Anjana Basu (Author of Curses in Ivory)

Anjana Basu rated a book liked it Wonder Tales for a Warming Planet by Rajat Chaudhuri (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Rajat Chaudhuri’s Wonder Tales for a Warming Planet comprises three imaginative stories, each reflecting a key aspect of global warming that he introduces at the outset. The first story follows Tina, a young girl living on a city island surrounded by ...more
Jun 03, 2025 09:24PM · like · see review
Anjana Basu rated a book liked it A Home To Haunt by Sudeshna Shome Ghosh	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Normally haunted houses are solitary places with a few ghosts screeching and shaking windows and doors to scare inmates. Sudeshna Shome Ghosh however puts a different take on the subject by telling readers that crowded places can be haunted too. She ...more
May 18, 2025 09:24PM · 2 likes · like · see review
Anjana Basu rated a book liked it The Little Book of Indian Dogs by Anusha Ramanathan	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is a dog book with a difference. Instead of focusing on the popular foreign breeds that usually get all the attention, this beautifully illustrated book introduces children and dog lovers to the fascinating world of Indian dog breeds—breeds tha ...more
Apr 29, 2025 09:47PM · like · see review
Anjana Basu rated a book liked it Murder at Mount Fuji by Shizuko Natsuki	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The Wada family, their American-Japanese scholar guest Jane Prescott, and the reader all know who the murderer is in Murder at Mount Fuji. This rediscovered classic by Shizuko Natsuki is what is known as an inverted crime novel—the kind familiar to ...more
Mar 22, 2025 08:22PM · like · see review
Anjana Basu rated a book liked it The Little Sparrow Murders (Detective Kosuke Kindaichi, #6) by Seishi Yokomizo	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A lot of high profile reviewers have compared this book to a Japanese Agatha Christie. In some senses that might be correct – The Little Sparrow Murders is set in a village and the murders seem to centre round a sinister counting rhyme – a tenari rhy ...more
Mar 14, 2025 08:01PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Little Sparrow Murders by Seishi Yokomizo. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Little Sparrow Murders by Seishi Yokomizo <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Anjana Basu rated a book liked it For the Love of Apricots by Madhulika Liddle (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The hills of Uttarakhand, namely the village of Mukteshwar where hill women knit colourful sweaters and urban women get self help groups together to teach women to make pickles. This is Nandini’s life as outlined by Madhulika Liddle in her latest boo ...more
Mar 13, 2025 08:34PM · 3 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of For the Love of Apricots by Madhulika Liddle. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — For the Love of Apricots by Madhulika Liddle <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Anjana Basu rated a book liked it The Rose Bargain (The Rose Bargain, #1) by Sasha Peyton Smith (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A Thorned Rose with Unexpected Blooms Six girls win the chance to vie for the hand of fairytale prince Bram the heir to the kingdom of England which is ruled over by a fae queen who has an evil taste in bargains and treats people like toys The story ...more
Mar 11, 2025 02:45AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Anjana Basu rated a book liked it Nikyle The Curious Crocodile by Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This book has a twofold objective – to get kids to like crocs instead of seeing them as crooked villains of the animal world and pointing out that curious children deserve patience because there is a reason behind their curiosity that teachers and ad ...more
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Anjana Basu rated a book liked it The Rose Bargain (The Rose Bargain, #1) by Sasha Peyton Smith (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A Thorned Rose with Unexpected Blooms Six girls win the chance to vie for the hand of fairytale prince Bram the heir to the kingdom of England which is ruled over by a fae queen who has an evil taste in bargains and treats people like toys The story ...more
Mar 07, 2025 04:32AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Anjana Basu rated a book liked it What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Those who have read the Kamagawa Food Detectives, will relate to Michiko Aoyama’s collection of stories. What you meed is in the library starts with a person who is at an impasse in his or her life and doesn’t really know how to solve it – though at ...more
Feb 21, 2025 07:07PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Wonder Tales for a Warming Planet
by Rajat Chaudhuri (Goodreads Author)

