The Whimsy Bookworm: A Book Blog from India

Book: Magpie Murders Author: Anthony Horowitz Read: Paperback Read in: Over 2 days (approx. 4-5 hours) Publisher: Orion Plot Summary:  When editor Susan Ryeland is given the tattered manuscript of Alan Conway's latest novel, she has little idea it will change her life. She's worked with the revered crime writer for years and his detective, Atticus Pund, is renowned for solving crimes in the sleepy English villages of the 1950s. As Susan knows only too well, vintage crime sells handsomely. It's just a shame that it means dealing with an author like Alan Conway. But Conway's latest tale of murder at Pye Hall is not quite what it seems. Yes, there are dead bodies and a host of intriguing suspects, but hidden in the pages of the manuscript there lies another story: a tale written between the very words on the page, telling of real-life jealousy, greed, ruthless ambition and murder. {You can read the first couple of chapters by clicking on 'Pr...

Book: Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored  Author: Rishi Kapoor, Meena Iyer Pages: 280  Read on: Kindle  Read in: 2 hours  Publisher: HarperCollins  Plot Summary:  Son of a famous father. Father of a famous son. I am the hyphen between them. Only, Rishi Kapoor was and is so much more. Few actors in Hindi cinema have had this sort of a career arc: from the gawky adolescent pining for his schoolteacher (Mera Naam Joker, 1970) to the naughty ninety-year-old (Kapoor and Sons, 2016), Rishi Kapoor has regaled audiences for close to fifty years. He won a National Award for his debut, became an overnight sensation with his first film as a leading man (Bobby, 1973), and carved a niche for himself with a string of romantic musical blockbusters in an era known for its angst-ridden films. He was the youth icon that is still the toast of the satellite TV circuit. The songs he lip-synced are the bread and butter of all radio station...

Hello!  Another weekend is gone.  It is 1:00 am in my time zone and I felt like sharing a post on what I read this weekend as well as what my sister read this weekend.  I have read 1 and a half book this weekend.  & My sister is nearly done with the book she started on Friday.  I finally finished reading Hats and Doctors by Upendranath Ashk , this is a short story collection translated from Hindi. The stories are set in newly independent India and are full of wry honour and observations of regular people in everyday settings. Stories set in small towns and big cities, set in households and trains. Slightly cynical but all of these stories felt real and authentic. I really enjoyed these stories and I am glad I got to read some Hindi fiction.  Honestly I wish I could read the original. I mean I can. I know Hindi- to read, write and speak. But I haven't read a Hindi novel since college, when it was a part of the course. I keep mea...

Hello!  I am so bummed that winter is gone from Bombay. We any ways just get 5 days of proper cold weather and it's gone before you can fully enjoy it.  But this year I tried to make the most of winter and wear some of my mild winter clothing. Sadly most of my hardcore winter wear, from my Bangalore days, sits in storage. But I've kept some pieces handy for trips to the hills and for the occasional spells of cold weather in Bombay.  I wore this outfit on a semi-cold day in Bombay.  I wore this slightly thick dress, that I can't wear when it gets warm. I also love the wintery/fall colours of this dress.  I especially love this cropped sweater of mine. I've had it for ages and I have worn it numerous times!  What I Wore///  Dress + Socks + Giraffe Necklace: Forever 21   Tights: Marks and Spencers  Shoes: Chumbak  Bag + Camera Pendant: Accessorize  Sweater: Fo...

Hello!  I have taken a sort of unintentional break here on the blog!  :) It just happened. I was a little busy. My parents left on Sunday after being here for over 7 months, so my main intention for the last few days was to spend time with them.  Also I had a birthday in the middle and that just often throws me off my blogging.  There are some unavoidable birthday blues, nothing to do with turning older--that I love...getting older is a privilege. But birthdays have a way of making you re-think and evaluate everything about your life.  Do you have similar thoughts around your birthday?  I thought I'd come back and share what I've been upto for the last week or so. And then re-start the regular programming on the blog.  What I've Been Reading Lately///  Some Tagore for Valentine's Day. I am still halfway through this book- Farewell Song by Rabindranath Tagore. It is poetic and lovely but I find it a little slow...I just ne...

