Do you always read from a planned reading list?

The Reading List by Sara Adams is an easy yet very interesting read. The story is about the mysterious reading list that brings Mukesh and Aleisha together.  Mukesh is an old man who has lost his wife and Aleisha is an aspiring lawyer, who works at a nearby library for the summer. I liked Aleisha a lot as she is a sweet girl who helps Mukesh read books and befriends him. The book comprises nine parts, each part’s title is a book from the list, and each part has about a few chapters describing the life of the characters in the book. It reiterates the fact that a book can uplift a person from whatever problems one is going through as it takes us to a totally different world.
The best part about the book is the reading list. Both Mukesh and Aleisha read the books and have a yearning to discuss some points. I have read all the books on the list except for the last book. An added joy at the end is the author's note, where she gives a list of a few more books.
We meet people daily, but do we even know what happens in their life? We might daily meet the guard, a doctor, or a teacher. It is only sometimes that we get to know about it. Library member Mukesh and the librarian Aleisha meet and develop a mutual bond and I found that beautiful.
Sometimes it is difficult to find people of the same wavelength. We may read books but what we read may not appeal to others and sometimes we might be surrounded by people who do not read at all.  Very rarely do we come across people who read books which we like. We can read books, but we enjoy it more when we read and then discuss them with someone who has read them too. We might not agree on every point but that’s what a book is, many times my perspective might not be the same as yours.
All book lovers who are inquisitive to learn and to know what this reading list is must read this book. It is a sweet tale!

Autumn is a story about a 101-year-old man Daniel Gluck and a 32-year-old Elisabeth Demand’s friendship. Daniel is a neighbour and Elisabeth’s mom disapproves of the closeness. They both have been friends ever since Elisabeth was eight. Elisabeth is an art lecturer at London University.  A major part of the book is about the pop artist PAULINE BOTY. Pauline is the subject of Elisabeth’s thesis for graduation. I think Elisabeth takes up art at college because of Daniel. The conversations between the two of them are very interesting and if I had such a neighbour, making me think along those lines, probably, I would have chosen art at the college level too. I enjoyed their discussions thoroughly. We can’t give a name to their friendship, but Daniel dotingly takes care of Elisabeth. Their friendship is true to the quote mentioned in the book and I love it: “THE LIFELONG FRIENDS, WE SOMETIMES WAIT A LIFETIME FOR THEM”. Even when Daniel is admitted to a hospital, everybody easily assumes that Elisabeth is his granddaughter. There is a scene in which he makes her imagine a painting by describing every detail of the painting, I found this tête-à-tête very sweet. She looks out to him at any moment: when she cries or when she is happy.
As a parent sometimes we fear when our child talks a lot to somebody. But Daniel is a very sweet lovable character who makes many things in life interesting for Elisabeth by making her think on different lines, making her imagine, teaching her about different perspectives, and introducing her to a world of fabulous books and kindling her interest in it.
The novel doesn’t move linearly but instead goes back and forth in time. It’s a post-Brexit novel and it also portrays unrest, an apprehensive feeling, and varied views among people.
Overall, a brilliant read, and I recommend it to everyone.

A boy is poisoned by the chemicals used in a cornfield. Whales die due to plastic pollution. Ladies tie themselves to a fence to protest. Nuclear weapons. People and bombing. A dog in a space capsule dies after a week of orbiting the earth. World's threatened resources. War wounded, mentally or physically. Shakespeare, Christmas Carol. Rhymes, lullabies, songs. The book is a kaleidoscope of events happening in the world. Ali Smith weaves so many issues into this novel. She plays with words, full of puns. Art discussions, sculptor.
YOU DON’T WANT GERMS IN YOUR WHEATGERM: WHEATGERM; GERMS, GRAVITY; GRAVENESS. I enjoyed these funny comparisons. She has come up with witty rhymes too.
If one is not used to her style of writing, it can be difficult to read but once you get used to it, it's fun. Winter is the story of Sophia and her son Arthur, fondly called Art. Sophia is a retired businessperson and Art is a blogger. They meet for Christmas which also includes his estranged aunt, Sophia’s sister Iris and Arthur brings Lux along, asking her to pose as his girlfriend Charlotte. Sophia has some mental illness due to which she sees stuff.
More than a story, it’s a playful rendition of words, a mixed salad of funny, and serious events, and an exploration of songs, rhymes, lexicology, and puns.
Though this novel comes second in the seasonal quartet, it can be read as a standalone. If you enjoy fun with words, this is your book!

