Deepa

Another great book from J K Rowling. This year is even more darker than the last. Harry is the typical angry teenager - brooding, snapping, bottling up his thoughts and then screaming out at everyone. Definitely was shocked by this character change the first time I read the book (now I'm more sympathetic). Sirius's death was a horrible chapter. And from this book onwards, Dumbledore's weaknesses and frailties begin to surface increasingly. 

Awesome book. Really couldn't put it down. Now I see what the hype is all about. The world building is done really well, the characters are well etched out too. It was an easy read and I feel quite invested in the lives of the characters. I shall definitely be purchasing the remaining books in the series. A relatively clean read too and I appreciate that. 

I liked the stories very much. Most of these were stories I had already heard of, from a slightly different perspective. It was interesting to learn about Kinnaras; I did not know much of them. Also the story of the apsara, Tilottama, was new to me. I'm not a great fan of this type of illustration, though. I prefer the earlier style. 

Flash Gordon has always been a surreal experience for me. This issue, even more so. It deviates considerably from the usual Flash Gordon stories. A strange mind-bending experience, is how I can best explain it. Fun!

Great book. Read it as part of “two books with similar plot” prompt. This Is the kind of thing that makes me glad I am trying these reading challenges. Definitely a writer to keep in mind for future reads. Loved the deep jungle vibe, the interesting botanical descriptions, the integration of myths and science, and of course the characters. It is very much like other books of the same genre, yet with a fresh take on “what inconceivable mysteries might be hidden inside the impenetrable jungles “. Will be trying out other books by Rollins. 

I had read this book nearly two decades back and had almost forgotten about this book. Of course, some of the basic concepts of this book have stayed with me forever. It is one of my foundation texts for finance planning. The details and number crunching can be a bit dry, but it is nonetheless important to be informed. An OG book in getting the right mindset about your finances - Pick and choose, though, as the author himself warns. 

Yet another interesting “magic” fantasy story. There seems to be a soaring popularity for these kind of books. Whatever the trope, I sure loved this book. There is indeed a lot of magic, but then there are the human connections too. The birth mother who was never much of a mother, the step mother who was much more of a mother. The strange relationship between the estranged sisters, and the fun, bantering relationship between the employer(?) and the employee. Definitely an interesting book; it is popular for a reason. 

A wonderful wonderful beautiful book. There is so so much to read in every page, and everything's so beautifully illustrated. There's quite a bit of new information, that I believe I've read in the From the Wizarding Archive series. A great keepsake for all lovers of the Potter-verse. 

An excellent book. One which I reread once in a while. I'm intrigued by the mysterious Madame Chic. Truth be told, there are such ladies all over the world. There are quite a few ladies in my acquaintance who are very polished and classy. In our families too, furniture is maintained for generations - Ikea is nearly unknown. Household purchases are limited to fresh ingredients for cooking, clothing during special occasions and repair works. Also in most households, food is made from scratch - though that's fast changing in urban locales. I love recognising the old world charm of such attitudes halfway across the globe. Also it motivates me anew to be a better person everyday. 

Really nice book. The description of the different species and their interactions and prejudices was fun too. Loved the main female lead very much, too. A really fun, feel-good book. Like I read in another review, there are good people and there are bad people, but people are mostly good. Bad things happen, but overall, life is good. Aliens are strange, but so are humans. Prejudices are foolish. Love is love, period.  I would like to continue the series, I think. 

It is a sad, horrific life described in these pages. It is also a tale of man's undying spirit and courage in the face of unspeakable evil. A big salute to the brave souls who kept their souls untainted during these challenging times.

I'm confused about my feelings for this book. The writing is good, I admit. But the topic has left me confused and unhappy. It is a satire about India - the real life of the real people - both the rich and the poor. I was truly saddened by the life of Balram, our protagonist. But then, he treats his master, the one person in this world who treated him like a fellow human being, so appallingly without so much remorse. It was a contradictory read, to say the least. Interesting,too. But depressing. I will not be reading it again.

A book about a strong lady, daughter of a God and yet, not valued by the men or the women in her life - mostly ignored, often ridiculed for her appearance, her actions, even her voice - but one who endured. If one thing can define her, it would be endurance. I read up on the myth of Circe once I started getting into this book. The author has explained most of the stories convincingly. It was definitely a good read. 

