fathima_ashab's Reviews (159)

This is the most relevant book of the year. Jenny's character was authentic and relatable to today's social media addicts, especially on how obsessed they are when it comes to likes and comments. I definitely used to be one and I could see myself in her place. It was witty and humourous. There were many parts I really enjoyed but there are also some parts that felt too distant to grasp. But it's really a good read in terms of understanding how social media is affecting the mental health. Nothing new on the subject but Emma's writing was quite appealing and enjoyable. So I definitely recommend it. Totally worth reading.

I would like to thank @harpercollinsin for the review copy

Okay, where to even start with? Let me try but it's hard to review this one. One thing, I really liked the concept. It is about a guy who is trying to unite India and Pakistan in 2047 to marry his love who is a Pakistani. Hence the title 2047: unifier. Such a different theme with so much potential. I mean you could just imagine a year which is 27 years far from this and how much technology and things would have changed. Even the people. I expected a strong world building. For a title and theme like that, it definitely needs more imagination and creativity. Also, the story mostly felt like the author is telling us what's happening instead of showing them, which isn't my thing. This made the world too distant and the characters were unrealistic as well. They didn't provoke any emotions even when they were in grave danger or death. I was like, okay! Fine. That is a big turn off. But. . . There are certain things like politics in a proper language, few dialogues and the ending made me liked the book a bit. I am telling you though, this book had so much potential. I wish Rashmi could have done it little better.

First of all, you should pick this up if you have the contradictory thoughts between modesty and fashion. They need not be two different things and you will know why if you read this book. Now let me tell you why I liked this book. I don't know if everyone as a Muslim has felt left out in a group of people who look down at hijab and covering the body fully in general. I have been there and trust me it hurts when you want to look fashionable but at the same time, you don't have a proper dress in the clothing industry to play it cool. But it's not the same anymore like how it was years ago. Things have changed. Okay, to be honest, yes, these people who represent 'Modesty in fashion industry' still gets backlashes from people who are safe at their Muslim community and never experienced anything out of it. So much power to those women who dared to bring modesty into the industry that feeds from exposing women's bodies. I loved reading about their experiences. And thanks to them, we have more modest collection of dresses to choose from. PS. This 'Modest fashion' doesn't just focus on Muslims but others like Catholics, Jews and everyone who is comfortable with not showing the body than showing it. This book is also for the understanding of people who think WEARING HIJAB IS OPPRESSIVE. Please wake up! We have passed that stage long back. The world will be a better place if only we acknowledged the diversity and respected each other's culture.

Rating: 4.5

This is a historical thriller with a background story that is happening in 1900 and a parallel story with somewhat parallel characters happening in the present with Saikat and Shuvashini. I really loved that format. it made the plot more interesting. This skipping between timelines was actually well structured and formed to allow in certain things to take place in the past while they are searching for the stone in the present. That was really good. Even the descriptions were vivid and flowing to make us understand the setup in the past more clearly. My only problem was with the editing of the book. Plot like this would have found its way to the top of the bestselling list more easily. It has so much potential. Again, it has nothing to do with the author or the story and I would still recommend it.
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I also would like to clear something out about the passive role to Shuvashini. Even though she is a history student, she couldn't contribute much to the story. but Saikat who was not a history student knew more things than her which made Shuvashini's character look stupid in some places. If the author did it intentionally based on gender then it is absolutely wrong. but it didn't feel like that to me until someone mentioned about it. but what I could take from it was 'sometimes it's not the degree that will take you to many places but the curiosity to learn and know many things will'. And I saw this one that way. He was well read and actually curious about it so it obviously made his role more active than her (Again that's just my opinion).

I always read through her poems however long they maybe because there will be soul in them and will always keep me engaged till the end and her book was no different from them.
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This is a story of Noor who lost her bestfriend from her native so she goes back to her place Herga in Karnataka to find out what actually happened to her dead bestfriend, after receiving a reply from her number. It was really creepy. I don't know how to explain it clearly but it gave me a modern Jane Eyre vibe. This could be actually taken as a YA gothic fiction with love, romance, friendship, fantasy, ghosts, deaths and demons.
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There was a magic and mystery when she fell for a guy in the same place she wanted to find answers to Kirti's death. It was like reading her 200 pages long poetry with rich words, metaphors and of course music, especially to the flame lilies. It was good and I was so happy to read something by my favourite poet who is an author now. I also loved how she got to incorporate casteism, bigotry, feminism, spirituality, literature into this. It felt good to see them and already looking forward to her next book.
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Pick it up if you want to get lost in her magic. and somewhere you will find your magic too.

This is a story of an Indian girl Suchu who finds her way in Norway while pursuing her higher education, making friends and getting absorbed in their stories. It is a book of self discovery and acquiring courage through the course of experiences. As a fan of letters, I really loved Suchu's letters to her mother especially the ones describing her deserving independence which would resonate with most of us (It did with me). The descriptions were vivid and so real that it felt almost like living through Natesan's words (that's what a good book does). All the more, the wanting of love and clarity is what best describes Suchu and the way Natesan has bought every uncomfortable thoughts into a positive light was obtrusive. I would say it's a great way of storytelling style and I really enjoyed it. I have had experiences with staying away from home and how 'grass is greener on the other side' reflects and affect while going through the process. so I could exactly get what goes inside Suchu's mind and how she feels at home which is actually not her home. Every experience teach us something and the same goes to Suchu. She has learnt and found her way. It would be great even if there's a second part to this.

'What on Earth are you doing?'
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Did this question ever strike your mind? (Of course I can see you all nod) If something that bothers me the most, it's finding my purpose here. It's not easy and doesn't have any set rules. We are all different and we have different purposes so we can't rely on someone to have a solid answer to this question. At one point in life, we would have got demotivated, gave up, ran back to where we have started but we always should have a purpose to get us move forward. Without it, the chance for getting lost is probably very high. That's when books like this come in handy.
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I wouldn't say this book was life changing but it did have some different tactics that helped me change my focus. Or to be precise, it helped me to refocus and recheck the path I am moving in. The one thing I loved most about this book was 'practical solutions'. We can't see that in many self-help books. Even though he has elaborated on law of attraction and stuffs, he has even more insisted on action and I believe in that. It's not possible to achieve something by just dreaming of it, that's not going to happen. It's equally important to put all our efforts into it. I have experienced my hardwork get paid off. and I think this book has some great insights and was well written.
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The fact that author explained things from his own experiences was more inspiring and authentic. So if you are a self help book reader, you should pick this up. Completely worth it.

HOW COME I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS AUTHOR?! I HAVE CERTAINLY MISSED A LOT. There are some authors whose work you would love instantly and die to read everything else by them. Romesh is that author to me. This book was beautiful in every way possible. He has depicted the imbalance of the social structure and hierarchy through the lives of two friends from two different backgrounds and their perspectives towards wild life and pretty much everything mundane around them. HOW CAN SOMEONE WRITE THAT IRONICALLY BEAUTIFUL? Ceylon is in the times of economic development and reform, and that's when our protagonist, Kairo meats a sun-catcher who would later become his friend named Jay who thinks 'there is no life without wildlife' and kinda obsessed with them. The story then takes place almost around those two.

And did I mention it? Damn! the setting was too beautiful to be true. I have always loved and wanted to visit Ceylon, but I have never read any book that described that place, hence, this book was a treat to my senses. Kairo is only a school student but he can understand about the differences in privileges and decode prejudices way better than we all could. This book is a work of art and mind blowing things. It is also a tale of friendship, love, loss, relationships, politics and what it feels like to be living in a country that is undergoing a change of capitalism.

I would slide into each of your dms if I could to make you pick this book up. Absolutely worthy and I highly recommend it.

SJM: 800 pages beast
Me: Yaaaas!
SJM: Winged warrior
Me: You mean another RHYSAND?
SJM: Umm??
Me: Nevermind, Yaaaas!
SJM: A cheeky fire sprite
Me: Bring me the book.


This book is a blessing for SJM fans. And this will top my obsession over ACOTAR series. She has a way of killing us next to Corona virus brutally with her characters in this season and we are not even four months into the year. Anything I would say regarding the plot will only be a spoiler so it's better you go into the book without knowing anything. ACOTAR meets Shadowhunters might describe this book best. You will love the characters and you will love the action packed scenes. The last 200 pages were wild and I don't know how she managed such vivid details during the action scenes. Her writing has improved a lot and her characters have become so refined and far beyond perfect but that's what made them awesome.


Loved this book so much and it's easily my top favourite as I expected before even reading it. A full 5

First of all, I really love the cover. I don't know it kind of brings me some memories that I didn't I had which is funny and then the meaning of the title - I just love it. These collections touched upon love, expectations, heartbreaks and experiences of life. An okay read for me. He is a good storytelling but the writing could be improved. It might help the readers to relax and read on a bad day. But I really loved how he attached things from that shelf and woven into his stories. Still a good read.