Archive | April, 2011

A series of seemingly random murders along a fifty-mile stretch of the rugged northern California coast, committed by an unknown dubbed by the media the Coastline Killer. A young couple with marital problems, Shelby and Jay Macklin, who decide to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s at a friend’s remote coastal cottage. Two couples in a neighboring home whose relationships are thick with festering menace. A fierce winter storm that leads to a night of unrelenting terror. (Amazon.ca)It certainly started off interesting. It had all the right elements…

Title: The Twentieth Wife

Author: Indu SundaresanPublisher: Penguin Pages: 388Genre: Historical fictionRating: 9.5 out of 10

‘The Twentieth Wife’ is the first one from Indu Sundaresan’s Taj trilogy, though I read it after reading ‘The feast of roses’ which is the second one. There are three books in this series about Mughal empire but each can be read independently. But be rest assured, if you have read any one of them, you would invariably end up reading all of them. (By the way, the third one is called ‘Shadow Princess’)

I have always felt that writing a…

Italy in Books – Reading Challenge 2011

Paperback: 426 pages
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Harper Collins 2006
Source: Purchased Oxfam Bookshop in UK
Review Quote: “Deeply satisfying! rich and compelling.” -Oxford Times
A Favourite Quote:‘the Italian winter is Italy’s best kept secret’.

The April post with a list of books that the other people taking part are reading this month has already been posted. April Reviews
Prior to picking up this book in an Oxfam Bookshop in the UK I had not even heard of this author. I was attracted to…

Paperback: 340 pages
Genre : Memoir
Publisher: Arrow Books 2006
Source: Unknown – On my TBR bookshelf
Review Quote ‘Susan Lewis fans know she can write compelling fiction, but not until now, that she can write even more engrossing fact. We use the phrase honest truth too lightly: it should be reserved for books – deeply moving books – like this’ Alan Coren

I have no idea how this title came to be on my bookshelf as I have only ever read one novel by this author, although I have…

I read this after finishing a book by Sudha Murthy, which I didn’t like to be frank. So, was apprehensive to take up another Indian Lady authored book. Boy, was i floored?

Even though I don’t accept everything in this Fab book, Ladies Coupe, I still hold it close to my heart.  Here we have a single woman, Aki aka Akila aka Akilandeswari discovering herself or rather trying to discover. 45 year old Aki wakes up one morning and suddenly is flooded with the desire to find herself. On an impulse…

As is the case with all Wodehouse books, Sam the Sudden is full of delightful misadventures that miraculously come together and make everything right at the end. I like to rate his books based on how hard I laughed while reading them, and this one’s a clear winner, people. It’s consistent, got a little bit of mystery in it, and promises you at least one giggle per page.

The Story – Sam Shotter is an adorable and whacky young man who’s been given the boot from his uncle’s import- export…

’Life of Pi’ by Yann Martel is a unbelievably fascinating story of Piscine Motilor Patel nicknamed as Pi and his arduous 227 days journey on a life boat in the dangerous pacific waters.

Pi lives in Pondicherry with his parents and brother Ravi. He is an intelligent child and is always eager to learn new things in life. His father is the owner of Pondicherry Zoo and thus Pi also has a sound knowledge of raising animals and zoo keeping. He is very spiritual and despite being born Hindu, he is attracted…

Title: The Anatomy of GhostsAuthor: Andrew TaylorPublisher: Michael Joseph (Penguin Books)ISBN: 9780141018621Genre: CrimePP: 469 pagesPrice: £7.99Source: PublisherRating: 5/5
“Books are not luxuries. They are meat and drink for the mind.”
This quote from John Holdsworth, a major character in The Anatomy of Ghosts, is a simple truth. And The Anatomy of Ghosts is a twelve-course feast.
Holdsworth is a widowed bookseller, haunted by his failures as a parent and husband, eking out a living in 18th century London selling used volumes from a handcart. One day he is approached by…

Title: Tiger, Tiger: A MemoirAuthor: Margaux FragosoPublisher: Penguin Press (Penguin)ISBN: 9780241950159Genre: Memoir, Non-FictionPP: 319 PagesSource: PublisherPrice: £9.99Rating: 5/5
This is one of the most visceral and heartfelt books I have ever read. It is a brave and painful book, difficult to read but beautifully wrought. From the time she was eight years old, Maugaux Fragoso was sexually abused by a man named Peter who is 51 years old when he meets her. The abuse lasts for years and years. Peter grooms Margaux, enchanting her with his home that is filled…

Paperback: 206 pages
Genre : Fantasy Fiction
Publisher: Kindle 22nd December 2010
Source: Sent to me by the author in eBook format in return for an honest and unbiased review.

I do not normally read much paranormal or fantasy fiction and was seriously wondering if I should be reviewing this book at all. Was it going to be fair to the author when I was prejudiced against the genre without even reading a word. I like my fiction based in reality and this novel is about as far removed from…