My 2023 in Books
A synopsis of all the books I read in 2023.
JANUARY
1.Running on Empty by Jonice Webb
I didn’t expect to begin the year reading a book about emotional neglect and depression but I was in Alibag and this was on my phone so started reading it on my drive to Poona. And maybe its a good thing. There were many things that resonate especially when I myself am going through a weird kind of disconnect. On the one hand, I am trying to understand if I was responsible of any type of parental emotional neglect but also ways to mend it. There are no easy solutions. Everyone does the best they can and unless you are a sociopath or narcissist, it’s a question of trying and succeeding or trying and failing. The author takes us through different scenarios by using a set of characters, some fictional and some drawn from her patients. I liked her way of disseminating and decoding info based on these kids/adults.
2. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony DOerr
574 pages of awesomeness. I despaired whether I would manage to finish it before book club but not only did I finish it well in time, but I found I could not stay away. Every spare moment, I picked up the book to read. It is difficult to slot the book into a category. It is a tome spanning several centuries, distant past, immediate past, the present as well as the future. The narrative follows the lives of 5 children as they stumble along finding a foothold in a world that is increasingly cruel and being torn apart. The thread connecting all of them is an ancient Greek story written by a writer to give hope to his dying niece. The story is a fantasy narrative but it draws all the children with its impossibly fantastical elements. The author uses many devices where the story in the manuscript takes a life of its own and is open to various interpretations. It is cleverly ended with a point of view provided by the kids. The book needs to be read a second time to try and make sense of so many profound scenarios that you lose in the actual first reading. Poverty. Being gay. Finding love. Sibling relationships. Parent and children’s bonds. Family units. Connection to nature, plants and animals. The innocence of youth. Even the clever use of technology and over all manipulation of the minds. Anna and Omeir are products of their time who find each other and manage to structure a goof life together. Seymour is the boy you feel most sorry for because its as if life has turned against him. The owl analogy is a thread that weaves through his life in many different ways and he very cleverly puts it to use when he discovers big corporations are trying to samitize the truth. Zeno is a closet gay man who can never acknowledge his truth until the very end and he always feels as if he has never achieved anything until he does in a heroic way. Konstance is a precocious child who begins and ends the narrative in a shocking twist at the end, though somewhere towards the last part of the book, she makes a discovery, which makes the end more expected but just we don’t know how she would do it. It’s a very clever use of science and technology, ancient myths, history and different cultures. And for someone who loves reading, Libraries play a huge role. Brilliant book.
3.The Weikfield Legacy Stories by Weikfield Malhotra family and Saaz Agarwal
What a heart-warming book. This is a book of short essays written by the members of the Malhotra family about their legacy and how they became such a renowned business entity. What you are left with at the end is not about how successful they are as a business, but about their warmth, humility, generosity, empathy and hospitality. From the elders of the family to the present generation and the in-laws, the values have filtered down and stuck. Knowing the family well, I was even more impressed at how they handled diversity with a smile and never let on to even those of us they knew about their tough times. What a fantastic example of a family united in troubled times. About a family starting from scratch. About a family spreading the love and the goof fortune. About a family that never strayed from their basic values. Kudos and I’m proud to call them friends.
4.Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I thoroughly enjoyes this book. Initially I was congused by her unusual narrative style and wondered if it was a ‘memoir’. I remember reading and totally loving The Seven Husbands of+ Evelyn Hugo. This is the same writer and she’s brilliant. You almost feel the narrative is about a real music band. The characterization is so nuanced. The angst and the pull so pronounced, you feel it. Its sort of unputdownable. The little ‘cameo’ at the end is so clever and totally unexpected. I recommend the book. And clever ploy to add the words t the songs at the end. Taylor Jenkins Reid is very talented indeed.
FEBRUARY
5.Masala Memsahib by Karen Anand
This is unusual in that it is a cook book. But I know Karen, and she writes so well so had to read it. I stayed up and finished the book in a couple of hours. I learnt so many little things and the photography is awesome with great information. There is a ‘fart’ story that is priceless. The recipes look fab but I skimmed them since I’m not into cooking. Will ask my boyfriend to cook all of them since he loves to cook. As a guju who lives in Maharashtra, was born in Calcutta land loves to holiday in Goa and Kerala, every state she writed about resonated. Fab book.
6.The Truth Will Set You Free by Alice Miller
This was a book on Mental Illness, recommended by Ashika, as research for my novel. It deals with emotional blindness especially in childhood. I finished it, but did not agree with everything the writer said. She writes a lot about childhood suffering like abuse of kids by the church, by emotionally blind parents. Often children block off such behaviour and then it surfaces in adulthood and they suffer anxiety etc. She even says circumcising babies is abuse. It does warrant a different kind of thought process. “The body knows what it has suffered but has no language to express it.” Powerful and scary thought. She talks about the need for every child to have someone in their life who is like an enlightened witness and helps them overcome the emotional neglect. Could be a friend, maid, well-meaning relative, someone at school etc. There is emphasis on young mums bonding differently so they raise children mindfully and how meditation helps. Reading the book made me feel like, ‘maybe I was not as good a mum as I thought I was.’ It made me sad.
