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Makrand's Reading Bench - 2020
All the best Makrand for your Readathon :)
Thank you Arpit, Good luck with your reading journey for the new year as well :D
All the best for your Readathon! Looking forward to some amazing recommendations from you. Happy Reading. :)
I've carryforwarded 2 books from the last year1. Fragile things by Neil Gaiman
This books is unfortunately, very disappointing & I am too inclined towards DNF-ing it. Stories are more like incomplete drafts with no real concusion or purpose
2. R&AW - Story of Indian Secret Service by Ravi Amle
I am enjoying reading about the heroics of various artists behind India's greatest victories! Since it's in Marathi & I haven't read a Marathi book in a real long time, I am a bit slow reading this.
Hey Makrand, I might take up on your offer n join you on the bench when I can. Also look forward to some good recommendations from you. Happy reading in 2020!
Anshika,Thanks a lot & best wishes to you too !
Also, would love to receive recommendations from you.
Do post incase you find something good to read :D
New Year Greetings!
Bela,Happy to see you on the Bench as always :D
Yep, thanks again for checking out the reviews & do pass on something awesome to read as well !
Happy Reading :D
Mod
Gaimann always has been a hit or miss author to me.
Em*bedded-in-books* wrote: "hi Mak... the title sounded good, sorry to know fragile things is disappointingGaimann always has been a hit or miss author to me."
Yeah !! I love reading short stories but these are rather unfinished stories. :(
Good luck Mak boy :) Happy Reading!!
Thank you Swathi !!Please find more books like Slade house for an awesome buddy read this year :D
Yes Mak! hopefully I'll find books like Slade house this year<3 i miss our buddy read
Thank you Kavitha :)Vikas,
Good luck to you as well and have a fantastic New Year Ahead :)
Thanks a lot Pragya & Good luck for your Reading challenge as well !!
Mod
Thank you Gorab. yeah I've seen some really nice books in your list. I might steal some :p
So, the first Book of the year Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders turned out to be a massive disappointment.The book turned out be a series of abruptly finished, not-so-spooky stories & the only thing to be taken from the book was the versatility of Fantasy that Neil always displays & it rocked.
Read Review here
Nevertheless, moving ahead with The Ten Thousand Doors of January
Second book of the year has finished and it was a notch better than my first read of 2020.The Ten Thousand Doors of January was a fine fantasy. Around 7-8 of us started the book as a buddy read and for now only 2 of us have finished reading and the other 2 reading. That leaves with 50% of readers abandoning it and it's not their fault. Since the book is quite slow and pointless at the start. Picked up pace quite late & rocketed from thereon.
Rushed somewhat towards the end.
This was not 100% my kind of book & I am still thirsty for my first ever 2020 5 starrer. I think I'll have to go back to reading Murder mysteries/conspiracies that entertain me the best.
Read book review here
I was in two minds about reading Ten thousand doors of January. But after reading your review, I think I am gonna give it a miss. Doesn’t sound like my cup of tea. Thnx fr the heads up Mak.
Sure Bela. It was just an Okay read for me . Maybe you can hold it for a rainy day when your list has exhausted ;)
I've taken up The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo as my Book 3 for year 2020This was a PIFM read picked by Sukhmanyot.
I am 8% into the book and it has been a good start so far. Quest for 4-5 star(er) book is still On, hoping this is one ends it.
All the best, Mak. I am back here on Goodreads after a long time. I promise I will be more active here from now on. :)
@VishalThanks Vishal. Thank God you got time for us from dancing :P
Good luck to you as well & let's have a 'good' BR this time :P
Ignoring 10,000 Door ;)
Makrand wrote: "Second book of the year has finished and it was a notch better than my first read of 2020.The Ten Thousand Doors of January was a fine fantasy. Around 7-8 of us started the book as a buddy read a..."
I have abandoned this too. It's very slow from the beginning. I may pick it up again but not sure.
@PragyaYeah it tends to tire you at the start itself. Somewhere down the middle it gains good momentum only to ruin it in the end by a hasty conclusion. so, it's a 'at-your-own-risk' book ( as the author would have written since she loves using a lot of hyphens)
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a highly entertaining, glamorous and quite a scandalous book. I thought i'd be bored when i got a general idea within the first 30 pages however it's ain't so evidently. It's fascinating to peek into the lifestyles of celebrities & know that their problems are much more graver than us.The book quite seems like a fiction although it isn't & i like it for that.
