE bags and therefore couldn't think of the year ending without listing my favourite bags from 2018. 

So here we go..

Oh these are both my sister and my favourites! 


1. A Simple Satchel from Jaipur
Bought this beauty from a shop opposite Hawa Mahal. So simple, clean and utterly gorgeous. I wanted a bag like this for absolute ages.



2. Grey Ikat Circle Bag from Wear Your Style
This tiny bag was a constant companion during my travels to the hometown. She was perfect to hold my essentials for outings and since she's crossbody, it meant I had my hands free. So gorgeous. I love ikat and bags made out of ikat are some of my favourites.
The square checks bag is also from the same brand and one that my sister used while on holiday.





3. Grey Backpack from Chumbak
Another travel favourite from this year. A neutral colour that went with everything and just the perfect enough size to hold everything I needed, including my camera and it's bag + extra shawls and sweaters. 


4. Velvet Bucket Bag from Chumbak! 
Even though she looks tiny, this gorgeous velvet bucket bag came in handy both during my travels and even in daily life. I love the colour and I absolutely love the tassels on the sides. Easily one of the best bags I acquired this year! 
:) 



5. Lazy Mandy from Chiaroscuro 
This is a perfect not-so-little or not-so-big duffle bag from one of our favourite indie leather brands- Chiaroscuro! Lazy Mandy has the perfect amount of space for all your travel essentials and even a bottle of water! My sister carried this bag all over North Bengal for our vacation and it was the perfect travel companion!




6. Sera from Hydes Studio
I can't tell you how long I lusted after this beauty. She is in a style that I adore, a classic satchel and she is the kind of bag that will always be in style. I was so happy when she arrived, it was love at first sight! 
:)



7. Big Stella from Chiaroscuro
Another favourite from our favourite bag makers. Stella is a dream. Another one I lusted after for months and months and finally got her. She looks little but she fits in a ton of stuff. Classic and gorgeous!


She is utterly beautiful.




8. The Frida Bag from Riddhi Pankaj 
Riddhi and her beautifully made bags have been one of our best discoveries of 2018! We now own around 8-9 bags from her and they are all stunning and all so, so well-made! Here is one of my personal favourites- a circle Frida Kahlo inspired bag! What is not to love?! And, she is spacious enough to fit all my necessities and even a 200-300 ml water bottle!!






9. Totes and Pouches from Studio Joyeeta 
I have talked about Joyeeta on this blog before and how much I love and connect with her dripping-in-Bangaliana art! So, it is not a surprise that my sister and I have ordered several bags, brooches and other things from her! Case in point, a hath pakha bag and a fishy pouch! Love her work!




Hope you enjoyed a look at some of my favourite bag finds of the year! :)

Have a great New Year's Eve Eve! :)



Friday 28 December 2018

Favourite Movies of 2018


Hello, hello!
2018 has been a good year for the small budget, slightly indie kind of movies in India and for the really big budget, multi-starrer movies in Hollywood. So, our favourites of 2018 include all of these kinds of movies.

Let's get into the list (in no particular oder):

1. Avengers Infinity War: What can I say about this movie that has not been said or speculated about already?! My sister and I went to watch Infinity War first-day-first-show.. something, which we haven't done for any movie since.. I guess.. the first Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie?! So, yeah, we're fans! And the movie was everything it was supposed to be and if you are a Marvel fan, you've seen it too, I am sure!

2. Thor- Ragnarok: Easily, hands down, the BEST Thor movie to be made! Hilarious, tragic, full of fun and adventure- this movie is a must-watch!

3. Black Panther: For so many reasons, Black Panther is a stand out, record-breaking movie and deserves to be watched and acknowledged. But even as a superhero movie, it is totally amazing! We get introduced to such kick-ass characters and so many of them women! Wow! Love this movie!

4. Get Out: A mind-blowingly amazing movie with such rich subtext about being black in America. Get Out is in turns bizarre, surprising, scary and, finally, uplifting! A total must-watch!

