Scan barcode
tea_on_books's reviews
113 reviews
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was such a wholesome book. It has everything- right from finding love, parenting, growing up, breaking away from the mundane and most importantly choosing your family. At the centre of the story there are 6 kids with super powers brought up in a home for magical creatures. The children help the central character- Linus to break away from his mundane and lonely life, and to look beyond prejudices that are set up by the society. Some of us would be able to relate to Linus, afraid to risk it, too safe in our bubble that anything that we do not understand, we are scared of, or distant from. The book fills you with warmth and so much joy and hope, that everything is going to and will be alright. The story is somewhat predictable but the book is not about the big end but more to do with the whole journey you set on from the first page itself. Journey filled with adventure, some important life lessons, breaking away from prejudices and dealing with hate, bigotry, all with a bit of humour. The book deserves all the hype it has received on Booksta. I also loved the queer representation in the book. I think its an excellent book for readers of all ages, especially parents and children. There is so much i took away from the book on having interactions with kids and how that shapes their world and builds their sense of moral. Long after I finished reading the book, the characters and the story stayed with me.
As V.E Shwab said - you do feel like you are wrapped in one warm gay blanket reading this.
As V.E Shwab said - you do feel like you are wrapped in one warm gay blanket reading this.
Six Years by Harlan Coben
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Six Years by Harlan Coben
I have read close to 10-15 books by Harlan Coben over the last decade. The first one was ‘Just one Look’. It completely blew my mind. It’s one of the best thrillers I have read. And then the Myron Bolitair series. Once my go to author for thriller genre, SIx years feels like a mashup of at least 3-4 book plots I have already read by him. Though filled with a lots of twist and turns, it seems outrageous at times. The central character Jake’s narration, wits and jokes seem very forced and trying to hard to be a likeable character. After reading this book, I realised I am sorta outgrown his books. They are good as an instant edge of your seat thrillers, but lately they have stopped offering anything new. Seems like the author found a hit formula and stuck to it over the years. Six Years is nothing new and I would suggest you skip it and instead pick up ‘Just one look’ by the same author.
I have read close to 10-15 books by Harlan Coben over the last decade. The first one was ‘Just one Look’. It completely blew my mind. It’s one of the best thrillers I have read. And then the Myron Bolitair series. Once my go to author for thriller genre, SIx years feels like a mashup of at least 3-4 book plots I have already read by him. Though filled with a lots of twist and turns, it seems outrageous at times. The central character Jake’s narration, wits and jokes seem very forced and trying to hard to be a likeable character. After reading this book, I realised I am sorta outgrown his books. They are good as an instant edge of your seat thrillers, but lately they have stopped offering anything new. Seems like the author found a hit formula and stuck to it over the years. Six Years is nothing new and I would suggest you skip it and instead pick up ‘Just one look’ by the same author.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
medium-paced
2.0
I was really excited about this Clothbound Classic knowing it’s a really well known children’s classic. Imagine my disappointment coming across racist content right in the first few pages of the book. And if racist content wasn’t enough then you also got a paragraph towards the last few pages of the book in which the conversation between a 10 year old boy and and a senior gardener talks light on domestic violence.
And no the racist bits aren’t just a 10 year old spoilt child’s opinion that has been corrected over the course of the story. It’s never addressed at all. And now Imagine a child reading this book and looking up to the characters. How is this a children’s classic so widely distributed by Puffun Books without taking any accountability for the content that young readers are exposed to.
The copy I have is a republished 2019 version.
And if the excuse is ‘this was written at a time when the author didn’t know better, I don’t think thats enough. Like one reviewer said- you don’t have to be born at a particular period of human history to see others of different appearance as human. And I completely agree with this.
What’s absolutely strange is that when I checked the reviews on goodreads it’s so highly rated and majority of them don’t even address the problematic parts. It’s about time publishing houses took some responsibility for the content that is sold to children, especially being a publishing division specially catering to young readers. The least the publishing house can do is republish it omitting the racist content.
If you are looking to still read it, Amazon.com has a racism free version of the book in kindle format, which if I knew earlier, I probably would have gone for.
If you are looking to purchase a children’s classic, I am sure there are better options out there free of racist, problematic content.
And no the racist bits aren’t just a 10 year old spoilt child’s opinion that has been corrected over the course of the story. It’s never addressed at all. And now Imagine a child reading this book and looking up to the characters. How is this a children’s classic so widely distributed by Puffun Books without taking any accountability for the content that young readers are exposed to.
The copy I have is a republished 2019 version.
And if the excuse is ‘this was written at a time when the author didn’t know better, I don’t think thats enough. Like one reviewer said- you don’t have to be born at a particular period of human history to see others of different appearance as human. And I completely agree with this.
What’s absolutely strange is that when I checked the reviews on goodreads it’s so highly rated and majority of them don’t even address the problematic parts. It’s about time publishing houses took some responsibility for the content that is sold to children, especially being a publishing division specially catering to young readers. The least the publishing house can do is republish it omitting the racist content.
If you are looking to still read it, Amazon.com has a racism free version of the book in kindle format, which if I knew earlier, I probably would have gone for.
If you are looking to purchase a children’s classic, I am sure there are better options out there free of racist, problematic content.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, F. Scott Fitzgerald
3.0
I don’t think Gatsby truly loved Daisy. I think his obsession over having her in his life has more to do with him try to reach for the unattainable and somehow believe that it will finally make him a part of the society that she has been born into. I think marrying Daisy would make him feel like he’s finally made it. He threw these lavish parties which were so extravagant and over the top , and tried so hard to belong to that society. So it’s tragic how it all ends for him. So no, I didn’t really feel like this was a love story coz I didn’t feel much for Daisy or Gatsby or understood their love for each other. But it was a good classic, not great, but definitely worth a read. The best part, you can finish it in an afternoon read.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This classic needs no introduction. I absolutely loved Jane. She is a protagonist you can look up to for generations. She is independent, speaks her mind and is never afraid of making tough decisions based on her principles, sometimes even at the cost of her happiness but never at the expense of her self respect.
Though the book starts a bit slow, which I think how most classics are, it picks up pace after the second half.
The story has a gothic charm to it, set during the Victorian time and Jane is far advanced for her time.
I didn’t like the two male characters- Mr. Rochester and St. John. A lot of them find Mr. Rochester as the classic hero and a romantic, and some of the prose does support that. However, his character doesn’t speak much for him. With his tone, entitlement, relation with his ward and even with his ex partner, I found it really hard to like him. I don’t know if the time when this book was written, men being broody, rude was some sort of a charm. I didn’t see why Jane liked him so much. I didn’t even like the other male character St. John.
The book also has heavy references of the influence of religion on the characters and how ones reform can be attributed to God if they submit themselves to the higher being, which I didn’t agree with.
Though the book starts a bit slow, which I think how most classics are, it picks up pace after the second half.
The story has a gothic charm to it, set during the Victorian time and Jane is far advanced for her time.
I didn’t like the two male characters- Mr. Rochester and St. John. A lot of them find Mr. Rochester as the classic hero and a romantic, and some of the prose does support that. However, his character doesn’t speak much for him. With his tone, entitlement, relation with his ward and even with his ex partner, I found it really hard to like him. I don’t know if the time when this book was written, men being broody, rude was some sort of a charm. I didn’t see why Jane liked him so much. I didn’t even like the other male character St. John.
The book also has heavy references of the influence of religion on the characters and how ones reform can be attributed to God if they submit themselves to the higher being, which I didn’t agree with.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Mr. Scrooge reminded me so much of Grinch. For those who haven’t read this classic yet, Christmas Carol is about Mr. Scrooge who gets a visit from the ghost of Christmas past, present and future. He is just another Christmas spirit hating man who had a change of heart by the end of it. This is a perfect Christmas read that talks about kindness and sharing as the most important virtue of a person during this season and every season.
The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Growing up in India, we have all come across Mahabharat and Ramayan- the two greatest Indian mythology stories. Apart from knowing few key characters in Mahabharat, I never really read the entire story. The palace of illusions is Princess Draupadi/Panchaali’s narration of events that led to the Great War called Mahabharat. It’s a well written and fast paced narration from one of the central characters of the war.
Panchaali is independent, strong and hell bent on making her own choices despite being chained by events that have already been prophesized.
From my last Greek mythology book which is again based on a woman goddess and is from a female perspective, I could not help but make several comparisons to the same. Like Circe, Panchali too is bound by the patriarchal society she has grown up in, yet decides to make her own choices. Like Circe, Panchali is fierce and unforgiving of men that have done her wrong. And both the books have been written by women 🙌🏽
Do give it a go if Mythology is your go to genre! It’s surely turning up to be my new favourite.
Panchaali is independent, strong and hell bent on making her own choices despite being chained by events that have already been prophesized.
From my last Greek mythology book which is again based on a woman goddess and is from a female perspective, I could not help but make several comparisons to the same. Like Circe, Panchali too is bound by the patriarchal society she has grown up in, yet decides to make her own choices. Like Circe, Panchali is fierce and unforgiving of men that have done her wrong. And both the books have been written by women 🙌🏽
Do give it a go if Mythology is your go to genre! It’s surely turning up to be my new favourite.
The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.0
There was a time I would only read thriller genre, and I am glad this year I was able to expand from my comfort zone. This was just the 2nd book in thriller genre that I read this year with a new author.
It was worth a read, though the whole woman having a drinking problem and being an unreliable murder witness seems like a plot I have come across before.
I was able to see the first plot twist from a mile away 🤷🏽♀️ but the end still surprised me.
Anna Fox is a child psychiatrist who suffers from Agoraphobia (fear of stepping out), and when she witnesses a murder or what she thinks is a murder, no one believes her.
The plot isn’t the best thriller plot I’ve read, but this is some excellent writing. I loved how much depth the character was given and how vividly everything was described.
It was worth a read, though the whole woman having a drinking problem and being an unreliable murder witness seems like a plot I have come across before.
I was able to see the first plot twist from a mile away 🤷🏽♀️ but the end still surprised me.
Anna Fox is a child psychiatrist who suffers from Agoraphobia (fear of stepping out), and when she witnesses a murder or what she thinks is a murder, no one believes her.
The plot isn’t the best thriller plot I’ve read, but this is some excellent writing. I loved how much depth the character was given and how vividly everything was described.
The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley
funny
2.5
If you are looking for a break from a heavy read or something light just to cheer you up, then this is your book. It’s a light book and delivers exactly on what was promised- leaving you with a feel good , everything’s going to fall in place kinda feeling. A good break in between something complex. It’s about 6-7 strangers meeting through a diary/speak your truth book. Didn’t think of it as a rom-com book, till I realised it is when it all ends in one happy ending. I could totally picture someone reading this in a cafe having their favourite dessert and sipping on some tea. I think this would be a good holiday read.
Gotta really appreciate the cover and the end pages of this book, which are totally gorgeous.
Gotta really appreciate the cover and the end pages of this book, which are totally gorgeous.