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_askthebookbug's Reviews (1.34k)
** Book Recommendation **
~
The tattooist of Auschwitz.
~
The history of hate that happened during the 1940s under the rule of Nazis is important for people to remember. Numerous books have been written about the survivors and the act itself that recalls how intense and extreme people's inhumanity was towards each other. But amidst that hatred, love still bloomed and flourished. Such a heartwarming story is of Lale and Gita's as they clutch to each other within the labour camps to make it out alive.
~
Lale finds himself within the labour camp of Auschwitz where he witnesses the horror of being slaves to the Germans. He bags the role of a tattooist where he's handed over the task of numbering the prisoners when they enter the camp. Being a tattooist comes with few perks of getting additional ration of food while others are starved or provided with a piece of stale bread. Lale being the kind-hearted man that he is, sneaks in the extra food for this block mates and friends. Just when he thinks that he has no future, he sees Gita, a fellow prisoner and falls in love with her.
~
The story talks about the lovers clinging to each other for survival. Lale dreams of a future with Gita which keeps him going within the camp. His act of kindness towards others comes back to save him multiple times and this is what I loved most about this book. The mere fact that his kindness is what kept him alive till the very end. This is the story of Lale's escape and survival outside of the camp against all odds. The story gives us snippets of Lale's life before he's thrown into the camp and I enjoyed it immensely.
~
I can never fathom the extent of hatred thrown into the faces of people during that time and Lale's true story is a balm for an aching soul to see that love trumps hatred. His true story is something that everyone should read and remind ourselves that we are fortunate enough to not go through such horrendous acts of crime. It warms my heart when I read such survival stories and this one was no different.
~
This book deserves nothing less than five stars.
~
The tattooist of Auschwitz.
~
The history of hate that happened during the 1940s under the rule of Nazis is important for people to remember. Numerous books have been written about the survivors and the act itself that recalls how intense and extreme people's inhumanity was towards each other. But amidst that hatred, love still bloomed and flourished. Such a heartwarming story is of Lale and Gita's as they clutch to each other within the labour camps to make it out alive.
~
Lale finds himself within the labour camp of Auschwitz where he witnesses the horror of being slaves to the Germans. He bags the role of a tattooist where he's handed over the task of numbering the prisoners when they enter the camp. Being a tattooist comes with few perks of getting additional ration of food while others are starved or provided with a piece of stale bread. Lale being the kind-hearted man that he is, sneaks in the extra food for this block mates and friends. Just when he thinks that he has no future, he sees Gita, a fellow prisoner and falls in love with her.
~
The story talks about the lovers clinging to each other for survival. Lale dreams of a future with Gita which keeps him going within the camp. His act of kindness towards others comes back to save him multiple times and this is what I loved most about this book. The mere fact that his kindness is what kept him alive till the very end. This is the story of Lale's escape and survival outside of the camp against all odds. The story gives us snippets of Lale's life before he's thrown into the camp and I enjoyed it immensely.
~
I can never fathom the extent of hatred thrown into the faces of people during that time and Lale's true story is a balm for an aching soul to see that love trumps hatred. His true story is something that everyone should read and remind ourselves that we are fortunate enough to not go through such horrendous acts of crime. It warms my heart when I read such survival stories and this one was no different.
~
This book deserves nothing less than five stars.
~ Unmarriageable ~
•
I have to admit that I was never a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice so I hesitated while picking this up. Unmarriageable is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, set in 2000s in Pakistan with Alysba as the protagonist. I would also choose Alysba over Elizabeth for couple of reasons but mostly for the fact that Alysba addresses the issue of sexism, masochism, gender inequality and also class.
•
Unmarriageable makes a better version because of the underlying humour that every Indian and Pakistani can relate to. The mere fact that parents fret over their children's wedding is accentuated in this book and I couldn't help but laugh ever so often. I adore Alysba's character for she portrays what a woman in this era should be like. She takes the bull by it's horns and speaks openly about many condescending issues. She makes it perfectly clear that being an unmarried woman in 30s is nothing to be ashamed of and also stresses on women wanting to be independent post marriage.
