August~~~ God you were unreasonably hot. The rains seemed to have run off. But you were full of books, so many good books. Some happy mail. Stickers galore. Tidying up. Trying new recipes. Very little writing. Some bookshop hops. A reasonable amount of book buying. Quiet days. Some anxiety, and ways to keep it under check. Overall, you were a mixed bag. Good days. Meh days. Fun days. Thank you for the good bits. Much Love, Pooja. . . . #collage #august #daysofsimpleandslow #bookblogger #booksmakemehappy #booksbooksbooks #indianbooksinaugust #sky #slowliving #india #totebag #ipad #ipadmini #nothingisordinary #livethelittlethings #moodygrams #moments #lifeisbeautiful #indianbooksinaugust #indianbooks #aesthetic
August in Books 📚 A Reading Wrap-Up is up on the Blog. I read 19 Books. And for the most part I enjoyed myself thoroughly. 💛 Link in bio for more thoughts and little reviews. . . . #whimsybookworm2023reads #indianbooksinaugust #bookphotography #stacks #booklover #bookblogger #bookrecommendations #bookreview #indianliterature #indianbooks #alwaysreading #readers #readmorebooks #booksbooksbooks #august #readingwrapup #bookish #spines #bookstack
Book 130 of 2023. So glad I managed to squeeze in some Ray for #indianbooksinaugust Spent a few days with the master, learning about the ins and outs and hows and struggles and dreams and vision behind the glorious Apu films. Time for a re-watch and bawling my eyes out. 🙃 And marvel of Ray and his masterpiece. . . . #whimsybookworm2023reads #myyearswithapu #patherpanchali #satyajitray #nonfictionbooks #indianliterature #indianbooks #bengalicinema #bengaliculture #readers #alwaysreading #beautifulbooks #booksbooksbooks #bookbloggersofinstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreview #photodump
34/52. A week of~~~ Book shop hops. Seeing the sea. (Funny how if you live by the sea you take it for granted!) Home refreshing. Cute water bottles. Lots of reading. Hot and humid days. Some Mercury Retrograde messes. Cozy days. Happy little things. . . . #weekly #photodump #booksmakemehappy #indianbooksinaugust #decor #rattan #posttheordinary #pursuewhatislovely #literature #literaryfiction #bookphotography #jewellery #embroideryjewelry #bookmarks #watch #nothingisordinary #mumbai #mumbaiblogger #style
Book 129 of 2023. Woke up in the middle of the night and read this darling little book of quiet wisdom, humour and goodness and joy. #RuskinBond is always a good idea 💛 These vignettes made me smile, think and as always miss being in nature 🌿🍃 So glad I read some Bond for #indianbooksinaugust 🎀 . . . #whimsybookworm2023reads #thegoldenyears #nonfiction #nonfictionbooks #readers #readwithharpercollins #bookblogger #bookrecommendations #quotes #bookrec #bookreview #bookblog #booksmakemehappy #booksbooksbooks #annotatedbooks #alwaysreading #indianbooks
Book 128 of 2023. Delhi. Dust. Doom. Dukh. Dard. Destruction. Heady love. Angst. Sadness. A heady read about a young woman, riddled with pain, grief and unsure about who she is and what the future holds. A relationship begins, takes over her life and a cycle of self-destruction begins. This was gritty, grimy and real and rough and quite well-written. If you like Sad Girl Reads, this might be perfect for you. A book to read and feel what it feels like being twenty and confused and overwhelmed. And also a book about Dilli in all its grit and glory. . . . #whimsybookworm2023reads #indianbooksinaugust #deeptikapoor #booksbooksbooks #bookreview #bookphotography #indianblogger #indianbooks #booksmakemehappy #readers #readmorebooks #fiction #literaryfiction #abadcharacter #readwomen #bookaddict #alwaysreading
Three Happy Things/// 1. A spot of deep cleaning and rejigging at home. Also fresh sheets 🤌on my bed. 2. Some rain early in the morning. 3. Quiet mornings and reading in bed and feeling good in my little life 🧿🧿🧿 . . . #friday #life #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #indianbooksinaugust #bookworm #alwaysreading #bookmarks #crochet #pig #floral #clips #homedecor #home #cushions #withchumbak #posttheordinary #dayslikethis #moodygrams #art #homesweethome #slowliving #morning #threehappythings
Book 127 of 2023. As someone wise once said about Mumbai... "Mumbai ekdum danger place where you survive.. if you got the pace you gotta be fast.. you gotta be Tezz you gotta be Shaana.. to win the race Chota chota matter bane police case bada bada lafda gul without trace. ghabrane ka nahi..give it in the face woh kya bolta hai? Haan. Jaisa Desh waisa bhes." This book was giving max Mumbhai vibes. Lafda. Chori. Pyar. Mayhem and Madness. Uff. A motley bunch of characters, you find yourself rooting for. Fun. Fast paced. Kickass. What a trip! . . . #whimsybookworm2023reads #manjhismayhem #tanujsolanki #indianbooksinaugust #indianbooks #indianblogger #bookbloggersofinstagram #bookreview #mumbai #readers #readmorebooks #booksbooksbooks #amreading #alwaysreading #literature
Books 123, 124, 125 and 126 of 2023. Next batch of books for #indianbooksinaugust First, I read #thebookofhope for Independence Day, a perfect book of stories about common people doing incredible things. It was full of stories of hope and good things and so much heart. Next I read #whatadesigirlwants a sapphic desi tale. A mix of family reunions, misunderstanding and new love. This was good fun. Light and fun and full of family masala. #ikickandifly was such an incredible story (inspired by true events) about grit and determination and overcoming the odds. So good. Seriously good. And finally, I always try to read a book from Pakistan in August (because this is an important month for both our countries) and I picked up #underthetamarindtree which is set partly in 1947,1964 and 2019. A story of four friends and one night that changes everything. Going back and forth in time, this story kept me hooked and read this way past my bed time and really enjoyed it. Pick it up. . . . #whimsybookworm2023reads #bookblogger #bookrecommendations #booklovers #alwaysreading #bookreview #photodump #kindle #kindlepaperwhite #readmorebooks #readers #readstagram #bookstagram #literature #bookbloggersofinstagram #indianbooks #bibliophile
33/52. A week of~~~ Bookshelf gazing and rejigs. Jello making. Reading in bed. Celebrating our independence. Long days. No rain. Humidity. Happy mail. Good reads. Little joys. Yum food. A nice little week. . . . #photodump #weeklyspread #plannercommunity #shelfie #shelfiesunday #indianbooksinaugust #bookrecommendations #bookshelf #posttheordinary #readers #aesthetic #lifelately #lifestyle #nothingisordinary #tezza #seekthesimplicity #sunday #sixthingssunday #mumbai
✨ Lit ✨ . . . #lifelately #light #lit #alllitup #posttheordinary #photodump #mumbaidiaries #candle #candlelight #candlelover #pursuepretty #slowliving #seekthesimplicity #aesthetic #visualsoflife #daysofsmallthings #saturday #moodygrams #booksbooksbooks #indianbooksinaugust #nothingisordinary
