The Whimsy Bookworm: A Book Blog from India

The Goddess leaves for Kailash today! Teaching us that no matter how tough, how challenging, how difficult, good always, always triumphs over evil. I like to think of this good and evil business as an everyday life lesson type of thing. Do no evil and always try to uphold all that is good and true. I wish the same for you! So, Shubho Bijoya , dear readers! Happy Dussehra!  Here are some of the Durga protimas that we saw whilst pandal hopping this year! The Ramakrishna Mission Durga Puja. The Chembur Durga Puja The Lokhandwala Puja  The Navi Mumbai (CIDCO Grounds) Puja 

Hello!  Being a bookworm how could I possibly not talk about my reading plans during Pujo? Admittedly, reading isn't my chief focus during the days of Pujo but when I do return home or during the long drives from one pandal to another, having a book handy is a good idea.  I prefer reading Bengali Literature during Pujo for obvious reasons.  Also if you are looking for some Bengali Lit recommendations this is the post for you.  So let's dive in.  Both my picks are short stories/novellas.  Given how hectic these few days are I don't want to read a full length novel. I prefer having something I can dip in and out of.  Ashapurna Devi writes incredibly beautiful short stories set in Bengali households, chronicling daily lives and daily strives.  This writer cam highly recommended by several aunts of mine, who've read and re-read her works religiously over the decades.  I have read her before and loved her stori...

Hello!!!  Clothes are a big part of Pujo. As a child, it seemed like the one time in the year when my wardrobe saw a huge influx of new styles!  I got a couple of things for my birthday but Pujo was the big one.  I got things from my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and even some spending money. Life was good!  Being a grown-up means getting your own clothes for Pujo and a few gifts from my folks and my sister.  :) When it comes to Pujo shopping now, I like to keep it simple and a little bit sensible.  I like to keep the weather in mind for each outfit.  And being here in Bombay, the weather is rather unpleasant during Pujo- hot and humid and generally unpleasant. So like most of my fashion choices, I stick to what I love best- Cotton!  I buy easy and happy clothes.  Clothes I can breathe in.  Most of my pandal hopping happens in the day and lingers on to evenings and night. Unlike my childhood, I...

Book: A Necessary Evil Author: Abir Mukherjee Pages: 380 Read on: Kindle  Read in: 4 hours Publisher: Vintage Plot Summary:  India, 1920. Captain Wyndham and Sergeant Banerjee of the Calcutta Police Force investigate the dramatic assassination of a Maharajah's son. The fabulously wealthy kingdom of Sambalpore is home to tigers, elephants, diamond mines and the beautiful Palace of the Sun. But when the heir to the throne is assassinated in the presence of Captain Sam Wyndham and Sergeant 'Surrender-Not' Banerjee, they discover a kingdom riven with suppressed conflict.  Prince Adhir was a moderniser whose attitudes - and romantic relationship - may have upset the more religious elements of his country, while his brother – now in line to the throne – appears to be a feckless playboy.   As Wyndham and Banerjee desperately try to unravel the mystery behind the assassination, they become entangled in a dangerous world where those ...

Hello, hello, I hope you're having a lovely Saturday! I wanted to share a quick looksie into a little haul of fabric covers for my sister's Hobonichi Techo A6 and my A6 sized Traveler's Notebook from Lyra & Co.   on Etsy. Long-time readers of this space will know that this is one of our favourite stores and we simply love the fabric selection and craftsmanship of Jane, the owner of Lyra & Co.    So, anyway, let's get to it, shall we? The first cover is for my sister's Hobonichi Techo A6. She has been using a Hobonichi since 2014 and loves buying different covers for it. Isn't this whimsical girl so cute?! The button-snap thingie is made of coral leather.  Here is the flip-side of the same cover. A cute bird!  Now this here is my A6 Traveler's Notebook, which was my travel journal when we went to Landour in March. Look at this lovely, whimsy girl! Isn't she adorable? And here is the chubby birdie on the ...

Book: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine Author: Gail Honeyman  Pages: 338 Read on: Kindle  Read in: 3-4 hours Publisher: HarperCollins   Plot Summary:  Eleanor Oliphant has learned how to survive – but not how to live Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend. Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life. Except, sometimes, everything. One simple act of kindness is about to shatter the walls Eleanor has built around herself. Now she must learn how to navigate the world that everyone else seems to take for granted – while searching for the courage to face the dark corners she’s avoided all her life. Change can be good. Change can be bad. But surely any change is better than… fine?   Things I Liked:  I LOVED this book!  Oka...

