My Year in Books + Top 21 Reads of 2021.

 Hello Loves! 

Here we are on the very last day of 2021. 

What a year it's been, huh? What a beastly little year! Good thing is I am happy to see it leave and I am happy to have survived it. Literally, I am grateful to be alive and grateful to have kicked Corona Kameeni to the curb.

Uff! This year was zeher in parts and sukoon in bits. 

Let's talk about something good:  aka my reading in 2021. 

Reading my one solace in every situation and every year! 

This year I read 200 books. 

A neat little number no?! I got to 200 a few days ago..a little before Christmas and then just took time off from reading. I took a holiday from reading and just focussed on other things and spent time blogging and making a ton of lists and cooking and being. 

200 is a good solid number and more than that I feel very at peace with everything I read this year. 

So let's look at my annual 

YEAR IN BOOKS 

200 BOOKS. 

I read a mix of ebooks and physical books. 

I dare say I might have read more ebooks this year. 

I am so grateful for my Kindle and having books on hand at all times. 

I read so many genres. 

I read a fair amount of non-fiction this year. 

According to my GoodReads I read 36,519 pages. 

I read quite a few new releases. 

I read new books from some of my of my absolute favourite writers: Amitav Ghosh, Jhumpa Lahiri, Haruki Murakami and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. 

I read horror. 

I didn't read any romance..not one that I enjoyed, in any case. 

I read a decent amount of kid-lit. 

I read a fair amount of Literary Fiction. 

I read pretty much everyday. 

I read on my terrace while getting sunned or watching the rains. 

I read curled up in bed. 

I DNF-ed a few books.

I stuck to most of my reading resolutions. 

I bought some books every now and then. 

I bought a lot of used books (look at me evolve). 

I twice went all out and splurged on new/expensive books. 

I read some disappointing books, not overly bad just books I went in hoping more from and being thoroughly disappointed. 

Overall, on an average, I mostly read very decent books and some absolutely amazing books. 

I didn't blog nearly enough. 

4/12 months I blogged every single day, which is pretty remarkable. 

My bookish life was good. 

My books kept me sane and happy and distracted when the world went to hell, and in 2021, it went to shit a lot. 

:( 

I cannot tell you how my books and stories save my life. 

Thank you my beloveds. 

You are my everything. 

I have shared a lot of my yearly faves this year but like it's tradition, here are my all around, absolute favourite reads of 2021. 

Ones I recommend whole heartedly. 

Ones you should definitely read soon. 

Some I have talked about and others I am mentioning for the first time. 

TOP 21 BOOKS OF 2021. 

1. Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri 

2. The Echo Chamber by John Boyne 

3. Tales from my Heart by Ruskin Bond 

4. A Lonely Harvest by Perumal Murugan 

5. A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson 

6. Rumours of Spring by Farah Basher 

7. Essential Items by Udayan Mukherjee 

8. Padmavati The Harlot and Other Stories by Kamala Das 

9. Spooky Stories by Tanushree Podder 

10. The Girl and The Goddess by Nikita Gill 

11. The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Pham Que Mai 

12. Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 

13. Confessions by Kanae Minato 

14. Prelude to a Riot by Annie Zaidi 

15. How to Be a Writer by Ruskin Bond 

16. The Adventures of Goopy Gyne and Bagha Byne by Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury 

17. Pilgrimage by Ira Singh 

18. Gopi Diaries: Finding Love by Sudha Murty 

19. Dark Tales by Venita Coelho 

20. First Person Singular by Haruki Murakami 

21. The Adventures of Feluda Vol- I by Satyajit Ray 

21 amazing books that made my heart sing. 

:) 

I wish you and yours a very, very Happy New Year. 

I hope 2022 is safe and kind and wonderful for you. 

Thank you for making 2021 so much better for me and thank-you for reading my blog and being a part of my little life. 

:) 

See you next year loves! 

:) 

Favourite Literary Fiction Reads of 2021.

 Hello Loves! 

Today let's look at some amazing literary fiction reads of mine from 2021. Some amazing books you need to read! And all of these books, in spite of being Literary Fiction they are all very, very accessible and very easy to read and love. 

Let's just jump in shall we? 

1. The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai: This book just...broke my heart and these people, these characters just held my heart and will always stay with me. So so good. Seriously this might be the best thing I read all year.  Set in Vietnam  for nearly a century this powerful novel is a family saga and a swift lesson in Vietnamese history and everything they've had to survive. I am so so so happy I read this book and  I implore you to pick it up if you haven't already. This is something I will definitely re-read in the future. Absolutely luminous and amazing! But go in knowing there will be tears involved. 

2. Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri: I mean..of course Lahiri is on the list. She is my absolute favourite and what a blessing to read something new from her this year. A new Lahiri book was honestly a highlight of my otherwise bleak year. I was looking forward to this from the very beginning of the year and read it within a week of release. A little different from her usual stories this one still had elements of her style and I enjoyed it very much. Is it the best Lahiri? I am not sure. Is it the worst? No, because there is no bad Lahiri. 

