Indian Readers discussion

my reading log with wishes and completions for the year 2018

Read at least 25 Tamil books.

1. Sornathaara
2. THIRAKKATHEY AABATHTHU திறக்காதே ஆபத்து
3. Sarvam Stalin Mayam
4. Mouna Yutham
5. ஆயில் ரேகை Oil Regai
6. உறுபசி Urupasi
7. 9/11: சூழ்ச்சி - வீழ்ச்சி - மீட்சி
8. Parthiban Kanavu
9. CHANDRIGAIYIN KADHAI
10. சிவகாமியின் சபதம் Sivagamiyin Sabatham
11. Ithayakaruvarayil: இதயக்கருவறையில்
12. Alai Urangum Kadal
13. Kashmir: Arasiyal - Aayudha Varalaru
14. Thoonilum Iruppaan: தூணிலும் இருப்பான்

Read as many books by authors from each State in India. Inspired by Selva's reading about Calcutta and Saakshi group read. I used to read Yendamuri Veerendranath books in Tamil. Some 20+ years ago. So don't remember now, but they are worth reading second time. Want to read some translated literary fiction. Not a big fan of non-fictions.

Read so far:
1. Bengal - The Namesake - Even though the story happens in USA, this book talks a lot of Bengali culture, Interpreter of Maladies
2. Karnataka - Ghachar Ghochar
3. Kashmir - Kashmir: Arasiyal - Aayudha Varalaru
4. Kerala - Inga, Bhima Lone Warrior
5. Uttar Pradesh - A Suitable Boy, PRALAY: The Great Deluge

Of course, Indian books at least 25. This could be fantasy fictions, my favorite genre.

1. Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana
2. The Fire Queen
3. The Rogue Queen
4. The Vengeance of Indra
5. A Crown of Wishes

Am participating in Armchair challenge which I also use for other challenges to visit as many countries as possible.


Britain/England - The Picture of Dorian Gray, Rebellion, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, The Time Machine, The Queen's Poisoner
Bosnia and Herzegovina - People of the Book
Channel Islands - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
China - A Perfect Time for Pandas
Costa Rica - Two Weeks in Costa Rica
Czech Republic, England, France - Shadow of Night
Dominican Republic - In the Time of the Butterflies
Egypt - Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings
France, England, US - A Discovery of Witches
Georgia (Republic of) - Magic Rises
Greece - The Song of Achilles, House of Names, Circe
Ireland - The Heart's Invisible Furies
Italy - Call Me By Your Name
Japan - Go: A Coming of Age Novel, Rashomon and Other Stories, Kafka on the Shore
Jerusalem - Christmas Present
Korea - Living Reed: A Novel of Korea
Nepal, Hong Kong, UK, US - Marvel's Doctor Strange
Newzealand -No Legacy for Lindsay
Norway/North Germany - Norse Mythology
Pakistan - I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
Rome - Roman Holiday
Russia - Sarvam Stalin Mayam, The Overcoat, The Bear and the Nightingale
Spain - The Shadow of the Wind
Multiple Countries - ஆயில் ரேகை Oil Regai

Hi Kavitha ... glad to visit your korner. Will be keeping an eye on all the challenges, esp the regional One, to borrow books from. 😊.

All the best Kavita! :)

Thank you Syl and Manju! I am looking at yours Syl for regional inspirations :)

Much obliged 😊

Syl wrote: "Hi Kavitha ... glad to visit your korner. Will be keeping an eye on all the challenges, esp the regional One, to borrow books from. 😊."

Since I saw Malayalam books in your shelf, can you give me some recommendations for Malayalam books with good translation?

Kavitha wrote: "Am participating in Armchair challenge which I also use for other challenges to visit as many countries as possible.


Britain - The Picture of Dorian Gray
Britain - [book:Rebellion|260..."

In armchair challenges I rarely see Italy :-(

People of the Book is very good!

All the best with your challenges.

Signed up for few challenges. And personal challenges continued...