Friday. 18.8.23 My half birthday. Read a little. Laughed a little. Felt grateful for my little life. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 . . . #daysofsmallthings #coffee #halfbirthday #moments #booksbooksbooks #bookmarks #art #currentlyreading #kindle #kindlepaperwhite #indianbooksinaugust #amreading #readmorebooks #aesthetic #custard #posttheordinary #photodump
Book 122 of 2023. This book is such a curious (and perfect) blend of sadness, sukoon, poetry, love, longing, homesickness, memories and melancholy. And it was just beautiful. Short but sharp, this is the kind of read that stays with you long after you've turned the last page. 💙 #notetoself must read more Manav Kaul. Swipe for words I loved best. A perfect read for #indianbooksinaugust and otherwise. . . . #whimsybookworm2023reads #bookblogger #readers #readmorebooks #alwaysreading #rooh #manavkaul #translation #indianbooks #indianliterature #booklovers #bookish #booknerdigans #literature #booksbooksbooks #annotatedbooks #quotes #bookrecommendations
Books 119, 120 and 121. A little #photodump of books from the recent and distant past. Two I loved. And one that just didn't work for me. #thewomanwhoclimbedtrees is a sweeping saga, we follow a young girl in India from her wedding day, all the way to her new home in Nepal, through the early years of her marriage, kitchen politics, desire and rejection, motherhood and beyond. It was a wonderful read full of heart and rooted in reality. Swipe for words I liked. #softanimals will take you back to the early days of the pandemic, that first wave of lockdown and confusion and fear and helplessness. A story of a slowly unraveling marriage. I really enjoyed this book and any book set in 2020 will always have my attention. Now for something that just didn't work. Told from the perspective of a baby/foetus, which should have been different and interesting but after a point was just confusing and didn't work for me at all. It had good bones but the execution fell flat. Not my cup of tea. . . . #whimsybookworm2023reads #bookstagram #booklovers #indianbooksinaugust #indianbooks #fiction #booksbooksbooks #bookphotography #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookishlove #bookishfeatures #literature #readers
32/52. A week of~~~ Good books. Old bookmarks. Pizza. Rest. Random feverish days. Slowing down. Reading in bed. Binging shows. Loving my little iPad. New books. Book recommendations. Annotation station. Gentle days to combat anxious spirals. A mixed bag. But largely good. . . . #photodump #lifestyle #lifelately #pizza #art #painting #readersofinstagram #readeveryday #indianbooksinaugust #currentread #amreading #indianbooks #moodygrams #moments #nailpolish #introvertdiaries #daysofsmallthings #slowliving #quietthechaos #august #pens #annotations #ipadmini #cozy
Book 118 of 2023. Only apt that I read a Partition story in August. My next read for #indianbooksinaugust was a perfect read for August. Delhi. Lahore. London. Atlanta. Amritsar. Told from a couple of perspectives, through the decades, one continent to the other, this sweeping saga kept me engaged, the pacing was sometimes a little off, and the ending felt a little rushed but overall this is a story I enjoyed quite a bit. . . . #whimsybookworm2023reads #ereader #booksmakemehappy #indianwriters #indianbooks #indianbooksinaugust #bookblogger #bookblog #readersofinstagram #readeveryday #bookreview #bookphotography #quotes #highlighted #historicalfiction #fiction
Book 117 of 2023. I'll always, always be up for reading about mothers and daughters. My next read for #indianbooksinaugust was about two women, their individual journeys away from and towards each other. 1998 and 2019. Nita and Sophie. India and France. A mother looking for freedom. A daughter dealing with grief and betrayal and looking desperately for a mother she thought she had lost forever. I really enjoyed this story, about choices, freedom and the consequences of actions and decisions. I could not put it down. A good time overall. . . . #whimsybookworm2023reads #indianbookblogger #indianbooks #fiction #thedirectionofthewind #mansishah #readersofinstagram #readeveryday #readmore #alwaysreading #booksbooksbooks #ipad #ereader #quotes #annotations #readwomen
Book 116 of 2023. Next up for #indianbooksinaugust I read something that taught me a lot, was wholesome and fun and funny and full of gorgeous art. The urge to plan a holiday to the verdant jungles of India is very high right now. A great book for kids to learn about animals and animal behaviour, and it has so much for adults to learn about the animals (big & small) that live in our mighty forests. So fun. Swipe for some cool art. . . . #whimsybookworm2023reads #naturalistruddy #rohanchakravarty #readersofinstagram #readeveryday #indianbookblogger #indianbooks #childrensbookillustration #childrensbooks #animals #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookaddict #alwaysreading #bookstagram #booksmakemehappy #indianbookblogger
Book 115 of 2023. Next for #indianbooksinaugust I read something spooky and wholesome. If you are looking for a book full of adventure, mystery, some sleuthing and a darling group of kids being clever and brave, this is a good book to pick up. Good for kids and fun for adults too. Also, creepy clowns 🤡 are the worst. Worst. . . . #whimsybookworm2023reads #kidlit #childrensbooks #childrensbookillustration #horror #mystery #indianbooks #indianwriters #neildsilva #alwaysreading #readmorebooks #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookphotography #ereader #kindlepaperwhite #ipad #fiction
31/52. A week of~~~ Stepping into August. Grey skies but no rains. Kicking off #indianbooksinaugust Reading some amazing things. Eating well. Quiet days. Setting up planners and journals. Cute things. Happy mail. MCU marathons. Happy things. A good week. . . . #photodump #journaling #journal #posttheordinary #seekthesimplicity #notebook #aesthetic #visualsoflife #lifelately #daysofourlives #daysofsmallthings #august #weekly #stickers #stationery #stationeryaddict #nothingisordinary #cozy #pursuepretty #love #slowliving
Book 114 of 2023. I couldn't have picked a better book as my first read for #indianbooksinaugust Honestly, this is the perfect book for this month. A great way to celebrate all things Indian writing and storytelling. My plan is to take things slow with this one, read a story or two a day, and wrap it up by the end of the month. Spend all of August with this beautiful book. I am currently 7 stories in and absolutely loving this. Could not recommend this enough. Pick it up, it's a thing of beauty, inside and out. . . . #whimsybookworm2023reads #indianbooks #indianliterature #thegreatestindianstoriesevertold #fiction #readers #alwaysreading #bookstagram #bookstagram #bookphotography #booknerdigans #shortstories #anthology #literature #bookblogger #photodump #beautifulbooks #pages #annotatedbooks
