Posts tagged Book Reviews

Books You Need to Pick Up in 2024

I’m a little late on my top picks, book recommendations if you will, from last year but hey what else is new. I told myself in 2024, I go back to writing for myself but that was also what I told myself at the end of 2022. But here I am, making another attempt to steer away from the endless corporate and creative writing I do 6 days a week at my job.

Up first, a few stats to get those juices flowing.

✦ I read a total of 72 books in 2023

✦ Out of which 40 were eBooks on my beloved, Kindle aka Mr. K

✦ 17 were hardcovers

✦ And 15 were paperbacks

Not bad for someone who claims to prefer reading on her Kindle but could definitely do better. I did go on a ‘Book Buying Ban’ after my Birthday Book Haul this year but more on that later.

✦ Only 15 were nonfiction — which is definitely concerning but on the flip side, I did read quite a bunch of Children’s Literature which was surely an unspoken, reading goal of mine for the year.

My Favorite Reads from 2023

So, out of all the books I read last year, not necessarily published in 2023, here’s what should be on top of your TBR pile:

𖦹 Every damn book by Claire Keegan — I read 3 of her titles last year and I’m a fan. She offers you a blend of evocative prose and poignant storytelling. Such nuanced characters, and human relationships that leave you breathless. I often find myself in awe and disgust (at the same time) with humans after reading her short but immersive worlds. If you fancy human emotions and the complexities of human relationships, then do yourself a favor and pick any (preferably all) of these: Small Things Like These, Foster and So Late in the Day.

𖦹 Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout — She is such a celebrated author, I doubt anything I say will add to her glory but I can tell you this, after reading this book, I was emotionally charged. She writes with such simplicity but manages to shake you to your very core. If you are not a fan of Pandemic Books, then steer clear of this one but any other title of hers promises to fill you with empathy, which to be honest, we can all use, especially in the world today. Pick this one up, if you are interested in an in-depth understanding of the human condition.

𖦹 Detective Kosuke Kindaichi #8: The Devil’s Flute Murders by Seishi Yokomizo, Jim Rion (Translator) — Are you guys actually surprised to see this here? In 2022, Death on Gokumon Island (Detective Kosuke Kindaichi, #4) was a let down but Pushkin Press knew which one to pick up next, and the latest left me wanting more, all over again. The scruffy detective is back this time in a post-war Tokyo navigating multiple murders, ghostly visitations and a haunting melody. My Top Tip to reading the Kindaichi books: take a photograph of the dramatis-personae (list of characters) from the start of the novel because you will go back multiple of times owing to a huge cast of characters.

𖦹 Cormoran Strike #7: The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith — Just like my last pick, the last installment of this series too left me feeling underwhelmed. But boy did Rowling redeem herself or what. The Running Grave is now officially one of my top 3 from the series, this one kept me on the edge, and I found myself screaming at the page often. I inhaled this massive tome rather than sleep for a few nights, not to mention the last chapter made me gasp out loud. For fans of Strike and Robin, this book wasn’t long enough and the mystery was CHEF’S KISS!

Honorary Mentions

Time now for a few special shoutouts that did not give me a book-hangover but are great recommendations for a diverse reading experience.

✿ The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
✿ The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji, Ho-Ling Wong (Translator)
✿ Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
✿ A Dire Isle by R.V. Raman
✿ Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson
✿ Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, Eric Ozawa (Translator)
✿ The Murder of Twelve by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land
✿ Welcome to Paradise by Twinkle Khanna
✿ Highlands Christmas by Amy Quick Parrish

And now for an opinion that is synonymous with the entire Book Community on the Internet, books by Freida McFadden are creepy but easy thrillers. You’ll more or less know what went downhill but you will still be glued to the pages. Her books are easy one-sitting reads and supremely delicious for a cold, cold night. I read 3 of hers this last year: The Housemaid (The Housemaid, #1), Never Lie and The Gift.

I genuinely believe these titles will challenge your perspective on nuances of the human experience, and grip you in the best way possible.

I wish you moments of pure escape, and a world filled with peace, health and joy.

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

Best & Worst Books of 2018

It is that time of the year folks, where we all get excited to share our best books and not-so-best reads of the year. And without further ado let’s get down and dirty!

I managed to compile a mid year reading wrap-up, earlier this year, and thus the following list will be more precise and compact but feel free to browse through that one before you continue on. And also the books mentioned down below are not necessarily published in 2018 just the ones I read this year.

