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anusha_reads's reviews
418 reviews
Wild Houses by Colin Barrett
medium-paced
4.0
BOOK#8 WILD HOUSES, COLIN BARRETT, LONGLISTED FOR #BOOKERPRIZE2024
The story revolves around a deal gone awry and a subsequent kidnapping, through which a group of drug dealers tries to force payment owed to them. Doll is kidnapped because his brother Cillian messes up a deal. The entire story is conversational, and we learn about the lives of various characters as they talk.
‘BY THE END HE ALMOST BEGAN TO MISS CALMER’S BEATINGS, BECAUSE THE BEATINGS AT LEAST INVOLVED HUMAN CONTACT. CALMER HAD SEEMED TO HATE DEV, BUT HATE WAS AT LEAST AN INVESTMENT OF SENTIMENT, AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. NOW DEV HAD NOTHING AND NO ONE. HE FELT LIKE HE WAS BECOMING TRANSPARENT, HIS SKIN AND ORGANS TURNING TO GLASS.’
I was particularly drawn to the characters Dev and Nicky, Doll’s girlfriend, due to the struggles and hardships they faced. Dev is a young man suffering from depression and anxiety. Although he is physically large, he doesn’t use his size to protect himself and instead gets pushed around at school. He now lives alone in his house after the recent death of his mother. This house is used by a group of thugs for their misdeeds, as well as for hiding the victim, Doll.
Nicky, the girl, works as a waitress at a bar/restaurant. She is portrayed as a patient, hardworking girl who loves Doll. Nicky excels in her studies and dreams of attending college.
Colin Barrett brings this incident to life with flowing dialogues, and he effectively brings the characters of the small-time criminals to life, depicting their behaviors and interactions with striking realism. Despite being a short book, it covers the few days during which the deal unfolds.
While I appreciate the effort and creativity that went into writing this book, it didn’t quite resonate with me. Of course, this is just my personal opinion, and others may feel differently. Though it's an engaging read, it doesn't fully capture the complexity or depth I tend to expect from a Booker Prize longlisted novel.
The story revolves around a deal gone awry and a subsequent kidnapping, through which a group of drug dealers tries to force payment owed to them. Doll is kidnapped because his brother Cillian messes up a deal. The entire story is conversational, and we learn about the lives of various characters as they talk.
‘BY THE END HE ALMOST BEGAN TO MISS CALMER’S BEATINGS, BECAUSE THE BEATINGS AT LEAST INVOLVED HUMAN CONTACT. CALMER HAD SEEMED TO HATE DEV, BUT HATE WAS AT LEAST AN INVESTMENT OF SENTIMENT, AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. NOW DEV HAD NOTHING AND NO ONE. HE FELT LIKE HE WAS BECOMING TRANSPARENT, HIS SKIN AND ORGANS TURNING TO GLASS.’
I was particularly drawn to the characters Dev and Nicky, Doll’s girlfriend, due to the struggles and hardships they faced. Dev is a young man suffering from depression and anxiety. Although he is physically large, he doesn’t use his size to protect himself and instead gets pushed around at school. He now lives alone in his house after the recent death of his mother. This house is used by a group of thugs for their misdeeds, as well as for hiding the victim, Doll.
Nicky, the girl, works as a waitress at a bar/restaurant. She is portrayed as a patient, hardworking girl who loves Doll. Nicky excels in her studies and dreams of attending college.
Colin Barrett brings this incident to life with flowing dialogues, and he effectively brings the characters of the small-time criminals to life, depicting their behaviors and interactions with striking realism. Despite being a short book, it covers the few days during which the deal unfolds.
While I appreciate the effort and creativity that went into writing this book, it didn’t quite resonate with me. Of course, this is just my personal opinion, and others may feel differently. Though it's an engaging read, it doesn't fully capture the complexity or depth I tend to expect from a Booker Prize longlisted novel.
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
BOOK#7 THE SAFEKEEP, YAEL VAN DER WOUDEN, LONGLISTED FOR #BOOKERPRIZE2024
I'm thoroughly enjoying the diverse and eclectic selection of books on this year's longlist. Another book I enjoyed reading was The Safekeep.
The story centers around a house and three siblings, with Isabel, the one who lives there, taking on the role of caretaker. Isabel is meticulous, going to great lengths to maintain the house and everything in it—cleaning, dusting, polishing, and even counting and listing every item. She exudes a strong sense of orderliness and possessiveness.
Set in the 1960s in rural Netherlands, the heart of the book is the house itself, which Isabel is deeply connected to.
‘SHE BELONGED TO THE HOUSE IN THE SENSE THAT SHE HAD NOTHING ELSE, NO OTHER LIFE THAN THE HOUSE, BUT THE HOUSE, BY ITSELF, DID NOT BELONG TO HER.’
