Books I Read in July

July, so far, was the only month this year that I met my reading goals. There were some really good titles I read and I know I am going back to them soon. There were some others that had room for more entertainment. But overall, a fantastic reading month. Yes! Usually, I try to read…

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A Song of Achilles – An Excerpt

“I will go,” he said. “I will go to Troy.” The rosy gleam of his lip, the fevered green of his eyes. There was not a line anywhere on his face, nothing creased or graying; all crisp. He was spring, golden and bright. Envious death would drink his blood, and grow young again. He was…

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My TBR Pile for July

For the past few months, time has been crawling. But now summer’s gone and monsoon’s already at my doorstep. June was mighty slow. It was dry too, and horridly humid. Rains were expected to wash away some of the desperation but alas! With a windy appearance and rains in its satchel, July seems to have…

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The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories: Book Review by Asha Seth

Author: Angela Carter| Genre: Short Stories | Pages: 214 The Blurb: In The Bloody Chamber – which includes the story that is the basis of Neil Jordan’s 1984 movie The Company of Wolves – Carter spins subversively dark and sensual versions of familiar fairy tales and legends like “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Bluebeard,” “Puss in Boots,” and “Beauty…

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Misery- Stephen King: Book Review by Asha Seth

Author: Stephen King| Genre: Psychological Horror| Pages: 369 The Blurb: Misery Chastain was dead. Paul Sheldon had just killed her – with relief, with joy. Misery had made him rich; she was the heroine of a string of bestsellers. And now he wanted to get on to some real writing.  That’s when the car accident…

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May Reading Wrap Up

I don’t have great reading or writing goals this year, except survive. I’m starting to feel that’s really all we need; given the current scheme of things. Lack of positivity is a serious issue I’m grappling with and little has any regular passion helped; except reading. All through the pandemic, reading has helped keep my…

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The Rape Trial: Book Review by Asha Seth

Author: Bidisha Ghosal | Genre: Crime Fiction | Pages: 548 Nearly a decade has passed since Rahul Satyabhagi, heir to the mega Satyabhagi business empire, had raped Avni Rambha, bested her in court, and gone on to become a men’s rights activist, and the who’s-who of Badrid Bay had breathed a sigh of relief that…

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I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she didn’t already know? I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race—that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.

None of those things, however, came out of my mouth. All I was able to do was turn to Liesel Meminger and tell her the only truth I truly know. I said it to the book thief and I say it now to you.

I am haunted by humans.

Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

The tongue can conceal the truth, but the eyes never!
You’re asked an unexpected question, you don’t even flinch, it takes just a second to get yourself under control, you know just what you have to say to hide the truth, and you speak very convincingly, and nothing in your face twitches to give you away.
But the truth, alas, has been disturbed by the question,
and it rises up from the depths of your soul to flicker in your eyes and all is lost.

Mikhail Bulgakov,
The Master and Margarita

12 Good Reads of 2019

2019 was quite productive, as far as reading is concerned.  After many years, I managed reading decent number of books. It was back in 2012, that I had managed reading 105 books but wasn’t totally happy then because most books were mere experiments with new modern-day debut authors and the books turned out to be…

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2019: A Bookish Success!

Looking back, I think of the past year as a massive success when it comes to reading. After 3 years, it was in 2019 that I could meet my Goodreads Reading challenge. I finished reading 93 books last year; a record I never dreamt to make. I also started my Youtube channel ‘BadBookthief‘ where I…

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