Hello!  Time to share my monthly book haul. I got these five books from Kitab Khana on a recent visit.  I don't see myself getting any more books in the rest of the month.  I did get a few ebooks as well which I will share soon.  Now for these beauties.  Books Bought///  Death Knocks Twice by Robert Thorogood  The Tidal Zone by Sarah Moss  The Underground Railway by Colson Whithead  Midnight in the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan  Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie  I am so happy with my book haul, I found some books I am so excited to read.  And I am so glad I found some books that were on my radar for a while- The Tidal Zone and The Underground Railroad.  So much happy reading in my future! 

Hello!  Next in my Pujo Prep series is the cutest little mini-backpack in all of the land!  I have had my beady eye on The Burlap People since the beginning of the year. I've been low-key stalking and mooning over their designs on their Instagram page since January and considered getting  a bag from them.  I had my heart set on the Lil Sister backpack from the very beginning. First up the size is simply delightful. The name too is something close to my heart, since I am a lil sister myself.  :) And they come is so many colours and a few prints too!  My sister is in love with all things tote and wanted a tote for herself too and after nearly 9 months of thinking and stalking and ruminating we decided to get some Burlap lovin' for Pujo.  I mean why not?! Pujo is the best time to splurge and get yourself something you really, really want!  So I went with my original love- The Lil Sister Backpack in Lavender.  & My s...

Hello!  A very Subho Mahalaya to my fellow Bengali readers.  Today marks the beginning of Debi Pokkho and the beginning of the Durga Pujo.  Ah!  How I wish I were in Calcutta or at least in West Bengal today, where the festivity is at a whole other level.  From one happy thing to another..my favourite bookshop- Kitab Khana.  I recently spend sometime here and came back with some books (haul coming super soon) but for now some sneak peaks at the books I got home and some others I considered getting but restrained myself!  Let's hop straight into one of my favourite places in Bombay.  Such gorgeous little books!  I fell pretty hard for the covers!  But I resisted.  So pretty though!  This collection of short stories sounded really interesting too.  My sister's gorgeous tote bag and a stack of books under consideration.  Shopping done it was time to grab a...

Book: The Lying Game Author: Ruth Ware Pages: 372 Read on: Kindle  Read in: 4-5 hours Publisher: Vintage Plot Summary:  The text message arrives in the small hours of the night. It’s just three words:  I need you .  Isa drops everything, takes her baby daughter and heads straight to Salten. She spent the most significant days of her life at boarding school on the marshes there, days which still cast their shadow over her. At school Isa and her three best friends used to play the Lying Game. They competed to convince people of the most outrageous stories. Now, after seventeen years of secrets, something terrible has been found on the beach. Something which will force Isa to confront her past, together with the three women she hasn't seen for years, but has never forgotten.   Theirs is no cosy reunion: Salten isn't a safe place for them, not after what they did. It’s time for the women to get their story straight.  Th...

Hello!  Today I want to share a little glimpse into my current pencil bag- which is the cutest thing ever!  EVER!  I promise I am an adult but how can you resist something so cute?  This pencil bag is so super soft, it's a hybrid between a cuddly soft toy and a pencil bag!  Gah!  So cute!  Plus it's wide enough to fit a host of my most used pens. Look at that face?!   I had this bag charm from Accessorize for ages and I finally used it now. It makes opening and closing the pencil bag so much easier. Plus I think the Kitty makes this whole set-up even cuter!  A look inside in my pencil bag.  The pencil bag is from Ali Express.  The bag charm is from Accessorize.  The pens seen in the pictures are from Kikkik, Zebra Sarasa, The Planner Society Kit and Pilot. 

Hello!  I am well aware that we are half way through the month and my TBR is a way beyond a little late.  But I thought I might as well share what I intend on reading this month.  I have already read 5-6 books already and I am hoping I manage to make my way through at least most of this pile.  I love what I have lined up, if not this month I am thrilled to make them a part of my TBR next month.  Let's jump into my Reading List for September...or rather what's left of September!  First up this book- Empire by Devi Yesodharan, a new release from Juggernaut. A book set in 11th century India and about the Cholas. I am so excited to read this, history has always been an area of interest of mine and when written well, historical fiction is always a pleasure to read.  The kind peopleat Juggernaut sent this copy to review and I can't wait to get to it.  I just finished this little novella yesterday and I really, really enjoye...