New Year's Eve

If you're anything like me you think it is possible to complete all your resolutions for the year in one day.

It's 31st December 2016 today and instead of plans for the new year tomorrow, all I really wish to do is get a hold of all the goals and aspirations for this year. It's not that I didn't complete any of them (I didn't).

However, my consolation lies in the fact that I made many impromptu goals and achieved them, too. Like learning to swim (finally) or developing a website (hurray for me!). I did squeeze in a month of aerobics, too. 

Moreover, I have blogged more often than before. I also reviewed almost all the books I read this year. I got a book signed by one of my favourite authors. I'm happier in my relationships.

Phew! There are going to be no resolutions for 2017. I am on  3-6 months Dreamline now. Shorter durations tend to actually get things done.
I am going to go cycling now (cycle every day: ✓ :).

Review: All the Light We Cannot See

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Books are love.

One among the many reasons why books are better than Kindle is that you can get your paperback/hardcover signed.

Oh did I mention I got Lord Jeffery Archer's signature on the latest Clifton chronicles? *Ecstatic*

Review: This Was a Man

This Was a Man by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Couldn't have asked for a better ending to this fantastic series. I loved Harry Clifton almost as much as the other Harry :)



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Review: Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A wonderful book on how we ridicule people that look for perfection and how we later make them god, how in our laziness we turn to rituals instead of the hard work required for anything. I already believed in this but seeing it in a book is an amazing feeling. Lifts off the loneliness one feels in entertaining such ideas.

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Review: The 4-Hour Workweek

The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Needed it. Liked it in bits and parts.
Gained some ideas. Some just didn't fit my personality.
Worth a read anyway.

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Review: The Color Purple

The Color Purple by Alice Walker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's beautiful and tragic. The happy ending seems to have been written in order to save the reader from the plight of being born a human. It just hints at the cruelty of men, but that's enough to get you thinking from what we are descended and what we are becoming.
However, it comes as no surprise that the book was banned.
The thought of a loving God, women, colored people, ideas, it has everything that any lowlife would want to erase from the face of the earth.

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Review: Let The Game Begin

Let The Game Begin by Sandeep Sharma
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I thank the author for the book recommendation.

The story is fun, but (and there's a huge but) for the following reasons, I wouldn't recommend it.

"Let the game begin" needs to be proofread. I was disappointed by the misuse of the language and the freedom taken with grammar. I ended up proofreading the preface and gave up because that meant I would never finish the book. The grammar Nazi in me cringed at every mistake; there were 10-15 in every page (that's a lot of cringing, by the way, considering there 165 pages).

The story has the potential of being a fast paced thriller. I don't mind fictional elements in any story and hence I found it quite enjoyable (minus the cringing). Although I did find some of it unnecessarily complex and just too much to handle. The title is justified in the beginning of the story, but it gets lost somewhere in the middle. I did like the parts about chess.

I was under the impression that the book probably didn't have an editor, as there are so many blunders, but there's a cute little note from her in the end. I would suggest getting the book proofread at least once before the next edition since I believe the story does have potential.

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Keeping up with the goals.

This post is solely for the purpose of ticking off my goal of blogging every week. I think I am going to rant about all things going downhill, or so they seem right now.
I have been kicked out of my flat; my landlord is selling due to some emergency ( although I have reasons to believe he had plans to sell when we moved in 3 months ago). Instead of compensating us, he has the audacity to charge us for cleaning, 5000 bucks! C'mon! We just moved in; the flat is spick and span.
One of our flatmates left and a new girl was going to come; however, she cancelled on hearing about landlords "emergency". We have had to bear extra expenses.
He didn't help at all in finding a flat in the same society.

Enough about being homeless.

I am reading a new book( more about it in the review) where the author has taught how to calculate Target Monthly Income. I am 10k short.
Need to find a way to get that 10k.

Review: Mightier Than the Sword

Mightier Than the Sword by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Cometh the Hour

Cometh the Hour by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have grown to like the characters. They walk into my thoughts when I am not reading. The tone is set for the last book, the story almost concluded in this one. I wonder what Jeffery Archer has up his sleeve for 'This was a man'
The next book cannot come sooner!


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Review: Be Careful What You Wish For

Be Careful What You Wish For by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Bangalore Traffic and Books

The best part about getting up in the morning and getting ready for office has to be the time I spend in selecting the book to read on the way. Thanks to the traffic, I get one whole hour of undisturbed reading.
Sometimes, I even choose the bookmark to go with the book, my little vanity.
Today I read Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach; what an amazing book!