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Rajat Chaudhuri’s Wonder Tales for a Warming Planet comprises three imaginative stories, each reflecting a key aspect of global warming that he introduces at the outset.
The first story follows Tina, a young girl living on a city island surrounded by Rajat Chaudhuri’s Wonder Tales for a Warming Planet comprises three imaginative stories, each reflecting a key aspect of global warming that he introduces at the outset.
The first story follows Tina, a young girl living on a city island surrounded by a vast sea—perhaps Venice, or perhaps a place that only resembles it. The landscape is enriched with a series of fantastical maps bearing names like the Middle Kingdom (a nod to Tolkien), Malaegna, and others. Tina, raised by a wealthy but neglectful aunt, ventures out one evening and meets three enigmatic figures: one, dark and smooth like fossil fuels; another, sparkling and lively like a molecule; and the third, a giant talking fish.

The second story centres on Gogol, a boy suspended from school and overlooked by his father, Richard. He finds comfort in a magical blue globe—reminiscent of his mother’s shawl—that hints at the dangers of unchecked urban development. This tale becomes a subtle yet powerful critique of exploitative real estate practices and environmental neglect.

The final story, How Did the Ocean Vanish?, takes on the tone of a fable. Told by a sea serpent, it recounts three failed scientific attempts to reverse climate change, all of which become toxic and destructive—echoing real-world experiments in bioengineering. Echoing the fairy-tale trope of three trials judged by a wise king, the story also references a myth where a hunter shoots down one of three suns to save the earth from burning. Chaudhuri cleverly reminds us that while climate change is not new, the current crisis—fueled by human greed—is unprecedented in scale.

Each tale is accompanied by helpful notes that explain names and concepts—such as Anu, derived from the Sanskrit word for molecule, or Vasy, drawn from Vasundhara, meaning Earth. These annotations enrich the experience for curious children, parents, and educators alike.

Isha Nagar’s vivid illustrations bring the stories to life, adding colour, energy, and visual intrigue to Chaudhuri’s layered narratives. What makes Wonder Tales for a Warming Planet truly special is its ability to inspire awe while addressing serious ecological themes. These are not didactic tales; instead, they invite reflection, empathy, and meaningful dialogue.

From the complexities of urbanisation to the search for sustainable energy, the book opens a window to living more consciously with nature. Whether read aloud in classrooms, enjoyed at bedtime, or used to spark climate conversations, this is an essential and timely addition to children’s literature. ...more

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A Home To Haunt
by Sudeshna Shome Ghosh

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Normally haunted houses are solitary places with a few ghosts screeching and shaking windows and doors to scare inmates. Sudeshna Shome Ghosh however puts a different take on the subject by telling readers that crowded places can be haunted too. She ...more

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The Little Book of Indian Dogs
by Anusha Ramanathan

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This is a dog book with a difference. Instead of focusing on the popular foreign breeds that usually get all the attention, this beautifully illustrated book introduces children and dog lovers to the fascinating world of Indian dog breeds—breeds tha This is a dog book with a difference. Instead of focusing on the popular foreign breeds that usually get all the attention, this beautifully illustrated book introduces children and dog lovers to the fascinating world of Indian dog breeds—breeds that are often, sadly, overlooked.
The story is easy to follow. Runi and her Baba want to find a companion for their beloved dog, Salt Water Taffy – whose breed remains unspecified. As they search for the perfect new pet, they come across a whole catalogue of Indian dogs that many readers might never have heard of before. Breeds like the elegant Chippiparai, the swift Rampur Greyhound, and the clever Jonangi are just a few of the names that appear on their list.
The book brings together the talents of an illustrator who grew up surrounded by dogs of every shape and size, and a writer who always longed for a pet but never had one. Together, they create a picture book that is lively, easy to read, and full of charm. It shines a warm light on the world of desi dogs, including the Indie—or Indian Pariah Dog—which is perhaps the best known of all.
What comes through from the in depth research carried out by the authors is the fact that most Indian indigenous breeds were trained either to hunt, fight or guard, Which is why dogs like the Kombai were bred to hamstring horses in battle and accounts for the fact that they are not more widely known in Indian homes today. One interesting detail to note is that the book mentions the Bully Kutta, a breed once used by Emperor Akbar for hunting expeditions. However, readers should know that the Bully Kutta has evolved into the American Bully in some parts of the world, like Scotland, where it is now banned due to its reputation for aggression. Dogs like the Tibetan Mastiff too have become specific to their regions and the work they do which makes them unsuitable as household pets but perfect companions for shepherds in leopard haunted terrains.
Still, what makes this book truly special is that it is the first of its kind to focus solely on indigenous Indian breeds. It breaks new ground while sharing a wealth of information in a sweet, simple way. And in the end, it wraps up with a reassuring, familiar message: no matter how many wonderful dogs there are to choose from, Mummy always knows best. ...more