Hello August 🧡🤍💚 I am so happy you are here. I am happy to jump into my annual #IndianBooksinAugust and read Indian Books all month long. Be Good August🧡 Be Kind 🤍 Be Wonderful 💚 {This is my sorta/maybe #tbr for this month, here's hoping I read most of these gorgeous books.} Happy August Behens. . . . #August #indianliterature #indianbooks #alwaysreading #tbrpile #indianblogger #writing #writers #writeaway #bookstack #booksbooksbooks #bookphotography #bookstagram #beautifulbooks #bookblogging #readingtime📖 #readers #literature #indianbookstagrammer #mumbai
Books 138 and 139 of 2022. Finishing #indianbooksinaugust with books that feel like comfort and love and home. #RuskinBond and two darling tales from the hills. I love these books. And I keep coming back to them. These books are an easy way to fix my mood and put a big old smile on my face 🫶 {Pssssst.. Monthly Reading Wrap-Up is up on the blog today. Go see and find some amazing book recommendations.} . . . #whimsybookworm2022reads #booksofinstagram #bookblogger #bookphotography #ruskinbond #indianbooks #childrensbooks #kidlitart #kidlit #readingwrapup #alwaysreading #beautifulbooks #photodump #bookstagram #unitedbookstagram #cozyreading
I read 21 books this month. Another successful #indianbooksinaugust for the books. Talking about my incredible reading month on the blog today. Link in all the usual places. How many books did you read this month? And what was your favourite? . . . #whimsybookworm2022reads #bookphotography #booklovers #booknerd #bookaddict #alwaysreading #monthlyreading #readingwrapup #mymonthinbooks #bookblogger #booksandbags #totebags #indianaesthetics #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #vsco
Books 136 and 137 of 2022. #notetoself Read more mythology. It makes your heart sing. These gorgeous books did just that. . . . #whimsybookworm2022reads #indianbooksinaugust #indianblogger #indianbooks #mythology #graphicnovel #history #beautifulbooks #booksbooksandmorebooks #bookblogger #bookaddict #alwaysreading #readers #readwomen #adiparva #amrutapatil #sauptik #mahabharat #bookrecommendations #bookreview
Book 135 of 2022. White people begin waking up in not-so-white bodies. Quelle Surprise the experience isn't pleasant. There is racism, overt and covert. Aggressions big and small. Unease. Violence. Identity crisis and not being white is not a whole lot of fun. Quelle Surprise! I have had a very mixed bag reading history with Mohsin Hamid. I have read everything he's written (fiction, I haven't read his non-fiction) and it's been a series of hit and miss. Mostly my reading experience with Hamid has been decidedly lukewarm. This one sadly was very underwhelming. This book has an interesting enough (maybe) premise. But overall.. It felt a little tired and pointless and even at a novella length a little too rambly. See, this might work for you. You might think this book is a work of genius. It just didn't work for me. And that's OK. . . . #whimsybookworm2022reads #thelastwhiteman #fiction #literaryfiction #bookreview #literaryfiction #literature #booksofinstagram #bookstagrammer #booksbooksbooks #booksbooksandmorebooks #bibliophile #readers #indianbooksinaugust #bookblogger #booknerdigans #bookish #ereader #kindle #literaturelover
Book 133 and 134 of 2022. Next for #indianbooksinaugust I read books that took me from Assam to Amritsar. Short stories in Assam-- that take us in Assamese homes and cites, stories about love, betrayal, relationships, music and loss and everything in between. I adored these stories. I look forward to reading more books by #mitraphukan Now about the novel set in a busy bazaar of Amritsar-- I have read #rupabajwa before and loved the sliver of the world that she opened up before us. A world we see, brush past and often ignore but a world that lives and breathes right next to our privileged bubbles. #thesarishop was rooted in reality and was gut wrenching and thought provoking in equal measure. I read both these books dreaming of the places they took me to and was completely caught up in the world they conjured, even if these worlds were less than perfect 🌿 . . . #whimsybookworm2022reads #booklovers #indianbooks #litwithindianlit #literature #literaryfiction #shortstories #bookrecommendations #bookreview #alwaysreading #readwomen #womenwriters #bookblogger #bookphotography #bookstagrammer #booksbooksbooks #bookstagramindia
Book 131 and 132. What my weekend reading looked like: Some re-reading ft. #sudhamurty and a book I enjoyed very much, it's a very realistic look at the superficiality of marriage, family and society. Then I read a sweet little book about what is basically an ichaadhaari seal 🌚 it was cute as a button. I am currently also halfway through a collection of short stories. How was your weekend? Did you get any reading done? . . . #indianbooksinaugust #bookstagram #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #bookstagramindia #indianbooks #bibliophile #bookblog #bookblogger #fiction #kidlit #childrensbooks #booknerdigans #bookaddict #weekendreads #bookrecommendations #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer
Book 130 of 2022. Next for #indianbooksinaugust I picked up this collection of personal essays on motherhood, mothers and daughters and it was everything I wanted it to be and more. By that I mean, it talked of motherhood without its usual tendency to put all mothers on some heavenly pedestal. The writers here, women from various walks of life, spoke of their own experiences of motherhood, their own mothers with honesty and spoke about various facets of motherhood- some pleasant others less than ideal. Loving mothers, controlling mothers, flawed mothers and independent and non-traditional mothers find equal footing here. There are also moving essays on loss and choosing not to be a mother. A collection I enjoyed very much and am so glad I finally picked it up, I've had this book on my shelves for a few years now. . . . #whimsybookworm2022reads #indianbookblogger #indianbooks #essays #nonfiction #nonfictionbooks #nonfictionreads #booksbooksbooks #booksbooksbooks #quotes #annotatedbooks #janani #readmore #readerlife #bookblogger #bookrecommendations #bookreview #motherhood #booknerdigans #bibliophilelife
Booklovers never go to bed alone. My lil stack of reads (current and future) keeping me company. . . . #books #booksbooksandmorebooks #booksbooksbooks #alwaysreading #aesthetic #spines #sudhamurty #literature #bookworm #bookblogger #indianbookblogger #booknerdigans #moodygrams #fiction #bookbloggersofinstagram #indianbooksinaugust #indianbooks
August in books & stories. And in #hujicam 📷 . . . #indianbooksinaugust #books #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #reading #readerlife #august #moodygrams #photodump #illustration #art #pages #aesthetic #alwaysreading #bookblogger #indianliterature #indianblogger #bookphotography #booksmakemehappy