•
This book is extremely hilarious and I had a gala time reading it. If you're looking for a light book to make you cheerful then this is the one for you. Pride and Prejudice is one of the popular books of Austen and it's extremely commendable that the author chose this story for retelling. Such a brave attempt to touch a classic read and turn it into a masterpiece. I loved how she has portrayed the heritage of Pakistan and also adding humour as and when required.
•
Five star rating through and through :)
•
I have to admit that I was never a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice so I hesitated while picking this up. Unmarriageable is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, set in 2000s in Pakistan with Alysba as the protagonist. I would also choose Alysba over Elizabeth for couple of reasons but mostly for the fact that Alysba addresses the issue of sexism, masochism, gender inequality and also class.
•
Unmarriageable makes a better version because of the underlying humour that every Indian and Pakistani can relate to. The mere fact that parents fret over their children's wedding is accentuated in this book and I couldn't help but laugh ever so often. I adore Alysba's character for she portrays what a woman in this era should be like. She takes the bull by it's horns and speaks openly about many condescending issues. She makes it perfectly clear that being an unmarried woman in 30s is nothing to be ashamed of and also stresses on women wanting to be independent post marriage.
•
This book is extremely hilarious and I had a gala time reading it. If you're looking for a light book to make you cheerful then this is the one for you. Pride and Prejudice is one of the popular books of Austen and it's extremely commendable that the author chose this story for retelling. Such a brave attempt to touch a classic read and turn it into a masterpiece. I loved how she has portrayed the heritage of Pakistan and also adding humour as and when required.
•
Five star rating through and through :)
The Hidden Children
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Thank you for sending the review copy @reshmakbarshikar.
~
After reading Inkredia, I am convinced that Indian authors can make fantastic fantasy writers and I wasn't wrong about it. The Hidden Children is one such book that makes you feel like you're part of the story and everything that's happening around is part of some magic. It's a daunting book of almost 420 pages and it took me couple of weeks to finish it. But once you get the hang of it, you'll come to enjoy the read.
~
The protagonist is a teenager called Shayamukthy (Shui) who lives in Mumbai and suffers from dyslexia. She has trouble studying which makes her an unpopular girl of the class and without her two best friends Jai and Nallini, she would have been a lost puppy. Her seemingly boring life turns upside down when a new student, Anya, moves from Scotland and Shui becomes her friend. Anya comes with baggage, one of them being a witch and it is she who uncovers truth about Shui. Shui is no ordinary girl but belongs to a witch community. It is then that the story begins.
~
This big book explains Shui's journey as she tries to discover answers about her magic powers with the help of others from the community. However, more than half of the book passes at a snail's pace and I had to struggle to keep myself interested. It could have been kept crisp and short rather than extending it to many chapters. One of the pros of this book is obviously the language. It's extremely easy to read considering how relatable few characters are. I personally enjoyed the sibling relationship between Shui and her elder brother Subodh. That being said, it's probably not the most thrilling fantasy read. It takes its own time to entertain the readers.
~
It's truly a brave thing to choose fantasy as the theme and for this, I have to commend the author. I'm sure there'll be a book two and I'd love to give it a read and see where the story leads to. To sum it up, it's a laid-back read and would make an interesting one for young adults or beginners.
~
Rating - 3.5 / 5.
~
Thank you for sending the review copy @reshmakbarshikar.
~
After reading Inkredia, I am convinced that Indian authors can make fantastic fantasy writers and I wasn't wrong about it. The Hidden Children is one such book that makes you feel like you're part of the story and everything that's happening around is part of some magic. It's a daunting book of almost 420 pages and it took me couple of weeks to finish it. But once you get the hang of it, you'll come to enjoy the read.
~
The protagonist is a teenager called Shayamukthy (Shui) who lives in Mumbai and suffers from dyslexia. She has trouble studying which makes her an unpopular girl of the class and without her two best friends Jai and Nallini, she would have been a lost puppy. Her seemingly boring life turns upside down when a new student, Anya, moves from Scotland and Shui becomes her friend. Anya comes with baggage, one of them being a witch and it is she who uncovers truth about Shui. Shui is no ordinary girl but belongs to a witch community. It is then that the story begins.