5. Ferdinand: A truly heart-warming movie about following your heart instead of doing what you are "supposed to do"! Plus, super cute animals! What is not to love?!

6. Badhaai Ho: A hilarious yet poignant movie about family, societal roles, rules and just love! Fantastic performances by Neena Gupta, Gajraj Rao, Surekha Sikri and Ayushmann Khurana make this a bit of a cinematic delight!

7. Andhadhun: This is THE movie of the year! Honestly, such a twisty-turn-y suspenseful and fun movie! I think everyone has already seen it, but if not, please do yourself a favour and watch it!

8. Stree: Surprisingly good this one was! An urban legend comes to life in a small town in MP and a rag-tag group of people come together to find this stree, who shows up once a year to traumatise the people of Chanderi. Funny and fun! Also, slightly scary! Stree is a really fun watch!

9. Byomkesh Gotro: The annual Byomkesh Bakshi movie, which simply must be watched because each of these movies are just amazing! This case takes Byomkesh, Ajit and Satyavati to Mussoorie, where their client suspects that his philandering ways will get him murdered soon.. and when he does.. Byomkesh and Co. solve a case with too many red herrings and no real suspects! A good one this is!

10. Guptodhoneyr Sondhane: Literally translated to the search for hidden treasure, this movie is exactly what it sounds like! Our characters find themselves in an old palace, which is rumoured to have the hidden treasure of Shah Shuza, one of Aurangazeb's unfortunate brothers, who left it in the care of the local zamindar whilst fleeing from Bengal. Crazy local goons, lots of puzzle solving make this treasure hunt movie a true adventure! Watch it! It's on Amazon Prime!

What were some of your favourite movies from 2018? Send us some recommendations either here or on Instagram!

Thursday 27 December 2018

My Least Favourite Books of 2018.

Hello! 

I have been sharing my favourite reads of the year in the last week and also mulling over all sorts of favourites. I have read some 170 books in 2018 and while some were ones I simply adored, some made me smile, some scared me and others moved me. Most of the books I read were good. Some though were less than stellar. Others were down right horrible. 
Very often on the blog I prefer to talk about the books I loved and want to share and shout about the books I loved and want you to read. Most of the time I tend to shy away from mentioning or talking about the books I didn't love. I may mention them in passing but I feel sorta bad bitching about a bad book. 
:( 

But...I felt with all the favourites lists, it was only fair that I mention the books that were my least favourite or if I am being honest, the ones I utterly despised! 

Now if any book on this list is one you loved, I mean no offence. We are all different and have different tastes. What works for me may not work you. 
This is just books I didn't like at all. 



LEAST FAVOURITE BOOKS OF 2018. 

1. GIRLS BURN BRIGHTER BY SHOBHA RAO: Now, I may be a minority opinion holder on this book, since this one has rave reviews both on GoodReads and on the internet. But I hated, HATED this book. It felt like it was pandering to the western idea of India and it's crippling poverty! 
UGH! 
Also this book had every bad thing that can happen to women happen to it's lead characters. It was one bad thing after another. 
I didn't warm up to these characters. Nor could I grow to care for them, inspite of every horrible thing that happened to them.  I had the worst time reading this book.
Awful. 
1/5 

2. GENUINE FRAUD BY E. LOCKHART: I just need to admit that books by this author just don't work for me. I really didn't like We Were Liars and the whole hype that surrounded it. This was fell flat for me too. Not good. 
1/5 

3. THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE BY AIMEE BINDER: This one...how do I even articulate my dislike for this one?
It was well-written, sure but so utterly bizarre it made me want to throw it aside after I finished it. I am all for magical realism but this was a bit much. Like a lot much. 
No. 
Just no! 
1/5 

4. BRING ME BACK BY B.A. PARIS: Is there anything worse than a thriller that has a disappointing ending? 
I liked B.A. Paris's first two books but this was so out there. The big twist was just implausible. Way too far fetched. 
1/5 