Review: Best Kept Secret

Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow!
This one has ended at a cliffhanger where I have no idea who died. I am going to get hold of the next book and the review will be visited at a later date.

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Review: The Sins of the Father

The Sins of the Father by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The series just keeps getting better.
The character development is marvellous. I am binge reading these books, which makes them a lot more fun.

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Review: Only Time Will Tell

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jeffery Archer has a very unassuming way to tell his stories. I love all his other novels and loved this one, too.
This book is a page turner; if not for reality(food, work) seeping into our lives, I would have enjoyed finishing it in one sitting.

Looking forward to the series!

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Review: Atlas Shrugged

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Must read!
It is beyond amazing.
Whether you believe in Ayn Rand's view or not, the book is still very enjoyable.


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Review: Heaven

Heaven by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: Hell

Hell by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Terrifying.
Read it a long time ago, I remember it being the most terrifying book I had ever read.
Gave me nightmares.
However, it is worth all that. A chilling account of prison and prison inmates, their past and how it shaped their present.

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Review: Neverwhere

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A book where the protagonist gets to escape reality is my favourite kind of book.

I like Neil Gaiman.
I'm partial to his writing.
I liked the book and I'll give it a 5 because Neil Gaiman!
If it was written by anyone else (well it wouldn't be so good, still) I'd give it a 4.



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Review: A Little Life

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Beautifully written, expertly masked and leaves the reader highly satisfied and frustated at the same time. I had the urge to throw this book away a couple of times. Although that, too, I guess is the quality of a well written book.
I'd recommend it if you're up for some *heavy reading.



*sexual abuse, violence, and the likes.

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Review: Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh what can I say that has not already been said. This book feels great. It is funny, for real.
And boy! It makes you think. Loved every single chapter, page, word of it. Still basking in it's warmth.

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Review: The Color of Magic

The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Did I enjoy it? Yes
Am I looking forward to the next 39 books? Hell yeah!



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Review: Wonder

Wonder by R.J. Palacio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind. "

This is a children's book and that's one part of what makes 'wonder' so wonderful.
I was given 'wonder' on my birthday and instantly judged it by it's cover as I hadn't met it before. However, I gave it a try and boy! Am I glad!
It reminds you of 'the diary of a whimpy kid' at times but what's absolutely amazing is that it shows all sides of the story. The pages turn themselves. I especially liked the new content 'Julian's chapter'.

I'd recommend this book to everyone.

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Review: Em and the Big Hoom

Em and the Big Hoom by Jerry Pinto
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's a wonderful book. I would recommend it to everyone.

The four days that I read the book, I could connect to the characters and feel their joys and sorrows and everything in between. It stays with you even when you're not reading.

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Review: The Night Circus

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It feels like a dream. A beautiful dream that promises to turn into a nightmare but for a change of perspective. Maybe it was the time when I read this book having just said goodbye to a dear friend, the time when everything feels unreal, when you believe in miracles, when you wish for a little magic,and you know everything will somehow be fine.

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Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Spoiler free section.
Things to keep in mind:
1. This is not completely, solely written by J. K. Rowling.
2. It's a play.
3. There have been way too many Fan fictions, headcannons, ships, and what not. It is near impossible to not second guess the plot.

I did not have these things in mind when I read it and I enjoyed it just barely. Still a page turner and quite enjoyable, a tad too instructive.


Spoiler alert!!

Spoilers ahead. You have been warned. Do not curse me.


Finding Nemo. They made a live action play out of finding nemo!
And I loved finding nemo but the cursed child just barely scrapes the father-son relations.
It's gets a little pathetic trying to play with our nostalgia, bringing in all our favourite characters, and trying to explain actions people took years ago.
The alternate universes were interesting, but Hermione, a.k.a, the Minister of Magic, should know better than hiding time turners in books with ridiculously easy riddles. Our Hermione was more sensible and smart. Sequels are just meant to crush your faith in your favourite characters (as with Go set a watchman, although that is a pretty nice read).

Oh and Voldemort had a daughter! That's so not him! C'mon! And that too no hocus-pocus involved. That was just so disappointing!
Worse part is probably that the book is so tiny. You're left unsatisfied and pinning for more.

Would I still look forward to new material? Hell yeah!

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