I'll be finishing this soon & will pick up The Devotion of Suspect X suggested to me by Swathi.
Finally found the first Four star of the year 2020 in form of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn HugoThe last 50-60 pages were a riot and it couldn't be left unread and hence a night passed in reading under the blanket. Loved the book, very casual read. Nothing too off about it, nothing too thrilling about it either. Climax was cool and so as the subplot although it came quite late in the book.
Thank you Sukhmanjot for selecting this for PIFM January :)
Read book review here
It's quite rare when you stumble upon something and then realise HEY!!!! This is EXACTLY i wanted to read now! The Devotion of Suspect X is one such book.Swathi, no matter what she recommends always comes up with a book which i really WANT to read. Thanks for that.
I am 30% into the book & it feels like eating it up in one go but then it would finish soon ;) I'm in the mood of savouring it :D
Oooo, you have got loads of response over here... So many best wishes! Someone is getting popular XDI am up for American Gods. I am planning to read more non-ficiton this year. (I know it's not non-fiction)
I think you should include Devdutt Pattnaik in your list of Indian authors only if you are interested in reading mythology.
And oh, I forgot... Best wishes! ;)
@PHey, thanks for your wishes.
Yeah we have a fairly generous-hearted folks out here in the IR community. Very motivating. (You should checkout the secret santa thread or rather i'd insist you participate this year)
American Gods is a book I have been waiting the most and the longest really. Let's do a buddy read !
and yes Devdutt Patnaik's Shiva triology is also on my upcoming TBR & i think i'll actually read it this year!
Good wishes to you too P :D
Makrand,, Shiva trilogy is not Devdutt Patnaik's work but that series sure is a worth read.
oh yaa Amish Tripathi! My bad !! Thanks Sid
Hi Makrand, I just saw that you are planning to read House of Leaves this year. I have recently purchased the book and looking for BR. If you are interested in buddy read let me know.
Hey Pragya!Definitely I am up for this BR. HOL is an exceptional book which made me purchase it too and due to other reading commitments I couldn't take it up.
When do you think we can start this?
Makrand wrote: "Hey Pragya!Definitely I am up for this BR. HOL is an exceptional book which made me purchase it too and due to other reading commitments I couldn't take it up.
When do you think we can start this?"
March?
Pragya wrote: "Makrand wrote: "Hey Pragya!Definitely I am up for this BR. HOL is an exceptional book which made me purchase it too and due to other reading commitments I couldn't take it up.
When do you think w..."
Awesome! March it is.
I already have a BR in march but I can sure pull off this one too! Great, wanted to get a hand on the book since long
Makrand wrote: "Pragya wrote: "Makrand wrote: "Hey Pragya!Definitely I am up for this BR. HOL is an exceptional book which made me purchase it too and due to other reading commitments I couldn't take it up.
When..."
Great!
I have finally started walking towards my goal of reading more of Indian authors and finished the first book today - RAW : Esoteric stories of Indian Secret service.It was really a pleasure to read the book due to two things; primarily because I got my hands on a Marathi book after a really long time and secondly because I got to know a good amount of information about India's various missions and the brave hearts who undertook and executed them anonymously!
Read Review here
I've finished reading The devotion of suspect X and it was really a book worth reading. Thank you Swathi for yet another splendid recommendation. Japanese literature is seriously good. They have so Powerful & tight plots that doesn't let the reader wander. Another content 4 🌟!Read Review here
Starting with this mammoth of a book called House of Leaves ! I might have procastinated but thanks to Pragya for being interested in the BR which made me kick the book at the top. I am very much Interested in reading this 'Journal' - Yeah right, it's a freaking journal! It has mixed reviews however the genre depends on one's perception. Can be horror, can be love story too. Moving on then!!
Exactly as i had anticipated before, House of Leaves turns out to be the most bizzare, eerie and a really unique book that I've ever laid my hands on. Having said that, i haven't finished it yet. It's scary too & i am more than halfway through it.After experimenting, get frustrated & making a decision last year to not read 2 books at a time, here I am once again picking up this awesome book called When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.
