10 Most Favourite Authors (All-Time)

Picking favourite books is very difficult. No reader must be subjected to it. The "favourites" list keeps growing as we read more and more. And, this is not just for books- but also for their authors! But, there are some all-time favourites that we all have. Especially, the ones we have read extensively because we just love the tales they spin out for us! So, here's a list of my top 10- in no particular ranking/order. 

1. J. R. R. Tolkien

2. Charles Dickens

3. Kalki

4. R. K. Narayan

5. P. G. Wodehouse

6. George Bernard Shaw

7. Neil Gaiman

8. Enid Blyton

9. Roald Dahl

10. Erle Stanley Gardner

It's not a fair list, and it doesn't have some of the authors whose books might make it to my top 10. But, these ten have given me a wonderful world of fiction that I have consistently loved and looked forward to! Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl are unbeatable when it comes to their way with children and adults, alike! Once you read Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan, Parthiban Kanavu, Sivagamiyin Sabadham- the historical saga leaves you yearning for more! 

Who are your favourite authors- the ones whose book you could give on any given day and trust completely to be entertained? Let me know in the comments!

7 Favourite Animated Films

If you know me, you know how much I love animated movies. I have probably watched every DreamWorks/Disney movie out there, and I continue to watch anime and other new animated films that keep coming. From old movies like Bambi to Ralph Breaks the Internet, I love all of them! But, here are seven modern-day animated films that I absolutely love! 

1. Inside Out

One of the most brilliant movies ever, teeming with innovation and a fresh perspective on something that all of us know and experience every day. The importance and necessity to balance all emotions is something that we all struggle to do even as we grow up. It made me teary-eyed, and melted my heart. It is one of the most refreshing, thought-provoking, inventive feel-good film I've watched. The screenplay and the sequencing is brilliant, and the visuals and animation needs no more say than "Disney-Pixar".

2. Big Hero 6

I love the movie! It is F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C! Actually, none of the characters are evil, and there is no real villain in the whole story. I bet you could never ever find characters more lovable and huggable than my Baymax! Trust me and watch it.

3. How to Train Your Dragon

This is a film with some spectacular visuals, and Hiccup is such a warm character. As you are drawn into the world of dragons and Vikings, be prepared to be thrilled, entertained, and absolutely charmed!

4. Zootopia

My dad, brother, and I went to the theatres to see when this released. And, this is one of the fewest-of-few movies where my dad definitely didn't mind animals talking! If you need translation: that means it was crazy good! Also, tip: the credits roll, don't shut your laptop. There's a gazelle that'll thrill you with her voice! Probably the only movie where people stayed for the credits (apart from Marvel movies), thanks to Shakira! If you're still skeptical about watching this movie, I have one thing to say: try everything!

5. The Incredibles

Classic. Unforgettable. Heart-warming and kickass- all at the same time. I love Jack-Jack. I love the Incredibles!

6. Whisper of the Heart

Whisper Of The Wind is a romantic tale of self-realization of the protagonist's abilities, purpose, and dreams. It rides high on the small but vividly mesmerizing world of Shizuku as she travels through her adolescene in style- with love, confidence and a vision of spectacular dreams. The musicality of this anime film is captivating, and ensues a sense of calm and peace. From the creators of Spirited Away, this is another classic, and a must-watch for all age groups!

7. Minions  

This is probably the most favourite. I love everything about Minions. I love the idea, conception of the idea, the screenplay, the execution, the flawless masterpiece that enthralls you in a happy bubble. What's not to love about it! If I weren't a grown girl, I'd have probably run around the house screaming gelatooo after the film. Please do yourself a favour and watch it if you haven't!

There are so many more that I love, but a list of seven can only have seven! Which is your favourite animation film? Let me know in the comments!

My First 300 Book Reviews: Links for 176-200

176. The Bookshop

177. The Devil's Advocate

178. Atomic Habits

179. Born to Run

180. Sophie's World

181. Catch 22

182. The Godfather

183. Don Quixote

184. The Day of the Jackal

185. The Count of Monte Cristo

186. Tom Brown's Schooldays

187. Hard Times

188. The Power Of Starting Something Stupid

189. Me Talk Pretty One Day

190. Tuesdays with Morrie

191. Of Mice and Men

192. Veerappan: Chasing The Brigand

193. Next

194. Daddy-Long-Legs

195. The Chemistry Book

196. Black Beauty 

197. The Call of the Wild

198. Lord of the Flies

199. Brave New World

200. The India They Saw

A Week of Classics Reading: Featuring Some Of The Best Women I've Seen

Let's admit it: books with some kick-ass women leads are always a dash more entertaining and inspiring to read. The zeal it gives me, as a girl myself, is something that I cannot explain in words! When I wrote a post of my nine most favourite characters of all-time, six of them happen to be women and that’s probably because I am a female, and naturally some of the strongest, inspiring female characters have left a strong impression on my mind!