This enthralling debut features atmospheric writing, intriguing characters, and a plot twist that took me by surprise. Isabel, a lonely woman, is portrayed with all her quirks, obsessions, rigidity, boundaries, and compulsions, making her a character you might initially dislike.
What happens when two women, different in many ways, are forced to live together? Conflict, resistance, personal growth, or bonding might ensue.
Isabel’s brother Louis, a womanizer, brings his girlfriend Eva and informs Isabel that Eva will stay with her until he returns. The author skillfully depicts Isabel’s initial hatred, suspicion, and contempt for Eva, which eventually transforms into love. The book includes some steamy scenes and an unexpected twist that I didn’t foresee. I thoroughly enjoyed the ending.
One part I found particularly endearing was how Isabel, as a child, took care of her brother Hendrik and how she misses him after he leaves the house.
This book is divided into three parts, with most of the narrative in the third person, though some sections are presented as diary entries.
It’s a historical, queer novel that’s a fast read—a real page-turner.
Enlightenment by Sarah Perry
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
BOOK#6 ENLIGHTENMENT, SARAH PERRY, LONGLISTED FOR #BOOKERPRIZE2024
The protagonist, Thomas Hart, a bachelor in his fifties and a columnist for the Essex Chronicle, is asked by his editor to write about the Hale-Bopp comet. He then receives a letter requesting him to look into the matter of a missing lady, Maria Vaduva. Thus begins a quest to unravel the mystery, and Thomas delves into the mysteries of the universe as well. The author beautifully depicts Thomas's anguish as he is unable to bring closure to the ongoing search of Maria Vaduva. I’m still a bit unclear about her disappearance - was this perhaps intentional?
Thomas is a friend and a father figure to a girl named Grace, just seventeen. I loved their relationship, which was filled with concern and love for each other. A major part of the book revolves around Grace, who is very pious, unassuming, and unstylish.
The characters are portrayed with peculiarities, flaws, inhibitions, fears, doubts, and unrequited love.
What swept me away were the Gothic undertones, which perfectly created an atmosphere of wilderness, the unknown, and ghosts. I fell in love with the rich and detailed prose.
Sarah Perry is a British author who grew up in a strict Baptist family and projects the religious turmoils of the characters in the novel. The book is filled with a lot of theological discussions about faith, belief, fear, love, and debates, good versus bad, sin versus virtue, ethical versus unethical; all of which were interesting.
Religion and being religious are very personal, and they differ from person to person. The author explores how people approach their daily lives based on these values. There are values, and there are temptations that might cause people to shun the learned doctrines. How far can people go within or beyond their religious ken? We see the cusp of change in people as they go about their worldly pursuits.
ENLIGHTENMENT subtly echoes the theme of POSSESSION BY A.S. BYATT. Both books share a captivating journey of research and discovery and are driven by the search for information about a person.
The book is divided into three parts, with Kepler's laws as their titles, symbolizing the astronomical journey undertaken by Thomas. Though the novel embarks on a quest to unravel the mystery of a missing lady, the core of the book deals with spiritual internal struggles, unrequited love, loneliness, and life per se. The book had a strong start and finish, though the middle section felt a bit slower.
Much of the book reads like articles, letters and emails. The prose is exquisite, filled with symbolism, and may not explicitly provide answers to everything. Were they looking at stars that hold our destiny?
If you like a blend of astronomy, Gothic elements, historical fiction, and missing-person mysteries, this is your book!
The protagonist, Thomas Hart, a bachelor in his fifties and a columnist for the Essex Chronicle, is asked by his editor to write about the Hale-Bopp comet. He then receives a letter requesting him to look into the matter of a missing lady, Maria Vaduva. Thus begins a quest to unravel the mystery, and Thomas delves into the mysteries of the universe as well. The author beautifully depicts Thomas's anguish as he is unable to bring closure to the ongoing search of Maria Vaduva. I’m still a bit unclear about her disappearance - was this perhaps intentional?
Thomas is a friend and a father figure to a girl named Grace, just seventeen. I loved their relationship, which was filled with concern and love for each other. A major part of the book revolves around Grace, who is very pious, unassuming, and unstylish.
The characters are portrayed with peculiarities, flaws, inhibitions, fears, doubts, and unrequited love.
What swept me away were the Gothic undertones, which perfectly created an atmosphere of wilderness, the unknown, and ghosts. I fell in love with the rich and detailed prose.
Sarah Perry is a British author who grew up in a strict Baptist family and projects the religious turmoils of the characters in the novel. The book is filled with a lot of theological discussions about faith, belief, fear, love, and debates, good versus bad, sin versus virtue, ethical versus unethical; all of which were interesting.
Religion and being religious are very personal, and they differ from person to person. The author explores how people approach their daily lives based on these values. There are values, and there are temptations that might cause people to shun the learned doctrines. How far can people go within or beyond their religious ken? We see the cusp of change in people as they go about their worldly pursuits.