5. SOMETHING IN THE WATER BY  CATHARINE STEADMAN: This was another book with a whole lot of hype around it. It was being called the thriller of the summer. It just didn't work me, the nature of the crime and the crime itself, it's execution was too far fetched too. Just not for me. 
1/5

6. THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 BY RUTH WARE: Another thriller that didn't quite work for me. It was beyond easy to guess the mystery and I am so done women in thriller novels being unreliable, drunk and/or drugged or generally unsure of every single thing. 
2/5 

7. DADDY'S GIRL BY SWATI CHAUDHARY: This book was a gift from my new sister-in-law, so it's not one I picked out on my own. I read it because it's loosely based on the Arushi murder case and I thought it would might be interesting.
It was not. At all! 
The writing was just bad. There were grammatical and practical mistakes galore. I don't know how or who edited this book?!
1/5 

8. THE MISS INDIA MURDERS BY GAURI SINH: I bought this book thinking this would be a fun read. Murders at the Miss India pageant. What's not to love?!
Wrong!
The writing style was a little forced, unclear and meandering. 
The crime itself was preposterously far fetched. 
Just not good. 
0.5/5 

9. THE AMATEURS BY SARA SHEPARD: This entire series was overall disappointing. They were quick reads and fairly engaging but it was obvious that the author is milking the books for a long-running series and hence, the perpetrator gets away! The first book in the series was, at least, decent because there was the hope of the perp getting caught in the next two books! But, no! I hate when authors keep writing books in a series that makes 

10. OBSESSED BY RUCHI KOKCHA: This book was easily the WORST book we've read all year! This book was SICK on multiple levels with no suspense, no red herrings and, if we're being honest, no story! UGH! Just don't pick up this book! 
  

Wednesday 26 December 2018

Blogmas Day- 25: Top Thriller Books of 2018



Hello, hello!

Anyone who reads this blog will know my deep and abiding love for thriller/ mystery/ crime fiction! So, it goes without saying that we read a lot of books from this genre over the year and, so, obviously, we had to do a Top 10 thrillers of 2018!

Without any further ado, let's get into the list!

1. The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine: A twisty-turn-y psychological thriller about a girl who envies a rich woman and will do anything to get her life. Click on the book name for our review!

2. The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware:  A young girl learns that she has inherited a huge amount of money from a grandmother she knew nothing about. When she reaches the family mansion, she steps into a world that is not only completely different from her own but is also full of dark secrets from her past

3. Cross Her Heart: A woman and her daughter are living a quiet and secluded life in small town England. All of this changes when her daughter saves a young boy from drowning and her heroism gets them a lot of unwanted press coverage. Secrets and enemies come tumbling out of the closet.

4. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen:  Oh this is a fantastic psychological thriller! It starts off as one thing and becomes something else entirely! Loved it! 

5. A Murder on Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey: More than a murder mystery or a thriller, what I loved about this book is its portrayal of the lives of women and Indian society in 1920s Bombay. Just read it for the atmosphere and enjoy the murder mystery as well!

6. Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber: A book that is a must-read for any podcast obsessed person! A small town murder of a college professor gets a whole lot of new attention when a popular podcast picks it apart. Love it!

7. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell: I regret not reviewing this book on the blog because it is a truly interesting one! Laurel's daughter went missing ten years ago and now she has a new man in her life, whose daughter- Poppy- is the spitting image of Laurel's missing daughter. What connects these two girls? Just pick up this book! You won't regret it!

8. The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz: A book I thoroughly enjoyed! It is twisty and interesting and just a fantastic, classic, good old murder mystery! Read it if you haven't already!  

9. The Outsider by Stephen King: A paranormal thriller with nary a dull moment! No wonder it won the Goodreads Awards for the best thriller book! Read it!

10. Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker: Two sisters go missing three years ago. One of them returns home and is willing to go to any lengths to find her older sister. Is she telling the truth? Or did something else happen to Emma? A really gripping book!  

