Reading Schedule During Exams

This is a very untypical kind of blog post as I'm not gonna share a book haul, tbr list or wrap ups. I'm about to tell you the reading agenda that I'll be following this month of exams. My semester exams are coming up in no time (8 days to go) and I'm lagging behind in my reading schedule. For me, reading is a very essential activity. And if it's also for you, then you must continue reading this blog post. In my last post I mentioned doing November reading challenges but unfortunately I could not make up for it. I'm kind of depressed and suffering from a reading slump. I'd been stuck on one single book from last one month (The Secret Of The Nagas) however, I completed it 2 days back (finally!). So, even if there are exams coming up, I'm bucking myself for a light reading routine in between troublesome exam preparations.
Remarkably, I decided up to pick anthologies for this month. For those who do not know what an anthology is: it's a collection of short stories. I love reading an anthology especially when I'm occupied or really busy to read a chunky novel. And I guess, it's a right time to read anthologies. There are few anthologies on my book shelf that I'm gonna make headway for this month of examination.

1. SHE WRITES

The first book that I have on my list is "She Writes." It's a pretty attractive book and has a collection of short stories written only by women writers. It has an introduction by one of my favorite Indian author "Preeti Shenoy." Take a sneak-peek into its contents:

1. OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES- Anisha Bhaduri
2. THE TOURIST- Jyotsna Jha
3. REVELATION- Aprameya Manthena
4. A TALE OF DESTINY- Amrita Saikia
5. YOKEMATES- Sheela Jaywant
6. WINDS OF INDIFFERENCE- Shreya Manjunath
7. MANTRAS OF LOVE- Yishey Doma
8. SPACES- Prarthana Rao
9. WHITE CHILLY- Dr. Geeta Sundar
10. MIRAGE- Santana Pathak
11. CONUNDRUM- Chitralekha
12. A BOSTON BRAHMIN- Belinder Dhanoa

2. 25 STROKES OF KINDNESS

I love reading Grapevine books (because they are very relate-able and easy to read) and it's an anthology compiled and edited by grapevine authors: Nikita Singh and Orvana Ghai. It has 25 short stories that reflects an act of kindness in each. the 25 strokes of the book are:

1. OUROBOROS- Nanya Srivastva
2. IS IT KINDER TO GIVE OR RECEIVE? - Asfiya Rahman
3. A PACK OF PARLE- G - Himanshu Chabbra
4. A TEN DOLLAR WEDDING - Arashitta Sehrawat
5. PLEASE HUG ME - Preeti Shenoy
6. PENTIMENTO - Rafaa Dalvi
7. FIFTEEN MINUTES - Nikita Singh
8. SAVINGS OF LIFE AND LOVE - Parul Tyagi
9. CROSSROADS - Renuka Vishwanathan
10. COURT SENTENCE - Naman Kapur
11. A PIECE OF CONTAGIOUS KINDNESS - Sakshi Budhia
12. THE LOST GIRL - Arushi Pathak
13. LETTERS TO KARKA - Pernasi Malhotra
14. THE HELPING HAND - Ruchika Thukral
15. THE PHOTOGRAPH - Nikhil Khasnabish
16. THE COLLATERAL EMOTION - Shomprakash Sinha Roy
17. THE LAST ONE - Ishita Das
18. LESSONS OF A FATHER TO HIS DAUGHTER - Paromita Bardoloi & Ricardo Vaz
19. COLOURS OF GRATITUDE - Kalyani Manonjna
20. REALITY CHECK - Anjali Kirpalani
21. A RARE SIGHT - Namrata
22. SIX RUPEES - Husna Advani
23. LOVE THY NEIGHBOR - Prity S
24. AN ACT OF KINDNESS - Sachin Garg
25. SANTA FOR CHRISTMAS - Drishti Dasgupta

3. SELECTED STORIES BY LEO TOLSTOY

I'm not a classic book reader and have never picked any classics. However, this time under the influence of my Mom I've included an anthology by Leo Tolstoy. It has some selected stories compiled together in one little book (Let's get to know how classics feel like). The following asre the stories included into it:

1. A CANDLE
2. AFTER THE DANCE
3. ALBERT
4. ALYOSHA THE POT
5. AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE
6. DOES A MAN NEED MUCH LAND?
7. A SPARK NEGLECTED BURNS THE HOUSE
8. LUCERNE
9. THERE ARE NO GUILTY PEOPLE
10. GOD SEES THE TRUTH, BUT WAITS

In a nutshell, this is my tbr list until I finish up with my exams. I hope to read at least 2-3 stories each day. And if you're also suffering from reading slump and have exams coming up, start with an anthology.