ENLIGHTENMENT subtly echoes the theme of POSSESSION BY A.S. BYATT. Both books share a captivating journey of research and discovery and are driven by the search for information about a person.
The book is divided into three parts, with Kepler's laws as their titles, symbolizing the astronomical journey undertaken by Thomas. Though the novel embarks on a quest to unravel the mystery of a missing lady, the core of the book deals with spiritual internal struggles, unrequited love, loneliness, and life per se. The book had a strong start and finish, though the middle section felt a bit slower.
Much of the book reads like articles, letters and emails. The prose is exquisite, filled with symbolism, and may not explicitly provide answers to everything. Were they looking at stars that hold our destiny?
If you like a blend of astronomy, Gothic elements, historical fiction, and missing-person mysteries, this is your book!
Held by Anne Michaels
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
BOOK#5 HELD, ANNE MICHAELS, LONGLISTED FOR @BOOKERPRIZE2024
This is the first time I'm reading a book by Anne Micheals, and I feel that I need to read more of her works.
The opening lines of the book:
‘WE KNOW LIFE IS FINITE. WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE DEATH LASTS FOREVER?’
These lines were enough for me to take the plunge!
The narrative is non-linear, with a non-conventional storyline—more of a kaleidoscopic vignette of events that move back and forth, not necessarily in a particular order. This structure made me reread a few parts, sometimes more than once. It is a book that requires patience and needs to be mulled over to fully appreciate.
Places and times change, and connectedness is not something you seek; the sheer beauty lies in its discontinuity. The book is lyrical and reads like a collage of thoughts.
The book is divided into twelve chapters. The story spans from 1903 – 2025, covering four generations, fragmented stories of four strong women.
I thoroughly enjoyed the part about Marie Curie, Nobel laureate and Hertha Ayrton, mathematician, physicist, inventor, and suffragette. Their feminist and scientific and philosophical discussions were enlightening and had a feel-good element to them.
The book is a bouquet of recollections, past events, suffering, dilemmas, arguments about matters that are ethical or otherwise, existential quandaries, life-death, faith, superstition, singularity and duality of nature and much more.
I was very impressed by how the author used mathematical/scientific terms aptly throughout the book, terms like Langrangian, Asymptotic, and more
‘HIS PANIC WAS A CONTINUOUS SURFACE, AN ENDLESSLY REFLECTING PLANE, A MÖBIUS STRIP OR A FLEXAGON, A KLEIN BOTTLE. . .’
‘…THE NON-REPEATING, NON-TERMINATING SEA CAME IN AND IN. . .’
Is memory a continuous function, or do we have a discontinued flow of data? Maybe that’s what the author was trying to portray, the way our brain assimilates information, present and past, and all comes back in bits and pieces.
‘THE ELUSIVENESS OF THE FORM IS THE FORM.’
Although a tough read, it is a brilliant, must-read book!
This is the first time I'm reading a book by Anne Micheals, and I feel that I need to read more of her works.
The opening lines of the book:
‘WE KNOW LIFE IS FINITE. WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE DEATH LASTS FOREVER?’
These lines were enough for me to take the plunge!
The narrative is non-linear, with a non-conventional storyline—more of a kaleidoscopic vignette of events that move back and forth, not necessarily in a particular order. This structure made me reread a few parts, sometimes more than once. It is a book that requires patience and needs to be mulled over to fully appreciate.
Places and times change, and connectedness is not something you seek; the sheer beauty lies in its discontinuity. The book is lyrical and reads like a collage of thoughts.
The book is divided into twelve chapters. The story spans from 1903 – 2025, covering four generations, fragmented stories of four strong women.
I thoroughly enjoyed the part about Marie Curie, Nobel laureate and Hertha Ayrton, mathematician, physicist, inventor, and suffragette. Their feminist and scientific and philosophical discussions were enlightening and had a feel-good element to them.
The book is a bouquet of recollections, past events, suffering, dilemmas, arguments about matters that are ethical or otherwise, existential quandaries, life-death, faith, superstition, singularity and duality of nature and much more.
I was very impressed by how the author used mathematical/scientific terms aptly throughout the book, terms like Langrangian, Asymptotic, and more
‘HIS PANIC WAS A CONTINUOUS SURFACE, AN ENDLESSLY REFLECTING PLANE, A MÖBIUS STRIP OR A FLEXAGON, A KLEIN BOTTLE. . .’
‘…THE NON-REPEATING, NON-TERMINATING SEA CAME IN AND IN. . .’
Is memory a continuous function, or do we have a discontinued flow of data? Maybe that’s what the author was trying to portray, the way our brain assimilates information, present and past, and all comes back in bits and pieces.
‘THE ELUSIVENESS OF THE FORM IS THE FORM.’
