Indian Readers discussion
READING PROGRESS 2018
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Syl: the (un/non?) discerning reader -2018 乂⍱‿●乂
FRIENDS RECO
1.The Lover's Dictionary - Sharadha - quick and easy 4 stars
2. Primal Fear - Girish
3. A Little Life - Akanksha . COMPLETED. 4 STARS
4.Saakshi: The Witness - Gorab - was good, though not upto Bhyrappa standards
5. Making Faces - Manju
6.The Collapsing Empire -Jaya
7. Crocodile on the Sandbank - Vimal
8.Crime and Punishment -Kru a book that makes one introspect and ruminate.
9. Marunnu - Rebecca
1.
2. Primal Fear - Girish
3.
4.
5. Making Faces - Manju
6.The Collapsing Empire -Jaya
7. Crocodile on the Sandbank - Vimal
8.
9. Marunnu - Rebecca
COUNTRIES I VISITED
1.England -
2. Minnesota, USA.
3.Canada
4. Tokyo, Japan. Revisit via
5. Nepal
6. Sri Lanka
7. Russia
1.England -

2. Minnesota, USA.

3.Canada

4. Tokyo, Japan. Revisit via

5. Nepal

6. Sri Lanka

7. Russia

NEWBIE AUTHORS TO ME
1.
- Notes from a small island
2.
- Palpasa cafe
3.Manish Dubey - a murder in Gurgaon
4. Shirley Jackson- We always lived in the castle. Brilliant.
5. Deborah Harkness Discovery of witches
6. Anuk Arudpragasam - Story of a brief marriage
1.

2.

3.Manish Dubey - a murder in Gurgaon
4. Shirley Jackson- We always lived in the castle. Brilliant.
5. Deborah Harkness Discovery of witches
6. Anuk Arudpragasam - Story of a brief marriage
AWARDS - here I come
1.
- Sahitya Akademy, Windham-Campbell
2.
-
Man Booker Prize (2000), The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award Nominee (2002), Orange Prize Nominee for Fiction Shortlist (2001), Hammett Prize (2000), Puddly Award for New Novel (2001)
3.
-
Man Booker Prize Nominee (2015), Women's Prize for Fiction Nominee (2016), Andrew Carnegie Medal Nominee for Fiction (Shortlist) (2016), National Book Award Finalist for Fiction (2015), Kirkus Prize for Fiction (2015)
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fiction (2015), Waterstones Book of the Year Nominee (2015), International DUBLIN Literary Award Nominee for Shortlist (2017)
4.
-
Madan Puraskar, Akhyan Puraskar
5.
- DSC 2017, Dylan Thomas prize
6.
SCIBA Award for fiction, Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Paranormal Fantasy (2011)
1.

2.

Man Booker Prize (2000), The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award Nominee (2002), Orange Prize Nominee for Fiction Shortlist (2001), Hammett Prize (2000), Puddly Award for New Novel (2001)
3.

Man Booker Prize Nominee (2015), Women's Prize for Fiction Nominee (2016), Andrew Carnegie Medal Nominee for Fiction (Shortlist) (2016), National Book Award Finalist for Fiction (2015), Kirkus Prize for Fiction (2015)
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fiction (2015), Waterstones Book of the Year Nominee (2015), International DUBLIN Literary Award Nominee for Shortlist (2017)
4.

Madan Puraskar, Akhyan Puraskar
5.

6.

GROUP/ BUDDY READS
1.
- with Manju
2.
- Lis, Gorab, Girish
3.
- Manju
4.
- Manju
5.
- Jan 2018 BOTM in IR
6.
- Girish
7.
- Gorab
8.AM NOT CONTINUING WITH THIS AS ALMOST ALL MY BOOKS ARE BRS>>>
WILL CONTINUE THE THREAD WITH WHAT I READ SOLO
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.AM NOT CONTINUING WITH THIS AS ALMOST ALL MY BOOKS ARE BRS>>>
WILL CONTINUE THE THREAD WITH WHAT I READ SOLO
MY CHALLENGES
1. The 13th book
2. A book written by an author who is/was still in diapers or over-the-hill.
3. A book with humor or horror
4. 300-350 pages
5. A book that reminds you of home
6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover
7. Chosen for the cover
8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for
9. Based on the blurb or blerg -
- Stephen King praised it.
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship
13. An author's debut novel
14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one
15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone
16. A book with a mystery or romance
17. Standalone novel -
18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill
19. Read a genre-bender
20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover -
1. The 13th book
2. A book written by an author who is/was still in diapers or over-the-hill.
3. A book with humor or horror
4. 300-350 pages
5. A book that reminds you of home
6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover

7. Chosen for the cover
8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for
9. Based on the blurb or blerg -

10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship
13. An author's debut novel
14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one
15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone
16. A book with a mystery or romance
17. Standalone novel -

18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill
19. Read a genre-bender
20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover -

INDIA THROUGH ITS STATES/PLACES
1. Murder in Mahim - Mumbai, Maharashtra
2.A Murder in Gurgaon -Gurgaon, Haryana
3. Seasons of the Palm-Tamil Nadu
4. Saakshi: The Witness-Karnataka
1. Murder in Mahim - Mumbai, Maharashtra
2.A Murder in Gurgaon -Gurgaon, Haryana
3. Seasons of the Palm-Tamil Nadu
4. Saakshi: The Witness-Karnataka
BOOKS I BOUGHT IN 2018
Eagerly waiting to see which will be my first purchase of 2018.
Well.... got a bundle on Jan 1 itself
. Rs 1125 . Amazon
2.
-368. Jan 6
3.
-Jan 11. 290 Flipkart
4.
-242. Jan 11. Flipkart
5.
-192. FLipkart. Jan 11
6.
. Asimov .200. Flipkart 15.Jan
7. Guns, Germs and Steel
- 289. Flipkart. Jan15
8.
. 199. Amazon. 18 Jan
FLIPKART BUNDLE - ordered 13 books, 10 for me, 3 for son (Jan 25)
my books -
9.
149
10.
220
11.
110
12.
418
13.
107
14.
-140
15.
-239
16.
88
17.
151
18.
114
19.
110
20.
-380
21.
-160
22.
-5170
All the above books were procured brand new for less than half their price, So absolutely zero guilt factor.
23. After a hiatus
Rs. 47 Amazon March 21
24. The Book of Chocolate Saints ebook Rs. 13 on Amazon. April 13
Eagerly waiting to see which will be my first purchase of 2018.
Well.... got a bundle on Jan 1 itself

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7. Guns, Germs and Steel

8.

FLIPKART BUNDLE - ordered 13 books, 10 for me, 3 for son (Jan 25)
my books -
9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

All the above books were procured brand new for less than half their price, So absolutely zero guilt factor.
23. After a hiatus

24. The Book of Chocolate Saints ebook Rs. 13 on Amazon. April 13
POLISH OFF MY PHYSICAL BOOKS
1.
2.
3.
4.
bought 2nd hand .Bookchor. 22 Sept 2016
5.
-Aug 2017. Firsthand with 45% discount from Amazon
6.
-gift from SIL. Sept 2017
7.
-December 2017. Huge discount for hardback. 268 rs
8.
- bought in Feb 2018 on an impulse
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.


btw beautiful profile picture :)
Sharadha wrote: "All the best, Col :) Hope you enjoy all the reccos! Will peek in for reviews and such."
Thank you...
Hope so too.
Do peek in :)
Thank you...
Hope so too.
Do peek in :)
Nice challnges Syl.. Just saw on another thread where you were going easy! :O
Borrowing the friend reco for my third challenge :)
Borrowing the friend reco for my third challenge :)

2. A book written by an author who is/was still in diapers or over-the-hill. ???
May be less than.20 years and more than 70 years... that's what I guess.
( not my own... borrowed from popsugar hcsllenge)
( not my own... borrowed from popsugar hcsllenge)
my bpoks are scattered in various shelves in my bedroom, downstairs and my childhood place. I have at least 2000 books (counted in 2013).. after that I have bought at least 100 per year 😎
sorry... But I love boasting About books
sorry... But I love boasting About books
Started off today morning with two lines from the book "My Gita" by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Now will resume Murder in May in and Edgedancer.
Intended reads this month are
A little life
Warbreaker
Norwegian wood BOTM - if attempted would be a re read.
Now will resume Murder in May in and Edgedancer.
Intended reads this month are
A little life
Warbreaker
Norwegian wood BOTM - if attempted would be a re read.
BOOK 1
BR with Manju
Recommended by Abhay... if I remember correct.
Not the scintillating start I expected, nevertheless a start.
Review and ruminations tomorrow as am too sleepy now. 😩

BR with Manju
Recommended by Abhay... if I remember correct.
Not the scintillating start I expected, nevertheless a start.
Review and ruminations tomorrow as am too sleepy now. 😩
BOOK 2
Chose it for the author, and the fact that I bought a hardback copy for as less as 174 from Amazon last month.
It also fulfilled by India 2018 criteria.
Read LGBT protagonist in POPSUGAR 2018 criteria (though I am not actively participating).
All about male homosexuals and their lifestyles and problems, with a murder thrown in the beginning, and a few more murders peppering the middle pages.
Quite readable.

