Take a photo of a barcode or cover
_askthebookbug's Reviews (1.34k)
From Manjunath to Manjamma: The Inspiring Life of a Transgender Folk Artist
Harsha Bhat, Jogati Manjamma, Jogati Manjamma
From Manjunath to Manjamma is an inspiring and powerful story of Manjamma who defied all odds thrown at her to become one of the most influential artists of our country. Manjanma grew up seeing the ugly side of the society and as a transgender, had to overcome many trials and tribulations. And yet she has the kindest heart, one that we often see in our mothers who tend to their children with love and gentleness. Her journey from a simple village lad to an exceptional artist and the president of Karnataka Janapada Academy is incredibly inspiring.
Manjamma certainly did not have an easy life while growing up. When she slowly transitioned from Manjunath to Manjamma Jogathi, she had to face the wrath and hatred of her family and also of those in her community. Yet, in the face of adversity, she stood unwaveringly strong and found her art amidst others like her. This lesser known yet important dance form called Jogathi Nritya saved her from the darkest times of her life and it was this that eventually made her receive the prestigious Padma Shri Award in 2021. But the decades of struggle only made her softer to the pain of others. Like a true mother, she senses the hurt in others and looks after them like her own.
This is an emotional book, the kind that’ll move you to tears and make you laugh as you read about her victory. It tugs at your heart when pain is inflicted upon her. When she removed Drishti of the President while receiving the Padma Shri Award, you understand her intention behind it. She speaks for many other transgenders who lead such difficult lives, with obstacles being constantly thrown at them. You realise that the world needs more empathy and understanding towards other humans.
From Manjunath to Manjamma is definitely an inspirational read but in many aspects it is also an important one. The translation by Harsha Bhat is crisp and has managed to convey emotions without any hitches. I highly recommend this autobiography.
Manjamma certainly did not have an easy life while growing up. When she slowly transitioned from Manjunath to Manjamma Jogathi, she had to face the wrath and hatred of her family and also of those in her community. Yet, in the face of adversity, she stood unwaveringly strong and found her art amidst others like her. This lesser known yet important dance form called Jogathi Nritya saved her from the darkest times of her life and it was this that eventually made her receive the prestigious Padma Shri Award in 2021. But the decades of struggle only made her softer to the pain of others. Like a true mother, she senses the hurt in others and looks after them like her own.
This is an emotional book, the kind that’ll move you to tears and make you laugh as you read about her victory. It tugs at your heart when pain is inflicted upon her. When she removed Drishti of the President while receiving the Padma Shri Award, you understand her intention behind it. She speaks for many other transgenders who lead such difficult lives, with obstacles being constantly thrown at them. You realise that the world needs more empathy and understanding towards other humans.
From Manjunath to Manjamma is definitely an inspirational read but in many aspects it is also an important one. The translation by Harsha Bhat is crisp and has managed to convey emotions without any hitches. I highly recommend this autobiography.
The Witch in the Peepul Tree at its very core is a murder mystery but what makes it interesting is the clever use of societal norms that Arefa has imbibed in the story. The story is set in 1950, India just a few years shy of being independent and so we see people from different social statuses struggling to cope with the changes. Casteism is at its peak and manipulation is an essential tool for the rich to get things done. Amidst all this, a 16 year old young lady is found dead in her room on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti. Her father, Dada Bhai is a renowned man who is both loved and respected by the tribals and those who are trampled by the upper castes.
The book begins when Sanaz is found dead in her room. Arefa immediately introduces an array of characters, each having their own chapters and whose paths meet on that particular day. There’s the Zamindar, Rao Sahib and the Middleman, Hariharan who visit Dada Bhai each with their own motives. Then there are the untouchables, Bhola and his wife Parijat who are nightsoil workers. Two tribals who arrive at the house for some work. Dada Bhai’s widowed old mother and another widow who acts as their caretaker have their own stories to tell. A skinny lad Ismail, who has a cheeky grin and a sharp tongue working for the family. All of these eccentric characters are given enough importance to keep the story going. So when the murder occurs, everyone becomes a suspect.
This story is indulging in nature and it is more character driven than the murder itself. We see the rich exploiting the poor, the jealousy that comes from being loved by many and complex relationships. Arefa has done a splendid job in tying loose ends of the story. It almost felt like watching tributaries flowing into a river. I did feel that the story dragged a bit in the middle, some unnecessary details tempting me to skim through the pages. But I most certainly didn’t see the twist in the end.