Book 129 of 2022. My next read was both a pick for #indianbooksinaugust and for #womenintranslationmonth This book had me firmly in its grip from start to finish. I love books about cultures and sub-cultures and how people live in these spaces and homes. How is life for those who occupy these roles sanctioned by society? People who only occupy the footnotes of our history. Devdaasis got a brief, fleeting mention in our history textbooks. Women, dancers, artists dedicated to temples and deities. But not much was said about their lives, dreams, hopes and their suffering and shameless exploitation. Those (unsavory) aspects were left to our imagination or better yet brushed under the carpet. This book takes us into the homes, hearts and lives of a few women born in the Devdaasi clan. It was powerful, honest and full of women who were remarkable and a pleasure to get to know. Highly recommend. . . . #whimsybookworm2022reads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #booknerd #indianbookstagram #indianbooks #translatedfiction #witmonth #womenintranslation #historicalfiction #alwaysreading #readwomen #breakingfree #vaasanthi #literature #litwithindianlit #bookstagram #bookmarks #readers
Book 128 of 2022. #notetoself Must read more memoirs. Especially the ones that are slightly non-traditional and not quite run-of-the-mill. This one was wholesome and sweet and warm. Plus the art was just a happy little bonus. Swipe to see my cat reading a book under a lamp bookmark. 😽 . . . #whimsybookworm2022reads #indianbooksinaugust #nonfictionbooks #memoir #indianbooks #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookstagram #bookmarks #caturday #cats #reading #readers #readersofinstagram #icameuponalighthouse #alwaysreading
Book 125,126 and 127 of 2022. Next for #indianbooksinaugust I read three very different books. The first book, a work of translation, took me to Odisha. Stories written originally in Odia and set in smalltowns and villages, set in the now and in the past and stories about people and relationships. A collection I have had on my shelves for very long and one that I enjoyed quite a bit. This was quick but moving read. Then I read a short-short. A paati who dreams of being a mystery writer and who is new to the world of social media, and like all of us gets a little too wrapped up in it's tentacles and somehow unravels a real crime. Fun. Good fun. I read this via my #kindleunlimited subscription. Then I read something from across the border. I always try to read something from Pakistan in August, because this month is important to both our counties. #TheReturnofFarazAli was an incredible book. I loved every single thing about it, the writing, the world it's set in and the people who make up this tale of family and betrayal and longing and secrets and identity. So good. I am so glad I picked it up. Highly recommend. {August is turning out to be such a good reading month y'all! } . . . #whimsybookworm2022reads #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #alwaysreading #fiction #literature #litwithindianlit #literaryfiction #translatedliterature #shortstories #bookblogger #bookblogging #photodump #reader #reading #bookrecommendations #arunanambiar #desibooks #readmorebooks
Happiness is a book haul.. It just is. 📚📖📚 My July books are up on the blog this evening. Link in all the usual places. . . . 🔖 #bookhaul #bookhoarder #bookstagram #bookpile #bookphotography #indianblogger #indianbooks #indianbookstagram #indianbooksinaugust #fiction #literature #reader #reading #alwaysreading #litwithindianlit #bookblogger
Book 124 of 2022. Next for #IndianBooksinAugust I went back to what is hands down my favourite story/saga/tale/epic/life lesson of all time~ The Mahabharat. I will always, always be deeply interested and invested in any and all takes on this story, that has so much to unpack, unravel and learn from. This #graphicnovel avatar was exactly what I was hoping it would be, nuanced, searing and powerful. And the art is just 🤌🫰🫶 . . . #whimsybookworm2022reads #litwithindianlit #indianbookstagrammer #indianbooks #mythology #mahabharata #mahabharat #panchalithegameofdice #panchali #bookstagram #bookjunkie #booknerd #booknerdigans #art #illustration #indianart #bookblogger #bookrecommendations #bookreview #alwaysreading
Book 123 of 2022. Terror. Consequences. Aftermath. Victims. Survivors. Perpetrators. . . . #whimsybookworm2022reads #indianbooksinaugust #literature #literaryfiction #bookblogger #bookphotography #quotes #bookblogger #booknerd #booknerdigans #bookaholic #bookrecommendations #indianliterature #karanmahajan #theassociationofsmallbombs #litwithindianlit
Book 122 of 2022. These rainy, gray, days we've been having in lately, made me reach out for this cozy, atmospheric murder mystery. A re-read, I was happy to come back to after four odd years. A house in the middle of nowhere and two murders in a single night. Exactly the kind of thing I was craving for. (Read this via my #kindleunlimited subscription.) . . . #indianbooksinaugust #whimsybookworm2022reads #thrillerbooks #thriller #mystery #bookblogger #booksbooksbooks #booksmakemehappy #booknerdigans #bookworm #alwaysreading #reread #indianbooks #fiction #bookstagram #cozyreading #indiapictures
Tsunami Simon by Damodar Mauzo, translated by Xavier Cota and Aranyakand by Mahabaleshwar Sail, translated by Vidya Pai are books written originally in Konkani. They share a lot in common other than this obvious similarity, yet are distinct. Simon in ‘Tsunami Simon’, a young boy from class 7, stays with his parents Gabriel and Marcelin in Gonsua fishing village near Betalbatim, Goa. He travels to Kalapet near Chennai with his maternal aunt for his Christmas holidays. Though away from his parents, Simon has an exciting time until the sea - his best friend, revered as a provider/deity by his community unleashes massive destruction. Tsunami, he learns eventually, is the name for the gigantic waves that tossed him far away from everything familiar. Dedicated by the author to countless people who lost their lives and homes in Dec 2004 tsunami, the book is Simon’s arduous journey back home, one he manages alone with sheer grit and resilience. Painting a picture of the lives of fisherfolk in Goa, it poignantly asserts the need to be kind and never give up in face of unending adversities. Aranyakand, a slim novella, exposes the trials and tribulations of a group of landless, contractual laborers who work at a stone-crushing quarry in dense forests of sub-Sahyadri ranges. Unable to bear exploitation at the hands of their ruthless masters, they run away from the site with the hope of getting back home, to their village from which they fled owing to drought and famine. Without food & water, rudderless in thick jungles that looked the same in all directions, can the group thrive only on hope and reach home? Tsunami Simon & Aranyakand are instances where both man and nature are equally responsible for the deplorable state of the characters. If the tsunami wreaks havoc, greedy swindlers add to Simon’s woes. Drought and famine push laborers to work in a quarry but their ruthless masters crush them to their bones. Both the books highlight the human will to survive in an extremely hostile environment/situation. While the former ends on a positive note (intended for a younger audience), the latter is severely bleak. Hope to read more by these authors and translators!