So, here are seven classics, one for every day this week, that you can pick and read, and whose women sure won't disappoint you! These can be read under a day. 

1. Daisy Miller

2. North and South

3. Anne of Green Gables

4. Sivakamiyin Sabadham

5. The Grapes of Wrath

6. Heidi

7. Alice Adventures In Wonderland

In each of these books, what you'll find is women on the lead: an example of today's modern day woman, who is solid in her opinions and intuitions, and puts a strong foot forward to lead others. The books also, I believe, teach you the right lessons. 

If you are looking for books for young girls, then check out my post on literature for young girls!

Do read and let me know what you liked in the comments! Happy reading!

Fun Books Related To Law (Both Fiction and Non-Fiction)

I read books of a wide variety, and I often like to read books especially on things I don't know much about, or something that I am not connected to directly. I enjoy books on horse racing, or running, or Science, with the same zeal I feel for legal thrillers. I strongly believe that reading widely does wonders to overall perspective. That said, it is true that we always enjoy a book in our niche, be it fiction or non-fiction, as we can enjoy the book in it's entirety with all the inside jokes. Basically, these are ones that strike a familiar chord in us. There are so many wonderful books in this category. But, here are some of my favourites, books that I really enjoyed reading, that incorporate law/legal aspects to it (the list has both fiction and non-fiction).

1. Any Perry Mason novel

You got to love Perry and his unbelievably entertaining courtroom drama, where he uses his well-known, skillful courtroom gimmicks to wrap up a case successfully. The characters are charming, and the stories are small in length. Though the plots are usually made of a very simple legal concept, Gardner's narrative is so compelling that it is unputdownable. You will grow to love the characters and the narrative style. If you are someone who already loves Perry Mason, look for that one book you haven't laid your hands on yet! Get reading!

2. 10 Judgements That Changed India

I was presented this book by a relative when I was going to join law school. I read the book before I joined, and it made absolute sense to me as a person who did not really know anything about the Indian law at that time, and I was fascinated. After two semesters of studying Constitutional Law, I picked up this book again and read through the cases, which by now I had a strong familiarity to, and I truly appreciated the beauty of the book for the purpose it serves. I understood what Zia Mody, in the book, meant by saying that the idea of writing a book of this nature was "to seek to bridge the gap between life and law". 

3. To Kill A Mockingbird

The book is all about respecting people because they are people and not on the basis of colour. It talks about overcoming the stereotypes and fighting the right battle. I think it is an important perspective that anyone needs to have, especially lawyers. We, as a legal community, need to fight the right battles, and also fight battles the  right way. This is one of my all-time favourite novels. I absolutely love it.  

4. On Balance: An Autobiography

Leila Seth, in her autobiography On Balance: An Autobiography, starts with the story of how she took up legal studies because of the fact that it could be conveniently combined with taking care of her son and husband. Throughout, as she describes the events that transpire through her relationship with the law and the legal community, the spirit of the book focuses on taking India forward in its judicial journey. It is a beautiful read!

5. One L

Note to law students: Pick up this amazing book of experience by a "1L" in the first year of HLS (Harvard Law School), and every line would be something that you would relate to at a very personal level. There wasn't a single dull moment as I went on a surprisingly funny and relatable ride of reliving through the anguish, nervousness, excitement and the free-falling fear of a first year at law school. It is a wonderful, honest book, and Turow has absolutely and aptly captured the experiences of every law student.

6. The Devil's Advocate

It is a great book, and the best part is the format in which it takes you through the outlines of advocacy. The book recommends itself to any lawyer with 0-5 years of experience, and that’s why it’s a great book for law students-irrespective of whether you are considering litigation as a career or not. I think it’s one that stimulates a certain kind of thinking in the readers familiar with the law. 

