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Recent Reading List: February 2021
Not sure which books to read? Here’s a list of my recent reads with my recommendations to help you decide what to read next.
Although February was a short month (with only 28 days) I am so happy I still got to read 9 books. I decided it should be a good mix covering multiple genres so that all of you readers can find a story that suits their palate.
I also read an ARC from damppebbles book tours and I’ve also included that here.
A surprising story about twin sisters, Desiree and Stella, spanning 4 decades. They come from a small village, Mallard, that is nowhere on the map. One day they decide to run away from this village but little do they realize that their lives are about to go on two completely separate paths, living completely different lives.
One day many years later, one sister returns with her black daughter, while the other continues to live a white life secretly. Although separated by many miles and even more lies their fates are intertwined. What will happen when unexpectedly their daughters meet?
This book received massive success. Written by a black author, the story gently but firmly exposes you to human psychology. The emotions portrayed by every character are pivotal to this heartfelt and powerful story about family life and values.
This is the story of Offred, a handmaid, living in America. A handmaid is a woman whose sole purpose of existence is to produce children for the high commanders in The Republic of Gilead. The organization of this Republic is such that a handful of men have all the power.
Atwood creates a mind-numbing atmosphere that will provoke your thinking and create unforgettable, haunting images of the handmaid and her dire circumstances. It’s not every day that you encounter a book like this one. It is a literary masterpiece and I cannot recommend it enough. Furthermore, I will also recommend that you watch the web series based on this book and its sequel, The Testaments, with Amazon Prime. Don’t miss this one.
Life Unknown is Kartikeya Ladha’s story of how he gained enlightenment and wisdom first while traveling through the remote regions of Leh and Ladakh and then while walking (1000 km) through the Southern states of India- from Kanyakumari to Goa.
How will I be true to myself, if I decide to live in the socially approved framework of life?
Is it ok to be dependent on my parents and other people so I can do what I need to do?
How did we manage to produce a society such as this, where children as young as thirteen are depressed and afraid to live?
When will humans understand that nothing we’ve accomplished in this relative world is real?
If any of these questions hound you, this book is for you.
This book can fall into several genres-epistolary (in the form of letters to the reader), or self-help, motivational, or about mental health or even slightly leaning towards poetry.
All the letters begin with what I call- describing the symptoms. What is the reader’s state of mind emotionally currently?
There are letters for 30 days about 30 different feelings. If you are suffering from pain, loneliness, anxiety, insomnia, heartache, loss of a loved one, negativity, or thinking about self-harm, or having problems with family, friends, loved ones or about are anxious about success or failure in your job, pick up this book for some genuine motivation.
The novel centers on Alex Clairmont-Diaz, the First Son of the United States, and Prince Henry, a British Prince of Wales. . A catastrophic blunder at the Royal Wedding in England brings rivals Alex and Henry together to present a façade to the public that they are the best friends. They don’t realize that while faking this friendship, they will discover each other better and become much more than friends for each other.
If you’re in for a fun, light read full of steamy passion go for this book. I loved it for the witty dialogues and communication between Alex and Henry. The camaraderie shared between the White House trio was also endearing to read about. I finished this one in no time. This book was also a Goodreads Choice award winner in 2019 for Best Debut.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s feminism of letting the other be the way they want to and not fit into certain molds or check specific categories reflects throughout her essay. Adichie encourages us to dream of a world that is fair and has men and women who are happy because they are true and honest to and about themselves. And she insists that for this to happen, our attitude should shift from raising not just the daughters differently but to raising both the sons and daughters differently.
The first thing that strikes us about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s speech/essay is the frankness. What she wants to say and tell us is unambiguous. Her very relatable real-life examples speak for themselves. They point out the obvious comparisons we have been making consciously or unconsciously through our lives. She speaks about her experiences in Nigeria, but her examples are believable even in India. We need changes everywhere in everything we do. Cooking or cleaning, working or resting, speaking or listening, asking for a raise, asking for quiet time, also while taking care of our kids, or just something as simple as putting on makeup.
The easy and smooth language deployed to narrate the author’s personal experiences makes it one of the fundamental reads for understanding feminism. With the ongoing discourse, misconceptions, and stereotypes about feminism and feminists, it becomes crucial to keep oneself updated with the concept's nuances.
DI Kate Young is on leave. She’s is the best detective on the force, But she’s under pressure, on medication, and overcoming trauma. So after her bad judgment call leads to a narrowly averted public disaster, they’re sure all she needs is rest. But when Staffordshire Police summons her back to work on a murder case, it’s a harder, more suspicious Kate Young who returns.
I love classic whodunit stories. And this one had me hooked, it was immersive all the way. I loved the pace of the novel. It was fast, and it never dropped. And the author narrated the story so that you could follow the investigation very closely and deduce the killer in your way. The plot was unraveled wonderfully without confusing the reader. The author kept me hanging on to every word effortlessly.
This is the story of Ambi. A boy who lived in a small village in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. The book takes us through his journey of how this small boy become a government employee in Delhi and subsequently a prominent astrologer who helped guide people in the right direction.
I loved the nostalgia that the book created. I miss the village life of India I once experienced through my grandparents. This story will take you back there and remind you of the beauty in simple living and simple thinking.
Etchings of the First Quarter of 2020 by Sabarna Roy is a book containing letters, conversations, and poems. The first section on duality has three parts: the author’s letter to his step-daughter, then the author’s letter to his wife, and finally a nocturnal conversation with his step-daughter.
The second section consists of Winter Poems.
The book primarily discusses topics that aren’t a regular topic of conversation in families. I felt the book was random in its themes. I would have loved the book to be more cohesive. A common theme would, I think resonate better with readers looking to read about a specific topic rather than random musings.
Share your February reads in the comments below.
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