7.Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
What an absolutely heart-warming book and story. And so much learning about sea creatures too. There is a story thread that underlies the narrative about death and separations and reuniting. The seemingly unconnected characters all come together at the end but it is quite obvious to the reader as the story progresses. The octopus is a fantastic protagonist and someone the reader will be rooting for.I read it too quickly and want to go back to savour it more.
8.Spare by Prince Harry
Poor Harry. That’s the first thought as you read the ‘tell all.’ But the reality is probably somewhere in between. Was Harry paranoid? Did the Royal family bad against him? There is something in all this. I guess, after reading this, I feel more kindly towards Harry. When it was first out, I did think, ‘why air dirty laundry?’ But the hounding by press and paps and the way his mum died, it can prey on the mind.Hopefully there will be some resolution. It’s not my family. I feel bad for him. It was a salacious read. End of story. But bottom line, paparazzi need to be regulated. Its horrendous. And we the consumers are to blame. Some food for thought.
9.Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
I devoured the book in two days, it was an easy read. I have always enjoyed Chitra’s books. This one is set when India was in the middle of gaining independence. It shows the turbulent times, the hunted and haunted relationships between Hindus and Muslims, subterfuge, treachery, love and ruin. And it is set against the story of three sisters who live in a sleepy town but are just as affected by the trauma of the times. At the end I was sad, resigned, accepted that not everything ends perfectly but this was as close to it as possible. If the author had not done what she did,then the story would be unbelievable too. Tragedy always dogs happiness. Or maybe vice-versa. Happiness is shadowed by tragedy. My favourite protagonist is the feisty sister who is trying so hard to follow her dream. The book is an ode to the true patriotic women and men who fought during independence and did not let prejudice affect their behaviour. Read it, Weep a little. Smile a little. And be grateful for the ones who paved the way for us.
10.The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
This book was sent by Parul and Sailesh after Rajvee’s wedding as a thanks, since it is a favourite book of Andre.On the surface it is a child’s story about a wabdering Prince from another planet. But each step of the way, the prince has profound encounters that teach us about life. He is left wondering about grown-ups and their inability to comprehend. Through the Prince’s eyes, the book shows how people are frivolous, egoistic, waste time in pointless pursuits and miss simple beauty like watching a sunset. The heart sees what the eye cannot. So follow your heart. The Prince exhorts people om earth to smile, laugh, look at the stars and remember him and his quest. The book needs to be read a few times to understand it’s profoundness. Read it to understand about being lonely, about being hopeful, about making friends, about being focussed, about making friends, abut loving and losing people. It talks about rituals and the unhappiness of taming creatures. The Prince travels to the different planets and comes face to face with qualities that show how ridiculous humans can be.
11. My Broken Language by Quiara Alegria Hudes
This book took me a while to finish and I had to keep psyching myself to read it. She’s a wonderful writer and her prose is lyrical. I enjoyed many lines all though the book so I canny say exactly why the book did not grip me. Maybe I was busy with other stuff so couldn’t focus. I was travelling. I had jet lag. I was settling back to routine. But these are excuses. It’s a great collection of vignettes of growing up Peurto Rican and finally embracing your cultural legacy inspite of embarrassing customs. I wish she had given us a family tree because the number of names that were thrown around I was getting totally confused. She is a Pulitzer prize winner and I can see why because she is an amazing writer. But somehow I couldn’t bring myself to feel for the protagonist, ie the writer.
MARCH
12.The Dating Plan by Sara Desai
It’s a good time pass book and I wanted to keep going so she has a way of capturing attention. Its also interesting because of the South Asian influence even though I feel the characters are like caricatures. Also Daisy is with a white man and no one said anything. It’s a bit surprising. The names are also a bit confusing. Patel is Gujarati but the names could be Pakistani though its not so important given they live in the US. I always like to know more about the backstory of immigrants. Their experience when they first came. Even if they’re just reminiscing. And how did so many end up there. Maybe an explanation. All the aunties, are they blood relatives or some are friends. Much is assumed. Maybe she could have given a family chart. The twist was good at the end because it was becoming too predictable. Not a wow book but good enough.
13. The Marriage Game by Sara Desai
This is the second book I’ve read by Desai. It’s entertaining and I can see its appeal. I still have the same issue of caricaturing an entire community. And I find it hard to believe that people are so out there about their Indianness but then again I’m not clued into the desi community. The game itself was a bit blah for me. Too many cliches. Too many stereotypes. I was not as into the characters and the outcome. There was also a lot of predictable stuff. Like I guessed about the sister. I guess with books like this, there is only one direction. Alls well that ends well. Good beach read.
14. The Singles Table by Sara Desai
This was interesting because of the law angle. And the irreverence of the partners and lawyers. It was a bit different from her other books with art and music also taking centre stage. The protagonist is related to the people in the other book but those protagomists do not show up and are just mentioned. The same ‘aunties’ appear and I still find them caricaturish but moving beyond that, it is entertaining. She loves to throw in many sex scenes. It could be her way of showing how assimilated desi girls are into mainstream US culture. I feel the references to promiscuity are a bit too in your face. Once again, good beach read.