A full review can be found here. 

3. Rebirth by Jahnavi Barua: A second year in a row when Barua's book makes it to my list. Last year I read and loved Undertow and made it a goal of mine to read more of her work and this year I picked up Rebirth and loved it. 

Did a full review which you can read to hear my complete thoughts on this beautiful book. 

4. Prelude to a Riot by Annie Zaidi: What a powerful little book. I meant to read this for ages and ages and this year I finally got around to reading it. This little book is a thing of force. At only 192 pages this book keeps you hostage to it's building tension and dread. A book set very much in today's India and does a eerily good job of capturing a small town on the cusp of a riot. This book felt like a ticking time bomb and I loved it and honestly cannot recommend it enough. Seriously pick it up, you won't be sorry. 

It's available on Kindle Unlimited for free, if you are a member. 

5. A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson: I picked up this book because it was on the Man Booker Long List and it sounded like something I'd enjoy. I was right. This book came me some Anne Tyler vibes and it took me to a small town in Canada and in a world of three very different characters all connected in unsual ways. There was a comforting quality in this book. So much heart and a little misfortune and a lot of longing. A precocious child pining for her missing sister, a young man dealing with the end of his marriage and an elderly lady waiting for her inevitable end. All in not-so-perfect situations and all in a town called Solace. I loved this book. It made me smile and it made me sad. Beautiful and moving and still and lovely. I am certainly going to pick up some Mary Lawson in 2022. 

6. The Echo Chamber by John Boyne: This was the funniest book I read in 2021. It was hilarious. Very tongue in cheek and very, very British in it's dry wit and humour. I have read John Boyne before and loved his work, please read The Heart's Invisible Furies if you haven't already. This one was a hoot from start to finish. This book is such a no holds barrel look at the over sanctimonious woke folks and how so much of this virtue signalling is just performative and there were so many bits that I was furiously nodding along and agreeing with. You might either love this book or be very pissed with it. Depends on how you see things. I loved it. Seriously good! 

7. First Person Singular by Haruki Murakami: A year with a new Murakami. What a blessing! I am a Murakami super fan, I've read pretty much most of his books and this one I got and read within a week of it's release! I will say I prefer his novels to his short stories but this collection I enjoyed very much. Again, some Murakami is better than no Murakami, so I was happy to drown myself in his words and stories. 

8. Kim Jiyong Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo: Another powerful and thought provoking read that a lot of us (women mostly) will find too painfully relatable. A short read this one yet it manages to punch you in the gut. The novel tells a story about an ordinary life of Kim Jiyoung including a short family history, her birth, growing up and an adult life. The book presents not only the hardships the eponymous character had to go through from her early childhood but also the experiences of other women that she knew. It shows the discrimination and social judgement the women faced, what they thought about that and how they responded. So much this book and in this life is relatable. How women are treated and how much they endure. Stark and without any frills or sugar coating this one was an incredible read. Highly recommend. 

Favourite Non-Fiction Books of 2021

 Hello, hello,

I am for most part a fiction reader and a fiction lover. I have always been drawn to fiction more than any other genre under the sun. Lately, in the last few years I've tried to branch out and read and incorporate more non-fiction in my life. I don't think there will ever be a time when the scales will dip towards non-fiction in my life but I would like to read more from this varied genre. 

Non-fiction books are interesting because they tell real stories about people from different walks of life. This year, I read some really interesting ones across sub-genres and I thought I'd share my favourites here. 

Let's get to it, shall we? 

1. Childhood Days by Satyajit Ray: This year was Ray's Centenary and a lot of things went Ray themed. I started my reading year with Ray and read a lot of his work. So of course I read his childhood memoir too. Full of stories from his earliest years, some memories of his father and his childhood home up to his early years as a film maker. This book gives us a glimpse into his genius and the life behind the public life. Enjoyable and wonderful and a must read for a fan of his work. 

2. Dead Men Tell Tales by Dr. B. Umadathan: 2021 was a year of Malyalam thrillers for me. I watched so many classic Malyalam whodunnits and this name appears in the credits of many of the films from the 80s and 90s. This collection of tales from the illustrious career of Kerala's imminent Police Surgeon was a hoot from start to finish. True crimes from the Police Files were both shocking and gripping. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, so good.  If you enjoy true crime and forensic science pick this book up.

3. Ghosts in our Backyard by Alisha 'Priti' Kirpalani: If you know me at all you know what I am huge horror fan and when it comes to horror I am not terribly discerning. I will watch and love it all. Seriously, I will watch anything that is remotely spooky. But the one genre within the horror umbrella that is very close my desi heart is the Ramsay Brothers cinematic universe. There is such a nostalgia in my heart for this films and even today if I see Purani Haveli playing on TV I drop everything and watch it. So these stories by a member of the Ramsay family, about some of the real life haunting she and several members of the family experienced throughout their lives was a treat in every single way. I read this book in one sitting and I loved it so much. Made me want to watch a Ramsay films immediately. So good. Perfect for OG fans and for those who enjoy real life horror stories. 

