Sharp Read and Review: Sharadha & Arpit

[Sharadha]

A little about us:
We are quirky and comical,
Sensitive, cheeky, and revering.

A little about our tastes:
Rave and disparate. Basically a hotchpotch.

A little about this thread:
We pool in some choicest novels from our TBRs - read and review them one at a time. Reviews will range from thrashing a few that the other happens to love and fangirling over the rest.

Our stack of upcoming reads:
1. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
3. Swami and Friends
4. Oliver Twist

Everyone is welcome to have a peek at the madhouse this thread will be.

[[deleted user]]

Oh, it's beautiful buddy!
*Cries tears of happiness*

[Sharadha]

Should've added (melo)dramatic to 'A little about us' section :P

But yay, we finally have a thread :D :D

[Sharadha]

Notes, 16/07/2017:
- Anchita is joining us for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- Rebecca & Aparna are joining us for Swami and Friends


Updates: 28/06/2017
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
We're going to be reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo from July 1st.

[Ahtims]

Reserved space foe (non) spamming.

[Ahtims]

Forgot to congratulate you in the hurry to reserve space.

congratulations!

[Sharadha]

Danke, Smi <3

[[deleted user]]

Sharadha wrote: "Should've added (melo)dramatic to 'A little about us' section :P

But yay, we finally have a thread :D :D"

Yaaassss!
Oh, yeah, do add. You always come with great idea!

[[deleted user]]

Okay, now let's be serious (view spoiler)[Nah! Just kidding ;) (hide spoiler)]
I'mma start Jekyll and Hyde now.

[Rebecca]

Wow! Congrats folks. Another place to lurk.. And will be joining for those which catch my liking.... Surely there for Swami and friends.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Tadaaaaa!

[Gorab, TheGunman]

So your current reads start with Strange and ends with a twist! Sharp indeed!

[Sharadha]

Arpit wrote: "Yaaassss!
Oh, yeah, do add. You always come with great idea!"

Haha buddy *hugs*

[Sharadha]

Rebecca wrote: "Wow! Congrats folks. Another place to lurk.. And will be joining for those which catch my liking.... Surely there for Swami and friends."

Noted, Reb. Will add in the reserved space for note taking :D

[Sharadha]

Gorab wrote: "So your current reads start with Strange and ends with a twist! Sharp indeed!"

What a 'sharp' eye, G!!!!!! ;-)

[Rebecca]

Aparna is also joining for Swami and friends I think

[Aparna]

Nice Intro Shar , and good luck both of you ...Will lurk around.
Will join for swami and friends :)

[[deleted user]]

Hello Buddy!!
Just finished Jekyll and Hyde.
What about you?

[[deleted user]]

About Jekyll and Hyde
(view spoiler)[

The drug had no discriminating action; it was neither diabolical nor divine; it but shook the doors of the prisonhouse of my disposition; and like the captives of Philippi, that which stood within ran forth. At that time my virtue slumbered; my evil, kept awake by ambition, was alert and swift to seize the occasion; and the thing that was projected was Edward Hyde.

Had Jekyll been in noble spirits at the time of transformation,
there could have been a virtuous Hyde, right? Way ahead of its time :P:P (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I think if I were Henry Jekyll, I too wouldn't miss the chance to explore the evil, without staining myself. Human's inclination towards such things in natural ;) (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

I will start A Study in Scarlet tonight.

(view spoiler)[It's the first time I'm reading any Sherock stuff. Haven't watched/read anything so far 🙈 (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Rebecca wrote: "And will be joining for those which catch my liking.... Surely there for Swami and friends."

Aparna wrote: "Will join for swami and friends :)"

Sharp & Co. appreciate the enthusiasm and support. We shall notify you guys when we start :)

[Sharadha]

Arpit wrote: "Hello Buddy!!
Just finished Jekyll and Hyde.
What about you?"

Buddy, I had a crazy busy weekend! Phew, I haven't even had time to check group messages on WA :-( Sorry!!! How was your weekend?