1. A-Z book title challenge
2. A-Z author challenge
3. A-Z non fantasy topic challenge
4. Bingo Challenge
5. Book Cover Challenge
6. Decades Challenge
7. Every Year Challenge
8. Gone With The Books
9. Random Travel Challenge



Read at least 5 classics
The Time Machine - Feb 2018
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Feb 2018
The Hobbit - Feb 2018
The Fellowship of the Ring - Feb 2018
Atlas Shrugged - Mar 2018

Read at least 5 tomes (more than 750 pages)
Atlas Shrugged - Mar 2018
A Suitable Boy - Jun 2018
A Game of Thrones - Sep 2018

Read the books recommended to me
Promise of Blood - Manju
Hidden Legacy series - Manju
Beard Science - Manju
Haroun and the Sea of Stories - Aka
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry - Syl
ಮಂದ್ರ Mandra - Gorab
Lonesome Dove - Manju



reply | flag *

dely wrote: "Kavitha wrote: "Am participating in Armchair challenge which I also use for other challenges to visit as many countries as possible.


Britain - The Picture of Dorian Gray
Britain - [bo..."

Thank you, Dely! I read Eat, Pray, Love last year. Part Italy...Loved the book!

I don't read much of malayalam.. but recently read
1. Hangwoman - good but gruesome
2. Goat days (aatujeevithsm) - same
3. Legends of khasak - not impressive
4. Asuravithu by M T Vasudevan Nsir has been translated into English ... Forgot the name.. but I think it is Bhima, the warrior

Syl wrote: "I don't read much of malayalam.. but recently read
1. Hangwoman - good but gruesome
2. Goat days (aatujeevithsm) - same
3. Legends of khasak - not impressive
4. Asuravithu by M T Vasudevan Nsir ha..."

Yeah, heard about this book which is now being used for a movie by Mohanlal. But that is randamoozham, right? Oh, asuravithu is another book of M T Vasudevan Nair...

oops.. Yes. I guess it is randamoozham

Asuravithu is another well known book translated as demon seed

thank you :)

will keep an eye on your bingo books. :D

Thank you, Manju! Well we both are fellow fantasy lovers :)

You all (You, Kru, Jaya, Syl and Iniya) are such fast readers!! and what a variety! I am picking and choosing based on your ratings, plus my interest :)

He he... but I can't be compared with these expresses ..
This year I am reading much less.

Well...I need time turner like Hermione Granger to keep up reading all the books that I want to....

The library system in USA is extremely good without needing to buy books. To top it I have access to kindle unlimited both in Indian and US sites....so wishing I could read like you all.....wishes, wishes...

How I envy US and Canadian library system.
Here, where I live, there's no good library at all. But I find it as a blessing in disguise to buy all the books ( and more) that I need. And, Kindle is a great help.

Syl wrote: "He he... but I can't be compared with these expresses ..
This year I am reading much less."

*eye roll*

Syl wrote: "He he... but I can't be compared with these expresses ..
This year I am reading much less."

o_O *eye roll*

All the best Kavitha, for all your challenges :-)

Iniya wrote: "Syl wrote: "He he... but I can't be compared with these expresses ..
This year I am reading much less."

o_O *eye roll*"

high five Ini!!

looks like syl is fishing for compliments. ;)

Manju wrote: "Iniya wrote: "Syl wrote: "He he... but I can't be compared with these expresses ..
This year I am reading much less."

o_O *eye roll*"

high five Ini!!

looks like syl is fishing for compliments. ;)"

exactly... How can we be expresses compared to her :-O :-O

@Kavitha: Ini, Harry and me are doing this Bingo Challenge. you can join us in reading books for this challenge.:)

You eye rolling pixies... 😏😏
Am just stating the absolute truth 😌

Manju wrote: "@Kavitha: Ini, Harry and me are doing this Bingo Challenge. you can join us in reading books for this challenge.:)"

Would love to. You have separate thread?....I am still learning navigating this group....

No. We will discuss our books in either my brother thread or ini-harry's br thread. On phone, will put links later.

For 1, 6, and 24, we are using Powder Mage trilogy. First books is Promise of Blood

All the best Kavitha, looks like a great line-up!

Thank you Iniya and Jaya!

Manju wrote: "No. We will discuss our books in either my brother thread or ini-harry's br thread. On phone, will put links later.

For 1, 6, and 24, we are using Powder Mage trilogy. First books is [book:Promise..."

Sounds good! I will join in as many as possible.

Syl wrote: "How I envy US and Canadian library system.
Here, where I live, there's no good library at all. But I find it as a blessing in disguise to buy all the books ( and more) that I need. And, Kindle is ..."

While I save considerable money in not buying books, I pay some in paying fines and kindle unlimited subscription.

the main drawback of borrowed books....I had to finish them to return back before the due date. Sometimes, I had to put down the book own and read the borrowed books. Or return the borrowed books unread.

Even though I would love to join so many buddy reads, I am limited to book availability.