~
This big book explains Shui's journey as she tries to discover answers about her magic powers with the help of others from the community. However, more than half of the book passes at a snail's pace and I had to struggle to keep myself interested. It could have been kept crisp and short rather than extending it to many chapters. One of the pros of this book is obviously the language. It's extremely easy to read considering how relatable few characters are. I personally enjoyed the sibling relationship between Shui and her elder brother Subodh. That being said, it's probably not the most thrilling fantasy read. It takes its own time to entertain the readers.
~
It's truly a brave thing to choose fantasy as the theme and for this, I have to commend the author. I'm sure there'll be a book two and I'd love to give it a read and see where the story leads to. To sum it up, it's a laid-back read and would make an interesting one for young adults or beginners.
~
Rating - 3.5 / 5.
Invisible Ties.
🌻
Thank you for sending the review copy @nadyaarofficial :)
🌻
Marriages are not convenient and are more often than not full of compromises. Invisible Ties is an intense book that talks about being trapped in a loveless marriage. Till date marriages are arranged by parents as they push their children into a lifelong bond of relationship without considering their compatability. I did enjoy this book but if fell short of my expectations.
🌻
The beginning is rather confusing and took me a while to settle down. When the story moves to Pakistan, it gets a little easier to understand Noor's story. Noor is a young girl as she struggles to live upto her mother's expectations and is often seen seeking refugee from her father. Due to an unfortunate incident in her household, she is married off to a stranger in Singapore. The story then turns unexpectedly dull once she moves to her married home in Singapore.
🌻
Soon she realises that she was brought here for the sole purpose of maintaining the house and looking after her mother-in-law. Her dreams of love are shattered as she witnesses changes in her selfish husband, Meekal who doesn't believe in the concept of love. She decides to study psychotherapy and takes up the job of healing her friend Ella and is then introduced to Jake. What follows next is Noor's struggles with keeping up to societal rules.
🌻
As much as I enjoyed the flair of Nadya's writing, I failed to understand the extensive description of few scenarios. For example, history was made part of almost every conversation and it was not too long before my interest faded. And most of all, few characters were extremely irritating, one of them being Noor's mother who's conversations always ended up in a screech. Then there's Meekal and Noor's life in Singapore which was stretched over many chapters without much happening. And importantly, I could not wrap my head around the dragon mirror that Noor seeks refugee in ever since she was a child. It has no significance.
🌻
I'll have to commend the writer for her flair in language but if only the characters were more enhanced, the book would have done wonders.
🌻
Rating - 2.8 / 5.
🌻
Thank you for sending the review copy @nadyaarofficial :)
🌻
Marriages are not convenient and are more often than not full of compromises. Invisible Ties is an intense book that talks about being trapped in a loveless marriage. Till date marriages are arranged by parents as they push their children into a lifelong bond of relationship without considering their compatability. I did enjoy this book but if fell short of my expectations.
🌻
The beginning is rather confusing and took me a while to settle down. When the story moves to Pakistan, it gets a little easier to understand Noor's story. Noor is a young girl as she struggles to live upto her mother's expectations and is often seen seeking refugee from her father. Due to an unfortunate incident in her household, she is married off to a stranger in Singapore. The story then turns unexpectedly dull once she moves to her married home in Singapore.
🌻
Soon she realises that she was brought here for the sole purpose of maintaining the house and looking after her mother-in-law. Her dreams of love are shattered as she witnesses changes in her selfish husband, Meekal who doesn't believe in the concept of love. She decides to study psychotherapy and takes up the job of healing her friend Ella and is then introduced to Jake. What follows next is Noor's struggles with keeping up to societal rules.
🌻
As much as I enjoyed the flair of Nadya's writing, I failed to understand the extensive description of few scenarios. For example, history was made part of almost every conversation and it was not too long before my interest faded. And most of all, few characters were extremely irritating, one of them being Noor's mother who's conversations always ended up in a screech. Then there's Meekal and Noor's life in Singapore which was stretched over many chapters without much happening. And importantly, I could not wrap my head around the dragon mirror that Noor seeks refugee in ever since she was a child. It has no significance.