4. The Good Girls: An Ordinary Killing by Sonia Faleiro: From one kind of horror to another. Sonia Faleiro's well-researched and nuanced book sheds life on a horrific real life case from recent times. A case that is shrouded in so much mystery, misgiving and so much controversy. The infamous Badaun Case from 2014 is brought to life in this book and is done with such a balanced approach. Read it but go in with massive Trigger Warnings for sexual assault and violence. 

5. Empress, The Astonishing Reign of Our Jahan by Ruby Lal: This book is how I kicked off Nonfiction November and it reminded me just how much I love history and studying history. About Empress Nur Jahan and her reign, this book is a deep dive into her life and times. I really enjoyed this book and it has made me want to read more history in the coming year. 

6. Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: This year and the one before have been ones for loss and grief. No one is untouched by loss during this pandemic. Especially this year has been one loss after another. This book voices what loss feels like and what grief viscerally feels like. CNA is an incredible writer and this book about the loss of her beloved father and what his passing meant to her, her pain and grief comes through with every word on every page. Powerful and moving and brilliant.  

7. Rumours of Spring by Farah Bashir: The best part about reading nonfiction is reading about lives different from yours and seeing the other side of stories you only ever see on the News. For a better part of my life, Kashmir has been in the News and for most part all of it has been bleak. Kashmir and it's people have existed in our imaginations as how the News framed them and their experience. But I'd rather see them and their stories and their life on their terms and in their words. This book about a girlhood in Kashmir is so important to read and bear witness to. To see the life behind the gory News stories. I am so glad I read it and cannot recommend it enough. 

8. An Educated Woman in Prostitution by Manada Devi: This book is the memoir of an impossible life, one that could easily be fiction but life, real life is often stranger and sadder than fiction ever could be. Manada Devi, a contemporary of my great-grandmother, came from a similar background as my family. She could easily be a relative of mine. But her life, her choices took her on a entirely different path. I read this book moved by her journey. Surprised by it and wanting to reach out and comfort her and tell her she shouldn't be so hard on herself. She was  teenager and none of this was (entirely) her fault. Thought provoking and brilliantly translated by Arunava Sinha, this one is an intriguing read.  

Top English and Foreign Language Shows of 2021

 Hello, hello,

This has been a year of great international TV shows! We've had some really good ones streaming even in India and so, without much ado, here is our list of favourites from 2021. 

1. Only Murders in the Building: Oh my God! Hands down my absolute favourite show this year just so so so good. It's equal part funny, warm, goofy and a solid mystery. I love everything about this show and am currently re-watching it because it's just the thing to binge this time of year. I love these characters and I can't wait for season two and be reunited with these darling people. Please watch it if you haven't, it's streaming on Disney Hotstar. 

2. Wanda Vision: Some MCU to save the day and give us a much needed revisit with out favourite people. This show is a whole other ballgame, very different from what Marvel has done so far. A hat tip to sitcoms from the golden era of American sitcoms and so enjoyable and kickass. Brilliant, this is streaming on Disney Hotstar too. 

3. Yellow Jackets: A newer show and one that's still on going and one that I haven't heard too many people talk about. This show is a mystery drama and a little bit of an ode to classics such as Lord of the Flies and series such as Lost. A time split narrative split between 1996 and present day. A girl's soccer team is marooned in the middle of nowhere for 19 months, only six survive and in present day the survivors are being targeted and clearly harbouring some deadly secrets. A very enjoyable show and one I am curious to see where it goes. This is streaming on Voot. 

4. 9-1-1: A long time favourite this one of the few network shows I religiously watch and enjoy. Always fun tense and dramatic and so so entertaining. This streams on Disney Hotstar. 

5. Death in Paradise: Another constant favourite that I wait for in January and for me this is what the New Year means, a new season of Death in Paradise. A forever favourite and just last night I watched it's Christmas Special episode and it was so good and the new season starts on January 7th! I cannot wait. I love this show and the books based on it. Golden! 

6. What If..? : More Marvel magic and Marvel characters with a twist. Fun and voiced by out favourite characters this one is so much fun and kinda important to watch because some of this has bearings on future MCU films...the new Dr. Strange film for sure. Side Note: How hot is the evil Dr. Strange?!!! 

7. Mare of Easttown: Kate Winslet killllleddd it in this show. Man, she was so beyond brilliant. Watch it to just see her shine. Also watch it for a slow burn mystery and see a small town in all it's gory glory. So good! Stellar performances and so much more. Streaming on Disney Hotstar. 

8. And Just Like That: I went into this with very measured expectations and not knowing what to expect, four episodes in I am happy to report this one is going well. Different from Sex and The City but refreshingly delightful and very much set in today. It's nice to revisit with my favourite NYC ladies and see how they've grown and changed and yet in so many ways remained the same. 

9. The Forest: A French  drama series about a small town and a missing teenager. Six episodes long and perfectly paced this a great one to binge in a day. This is available on Netflix. 

