“Sometimes you need the money more than you need to live with yourself.”― Grady Hendrix Why I’m Reading this Book? This book is the Goodreads Choice Awards winner in Horror category. Other award winning book I read was beautiful-world-where-are-you and it was a total bust. But I still naively believe that there must be something in these books… Continue reading The Final Girl Support Group
Beautiful World, Where Are You
““That's the thing about work, if it was any good you'd do it for free.””― Sally Rooney Why I’m Reading this Book? This book is the Goodreads Choice Awards winner in Fiction category. Last year Midnight library was the winner and I liked it, so I thought to end the year with an award winning book.… Continue reading Beautiful World, Where Are You
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
“All endings are also beginnings. We just don't know it at the time.”― Mitch Albom Why I’m Reading this Book? This is another book from the list I’m following, https://www.listchallenges.com/bbcs-top-100-books-you-need-to-read-before-you-die . It did seem interesting as it’s talking about life after death, also it was a small book, so I started... Synopsis Story of Eddie, who is maintenance… Continue reading The Five People You Meet in Heaven
The Arrival
― Shaun Tan Why I’m Reading this Book? I’m reading this book as part of my Omaha public library challenge for 2021 under the ‘about Refugees or the Immigrant Experience’ category. Synopsis This book is without words. An immigrant story is told in pictures. But story is so poignant that words really don’t feel necessary. My Review…… Continue reading The Arrival
West with Giraffes
“Life is life no matter who or what is living it, boy—a thing to respect,” he said. “You don’t get that, then you’re just a waste of skin."”― Lynda Rutledge Why I’m Reading this Book? If you follow my blog, you must have got by now that I read a lot of books recommended by my… Continue reading West with Giraffes
The Nickel Boys
“because for him to do nothing was to undermine his own dignity.” ― Colson Whitehead Why I’m Reading this Book? I’m reading this book as part of my Omaha public library challenge for 2021 under the ‘Award Winning book’ category. Also, my brother Piyush Sharma has read it and recommended it as a very good book, so there… Continue reading The Nickel Boys
Neuromancer
“The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.”― William Gibson Why I’m Reading this Book? This book was in the surprise bundle I received from my library. Based on my reading activities, this book was recommended to me. It is a small book, but I'm not that much into… Continue reading Neuromancer
The Birds: and Other Stories
“I saw myself, for the first time, as a very worthless, very trivial human being, traveling here and there about the world to no purpose, doing unnecessary business with other human beings as worthless as myself, and to no other end but that we should be fed and clothed and housed in adequate comfort until… Continue reading The Birds: and Other Stories
12 years a slave
“Life is dear to every living thing; the worm that crawls upon the ground will struggle for it.”― Solomon Northup Why I’m Reading this Book? This book popped up in some book club reading challenge for a month. I forgot which one, but I got the book from the library and after 1 month of delaying… Continue reading 12 years a slave
The Ardent Swarm
“Once again, man, in search of land, gave the plague to his fellow man in the folds of his offerings.”― Yamen Manai Why I’m Reading this Book? This book was recommended by my brother Piyush Sharma and our tastes usually match, and it was a small book, so I decided to give it a chance. Synopsis… Continue reading The Ardent Swarm
The Beauty in Breaking
“thank you to the ground that relentlessly rises up to meet us as long as we’re willing to take the next step.”― Michele Harper Why I’m Reading this Book? This year I’m following most notable books list from New York times (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/books/notable-books.html), because sometimes I get bored reading classics all the time and need to know… Continue reading The Beauty in Breaking
A town like Alice
“It’s no good going on living in the ashes of a dead happiness.”― Nevil Shute Why I’m Reading this Book? This is next book from the list I'm chasing, https://www.listchallenges.com/bbcs-top-100-books-you-need-to-read-before-you-die . I grabbed it on Kindle as it's a classic and off I go... Synopsis Novel follows the interesting life journey of Jean Paget from World… Continue reading A town like Alice