Although a tough read, it is a brilliant, must-read book!
There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
THERE ARE RIVERS IN THE SKY, ELIF SHAFAK
Elif Shafak is a Turkish - British author and activist who has written many novels in both English and Turkish. Some of her novels that I have read and thoroughly enjoyed are The Bastard of Istanbul, Forty Rules of Love, Three Daughters of Eve, Honour, The Island of Missing Trees, 10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in this Strange World ( shortlisted for 2019 @thebookerprize). Her non-fiction work, How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division, was enlightening.
The historical epic fiction ‘There are Rivers in the Sky’ kept calling to me. I rushed to buy it and paused all other reading only to just dive into it. This explores the themes of history, connectivity, loss, and helplessness and the vital ingredient of life: water.
‘WATER REMEMBERS. IT IS HUMANS WHO FORGET.’
The novel begins with the Assyrian scholar-king Ashurbanipal, who is renowned for his vast library and feared as a tyrant. His extensive kingdom, including the library and the Epic of Gilgamesh, inscribed on Lapis Lazuli, is ultimately destroyed.
The three main characters of the book are King Author, Narin, and Zaleekhah. They are connected like a water molecule. A water molecule has a polar covalent bond, and the hydrogen atoms and the oxygen atom are not linear but at an angle.
‘IF IT WERE LINEAR, THERE WOULD BE NO LIFE ON EARTH . . . NO STORIES TO TELL’
The author mentions at the end of the book that King Arthur, a walking encyclopedia, is a character based on the real person George Smith, the ‘intellectual picklock’, a nationally known figure who not only discovered and translated the Epic of Gilgamesh but also dedicated his life to it.
A little girl, Narin, lives in Hasankyf. She is Yazidi and lives with her grandmother, who keeps her enthralled with her magical stories of yore.
Zaleekhah is a hydrologist going through a divorce.
Don't we all love it when a book is about a book or an author? The appearance of Charles Dickens in this novel made the story more interesting. A note at the end justifies the events relating to Charles Dickens.
What is at the epicentre of the story? That would be Water and Nineveh(Assyrian city).
Despite the cultural or religious differences, since time immemorial, humans have always been connected, through water - whether it is a river, a lake, or a well - there is a link.
Pollution, global warming, and other environmental issues have a detrimental impact on the life cycle of species on earth. The most precious element that makes this planet livable is becoming polluted, not only causing suffering to other species but also creating problems for humans. The book makes us question our disregard for water.
The beautiful cover depicts the infamous water drop, and it is the colour of Lapis Lazuli, the tablet on which the Epic of Gilgamesh was engraved.
Elif Shafak brilliantly knits together a lyrical tale that connects water, three people, and Nineveh. It is a book which you wouldn’t mind picking up again and again for the wisdom it imparts, well-researched facts, fascinating storyline, fluid writing and relatable, heartfelt quotes!
Elif Shafak is a Turkish - British author and activist who has written many novels in both English and Turkish. Some of her novels that I have read and thoroughly enjoyed are The Bastard of Istanbul, Forty Rules of Love, Three Daughters of Eve, Honour, The Island of Missing Trees, 10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in this Strange World ( shortlisted for 2019 @thebookerprize). Her non-fiction work, How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division, was enlightening.
The historical epic fiction ‘There are Rivers in the Sky’ kept calling to me. I rushed to buy it and paused all other reading only to just dive into it. This explores the themes of history, connectivity, loss, and helplessness and the vital ingredient of life: water.
‘WATER REMEMBERS. IT IS HUMANS WHO FORGET.’
The novel begins with the Assyrian scholar-king Ashurbanipal, who is renowned for his vast library and feared as a tyrant. His extensive kingdom, including the library and the Epic of Gilgamesh, inscribed on Lapis Lazuli, is ultimately destroyed.
The three main characters of the book are King Author, Narin, and Zaleekhah. They are connected like a water molecule. A water molecule has a polar covalent bond, and the hydrogen atoms and the oxygen atom are not linear but at an angle.
‘IF IT WERE LINEAR, THERE WOULD BE NO LIFE ON EARTH . . . NO STORIES TO TELL’
The author mentions at the end of the book that King Arthur, a walking encyclopedia, is a character based on the real person George Smith, the ‘intellectual picklock’, a nationally known figure who not only discovered and translated the Epic of Gilgamesh but also dedicated his life to it.
A little girl, Narin, lives in Hasankyf. She is Yazidi and lives with her grandmother, who keeps her enthralled with her magical stories of yore.
Zaleekhah is a hydrologist going through a divorce.
Don't we all love it when a book is about a book or an author? The appearance of Charles Dickens in this novel made the story more interesting. A note at the end justifies the events relating to Charles Dickens.
What is at the epicentre of the story? That would be Water and Nineveh(Assyrian city).