Book 121 of 2022. My next read for #IndianBooksinAugust was this slim but powerful book of poetry. I am a prose girl, through and through. Poetry has never been something I reach for or truly crave. But every once in a while, I find something that calls out to me and demands to be read.. This was one of those times. Swipe to see some lines I loved best. . . . #whimsybookworm2022reads #poetry #poems #readwomen #indianbookstagrammer #indianbooks #indianliterature #litwithindianlit #teething #megharao #vscobooks #vsco #alwaysreading #bookrecommendations #photodump #annotatedbooks #moodygrams #bookworm #readersofinstagram #reading
Book 120 of 2021. Always, always up to read heartwarming and wonderful stories about grandmothers. The Paati in this book travels the world, goes a bit viral and finds new ways to connect with people. Fun. Sweet. Warm & fuzzy. . . . #indianbooksinaugust #bookrecommendations #kidlit #childrensbooks #childrenillustration #illustration #art #bookworm #booklover #bookaddict #indianblogger #indianbookstagrammer #indianbooks #kindleunlimited #reader #alwaysreading #huji
| 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 | 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: 𝗔𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗶 | 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁-𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 | 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ . I read this book for Prompt 2 of the #DiscoveringIndiaReadathon hosted by @thebookishtales & @thequirkybluebookshelf . . 'Shake the bottle' is a collection of short stories by Ashapurna Debi written originally in Bengali and translated in English by Arunava Sinha. Arunava Sinha has done a brilliant job with the translation. . Like a child begging for one more story to grandma before sleep, I finished one story after another in 2 days. The ending of each story leaves you with a mild shock. The stories capture delicate nuances within the four walls of the home by exploring relationships, power-play and hypocrisies. . This is one fine short-story collection. . Recommended: Yes . #BookReviewsByShakshula #ShakeTheBottle #ShortStories #indianbooksinaugust #translatedbooks #indianliterature #ShakshulaReviewsShakeTheBottle #shakethebottleandotherstories
Book 119 of 2022. Dear Awpala, Bhubonmoni and Lopa, Hello..Hi..No, pronaam. 🙏 I write this letter to you from the future. A time and place, you probably have a hard time imagining. There is something that people in the West, in a country seven seas away, often say 'I am my ancestors wildest dream'. I think this applies to me too, and for that matter most women in the world. We are our ancestors wildest dreams. The women I came from were probably a lot like you. Your caste and community, while bestowing several privileges to the men, did more harm than good for its women. Marriage at three. Widowhood at eight or younger, if you were truly unfortunate. Then the soul crushing rituals of Bengali widowhood. Or you were sent out to your marital home at age eleven, to your marital bed too. At eleven. Then life was mostly confined to the inner chambers of home. You had little to no agency in your life. So I wonder what you'd make of the life we lead now? Would the freedoms we enjoy and often take for granted, fill you with awe? Or would it make you bitter, knowing that 150 years is what stood between you and a life of dignity? I won't lie, life isn't always peachy in 2022 either. There is so much we endure and so much we fight for every day. But we do it for you. All of you. The forgotten women we came from. We do better for you. We do the things you couldn't even dream of.. And I hope and pray we do you proud. Pronaam 🙏 A version of you from the future. My first read for #indianbooksinaugust is blowing my mind. An incredible book I can't seem to step away from. . . . #whimsybookworm2022reads #womenintranslation #chroniclesofthelostdaughters #bookstagram #indianliterature
Hello August! Be Good, Gentle and Wonderful! I am so excited to celebrate all things India and Independence 🇮🇳 allll month long for my #IndianbooksinAugust It's something I've done for nine years, I read books from India and the Indian subcontinent in honour of this month that means so much to all of us. I am always excited to pull incredible books from my shelves and try to read as diversely as I possibly can. I have a tentative TBR all set-up and I can't wait to jump into it. Be Good August. . . . #helloaugust #august #flowers #flowerstagram #flowers🌸 #bloom #aesthetic #moodygrams #pink #plants #plantsofinstagram #bookblogger #alwaysreading #livethelittlethings #littlethings #darlingdaily #vsco #pursuepretty #pursuitofhappiness #hygge #cozy
#Repost • @whimsybookworm Book 135 of 2019. My first read for #IndianBooksinAugust this year is The Adventures of Kakababu by Sunil Gangopadhyay. Two novella length stories of travel, adventure, mystery and discovery. Set in the late 70s and early 80s, these stories make for perfect cozy reading and nostalgia induced smiles. So fun! Also, on the blog tonight I am talking about my sister @kookycookie and my weekend reads. Link in bio 🌻 . . . #whimsybookworm2019reads #childrensliterature #childrensbooks #bengalibooks #readingwithhci #litwithregionallit #translatedbooks #fiction #bibliophile #unitedbookstagram #bookstagram #bookishfeatures #igreads #booksandtea #tea #bookstagramindia #indianbooks #indianliterature #sunilgangopadhyay #theadventuresofkakababu #kidlit #cozyreading #booksbooksbooks #booknerdigans #postitfortheaesthetic #vsco
Book 137 of 2021. My last read for #IndianBooksinAugust this year is this charming yet very realistic young adult book. #mirrormirror is the story of seventeen year old Ananya, who like so many girls her age struggles with body image issues. For the last five years, after a humiliating instance of fat shaming and bullying, Ananya has changed her lifestyle and especially her diet. She also cut off her best friend Raghu from her life because he was an unwitting witness to her humiliation. Now Raghu is back and some new feelings about him have surfaced. A relevant and moving tale about how young girls learn to hate their bodies and how society shapes their self-esteem and self-image. I am a little way in and can't wait to see where this story takes me. For now I am rooting for Ananya and wishing her well. Chalo back to my book I go. . . . #whimsybookworm2021reads #booksbooksbooks #ya #yalit #fictionbooks #indianbooks #litwithindianlit #bookishfeatures #bookbloggers #bookblogging #bookstagram #unitedbookstagram #bookstagramindia #vsco #sunkissed #currentlyreading #currentreads #readwomen #womenwhoread
Book 136 of 2021. Next for #IndianBooksinAugust I snuck in a little romance. A little chick-lit if you will. A genre I read very, very rarely from. I think I sorta overdid/over read from this slice of the bookish pizza in the early 2000s. I read every Shopaholic, love at first sight, enemies to lovers romcom there was. And I loved it. A lot. Now I prefer consuming this genre through films. Give me a good romcom and I will happily watch it. Books not so much. This book was a fun and funny ride. The family black sheep- LJ, comes back home for her beloved Paati's (Grandma) funeral. And is forced to live with her large and slighlty dysfunctional family for 13 days. Cousins who she doesn't get along with anymore, a twin who's the good kid of the family, a sister-in-law who's a little too perfect and a Dad who doesn't even talk to her anymore. It's a lot. Add a hot family lawyer to the mix and 💥 boom you have a recipe for...family bonding and so much chemistry and love. An enjoyable read that I quite enjoyed. Good fun. Sometimes it's nice to step out and sample something different. Oh,I read this for free via #primereading and you can too if you're a prime subscriber. . . . #whimsybookworm2021reads #romance #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #ereader #ebooks #fictionbooks #bookreviews #bookbloggers #bookblogging #booknerdigans #booksmakemehappy #contemporaryliterature #indianbooks #theworstdaughterever
