The Whimsy Bookworm: A Book Blog from India

Book Review: The Two Lila Bennetts Authors: Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke Pages: 307 Read on: Kindle Read in: 3 hours Plot Summary:  Lila Bennett’s bad choices have finally caught up with her. And one of those decisions has split her life in two. Literally. In one life, she’s taken hostage by someone who appears to be a stranger but knows too much. As she’s trapped in a concrete cell, her kidnapper forces her to face what she’s done or be killed. In an alternate life, she eludes her captor but is hunted by someone who is dismantling her happiness, exposing one secret at a time. Lila’s decorated career as a criminal defense attorney, her marriage, and her life are on the line. She must make a list of those she’s wronged—both in and out of the courtroom—to determine who is out to get her before it’s too late.  But even if she can pinpoint her assailant, will she survive? And if she does, which parts of her life are worth saving, and which parts must die?  ...

Hello!  Long time no see!  Since we last spoke and since I pretty much disappeared from this blog, I've been a little busy. First with some manic packing.  Then, travelling from Bombay to my parent's home in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. I've been here for a week now and in this week I've also managed to squeeze in a little holiday to Kalimpong!  :)  And it's been grand.  Fog.  Mists. Rains.  Hills. Tall tress.  Flowers.  Winding roads.  Ah!  It's been the best.  If you know me at all, you must know that  I am my 100% happiest in the hills.  I am my best version.  It makes me giddily happy.  All this greenery is just good for me and my heart.  Flowers, every where you look.  I couldn't be happier.  These pale pink beauties were aplenty in my hotel.  THIS was the view from my hotel window.  Can you e...

Here are some things I miss right now.. 1. Sunshiny days.  2. College Days. Jai Hind...God I miss everything about Jai Hind. The classes, the people, the fun, the foyer, the steps, the canteen, the professors, the laughs!  3. Sea breeze.  4. Sitting on Marine Drive.  5. Sweaty walks on hot Bombay days. My hair pulled into a bun, a bottle of water and my bag cross bodied and out of the way. My hands free to take pictures and mop up the sweat. And that delicious relief of walking into an air conditioned space after being out all day. Or that breeze hitting you at the  right time. Ah!  6. Personal blogs. Both writing one and reading some of the most honest and funny and heart felt documentations of life. Do people still have personal blogs?! You know the ones from mid 2000s and then on. I miss them. I wonder what happened to some of those people I read way back when.  7. Raincoats from my childhood.  8. A blue vel...

Book: Kanpur Khoofiya Pvt. Ltd. Author: Richa S. Mukherjee Pages: 296 Read: Paperback edition (pictured above) that was kindly sent for review by HarperCollins Read in: 3 hours Plot Summary:  Meet Mr Prachand Tripathi, private investigator and owner of Kanpur Khoofiya Pvt Ltd. Accustomed to tracking down missing pets and cheating lovers, he is about to have his world change completely when a new case requires him to tail actress Shailaja Kapoor.  What seems like a simple request turns into a dramatic dive into her murky past, wading through which is not going to be easy. Or safe.  Soon Prachand and his wife, and partner against crime, Vidya, fall under the glare of the police as Shailaja Kapoor is abducted right before their eyes. Now he must put his skills to the test before they become victims at the end of a dark and dangerous game. Things I Liked:  1. First of all, I am a big fan of India-based original detective stories! I truly believe t...

Book: Lying Next to Me Author: Gregg Olsen Pages: 391 Read on: Kindle (via Kindle Unlimited) Read in: 4-5 hours Plot Summary:  Adam and Sophie Warner and their three-year-old daughter are vacationing in Washington State’s Hood Canal for Memorial Day weekend. It’s the perfect getaway to unplug—and to calm an uneasy marriage. But on Adam’s first day out on the water, he sees Sophie abducted by a stranger. A hundred yards from shore, Adam can’t save her. And Sophie disappears. In a nearby cabin is another couple, Kristen and Connor Moss. Unfortunately, beyond what they’ve heard in the news, they’re in the dark when it comes to Sophie’s disappearance. For Adam, at least there’s comfort in knowing that Mason County detective Lee Husemann is an old friend of his. She’ll do everything she can to help. She must. But as Adam’s paranoia about his missing wife escalates, Lee puts together the pieces of a puzzle. The lives of the two couples are converging in unpredictable wa...