7. Bleak House (this is the best)

Bleak House is an absolute pleasure to read. With Dickens, it is never just about the story, but the nuances of his narrative plays a very important role. Bleak house is a must read for all, and most definitely all law students. And, here’s a good suggestion from a fellow-reader: do some homework on equity before you get to Bleak House, I’m sure the fun will be doubled!

Do you have a personal favourite? Add to the list in the comments! 

5 Authors For Children

Recently, I was figuring out what book to suggest for a small boy who hadn't really read much before, and that definitely sent me smiling into a lot of my own memories. 

So, here are five authors, in the order that I'd suggest, that every child will love. The best thing about the work of these authors are that they are fun, easy to read and comprehend, and come in small sizes. Size is a big factor for those who start reading. A big book can be intimidating, but a smaller, fun one can hook them to reading, and bigger books will become a natural progression. 

1. Enid Blyton. Famous Five and Secret Seven are the best places for anyone to start reading. 

2. Roald Dahl. He is one of the best children's author, and I till today love and enjoy his books. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the place to start, and before you know the kids will start reading his other books by themselves! Another point of interest, for the children, in his books would be the wonderful and fascinating illustrations by Quentin Blake. 

3. Ruskin Bond. If you want simple stories with an Indian touch, Ruskin Bond is the best one to go to. The stories usually involve young boys and adventure, and is sure to capture the attention of the young readers. 

4. C. S. Lewis. When the kid is comfortable with Blyton and Dahl, and is looking for more, go to the world of Narnia by Lewis. This is the time when they will start looking forward to the next book when they get involved with a series. Chronicles of Narnia is a classic that every child will love.

5. J. K. Rowling: It's not for nothing that Harry Potter commands such a fan base. The world of Hogwarts is one of the best that a child can get while growing up. It pushes the imagination, and the kid starts reading 700 pages of books like it's nothing! I grew up with Harry Potter, and I think every child will love that world!

So, if you have cousins, sisters, children around you in this stage, do gift them books by these authors (and gauge their comfort level in reading before you choose from the above five)! Wishing them a happy read!

7 Bollywood Movies I Really Like

I have probably watched way more Bollywood movies than movies of any other language, weirdly. I also have to give these movies a fair credit for making me more comfortable with listening to Hindi for longer periods of time. While there were many I regretted watching thanks to the very typical formulaic stories, there were some that I really enjoyed watching. Out of the ones that I enjoyed a lot, here are the first seven that came to my mind when I wanted to write this post!

1. English Vinglish. The story is simple, beautiful, and very relatable to most of our lives. We all have at one point or the other teased our own parents, grandparents, friends or people we know for their English. Or, sometimes the viewers might be the ones who regret about not being great at this language. While we might have done that with no intention to put them down or hurt them, and they also sportively take it as a joke, we hear them comment sometimes that they wouldn't be the butt of the joke if they knew better English. Sridevi as Sashi puts up a very enjoyable, real and beautiful performance. English Vinglish is heart-warming to watch. 

2. Hindi Medium. This was a hilarious, yet important, take on all that parents do, and the sheer desperation to have their kid study in a "reputed school". The story also gives out an important message that we need to try and make every school worthy rather than go to any extent in order to get that one school that we idolize. Irrfan Khan brings light and humour into this simple tale, and every moment is enjoyable. I really enjoyed this one.

3. Barfi. A love story, but a realistic and stunningly sweet take on many different things. Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra were brilliant, and the whole screenplay was beautiful. The movie leaves you feeling a warmth and magic that you should definitely experience!

4. Rang de Basanti. What is not beautiful in this film! The story, the screenplay, the music, and the whole air that this film brings is one that fills you with energy, awareness, a sense of pride, a sense of what is right, and the film holds your attention every second of its runtime. The film has a star-studded cast, and unquestionably brilliant performances. This is one of the movies that leave you thrilled watching it!

5. 3 Idiots. This movie is a sensation in itself. I think the credit completely goes to the screenplay and the absolutely relatable dialogues. It also addresses a well-known, but ignored fact on how we are taught, and how we learn in schools and colleges. It is a movie that gives you a message, keeps up the humour, entertains you thoroughly, leaves you smiling thanks to the stellar performances, and you just sit back and have fun watching!

6. Kahaani. Kahaani has been one of my most favourite films. It is solely carried by Vidya Balan, and she does absolute justice to her character. This feels like reading a mystery-crime-thriller all rolled into one with a pregnant woman looking for her missing husband, and makes you sit up straight in anticipation and keeps you on the toes when it comes to the storyline. We are all left hanging all the way to the very end till we finally watch the twist unfold on screen. This is definitely a movie that I thoroughly loved!

