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Makrand's Reading Bench - 2020
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Bela
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Apr 05, 2020 12:28AM
If you like Indian mythology, you will definitely like the whole Shiva trilogy . I am hooked to Amish’s books. Loved all of them so far.
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Yeah I enjoy reading about Indian mythology. Sadly it's really been a while since I ever got a mythological book in my hand however I am already liking this at 5% now. Thanks Bela :)
Do recommend me more Indian books :)
After you finish the shiva trilogy, you can take his Ramchandra series. The first three books are out already - Ram, the scion of Ikshvaku , Sita, the princess of Mithila and Raavan, the enemy of Aryavarta. Two more still to come. It’s an interesting take on The Ramayana.
I am done with The Immortals of MeluhaFrankly I have mixed feelings about the book due to the childish style of book writing. However, the war and combat scenes had my complete attention & I loved them. Won't be moving to the next book this soon
Ever since 2020 has started, I failed to get my share of humour. Insanity has taken over due to self imposed quarantine & it's been around 2 months :|So, to make things a bit lighter, I'd be turning towards something I had wanted to read a really long time back but couldn't pick:
A Dirty Job . The last good humour book I read was Calypso & It was amazing! hoping to get something similar out of this too!
Things are a bit grim with quarantine and lockdown. So hope you get your dose of humour pretty soon 😊
Bela wrote: "Things are a bit grim with quarantine and lockdown. So hope you get your dose of humour pretty soon 😊"Yeah very true!! Be very safe & hope you are getting quality time to read as well Bela :D
Well.. on the contrary, I am spending less time on reading. What with the house work , no maids n all. Actually, I am reading but that would be considered academic readings. Taking advantage of the lockdown period , I have completed two online courses. One from Harvard and one from NYU. That took up most of my free time. Now that I have finished with those, I plan to get back on my reading track. 😊
Wow!! This is really awesome! Yeah with no maids the work has definitely increased. Can't help really.
Hope you'd get more time to read now, the lockdown is anyway gonna be for atleast a month considering Mumbai's condition :'(
Stay safe !
I've finished reading A Dirty Job and I am really really happy that I took this up !This is so far the best 5 star I've read this year!! So full of anecdotes and slapstick comedy, I never wanted this book to end.
If one has some slot for humour read, I'd insist to take this book up instead it will really make your day!
Read Review here
I've picked up a Travelogue!I usually don't, but the last time i did, I pretty much enjoyed it. That was Walk in the woods by Bill Bryson.
This one's called Walking the Nile by Levison Wood!
I'm about 50% done with Walking the Nile & I've started to realise that Travelogue are a lot of fun!!You get to explore and live the places with the help of solid writing and your imagination & they are not bad!!
This book has been a gem so far exploring the far regions of Africa, all along the Nile, explaining tales of a country under constant conflict! Quite an eventful book!
Mod
Makrand wrote: "Although a Bench seats 2 or max 3, anyone can comment, join, rant on this virtual bench :)I'll be posting comments about books that I'd be reading throughout the year.
I plan to read more from I..."
Great dude.
Gorab wrote: "sounds very interesting. looking out for your take on it. i guess it will be good :)"Yeah hoping for the same. :)
CA wrote: "Makrand wrote: "Although a Bench seats 2 or max 3, anyone can comment, join, rant on this virtual bench :)I'll be posting comments about books that I'd be reading throughout the year.
I plan to ..."
Thanks!
I just finished reading Walking the Nile by Levison Wood & I'd have to jot it down how satisfying the book was!There are some book, which you read & then get back to reading the next book.
But this was the kind of book that you read, close it and start contemplating, the images that the author created in your mind starting to appear as you close your eyes!!
Felt awesome to read this Travelogue.
