The Whimsy Bookworm: A Book Blog from India

 2023 is on her way out.  A whole year and honestly felt like it went by in like 20 minutes tops.  Where does time go?  Best to measure your year in little moments and joys and of course, if you are a bookworm- in books.  I read a lot this year.  A decent amount.  Less than last year, but who cares?  I read 207 books in total.  200 according to my Goodreads, which also tells me I read over some 50,00 words.  I read some amazing books. Some less than stellar and some that were downright disappointing.  But overall, my books kept me company, helped me escape real life and took me places and on adventures and made me think, laugh and sigh and cry and feel the entire range of human emotions.  My books are my friends and companions and joy.  And since it's the last evening of the year, it's time to list my TOP 23 Reads of 2023.  So here we go, in no particular order 23 Books I Loved Best in 2023:  1. The Covenant of W...

  Hello Loves!  Here we are, with my last reading wrap-up for 2023.   I am lowkey soooo proud I managed to talk about all the books I read this year. I won't lie, I did slip up with doing individual reviews this year. this is something I want to actively fix in 2024. But I kept up with my wrap-ups and this makes me soooo happy.  So let's talk about my December Books.  Well, I read 14 books.  I spent most of December focussed on doing Blogmas and Vlogmas (over on my IG) and reading did slow down quite a bit. Something I saw coming and I don't mind that reading took a bit of a backstage.  I read some good books and ended my yearly reading on Christmas Day.  It was a slow and sweet reading month.  Let's jump in.  BOOKS OF DECEMBER 2023:   1. The Greatest Goan Stories Ever Told, Edited by Manohar Shetty: I decided to spend my December in Goa, like so many people do, only I did it through my books. I read these 27 stories set in Go...

 2023~~~Another year full of books and reading and finding comfort in stories and characters and plots and adventure.  Seriously, what would I even do without my books? 

 And here we are at the final read for 2023.  I often document my first book of the year, so I figured this year I would extend the same courtesy to my final read to the year.  Funnily, my first and last book of the year are both by Sudha Murty.  Both are picture books.  And both were utter delights.  My first read was How the Earth Got its Beauty.  And my final read for the year is How the Onion Got its Layers.  That brings my total number of books read to 207.  According to Good Reads it's 200.  Some 7 odd books I read were not on GR, but it's fine.  207 is the real number of books I read this year. 200 is what GR is counting.  Either ways, for me this is a good place to stop for 2023.  All my reading is done and I will now pick up my next read only in 2024.  Here are some glimpses of my last read for 2023.  A gorgeous little book, a simple and heart warming folklore that is perfect for kids.  I enjoyed it...

 Hello, hello, We're officially in the last week of 2023! How did this happen so quickly? The same question we ask ourselves as yet another year winds down! Time, it seems, flies irrespective of whether we are having fun or not. It passes. And that is both a consolation and a tragedy.  Anyway, didn't mean to wax poetic about time but maybe this is what happens when you read too much romance? :)  So, without much ado, let's get into our favourite spicy romance reads of the year. And, bonus, most of these can be read free via Kindle Unlimited.  The Royal Elites Series by Rina Kent  This is a series of 7 books based in a posh private school in the UK. Hot rich kids doing hot rich kids stuff but somehow each of these books has a soul. They are all spicy but not taboo and fun. Perfect to binge read if you are having a slow week! :)  The Legacy of Gods Series by Rina Kent  Rina Kent has her own multiverse of madness and two of her series meet in this third (...

 Hello Loves!  Let's kick-off my Yearly Book Favourites.  Yay! And like always, we are starting with the kids.  I read quite a few children's books this year, every time I needed some simple comfort and hope and joy, I turned to kid lit and found exactly what I was looking for.  Here are some of the best of the best.  TOP CHILDREN'S BOOKS of 2023:  1. How the Earth got it's Beauty by Sudha Murty: My first read of the year, I wanted to start the year with something light and warm and sweet. This little picture book delivered on all accounts. So good. And so beautiful.  2. How the Mango Got it's Magic by Sudha Murty: Another picture book about Mangoes and myth and sweetness.  Perfect for little kids and the art is lovely too.  3. The Gopi Diaries Growing Up by Sudha Murty: The third installment of the Gopi Diaries, a book series about a dog and his humans. I love these little books and I love seeing Gopi and his shenanigans. Too cute and...

 Hello December✨ Hello Christmas 🎄 Hello Festivity and Cheer and Merriment.  I hope this is a month of peace, calm and joy.  And welcome back to Blogmas ✨🕊✨ A post every single day and tons of year end lists and favourites from 2023. I am happy you are here December.  Here's a look at my day today.  I honestly woke up feeling a little blue, so I did things that always cheer me up.  Picked up my current read..  The Greatest Goan Stories Ever Told, Edited by Manohar Shetty: While a lot of people head towards Goa this time of the year, I am heading to Goa through these stories. I plan on reading this book through the month. Read a handful of stories at a time and take my time with it.  Picked out a cute bookmark. Luna forever.  The plan for tonight is to watch some cringey Bengali film and laugh and cheer myself up. And whip up a simple but delicious Tuna Pasta.  Simple Things ✨

 Hello Loves!  I really let the ball drop on my Monthly Reading Wrap-Ups!  I read so many books in September that by the end of the month I felt lazy or overwhelmed to sit down and talk about all the books and then as October ended..that feeling just got worse! Procrastination is my number one nemesis.  :(  And now here we are.  At the end of November and I have three whole months to write about.  And I know, if I don't play catch-up now I'll feel terrible later.  So today I am going to sit down with my Reading Journal (thank God I make notes and keep up with my book journaling) and write down all my thoughts about allll the books I've read in the last three months.  So grab a cup of coffee or chai and get cozy and let's talk books.  Let's Begin.  BOOKS OF SEPTEMBER 2023:   I stepped out of Indian Books in August and all I wanted to do in September was read from around the world and maybe take a break from Indian Lit. I was als...