🌻
I'll have to commend the writer for her flair in language but if only the characters were more enhanced, the book would have done wonders.
🌻
Rating - 2.8 / 5.
Once upon an IAS exam.
~
Thank you for the review copy @half_baked_beans.
~
All those late nights of studying and waking up with red rimmed eyes on the exam day is a familiar occurence to most of us. I remember when I used to fervently pray for exams to be over so that I can breathe easily and continue my activities without a care in the world. This book was relatable in every aspect as it talks about peer pressure, educational institutions, passion and most importantly, hardwork.
~
The protagonist is a 25 year old Vishy who applies for UPSC civil service exam and is determined to pass with flying colours while having previously failed to clear it. He then begins his search for a perfect coaching centre and realises that they're all moneymaking businesses. Vishy makes supportive friends at the centre who exchange notes and tips over cups of hot ragi malt. He also has a fantastic girlfriend, Rithika who helps him in securing notes and boosts his morale with encouraging words. His parents never pressurise him into doing anything that he doesn't want to. I'll let you read the book to know whether Vishy passes the exam or not.
~
The plot being fairly simple, it does strike a chord when the author talks about education has turned into a money minting industry where the fees are soaring high. IAS exams are tough to clear and this book gives a fair picture of the struggles that people face when they decide to take up such exams. What I liked about the book was how positive Vishy's character was and how he never let negativity enter his mind. The flair of writing was fairly good and simple though I expected the story to be little more exciting. This makes a perfect beginner's read.
~
Rating - 3/5.
~
Thank you for the review copy @half_baked_beans.
~
All those late nights of studying and waking up with red rimmed eyes on the exam day is a familiar occurence to most of us. I remember when I used to fervently pray for exams to be over so that I can breathe easily and continue my activities without a care in the world. This book was relatable in every aspect as it talks about peer pressure, educational institutions, passion and most importantly, hardwork.
~
The protagonist is a 25 year old Vishy who applies for UPSC civil service exam and is determined to pass with flying colours while having previously failed to clear it. He then begins his search for a perfect coaching centre and realises that they're all moneymaking businesses. Vishy makes supportive friends at the centre who exchange notes and tips over cups of hot ragi malt. He also has a fantastic girlfriend, Rithika who helps him in securing notes and boosts his morale with encouraging words. His parents never pressurise him into doing anything that he doesn't want to. I'll let you read the book to know whether Vishy passes the exam or not.
~
The plot being fairly simple, it does strike a chord when the author talks about education has turned into a money minting industry where the fees are soaring high. IAS exams are tough to clear and this book gives a fair picture of the struggles that people face when they decide to take up such exams. What I liked about the book was how positive Vishy's character was and how he never let negativity enter his mind. The flair of writing was fairly good and simple though I expected the story to be little more exciting. This makes a perfect beginner's read.
~
Rating - 3/5.
Baby Teeth.
~
I tried to like this book. I really desperately wanted to like it but I had to give up in the end. Baby Teeth has been acclaimed as one of the best suspense novels in recent times. A story where a seven year old daughter wants to murder her mother, sure sounds like a very interesting read and many of you might even enjoy this book but here's why it did not amuse me even a bit.
~
Baby Teeth is a battle between a mother Suzette and her seven year old daughter, Hanna. Suzette is a long time sufferer of Crohn's disease and the fact that she comes from a broken house, makes her want to protect her life fiercely. But her daughter doesn't make things any easier by not uttering a single word ever since she's born. Hanna suffers from mental illness because of which she wants to kill her mother to get close to the father. Alex, the husband and father is clearly oblivious to everything that goes on in the house.
~
Hanna tries multiple times to kill Suzette only to come out being defeated at her own game. Suzette gets to witness the evil side of her daughter only in their presence alone. Things escalate rapidly as Suzette survives deadly attacks twice which finally forces Alex into seeing the truth behind his daughter's lovely facade. I'll let you read the book to see how the story ends. But here's the real disappointment. Many chapters felt repetitive; the unsuccessful attempts of Hanna trying to kill Suzette, the same description of Suzette's broken childhood and how clueless any father can possibly be.
