Tag: Book review

Favourite authors! – Observations & Analysis.

Over the years, I have enjoyed reading a few authors again and again and here i have shared some of my favourite authors and what to expect of them when you read their book.

Murakami :The Writing style of Murakami is simple, yet has a depth in the stories and narration that makes you loose yourself in the world he has created for the reader. Books worth reading from the author : Kafka On the shore, Strange Library, Men Without Women, Norwegian Wood and The Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

Seshi Yokomizo: His stories revolve around A Detective, an island, A large joint family and a family member that’s missing for years. Books worth reading from the author: The Inugami Curse, The Devils Flute, The Honjin Murders

Ogawa : Her stories are about Memory Loss, Death ,Relationship with the past and life in Japan. Books worth reading from the author: The Housekeeper & The Professor and The Memory Police.
Keigo Higashino : His Content is about A detective like no other, a story set in Japan, And how science & Physics studies are used to solve the mystery.
Books worth reading from the author. Malice, The Midsummer equation and Salvation Saint.

Perumal Murugan : His stories are set in South India with A woman as central character.
It’s also about how the society perceive people who behave and react different from the society norms. Books worth reading from the author. One Part Woman & Poonachi

Pico Iyer: His Writing style soothes you and calm your nerves, the elements are always nature and a beautiful setting.
Books worth reading Art of Stillness & Cuba by the Night.

Satyajit Ray: A detective, who with the help of his team solves mysteries in India. That could be based on simple objects or family disputes, through his observations. The Complete Adventures of Feluda Vol 1 & Vol 2

Ravi Subramanium: It’s about Banking Scams, Friendship, and the Race to succeed to
The top. If God was a Gamer & Bankster

Henning Mankell: A Story set in Sweden with connection in Africa and a foreigner who has travelled and started living in Sweden. A neighbourhood that has been peaceful and an alcoholic Inspector.
Books worth reading Sidetracked & Faceless Killer

Jo Nesbo : A police inspector, who handles cases around Sweden & internationally, And some one within the field is responsible for the crime.
The Snowman & The Bat

Agatha Christie: Stories about a detective that’s smart enough to know who might be responsible through his style of investigation. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Lucy Foley :A Thriller without a detective, but has the same surprise and interest for the readers. The Guest list

Paula Hawkins: A writers who’s first book was an introduction to thrillers for me , the way they should be written and since than haven’t found anything like the Girl on the train.

Elif Shafak : A story set in Turkey, keeping in mind the challenges faced by woman for woman’s right. Books worth reading The Gaze & Bastard of Istanbul

Malcolm Gladwell: A writer who uses psychology as the backdrop to explain the fundamentals of human behaviour & Success. Blink & Tipping point must read books.

Paulo Coelho: Writing that keeps you searching for more, And leads you to a journey of self discovery. Alchemist & Birda

Best Books: 2021

When you have the opportunity & time to read books you want to make sure you enjoy reading the books & are learning something from them.

And when you read about 20 odd books in a year, You honestly haven’t liked them all or something about them, And you ask yourself why did I pick that one? But at the same time as the year comes to an end, you have thought about certain books more often or have only talked about them.

Sharing the list of my favourite books that I read this year in 2021.

The Guestlist – Thriller The title of this book intrigued me a lot for one of the reasons it had been more than a year since I had attended a celebration and what would a book be like when the main setting is a celebration. This book certainly keeps you interested in revealing the secrets and characteristics of the characters timely. The Twist towards the end is what you haven’t been expecting at all. You need to read this if you haven’t.

The Double Life (Alque Padamsee) Advertising Advertising books are always fun and interesting to read and when you have heard the personality live, and have heard so many stories about the personality from your grandmother, You become interested in knowing more about him. This book is a must if you like reading books on advertising. The book also had photographs of my grandmother who had done a play for Alque Padamsee.

How I Quit Google to Sell Samosa by Munaf Kapadia You Don’t often notice books on hoteliers, Caterers, Chefs, Bartenders or for that matter on Food Journeys. The last one I read about was the 100-foot journey. But this story “How I Quit Google to Sell Samosa” Is one of the most interesting reads. For one It’s a story of Munaf Kapadia who quits one of the best companies in the world to follow this passion project with his mother. Something we do not hear often. The Borhi Kitchen was an innovative concept of inviting strangers over for a meal highlighting the cultural background and sharing the importance of traditional cuisines from different cultures. The book highlights the ups & downs of the food business in the world and in the country and expenses we don’t account for otherwise when starting our own business. This is an inspirational story of Munaf who was courageous enough to follow his dream.

