Pens and Places

Ann Patchett has my heart. I never expected These Precious Days to be so engaging and wholesome. One of my friends had given a detailed and enthusiastic review of the book, and in that moment, I hoped to feel the same way she did—her gleeful response was contagious. I can’t thank her enough for introducing me to this amazing author. These Precious Days feels like a warm hug on a winter afternoon, as if Ann is sitting right in front of me, sharing the beautiful little moments of her life. She invites us into her home, her bookstore, her personal lifestyle, her relationships, her friendships, her writing, her travel therapy, her decisions—so much and more. It felt like we were having nostalgic conversations, sitting on a balcony, sipping tea, and reflecting on the wonders of this life. What captivated me most throughout the book was her approach to storytelling—the way she explains everything with such honest ease. I’ll certainly be picking up more of her work, to continue immersing my...

  As Dasgupta quoted - “To be Ahalya, who can be neither possessed nor forsaken”, this art-work is no less than a poetic remembrance of the beauty of Ahalya. The first of “The Sati Series” depicts the behind the scenes of the original story that the world knows. Through this mythological retelling of a different perspective of Ahalya’s story, the author has incredibly decorated the words for the utmost creation by Brahma.I especially loved the literary presentation of everything described in this book. The character “Ahalya” is so vividly articulated in bold and fresh feminist perspective. The reader can clearly see the reflections of complex prowess. I am now thrilled to read the remaining tales of Panch Kanyas written by Dasgupta.

  Here I am again, reading Matt Haig, and I am in awe of this comfortness that he provided through this journey. This is the first time I felt that he is upfront, showing his dark side and traumatic phases to the world. This is the first time it felt like he is in-front of me, giving me his best life lessons to follow. This is the first time he is talking to me in non-fictional terms. As the title suggests “The Comfort Book”, this masterpiece is your philosophical short bible to comply with. His favorite books, music, movies and more, his comparisons of mundane dilemmas with legendary stories, his approach to overcoming dark thoughts, his tini-tiny advice, everything seems so soothing to the mortal body. This personal journal felt like a warm hug to my much needed soul.  I think I should read this book, every once in a while, just to make sure I am enough.

  This is my first ever book read in the “Parenting” genre and I am totally appalled with the facts that I have not known all along since my childhood. I consider Philippa Perry’s work not only applicable to parenting but as a general thumb rule for every relationship out there with humans.  I am extremely privileged and fortunate that I got the best ever parents and grand-parents, who not only took care of every intricate detail of my mental well-being, but also supported me in every aspect of my life. I obviously don't remember my early childhood days, but from the moment that I recall, it's always them on whom I relied for my every need. And that’s what I have learned in this book about how we should take care of our inner child’s thoughts. This book is an amalgamation of pre and post parenting journeys, and you will not regret encountering enormous facts about psychological facts of the human brain.  This book is divided into six sections. First one explains the legac...

  I don't know if it's because of the ideologies of Rama or the remembrance of my Baba’s lessons, that I tend to pick again and again this story to read by different authors in different forms.  This book is another exemplary representation of Ramayana by another renowned author. Every book has its own delegation to recite this great epic in its own rendition, and this piece is quite different from all that I had read till now.  The unknown and unheard that I had read in Sita Ramayana by Devdutt Pattnaik was intriguing and factful, but when I was comparing the facts of Rishi Valmiki’s epic, I couldn’t find anything new. But the only thing that kept me glued to read was the categorization of context, settings, personalities, events and eventualities. Author has mentioned each and every aspect with thorough research and then articulated in a way to untangle every phase of the epic. Be it personality of the character in Ramayana, occurrence of events, governance of Ram Rajya...

  Being a literary fan of Jhumpa Lahiri’s work, I am always attracted to every creation of her. This time, this book felt different. It was like a calm confrontation of the chaos that happened with any writer/learner, who tried to indulge oneself into the stranger yet passionate world of other literature. The author is not used to presenting herself in autobiographical glimpses, in any form of her writings. But through this small showdown of her struggles, she captured everything in other words .  “In Other Words” has given many sides of Jhumpa, through her linguistic journey. Being a Bengali from the heart and pampered in the US, she discovered a new zeal for some third love. In this book, she described how it is so simple and yet difficult to be involved with the passion that is not at all born and related to her in any form. She had started getting affectionate with a strange partner - the language ‘Italian’ - so much so that she wanted to break the knot of her past existen...

