Turn of the Screw by Henry James My Rating: 3 of 5 Stars I often embrace the notion of writing being superior than plot to the extent of salvaging a lackluster body of the latter, very close to my heart. And it is stories like these that realign my reading meter in that direction. Henry … More Book Review: Turn of the Screw by Henry James (1898)
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars [Originally appeared here] Of all the fiction in this world, I find the ones rooted in mythology the most enticing; not because there is an element of otherworldly magic in them but because somewhere deep down, a bewitching veil of truth hovers above them. … More Book Review: Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman (2017)
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars ‘Those who love from a distance are not seduced by lust.’ Thus crooned a honeyed, longing voice I happened to hear two days back. Perhaps the essence was expressed before; in manifold arrangement of words, in wavy placement of multiple strings. But sometimes, something … More Book Review: Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin (1956)
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars [Originally appeared here (with edits)] It has been a few days since I turned the last page of this book. But the numbness reappears the instant I allow the pages to unfold in my memory. The silence which suddenly parts to let … More Book Review: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (2016)
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway My Rating: 4 of 5 stars “He was full of resolution but he had little hope.” And often, like a seductive oasis, this little hope beguiles the heart to endure battles of gargantuan magnitude, letting seep every second the realization of the effort turning as much … More Book Review: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (1952)
Happy Birthday, Mr. Hemingway! This man is such a delight to read. Despite his topsy-turvy life, both as a civilian and an author, he went on to gather such wealth of life pearls that reading just a single interview of his’ opens new vistas of perception for me. He faltered much in his journey; fame … More Happy Birthday, Ernest Hemingway!
We Are All Completely Besides Ourselves by Karen Jay Fowler My Rating: 4 of 5 stars In everyone’s life, there are people who stay and people who go and people who are taken against their will. Who do you remember the most? I asked myself. Those who make part of my primary circle of existence … More Book Review: We Are All Completely Besides Ourselves by Karen Jay Fowler (2014)
Sign Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera My Rating: 4 of 5 stars As a little girl, I had many fears. Born from reasonable and not-so-reasonable wombs of circumstances, I consciously (and consistently) fought their penetrating presence by erecting walls of logic and fortitude. With passing years, I saw many of them … More Book Review: Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera (2014)
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck My Rating: 4 of 5 stars It takes courage to stand up and speak. It also takes courage to sit down and listen. These are the words on one of my most favorite posters. What always keeps me hooked to these lines is the validity of the trait, … More Book Review: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (1937)
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut My Rating: 4 of 5 stars Kurt Vonnegut. Four syllables, once pronounced, suspends in the air like a rock star swishing his name into the air for chanters to latch on and treble the echo. Slaughter-House Five, god knows how many syllables (depending on stress-points of your tongue), once sprinkled from … More Book Review: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut (1969)
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