If you’re looking for a unique murder mystery that has a deep background, then you’ll probably like this book. Thanks for the copy @harpercollinsin ✨
The book begins when Sanaz is found dead in her room. Arefa immediately introduces an array of characters, each having their own chapters and whose paths meet on that particular day. There’s the Zamindar, Rao Sahib and the Middleman, Hariharan who visit Dada Bhai each with their own motives. Then there are the untouchables, Bhola and his wife Parijat who are nightsoil workers. Two tribals who arrive at the house for some work. Dada Bhai’s widowed old mother and another widow who acts as their caretaker have their own stories to tell. A skinny lad Ismail, who has a cheeky grin and a sharp tongue working for the family. All of these eccentric characters are given enough importance to keep the story going. So when the murder occurs, everyone becomes a suspect.
This story is indulging in nature and it is more character driven than the murder itself. We see the rich exploiting the poor, the jealousy that comes from being loved by many and complex relationships. Arefa has done a splendid job in tying loose ends of the story. It almost felt like watching tributaries flowing into a river. I did feel that the story dragged a bit in the middle, some unnecessary details tempting me to skim through the pages. But I most certainly didn’t see the twist in the end.
If you’re looking for a unique murder mystery that has a deep background, then you’ll probably like this book. Thanks for the copy @harpercollinsin ✨
I’ve read a lot of books about the holocaust and Auschwitz in general but not once did I stumble across a man called Witold Pilecki. Auschwitz was a place of horrors where the spirits of people were broken into pieces, never to recover again. But what surprised me was how a band of courageous men managed to form a resistance cell even in this place of death. One of the reasons why Pilecki is an absolute hero is because of the fact that he voluntarily surrendered to the Nazis so that he can get a firsthand view of the concentration camp and to help send the intel to the outside world. Not only did he survive in the camp, he also formed a group to fight against the Schutzstaffel Guards. I’ll be ever thankful to Jack Fairweather for writing about this unsung hero.
Pilecki served in the Polish Army during the Polish Soviet War and on the onset of the WW2, he volunteered to be captured by the Germans and be sent to the dreadful concentration camp. His courage to bid goodbye to his family without knowing if he’ll get to see them again, was something unimaginable. You must understand that Auschwitz wasn’t yet a fully formed camp at the time. The Germans were trying everything by trial and error, not expecting to see an influx of thousands of Jews and others into the camp every single day. Their crematoriums weren’t equipped to burn so many bodies. Pilecki witnessed these horrors, not quite believing the lengths to which the Nazis would go to eradicate the so called ‘inferior race’.
On one hand, he tried desperately to stay alive and on the other, he gathered hundreds of men who were willing to fight against the Nazis inside the camp. The power dynamic was certainly askew, but they still managed to outsmart the SS guards on many occasions. Pilecki’s main mission was to send reports to the Western Allies about the camp’s ongoing operations. Time and again, I was left so heartbroken to see how no one tried to help the Jews and Poles. All the reports that Pilecki sent were discarded on the grounds of carrying not much evidence. Pilecki lived in the camp for three years when he finally decided to take matters into his own hands and escaped the prison.
Pilecki’s life is both heroic and tragic. Although his mission to show the world about the concentration camp was disregarded by many, he never stopped fighting. It’s only fate’s cruel play that his end was unfair as well. To read about a man like Witold Pilecki gave me goosebumps. I’ve already said too much and so I must stop. But Jack’s unrelenting research in bringing to light one of the greatest heroes during the WW2, is something truly incredible to witness.
I can’t recommend this book enough. This book and the men and women who fought for the good of others in the face of the worst times humans ever had to endure, have my immense respect.
Pilecki served in the Polish Army during the Polish Soviet War and on the onset of the WW2, he volunteered to be captured by the Germans and be sent to the dreadful concentration camp. His courage to bid goodbye to his family without knowing if he’ll get to see them again, was something unimaginable. You must understand that Auschwitz wasn’t yet a fully formed camp at the time. The Germans were trying everything by trial and error, not expecting to see an influx of thousands of Jews and others into the camp every single day. Their crematoriums weren’t equipped to burn so many bodies. Pilecki witnessed these horrors, not quite believing the lengths to which the Nazis would go to eradicate the so called ‘inferior race’.