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Murder at Mount Fuji
by Shizuko Natsuki

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The Wada family, their American-Japanese scholar guest Jane Prescott, and the reader all know who the murderer is in Murder at Mount Fuji. This rediscovered classic by Shizuko Natsuki is what is known as an inverted crime novel—the kind familiar to
The Wada family, their American-Japanese scholar guest Jane Prescott, and the reader all know who the murderer is in Murder at Mount Fuji. This rediscovered classic by Shizuko Natsuki is what is known as an inverted crime novel—the kind familiar to readers of Ellery Queen—where the detectives have to work backwards to uncover what the reader already knows. In this atmospheric novel, an imposing villa serves as the setting for a New Year’s gathering of a family of pharmaceutical tycoons. The beautiful Chiyo, working on a thesis on Mrs Dalloway, has invited her fellow student and English mentor, Jane Prescott, to visit so she can refine her work before submission.
Jane Prescott was not in Natsuki’s original Japanese novel, The Tragedy of W, published in 1982. In an attempt to make the mystery more relatable for Western readers, translator Robert B. Rohmer introduced Jane as a “double outsider”—a guest who is neither a member of the Wada family nor Japanese. This decision was made for marketing purposes, as the Ellery Queen-inspired novel was intended to introduce Natsuki to English audiences. For the same reason, the book was rechristened Murder at Mount Fuji, even though the mountain is merely a distant backdrop, mentioned only a handful of times.
The novel’s pivotal moment occurs on the evening of Jane’s visit when Chiyo rushes into the drawing room, her sleeves stained with blood. She claims to have fought off a rape attempt by her granduncle, Yohei Wada, using a fruit knife, accidentally stabbing him in the process. Overcome with remorse, she then attempts to slash her own wrist. Since Chiyo is adored by all, the family quickly conspires to stage the crime as a burglary gone wrong. What follows is a frantic effort to cover up the incident, leaving the reader to wonder what crucial details may have been overlooked—especially since Yohei’s personal physician has little understanding of post-mortem procedures. Meanwhile, the Wadas find themselves under scrutiny from multiple detective teams from the Five Lakes area, led by the physically indolent yet sharp-minded Nakazato. Adding a touch of comedy is Superintendent Katsubei Aiura, a media enthusiast who cannot resist sharing his latest theories at press conferences—only to revise them the next day with as much diplomacy as he can manage.
Despite the family's efforts, the detectives make short shrift of their cover story within two days, with the help of a mole within the household. The case is quickly exposed as an inside job, much as the reader would expect. But Natsuki is not done yet—just as Chiyo is taken into custody, the novel takes a final, unexpected turn. The wheels within wheels of the plot continue to turn, perhaps a little too intricately, though in keeping with the Ellery Queen style. Jane Prescott, who has largely been an observer and reluctant accessory to the crime up to this point, takes on a surprising role at the end, though there is little buildup to justify her sudden involvement.
For those who enjoy inverted murder mysteries, appreciate atmospheric settings and are unaware of the translator’s alterations to the original text, Murder at Mount Fuji offers an intriguing and layered read. ...more

