Book Summary of Jan 2021


 The year started on a great note. I managed to read some interesting titles belonging to varied genres. One of the resolutions for 2021 was to read fantasy genre, which I did this month. Running through my list of books for the month of January. 


World of Wonders: A compilation of essays where the author has interspersed lessons that she learned from nature and blended it with her own life of a girl with brown skin and a mixed race. Poignant, powerful and heartwarming. 

Snow Country: Set amidst the snowy mountains of Japan, this book explores the relationship between a man and a Geisha. It describes the complex dynamics and loneliness of the characters. 

Twin Tales of Kutcch is an emotional tale of two women, separated by a generation gap and how their lives take similar turn. Its set in Colonial India and covers a wide range of themes. 

Home Before Dark is a Gothic fiction about a girl who returns to a mansion twenty years after her family vacated the same place at midnight. It delves into the mind of a protagonist and explores if the house is really haunted as its slated to be. 

Undertow is the story of a girl who embarks on a journey ins reach of answers and reasons for her mother's estrangement with her family. This Heartwarming tale is set in Assam where the River Brahmaputra is a silent character in itself. 

Four Days of Pongal is a book that illustrates the reason for celebrating this festival. It describes the significance of each day, why and how its dedicated to the forces of nature. Makes an ideal read for children and parents who would like to explain the nuances of this festival. 

Strange Happenings at Landings Castle & other humorous stories is a collection of uproariously hilarious stories that includes a spoof of Sherlock Holmes, James Bond and other anecdotes that leaves you in splits. The humor reminds you of PG Wodehouse. 

A Wizard of Earthsea is a coming of age story of a goat herder who shows early signs of magical powers. The journey of Ged  takes you through his time at Wizard School, friendships, ego tussles and  imparts some vital lessons of life. 

Letter to the Father is the revelatory letter penned by Author Franz Kafka to his father, disclosing his feelings of growing up in an oppressive atmosphere. The emotions are raw as the suppressed feelings of anguish erupt like a volcano. This in turn evokes the readers' sympathy. 

Several Short Sentences about Writing is a book where the author highlights the beauty of simple and shirt sentences. She gives tips on writing better by emphasizing the importance of reading your work aloud, addressing the writers' block and introduces some exercises towards the end. 

Daisy Miller is the story of an American teenage girl who is on a holiday in Europe. Her carefree behavior is frowned upon by the society. This book explores the different cultures across the world and their perception towards certain norms and customs. 

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