I am reading the namesake. Picked up the book after seeing group reads on books that received awards. Jhumpa Lahiri's award winning book was not available in my library and so picked up the namesake. I am loving it so far. Could consider that I visited Calcutta :) Even though the story unfolds in USA. The book talks so much about Bengali culture (including 'good name'), the stranding between two culture whenever you travel from one country to another (similar to my experience) and so forth.

Busy upcoming week and so my progress on other books will be slow to nil

@Kavitha ... regarding Library books.. yes.. that's a drawback indeed .

Namesake was a good book... After the first 3 books though ... her further books deteriorated.. Or so I feel.

Syl wrote: "@Kavitha ... regarding Library books.. yes.. that's a drawback indeed .

Namesake was a good book... After the first 3 books though ... her further books deteriorated.. Or so I feel."

I have to agree. I didn't like The Lowland much either and I had mighty expectations from The Lowland. Jhumpa Lahiri is good with short stories, I opine.

I have read two books by her so far Interpreter of Maladies and Unaccustomed Earth. I liked the second better and reading Interpreter I felt the stories repetitive.

I just finished The Namesake and I liked it very much. The Lowland is available in my library, so checked out, will see how that turns out. @dely, maybe I will stick with one short story collections :)

I also started checking out books of my fav author, Ursula Le Guin. I absolutely adore (I know you use the term for person, sheepishly) her book A Wizard of Earthsea. I probably read 5-6 times. I read that series and I am not as enamored by her other books even though I liked them.

Back in those zamana when the internet was not popular, didn't realize that she wrote other books and so never looked up until recently. So looking forward to her other series.

Yet to read Ursula Le Guin.. have heard a lot about her. Wizard would be my first book. :)

Fantasy with philosophy....Let's see whether you love sparrowhawk and his journey as much as I do :)

Will surely come back here and report my impression 😊

how's your Bingo coming along?

You just beat me here :) Last two weeks were crazy with other competing priorities...

Yesterday, I thought about updating this thread, instead I chose to read Gogol. I myself don't know where I am at Bingo.

I have Promise of Blood at hand, have to read...want to give a try at Middlemarch again after Kru's review. I won't read Wolf Hall if not for group read so want to finish by May at least. I definitely, definitely want to read Crime and Punishment. I am joining you ladies in Norse Mythology. I started few other books Malgudi Days, Homegoing, Discovery of Witches which I want to finish.

And I just got from library The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. In my tbr for long time.

Wishes, wishes! I still have to narrow down 10 books for June readathon!

Ah! so many books and so little time to read. :P

I don't think Ini and I have added any new books to our Bingo, so you still have time to catch up. btw, ini is still reading Promise of Blood, so you are not alone.

Hows Homegoing and DoW coming along?

Done with the discovery of witches. That book is hook, line and sinker for me. Loved it very much. I ordered the book in library, eagerly awaiting to lay my hands on it.

Bingo - Is my message 12, the bingo you are talking about? I already finished 16 out of 25 books. Or is it a different bingo?

Homegoing - will finish this month hopefully

Greedy me: *starry eyes* I want to BR Ilona Andrews with Manju and Ini; Lone Fox Dancing should be interesting! Want to read Wheel of Time..

Sensible me: Be practical, you got The Alchemist, Lathe of Heaven, One part Woman, Good Omens and Scythe from the library which you have to finish. You waited so long to get these.

Greedy me: I know. *sigh* Why does she have to be right *rolling my eyes*

Sensible me: I am still continuing, you have to finish Homegoing, The Star-touched queen, Promise of Blood and Norse Mythology.

Greedy me: Yes, yes. *starry eyes*. I still need to plan for June mini-readathon! Should I put The Way of Kings? I want to read at least one Ursula. Hopefully I will get at least one Gods of Asgard book by Rick Riordan. Want to read one Tamil book.

Sensible me: I think WoK will be too much for June.

Greedy me: I may get Aru Shah and the Land of Time. I will include that too. And I want to read one Tolstoy.

Sensible me: Is she even listening to me *shaking head*. Try to be sensible. You still will be trying to finish Crime and Punishment, Wolf Hall and Middle March. Since you will be busy finishing Interpreter of Maladies and Malgudi Days in May along with other books.

Greedy me: Oh! How many books for May?

Sensible me: 11 books plus CP, WH and MM. Plus Shadow of Night, plus Book of Life. Enough?

Greedy me: *meekly* yeah…

LOL...
Most readers have a schizophrenic mind 🤣