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    • 24 July 2021 | Saturday · 2:17 PM

    The Maidens (Alex Michaelides)

    The Maidens | Book Review

    This is not a book! This feels more and more like a motion picture as it takes you on a chilling journey, full of excitement, suspense, fear & anticipation. Alex Michaelides has a sure shot winner with The Maidens and I would be most keen to see if it replicates the success of his debut novel ‘The Silent Patient’. I for one had not read ‘The Silent Patient’, and so I had no benchmark to judge his latest work. Nor could I (thankfully!) draw a comparison with it. For me, this was a wonderful wonderful book deserving of all accolades & applause.

    From the word go, the book has you on your toes. At the start I had thought it was probably an investigation into Sebastian’s death. But as the plot unfolds, it brings in such unexpected scenarios. To start with, the character of Henry – he embarks such a …

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    13 July 2021 | Tuesday · 9:22 PM

    Anxious People (Fredrik Backman) | Book Review

    Anxious People | Book Review

    Funny, witty, heart warming with elements of surprise that pique your curiosity – Fredrik Backman has it all in this extremely enjoyable book that translates into many hours of happy reading. Anxious People is not just a light hearted fiction, it’s real win stands in teaching us some invaluable lessons of life, without actually preaching them.

    The book is alternating between three stories – a suicide off a bridge, a prevented suicide off the same bridge & a failed robbery turning into a hostage drama. It is fascinating to read is how the three stories gradually turn out to be intertwined.

    The setting of the book – an apartment viewing – where all the action is – it is an interesting & unusual premise, allowing the author to play around with so many different characters, each with unique defining traits – finding themselves locked together in this situation. The sequence …

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    · 6:16 AM

    Sooley (John Grisham) | Book Review

    Sooley | Book Review

    Set in the small village of Rumbek in South Sudan, John Grisham’s Sooley is an epic journey of the life of a 17 year old  Samuel Sooleman, or ‘Sooley’ as he would fondly be called. Coming from a poor country that doesn’t has much else to cheer about, Sooley would soon become the pride of his village with his extraordinary natural talent and his relentless determination to play college basketball in the United States and ultimately NBA.

    His dreams soon get wings with a call for the trials for the national team, where he would meet his mentor for life – coach Ecko, and his subsequent selection to play a showcase tournament in the United States. Sounds much like a typical Bollywood flick with all ingredients of becoming a blockbuster. I think we have all followed the journey of some super star in our times, our growing up years – …

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    11 July 2021 | Sunday · 11:26 AM

    Project Hail Mary (Andy Weir) 🥉

    Project Hail Mary | Book Review

    3rd Rank 2021

    Genius. That is the most apt summation for this mind boggling science fiction by Andy Weir. Being loaded with chunks of physics & science, Project Hail Mary would cater specifically to this audience. Or at least would be best enjoyed if one has an inclination towards this discipline. For a science enthusiast, this book is certainly not to be missed.

    For someone like me, who has immense love for the subject, this book comes as a pure delight & nothing less. It is absolutely thrilling to see physics in full action, and how! Each segment of this book is a convincing testament to the sheer brilliance of the author Andy Weir and speaks highly of his command over the subject.

    The premise of the book is a natural phenomena that is eating up the sun & gradually depriving the earth of it’s heat, which is essential for …

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    Filed under 2021 Top 3, Contemporary Reads

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    10 July 2021 | Saturday · 1:44 PM

    The Vault Of Vishnu (Ashwin Sanghi) | Book Review

    The Vault Of Vishnu | Book Review

    With Ashwin Sanghi, you are bound to find a reference to Dan Brown drawing comparisons between the two. It actually is not unwarranted. These are two authors with a stark similarity in their area of writing & the subjects they spin their tales around. Dealing with some hidden ancient secrets, combining historical facts with myth, they share a common ground with enough space for each other. When you read one, you almost have a sense of Déjà vu and are naturally reminded of the other. While for Dan Brown it is an old brotherhood, for Sanghi it is the ancient rulers & dynasties; for Brown it is ‘The Holy Grail’, for Sanghi it is ‘The Vault of Vishnu’. And both make for fascinating reads all the same.

    Ashwin Sanghi’s ‘The Vault Of Vishnu’ is an enjoyable mix of history, bio engineering, myth, thrill, suspense & drama. The basic plot of …

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    Filed under Bharat Series, Contemporary Reads

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    · 1:43 PM

    The Lost Apothecary (Sarah Penner) 🥈🔰

    The Lost Apothecary | Book Review

    Winner: 2nd Ranked Book 2021

    What is the first thing that pulls you toward a book? Probably the author? Or a recommendation from a friend? Word of mouth? For me, it was the name “The Lost Apothecary” that intrigued me enough to pull up this book. And dare I say, I picked up the best book I have read to date.

    The title “The Lost Apothecary” hints towards something forgotten or hidden, probably a reference to some history, probably some element of suspense or an unknown factor. A quick search would tell you, an apothecary is someone who prepares or sells drugs or medicines. This in itself sets you thinking & lets the imagination go wild with all possibilities it might bring.

    The book is beautifully woven around a 200 year old setting, 1791 to be precise, where lived Nella – the owner of the Apothecary. The Apothecary, originally …

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    Filed under 2021 Top 3, Contemporary Reads, 🔰All Time Best Books

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