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The Little Sparrow Murders by Seishi Yokomizo

The Little Sparrow Murders (Detective Kosuke Kindaichi, #6)
by Seishi Yokomizo

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A lot of high profile reviewers have compared this book to a Japanese Agatha Christie. In some senses that might be correct – The Little Sparrow Murders is set in a village and the murders seem to centre round a sinister counting rhyme – a tenari rhy A lot of high profile reviewers have compared this book to a Japanese Agatha Christie. In some senses that might be correct – The Little Sparrow Murders is set in a village and the murders seem to centre round a sinister counting rhyme – a tenari rhyme as the Japanese call it. There are also a lot of old or elderly women, though Yokomizo’s detective is his casual Kosuke Kondaichi with his untidy kimono and cigarettes.

KondaIchi is taking a break and decides to revisit a region where several of his old cases were based and asks his old friend inspector Isokawa to suggest a place. The Inspector directs him to the Turtle Spring and coincidentally tells him about an unsolved murder dating from 1932 which took place in the village and which involves the death of the husband of the owner of Turtle Spring at the hands of a con artist who was also a womaniser. The year is now 1955 and the mystery still has not been solved – the implication being that the Inspector is asking Kondaichi to put his little grey cells to work.

Kondaichi is more interested in relaxing baths and long naps but nonetheless begins to ask questions of the owner of the Turtle Spring and encounters several people in the baths, including the much-married village chieftain. However, the village chieftain mysteriously disappears from his lonely cabin just as he is about to be reunited with one of his ex-wives and all the clues suggest that he may have been poisoned by a bell flower popularly known as ‘chieftain’s death’. Yokomizo points the reader in the direction of the ex-wife, who Kondaichi spotted on a mountain pass at twilight but no one can find the woman and, in the meantime, three beautiful young women are murdered one after the other, following a sequence set in the counting rhyme.

Which would be fine but the problem is that Yokomizu is not writing a clean cut Agatha Christie murder mystery quite obviously because he is Japanese and has his own way of approaching murders. The other problem is the sprawling cast of characters in the book – there are 31 characters belonging to five different families who come from different guilds in the village and all the families seem to be dysfunctional in one way or the other. Given the Japanese names and the frequency with which the characters come and go and interact with each other, it becomes difficult for the reader to keep track. At heart it is an interesting mysterious whodunnit with all the right ingredients. However the story gets tangled up in people the politics of relationships that influence the murders and the reasons behind those relationships which. Like most Japanese stories are rooted in tradition.

The victims in the present are linked rather dubiously to each other and, in a gossipy village it seems rather surprising that no one knew what was going on. Yokomizo’s focus is often not so much on working out how the murders were committed, but rather on why they were committed and who could have had a reason for doing so which is why matters like alibis and the rest are given the go by.

One has to keep referring back to the tenari rhyme which appears at the beginning and doesn’t reappear till later and Kondaichi is the only one who seems to think it might be linked to another murder – but he takes his time about revealing what he already knows which makes him appear even more laidback than usual. ...more

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For the Love of Apricots
by Madhulika Liddle (Goodreads Author)

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The hills of Uttarakhand, namely the village of Mukteshwar where hill women knit colourful sweaters and urban women get self help groups together to teach women to make pickles. This is Nandini’s life as outlined by Madhulika Liddle in her latest boo The hills of Uttarakhand, namely the village of Mukteshwar where hill women knit colourful sweaters and urban women get self help groups together to teach women to make pickles. This is Nandini’s life as outlined by Madhulika Liddle in her latest book. Nandini Mathur is 40, lives with her birder father and is known to everyone as being single though she is, in fact, a divorcee having been married for 6 months decades ago. In this placid world of pickles comes Vikas Joshi who has taken over his uncle’s apricot orchard. Joshi is also single though in his case, he is a widower.