Netflix – No Rules Rule.Oh! Yes! I do enjoy reading autobiographies & biographies and the only reason is you get to learn about the organisation, the product/service and the person behind the success & what failures one went through which you can learn from. And Netflix in a short period has been recognised as a global platform that one likes to associate with. But, what’s the thought behind them choosing certain series & not choosing the rest. What does one who works for an organisation like this do? And is it a happy space to work at? Well, Netflix No Rules Rule gives you all the answers about what Netflix is all about.

Think Again by Adam Grant is A book that enjoyed a lot as it explains the scenarios and reasons the importance of Thinking again and the benefits of doing so. And it’s ok to change one’s mind.

Range by David Epstein We all have been a fan of Malcolm Gladwell and his books right from Tipping points, David vs Goliath and Blink to name just a few of them. His famous theory of applying 10,000 hours to something we truly want to achieve has been popular for years now. But then David Episten writes a book Range – Why Generalist Triumph. And this book wouldn’t be more relevant if the pandemic wouldn’t have existed. This book emphasises why being a Jack of all Trades might be an advantage over just having one single trade and why might be important to know a few things in the other categories too.

Psychology of Money There has been so many people written on how to make money like Rich Dad Poor Dad, Rich Kid Smart Kid and more books that have been written on wealth & money. But no book explains to you about money “like the psychology of money” what exactly is the psychology behind the money. And this book is worth reading for anybody who wants to understand money.

How I Quit Google to sell Samosa – Book Review

How I Quit Google to Sell Samosa: 

As soon as got a book titled How I Quit Google to Sell Samosa and then read it’s by Munaf Kapadia the man behind TBK or The Bori Kitchen. I was intrigued and fascinated by how would this story be and going by someone quitting google for a Food & Beverage business without any experience, it’s a huge plunge. 

The book is very entertaining, engaging and funny giving you an insight into the F&B and hospitality business and make you feel like you have lived the TBK success journey and you know Munaf Kapadia and his family. 

I haven’t read too many books on Food, but this one did make me feel hungry all the time. 



The Guestlist by Lucy Foley-Personal Book Review


A book that was on my reading list for months !! A story themed around a wedding celebration. 
Yes!! It’s unusual to find a thriller around a wedding and this was one reason the book got my interest and the second it being a thriller. 
The writing style is similar to Girl on the Train!!
The Story starts unfolding when family secrets and friends start realising what relationships meant to them. 
While even betrayal of trust is one of the elements of the story where some confessions let out secrets that never unfolded, But the island celebration changes many fortunes and reveals all the secrets. 
A weekend fast-paced thrilling read by Lucy Foley. 

Personal Book Review – Becoming & Charles Chaplin !!

 

Becoming by Michelle Obama

I Wouldn’t have really read this book. But, The moment you read It’s written by the former first lady, You know it’s going to be a great read. As it’s going to have things you wouldn’t know about their lives and you also get the chance to know the White House from an insider, The whole architecture, The protocols and the life behind the camera as a president and more importantly Michelle Obama’s journey in life.

Charles Chaplin – Autobiography

I really don’t like reading artist biographies or autobiography’s who have been part of the entertainment industry. For one they could be totally biased, one-sided and slightly boring to read. But Charles Chaplin I have been wanting to read for a long time, a couple of days before we went on national lockdown (25th march ’20’ ) I was about to place an order from the e-commerce website, But did not. Also, having read most of the books that I had already ordered and now worried I had no books to read, First I began scrolling from my contacts and messaged a couple of my “friends” if they could lend me some books. After having waited for too long for them to reply, I browsed through my library at home once again! Maybe there is a book I haven’t read and guess what! I found one of the first editions of Charles Chaplin which was tearing apart and I began reading the book, It was one of the best books I must have read on cinema and actor as it teaches you so much about what goes behind an actor during his preparation and how much effort is it to “Act” and being a superstar of the “silent Era” This fascinated me and within five days I had finished reading the book. Right from his childhood to him coming back from Hollywood and visiting his roots in The UK to him finally settling down in Switzerland to have been married numerous time. About five times and having eleven kids to getting the longest standing ovation in the (Twelve Minutes long ) history of academy awards Charles was one hell of a “Charlie.” It’s a must-read for all and besides Charlie, if you want to read another book on an actor you must! And must read Naseeruddin Shah Memoir – Then one day!