Deepa

Was an easy quick read. Read the entire book in one sitting. Three new fairy tales I had never heard of. A re-telling, actually. One of these tales, the one about the thieves, was eerily similar to Baddu and Chhotu, one of my favourite ACK titles. Liked the White Wolf quite a bit. Another thing I liked is that the author has included the original story. Comparing the two versions was another interesting factor. I read this book as part of my Magical Readathon - Orilium Academy - Character Creation. Might never have picked this one up otherwise 😀

A very interesting book. I read it as part of the Across Time and Space Challenge on Storygraph that encourages to read books from different decades and different countries. It just confirms my belief that even while so many customs are alien to me, so many similarities persist, nonetheless. Perhaps rural Africa is more similar than one realises to rural India. Except for a few snippets of explicit language (personal preference for a family-friendly read, that's all), I enjoyed the author's style of writing. She truly transports the reader into the life of Baba Segi. Glad I picked up this book. 

This is indeed a very motivating read. It is abundantly clear what it takes to be an Olympic champion - lots of grit, lots of preparation, lots of dedication, lots of support and lots and lots of hard, hard work. A will to persevere. A will to succeed.    And that's just it. I cannot, for the life of me, enjoy this book. I feel like I've been to the pool and back, utterly exhausted. I'm buzzing through this book, just because I cannot wait to finish it. I simply cannot appreciate the passion for the sport. And the author keeps jumping back and forth in time; it is so confusing. I'm reading this book as part of The 52 Book Club's Summer Reading Challenge - would not have even thought of taking up this book, otherwise. 

I liked this book very much indeed. The story was short and sweet and very well paced. But. I definitely do not like steamy scenes in my books - purely a personal preference. Of course, maybe I should not have picked up a book that advertises a reverse harem. My fault, I know. But I'm still glad I read this book. It was a quick, easy read and if it weren't for the above mentioned scenes, it would have been a 5-star read, too. 

The book was a riot, as are most of Wodehouse' books. It is old-fashioned humour, but I love it. Totally my favourite author. Utterly hilarious complications abound at Blandings Castle, where yet again, lovers are sent to exile. The Honourable Galahad Threepwood, golden-hearted and wily in equal measure, saves the day. I am, however, always feeling sheepish reading Wodehouse, because I burst into uncontrollable laughter quite a few times. 

Such a fun book. Typical Wodehouse tale. Complicated, confusing and utterly convoluted- in a really, really funny kind-of-way. Lovely ladies, dapper gents, a few mischief-makers, and of course, the charmingly clueless Lords of the manors with a battalion of interfering sisters, aunts and cousins. Loved the story, as always. Wodehouse never disappoints. 

The book lists 100 House Rules by The Nester. I read the entire book in one go and that was a little boring after a while. It is filled with a treasure trove of ideas but I feel that this is a book that could be read by opening to a random page and trying to implement that idea. A few ideas were completely novel, and I definitely enjoyed the author's perspective on decorating. 

This is such a simple book, yet so endearing. It depicts the old-world (maybe 1950s or 1960s) village life in Kerala as experienced by the little Raja. He's the lovable, motherless young grandson of an aristocratic old man. The attitude and lifestyle of the Raja's grandfather are juxtaposed with those of Raja's uncle as a commentary on the social life of the times - as seen through the innocent eyes of Raja. Also illustrated are some deep life truths observed by the little boy. A quick read. Excellent presentation. Definitely recommend. 

An all-time favourite. It humanises the God Shiva and rationalises his actions. Love the quick pace and the crisp writing, too. The book ends on such a cliffhanger, I cannot wait to get to the next book in the series. I read some reviews online that talked about how the author was disrespecting Lord Shiva. Personally, I consider this story a completely new tale, one that “borrows” heavily from Hindu mythology. Several snippets of Lord Shiva's story from the Puranas are taken as the “base” for this entirely different re-telling, one that can resonate and identify with the current generation and lifestyle. And that is fine, by me. I shall be re-reading the remaining books in the series, too. 

Quite a useful book. Gave me my new structure for organisation. I no longer have reading notes like before, but I do have notes of a more household nature. And this PARA system is very useful for that. I have read this book before and I will most likely come back to it again to refresh the principles. A little rambling in places, but very useful nonetheless. 

A quick read, well worth it. Jam-packed with lots of Eastern philosophy. Practical, common sense that I just needed to hear once more. Eating in moderation, diet rich in local fruits and vegetables, regular physical activity, building great relationships, positive attitude towards life, emotional resilience, more nature, less technology - everyone knows these mantras. Those who follow them live long and happy lives. Must reread once in a while to remind oneself of these timeless truths. 

A great book about the power of unwavering faith. I love the simplicity of the characters and their inherent goodness. I am not sure when I first read this; it must have been one of my first ever reads as a little child. The original paperback comic is now a tattered mess. I'm glad ACK Comics are now digitally available as an app and on Kindle as well. Almost all my knowledge on Indian history and mythology comes from these books. 