Book 135 of 2021. Next for #IndianBooksinAugust I went to Delhi. To #TheHouseNexttoTheFactory These nine stories, tied loosely to this house take us from Delhi, to Landour and all the way to England. From the 1980s all the way to 2010. I love books that hold a sense of peace and calm within their pages. This book had that and then some. There is a stillness in this book, a quiet, gentle flow thoughts, musings and lives. There is nothing dramatic or outlandish in these stories. These are people living fairly ordinary lives, working jobs, falling in love, being confused, moving homes and finding their place in the world. Things we all do. Feelings we all know too well. This book was my companion on a particularly drizzly day, and like raindrops falling on the roof gently, these stories and characters walked into my life or rather gently guided me into theirs. A short read that I recommend you read slowly. Perhaps accompanied by a cup of Chai. Also, can we please take a minute to appreciate how incredibly beautiful this book is?! What stellar design. I may have spent several minutes just staring at it's sheer beauty. . . . #whimsybookworm2021reads #indianbooks #indianliterature #shortstory #shortstories #fiction #booksbooksbooks #alwaysreading #readerscommunity #bookbloggers #bookblogging #indianblogger #litwithindianlit #beautifulbooks #slowlife #bookworms #readwomen #womenwriters #bookreviews #bookrecommendations
August is #womenintranslationmonth #witmonth And August is nearly over. I've been mulling over my favourite translated reads pretty much all month long. And after a fair amount of procrastination...here's my list. Well, here's some Indian Women Writers I recommend. On the Blog you'll find 25 Book Recommendations for Women in Translation. Both from India and Elsewhere. 25 books I love and recommend with my whole heart. Link in bio. Go see. Let me know which ones from my list you've read. Swipe to see my late night lost making. Go go go. See see see. . . . #booksbooksbooks #bookbloggers #bookblogging #booknerd #list #bookrecommendations #translatedbooks #translated #readerscommunity #litwithindianlit #IndianBooksinAugust #handwriting #readwomen #womenwriters #womenwhoread #ontheblog #indianblogger #bookbloggersofinstagram
Book 133 of 2021. What makes you a reader? What makes for a good reader? How old were you when you started reading? I was eight when I became a lifetime, card carrying, heart and soul invested member of the Reader's Club ™️ Mr. Meddle Stories by Enid Blyton had me hooked and my life was never the same again. Since then books have been a part of my existence. An inedible part of who I am. I couldn't even begin to tell you how much they've shaped me, held me and healed me. I love reading and I love love love talking about books and getting others to read. For the last 10 years or so, I've actively been in the 'getting people to read business'. Before Instagram. Before Book Blogging. Years ago I had a personal blog where I occasionally talked about my weekly reads and snippets of my library hauls. One of my regular readers, a 60 year old grandpa, was inspired to read again seeing me gush about books. It made me so happy that I had gotten him to read again, after decades. He picked up books he had never heard of or books he thought he wouldn't understand or enjoy. He fell in love with reading again. His joy made my heart happy. And everytime one of you pick a book on my recommendation, I do a little happy dance (in my ❤️). This book is a little lovesong for readers. For books. For libraries. For stories and the infinite power they wield. This book felt like a hug. Brimming with so much heart, a sense of community and finding your own people. And books. So many good books. PS: I've read and loved every single title on this Reading List. . . . #whimsybookworm2021reads #IndianBooksinAugust #thereadinglist #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #bookstacks #readercommunity #bookreviews #bookbloggers #bookblogging
Books 125 to 132 of 2021. Just some bite-sized reads from recent times. Starting with a twisty, domestic thriller, a very enjoyable short-story from #preetishenoy #Thanksforyourtime was a fun ride from start to finish. Give it a read, you'll enjoy it. Perfect to read with your morning chai/coffee. Then, I read a collection of poetry. Love poems. Which was alright. I am not a big poem person, nor a big love person. So it was a very OK reading experience. (Both of these were read via #primereading ) Then a whole bunch of darling picture books were read and loved. All thanks to @pbstoryweaver I always feel all kinds of happy after reading their beautiful and heartfelt books. Cannot recommend them enough. ❤️ . . . #whimsybookworm2021reads #indianbooks #IndianBooksinAugust #quickreads #shortstories #shortreads #booksbooksbooks #bibliophile #booklovers #booknerdigans #alwaysreading #bookbloggers #bookbloggersofinstagram #huji #thriller #kidlit #picturebooks #childrensliterature #photodump
Book 124 of 2021. My next read for #IndianBooksinAugust took to me Assam. A place I've been a few times in the last year (all via books, obviously). It's a place I've come to love and understand. Aren't books wonderful? Perfect ways to understand people, cultures and history? Even conflict and strife are made more personal through the lives of characters you grow to care about. You find yourself worrying about someone being repeatedly questioned by the cops. You feel your heart racing when you're in the middle of the jungle with young men, who've given up the comfort of home and stability, all in the name of revolution. Books pull you in and take you body and soul into a world that you've known only through the News (if at all). You know this story. You know these words- Insurgency, armed conflict, revolutionaries, dissent, killings, torture, TADA... To see the lives (even if fictional) affected by these conflicts is something else and necessary. I read this book with a building sense of dread. A sweeping sense of despair and maybe a sliver of hope. . . . #whimsybookworm2021reads #translatedbooks #bibliophile #booksofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookreviews #booknerdigans #booklovers #bookstagram #unitedbookstagram #litwithindianlit #indianliterature #assameseliterature #indianbookstagrammer #alwaysreading #review
Book 123 of 2021. Next for #IndianBooksinAugust I read this beautiful book about my favourite God. Wait, I shouldn't have a favourite God but how can you not love Krishna? The most human, nuanced and delightful God. He feels like a real person, a friend and someone you can talk to about anything. This darling little book tells us stories about Krishna's childhood and his many adventures. A great introduction to Krishna for your kids and this is a colouring book too! What fun! A review for this book is up on the blog. Link in bio. Go see. Thank-you @penguinindia for the gifted copy. . . . #whimsybookworm2021reads #bookrecommendations #bookreviews #bibliophile #devduttpattanaik #mythology #Krishna #Shyam #alwaysreading #readercommunity #unitedbookstagram #bookstagram #bookbloggers #bookbloggersofinstagram #indianbooks #litwithindianlit #indianbookstagrammer #ilovebooks #booknerdigans