Despite the cultural or religious differences, since time immemorial, humans have always been connected, through water - whether it is a river, a lake, or a well - there is a link.
Pollution, global warming, and other environmental issues have a detrimental impact on the life cycle of species on earth. The most precious element that makes this planet livable is becoming polluted, not only causing suffering to other species but also creating problems for humans. The book makes us question our disregard for water.
The beautiful cover depicts the infamous water drop, and it is the colour of Lapis Lazuli, the tablet on which the Epic of Gilgamesh was engraved.
Elif Shafak brilliantly knits together a lyrical tale that connects water, three people, and Nineveh. It is a book which you wouldn’t mind picking up again and again for the wisdom it imparts, well-researched facts, fascinating storyline, fluid writing and relatable, heartfelt quotes!
Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel
adventurous
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
BOOK #4 HEADSHOT, RITA BULLWINKLE, LONGLISTED FOR #BOOKERPRIZE2024
I was a little sceptical about picking up this book, as I thought it would be savage. I'm not a person who enjoys watching such harsh sports. I detest violence, but to my surprise, it turned out to be a very pleasant read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The author has packed a punch in this short book Although it centres around a boxing tournament, the author skilfully portrays the thoughts and feelings of the eight contestants while exploring their pasts and futures.
It feels like watching a stunning act performed by each boxer, with outstanding performances throughout.
Every chapter is a match. In each one, I would predict a particular boxer to win, but my assumptions were always wrong. I couldn’t guess the final winner either. The outcome was unpredictable.
Eight girls from different walks of life come together to fight in the ‘Daughters of America’ tournament. One thing I noticed is that the author refers to the characters by their full names throughout the book. This was something new.
The book paints a vivid picture of how the players work and fight assiduously to win the title, undeterred by the injuries that might render them useless later in life.
These teenage girls are caring; they play hand-clapping games and braid each other's hair. Some are well-trained and come from families of boxers, while others haven't put in as many hours of practice. Some wear makeup and dress well; others don’t bother with their appearance, and some even dress strangely. Despite these differences, they are all energetic, competitive, athletic, focused, and ambitious. One girl has a remarkable memory and can recite the value of pi (π) up to 15 digits. Some are good at defence, some are mobile, some strategize, and some yell when they lose. They are all determined to win the tournament.
It was a great read, contrary to my fears.
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
BOOK #3 ORBITAL, SAMANTHA HARVEY, LONGLISTED FOR #BOOKERPRIZE2024
Six astronauts, one spacecraft, and their journey around the blue dot. Samantha Harvey has brilliantly crafted a novel that explores the psychology of these individuals and their relationship with Mother Earth as they rotate the earth.
The book delves into the lives of astronauts confined within a capsule. It describes how they eat dehydrated food, drink recycled water from urine, sleep while floating, interact with each other, log their experiences, and even watch movies. They miss their families on Earth and exercise to minimize muscular atrophy. One of the crew members develops a tumour but refuses to disclose it, fearing it might jeopardize the mission, forcing others to accompany him back.
The magnitude of the blue dot as viewed from space is profound. Tellurians (Earth dwellers) are seen fighting, creating boundaries, and separating themselves from one another. The book reflects on the paradoxical distance and closeness of Earth.
As Earthlings, we perceive only the land, flora, fauna, and nature around us. However, the book offers a breath-taking perspective of our planet from millions of miles away, highlighting its beauty, flaws, the changing of day to night, the oceans, mountains, fjords, and more.
The astronauts, unable to distinguish day from night as they orbit Earth, adhere to a strict schedule, relying on their watches to remind them of the time of day. The book encourages readers to cherish the remarkable blue dot we call home.
Six astronauts, one spacecraft, and their journey around the blue dot. Samantha Harvey has brilliantly crafted a novel that explores the psychology of these individuals and their relationship with Mother Earth as they rotate the earth.
The book delves into the lives of astronauts confined within a capsule. It describes how they eat dehydrated food, drink recycled water from urine, sleep while floating, interact with each other, log their experiences, and even watch movies. They miss their families on Earth and exercise to minimize muscular atrophy. One of the crew members develops a tumour but refuses to disclose it, fearing it might jeopardize the mission, forcing others to accompany him back.
The magnitude of the blue dot as viewed from space is profound. Tellurians (Earth dwellers) are seen fighting, creating boundaries, and separating themselves from one another. The book reflects on the paradoxical distance and closeness of Earth.
As Earthlings, we perceive only the land, flora, fauna, and nature around us. However, the book offers a breath-taking perspective of our planet from millions of miles away, highlighting its beauty, flaws, the changing of day to night, the oceans, mountains, fjords, and more.
The astronauts, unable to distinguish day from night as they orbit Earth, adhere to a strict schedule, relying on their watches to remind them of the time of day. The book encourages readers to cherish the remarkable blue dot we call home.
