Book Haul: Books of June 2019 + Famous Five Boxset!

Hello!

This little blog of mine, this little labour of love turned 6 this year.

In June to be specific, my blog turned a year older. Every year, for my blog birthday I like to treat myself to some special books. Books that have been on my radar for a while, books I have been dreaming of and so on and so forth.

This year the beginning of June saw me sick with the flu. I was so out of it, I completely forgot that it was my blog birthday. I realised on the 4th of June and then went on to feel like a guilty mother or some such.

I wondered what I'd do to treat myself?

Then the answer came to me in a blinding flash.

Famous Five.

These books are my childhood in a nutshell.

The first books that I read on my own and ones I eagerly sought out in my school library. But ones I never owned. I think we, sister and I, own only two out of the 21 books. Those were bought with my sister's General Proficiency money and are so precious to us. I figured it was high time some of my most loved books find a place on my bookshelf. So I got myself the 21 book box set off of Amazon for pretty good deal. And I am so pleased. I wish I could have found the books in the original editions but those seems to no longer exist. You could perhaps buy them individually second hand but I wanted a brand new and shiny set of books.

Yay!

Let's see my beauties in all their splendid nostalgia inducing glory.

A thing of beauty and joy!

So happy this found it's way into my life.

My childhood self would be so happy and chuffed.

This is a dream come true.

My precious!

Review of the boxset///

1. A great size, it doesn't take up a crazy amount of space, which I am grateful for since I am rapidly running out of space to store my books.

2. The books are nice and tiny too. Yet the font size is good and easy on the eye.

3. These are unabridged.

4. I got mine at a good deal, I paid around INR 2100 for 21 books, marked down from the original price of INR 3500.

5. The boxset arrived in perfect condition.

As for the books themselves, what can I even say?

I've read the first two books again and they are just as wonderful as I remember them. The good news is that I've forgotten most of the specifics of the storylines so they feel like brand new stories to me.

And it is such a delight to revisit this world again. To spend time with characters that feel like old friends.

Bliss!

5/5

Get it now.

Treat yo'self!

~~~

Apart from the boxset I bought two more books in June and was sent one book for review by the author.

A collection of 18 poems.

I have read and reviewed this already.

Another beautiful book that had been on my wishlist for absolute ages. So happy I finally got it.

And of course, a new Amitav Ghosh book to marvel over.

Review: The Magic of the Lost Temple by Sudha Murthy.

Book: The Magic of the Lost Temple Author: Sudha Murthy Pages: 163 Read On: Paperback How Long it took Me To Read: 1 day Plot Summary: City girl Nooni is surprised at the pace of life in her grandparents' village in Karnataka. But she quickly gets used to the gentle routine there and involves herself in a flurry of activities, including papad making, organizing picnics and learning to ride a cycle, with her new-found friends. Things get exciting when Nooni stumbles upon an ancient fabled stepwell right in the middle of a forest.Join the intrepid Nooni on an adventure of a lifetime in this much-awaited book by Sudha Murty that is heart-warming, charming and absolutely unputdownable. General Thoughts: Ah! A happy little Children's Book! I wanted it the minute I spotted it in the bookshop. And I started reading it pretty much immediately. :) I read it after reading a beyond dull and boring and soulless book. This book just cured my bookish blues. I ...

Book Review: The Room on the Roof by Ruskin Bond.

Some snippets of the stunning art inside the book! Book: The Room on the Roof Author: Ruskin Bond Illustrator: Ahlawat Gunjan Pages: 171 Read On: Hardback How Long It Took Me To Read: 3 days or so. Plot Summary: Rusty, a sixteen-year-old Anglo-Indian boy, is orphaned and has to live with his English guardian in the claustrophobic European part in Dehra Dun. Unhappy with the strict ways of his guardian, Rusty runs away from home to live with his Indian friends. Plunging for the first time into the dream-bright world of the bazaar, Hindu festivals and other aspects of Indian life, Rusty is enchanted … and is lost forever to the prim proprieties of the European community. General Thoughts: This book is super special. Not only this 60th anniversary edition an absolute beauty. This is also a signed copy I picked up from Mussoorie when I was in Landour earlier in the year. This is perhaps one of Ruskin Bond's mo...

Review: Grandma's Bag of Stories by Sudha Murthy.

Book: Grandma's Bag of Stories Author: Sudha Murthy Pages: 176 Read On: Paperback How Long It Took Me Read: 2 hours Plot Summary: When Grandma opens her bag of stories, everyone gathers Around. Who can resist a good story, especially when it’s being told by Grandma? From her bag emerges tales of kings and cheats, monkeys and mice, bears and gods. Here comes the bear who ate some really bad dessert and got very angry; a lazy man who would not put out a fire till it reached his beard; a princess who got turned into an onion; a queen who discovered silk, and many more weird and wonderful people and animals. Grandma tells the stories over long summer days and nights, as seven children enjoy life in her little town. The stories entertain, educate and provide hours of enjoyment to them. So come, why don’t you too join in the fun? General Thoughts: I've read quite a few Sudha Murthy books this year and really enjoyed them. I find them soothing, simple a...

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