Summary of books in April 2021


April was a hectic month with immense amount of writing. Found it hard to balance my time between reading and writing. Nevertheless managed to read 7 interesting titles-2 of which were incidentally Time travel fiction. 

Faye Faraway: An emotional read which chronicles an unexpected journey of a woman who travels back in time to reconnect with her mother and her younger self. This book explores the nuances of religion, faith, trust and the importance of getting closure. 

Side Chick Nation chronicles the story of a sex worker ad how she escapes an abusive boyfriend, lading herself in the middle of a hurricane in Puerto Rico. The fourth book in the heist series, this book explores issues of natural disasters, climate change and capitalism. Romance is one of the main themes here. 

After the Quake is a collection of short stories which are loosely connected to the 1995 earthquake in Kobe. The characters do not necessarily experience this catastrophe but are made aware of it through television or news. The stories are evocative capturing themes of loss, illness and relationships. 

La Javaab is an interesting concept where the author members of this group have formulated a story/poem revolving around each ingredient on a pizza. The stories capture the hardships of life and takes you through the struggles of the characters.

Every Anxious Wave: Another time travel fiction where the characters start a business where people can go back in time and attend the concerts of their favorite bands. this explores the complexities of relationships, world building, themes of loneliness, trauma and loss. 

Whereabouts is an interesting read that captures the different slices os a life of an unnamed woman narrator. The structure is in the form of vignettes and touches upon themes of solitude and dislocation. 

The Ballad of Black Tom is a horror fantasy novel set in Harlem and brings to light the horrors of racism, prejudices and police brutality. A fast and gripping book that can be read in one sitting.  

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