EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE| NO SPOILERY GUSH

Title : Extremely loud and incredibly close
Author : Jonathan Safran Foer

Pages: 326

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Published on: April 1st, 2005

SYNOPSIS

Nine-year-old Oskar Schell is an inventor, amateur entomologist, Francophile, letter writer, pacifist, natural historian, percussionist, romantic, Great Explorer, jeweller, detective, vegan, and collector of butterflies. When his father is killed in the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Centre, Oskar sets out to solve the mystery of a key he discovers in his father’s closet. It is a search which leads him into the lives of strangers, through the five boroughs of New York, into history, to the bombings of Dresden and Hiroshima, and on an inward journey which brings him ever closer to some kind of peace.

GUSH

oh god. I don’t know what to say. Where to start. I’ve been waiting so eagerly to read this book and when I finally got it as a gift from my friend, I COULD NOT wait.

So for starters, I knew I was going to love it. Love everything about it. And now here I am just mindlessly gushing about how much I cried and laughed and absolutely ADORED this book.

The story goes back and forth. We get to know about Oscar and how he “investigates” about the mysterious key and also get to know more and more about Oscar’s grandparents and their history.

The book itself is full of pictures and pen marks and oh god making it more and more real.

The characters are so well thought out and Oscar is obviously my favorite. The relationship that Oscar had with his father is heart touching.

His mother and grandmother and everyone else fit perfectly well!

The story also revolves around The gruesome effects of war and the attacks on the World Trade Centre. I guess it just makes you more aware..?

But most importantly the story is about love and relationships and grief. Loss.

Do you think one can feel too much? Or just feel in the wrong ways?

How it is when you lose a loved one. How empty everything is and still you see your life moving on around you.

I loved this book too much and I cannot seem to find the right words..I want talk about so many things but I’m afraid I’ll give out the spoilers.

I would highly highly recommend it. Now excuse me while I watch the movie.

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PRETTY. VILE. GIRL. BY RICKIE KHOSLA | BOOK REVIEW

Title : Pretty. Vile. Girl.

Author : Rickie Khosla

Pages: 424

Published on: 10 January, 2018

Publisher: Bloomsbury India

Goodreads Ratings: 4.25

~Blurb from the book~
Everything she touched turned to gold, everything she said turned to scandal, everyone she wanted out of the way…died.

Beautiful, talented and wildly sexy, Jazmeen is Bollywood’s most in-demand starlet, and in a relationship with to one of the country’s most powerful politicians. Even though she’s known for her outrageous candour in interviews, no one could guess at the dark secret she’s carried for years. And no one will escape her vengeance, not even the prime minster.
Following her journey from her loving family to an orphanage run by a sadistic matron, from the fringes of the Mumbai underworld to the casting couches of Bollywood and beyond, Rickie Khosla crafts a racy, pacey and explosive debut about a woman who’ll do anything to settle scores and get what she wants.

~My Thoughts~

This is a story about Jazmeen, a girl from Faridabad, who has lost her parents in a tragic accident and how that has drastically changed the course of her life.

Jazmeen is ruthless and bold who has a dark past, full of secrets and this is her story of revenge and retribution.

When I first started reading this book, I honestly didn’t have much expectations. Having read my fair share of thrillers, there was this voice in my head that said “you’ll figure it out within the first 100 pages”, but little did I know that those 100 pages will only get me hooked to the story and root for our main character.

In the first 50 pages, I struggled with how Jazmeen’s body was being objectified (which still could’ve been toned down a bit), however, after a point I realised the reason behind it.

Again, This is the story of Jazmeen. Why she is the way she is. Why she’s being seen the way she is. And mind you, this is not your same old murder mystery story, this is a story filled with action and most importantly the journey of Jazmeen’s vengeance.

The book is divided into 3 parts. All slowly leading up to a big event, going back and forth from past to her present, unfolding all the secrets to the reader and after the middle of the second part, the reader more or less knows about Jazmeen’s past and about her plans for what she will decide to do next.

Coming back to that voice in my head that kept telling me “now this will happen”, or “now he/she will do that”, I was caught off guard each time. The story is filled with surprises throughout.

Rickie Khosla has written his characters as being dishonest and unfaithful not only in the story but they are unpredictable to the reader as well and I must say, the final showdown did not disappoint me one bit!

I loved knowing about all the characters, their backstories only added a cherry on top of this multi -layered cake, making the whole book so interesting that I finished it within a day!

I do want to put a disclaimer out there that the book has many sexual and abusive content, although, not troublesome to the course of the story.

In the end, the story is full of sinister characters, blood and death and the importance of relationships and how power and politics and money can blind a man’s judgement between right and wrong.

If you are someone who loves fast paced, action packed thriller, along with steamy romance and dark character building, then this is just the book for you!

“I was given a review copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and contents are my own”.

19th December, 2017 | Thoughts

You know, there’s this one moment that changes everything,
And before that moment comes, there’s a slight second of knowing and not-knowing,
and you wish there was some way to just stop and rewind,
but now the world has lost its colour,
and it feels like there’s a missing puzzle, like you’re full and empty at the same time,
and there is this constant longing for that moment, the other side of that bridge, when it all never happened

MEN AND DREAMS IN THE DHAULADHAR BY KOCHERY C. SHIBU |BOOK REVIEW

Blurb

A Hydel project in the remote HImalayas- three people brought together by fate.

Nanda an engineer from Kerala at the dam construction site, hiding from his past, from the law, torn between the love for his dear ones, and the kalari code of revenge.
Khusru, a youth displaced from his native village in Kashmir, a gambit in the terror plot that threatens to blow up the dam, working as a labourer at the site.
Rekha, a kathak dancer at heart, a doctor by profession, arrives at the campsite as the consort of Khusru.
A village that accepts the dictates of modernity with a heavy heart, its population steeped in superstitions and religious beliefs.

All throng the campsite like moths to a flame, some escape untouched,successful;some miss a step and perish. each has a story to tell and a dream to realise. Men and Dreams in the Dhauladhar is about the aspirations of these people, with their cares and worries woven to the site life. The fury of nature and hardships of project life have no mercy for the weak and no time for the dead.
Like an eternal spectator the Dhauladhar watches as men risk their lives and limb in the quest to fulfil their dreams.

My thoughts

This story is mainly set around the construction of the dam in remote Himalayas, revolving around three characters. Nanda who is an engineer working at the dam, Khusru who is working as a labourer and Rekha who arrives as Khusru’s consort.

The story is about how the characters are brought together, how they face the problems and find more about themselves and their dreams in the process.

Set in Himalayas, I was already in line to read the book, and I must say the detailing of the place has to be appreciated!

The author’s attempt to not only just go on with the story, but also give us a good background about why they are the way they are, what brought them here and about there experiences is so interesting and adds to the beautiful journey. It felt like I know these characters as real people and was happy when something nice happened and was tensed when they was a problem!

Another thing that I really liked was that the story is not restricted to just one place, it’s diverse, in terms of the places, the culture and its characters.

He looked at the Dhauladhar peaks; they were enveloped in the mist of falling snow. He could feel the chill. He heard a distant voice from the past, “Evil that men do, lives after them.”

There are so many different characters, and how they grow throughout the story, and just so informative and so atmospheric overall!

The writing style is simple, with a hint of hindi (Indian language with translation) in it and it kind of added to the experience. The stories keep going back and forth and told from different perspectives, which is really interesting to read and creates a better vibe around it, at times each chapter ending at a cliffhanger, making it harder for me to stop reading!

This is not a story which starts and finished at a definite point. Rather, this book has layers, each enfolding the secrets and introduces a whole new experience, which is complex yet structured in a magnificent manner.

I cannot believe this is the first book by the author! I will be eagerly waiting to read his upcoming works (hint: please write more! Hehe)

Although, having a lot of characters it got a little hard to keep up and at times I felt that the whole part with the dam construction was a little complex but these were very small glitches in a well written story.

All in all, I really enjoyed the book and fell in love with the characters! If you’re someone who loves atmospheric, thrilling, character driven stories, then trust me, this is your cup of tea!

*I was given a review copy by the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review*

TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN BY JOHN GREEN | BOOK REVIEW

*Blurb*

Sixteen Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.

Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts. 

In his long-awaited return, John Green, the acclaimed, award-winning author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity in this brilliant novel of love, resilience, and the power of lifelong friendship.

*My thoughts*

I was quite concerned about Aza’s anxiety and mental health being Romanticized (which I’ve seen in many books btw)  but THANK GOD that was not the case. 

So, surprisingly enough, I loved this book. I found Aza to be  raw, real and a relatable character. She does not get better or her mental health is not cured completely, her anxiety and obsessive thoughts are a constant battle for her and it is a continuous problem during the whole story, which makes sense because Aza’s mental illness is a constant and unrelenting problem. It will take time to get better, it Is not something which goes away one fine morning. 

There are some graphic scenes, which are disturbing but show the ugly and real side of the illness. 

One of the challenges with pain – physical or psychic – is that we can really only approach it through a metaphor.  

I really liked how all those around Aza were  portrayed. Her bestfriend Daisy, was very understanding and supportive of her but at the end of the day,  she is human and it is not easy when your loved ones have a mental health problem. Her way of Coping was exactly how a teenager would react. Her relationship with her mother and the ongoing investigation which ends in her being friends with Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.  Overall, the relationships are not overall negative or filled with unicorns and rainbows. They’re how it’s supposed to be. 

The story line was simple. There were not so many elements in it. Everything just fit perfectly. 

The writing is my FAVOURITE PART. I was literally marking each and every line with a pencil, because obviously John Green knows exactly what to say at that exact moment.

Nobody ever says anything is too bad to be true. 

Also, the ending. I was really scared that it’s going to be some happy clichéd ending but I was not disappointed at all! 

I LOVED this book, and I have to say this one was by far the best work of John Green. The mental illness is sad, frustrating, brutal but not hopeless. 

Pick up and read. You won’t be disappointed. 5 stars. 

COLORFUL NOTIONS (The Road trippers 1.0) | BOOK REVIEW

Title : Colorful Notions,  Roda trippers 1.0
Author : Mohit Goyal 

Pages: 200

Genre: Contemporary, travel fiction 

Published on: 1 November ,  2016

Goodreads Ratings: 3.78

My Ratings : 4 Stars 

Blurb from the book 

Would you give up your high-paying job and comfortable personal life to drive ten thousand kilometers across india? Just for fun!

Three twenty-somethings dare to do just that! While the two boys take turns to drive, the girl gives voice-over as they record their entire journey on a handy cam.

Ab, Sasha and Unnati are ordinary youngsters, rendered special by the feat they accomplish. As they recount their adventures, I crave to live their journey.

They look at each other with a glint in their eyes, as if refurbishing those memories while narrating their spooky time at Bhangarh Fort, strange escapades at Wagah Border and Sundarbans, car breakdowns, wild animals, near-death experiences and highway robbers! It’s nothing less than crazy.

I doubted if I’d ever have the gumption to create such experiences. So I did the next best thing – I penned a book about them, and their roadtrip.

Colorful Notions is a journey of three young hearts on the Indian terrain and into the inner recesses of their souls, giving a new perspective to relationships,love and life. 

MY THOUGHTS 

This is a travel story revolving around 3 friends,  Abhay, Sashank and Unnati,  who have decided to go roadtripping across India,  covering 25 states. During their journey,  Abhay recorded their entire journey on a handy cam and Unnati gave voice over for his short film.  

This is  very adventurous,  yet lighthearted and funny.  The characters are beautifully drawn,  relatable and realistic.  

The details about different places seems like the author did his part of research pretty well. 

As they move on with their journey,  they go through difficult and mesmerizing experiences,  such that you would want to go on a trip just like this one! 

As we move forward,  we discover things about the characters,  and how their story will come to conclusion keep the book interesting.  

All in all,  this is a short book,  perfect for travelers,  or basically anyone who loves to read a light,  yet fun filled story with the right amount of humor in it! 

Thankyou so much writers melon 

for providing me with a review copy.  

BOOKS TO READ DURING THE HOLIDAYS!

Holla everyone! I’m finally done with my exams and I cannot wait to dive in my pile of books! 

So since we’re all done with our exams and we are free and it’s winter and HOLIDAY SEASON,  I have for you all some amazing books to read during this time.

Its December and it will be cold,  and I personally love to snuggle into my bed with a hot cup of tea and a good book to read. Yes..  That’s the dream :”) 

1. THE NIGHTINGALE BY KRISTIN HANNAH 

This book is a historical fiction set in world War II.  It talks about how we forget the contributions of women during war, it’s heartbreaking, it’s beautiful,  the writing is amazing and we have love,  relationships,  and Sacrifice.  This book is so good and if you haven’t already go check it out and buy it and read it. GO.  

2. CLIFTON CHRONICLES BY JEFFREY ARCHER 

This is a 7 books series and what is holiday season without binge reading an amazing series back to back!? This series is a family drama,  emotional,  political and super thrilling.  It talks about 3 main characters,  Harry,  Emma and Giles and OMG I love these characters so so much.  This is a character driven world,  we follow their lives right from the start till the end. The story telling is the best I have ever read.  I would love it if you guys just read the first book (only time will tell) because  that’s all you need to fall in love with everything about this series.  Jeffrey Archer did such a great job,  and the publishers,  Pan Macmillan (India)  were so nice to send me the last book.  The series is my Bae,  my baby and I love it.

3. BURIAL RITES BY HANNAH KENT 

This book is based on the actual historic event that occurred in 1830s where a women is condemned to death for murdering her lover, which was the last capital punishment in Iceland. I finished this book last night and oh my heart.  I did not expect it to be so beautiful and heartbreaking.  This book is so atmospheric,  you’ll definitely feel like you’re in Iceland and the writing is beautiful.  The characters are perfectly drawn and I felt like they spoke to me.  I don’t want to give out too much because the beauty of the story is basically losing yourself and finding out what’s happening in layers. You won’t be disappointed.  

4.  THE VEGETARIAN BY HAN KANG 

I honestly don’t know where to start but yeah this book is weird and eerie and twisted and complicated.  It is about this woman who has a dream and since then she has stopped eating meat.  The best part about this is that it’s s told from 3 perspectives none of which is the woman  herself.  It’s hardly 200 pages long and it’s just weird but I loved it.  What happens in this book can happen to anyone and it also touches about how they deal with the consequences of the choices they make. Damn. 

  So for now this is it.  I’ll be back with another interesting post soon. Until then add these books to your TBR and quickly dive into them. 

Happy reading!