7. Piku. A simple story about an old man who thinks he is going to die of constipation. Every dialogue in the film is brilliant, and the simple story is so well-written and well-played that you can't help but smile. Again, star-studded, this movie has some of the most effective performances I have seen. Love it!

I have seen so many more, and I have also enjoyed many of them. But, like I already said, these are the 7 movies that came to mind when I sat to write this post, and hence they feature here! Which is your favourite? Let me know in the comments!

5 Fun Reading Lists With Something For Each Of Us

Have you already read all the books on your list? Looking for good resources to fill up your reading list again? Check out some of these brilliant reading lists that can get you going for the next few months. Also, most of these resource links have further links inside them to guide you to several more interesting reading lists on their website! 

1. For those who love the solved and unsolved mysteries of Science, and the men and machines behind it, check out this wonder list of The Greatest Science Books of 2016, a treasure compilation by none other than our favourite brainpicker! Popova writes in her introduction to the list:

"The question of what makes a great book of any kind is, of course, a slippery one, but I recently endeavored to synthesize my intuitive system for assessing science books that write up to the reader in a taxonomy of explanation, elucidation, and enchantment."

The books in this list seem very interesting, and are essentially a part of my to-read list. Hope I can get to them soon, covering a few of them before college reopens!

 

 2. For the authors, writers, and all those who love the craft of literary expression: how about Hemingway's list of essential books for aspiring writers? Because, Hemingway believed and said:

"As a writer you should not judge. You should understand."

Writers can also check out this list of 24 books that shaped one of the greatest writers, Gabriel Garcia Márquez. This list looked so wholesome and endearing that I had to include it all in my own to-read lists!

 

3. Are you in the a-book-a-day-keeps-the-gloom-away phase? The Reader's Digest list on 18 classic books that you can read in a day is absolutely wonderful. This is a list I can endorse, having read some of the brilliant classics in the list such as The Little Prince, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Animal Farm, Fahrenheit 451, The Great Gatsby, and many more!

4. Are you curious what other authors are themselves reading? I came across NY magazine's article- 23 Authors on 26 Books They’re Reading to Escape the Present Moment- a list that was chosen during these tough times to read, and escape to the better world among books, and also part of an "ongoing effort to provide productive distractions from what’s happening outside of your windows and on your screen" from the magazine! Do check them out, there are some very interesting titles from Hemingway to Austen to Phyllis Grant, and so many more! It's a fresh list, and something you should definitely check out.

5. Do you have young kids, brother or sisters around you? Do you want good books they can read during this lockdown? You can check out my reading lists where you'll also find a review for each book. You can also see my post on Literature For Young Girls, my all time favourite books, and other reading lists.

Check these links out in leisure, and do follow my blog to keep getting new suggestions and book reviews! Happy reading!

10 Things You Can Blog About

Do you have a blog? And, are there days when you don't know what to write about? Here are some ideas from what I have written about and explored in the last 194 days of blogging everyday across various subjects- books, movies, stories, art, life, law, and more!

1. Write about a hobby, or something that you learnt to make/do recently.

2. Review a book, movie, game, product, service, food, or anything at all that you used, watched, or read. 

3. Elaborate on a thought inside your head. 

4. Write about the favourite people you admire (with or without names).

5. Write about places. 

6. Write a poem.

7. Write a story, or you can run a chapter series with 1-2 chapters of your story every week. I'm thinking about trying this out. 

8. Pitch an idea. If you want to collaborate on something, then let people know how to contact you so that anyone who reads the post, and is interested to work with you, can ping you!

9. Share anything interesting that you came across in the recent past. Or, share the interesting resources that you use/come across with your readers.  

10. Rant. And, provide actionable solutions, if you can.

There are so many other ideas, and once you get that small hitch, it's happy writing till you hit that publish button. Keeping an editorial list ready to publish on your blog can take your writing a long way, because then you'd have something to go up anyway, and you would be stressing about what to write for what would go up on another day! This will make sure you aren't writing for the sake of just putting up something. 

If you enjoy reading my posts you can subscribe and read them in the comfort of your inbox!

Also, I have a series of chapters ready to roll out as an interesting short tale for you all, with two chapters coming out every week! I am very excited to have my first chapter up tomorrow! 

So stay tuned, and see you tomorrow!

