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As the name suggest tell us what you read last, currently reading or planning to read. Was the last book that you read up to your expectations or it totally surprised/shocked you? Tell us here. :)

I am currently reading Pawn of Prophecy and 11/22/63. PoP is an old school fantasy, and in initial phase of 11/22/63.

my last book was Magician, another old school fantasy. will recommend to people who love apprentice-master relationship trope.

Am reading biggies, despite lack of time ..

11.22.63 ... Just started ..finding it Stephen King sort of amazing

Tantu - an ardent fan of Bhyrappa .. but this is a masalafied story .. nevertheless enjoying


Lethal white - listening to audio

All 3 are excellent and satisfying

SK sort of amazing. Hope I too will say once I start it in earnest. 🤞

Finished reading Kafka on the shore last week... really impressed with that one

Also finished The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky... was a bit disappointed. Did not quite enjoy it .

Will start listening to Becoming by Michelle Obama from tmrw.
Also start with The Gita by Devdutt patnaik

Bela wrote: "Also finished The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky... was a bit disappointed. Did not quite enjoy it .."

Why? \O/
One of my favorite books!

After have been in India for a while with The Hungry Tide, now I'm in Russia with The Cathedral Clergy.

dely wrote: "Bela wrote: "Also finished The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky... was a bit disappointed. Did not quite enjoy it .."

Why? \O/
One of my favorite books!

After have been in India for a while with [book..."
How did you find The Hungry Tide, its one of my fave books. Also, have you read anything else of Amitav Ghosh? (just curious because he's an all time favorite of mine)

I'm currently reading Einstein his life and universe by Walter Isaacson. It's a December PIFM.

Second book is elephants on the mind by KBS Krishna. It's a collection of short stories.

I finished reading the power of Now couple of hours before. Its a wonderful book which tells the importance of NOW and some good techniques for meditation.

My next tbr book is milkman by Anna Burns. It's read-along book for January.

Milkman was impressive... One of my 5 star books of last year .

Jaya wrote: "How did you find The Hungry Tide, its one of my fave books. Also, have you read anything else of Amitav Ghosh? (just curious because he's an all time favorite of mine) ."

I liked it a lot as his other books I've read so far (The Glass Palace / Sea of Poppies / River of Smoke). I like above all that with his books I learn something new in a flowing and easy way. He is really able to mix fiction with interesting historical backgrounds. Though his books are very long, they are so enthralling that the reader doesn't want them to finish.
I have other books by him in my wishlist but I don't know when I will read them.

Currently Reading :

1) Advice & Dissent - YV Reddy
2) Laxminanama : Monks, Merchants, Money & Mantra by Anshuman Tiwari and Anindya Sengupta - this is an excellent treatise on the interplay of Religion and Economy, successfully challenging many a long-held false assumption - basis my reading so far, wherein the western assumption of Private Property being invented in the medieval European society is quite successfully disproven... a rollicking and fascinating read!


Just finished reading SupermarketWala by Damodar Mall & Corporate Chanakya by Radhakrishnan Pillai

Bela wrote: "Finished reading Kafka on the shore last week... really impressed with that one

Also finished The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky... was a bit disappointed. Did not quite enjoy it .

Will start liste..."

I am still stuck around 60% in Kafka. :(

Idiot was one of the best reads of 2018 for me.

I am currently reading "The Boy in the Striped pyjamas". Enjoying this tale of innocence.

Finished "our trees still grow in Dehra" by Bond. The set of short stories are good with variety.

dely wrote: "Jaya wrote: "How did you find The Hungry Tide, its one of my fave books. Also, have you read anything else of Amitav Ghosh? (just curious because he's an all time favorite of mine) ."

I liked it a..."

Great! glad to know that you liked his other works :)

Nayana wrote: "I am currently reading "The Boy in the Striped pyjamas". Enjoying this tale of innocence.

Finished "our trees still grow in Dehra" by Bond. The set of short stories are good with variety."

I haven't read this but the latest two books by this author are my favorites. :)

Currently reading Meera Sanyals THE BIG REVERSE HOW DEMONETIZATION KNOCKED INDIA OUT

Part read so far No hard data Just anecdotes

My Book VQE: The Tale of an Indian Physician in the United Kingdom of 1980s receiving good reviews

Started two books today. First is The Astonishing Color of After, magical realm. Start is a big slow. Second book is The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, this is a blast, whatever I have read so far!

Also wrapped up The Simple Wild, nothing exceptional.

i'm reading 2 books.. one is 'Diary of a young girl' by Anne Frank , which shows the situation of jews during second world war from a small girl's perspective. And its little tragic to know that.
Another one is 'Adventures of huckleberry finn', which is about the life of little boy who leaves his home due to his drunkard father, and is surviving with a friend in difficult situations.