American Dirt
“She sticks her hand through the fence and wiggles her fingers on the other side. Her finger are in el norte. She spits through the fence. Only to leave a piece of herself there on American dirt.”― Jeanine Cummins Why I’m Reading this Book? I wasn’t aware of this book until it was recommended to me… Continue reading American Dirt
All my friends are dead. (Series)
“I’ve 3,284 friends...I’ve just never met any of them face to face.”― Avery Monsen and Jory John Why I’m Reading this Book? These books are from second category (Illustration) in the Omaha public library challenge for 2021. Name of these books were very fascinating considering these are children’s books. And that’s what made the choice for… Continue reading All my friends are dead. (Series)
Dune
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will… Continue reading Dune
The Midnight Library
“The only way to learn is to live”― Matt Haig Why I’m Reading this Book? This book is Goodreads choice award winner in Fiction section for 2020. This year I've set the goal of reading all these choice award winner. This is my second book from the list. Synopsis Nora Seed is a depressed person. All… Continue reading The Midnight Library
I am Legend
“Full circle. A new terror born in death, a new superstition entering the unassailable fortress of forever. I am legend.”― Richard Matheson Why I’m Reading this Book? I'm a fan of Stephen King. So one day I was browsing who is the favorite writer of Mr King and in one article I came across the name… Continue reading I am Legend
The Guest List
“In my experience, those who have the greatest respect for the rules also take the most enjoyment in breaking them.”― Lucy Foley Why I’m Reading this Book? I first came to know about this book when it was announced as a Goodreads choice award winner in Mystery and Thriller section for 2020. Then I signed up… Continue reading The Guest List
The Wasp Factory
“The madder people. A lot of them seem to be leaders of countries or religions or armies. The real loonies.” ― Iain Banks Why I’m Reading this Book? This was one of the books from the list ’99 books that were too disturbing to finish”. Some very good books (Mostly from Stephen King) were in that list… Continue reading The Wasp Factory
Pygmalion
German and Spanish are accessible to foreigners: English is not accessible even to Englishmen.― George Bernard Shaw Why I’m Reading this Book? Pygmalion is a very known play written by George Bernard Shaw. As usual with a play, it's small and since it has been adapted in musical and movies, it's no doubt a good one.… Continue reading Pygmalion
The Short Fiction of Nella Larsen
She has spoiled his life; first by living and then by dying.Nella Larsen Why I’m Reading this Book? I’ve read Passing and Quicksand first and found them amazing. So, I have to read other works by Nella Larsen. It’s amazing that she has such a short collection of published work, but each of her stories… Continue reading The Short Fiction of Nella Larsen
Quicksand
“These people yapped loudly of race, of race consciousness, of race pride, and yet suppressed its most delightful manifestations, love of color, joy of rhythmic motion, naive, spontaneous laughter. Harmony, radiance, and simplicity, all the essentials of spiritual beauty in the race they had marked for destructions.” Nella Larsen Why I’m Reading this Book? Quicksand is… Continue reading Quicksand
Bombay Stories
I've noticed that when sincere people laugh, they always cry.― Saadat Hasan Manto Why I’m Reading this Book? My brother Piyush has recommended me a movie 'Manto'. He had high praises for it, so I watched it. It was about troubled writer 'Saadat Hasan Manto' and his few selected stories. I was so impressed with his… Continue reading Bombay Stories
I, Claudius
“I am supposed to be an utter fool and the more I read the more of a fool they think me.”― Robert Graves Why I’m Reading this Book? I've had this book so long in my digital library that I forgot why did I get it in first place. But it must be from time, when… Continue reading I, Claudius
Perks of being a Wallflower
“He's a wallflower. You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.” ― Stephen Chbosky Why I’m Reading this Book? Came across this story through movie first. Didn’t find that exceptional, but in movie review, people were crazy about the book it was based on. I forgot all about it before I see the the… Continue reading Perks of being a Wallflower
