Bookish Thoughts : Getting ready for 2021!!

Yes, it is that time of the year. I am huffing and puffing with all my reading challenges. I think I bit more than I could chew. Whatever might be the issues with the past challenges, I always keep looking forward for new year challenges - Searching for prompts and preparing my own list of reading challenge.

Last year I had prepared my own list of Reading Challenge and here is what I read for 2021 Quirkysoul Reading Challenge.

1. A book that revolves around another book/bookstore/library -  I loved this one. Yeah yeah!! I know I prepared it but this was my most favorite prompt. Of course it is. I selected 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. It was a lovely book. It was the easiest to read as it was an epistolary.

2. A book authored by a Man Booker Prize Recipient -  I started with 'Girl,Woman, Other' by Bernardine Evaristo but could not complete it on time.

3. Any book by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam - An inspiring prompt. 'Wings of Fire' can lift your confidence to a different level. Also it can humble you by many folds.

4. A book that revolves around any US President (Fiction/Non-Fiction) - I chose the fictional version. Had this prompt been for this year I would have had many options. I read The President Is Missing - James Patterson Bill Clinton' 

5. A book set in Japan - The idea behind this prompt was defeated by the pandemic situation. Olympics in Japan was postponed but I still followed the prompt to complete. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, Ginny Tapley Takemori was a peculiar book and most recommended. It was a nice one and easy read.

Now for 2021 I have come up with 6 prompts. Unlike the previous year I have not thought many of them with logic.

I have taken up a few other challenges I am planning to clear my TBR shelf as much as possible.

My year in reading for 2020 will be up in my next post.

Hopes and prayers for nice new books to be published and to receive many books as gift in 2021.

Until then,

Happy Reading.

SPB - The soulstirrer

Truly 2020 has been terrible. The death of this legend took time to sink. I was in complete denial of SPB's passing away. I am one among the crores and crores of fans who have found refuge in voice for different situations in life. The name SPB has been synonymous to music for me. Music has been a great aid in my life and SPB has borne the major contribution in that.

I think I have taken his singing for granted. Now that I know his voice will not be heard in any new songs I feel the grief that encloses me. The next 4 days of the news, I was tearing up every time I have been hearing his songs.

SPB has been a familiar voice to me since my childhood. Especially the pathos genre. Even though I didn't know the meaning of lyrics, the songs could evoke the sadness in a five-year old me. 

I have also enjoyed his acting too in many of his movies especially in Manadhil Urudhi Vendum, Kadhalan, Keladi Kanmani, Ullasam.

I just wonder what I like about his singing. The foremost - the clarity of his pronunciation. Be it any language, his words were crystal clear. The next feature I love about his songs is the effortlessness. He makes us believe that his songs are not difficult to sing. Though only trained singers can do justice in recreating his songs. Also, the emotions he imbibes while singing can 

I have not seen him in person though I would have loved to have had an opportunity. He seemed like a very nice person - someone who enjoys life, respects others, taking things easy in life, humble. From what I see from anecdotes his friends and acquaintances quote, he was liked and loved beyond his music, for the human being he was. 

SPB sir's demise has created an incomprehensible void in my life and many other fans.

May his soul rest in peace!

Once again we are at that point of the year where we reflect on our actions so far and plan for the future. Yes, 2020 is almost here and it is a leap year. Hurrah!! More time to read.

I think I was too ambitious and had planned to read about 60 books including the Popsugar regular challenge. By the end of January I was lagging behind the schedule. My reading took a hit when I had to juggle reading with some other. There was a slump for about four months. By August I was way behind to recover. Still I tried to complete as much as possible and ended the year with 43 books. Out of the 40 books in Popsugar regular challenge, I finished 26 of the criteria. 65% completion rate is not so bad after all!!

Below is the list of prompts I completed

I went beyond my favourite genre and took chances on new authors due to some overwhelming reviews. There were many surprises and a few disappointments. My top 5 books in no particular order for the year would be

1. The Man Called Ove

2. The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society

3. The Book Thief

4. The Help

5. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Eat, Pray, Love and Where'd You Go, Bernadette were disappointing in-spite of the raving reviews I read. I wish I could have read Becoming by Michelle Obama. It is still in my TBR (the ever-growing list). 

Please find the list of all the books I took up for 2019 in the link below

https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/14655913

This Year was comparatively short in numbers but that's okay. I have attempted some books which I normally would not pick up at all and I found some gems. 

What's next? This year I have created my own reading challenge and you can find the details here. In 2020 I am going to attempt the Popsugar advanced reading challenge. It has 10 prompts only, so I think I can do it. I have lined up the books already and aiming for 35 in total. Also I am going to include Tamil books in them. Hoping for a good reading year. 

As usual, I pledge to be regular on updating the blog. 

Happy Reading Folks!!

Bookish Thoughts : Whats up with my reading!!

After a very long hiatus, I have picked up the pace in my reading challenge and need not mention I am falling behind. I am picking up the bits and pieces and running still. Lets see how 2019 ends for me.

In the meantime, I had a thought.

2020 is around the corner and I am gearing up for new reading challenge. I thought why not create a list of my own with 2020 in mind. Hence the Quirkysoul Reading Challenge.

Being a debut list, this is a very short one and a trial of how I am faring. 

Why the 5?

I couldn't resist my bookish bias hence the first & second challenge.

The year 2020 reminds me of the Missile Man of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Sir and his vision for India in 2020 leading to the 3rd challenge.

The US Presidential Elections is being held in 2020 and I am borrowing the theme in challenge no.4.

Japan is hosting the Olympics this time and hence the honorary challenge no.5.

This might not be a difficult list or even a childsplay. Babysteps people.

If I am successful this time, I am planning to create more lists/reading challenges.

Jump right in if you think you can do it. 

Will be back with a detailed post on how I did in 2019 and the books I am planning for 2020.

Until then,

Toodles.

Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

Author: Gail Honeyman
Genre: Contemporary
Type: Fiction

This book is something I am glad I picked up for the Popsugar prompt 25 – A debut novel. It is not usually a genre or premise I would usually read. But I chose it through recommendations.

Eleanor Oliphant is an adult who is generally considered a social misfit. She lives alone, has a job and there is a routine for everything in her life. She doesn’t socialise. Her mother is the only person in her life she speaks to regularly. One day, she sees a musician at his band performance whom she decides is her soul mate and plans to meet him, fall in love and get married to him. Also she is introduced to a colleague, Raymond who is friendly and doesn’t see the flaws in Eleanor. The remaining story tells why Eleanor is the way she is and did her plan to covet the musician work.

The entire book is single character centric and we see a character arc in Eleanor that happens by the people she meets. You don’t see a sudden twist and turn until you know her back story. I did feel a hint of mockery on all the questions on the norms, decorum and code we follow on social behaviour. Sometimes we don’t ask questions where we need to and hide behind etiquette.

The character does grow on you as you read. Eleanor is sometimes aware of her shortcomings but she doesn’t let that bother her.

The read is a smooth ride with the ebbs and flows of laughs and grief. It can be heart-warming and heartbreaking at the same time.

This one definitely goes into my list of good reads for the year.

Verdict: Highly recommended in contemporary fiction with odd characters are odd and a warm story.

Book Review: Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Author: Maria Semple
Genre: Humour
Type: Fiction

I had selected this book for my Popsugar reading prompt 16- A book with a question in the title. I am still not sure how I feel about this book. I will try my best to put it into words.

The whole title is a little misleading. I was expecting some search expedition for a missing person from the start. But it comes almost at the end.

Bernadette is an opinionated mother of a 15 year old, Bee. She hates her neighbourhood and does most of her work through an outsourced personal assistant. Her husband is a Microsoft employee and is almost absent physically and emotionally. Bernadette has gone through so many issues like a big hit on her career as an architect, issues with her pregnancy and Bee’s health problems. When her daily life gives her grief, Bernadette disappears. Bee, who is very close to her mom, decides to find her. The remaining story says if she finds her mom or not.

The storytelling is done through a series of letters, notes and emails and a few narrations from Bee. So it makes the reading quick and easy. It is hilarious at a few scenes. But I wouldn’t say it is a laugh out loud humour. There is a whole lot of satire and sarcasm on the suburban culture of private schools, mommy clubs and Microsoft culture. But the world and characters in which the satire is played on is too shallow. I did feel sorry for Bernadette once all the reasons for her anguishes are explained.I couldn’t care any less about her neighbours. I couldn’t pine for anyone here. That is one downside about this book.

Verdict: At the end of the book, all I felt was uncertainty. I am still a bit confused if this is satire or humour.

Book Review: Behind Closed Doors

Author: B. A. Paris
Genre: Thriller
Type: Fiction

I picked this book for their reviews and rating from different sources. The author is new to me so I started with an open mind.

The story is a about a couple Jack and Grace Angel who seem to be the perfect couple to their friends. Jack is a domestic violence lawyer and has an amazing track record. Grace who used to be a fruit supply buyer for a big department store, quit her job after marrying Jack. Grace’s sister Millie has Down’s syndrome and is attending special needs school. The couple have great looks, a cute story about their courting, amazing holidays and a gorgeous home. The cherry on the top is Grace’s cooking which their friends applaud at the dinner parties. But with all the happy couple show going on, there are some deep secrets turning their life to a sham.

The story goes back and forth between Grace’s past and present. The author does not beat around the bush and there is no suspense about the dark secrets. You are immediately introduced to 2 different worlds.  Though there was potential for dark content I am grateful that there were no rambling psycho thoughts on display. There are no vivid and graphic descriptions of the cruelty, but you do fear for the person. Sometimes you feel so helpless that it makes you want to find a way to end the horror. The story keeps flowing uninterrupted and you come to the end without realising it.

In terms of character design, I think all major characters were well defined. I see the flaws on the decisions Grace makes but you can only know how your mind works if you are in that situation . Millie is observant and clever and my favourite in the novel. If it wasn't for her I don't know how the story would have proceeded.

Once I finished I thought it fit the Popsugar prompt 4: A book you think should be turned into a movie. If not a movie I think this could make a pretty good mini web series. I also think this book has a potential for a sequel.

Verdict: An engaging and exciting psychological thriller. Must read and highly recommended of the genre.