Tomb of sand is an epic journey undertaken by an octogenarian, Amma. Although throughout the story there aren’t names for the main characters, Amma’s name is revealed almost at the end. The other characters are Beta(son), Beti (daughter), Bahu (daughter-in-law), Sid(grandson), and Serious/Overseas son(grandson)
It’s very easy to feel sorry for oneself and stay morose, but it’s tougher to spring up energised looking at life with a renewed perspective and objective.
Amma is depressed after the demise of her husband. She refuses to even talk or get up from bed. Amma springing up into action, changing her wardrobe and doing things as opposed to her etched-out lifestyle, alarms the people around her. The sweet friendship between Rosie, a hijra, and Amma was depicted very admirably. I liked the character Rosie very much as she was bubbly, well natured and took good care of Amma.
There are so many aspects of the book that I simply enjoyed. A whole new set of crow terminologies, the talking crows; their stories were funny and interesting; magical realism kind.
The author is omniscient and talks about a plethora of topics like pollution, climate change, war, classical music, famous painters, musicians, books, movies, and most importantly borders.
Daisy Rockwell has translated it so amazingly, keeping the essence of the Hindi idioms, phrases, and proverbs intact.

Geetanjali Shree has beautifully woven the tale of this octogenarian while talking about so many wonderfully imagined tales and narrating interesting classic anecdotes. The sentences are so deep, that one ponders after reading them trying to interpret the subtle undertone. As I haven’t read the Hindi version, I was mentally trying to fit in the Hindi idioms and phrases that I remembered which would mean the same.
I loved the way she has played with words: e.g., “EACH TIME THEY TIE ANOTHER KNOT. ONE MORE KNOT. A NO, NOT. A KNOW KNOT. A KNEW KNOT. A NEW KNOT. A NEW DESIRE. NEW. NYOO”
There are many parts of the book that I enjoyed a lot, for instance there is a story with a bird that signifies how customs are born. Beautiful paragraphs on what and why we have borders? Another part that I just loved was about why we mustn’t have certain fixed notions about how an old lady should be.
Every word in the book is worth mulling over and one needs to read it grasping every nuance and subtle playfulness.
The love for an old mother that the children have is shown so beautifully. It’s a typical Indian family where elders are given prime importance.
I would like to read the Hindi version of the book; I was disappointed when the bookstore told me that they had run out of copies!!
This is a slow-paced book with plot twists that requires time and attention but is MUST-READ.
 

 
The Magicians of Mazda is the seventh book in the Bharat series. I have also read the first book in the series, The Rozabal Line. I thoroughly enjoyed both the books.
The main characters in this book are a Parsi Scientist Jim Dastoor and his historian wife Linda. Jim gets kidnapped and Linda goes after him. In the process, they travel to many countries, and everybody is after Jim’s research work and an ancient artifact called the Athravan Star.
This plot, while being an engaging mystery, is also a foray into the history of Zoroastrians. The author has beautifully linked up so many historical facts and weaved them into this story.
I knew only about their God Ahura Mazda and their religious text Zend-Avesta, there are so many aspects of the religion that are described so vividly, its origin, its propagation, the threat involved, and migration. It is saddening to read about people who were killed due to religious animosity. It also covers an array of myths, legends, culture, customs, rituals, and doctrines.
Did you know that the Zoroastrian temple is known as the Fire temple? The author has explained in detail its relevance, and its origin and has mentioned a few famous ones too. The story about their special fires is an interesting one.
A very interesting aspect of the book that I enjoyed a lot was the etymological roots of many Zoroastrian words. The author has beautifully shown the links between words.
Ashwin Sanghi offers his readers the most towards the end by solving the mystery that he builds up throughout the novel.
Though it is plot-driven, it digresses into historical and essayistic writing. It is a well-researched novel, which probes into the root of Zoroastrians. People who love historical investigations would love it, moreover who doesn’t love a well-written mystery?
In this era where every other author is spinning a tale about characters or events from the bygone eras, this is another tale recounting a very interesting epoch of history. I recommend this book to everyone.
 