Mod
Yeah true, had it on my list for a long time as well. Fortunately as a part of reading Indian authors this one for escalated. It's been a lovely book so far Gorab!
I am shamelessly wading through my reading lists at a snail's pace with 4 books behind however I've managed to finish an exceptional book last night viz When Breath Becomes Air. I am stunned at the way Life throws a curveball at you and all you can do is just watch it come your way! Paul has displayed exceptional grit and determination & it was a painful experience having read the book.Having finished that, I've read 2 books from Indian authors in 3 months which isn't too bad.
However, i am stuck with House of Leaves which often gets a bit boring now and then.
Anyway, here's the Review link for When Breathe becomes Air
Lo & Behold! I have finally finished House of LeavesThis was the most insane book I've ever encountered. So many Easter eggs, codes, clues, puzzles and unfortunately you know they are there only after you finish reading thereby compelling you to start reading it again, which i plan in the near future but Not now!
Here's the Review
As per my plan to read more from Indian authors, I've finally take up The Immortals of Meluha. Quite late to the party however what needs to be reads, needs to be read :)Hoping it won't let me down & bring me outta my reading slump; 2020's ruined anyway :/
Indian Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
Chess Story (other topics)Locke & Key, Vol. 3: Crown of Shadows (other topics)
Locke & Key, Vol. 3: Crown of Shadows (other topics)
Evil Under the Sun (other topics)
The Mysterious Affair at Styles (other topics)
More...
I'll be posting comments about books that I'd be reading throughout the year.
I plan to read more from Indian authors. Along with that the usual murder mysteries that I am quite fond of.
I've carry forwarded two books which I've been reading since Dec 2019
1.
Raw: भारतीय गुप्तचरसंस्थेची गूढ़गाथा2.
Fragile Things: Short Fictions and WondersI've got a few recommendations from good folks here (Thank you guys) which I plan on reading as well and are as below:
1.
The Devotion of Suspect X - By Swathi2. Murder in Mahim - By Smitha
3. No Onions Nor Garlic - By Mohi
Some Paperbacks I've planned on reading this year
1.
House of Leaves - BR with Pragya on Feb 23rd2.
Twelve Red HerringsBooks I've been postponing
1.
Warcross2.
A Dirty Job3.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles4. Kings of the Wyld
5.
American Gods6.
The Immortals of Meluha7.
Death Note, Vol. 9: Contact8.
Death Note, Vol. 10: Deletion9.
Death Note, Vol. 11: Kindred Spirits10.
Death Note, Vol. 12: Finis11.
墨攻 6 Bokko 612.
墨攻 7 Bokko 713.
墨攻 8 Bokko 814.
墨攻 9 Bokko 915.
墨攻 10 Bokko 1016.
墨攻 11 Bokko 11PIFM Reads
1.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn HugoBuddy Reads
1.
The Ten Thousand Doors of Januaryon Telegram IR group2.
When Breath Becomes Airwith Paritoshika on 15th MarchBotNots Bookopoly Challenges / Mini-Readathon
1.
Walking the Nileon 3rd May - Read a Travelogue2.
Evil Under the Sunon 12th May - Read a book with sun on the cover or title3.
The Metamorphosison 18th May - An Author I'd like to meet4.
Love and Longing in Bombayon 21 May - Set in your native place/state5.
The Book Thief- Mandatory read assigned by SP6.
A Head Full of Ghosts- Read a Horror & Also a part of June mini Readathon7.
The Ramgarh Literary Festival- Read a book with Proper noun in title / July Challenge8.
The Underground Railroad- Part of July Group challenge9.
The Rosie Project- Part of July Group challenge10.
Something Fresh- Part of July Group challenge11.
The Plague12.
The Kite Runner- Read a book with Child protagonist13.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane- Voted on a Chance14.
Locke & Key, Volume 1: Welcome to Lovecraft- Voted on a ChanceImpulsive Picks
1.
What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions2.
Locke & Key, Vol. 2: Head Games3.
Tuck Everlasting4.
Pines5.
The Visible Filth6.
Chess Story7.
Locke & Key, Vol. 3: Crown of ShadowsFINISHED: