The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie was her debut novel and my first by the author. As I researched about it after reading it, I got to know that it was written as a bet between her and her friends, who challenged her to write a who-dunnit. Needless to say, her friends got it in their face. Since the book is a classic, I wouldn’t review it. Whatever I’ll write, I’ll try to stay as far away from reviewing it, because classics are not meant for that. Mr. Hastings, the narrator, tells us about the affair at the styles, the death of one Mrs. Emily Inglethorp, wife of Alfred Ingleth ..read more

When I was working in a "Lala" company in Gurgaon, I was not myself. I was an exhausted machine that came home at the end of the day and laid down on the bed only to wake and rush the next morning to swipe in that card on time. Anecdotes of a White Collared Slave by Aashish Gupta is the story of exactly that person, that person who is working in a corporate, and who is you or me. The story follows the narrator as he embarks on his journey into the corporate world after a failed attempt at startup. Having joined a KPO with bright eyes, he soon starts seeing the reality when the layers unfold ..read more

**SPOILERS AHEAD** On the Facebook reader group, I heard a lot about Circe by Madeline Miller over the last year. Though I was enamored by its beautiful cover and an exotic title, I kept away because I thought it was one of those novels which would be highly demanding, my time and brainpower. I wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment because my daughter was still demanding most of my time. It took a lockdown and a now less dependent child for me to finally pick this book up. And I am glad I did it. Circe follows the story of the Goddess daughter of the Sun God Helios and the nymph Perse over ..read more

**MILD SPOILERS AHEAD** So, I am on a binge reading spree of books by Keigo Higashino. After having read Newcomer and then Salvation of a Saint, he really caught my fancy and I couldn't stop splurging on his other books and reading them all through the day and night and waking up like a zombie. I think I would be one of those few people who are sleep deprived in lockdown. Malice by Keigo Higashino is my 3rd book by the author and I am loving it. With each book of his that I've read, I am finding him more and more alluring and a master mystery weaver (whodunit, whydunnit, howdunnit) This story ..read more

Dan Brown needs no introduction. At some point in our lives, I assume, we've all heard of him and some have even read him. I have read all his books and was most impressed by them all, despite all the 4 books of the Robert Langdon series being in the same plot design. Origin by Dan Brown is no different. The recipe? A setting featuring a full part Robert Langdon, half a part intellectually sexy lady (preferably more than a decade younger than him), full part country with a tumultuous past and lots of historical and modern architecture and art which allows numerous conspiracy theories around t ..read more

This lockdown is not doing anything good for my mood. With a toddler who likes to go out, it's a bigger mood dampener than not being able to even visit my parents. But like always, books come to my rescue. Never the one to underestimate the power of a good book, I bought my next read, Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino before I went into an abyss and read it in under 24 hours, my best since I had my daughter. Reading this book was a satisfying experience, one which brought me back from the edge and will keep me on track for the next week at least, or however many days before I let the re ..read more

After reading a couple of intense books on serious subjects, I needed a break. With lockdown in place and no deliveries happening, my dear kindle came to the rescue. With this, I also realized that I might be finally able to see the end of my TBR. LOL. Who am I kidding! I have practically tonnes of books kept unread, some untouched and unopened. Too many un-s, I don't like them. I will put my head in like the Ostrich here and carry on. The Girl on The Train by Paula Hawkins is a thriller novel and the debut book of the author. Loads of mixed reviews and no contemplation later, I started readi ..read more

What better than a lockdown to introspect about one of the biggest ironies of our lives, the Helps. We can neither live in peace with them nor without them. It's a lifelong tightrope that we have to walk unless you are one of those who are totally self-sufficient. On that note, are you still calling your part-time help to come? Pl stop, I don't recommend it, for the safety of everyone and getting done with this apocalypse type world already. Instead, read this book, it'll provide for some meditative fodder for the poor overworked (or bored) brain. The Help by Kathryn Stockett is a story based ..read more

“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum." Don't let the bastards grind you down. All over the world, feminist movements have begun. Some started it, some joined in later, but nevertheless, people now know that the time for gender equality has finally arrived, not just in sayings, in actuality. This, along with being under curfew for the Covid-19, what better than to read novels which will put us into thinking mode and pass some of our time. LOL. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margret Atwood is a dystopian novel set in the near-future US governed under a totalitarian government, a Gilead regime, which goe ..read more

I don’t remember when I got into reading Sophie Kinsella but it was one of the stand-alone books that got me hooked to her and her writing. Shopaholic series, of course, was discovered post that. My first book of the series was printed out on A4 sheets by an acquaintance, bundled up together and delivered to my doorstep. Books weren’t a big part of my family’s lifestyle back then (nor is it now, for them, not me) and spending money on such expensive novels was considered unnecessary. Nevertheless, my mother always encouraged me to read and it was she who found this money-saving way to get me ..read more