He and Nandini meet in the most accepted way over an awkward bawling baby and a misunderstanding. He thinks Nandini is a rural grandmother – she’s in an old salwar kameez – and she thinks he’s obnoxious. Quite obviously from this promising beginning the two have to be brought together – even the women in Nandini’s pickle factory are agreed on that.
Through a series of comic cataclysms – Nandini tries climbing over Vikas’ gate to return his jam jar while Vikas gets his hands stung by nettles from a basket Nandini has given him to hold – the two come together. Vikas is smitten by Nandini’s caramel eyes though what he looks like we really don’t know – except that he is younger than Nandini which is a slight stumbling block to a fiercely independent, successful woman. That adds a twist to the whole story like the spice in Nandini’s pickles. Liddle muses on the complications in relationships whether with parents or otherwise, adding grist to her story mill.

Ultimately the tale is filled with lusciousness – the flavour of pickles of all kinds, the sweetness of golden apricot jam and the descriptions of hill paths and flowers. All in all, the perfect background for romance and all of which Liddle with her cooking and everything else seems to know very well from the kasundi to the rhododendrons. And it happens over apricots in a rather business like way. However, one might quibble that Liddle did a better job with her Jang Sahib’s love story a long while ago with its shy, subtle nuances. Still, it is a happy book to curl up with on a winter evening. ...more

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The Rose Bargain (The Rose Bargain, #1)
by Sasha Peyton Smith (Goodreads Author)

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A Thorned Rose with Unexpected Blooms
Six girls win the chance to vie for the hand of fairytale prince Bram the heir to the kingdom of England which is ruled over by a fae queen who has an evil taste in bargains and treats people like toys
The story A Thorned Rose with Unexpected Blooms
Six girls win the chance to vie for the hand of fairytale prince Bram the heir to the kingdom of England which is ruled over by a fae queen who has an evil taste in bargains and treats people like toys
The story is set in a Victorian-inspired time, where desperate bargains and glittering balls mask the cruel reality of a fairytale world. Ivy Benton, seeking to salvage her family's reputation, enters a competition for Prince Bram's hand, only to find herself encountering his rakish brother, Emmett time and again. The familiar love triangle setup is present, but author Sasha Peyton Smith elevates it with intricate world-building and nuanced character development.
The story brings together a compelling blend of romantic tension and perilous trials. The queen's manipulative games and the dark consequences of fae bargains create a palpable sense of danger. While the book doesn't steer clear of the darker elements—including deaths, self-harm, and the occasional harsh language—these elements serve to underscore the desperation and high stakes faced by the characters.
What truly sets The Rose Bargain apart is its focus on the female characters. Ivy, along with her sister Lydia and the other suitors, are more than just pawns in the queen's game. They are complex individuals with their own motivations, secrets and evolving relationships. The initial cattiness between the competitors gives way to a refreshing sense of solidarity, a welcome departure from typical YA tropes. Smith reveals the backstories of the other girls through brief, detours from Ivy’s own story, adding layers of depth and intrigue to the story so it doesn’t remain an ordinary good vs evil conflict. Though here the men are good for the most part while the women, the Others. have all the power in their hands. The question is will love or magic win/
While the book does indulge in some familiar romantic clichés—like the rain-soaked encounter with the beloved or the single bed at the inn—these moments are overshadowed by the strength of the character-driven narrative. The diverse representation, though perhaps a touch anachronistic, adds a welcome layer of inclusivity. ...more

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Nikyle The Curious Crocodile
by Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar

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This book has a twofold objective – to get kids to like crocs instead of seeing them as crooked villains of the animal world and pointing out that curious children deserve patience because there is a reason behind their curiosity that teachers and ad ...more

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The Rose Bargain (The Rose Bargain, #1)
by Sasha Peyton Smith (Goodreads Author)

