The Stationery Shop of Tehran - Marjan Kamali (Book).

Book 29/52.

The Stationery Shop of Tehran - Marjan Kamali

My Rating: 5/5

I found this little gem of a book in our little library that I joined last year, and picked it up for its cover and the city called Tehran (Iran). Also, I needed a break from the fantasy books that I’ve been reading back to back, unfortunately, all from British and American writers, hence this worked like a charm. A total change of geography and an amazing love story from the war (read civil war) torn country of Iran during the mid-20th century. Two 17-year-old teenagers fall head over heels in love, meeting in a lovely bookstore where the owner works for them as a messenger to pass them love letters from each other. While the nation goes through turmoil between the newly elected democratic Prime Minister, who isn’t liked by the Shahs of that era and his followers. The story takes a turn when the couple decides to get married one day, and they decide to meet at one particular crossroad, where, to their sheer bad luck, all hell breaks loose as the PM is ousted by Shah’s followers. To know whether they meet, get married or not, you’ve got to read this book (hardly 300 pages). And read the story of their lives, which stretches to some 60 years across the continents. Try not to read this book when you are hungry, as I was smitten with the Persian delicacies Marjan has mentioned in her story, so much so that now I want to try at least a few of them at the earliest. Totally loved the book, especially the way she has handled the emotional parts and yet made it a believable read. 

Do let me know if you have read this one and liked it. Also, if you have a favourite Marjan Kamali book, I am for sure going to read a few more from her. 

 

A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J Maas (Book).

Book: 28/52.

A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J Maas.

My Rating: 2/5.

Finally, I am done with the sequel as unfortunately I picked up the first two parts from my library last month after seeing so many posts and reviews on Fable for these too utter craps of the first order (teenagers please forgive my innocence). And with this, I say Goodbye and good riddance to the ACOTAR series. As I mentioned earlier, these books and stories are a cross of GOT, LOTR, Harry Potter, Twilight, even Marvel (Wakanda Forever too), with X-Men movies. If you club them all together what you actually get is ACOTAR books with no head or tale but just magical romance where the girl remains same but her love interest keeps chaging by the book, twice in two books and I do not qualify to read third onward so cant say much about their future, nor I care a bit. So, to get the gist, if you haven’t read them so far, consider yourself blessed and stay away but if you have read them already, you have my sympathies on top of that if you have liked and loved them, please spare me, I am a lesser mortal to whom they made no sense but yes, it was a laugh out loud comedy for sure where I was actually laughing “on them” more than “with them”. 

I need to consciously stay away from the YA genre here onward and stick to my love of classics, especially those whose Author have gone beyond some 50 years ago. 

 

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J K Rowling (Book).

Book: 27/52.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J K Rowling.

My Rating: 5/5.

5th book from the much-loved series, and I must say that I’ve still not got enough of the magical world yet. Although this is my second reading of the series, I still feel like I missed out on a few things the last time, or maybe this is a different version, which is more detailed. Whatever said and done, this one is so far my favourite from this series; this one even surpassed my last favourite (so far in the series), The Prisoner of Azkaban. As the story progresses in this one with Harry Potter and the team have turned 15 now, and they are getting into the thick of Things. Politics has entered Hogwarts, the school of magic, much to their and our Displeasure, but loved the way they tackle the whole situation, and on top of that, get ready to fight the dark lord as and when he makes another entry. Another thing I loved in this one is the detailing as JKR has left no stone unturned in giving the dues to all her characters, especially ones that I love (Ron, Hagrid, Sirius and his house elf Kreecher, too, and so many more). Although that makes this one the fattest of the series, so much so that even the last one, Deathly Hallows, looks like a slim book in front of this one. 

The movie, as usual, was a big turn-off off but I had to watch, no option. Now looking forward to my favourite (from earlier reading) is The Half Blood Prince. Do let me know how you rate this book from the series. 

 

A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J Maas (Book).

Book 26/52.

A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J Maas.

My Rating: 1/5.

Curiosity kills the cat - I had read somewhere long back, and now in this book’s and series’ case, I became the bloody cat. I recently (six months ago) joined Fable, as I was getting bored of Goodreads' lack of activity and stumbled upon numerous highly rated reviews, all highly recommended by users. I am going to be the outcast who didn’t like the first book one bit, although going by the theme, it had so much scope, which, as far as I'm concerned, the author didn't explore to the extent I expected. I found it to be a mix of Game of Thrones, Twilight & even Harry Potter for all the magical liberties she has taken in the narrative. So the story goes that a teenage Feyre kills a wolf, which happens to be a Faerie (an immortal shape-shifting magical creature with powers) who is some kind of a High Lord in another world, across a wall between the mortal and immortal worlds. I am assuming the timeline is some thousands of years ago. So now the immortal lord had to fall for her and then you can predict what happens next as there will be a villain preferably a witch with more powers followed by the tasks done by our mortal heroine to save her great lord from her clutches and going by the Twilight hint you can imagine the ending :). Unfortunately, when it comes to books, I still cannot control my book buying spree, hence I already got the second of the series, which, as the thumb rule goes for books, I will surely be reading (call it a literal suicide). 