Chose it for the author, and the fact that I bought a hardback copy for as less as 174 from Amazon last month.
It also fulfilled by India 2018 criteria.
Read LGBT protagonist in POPSUGAR 2018 criteria (though I am not actively participating).
All about male homosexuals and their lifestyles and problems, with a murder thrown in the beginning, and a few more murders peppering the middle pages.
Quite readable.
BOOK 3 - a dud
Dont ask me why I read it. I was waiting in the bank. Had only my phone with me, so downloaded a kindle freebie and started reading.
The author was newClaire Douglas
the title was catchy, and the blurb equally so..The Text
But it was quite mediocre.
Dont ask me why I read it. I was waiting in the bank. Had only my phone with me, so downloaded a kindle freebie and started reading.
The author was newClaire Douglas
the title was catchy, and the blurb equally so..The Text
But it was quite mediocre.
Now reading 3 chunks
1. Oathbringer - BR with M, part of a series which I love. Am sure at the rate I am going, will take me atleast a month to complete
2.The Blind Assassin - Favorite author, one whom I want to read atleast once or twice a year. Again, BR with M. Chose this book as part of a weekend interconnecting theme.
HP suggested All the Light We Cannot See as his read, and we all had to choose books related to it somehow.
Blind assassin, because, the lead female in ATLWCS is blind, and the title of this book contains the word, plus the story has blind fantasy world children who weave intricate carpets. At 5%., loving it much. Didnt expect anything less from Atwood. :)
3. A Little Life- Akanksha has recommended it a couple of times, or more... and she herself chose it for me for Jan PIFM. So I guess, I am destined to read it sooner, rather than later. At 6%, loving the story ... and am sure it is my kind of story.
1. Oathbringer - BR with M, part of a series which I love. Am sure at the rate I am going, will take me atleast a month to complete
2.The Blind Assassin - Favorite author, one whom I want to read atleast once or twice a year. Again, BR with M. Chose this book as part of a weekend interconnecting theme.
HP suggested All the Light We Cannot See as his read, and we all had to choose books related to it somehow.
Blind assassin, because, the lead female in ATLWCS is blind, and the title of this book contains the word, plus the story has blind fantasy world children who weave intricate carpets. At 5%., loving it much. Didnt expect anything less from Atwood. :)
3. A Little Life- Akanksha has recommended it a couple of times, or more... and she herself chose it for me for Jan PIFM. So I guess, I am destined to read it sooner, rather than later. At 6%, loving the story ... and am sure it is my kind of story.
BOOK 4.
Finished the audio of
Was a good, toothy psychological mystery involving siblings, parental relationship and all the hoo haw...
Enjoyed the narration.
I am mesmerised by this ditty and am singing it in a loop
We are the ghosts of lives stolen
And lives never lived;
Once we were heavy
But now we are light;
I promise, we will never burden you.
Finished the audio of

Was a good, toothy psychological mystery involving siblings, parental relationship and all the hoo haw...
Enjoyed the narration.
I am mesmerised by this ditty and am singing it in a loop
We are the ghosts of lives stolen
And lives never lived;
Once we were heavy
But now we are light;
I promise, we will never burden you.

Have you ever tried audiobooks by Graphic Audio?

hi Karolina... liking it much. A little life seems to be my kind of book. Slow, meandering, but very interesting.
hi Jayanr, haven't tried anything by graphic audio yet... though j have heard of it. Am reading Oathbeinfer from the beginning and this time through things make sense. I am even underlining important lines ( with a pencil, of course).

Sounds very promising, you may motivate me to pick it up sooner rather than later.
Am loving a Little Life as well as Blind Assassin. These two, along with the audio of Norwegian Wood, make my reading life a bliss for the time being.
The same cannot be said about Oathbringer, a much anticipated book, which when started, is somehow not keeping me engaged.
The same cannot be said about Oathbringer, a much anticipated book, which when started, is somehow not keeping me engaged.
mind blowing thread!
friend recos, awards, countries, cleaning up shelves..... too good to be true!
and a 5 Star already!!!
salute Col.
friend recos, awards, countries, cleaning up shelves..... too good to be true!
and a 5 Star already!!!
salute Col.

Lovely challenges and lovely books. Am going to keep coming here or haunting you everywhere (as I usually do); probably more of the latter than the former as I am quite lazy..lol
Am sure you will have a rocking 2018. So all I will say is, here's looking forward to seeing how we agree or disagree this year! :P
Books mentioned in this topic
Heidi (other topics)Inga (other topics)
Crime and Punishment (other topics)
Heidi (other topics)
Marunnu (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Anuk Arudpragasam (other topics)Deborah Harkness (other topics)
Shirley Jackson (other topics)
Manish Dubey (other topics)
Bill Bryson (other topics)
More...
And anyway it doesnt matter... hardly a few hours left for 2018
So starting off with this thread...