Am currently reading 4 books.. "If tomorrow comes" by Sidney Sheldon through physical copy, "Sun is also a star" in kindle, listening to audiobook of "Made you up" by Francesca Zapia.. And buddy reading "All the light we cannot see" by Anthony Doerr

Priyanka wrote: "i'm reading 2 books.. one is 'Diary of a young girl' by Anne Frank , which shows the situation of jews during second world war from a small girl's perspective. And its little tragic to know that.
A..."

Diary of a Young Girl is a fantastic book! tragic but poignant too.

Sharath wrote: "Am currently reading 4 books.. "If tomorrow comes" by Sidney Sheldon through physical copy, "Sun is also a star" in kindle, listening to audiobook of "Made you up" by Francesca Zapia.. And buddy re..."

Do share how you like Made You Up and Light, I have both books on my tbr. :)

Priyanka wrote: "i'm reading 2 books.. one is 'Diary of a young girl' by Anne Frank , which shows the situation of jews during second world war from a small girl's perspective. And its little tragic to know that.
A..." True , Diary of a .... is tragic and poignant . One of the things that came home to me , after reading this book , was that there are so many beautiful blessings in our lives that we take for granted . When I look out of the window and see the garden bathed in moonlight , there is nothing to prevent me from running out into the garden , and searching for the full moon in the vast , starlit sky ! Or , when I need to get fresh vegetables , all I have to do is walk down the street to where any number of vendors are lined up , selling huge tomatoes , shining brinjals and fresh green beans ! What is there to feel so glad / so blessed that we can have fresh vegetables daily , and when we need more we just have to walk down the street to get them ??!! What is so wonderful in knowing that we have a country to call our own , a country whose borders are so closely guarded by our truly excellent armed forces ??!! Never thought I should stop for a moment and think that are so many beautiful blessings in life , and what would happen if they were taken away even just for one day . Reading this book made me very glad about the normalcy of everyday life , the gift of freedom , the security and pride in belonging to a lovely country . I can only hope and wish that Anne Frank's further journey of the soul has been guarded by angels , and that she is now in a land where there is no suffering , only happiness and peace : the Almighty's Home .

Priyanka wrote: "i'm reading 2 books.. one is 'Diary of a young girl' by Anne Frank , which shows the situation of jews during second world war from a small girl's perspective. And its little tragic to know that.
A..."

There are a lot of books about the holocaust. If you are interested, just ask.

I started reading The Way of a Pilgrim and after two days I finished only a 100 pages long introduction!

dely wrote: "Priyanka wrote: "i'm reading 2 books.. one is 'Diary of a young girl' by Anne Frank , which shows the situation of jews during second world war from a small girl's perspective. And its little tragi..."
I've read Anne Frank's Diary , and seen a movie , The Odessa File , also based on the holocaust , Dely . Please mention the names of some of the other books based on this period . How is The Way of a Pilgrim ? I'm curious about the name , and the length of the introduction .

Savita wrote: "I've read Anne Frank's Diary , and seen a movie , The Odessa File , also based on the holocaust , Dely . Please mention the names of some of the other books based on this period . How is The Way of a Pilgrim ? I'm curious about the name , and the length of the introduction . "

There is The Book Thief
Let Me Go
The Kites
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
The Undertaking
The Brothers Ashkenazi
The Family Carnovsky and I would add also City of Thieves and Life and Fate (the don't talk only about Jews, but about WWII and the books are set in Russia). These are those I have read and liked. Surely there are also more, but I can't recall them right now!

About movies. if you like them too, there are a lot! Of course Benigni's "Life Is Beautiful" and there is also Schindler's List, Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds", "Train of Life" by Radu Mihăileanu. There are a lot!

The Way of a Pilgrim talks above all about the Jesus Prayer that is used a lot by Russian Orthodox. The book talks about this pilgrim that wants to learn this prayer so he wanders around hoping to meet spiritual teachers that teach him how to do this prayer.

Thank you , Dely , for the list of books that you've mentioned . I was surprised to read that you not only know about these books , but have also read them yourself .That is something very impressive ! I would appreciate if you could mention which book I should select first out of the list . Although the next book on my TBR shelf is The Frenchman's Creek , I intend to read one book from this list after that , and maybe put it up for group read nomination sometime .
Thank you , too , for the movies you have mentioned . Given the holocaust theme on which they are based , the titles ' Life is Beautiful ' and ' Train of Life ' are really thought provoking .
Lastly , thanks for explaining about The Way of a Pilgrim .

Savita wrote: "Thank you , Dely , for the list of books that you've mentioned . I was surprised to read that you not only know about these books , but have also read them yourself .That is something very impressi..."

