Indian Readers discussion

A very ambitious goal for the year... to read 100 books! I doubt I'll get there. Last year I managed to read 48 books but my goal was to read 50. So I'm hoping to read a lot more this time around since I've scaled up my target.

JANUARY

1. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
3. The Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket
4. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
5. Life of Pi by Yann Martel




FEBRUARY

6. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
7. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
8. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
9. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery 



MARCH
10. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
11. The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy
12. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
13. Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
14. Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji
15. The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett




APRIL
16. The House I Loved by Tatiana de Rosnay
17. The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal
18. Ghost Stories of an Antiquary by M.R. James
19. Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell

✔ Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden ★★★★★ (04 Jan. 12) 434 Pages




Through Chiyo’s eyes we enter an exotic world of Geishas. Once an ordinary daughter of a fisherman, Chiyo is sold to a geisha house in the district of Gion. Chiyo’s beauty stems from the unusual color of her eyes which are blue-gray. As much as they attract attention from people, they also invite the dislike of Hatsumomo, the sole geisha in the house where Chiyo has been sold. Over the years, Chiyo is transformed from a 9 year-old maid, to Sayuri, a beautiful geisha.

Sayuri will win favours from extremely important men in Japan, will have a marvellous geisha as her mentor and will have opportunities that only a few lucky have. But Sayuri’s heart lies with one man and in the midst of all the glamour and gaiety she will pine for that one man for years.

My second reading of this novel... and just as enchanting as I remember it. The first time around I fell in love with Sayuri, Mameha and the Chairman. But this time I loved the characters of Nobu, Pumpkin and even the evil Hatsumomo. There is something endearing about all of them.

I know Arthur Golden has faced some criticism over this book, but I can’t help admire the world he has brought to life. This is one of those rare books that reads like a fairytale. What a lovely book to kick off the year with!

Good luck for your worming through 100 books challenge :P

Good luck Sanz.. :)

I had read Geisha a decade ago, and didnot much take to it. Maybe I'll reread it someday and see whether I change my opinion.

I totally loved Memoirs of a Geisha...

@Smitha... you should try reading it again sometime. The book has some flaws but a second reading might make it seem better.

maybe I will read it again sometime. My book had micromini fonts and yellowed pages (though I bought it new) and that would have contributed a bit to my reading experience

Meenakshi wrote: "I totally loved Memoirs of a Geisha..."

I have it as a part of this years reading list :)

@Parikhit great!! you must read it...

✔ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling ★★★★★ (08 Jan. 12) 310 Pages




In this first instalment of a wonderful series, Rowling introduces her protagonist, Harry Potter, an ordinary boy living with his aunt, uncle and cousin after the death of his parents. At the age of 11, Harry discovers a world he didn’t know existed; a world a witches, wizards and magic. What’s more is Harry is a part of this world. But he is no ordinary wizard. He is famous for defeating an evil, dark wizard Voldemort, when Harry was only a baby. Harry is going to discover some secrets: about his parents, his fame and Voldemort. He’s also going to discover some great friends and a few rivals.

After reading this book for the nth time, I’m still fond of it as ever. I love how Hermione comes across as a bossy, know-it-all, irritating character but eventually turns out to be this wonderful friend. She’s one of my favourite characters of the book and I enjoy how the friendship between Harry, Ron and Hermione blossoms.

Feels good to be reading through the series once again.

Am also in the process of reading Harry Potter series. Yes, just loved Hermione in the first book.

✔ The Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket ★★★ (10 Jan. 12) 352 Pages




In this 11th book of the series, the three Baudelaire orphans find themselves aboard a submarine of Captain Widdershins. The captain along with his daughter is manoeuvring the submarine in search of the elusive sugar bowl. The Baudelaires seem to be getting along fine until they reach the grotto where poisonous mushrooms grow and before long one of the siblings will be poisoned. To make matters worse their worst enemy will confront them yet again, intent on the Baudelaire fortune.

Forever in the middle of unfortunate events, there seems to be no respite for the three children. However, in the end the Baudelaires return to where it all started. So there does seem to be some good thing to look forward to. After so many books in the series, the story is getting slightly stale with not much happening except the continuous chasing and escaping.

But as a juvenile fiction series, I think it is pretty well done. Just two more books for me to read before the end.

how do you like this series? is it worth reading?

Smitha wrote: "how do you like this series? is it worth reading?"

Sanskriti wrote: "✔ The Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket ★★★ (10 Jan. 12) 352 Pages




In this 11th book of the series, the three Baudelaire orphans find t..."

I totally loved this series!! I wish I could meet Lemony Snicket..
@Col It'll be a great read for Gautham too for sure... my cousin is reading it too (he is the same age as Gautham)...

