The Whimsy Bookworm: A Book Blog from India

 Hello Loves!  I kinda dropped the ball when it came to blogging last month.  I just took a break and didn't force myself to post quite as regularly as I normally would. As a result of which for the first time this year I missed a monthly favourites post...something I was so proud of putting out every single month.  So since it's the end of July and it's time to share another round of faves, I figured I'd just combine two months and give you a round up of a few of my favourite things from the last two months.  So here we are...June and July and some Joys from both these rainy months.  Buckle up... Here we go... Let's talk about June first.  Let me just say that June was an incredible, incredible month.  One of the bests I've had all year.  It was a blessing.  Full of amazing books.  Lots of reading.  Binging books.  And so much happy mail!  I cannot even!  1. Reading: I read some 15 or16 books in June and I love...

  Book: The Windsor Knot  Author: S.J. Bennett  Pages: 282 Read on: Kindle Read in: ~3 hours  Plot Summary:  The first book in a highly original and delightfully clever crime series in which Queen Elizabeth II secretly solves crimes while carrying out her royal duties. It is the early spring of 2016 and Queen Elizabeth is at Windsor Castle in advance of her 90th birthday celebrations. But the preparations are interrupted by the shocking and untimely death of a guest in one of the Castle bedrooms. The scene leads some to think the young Russian pianist strangled himself, yet a badly tied knot leads MI5 to suspect foul play. When they begin to question the Household’s most loyal servants, Her Majesty knows they’re looking in the wrong place. For the Queen has been living an extraordinary double life ever since her teenage years as “Lilibet.” Away from the public eye and unbeknownst to her closest friends and advisers, she has the most brilliant skill for solving ...

Hello Loves!  If you know me you know I love me a bag or two.  When I came across Taaga by Reema I swiftly fell in love with her bags and her quirky prints.  I also love that she has so many different styles of bags.  This bunch of bags is my second time getting something from her. I have since then bought a few more things from her and recommended her shop to several people and they've bought and loved her work too.  This batch has a backpack in this delightful mustard and fish print.  Two Kindle Sleeves.  &  A Sling Bag.  All things beautiful and all things I love.  I love this print so very much.  We already had a tote bag in the red variant but I wanted this mustard yellow beauty in my life.  The backpack is spacious, soft and a perfect companion to college/work or travel.  The colour and print are vibrant and I am so happy with it.  This is my Kindle Sleeve.  I got this grey number to keep my beloved Ki...

  Hello Loves!  Let's talk about some happy mail today and something beautiful and well-made.  A sketchbook made to perfection.  Lately, in the last one month or so, my sister has slowly gotten back into art and painting. It's something she has always done in bits and spurts but since it has been bringing her so much joy lately, she decided on getting a better notebook to draw in.  Et Voila, we found Akibuuki on IG and fell in love with her journals and sketchbooks.  My sister ordered this A5 sized one from her and has used it for the last few weeks and is very, very happy with it.  The packing is a thing of joy too.  I love how small businesses go so above and beyond when it comes to packaging.  A thing of beauty inside and out.  And this is the sketchbook in question.  The cover is jute embroidered with a little birdie and comes with a tie that ends in two little wooden birds. So, so cute!  The sunflower brooch is made by De...

 Hello Loves!  I love jewellery and beaded and boho jewellery especially takes me back to my college days and reminds me of walking in flea markets and finding something beautiful and quirky to wear.  When I found Gemini Art and Craft I was reminded of the kind of jewellery I wore as a college student and I needed some of her creations in my life.  I got 3 earrings from her back in February and ordered a fresh batch of earrings this month too.  Here are my new acquisitions.  These earrings were love at first sight.  I love the quirkiness of these beauties.  Love the mix of colours, the textures and the beads and wool and cowries.  I can't wait to wear them.  The Goa vibe is so strong in these babies.  Love love love.  These are made from papier mache...I think.  They are super light weight and so pretty.  Immensely wearable.  These fish friends I bought for my sister.  A beautiful piece that will go with so...

  Book: The Secret Keeper of Jaipur  Author: Alka Joshi  Pages: 309 Read on: Kindle  Read in: ~4 hours  Plot Summary:  In  New York Times  bestselling author Alka Joshi’s intriguing new novel, henna artist Lakshmi arranges for her protégé, Malik, to intern at the Jaipur Palace in this tale rich in character, atmosphere, and lavish storytelling. It’s the spring of 1969, and Lakshmi, now married to Dr. Jay Kumar, directs the Healing Garden in Shimla. Malik has finished his private school education. At twenty, he has just met a young woman named Nimmi when he leaves to apprentice at the Facilities Office of the Jaipur Royal Palace. Their latest project: a state-of-the-art cinema. Malik soon finds that not much has changed as he navigates the Pink City of his childhood. Power and money still move seamlessly among the wealthy class, and favors flow from Jaipur’s Royal Palace, but only if certain secrets remain buried. When the cinema’s b...

 Hello Loves!  2021 is 100 years of Ray. His films.  His writing.  His characters.  Are all so deeply a part and parcel of our collective consciousness especially if, like me, you grew up surrounded by his creations.  A lot of artists have been paying homage to his genius this year and I am so happy to add some of them to my life.  These bookmarks featuring some of Ray's Women are new additions to my Ray paraphernalia.  They are from Debdyuti Creates who has become a new favourite artist.  I love these Women and I love this Art.  Iconic women from Mahanagar, Charulata, Devi and Nayak.  So glad to own a slice of some of my favourite films.  :) 

  Books: Truly Devious, The Vanishing Stair and The Hand on the Wall  Author: Maureen Johnson  Plot Summary- Truly Devious:  Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. “A place,” he said, “where learning is a game.” Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.” It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history.  True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novel...

 Hello Loves!  For this week's Friday Favourites I want to share some gorgeous bookmarks I recently added to my life.  If you know me, or follow me for any amount of time you know how much I love bookmarks. And this love has reached maniacal proportions in the last year. I have bought so many stunning bookmarks in the last year that it makes my heart happy.  :)  In the last 9 months alone I have bought over...OK I don't think I need to share a number because it makes me look mad. But let's just say a lot of bookmarks have been added to my life and my bookish heart couldn't be happier.  I came across Page Break a while back and I knew I wanted to get some of her work in my life.  So last month we got a few of her bookmarks and got two customised pieces from her and I am so so so impressed.  Let's jump into the prettiness shall we?  First up the packing was a thing of joy. She printed using leaves and it's so pretty.  We have saved the wr...