There is a certain amount of suspension of disbelief required, I think, before you dive into this book. Or maybe, just maybe you need to sit with this disbelief and imagine how it could be true. How in rural Punjab, circa 1929, a young girl could get married and not know her husband. Literally, not know him. Not know his face. Or who he is. A stranger, she occasionally shares a bed with, because she must of course perform her wifely duties without question. But fifteen year old Mehar is curious and determined to find out more about this new husband of hers. Split between 1929 and 1999, China Room is a story of identity (in more ways than one) and about so much more. A full review of this Booker Long list is up on the blog. Link in bio. Go see. . . . #chinaroom #sunjeevsahota #literaryfiction #literaturelovers #litwithindianlit #historicalfiction #indiabookstagram #booksbooksbooks #IndianBooksinAugust #bookrecommendations #bookreviews #alwaysreading #fiction #readerscommunity #unitedbookstagram #bookbloggers
Book 50 of 2021 Dying Day by Vaseem Khan A noted historian and Dante scholar is missing in Bombay. He was working on a translation of Dante’s Divine Comedy based off an original first edition copy of the book housed at the Royal Asiatic Society. Also missing is the copy of this much sought after tome. Persis and her team start a missing persons investigation and find cryptic riddles and clues to something.. but what? To the whereabouts of the scholar or book or both? When two other people, unrelated to the scholar, also turn up dead, Persis knows there is something sinister going on. A fast-paced and engrossing historical crime fiction book set in Bombay in 1950. Full review up on @whimsybookworm’s blog. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramindia #bookrecommendations #bookreview #indianbooksinaugust #indianbookblogger #bookblogger #indianwriting #crimefiction #historicalcrimefiction
Book 122 of 2021. Next up for #IndianBooksinAugust I read a diaspora voice. The story of the Joshi family. Parents and three children. Seemingly well-adjusted, well-educated and happy. The perfect Indian-American family. Well...things aren't always what they seem to be. One daughter turns down a marriage proposal from her long time (very suitable) boyfriend, quits her job and moves back home to pursue a career in comedy in earnest; which to her Gujarati mother is nothing short of a catastrophe! The other daughter, the good daughter is a psychiatrist, just like her father. She's married to a good man, not Desi but it's all good. She's on her way to becoming the Chief Resident..but.. something is amiss. Her marriage has hit a rocky patch and an ex has shown up again and brought up some unresolved and traumatic feelings. Their mother too is going through some struggles, she worries for her children, wonders if the life she's chosen has been worth the sacrifices she's made along the way. Plus there are things she's kept from her children.. something she thinks will make them see her in a different light. A story of family, identity, marriage, immigrants, love and chasing your dreams and Mental Health. A moving, real and unflinching look at family, community, straddling two cultures and mental health. Relevant and poignant. I enjoyed it, related to it and it made me stop and think about several things. . . . #whimsybookworm2021reads #indianbooks #bookreviews #booksbooksbooks #bookbloggers #alwaysreading #readerscommunity #booksmakemehappy #readwomen #booksarelife #womenwhoread #bookbloggersofinstagram #whatahappyfamily #saumyadave #litwithindianlit
Book 121 of 2021. Next for my #IndianBooksinAugust I picked a book from our neighbours- Bangladesh. By a writer I've read and loved before. I cannot recommend A Golden Age and The Good Muslim enough. They are so so so good. Seriously, read them now. However, I was a bit apprehensive when I picked this one up. It sounded unlike anything I had sampled before and honestly I wasn't sure if it was going to be my cup of tea. When I think of #tahmimaanam and her books, I think of Bangladesh, of a Bengali family at the heart of the novel and a certain amount of melancholy, poignancy, angst, joy, struggle, introspection and a whole lot of heart. There is something achingly familiar about the worlds she writes about. Plus, she is a brilliant writer. This novel and it's premise/setting on the other hand was wholly unfamiliar to me. It's about a start-up. About women in STEM. About marriage. About partnership. Friendship. About ambition... technology, love and opportunity. It's a very, very modern, very set in our present and a very subtle and clever portrayal of life right this moment. It was unlike her other books. It was very different from things I usually read. But it was good. And I am glad I picked it up. . . . #whimsybookworm2021reads #thestartupwife #fiction #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #bookstagramindia #indianblogger #indianbookstagrammer #unitedbookstagram #alwaysreading #diasporalit #bookreviews #bookbloggers #readerscommunity #womenwhoread
Book 120 of 2021. Next for #IndianBooksinAugust I am reading something from our neighbours. A book from Pakistan. A book I've been meaning to read for a while now. The Runaways is about three young people. Anita Rose, Monty and Sunny. They come from very different worlds. They are each looking for more- more meaning, more connection and their place in the world. These three come together in an unexpected and devastating way. A moving, powerful book that is frightening and relevant and heartbreaking and so painfully true. I am half way through and can't wait to see where this story takes me. . . . #whimsybookworm2021reads #fiction #literaturelovers #literaryfiction #contemporaryliterature #literature #bookstagram #booklovers #booksbooksbooks #bookishfeatures #unitedbookstagram #currentlyreading #alwaysreading #readerscommunity #FatimaBhutto #TheRunaways
On The Blog////To celebrate and honour our Independence Day, I've listed 75 Indian Books you ought to read. A long list of recommendations from across genres. I've tried to keep the list as extensive as possible. Featuring some old and new favourites. Fiction and a handful of non-fiction. Written in English and several Indian languages. I am quite proud of my motley list. Featuring some forever favourites and some new discoveries. Go have a read maybe, and let me know how many books you've read from my list. Link in bio 🇮🇳 . . . #indianbooks #indiabookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bibliophile #bookbloggers #booknerdigans #bookblogging #IndianBooksinAugust #ontheblog #indianblogger #bookrecommendations #pages #unitedbookstagram #alwaysreading #readerscommunity
Book 119 of 2021. Next up for #IndianBooksinAugust I read something sweet and heartwarming. #lallansweets is a book about all the good things in life. Family. Mithai. Legacy. A quest. An adventure. A road trip. Love. Shah Rukh Khan. And the glorious 90s. Take a bite if these things appeal to you. Take a trip back to the 90s, to a small-town and a big adventure. . . . #whimsybookworm2021reads #booksbooksbooks #bookrecommendations #fiction #litwithindianlit #indianbooks #90s #nostalgia #booksmakemehappy #readerscommunity #unitedbookstagram #beautifulbooks #bookaholic #bookbloggers #bookblogging #indianblogger
