The Whimsy Bookworm: A Book Blog from India

 Hello Loves!  Had a very slow and lovely Sunday.  Read. Journaled. Relaxed.  Here's what today looked like:  Things I read today and loved alll of it.  This book is so wholesome.  I read Garlic and The Vampire last month and was so happy to reunite with Garlic and The Witch in this book.  Loved this collection of stories.  Slowly (on purpose) making my way through this wonderful book. 

  Book: How the Bamboo Got its Bounty  Author: Sudha Murty  Publisher: Puffin India  Art: Pari Satarkar  Pages: 44 Publisher: Puffin India  Plot Summary:   ‘From human birth to death, our Bamboo finds one way or another to be useful to a common person. It is truly the unsung and the forgotten.’ In a lush, green forest, a shy, unassuming tree is presented with a reward by the forest queen. This makes all the forest inhabitants curious . . . India’s favourite storyteller brings to us the story of the humble bamboo that endures and selflessly gives. A charming ode to our bountiful forests and trees, their resilience and the abundant gifts they bestow upon us, this gorgeous chapter book is the ideal introduction to the world of Sudha Murty. Review: My second read of the year was in the same vein as the first, I chose something wholesome and comforting and when it comes to looking for something full of joy and comfort- Sudha Murty is an easy choice. ...

 And here we are at the final read for 2023.  I often document my first book of the year, so I figured this year I would extend the same courtesy to my final read to the year.  Funnily, my first and last book of the year are both by Sudha Murty.  Both are picture books.  And both were utter delights.  My first read was How the Earth Got its Beauty.  And my final read for the year is How the Onion Got its Layers.  That brings my total number of books read to 207.  According to Good Reads it's 200.  Some 7 odd books I read were not on GR, but it's fine.  207 is the real number of books I read this year. 200 is what GR is counting.  Either ways, for me this is a good place to stop for 2023.  All my reading is done and I will now pick up my next read only in 2024.  Here are some glimpses of my last read for 2023.  A gorgeous little book, a simple and heart warming folklore that is perfect for kids.  I enjoyed it...

 Hello Loves!  Let's kick-off my Yearly Book Favourites.  Yay! And like always, we are starting with the kids.  I read quite a few children's books this year, every time I needed some simple comfort and hope and joy, I turned to kid lit and found exactly what I was looking for.  Here are some of the best of the best.  TOP CHILDREN'S BOOKS of 2023:  1. How the Earth got it's Beauty by Sudha Murty: My first read of the year, I wanted to start the year with something light and warm and sweet. This little picture book delivered on all accounts. So good. And so beautiful.  2. How the Mango Got it's Magic by Sudha Murty: Another picture book about Mangoes and myth and sweetness.  Perfect for little kids and the art is lovely too.  3. The Gopi Diaries Growing Up by Sudha Murty: The third installment of the Gopi Diaries, a book series about a dog and his humans. I love these little books and I love seeing Gopi and his shenanigans. Too cute and...

  Book: How the Mango Got its Magic  Author: Sudha Murty  Art: Priyanka Pachpande  Publisher: Puffin Books  Pages: 44  How Long it Took Me To Read: Half an Hour  Plot Summary:   We all love the sweetness of mango and how it quenches our thirst on a hot summer day, but have you ever wondered how the mango got its magical sweetness? The tale of how such sweetness came into existence is a fascinating one indeed. India's favourite storyteller brings alive this delightlful tale with her inimitable wit and simplicity. Bursting with captivating illustrations, this gorgeous chapter book is the ideal introduction for beginners to the world of Sudha Murty. Review: We all love mangoes. The king of fruits has all of us looking forward to the harsh months of summer. On it's own, or in pickles or chutneys, in milkshakes and ice-cream- Mangoes work in every which form. To have story about how the Mango got it's own special taste and sweetness just made me ...

  Book: How The Earth Got its Beauty  Author: Sudha Murty  Art: Priyanka Pachpande  Pages: 44  Publisher: Puffin Books India  How Long it Took Me To Read: Under an Hour  Plot Summary:   After the huge success of How the Sea Became Salty and How the Onion Got Its Layers, Sudha Murty brings to you a brand new tale as part of her gorgeous chapter book series for young readers.Excellent artwork that helps expand a child's imagination, easy to read and understand.A remarkable story narrated simply and endearingly for young readers.Have you ever stopped to marvel at the earth's beauty: at snow-capped mountains and oceans so deep; at colourful flowers and extraordinary animals? The tale of how such beauty came into existence is a curious one indeed. India's favourite storyteller brings alive this timeless tale with her inimitable wit and simplicity. Tricked out with enchanting illustrations, this gorgeous chapter book is the ideal introduction for ...

  Book: THe Gopi Diaries ~ Growing Up  Author: Sudha Murty  Art: Sandhya Prabhat  Publishers: Harper Collins India  Pages: 176  How Long It Took Me To Read: 2 days  Plot Summary:   Third book in the Gopi Diaries series! The little pup of  Coming Home  and the stronger, bigger, more mischievous Gopi of  Finding Love  grows up in the third book and has new adventures, new interests, a new dog-person in his life-the charming Nova-and brings a new family into the world. He's also wiser - 'I learnt a great lesson, which I want to teach my children. Loyalty to our humans brings happiness and peace into our lives.' This third book brings to a close the endearing and heartwarming Gopi Diaries series-a series that has generated innumerable fans across ages. Written in Sudha Murty's inimitable style, these simple stories told from a dog's perspective show us just why pets are so precious - for their love, devotion and boundless affe...

 Hello Loves!  How was the first Monday fo 2023 for you?  Good, I hope?  I am still knee deep in setting up various journals and enjoying the heck out of the process.  I also read my first two books of 2023. Two darling books by Sudha Murty that were surprisingly singed copies!!!  What a stroke of luck!  :)  Here's What My First Monday of 2023 Looked Liked:  How the Earth Got Its Beauty and How The Mango Got Its Magic by Sudha Murty: I started my year with these amazing books and they were just a happy and uncomplicated way to kick start my reading for the year. And they were both such a good time. My sister is reading them now.  10/10 Would Highly Recommend.  My beautiful books came signed.  Such a treat and so unexpected and what sweet messages!  :)  Love Love Love.  Always Appreciate the Beauty of the World.  :)  Set up a tiny Film Journal, where I will document everything I watch in a Year. Oh, and...

 Hello Loves! February draws to an end and it's time to talk about everything I've read this month.  I had a pretty decent reading month, I read 10 books in total.  A good solid number and I read some pretty good books.  So let's jump into it shall we..  1. The Adventures of Goopy The Singer and Bagha The Drummer by Upendra Kishore Ray Chowdhury: I started my month with this book and it made me so happy. This story and these characters were a  huge part of my childhood and it took me back to my childhood summers and watching the classic films adaptations of the book made by Satyajit Ray, who happens to be the author's grandson.  Sweet, warm and funny and such great art.  So much nostalgia. This book is a total treat.  5/5  2, Grandparents' Bag of Stories by Sudha Murty: Another children's book for me and this time by Sudha Murty. A set of short stories set during the lockdown, stories old and new and full of love and connections betwee...

  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 ...