Author: Adi Sathe

  • Do We Really Finish Books; or Just Stop Reading?

    Do We Really Finish Books; or Just Stop Reading?

    Anyone who knows me personally can attest to a simple fact; I am rarely seen without a book with me. Friends often joke that I don’t merely read books; I devour them with an insatiable appetite. Yet, there are still days when the novel tucked in my bag remains unopened. Typically, when I turn the last page of a book, I promptly swap it for the next, dutifully logging it as “finished” on my tracking apps. But occasionally, a story halts me in my tracks, making it impossible to pick up something new the moment I reach “The End.” These are the rare works that leave me wondering: do we ever truly finish books, or do we simply stop reading?

    Does it really finish?

    Mind you, I am not referring to dense, heavily researched non-fiction volumes or weighty philosophical tomes. Fiction possesses a unique power to send the mind wandering down unexpected trails. It doesn’t always take an entire novel or even a short story; sometimes, a single, beautifully crafted sentence is enough to spark a profound train of thought. While immersed in Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, my mind snagged on a poignant observation by Hwang Boreum:

    “Despite falling short of the expectations, could a book, if enjoyed, be considered a good read?”

    The story didn’t end on that particular thought, yet the sentiment lingered, sending my mind on a retrospective hunt for books that defied my expectations but still brought me immense joy. I’ve found myself dwelling on these titles for quite some time, even as I’ve moved on to dozens of other reads.

    जांभळाचे दिवस by Vyankatesh Madgulkar, माणसे: अरभाट आणि चिल्लर by G. A. Kulkarni, the evocative poetry of Indira Sant, B. B. Borkar, Vaibhav Joshi, and Guru Thakur, The Healing Season of Pottery by Yeon Somin, and Ladies’ Tailor by Priya Hajela – these are the works that make me question the finality of the last page. Do we actually finish them, or do we just stop reading, allowing the narrative to echo quietly in our subconscious?

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    I’d love to hear from you: do you have any books like this? Stories where you feel you simply stopped reading, rather than truly finishing them?

    This post is a part of Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2026.

    To read more about books, click here.

  • The comfort books I return to – As love, not escape

    The comfort books I return to – As love, not escape

    For as long as I can remember, I have been a reader. The switch that श्रीमान योगी flipped in me all those years ago is still firmly in the “on” position. However, saying that might be a little misleading; it makes it sound as though I’ve never experienced a reading slump. I want to dispel that notion right away. There have certainly been lulls. Times when half-read books gathered dust on the table. Once, the rough patch was so severe that I stopped reading entirely for a brief period.

    The reasons for these breaks; or reading slumps, as we call them; vary. Sometimes life simply gets in the way; other times, it’s the inability to find a book that matches my exact mood. It can feel surprisingly difficult to pick a book from the hundreds you own that will offer the precise comfort you need in that moment. That indecision breeds a slump, one that often lingers long after the initial situation has passed.

    Yet, inevitably, after a few days, I find myself wandering back to my bookshelf. Pulled in by familiar titles, just browsing the shelves begins to reignite the joy of reading. Scattered among those rows are a few specific books that act as the perfect antidote to slumpy days. They are well-loved, bearing the physical evidence of countless re-reads. The comfort of a familiar story, the memory of the happiness I felt during the first read, and the anticipation of experiencing that joy again make the process incredibly soothing. Even though there is no suspense building to a crescendo in the final chapter, these old stories warm my heart every single time. There are even a few books where, nowadays, I can just flip to a random page and dive right in.

    These books are incredibly dear to me, and naming just a few wouldn’t do justice to the rest. Importantly, they don’t act as an escape from my current feelings, nor do they provide a hiding place from my troubles. Instead, I find genuine comfort and grounding in those pages, and I know I will keep returning to them every time I find myself in a slump.

    This post is a part of Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2026

    To read more about books, click here.

  • Buying Books I Don’t Read — Habit, Hope, or Self-Deception?

    Buying Books I Don’t Read — Habit, Hope, or Self-Deception?

