Psmith via Books 2015

[Ahtims]

15. Aavarana -4.5/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Was very educative, thought provoking. I got to know much about the history of Karnataka as well as the Moghul kingdom of the 17th century.
Fulfils the following challenges:
1. India via books
2. Recommendation by friend
3. Regional literature.

[Ahtims]

16.Assassin's Apprentice -5/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fulfils:
1. Recommendation by a friend
2. Uncomfortable genre

[Ahtims]

17. Three Wishes
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
loved it to bits. Not a serious or educative book, but immensely readable.
Fulfils
Globetrotter challenge
Bookriots Read Harder - Guilty pleasure challenge

[Ahtims]

18. The Murder on the Links -4/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
was a good cozy mystery to while away time.
Fulfils:
Agatha Christie chronological challenge

[Ahtims]

19. The Pregnant King -4/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Exotic, scary
Fulfils -
Physical shelf clearance challenge
BookRiots Read Harder - Retelling of a classic tale challenge - this is an excerpt from Mahabharatha.

[Girish, The Good cop]

Hallf the times my taste matches with Col. Rest, it matches with Dely!
I think I should try reading a book which both Dely and Col like! :D

[Ahtims]

It would be a bit difficult, but I think both of us consider Murakami favourably :)

[dely]

Girish wrote: "Hallf the times my taste matches with Col. Rest, it matches with Dely!
I think I should try reading a book which both Dely and Col like! :D"

LOL
But Smitha is right, we both like Murakami.

[Ahtims]

20. The Magpies-2.5/5
Lauded as a psychological thriller, didn't feel so. Was just a compilation of bizarre, scary events, the root cause of which remained unexplained.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fulfils
Bookriots Read Harder Indie Press challenge.

[Ahtims]

21. The Last Kingdom -3.5/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Liked it
Fulfils -
Recommendation by a friend

[Ahtims]

22. Lord of the Silver Bow -5/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A must read for all mythology fans [or so I feel]
Absolutely loved it

fulfils
1. Read a recommendation

[Ahtims]

23.Rain in the Mountains: Notes from the Himalayas
fabulous. Mind boggling. Am sure to read this in my dotage, when I might appreciate it more than ever.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Fulfils:
India challenge
Clear my physical shelves challenge

[Ahtims]

24.Storks in a Blue Sky-3/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A clean Historical Romance [Georgian]

fulfils:
Uncomfortable genre
Indie press of BookRiots Read harder Challenge.

[Carol]

A lovely, thoughtful review as always, even although an historical romance is probably not 'your cup of tea'.

[Ahtims]

Thank you, Carol. Enjoyed reading it. :)

[Syamraj]

hai...psmith... will u suggest some books(any genre), for which u given 5/5 ,!???

[Ahtims]

25.Killer Librarian -4/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
was a good, breezy, pick-me-up sort of read.

[Ahtims]

Syamraj wrote: "hai...psmith... wilAssassin's Apprenticel u suggest some books(any genre), for which u given 5/5 ,!???"

These are my 5 star reads so far this year. Hope this helps

Rain in the Mountains: Notes from the HimalayasLord of the Silver Bow
Three Wishes
Assassin's Apprentice
The Girl on the Train
The Illicit Happiness of Other People
Purple Hibiscus
The Martian

[Ahtims]

26. At Risk -4/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
another good read..

[Ahtims]

For April, I have Pledged myself to
The Name of the Wind
The Count of Monte Cristo
Speaks the Nightbird
Americanah
Around India in 80 Trains - a reread.
The Luminaries
May
The Way Things Were
The Shining

[Syamraj]

Great... Thanks psmith:)

[Ahtims]

Welcome :)

[Ahtims]

27. Speaks the Nightbird -4.5/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Loved it
Fulfils
Recommendation by a friend...

[Ahtims]

28. The Name of the Wind -3/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The start was good, but middle flopped, and the end tried to gather up the floppy substance...
Writing is lyrical. SO not regretting reading this mammoth which showed a 1000 pages in my Kindle.