My Friends by Hisham Matar
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
BOOK# 2 MY FRIENDS, HISHAM MATAR, LONGLISTED FOR #BOOKERPRIZE2024
Hisham Matar discusses his life in The Return, where he details his father’s abduction by the Gaddafi regime. The Return is a nonfiction book that I read a few years ago. My Friends is a political fiction and a bildungsroman. The book contains 108 short chapters. The author skillfully weaves together books, authors, dreams, letters, and paintings, seamlessly blending them into the storyline.
It’s wonderful to read about three Libyan friends who share similar viewpoints and a deep love for books. They debate obscure literary facts, argue about various topics, and exchange bookish quotes or quips as messages. Khaled, Mustafa, and Hosam form a strong bond over their shared passion. Their love for books is so intense that they visit homes in London associated with Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence, T.S. Eliot, R.L. Stevenson, Joseph Conrad, Ezra Pound, and others. They even sit on a pavement they believe might have been where Dambudzo Marechera made his temporary home. This part, where they discuss books and authors, captivated me entirely. It’s exhilarating to have friends who enjoy the same books.
They all share a love and longing for their homeland, from which they were exiled during the Gaddafi regime. A sense of restlessness and helplessness permeates their conversations about their nation.
The beginning is the end. After finishing the book, I returned to Chapter 1 to better understand the ending. The story, now focusing on the characters in middle age, explores their twenty-year friendship.
This is a book that gradually grows on you, encouraging contemplation. The writing is simple, making it an easy read.
Could this be the one!?
Hisham Matar discusses his life in The Return, where he details his father’s abduction by the Gaddafi regime. The Return is a nonfiction book that I read a few years ago. My Friends is a political fiction and a bildungsroman. The book contains 108 short chapters. The author skillfully weaves together books, authors, dreams, letters, and paintings, seamlessly blending them into the storyline.
It’s wonderful to read about three Libyan friends who share similar viewpoints and a deep love for books. They debate obscure literary facts, argue about various topics, and exchange bookish quotes or quips as messages. Khaled, Mustafa, and Hosam form a strong bond over their shared passion. Their love for books is so intense that they visit homes in London associated with Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence, T.S. Eliot, R.L. Stevenson, Joseph Conrad, Ezra Pound, and others. They even sit on a pavement they believe might have been where Dambudzo Marechera made his temporary home. This part, where they discuss books and authors, captivated me entirely. It’s exhilarating to have friends who enjoy the same books.
They all share a love and longing for their homeland, from which they were exiled during the Gaddafi regime. A sense of restlessness and helplessness permeates their conversations about their nation.
The beginning is the end. After finishing the book, I returned to Chapter 1 to better understand the ending. The story, now focusing on the characters in middle age, explores their twenty-year friendship.
This is a book that gradually grows on you, encouraging contemplation. The writing is simple, making it an easy read.
Could this be the one!?
Simsim by Anita Gopalan, Geet Chaturvedi
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
SIMSIM, GEET CHATURVEDI, Tr. ANITA GOPALAN, LONGLISTED FOR THE JCB PRIZE FOR LITERATURE 2023
A poignant tale of lost love, lost space, and lost time, Geet Chaturvedi weaves a beautiful narrative primarily about the Sindhi refugees after the partition. There is a tattered old book, Basar Mal, Mangan’s Ma, Dil Khush Sambose wallah, and ‘I’ (the unnamed narrator).
Every chapter has an epigraph, an interesting quote from famous books.
‘EACH OF US IS INCOMPLETE IN SOME CORNER OF THE WORLD: AN INFINITE LIMITLESS WORLD THAT IS ITSELF INCIMPLETE, WITHOUT BEGINNING OR END.’
The highlight of the book was Basar Mal, his life being a constant struggle. Basar Mal, an old Sindhi in Bombay now, has left everything behind due to partition, his land, family, and love. He owns a dilapidated library visited by very few people.
Dil Khush, who sells tea and snacks, has a shop close to the library, and it's often crowded.
Basar Mal’s wife, Mangan’s Ma, whom he fondly calls Jalo, is obsessed with cleanliness and washing. ‘
I,’ the unnamed narrator, is a young graduate with an imaginative girlfriend. He frequently argues with his father.
The tattered book has its own voice, feeling almost magical like the Simsim. Its stories, whether about death or the Chakwa-Chakwi tale, add colour to the book. One story that made a place in my heart was about a beautiful girl named Neel Sar, drawing parallels between her life and books. The book speaks of its highs and lows, history and politics, life, and death.
‘I AM FOND OF BASAR MAL. I AM FOND OF EVERY PERSON THAT READS BOOKS, KEEPS BOOKS, LOVES BOOKS.’- the book.