  This book feels like I found a lost companion(or a personal diary) of a traveling man, in which every experience is expressed with a homely touch. I haven’t read Manav’s work before, but after reading this piece, he had won one more reader.  Initially I struggled a bit, because I am not proficient in reading Hindi fast, but I expected to listen to his story faster in my mind. Carrying this dilemma, sometimes I took pause as well to grasp the surroundings, that compelled me to think about my traveling days’ memories. The title “ बहुत दूर कितना दूर होता है ” has so much depth in it that I created innumerable answers for this statement in my mind. I asked people around how they perceive this statement in general. Some relate it with the bond we carry, some relate with the time we are left with to live, some just couldn’t form words to explain. For me, I think I come up with my version with a pinch of longingness of my heart i.e. If you consider someone detached with you, no ma...

In "Varaha's Vengeance," Arun Krishnan masterfully continues the captivating saga initiated in "Nandi's Charge," the first volume of the Battle of Vathapi series. Seamlessly building upon the narrative groundwork laid in its predecessor, Krishnan navigates readers through the turbulent landscape of the Chalukyas and Pallavas era, where the clash of empires dictates the course of history. Krishnan's narrative prowess shines as he intricately weaves together the threads of ancient warfare, enveloping readers in the cacophony of battle and the quieter moments of introspection. His descriptive prose serves as a portal to a bygone era, where notions of honor and duty collide amidst the chaos of the battlefield. A hallmark of "Varaha's Vengeance" lies in its well-rounded characters. Krishnan breathes life into both male and female protagonists, allowing them to undergo profound growth throughout the narrative. Whether it's the valorous exploi...

  This book has to be on everyone’s shelf. As always, Mitch Albom has expanded the level of small moments to detailed meanings of life. I never thought that this book would turn out so soooo emotional. I cried a lot, re-thinking all my deeds at my earlier stages, re-evaluating all my unintentional moves which caused pain to my parents and re-considering all my decisions which might have resulted well, just because of their guidance.  I don’t know what I could have done without my parents - or you can say - my grandparents. They were my guiding light at every step of my well being. I didn’t ever imagine my world without their existence, but now when they are not here, there’s not a single day when I don’t remember them in my thoughts. This book has my whole heart, because it gives a random dream to spend one more day, if I could have.  One of the most compelling aspects of "For One More Day" is Albom's ability to infuse each character with depth and relatability. From Chic...

  Hosseini has something in his mind, that everytime he creates magic with his words. “And the Mountains Echoed” is a splendid collaboration of stories, which shows that every story is made of little efforts and human emotions. This book has been on my shelf for the last 4 years, not because I didn’t want to read it, but because I wanted to read with my proper devotion ( coz I worship Hossein’s work!) And here I am, holding on to the post-read era of crying and overthinking.  If you are suffering from intellectual-thought-processing-syndrome, where you don’t know where to stop traveling in your dreamy sentiments, then this book is for you. It has all the flavors of love, sacrifice, sibling’s attachment, guilt, devotion, back stories of so many little moments, harassments, childhood traumas, childhood nurturement and so much more.  At the heart of the novel is the bond between Abdullah and Pari, siblings torn apart by circumstances beyond their control. Their story is a po...

  "Tarkash" by Javed Akhtar is a poetic masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of conventional literature. As a reader, I found myself entranced by the sheer brilliance of Akhtar's words, which effortlessly weave together a tapestry of emotions, philosophy, and the human experience. The book, predominantly a collection of ghazals, delves into the intricate realms of life, love, and the myriad emotions that define our existence. Akhtar's verses are not just words; they are an exploration of the soul, resonating with a depth that leaves an indelible mark on the reader's heart. His poetic prowess is evident in every line, each verse a gem that reflects the profound wisdom of a seasoned wordsmith. What sets "Tarkash" apart is its relatability to the common man's journey. Akhtar has a unique way of capturing the essence of everyday struggles, joys, and sorrows. Through his ghazals, he paints a vivid picture of the human condition, making the reader fe...