The Martian Chronicles
“We earth men have a talent for ruining big, beautiful things.” ― Ray Bradbury Why I’m Reading this Book? I’m smitten by Ray Bradbury’s writing since ‘Fahrenheit 451’ . This book is also mentioned as one of his good books. So, time to read. Synopsis Book details the accounts of inhabiting Mars by Human over the period… Continue reading The Martian Chronicles
Candide
“Optimism," said Cacambo, "What is that?" "Alas!" replied Candide, "It is the obstinacy of maintaining that everything is best when it is worst.”― Voltaire, Candide Why I’m Reading this Book? This book need no introduction. It’s a classic. But since it was written in French, I was biding my time to come to it. Finally one day… Continue reading Candide
Night of the Rat
"There’s always something with everyone. There’s always something you have to accept, overlook, or dismiss. No one is the whole perfect package. No one comes without kinks." -- Tanya Thompson Why I’m Reading this Book? I’ve been referred to this book by my brother Piyush Sharma. He came across it as one of his reading… Continue reading Night of the Rat
Bunner Sisters
“...they who exchange their independence for the sweet name of Wife must be prepared to find all is not gold that glitters...” -- Edith Wharton Why I’m Reading this Book? This was the last story from the Edith Wharton’s collection I purchased online. I liked her in Ethan Frome and Summer, her stories touch a… Continue reading Bunner Sisters
A ‘Normal’ day in lockdown…
This quarantine period is pushing me to find myself in various mediums. I’m involved in reading, writing, sketching, painting and now I tried expressing myself in comic medium. What else is required for us to see through these sad times? Below is a page from my life these days. If it makes you smile, it… Continue reading A ‘Normal’ day in lockdown…
Heart of Darkness
“We live as we dream - alone. While the dream disappears, the life continues painfully.” ― Joseph Conrad Why I’m Reading this Book? I was looking for a good but small book and while browsing for something like that, I came across this book. It was in the list of books which are so small there is… Continue reading Heart of Darkness
The Monkey’s Paw and Other Tales
“To show that fate ruled people's lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. ” ― W. W. Jacobs Why I’m Reading this Book? I’ve had this book for a while in my digital library, but it was taking a long time to come to it. Recently I’ve read ‘If it bleeds’ by… Continue reading The Monkey’s Paw and Other Tales
True Grit
“You must pay for everything in this world one way and another. There is nothing free except the Grace of God. You cannot earn that or deserve it.” ― Charles Portis Why I’m Reading this Book? This book is mentioned as true american classic at various places. It’s also considered a short novel. Although, I don’t… Continue reading True Grit
Night Shift
"And the great appeal of horror fiction through the ages is that it serves as a rehearsal for our own deaths." -- Stephen King Why I’m Reading this Book? There is no reason for me to read Stephen King except that I really like his stories. It’s a collection of some of his very famous… Continue reading Night Shift
Turn of the Screw
"No, no—there are depths, depths! The more I go over it, the more I see in it, and the more I see in it, the more I fear. I don’t know what I don’t see—what I don’t fear!" -- Henry James Why I’m Reading this Book? This book is coming under my radar as one… Continue reading Turn of the Screw
Arrow of God
"When Suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat left for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool. The white man is like that.” --Chinua Achebe Why I’m Reading this Book? Famous for his masterpiece, ‘Things fall apart’ (which is a very short and… Continue reading Arrow of God
Passing
“She wished to find out about this hazardous business of “passing,” this breaking away from all that was familiar and friendly to take one’s chance in another environment, not entirely strange, perhaps, but certainly not entirely friendly.” -- Nella Larsen Why I’m Reading this Book? Written during "Harlem Renaissance”, first published in 1924, Nella Larsen’s… Continue reading Passing
Silas Marner