My reading this month has been less than stellar. I've read only 5 books so far this month, which for me is pretty dismal. Also, I've read some very underwhelming books. 😐 It's put me in a little bit of a funk. But we still have half the month left and great books to get to. Hope your reading for this month is going well, better than mine. . . . #IndianBooksinAugust #booksofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bibliophile #bookworms #tbr #literaturelovers #literaryfiction #indianbooks #bookpile #fiction #readerscommunity #alwaysreading #bookblogging #indianblogger #booknerdigans #womenwhoread
Book 48 of 2021 Midnight at Malabar House by Vaseem Khan. An influential British citizen is found murdered in his study on the first day of 1950. He was looking into the brutal killings in the aftermath of the Partition. He was also a womaniser with a colourful past. So, what got him killed? Who in his inner circle, with access to his study, murdered him whilst a boisterous party was happening? The case is handed over to India’s first woman IPS officer, Persis Wadia, who has to overcome more than prejudice to solve this case. Full review up on @whimsybookworm’s blog 💛 #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramindia #bookreview #bookrecommendations #indianbooksinaugust #indianbookblogger #bookblogger #indianbookreviewer #crimefiction #historicalfiction #booksaboutindia
Book 118 of 2021. Do you read a lot of love stories? I don't. I think alllll the Mills and Boon I read back when I was a teenager has made me reach my romance quota for this lifetime. I remember trekking to my local lending library and scouring the shelves and finding the steamiest love stories to read over the week. Often read in the dim light of my bedroom or hidden amongst my textbooks, these stories of longing, love and steamy chemistry. Uff! So much pyaar. While 14 year old me enjoyed binge reading these tales, grown-up me is not quite as smitten. I do enjoy a quintessential romance once every now and again, but I think when it comes to romance I prefer films over books. Reading this book was stepping out of my comfort zone. Reading a popular Indian fiction book after....forever. It was enjoyable enough. Entertaining enough. A young girl is left bereft after the passing of her mother. She meets a mysterious stranger in the park one evening and he tells her a story to help her heal . A story of young love. Loss. And the hope for miracles. A book that was perfectly enjoyable. And for a moment it felt like being 14 again, which is always a good thing be. . . . #whimsybookworm2021reads #IndianBooksinAugust #fiction #romance #contemporaryliterature #indianbooks #bookstagram #bookstagramindia #unitedbookstagram #bibliophile #bookbloggers #bookblogging #booksandcoffee #coffeetime #moodygrams #vscoindia #booklovers #love #romancereads #booksbooksbooks
Book 117 of 2021. If you're a person of a certain age and grew up in India at a certain time, some things are true for us all: We all bought our school shoes from Bata. We all lived through power cuts. We were all introduced to mythology through our television. I don't much remember Ramayana, but Mahabharata mornings were special. It is hands down my favourite epic out of the two. The Ramayana with it's clear cut demarcations of good and bad, right and wrong, dharma and adharma...felt a little stifling to me. Plus, as a woman I always found it a bit...not quite right on multiple levels. As a result stories from The Ramayana haven't really called out to me or rather I've kept my distance from them. For most part, these stories and these subplots have remained a fleeting memory. The names Bali, Sugreeva and Tara I knew only barely. I only knew the basic outline of their arc, so this book felt brand new. This book was startling, surprising and the best part it made me think of this tale as old as time in a new light. See these brothers, their love, their world and their struggles in a new light. What makes a good man? What makes a good ruler? And who gets to decide a man or a Vanara's place in the world? Love, jealousy, vindication, war and righteousness and the oldest love triangle. Interesting. Glad I picked it up. . . #whimsybookworm2021reads #indianbookblogger #IndianBooksinAugust #mythology #Vanara #AnandNeelakantan #bookrecommendations #history #booksbooksbooks #bibliophile #bookblogging
Book 116 of 2021. Dear Bandana, Hi! No wait, you are a contemporary of my grandmothers, so pronaam. I don't claim to understand your life, your time or what you went through. I do however understand Bengali Widowhood. Especially the cruel rules and constraints of Bengali Brahmin Widowhood. My favourite person was someone who spent a better part of her life adhering to it's impossible standards. My Thamma, was windowed 16 years after you were. And I only saw her in her widow's whites. It's a colour I associate with her. It's funny how as a child you just take things at face value. I saw my beloved Thamma in white, fasting, praying and following these rules that were set by men centuries ago. Men who never had to live through the crushing weight of these rules and rituals. Men who are free to marry soon after their wife passes away. Men who don't shorn their hair, who don't give up food, who don't fast and who are never blamed for their own misfortune...like you so cruelly were. My Thamma had it better than you Bandana, for one she was older and the undisputed family matriarch. Yet she lost so much and gave up so much. Her beautiful, colourful sarees and maach, fish. I naively thought that she probably didn't like fish or meat. It was only much later I realised just how much she loved her fish and what a sacrifice it must have been. Baba tried for years to get her to eat fish. Promising to keep it a secret, she would laugh and shake her head and tell everyone what a silly boy her eldest son was. In some ways... marginally she had it better... I am sorry you were made to feel like your widowhood was your fault and your cross to bear. I am sorry people treated you without an iota of compassion and empathy. I am sorry you had to choose to be the proverbial self-sacrificing epitome of Indian womanhood. I am sorry for how life, society and even your own flesh and blood treated you. I wish I could give you a hug and tell you how brave you are,I wish I could tell you to live for yourself, put yourself first; but that is my 2021 sensibility and privilege talking. So I won't act like I know better. Regards, Pooja . . . #whimsybookworm2021reads
Book 42 of 2021 /// Kohinoor Express by Rensil D’Silva is a historical fiction action-adventure book. The story focuses on the efforts of a ragtag team comprising of escaped convicts, freedom fighters and sympathisers to their cause, who attempt to stop the Kohinoor diamond from being sent to England by the East India Company. Will they manage to steal the coveted yet cursed diamond from the Kohinoor Express? The full review is up on @whimsybookworm’s blog as part of her annual #indianbooksinaugust readathon 💛 #bookreview #bookrecommendations #indianbooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramindia #indianauthors #indianbookreviewer #bookblogger #indianbookblogger
#IndianBooksinAugust is here! And it's time to read books from India and The Indian Subcontinent. Talking about my reading plans and my tentative TBR for this month on the blog today. I have translated books, Indian books, books from Pakistan and Bangladesh and a re-read too. I am pretty excited. Go see. Link in bio. Let the reading commence. . . . #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstacks #unitedbookstagram #spines #indianbooks #indianblogger #bibliophile #bookbloggers #booklovers #bookishfeatures #booksbooksbooks #igreads #booksarelife #ilovebooks #literaturelovers #classicliterature #classics #litwithindianlit #southasianliterature