A great book. I have read the comic version from the Illustrated Classics earlier, but reading the original book feels more complete somehow. It was a short book, too and that made it so much easier. The journey of Buck from being a sheltered and pampered house dog to a wild, killer leader of the wolf pack is both sad and empowering at the same time. The author manages to turn a tale of true tragedy and suffering into one of endurance and  survival. Highly recommend!

This is perhaps my most favourite non-fiction of all time. Reading about the Queen would be fascinating to me under any circumstances; I have long admired her. In this gem of a book, the author has dissected the Queen's life mantras and packaged it into neat, bite-sized standalone chapters. This book here is the best possible life advice with a healthy dose of old-fashioned pragmatism, a little bit of stoicism and a great deal of common sense. It covers all aspects of one's life - eating, working, playing, thinking, aging... Long Live the Queen has a permanent spot in my bookshelf forever. 

A classic forever. But the quaint writing style makes it difficult to read. Glad I went for the comic version; the full play would have been a bother. The confusion created by the author in the plot is par excellence. There were some of the more popular Shakespearean quotes in this book too. 

Not having read Barbara Cartland books before, I had no idea what to expect. I had read somewhere that she “helps us to escape from our day-to-day...”; oh yes, that she certainly does; to a land of irresistible beauties and admirable gentlemen, who are true, kind, generous, courageous, brilliant and everything good. Every story is the same- it ends perfectly well, all sunshine and rainbows- and yet, every story has a unique element to it. This kept things interesting, even though I was reading 10 stories at one go. I picked this book up under the theme “An author everyone has read except you” and I couldn't be happier about my choice. 

Except for The Fool's Disciples, I liked all the other books. Thugsen, in particular, is an all-time favourite. The ending of Lila and Chanesar was a bit anti-climatic, but oh well, that is local legends for you - they aren't always happily-ever-afters. Overall a good collection. 

These are mostly stories that I hadn't read earlier. The oldest stories, I presume. It was fun, definitely. But I'm afraid, the price on Kindle was too high. The book may not be worth the price, for most. 

A very well-written memoir. Maharani Gayatri Devi's life was a life of extremes. She was born into a world of privilege, grew up in the lap of luxury, sheltered in her youth and yet, in her later years, rose magnificently to the physical and emotional challenge thrown at her during the dark days of the Emergency. Her love for her country and her people shines through these pages. Reading this book made me feel like I have time-travelled through those tumultuous days. A long lost world. A long lost breed of people, who believed in doing what's morally correct, not what is convenient and most profitable. Not a fast read, by any means. But worth it to get a glimpse into an uncommon life well lived. 

This is one of Wodehouse's earliest books. The traces of his particular style of humour are present, but there is a clear lack of crispness to the tale. I definitely enjoyed it, but some parts of it - mostly the newspaper chapters - dragged on and on. Too many incidents - it all tied up in the end, but still it was messy. It pales in comparison to The Small Bachelor and the Bandings stories. But it is a great insight into how P G Wodehouse started out in the field of novel writing. And that practice makes perfect. 

A true thriller - a book I've read ages ago and loved. In spite of the gory nature of some of the scene descriptions, the story is a good one. Dan Brown magically weaves together symbolism, bible verses, church conspiracies, the Vatican City and raw human fallacies in this un-put-down-able book. 

The story is indeed quite gripping. Makes me want to continue the series, especially since it ended on such a cliffhanger. I hope that Clifton will turn out good in the end; that the incidents in his life will not make him bitter.

One thing I've learned is that collections of Fairy Tales are awfully repetitive and boring. It was a slog trying to read through all these stories in one go. I was able to enjoy the more familiar stories - The Little Mermaid, The Tinderbox, The Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina... because I could envision the stories better as I had already read them in comic form earlier. Also it was fun seeing how different the original and the modified popular versions were, such as  The Little Mermaid. They are so much more fun when read in a child-friendly format one at a time (I would recommend the Classics Illustrated Junior series).

One of those books that are to be “digested”. Definitely need to re-read in smaller instalments over time. Jay Shetty has done a great job of bridging together the ancient Indian scriptures and modern scientific findings to map out how-to-live-better. I did not expect to like it as much as I did. I wish I had picked it up earlier. 

I love the entire Plantagenet and Tudor series, but the added element of witchcraft and magic makes this book so much more interesting than the other books in the series. Jacquetta, high-born, descended from Melusina, the water goddess, with the gift of The Sight, is a fascinating character. She is an also a very smart woman who learns to survive in the unpredictable world of Medieval English Court, where even a whisper of womanly powers can lead one to the stake. And she is lucky in love, which is always a pleasure to read. A tale of the Wheel of Fortune in all its glory.    (The Wheel of Fortune that can throw you up very high or bring you forth very low - “... they draw a circle in the air with their forefinger when something very good or something very bad happens.” - Its message is to be indifferent to victory and defeat, as they both come on the turn of the Wheel.