Hello, hello! It is me- Pooja's sister- and I am here to share some of my favourites with you this fine (that's really an exaggeration of sorts given how hellishly hot it is in Mumbai!) Friday! So, here we go: 1. Vintage Earth Vest/// I picked up this kantha work vest about 4-4.5 years ago from the Vintage Earth store in Lokhandwala. It lay in my cupboard for all these years totally unloved. Now, last week, we had a bit of a cold spell in Mumbai and so, I pulled it out and layered it over a knee-length white shirtdress. 2. Ikat-ish slip-ons from Max Fashions/// I am obsessed with ikat! I love all kinds of ikat.. and in all kinds of things.. kurtas, dupattas, bags, shoes.. so, when I see these very ikat-ish looking slip-ons at Max Fashion, I had to have them! I love how cute and fun they are!  3. 'House' Jacquard Bag from Threadcasa/// Isn't this bag totally unique? I have many bags (er.. more than many, actually) but I love how specia...

Book: I See You  Author: Clare Mackintosh  Pages: 386  Read On: Kindle  How Long it Took Me To Read: 1 day  Publisher: Sphere  Plot Summary:   When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it's there. There's no explanation: just a website, a grainy image and a phone number. She takes it home to her family, who are convinced it's just someone who looks like Zoe.  But the next day the advert shows a photo of a different woman, and another the day after that. Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make?  General Thoughts: I had this book sitting in my wishlist for the longest time! I finally got it last week and read it late into the night (morning more like!) soon after.  Things I Liked:   1. I really enjoyed the writing and story telling style of the author.  2...

Book:  Death Under The Deodars Author: Ruskin Bond Pages: 208 Read On: Hardback Publisher: Penguin Random House India  How Long it Took Me to Read: 2 days Plot Summary:   It was death at first sight . . . Miss Ripley-Bean was sitting on a bench beneath the deodars, having a quiet moment to herself, when suddenly two shadows, larger than life, appeared on the outside wall; they were struggling with each other. Only afterwards, when a dead body was discovered, did Miss Ripley-Bean realize she had witnessed a murder – and that the murderer had seen her . . . In this marvellous collection of brand-new stories set in the Mussoorie of a bygone era, Ruskin Bond recounts the deliciously sinister cases of a murdered priest, an adulterous couple, a man who is born evil and the body in the box bed; not to forget the strange happenings involving the arsenic in the post, the strychnine in the cognac, a mysterious black dog and the Daryaganj strangler. A...

1. Squad Goals/// All of my beautiful plushies in one frame. My inner child is always happy with these babies around.  I refuse to grow up and give up my toys.  From Left to Right: Sloth (Hobesh)  from WhistleBurg.   Bear (Bobesh) and Elephant (Phoolie)  from Chumbak  Dolls from Precious My Love.  2. Blockprint/// A little glimpse of something my sister wore lately.  A tunic from Anokhi Jaipur, one of our favourite shops.  I am really, really feeling my Indian aesthetic lately. I find myself gravitating to my kurtas and tunics and pairing them with my silver jewellery.  3. By The Sea/// Sea breeze is a cure for sadness.  4. Houses on a Tote/// How adorable is this tote?  I got it from Thread Casa.   It's roomy and I love the embroidered houses on it. So different and so cute!  5. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert/// My current read is a one full of inspiration and...

Book: An Unsuitable Boy Author: Karan Johar (with Poonam Saxena) Pages: 352 Read on: Kindle  Read in: 3 hours  Plot Summary:  Karan Johar is synonymous with success, panache, quick wit, and outspokenness, which sometimes inadvertently creates controversy and makes headlines.  KJo, as he is popularly called, has been a much-loved Bollywood film director, producer, actor, and discoverer of new talent. With his flagship Dharma Production, he has constantly challenged the norms, written and rewritten rules, and set trends. But who is the man behind the icon that we all know?  Baring all for the first time in his autobiography, An Unsuitable Boy, KJo reminisces about his childhood, the influence of his Sindhi mother and Punjabi father, obsession with Bollywood, foray into films, friendships with Aditya Chopra, SRK and Kajol, his love life, the AIB Roast, and much more. In his trademark frank style, he talks about the ever-changing f...

1. Mac and Cheese with Bacon Bits/// All the things that food dreams are made of.  Yum in my tum!  2. Muji Pens/// If you have not experienced the joy of Muji pens, then you are seriously missing out! Muji gel pens are super smooth, super vibrant and they are just the BEST! 3. The Comical Cyanide Mug/// This 'Coffee: The Key to Survival' mug from The Comical Cyanide is just so #facts! Check out her store for more pretties! 4. Layering in Bombay "Winter"/// So, we've had loads of "cold" (er, basically can do without AC, not-boiling-hot) days in Bombay and so, I used that to layer and get all cozy. The dress in this picture is from Forever 21 and the shrug from Forever New. 5. Accessorize Tartan Satchel/// Slightly cooler weather meant toting around this super cute Tartan print satchel from Accessorize with very boho patches on it. Perfect for not-too-busy work days.

