- ADULT, ARCS, BOOK REVIEWS, CHICK-LIT, CONTEMPORARY, FANTASY, FICTION, LITERARY FICTION, MAGICAL REALISM, NETGALLEY, SCIENCE FICTION, WOMEN'S FICTION
SPACE HOPPER / FAYE , FARAWAY BY HELEN FISHER | BOOK REVIEW
Space Hopper by Helen Fisher is her debut book and let me just say, she knocked it out of the park with this one. I love when books can make us think, feel, and at the same get invested in the character's life, so much so that we are cheering them on from the sidelines. This book is no different in that regard. A wonderful and emotional read that will grip you from the very first line and will not leave you adrift. If you love stories of time travel and magical realism, this one is for you. The story is about Faye a 36-year-old woman who has been living…
- ADULT, ARCS, BOOK REVIEWS, CULTURAL, EAST AFRICAN, FICTION, HISTORICAL FICTION, LITERARY FICTION, NETGALLEY, REALISTIC FICTION
WE ARE ALL BIRDS OF UGANDA BY HAFSA ZAYYAN | BOOK REVIEW
We Are All Birds Of Uganda by Hafsa Zayyan is an emotionally resonant story of two different men and how their lives intersect in unexpected ways, changing lives forever. We follow Hasan during 1960's Uganda through his love letters that are to his wife. Hasan talks about his experiences living in Uganda as a successful businessman in Kampala. As a son of Indian immigrants, he talks about the Asian community, their lives, the new anti-immigrant sentiment on the rise, and the growing racial division that endangers their livelihood. In the present day, we follow Sameer, a highly successful lawyer in London. Despite his success, he feels burned out and not…
- ADULT, ARCS, BOOK REVIEWS, CONTEMPORARY, CULTURAL, FICTION, HISTORICAL FICTION, LITERARY FICTION, NETGALLEY, SPECULATIVE FICTION, WOMEN'S FICTION
FRAGILE MONSTERS BY CATHERINE MENON | BOOK REVIEW
Fragile Monsters from Catherine Menon is a family saga spanning from the 1920s to the present, with rural Malaysia serving as a backdrop to the mysteries and secrets that are unraveled. We get the story from two perspectives, one from Durga, a maths Professor at Kuala Lumpur University, and one from Mary, Durga's fierce and sharp-tongued grandmother. Durga is visiting her grandmother and wants nothing more than to spend the days peacefully and leave the house that's filled with painful memories. Her plans go awry when during Diwali celebrations, Mary is met with a firecracker burn incident. This leads to Durga spending more time with her grandmother and the two…
15 FAVORITE HISTORICAL FICTION OF 2020
2020 was a good year for me when it comes to reading. I read so many books and had a great time finding new historical books that were amazing and captivating. I want to share them with you guys. Some of these got into my top 5 and some of these are older releases and others are new books released in 2020. This is going to be a long post and I want you guys to be prepared for it. Get ready to dive into it. Let's get into the list of my favorite historical fiction I read this year, shall we?
THE BLIND LIGHT BY STUART EVERS | BOOK REVIEW
The Blind Light by Stuart Evers is a historical/literary fiction that tells us the story of Drum, Gwen, and their family. We go from 50s to the present following our characters through life-changing events that shape their lives. The story revolves mainly around Drum and Gwen and their kids Nathan and Anneka. Their story is intertwined with Carter, Drum's friend from the service. The book is about their lives, how global events, atomic attacks, family, and relationships bring people together and how they break them apart. Carter and Drum meet during his time at the National Service as they prepare for the aftermath of the Atomic Strike. The two become…
MY TOP 5 BOOKS OF 2020
Here are my top 5 books from the year 2020. I am so happy to share them with you. Each of these holds a special place in my heart and have gotten promoted to my all time favorites as well. I found myself struggling to choose one book, and so I decided to pick 5 that will be forever etched in my heart and mind. Addie and Shams has left a big hole in my heart and I don't know if anything can fill it... ???
- ADULT, ARCS, BOOK REVIEWS, CULTURAL, FICTION, HISTORICAL FICTION, LITERARY FICTION, NETGALLEY, Scotland
SHUGGIE BAIN BY DOUGLAS STUART | BOOK REVIEW
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stewart is the winner of the 2020 Booker Prize. To know that this book was rejected 32 times before it got published is baffling to me. Reading that was such a shock and the irony of it is just great. The book is a winner for the Booker Prize, and it's almost like the universe telling the publishers where to take their rejections. I haven't read the other books on the list, and I do have to say after reading this book, I am not surprised that this book got the recognition it did. Every time I see a book that is a popular book, on…
BOOK REVIEW : THE APPARITION PHASE BY WILL MACLEAN
The Apparition Phase by Will Maclean is gothic horror fiction. I am not a big fan of horror in general because I am a wimp when it comes to the genre. But for some reason, I wanted to read this one when I saw it on NetGalley. It had similar themes to Girls Of Brackenhill and Home Before Dark. The secluded gothic-looking mansion in the countryside, surrounded by forest, ghosts, and supernatural events...Ring any bells?? So it is safe to say I was intrigued. It was spooky and dark!! The story setting and the writing was very atmospheric and eery. The gothic vibe was ever-present throughout the book. The dark…
BOOK REVIEW : THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE BY VE SCHWAB
The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue is my 6th book from VE Schwab, who is one of my favorite authors. I have been eyeing this book for so long, seeing the beautiful pics on Instagram and just hoping I could get my hands on this beauty. When I saw the title on Netgalley, I never thought I would be able to read it, but just for fun, I requested it. I was squealing when I saw the email saying - my request was accepted. That made my day!! Seriously!! Receiving an ARC for my favorite author made my day!! Man!! I did not see it coming, and I am forever…
OCTOBER WRAP-UP
October started out being quite hectic with our recent move into a new apartment and getting everything settled. Hence, I wasn't sure if I would be able to read the books I had planned for this month. But thankfully, I have managed to read them on time and also put a significant dent in my ever-overflowing Netgalley ARC shelf!! So this month started with a not so great book, and I was worried if my other selections will not be up to my expectations. I am happy to say that most of them lived up to my expectations, and I was able to have a fun time this month. I…
