Book Reviews 2017.9

Reviewing the books that I read in 2017.

40. Replay - Ken Grimwood
Different concept, well written, loved it, definitely one of the best sci-fi books 5/5

41. Life with Jeeves - P.G. Woodhouse
It contains Right Ho, Jeeves; The Inimitable Jeeves; and Very Good, Jeeves. Jeeves, that noiseless provider of deliverance from the hangover, a bird of the ripest intellect, calm and wise enough to rescue Bertie and his pals from the most fearful scrapes. 5/5.

42. Dark Matter - Blake Crouch
If you have read other books by Blake (wayward pines) then the start of this book would be deja vu, people waking up in labs/ hospitals, not knowing where they are. After the start you need to be open and acceptable enough to read about scientific theories which are not proven yet ( and maybe they never will) , for the span of this book just assume those theories are true and once you do that the book is absolutely amazing. 4.5/5.

43. Mum on the Run - Fiona Gibson
Liked the story, did not like the whiny characters. 3/5.

44. Gilead - Marilynne Robinson
Gave up after 3rd chapter. Too much about Christianity, familial bonds, religion, prayers and stuff. 1/5.

45. The Inimitable Jeeves - P.G. Wodehouse
The adventures of Bertie Wooster and Jeeves are narrated by Wodehouse with his natural flair and brilliantly fun-filled manner. P.G. Wodehouse yet again shows off his comic genius in this timeless funny classic. 5/5.

46. One Plus One - Jojo Moyes
I do not like Jojo Moyes' stories and this definitely is the last book of hers that I read. 1/5.

47. Ana and the french kiss - Stephanie Perkins 48. The Testament - John Grisham
Gave up both books half way.

49. A briefer history of time - Stephen Hawking
There are better books in science genre. 3/5.

Book Reviews 2017.8

Reviewing the books that I read in 2017.

36. Why does the world exist? An existential Detective Story - Jim Holt
The question why is there a world rather than nothing at all? remains the darkest and most enduring of all metaphysical mysteries. Jim Holt enters this fractious debate with his lively and deeply informed narrative that traces the latest efforts to grasp the origins of the universe. He leaves us with the question Stephen Hawking once asked but couldn't answer, ‘Why does the universe go through all the bother of existing?’. 4/5.

37. Harry Potter and the cursed child: parts 1 and 2 - John Tiffany
Before you start reading this book, separate your mind from the fact that this is going to be an exemplary continuation of the previous seven books. Aside from being a play, this books is also a more mature, character-driven, less magical story. I liked it. 3.5/5.

38. The first fifteen lives of Harry August - Claire North
Replay is a great book with a similar storyline, I highly recommend Replay but did not like The first fifteen lives of Harry August. 2/5.

39. Very Good, Jeeves! - P.G. Wodehouse
"Very Good, Jeeves" is a collection of 11 short stories featuring everyone's favorite valet ("a personal gentleman's gentleman," as Jeeves describes himself) and the ongoing scrapes of Mr. Bertie Wooster. In each story, either Bertie or one of his friends and relatives is in a bind, and fortunately for everyone, Jeeves is always there to advise and set things right. 5/5.

Book Reviews 2017.7

Reviewing books that I read in 2017.
31. When Breath Becomes Air - Paul Kalanithi
What makes life worth living in the face of death? What do you do when the future, no longer a ladder toward your goals in life, flattens out into a perpetual present? What does it mean to have a child, to nurture a new life as another fades away? These are some of the questions Kalanithi wrestles with in this profoundly moving, exquisitely observed memoir. 4/5.

32. Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves - P.G. Wodehouse
Wondering what Wodehouse smoked before writing books. Pu la deshpande once mentioned that p g is his guru, after reading this book I had say there is no doubt about it, outrageous, hilarious and the best book in Bertie Jeeves series.

33. The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad - Twinkle Khanna
This was an easy read, a movie is also made on this book. Liked it. 3.5/5

34. Indian Superfoods - Rujuta Diwekar
It is interesting that yoga became cool only when the West embraced it. This book made me realize that billions of Indians are doing the same about food...blindly following trends of the West. I am not saying that everything that comes out of west is 'evil' (I mean, I'm writing this because of the West). But sometimes, it is nice to question what we have been taught. In my family I have seen my grandparents, parents living a healthy life with trim figures, how did they manage to do that? they don't follow any trends, dietitians or nutritionists. We already know the science, it is passed on to us from so many generations. Indian food is superfood, I have always been a believer of that. Loved Loved Loved this book. Highly recommended. 5/5

35. Kosla - Bhalachandra Nemade
I have the same feeling as I had for Catcher in the Rye (Kosla is 'inspired' by it). WTF did I just read? Nemade has received a Padma Shri and is a well renowned writer. You can give this book a try if you want, and let me know how it goes :). 2/5.

Book Reviews 2017.6

Reviewing books that I read in 2017.

26. Keys to Great Writing - Stephen Wilbers
From grammar rules to revision strategies, you'll find the crucial information you need in short, easy-to-browse sections that enable you to hone your own signature writing approach. 3/5.

27. Red Rising - Pierce Brown
Gave up half way, dystopian future... not my genre, otherwise the book has very good ratings.

28. The Great Escape - Fiona Gibson
Gibson's stories are about really mundane things like in mum on the run - a mother of 3 decides to start running every
day and lose some weight, in this book 3 friends meet after a long time and how it changes their lives in small possible ways. I love the way Gibson develops the scenes and the plot, there isn't a moment when I feel bored when reading her books, she has a good writing style. 4/5.

29. The Whistler - John Grishm
Predictable, boring, expected better from Grisham. 2/5.

30. Behind closed doors - B.A. Paris
It is a fast-paced, pulpy read that plays with your emotions without ever making you think too hard. I could not put it down. 4/5.

Socially Accepted Sexism - New Video

Lucky Basta**s!

I do not envy anyone, not anymore, not after junior college. I am content with all I have or don't have. I am willing to work hard to accomplish what I want so there is no reason to envy.

But lately, I have started feeling envious of some writers who have the power to express freely.

I want to be a loose cannon when writing, I want to write whatever comes to my mind without thinking twice and I was going to when I started this blog because I never expected anyone would read it :-)

But slowly that changed and now hundreds (I was gonna say millions but that would be the height of exaggeration) following my blog and judging me on the basis of the mere two paragraphs that they read here ... in spite of not having met me in years ... or even worse, have never met me in life but somehow found my blog. Maybe they think I am this deep serious person or probably a vain person spending time on clothes.

This is where I wonder don't other writers/ bloggers ever have such problems? How do they manage to give explicit access to people who might be on their blogs just for gossip and not necessarily the content, or may be judging them, falling in love or hate with them... and how do the bloggers provide opinions, information without worrying about who will be hurt in the process? How do they write without feeling scared of being misread/ misinterpreted/ misrepresented?


Those are the writers whom I envy.  Lucky Basta**s!