Dreams unfulfilled, songs unsung, minds with innumerable thoughts and memories, a broken heart, the story is about impermanence, inconsistency, and vagueness of life. With innumerable quotable quotes, the book is a slow read, but it is worth mulling over and rereading to understand the nuances hidden between the lines.
The translator has done a wonderful job, making it seamless for the reader, as if it were originally written in English.
'WHEN PEOPLE WE LOVE CEASE TO BE, WE TRY TO SEEK THEM IN OBJECTS. THAT'S THE REASON WE FALL IN LOVE WITH OBJECTS THE SAME AS WITH PEOPLE. '
A poignant tale of lost love, lost space, and lost time, Geet Chaturvedi weaves a beautiful narrative primarily about the Sindhi refugees after the partition. There is a tattered old book, Basar Mal, Mangan’s Ma, Dil Khush Sambose wallah, and ‘I’ (the unnamed narrator).
Every chapter has an epigraph, an interesting quote from famous books.
‘EACH OF US IS INCOMPLETE IN SOME CORNER OF THE WORLD: AN INFINITE LIMITLESS WORLD THAT IS ITSELF INCIMPLETE, WITHOUT BEGINNING OR END.’
The highlight of the book was Basar Mal, his life being a constant struggle. Basar Mal, an old Sindhi in Bombay now, has left everything behind due to partition, his land, family, and love. He owns a dilapidated library visited by very few people.
Dil Khush, who sells tea and snacks, has a shop close to the library, and it's often crowded.
Basar Mal’s wife, Mangan’s Ma, whom he fondly calls Jalo, is obsessed with cleanliness and washing. ‘
I,’ the unnamed narrator, is a young graduate with an imaginative girlfriend. He frequently argues with his father.
The tattered book has its own voice, feeling almost magical like the Simsim. Its stories, whether about death or the Chakwa-Chakwi tale, add colour to the book. One story that made a place in my heart was about a beautiful girl named Neel Sar, drawing parallels between her life and books. The book speaks of its highs and lows, history and politics, life, and death.
‘I AM FOND OF BASAR MAL. I AM FOND OF EVERY PERSON THAT READS BOOKS, KEEPS BOOKS, LOVES BOOKS.’- the book.
Dreams unfulfilled, songs unsung, minds with innumerable thoughts and memories, a broken heart, the story is about impermanence, inconsistency, and vagueness of life. With innumerable quotable quotes, the book is a slow read, but it is worth mulling over and rereading to understand the nuances hidden between the lines.
The translator has done a wonderful job, making it seamless for the reader, as if it were originally written in English.
'WHEN PEOPLE WE LOVE CEASE TO BE, WE TRY TO SEEK THEM IN OBJECTS. THAT'S THE REASON WE FALL IN LOVE WITH OBJECTS THE SAME AS WITH PEOPLE. '
Everything the Light Touches by Janice Pariat
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
EVERYTHING THE LIGHT TOUCHES, JANICE PARIAT, LONGLISTED FOR JCB PRIZE FOR LITERATURE 2023
Everything the Light Touches is a fabulous piece of art that I thoroughly enjoyed. Not only does it traverse through history, but it also offers a depth of information and richness in writing. The novel is rife with lush greenery and evokes the smell of wet tree trunks, damp moss, and petrichor, making it feel like a walk through the wilderness. I am so glad to have read it after my friend.
The author experiments with different forms of narratives, adding to the overall appeal. Like Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, the novel contains four stories, each pausing and then being narrated in reverse order. The stories feature Shai in the present world, Evelyn in the 20th century, Goethe, the polymath in the late 18th to 19th century, and Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century All characters are on a quest, travelling and trying to unravel the mysteries of nature. They are all nature lovers.
The book makes us reflect on the apathetic attitude of people towards nature, flora, and fauna. I read somewhere that "Globally, we deforest around ten million hectares of forest every year."
“ALL IS LEAF- GOETHE, THE METAMORPHOSIS OF PLANTS”
The research into the perspectives of Gothe and Linnaeus about the leaf and its relation to a plant was fascinating. While Goethe had a philosophical outlook, Linnaeus, as the father of taxonomy, had a more academic perspective, initiating the modern botanical nomenclature. The arguments and discourses between contrasting ideas, examples, and anecdotes were extremely enjoyable.
QOTD: WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE IN THE WILDERNESS, AWAY FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE? WHERE IS/(WILL BE) YOUR DREAM HOUSE ?
Evelyn is a character that I admired for being a strong and determined lady of the 20th century. While women of that era were expected to marry, Evelyn pursued her botanical acumen instead.
“TO HOLD KNOWLEDGE IS TO HOLD RESPONSIBILITY, AND TO KNOW TRULY IS TO KNOW DEEPLY, TO GIVE OF YOURSELF SO THAT THE KNOWING MEANS SOMETHING MORE THAN MERE WORDS. TRUE KNOWING CHANGES YOU; WE BELIEVE YOU CANNOT GO BACK TO HOW YOU WERE IN THE WORLD BEFORE.”
