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Category Archives: Books Read in 2020

Writers & Lovers by Lily King

03 Sunday Jan 2021

Posted by Priya Sankaran in Authors, Books Read in 2020, Lily King, Literary Fiction

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Protagonists: Casey Peabody, friend from restaurant, book writer friend, romantic interests, brother, brother’s friend, father and mother

Casey recently lost her mother and thus was having a very difficult time focussing on the things that needs to. She was grieving and was not very successful with her coping mechanisms.

She meets a couple of men and get involved romantically in a way, though the reason for each is different.

The book focusses on how she makes the choices and how things finally align resulting in positive outcomes.

For a lot of people, Casey is unstable, amoral since she can entertain the idea of dating multiple people simultaneously. But reading the story, the background paints a vivid picture of how lost she is and how incapable of making a decision she is in at that precise juncture. She doesn’t claim physical intimacy or utter any proclamation. She enjoys both her companions but at a different levels. She doesn’t expect any favors from either.

Dating the author with kids was more towards having a family. She is more comfortable with the kids than the author of interest. Through several anecdotes, she realizes that he is self obsessed, hung over with his ex and also very controlling. That helps her understand what she wants. The other person, seems to share a lot of background similar to her including the grieving part. But since he is also trying to get his balance in life, it brings in more uncertainty than happiness.

The book was a little complex for me to read, but it grew on me and definitely ended with a positive note.

With my book of the month subscription, I have been slowly venturing into genres/ books I would have never tried and am enjoying everything very much.

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré

26 Wednesday Feb 2020

Posted by Priya Sankaran in Abi Daré, Books Read in 2020, Contemporary Fiction

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Rating – 5/5

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am not a big fan of reading books that are sad. I did pick this book with a pinch of salt and was hesitant on how Adhunni couldn’t control much around her right from her marriage to how she lands up working for Big Madam. But after reading the book I learnt or realized a few things

– Not all situations can be controlled but they can be managed to our advantage.
– Also we can tune our mind to always extract positives
– There is also a good in tomorrow –> loved this
– Speaking your mind will lead to bitter situations but conscience will be clear
– Be sure to hang on the right people, support and stand true to your words.
– Being women and maintaining position is not easy but “where there is will, there is a way”

Each and every character in this book is memorable right from her mother, Kayus, Iya, Khadija, Etanus, Tia, Abu, Rebecca and the chef. There are some characters I would like to forget like her father, Morufu, Kofi, Big Madam and Big Daddy.

After reading through Adhunni’s journey from Ikati village to Logos and how she will able to pursue her dream, I was happy how the story ended, but feel incomplete. I wish the author comes up with a sequel? It would be nice to know

– how Adhunni’s louding voice is put to use. Especially the struggles she undergoes to bring women out of the kitchen in Ikati.
– If she ever got her money from Mr. Kofi (slave trader)
– If she ever faced her father or morufu again and especially how Khadiya’s kids faired.

Maybe the author left everything else to our imagination. Given the willpower and intent of Adhunni, path is well paved for her success through the rest of her life.

Oasis by Katya de Becerra

28 Tuesday Jan 2020

Posted by Priya Sankaran in Books Read in 2020, Katya de Becerra, Science Fiction

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Rating 5/5

Oasis is a blend of Science Fiction, Thriller and Archeology. The story revolves around 6 teens or young adults and how they survive under mysterious circumstances.

The author has done a very good job of describing all the events leading up to their ultimate move.

Alif (main protagonist) takes her friends to spend the summer at a dig site in Dubai which is managed by her Archeologist father. Her parents have been estranged for a while. She live with her dad in Melbourne and Her mother in UK pursuing her career. She thought she had made peace with that situation until her deepest desire is brought forward and made into a reality upon her encounter with the Oasis.

Tommy is an assistant to her father and also her long time crush. Since he always adorns a serious focussed stature,  she kept her urges to move forward within limits. He is also a much favored assistant by her father with him being orphaned.

On their way to the dig site, they hear rumors of the place being haunted due to a meteor crash some time ago, but the story around it was not very convincing to be accepted as truth. But on their first day, they encounter something weird. A french tourist who was supposed to be lost at least a couple of years ago in the desert, wanders to their site cabin in a dehydrated state. He also communicates something bizzare to Alif which adds fuel to her curiosity

Following that event on the same night, they hear an approaching sandstorm, Alif hearing her being summoned by someone resembling her father rushes out and navigates with greater difficulty. Even her friends along with Tommy follow her so as not to lose her out in such bad weather. But little did they know that all of them will get thrown so far far from their campsite that it will leave him in despair.

Amidst the hot desert, out of nowhere they spot an oasis which seem like an answer to their prayers but with ulterior motives. They are sense something watching their every move in the desert, but chose to not pay head and focus on filling their stomach with fruits and water. Alif refers to the being as Queen of Giants based on her dreams. After a day or 2 in the oasis, all of them are messed up in some way. They start doubting each other and develop mild animosity. They also frequently trance out making them support the desires of the sentient being hosting them at the oasis.

All their inner demons are brought to surface along with fulfillments of their most inner desire which makes them feel in support of their reactions. But for Minh and a little of Luke, no one else realize that they are being manipulated and that the being is feeding on their emotions and desires.

They also get to glimpse a version of reality where all their desires are fulfilled and their yearning to relish and enjoy it growing more leading them to approve of the symbiotic relationship as required by the alien being.

The selfish nature of people is described beautifully when each person accepts to do anything and go to any lengths for their desire to be fulfilled.

Wonderful story and definitely in my list of re-reads.

 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

23 Thursday Jan 2020

Posted by Priya Sankaran in Authors, Book Reviews, Books Read in 2020, Erin Morgenstern, Science Fiction

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Rating – 5/5

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Not sure if I was in a slump or wanted the book to not end, I took a long time to finish this book. But it was well worth it. I definitely finished the last 150 pages in one sitting while slowly enjoying the first few 100 pages.

All the characters in this book are very well established and their part is also clearly articulated. There was not a single dull moment in the book. Celia and Marco’s love for each other was more pure and fated and it was portrayed in the most beautiful way possible.

Magic in this book felt real to me. The descriptions about what both Celia and Marco could do were remarkable. Isobel’s intervention though not very evident resulted in the attack of the clockmaker when removed. Protection spells and mind spells and what not …

Kudos to this author for doing such a wonderful job. Language was definitely flowery

I liked the ending especially how positive it was and how all the threads came together perfectly.

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  • The Heiress Gets A Duke by Harper St. George
  • Writers & Lovers by Lily King
  • The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
  • Oasis by Katya de Becerra
  • The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

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    • Adrienne Young (1)
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