Thanking God that they haven’t made a TV series or a Movie so far (talk about the quality of writing), I am spared more pain. Please let me know if you have read this one, and spare me if you have loved it for some reason. I will stay away from Ms Maas' books going forward.

 

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire- J K Rowling (Book).

Book: 25/52.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire- J K Rowling.

My Rating: 5/5.

The fourth book in the series and I must say that the plot thickens by the time I finished this one,;there is certainly no looking back. This one happisersonal favorite of lots of people that I know from Harry Potter fan club, but not mine. Engaging, thrilling, action packed and especially the ending (without giving away anything). As Hogwarts the school of magic hosts the Triwizard Tournament, we get our new hero in Cedric Diggory who made a special appearance in previous part, with a full fledged role in this one. Mr Potter is still a teenager with a messed up life all thanks to the dark forces still trying to kill him unfortunately to no avail thanks to his support team with mighty Dumbledore and the helm of things. For tournament, three schools are competing with their best champion but this year for a change, there is a Fourth champion too which comes as a surprise. The three stunts that they need to attempt to be the winner with a ground breaking finale, with so many riddles to solve to clear each one, totally engrossing and engaging. The best part of this one is the Prof Moody Mad Eye the new defence against the dark arts teacher and Sirius Black, Harry’s Godfather who comes to his rescue, finally giving him a much needed family support. This is the only book’s whose movie adaptation (still not upto the mark or detailed) but I still actually look forward to more than my personal favorite The Half Blood Prince, where I believe the movie doesn’t do justice to Prof Snape’s character. One thing I must say that although this is my second reading of the books after a decade but I am suprised to find that I still love them as much as I loved them all, the very first time and if truth to be told, I have actually found some instances that I totally forgot after the first time, which was so Kool. Guess I need to increase my frequency of reading them again. 

Do let me know if this one is your favorite too and how do you like its screen adaptation? 

 

Bridgerton 3 - An Offer From a Gentleman - Julia Quinn (Book).

Book: 24/52.

Bridgerton 3 - An Offer From a Gentleman - Julia Quinn.

My Rating: 5/5

Third from the series and I must say that I am totally hooked to Julia Quinn’s characters and her story telling. Undoubtedly she is the best thing which happened to us readers from the current crop of writers when it comes to regency romance. My favorite from that genre will always be Georgette Heyer but Julia is more modern and pretty lighter take on the same stories so far. This one is based on the second eldest son of Bridgerton family with seven siblings two of whom are already married, I believe every book gets one of these kids married in the story as that is what the Lady Bridgerton’s life motto is. Totally a Cinderella story in the making but in a new way, which kept me excited throughout the narration waiting with bated breath as what will happen next. How will prince charming in this case Viscountes younger brother will find her dream girl who vanishes without trace after their first meeting. If I had to pick a favorite from eight Bridgerton kids, my favorite will be Eloise followed by Anthony, but after this book, Benedict has certainly climbed up my ratings by leaps and bounds. Initially when I started reading the much loved series after finishing it’s Television adaptation (which I severly hated), I thought may be a book or two will work for me at best but never imagined that it will be so fantastic to read back to back three have turned out to be surprisingly great. Looking forward to the fourth one from the series after a short break and not at all looking forward to its adaptation which is right round the corner I believe. 

Do let me know if you have read this one or if you have a personal favorite from the series, I will definitely get there if it isn’t from the first three books for sure. 

War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy (Book).

Book: 23/52.

War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy.

My Rating: 4/5.

What an epic. It has been on my TBR for a few years and on my book rack for exactly one year as I got my copy last year in June hence I had to finish it before the end of the same month this year. Imagine 1350 pages with 60 pages long multiple epilogues. What kept me going was the amazing story with half a dozen lead characters and some 494 scattered here there and everywhere as the story progresses. The best part of the epic is the detailed coverage of Russian royalty from early 19th century followed by Tsar Alexander’s friendship and later animosity with the great Napoleon. I was totally shocked by the way Tolstoy praises Napolean and shoots down his own Tsar Alexander for various reasons, couldn’t believe it but loved the way he called a spade a spade. One on one sessions with Napolean were hilarious to read. Initially I thought this was a Fiction, but later found out (post 75%) that it is actually based on real life events with real life characters, just that he took slight liberty in portraying them in an interesting way. Going by a lot of opinions I was ready to accept that it isn’t going to be an easy read but how wrong I was, it was totally engaging and with chapters as long as 2-3 pages with the longest being 7-8 odd pages, it was a total breeze for me. I still managed 4 odd other books in the same time due to the heavy subect of ongoing war which stretches to no end with so many people paying the price. Heart-breaking is the way few of my favorite characters die or shall I say killed in the course but amazing is the way it kept me glued and I kept looking forward to the finale. My mother told me that I read her copy of War and Peace when I was in 7th or 8th standard, although I have no memory of the same but the only thing I remembered was the bombs that they drop on each other which spin before blasting and how right I was when I read it this time. No doubt this must be one of his best works for obvious reasons. Totally worth your time and effort if you can take that size book in today’s time. The only turn off is the usage of French, almost every page had a line or an anecdotes that I had to translate. 

Do let me know if you have read War and Peace and loved it. I am looking forward to its movie adaptation which I still vaguely remember not from the recent times though but a very old movie made sometime in 80’s.