The book portrays the love between Achilles and Patroclus. It’s a bildungsroman, a retelling of a story from Greek mythology. Madeline Miller is a brilliant storyteller.
There are so many parallels one can draw between the characters and events of Hindu epics and Greek mythology. The way goddess Sita who was married to Lord Ram was carried away to Lanka by Ravana and a huge war ensued as a result, similarly, Helen, wife of Menelaus was carried away to Troy by Paris and war arose. The way Sita gets to choose her husband, so does Helen. In Ramayana, they talk about Lord Shiva’s bow Pinaka and in Greek Mythology we have the bow of Heracles. These are similar stories portraying similar ideologies.
Achilles is the son of sea nymph Thetis and a mortal king Peleus. Patroclus is the son of king Menoitius and a lady whose name is not mentioned. The story is narrated by Patroclus. At the age of nine, he goes as one of the suitors to marry Helen who is the daughter of the King of Sparta. Helen chooses Menelaus for her husband and all the suitors are made to take a vow to protect Helen. A major part of the book revolves around the Trojan War, where everyone goes to rescue Helen. Although many would know what happens in the end, the whole build-up, characterisation, and vivid descriptions had such a poignancy that I could imagine everything so vividly in my head and could empathise.
The beautiful, unadulterated love between Achilles and Patroclus is the salient feature of the novel from the beginning to the end. Patroclus is neither very good-looking nor is he very talented, but Achilles loves him for what he is. Though both come across a lot of obstacles, they fare through. Achilles’ mother Thetis detests Patroclus, but he pays no heed to it.
I liked Achilles, for he was strong, bright, and had unconditional love for Patroclus and fought for him till the end. I also like Patroclus for his sweet, tending nature and proves himself to be courageous too. An irritating character was Agamemnon as I felt that he was the cause of many problems towards the end.
The writing is clear, and easy and shows the wonderfully imagined storytelling skills of the author.
I read Circe a few years ago and I loved it. I would say the same for The Song of Achilles, but I am a sucker for feministic novels like Circe. My liking is skewed towards Circe. I am sure many have already read this book but those who haven’t read it yet, you must!

What a book! What a Plot! What a build-up! Only Agatha Christie can write like this. She is a brilliant storyteller no doubt.
It is a standalone novel written in three parts. A story that completely sounds normal at the beginning. Two people FENELLA or ELLIE and MIKE or MICHAEL ROGERS meet at a site that is being auctioned. This place is called GIPSY’S ACRE and is rumoured to be cursed. This property has breathtaking views. Mike and Ellie have similar dreams and plans. It’s a beautiful love story of Ellie and Mike that gets propelled into a murder mystery. Mike is a guy who doesn’t believe in working hard but instead has lofty dreams.
The story takes time to lift off. It has love, lies, betrayal, deceit, murders, and whodunit. It is a psychological thriller. The story is very slow at the beginning and then there is a plot twist that is completely stunning and makes one wonder and cry ‘what and why!’
An overpowering character was Greta who is Ellie’s companion and takes care of Ellie in many ways. There are many interesting characters like Ellie’s stepmother Cora, her cousin, and her uncles. Another very interesting character was the gipsy Mrs. Lee, who prophesied the future of Ellie and Mike. Ellie describes Greta at the beginning, and I felt as though she is Rebecca (Daphne Du Maurier), the only difference being Rebecca was already dead in the novel yet overpowering whereas Greta is alive. I suspected everybody, and everybody seemed to be a culprit with an evil motive. Every character seemed wicked and made me think that maybe this person is the creepy one capable of some crime.
When it is an ‘Agatha Christies’, I have a preconceived notion that there will be a murder and I am on the lookout for a killer or a suspect and because the murder doesn’t take place at the beginning, I kept wondering who is going to die? When? And who is going to kill somebody?
The story is written in the first person and Mike is its narrator. The whole story is from his perspective and that was interesting. Every feeling like angst, agony, jealousy, greed, fear is depicted so beautifully.
It is Agatha, it doesn’t need any recommendations! We just read it or else we miss out on all the mystery.