On one hand, he tried desperately to stay alive and on the other, he gathered hundreds of men who were willing to fight against the Nazis inside the camp. The power dynamic was certainly askew, but they still managed to outsmart the SS guards on many occasions. Pilecki’s main mission was to send reports to the Western Allies about the camp’s ongoing operations. Time and again, I was left so heartbroken to see how no one tried to help the Jews and Poles. All the reports that Pilecki sent were discarded on the grounds of carrying not much evidence. Pilecki lived in the camp for three years when he finally decided to take matters into his own hands and escaped the prison.
Pilecki’s life is both heroic and tragic. Although his mission to show the world about the concentration camp was disregarded by many, he never stopped fighting. It’s only fate’s cruel play that his end was unfair as well. To read about a man like Witold Pilecki gave me goosebumps. I’ve already said too much and so I must stop. But Jack’s unrelenting research in bringing to light one of the greatest heroes during the WW2, is something truly incredible to witness.
I can’t recommend this book enough. This book and the men and women who fought for the good of others in the face of the worst times humans ever had to endure, have my immense respect.
I’m always excited to read mystery novels in which the protagonist is a woman! Even more so if she is an Indian. I have had copies of Sujata Massey’s books for years now but for reasons unknown never got to read it. When I finally did read her first book in the Perveen Mistry series, I was very impressed by both the story and also the way in which Massey has shaped the protagonist so thoughtfully. Set in the 1920s, A Murder on Malabar Hill paints a good picture of history and mystery.
Perveen Mistry is India’s first woman lawyer but women back then weren’t allowed to represent in the court. She instead works alongside her father, a famous lawyer named Jamshedji. When a wealthy Muslim businessman passes away, one whose lawyer has been Jamshedji for decades, Perveen learns that his three purdahnashin widows are left with no one to look after their interests. Perveen is suspicious about the intentions of a male guardian appointed to make decisions for the widows. She takes it upon herself to speak to the purdahnashins and understand what’s going on.
When Perveen sets about to learn the workings of the family, she discovers foul play and to add to it, there’s a murder. She gets caught up amidst the chaos, while her own dreadful past keeps throwing flashbacks at her. The case is finally resolved as it’s usually the case with murder mysteries but this book isn’t just about the murder. Perveen’s own character adds flair to the story and as Massey describes the Parsi culture, I was thoroughly immersed in the book. Perveen adds a human element to the story, filled with empathy and concern all the while being tough to fight her battles when required.
This was most definitely an interesting novel and as I’m reading the second book in the series at the moment, I have no doubt that it’s just a matter of time before she becomes my favourite detective/lawyer character.
I highly recommend this book.
Perveen Mistry is India’s first woman lawyer but women back then weren’t allowed to represent in the court. She instead works alongside her father, a famous lawyer named Jamshedji. When a wealthy Muslim businessman passes away, one whose lawyer has been Jamshedji for decades, Perveen learns that his three purdahnashin widows are left with no one to look after their interests. Perveen is suspicious about the intentions of a male guardian appointed to make decisions for the widows. She takes it upon herself to speak to the purdahnashins and understand what’s going on.
When Perveen sets about to learn the workings of the family, she discovers foul play and to add to it, there’s a murder. She gets caught up amidst the chaos, while her own dreadful past keeps throwing flashbacks at her. The case is finally resolved as it’s usually the case with murder mysteries but this book isn’t just about the murder. Perveen’s own character adds flair to the story and as Massey describes the Parsi culture, I was thoroughly immersed in the book. Perveen adds a human element to the story, filled with empathy and concern all the while being tough to fight her battles when required.
This was most definitely an interesting novel and as I’m reading the second book in the series at the moment, I have no doubt that it’s just a matter of time before she becomes my favourite detective/lawyer character.
I highly recommend this book.
Naked is one of a kind book. It often felt like I was watching the characters live their part in front of my eyes. Like a movie. Written by Aditi Mediratta (screenplay writer) and Michaela Talwar (filmmaker and creative producer) , Naked navigates through the world without the rose tinted glasses. When I finished reading Naked a couple of days ago, I didn’t know how to feel about it. I, for one, usually prefer my books to be more plot oriented but this one was character driven. It often felt like I was reading the book on loop, where the characters bumped into each other, while the layers of their personalities were being peeled like onions. But at the very core of the story is a woman who almost feels ethereal. Her name is Chinky and this is ultimately her story.
When Chinky’s naked body washes up on a beach in Mumbai, Inspector Gaikwad begins his investigation about her death. He meets a bunch of eccentric characters, from her roommates to husband. Each of them have their own tales to tell about this young woman whose life ended abruptly. Soon, the inspector learns about her numerous boyfriends, her ability to connect and read others’ minds, the surreal manner in which she works and lives. Chinky is hard to describe because how would you label a woman who lives beyond the shackles of society? She sheds clothes like it doesn’t mean anything, gives advice in a way that makes others feel that she can peer into their souls and lives a life that’s so unheard of. She has no inhibitions,no expectations and least of all, absolutely no interest in the inconsequential nature of how the world works. And this is what makes 90% of the book.
The remaining 10% focuses on her roommates, Iti and Abhishek. A girl who comes from Agra to work in the film industry and a gay man who shifts to Mumbai for another guy who’s emotionally unavailable. Since this novel is more character driven, we see a lot of time spent on understanding the human nature. The narrative shifts easily and is very diverse. We see an array of emotions associated with the characters and all of them are very relatable.
Personally, although the characters were interesting, I couldn’t connect with them emotionally. The story went around in circles, touching the same points time and again. I did feel disconnected quite often and had to push myself to get to the end, which in itself felt a little abrupt. However, I do feel that this book may work very well for those who prefer books with a hint of mystery and surrealism. I did enjoy the writing style and will look forward to reading more by the author duo.
When Chinky’s naked body washes up on a beach in Mumbai, Inspector Gaikwad begins his investigation about her death. He meets a bunch of eccentric characters, from her roommates to husband. Each of them have their own tales to tell about this young woman whose life ended abruptly. Soon, the inspector learns about her numerous boyfriends, her ability to connect and read others’ minds, the surreal manner in which she works and lives. Chinky is hard to describe because how would you label a woman who lives beyond the shackles of society? She sheds clothes like it doesn’t mean anything, gives advice in a way that makes others feel that she can peer into their souls and lives a life that’s so unheard of. She has no inhibitions,no expectations and least of all, absolutely no interest in the inconsequential nature of how the world works. And this is what makes 90% of the book.
The remaining 10% focuses on her roommates, Iti and Abhishek. A girl who comes from Agra to work in the film industry and a gay man who shifts to Mumbai for another guy who’s emotionally unavailable. Since this novel is more character driven, we see a lot of time spent on understanding the human nature. The narrative shifts easily and is very diverse. We see an array of emotions associated with the characters and all of them are very relatable.
Personally, although the characters were interesting, I couldn’t connect with them emotionally. The story went around in circles, touching the same points time and again. I did feel disconnected quite often and had to push myself to get to the end, which in itself felt a little abrupt. However, I do feel that this book may work very well for those who prefer books with a hint of mystery and surrealism. I did enjoy the writing style and will look forward to reading more by the author duo.
Praying Mantis is the third book in Harith Athreya series. I’ve read only the first book in the series before and remember enjoying it as well. Much like A Will to Kill, this one too is set in a picturesque landscape, in the Himalayan foothills where Athreya solves a murder mystery. More than once I felt as if I had entered into the world of Janardhan Maity, who happens to be the protagonist of Bhaskar Chattopadhyay’s books. There’s a lot of similarity between the writing style of the two authors. And much like the previous time, it didn’t take me long to fall into Raman’s hypnotic narration and be swept away.
Praying Mantis is a fast paced detective novel which takes place in Peter Dann Castle, a fictional resort in Himalayas. When Javed, a retired police psychologist and friend of Athreya requests him to stay over at his resort to oversee a suspicious situation, he readily agrees. Javed has a nagging feeling that a friend of his daughter is involved in something sinister along with a bunch of other young people. These five youngsters have a secret that they guard fiercely. The characters are diverse, each different from the other and soon Javed’s instinct prevails when a murder is committed. Athreya’s mind gets whirring and he sets about resolving the case with the help of the local police.
The investigation gets complicated when every character has a motive for the murder. While he sets about to discover the truth, we see the spotlight shifting from one character to the next, not knowing who is the killer. We see the efficiency and cleverness with which Athreya works and as he finds the culprit, the process of him piecing together the clues is enjoyable to read. I couldn’t guess who the killer was until the very end and even though the story may seem a bit hard to believe, I have no complaints.