Is it about the journey called life? Is it everybody’s quest? Are we still trying to find what we are looking/seeking in life?
It's an easy read, but it's tough to analyse or interpret a book that requires a reread.
A book that is bound to make an indelible impression.
“WELL, I DO WHAT I DO BECAUSE I AM TRYING TO FIND, NOT THE RIGHT ANSWERS, BUT THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. IT IS MUCH HARDER, I THINK BECAUSE WE MUST LOOK BEYOND OUR SO-CALLED AREA OF SPECIALIZATION, AND TRY TO DRAW FROM THE HISTORY OF SIMPLY EVERYTHING THAT MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN FRAMING THE QUESTION. TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTION IS TO LOOK BEYOND THE BORDERS OF BOTANY AND PHILOSOPHY AND ART AND MYSTICISM SUDDENLY, THEY ALL MATTER, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS HAVE.”
FACT: Wettest place in the world: MAWSYNRAM, MEGHALAYA has avg. annual rainfall of 11871 mm.
2nd in line: CHERRAPUNJI, MEGHALAYA has avg. annual rainfall of 11777 mm.
“BECAUSE FOR MONTHS ON END HERE WE GET SLAP BAM BRIEW,” THE BOY EXPLAINED. “RAIN SO STRONG AND LONG-LASTING IT DOES NOT STOP UNTIL IT HAS TAKEN LIVES.”
Everything the Light Touches is a fabulous piece of art that I thoroughly enjoyed. Not only does it traverse through history, but it also offers a depth of information and richness in writing. The novel is rife with lush greenery and evokes the smell of wet tree trunks, damp moss, and petrichor, making it feel like a walk through the wilderness. I am so glad to have read it after my friend.
The author experiments with different forms of narratives, adding to the overall appeal. Like Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, the novel contains four stories, each pausing and then being narrated in reverse order. The stories feature Shai in the present world, Evelyn in the 20th century, Goethe, the polymath in the late 18th to 19th century, and Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century All characters are on a quest, travelling and trying to unravel the mysteries of nature. They are all nature lovers.
The book makes us reflect on the apathetic attitude of people towards nature, flora, and fauna. I read somewhere that "Globally, we deforest around ten million hectares of forest every year."
“ALL IS LEAF- GOETHE, THE METAMORPHOSIS OF PLANTS”
The research into the perspectives of Gothe and Linnaeus about the leaf and its relation to a plant was fascinating. While Goethe had a philosophical outlook, Linnaeus, as the father of taxonomy, had a more academic perspective, initiating the modern botanical nomenclature. The arguments and discourses between contrasting ideas, examples, and anecdotes were extremely enjoyable.
QOTD: WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE IN THE WILDERNESS, AWAY FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE? WHERE IS/(WILL BE) YOUR DREAM HOUSE ?
Evelyn is a character that I admired for being a strong and determined lady of the 20th century. While women of that era were expected to marry, Evelyn pursued her botanical acumen instead.
“TO HOLD KNOWLEDGE IS TO HOLD RESPONSIBILITY, AND TO KNOW TRULY IS TO KNOW DEEPLY, TO GIVE OF YOURSELF SO THAT THE KNOWING MEANS SOMETHING MORE THAN MERE WORDS. TRUE KNOWING CHANGES YOU; WE BELIEVE YOU CANNOT GO BACK TO HOW YOU WERE IN THE WORLD BEFORE.”
Is it about the journey called life? Is it everybody’s quest? Are we still trying to find what we are looking/seeking in life?
It's an easy read, but it's tough to analyse or interpret a book that requires a reread.
A book that is bound to make an indelible impression.
“WELL, I DO WHAT I DO BECAUSE I AM TRYING TO FIND, NOT THE RIGHT ANSWERS, BUT THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. IT IS MUCH HARDER, I THINK BECAUSE WE MUST LOOK BEYOND OUR SO-CALLED AREA OF SPECIALIZATION, AND TRY TO DRAW FROM THE HISTORY OF SIMPLY EVERYTHING THAT MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN FRAMING THE QUESTION. TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTION IS TO LOOK BEYOND THE BORDERS OF BOTANY AND PHILOSOPHY AND ART AND MYSTICISM SUDDENLY, THEY ALL MATTER, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS HAVE.”
FACT: Wettest place in the world: MAWSYNRAM, MEGHALAYA has avg. annual rainfall of 11871 mm.
2nd in line: CHERRAPUNJI, MEGHALAYA has avg. annual rainfall of 11777 mm.
“BECAUSE FOR MONTHS ON END HERE WE GET SLAP BAM BRIEW,” THE BOY EXPLAINED. “RAIN SO STRONG AND LONG-LASTING IT DOES NOT STOP UNTIL IT HAS TAKEN LIVES.”