This was a re-read, and yet the story was so gripping that I couldn't put it down; finished it in one day. The resilience and courage of the lead characters is awesome. The challenges that they have to go through are gruesome and chilling, to say the least. I usually prefer lighter reads, but this one had me right from the start. Highly recommend, but expect a rough ride. 

Cannot beat Calvin and Hobbes for a healthy dose of philosophy, laughter and just plain chaos. So many stories are so relatable - the one about being the super annoying human echo - I used to do that all the time. Loved the title cartoon too - Calvin finds a few dirty rocks, a root and some “grub??” and he tells Hobbes “There's treasure everywhere!” So true, eh, Calvin? Just gotta look!! Awesome!! 

It is always a pleasure to read the first book in any series - seeing how it all started. This first story in the Asterix series does not disappoint. It introduces most of true main characters and their quirks- how they are and mostly, why they are as they are. Also it emphasises early on that it is the sheer cunning and wit of Asterix, not merely his physical strength (thanks to the potion) that won the day. The level of detail in the illustrations is unparalleled. One of my all-time favourite comics. 

Every page is a masterpiece. It makes me laugh, makes me think. The story about the burglary, the camping trip - hilarious, yet eye-opening. Susie's Valentine's Day card to Hobbes is chef's kiss. The optimism of Calvin - when the beanie he'd worked so hard for disappoints, but the cardboard box it came in makes up for it - is so endearing.  Calvin's life-view and Hobbes' perspective are both relatable and entertaining. The most thought-provoking comic I've ever known. 

A reread. But frankly, I had quite forgotten the story; so it was as good as a fresh read. The writing is crisp and fast-paced with lots of symbology and iconology (real or half-real) thrown in. Snippets of ancient lore, conspiracy theories and history makes the tale very much interesting to me. I was reading the book in an anytime-I-could-fit-it-in kind of way. A mystery I loved before, encouraged me to look up so much artwork, then and now. The topic of pagan feminine goddess worship is so similar to Hinduism, esp in South India. Very intriguing. 

A lovely, heartwarming tale about the power of friendship. The story moved very smoothly, but after about the fifth mission, I was too eager to find out what happened to Queen Blossom to change her attitude so much. Several puzzles are dotted throughout the book. A few easy recipes are also thrown in. A fun read at any age.

This is one of my life changing books. I started Bullet Journaling sometime in 2016 and bought this book when it first came out as a bundle along with the official Bullet Journal notebook. This method has been the mainstay of my life since then. It makes me happy, keeps me organised and grounded and is a great place for me to reflect and re-calibrate my priorities. Online, one finds so many complicated versions of Bullet Journals. But this book details the essence of bullet journaling, the mindfulness part. I often need that reminder myself. Highly recommend this book, both for newbies and for seasoned bujo-ers. 

A great book, I had forgotten really. This one's right up there with Emma of A Woman of Substance. Another strong lady, without the bitterness of Emma - strong, feminine, graceful - a lady of class and culture. The fate of the Romanovs was so sad and terrible; this book inspired me to read up on them too. No doubt, they had their short comings, but who murdered the entire family were horrifyingly cruel too. It was very saddening to read about Zoya - She was living an unimaginable dream in Russia and then she is reduced to unimaginable poverty, rises in society but is again plunged into despair. Nonetheless, she prevails, through sheer grit and courage, and by the end of the book, we find her again respected and loved and admired as the Countess. 

Such a warm, fuzzy story. Read it in one sitting. It left me smiling so happily by the end. A total departure from the usual Grisham books I've read. I absolutely loved how everyone rallied together and made it the most memorable Christmas ever. And I totally loved how the stingy “Scrooge” Luther ends up celebrating the spirit of the season, after all. Merry Christmas!

One of the quickest reads. But oh so satisfying. Always leaves me amazed and inspired, with a smile on my face. I love this comic manga format so much more than the original book. The story is short, sweet and jam-packed with all the essentials of the Konmari Method. This book is definitely on my permanent bookshelf. 

The last book in the Crazy Rich Asians series nicely ties everything together. We find out quite a bit about the legendary Ah Ma too. Glad I found this series. 

Great book. Like it even better than the first one, Crazy Rich Asians. The plot is much more interesting, the characters are even more richer. The detailed description of the lifestyle of the obscenely rich is fabulous. Lots of funny one liners sprinkled throughout the story, too.