“...There's nothing kills a man so soon as having nobody to find fault with but himself.” - George Eliot Why I’m Reading this Book? I’ve read Middlemarch by George Eliot and it’s a sprawling story with about 1000 pages , so when I read the author’s name, I was skeptical. But on further research I… Continue reading Silas Marner
The Wind in the Willows
"After all, the best part of a holiday is perhaps not so much to be resting yourself, as to see all the other fellows busy working.” ― Kenneth Grahame Why I’m Reading this Book? This year I want to read at least 100 books and to do that I’m constantly searching for good small books. I’ve… Continue reading The Wind in the Willows
Summer
“How I hate everything!” - Edith Wharton Why I’m Reading this Book? I’ve recently read Ethan Frome and this book also came in the collection. This book is short too and I’m a little bit behind my reading goal, so I’m starting with it. Synopsis (No spoilers) Story is about a girl named Charity who… Continue reading Summer
Ethan Frome
"The return to reality was as painful as the return to consciousness after taking an anesthetic.” - Edith Wharton Why I’m Reading this Book? I’ve found this book too when I was searching for short but good books. With just 99 pages, it’s actually super short. I purchased its digital copy instantly(couldn’t wait to go… Continue reading Ethan Frome
The House on Mango Street
"Here there is too much sadness and not enough sky.” - Sandra Cisneros Why I’m Reading this Book? In my quest of reading short novels I stumbled upon this gem. I’ve read digital version of this book and since book was very small, I didn’t strain my eyes too much. My Review… This book is… Continue reading The House on Mango Street
Big Mushy Happy Lump
I am a lump.A big, mushy, happy lump. - Sarah Andersen Why I’m reading it? I was looking for a light read and what can be more lighter than comics? I’ve read this author earlier in ‘Adulthood is a Myth’, and I was so smitten that I gifted my copy to my sister. I would… Continue reading Big Mushy Happy Lump
We Should All Be Feminists
I have chosen to no longer be apologetic for my femininity. And I want to be respected in all my femaleness. Because I deserve to be. - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Why I'm reading it? This book was mentioned as one of the shortest book one can read in 1 hour. It’s ratings were very good… Continue reading We Should All Be Feminists
The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories
There is no female mind. The brain is not an organ of sex. As well speak of a female liver. - "Charlotte Perkins Gilman" Why I'm reading it? I've come across this book when I was searching for short novels to finish my reading goal. This is the first time I've heard about this book… Continue reading The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories
Persuasion
"One man's ways may be as good as another's, but we all like our own best.” - Jane Austen Why I’m Reading this Book? I’ve read Jane Austen earlier and I liked those stories because of the simplicity of them and for their feminist point of view. This book is one of the classics and… Continue reading Persuasion
The Fixer
"In a sick country every step to health is an insult to those who live on its sickness.” - Bernard Malamud Why I’m Reading this Book? I heard this book mentioned in a movie. It was said that everyone should read it and it's a very good book. I’m always on prowl for good books… Continue reading The Fixer
A walk in the Winter!!
It’s very cold today. Sun has set a long back. I could see it going down from my window. I turn and look in the corner. He is still sitting. I can't see him properly but his scalp is visible. Does he apply oil every day or his scalp secrets all that oil by itself.… Continue reading A walk in the Winter!!
Nightmares & Dreamscapes
"We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones." - Stephen King Why I’m Reading this Book? Because it’s Stephen King. I love his books. I’m amazed at so much imagination and wealth of literature produced by him. He still has the skill to captivate me in his stories. I’m not usually… Continue reading Nightmares & Dreamscapes
My First Blog Post
Hello There !! Why I’m here? There is not always one reason. My family gave me this challenge to start blogging. Challenge accepted and here I’m. So, primary reason is this.I’m a big fan of books. Books give me pleasure like some gets from shopping. It’s an addiction. With this addiction, there comes an inevitable… Continue reading My First Blog Post
Musings of a Book Savant 