@Sanskriti After reading your review..I can already predict your review about the last book...good luck with the remaining series... :-)

Smitha wrote: "how do you like this series? is it worth reading?"

I'd definitely recommend it to kids or young adults. Not sure how much would an adult enjoy it. I'm quite fond of the satire and dark humor that Lemony Snicket has employed throughout the series so I find the books quite entertaining.

thanks, Meenakshi.

✔ Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs ★★★ (14 Jan. 12) 352 Pages





An abandoned orphanage and photographs for illustrations are what make this book. Jacob’s grandfather’s final words when he’s dying leaves Jacob with nightmares for days. In an attempt to dig deeper into his grandfather’s past, Jacob travels to a mysterious island where a derelict house holds the secrets to who his grandfather really was. As Jacob discovers more about his grandfather and the inhabitants of that orphanage, he realises that the kids were peculiar, some in disturbing ways. And when Jacob finally meets Miss Peregrine, the woman who runs the orphanage Jacob discovers something even more peculiar about their world and how it works.

The book started out so great and promising that I was extremely disappointed at the point when Jacob meets Miss Peregrine. After that the story held little interest for me. While at the start the photographs accompanying the story were almost enough to give the book a quality of horror, after a point the photos just felt forced. I didn’t care much about the characters. The whole deal with the World War II setting seemed out of order. Just because something is amiss, peculiar or out of the ordinary, doesn’t necessarily mean it has to stem out of WWII. There are so many worse horrors of the time and so many better books I’ve read that this book could just as easily have been set at any other point of time. I know it’s fantasy and all but I still didn’t find the connection appealing.

I didn’t care to stick around long enough to see how the story turned out. I should have rated the book lower, considering I didn’t get to the end but the start was good and I give the book credit for that.

✔ Life of Pi by Yann Martel ★★★★ (29 Jan. 12) 356 Pages




Life of Pi is a unique story about a shipwreck that finds Pi, a young boy, shipwrecked in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. What makes this story different from others is that Pi isn’t alone on the lifeboat. He has Richard Parker for company, who by the way, is a 450-pound Bengal tiger.

As he struggles to survive, Pi must face the horrors of the open sea, feed himself the creatures of the deep but mostly he must survive with the tiger as his companion and establish himself as the alpha male.

To be stranded and how! I found this story quite exciting. The book had my attention right from the beginning with the all the details about zoo keeping and how different it is for the creature in the cages compared to their wild relatives. When Pi gets stranded in the middle of the ocean, I let myself believe that there is no way this book could have a happy ending... after all it was a tiger and not a dog, that the protagonist was stuck with. Nevertheless, the ordeal, described as it was, lasting for 7 months was wonderful. In the end, I was disheartened the way Richard Parker and Pi’s bond severs. Of course not until the very end does the entire story piece itself together.

The book had some flaws to it that bring about a slight disappointment. Too many words written on how a kid wants to practise three religions. It may not have been intended that way, but to me it was outright satire.

Definitely worth giving a shot.

✔ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling ★★★★★ (05 Feb. 12) 341 Pages





Harry Potter’s second year at Hogwarts has already started with mysterious happenings. A house-elf’s actions get Harry a warning from the Ministry, the barrier at King Cross Station does not let him get through to platform four and three-quarters and a grand entry at Hogwarts in a flying car almost earns him and Ron an expulsion from school.

As the school year progresses, a threat comes forth... a legendary Chamber of Secrets hidden in Hogwarts has been opened and an unknown monster is out seeking muggle-born students. Before long students are getting petrified, and Harry is suspected of being behind the attacks. Unless Harry can find out the perpetrator soon, Hogwarts stands at the risk of being shut down forever.

Master storyteller Rowling has written a good book. She develops her characters a little more in this instalment, the adventure is exciting and the magical world of Harry is still magical.

Great series for children and young-adults alike, even adults might have a good time reading them.

✔ Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins ★★★★ (08 Feb. 12) 391 Pages





***SPOILER ALERT ***

The 74th Hunger Games have ended and Katniss and Peeta have emerged as victors. As the two of them begin to settle back in their homes at District 12 into a life of normalcy, things begin to get ugly in other districts. Riots break out and people begin to question the authority of the Capital. Inadvertently, Katniss is the initiator and her mockingjay pin has become the symbol of the rebels.

President Snow attempts to thwart the rebellions by threatening Katniss, but she has plans of her own. As the 75th Games dawn nearer, there are many more surprises that Katniss has to deal with and none of them are pleasant. In fact, they all mark her doom.


For the first half of the book I expected it to turn out to be one of those stories where after all the adventure and drama of the first instalment, the plot boils down to a teen girl being confused about her feelings for two teen boys. But I'm glad I stuck with the book, because once the 75th Hunger Games begin, the action and suspense becomes intense. After that I had to keep reading until the wee hours of morning, for I just couldn't stop myself from knowing the end.