10. Who Killed Sara?: A Spanish drama/ thriller series about a man determined to clear his name and get revenge on those who killed his sister Sara and framed him for her murder. Full of twists and turns this one is worth the ride. This is available on Netflix too. 

Top 10 Hindi OTT Series of 2021

 Hello, hello,

Today I'd like to share my favourite Hindi OTT shows/ series of 2021. Let's get into it, shall we? 

1. The Family Man (Season 2): The action moves to Chennai this season where some erstwhile members of the LTTE attempt an assassination and our team of TASC officers race against time to stop them. The second season is as full of thrills, humour and edge-of-your-seat moments as the first. Plus, a lot of loose ends from Season 1 were also closed. The Family Man is streaming on Prime Video. 

2. Your Honour: A judge will break all laws to save his son from a terrible fate. A fast-paced, thrilling series about the extent to which a parent will go for their child. Your Honour is streaming on SonyLiv. 

3. Candy: A boarding school in a hill station. A pervasive drug problem. A teenaged boy brutally murdered. A mythic creature hunting young people in the woods again. A teacher with demons of his own struggling to stop this brutal killer. A really good web series- possibly the best made in India this year! Candy is streaming on Voot. 

4. Criminal Justice Season 2: A well-loved and successful lawyer is found brutally killed in his own home. The suspect- his diminutive wife. Why would she do such a thing? Why would she kill such a nice man? Only her lawyer seems to believe in her innocence and is trying his best to prove her innocence. An interesting series about what happens behind closed doors. Criminal Justice is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. 

5. Gullak: A middle-class family. Their little and not-so-little trials and tribulations. Small moments of joy and big sources of tensions. Surviving through all these ups and downs is an adorable family with a lot of heart! Gullak is streaming on SonyLiv and on TVF Play. 

6. Empire: The story of how the Mughals (i.e. Babar) arrived in India. A really nicely made series based on the book by Alex Rutherford. Empire is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

7. Kathmandu Chronicles: A dreaded gangster is obsessed with a newsreader. Cops are trying to find him and arrest him. They decide to use the newsreader as bait. But is everything really as it seems? An interesting series loosely based on true events, Kathmandu Chronicles is streaming on SonyLiv. 

8. Maharani: When the Chief Minister is sent to jail accused of a scam, his wife is made the interim CM. She is expected to toe the line and not rock the boat because she is just a simple housewife. However, this "simple housewife" has a voice of her own and she refuses to be a proxy. A nicely done political drama inspired by the events in 1990s Bihar, Maharani is streaming on SonyLiv. 

9. Special Ops 1.5: A backstory of Special Ops' unit chief- Himmat- from when he was a young officer. This half-a-season series is nicely done and is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. 

10. Aranyak: Slightly similar to Candy in terms of the setting and some of the premise but has enough to be unique and interesting. Residents of a small village up in the hills believe that a mythical creature- half man, half panther- emerges every lunar eclipse and kills people. When a young French girl is found raped, murdered and strung up in the pine trees, the new SP in town and the outgoing SP reluctantly team up to solve this media-buzzy case and catch the killer. Aranyak is streaming on Netflix. 

Hope you found something new to watch from this list! If you have something to add to this list, let me know on Instagram. 

 

Vignettes: Margaret's Deck Tea Lounge.

 Hello Loves! 

Today I am throwing it back to the time in March when I made a little day-trip to the hills. The only time I went to the hills this year. Hai what a tragedy! Hopefully 2022 has me in the hills more and longer. 

I had crossed Margaret's Deck a lot of times but for one reason or another we never stopped for a cup of tea, mainly because we are either excited to just get to Darjeeling or we usually stop at the Kurseong Tourist Lodge for momos and sandwiches, so it feels a little silly to stop so soon after. But for this time we were determined to stop and see this much hyped place for ourselves. 

Here are some pictures from our short stop over. 

Ah! An aesthetic paradise. This view meets your eye the moment you walk in. 

A little plant display. 

My cup of hot chocolate. I was hoping to grab a cup of coffee but they don't serve any, which makes sense it's a tea place, they offer a variety of teas and cocoa.

This is the view from the deck. Mountains and greenery galore. 

This was my companion on my trip, my beautiful Wednesday Sling from Chiaroscuro in Rose. 

Look at her looking beautiful. 

Blooms galore. 

Love these pale pink beauties. 

Since we had just had a light lunch at the Tourist Lodge we only had a few nibbles here. 

We had hot chocolate and slices of cake. 

I am sad to report none of this was great. 

Like really not good. 

Maybe the savoury food is better and maybe the teas are good but everything we tried was just so painfully average. 

Teapots in abundance. 

This is a great place to come and look at the views and take a million pictures. 

I am glad we stopped and ticked this place off my mental list, it was pretty and a nice spot to get a cup of tea. 

Blogmas Day XXV: My Christmas Book Haul!

 Hello Loves! 

:) 

Merry Christmas to you and yours. I hope you've had a good day and some cake and maybe even a present or two under the tree. 

:) 

I have some beautiful presents underneath the tree and like any true blue bookworm, I, of course, have a book haul. Because why wouldn't I buy books?