"These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things"

You cannot make a reader choose the top five or ten books. Never do that. That's just not fair, because there are way too many that we love and cherish. Usually, there may not even be a favourite, rather there'd be an unending list of favourites! Back in 2014, there was this Facebook challenge going around to put up your top ten books. 

So, this was my list:

1. "Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman!" by Richard Feynman

“Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!” is all about Feynman’s experiences and his Science career. This book contains many funny anecdotes. The fun Feynman had in MIT is wonderfully written down. The book also describes how he moved on from MIT to Princeton to Los Alamos and Cornell along with a ‘touch of Brazil’(as put forth by the author). The book ends with Feynman’s narration of his life as a Physicist.

2. Pygmalion by Bernard Shaw

Eliza, a cockney flower girl goes to Prof. Higgins to learn phonetics. I became a fan of Shaw, his plays, and the  I absolutely love this one, shall remain here in this list forever!

3. Harry Potter: The Order Of Phoenix by J. K. Rowling 

Anyone who knew me around my middle school times can vouch for a fact that I went around saying I'd deny the most prestigious institution any day only to get acceptance from Hogwarts. It was my happy place, and many thanks to J. K. Rowling for that beautiful story that made us all yearn to get in.

4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho  

A young boy named Santiago tries to follow his dreams, and learns the treasure he was seeking was back in Spain.

5. Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkein

A cowardly Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, is called by the great wizard, Gandalf, to accompany Thorin and his company in an adventure. Tolkein has always been one of my most favourite authors since the time I picked up to read The Hobbit. A brilliant storyteller, Tolkein has a charm and style that is very unique to him. Fantasy is a beautiful genre, but also difficult to write without making it sound foolish. Tolkien's world has always made sense. Be it his writing, his poems, or his stories, at the end it leaves you with a feeling that though it is a work of fiction, it is not entirely detached.

6. Sivagamiyin Sabadham by Kalki

Kalki is one of my favourite story-tellers, and you can immerse yourself in the world of erstwhile Chozha kingdoms of the South, and it's amazing cultural and historical backdrop.

7. Swami and Friends by R. K. Narayan 

This heart-warming tale of three friends- Swami, Mani, and Rajam is sure to throw you into a melodic nostalgia, and pin a smile of fond recognition as you read it! Malgudi is a fictitious town in India created by R.K. Narayan in his novels and short stories. It forms the setting for most of Narayan's works. Starting with his first novel, Swami and Friends, all but one of his fifteen novels and most of his short stories take place here. Narayan has successfully portrayed Malgudi as a microcosm of India.

8. Cat Among The Pigeons by Agatha Christie 

And, for the longest time, I was so into Christie's world of crime and these mind-boggling detectives, that I forgot there was Christie who actually wrote them. The realization kind of hit me that all the brilliance of Poirot, Marple, Quinn, Tommy, Tuppence- put together was the brilliance of one. And, since that day I am an ardent fangirl of her, and shall be forever. 

9. Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder

A 14 year old girl becomes the student of an old philosopher, Alberto Knox, and is pushed to think beyond her barriers into a world of wonder, possibilities, and innovative thinking. No wonder she was a favourite to another 14 year old girl who read Sophie's World! Sophie is someone who is ready to learn, challenge herself, and look at things with a neutral perspective even when things are against her! She opens you to a world of absolute wonder and strength.

10. Three Men In A Boat by Jerome. K. Jerome

Three unintelligible men decide to travel in a boat in search of rest and a change of scene.They head up to river Thames.They pass through the glinting barges, the wooded towpath and the trim-kept villas on either side. They fall inside the Thames and loose their boat many times in a day.They become tired. They realize life out on a boat is a far more appalling alternative for a change of scene. This is a classic that I love. 

So, in the imaginary visuals of Julie Andrews running over lush greenery, her arms wide open, from The Sound Of Music: 

brown paper packages tied up with strings (hopefully with books inside them!), these are a few of my favourite things!

Literature For Young Girls

Children's literature can do wonders to children. And, especially as a girl, there are several wonderful books that all young girls must read. Books, in general, have some of the highest powers to influence someone deeply, and that is precisely why one must be careful in reading a book. As adults, we may have the capacity to read a book neutrally without getting influenced by it (it may still be difficult), but you cannot expect the same from a child. 

