November started with crisp, a subtle note of summer still lingering in the air. Fallen leaves whispers stories that was unsaid, unseen feelings are now making ripples inside hearts. Winter is knocking at the threshold. A new beginning, a new golden hue in sunlight saying something in satin silk tone. Nights are now long, waiting to be filled with stories smell of roasted almond cakes and pastries.
Here’s some books I have selected for you, to be matching with cozy winter nights.
Be Mine by Lizzy Barber
It’s us, it is strange how easily we give all the strings to others to manipulate us.. You are your own failure! This book is a powerful and shocking presentation of how foolishly we show our vulnerable side to strangers. What looks like loneliness, in a sudden moment of weaknesses, becomes desperate desire to belong. Our inner identity crisis gives power for manipulation.
A perfect mind-blowing thriller if you are tired of typical suspenseful and high octane mysteries, it’s just right amount of suspense and riveting craziness to give you space to breathe and think about it. This book is not so fast, not slow and uninteresting yet it’s smooth and inflicted teaspoon of drama in every chapters provides the necessary amount of curiosity to occupy your thoughts.
Once, Beth was a different person, convinced she was living her dream life with the enigmatic wellness group, Elixir. But when that dream became a nightmare, she had no choice but to run, no matter what – or who – stood in her way.
Ten years later, exhausted and struggling with the pressures of motherhood, she receives a mysterious letter bearing only the infinity symbol, and knows immediately it is from them. The past she’d run from has finally caught up with her, and the secrets she’s tried so hard to hide will soon be uncovered.
It started with two different timelines and simultaneously filled the void with information about Beth. The story starts with Beth, her new life with her little girl and husband, yet in the core of her heart she is haunted by her past, the past is peeking out from another chapter. Story goes back and forth creating layers and interesting aspects.
It started with Beth and in just a perfect swift touch everything changed, it’s no more Beth’s journey, the whole thing changed, a plot twist that you never expected nor imagined in a single blink, a jaw dropping turn, and a fragment of time turned all the characters upside down.
Highly recommended this book, get yourself loose into this thriller and learn how wellness, and self-love trend can be exhausting and left you completely weak and unshielded.
Rating – 4/5
The Elsewhereans : A Documentary Novel by Jeet Thayil
Almost like a poetry, deeply moving, engraved roots in your heart with such beautiful lucidity that will make you astonished. It reminds me Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese but not like that tome, it’s all about ambiance that is yarning for all your heart. If you have read the book then you will understand what you are getting inside this book.
An astonishing piece of work that leaves us a legacy that we can find proudly, a sensitive work that left mark on your mind, it will be with you for a long time I am sure.
Poignant narrative punctuated with witty sharp edges that delicately transpires something very familiar, you will not just read the word you will breathe with each character.
THE ELSEWHEREANS: A Documentary Novel by Jeet Thyle
Blurb:
A genre-defying novel that melds fiction, travelogue, memoir, a ghost story, a family saga, photographs and much else into a tale that unfolds across continents and decades.
From the backwaters of Kerala to the streets of Bombay, Hong Kong, Paris and beyond, Thayil maps the restless lives of those shaped by separation – both the ones who leave and the ones left behind.
A hypnotic meditation on migration, loss, and the fragile threads of identity from one of the most brilliant voices in contemporary literature, The Elsewhereans is a novel of retrieval and reinvention – an elegy for vanished worlds, and a reckoning with the histories we inherit.
Verdict: Highly recommended.
Rating 4/5
Tagore Never Ate Here by Mohammad Nazim, Tranlated in English by V. Ramaswamy
Finally a satisfying read of this year’s. You know it is rare when you can say about a book I am satisfied with the book, it filled me, yups. It’s a thriller, it has unputdownable suspense in every chapter, it has hook point, easy to relate characters, a story that is so grounded with historical backdrops, it has an eerie, chilling ambiance from start to end without mentioning any ghost stories, perfect! So perfect blend.
The book takes you to opposite side of the border, Bangladesh, in a sleepy town Sundarpur, one day a woman came and claimed the wealth of the zamindar of Sundarpur. She, Mushkan Zubeiri explained her legit acclamation of being the granddaughter-in-law of zamindar Bose. She got all the willed properties and started a business, she opened a restaurant, sorry, she called it a guesthouse, customers are guests and awestruck by her culinary skills.
How come a Zubeiri became the granddaughter-in-law of Bose zamindar? You need to read the book to get the answer and here author provided great historical background.
There’s a woman who cooked food like spilling charm, villagers think she is witch, she is farming all veggies and crocodile in the backyard, there’s an young grave digger who dugg graves in advance, he can sniff the death is coming to visit someone’s house, there’s a man worked with police, he has every news about everyone in town, people called him BBC, there’s a schoolmaster who knows each one’s ancestors and history of 100 years, this is Sundarpur, readers are welcome here.
Everyone is in charm of the woman, police, and politicians all are her friends and suddenly a mysterious man Noore Chhafa arrived at Sundarpur to enquire about the famous restaurant and the mischievous proprietor.
It’s a brilliant blend of magical realism, thriller and breathtaking suspense, the lines are blurred between reality and mysteries.
Absolutely fascinated by the book. V Ramaswamy did splendid work in translation but he couldn’t overcome the south indian accent problem, tid bid mistakes kept appearing in book.
Rating – 4/5
The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can’t Stop Talking About by Mel Robbins and Sawyer Robbins
If you want to read one book that makes sense, read this
A Life-Changing Tool Millions of People Can’t Stop Talking About
What if the key to happiness, success, and love was as simple as two words?
If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated with where you are, the problem isn’t you. The problem is the power you give to other people. Two simple words―Let Them―will set you free. Free from the opinions, drama, and judgments of others. Free from the exhausting cycle of trying to manage everything and everyone around you. The Let Them Theory puts the power to create a life you love back in your hands―and this book will show you exactly how to do it.
In her latest groundbreaking book, The Let Them Theory, Mel Robbins―New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s most respected experts on motivation, confidence, and mindset―teaches you how to stop wasting energy on what you can’t control and start focusing on what truly matters: YOU. Your happiness. Your goals. Your life.
Using the same no-nonsense, science-backed approach that’s made The Mel Robbins Podcast a global sensation, Robbins explains why The Let Them Theory is already loved by millions and how you can apply it in eight key areas of your life to make the biggest impact. Within a few pages, you’ll realize how much energy and time you’ve been wasting trying to control the wrong things―at work, in relationships, and in pursuing your goals―and how this is keeping you from the happiness and success you deserve.
Wanna great analysis and scientific information about behaviour, nature of humans then read this book. I just couldn’t put down this book.
Rating – 5/5
Gloam by Jack Mackay
Gloam by Jack Mackay is highly gripping, fast paced horror story which I devoured in 2 days, and it was really horror.
It’s a YA fantasy horror that reflects loneliness, deaths in family, siblings love, family bonding, vulnerability of children who lost their mother and restoring happiness. At the end of the book you will find calmness and content within your soul.
It’s a story about Gwen, she came to Gloam island with her siblings and Henry to stay in their maternal grandmother’s house. Henry is the stepfather, after their mother’s untimely death he is now the only responsible guardian of the kids. In Gloam, by night the road stayed underwater, erasing the only way that connects them to the mainland. Gloam didn’t get much traffic, these new visitors in late autumn are going to leave a remarkable change in this tiny island.
Gwendolyn or Gwen didn’t like their new babysitter Esme, she is not all sweet as she looks, she is too perfect, too beautiful, too sweet chiming voice, too much lovely, evrything is too much which is scary, Gwen scanned every perspectives there must be something in the babysitter or why she would be so sceptical, she feels vulnerable and claustrophobic arround Esme. How could Henry allow the kids to live with such an unknown person, Esme make him to believe her, she is a witch or a more horrible creature!! How Gwen wish if their mother would be here, she missed Mom in every time, it’s the most important time, she needs her. She is a lone fighter, she must save herself and her siblings from Esme.
This book is not just a perfect horror story it’s a quiet shivering thought of loneliness, it’s a nice depiction how elder’s ignorance and elderly attitude can lead their kids to dangerous blackhole, it’s screaming vulnerability of a motherless kid who is eager to save her brother and sister while helplessness suppressed her she finally finds courage.
Highly recommended this book.
Rating – 5/5
Happy reading! ✨
Join me for more bookish talks at — Mili Das at The Lady Lives In Books