You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
jainandsdiary's Reviews (310)
Book: Fruits Of The Barren Tree
Author: Lekhnath Chhetri
Translator: Anurag Basnet
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Vintage Books
Pages: 195
Set in the 1980s in Reeling, a small village in the Darjeeling district, it is the story of Basnet, and his wife - of their courage, longing, and fight against the landowners; Jhuppay - their son who is a thief, truant, amateur but lover of Nimma; Chhyatar - a former army man, now a commander of the Green Party. When Jhuppay's loudspeakers are hired by the Red Party for a meeting, a rage outrageous, and fate turns. A fate that can shake anyone!
Most of us have heard about Darjeeling, but we rarely get to know about the Gorkhaland Movement. And this book came as a much-needed source for it.
The writing is very engaging and was able to shake me completely at times. The characters are deeply moving from start to end. I wished there was more of Nimma and Basnetni-aamai!
The difference between the ideologies and the failure of the movement is shown effectively and the author's note in the end was a gem!
I would have connected more if the characters' psyche and internal thoughts had been there. There is a paragraph in the book in between that I felt came out of nowhere and I would appreciate more light on it.
The translation was commendable and was able to communicate the story to its core. It was my first book from Nepali literature and about the Gorkhaland Movement, and I want to read more of it now.
Detailed review on Blog. Link
Author: Lekhnath Chhetri
Translator: Anurag Basnet
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Vintage Books
Pages: 195
Set in the 1980s in Reeling, a small village in the Darjeeling district, it is the story of Basnet, and his wife - of their courage, longing, and fight against the landowners; Jhuppay - their son who is a thief, truant, amateur but lover of Nimma; Chhyatar - a former army man, now a commander of the Green Party. When Jhuppay's loudspeakers are hired by the Red Party for a meeting, a rage outrageous, and fate turns. A fate that can shake anyone!
Most of us have heard about Darjeeling, but we rarely get to know about the Gorkhaland Movement. And this book came as a much-needed source for it.
The writing is very engaging and was able to shake me completely at times. The characters are deeply moving from start to end. I wished there was more of Nimma and Basnetni-aamai!
The difference between the ideologies and the failure of the movement is shown effectively and the author's note in the end was a gem!
I would have connected more if the characters' psyche and internal thoughts had been there. There is a paragraph in the book in between that I felt came out of nowhere and I would appreciate more light on it.
The translation was commendable and was able to communicate the story to its core. It was my first book from Nepali literature and about the Gorkhaland Movement, and I want to read more of it now.
Detailed review on Blog. Link
Book: Marquez EMS Gulam & others
Author: Benyamin
Translator: Swarup B.R.
Genre: Short Story Collection
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Pages: 228
Although I received this book earlier than Subversive Whispers, I didn't get myself to read it sooner. But as soon as I finished Subversive Whispers, I knew what my next read would be, as I am much more excited to discover more gems from Malayalam Literature.
I have heard about Benny Daniel, better known as Benyamin because of "Jasmine Days" and the JCB Prize For Literature, and I wanted to read his work. And that opportunity came as Marquez EMS Gulam & others.
Marquez EMS Gulam & Others by Benyamin is a short story collection, where the stories are "fictional" but inspired by real-life events, as the author said in the author's note, "My stories are not far removed from life. Though imagination, like leaves, has sprouted, the roots remain firmly entrenched in the soil of life."
The stories don't have any particular theme in common, they are as diverse as life can be. From a person living in Kerela who thinks he is metamorphosed into Gregory George Márquez, the story of American soldiers in Baghdad, of the worth of Argentina's jersey bought by a father, a mysterious sailor, the internal turmoil of a taxi driver, it has as much diversity as one can imagine.
The stories in the collection were impacting, thought-provoking, and surprising and had endings that will astonish the readers for sure. The translation was as lucid and best as one can expect and it was worth reading.
"The Postman" is the story that is my favourite from the collection, and one of my all-time favourites. It has so much in it, and I loved the way the generational pride, love, and respect were shown, and that ending was one of the best things, something that I couldn't have imagined.
Some other favourites from this collection were:
The Argentina Jersey
The Enemy
Nedumbassery
Javed the Mujahideen
I loved most of the stories from the collection, and overall, it's a book that I highly recommend. And I can't wait to read more by Benyamin.
Author: Benyamin
Translator: Swarup B.R.
Genre: Short Story Collection
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Pages: 228
Although I received this book earlier than Subversive Whispers, I didn't get myself to read it sooner. But as soon as I finished Subversive Whispers, I knew what my next read would be, as I am much more excited to discover more gems from Malayalam Literature.
I have heard about Benny Daniel, better known as Benyamin because of "Jasmine Days" and the JCB Prize For Literature, and I wanted to read his work. And that opportunity came as Marquez EMS Gulam & others.
Marquez EMS Gulam & Others by Benyamin is a short story collection, where the stories are "fictional" but inspired by real-life events, as the author said in the author's note, "My stories are not far removed from life. Though imagination, like leaves, has sprouted, the roots remain firmly entrenched in the soil of life."
The stories don't have any particular theme in common, they are as diverse as life can be. From a person living in Kerela who thinks he is metamorphosed into Gregory George Márquez, the story of American soldiers in Baghdad, of the worth of Argentina's jersey bought by a father, a mysterious sailor, the internal turmoil of a taxi driver, it has as much diversity as one can imagine.
The stories in the collection were impacting, thought-provoking, and surprising and had endings that will astonish the readers for sure. The translation was as lucid and best as one can expect and it was worth reading.
"The Postman" is the story that is my favourite from the collection, and one of my all-time favourites. It has so much in it, and I loved the way the generational pride, love, and respect were shown, and that ending was one of the best things, something that I couldn't have imagined.
Some other favourites from this collection were:
The Argentina Jersey
The Enemy
Nedumbassery
Javed the Mujahideen
I loved most of the stories from the collection, and overall, it's a book that I highly recommend. And I can't wait to read more by Benyamin.
Nikhil Out Loud by Maulik Pancholy is a middle-grade novel that shows the story of Nikhil Shah. Nikhil is a thirteen-year-old gay Indian-American boy who works as a voice actor for Raj Reddy on the hit animated series Raj Reddy in Outer Space. He was enjoying his life in Los Angeles, with his best friend Anton when suddenly he had to move to Ohio with his mother to take care of Nikhil's Nanaji(Grandfather). With the new city comes a new school, new friends, and an opportunity to lead the school's musical. What will happen when suddenly things start changing - Nikhil's voice starts cracking, a new relationship with his grandparents, and his sexuality becomes an issue for his musical? Read the book to know more.
The book raises various themes and presents them in detail, showing the development in them throughout the story. The relationship between Nikhil and his mother with his grandparents was quite touching and it was wonderful to see how they evolved with time. And although the book has its moments of charm, it is a story with ups and downs. The ending was very dramatic and felt like it came out of a highly dramatic Bollywood movie!
Go ahead with the book if it interests you! It has its moments of ups and downs.
Detailed review is here: https://jainandgurjar.home.blog/2023/08/08/nikhil-out-loud/
The book raises various themes and presents them in detail, showing the development in them throughout the story. The relationship between Nikhil and his mother with his grandparents was quite touching and it was wonderful to see how they evolved with time. And although the book has its moments of charm, it is a story with ups and downs. The ending was very dramatic and felt like it came out of a highly dramatic Bollywood movie!
Go ahead with the book if it interests you! It has its moments of ups and downs.
Detailed review is here: https://jainandgurjar.home.blog/2023/08/08/nikhil-out-loud/
Book: How To Find Love When You're Weird
Author: Camilla Evergreen
Genre: Rom-Com
Format: E-book
Pages: 328
How To Find Love When You're Weird by Camilla Evergreen Romantic Comedy. This is the story of Ellen Little, who finds herself looking for a serious partner so that she can inherit her cottage before her twenty-sixth birthday which is less than two months away! And here comes Hayes Sallow, someone who came five years ago as well, but Ellen doesn't remember! But now, he is living next door, and they come in terms of fake dating collaboration! And now there is drama, humour, confusion, and love, so much of it! Read the book to know more!
It was my first book by Camilla Evergreen and I am a fan! What beautiful writing, heartwarming story, inclusive message, weirdly loving main characters, supporting and irritating family(in a fun way), so many punch lines, and chemistry! It has everything that you want to read in a book to lift your mood!
I haven't read much-forced proximity as a subgenre in romance and I was a little skeptical, but if they are written like this, I'm all over there for it. Camilla Evergreen knows her characters, their details, and who they are, and she has the power to make the readers know them equally. And that's astonishing! The character development of Ellen and Hayes was so good. No wonder they are one of my all-time favourite fiction pairs!
The ending was something I wasn't expecting at all. And it surprised me, in a way that my love and respect for the story increased much more. It talks about
The best way in which I can explain my reading experience is that it was a humorous, "adorable", comfort book! And why adorable is written that way, you'll know when you will read the book!
If you are someone who wants to read rom-coms, whether you are a beginner or an avid reader, do read this book! One of my favourite reads of this year and I highly recommend it.
Author: Camilla Evergreen
Genre: Rom-Com
Format: E-book
Pages: 328
How To Find Love When You're Weird by Camilla Evergreen Romantic Comedy. This is the story of Ellen Little, who finds herself looking for a serious partner so that she can inherit her cottage before her twenty-sixth birthday which is less than two months away! And here comes Hayes Sallow, someone who came five years ago as well, but Ellen doesn't remember! But now, he is living next door, and they come in terms of fake dating collaboration! And now there is drama, humour, confusion, and love, so much of it! Read the book to know more!
It was my first book by Camilla Evergreen and I am a fan! What beautiful writing, heartwarming story, inclusive message, weirdly loving main characters, supporting and irritating family(in a fun way), so many punch lines, and chemistry! It has everything that you want to read in a book to lift your mood!
I haven't read much-forced proximity as a subgenre in romance and I was a little skeptical, but if they are written like this, I'm all over there for it. Camilla Evergreen knows her characters, their details, and who they are, and she has the power to make the readers know them equally. And that's astonishing! The character development of Ellen and Hayes was so good. No wonder they are one of my all-time favourite fiction pairs!
The ending was something I wasn't expecting at all. And it surprised me, in a way that my love and respect for the story increased much more. It talks about
The best way in which I can explain my reading experience is that it was a humorous, "adorable", comfort book! And why adorable is written that way, you'll know when you will read the book!
If you are someone who wants to read rom-coms, whether you are a beginner or an avid reader, do read this book! One of my favourite reads of this year and I highly recommend it.
Book: Hot Blood Cold Blood
Editor: Abir Mukherjee
Genre: Anthology (of Crime Fiction)
Publisher: Bee Books
Pages: 312
Hot Blood Cold Blood - Tartan Noir Meets Kolkata Crime, an anthology of Crime Fiction stories, edited by Abir Mukherjee brings out the best of Scotish and Bengali crime stories. In the unusual, contrasting way, the editor shows us the similarities in the usual narrative of differences. From being inspired to making the name and identity of its own, the editor's note itself makes an impact in getting to know two distinct, yet similar writings!
I have never read Sherlock Holmes or Byomkesh Bakshi, the two most famous, popular and celebrated characters from both the regions, and yet whenever someone talks about detectives or even the genre of Crime Fiction, these two names always pop up in the head. And it shows their impact. And thus, maybe a similarity! And this book beautifully explores these similarities throughout the stories.
Being someone who occasionally reads this genre, this book was a treat and an invitation for me to explore more of the genre as well as the literature of both regions. I read Sharatchandra Chattopadhyay earlier, and after reading this, I'm very much interested in exploring more Bengali stories, especially by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay.
The story by Abir Mukherjee combines both the world beautifully and shows the nuances of each of them, definitely making it one of my favourite stories from this collection. Also, his selection of stories was no less than wonder as not only the stories make us curious till the end, building a perfect set up that is expected from the crime stories, it also shows the spectrum of human emotions, the thread that binds the literature of both regions.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the stories in the collection, they kept me at the edge till end, and I'll definitely recommend it to you if you are interested in looking forward to see the astonishing amalgamation between Scotish and Bengali literature.
Editor: Abir Mukherjee
Genre: Anthology (of Crime Fiction)
Publisher: Bee Books
Pages: 312
Hot Blood Cold Blood - Tartan Noir Meets Kolkata Crime, an anthology of Crime Fiction stories, edited by Abir Mukherjee brings out the best of Scotish and Bengali crime stories. In the unusual, contrasting way, the editor shows us the similarities in the usual narrative of differences. From being inspired to making the name and identity of its own, the editor's note itself makes an impact in getting to know two distinct, yet similar writings!
I have never read Sherlock Holmes or Byomkesh Bakshi, the two most famous, popular and celebrated characters from both the regions, and yet whenever someone talks about detectives or even the genre of Crime Fiction, these two names always pop up in the head. And it shows their impact. And thus, maybe a similarity! And this book beautifully explores these similarities throughout the stories.
Being someone who occasionally reads this genre, this book was a treat and an invitation for me to explore more of the genre as well as the literature of both regions. I read Sharatchandra Chattopadhyay earlier, and after reading this, I'm very much interested in exploring more Bengali stories, especially by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay.
The story by Abir Mukherjee combines both the world beautifully and shows the nuances of each of them, definitely making it one of my favourite stories from this collection. Also, his selection of stories was no less than wonder as not only the stories make us curious till the end, building a perfect set up that is expected from the crime stories, it also shows the spectrum of human emotions, the thread that binds the literature of both regions.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the stories in the collection, they kept me at the edge till end, and I'll definitely recommend it to you if you are interested in looking forward to see the astonishing amalgamation between Scotish and Bengali literature.
Book: Forget Me Not
Editor: Alyson Derrick
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 368
Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick is the solo debut by the author, after co-authoring "She Gets The Girl" with Rachael Lippincott. This is a romance novel showing the story of Stevie and Nora. Coming from a small, conservative town, they were done with hiding their love from all and keeping it a secret. And so they planned to move to California, leaving their family behind! But out of nowhere, an accident followed up with erased memories of Stevie of the past two years and changed the course of their life! Now, Stevie finds herself in situations she never understood, she is estranged from her parents, doesn't connect with friends, and is particularly spending time with a boy whom her earlier self had a crush on! But it all didn't seem like something that her fifteen-year-old would have wanted. But then who can tell what's left behind? Nora, who herself is forgotten? To know what happens to them and their destiny, read the book.
This book feels like a breeze before the first monsoon, having a lot of turmoil, uncertainty, dilemma, and confusion, but at the same time, the promise of affection, care, fondness, and intimacy!
The book is written from Stevie's point of view, and her efforts to find her past self again, and be the person she was, having the affinity with people again like she had before, and finding the clues and paving the path for herself was a wonder to read. But what stood out the most for me were Nora's diary entries, which come once in a while, but move to the core. Knowing that the person you love doesn't even remember you, and watching them somewhere near you is heartbreaking.
The book beautifully shows the relationship between Stevie and Ryan. I just wished to see more parts of Stevie's parents, and of Nora's as well, as it could give more insights, understanding, and reasons behind why things are happening the way they are happening! And more of Nora's POV as well! The letters were good, but the need for more of her perspective, more of her thoughts, and characterization was there! The story also shows racial discrimination and how it affects people.
The book beautifully portrays the Amnesia Rep and justifies it organically, rather than just using it for a sub-plot or unjustified representation, and the author deserves appreciation for that. Read this book if you are looking forward to reading a story of strength and love that destroys all the obstacles on their way.
Editor: Alyson Derrick
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 368
Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick is the solo debut by the author, after co-authoring "She Gets The Girl" with Rachael Lippincott. This is a romance novel showing the story of Stevie and Nora. Coming from a small, conservative town, they were done with hiding their love from all and keeping it a secret. And so they planned to move to California, leaving their family behind! But out of nowhere, an accident followed up with erased memories of Stevie of the past two years and changed the course of their life! Now, Stevie finds herself in situations she never understood, she is estranged from her parents, doesn't connect with friends, and is particularly spending time with a boy whom her earlier self had a crush on! But it all didn't seem like something that her fifteen-year-old would have wanted. But then who can tell what's left behind? Nora, who herself is forgotten? To know what happens to them and their destiny, read the book.
This book feels like a breeze before the first monsoon, having a lot of turmoil, uncertainty, dilemma, and confusion, but at the same time, the promise of affection, care, fondness, and intimacy!
The book is written from Stevie's point of view, and her efforts to find her past self again, and be the person she was, having the affinity with people again like she had before, and finding the clues and paving the path for herself was a wonder to read. But what stood out the most for me were Nora's diary entries, which come once in a while, but move to the core. Knowing that the person you love doesn't even remember you, and watching them somewhere near you is heartbreaking.
The book beautifully shows the relationship between Stevie and Ryan. I just wished to see more parts of Stevie's parents, and of Nora's as well, as it could give more insights, understanding, and reasons behind why things are happening the way they are happening! And more of Nora's POV as well! The letters were good, but the need for more of her perspective, more of her thoughts, and characterization was there! The story also shows racial discrimination and how it affects people.
The book beautifully portrays the Amnesia Rep and justifies it organically, rather than just using it for a sub-plot or unjustified representation, and the author deserves appreciation for that. Read this book if you are looking forward to reading a story of strength and love that destroys all the obstacles on their way.
Book: Night In Shining Armour
Author: Manali Desai
Genre: Poetry
Format: E-book
Pages: 84
Night In Shining Armour by Manali Desai is a collection of 55 poems, divided into two parts - Facets and Pursuits. As the title suggests, the main theme of the poems is Nightly Experiences and Encounters.
I am a huge admirer of Manali Desai's poetry. From reading her poems on her Instagram page to blogs and then finally as a book, it feels so fulfilling.
This is her third poetry collection, after "A Rustic Mind" and "Mindful Musings & Peaceful Ponderings", and I have read the latter and I thoroughly enjoyed it(will read the former one soon as well) and so when this book came out, I was excited about it, and it fulfills my expectations.
As a night owl myself, I was able to connect so much with the beauty that the night holds, and rightly shown in the poems. From meteors, stars, fireworks, insomnia, that out of nowhere hunger in the middle of the night to karaoke, clubs, dance, reading, stargazing, and love, of course, it has everything!
The best part about the poems apart from the feelings, emotions, and nostalgia they evoke is the songs. Each poem is paired with a song and it just adds more flavour, texture, and emotions to the poem.
Some of the poems felt so personal to me and felt like they were talking directly with me. There were some as well with which I couldn't connect with, but they were very few. My favourite moment in the book was when a part of the "आंखों में तेरी" song came in "Avoiding the Crowd"! It was the best! End of Discussion!
The poet used various poetry forms, dominated by Abstract form. There were so many forms that I encountered for the first time, and so it led me back to Google and it was a good experience to know and delve deeper into it. As a poetry lover, it was an exciting part which evoked curiosity in me.
Overall, it was an enjoyable poetry collection that I felt every night lovers of us would enjoy. Go for this if you are one, or even if you are not, you will find something with which you will connect!
Author: Manali Desai
Genre: Poetry
Format: E-book
Pages: 84
Night In Shining Armour by Manali Desai is a collection of 55 poems, divided into two parts - Facets and Pursuits. As the title suggests, the main theme of the poems is Nightly Experiences and Encounters.
I am a huge admirer of Manali Desai's poetry. From reading her poems on her Instagram page to blogs and then finally as a book, it feels so fulfilling.
This is her third poetry collection, after "A Rustic Mind" and "Mindful Musings & Peaceful Ponderings", and I have read the latter and I thoroughly enjoyed it(will read the former one soon as well) and so when this book came out, I was excited about it, and it fulfills my expectations.
As a night owl myself, I was able to connect so much with the beauty that the night holds, and rightly shown in the poems. From meteors, stars, fireworks, insomnia, that out of nowhere hunger in the middle of the night to karaoke, clubs, dance, reading, stargazing, and love, of course, it has everything!
The best part about the poems apart from the feelings, emotions, and nostalgia they evoke is the songs. Each poem is paired with a song and it just adds more flavour, texture, and emotions to the poem.
Some of the poems felt so personal to me and felt like they were talking directly with me. There were some as well with which I couldn't connect with, but they were very few. My favourite moment in the book was when a part of the "आंखों में तेरी" song came in "Avoiding the Crowd"! It was the best! End of Discussion!
The poet used various poetry forms, dominated by Abstract form. There were so many forms that I encountered for the first time, and so it led me back to Google and it was a good experience to know and delve deeper into it. As a poetry lover, it was an exciting part which evoked curiosity in me.