~
I found this book unsettling considering the focus on a child who's keen on murdering people. I, however, expected it to be a lot more thrilling but the ending dampened my liking. It does focus on health issues which is the only plus point about this book. Pick up this book and let me know what you think about this one.
~
Rating - 2/5.
~
I tried to like this book. I really desperately wanted to like it but I had to give up in the end. Baby Teeth has been acclaimed as one of the best suspense novels in recent times. A story where a seven year old daughter wants to murder her mother, sure sounds like a very interesting read and many of you might even enjoy this book but here's why it did not amuse me even a bit.
~
Baby Teeth is a battle between a mother Suzette and her seven year old daughter, Hanna. Suzette is a long time sufferer of Crohn's disease and the fact that she comes from a broken house, makes her want to protect her life fiercely. But her daughter doesn't make things any easier by not uttering a single word ever since she's born. Hanna suffers from mental illness because of which she wants to kill her mother to get close to the father. Alex, the husband and father is clearly oblivious to everything that goes on in the house.
~
Hanna tries multiple times to kill Suzette only to come out being defeated at her own game. Suzette gets to witness the evil side of her daughter only in their presence alone. Things escalate rapidly as Suzette survives deadly attacks twice which finally forces Alex into seeing the truth behind his daughter's lovely facade. I'll let you read the book to see how the story ends. But here's the real disappointment. Many chapters felt repetitive; the unsuccessful attempts of Hanna trying to kill Suzette, the same description of Suzette's broken childhood and how clueless any father can possibly be.
~
I found this book unsettling considering the focus on a child who's keen on murdering people. I, however, expected it to be a lot more thrilling but the ending dampened my liking. It does focus on health issues which is the only plus point about this book. Pick up this book and let me know what you think about this one.
~
Rating - 2/5.
Bestseller
~
Publishing industry has always been a fascinating area to me since I admire the work that they do. So when this book came out which promised to give a fictional insight about the happenings within a publishing firm, I knew I had to read it. It was a breezy read which I finished in a day.
~
The protagonist is a young man named Akshay Saxena who finds himself in India post losing his job in London. Through a friend he is entrusted upon pulling Kalim publishing house from troubled waters. Akshay then meets Zorah Kalim, daughter of the previous CEO of Kalim publishing and gets smitten by her immediately. In order to save the firm, Akshay has to bag 5 best selling novels within 9 months but it's easier said than done. The book mainly revolves around few celebrities who get a chance to print their books inspite of having zero skills of being an author. The lack of resources, time and decision making issue drives Akshay to his wits end.
~
The story is funny here and there as it shows the struggles of handling various authors, employees and the unnecessary media coverage. It also gives an insight on how the process of book publishing takes place starting with procuring of manuscripts to the books adorning the shelves of bookstores. The characters are quite okay with Akshay and Zorah being the central ones. I did find few characters being overly pushed into spotlight like Roshan Khan and others. The flow is easy and makes a perfect beginner's read.
~
There were few instances which disturbed me. One of them being how women were portrayed in a very shallow manner. Almost every woman has been introduced using petite or hot synonym which did not please me. There were references made such as a hottie who can think. It felt absurd to have combined those two qualities as they had nothing to do with each other. This could and should have been avoided. Overall it's a good book to get some light reading done.
~
2.7/5.
~
Publishing industry has always been a fascinating area to me since I admire the work that they do. So when this book came out which promised to give a fictional insight about the happenings within a publishing firm, I knew I had to read it. It was a breezy read which I finished in a day.
~
The protagonist is a young man named Akshay Saxena who finds himself in India post losing his job in London. Through a friend he is entrusted upon pulling Kalim publishing house from troubled waters. Akshay then meets Zorah Kalim, daughter of the previous CEO of Kalim publishing and gets smitten by her immediately. In order to save the firm, Akshay has to bag 5 best selling novels within 9 months but it's easier said than done. The book mainly revolves around few celebrities who get a chance to print their books inspite of having zero skills of being an author. The lack of resources, time and decision making issue drives Akshay to his wits end.
