The Whimsy Bookworm: A Book Blog from India

 Hello Loves!  I am a big fan of all things Kid Lit. I believe that a good book that's written for kids works just as well for adults. A book that teaches a child via a story will have a similar effect on an adult or at least bring them some much needed comfort.  I read a lot of Children's Books, when I have a hard day or week, I find myself turning to the softness of a well written Children's Book. Here are my absolute favourites from 2024.  First we have two books by the same author, whose work I discovered this year and absolutely fell in love with.  1. Small Saul  &  2. Larf by Ashely Spires: These books are so wholesome and wonderful and warm and fuzzy and so so so cute. Larf is about a Big Foot looking for a friend and Small Saul is a little pirate. My heart! I love these books and made my sister read them right after I finished them. So so so good. The art is lovely too. Highly recommend.  3. Mukesh Opens a Zoo by Ruskin Bond: What li...

 Hello, hello, I've read a lot of good Asian books this year. Written, both, by Asian authors living in Asia and are works of translation and also by Asian diaspora authors- I wanted to include both categories of books. Most of the books I've mentioned below are written in an Asian language and then translated into English.  I have Japanese Books for most part, a Korean-Amreican Book and one Chinese Australian book to recommend. So let's begin...  Here are my Top 10 Asian Literary Fiction books of 2024. First up we have two books with Cats 🐈 I mean I am always up to read something cozy or otherwise featuring a cat.  1. She and Her Cat by Makoto Shinkai and Naruki Nagakawa, Translation by Ginny Tapley Takemori: This collection of interconnected short stories is told from both the human and kitty perspectives. Four women and four cats share their stories in this soothing and stream of consciousness narrative. These are stories about isolation, connection and communit...

 Hello Loves!  Have you picked out your planner for 2025? After a lot of thinking and overthinking I finally decided on using something from my stash. Something I love and I know for sure I’ll enjoy. It’s a La Dolce Vita undated diary which I was initially going to use as a Gratitude Journal but now she’ll be my Life Planner. Here is what she looks like~  I am so in love. I can’t wait to get started and using this in 2025. Will share my set up and decor soon. 

 Hello Loves!  Here are some of my favourite pages of my Reading Journal.  I’ve loved this version of my Reading Journal but in 2025, I’m moving into a smaller sized journal. A more petite setup that I can’t wait to share with you.  For now here’s my 2024 Reading Journal. 

 Hello Loves!  December has been all about cozy and comfy reading.  Reading by my moon light.  As cozy as can be.  Reading in bed.  Match your bookmark to your book always.  I've put away all of my other, more serious books in favour of all things cozy and Christmassy.  Made a whole new shelf of Christmas reads on my iPad. I've already read two books from this edit and might read a few more. 

 Hello Loves!  I've had a slow and chill day.  Read a little.  Cooked simple things.  Had yummy coffee.  And looked back at some old pictures and memories.  Mostly from 2021, and the winter in my small town and living with my parents and making my room there festive as can be.  So here are some memories from  December 2021.  My book and light filled room in my parents home. A good time, even though back then I probably was waiting for brighter time and better days. Funny how life works, when you are in the middle of living your life you keep hoping for something better or more exciting and when that time goes by..you look back nostalgically.  Well... Here's some good days from 2021.  Every night I'd light some candles and read or watch something on my laptop.  The room would be warm and cozy and I'd be under my quilt and life felt so good.  Good times. 

 Hello, hello! This year has been a bust as far as the Indian movie scene was concerned (for us). We watched a few good ones, though and so, are sharing those as solid recommendations to enjoy over a long weekend!  Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies): Hands down, the best movie of the year! Won't be writing much here because we have a whole post about it. Read it ! :) Streaming on Netflix.  Kill: A gory, thrilling, slick action flick that's made in India! Fast-paced and so, so, so thrilling. Streaming on Netflix. Watch it!  Stree 2: A sequel that is not a sophomoric disaster! Yes, please! This movie takes us back into the Stree universe, except, we have a new villain and also, some new allies. A fun, spooky watch, for sure! Streaming on Prime Video.  Munjya: A nicely made horror movie inspired by the myth/ legend of the Brahmadaitya- the belief that if a Brahmin youth days within 14 days of his sacred thread ceremony, he becomes an evil spirit/ entity. Highly recommen...