I associate his books with cosy winter/monsoon reads where all you need is a cup of coffee to finish reading them like a breeze. The reason behind choosing the title Praying Mantis was an intelligent thing to do and did justice to the book. If you’re looking to explore Indian murder mystery authors, this series may just be up your alley.
Praying Mantis is a fast paced detective novel which takes place in Peter Dann Castle, a fictional resort in Himalayas. When Javed, a retired police psychologist and friend of Athreya requests him to stay over at his resort to oversee a suspicious situation, he readily agrees. Javed has a nagging feeling that a friend of his daughter is involved in something sinister along with a bunch of other young people. These five youngsters have a secret that they guard fiercely. The characters are diverse, each different from the other and soon Javed’s instinct prevails when a murder is committed. Athreya’s mind gets whirring and he sets about resolving the case with the help of the local police.
The investigation gets complicated when every character has a motive for the murder. While he sets about to discover the truth, we see the spotlight shifting from one character to the next, not knowing who is the killer. We see the efficiency and cleverness with which Athreya works and as he finds the culprit, the process of him piecing together the clues is enjoyable to read. I couldn’t guess who the killer was until the very end and even though the story may seem a bit hard to believe, I have no complaints.
I associate his books with cosy winter/monsoon reads where all you need is a cup of coffee to finish reading them like a breeze. The reason behind choosing the title Praying Mantis was an intelligent thing to do and did justice to the book. If you’re looking to explore Indian murder mystery authors, this series may just be up your alley.
Just a few weeks ago I read Julia’s Our Wives Under the Sea. It was about a woman who goes missing in the depths of water in a submarine for over six months and comes back entirely different. It was such a strange unsettling story that I couldn’t stop thinking about it for a long time. But right after that I got myself a copy of her short story collection. Salt Slow is as bizarre as Our Wives Under the Sea, if not more. The 9 stories inside this slim book made me fall in love with Julia some more. The stories start off normally but as you delve deeper, you realise that something is amiss. The characters behave and think differently or the world that they live in isn’t the same as ours. Salt Slow shows the extent of Julia’s unique imagination, one that breaks all boundaries.
The 9 stories are so baffling and haunting that I couldn’t stop reading them. From the girl who has a wolf as her stepsister, a woman who collects parts of men to create her own perfect man, the world in which sleep walks next to you as your shadow, a submerged planet that has monsters unheard of swimming under the sea; these stories are so unique that I was mind blow by Julia’s mysterious mind. It’s no easy task to write tales that are both grotesque and equally interesting.
She also nails the queer representation aptly. These odd tales leave a lasting impression on the readers’ minds because how do you actually stop thinking about a dead girlfriend who comes back to your house six months later, with her rotting flesh hanging loosely around her bones? You may think that this book may be impossible to read what with its dreadful nature but it’s exactly the opposite. Julia has a knack of bringing the characters to life in a mundane world with flaws that are so unheard of that it’s almost impossible to look away. When people talk about haunting books, I think this is what they mean.
Salt Slow is by far one of the best short story collections I’ve ever read. As weird as the contents within are, I still loved every bit of it. Can’t wait to read more by her.
The 9 stories are so baffling and haunting that I couldn’t stop reading them. From the girl who has a wolf as her stepsister, a woman who collects parts of men to create her own perfect man, the world in which sleep walks next to you as your shadow, a submerged planet that has monsters unheard of swimming under the sea; these stories are so unique that I was mind blow by Julia’s mysterious mind. It’s no easy task to write tales that are both grotesque and equally interesting.
She also nails the queer representation aptly. These odd tales leave a lasting impression on the readers’ minds because how do you actually stop thinking about a dead girlfriend who comes back to your house six months later, with her rotting flesh hanging loosely around her bones? You may think that this book may be impossible to read what with its dreadful nature but it’s exactly the opposite. Julia has a knack of bringing the characters to life in a mundane world with flaws that are so unheard of that it’s almost impossible to look away. When people talk about haunting books, I think this is what they mean.
Salt Slow is by far one of the best short story collections I’ve ever read. As weird as the contents within are, I still loved every bit of it. Can’t wait to read more by her.