Till then, keep reading and breathe in books.

Toodles! (:

~"It made me think that a collection of short stories is a treat, like a box of assorted chocolates for if you do not like one, there is always another one you can help yourself with."~

-Preeti shenoy

September Book Haul!

September's starting had been great for me because I bought favorite books of mine! Couldn't just dunk into much books few months back as I'd been very pre- occupied by college stuff. So, lets get into the beautiful books that I got to mark the beginning of this month.

The first book that I got is THE OATH OF VAYUPUTRAS. It is the third and and the final book in the Shiva Trilogy. I've been fanatically obsessed by Shiva Trilogy and it's the last book that I need to bask in. It's a pretty thick book and I guess, I need to plan a read-a-thon for it. Oh Gosh! I love this (It feels too good to have it in my hands. The smell, ah; wonderful).

Second book I got is THE GUARDIAN ANGELS by ROHIT GORE. It had been a long time that I've not picked up a Grapevine book (Indian publishing venture started up by Durjoy Datta and Sachin Garg). A friend of mine have been yelling at me from last one year for not reading such an amazing book. Now that I have it in my hands, I'll be reading it soon. 

THE COMPLETE BACKBENCHERS SERIES 

So here it is! I finally managed to buy the complete backbenchers series. What could be more heavenly than reading a complete series of books written by your favorite authors together (yes!). The series is written by Durjoy Datta and Nikita Singh under the pen name of Sidharth Oberoi. Already had had read the first two books in the series (2 more to go!). 

I'll soon be coming up with November's reading challenges. If you want me to review any of the above book leave a comment below. 

Till then, keep reading and breathe in books.

Toodles! (: 

July's tbr

The month of July has already started and I've made a tbr (to be read) list. I'm really thrilled about July's list as I've lined up four amazing books from four different genres. Two of them are Indian releases and the rest two are international bestsellers. I've chosen four easy to read books as I'll soon be occupied by college drudgery. Soo..here's the list:

1. THE IMMORTALS OF MELUHA 

Every Indian would have heard about it kind of lot. It's a blockbuster and a must read book too. It is the first book in the Shiva Trilogy. Author Amish has brought up a very different kind of fiction in this book. Ever thought how fiction would wrap up with mythology? This book is all about that. I've already read three fourth of it and I'm finding it absolutely gripping. Can't wait more to complete the trilogy.

2. LOOKING FOR ALASKA

I've been a John Green fan lately. I've read the most loved "The Fault In Our Stars" and "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" (which I really adore). Looking For Alaska is debut by John Green (New York Times bestseller). I've heard few of my friends saying weird things about the book like- it changes the complete course in the end and it's end is unsatisfying. So I'll be reading to find it out soon (hmm..).

3. THE NOTEBOOK

I read half of it last year, found it boring so stopped reading it (bingo!). But this time I'm gonna read it full and relish it. Readers say that it's an outstanding book and tends to open the dam of tears. I've never read a Nicholas Sparks book so I've lined it up in my July's tbr list.

4. THE BACKBENCHERS (THE EXTRA CLASS!)

It's a series of three books. Authors of Grapevine (Indian publishing company) have together written in it under the pen name of "Sidharth Oberoi". It seems to be a light hearten book series and I want to read it to live- up my school days again (which are unfortunately over now). The backbenchers: The extra class! is the first book of the series. 

Hope to complete my July's tbr list. Post a comment below if you want me to write a review on any of the above book. July's gonna rock. Till then, keep reading and breathe in books.