Hello!  I have added some new books to my Kindle lately, meaning last night.  I have been loving my Kindle lately and like I've said before I seem to read a whole lot faster on my Kindle for some reason.  This time around I've added 2 Bollywood Memoirs...the first time I am delving into this very unique genre and one mystery/psychological thriller.  Let's see what I've added to my Bookshelves!  1. An Unsuitable Boy by Karan Johar///  Truth be told, I am not a fan of his films at all. In fact I find his cinema making and story telling rather vile. I tried sitting through Student of the Year and it gave me a rage headache, it was so fake and OTT. Ugh! But I do think he is fairly articulate and get this..I got this book for 39 bucks! Yup! A total steal. So I am happy to read his book and see him talk about his life. I know it's going to be highly self-indulgent and from an incredibly privileged position, I am going to keep an open mind an...

Hello!  Time to recap and talk about everything I read in January.  January was a good month, I read 14 books and that is a good way to kickstart a new year.   I did make a TBR, but I didn't share it on the blog nor did I particularly stick to it.  I read what I felt like and it was nice.  There were a lot of ebooks and I loved my Kindle.  Let's get into all books I read in January and how I felt about them.  JANUARY READS 2017!  1. A Book of Simple Living: Notes from the Hills by Ruskin Bond: I started my year with some Ruskin Bond and it was a good decision. I spent most of my month with this book. I started it on the first day of the year and finished it on the last day of the year. I took my time with it and loved all the comfort it brought me. An easy little happy read.  4/5  2. Sherlock Holmes- His Last Bow by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Another great way to start the new year. To be honest I ...

Hello!  Since the month is just beginning...even if we are a week into it, I thought I'd share my TBR list for February.  I did make a list for January but I read only 2 books from my list! :O  I know! I went completely rogue!  But it's still nice to make a list. I don't hold myself a slave to my TBRs. It's good to have a list as a guide but I go where fancy takes me.  :)  I don't think reading should be done with any sort of strictness. It should be fun and should always bring you joy.  Now since it's been a week I've already read a few books!  Books I've Already Read in February:  1. Death Under The Deodars by Ruskin Bond. 4/5 2. An Autograph for Anjali by Sundari Venkatraman 3/5 3. See Me Not by Janelle Harris 2/5 4. The Confessions of a Page 3 Reporter by Meghna Malhotra 1/5 5. Maid in Singapore by Kishore Modak 1/5 4 of these were read on my Kindle and I read them for free via my Kindle Unlimited subsc...

Hello!  As you might know I am a utter bag lady and at any given time I have my eye on one or more bags I'd want to add to my life.  Today I want to share some of my bag loves from Jaypore  which is slowly but surely becoming one of my favourite places to get bags. Plus this being my birthday month and all that I have a Longgggg wishlist of all that my heart desires. Ah! If only a fairy Godmother would do her magic and make all my wish lists come to life! :) Oh for the love of backpacks!  How cute is this?!  Satchel love. Aren't the colours just sublime!?  This tote has such a dainty print on it.  I have my heart set on this mini backpack. I love the ajrakh print and even though she seems little I think she'll add a lovely pop to any outfit.  This is a laptop bag is a thing of beauty.  I love the combination of pink and indigo.  So pretty! 

Hello, hello! This Sunday, I asked my sister to share her current journals and planners. So, over to her now! Get ready for some pretties! :) 1. Midori/ Traveler's Company Pan Am Blue Limited Edition Traveler's Notebook I use this beautiful TN to house my 2017 Week on 1 Page + Memo inserts, which I use to document the highlights of each day. You can see what that looks like here- my 2016 inserts .  2. Hobonichi Techo (A6) I use my Hobonichi Techo in the A6 (Original) size to draw little funny things about each day. These little doodles with the day's highlights bring us a lot of joy when we look back upon them later in the year. The cover has beautiful embroidery and is handmade by Ukranian artisans. Love it!  3. A6 Speckled Fawns TN in Olive Stone Leather  I am currently using this cover to house 3 inserts: a) My daily doodle/ art/ sketch book: I try to do something artistic everyday. Even if it is not good or even elaborate. It...