This book haul is full of books that have sat on my Wishlist for absolute ages. So since it's the end of the year I decided to just bite the bullet and myself some amazing books. 

Let's see my lovely Christmas Book Haul. 

A stack of books I am 100% certain I'll love. 

A low-risk book haul, if you will.

 

Some of these books were kinda pricey but 'tis the season to treat yourself. 

Ah! 

And some of these book are so big and juicy and perfect. 

:) 

A Ruskin Bond book is a thing of joy. Got this beautiful book which has all glossy pages and some beautiful illustrations. I cannot wait to read these stories and be enthralled by the gorgeous art. 

This book  has been on my wishlist for absolute ages and I figured it's high time I just got it. This might be my first read of 2022. 

Then I got some Ray magic. All of this year has been a Ray fest and I ended the year by adding two more Ray tittle to my shelves. 

I have another Ray book on the way to me as we speak. 

This mammoth little book is a thing of joy. A book about 3 Rays- Upendrakishore, Sukumar and Satyajit. Their stories and even some art. I am beyonddddd happy to have this beautiful book in my life. I can't wait to jump into this world. 

And finally this beautiful graphic novel adaptation of this book that everyone but me seems to have read. 

BOOKS BOUGHT: 

1. All Time Favourites for Children by Ruskin Bond 

2. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy 

3. Another Dozen Stories by Satyajit Ray 

4. 3 Rays Stories from Satyajit Ray 

5. Sapiens The Birth of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Five amazing books I am so happy and excited to read. My January seems allll sorted. 

:) 

Hope your last week of 2021 is relaxing and lovely. 

Cheers to you and Cheers to me sticking to Blogmas and blogging every single day. 

Will be back tomorrow with the rest of my Bookish Favourites. 

:) 

Blogmas Day XXIV: The Darling Days of December.

December is one of my favourite months. 

There is such joy and calm in these days few days of the year. 

This December has been a good one. 

Full of things I love and adore. 

Cold nights. 

Candlelight. 

Books. 

Blogging.

Cake. 

Christmas in the air. 

I couldn't be happier or more grateful. 

:) 

Here are some snippets of my December clicked randomly on my 'big' camera. I miss getting my Canon camera out to take pictures of my days and adventures. I am hoping to use it more in 2022. 

 

A typical night in our world. 

Candle lit.

And something to watch on the laptop. I think this was my sister watching Grey's Anatomy. 

Glow. 

A little Christmas book haul, because of course I bought some books for cheer and good vibes. 

:) 

Book haul coming super duper soon. 

:) 

I am so excited to read this mammoth book soon. 

Rings and lights. 

These rings from both from Quirksmith. 

A happy and cozy corner of home. 

Candle. Art. Flowers. 

Books and December in the early days. 

I have read a few books from this pile this month. 

Happy Christmas Eve my loves. 

I hope you are happy and joyful and comfy and cozy wherever you are. 

:) 

Blogmas Day XXIII: Favourite Short Stories of 2021.

 Hello Loves! 

I feel like 2021 has been the year of the short story for me. I read a LOT of short story collections this year. Which in itself is not out of the ordinary, I have always enjoyed short stories but this year I have found more comfort in short stories than before. Maybe some of it has to do with after Covid effects, when my attention was easily muddled and I preferred reading a short story instead of diving into a full length novel. 

So here are my absolute favourite short story collections from 2021. 

1. Immoderate Men by Shikhandin: I picked this book on such a whim. I thought to myself, well you only seem to read about women and their stories, won't it be nice to read about men for a change? I am glad I had this fleeting thought and that lead to this book and I am so glad I read this little gem. The stories here are about men in all sorts of shapes and forms. Good, creepy, sad, lost and so incredibly real and flawed and beautifully written. I loved this collection so much and you know what while I still prefer reading about women, this little foray into men's minds was a good experience. 

4.5/5 

2. Padmavati The Harlot and Other Stories by Kamala Das: This is a recent-ish read and my second foray with Kamala Das. I loved this book so much. It's a short little book, perfect to squeeze in these last few days of 2021. Das writes such visceral and powerful stories that they take your breath away. Women are front and center in her work and that's what makes them special. Pick this up, you won't regret it. 

4.5/5 

3. Essential Items by Udayan Mukherjee: Another recent read of mine and one that I really enjoyed. It brought so many memories and feelings of the lockdown and the early days of this never ending pandemic.The range of these stories is commendable, I especially appreciated that the writer went across class lines and geographic lines. We saw people in cities struggle with being cooped up and we saw migrant workers make their way home, we see an older couple trying to find medicines and we see the privileged throw a party to beat the sameness of their days.  I loved every single story in this book and I loved the writing so much. This is my third time reading this author and he is someone I will always pick up and read. Highly recommend. 

4.5/5 

4. Name Place Animal Thing by Daribha Lyndem: A book that fills you up with nostalgia about a time gone by. Stories about family, growing-up, friendships and even politics and unrest. Wonderful and moving. 

A full review can be found here. 

4/5 

5. A Night with a Black Spider Stories by Ambai, Translated by Aniruddhan Vasudevan: This was my second or maybe third time reading stories from Ambai and I am a fan. Her stories maybe short and swift but the impact the power in them will linger on. These stories were a joy to read and I cannot recommend them enough. 

4/5 

I read this entire collection in pretty much one sitting and couldn't get enough. You can get a copy of this book for pretty cheap on Book Chor so do check it out.

6. Storywallah by Neelesh Misra's Mandali: A short story collection by a story telling collective. That just sounds good. From what I gather these writers all originally write in Hindi and a lot of their stories were first shared on an FM Radio show which is quite popular. This is the first time their stories have been translated into English and put in a anthology. I went into this book knowing or expecting nothing, and I was blown away by the range and variety of these stories and the many voices in this collection. I honestly enjoyed every single story and I am so glad I took a chance on these tales. Most of these are set in small towns and deal with feelings of home and homesickness and self discovery. Just the sort of thing I like. This book too was read in a single day, I could not put it down. 

4/5 

7. Women Who Misbehave by Sayantani Dasgupta: This was honestly a cover buy, well most honestly a title buy. The book name sounded so good and like something I would enjoy and I did. Stories about women, real women, women like you and me and women perhaps considered a little wild and a little non-sanskaari. A good ride this was and if you enjoy reading about women this a good collection of stories to dive into.

4/5 

8. Mortuary Tales by Kashif Mashaikh: I read this collection of stories around Halloween, thinking they'd be super spooky and eerie. Some were and some weren't. Instead of getting a lot of horror I got a mix a few elements, some scary and otherwordly, some about gangs, mafia and life and people and relationships and crimes, but all infused with wisdom. I really enjoyed these stories and I wasn't disappointed that they weren't all straight up horror stories. Plus these were set in Mumbai and acted as a balm to my homesick heart. 

4/5 

9. Spooky Stories by Tanushree Podder: LOVED. LOVED. LOVED these stories so much. Everything about this book from the setting to the stories themselves were perfect. Pick this up now and treat yourself to some ghostly stories. You can thank me later. An absolute delight these stories were. 

4.5/5 

10. If You See Me Don't Say Hi by Neel Patel: This book was all over IG  a couple of years ago when it first came out but I never picked it up, I read it this year and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed these stories. They remind me of Jhumpa Lahiri's stories, no I am not saying they are just like her work, no they aren't but the essence of these stories reminded me of Lahiri immensely. Maybe because like Lahiri's stories these are set amongst Indian families in America. If I remember correctly the book even starts with a quote by Lahiri. The themes of identity and family expectations and race and being Indian abroad are things I tend to enjoy and are done very well here. I enjoyed these stories and the writing very much. 

4/5 

Side Note: I also read and loved short stories by two of my ultimate favourite writers Jhumpa Lahiri and Haruki Murakami, the only reason those books, Whereabouts and First Person Singular, are not on this list is because they will be on my Literary Fiction Favourites list. Just thought I'd mention this here. 

Blogmas Day XXII: Favourite Thriller Books of 2021

 Hello, hello,

Today we bring to you the Top 10 thriller books of 2021. 

As a genre, thriller/ crime/ murder mysteries is a big favourite of ours and today we will be sharing some of our absolute favourites of 2021!

Let's get into it, shall we? 

1. 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard is the perfect thriller for 2021! It tells the story of a couple that meets at the beginning of the lockdown in 2020 and move in. At the end of the lockdown, after 56 days, one of them is found dead. A twisty, gripping book this one! The full review can be found here.

2. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is an interesting story about a woman whose husband just takes off one day leaving her a cryptic message to "protect her". Her being his sixteen-year-old daughter. Why did he take off? What does the daughter need protecting from? The full review can be found here. 

3. The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood is a fun and interesting, nicely done murder mystery. A 77-year-old woman witnesses the murder of her neighbour from across the river. By the time she paddles over, the body is gone. When other bodies start turning up in their tiny town, she and some other women form a 'murder club' to solve the case. The full review of this great book can be found here.

  

4. As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson is the third book in the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder books. The review of the book can be found here. If you are a fan of podcasts and a good, thrilling murder mystery series, then this series is an absolute must-read! 

5. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman is the second book in The Thursday Murder Club series and is just as good as the first one! When a man from Elizabeth's past approaches the seniors of The Thursday Murder Club for help and protection from a dangerous man, the golden oldies jump in to save him. A thrilling read whose review can be found here. 

6. Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews is a book I've read only recently and really enjoyed. It has also made its way to the NYT Books' list of Best Thrillers of the Year. The story revolves around two women- one is a struggling editorial assistant just out of a job and the other is a reclusive writer. There are multiple twists and turns and this is quite a compelling read, even if I found myself guessing the "twist" correctly at the very first instance it was introduced. Do give it a read, though. It is a good one!

7. Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney is an interesting book about marriage.. and murder! A couple are off for a romantic getaway to a remote corner of Scotland. But someone is watching them. Someone who is connected to their lives and is in no mood to let both of them survive. Full review can be found here.