Tuesday 25 December 2018

Blogmas Day- 24: Book Haul//// Books of December 2018.

Hello! 
Merry Christmas my loves! 


I hope this Christmas brings you joy and peace and love! 

The things that bring me most joy are my books, so today, let me share my December book haul with you. 
I got these books in the first week  of December all from Amazon. 

Let's see the goodies I've added to my bookshelves lately. 


Read this darling little book and loved it immensely. 
So good! 


Some Bengali literature in translation is one of my favourite things to buy and read. 
I might just save a few of these books for my All Bengali Books in April, where I read only Bengali books and authors in April for Bengali New Year. 



Pulp fiction! 
Yes Please! 
:) 


I've heard nothing but amazing things about this book and I can't wait to read this. 
Saving it for January 2019. 


BOOKS BOUGHT/// 

The Wind on Haunted Hill by Ruskin Bond 
The Moving Shadow: Electrifying Bengali Pulp Fiction Translated by Arunava Sinha 
Shake the Bottle by Ashapurna Debi 
Latitudes of Longing by Shubhangi Swarup 
Stories from Saratchandra Innocence and Reality by Saratchandra Chattopadhyay 


Hope your day has been special and fun! 
:) 
Merry Christmas once again! 

Monday 24 December 2018

Blogmas Day- 23: A Monday Mood! (Totes from Miniso)


Hello! 
Starting the week with this happy message..
"I Will Greet This Day With Love in My Heart" 
 A good way to start a new day and a brand new week, even if it's the last week of the year! 



Cute little Cats! 
:) 




Hope this last week of the year is absolutely wonderful and relaxing or party filled. 
Have a great day guys! 

These Totes are from Miniso. 

Sunday 23 December 2018

Blogmas Day- 22: Stationery Haul/// Bookmarks from Obvious State.

Hello! 

I recently got some freaking adorable goodies from Obvious State. I have been drooling over goodies from Obvious State for far too long. I saw they had some amazing Black Friday offers and discounts and went a little mad. I will be sharing my goodies in batches, so for today I am sharing one of the bookmark sets I got from them. These are the Literary Puns set and they are funny, cute and just perfect. 
:) 








Aren't they the cutest?! 

They are incredibly well made. 
The paper quality is great and the print is vivid and vibrant. 
5/5 
Highly recommend. 

You've got to check out Obvious State, you won't be disappointed. 

Saturday 22 December 2018

2018 Favourites: Favourite Young Adult (YA) Books of 2018 {Blogmas Day-21}




Hello! 

Next up for my yearly favourites are my favourite 2018 YA aka Young Adult reads. 
I don't read that much YA to be honest, not because of any prejudice of any sort. I think YA books can be just as amazing and just as meaningful and enriching as other literature. I just have for one reason or another been not reading a whole lot of YA fiction. Something to possibly amend in 2019. 

These are some of my favourite YA Reads from 2018. 

1. ONE BY SARAH CROSSAN: This was one of my first reads of 2018, how apt, given its title. A book written in verse, a very new reading experience for me. A story about conjoined twins and a decision to go separate ways and live a 'normal' life. Incredibly moving and powerful. I loved this book and cannot recommend it enough. 
5/5 

2. THE HATE U GIVE BY ANGIE THOMAS: There isn't enough I can say about this book that hasn't been said already. A powerful read and a great commentary on race, police violence and finding your voice. 
Just as great as everyone says it is. 
5/5 

3. INDIRA BY DEVAPRIYA ROY & PRIYA KURIYAN: This incredible mix of fiction and fact, text and illustration, was a one of the best things I've read all year. A look at the life of our only female Prime Minister was truly enlightening and inspiring. 
5/5 

4. TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE (TRILOGY) BY JENNY HAN: These books were a revelation! 
I have had these books sitting on my Kindle for years now, at least 3 years and for some reason I've not been in the mood to read them. Late on night in March, unable to sleep, I started to read the first book and I was HOOKED! I just couldn't put it down! It was charming, lovely, mushy and full of feels! I loved it. I don't read a lot of romance but these books just blew me away. I also loved the film adaptation on Netflix. But the books were so much better! 
5/5 

5. THE LAST TIME I LIED BY RILEY SAGER: A thriller for the list! This book set partly in a camp was a run ride. I read it pretty much in one sitting and couldn't put it down. I loved it. It's a perfect winter read if you are looking for one. 
4.5/5 

6. PERRENIALS BY MANDY BERMAN: Another camp read. I just can't resist books set in camps. This one dealt with female friendships, changing equations, coming of age and an unexpected death. Engaging and sincere, this was a great read. 
4/5 




Friday 21 December 2018

Blogmas Day- 20: Style Haul/// Brooches from Deesa.

Hello!!! 

For today's edition of Blogmas I want to share a very happy haul of the most darling handmade brooches from Deesa by Deepika. 
This is my second time ordering from Deepika and I loved everything I got the first time around and then I spotted several new designs and I ordered a second batch of goodies. 

Let's see all of the super cute brooches I got! 


A black kitty. Look at it's cute little face! 
I just couldn't resist. 


Some retro ness! A cassette :) I miss these guys so much! 


A birdie. This one is for my sister, an avid bird fan! 


Some kowries and embroidery. A match made in heaven. 


A camera for a girl who takes way too many photos. 

I honestly cannot recommend Deepika's work enough. Every single piece is beautifully crafted and impeccably made. And gosh so freaking cute! 

Check out her Instagram for her beautiful brooches, HERE. 

Thursday 20 December 2018

2018 Favourites: Favourite Children's Books of 2018. {Blogmas Day-19}



Hello! 

It's that time of the year..the time to look back and pick my favourite reads of the year. 
I am starting with Children's Books simply because this list came to me the easiest and these were some of the absolute loveliest books I read all year. 

So let's get started! 

FAVOURITE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF 2018. 

1. GETTING GRANNY'S GLASSES BY RUSKIN BOND:  This might just be the best thing I read all year round. It was cozy, comforting and heart warming and left me feeling very happy and content. This is the book that I will be reaching to for years to come when I am looking for comfort. 
5/5 
Incredible and adorable. 
Ruskin Bond weaves his magic. 



And it's full of darling illustrations. 
Perfect reading for a young reader or the child in you. 
:) 






2. THE WIND ON THE HAUNTED HILL BY RUSKIN BOND: Another Ruskin Bond on the list! 
This book is a story of friendship and is full of love, comfort and heart warming vibes. I read this one recently and it made me want to run to Landour right this moment! 
5/5 once again and I cannot recommend this one enough! 


This one is too full of colourful illustrations! 




3. THE AMMUCHI PUCHI BY SHARANYA MANIVANNAN: This fantastic little book talks of about a very important topic of grief and loss, something I am sure several parents struggle with talking to their kids about. 
I have a full review of this book, you can find it HERE.
5/5 brilliant! 


4. SNOW AND ROSE BY EMILY WINFIELD MARTIN: This book was my special bookish buy for my blog's birthday in June. I wanted it since last Christmas and I was so happy when it arrived. I am not usually the biggest fairy tale retelling fan but this was, full of art and whimsy and an underlying sense of menace was a wonderful read. A perfect winter read, if you are looking for one and thoroughly engaging and fun. 
5/5. 







5. I NEED TO PEE BY NEHA SINGH: This book talks about an issue all of us girls face in India. The lack of clean toilets when we step out of the house! 
I did a full review of this book as well, you can find it HERE.
4/5 important and real and relatable. 



6. RANI LAKSHMIBAI BY SONIA MEHTA: A great book about one of the greatest female role models from India. Rani Lakshmibai will forever be someone who inspires respect and awe for everything she stood for. I loved this book and I learnt quite a bit about her early life as well. 
4.5/5
Review this one HERE.