Best Books of 2018

Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag & Srinath Perur

My very first fantastic read of the year, no doubt was Ghachar Ghochar written by Vivek Shanbhag and translated by Srinath Perur. This is a little book packing a humongous punch, if you are looking for a short story and a powerful narrative about family ties, and the grand scheme of things then you can be certain this one will not disappoint you. I went with 5 stars.

Publisher: Harper Perennial
Available in Pakistan

Crazy Rich Asians (Crazy Rich Asians #1) by Kevin Kwan

Up next we have a book, almost everyone on Earth knows by now, that’s right we are talking about Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. If you are looking for a beach read with glamour, drama and gossip, pick this one up and thank me later! I gave it 5 stars.

Publisher: Corvus
(Easily) Available in Pakistan

Holding by Graham Norton

A small-town setting and an Irish village guard who has to plough through heaps, and heaps of gossip to uncover answers that just might save his career and his life. This one was definitely a surprise for me, first book by Graham Norton and the attention to detail was just absolutely perfect, I went with 4 stars.

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Available in Pakistan

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

You. need. this. book. in. your. life. Enough said!

Small town setting, domestic thriller, suburban drama, call it whatever, Ng outshines in this one and you will literally not know what hit you whilst knowing every single thing! And if you don’t know what the firetruck I am taking about then pick up the book today and let’s make a spoiler chat group! I went with 5, big, shiny stars.

Publisher: Abacus
Available in Pakistan

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

An author who pays homage to Christie like no other! If you are into sharp but easy mysteries/thrillers that can be devoured in one sitting then you’ve got to pick up this book! Lapena creates the ideal atmosphere for a cold, cold night, it is the perfect combination of clever and witty and if you are looking for a character-driven-thriller then what are you waiting for? I went with 4.5 stars.

Publisher: Bantam Press
Available in Pakistan

Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie 

Remember all the dystopians that hit the market right after The Hunger Games and the Divergent series? I had read them all and was tired of the chosen-one theme but then Matched came along! And I think the reason why I enjoyed this one so much is because it is JUST a love story, people fighting in the name of love and not to create a rebellion against the newly-formed government against the backdrop of a futuristic society. Pick this one up if you are looking for a YA series with love, trauma and lot of pining! I went with 4 stars.

Publisher: Penguin 
(Easily) Available in Pakistan

Blood on Snow (Blood on Snow #1) by Jo Nesbø 

‘Crime by the Book’ talks about Jo Nesbo all the time! And this year when I finally saw one in my local bookstore, I picked it up and realised that years and years of wax lyrical for Nesbo weren’t nearly enough! This one is particularly a slim novel and is a stand-alone from Jo Nesbo, not a Scandinavian murder mystery, but most definitely still Nordic Noir. Its takes you on a dark and gritty journey into underworld of Oslo and I promise, you won’t be able to put this one down! I went with 4.5 stars.

How to Live Plastic Free: A Day in the Life of a Plastic Detox by Marine Conservation SocietyLuca Bonaccorsi, Richard Harrington & Clare Fscher

I could write a whole, different blog post about this book and I think I’ll do just that! For the record, I went with 5 stars.

And that’s about it! Unfortunately it was a year of disappointments for me in terms of reading but I did stumble upon a few stories that were good but didn’t live up to name in the very end. Here are some honourable mentions, many of which didn’t make the cut by just a mere point:

Autumn (Seasonal #1) by Ali Smith (Literary Fiction)

Sidney Sheldon’s Reckless (Tracy Whitney #3) by Tilly Bagshawe (Thriller, Suspense)

A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind by Shoukei Matsumoto (Nonfiction, Philosophy, Self Help)

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus (Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery)

The Right Time by Danielle Steel (Adult Fiction, Romance)

The Exact Opposite of Okay (Untitled #1) by Laura Steven (Young Adult, Contemporary, Feminism) 

The Good Doctor of Warsaw by Elisabeth Gifford (Historical Fiction)

Sea of Strangers by Lang Leav (Poetry, Contemporary)

Pyjamas are Forgiving by Twinkle Khanna (Contemporary, Indian Literature)

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (Women’s Fiction, Contemporary)

The Girl in Room 105 by Chetan Bhagat (Mystery, Indian Literature)