Read Review here
Two 5-stars back to back! I'm on a roll ;)
Looks like your 2020 reading log just got a good boost. Keep it up . 😊
@BelaYeahhh! Good books during these difficult times is what we all really need :D
Challenges by BotNots Bookopoly is bringing out the best of the best for me! First challenge was to read a travelogue and Walking the Nile happened which i immensely loved.The next challenge was to read book with Sun/Cover with Sun on it. There were so many choices but i went with Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie and undoubtedly, I lost my night's sleep!! Almost covered 35% in a night and wanted to go on more! I think the trend of good books is here for me :P
Evil Under the Sun turned out to be similar to other Agatha Christie's novels wherein I failed consistently to detect a murderer which means my dreams of leaving the current job and becoming a detective are in vain! :PAs usual, there's a good amount of fun in an AG novel! Read Review here
Mod
We are on (almost) same trajectory :)
Gorab wrote: "Medical -> Sun -> Meet AuthorWe are on (almost) same trajectory :)"
haha is it?
Awesome!!
I finished reading The Metamorphosis & sadly it didn't fare well for me. There was a message attached with the Novella which was hard to miss & that's it. We're moving aheadSee Review for The Metamorphosis
Next in the BotNots Bookopoly challenge is to read a book set inn your Native place/state :D Since I also had promised to read more of Indian authors in 2020 Love and Longing in Bombay by Vikram Chandra seems to be an ideal choice!
Who knows if I get too impressed with Vikram's writing I might even take up 1200+ pages Sacred Games next :P
I loved reading Vikram Chandra's writing in general in Love and Longing in Bombay & I think taking up Sacred Games would be the obvious choice however it'd have to wait since I'm finally getting to read something for which I've waited for too long, dreamt about and finally it's in my hands - American Gods by Neil Gaiman!!!This is also a part of June's mini-readathon which equally excites me!!
All thanks to @Sharada for picking this for me!!
Here goes Review for Love & Longing in Bombay
What are the odds I stumbled upon this thread now :P Marking my presence here to know your thoughts about AG as you go. Buckle up for a crazy ride is all I can say ;)
Sharadha wrote: "What are the odds I stumbled upon this thread now :P Marking my presence here to know your thoughts about AG as you go. Buckle up for a crazy ride is all I can say ;)"Haha, yeah I keep scribbling things. It's good so far, enjoying :D
I am a huge fan of fantasies and thus of Neil Gaiman's!I was very much excited to read American Gods since a really long time but would get intimated by it's 650+ pages.
Sharada helped me pick the book by simply assigning it to me leaving me no choice but to read and what an amazing read it was! So satisfying roaming around and exploring in Gaiman's fantasy world. While reading his book itself, I get so many related fantasy ideas and suddenly the brain starts functioning again and it amazes me always how Neil's brain functions! Aristocratic.
Read review here
Whoa, high praise (and deservedly so) for Gaiman. Inspires me to read his other books pending on my TBR (Anansi Boys, Norse Mythology, and Ocean at the End of the Lane I think). You're still to tell me what the link is between American Gods and Anansi Boys. Does Anansi Boys follow the story of those young thuggish lads at the beginning of AG that kidnap Shadow?
Sharadha wrote: "Whoa, high praise (and deservedly so) for Gaiman. Inspires me to read his other books pending on my TBR (Anansi Boys, Norse Mythology, and Ocean at the End of the Lane I think). You're still to tel..."Oh Anansi? First, the only link between AG and AB (Anansi Boys ) is Mr. Nancy and his son Charlie! Done deal!
There's actually no reason why Neil has added it as #2 in the list since it's truly a standalone book about Charlie exploring his dad's fantasies and a lot of tiger tales :D
and second, It has no reference to any other AG character! No shadow, wednesday or chernobog only Spider rules!
Makrand wrote: "Sharadha wrote: "Whoa, high praise (and deservedly so) for Gaiman. Inspires me to read his other books pending on my TBR (Anansi Boys, Norse Mythology, and Ocean at the End of the Lane I think). Yo..."Ah, okay, I don't think I remember him well enough :( I'll read it soon (will try not keep high expectations like with AG).