15. Our Magical Pandemic: Stories of Love and Whimsy in Lockdown, edited by Jeff Ourvan
Writers from my creative writing workshop wrote a bunch of short stories for this delightful book on coping with the pandemic. I didn’t try my hand but will do that the next time our coach publishes a book. The book has relationships, racism, murderous intentions and reuniting. Jeff did a super job of editing the diverse types of stories. From Zombies to M and M stores, photos on the wall that come alive, or a NY girl struggling away from the city. Theres a vegan, health freak, yoga teacher who eats a poisonous mushroom. A girl who becomes like her relationship sabotaging father. I learned about nature and horseshoe crabs. Being locked down with sensitive covid sensing vampires was another mind blowing tale. Furry creatures making your home their own. A real cute story is the pandemic from a pigeons’ perspective.
It was great to read stories by people I know. Like Monica Wendel dealing with pregnancy and just existing. Jessica Jiji about employees taking charge to do the right thing. Tom Walsh’s lunar narrative turning him loony. The heart-warming comfort of Mozart by Susana Aikin and Richard Jones dreaming about cars flying above NYC. I highly recommend the book as a way of not just reliving that period, but seeing the whimsical ways people dealt with the pandemic.
APRIL
16.3 Tips by Meera Gandhi
I interviewed Meera for the EkWomen podcast and then attended her book launch in NYC where I purchased a copy. The tips are common sense but you stop to think. I like how she narrates incidents in her life that relevant to some of the tips. Some of the tips are obvious and some thought provoking. She comes across as an uncannily grounded and mindful person. I would fnd it tough being like that all the time but I guess meditation and being Zen can help. It’s a Rupa publication and I have to say I picked issues of bad editing. Sometimes there were only two tips since the third was not separated from the previous one. One time there were four and typos and incomplete sentences. Its an Indian publication but regardless, its quite shoddy to see such editing.
17. Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
Our April bookclub read was a total blast, especially given its set in Brooklyn. I related with so many places. The story is also interesting. It’s about a wealthy family and their dynamics given from three different points of views. It’s a fun and easy read. What I was especially intrigues about is the whole millennial issue of dealing with privilege and their aversion to it. That’s a bit like the stuff my kids say. I guess there is a narrative among the gen z kids.
18. The New Kingdom by Wilbur Smith
Its always exciting to read a new book by WS, especially since he has passed away. This one is part of the Ancient Egypt series. It was interesting but I was not as engaged as with the previous ones. Possibly because Hui is a minor character. He is not as exciting to me. The women are far more interesting. And Tamus and Taita come only at the end. Read it for the history. Read it if you’re a Wilbur fan because there is still that grandiose element of Africa, and its people, vista and history.
19.The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
This author was a Pulitzer finalist and the book has rave reviews so I had to read it. I really enjoyed the story even though at times I was so frustrated by the protagonists but that’s because of my prejudice. Like why didn’t he practice medicine? Ike why wouldn’t the siblings move on? Like what was the matter with the wife and sister? But then again, thats what makes the story so believable. The fact that shit happens and people do behave in weird ways or just in human ways! Having said that the story moves in a very disparate way.It is not a linear story and there is so much back and forth between present day, school days, college days, childhood days etc. It all comes together to explain the story but the mind has to keep realigning. A lot of the back story is to do with the mum. And I’m on the fence with that. As a mother, nothing justifies what she did unless she was mentally ill. That’s how I feel. But can anything be clear cut. Read the book. Its unusual and absorbing.
20.The Ballad of Hattie Taylor by Susan Andersen
I found this book outside the mail room so borrowed it to read before returning it there for others. It was a ‘fun’ read in as much as you can enjoy reading about the subjugation of women in the late 1800, early 1900 US. The main protagonist is an amazing women and on the whole I think Andersen has done a great job with her different characters. Its like watching a glimmer of the women’s lib movement taking off. Where women don’t want to be bound in corsets. Fight against the stigma of rape. Where there are men who think they are the superior race and women start revolting. It kept me engaged and interested. And it’s a historical fiction so rooted in some truth.
21. Milk Fed by Melissa Broder
This book got amazing reviews but somehow I couldn’t get into it. I can’t pinpoint what it is but it just didn’t hold my interest. Broder writes very well. Her food and sex scenes are delicious. She has a real knack of making them vivid. But I just didn’t feel for the protagonists and none of the other characters were really fleshed out well in my opinion. There was some element of caricature too. Yet there is so much to unearth: Mum issues. Therapy. Lesbianism. Bisexuality. Unhealthy relationship with food. Orthodox and radical jews. Work jealousies. Maybe some others will enjoy it but it isn’t my type of book.
MAY
22.The Song of the Cell by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Siddhartha Muhkerkjee’s new book has been getting rave reviews and I enjoyed his last one so had to get this. Initially I was a bit underwhelmed and losing interest with the medical jargon. I perked up with incidents and metaphors/analogies. But suddenly my interest perked and so after slogging for ten days, I finished it in three. I decided to skim over the jargon and try to understand the gist. Its also fascinating how he has divided the book giving cells different functions. Humanizing them. I also feel the latter part of the book is more interesting because suddenly it relates to issues we face now. And what medical science is doing. I guess the actual discovery of cells was not grabbing my interest even though its fascinating to discover the different people involved like a cloth merchant in Holland!! Mukherjee has a great writing style, which takes this book out of the realm of the ordinary medical book and into something extraordinary. And his love for poetry is quite refreshing. Plus his honesty about his issues and his limitations. For anyone interested in medicine and or science, it’s a must read.