    I won’t claim that I have been a bibliophile since my younger days, nor would I claim my home boasted a wall full of books stacked neatly on shelves. Although my reading journey started in high school, it was fueled by a steady supply from a local public library. I was perfectly happy with my small collection of storybooks, which consisted of six abridged Sherlock Holmes stories in Marathi and the first six books of the Faster Fene series by Bha. Ra. Bhagwat.

    But when I moved to Pune from my hometown, things changed. As I’ve mentioned in an earlier blog post, I started buying new books to read. Little did I know my collection would eventually grow to nearly 400 books over the years. And as I mentioned in my last post, that collection falls into three categories: Read, TBRs, and DNFs.

    While arranging my shelves recently, I realized that even the TBR pile has two sub-categories of its own; titles I will read sooner or later, and titles I am almost certain will remain on the TBR list forever. The first three parts of Ken Follett’s Kingsbridge series definitely belong in the latter category, if you ask me. I bought them enthusiastically on a whim because the blurbs were so compelling. But their voluminous size has deterred me from picking them up for years. This begs the question: why do I even buy a book if it’s going to end up on the TBR list forever?

    Habit, hope or self-deception?

    There’s neither a set timetable for buying new books, nor are there funds specifically allotted for this ever-growing collection. So, we can rule out the idea that buying books is just a mindless habit. The truth is, it’s incredibly hard for any book lover to walk out of a bookshop empty-handed. When I enter a bookstore, the vibrant displays, cozy nooks, and that inviting smell of printed paper pull me in. The clever arrangements entice me to pick up titles and read their blurbs. Sometimes, cleverly wrapped books set me up on a blind date with their stories. And as I browse, the snippets I read make me hopeful that this book will be worth the time. Before I know it, my mind is made up.

    I know the hope I feel while reading a blurb is genuine. The storyline feels enticing, intriguing, and highly readable. Even though it’s hard to leave a bookstore without buying anything, I have done it when I couldn’t find a blurb that truly intrigued me. If a book later turns out to be all bait and no substance, it goes straight into the DNF pile. But the act of buying the book in the first place is never a self-deception or a mere compulsion. I am always fueled by the hope that one day, I will pick up that one book that has been sitting on my shelf for years, and the story will finally do justice to the blurb that convinced me to take it home.

    This post is a part of Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2026

    To read more about books, click here.

  • The Abandoned Book I Still Think About

    The Abandoned Book I Still Think About

    You might think it’s impossible for a bibliophile to ever leave a book unfinished. But let me let you in on a little insider secret: yes, we absolutely abandon books if they don’t hook us. We bookworms even have an acronym for it; DNF (Did Not Finish). Look at any reader’s shelf, and you’ll find three distinct categories: Read, DNF, and TBR (To Be Read). And yes, that TBR pile is always growing, so let’s not be judgmental about it! We can talk about that pile when we get to the letter ‘T’.

    Today is all about the abandoned books.My shelves hold quite a few books that I started and couldn’t finish for one reason or another. However, there’s one particular DNF book I still think about; My Name is Red by Turkish Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk.

    Why is it still in DNF

    Usually, a book lands in the DNF pile simply because it’s uninteresting. If the author fails to pull you into the story within the first chapter, it’s easy to lose interest. My Name is Red, however, is a glaring exception to that rule. I have made multiple attempts to finish it. I’ve tried different formats—paperback, ebook, you name it. I even gave the audiobook version a shot. The production quality is great, and John Lee’s narration is wonderful, yet the result is always the same. The book remains firmly in my DNF section.

    My Name is Red is a wonderfully crafted historical thriller revolving around the murder of “Elegant Effendi,” a royal miniaturist in the Ottoman court. Orhan has built a fantastic, immersive world out of medieval Istanbul, where Eastern and Western philosophies clash. It explores the rising tension between traditional Islamic and Western Renaissance painting styles, while also tackling deeper themes like faith, identity, and the tussle between traditional and modern artistic expressions.

    With his unique use of multiple perspectives, Orhan manages to pull me right back into the narrative every single time I pick the book up. And it’s not just the human characters speaking to us; a dog, a tree, and even the color Red itself take turns telling the story.

    Is it a time to move it from DNF?

