All the amazing Books I read

in March 2023

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No life updates. Just some cold hard facts this month. 🙂

The first quarter of 2023 is over and done with, and I managed to read 24/52 books in the first three months. 52 is the number I’ve committed for 2023 on my Goodreads page. These are my reading stats(courtesy StoryGraph).

So I’ve read 24 Books so far in three months. That’s an average of 8 books per month or two books a week. Pages read total – 6171.

My average rating was 3.63, and I had three books in the 5-star category. I read the most number of books in February (10) and, yet, it was the least number of pages(funny).

My favorite books for each month have been – Transcendent Kingdom, Heartstopper 2, and The Dangers of Smoking in Bed.

I’ve read five non-fiction books so far, and the rest have been all fiction. But I’ve had an eclectic mix of genres this month moreso, ranging from – Graphic novels, mystery, horror, mythology, memoir, and fantasy.

Linking all the important posts of the last three months down below for your perusal.

Books I read in January

Books I read in February

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Recent Reads March 2023

Heartstopper Volumes 3 by Alice Osman

The first two volumes deal with what Charlie meeting Nick at their school. Charlie has declared himself gay, but Nick is yet to discover himself. But with the help of Charlie he finally does and finds out he is gay. The two start a relationship.

In this novel the two start opening up about their relationship to other people, especially their family and friends. I felt the narrative was a little repetitive with discussing the same things over and over again. Everything was too sweet and mushy for my tastes. But what I love about the Heartstopper series is that it the story is always free flowing unlike other graphic novels where I feel there is a disconnect in the flow of the graphics and illustrations.

Looking forward to reading the next one.

Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Osman

This volume deals with Charlie’s mental condition and his eating disorder. I loved how a sensitive topic has been dealt with very carefully and empathetically. Often family members of patients fell helpless that they are unable to do anything to help their loved one but the way Nick handles Charlie is way better than an adult would have done. Also understanding that mental conditions don’t just go away with medication and therapy but take time and there maybe relapses has been discussed very well through Nick’s journal entries.

I loved reading this volume and look forward to the next one.

Sitayana by Amit Majumdar

What if the characters in Ramayana could tell you their own stories?

And not just Sita or the fallen women from the epic but stories by Hanuman, Indra, Varun, Lakshman and even the little squirrel who contributed in building the bridge across the ocean.

Did you know of how Rama was offered a chariot by Indra that was more magical than the mystical Pushpak of Ravana? Did you know of who abandoned Sita as a baby in a field belonging to the kingdom of king Janaka?

Amit Majumdar tells the story of Ramayana starting from the Ashoka Vatika where Sita has been imprisoned by Ravana. And then he brings a tale that is ingenious and powerful and speaks vibrantly through its numerous characters.

The Outsider by Stephen King

A horrifying crime has been committed. It seems like a clear case where all the evidence and witness point to one man. Coach Terry Maitland. But Coach has an iron-clad alibi, he was at an author convention in another city with his colleagues who vouch for him.

How did one man end up being in two places at the same time?

Sounds like a plot of a sci-fi movie. But it isn’t. although the plot building and the unravelling of the mystery is extremely fascinating and gripping. The end seemed a little far-fetched. I felt like Mr. King wrote a fantastic plotline without thinking of the murderer’s character too much and then he wrote one quickly to fill out all the unbelievable possibilities.

Other than that I think it made a fantastic story. I do get why people declared it the winning mystery read of 2019.  I’m definitely picking up more of Mr. King’s work in the future.

Read this for Booklist’s Queen Reading Challenge for 2023, prompt – Famous Author You’ve Avoided

Baluta by Daya Pawar Translated from Marathi by Jerry Pinto

Baluta is the first Dalit autobiography written in Marathi and was first published in 1978. Back then the book caused a storm because it brought forth very clearly the brutality of the Indian Caste system.

What touches you about this particular literature is the candid and blatant way in which Daya has written about not only but caste system but also the people in his community and even about himself and his family. Although he declares himself a coward repetitively throughout the book, I think it took a mountain of courage for him to write this memoir that too way back in the 1970s.

It takes us back to the villages that had a prominent Maharwada on the outskirts of the village and to a Mumbai full of chawls, brothels, and slums. His confession that he could not give back anything substantial to his mother before she died, although she brought up him and his sister single-handedly, wrenches the reader’s hearts into a twist.

Baluta is a must-read piece of Marathi literature that depicts perfect story-telling and talks about oneself in a way that deserves to be heard.

Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi Translated from Japanese by GeoffreyTrousselot

We have four stories here, exploring different relationships – lovers, husband-wife, sisters and mother-daughter. They all have one thing in common they want to go back/forth in time to a precise moment where maybe if done differently it could have changed the course of their future/present.

This café is a magical café which helps you travel in time. But it has so many stringent rules, that people do not think it’s worth experiencing this travel. But some people are desperate. In spite of the rules they want to travel but they must keep in mind the most important rule – to return before the coffee gets cold.

The concept is quite intriguing and the stories are simple but they have been told in a heart-warming way. They leave an impression and sometimes they even leave a few tears. I enjoyed this quick read due to the different dynamics of every relationship and reading about Japanese culture was also refreshing.

Read this for Uncorked Reading’s 2023 reading challenge, prompt – Japanese Fantasy

The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez Translated by Megan McDowell

What an unconventional story-telling style. If these stories are anywhere close to reality you are in for a rude shock. The stories will shake you to the core. Most of the stories are based on paranormal occurrences, but the human element of the stories is also macabre. Argentine City life mixed with spooky horror. The ends of the stories especially are so twisted that it will make you sit up in your seat. My favorite (or unfavorite) was When the Kids Came Back, it was also the longest. I had goose bumps all over reading that story. I was sad but spooked. I wonder how the author can evoke so many mixed emotions.

Revolting but fascinating.