23.Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
What an absolutely fantastic book. It’s such an unusual type of ‘love story’ if you can call it one. As someone who is not a gamer, I learned and was fascinated by the world of gaming. The gist of the story is about two people who met as kids, loved playing games, became best friends, had misunderstandings, reconnected at university, became business partners and built a successful gaming company. Its about the ups and downs in their lives. It’s about the third person in their life who loves both of them. It’s about chance. It’s about relationships. It’s about not compromising and making compromises. Zevin is absolutely brilliant and the final game she creates to declare the man’s love is sublime. It creeps on you. The scene from Marx’s pov is also poignant. Just so much about this story, the writing, the concept blows my mind. She is a talented writer. I can’t wait to read her other books.
24.Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
I couldn’t bear to be separated from the book for long. I was powering through it in the second half. Its shocking. It’s awesome. Its heart wrenching. It’s appalling. I have so many emotions. But above all it’s gutsy. What a statement. This book made me question so many notions. First of all the power f the mind. Respect. Yes and yes. A is A. I had mini crushes on all the four main protagonists and kept imagining mysef to be Dagny Taggart!!! But that being said, its so easy to see why the Right wing would claim the book to be theirs with the emphasis on capitalism. And the Left would say its theirs with the need that each man takes care of himself and a just society. Meanwhile libertarians would claim victory for it being their bible. And a slap in the face for communism and ‘egalitarian’ society. But I decided to set aside my confusing feelings and just focus on the story. Clever and brilliant. What a mind to come up with that. And yes, given the time frame. As a reaction to world war 2 and dictatorship. And the way the world is today with the rise of ‘people’s states’ its more scary to read. Because it shows what could be if people abandon their mind and become cattle to be herded. Its a classic, no doubt about it.
JUNE
25.Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
Oprah book club book for 2023 and Rockwell bookclub book for June. She’s been on our radar for a while and so we just took the plunge. It’s a deliciously tragic book and very easy to read. The characters are so real. It’s about mixed signals. Relationships going wrong. Deep love. Misunderstandings. Unspoken feelings. And just the journey of life. Its heart aching and uplifting. There is tragedy balanced with joy. There is loss and gain. Napolitano has woven a story full of pathos. Read it and laugh along. And cry too.
26.Someone Else’s Shoes by JoJo Moyes
I needed a mindless book in between all the heavy reading and this was perfect. Just breezed through it. Its a great beach read. Silly, mindless and fun. But still some poignant points about motherhood, justice, friendships, sisterhood, relationships, priorities and righting wrongs. Two women who pick each other’s gym bags by mistake cause a comedy of errors that strengthens ones marriage and makes the other one realize how bad hers was.Central to the story, a pair of fake Louboutins. And then there is diamond smuggling, mental illness, Chloe coats, deadly diseases, maids in hotels, awesome chefs and lovers and above all kids who just need love.
27.The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Who would have imagined a doctor can write in such a visual and lyrical way. I have not read any of his three previous books but we picked this for our next book club. It’s also amazing how easily he weaves in medical terms and makes it a running theme in the book. It’s a tome at 715 pages and I don’t know how the girls agreed. It’s also not an easy read for people unfamiliar with India. They are going to struggle but there will be so much to discuss. It’s the story of a 12-year old girl in a child marriage with a much older widower. How she accepts her marriage, grows to love her husband and becomes the matriarch of a growing family. But the family’s underlying medical condition leads to sorrow and loss as the years go by. There are people who weave in and out of their life. There are deep wrenching moments of despair but then people pick up the thread of their life again. And always meandering through there is an underlying theme of the water that binds everyone together in the state of Kerala. Verghese’s pride in his cultural roots, in the state of his origin, is obvious throughout. He deals with climate change. With the caste system. Revolutionaries. The British prejudices. A newly independent India and India as it marches along. There are migrations and those who never leave. There are poignant love stories and violent ones. There is family and intense friendships. Father daughter. Mother Son. Husband Wife. I enjoyed the book. I teared up and laughed as I followed the Parambil family through three generations. And the end ties it all up in a stunning way that makes total sense. I highly recommend this but be warned, its long and intense.
28.Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan
I picked up this book because of my ongoing quest to find out what publishers like about South Asian diaspora women writers. Plus the topic about a couple in an arranged marriage getting divorced after three plus decades. Moi!! Angelika was with me and bought it for me as a gift. The book is ok. It’s funny and spoofy with some insightful content especially for non-Indian readers. It’s not literature but for a lawyer writing her first novel,it’s a decent effort. Enjoy it as a light summer read.
JULY
29.The Parted Earth by Anjali Enjeti
Angelika recommended this book since she knows the author. I really enjoyed it and finished it in like 5 to 6 hours. It’s an easy read despite the heavy topic. The book deals with the partition of India and incidents that unfolded as a result. It’s a love story. It’s about relationships mired in misunderstandings. It’s about an inability to articulate emotions. Enjeti is a good writer and takes you into the scene. Her chapters are short, like vignettes as you keep moving on. The back and forth in time is an interesting concept and not one I particularly enjoy only because of the need to switch gears. However since she writes briefly chapters, this was not as difficult to follow. For people processing partition, this is another one of those trying to find sense in the senselessness.
30.The Storied Life of A J Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
This was a quick read. Its light but also deep with humour, pathos and a positive spin. I prefer her second book that we read for bookclub, which was a much layered narrative. This one is not as multifaceted. However, she builds the story and layers do emerge.Some are surprising. The characters are well nuanced but all of them are good people. That seems so imp;usible for life. Even the so called villain is just a man who has lost his way. But Zevin has written a heart-warming story. I particularly love how she weaves in quotes and excerpts from various books. It’s a total book lovers dream. Do read it.
31.Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo
I finished the book in a day. These books set in Africa are quite gripping and we learn so much about their culture and way of life. This books spans a few decades from 1985 till 2008 so other than the family drama, the author takes us through the political turmoil of the period too. It’s all about upheavals. In Nigeria and in the life of Akin and Yejide Ayazi. They fall in love as college students and get married. She lost her mother at birth and has been ostracized by her four stepmothers, this growing up lonely and shunned. Akin provides her with love and stability and she finds love in his mum. She tries hard to become a part of their family. But at the root of all families is the need for heirs and the couple cannot get pregnant. A second wife is forced on Akin but he resists it. Yejide decides she has to get pregnant no matter what. She does. The narrative then takes many turns and twists, which it would be unfair to reveal because the book is worth reading. Yejide leaves her marriage, hich we know from the first chapter so it’s not a revelation. What unravels is the shocking reason she does this. It’s about trying hard to save a marriage. It’s about having and losing children. It’s about sibling love and misunderstandings. And it’s about a Nigeria in flux.
32.Priceless by Nicole Ritchie
I found this book outside the building mail room and it seemed interesting. I wanted a light read and this was exactly it. Interesting its written by Lionel Ritchie’s daughter, who was very friendly with Paris Hilton. She obvisuly knows the world of the super wealthy and how the rich are misunderstood!! It’s an easy read and I breezed through the pages. I enjoyed it because it is a page turner. It is a glam world and also a world of people dealing with the knocks in life. True the protagonist is just always luvky even in adversity but hey it’s great to read something where alls well that ends well. It’s about gorgeousness, fashion, opo singers, stalkers. But it’s also about forgiveness, taking blame, self-realization, friendships, relationships and stating over. Ritchie has a great way of describing food, clothes, cities. New York, LA, New Orleans. I felt I was there every step of the way. Great beach read.
33. The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
This was a fascinating study of characters and careers. It is also the story of four siblings whose encounter with a psychic changes the trajectory of their lives when she reveals to each to them the day they will die. Can you will your death or work towards it when you know the day of your death? The book grapples with it as each sibling faces this as their date approaches. Each of them make choices based on the fateful day. Benjamin has fleshed out all the characters and we know echo g them acutely. It’s also interesting how each og them follow four totally diverse career paths. The book is written in five parts. One where they are altogether and then follows each one in order of their deaths. She describes each of their careers in detail. Simon is a gay dancer in SFO who eventually dies of AIDS. Karla is a magician and dies in Vegas. Daniel is a doctor in teh military and meets his death while oursuing the gypsy who ruined their lives. Varya is the oldest who decides to research longevity in humans. Their mother, Gertie, is a constant throughout the book. It’s a book about misunderstandings, relationships, Broken dreams, Jewishness, love and betrayals. The prophecy actually affects the siblings so they cannot have a good relationship and are bitter, depressed, alcoholics, have major OCD, suffer from bipolar depression and hold grudges. Two of the siblings have children who grow up without really knowing their families. One we know about and one is a complete surpise. Chloe writes a moving, empathetic and meaningful story. I want to read her first novel now.
34. The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hildebrand
This is a good chick lit beach read. Nothing serious or soul searching about it.I don’t like Hildebrand’s writing style much. There’s so much telling. No tension. And contrived scenes. But it’s a no brainer read. And we chose it for book club exactly for those reasons. Also since we’ll be in the Hamptons. As I was reading, I kept picturing Suzi’s home and replacing it for Hollis’ place. The five women and their backstories are interesting. Her tendency to lay a seed and then visit it much letter is a bit annoying. She also wrapped it all up in a bow for us at the end. That’s what people do like but it was kind oof predictable.As I read, I wondered how she’d address the various situations because obviously its an alls well that ends well kind of book. She did it but it’s that easy in reality, which is why this book works. You escape real life.
AUGUST
35. Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
What a book! It was disturbing that at times I had to just put it aside and force myself to stop reading on. But it was also so gripping that I just couldn’t put it down at times. Apart from the riveting story line the book was a mine of information. There are intereating facts about beekeeping, park and forest ranging in America and the US law process. However, what was really well articulated was something I didn’t expect in the novel about transgender issues. This is a bit of a spoiler but it really was immensely educational. The authors have done a great job unravelling biases and personal angst on this topic. There are many lessons to be learnt. The need to be honest in relationships, the importance of realizing domestic abuse is a vicious circle and freedom is necessary for mental health. The book is about women starting over after dealing with traumatic personal lives. Olivia and her son, Asher escape her abusive marriage and rebuild their lives. Ava and her daughter, Lily, also leave for a reason that is not immediately apparent but is revealed later in the book. Lily and Asher fall in love but Lily is found dead and Asher is blamed for her murder. The book is a brilliant back and forth between Olivia’s POV written by Jodi and Lily’s written by Jennifer.They did write a chapter each in the other’s part but it is not apparent. The story moves between the POV’s and between time periods to slowly put together what transpired, the evolving relationship, the past abuse and trauma. The whole picture is still not complete until a surprise revelation so even when we feel its over it isn’t. I’m not sure if I’m totally satisfied with the ending but it does makes sense too. This book is worth reading. And for people who love to cook, the recipes at the end look awesome. By the way I also have fresh respect for honey.
36. Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez
This book was a free PDF sent to me. It’s an interesting story about relationships but more to the point, but even more was quite informative about the injustice meted to Puerto Rico by the US. Its a great insight into Puerto Rican culture. The story follows the life of the protagonist, Olga, and her brother, Prieto. Their parents were radicals who fought for Puerto Rican independence but while the Dad gets put off, the mother gets further radicalized and leaves teh family. She is seen in a series of letters she writes t her children where she either praises them or chastises them. The daughter is a wedding planner and teh son is a politician. There is political intrigue, closet gay issues, navigating new love, family support and a violent uprising. The book is gripping and worth reading just to learn more about Puerto Rico and the people.
37.The Maid by Nita Prose
This book is supposed to be made into a movie with Florence Pugh starring as the maid. I can see how it can be quite a thriller. It’s a murder mystery told from the pov of a maid working at a fancy hotel. She is an unusual person and Prose has characterized her very well. The rest are caricatures and there is a predictability to the story. What elevates it is the maid and her simple life that helps her justify what she feels is being virtuous but is abetting crime. Even the element of surprise at the end, when it takes a bit of a turn, was not unbelievable. I kind of was expecting it, especially when there were still 60 pages left after the all’s well that ends well scenario. It’s a decent light-hearted read.
38.Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho
I got this as a free PDF. The premise is good but I didn’t really get into the story. It seemed disjointed and meandering. It jumps around and sometimes I was lost in the timelines. The story follows the lives of two Taiwanese girls living in California. There was no real explanation of how the friends drifted apart and what really brought them together again, which I think is crucial to this story. I enjoyed the insights into Taiwanese and Korean lives and how they assimilate or stand out in mainstream USA.The LGBT angle is touched on and never developed. The writer needs to mature a bit.
39.Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
Another powerful book by Picoult. I didn’t really read her books much but the last two were stunning. Her research is so thorough and she delves deep intow topics. In this book I was thoroughly schooled about going to the Galapagos and feel I will know where to go and what to expect. I also learnt more about Covid and near death experiences of people and the slow walk to health.The fascinating theme in this book is about hallucinations during coma and on the ventilator. It is unbelievable. In fact these experiences were more enjoyable than the lessons on Covid. However Picoult expertly brings out the despair of doctors and nurses, the tension, the old age homes, and how Covid changed people. A book worth reading.
40.Reasons To Stay Alive by Matt Haig
This memoir focuses on a period when a 24-year-old Haig went through depression. It is part memoir, part self-help, part self-reflection. He has since recovered, sort of and wrote the book many years later. It is a great insight into how people with depression and anxiety feel and an ode to his then girlfriend, now wife, Andrea, who stood by him and helped. It was interesting to read his ruminations and how he overcame his malaise especially since my boys have been through this too. And also to know that depression may never be cured but you have tools to cope. A very god and easy read for anyone curious about this disease.
SEPTEMBER
41.Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
This was chosen by Bookclub for September.What a brilliant book. Kingsolver won a Pulitzer for this book and its well deserved.Its a heart breaking book but the silver lining never goes away. We never stop rooting for the protagonist, Demon. Set in Lee County, Virginia, the book is a blistering statement on the opiod crisis that devastated the region.There is so much to learn from the book, other than the stunning natural beauty of the area. It is a book about pverty, orphans, foster care and the corrupt system. The way doctors and pharma destroyed a community by drug addiction. It’s about hopelessness and hope.Its about unconditional love and intense hatred. We learn about melungeons, a term I had never heard before. Kingsolver has written her American version of David Copperfield. It makes me want to read that Dickens book again. Demon is born to a widowed addict mother who later gets into an abusive relationship and dies, leaving him an orphan.He is thrown into the fostering system and moves from one worse than another situation. But all along he has friends, teachers etc who believe in him. Finally he finds his father’s mum, who ‘rescues’ him and he seems to have settled but an injury takes him down the dark road of painkiller med addiction. His life spirals downwards and he keeps coming up for a breath but something drags him down. He wants to get clean. He wants to do well. But the pain and addiction leaves him helpless. There are many other characters who are also navigating this chaos. There are adults who try to help and never give up. There is a ‘sister’ in Demon’s life who is his final landing point. I savoured the book and didn’t want it to end. And always I wanted Demon to swim against the tide and survive. And he did. Read the book.
42.The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
I got this on my kindle and enjoyed it. I knew there had to be a twist and there was. In a sense it is predictable but the way Hepworth wrote the story is clever and made it interesting. It is about twin sisters and the mind games played by one over the other. It also shows how people can be human and rise above misconceptions for a good person. It is a feel good book.
43/44/45.The Hidden Hindu books 1, 2 and 3 by Akshat Gupta
My job necessitates me to keep up with stories about Hindu philosophy, mythology etc so I keep reading books on this subject. The fiction ones are especially appealing because they are enjoyable and not dry and I can extrapolate information or get material that I can then research. I found a lot of interesting stuff in these books. The premise is unusual and so keeps you engaged. The book moves between ancient times, present day and the future. It is about a hunt for a man and the key to open a door. Gupta has a fertile imagination and makes it seem plausible. He ties in current events including covid 19 and natural disasters. The cast of characters include extinct creatures, the mythical hindu immortals, demons and ancient sages. I found his writing style messy because he moves between the three periods without a para break and each one picks up the thread of a story being told from three different periods in time. Clever ploy but confusing. He also repeats information from one book in the others. I also found the fight and battle sequences too long and boring. I guess since the books have been sold for Bollywood, he wants to write the scenes as visually as possible. Some might like this but I skimmed over those narratives. He has also left it to be continued. And introducing the tenth avatar is a very intriguing plot twist. If you like Ashwin Sanghi, Dan Brown and the science behind Indian mythology then read this trilogy.
OCTOBER
46.East into Upper East by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
This is a book of short stories that was recommended to me. I enjoyed the narratives but hated when they ended and left me dangling. They were all like that. I generally do not like short stories but took a chance on these. Well written little vignettes but dissatisfying for me. Many stories moved between India and the west, some were based in the west and some only had western characters. There were a few with westerners and references to India. Intriguing ideas and very relevant to how life is but as I have said, not for me.
47.The Fisher Queen’s Dynasty by Kavita Kane
I bought this book excited to read a new one and realized I have already read it. It was written in 2017!! My memory So I now have two copies!!! In any case, it felt like a new read. I remembered many parts but some had slipped my mind. Kane has a repetitive writing style but I will not dwell on it because I have come to expect it. I often skim through some of that. Her story is intriguing and I had probably said it in my last review of this book too. Satyavati and Bheeshma’s symbiotic relationship. Amba and Bheeshma’s sexual tension. Satyavati’s ruthless desire to save Hastinapur for her heirs. She does come across as a misunderstood and vulnerable woman, which is not how history remembers her. Kane always has a refreshing take on her protagonists. She makes them believable too. It’s an enjoyable read for those who like mythological stories.
48.None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
This is the book we picked for bookclub. I enjoyed reading it. It’s a crime thriller where a podcast host finds herself caught in her own true crime podcast.The two protagonists are very well constructed. And Jewell leaves us still wondering hat is and isn’t true? Ts creepy how she has the capacity for us to keep second guessing situations. And how she lulls us into a belief and then turns the tables swiftly. If you are looking for a crime novel that is entertaining, this is your book
48.Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan
I thoroughly enjoyed Kwans trilogy on rich Asians and so had to read this book. It’s not as entertaining but he certainly educates you on how the rich live. From art to museums, from right schools to right homes, fashion brands to underground restaurants, cars, yachts and divine wines to island retreats and fancy lifestyles. You may be super rich but old money or nouveau rich? And are you in The Social Register? Kwan gives you a peek into an utterly fantasy world. And I do believe there will be a follow up book. And yes I will read it because why not!!!
50.The Boys From Biloxi by John Grisham
I always enjoy Grisham for his gripping stories and the plethora of information on navigating the US law system. This was entertaining but not as nail-biting as other Grisham books. The good guys were obviously winning. There were very few setbacks. It was almost predictable except the slight twist at the end. However what’s shocking was the crime scene in Biloxi. And the corruption. We diss India but it’s no better in the US.
51.The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson
This was a sweet book about a widow trying to restart her life after a 62 year marriage. Her new friendships lead her down unexpected paths and a revelation at the end is surprising but in retrospect makes perfect sense. It is a gentle, feel good type of book where people are nice and helpful. It puts a new spin on growing old gracefully. I liked it. Will I read the author again? Maybe, maybe not. It’s not one of those wow books, but I am glad I read it.
NOVEMBER
52. Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese
I LOVED this book. We read his latest book, Covenant of Water for bookclub and really enjoyed it. But this is cut from another cloth. First of all it is set in Addis Ababa, a place where I lived but have no memory of. After reading the book, I want to return and experience this beautiful city. Though an Indian, his love and longing for Ethiopia is palpable. Verghese is a beautiful writer. Not just in his style, but even in his storytelling. As a doctor, he writes about medicine but in a way that any layperson can understand. I learn so much from his books. About books, quotes, cultures, ailments, relationships, cities and history. He twists history but you get a sense of the time period and some facts of that time. Like Haile Selassie, the coup, Mengistu etc. This book is about twins born to a nun and a surgeon. Unfortunate circumstances lead to them being raised by a doctor couple and a surrogate family builds around them. There are twists and turns and incidents that cause a spiralling effect. I was lulled into thinking the story has flatlined when suddenly there is another plot twist. I wept while reading it towards the end. I didn’t want the story to end. It’s over 500 pages and I finished it in eight days, between travelling, hospital stays and doctor appointments. It’s a gripping and intense story. If you enjoy the written word, this is a must read.