I'm in the last chapter of J&H now. Can't really predict the ending. It's eerie from time-to-time and gripping mystery for the other half. Dr. Lanyon's narrative, especially the ending, made me jump from my bed! A solid 5-stars so far, unless Dr Jekyll ruins the last chapter :D

What's your re-read rating? Going up or down (like Dracula)? ;-)

About other horror reccos you asked sometime back, I found this: At the Mountains of Madness on my timeline - a GR friend liked an update or some such thing. The blurb says Classic and greatly acclaimed horror book. Ratings also going strong at 3.9/5 average. See if you like it :-) I am restricting my horror appetite to gothic elements, anything beyond that is going to give me sleepless nights (and dark circles haha)

[Sharadha]

Arpit wrote: "I will start A Study in Scarlet tonight.

[spoilers removed]"

I am joining for this, joining for this :D :D :D

P.S. Am wary of your spoilers although they are not really them in the technical sense of the term half the time :P :P

[Sharadha]

Aparna wrote: "Nice Intro Shar , and good luck both of you ...Will lurk around.
Will join for swami and friends :)"

*blush* Thanks, Aparna *hugs*

I will update the notes thread to add you to the Swami & Friends BR :D

[Em Lost In Books, EmLo is my Name, PIFM is my Game]

All the best to new buddies.:) will keeping popping up here from time to time. ;)

[Sharadha]

Manju wrote: "All the best to new buddies.:) will keeping popping up here from time to time. ;)"

Gratzie, Manu. We look forward to your (limited) spamming and tons of opinions on our nonsensical discussions :D :D :D

[Akanksha]

Hello to you two. Somehow, I seem to have missed this thread!

[[deleted user]]

Buddy thank me that I saved you from the blurb and reviews :) I was the victim of them. Before even reading the first word I knew about the mystery :(

But chilling nevertheless! The last chapter sums up the whole book... One could skip the previous 9 chapters and directly jump upon the last one :P

[[deleted user]]

Busy weekend? I can't relate xD #SummerHolidays

Anyways, we can start the study once you've solved the strange case!

My re-reading ratings? Alas, it was just the same. Didn't invoke any new emotions in me, as re-reading usually do. Not a re-reading material I guess.

[[deleted user]]

H. P. Lovecraft? Aka recommend him to me some days ago. Will definitely try when in mood.
Right now it's monsoon, my fav season, and I'm craving for since light, fluffy, feel-good book. No heavy stuff.
PS: Have you read The Room on the Roof?

PPS: sorry for multiple messages, but that's how Gorab and I used to do it. Will try to limit them :)

[[deleted user]]

Also, thanks Aka and Manu :)

(view spoiler)[ this was certainly last (hide spoiler)]

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Arpit wrote: "PPS: sorry for multiple messages, but that's how Gorab and I used to do it. Will try to limit them :)"

LOL!! Part of anti-spamming squad eh?

[Gorab, TheGunman]

The below message only for Arpit:
(view spoiler)[This (view spoiler)[is (view spoiler)[not (view spoiler)[a (view spoiler)[spoiler (view spoiler)[! (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Sharadha]

Gorab wrote: "The below message only for Arpit:
[spoilers removed]"

Ah, I see where Arp gets his hiding non-spoilers in spoiler tags custom from ;-)

[Sharadha]

Arpit wrote: "PPS: sorry for multiple messages, but that's how Gorab and I used to do it. Will try to limit them :) "

I'm spamming so much myself :( But spamming is founding members ka birth-right ok :D :D So let's indulge as much as we can :D

[Sharadha]

Arpit wrote: "Right now it's monsoon, my fav season, and I'm craving for since light, fluffy, feel-good book. No heavy stuff.
PS: Have you read The Room on the Roof?"

Light reads? Pick any romance up buddy *runs away*

Jokes apart, light weight na, try any Christie if you haven't. Her novels are usually under 200-240 pages and read easy-breezy.

