Write-ups and book reads of our members in December, 2023
📚✨ HydRAW’s literary odyssey in December was nothing short of a captivating voyage through diverse genres and thought-provoking narratives. Arun Kumar led the way with a mix of enchanting tales in Out In The Moonlight by Perumal Murugan and the whimsical Gajapati Kulapati Gurrburrroom! by Ashok Rajagopalan. Fizza Younis unfolded realms of fantasy with Iron Flame (The Empyrean #2) by Rebecca Yarros and the mesmerizing The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Manohar Grandhi delved into personal development, exploring titles like No More Mr Nice Guy by Dr. Robert Grover and the transformative Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins. The thought-provoking selection continued with Dhruva Nalla’s choice, Life Is For Living by Shailesh Kumar and Gowher Bhat’s exploration of love and remembrance in books like Loving Livvy by Remi Carrington. Sachi Bhanap chose the timeless classic Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, while Vaishnavi M delved into matters of the heart with All The Love I Deserve by Preeti Shenoy. Usha Sreedharan and Mahboob Hussain rounded off the literary journey with thought-provoking reads, including Western Lane by Chetna Maroo and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. 🌟📖
- Out In The Moonlight by Perumal Murugan
- Gajapati Kulapati Gurrburrroom! by Ashok Rajagopalan
- Stand Back, I’m Reading! by Anil Basili
- Visit The Bhil Carnival by Subhash Amaliyar, Gita Wolf
- Three Little Monkeys And The Grand Hotel by Quentin Blake, Emma Chichester Clark
- I Hate My Curly Hair by Divya Anand
- Vamshavriksham by SL Byrappa
- Rain Must Fall by Nandita Basu
- When Daddy Was A Little Boy by Alexander Raskin
- Rendezvous With Life by Devika Das
- Warmth Of A Ballad by Sandeep Kulsh
- Okkokka Talaku Okkokka Vela by MR Dattatri
- We Wish You A Merry Christmas And Other Festive Poems by Chris Riddell (chosen, illustrated)
- Vibha Prabhatamulu by Volga (ed)
- The District Cup by Mallika Ravikumar
- Welcome To The Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum
- Starry Starry Night by Nandita Basu
- Aranyak: Of The Forest by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay
- Classic Christmas Stories: 14 Stories Selected by Ian Whybrow
- The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai
- Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
- Other Words For Home by Jasmine Warga
- No Ballet Shoes In Syria by Catherine Bruton
Vibha Prabhatamulu edited by Volga.
This is the edited volume of resistance literature in Telugu language with excerpts from 13th century to 21st century. Poetry and fiction.
Welcome To Hyunam-Dong Bookshop
This is a Korean language book translated into English. Deals with Indie bookstore of a woman who runs a bookshop. Her past and life after starting bookshop is the story.
- Iron Flame (The Empyrean #2) by Rebecca Yarros
- Witches Of Ajax by Jordan Elizabeth
- The Governess And The Duke by Lydia Drake
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
- 4:50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie
- Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
4:50 From Paddington
It’s been a while (by which I mean a couple of months) since I picked up one of Agatha Christie’s Whodunit mysteries, but this book has been on my TBR for some time. I’m glad that I finally found the time to read it. It’s just as good as her best works. I have always preferred Hercule Poirot to Miss Marple. And that won’t change, but I can appreciate the intricacies of a well-crafted murder mystery regardless of which character unravels it.
This classic murder mystery showcases Christie’s unparalleled talent for creating complex plots, suspenseful twists, and memorable characters. For me, the last part is why I love her work over modern mystery writers. Christie has an uncanny ability to write characters, even minor ones, that will stay with you for a long time.
The story starts when Mrs. McGillicuddy witnesses a murder in a passing train while traveling on a parallel track to Paddington Station. However, the authorities found no evidence of foul play and seemed eager to chalk it up to the fanciful imagination of an elderly woman. That’s when Miss Marple enters the story, as she is called upon to find the truth behind Mrs. McGillicuddy’s claims. The plot is meticulously constructed, and the layers of deception and misdirection are masterfully intertwined. Christie seamlessly introduces a diverse cast of characters, each with their motives and secrets, adding complexity to the mystery.
The story is well-paced, with suspense steadily building. The setting, including the train and the English countryside, adding an atmospheric touch that enhances the overall reading experience, making it an engaging and enjoyable read for both seasoned mystery enthusiasts and newcomers to the genre.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable classic mystery with a clever plot, well-drawn characters, and the ever-ingenious Miss Marple at the helm.
- No More Mr Nice Guy by Dr Robert Grover
- How To Train Your Mind by Chris Bailey
- Can’t Hurt Me David Goggins
- Real Magic by Wayne Dyer
- Meditations For Breaking The Habit Of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza
- Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
No More Mr Nice Guy
This is a book on men who are struggling with the problem of being nice. Nice guys are manipulative and keep secrets to wear the mask of being nice. Boys until the age of 10 have very few male teachers. With nuclear families and industrialization, the Father, the central figure who is supposed to be a role model, is missing. Men who were brought up by their mother have a wrong view of being a man. The reason why man strives for a partner like their mother is because of this phenomenon. Men sub consciously treat the partner the same way they treat their mother. This creates problems and the author talks of how hanging with men support groups get the right company. The book has exercises to break free from the Nice Guy syndrome. It is a unique book written for men’s struggles; I have never read any books in this genre.
- Life Is For Living by Shailesh Kumar
The book, inspired by the author’s own life, is a character driven story about Shiva, from his childhood till the time he attempts the IIT exam. Shiva’s character reminds us of an underdog, a person who isn’t expected to achieve more but with his sheer determination and focus achieves enormous success. This character is bound to connect with youngsters and they will be able to associate themselves with Shiva. In addition to that, the characterisation of the father and the older brother was very good. However, there are a few grammatical mistakes and typos in the book.
- Loving Livvy by Remi Carrington
- Remembering The Cowboy by Mandi Blake
- Falling For Zeke by Sara Blackard
Sachi Bhanap
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- Recitatif by Toni Morrison
- All The Love I Deserve by Preeti Shenoy
- Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
This novella was short listed for Booker 2023. Chetna Maroo has kept the writing language very simple and quite focused on the content. Eleven year old Gopi’s association with the squash game has her enrolled for strict training regimen by her father after the death of her mother and later departure to uncle’s home. The squash game becomes her life and off the court there is the innocent child’ s love for her sisters and friends at Western Lane court.
- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
- At The Existentialist Cafe by Sarah Bakewell
- The Grand Delusion by Steve Hagen