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A Thorned Rose with Unexpected Blooms
Six girls win the chance to vie for the hand of fairytale prince Bram the heir to the kingdom of England which is ruled over by a fae queen who has an evil taste in bargains and treats people like toys
The story A Thorned Rose with Unexpected Blooms
Six girls win the chance to vie for the hand of fairytale prince Bram the heir to the kingdom of England which is ruled over by a fae queen who has an evil taste in bargains and treats people like toys
The story is set in a Victorian-inspired time, where desperate bargains and glittering balls mask the cruel reality of a fairytale world. Ivy Benton, seeking to salvage her family's reputation, enters a competition for Prince Bram's hand, only to find herself encountering his rakish brother, Emmett time and again. The familiar love triangle setup is present, but author Sasha Peyton Smith elevates it with intricate world-building and nuanced character development.
The story brings together a compelling blend of romantic tension and perilous trials. The queen's manipulative games and the dark consequences of fae bargains create a palpable sense of danger. While the book doesn't steer clear of the darker elements—including deaths, self-harm, and the occasional harsh language—these elements serve to underscore the desperation and high stakes faced by the characters.
What truly sets The Rose Bargain apart is its focus on the female characters. Ivy, along with her sister Lydia and the other suitors, are more than just pawns in the queen's game. They are complex individuals with their own motivations, secrets and evolving relationships. The initial cattiness between the competitors gives way to a refreshing sense of solidarity, a welcome departure from typical YA tropes. Smith reveals the backstories of the other girls through brief, detours from Ivy’s own story, adding layers of depth and intrigue to the story so it doesn’t remain an ordinary good vs evil conflict. Though here the men are good for the most part while the women, the Others. have all the power in their hands. The question is will love or magic win/
While the book does indulge in some familiar romantic clichés—like the rain-soaked encounter with the beloved or the single bed at the inn—these moments are overshadowed by the strength of the character-driven narrative. The diverse representation, though perhaps a touch anachronistic, adds a welcome layer of inclusivity. ...more

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What You Are Looking For Is in the Library
by Michiko Aoyama

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Those who have read the Kamagawa Food Detectives, will relate to Michiko Aoyama’s collection of stories. What you meed is in the library starts with a person who is at an impasse in his or her life and doesn’t really know how to solve it – though at Those who have read the Kamagawa Food Detectives, will relate to Michiko Aoyama’s collection of stories. What you meed is in the library starts with a person who is at an impasse in his or her life and doesn’t really know how to solve it – though at the same time not actively looking for an answer. Circumstances brings them to a community centre which has a library, run by Sayuri Komaguchi who is hidden in an L-section and like the books that th library houses, has to be discovered.
She is presented to us in terms of her physical appearance, a large woman with head balanced on a well rounded body who does not rise from her table. At first she seems alarming but as each story progresses she displays an amazing ability to read her visitors minds, supplying them with exactly the kind of book that they are looking for. She also provides a bonus gift with her book advice which comes from her hobby of felting – her hands are always busy with the needle – and the gift, too seems to have some kind of power to transform the life of the person to whom it is given, not by leaps and bounds or any kind of supernatural means but in a subtle, effective way.
The people in the stories, which are roughly interconnected lead very ordinary lives and are at different stages in life, some starting out, some retired, a girl who works in retail, a young mother wanting to return to her job as high profile magazine editor, a retiree looking for purpose beyond work. None of what they are faced with is very dramatic but they are all, without being aware of it, in need of a solution. Aoyama fleshes out her characters with details of their lives which makes them very relatable and little touches of traditional Japanese culture in their mannerisms. She has obviously researched their lives and careers not to mention the types of books that they are likely to read and the problems that they may encounter. One may not find all the characters equally likeable but the kindness of the interactions and the generosity that people can be capable of is unmistakeable.
Ultimately we do get to know more about the librarian and what it is that gives her the mysterious ability to read souls though perhaps one could have done with a little more detail. Sayuri remains largely as she is described. However, the book is optimistic and inspiring since the main message at its heart is the fact that we can all find our way to happiness if we are given the right impetus.
What you are looking for is in the library is ultimately about the importance of reading and community. ...more

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	Curses in Ivory 3.58 avg rating — 12 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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	Grandfather's Tiger Tales by Anjana Basu (Goodreads Author), Aaryama Somayaji (Illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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