I have grown up with some of the best books, and most of the books that I will talk about in this post are written by  strong and beautiful women who pass on invaluable positive influences through their classics for children. It is a very responsible task to write a children's book- not easy. You cannot be careless with how you depict or glorify a quality as it gets embedded deep into your tender, lovely readers. Children read with utmost honesty and trust, and thus it becomes necessary duty to portray things the right way.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is definitely the first in the list. Little Women shows the strength behind the women, their dreams, their aspirations and how marriage is not all they want in a time that society believed that the only strength of a woman was her wit and charm to marry wealthy! Jo March is an all-time classic character, and someone that every little girl would look up to. And, through this warm tale of five strong and beautiful women, Alcott teaches kids much more than you could otherwise teach!

I have always loved The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It has all my heart. A little girl, with the ultimate mix of zeal, vigour, passion, empathy, stubbornness and pride, is all that another young girl needs. This is a book that makes every girl who reads it believe that they are princess from within! And, this is a book that teaches you the importance of perspective.

“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”
― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

Heidi by Johanna Spyri and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin are other well-known classics for young girls. And, what's not to like about the smart, soft, and absolutely lovable Heidi and Rebecca!

Finally, I'd like to conclude with my all-time favourite: Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This one, to me, is the best of all. I always saw myself in Anne. This young girl's passion for writing and adventure, her pride and her empathy, her confidence, her absolute disregard to pointless discouragement, her enthusiasm to learn and correct her wrongs, and her spirit to fight back when she is confident that she is right- I cannot express in words how much they influenced me, and till date influence me. To me, Anne was a best friend with whom I grew up. And, we grew up as strong women- thinking beyond trivialities of external beauty, and believing in oneself. 

I don't think that any ten year old who reads Anne of Green Gables would ever bother twice about her appearance or her lack of abilities- not after this book. It is a treasure that thrashes all your insecurities, and makes you fall in love with yourself, just like Anne Shirley Cuthbert does, with her head held high. These are important things, and you never know what little girls go through. Some may have such feelings, others may not, but books like these, that make you feel the strength you have inside you as the little girl you are, is something that will help all. It can give confidence in a way that any adult talking to you about it can't. And, at that age, maybe you cannot talk to a kid directly about all these, yet the book can do wonders. Because, at that age, Anne Shirley will be true for me. And, I will see myself in Anne Shirley.

A lot of my thoughts have been moulded beautifully by these wonderful characters and books- thanks to the beautiful women who wrote them! Most of the prevalent children's classics impact you in a good way, but these teach you how to be a proud, confident girl who can grow up to be a strong, confident woman!

I love these, and if you have young girls around you- you know what you can gift them!

My First 300 Book Reviews: Links for 151-175

151. Shoe Dog
152. The Trial
153. The Vicar Of Wakefield 
154. The Son
155. Gods, Demons, And Others
156. The Testament
157. On Balance: An Autobiography
158. Know Your English
159. One L: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School
160. Fahrenheit 451
161. North and South
162. The Palace of Illusions
163. How I Made $2,000,000 In The Stock Market
164. Moonlight Marauders
165. A Time To Kill
166. So Many Books, So Little Time
167. Eats, Shoots & Leaves
168. Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind
169. From Doon With Death
170. Seabiscuit
171. Animal Farm
172. Opening Pandora's Box
173. Presumed Innocent
174. The Land Of The Rising Yen
175. The Mezzanine

#MyYearInBooks : 2020 Reading Challenge

COVID-19 has decisively made sure that 2020 is going to be a year that would be much better for us if we bother to stay indoors. And, reading wins the coolest indoor activity category hands down.

I used to be a regular visitor to Goodreads a couple of years back, but I had stopped in between. Today, I stumbled upon an interesting collection of Tejas Rao's 'Year In Books', and that got me excited enough to revisit the good old Goodreads. I don't know how long the feature has been there, and I don't know if it has been there almost forever. But, it doesn't matter, I found out about it today. I have to say, as I signed in, an involuntary grin was pinned to my face as my eyes crinkled in happiness. If you want to know why, take a good look at the picture below: a small part of the collection I had kept on Goodreads. 

Wait, did you smile too? I can see your lips faintly curving upward as your eyes soften fondly. It took me back to when I was actually keeping a track of the books I read on Goodreads, and the memories of those beautiful books came flooding back. Isn't that what keeping a record is for? It serves as a beautiful repository of fond memories, and Goodreads does that in a way that looks so nice! In fact, my blog began as an effort to keep track of the books that I used to read day-in-day-out. I just wanted to have a string of posts that I can look back on, and smile at. 