G'luck with Book Thief! :D
Sharadha wrote: "Makrand wrote: "Sharadha wrote: "Whoa, high praise (and deservedly so) for Gaiman. Inspires me to read his other books pending on my TBR (Anansi Boys, Norse Mythology, and Ocean at the End of the L..."Oh, if it helps, He's the God that transforms into a Spider. One with yellow gloves and a hat, often telling tales of Tiger in the book. But never mind, you'll get to read about it in AB & it's not meandering at all, atleast not as much as Ag but it's a good book!
Hope you enjoy it, Sharada :D
Anyway, my hunger for fantasy is quenched for now & I am moving towards an Historical Fiction genre. SP has nominated this for me as one of the two mandatory reads. It's quite a popular book - The Book Thief & coincidentally, the third book of the year with Death playing a part in it in person :P Quite morbid ;)
Makrand wrote: "Oh, if it helps, He's the God that transforms into a Spider. One with yellow gloves and a hat, often telling tales of Tiger in the book. But never mind, you'll get to read about it in AB & it's not meandering at all, atleast not as much as Ag but it's a good book!Hope you enjoy it, Sharada :D"
Ah okay, sort of remember now but not all of it, I'm really bad with memory stuff :P Thanks for that trivia, I'll pick it up soon.
Mod
which are the other two? Death note... and?
Gorab wrote: "Makrand wrote: "Anyway, my hunger for fantasy is quenched for now & I am moving towards an Historical Fiction genre. SP has nominated this for me as one of the two mandatory reads. It's quite a pop..."This one! :D
A Dirty Job
When the year 2020 started, I had an amazing bad luck attached with me it seems since neither of the 4-5 books I read were that great and got me disappointed.However, off late it's been raining 5 Stars! I finished another such book called The Book Thief Marvellous and quite unique. You can't just go sideways with the book without rating it a full 5 star! I loved the flow of emotions, love and the goodness of people showcased in it. Myself being a fan of characterisation, I'd always remember Liesel, Rudy, Hans & Rosa Hubbermann!
Read review for The Book Thief here
Mod
Gorab wrote: "Book Thief is one such rare book where I relished reading each and every word! Didn'ty tell that before for I was scared to jinx it ;)"Yeah agree with you. I think I've written my biggest review ever for this one.
Also, I was reading it very patiently, cherishing each word , just like you said. Cheers to such amazing books :D
Super glad that your current reads are treating you well, Mak! Great review for Book Thief too (even if I don't agree :D). Here's to more 5-starrers in future :)
Sharadha wrote: "Super glad that your current reads are treating you well, Mak! Great review for Book Thief too (even if I don't agree :D). Here's to more 5-starrers in future :)"
Say WHATTTT? You didn't like this too? Haha. Let me try to digest that :P
Well well well, I've had the first ONE star of the year in form of A Head Full of Ghosts. What started as a Horror didn't take time to go south and ended up in sh*tland.Horror books are such a disappointment aargh!
Moving on.
Jumping back to Death Note manga after a break.I had read till Volume 9 before and then suddenly stopped.
Resumed the series back from Volume 9 now since it's a lot to remember.
Mod
Had to do the same thing... gets too much to figure out who is who and where the plot is heading with these many twists!
I couldnt remem who all held the death notes at a time and what are its implications. I'm still clueless even when I read it not long back.
All I remember is loved it immensely while reading. All other memories erased like forfeiting ownership ;)
Gorab, Mental note to self. Once you start Deathnote ever again, don't get distracted and drop it in between. It may cost you much more time to revive since I think I'll have to go another volume back. Like you said, I don't remember anything :(still is fun!!
Started with the July challenge on a really shitty note. Unfortunately, we picked The Ramgarh Literary Festival as our first book and I witnessed the Worst book ever.I barely rate a book 1 star since, nobody deserves that rating but this has been the most disgusting book so far. From crazy punch lines that don't land, mocking publishing companies, Rabindranath Tagore to even cultural insults, this book had everything one shouldn't write about. Never reading anything by the same author again, ever!
Wow, after a row of 5-stars, you're on a 1-star spree :( Hope another 5-star book finds your soon :)
Tell me about it!!Hoping to get back to the old style soon. Hoping Underground helps
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)
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