~
The story is funny here and there as it shows the struggles of handling various authors, employees and the unnecessary media coverage. It also gives an insight on how the process of book publishing takes place starting with procuring of manuscripts to the books adorning the shelves of bookstores. The characters are quite okay with Akshay and Zorah being the central ones. I did find few characters being overly pushed into spotlight like Roshan Khan and others. The flow is easy and makes a perfect beginner's read.
~
There were few instances which disturbed me. One of them being how women were portrayed in a very shallow manner. Almost every woman has been introduced using petite or hot synonym which did not please me. There were references made such as a hottie who can think. It felt absurd to have combined those two qualities as they had nothing to do with each other. This could and should have been avoided. Overall it's a good book to get some light reading done.
~
2.7/5.
Everything lost is found again.
~
I cannot thank @dzancbooks enough for sending this book :)
~
I have always enjoyed reading memoirs, partly because it gives us more than a peek inside the lives of writers but mostly because of the honesty that exudes from it. Everything lost is found again is a marvelous book written with so much tenderness that it teared me up and also made me laugh at more than one instance. If you've been following me for a while, you must know how dear African literature is to me and this book being set in Lesotho, I had no doubt that I'd come to love it.
~
Will McGrath recounts his experience of living in Lesotho, a small landlocked kingdom in South Africa in this witty book. The narration is so detailed that it ranges from how to speak the language, to even addressing the difference between how the people of America and Lesotho treat the topic of breasts. When Will and his wife Ellen move to Lesotho for 20 months to work for an NGO that treats AIDS and HIV patients, he experiences the cultural shift almost immediately. He keeps the readers entertained by even choosing banal topics like food and music and turns into something hilarious.
~
Even though this book has it's witty moments, Will does not fail to show the seriousness that tags along with poverty and diseases that local Lesotho people are proned to. Yet they are content with what they have and don't complain. This is without a doubt, a very beautiful book and also quite painful to see the sufferings of children battling AIDS and HIV. Having said that, it's a literary delight to witness the ease with which the author has penned down this book. It's funny, serious, witty and emotional, all rolled into one.
~
Rating - 5/5.
~
I cannot thank @dzancbooks enough for sending this book :)
~
I have always enjoyed reading memoirs, partly because it gives us more than a peek inside the lives of writers but mostly because of the honesty that exudes from it. Everything lost is found again is a marvelous book written with so much tenderness that it teared me up and also made me laugh at more than one instance. If you've been following me for a while, you must know how dear African literature is to me and this book being set in Lesotho, I had no doubt that I'd come to love it.
~
Will McGrath recounts his experience of living in Lesotho, a small landlocked kingdom in South Africa in this witty book. The narration is so detailed that it ranges from how to speak the language, to even addressing the difference between how the people of America and Lesotho treat the topic of breasts. When Will and his wife Ellen move to Lesotho for 20 months to work for an NGO that treats AIDS and HIV patients, he experiences the cultural shift almost immediately. He keeps the readers entertained by even choosing banal topics like food and music and turns into something hilarious.
~
Even though this book has it's witty moments, Will does not fail to show the seriousness that tags along with poverty and diseases that local Lesotho people are proned to. Yet they are content with what they have and don't complain. This is without a doubt, a very beautiful book and also quite painful to see the sufferings of children battling AIDS and HIV. Having said that, it's a literary delight to witness the ease with which the author has penned down this book. It's funny, serious, witty and emotional, all rolled into one.
~
Rating - 5/5.
Under her cursed scythe.
~
Thank you for the review copy @j.m.wong :)
~
I have never been too fond of fantasy novels but lately I am more welcoming in my attempts to give them a try. So when my eyes fell on this cover, I was more than happy to give it a read. Under her cursed scythe is a fantasy young adult novel and first in its series.
~
Alivia, the protagonist is not a normal teenager for she carries within herself the deepest secrets. While she looks like any other young girl during the day, she turns into a Grim Reaper at night as she goes on a killing spree. She feels no remorse as she takes lives like it's another chore. One fine day things change when she meets the Blessers and seeks for answers. The book oozes mystery which is an ingredient for a perfect fantasy novel.