The "Year In Books" is another cool challenge (and a very cool display) of what you read through the year! You can set your reading goal, and keep tracking the books you read, and the stats of which are beautifully complied for you in your "My Year In Books" page. 

My dad's immediate reaction when I showed him the above progress bar: mathematics. If I had to read 100 books per year, then it had to be around eight and a half books a month. And, it is already three months with just 15 books. Tut-tut, Sandhya, you're lagging behind. True, but once I get in the flow, only the supply of the books matter. I usually finish books in a single sitting, or within the same day, mostly because most of them are highly compelling and unputdownable. 

You can check out "My Year 2020 In Books", as I keep adding to it, here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2020/5777749. Or, you can always find a new tab that I have added in the pages bar: "Year In Books- 2020". 

I thought this was a great idea to share the books that we all read, in order to read more, and hence decided to do a post on this! Even with an extensive repository like my blog, I have to say the Goodreads Year In Books page looks too attractive, with it's dynamic and modern design, to not try it out! If you take a look at the right hand column of tabs in my blog, I've added a super cool '2020 Reading Challenge' widget provided by Goodreads. So, as I track my books now, you can keep an eye on your home-girl (thanks in advance)! 

So, read with me, and share the books that you read. This is a brilliant way to showcase the books that demanded our awe and attention, and also get new suggestions and explore more through other people's Year In Books page on Goodreads! We are on a break now, and we don't know how it would be if we get back to school/college/work. It makes sense that we use this time to tick away all our pending wish-lists that we have as a community of bibliophiles. What are you waiting for? Just take the efforts to open a book, it'll take care of the rest!

Let it truly be a year in books! Happy reading!

What To Read This Week

What fiction I'd suggest for different age groups to read if someone asked me right now? Well, someone did. So, I thought I'd put it up for all to check it out! Here's a list of five books in each category, true to the spirit of the tagline in my blog: what to read! Have fun, read and enjoy! Also, let me know if you liked it and want more suggestions!

Ages 8-11:

1. The Little Prince

2. Five Children and It

3. The Secret Garden

4. Swami and Friends

5. Wind In The Willows

Ages 12- 15:

1. A Wrinkle In Time

2. The Indian In The Cupboard

3. Treasure Island

4. Sophie's World

5. Hatchet

Ages 16-20:

1. The Pickwick Papers

2. The 39 Steps

3. To Kill A Mockingbird

4. Stupid Guy Goes To India

5. Don Quixote

Others: 

1. Daisy Miller

2. Bleak House 

3. The Trial

4. Parthiban Kanavu

These are my picks of the fiction that you can read through this week. Warm, exciting, and brilliant - they set the right mood for the week to come! 

What To Read

Title: What To Read

Author: Mickey Pearlman

My blog gives a list of books to readers and a review of each book, for those in question of what to read!

But, ever read a book on what to read? Let me introduce you to Mickey Pearlman's What To Read, an essential guide for reading group members and other book lovers. It is one of the most extensive reading lists, covering genres such as classics, children's classics, thrillers, fiction, non-fiction, adventure, biographies, family, romance, and health, and ranges the spectrum of books from American, Asian, English and so on!

Every chapter is a reading list of a particular category, and there are thirty eight extensive categories. Every category has a list of books, each with a one-para blurb that tells you what you should expect from the book. 

Mickey Pearlman wrote in a note to the reader: 

"I hope you will keep this guide in your briefcase or book bag when you visit your local library or bookstore, and that you will use it when your book club is deciding what to read."

Whether you read the note or not, that is exactly what you'd do with the book. And, that's what I did too. This was one of the books that I constantly went back to for book suggestions, and I used to make a list of the books I liked or wanted to try when I used to go to pick books from the library to read. The lists were so exhaustive, and had such a beautiful range of books that had something for all, and I loved picking up the threads and suggestions from this book.

I remember the library uncles, who helped us with the location of the books and other things, were surprised at the list I used to ask them to get for me. I remember them asking me where I even get such peculiar, interesting lists from. I remember the knowing smile they used to give me whenever I entered the library with a long list of suggestions that I had picked from this book! It introduced me to a lot of books that I might have never come across otherwise. 

With a classy introduction, and cool tips on when, where, what and how to read, the book is a must-have for all readers who want to explore and read more! It's an oldie-goldie, check it out!