8. Club You to Death by Anuja Chauhan is the author's first foray into crime fiction and this is such a fun ride!  A murder in a posh Delhi club and an unlikely group of crime solvers get together to solve this case! The full review of this fun book can be found here. 

9. The House of Crows Series by Lisa Unger is a series of four novellas revolving around a group of four friends, who come together to confront a trauma from their past. When a murky figure/ myth called 'The Dark Man' returns to kill teenagers, four friends who have a shared past with this creature/ person must come together to stop him/ it. A gripping, atmospheric series of books that are a quick read. 

10. The Burning Girls by CJ Tudor is an atmospheric thriller, which is quite interesting. The full review of this book can be found here. 500 years ago: eight martyrs were burnt to death. 30 years ago: two teenagers vanished without trace. Two months ago: the vicar committed suicide. It is against this backdrop that Reverend Jack Brooks (a woman vicar) and her daughter- Flo- move to the tiny community of Chapel Croft. What had really happened in this town? Was the previous vicar's death really a suicide? Or is something more sinister at play? An interesting and gripping read! 

Hope you find something good to read from this list! If you have any suggestions, then let me know here or on Instagram! 

Blogmas Day XXI: Favourite Young Adult Books of 2021.

 Hello Loves! 

Since I listed my favourite Children's Books yesterday, today we look at some of my favourite Young Adult Books I read in 2021. 

I really like the list I have curated here. A mix of India and elsewhere. 

Amazing books, good for teen and great for not-teens. 

Let's get started. 

1. The Truly Devious Series by Maureen Johnson: OK this is a little bit of a cheat since it's three books instead of one, but this whole series was read, well binged in pretty much one swift week. Three books all great.  This series revolves around a cold case from 1936. Iris Ellingham and her daughter, three-year-old Alice, left for a drive on a spring day in 1936. They never returned home. Iris' husband, industrialist and millionaire, Albert Ellingham, left no stone unturned to find his wife and daughter, but to no avail. Ellingham Academy, the special school for gifted children and home to the Ellinghams, which is still open after almost 100 years forms the backdrop for the events of these books. The setting and backdrop for these stories is steeped in history and tragedy, which makes these books so atmospheric. 

A full review for the entire series can be found here. 

4/5 

A solid read that I think you'll enjoy. 

2. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo: I love books by this writer. I have read two of her previous books and I really enjoy the stories she tells and the people and places and situations she writes about. I also adore her style of mixing prose and poetry. This book was a powerful look at grief after the loss of a loved and about two sisters, one in New York and the other in the Dominican Republic, who find out about each other's existence following the death of their father in a plane crash. It's so well done, this sense of betrayal and the weight of secrets. Moving and stirring and a wonderful to ode an unexpected sisterhood. 

4/5 

I highly recommend this author in general too. Do check out her work. 

3. The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky: I loved this book. It took me by surprise how much I enjoyed the ride this book took me on. This book is a mix between Gossip Girl style super upper crust, upper east side school shenanigans and secret club, severe pranks, horror films and a mystery. Very enjoyable and fast paced and thoroughly entertaining. This was such good fun and I made a long list of old horror films I need to watch. 

4/5 

4. Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas: I felt so silly when I was 12% in this book and suddenly I realized that this was a prequel to THUG..aka The Hate You Give. Silly me! That little belated realization made me immediately love this book more. Set 17 years before the events of THUG, this book is about Starr's dad and when he was a teenager and dealing with being a single dad out of the blue. How he deals with the pressures of parenthood and acting like an adult and being a member of a gang all while still being a child himself. A moving and genuinely real look at a hard life. This book was wonderful, great to be back in a familiar world. So good. 

4/5 

5. Saira Zariwala is Afraid by Shabnam Minwalla: A mystery. A little spooky. And a protagonist who reminded me so much of who I was as a teenager. The mystery was nicely done and I also really enjoyed spending time with Saira, her friends and family. 

4/5 

A full review can be read here. 

This book was sent to me by the publisher for review, so thank-you Harper Collins. 

6. A People's History of Heaven by Mathangi Subramanian: This book is both a young adult read and then some, what I mean by that is that this book while features characters that are teens, I guess it possibly falls under the genre of literary fiction. You know books that have young adult characters but aren't strictly young adult books? I hope I am making sense. This was a great read, real and gritty and not at all sugar coated. It is an important read and one I think is great for teens and adults. A wonderful and diverse cast of characters that you find yourself rooting for. So nicely done! 

4/5 

A full review for this is also up on the blog, find it here. 

7. Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson: This writer has been one of my happy discoveries this year. I read two of her books and loved them both, this one I loved a little bit better. This author takes real life cases and situations and writes around them. So there is a certain familiarity with her work and the stories she tells. This one is about a young, talented black girl who is seduced by a hip-hop superstar. Sounds familiar? Yes, it's sorta like the Aaliyah and that horrible man R. Kelly. This book takes inside the mind of a young girl enamored with a man who really should have done better. It shows the power dynamic and the manipulation that comes when there is an age difference between a "couple" and of course when one of the people is a minor. 

