Tag: bookshelf

  • 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.

  • Ladies’ Tailor: The best story from the Partition era

    Ladies’ Tailor: The best story from the Partition era

    My experience with books set during the time of India’s Partition has been, frankly, underwhelming. I’ve read quite a few, but most failed to strike the right balance between portraying the horrors endured by refugees and the eternal hope they carried in their hearts. That’s why Priya Hajela’s Ladies’ Tailor stands out. It’s arguably the most compelling book I’ve read about that turbulent time.

    Best book set in the partition times

    At the centre of the story is Gurudev, a Sikh man from a small village in West Punjab. The novel opens with his family’s harrowing journey to Delhi as refugees. While this treacherous migration is a key element; as it is in many Partition narratives; Ladies’ Tailor is much more than a story of escape and loss. It’s about resilience. It’s about how people, even in the bleakest of times, held on to dreams of rebuilding their lives from scratch, armed with little more than hope and determination.

    Though the novel primarily follows Gurudev’s story, Priya Hajela skillfully weaves in a tapestry of other experiences through vivid story arcs of supporting characters. She doesn’t shy away from portraying the full spectrum of human behaviour. Some people took advantage of the chaos, while others offered selfless help, even risking their own safety for mere acquaintances. Her characters are authentic and layered, reflecting the complex nature of humanity during a crisis.

    I’d be negligent if I ended this post without mentioning the stunning cover. It’s not just beautiful; it’s deeply symbolic. In fact, it’s the most captivating cover I’ve come across in 2025. The design thoughtfully captures the novel’s key themes: tailoring and clothing as a profession, Gurudev’s love for literature, the deep yearning for embroidery artists left behind in Pakistan, and the dual imagery of fire and small green vines—representing both the devastation of Partition and the unyielding hope that persists in the human spirit. All of this is set against a lovely pink background adorned with delicate embroidery motifs. A true work of art, I must say.

    Here’s what blurb says

    This is a story of Gurdev and his cohort, a group of refugees who travel east from Pakistan after Partition. It is a tale of falling apart and coming together as the world burns around them.

    Will Gurdev be successful in his new business of making garments for women? Will he find love after his wife and children leave his side? There may be uncertainty here, but there is also relentless hope.

    Journey back in time and experience the refugee spirit as Ladies’ Tailor captures you with all its romance, adventure and one man’s iron will to not just survive, but to thrive with new beginnings.

    About the book

    • Name of Book: Ladies’ Tailor
    • Author: Priya Hajela
    • Publisher: Harper Collins India
    • Publication date: 17 June 2022
    • Pages: 304
    • ISBN – 10: 9356290571
    • ISBN – 13: 978-9356290570
    • Kindle e-book Price: ₹ 399

    My ratings

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

    Overall Rating: 5/5

    Where to get your copy

    Should you read it?

    Guys, I found my first 5 star read of 2025, and you still asking me should you read it? You are missing a great book if you don’t read this one.

    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.

  • When you are looking for that eluding memory

    When you are looking for that eluding memory

    There are moments when a memory hasn’t completely faded, but it’s no longer vivid either; just some scattered fragments lingering in your mind. Often, these elusive memories are about food. A familiar waft of tadka your dadi once added to a simmering dal, or the faint aftertaste of a unique dish prepared to mark a special celebration. These fragments may be small, but you hold on to them tightly, trying to savor them forever.

    Sometimes, the craving to relive these memories through food becomes so strong, it drives you to great lengths. You might travel miles to revisit the place where you first tasted that dish, or reconnect with a long-lost friend or relative just for a familiar bite. But what if everything has changed? What if the people and places are no longer there?

    This is the very question that Hisashi Kashiwai explores in Kamogawa Food Detectives.

    When you are looking for that eluding memory,

    you should wander down a quiet backstreet in Kyoto, Japan, and seek out Mr. Kamogawa and his daughter. A retired police officer, Mr. Kamogawa now uses his unique skills for a different kind of investigation; tracking down forgotten recipes that match the faint traces of your memory: a smell, a taste, something just out of reach.

    This quest to recover lost flavors becomes a journey, not just through Japanese cuisine, but through the culture and landscapes of the country itself. Together with Mr. Kamogawa, you travel through various prefectures, uncovering stories hidden in local dishes and traditions.

    And when he returns from his travels, it’s in the small, unassuming restaurant he runs with his daughter where the magic happens. There, in that humble space, you don’t just relive old memories, you create new ones.

    From the blurb

    What’s the one dish you’d do anything to taste just one more time?
    Down a quiet backstreet in Kyoto exists a very special restaurant. Run by Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare, the Kamogawa Diner treats its customers to wonderfully extravagant meals. But that’s not the main reason to stop by . . .
    The father-daughter duo have started advertising their services as ‘food detectives’. Through ingenious investigations, they are capable of recreating a dish from their customers’ pasts – dishes that may well hold the keys to forgotten memories and future happiness.
    From the widower looking for a specific noodle dish that his wife used to cook, to a first love’s beef stew, the restaurant of lost recipes provides a link to the past – and a way to a more contented future.

    About the book

    • Name of Book: The Kamogawa Food Detectives
    • Author: Hisashi Kashiwai
    • Publisher: Mantle
    • Publication date: 5 October 2023
    • Pages: 209
    • ISBN – 10: 0593717716
    • Kindle e-book Price: ₹ 499

    My ratings

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

    Overall Rating: 3.5/5

    Where to get your copy

    Should you read it?