Lol, thank you! I think I've read a lot more but they were mainly about WWII and not only about Jews like the Diary of Anne Frank is.
I don't know your tastes. I've rated with 5 stars Life and Fate and The Brothers Ashkenazi but they are long and maybe someone could consider them too long and boring. But I like detailed descriptions, so I loved them both.

There is also If This Is a Man / The Truce by Primo Levi. I still have to read it, but this talks only about Jews because he was one that was improsined in a concentration camp.

dely wrote: "Savita wrote: "Thank you , Dely , for the list of books that you've mentioned . I was surprised to read that you not only know about these books , but have also read them yourself .That is somethin..."
Many thanks , Dely , for your recommendations . I will start with Life and Fate . It is set in Russia , so the names will be a bit difficult to remember , but writing them down on a piece of paper will be a big help . I like to read books set in different countries - their way of life , their philosophies . You've mentioned that this book is set in the time period of WWII . Amidst all the damage and destruction brought about by war , certain touching and inspiring aspects of human behavior / nature are also revealed . I will look for them in this novel . I don't think I'll find it boring , but maybe a little sad . Russian authors don't believe in presenting a softened version of harsh reality .
( I'll be reading this book after The Frenchman's Creek , which is the next book on my TBR . I will tell you my review of Life and Fate after I've finished reading it )
Thanks once again , Dely !

Savita wrote: "Amidst all the damage and destruction brought about by war , certain touching and inspiring aspects of human behavior / nature are also revealed . I will look for them in this novel."

You will find them! :D
Yep, let me know what you will think about it!

Currently reading A game of thrones by GRRM which is good. Before that I read The Red Pyramid by my favourite author Rick Riordan. Along with A game of throne I started reading Arabian nights amazon classic version.

@Savita - I usually avoid reading WW/holocaust books but I have read few.

The Lost Wife
The Nightingale
Sarah's Key
City of Thieves

Aakash wrote: "Currently reading A game of thrones by GRRM which is good. Before that I read The Red Pyramid by my favourite author Rick Riordan. Along with A game of throne I started reading Arabian nights amazo..."

ASOIAF is one of my favorite fantasy series. hope you like it. :D

finished last week:

1) astonishing color of after - ya magical realm and a little too long for the subject. it was a blend of so many things, and everything overlaps one another in not so neatly. :/

2) Extraordinary Life of Samuel Hall - did not know anything before started, even the blurb. just looked at the rating and glowing reviews and read it. Glad, I did! it was fantastic. Highly recommended it to you.

3) Truthwitch - ya fantasy, magic system was great but other things not so. Will still read book 2 before deciding if it is worth or not.

4) Win Some, Lose Some - A cute story. the whole story was told from the male perspective which I usually don't come across in romance genre.

currently reading 3 tomes and a non-fict.

The Sunne in Splendour
It
11/22/63
The Buddha of Suburbia

Em Lost In Books wrote: "@Savita - I usually avoid reading WW/holocaust books but I have read few.
Many thanks , Manju , for the list of books that you've mentioned . Actually , learning the details about past wars from history textbooks doesn't bring home the horror , the way authors make it happen . They ( the authors ) just take us to the battlefield , and reconstruct the scenes of cruel suffering and destruction in front of our reluctant eyes . But you know , Manju , the message really sinks in . Wars on the battlefield bring inhuman suffering and death , and wars in our day to day lives may not bring death - but they can just destroy lives . Peaceful assertion , wherever/whenever possible , is really the better and sane way forward . A message given so beautifully by Akshay Kumar , in the movie Dhadhkan . l wish Dely could see this movie , with English captions . She would just love it .
Could I ask you which of the books in the list have a positive message about the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity ? I would like to add these books to my TBR shelf .
Thank you , Manju , once again for the list !

Savita wrote: "Peaceful assertion , wherever/whenever possible , is really the better and sane way forward . A message given so beautifully by Akshay Kumar , in the movie Dhadhkan . l wish Dely could see this movie , with English captions . She would just love it."

I'm not a huge movie fan, but will see if I can find it with English subtitles.

Savita wrote: "Em Lost In Books wrote: "@Savita - I usually avoid reading WW/holocaust books but I have read few.
Many thanks , Manju , for the list of books that you've mentioned . Actually , learning the detai..."

what was the message in Dhadkan?

I think non-fic would be more gruesome, I don't know. I read few of these books and just couldn't stomach the gore and pain. :(

about the message, I think it solely depend on the reader how he/she take it. of the four books that I mentioned above I loved lost wife and City of thieves. Didn't like other two much. But one thing that is common in all these books was how brave the characters were to live through those dark time and survive.

If I read another Holocaust book, I will definitely come here and recommend it to you. :D

Em Lost In Books wrote: "Savita wrote: "Em Lost In Books wrote: "@Savita - I usually avoid ....
I will add The Lost Wife and City of Thieves to my TBR shelf , but I better space out these books , and put a few lighter books , like by James Herriot in between .
Message in Dhadkan : I'll have to include a few spoilers , so please don't read this msg further , if you would rather see this worth watching movie instead .
The � war ' setting - Akshay Kumar's life /home . 1) his stepmother / brother / sister - cold war 2) his newly wedded wife ( Shilpa Shetty ) , unwilling to forget her first love - Sunil Shetty 3) Reappearance of Sunil Shetty - anger , hatred , vengeance .
Akshay Kumar is a very quietly beautiful person . He convincingly shows you that love , if it has strength , courage , confidence and patience can withstand the initial opposition by hatred ( etc ) , and eventually conquer it . This is what happens with his step- relatives , and it also happens with his wife . But most beautiful of all is the way he handles Sunil Shetty . As it happens , because of her gathering fear n desperation , Shilpa Shetty becomes so cold , curt n stiff in her attempt to make Sunil Shetty leave her married life alone , but that only makes the man more angry n desperate. Then Akshay Kumar enters the scene , towards the end of the movie . So calmly and peacefully does he speak to the broken man , a gradual dawn begins to break on Sunil Shetty's face . Loving someone is not a crime . How can it be ? But fate .... God ....seemed not to be on his side . Then an introspection occurs in the man who had been so full of despair n hatred . His hatred had dragged him down to a despicable level . He had been walking on a very dark road , obsessed n confident about destroying Akshay Kumar . While Akshay Kumar , on the other hand , through all the troubled times that he went through , he never left the path of love , consideration , forgiveness and patience . He won over his wife and step-relatives . And he kept Heaven on his side . When Heaven is on your side , who can ever know defeat ? Sunil Shetty accepts his defeat , not against Akshay Kumar , but against God , in whose existence he had not believed hitherto . But in this defeat there is no despair , only a quiet acceptance , retrospection , and now at last a better pathway where Heaven would be on his side too .

dely wrote: "Savita wrote: "Peaceful assertion , wherever/whenever possible , is really the better and sane way forward ....
Dely , I don't know whether this movie will be available in your country , along with english subtitles . If you can see it online free of charge , then go ahead . But maybe you could read my description , in the previous message to Manju , beforehand , because it is , after all , a foreign film and you will have to concentrate on the subtitles . If it is not available for viewing free of charge , then please don't bother about it 😊

Savita, thank you for adding the message of the movie!

dely wrote: "Savita, thank you for adding the message of the movie!"
Most welcome , Dely ! 😊

Have just begin The forest of enchantments by Chitra Divakurni Banerjee. I do not like mythology but the Ramayana is such a familiar tale, having grown up seeing it performed in the local pandals every year that this is a book I’m open to, especially as it promises to be more a Sitayana ( in the Author’s words at the outset)
So let’s see. :)

Her every fear by Peter Swanson. Have read and loved his earlier crime thriller , so took this one up on an impulse without even checking the blurb

Milan wrote: "Have just begin The forest of enchantments by Chitra Divakurni Banerjee. I do not like mythology ....
Sita was born for the luxuries and securities of palace life , yet she faced the terrible ordeals that confronted her , with phenomenal strength , courage and an upright character . Looks like the focus is going to be on her in this book . I would be interested in your comments on this book , Milan .

Em*bedded-in-books* wrote: "Her every fear by Peter Swanson. Have read and loved his earlier crime thriller , so took this one up on an impulse without even checking the blurb"
Is Peter Swanson like Agatha Christie or Arthur Conan Doyle by any chance , Smitha ? I would love to read his books , if so !

Em Lost In Books wrote: "@Savita - I usually avoid reading WW/holocaust books but I have read few.

The Lost Wife
The Nightingale
Sarah's Key
City of Thieves"

Manju , may I know the authors of The Lost Wife and City of Thieves ? When I looked up these books on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ , I found more than one book by the same title , so I didn't know which to select . I could find and select Life and Fate .
Thanks

Currently reading Pines by Blake Crouch. I feel like I'm watching a thriller movie. It's suspenseful and keeps you on edge. I literally have no idea what's going on and I'm 50% through the book...

I am reading 'Time traveller's wife' from the log. It's long but I am enjoying it. 80% has been read so far. I am planning to start 'To kill a mocking bird' probably today.

Unfortunately, the luck didn't fare well and I landed on the book "Ulysses" by JAMES JOYCE, so now decoding enigma. Life was good earlier reading the entertaining novels but now, only turning pages of another books to get the references and allusions.

@deep really? you are reading that? i hope i read it one day.How is it going?