Really good. 

4/5 

8. Mirror Mirror by Andaleeb Wajid: This book is so important, not just for teenage girls grappling with body image issues but for every woman who has been there and is quite possibly still there, feeling less than good about how she looks and how much she weighs. I loved the message of this book, how it tackles issues with body image and how to navigate these issues. Nicely and realistically done this book was such a heartfelt and warm read. Plus, I really liked the family at the heart of this novel. Even the supporting characters were all wonderful. A good book full of mostly all good people. 

4/5 

Blogmas Day XX: Favourite Children's Books of 2021.

 Hello Loves! 

How is this Monday treating you? Can you believe this is the last full week of 2021! Where does time go?! 

Well, let's kickstart this week with a list of my favourite kidlit of 2021. 

I love reading Children's Books. They are my idea of comfort, joy and something to read when life seems a little too sad, when I want to read something simple yet profound and comforting I turn to Children's Books. A hallmark a good Children's Book is that it works for both kids and grown-ups. 

:) 

Here are some of my favourite Children's Books from 2021. 

1. The Railway Gang by Ruskin Bond: Of course we kick things off with Ruskin Bond who is a forever favourite. This little book was a thing of joy. Stray dogs living in a railway station and the kind people they interact with. Sweet, wholesome and a great way to show kids how life is for strays animals in our country and teach them how to be kind to the animals on the street. 

4/5 

A quick little read. But one that I loved so much. I read this for free via Kindle Unlimited. 

2. Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne by Upendrakishore Roychowdhury: I finally read this Bengali classic this year and it was such a treat. A joy from start  to finish and such a wonderful story full of magic and adventure and two iconic characters of Bengali literature. The films are wonderful and a huge part of a Bengali's life but this book is just as charming and ever-so-slightly different. Lovely. So glad I finally read it. 

5/5

 A thorough joy. If you love the films you have to read this charming story. 

3. Grandparents' Bag of Stories by Sudha Murty: Another forever favourite makes it to the list. I really Sudha Murty's writing both for adults and children. Her kid's books are always full of life lessons and charming stories with magic and mythology. This collection of stories was set during the lockdown and about cousins sent to the village to spend time with their grandparents and how stories keep them occupied and teaching them about the world and important life lessons. 

Such a joy to read. 

4/5 

4. Why is my Hair Curly? by Lakshmi Iyer: This was such a delightful read. A story about a young girl who feels different because of her curly mop of hair and how it occasionally makes her life difficult. There is also an element of mystery here about a mysterious older lady who our protagonist befriends. A happy nuclear family, siblings, fitting in and standing out. A nice book for kids and grown-ups. 

4/5 

5. The Gopi Diaries Finding Love by Sudha Murty: More Murty and more adventures of Gopi who I met last year and was more than happy to reunite with in this book. A book about a dog...I mean come on! What's not to love. Adorable all around. A heart warming story and some gorgeous art. 

Perfect! 

4.5/5 

6. The Bird with Golden Wings by Sudha Murty: I promise this is my last Murty on the list. 

:)

This is a collection of short stories set in magical kingdoms, about kings and commoners, brave, kind and spirited people. A wonderful read for the kid in your life or even you. Plus illustrations. 

Good all around. 

4/5 

7. Shyamchi Aai by Sane Guruji: This one is a Marathi classic, which I read the English translation of..I mean I could have read the original in Marathi but it's been a while since I could read Marathi fast. So a translation it was. There is so much goodness in these stories and so much heart and old world wisdom and lessons. A story about good people and kind people living simply and admiringly. 

So good. 

4/5  

8. Tales from my Heart by Ruskin Bond: Another Bond on the list, it's no surprise. 

This is a collection of stories by a writer whose work evokes so much joy and nostalgia for me. These stories were a mix of his trademark style and old stories and some new tales. A quick little read packed with so much feeling and heart. A great pick for a Bond fan or a good way to introduce a kid to the magic of Bond. 

4.5/5 

9. The Adventures of Feluda by Satyajit Ray: The Feluda Stories are a goldmine. A classic and an enduring love of mine. Every Bengali child has read and loved these stories. I read them for the first time over a decade ago and this year I have been reading them slowly and savouring them. I pick them up when I need a pick me up. They are smart, action filled stories of crimes and sleuthing. 

Read these if you haven't already, perfect for kids and adults. And please watch the films. You can thank me later. 

5/5 

A million stars actually. 

10. Let's Go Time Travelling Again by Subhadra Sen Gupta: This is such an amazing way to learn about history, and more interestingly history of the common people and not just Kings and Queens. To see how regular people lived way back when. A bit of history and a lot of excellent story telling. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. 

4/5 

This book was sent to me by the publishers. So thank-you Penguin India. 

:) 

I also want to make a special mention and shout out to the amazing folks over at Story Weaver, I read quite a few of their books over the year and it is such an incredible place to read stories for free for you and the littles in your life. Do go check them out and read a whole bunch of amazing stories.