Toodles! (: 

Book Review: Fifty Shades Of Grey

The book that had been in vogue from last couple of years had finally been read by me. Back at school, I used to see girls flushing out pink while the name of "Christian Grey" was mentioned. Now it had been clear why! The book is my personnel favorite now (and of course Christian Grey too!).

The book had faced various stereotypes as it is considered as pornology or that of an erotic genre. However, I looked much more elements in it besides that. The author E.L. James has meticulously bonded the story. The dominant- submissive relationship had been brought about in the book attractively. It was something very unusual (something that I've never come across). The book is surely an adult read (I'm eighteen) but it holds some grave emotions that could also be scrutinized by early teenagers.

A very surprising thing it would be: the book made me cry. AN EROTICA MADE MY CRY. I didn't even cry while reading "The Fault In Our Stars" but I was on the verge of grabbing a tissue box while reading the last chapter. The book is addictive (I'm still thinking about it). The language is plain but the writing is original. The female protagonist Anastasia Steele won my favoritism by the end of the book.

The shoddy point about the book include the few extra pages that have been added. The story had been lingered on even if it wasn't required AT ALL. Conclusively, the book is bewitching and will obsess the reader (I'm obsessed. Still thinking about it).

I was wrecked to see that the story seemed incomplete (there are two more books in the sequence lined up).

Looking forward to read the complete trilogy and foresee where Christian Grey would lead his submissive to.

July is going to be a good book flood for me and I'll be sharing it with all my readers. Till then, keep reading and breathe in books.

Toodles! (:

May- June Wrap Up

Since my boards went pretty well, I got a long two month vacations (which are about to end now) that fortunately led to a good reading routine. Although, I'm a slow reader but I managed to complete my "to be read" list of these two months. I lined up five books which were easy to read yet full of introspection, all of them being Indian releases.

1. HOUSE OF CARDS

So, the first one that I decided to pick was "House Of Cards" by "Sudha Murty." Earlier I was skeptical about reading  it because the book synopsis didn't fascinate me at all but then; it's said, "don't judge a book by it's cover," so I decided to have a sneak peak. I loved the overall plot and the female protagonist. The story about women in India is so intricately woven that a reader tends to complete it in one night. The language is simple and easy to understand. I'd ask you to read it if you're deciding to pick up an Indian release which is plain sailing and very consequential.

2. YOUR DREAMS ARE MINE NOW

Next is a novel by the romantic author "Ravinder Singh." The day his debut "I Too Had a Love Story" got released, he had been the favorite among oh-I'm-in-love-girls (I, being one of them). Although the language of the book is very mainstream but the story is different. It allows you to assimilate about life at Delhi University and its politics. I wasn't satisfied with ending but still I would give the book a thumbs up. Ravin wrote up something interesting (other than the usual love stuff!)

3. WORLD'S BEST BOYFRIEND

The hottest selling romance writer came up with a perplexing theme this time. The main line of the book, "BECAUSE EVERY ORDINARY GIRL DESERVES AN EXTRAORDINARY LOVE STORY," made me pounce over it and gulp it (read, actually). The plot of the book revolves around two childhood friends and their abject hatred towards one another which eventually grows into never ending love. There's something unique in the book (that I won't disclose). I've always been a Durjoy fan. Truly saying, this time DD has done a marvel.

4. SORRY, YOU'RE NOT MY TYPE

The fourth book on the list is "Sorry, You're Not My Type." It was the story that was full of college elements. the story hangs in suspense and is about college band. It could be a considerable book for the first- time readers as it's not at all thick and intertwines the reader's interest into the fast forwarding story. 

5. AFTER ALL THIS TIME

Last book on the list is "After All This Time" by "Nikita Singh." The love lass wrote a complex theme and the writing was creative and much polished as compared to her older books. A unique and a positive love story brings itself all the way. It is the best book that I read in last couple of months. I would give it a "must read" tag. Go ahead and acquire it!

Since the month of June is not yet over, I'm reading "Fifty Shades of Grey," which I will possibly be completing by the end of this month. Will be giving my reviews on it soon. Till then, keep reading and breathe in books.

Toodles! (: