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jainandsdiary's Reviews (310)
Book: Why Men Are Suspicious Of Yoga
Author: Robert "robear" Isenberg
Genre: Humour
Publisher: Notion Press
Pages: 258
Why Men Are Suspicious Of Yoga - Some Funny Stories & Some Not So Funny by Robert "robear" Isenberg is a book of humourous tales, anecdotes, essays, and stories. Divided into seven parts, this book takes us to the author's experiences with different people, objects
So many stories and essays in the book captured the theme and genre of the book very aptly, giving a chance to feel light-hearted, jolly, and have a good time, making it a wonderful experience. The length of the chapters is short, making it a good quick read that can be read anytime and anywhere and promises a good time.
The addition of the Fridge in between was delightful, and I would have loved to see more of it. The stories not only provide the humour but at times social commentary as well, which I didn't expect and was a good surprise.
The author had observed, revisited, and wrote this collection, giving the family dynamics a whole new dimension. Although many of the stories provided the promised humour, many were a miss for me, with which I don't feel connected. And it made me laugh out loud at how this is mentioned in the book cover itself—"Some Funny Stories & Some Not So Funny", which stays true throughout the book!
Author: Robert "robear" Isenberg
Genre: Humour
Publisher: Notion Press
Pages: 258
Why Men Are Suspicious Of Yoga - Some Funny Stories & Some Not So Funny by Robert "robear" Isenberg is a book of humourous tales, anecdotes, essays, and stories. Divided into seven parts, this book takes us to the author's experiences with different people, objects
So many stories and essays in the book captured the theme and genre of the book very aptly, giving a chance to feel light-hearted, jolly, and have a good time, making it a wonderful experience. The length of the chapters is short, making it a good quick read that can be read anytime and anywhere and promises a good time.
The addition of the Fridge in between was delightful, and I would have loved to see more of it. The stories not only provide the humour but at times social commentary as well, which I didn't expect and was a good surprise.
The author had observed, revisited, and wrote this collection, giving the family dynamics a whole new dimension. Although many of the stories provided the promised humour, many were a miss for me, with which I don't feel connected. And it made me laugh out loud at how this is mentioned in the book cover itself—"Some Funny Stories & Some Not So Funny", which stays true throughout the book!
Book: Susanna's Granthpura
Author: Ajai P. Mangattu
Translator: Catherine Thankamma
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Viking
Pages: 265
Ali and Abhi undertake a journey to Marayur, a small town in Western Ghats in Kerela in the hope of discovering an unfinished manuscript by a long-forgotten author, and there they meet Susanna, who might help them find the manuscript in her Achan's books collection! But when years later Ali gets a call from Paul, Susanna's son, days after her death, he wonders what could be the reason behind it. What could happen to one in finding a long-lost manuscript?
This book is a reader's delight. With so many literary references, conversations, and mentions, one might become overwhelmed and there comes a moment when one might forget what the story is about and be completely immersed in the literary talks and references.
The description of the beauty of the Western Ghats and Kerela was a delight to read and make one long to see and visit it. The book is rich with deep impacting lines in between, giving a lot of food for thought.
The translator says in the translator note that "While each of the references is integral to the novel's thematic and structural progression, I was wary not to miss the forest for the trees, for I realized that a strict adherence to the narrative style of the source text would weaken the tautness and structural integrity of the translation." And I so agree with it. The translation was very smooth and the translator deserves appreciation for it.
But for me, the story in itself does not have much to offer nor the characters and that's the reason why it took me so long to finish it(literally months!). The narrative and descriptions in some places are a little creepy. In between the short-length chapters, the story goes on but in between so many literary references, the story takes a little backseat, making me feel disconnected with it multiple times.
Although it's my first novel in Malayalam Literature, this is the third book from it that I read this year, and the only thing I have to say at least about it is - Astonishing. Subversive Whispers by Manasi(translated by J. Devika) and Marquez EMS Gulam & Others by Benyamin (translated by Swarup B.R.) were other two books and the writing styles of all of them are so different, yet uniquely astonishing in their way. There is a sense of rawness, captivity, and bringing things from the surroundings in a perspective that one might not observe otherwise! And that makes it astonishingly astonishing for me if that's a word! And I surely want to explore more Malayalam Literature.
I received the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Author: Ajai P. Mangattu
Translator: Catherine Thankamma
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Viking
Pages: 265
Ali and Abhi undertake a journey to Marayur, a small town in Western Ghats in Kerela in the hope of discovering an unfinished manuscript by a long-forgotten author, and there they meet Susanna, who might help them find the manuscript in her Achan's books collection! But when years later Ali gets a call from Paul, Susanna's son, days after her death, he wonders what could be the reason behind it. What could happen to one in finding a long-lost manuscript?
This book is a reader's delight. With so many literary references, conversations, and mentions, one might become overwhelmed and there comes a moment when one might forget what the story is about and be completely immersed in the literary talks and references.
The description of the beauty of the Western Ghats and Kerela was a delight to read and make one long to see and visit it. The book is rich with deep impacting lines in between, giving a lot of food for thought.
The translator says in the translator note that "While each of the references is integral to the novel's thematic and structural progression, I was wary not to miss the forest for the trees, for I realized that a strict adherence to the narrative style of the source text would weaken the tautness and structural integrity of the translation." And I so agree with it. The translation was very smooth and the translator deserves appreciation for it.
But for me, the story in itself does not have much to offer nor the characters and that's the reason why it took me so long to finish it(literally months!). The narrative and descriptions in some places are a little creepy. In between the short-length chapters, the story goes on but in between so many literary references, the story takes a little backseat, making me feel disconnected with it multiple times.
Although it's my first novel in Malayalam Literature, this is the third book from it that I read this year, and the only thing I have to say at least about it is - Astonishing. Subversive Whispers by Manasi(translated by J. Devika) and Marquez EMS Gulam & Others by Benyamin (translated by Swarup B.R.) were other two books and the writing styles of all of them are so different, yet uniquely astonishing in their way. There is a sense of rawness, captivity, and bringing things from the surroundings in a perspective that one might not observe otherwise! And that makes it astonishingly astonishing for me if that's a word! And I surely want to explore more Malayalam Literature.
I received the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
A heartwarming, cute, comforting romance read! Alisha Kay is becoming my comfort author! That's the review till i wrote the detailed one, sometime in the future! But I want you to read it.
https://www.purplepencilproject.com/journeying-with-india-by-y-n-varma/
https://www.purplepencilproject.com/my-india-longing-belonging-ruskin-bond/
Lessons In Fun And Frolic- An Essential Collection For Children by Ruskin Bond is an anthology of 31 stories. This collection consists of stories that can ignite curiosity, imagination, excitement, and thrill and at the same time, entertain the readers, especially children, giving them a dose of laughter and humour or I should say, “Fun and Frolic”.
https://jainandgurjar.home.blog/2023/08/05/lessons-in-fun-and-frolic/
https://jainandgurjar.home.blog/2023/08/05/lessons-in-fun-and-frolic/
One of my favourite reads by Shilpa Suraj! Such an astonishing read which I finished reading in a day!
Detailed review below
Detailed review below
Old Roads, New Roads by Ruskin Bond is a collection of 17 stories through which the author takes us to different places. As the author said in the introduction of the book and I quote, “One often hears of the journey and the destination being at odds with each other—one can either enjoy the journey or be excited about reaching the destination. For a long time, I used to believe that the journey is more important than the destination, but, looking back, I realize that I have enjoyed both just as much.” this book takes us to different journeys and different destinations, making us a part of them wholeheartedly.
Click on the link below for the detailed review of each story and the book
Click on the link below for the detailed review of each story and the book
Old School Tales by Ruskin Bond is a collection of stories that takes us back to our school days, reminding us of careless, free, and simpler times. The fun of hostel life, the adventures with the friends, the hustle and bustle, the mischief, the travel, the funny tension with the teachers, this collection is a reminder of all of it.
Click on the link below to read the detailed review of each story in the collection and of the book
Click on the link below to read the detailed review of each story in the collection and of the book
Book: Contagious Love
Author: Aishvarya Murali and Sriram Emani
Genre: Contemporary Romance Fiction
Publisher: Rupa Publication
Pages: 264
Contagious Love by Aishvarya Murali and Sriram Emani is the story of Samyuktha Kumar and Abhimanyu Singh. While the former is doing her studies, the latter is a Lieutenant. And when COVID makes the world stuck inside their home, Samyukta has no other option than being back at her home from her hostel, where Abhimanyu is posted outside their society to impose the lockdown. But what will happen when people start getting infected by the virus without knowing its source? What will happen between Abhimanyu and Samyukta? To know more about them and the story, read the book.
The writing style of this book is phenomenal. Writing a story, especially a love story in the backdrop of the pandemic is not easy, maintaining all sensitivity, and precautions and not hurting someone's emotions who might have faced a tragedy back then, and that's where the author shines. I remember I was reading the book while sitting in my library, and after reading around 100 pages there, when I went outside and saw people there, I questioned why they were not taking any precautions and all the things which we did back then, and then got reminded that it's not the situation now, and it was in the book. And that was the impact that book had on me.
The story also had a strong family background and family bonds. The raw emotions and feelings are represented quite well and give so many instances and scenes which are enough to make someone emotional. The social drama and neighborhood banter plays an important role in the story and is something with which we all can connect.
The story also highlights the importance of communication in a relationship, independent of the time spent in it. It shows how the lack of it has so many consequences and is the root of many problems.
There is a close relationship between the protagonists with their family members. The only thing I felt could have been given more time was the pace of the relationship between the protagonists. It was a little fast and all of these were happening very suddenly and I felt it needed more time, socially when one was going through so much around themselves in an instant.
If you are looking forward to reading a book set in the backdrop of a pandemic having deep connections and emotions, go for it.
Author: Aishvarya Murali and Sriram Emani
Genre: Contemporary Romance Fiction
Publisher: Rupa Publication
Pages: 264
Contagious Love by Aishvarya Murali and Sriram Emani is the story of Samyuktha Kumar and Abhimanyu Singh. While the former is doing her studies, the latter is a Lieutenant. And when COVID makes the world stuck inside their home, Samyukta has no other option than being back at her home from her hostel, where Abhimanyu is posted outside their society to impose the lockdown. But what will happen when people start getting infected by the virus without knowing its source? What will happen between Abhimanyu and Samyukta? To know more about them and the story, read the book.
The writing style of this book is phenomenal. Writing a story, especially a love story in the backdrop of the pandemic is not easy, maintaining all sensitivity, and precautions and not hurting someone's emotions who might have faced a tragedy back then, and that's where the author shines. I remember I was reading the book while sitting in my library, and after reading around 100 pages there, when I went outside and saw people there, I questioned why they were not taking any precautions and all the things which we did back then, and then got reminded that it's not the situation now, and it was in the book. And that was the impact that book had on me.
The story also had a strong family background and family bonds. The raw emotions and feelings are represented quite well and give so many instances and scenes which are enough to make someone emotional. The social drama and neighborhood banter plays an important role in the story and is something with which we all can connect.
The story also highlights the importance of communication in a relationship, independent of the time spent in it. It shows how the lack of it has so many consequences and is the root of many problems.
There is a close relationship between the protagonists with their family members. The only thing I felt could have been given more time was the pace of the relationship between the protagonists. It was a little fast and all of these were happening very suddenly and I felt it needed more time, socially when one was going through so much around themselves in an instant.
If you are looking forward to reading a book set in the backdrop of a pandemic having deep connections and emotions, go for it.