Book: The Family Upstairs Author: Lisa Jewell Pages: 464 Publishers:   Atria Books/ Simon and Schuster Read On: Kindle How Long it Took Me To Read: 2 days Plot Summary:   Be careful who you let in.   Soon after her twenty-fifth birthday, Libby Jones returns home from work to find the letter she’s been waiting for her entire life. She rips it open with one driving thought: I am finally going to know who I am.  She soon learns not only the identity of her birth parents, but also that she is the sole inheritor of their abandoned mansion on the banks of the Thames in London’s fashionable Chelsea neighborhood, worth millions. Everything in Libby’s life is about to change. But what she can’t possibly know is that others have been waiting for this day as well—and she is on a collision course to meet them.  Twenty-five years ago, police were called to 16 Cheyne Walk with reports of a baby crying. When they arrived, they found a healthy ten-month-...

Hello, hello!  I hope you're having a lovely Sunday!  We had a sort of lazy and quiet one. It rained a lot here in Mumbai and so, we just stayed in, reading.  I thought I will share my on-the-go planner supplies along with a look at my planner of the moment.  I am currently using this lovely Mustard A6 sized Traveler's Notebook from The Black Canvas , which houses my journal. I love how pretty the colour is and the leather is really soft.    My go-to journaling supplies live in this pen sleeve from Lyra & Co. and it currently houses a Vintage Red-Black Sarasa, a Medium Lamy fountain pen, a Pilot Frixion pen in black ink, a yellow Mildliner and a pencil. All of these pens (apart from the Lamy) are from Cute Things from Japan.  And, last but the least, a closer look at this cute as a button (pardon the pun!) button from Pranita Kocharekar . Have a great week ahead, guys! See you soon!...

Hello!  This is such a rainy weekend, it's made perfectly for staying in and reading.  And that is exactly what I plan to do.  So far my weekend has included, sleeping in.  Lemon Rice for lunch.  Coffee.  & Reading.  This is what my sister and I are reading this weekend.  I am reading two books actually, one a physical book and another on my Kindle, that I tend to pick up  before bedtime. So I can read easily and not be fussed about holding up a hardback book when I am sleepy.  THE CARPET WEAVER BY NEMAT SADAT: I am very little into this book, like 40 odd pages. It's set in 1977 in Afghanistan. It's about a boy coming of age  and grappling with his queerness in a world where it's impossible for him to be his true self. Love. Shame. Family. Political changes and so much more make up this book.  I am really enjoying it so far in.  PLOT SUMMARY:   Afghanistan, 1977. Kanishka...

It is another Friday! Yippity Yay Yay! Here are some of our favourites from the past week! This week's highlight was welcoming and celebrating Lord Ganesha or Ganapati or Ganpu :) We performed a small Puja at home and prayed for peace and well-being of our loved ones, the environment and the world- 'cause how can one not these days?  We've been blessed with some glorious, autumnal lavender-pink sunsets this past week or so. I've been living for these sunsets!  Look!  Look!  Our yellow bags from Chiaroscuro went on a little outing with us and look how cute they look!  The tote is called the Lazy Bailey (because slouchy) and the sling is called Big Stella (because classy)!  Last, but not least, this gorgeous Rifle Paper Co. fabric cover made by Lyra & Co. has been adorning my Hobonichi and I love it so much!!!  Hope you guys have a lovely weekend!  See you soon with some book reviews! 

Hello!  Today I want to share some absolutely stunning book sleeves that I am so in love with it. I was on Etsy one day, looking for Luna Lovegood merch. I love Luna and have very little Luna goodies. I was on a lookout to find some cute things to fuel my love for all things Luna. I came across these gorgeous book sleeves And got 2 for me and one for my sister and was so happy when these arrived in the mail.  These are from Book Bestie UK , an Etsy shop.  So check out the shop, it has a ton of beautiful book sleeves.  Ah!  Luna in all her glory.  Quibbler.  Ravenclaw colours.  Ah!  So perfect.  Hermione + Books.  This makes me bookish heart so happy.  When in doubt go to the library.  :)  This one I got for my sister, with her favourite quote ever, we've always had this quote in our home in one form or another and now we have it on a book sleeve.  I a...

What a glorious Monday this is! We woke up to the sound of Ganesh bhajans and a general air of drizzly festivity! Happy Ganesh Chaturthi! May Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the bestower of wisdom, bring peace and happiness to your life! Some little glimpses of our puja at home... We have multiple Ganesha idols at home and during Ganesh Chaturthi, we bring them all together and offer flowers and sweets to them. :)  Hope you had a nice, relaxing Monday!