Deepa

This was such a cozy read, and so much about how a garden heals the people who love and care for it. Love how the story made me emotionally invested in the characters right from the beginning. This was indeed an emotional read. The Indian representation made the tale even more personal somehow.  It does drag a little bit, but I did enjoy the feel-good vibe of the story. 

Gives a glimpse into life in Kerala in the 1800s. Feels like a different world. But then people are the same. There are the greedy, conniving ones, the weak, unreliable ones, the strong, morally upright ones, the movers and shakers, the also-lived, the ultra rich, the ultra poor. Everything is different, and yet everything is the same 😒

This is one of my frequent re-reads. A sci-fi thriller from the master of medical thrillers. A clear departure from his usual storyline. But I find this one very intriguing. An interesting mix of Jules Verne and H G Wells, yet feels quite different somehow. I especially love how human nature is brought to the forefront towards the end. Also interesting how the only female protagonist is the one rooting for peace 🧐

This was one of the most hyped books I have been seeing around. And the hype is totally real. It is a very warm, fuzzy book. There's quite a bit of magic, there's some baking, there's a lot of ‘gardening', there's a lot of simple-village-folk kinda care, there's a heart-in-the-right-place hero and a timid-yet-courageous heroine. A lovely tale that did become a little intense at one point, but ended up all-good-and-fine in every possible way. One of the best books I've read. 

A very slow-paced thriller indeed. But the twist in the tale, when it came, was excellent. The ending was certainly satisfying, if nothing else. But.... But.... There were so many loose ends... What was the mystery about Caitlin's family members? Why, oh why, if Meghan was so paranoid, did she not repair the lock of her apartment? And what's with Ben, the divorced husband looking for a way back? Many things did not make sense, but there were many good parts in the story. In a nutshell, I'm not sure how in feel about this book. It is good enough for a one-time read. 

Reading the original versions of these familiar tales was interesting. So many of these stories have a very similar Indian counterpart, too - I'm surprised. Or maybe these tales were modified to better suit today's world. Also the  popular Fairy Tales from this series are very much different from the original version. Now the disappointing part - I hadn't expected this book to be so long and boring. Actually, it has nothing of the charm I expected of Fairy Tales. Several of these stories feel so unfinished, they have no sensible ending at all. Most of the stories are quite ‘Grimm' too, too cruel for no apparent reason. Several of the stories are almost copies of others. Trying to read the entire book at a stretch was the biggest mistake, I feel. I wanted to DNF this book so badly. 

Must be one of the first books I bought. Such a treasure. Interesting story too. Love that Ned is a part of the stories. Quite a complicated plot, but everything tied in so well at the end. Love even the crispy brown old pages. Also found my old bookmark in here, real nostalgic trip down memory lane. A quick read too 😍

I cannot say that I enjoyed this book. It started off quite interesting with tales of ancient People and speculations about how they might have lived and migrated in response to events - the author painted quite a vivid picture. But then the author started delving into politics. Criticising the political atmosphere of a country - even though I get the drift - seems unnecessary in an academic reading. It seemed petulant, talking about recent political incidents in the country and dragged on for far too long. But i must say that the earlier chapters were fascinating and I'm glad I read this book. 

Strange book. Too hodge-podge. There's some romance, some history - that I like. But the entire plot is inconsistent. And there's a ton of unnecessary vulgarity in it. Towards the end, the story turned almost evangelical / biblical! Can't imagine why it is bestseller. Did not like it, won't be continuing the series, either. 

Very very useful book. So glad I found it. Lots of practical advice on how to live well and live with grace. Being old money is not luck, it is a frame of mind. A way of life really -being frugal, graceful, savvy, kind and true. Lots and lots to learn from this one, crisp and to the point. One of my most favourite books of all time. Would highly recommend this book. 

So I read up other people's reviews to make sure I was not insane. Nope, not me! The book is insane. This book is such a classic - I had heard of it for so long and was thrilled to start reading it. But a few pages in, the confusion started mounting. I will admit, there were some really good quotable life-quotes and there was some strange humour throughout. But I rank this just slightly above the One Hundred Years of Solitude book. Both books are totally barmy! Both feel like they were written by authors who couldn't fully make up their minds. This one at least has some humour to it and the writing is, in parts, definitely superior; and that's the only reason it ranks above OHYS. 