For Room on the Roof, it's coming of age, a genre I am particularly wary of (especially after reading Perks of Being a Wallflower). But I'd like to give it a go because it seems short and Ruskin Bond AND when he was a teenager, expect some relatable emotions then :D I'll read it soon. You want to read together?

[Sharadha]

Arpit wrote: "Busy weekend? I can't relate xD #SummerHolidays

Anyways, we can start the study once you've solved the strange case!

My re-reading ratings? Alas, it was just the same. Didn't invoke any new emoti..."

So the same 4-stars na? At least it was dismal like Dracula :D :D

[Sharadha]

Arpit wrote: "Buddy thank me that I saved you from the blurb and reviews :) I was the victim of them. Before even reading the first word I knew about the mystery :(

But chilling nevertheless! The last chapter s..."

Umm, I think you are right to some extent in that Jekyll explains his side of the story and his reasons for doing what he did. But it may be a mistake to do this because there are constant references to the other chapters in this one which may seem confusing or half-hearted if not read in the flow. Plus, I am partial to the ending of Chapter 9 to endorse anyone to miss it :P :P :P

[Sharadha]

Akanksha wrote: "Hello to you two. Somehow, I seem to have missed this thread!"

Aka! Welcome welcome to our thread :D :D We'll ping you every so often to come read books with us as our tastes are more alike than we think ;-)

[Sharadha]

Arpit wrote: "About Jekyll and Hyde
[spoilers removed]"

My thoughts on this novel:

Beautiful, to start with. There wouldn't be an apter theme to read this for.

(view spoiler)[When I suggested the Twinathon with the Gemini-twins-based theme, I meant just the thing that this novel endorsed. Geminians, by nature, have dual/multiple personality(ies) residing in them; they by no means are the Bollywood/Holywood ghost movies scary, but more like being quick to change opinions, have the attention span of an amoeba, take keen interest in all worldly things. In short, they like to be more than one persons at a time (for more information, read Ms. Goodman).

Dr Jekyll was the epitome of this principle, whatever be his reasons. Through him, Stevenson wished to convey to us, his readers, the duality that exists in us all, one side being more domineering than the other often.

A line from the text that struck a chord with me, in addition to the chilling revelation that you added in your comment, was this:

“I were conscious of a more generous tide of blood; and I began to spy a danger that, if this were much prolonged, the balance of my nature might be permanently overthrown, the power of voluntary change be forfeited, and the character of Edward Hyde become irrevocably mine”

It's strange that the character we create to our liking within us, one which evokes a sense of liberation in us, suddenly seems stifling in the wake of its forfeiture. I could relate entirely with the demons that Jekyll was combating in the form of Hyde. It happens to us all the time - I know of so many people who take one wrong decision in their lives because of the luring short term benefits it poses and end up regretting it until their sanity is functional.

It isn't easy to be just one person your whole life. You live by certain principles, but that doesn't warrant the lack of temptation to step into the forbidden land for a peek. Unbeknownst to us, troubles lurk in things we don't understand fully or are able to manage. Thus, they first mar us and later render us confounded and helpless.

The writing, which initially seemed incredibly taxing to me, later overwhelmed me to an extent that I wouldn't be able to accept the book had it been written in another time period, under someone else's guise, sporting any other language/translation. (hide spoiler)]

Having said all that I wished to say about this book, I'll conclude with the below:

Arp, thanks a lot for getting me to read the strangest and most intriguing case of Jekyll and Hyde.

[[deleted user]]

Sharadha wrote: "Gorab wrote: "The below message only for Arpit:
[spoilers removed]"

Ah, I see where Arp gets his hiding non-spoilers in spoiler tags custom from ;-)"

Yeah, buddy, Gorab anna wonly corrupted me :/

[[deleted user]]

Sharadha wrote: "I'm spamming so much myself :( But spamming is founding members ka birth-right..."