Love Her Wild by Atticus Poetry (Poetry, Romance, Contemporary)

Worst Books of 2018

As I mentioned earlier, this year, I came face-to-face with many disappointments, story-lines that were unable to draw me in and/or authors that just didn’t do anything for me. Here’s a quick look at the worst reads of my year:

Parker Pyne Investigates by Agatha Christie (Detective Fiction)

Artemis by Andy Weir (Science Fiction)

This Man (This Man #1) Jodi Ellen Malpas  (Erotica, Contemporary, Romance)

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe #1) by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (Young Adult, LGBTQ Literature, Contemporary)

The Perils of Being Moderately Famous by Soha Ali Khan (Autobiography)

How Do You Like Me Now? by Holly Bourne (Women’s Fiction, Contemporary)

One Perfect Christmas and Other Stories by Paige Toon (Holiday Fiction, Christmas)

And yes folks! We are done with yet another year of reading, I read a total of 64 books which up front might look like a decent number but with the number of blah books I read, I am hoping 2019 brings better. Here’s to a new year of health, joy, prosperity, intentional choices and good reads! See you next year.

 

 

 

MID YEAR WRAP UP 2018 – Best & Worst Books So Far

If we are being completely honest with each other, I am not having a very good year in terms of reading. Half way through 2018, it would only be appropriate to execute a mid-yearly, reading wrap-up and shed some light on the hits and the misses.

It is June 18, 2018 today and so far I’ve managed to read 29 books which is my standard average each year. I strive to read at least 30 books by the time June closes and then look forward to another 30 during the colder months.

Summer is in full swing but it has never been my peak-reading-season, partially because it is associated with beach reads, and chick literature and I cannot get my head around the genre. Although one can opt for other genres but I prefer to keep my favorite (Mysteries & Murder Mysteries) for the second half of the year but this year, I did find my preference for the blazing sun, suburban books. Small town – everything is not what it seems kind of stories.

Time to rewind…

Best Books of 2018 so Far

Autumn (Seasonal #1) by Ali Smith

Fist installment of a quartet by Ali Smith, I began my reading year (literally) with Autumn and it was gorgeous with a capital G. If you prefer to read more of a linear plot then look away this one is not for you as it is multi-layered and talks about everything from love to friendship and from art to ageing. This is considered to be one of the first Brexit books and does focus on the geo-political atmosphere of our times – if that isn’t your cup of tea, you might want to skip this entirely.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdaIKDtlmZL/

The novel moves back and forth between past and present and indulges in the friendship between a little girl, Elisabeth (with an S) Demand (from the French, Du Monde) and elderly gentlemen, Daniel. At first you have no idea what is going on or what you are reading. It took me almost half the book to get a grip on the symbolism and requires a bit patience and perseverance from the reader. But once you are committed, you will be face to face with a potent story of changing times, growing old, art and discovering feminism. If you are into British Pop Art, you will absolutely devour this book!

I gave this book 3.5 stars and at the risk of sounding criminal, I think this is more like Wuthering Heights, one time isn’t enough to understand its true beauty. I think you’ve give it due time to let it sink in while peeling each layer with great sympathy and honor.

Publisher: Penguin
Available in Pakistan

Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag & Translated by Srinath Perur

Up next we’ve a book by Vivek Shanbhag that blew my mind from the word go! I discovered this treasure cove thanks to Ariel Bissett and I am so grateful to have this in my collection. It explores the journey of a close-knit family from nothing to everything and in no time at all.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BedB4j0FOuk/

First published in 2013 in the South Indian language of Kannada and with only 115 pages this book is a powerhouse dealing with money and how it runs through our veins like blood, affecting each and every thread of our very existence.

It’s all Ghachar Ghochar – a tangled mess and as a reader I found the mess quite enthralling. This story is told from one of the family member’s point of view, which remains unnamed throughout the book, and recollects his thoughts in a single day at a local coffee house in modern-day India.

If you are into short but powerful stories, this one is definitely for you. I gave it 5 stars and here’s hoping you’ll be inclined to pick this one as your next read.