~
The characterization was fairly good especially when it comes down to the protagonist. The language is simple and flows with ease. Now that I have read the first book, I'm curious about where the story would lead to in the next one. The plot is unique considering how there are not many novels out there that focusses on a young teenage girl associated with the concept of death. I, however had serious problems with reading this book since it came in pocket-size and the font was extremely tiny. It strained my eyes and I only wish how better it would have been if it were in a decent sized paperback. Nevertheless, a good story overall.
~
Rating - 3.7/5.
~
Thank you for the review copy @j.m.wong :)
~
I have never been too fond of fantasy novels but lately I am more welcoming in my attempts to give them a try. So when my eyes fell on this cover, I was more than happy to give it a read. Under her cursed scythe is a fantasy young adult novel and first in its series.
~
Alivia, the protagonist is not a normal teenager for she carries within herself the deepest secrets. While she looks like any other young girl during the day, she turns into a Grim Reaper at night as she goes on a killing spree. She feels no remorse as she takes lives like it's another chore. One fine day things change when she meets the Blessers and seeks for answers. The book oozes mystery which is an ingredient for a perfect fantasy novel.
~
The characterization was fairly good especially when it comes down to the protagonist. The language is simple and flows with ease. Now that I have read the first book, I'm curious about where the story would lead to in the next one. The plot is unique considering how there are not many novels out there that focusses on a young teenage girl associated with the concept of death. I, however had serious problems with reading this book since it came in pocket-size and the font was extremely tiny. It strained my eyes and I only wish how better it would have been if it were in a decent sized paperback. Nevertheless, a good story overall.
~
Rating - 3.7/5.
Interpreter of Maladies.
~
First published in 1999, this book bagged many literary awards while other renowned writers sang praises of it. This is my fourth book by Jhumpa Lahiri and with every single one of it, I fell more in love with what she has to offer. There's something extraordinary about the way all the writers talk about their home, history, family and everything that eventually leads to their roots. Interpreter of Maladies is one such book that makes your feet tingle with anticipation about what it holds within its pages.
~
This book encloses nine stories of nine different people while they talk about their lives or of those they know who are from America. Leaving their families behind and coming to a foreign land to study or post getting married, they experience the cultural shift around them as they strive to keep their traditions intact. The stories are beautiful and my personal favourites were When Mr. Pirzada came to dine and Mrs Sen. They ooze warmth and compassion through and through. I'm always enraptured by Lahiri's way of tending to all the minute details that happens in a typical Indian household. Mostly, Bengalis.
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She has a way of making people miss their homes and understand the importance of family with such intensity that it steals my breath. I adore this book and I'd also recommend everyone to read it mostly for the feeling of empathy and love that it leaves us embraced in post finishing it. Such simple words yet so utterly powerful.
~
Rating - 5/5.
~
First published in 1999, this book bagged many literary awards while other renowned writers sang praises of it. This is my fourth book by Jhumpa Lahiri and with every single one of it, I fell more in love with what she has to offer. There's something extraordinary about the way all the writers talk about their home, history, family and everything that eventually leads to their roots. Interpreter of Maladies is one such book that makes your feet tingle with anticipation about what it holds within its pages.
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This book encloses nine stories of nine different people while they talk about their lives or of those they know who are from America. Leaving their families behind and coming to a foreign land to study or post getting married, they experience the cultural shift around them as they strive to keep their traditions intact. The stories are beautiful and my personal favourites were When Mr. Pirzada came to dine and Mrs Sen. They ooze warmth and compassion through and through. I'm always enraptured by Lahiri's way of tending to all the minute details that happens in a typical Indian household. Mostly, Bengalis.
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She has a way of making people miss their homes and understand the importance of family with such intensity that it steals my breath. I adore this book and I'd also recommend everyone to read it mostly for the feeling of empathy and love that it leaves us embraced in post finishing it. Such simple words yet so utterly powerful.
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Rating - 5/5.