Hello 2021! + Goals and Reading Resolutions for 2021.

Happy New Year my Loves.

I hope 2021 is perfect, happy, magical and wonderful for all of us.

And I hope more than ever that it's Kind.

Gentle.

Healing.

Good.

Fun.

Peaceful!

We all deserve a brilliant new year.

💛💛💛💛💛💛

I am stepping into this year with ZERO EXPECTATIONS.

ZERO.

I honestly don't want to put too much hope and heart into the unknown and walk into this new year and new decade hoping for the best but not expecting much.

I hope to Read

Write

Dream

Go to the Hills

Find Joy in the Little Things.

2021 GOALS///

1. Read good books.

2. Eat well.

3. Shop sensibly.

4. Sell some of the things I no longer use and let them find new homes.

5. Buy books without guilt.

6. Write a story a month at least.

7. Finish my detective novel and release it soon.

8. Go out more.

9. Be kind to my mind.

10. Go to the mountains for a long stay.

I love January.

I love the optimism and hope that she brings along.

The fresh starts, new beginnings, dreams and hopes and goals.

I love it.

Feels like a crisp and clear early morning.

Be Good January.

Be cold and cozy and wonderful!

🌲🍁🍃🌲🍁🌲

I've already kickstarted my reading for this year.

I like starting my reading year with a Favourite Writer. Preferably one of the greats and possibly one from my corner of the woods...a Bengali.

This year I am starting this new year and new decades with Satyajit Ray.

The Magic Moonlight Flower and Enchanting Stories by Satyajit Ray, Translated by Arunava Sinha: Four magical stories which will transport you to a world of monsters and princesses, ogres and enchanted flowers Sujan can imitate the calls of all kinds of birds and animals. When he finds himself in the king's court and learns of a fearsome bird-eating monster, he decides to use his skill to defeat the cruel creature and win the princess's heart.

In another story, Ratan is cursed by a sage and is turned into an ogre, but his sweet song saves him from a terrible fate.

In 'Gangaram's Lucky Stone' a beautiful rainbow-coloured stone rescues Gangaram from all kinds of disasters and even brings him a treasure, but what happens when he gives it away?

And, in 'The Magic Moonlight Flower', a young boy goes in search of the flower that will save his father's life, but on the way he will need to fight a cruel king, rescue a prince and slay a nasty serpent. Funny, exciting and full of strange and wonderful humans and supernatural creatures.

The Magic Moonlight Flower and Other Enchanting Stories is a delightful collection of stories by a master of children's writing in India.

I was going to start my year with Feluda, which would be re-read and one I was sure I would love.

But I found this book on Kindle Unlimited instead and thought I'd read an unread book as my first read of the year and then make my way to known comforts of Feluda. I am a little bit in and so far it feels familiar and magical and very trademark Ray.

So my reading for 2021 is off to a good start.

READING RESOLUTIONS FOR 2021:

1. Read 100 books.

2. Re-read more.

3. Read from around the world.

4. Read more translations.

5. Read older books off my shelves.

6. Stop reading something I am not enjoying. Life is too short to read shitty books.

7. Read more Graphic Novels.

8. Read at least 5 classics.

9. Read books that I want to read and not be bogged down by hype or prize winning books.

10. Read a little more non-fiction, especially some history.

📖📕📖📕📖📕

Happy Reading Folks!

I hope this is a year of good books and amazing stories.

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 l

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 most well kn

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

The Whimsy Bookworm: A Book Blog from India

Search This Blog