[Ahtims]

29. Push-3.5/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Not for the young, faint-hearted, or those who find it difficult to understand pigeon English.
Mixed feelings about this one
Fulfils
Recommendation by friend

[Ahtims]

30. Americanah -3/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A learning experience

fulfils
African author challenge - Bookriots Read Hard challenge
Globetrotter - Nigeria

[dely]

PSmith wrote: "30. Americanah -3/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A learning experience

fulfils
African author challenge - Bookriots Read Hard ch..."

I had heard good things about this book but after reading your review I don't think I will add it to my to-read list.

[Ahtims]

dely, do try out a library book before buying. Sometimes our tastes in books are opposite. And it's not that I hated it. I had issues with the central character who seemed quite self centred to me.

[dely]

PSmith wrote: "dely, do try out a library book before buying. Sometimes our tastes in books are opposite. And it's not that I hated it. I had issues with the central character who seemed quite self centred to me."

The local library has nothing!

[Ahtims]

dely wrote: "PSmith wrote: "dely, do try out a library book before buying. Sometimes our tastes in books are opposite. And it's not that I hated it. I had issues with the central character who seemed quite self..."

Oh, tough luck.

[Ahtims]

31. The Hypnotist's Love Story -4/5
A good read, a pick me up, which I sorely needed in between tough, serious books.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Ahtims]

32. The Shining -4.5/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Recommended to all horror buffs. Loved reading this one.

Fulfills
1. Uncomfortable Genre challenge

[Ahtims]

33. City of Thieves -4/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

was a good read
Fulfills -
Read a recommendation by a friend...

[Ahtims]

34. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd -4/5
Was funny and interesting.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Fulfills - Agatha Christie chronological reading challenge.

[Ahtims]

Some books I want to finish off in future, for certain challenges. Easier to sort out if all are put in one place.
Microhistory
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail / The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer / Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex

Romance
On the Island / Flat-Out Love / The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend

Graphic Novel
The Complete Persepolis / Death Note, Vol. 1: Boredom

Published before 1850
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall / Agnes Gray / Cousin Bette

[Ahtims]

35. Touch & Go-3
Okayish hard paced abducted family thriller, with massive twister at the end.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Ahtims]

36. The Stepford Wives -4.5
scary, eerie, horrifying, much more so than the usually labelled horror books
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Must read for all women who are married or contemplating marriage. I am not saying that this occurs in many societies, but somehow it feels real.

[Ahtims]

37. End in Tears -3/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Okayish. Initial half outshone the latter. I would really love to see a crime thriller book where the latter half is better.

[Vimal]

Lol,I'm feeling the same these days.When you see such a book, do recommend me too

[Ahtims]

Sure, Vial. Provided the favour is returned.

[Ahtims]

* Vimal

[Ahtims]

38. Around The World In 80 DaysAround The World In 80 Days-2.5/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Was rather disappointing. Perhaps I was not in a traveler's mood. That's all I have to say.
Fulfilled Classics challenge
It is also the group read for Indian Readers for the month of May.

[Girish, The Good cop]

Col, for the criminal thriller part, do try out Primal Fear by William Diehl if you haven't already read it..

[Ahtims]

Girish, haven't read. Thanks a lot. Surely will. :)

[Ahtims]

It's a legal thriller! Am not very fond of those. But shall attempt this one as it's got an average rating of 4.5

[Girish, The Good cop]

ok! I guess I see criminal thrillers and legal thrillers not too divergent.. But ya, hope you like this one :)

[Ahtims]

39.The Thirteenth Tale -4.5/5
One of my best reads of this year so far.
Thoroughly loved it
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Ahtims]

40. American Chick in Saudi Arabia-3/5
A breezy read, which made me glad that I was born where I am and in this time rather than a century or two earlier.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Ahtims]

41. The Way Things Were-3.5/5
Slow paced, at times really soporific read. Nevertheless enjoyed the story.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Ahtims]

42. -3/5
Read this one for a microhistory challenge. Not regretting, though was a bit boring at times. Came to know a lot about human anatomy and functioning.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...