Book Review: At The Teahouse Cafe

At the Teahouse Cafe is a collection of 15 essays by Isham Cook recounting his experiences in China.

I was very excited to read this book since I know almost nothing about China and its culture and I am not disappointed. The author talks about various issues ranging from education to health to customer service in China. I was a little skeptical of essays being of purely academic nature which get a little boring sometimes but the author did not disappoint there too. 

He draws extensively from his own experiences which make essays quite interesting to read. He is funny and sarcastic, which is icing on the cake. The tone is conversational and he lets the readers take a peek into the culture of China. He does not shy away from talking about sex or what is wrong with the education system in China. You will often find comparisons between China and USA, and China and Japan. The essay on differences between Starbucks in China and Japan is my absolute favorite along with the last essay where he talks about racism and yellow fever.

 My rating: 

 PS: I got a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review via BookTasters

Book Review: Pearls of Daily Life

My Rating:

Pearls of Daily Life by Antonia Loschner is a collection of short stories and poems which "invite a journey of discovery". The book explores daily lives of people doing ordinary routine things and finding out little things about themselves. It offers exactly what is promises- wisdom in daily life. A journey of self-discovery in small incidents of life. The book takes on seemingly mundane yet interesting themes- a walk in the garden, a train ride, standing up for your co-passengers, children playing in the garden.

The book came as a breath of fresh air. I was afraid it was going to be like those preachy self-help novel espousing hard routines or sermons to discover yourself. But as soon as I read the first poem- Creativity, I knew I was in for something different. You need not trek the Himalayas to discover yourself, you could very well be taking a walk and surprise yourself. You just need to be a little aware.   Another thing that I liked about the book is how often the author talked mental illness. Mental Illness is a grim reality of today and it has affected so many people around us. But it also true it is also one of the most tabooed subjects to talk about. 

In a nutshell, pick up this book if you want to read something light, breezy and inspiring.

PS: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Book Talk: Riddles in Hinduism

Riddles in Hinduism by B.R Ambedkar is a scathing remark on the well-established tenets of Hinduism. 

The introduction by Kancha Ilaiah sets a good base for the book. He talks about Ambedkar's life, different roles he played and his critique of Hinduism. He also talks about the current context and how ironical it is for the right to appropriate Ambedkar as a Hindu figure despite his hatred for Hinduism.

Ambedkar has delved upon various aspects of Hinduism. The first riddle digs into the question of who is a Hindu? Ambedkar says that there is no definite answer for that owing to the diversity in thoughts and practices among Hindus. He also looks into the characterisation of Rama and Krishna in the popular narrative and questions the sanctity of their actions. He is also critical of Manu's explanation of the Mixed Caste.

The most interesting read for me was the riddle of The Four Varnas: Are the Brahmans Sure of their Origin?. In this riddle, he explains how different scriptures suggest a different origin of the caste system. There is no coherence among Vedas and Shashtras.

Ambedkar's writing is hard hitting. He raises right questions and views them with an objective lens. He has deeply researched all the scriptures and dissected them for us to see their internal contradictions.He makes you question your own deep-rooted prejudices which were fed to you by the popular narrative. No wonder when Maharashtra Government printed this book, Shiv Sena sought a ban. 

In a nutshell, if you have to read one book this year, it ought to be this one.

Book Review: Leadersights

My Rating:

Leadersights by David Veech is a book that focuses on "how organizations of all types can create a leader". The book is divided into 10 chapters with each section dealing with different aspects of leadership. The first few chapters set the theoretical foundation while the rest of them focuses majorly on tools and implementation.

The book contains some great insights on leadership. The concepts are explained in a very simple language and appropriate examples are used to further elucidate them. To break down complex concepts, analogies have been used which makes things easier. There is a crisp summary at the end of each chapter. What makes it for a good re-read is the visual representation of the book. Important points are highlighted and diagrams are used for easy reference. 

What I liked the most about the book is that a great emphasis is given on implementation of the tools. The chapters are accompanied by exercises and the problems regarding the implementation are also addressed. So, this is not just a preachy book which will tell you what to do but it would also tell you the ways to do it. I especially liked the concept of a "servant leader". 

In a nutshell, pick up this book if you looking to read great insights about leadership.

PS: I received the pdf copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

You can buy the book here

Book Review: Writing for Bliss

My Rating:

Writing for Bliss by Diana Raab is about "reflection, truth, and freedom."  The book is divided into seven sections and it guides you through the whole process of writing from preparing to write to sharing it. Each section dwells deep into the writing process and offers various insights. It also delineates various kinds and mediums of writing. There is a separate section on poetry also.  I have read quite a lot of books, websites, and other resources but this one definitely stands out for the following reasons

• The author provides an amazing explanation about how writing can help you figure out your issues and heal. She has also talked about how writing can be transformative. In a way, she does not only talk about the mechanical aspects of writing but also connects it to spirituality. 
• The book is well researched and the author has drawn heavily from the experiences of other writers and psychologists which makes the content very rich and diverse.
• Each section starts with a detailed description of the process and how it can be used in our personal lives. Then, she relates it to the writing. 
• The language of the book is simple to understand and the narrative flows easily. No fancy words which would make comprehension difficult.
• I absolutely loved the writing prompts in the beginning and in the end. 
• The book provides abundant writing tips to the novice as well as seasoned writers.

In a nutshell, pick up this book if you are looking for some inspiration to write. 

The book is going to be out in September 2017 but you can preorder the book here

PS: I received an e-copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Book Review: Super Women

My Rating:

Super Women by Prachi Garg is a book encompassing entrepreneurial journeys of 20 women. These are the tales of self-realization, extraordinary courage and out of the box, unconventional ideas. In what is generally regarded as a male dominated space, these women who have taken up the challenge of smashing stereotypes and make a name for themselves are inspiring.

Each story brings out various aspects of the journey- the ideas, the hopes, the fears, the challenges. Not only their entrepreneurial journeys are talked about, the author also attempted to bring out their personalities.The narrative flows smoothly. The language is simple yet impactful. The author has made sure that there is a diverse mix of professions from handicraft portal to lingerie portal. This helped in making the book a more interesting read.  You can't help but feel motivated. 

There is one story I will like to mention particularly- Make Love Not Scars. This touched me deeply. The way author brings out the internal contradictions in the mind of the entrepreneur is commendable. Our flawed notions about the beauty are superficial. The way we have internalized it all speaks volumes about what is wrong with the society.

In a nutshell, it is definitely worth a read not only for aspiring entrepreneurs but also for women of all ages and professions.


PS: I received a paperback copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: Strange Medicine

My Rating:

Strange Medicine by Mike Rusell is a collection of 8 short stories. These stories are bizarre, to say the least. Having read his previous collection of short stories, I was definitely stoked to read this one. But I was apprehensive of the fact that the stories might feel repetitive. Well, that was definitely not the case. I enjoyed this collection as much as I enjoyed the previous one.

The stories were enchanting and kept me hooked till the end. The subjects ranged from strange telephonic conversations to mime artists to missing brains. The book is not a simple read. You would try to find hidden meanings behind the stories but end up confusing yourself even more. A good kind of confusion, I swear. My reading journey was purely a bliss and this got me out of my reading slump.

The author has beautifully woven the narrative in simple language.

Though the collection contains only 8 stories, the diversity in the characters was intriguing. Each story is weird in its own unique way. Some stories were fun, some were crazy, some had a deep meaning and some didn't make sense at all. But these twisted tales will leave you wanting for more.  

Leaving you with my favorite quote

Sometimes the suffering of one individual is so great that it renders unjustifiable any purpose that the universe could possibly have.

PS: I received the digital copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Unns- The Captivation

My Rating: 

Blurb from Goodreads:

"Of course you know about the seven stages of love, but have you ever lived them?"

Atharva Rathod and Meher Qasim. 

Lovebirds since adolescence. Bonded by love, separated by circumstances. They part ways only to meet again. But this time, he is on a secret mission...

Are they in control of their own destiny, or its their destiny which is making them dance to its tunes? Only time would answer, as Atharva and Meher unwillingly and unknowingly transcend the seven stages of love. 

A quintessential tale of love and romance marked beautifully by its own rustic old school charm. 

My Review:

Unns-The Captivation by Sapan Saxena is a "quintessential tale of love and romance". This is the story of Atharva Rathod and Meher Qasim. Atharva is a senior RAW agent and Meher is a businesswoman. Their love story begins in school and takes various turns and twists throughout the plot.

The book talks about seven stages of love which are explained beautifully in the novel. The author has seamlessly woven each stage into the plot as the story develops. The first 20-30 pages were difficult to get through and seemed unnecessary. It gives you an impression that the book is going to be about school romance but as the story moves forward, it gets exciting. You wait with bated breath as to what will happen next while they solve the cases.

The characters are well developed. Atharva comes across as a hopeful and optimistic person while Meher's character has several shades.  I liked how the author makes you go through so many emotions of love, hope, betrayal, and disappointment. The language is simple which makes it a breezy read. 

There are some loopholes due to which the story doesn't flow smoothly. In some parts, the events unfolded quite abruptly which was an impediment to the flow of the story.

 In a nutshell, pick up this book if you want to read a love story with a hint of mystery.

You can Buy the book from here. 

PS: I received a copy from Half Baked Beans in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Nothing is Strange

My Rating:

Nothing is strange by Mike Russell is a collection of twenty short stories. These stories are "otherworldly, magical, surreal, funny, disturbing and unique". 

First of all, I was fascinated by the design of book cover. It is unusual, philosophical, funny eye-catching and strange just like the book. And don't let the title mislead you. Everything is strange in this book. The stories are bizarre and will make little sense if taken at their face value. The stories are deep, open-ended, philosophical, funny and even downright spooky.

Since each person will interpret every story differently, it makes no sense talking about them. Instead, I will share my reading journey.

I was in a state of constant wonder. I was building up scenarios in my head attempting to find the meanings of the stories.At various points, while reading the book, I was trying to decipher what the author was thinking when he was writing these stories. The author has used colors and aural imagery which definitely helped in imagining those bizarre characters and plot lines. , there was nothing that could be construed absolutely, there was something that kept me going on. I wanted to see how surreal the characters can get. 

Even after you finish reading the book, the stories linger on in your mind. You appreciate and curse the author at the same time for writing such brilliant stories. My favorite ones are "The Diaries of Sun City" and "Dunce'

This is one of those books which you would want other people to read so you can discuss various interpretations of the stories.

One caveat here, people who like to read the stories with a definite ending won't like this book. This book is for the people who would like to push their reading boundaries. 

I highly recommend this book.

PS: I received the PDF copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: 4 AM Conversations

My rating: 

4 AM Conversations with the ghosts of old lovers is a collection of poems and mini-tales by Ayushee Ghoshal. The book is divided into nine sections.  The poems and the stories are centred on varying themes such as yearning for a lost lover, knowing when to hold on and when to give up, understanding how sometimes all you need is to let go, loving yourself and hope. The themes will appeal to everyone.

The themes keep on alternating which made it an interesting mix of poems and stories. The placement of text in particular parts of the pages made the reading process more delightful for me. The vocabulary is simple yet it does not fail to convey the feelings and emotions of the author. The tone is melancholic yet hopeful.The content flows smoothly throughout the poems.

For me, the reading process was loaded with many emotions. Initially, I was a little suspicious about the book but after reading the first two pages, I was certain I was in for an emotional roller coaster ride. I liked stories more than the poems. My favourite stories are Lessons in Forgetting and The Girl she used to be.

Leaving you with my favourite quote:

 Let hope break you.

And then allow hopelessness

To set you free.

PS: The book was sent to me by the publishers in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: The Four Patriots

My Rating:

The Four Patriots by Sumit Agarwal is a story about “friendship, faith and courage, replete with romance and patriotism. It is a tale of four youngsters who want to contribute to the betterment of India. The Quadro as they have been called in the book consists of Varun, an NRI software engineer: Salman, CEO of Coffee Moments: Raghav, a virtuous politician; and Aditya, an altruistic businessman.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part takes us through the lives of all the characters. There are four parallel story lines. Since there were too many characters, initially, it was difficult to keep a track of what was happening with whom but as I got into it, it became easier. The language is simple.

The second part is where the real action happens. These four characters come together and work as a team to solve all the problems. One can see the author’s passion to see India as a developed country in the way he engages with every possible problem that is plaguing our system from corruption to terrorism to black money. This part was rather dramatic. Almost Bollywood-like.

There is not a single dull moment in the book as the narrative is very eventful. It keeps you at the edge of your seat. How the characters emerge victoriously from every problem is very interesting to read.

The only thing I didn’t like is the weak portrayal of female characters. The tone is rather judgmental.  The author should have made an effort to delve deeper into building up the characters.

In a nutshell, pick up this book if you are looking to read something racy and entertaining.

Disclaimer: I received the copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Welcome to You 20.0

Name: Welcome to You 20.0

Author: Atul Jain

Publisher: Notion Press

No. of Pages: 212

MRP: 299

 My Rating:

Welcome to You 20.0 by Atul Jain is a book about  "your journey to your best version by discovering and achieving your dreams". The book is divided into four sections. The first part is about introspection and preparing plans for yourself. The second part makes you look deeper into your plan and also takes you through the tools needed to achieve your vision. The third part deepens that understanding. The fourth part is about leaving your mark on others.

First, I was intrigued by the title. Why 20.0 and not 2.0? Well, you will find that as you go through the book. One caveat here, the book is influenced by Law of Attraction. If you believe in it, then the book will furnish useful insights. If not, there are parts which might not appeal to you. However, the other parts are still worth reading.

Let's get on with what I liked about the book.

• The book begins with a moving tale of APJ Abdul Kalam and at different points, it draws from experiences of several people like Steve Jobs. By doing this, the writer has bypassed the trap of the text being too preachy keeping the narrative interesting.The language is easy to read.
•  Important sections are emphasized, so it makes for a smooth re-read.
• There are exercises in the book which are effective in mapping your career trajectory. They encourage you to think and bring out your wildest fancies.
• The book is comprehensive and contains practical ideas. It delineates some difficult decisions you might have to make along the way.
• I absolutely loved the idea of creating your own Wikipedia page.

However, at certain places, I felt that the book was a little dragging. There was no need to dive deeper into some topics.  While, at other places, he could have elaborated more.

In a nutshell, it is a quick, breezy read with a bunch of fresh ideas.

PS: I received the copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.`

You can buy book from here  http://www.amazon.in/Welcome-You20-0-Journey-Discovering-Achieving/dp/1946515078

Book Review: Of Mice and Men



My Rating:

Have you ever picked up a short story and thought,"Well, what could 100 pages entail?" You think it will be over as soon as it will begin. I thought that too. And, it turns out Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck was anything but just a short story.

This is the story of two friends- George and Lennie who are working extremely hard to realize their dream of owning a piece of land: a place where no would trouble them and they can do whatever they want. In search of work, they come to Curley's barn from where things go haywire.

The plot of the book is fairly simple yet it keeps you at the edge of your seat. The story deals with themes like racism and sexism which are woven into the plot seamlessly. In only 100 pages, Steinbeck has made all the characters alive. George, the ever-so- concerned friend trying to keep Lennie out of trouble.  The simple-minded Lennie just wants to tend rabbits. Their friendship is so heart-warming. And then there is Curley's wife who wants company. The characters are developed beautifully.  I love the author's style of writing. He described everything in so much detail yet it didn't seem superfluous, which I think is very difficult to achieve especially with a short story.

However, the ending of the book is heartbreaking. It makes you think what would you have done if you were in George's place?

In a nutshell, it is a quick read but be prepared to be emotionally drained.

Book Review: Lajja

Lajja by Taslima Nasreen is a story of a Hindu family- Sudhamoy, Kironmoyee and their children- Suranjan and Maya. They live in Bangladesh which is ridden with religious and political conflict.But their lives take a turn for the worse when Hindus in India demolish Babri Masjid at Ayodhya. With already burgeoning Muslim fundamentalism, this incident added fuel to the fire. The event which happened in India had repercussions in Bangladesh.

Hi people!! This is my third read of the year. It has been on my TBR for so long and I am so happy that I read it. The story is gut wrenching and it left me emotionally drained. Find out the detailed review on my blog. The link is in the bio. #bookblogger #bookstagramindia #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #bookporn #booknerdigans #booklover #bookaholic #lajja #tbr #readersofinstagram #reading #instabooks #picoftheday #penguin #bookstagramindia #lake #nature #trees #naturelovers

A photo posted by Ravneet Kaur ll 21 ll India (@the.crazy.booknerd) on Jan 25, 2017 at 3:06am PST

The story depicts their life over a series of thirteen days- how each family member feels and reacts to different situations. The narrative is very powerful.  The language is simple yet impactful. Several themes pertaining to religion, secularism, patriotism are explored throughout the narrative which makes you think what is right and what is wrong. It left me emotionally drained. 

 The characters are wonderfully written. Sudhanmoy is patriotic and idealistic. His idealism gets very irritating when he fails to see the reality. Suranjan comes across as careless and detached. But his thinking undergoes a lot of significant change. 

Throughout the story, there are a lot of facts which recount the horrific incidents of lootings and killings in Bangladesh. That threw me off a little. Other than that, the book is worth reading. 

I highly recommend this book. 

My Rating

Book Review: The curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time

Hola! This is my first read of 2017. So many of my friends recommend me this book that I had to read it. The review is up on my blog. Link in bio. QOTD: Have you read this book? How did you find it? #bookstagramindia #bookstagram #books #bookporn #bookphotography #currentlyreading #tbr #mark #booknerdigans #readersofinstagram #reading #mystery #dog #instabooks #picoftheday #booksofinstagram #igreads #bookstagramfeatures #blogger #bookblogger #book1 #readingchallenge

A photo posted by Ravneet Kaur ll 21 ll India (@the.crazy.booknerd) on Jan 20, 2017 at 11:47pm PST

This book  came  highly recommended by so many people that I snagged it as soon as I spotted in the World Book Fair. Upon reading it, I did not understand what the hype was all about.

The book is written from the point of view of a boy named Christopher who suffers from Asperger Disorder. He loves prime numbers and Sherlock Holmes. He makes sense of the world in the form of patterns and diagrams, so he enjoys making lists.  His mother is dead, and he lives with his father. One day, the neighbor's dog gets killed, and he takes it upon himself to solve the mystery. But during uncovering this mystery, he unearths a lot of other secrets. 

The pace of the novel is just right- neither quick nor very slow. The author does not indulge in giving unnecessary details. He has done a good job getting into the mind of a person with Autism and interpreting the world around him. There are various illustrations which add an extra element to the book. 

I didn't like the plot of the novel very much. While the first half looks promising, the author didn't do very well in building suspense. And in the second half, the author drifted off to some other direction. The mystery is solved and then the real struggle is reaching London all by himself. Why London, you will get to know when you read.

In a nutshell, it's an interesting one time read but I would not recommend it.

Leaving you with my favorite quote:

“On the fifth day, which was a Sunday, it rained very hard. I like it when it rains hard. It sounds like white noise everywhere, which is like silence but not empty.

My Rating:

Book Review: Colorful Notions

Do you ever dream of visiting different places? Do you think of not just visiting the places as a tourist but immerse yourself in the local culture and traditions? Do you think of going on a road trip with your friends?  If yes, then this is the right book for you.

Colorful notions by Mohit Goyal is a story of two guys and a girl on a road trip across the length and breadth of India. They visit a myriad of places. This is not a travelogue but a travel fiction. It is not limited to the description of places where  they went  but the plot is spiced up with love, jealousy, and betrayal. They start from Jim Corbett National Park and go through Rajasthan, Punjab, Ladakh to end their roadtrip in Delhi. From convincing parents to getting cold feet just before the trip to proposing to robbing, the story keeps getting more interesting.

The characters in the novel are very relatable. Abhay is your typical 20 something who wants to quit his job and travel. Shashank is trapped in his family business but wants to do something he is passionate about. Unnati is Shashank’s girlfriend and an RJ. The friendship between Abhay and Shashank is real. It warms your heart to see the things they do for each other. I found the relationship between Shashank and Unnati a bit clichéd. My favourite parts to read were their trip to Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan and their conversation with the Lama.

The novel is written in a lucid manner. The story progresses seamlessly and in no time, you find yourself engaged with the characters. However, the description of places leaves the reader wanting for more.

In a nutshell, pick up this book if you want to read something light.

Leaving you with my favourite quote:

That’s what life is all about. You may hate it one moment, but later on, that very moment may become your most cherished memory.

My rating:

Book Review: Hello Bastar

It's thousands of years old
their anger
thousands of years old
is their bitterness
I am only returning their scattered words
with rhyme and rhythm
and you fear that
I am spreading fire.
- Gorakh Pandey

Hello, Bastar by Rahul Pandita is the story of Maoist movement in India. The book starts with a very gripping story. In fact, throughout the book, the author seamlessly weaves one story into another. The book sheds  light on the origin of the movement. It further explains that how the struggle continued in different parts of the country with special focus on Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. The book is  well researched and backed with chilling statistics.

The book gives us insights into the hardship that people face. It tells us how the simple agitation against landlords in West Bengal turn into a nationwide movement. The author also throws light on how this issue has been politicized and made into what it is not. The role of media in furthering this agenda has also been discussed. 

The party's ideology, structure and funding is explained in a  simple manner. I especially love the part where the author's experience of staying in camp is described. It reminded me of Arundhati Roy's Walking with Comrades. The section on Anuradha Ghandy's life is very informative. The book culminates with the issues faced by slum dwellers and how they can be unionized to further the Maoist agenda.

The book covers the subject adequately. The narrative style makes it an interesting read. The only thing  I don't like is that I feel the narrative is one-dimensional. 

In a nutshell, this book is perfect for a beginner who wants to understand the issue.

Book Review: Courting Injustice

                                         
                                                 


                                                    

Courting Injustice by Rajesh Talwar is a book which entails the horrific gang rape case of Nirbhaya which took place in Delhi on the fateful night of 16 December. The book is divided into 10 chapters with each chapter dealing with a 

certain topic. 

Anger. Shame. Disgust. Helplessness. This is what I was feeling as I was reading the book.

It starts with the description of what happened on that night. The author also delves into the life of the victim and her family. From then on, he talks about the New-Anti Rape Laws which came into force as a result of this unfortunate event. This section of the book is comprehensive as it clearly delineated the difference between the old and the new laws. He not only talks about the crimes against women but also against men, children, and transgender. 

The section on Verma Committee recommendations is  thorough and well-articulated. From highlighting the good points to highlighting where it failed to offer the solutions, the author has done a very good job. He explains the lacunae in the system and how new laws filled those gaps.

The author not only goes rambling about the problem but also provides solutions. He first explains the problems which plague our judicial system backed with shocking statistics. Then he offers the possible solutions. The author also touches some crucial topics like marital rape, capital punishment and the inclusion of stalking and voyeurism as  crimes.

The author has referenced many other cases which show that the book is backed with a good amount of research. The details are not too elaborate, just enough to summarize what happened without leaving any important details.  The analytical approach towards the subject has helped the author to cover all the aspects in a balanced manner. The book has definitely helped me understand the subject a little better.

The only parts I didn't like reading were the description of laws in legal language. Though the explanation was simplified by the author, I found them distracting. Other than that the book has done its job quite well.

My rating: 

Book Review: Ghachar Ghochar

Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag is a story of a middle-class family that goes from living in penury to living an opulent life. The family consists of the protagonist, his father, his mother, his wife, his uncle and a sister who is living separately from her husband. After the father loses his job, the uncle comes up with the idea of starting a business. The business does quite well and that changes everything. The novella manoeuvres through how this sudden influx of money changes everything.

The first thing that attracted me towards this book was the title and the cover. The cover is intriguing and it makes you think what the story could be about. My curiosity was piqued. So, I picked up the book and finished it one sitting.  The narrative style of the book makes it an interesting read. The author has an eye for detail. He presents the mundane events interestingly. The story is fast paced. The writing is crisp.

I found the characters a bit clichéd. An authoritative mother-in-law trying to undermine her son’s wife. The character of the daughter-in-law was the strongest. Unlike the family, she is married into that sweeps everything under the rug, she speaks her mind with no hesitation.

The only thing I didn’t like about the book is its ending. The author leaves the story hanging and I really want to know what happens after.

In a nutshell, pick up this book if you want to read something light and quick.

Book Review: How To Talk To A Widower

                                               

                                                      

How to Talk to A Widower by Jonathan Trooper is a story of a widower Doug Parker, who wallows in self-pity after he loses his wife, Hailey. He tries to get back to his normal life with the help of his elder sister who is pregnant. The family like all of Trooper’s families is dysfunctional and consists of a demented father, a mother, and a younger sister. They all come together for the younger sister’s wedding.

The narrative style of writing is succinct. It is witty and sarcastic.  All his characters are very interesting and real. The equation among the family members is interesting to note.  The story line is eventful and it won’t let you put the book down. The writing was tight and the pace was just right-neither too slow nor too rushed.  The family dinner scenes were my favorite scenes to read.

The setting of the book felt strikingly similar to his another novel (This is Where I leave you) that I had read before. I was constantly drawing parallels between the characters.

In a nutshell, pick up this book if you want to read something light and funny.

Leaving you with my favorite quote :

It’s life, that’s all. There are no happy endings, just happy days, happy moments.