Suzanne Collins has done some wonderful work in this book. If there is any list of recommended YA books out there, this trilogy should definitely feature in it.

✔ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling ★★★★★ (12 Feb. 12) 435 Pages





Harry's third year at Hogwarts is much more sinister than his first two. A dangerous convict is on the loose and Harry is his intended victim. What Harry finds out about this man will only make want to seek revenge, which is why everyone, from the Hogwart's teachers to the Minister of Magic himself are keeping a close eye on Harry.
As the year progresses Harry will find out truths about his own past and his father. Before the end, the prisoner of Azkaban would have come face to face with Harry, seeking his final revenge.

As always, brilliant writing, great story and my all-time favorite series.

I am at the end of Chamber of secrets. Love the series.

✔ The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery ★★★★ (18 Feb. 12) 359 Pages



Renee may be the concierge of a grand Parisian apartment building, housing some of the very wealthy and high profile citizens of the day, but she is no ordinary concierge. For years, she has masqueraded around as an uncultivated, poor, unsophisticated person, much in keeping with the opinion of the wealthy. But she is really well read, fond of art and movies alike.
In the same building lives Paloma, a 12 year-old, who is much more intelligent for her years. She observes her parents and sister, day in and day out, with their futile talks and useless existence, and she is overwhelmed by the farce that life really is. So she decides to end her life on her thirteenth birthday.
A sudden death of one the apartment’s occupants is going to introduce Renee and Paloma to a new neighbour, and it is this character that will change their lives in an unexpected way.

I haven’t read many French books so I may not have much to compare this one with, but I enjoyed every page of it. There is humour, wit, philosophy, depth and truth in Barbery’s prose. Her characters are all spectacular. Renee who is just the opposite of your everyday heroine, in physical appearance, being 54 years, a widow and ugly (in her own words), she is one of the most beautiful characters I’ve met in a while.



Some of my favourite lines from the book:

“Apparently, now and again adults take the time to sit down and contemplate what a disaster life is. They complain without understanding and, like flies constantly banging against the same old window pane, they buzz around, suffer, waste away, get depressed then wonder how they got caught up in this spiral that is taking them where they don’t want to go.”

“To beauty all is forgiven, even vulgarity. Intelligence no longer seems an adequate compensation for things – some sort of balancing of the scales offered by nature to those less favored among her children – no, it is a superfluous plaything that exists only to enhance the value of the jewel. As for ugliness, it is guilty from the start…”


“Life
Everyone’s
Military service”

“We live each day as if it were merely a rehearsal for the next”

✔ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling ★★★★★ + ♥ (3 Mar. 12) 734 Pages




Harry’s fourth year at Hogwart’s is the most exciting time for him thus far. The Triwizard Tournament is being hosted at Hogwarts where champions from three different schools come together to compete in dangerous tasks. The Goblet of Fire is a magical object that names these champions, but unknown to all, it will reveal a fourth champion who is both underage and unprepared for such an event... Harry. Torn between a desire to become the Triwizard champion himself and to find out who put his name in the Goblet, Harry will find his year filled with excitement and tension alike.

My favourite book of the series, especially since it introduces other magical schools into the series. The adventure and action is at an all-time best and many secrets are revealed that will eventually tie up in the 6th and 7th books in the series.

✔ The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy★★★ (7 Mar. 12) 416 Pages




Margaret Leroy’s novel is set in the backdrop of the Occupation of Guernsey during the 1940s. A mother with two young girls and an old mother-in-law, Vivienne is fearful for the safety of her family and the uncertainty that shadows the future. Her husband is away fighting the way with the army and she is left behind trying hard to make ends meet. Things change for her once the Germans arrive on the island. She falls for one of the German officers and soon they have a relationship blossoming that Vivienne keeps secret from everyone including her daughter. As the war advances Vivienne begins to face the horrors of it and before long she will have to take risks and harbour secrets that could endanger her young children.

This is a fast-paced read. It tended to be dreamy at times, and I seemed to like some of it but soon the story became too “easy”. Vivienne came across as very gullible; her daughter Blanche was much stronger in character. The book started out with the promise of romance, secret and forbidden but somewhere down the line the book lost focus. It shifted to the horrors of worker’s camps and that’s when the story seemed to get disillusioned.
Despite its lack of focus, I liked the development of the relationship between the mother-daughter duo, Millie and Vivienne. For me that was one the better parts of the book.

Soldier's wife is in my to-read list.