53. The Razor’s Edge by W Somerset Maugham
I read a recommendation for this book and suggested it to bookclub. Its an interesting glimpse into another period and the way people lived. There is and isn’t a nonchalant attitude to work with social life equally significant especially in Europe. People going to the best places, ordering clothes from England, homes in the Riviera. But what I enjoyed was how compellingly Maugham has crafted each character. From minor ones to major ones. The influence of Vedanta philosophy is quite obvious especially towards the end when he has a conversation with the protagonist. He has explained the concepts in a most articulate manner. I enjoyed the book because he is a good writer but I couldn’t identify with the characters because it seems like such a different kind of life. Even though the essence of the spirituality makes sense, what Larry does finally is something I could never do. I am not Isabel, but I need comfort for sure. I’m not sure if I liked or disliked her. She has shades of grey for sure. And Larry is too good to be true. But left a string of broken hearts. I cannot believe he wasn’t aware of that. Most interesting is Maugham himself as a character in his book. I do feel like I want to read another one of his books.
54. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
What a delightful book. My bookclub read it right at the beginning, before I joined. Five years later, I finally ordered it and just LOVED it. The premise is simple. A former aristocrat is imprisoned in a hotel when communists ake over Russia. He vacates his suite and starts life anew in the servant’s quarters. For the next thrity years, the author takes us through the changes in Russia seen from the vantage point of the Hotel Metropole. And we get a brilliant insight into the politics, into relationships, into the culture, into food, wine and art. And there is not a boring moment. The characters are wonderfully etched and the ending is just perfect though kind of poignant and even sad to some extent. It is a book that needs to be read to understand how Russia and its citizens evolved from the days of the Tsar to Bolshevik rule.
55. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
Jewell tells a good story. We read another of her books for book club and this came recommended. In an interesting observation, she seems obsessed with unwanted houseguests. Or people who simply come and never leave!! This is another unusual story told from three different points of view. You know it’s all heading towards one big revelation. But as always she has a twist and an ending that leaves you wondering. This book about unanswered deaths, a baby and an inherited house is a gripping read.
56. The Ministry For Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
Barack Obama hight recommends this book and I can see why. It is about climate change and set in the near future. But there is a positive feeling because it is about reversing change and what can be done. How countries come together. And surprisingly how India and even China are not the leaders in this change. There is an element of fact mixed in with the fiction. It took me a while to get into but then it was interesting. A very different way of storytelling but so much learning of technical possibilities. Of how nature works. Of fauna and flora. Of PTSD and relationships. I enjoyed it but it is a subjective preference and not for everyone.
57.Witness by Jamel Brinkley
This was a difficult book because I was disconnected. It’s been hectic and I couldn’t find time to read. In fact finished late night for a morning meeting, which is unusual for me. So I read this book to finish it and wasn’t as focussed. And some of the stories I couldn’t quite fathom. Some I didn’t like. There were some good ones. But on the whole my engagement with the content was a bit off. Maybe because it’s about things I don’t identify with. Is it because I’d rather not know too much? I don’t think so but the book is rather depressing and a downer. He does write well and it was great to see Brooklyn through someone else’s eyes and how others identify with my hood. I also don’t like short stories as a genre so I guess that is also an issue. It takes you to the brink and then abandons you. I want closure and you don’t get that. But Brinkley is making waves so take a chance and try reading the book. You will certainly learn a lot about people, relationships, communities, bias among other stuff.
58. Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
I enjoyed her previous book and knew this would be good. She tells a good story. This is set in three parts. It is a time in the future. She is kind of influenced by Handmaid’s tale so it’s a scary future in the US with a definite bias for Asians. The different perspectives give it depth. She writes so well so you can visualize the story as you read. And in a sense, though she didn’t tie it up in a red bow at the end, it was satisfactory. I don’t want to divulge much so better to just read it.
59. Kaikayi by Mahendra Arya
The premise of this book is that Kakeyi was misunderstood and wrongly maligned. And the author proves it. There was a ploy by the rishis to enlist her help since Dashrath was too weak and blinded by paternal love. Kaikeyi was strong and enforced the exile since the sages needed to rid the country of the Rakshasha menace. Plus she absolved her husband from the crime of not fulfilling his promises. Manthara is also shown as a wronged woman. Interesting take and she blames Valmiki and Tulsidas for perpetuating a wrong theory. It’s a quick one or two hour read. Simply written. But my precis is also good enough!
60. Nature and Necessity by Tariq Goddard
This was my Secret Santa gift and I was very excited to read it because he is not even on my radar and has quite a reputation. Goddard is an amazing writer and his descriptions paint a picture with words. Even the way he describes the Yorkshire countryside makes it sound so beautiful. But the book itself is dark and bizarre. It’s about dysfunction times ten. I cringed so many times. The characters go against every humane sensibility. I was morbidly fascinated by the people and finished off the 593 page tome in less than a week. In between travel, wedding preps, work and a bout of flu. Will I read Goddard again? I doubt it. He can be kind of depressing and does not leave you with much hope at the end. I kept thinking the lives of the protagonists will improve but the downward spiral never did end. And I shudder to imagine but there may even be people like this. Imagine living such a miserable existence. Quite a book to end the year with.