A simple, refreshingly short self- help book. Usually authors drag on and on about their ideas. I have read several books in this genre that could have been condensed to one-tenth of the actual page count. This book is very crisp, to-the-point and definitely easy to implement. An age-old idea too - nothing ground-breaking, but, packed in a nicely compact package and very likely, far more effective than the 600-odd page tomes. 

Such a nice, clean romance. Loved both the main characters and their friends, too. The slow burn romance and the sizzling chemistry between them was an absolute delight. It was such a wholesome read. I'm glad I found this author and that such books are also being written in the romance genre. 

Awesome book. A very quick read too. Just the facts lined up. I think I'll read it a few more times. The author has effectively outlined a list of reasons - all scientific - to avoid eating over-processed, junk food. It is difficult to argue with his crystal clear logic. This might just be the push I need to eat healthier. I only wish I had read it sooner. 

An awesome story. It is a classic tale of good vs evil; and mercifully, good triumphs at the end. I was rooting for Catherine throughout the book. A very gripping book; I only wish I had read the first part of the story before starting this one. 

It was a fun book. Having seen the movie already, I could easily visualise most of the scenes. It is a completely non-sensical story but in a nice way. Love how the Oompa Laampas weave in worldly wisdom into their songs. Love how simple manners and trust help Charlie and Grandpa Joe win the day. 

Quick read. But I sure don't like it as much as Who Moved my Cheese? The concepts are good, though, if a bit idealistic. The assumption here that people are all the same all the time. I disagree. People sometimes do strange things for entirely personal reasons. But I do agree that this would be a very moral and ethical way of managing people. Wish life were this simple!

My first ever Wodehouse - the one book that started it all. Today I've amassed quite a good collection of Wodehouse books. This was lent to me by my mother's colleague - bless the day. This book is a standalone novel adapted from a Broadway musical also penned by the author. The story is a hilarious romance; our hero is George Finch, the kind of guy who couldn't “say boo to a goose”. This is such a fun, cozy, easy read - I'm smiling all the time, and laughing out most of the time while reading it. Love it so much that I've got the paperback, hardcover and ebook versions. 

Awesome awesome book. This book has so much depth to it - and still children could relate to it so well. There is “zero” vulgarity, no stretching the chapters, no idealisation of perfection, no preaching, no glorification of self-pity, no sympathy for the morally and mentally weak and most importantly, no justification of evil. The messages are of love, kindness, goodness, courage, grit, care, sincerity, friendship - all that's good in the world. The King's Cross chapter is pure gold. And so is the climax fight scene at Hogwarts. Love how everything ties in so well together.    A most wonderful ending to a most wonderful story. 

One of the most gripping books in my library. The lengths to which the Boleyns go for power, the utter callousness of their ambition, their mercurial rise and fall from the King's grace, the sheer selfishness and vindictiveness of the King and Mary Boleyn's lucky escape from the tower - it is a cautionary tale for all times. “She has made her bed and she must lie in it.”

Truly enjoyed reading this book. Makes me want to read more from James Patterson. Even though Alex Cross was incapacitated for most of the book, it was still his brain that figured out the clues. Quite an interesting mystery too. Love the short chapters. Very fast paced. Oh, and I love Nana Mama and his wife Bree and the little girl too - very smart!

A very practical book. It addresses all the steps to organising small parties, in a step by step fashion. Lots of tips and tricks in this little volume. An easy to breeze through book - one that can be used as a refresher any time one's planning a simple gathering. I do feel that the pricing is a little bit too high. 

It was a real fun, gripping, quick read. I must say I enjoyed it very much. I love that there is a special cat involved in the story. The bookshop itself seems to be magical indeed, but there was nothing definitive in this book, at any rate. I shall certainly be reading the remaining books in this series. Oh, and after all the long winded 400+ page books I've been reading recently, I love that this was such a sweet short read. 

Reading the comic version was a kind of cheat, but I do want to mix up my reading. I already had this one, so decided not to make another purchase. Story is nice, pure fiction, of course, but made almost believable. Comic version also helped to make it an instant read. The characters are so old-worldly, it's almost funny. Want to read the full version someday.

Such a wonderful book. It inspires me to be a much better and happier person in my home. The suggestions are all very practical and doable. The French are far from being perfect - as the author herself says. But there is so much that could be learned from their culture. I've already implemented several ideas from this book and it has made all the difference. I'm so grateful I picked up this book - another keeper for my bibliothèque 😍