    This incredible blend of faith, art, and highly original storytelling is exactly why I can never quite stop thinking about a book I’ve abandoned so many times. In fact, just writing this post has made up my mind. I’m going to pick it up again and finally finish it this time. That way, I can give you all a proper review and finally get some closure by solving the mystery for myself!

    This post is a part of Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2026

    To read more about books, click here.

  • History Comes Alive as Iris Woodmore Solves New Mysteries

    History Comes Alive as Iris Woodmore Solves New Mysteries

    The peace of Walden is shattered with a proposal of building a luxury hotel on the banks of Waldenmere Lake where General Cheverton’s historic mansion stands. The British Army is looking to sell the lake and mansion to the highest bidder. Discovery of General’s body shakes everyone in town. For young reporter Iris Woodmore, the investigation turns devastatingly personal when her best friend is also found dead on the muddy shores.

    As suspicion falls on those dear to her, Iris must navigate her grief to unmask a killer. A gripping, atmospheric mystery that kept me turning pages until the very end!

    The way it’s produced

    This is the second installment of the Iris Woodmore mysteries I’ve listened to, following Death at Crookham Hall. Reflecting on my previous blog post, I realized I missed a crucial point: an audiobook requires more than just a compelling plot to be successful; it requires high-quality production. Having recorded an audiobook for Storytel myself, I know this firsthand. Boldwood Books has clearly prioritized production value here, and Polly Edsell is the perfect narrative voice for this series.

    History as a recurring character

    Continuing the trend from the first book, History acts as a constant, vivid supporting character. While the previous story explored the suffragette movement, this tale delves into the lingering horrors of the Great War and the reality of shell shock. The plot captures a specific post-war tension: the struggle of landowners to maintain properties that were requisitioned for the war effort once the troops were demobbed. Central to this is a lakeside estate at Waldenmere, a setting so atmospheric it feels like a protagonist in its own right.

    About the book

    • Name of Book: Murder at Waldenmere Lake
    • Author: Michelle Salter
    • Publisher: Boldwood Books
    • Publication date: March 21, 2023 
    • Audiobook length: 9 hours and 42 minutes
    • e-book ISBN 13: 9781837510504
    • Audiobook ISBN 13: 9781837510443
    • Paperback ISBN 13: 9781837510481

    My rating

    Story: 4/5
    Writing Style: 3/5
    Cover Design: 3/5

    Overall Rating: 3.5/5

    Where to by

    For more about my views on books, click here.

    This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Sameeksha Reads.

  • Why Iris Woodmore is the Protagonist to Watch

    Why Iris Woodmore is the Protagonist to Watch

    Intriguing protagonist to watch, Iris Woodmore is a young reporter at a local newspaper. She finds herself entangled in multiple mysteries from uncovering a truth behind a suspicious death to searching for a missing person. But, these current investigations reopen old wounds making past and present collide.

    Michelle Salter, has crafted a sharp, rebellious amateur sleuth in young Irish Woodmore. Set in Southern England between the World Wars, the story captures a world in flux; a time when society was being reshaped and new “normals” were just beginning to take root.

    Weaving history with mystory

    Michelle Salter offers a unique perspective on a pivotal milestone in England’s social history; the women’s rights movement, where activists famously reclaimed a term originally meant to derogate them. The backstories of these Suffragettes are every bit as fascinating as the central mystery.

    It is rare to find a book that balances nuanced historical context with a compelling main plot so seamlessly. While this is a difficult feat to achieve in crime fiction, Salter has done an exceptional job.

    About the book

    • Name of Book: Death at Crookham Hall
    • Author: Michelle Salter
    • Publisher: W. F. Howes Ltd
    • Publication date: June 17, 2021 
    • Audiobook length: 8 hours and 37 minutes
    • e-book ISBN 13:  978-1837510344
    • paperback ISBN 13: 978-1837510405

    My rating

    Story: 4/5
    Writing Style: 3/5
    Cover Design: 3/5

    Overall Rating: 3.5/5

    Where to buy

    For more about my views on books, click here.

    This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ 
    hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Sameeksha Reads.

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