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. 

 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J K Rowling (Book)

Book: 22/52.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J K Rowling. 

My Rating: 5/5.

Third Harry Potter book in a row and I must say again that nothing has changed, I am still as much in love with the whole Harry Potter thing as I was the very first time when I read them back to back a decade or so ago. I was rather forced or the right term to use will be “challenged” to read a few and not read the rest - which as I am sure you can guess, gravely failed. Now the kid who survived turns 13 and some terrific new characters are introduced in this one, I must say this should be my third favourite of the series after Half Blood Prince and the Deathly Hallows being the first two. Totally love Harry’s Godfather Sirius Black and his friends who always come to his rescue while he escapes the great prison and story goes a little more forward. Harry’s friendship with Hermione, Ron & even Hagrid has gone to the next level and so is his animosity with the Dursleys his only known family increased to no ends. Although it was a respite to believe that he won’t have to go to them anymore for summer vacations all thanks to his God Father. Reading the books again after a decade while I have seen the movies multiple times rather recently, I must say books are so much better and they have missed out so much in the movies, hoping against hope that they make a better TV series as that is in works as I read these books and re-watch the movies. It is actually tough for me to keep a one book break between two from the series but I strictly follow the same hence will be starting the fourth one by this weekend hopefully.

I never imagined that these books will work and even age so wonderfully well after all these years. Totally loving the experience and may read them again in next few years too. 

 

The Tattooist of Auschwitz - Heather Morris (Book).

Book: 21/52.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz - Heather Morris. 

My Rating: 5/5.

After reading quite a few reviews on the book in various book groups and posts, that too almost all positive, I decided to give it a try. I was super glad to find in my library available to be picked up. And I must say it was indeed a page turner, super simple, straight forward and engaging to read, so much so that I was actually looking forward to the ending with bated breath, keeping my thoughts positive for the couple who actually find love in the bleakest of the situations. The protagonist Lale, a guy in his mid 20’s who volunteers to go to the German camp as a prisoner in lieu of them leaving his family behind falls for a girl barely in her teens. For him, with aged parents, a married brother and young sister, he didn’t have any option when the Germans decided that they will take one adult man from every jewish family, no one could guess at that time how it will all turn out for them who were picked or the worst - what will happen to the families they leave behind with the hopes of a better life. He takes the job of the Tattooist to save and make himself more useful. This little gem of a book and the heart touching story throughout kept reminding me of the “Diary of a Young Girl” which of-course was a far better version but that takes nothing away from Lale and Gita’s story. I will recommend this book to everyone as it has so much life in it that too when almost every day so many people are shot dead at point blank range, or burnt alive or killed in gas chambers for no fault of their own but just because one man decided to rid the world of one particular religion. Loved the way life and love find its own way in the darkest of the times and the ultimate victory for all (at least for those who survived it). 

Do let me know if you have read this one and loved it too. Looking forward to the Mini Series based on the book so I could put faces to the characters.