The Whimsy Bookworm: A Book Blog from India

  Book: Breathless  Author: Jennifer Niven  Publisher: Penguin  Pages: 390  Read On: Kindle  How Long it Took Me To Read: 2 days  Plot Summary:   You were my first. Not just sex, although that was part of it, but the first to look past everything else into me. Some of the names and places have been changed, but the story is true.  Before:  With graduation on the horizon, budding writer Claudine Henry is making plans: college in the fall, become a famous author, and maybe--finally--have sex. She doesn't even need to be in love. Then her dad drops a bombshell: he's leaving Claude's mother. Suddenly, Claude's entire world feels like a lie, and her future anything but under control. After:  Claude's mom whisks them away to the last place Claude could imagine nursing a broken heart: a remote, mosquito-infested island off the coast of Georgia. But then Jeremiah Crew happens. Miah is a local trail guide with a passion for photography...

Book: Paper Moon Author: Rehana Munir Pages: 312 Publisher: Harper Collins How Long it Took Me To Read: 3 days Plot Summary:  BOOKS. BOMBAY. ROMANCE.  When her estranged father passes away, Fiza, fresh out of college, discovers that he has left her a tidy sum in the hope that she will open a bookshop... Overnight, Fiza's placid life is thrown into a whirl of decor decisions and book-buying sprees, unconventional staff and colourful patrons, small pleasures and little heartbreaks, as the store - Paper Moon - begins to take shape in a charming, old Bandra mansion. To top it all, she is being wooed by Iqbal, a mysterious customer who frequents the shop, and Dhruv, her ex-boyfriend, her feelings for whom are still confused. Can Fiza take charge of her life, reconcile with the past, and reach for everything that is hers? Things I Liked:  1. This book had me at hello. And what I mean by that is that the very premise of this book had my interest peaked! I ...

Book: The Daughter from the Wishing Tree Author: Sudha Murty Illustrator: Priyankar Gupta Publisher: Puffin India Pages: 180 How Long it Took Me To Read: 3 days Plot Summary:  Did you know that the Trinity often turned to goddesses to defeat the asuras?   Did you know that the first clone in the world was created by a woman? The women in Indian mythology might be fewer in number, but their stories of strength and mystery in the pages of ancient texts and epics are many. They slayed demons and protected their devotees fiercely. From Parvati to Ashokasundari and from Bhamati to Mandodari, this collection features enchanting and fearless women who frequently led wars on behalf of the gods, were the backbone of their families and makers of their own destinies.  Things I Liked:  1. The writing as always was simple and straight forward and perfect for young readers to follow along and learn about Indian mythology. 2. I know a fair bit about Myth...

Book: No Regrets: The Guilt-Free Woman's Guide To A Good Life Author: Kaveree Bamzai Pages: 200 Publisher: HarperCollins Read: I was very kindly sent a copy of the book by HarperCollins. The review and thoughts are mine and are entirely honest. Read in: 3 hours Plot Summary:  This is not a self-help book. It's a book that tells us what not to do, what to remember and what to forget. From being a mother to lessons learnt from our own mothers; managing money to marriage; coping with pain and anger to taking ownership of our health and growing old, Kaveree Bamzai, first woman editor of one of India's largest newsmagazines, a wife, and mother of two boys and two dogs, tells us how to live a guilt-free life, with a little help from a host of highly accomplished women.  With sparkling advice from Naina Lal Kidwai, Arianna Huffington, Sudha Murty, Smriti Irani, Twinkle Khanna and Sania Mirza, among others, No Regrets is the go-to book as we fumble and stumble th...