Overall, it was an enjoyable poetry collection that I felt every night lovers of us would enjoy. Go for this if you are one, or even if you are not, you will find something with which you will connect!
Champagne And French Kisses by Elsie Woods is the third book in the Falling In Love series. I loved reading the previous two books in the series and this one is not an exception.
This is the story of Gina, who is mistaken as a social media manager by Benoit, a billionaire businessman who is giving up for the extreme sports champion. And so starts their story.
Their chemistry is so good, and the family part of Benoit just adds charm and emotions to the story. The Texas gang of six girls and their friendship is so real and wholesome!
This series is no doubt my comfort series. Each book is getting better than the previous one and Elsie Woods's writing is getting finer and finer. There was so much development in characterization in the second book than in the first, and in this part, the background, setting, and plot are much better represented. If you have read previous parts, you can see the growth.
I just wished to see more of the background and part of Gina's family, which I felt was missing. The ending was so filmy and entertaining. I loved reading this book. A book I'll recommend if you are looking forward to a romance read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the story of Gina, who is mistaken as a social media manager by Benoit, a billionaire businessman who is giving up for the extreme sports champion. And so starts their story.
Their chemistry is so good, and the family part of Benoit just adds charm and emotions to the story. The Texas gang of six girls and their friendship is so real and wholesome!
This series is no doubt my comfort series. Each book is getting better than the previous one and Elsie Woods's writing is getting finer and finer. There was so much development in characterization in the second book than in the first, and in this part, the background, setting, and plot are much better represented. If you have read previous parts, you can see the growth.
I just wished to see more of the background and part of Gina's family, which I felt was missing. The ending was so filmy and entertaining. I loved reading this book. A book I'll recommend if you are looking forward to a romance read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What a beautiful, short, heartwarming read!!! I always thought that I'll start my journey of reading Backman's work with either A Man Called Ove or Anxious People, I do have the latter with me as well, but they needed time which I was not able to commit! And yesterday I was going through my box of books to take a copy for my academics and I saw it there, like a hidden treasure ! I got it from the World Book Fair, Delhi. And so I just picked it up and started reading in. And finished it now. And my god! Now I know why people applaud Backman so much. I don't know if I'll write a detailed review of this book anytime soon or not, but even if I don't, I'm just putting it out here that it was a beautiful heartwarming and at the same time heartbreaking as well, and I am so glad that I read it. Thank you Backman. Will meet you soon with Anxious People.
World's Best Girlfriend by Durjoy Datta is a contemporary romance fiction, showing the story of Daksh and Aanchal, who meet at a resort in Andamans. Having not many people from their age group, they aren't left with any other options than being in the company of each other. But when the lower middle-class ambitious Aanchal and aimless upper-class Daksh are drawn to each other, days pass. Sorry, years. Four years! When they meet again, things change. Daksh is now carrying not only the house but his father and six-year-old sister as well! Would they be able to find ways into each other's hearts? Read the book to know more.
Both the protagonists are so well developed, and you can see their growth as a person. Daksh's characterization in the second half of the book can move anyone to the core and Aanchal's inner turmoil at each stage of life is relatable. The dilemmas of the middle-class family will strike a chord with so many of us.
This book at some moments reminds me of the web series "Badtameez Dil" starring Riddhi Dogra and Barun Sonti in lead roles. Although both the stories are poles apart, there are some moments in between the book where it resonates the same as the show did with me.
Although the story has its moments of ups and downs, where in between it becomes a little turbulent, it didn't take away the wholesome reading experience. The ending was predictable but astonishing. And so the next part of it is much awaited already.
Detailed review on Blog. Link
Both the protagonists are so well developed, and you can see their growth as a person. Daksh's characterization in the second half of the book can move anyone to the core and Aanchal's inner turmoil at each stage of life is relatable. The dilemmas of the middle-class family will strike a chord with so many of us.
This book at some moments reminds me of the web series "Badtameez Dil" starring Riddhi Dogra and Barun Sonti in lead roles. Although both the stories are poles apart, there are some moments in between the book where it resonates the same as the show did with me.
Although the story has its moments of ups and downs, where in between it becomes a little turbulent, it didn't take away the wholesome reading experience. The ending was predictable but astonishing. And so the next part of it is much awaited already.
Detailed review on Blog. Link