deepat's Reviews (252)

A simple, refreshingly short self- help book. Usually authors drag on and on about their ideas. I have read several books in this genre that could have been condensed to one-tenth of the actual page count. This book is very crisp, to-the-point and definitely easy to implement. An age-old idea too - nothing ground-breaking, but, packed in a nicely compact package and very likely, far more effective than the 600-odd page tomes. 

Another book recommendation by the same person who recommended Bride. This is supposed to be a “Romance” read, but clearly my tastes differ. I do love a nice romance, but I much prefer tales of normal people living a loving life. These authors seem to be competing on describing gory/smutty/vomit-inducing scenes. Here both the mml and the mfl are serial killers - both equally sadistic and brutal. They inevitably end up liking each other and the violence continues, albeit in a ewww kind of way. I suppose there is an audience for this type of thing, but I’m not it. I’ll be steering clear of this person’s recommendations from now on. 

This second instalment of the Harry Potter series is so funny. The chapters involving Dobby were so hilarious that I was grinning and laughing like an idiot while reading those. Mrs. Weasley is also unintentionally a hoot in this book. Also we learn a little bit more about Voldemort’s younger days. As always, Dumbledore sprinkles around his wisdom - so many quotable quotes. It is a wonder how the small details all add up in the later books. J K Rowling is a genius. 

Read Congo for a reading challenge to read two similar bills with similar plot (Amazonia was the second book). Michael Crichton books are a staple in my library.  This is a book I’ve had for decades, I know the story so well- in and out. Clearly these exploration stories are fascinating to me - the thrill of the trail, the mysteries and challenges within, the raw power of nature, the new species (the creativity of the authors in creating them!). Unfortunately, almost always, the humans come out of the entire episode empty-handed, having destroyed (or nearly destroyed) whatever they set out to find - it was the same in Amazonia, in the movies like Anaconda etc. Pity! 
Oh, and of course, Amy, the teen gorilla who communicates in sign language, was the best character ever. 

A quick read, well worth it. Jam-packed with lots of Eastern philosophy. Practical, common sense that I just needed to hear once more. Eating in moderation, diet rich in local fruits and vegetables, regular physical activity, building great relationships, positive attitude towards life, emotional resilience, more nature, less technology - everyone knows these mantras. Those who follow them live long and happy lives. Must reread once in a while to remind oneself of these timeless truths. 

Yet another interesting “magic” fantasy story. There seems to be a soaring popularity for these kind of books. Whatever the trope, I sure loved this book. There is indeed a lot of magic, but then there are the human connections too. The birth mother who was never much of a mother, the step mother who was much more of a mother. The strange relationship between the estranged sisters, and the fun, bantering relationship between the employer(?) and the employee. Definitely an interesting book; it is popular for a reason. 

Both the books Little Women and Good Wives are stories out of a lost era - where goodness, kindness, chivalry, truthfulness, sincerity and loyalty were valued and appreciated. So also were womanly qualities like homemaking, gracefulness, demure-ness, agreeable-ness and surrender. Books like these are always a great reminder to strive to be better. It is good to be reminded to be good. Idealistic, yes. But good, nonetheless. 

This is perhaps my most favourite non-fiction of all time. Reading about the Queen would be fascinating to me under any circumstances; I have long admired her. In this gem of a book, the author has dissected the Queen’s life mantras and packaged it into neat, bite-sized standalone chapters. This book here is the best possible life advice with a healthy dose of old-fashioned pragmatism, a little bit of stoicism and a great deal of common sense. It covers all aspects of one’s life - eating, working, playing, thinking, aging… Long Live the Queen has a permanent spot in my bookshelf forever. 
2025:
Such a great book. I thoroughly enjoy reading it. It puts me into such a reflective state of mind. I rethink my priorities, my actions, my beliefs. This book leaves me better than it finds me, every time. This is on my yearly re-reads for just this reason. Awesome book. 

A very well-written memoir. Maharani Gayatri Devi’s life was a life of extremes. She was born into a world of privilege, grew up in the lap of luxury, sheltered in her youth and yet, in her later years, rose magnificently to the physical and emotional challenge thrown at her during the dark days of the Emergency. Her love for her country and her people shines through these pages. Reading this book made me feel like I have time-travelled through those tumultuous days. A long lost world. A long lost breed of people, who believed in doing what’s morally correct, not what is convenient and most profitable. Not a fast read, by any means. But worth it to get a glimpse into an uncommon life well lived. 

I’m not sure if I completely like the book. I did not like the beginning- it just dragged on and on. I did not, definitely NOT, like the ending. It seemed like a cop-out, a way way out, non-committal, too yellow to let the right guy win conclusively. Maybe it was supposed to “not be a cliche” ending. Perhaps. I’ll say this though - the characters are really interesting, the plot is good and the ending was unexpected (for me), even while feeling inconclusive (my opinion). Definitely not a bad book.