Publisher: Harper Perennial
Available in Pakistan

Crazy Rich Asians (Crazy Rich Asians #1) by Kevin Kwan

As I mentioned earlier, I am not into ‘chick literature’, I cannot stand female friendships and the drama that surrounds these relationships, but did Kevin Kwan took me by surprise or what?! This book is addictive and downright dramatic, if you enjoy family dramas and the entire gossip central then this is for you.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BihFPUhnjV7

It was rib-tickling from page 1 and gets you hooked like some aunt at a wedding who just unearthed a filthy secret about the bride. You will find yourself among filthy, rich Asian families in Singapore with priceless jewels, extravagant backdrops and soiled secrets plus a couple of sordid escapades here and there as well. Over 400 pages but you will find yourself hungry for more as soon as you hit the last page. Thank God for squeals, right?

The book-to-movie adaption is ready to hit the theatres in August but I implore you to read the book first, trust me, the trailer says it all, they destroyed the book. How can Kevin stand to see such a disaster? But I guess this is a debate for another day.

I went with 5 stars for this one as well and if you are looking for a funny book and some light literature, make sure this is your seasonal pick. You can thank me later on Twitter perhaps!

Publisher: Corvus
Available in Pakistan

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

OH My Lord! I can finally talk about this book!

When you wait to get your hands on a book for over 12 months there is a certain kind of expectation that grows and this book made sure I was delighted to my very core. In the last year or so, whosoever has read this book has waxed lyrical about it and I am about to do the same.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjMzy_BlCNS/

Small-town plots and politics seem to be my beach reads for the season, Little Fires Everywhere is packed with vibrant and vivid characters that make it very easy to connect with, and quite possibly be horrifying as well. You will find yourself amongst situations that are too close to reality for your own good. With a backdrop of child adoption this books takes you through many upheavals of society and makes you question your choices at each turn. And as a surprise, a small mystery at its heart left me smitten with her words.

The author writes with great empathy making it raw and all the more convincing. If you are looking for a story that delves into the intricacies of love, sacrifice and resolve then this will be surely a treat. I gave this one 5 stars and very much excited to read Ng’s other novel, Everything I Never Told You.

Publisher: Abacus
(Finally) Available in Pakistan

Holding by Graham Norton

Another small-town setting and a village guard who has to plough through heaps, and heaps of gossip to uncover answers that just might save his career and his life.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi9Z_uTFiHG/

I was pleasantly surprised by Graham Norton with this one and did not expect beautiful narration of troubled relationships of this remote, Irish town. If you are looking for a book that is driven entirely by characters then this is the read for you. You will find the suspense to be a little off but nonetheless the characters will ensure your attention throughout.

Although this is an easy, one-sitting book, at times, it does get dark but the brooding atmosphere does not take from the overall enjoyment. Holding makes for an excellent ‘book club’ read as there is plenty to revel about and cook up conjectures along the way. I went with 4 stars.

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Available in Pakistan

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

I just finished reading this book and was delighted to see young adult fiction talking more about than just soul mates and coming of age milieu.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkC99U8lAzM/

This is basically a murder mystery set in a high-school with four suspects who are about to discover more than just the truth. The author did something incredible with stereotypical high-school characters and gave them substance. I cannot talk more about the book without ruining the plot but I will say this – considering the turbulent times we are experiencing makes One of Us Is Lying a truly relevant and addictive read.

If this book turns into a TV show, it will be ruling charts and hearts alike. I gave it 4 stars. And also this one is perfect for weekend-binge-reading!

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Available in Pakistan

Unfortunately, other than these mentioned titles, I was left with many good but mediocre books and if you are still reading this, I think it is only wise to talk about a couple others that left me speechless and not in a good way.

Worst Books of 2018 so Far

Parker Pyne Investigates by Agatha Christie

I never thought I’d be alive to see this author under this sub-heading but sadly Christie left me no choice.
I am going to make it short and unpleasant; bland plot-lines, bored characters and a dishonest protagonist makes this for a disappointing read. Period!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Be-yr5VlwUo/

Publisher: Harper Collins and/or Fontana
Available in Pakistan (Mine is a Pre-loved Copy)

Artemis by Andy Weir

I never knew disappointment like Artemis before and that is just sad. After The Martian, I anticipated science and space, and all I found was welding, some more welding and an annoying protagonist. And don’t even get me started on the forced and unnecessary details.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgL2WURnTI-/

Publisher: Del Rey
Available in Pakistan

And that’s all folks!

Here’s hoping for a more exciting and enlightening second-half of 2018 preferably with some memorable books. Until then…

Happy Reading!