Meera Nair's Blog, page 14

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Rachel commutes to work every day by train. Her journey is made interesting each day by the passing glimpse of a couple who live in a Victorian home adjacent to the train tracks.

Drawn to their life, Rachel nicknames them Jason and Jess. To her, they represent the life she has lost, the love she once shared with her husband. To Rachel, Jason and Jess are the perfect couple. Until one day, sitting in the train, she witnesses something alarming that gets her further embroiled in the lives of t...

Phoenix Flame by Sara Holland

The sequel to Havenfall, Phoenix Flame finds Maddie Morrow at the centre of a quest, as she adamantly wades into Fiordenkill, to weed out the soul trade and seek answers to her brother Nate’s disappearance.

What she finds in this kingdom of snow and ice chills her to the bone, for her determination to protect the Solarians ends up compromising the safety of her loved ones.

Image Courtesy – Goodreads

I loved the fact that several chapters in this book are set in Fiordenkill. While Sara ...

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Victor Frankenstein is an exuberant student of natural philosophy, eager to explore the science behind the various phenomenon. When his studies propel him further into the folds of life and creation, Victor’s desire to achieve the impossible manifest in the form of a creature he brings to life.

Horrified by the grotesque appearance of the being, Victor shuns him. And in doing so, sets in motion a series of calamitous events.

Image Courtesy – Goodreads

Mary Shelley’s writing is imbued ...

Shipped by Angie Hockman

Henley Evans, Digital Marketing Manager at Seaquest Adventures, is appalled to know that her workplace rival is also being considered for the promotion to Director of Marketing.

When both of them get sent on a cruise to formulate a marketing plan that will determine the winner, Henley is ready to pull out all the stops. But she soon realises that she has misunderstood Graeme (said arch-nemesis) and that knowledge could very well serve as an impediment to her success.

This was such an enj...

Act Your Age Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Aghast at being admonished by her parents for her inability to hold down a serious job, Eve Brown jumps at first sight of gainful employment. And that just happens to be at a boutique B&B owned by Jacob Wayne, an austere man governed by his unrelenting principles.

An accident ties their fates together, and despite Jacob’s adamant refusal, Eve finds herself working at the B&B to tide them over till the Pemberton Gingerbread festival, an event of priority for anyone who wants to make it big in...

The Shape of Darkness by Laura Purcell

Agnes Darken is a silhouette artist whose profession becomes threatened when her customers begin winding up dead. Much to her chagrin, the killer seems to be someone of her acquaintance and is set to torment her to no end.

Determined to seek the truth, Agnes approaches a young spirit medium, Pearl, to contact her deceased customers. Her efforts hurtle her towards a chilling revelation that can jeopardize the safety of those she loves.

This is the first book I’ve read of Laura Purcell’s, ...

Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë

Anne Brontë’s classic novel, Agnes Grey, is a semi-autobiographical account of the young woman’s experiences working as a governess. The book is set in Victorian Bath and gives the reader a glimpse of Brontë’s far-reaching outlook on life and society. When Agnes sets out to work in the capacity of a governess at some wealthy households in Bath, she is oblivious to the trying times that lie ahead.

Copyright © 2021 Meera Nair

I don’t know why I had been hesitant to pick up this book. It is ...

Lore by Alexandra Bracken

Last living member of the House of Persides, Melora Perseous had forsaken the Agon years ago. The hunt not only stole her family from her but further crippled the stature of the Persides in the eyes of the other bloodlines. Now, faced with the choice to help her childhood best friend and goddess Athena, Lore takes up the mantle to defeat the man who murdered her loved ones.

Lore is the Greek mythology-inspired fantasy fiction of my dreams! It has an adventurous quest, a battle for glory, hea...

Ghost Stories From The Raj edited by Ruskin Bond

This is a collection comprising 11 short stories extracted from various magazines and texts that recount the experiences of British officials and personnel during the colonization of India. Set as far back as the 19th century, some of these stories offer the reader glimpses of hauntings, myths, and peculiar occurrences.

Image Courtesy – Goodreads

I don’t think the tales in this book do justice to the title. Save for 2-3 short stories, none of the others even remotely felt like a “ghost st...

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Image Courtesy – Goodreads

Nick Carraway’s move to Long Island becomes a drastically intriguing experience when he comes to learn of his enigmatic neighbour, Mr Gatsby. From glamorous parties to eccentric acquaintances, Nick’s life takes on a different flavour. Despite the rumours surrounding Gatsby’s identity, Nick realises that his neighbour is not what society has pegged him to be.

I did not particularly enjoy reading The Great Gatsby. While F. Scott Fitzgerald’s writing is for the mos...