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin ★★★★★ + ♥ 13-Mar-12





Victims of treachery, both King Robert and Lord Eddard are dead. The kingdom stands divided and there is chaos all around. Six factions will claim their right to the throne and through deceit and war, they will seek to upend the kingdom. Brothers become sworn enemies, while young boys lead armies to victory. No one is really a friend and all families stand divided.

Much like the LOTR and WOT, this series requires some serious commitment on the part of the reader. You need to have ample time on your hands to sit through a book and you should be willing to remember the very many characters and the complex web of plots they are connected by. I absolutely loved this second book of the series. The story doesn’t get stale at any point. Every chapter brings with it a new twist and I was immersed in it deeply. Tyrion Lannister, the half-of-a-man is my favourite character. I couldn’t wait to read his parts to find out what new plans he had hatched.

Looking forward to the next book.

Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
★★★★★ + ♥ 18-Mar-12




Set in the last days of Imperial glory, in the Forbidden City of China, this is the story of Tzu Hsi, also known as Orchid. Orchid is one of the three thousand concubines of the Emperor. In her seventeenth year, she steps into the forbidden city and all the glory and richness of the Imperial life are hers. But her life is far from wonderful. She is disliked by the Grand Empress and she must vie for attention of the Emperor, so that he can give her a son.
Sometimes at odds, sometimes partnering her, Nuharoo, the first wife of the Emperor, will become one of Orchid’s close aides. Over the years, Orchid will have to struggle to help her husband form strategies to fight the colonial powers, she will fight for the right of her son’s ascension to the throne and most of all, for her own survival. People will plot her downfall but each time Orchid will persevere and survive.

Anchee Min has an interesting way of writing prose. Her manner is vividly descriptive and I often found myself in the Forbidden City. I don’t know much about the history of this time but I think Min has done a fair job in depicting the reality. There are parts in the book that I thought were a tad bit graphic but they may have been necessary in the context of the plot.
Overall, a wonderful book. If you’re a fan of Historical Fiction, then you can’t go wrong with Anchee Min.

Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji
★★★★★ + ♥ 27-Mar-12



In a neighbourhood in Tehran, blossoms a friendship between two young boys, Pasha and Ahmed. They while away their time on the rooftops, often discussing the affairs of the neighbourhood, often staring at the starlight skies and dreaming of their future. As 17 year-olds everywhere, both boys fall in love, but Pasha’s love is forbidden and he struggles all the time, swinging between desire and guilt.
It’s the Iran of 1970s during the Shah’s rule, and the bliss of the boys’ neighbourhood is shattered by the SAVAK, the Shah’s secret police. The brutality at the hands of the SAVAK will change everyone’s lives.
But friendship and love form powerful relationships and despite the violent series of events that strike their lives, Pasha and Ahmed resume their living. It will be Pasha’s love for Zari that will help them through a difficult time. Zari will commit an act of defiance and that is what will devastate Pasha and shatter his soul.

This book has a universal appeal to it. Of lives led by people everywhere, of teenage boys being, well... teenage boys. Of rebellious acts taking place in the midst of unhappy and revolutionary youngsters. Of terrible consequences to be suffered by those left behind.
Rooftops of Tehran may be tagged many things, but at the heart of it is a beautiful romance It isn’t your typical what-have-you-sweaty-steamy-kind, it’s more subtle, forbidden, yearning, unfulfilled love. Maybe that’s what makes it all the more powerful.
I’d recommend this to anyone who has liked The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns. Let me warn you of a couple of things though: if you expect some spectacular drum-roll-like finale, it won’t come. The book isn’t exactly a wide-open-window into the Iranian culture. It is a coming-of-age book, of powerful emotions, one of the rare reads that read like a movie. Read it for the characters if nothing else.
I’ve loved this book so much, and yet it feels like no matter how I say it, I can’t write a good enough review for it. This one is going down as one of my all-time bests.

The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett

★★★★★ + ♥ 31-Mar-12



A disastrous collision is approaching as the Great A’Tuin, the turtle that supports the elephants that support the Discworld, is moving towards a red star. Only one person can save the world, but that person is an inept wizard, Rincewind, accompanied by a tourist who never seems to fear anything, just fascinated, and his travelling trunk...literally travelling... on hundreds of tiny legs. Rincewind has one Great Spell lodged in the back of his mind which may be the thing that could help the world. The only trouble is Rincewind was last seen falling off the edge of the world.

Hilarious, witty, creative... Pratchett is a quality writer. It takes less than two pages to get the reader laughing. To have a joke inserted every alternate line is quite a task. But Pratchett delivers well. I’m glad there are many more books in the Discworld series for me to read. I know I’m going to enjoy each one of them

Empress Orchid and Rooftops of Tehran are in my to read list. thanks for the review

Smitha wrote: "Empress Orchid and Rooftops of Tehran are in my to read list. thanks for the review"

hope you enjoy them both!