Great! Hope you'll still stand by your words when my spamming gets out of hands *evil-grin*


Sharadha wrote: "Light reads? Pick any romance up buddy *runs away*"

I don't run away from romances. You missed my confession last night in the chat group. I've successfully read two Sparks and liked them. Read Me Before You and found it okay. Finished Twilight series [not my proudest reads :(] TFiOS is one of my fav book; have read it twice already, planning to read it for the third time around this Diwali. Enough, or should I list all those extra cheesy SRK 00's romantic movies too?? ;)
Suggest if you have any good one xD


Sharadha wrote: "try any Christie if you haven't. Her novels are usually under 200-240 pages and read easy-breezy. "

Will try after Holmes :)

[[deleted user]]

Sharadha wrote: "For Room on the Roof, it's coming of age, a genre I am particularly wary of (especially after reading Perks of Being a Wallflower). But I'd like to give it a go because it seems short and Ruskin Bond AND when he was a teenager, expect some relatable emotions then :D I'll read it soon. You want to read together? "

It's not just another coming-of-age story! It's the best RB novel in my opinion.
Try it sometimes, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. I'm re-reading it from tomorrow :)

Sharadha wrote: "So the same 4-stars na? At least it was dismal like Dracula :D :D"

Yep. Dracula re-reading was a big mistake. Won't touch these two in the next three decades :P

[[deleted user]]

Sharadha wrote: "Arpit wrote: "About Jekyll and Hyde
[spoilers removed]"

My thoughts on this novel:

Beautiful, to start with. There wouldn't be an apter theme to read this for.

When I suggested the Twinathon w..."

(view spoiler)[Great!!
Not only Geminis, but all humans have multiple personality,
in my opinion. INo idea about the other traits you mentioned,
since I'm not a Gemini myself. You are dealing with a Libra here...and I have no idea about this sign or any other sign :P

The quote you shared- yeah, that's what pretty much happened na.
Jekyll's curiosity was well justified. If Jekyll had known about the misfortune this experiment would bring upon him, would he still try it? Could he have fought the "temptation to step into the forbidden land for a peek" easily?

This lil book reminds me strongly of Dorian Gray, but Dorian Gray is beautifully written. Wilde writes poetry in prose style ;) (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Hullo buddy! What's up?

[Sharadha]

Arpit wrote: "Sharadha wrote: "Arpit wrote: "About Jekyll and Hyde
[spoilers removed]"

My thoughts on this novel:

Beautiful, to start with. There wouldn't be an apter theme to read this for.

When I suggeste..."

I am yet to read Dorian Gray! I want to, I want to soon! Why did you scrap your short stories wala readathon theme *sob*

Anyway, I'll get to it eventually :D

[Sharadha]

Arpit wrote: "Suggest if you have any good one xD"

Okay, good romances, good romances. Umm, *peruses shelf* read Forbidden - it is a forbidden subject, but it is beautiful, buddy :D I hope you like it. Another one is The Lover's Dictionary - think I've recommended this to Col as well and she'll be reading it soon. If you haven't picked a Levithan up yet, then it's about time ;-) Let me know how you find both.

Me Before You was so so good, I really welled up in the end, I love Will and Lou so much <3

What, you read two Sparks!!! WHICH ONES??? WE SHOULD TOTALLY READ MORE :D :D :D

[Sharadha]

Arpit wrote: "It's not just another coming-of-age story! It's the best RB novel in my opinion.
Try it sometimes, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. I'm re-reading it from tomorrow :)"

Hold up don't start without moi :( *why didn't I see this earlier* I'll join you for this.

[Rebecca]

Sharadha wrote: "Arpit wrote: "Suggest if you have any good one xD"

Okay, good romances, good romances. Umm, *peruses shelf* read Forbidden - it is a forbidden subject, but it is beautiful, buddy :D..."

I loved Me before you. Was wailing like a baby in the end.
I loved both the Sparks that Ive read. The Longest ride and Nights in Rodanthe.

[Sharadha]

Rebecca wrote: "I loved both the Sparks that Ive read. The Longest ride and Nights in Rodanthe."

Have read the former and liked, haven't read the latter though.. Need to read it sometime soon :-) They are usually light reads. Have you read Dear John, Resh?