    How strong is your craving for that old taste you once enjoyed? Worth a read for that memory, of food, people and places!

    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 Ratna Prabha.

    This post is also a part of #BlogchatterFoodFest.

  • Circle with no centre – Today’s Indian Urban Story

    Circle with no centre – Today’s Indian Urban Story

    Sometimes, a book finds you exactly when you need it most. It feels like a beautiful surprise, making you wonder, was this really my choice, or did fate step in? That’s exactly how I felt when I received a copy of Circle with No Centre in the bookmail. A big thank you to Blogchatter and Notion Press for sending me this review copy!

    When I began reading, I didn’t know what to expect. But the story turned out to be incredibly relatable, and I was hooked almost instantly. I’ve been reading a lot of contemporary fiction set in Europe or the U.S., but Indian stories rarely caught my attention; until now. This book has finally ended my search for a compelling Indian urban narrative.

    From the blurb

    Is life a circle with no single center? It was a restless spin for him―from brief romances to a safe but hollow job to a quiet longing for genuine purpose. For her, it meant heartbreak, then fierce independence, and finally, a passion that lit her every step. Each believed they would keep circling alone.

    But when their paths unexpectedly overlap, they discover a new space―an unplanned center neither saw coming. Within that gentle overlap, old fears soften, and dormant dreams spark to life. Yet real closeness challenges everything they thought they knew: how to protect themselves, how to trust.

    Can two people, each rotating in a personal orbit of past mistakes and new ambitions, learn to revolve together without losing who they are?

    Do we really have a common life, or it’s just overlapping part of our circles with no centre

    This is a quintessential Indian urban tale of two individuals trapped behind emotional walls; shielded by the scars of failed relationships, unresolved grief, or the comfort of stable careers that merely pay the bills. While Gen Alpha navigates dating in an entirely new world, millennials in their 30s are facing a different set of challenges. This story strikes a thoughtful balance between the fast pace of modern life and the deep longing for stability and independence. Coming from a technology background, Deepak skillfully blends elements of modern science, technology, and ancient Indian philosophy to draw insightful parallels.

    Just as we often say there’s a song for every emotion, Deepak laces the story with a playlist-worthy selection of songs that perfectly complement its emotional beats. The narrative flows with a compelling emotional rhythm; taking you through the highs and lows of life alongside the two protagonists. What stands out is not just the strength of the lead characters, but also the depth given to the supporting cast. Khurana delivers a solid punch with well-crafted character arcs, meaningful backstories, and a narrative structure that moves the story forward without sidelining anyone.

    About the book

    • Name of Book: Circle with No Centre
    • Author: Deepak Khurana
    • Publisher: Notion Press
    • Publication year: 2025
    • Pages: 310
    • ISBN – 13: 979-8897247820
    • Price: ₹ 359 (Paperback)

    My ratings

    Story: 4/5
    Writing Style: 3.5/5
    Cover Design: 2/5

    Overall Rating: 3.5/5

    Where to Buy

    Should you read it?

    Deepak Khurana masterfully weaves technology, philosophy, and science into this poignant story of second chances. This may not end up being your all time favorite, but will stay with you for sure.

    If you want more book recommendations, click here.

    This review is powered by the Blogchatter Book Review Program. 

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

  • Truely unexpected begining of Baby Ganesh Agency Investigations

    Truely unexpected begining of Baby Ganesh Agency Investigations

    You probably have guessed from my recent Instagram reel, 2024 seems to be the year of crime fiction for me. The books which I am drawn to are mostly from this particular genre. And yes, I don’t regret it at all! Crime fiction is, by far, my most favourite genre of books to read or listen to.

    This particular one caught my eye while I was browsing on amazon because of its peculiar title and very interesting cover. Particularly that cute grey elephant! This animal has always piqued my interest. “Inspector” in the title sealed the deal and I right away bought my copy of this book.

    But before we dive into more details, let’s first address the elephant in the room, and quite literally…
    Who brings a baby elephant into a murder investigation? Apparently, Vaseem Khan does!

    What more to expect from this!

    You already have a baby elephant in the story, what more do you want? But wait, there is a lot more to the story here. Vaseem has not just created a protagonist Inspector Ashwin Chopra and Ganesh, the baby elephant. He has created a whole universe around Chopra, his family, ex-colleagues, a quintessential khadus “self-declared” leader of housing society, and many more! Every character has a unique story arc which is well-developed as the book progresses.

    Thankfully, the protagonist is not an all-knowing supercop. In fact, he isn’t a cop anymore. A retired cop who has a strong sense of justice and courage to stand for it, with all his limitations, makes it a believable character.

    In a case which seems to be apparent open-and-shut suicide, there’s more than which meets the eye. And Inspector Chopra is hell bent on seeking justice for the young victim! You have to read The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra to know more about it.

    About the book

    • Name of Book: The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra
    • Author: Vaseem Khan
    • Publisher: Mulholland Books
    • Publication date: August 13, 2015
    • Pages: 305
    • ISBN: 9781473612259
    • Kindle e-book Price: ₹ 280

    My ratings

    Stories: 4/5
    Writing Style: 4/5
    Cover Design: 4.5/5

    Overall Rating: 4/5

    Where to get your copy

    Should you read it?

    After reading this whole blog, I am sure you won’t have a doubt that I just loved this book. I am excited to read the next books from this series where Inspector (Retd.) Chopra tackles crime under the banner of Baby Ganesh Agency!

    For more about my views on books, click here.

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