Bookworm's Nook

Fourth Wing   And Iron Flame Rebecca Yarros      So, this is kind of a very late book review since I completed these two books about 2 years back. I had come across this book several times on booktube but had been too doubtful to try it thinking that it would be a bit of too much of romance for me. I finally gave in after my bookish classmates relentlessly recommended this book.      This books belong to the Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros.The first two books Fourth Wing and Iron Flame came out in 2023 and it was followed by the third book Onyx Storm in 2025, which I am yet to read. The series is set to have two more books which are currently in development.     Now moving on to the first book, Fourth Wing, the narration is in first person mostly from the POV of our protagonist Violet Sorrengail, daughter of a powerful General mother  and a  dead Scribe father. The story begins with her getting into the Rider Quadrant on her mothe...

 Civil Lines Radhika Swarup     This was another find from the fill the box book fair  I went to and also another book I went for just because of its cover.But this time the book did not betray me unlike the last one. Civil Lines by Radhika Swarup is a quite interesting book which explores struggles of women in the Indian society, sisterhood and grief.     The novel follows two sisters , Siya and her elder sister Maya. Siya travels back to her home, a 'crumbling Lutyens' behemoth'(a large mansion),  in the infamous Civil Lines in Delhi to an under maintained house and a sister who is losing her character and life to grief.      A major turning point in the story arrives when the sisters decide to revamp their childhood home and they discover  their mother, Rupa Sharma's, first and last editorial , penned in the early 1900s.They discover another woman behind their mother's motherly instincts and her mask of love.A rebel , strong and ...

 Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them J.K. Rowling      Many might be familiar with the Fantastic Beasts movie series, but today I introduce you the the original book or screenplay behind it. I laid hands on my copy at a fill the box book fair and to be honest I picked up the book not because of being a Harry Potter Fan solely but just because I could get an aesthetically pleasing hardcover book for free!       Unlike a regular novel, this is the screenplay of the film, written by J. K. Rowling . The story follows Newt Scamander  , as he arrives in 1920s New York with a suitcase full of magical creatures that, naturally, escape and create chaos across the city. The screenplay format makes the book, from my point of view,  lagged and a bit boring. Readers can clearly imagine the scenes, magical settings, and creature action while reading. The 1920s wizarding society in New York feels fresh and different from Hogwarts, with unique ...

The Rest Of The Story SARAH DESSEN      The Rest of the Story  is a partially romance and mostly self discovery kind of novel.  The story follows Emma Saylor (who goes by Saylor, ofc, having an identity crisis). She’s living a very controlled, slightly boring life with her dad and stepmom. Then suddenly, she’s sent up to spend the summer with her mom’s side of the family at this place called North Lake… which is basically chaotic, loud, messy, and very different from what she’s used to.      The whole “two worlds” thing is done very well. On one side, she’s Emma. On the other, she’s Saylor. Same person, completely different identities. It’s not dramatic in a “world is ending” way, but more like… quiet confusion about who you are when different people expect different versions of you.You know, the way you feel when you are asked a very self explanatory question which can summarise up your whole life by a very nosy person.      Als...

  TAPE STEVEN CAMDEN      T ape by Steve Camden thinking is a quick read, It’s one of those books that’s short in pages and long in feelings. Like, you finish it fast, but your brain just kind of sits there afterward trying to process everything.      The story follows Ryan, who’s dealing with loss, guilt, and a lot of heavy thoughts that he doesn’t really know how to handle. Then there’s Ameliah, his future daughter. Their very sci-fi ,time defying  friendship is the heart of the book. Nothing about it is overly polished or fake.      The writing style is what really stands out. It’s written in texting and verse style which might , but it actually makes everything hit harder. The sentences are short, sometimes fragmented, but those lines just mirrors Ryan’s state of mind. It feels like you’re inside his head, which is slightly uncomfortable.      The themes are pretty intense. It talks about grief, mental health...

  DIVINE RIVALS REBECCA ROSS      I came across  Divine Rivals while casually scrolling through 'booktube', apparently a really good 'enemies to lovers book' and well...I decided to buy it. And now, here I am writing another review.  a literal war between gods and then emotional damage is the main course.      The story follows Iris Winnow, who is basically holding her life together with determination and mild chaos, and Roman Kitt, her annoyingly perfect rival at the newspaper. Naturally, they hate each other. 'naturally' , that doesn’t last. Because what’s better than rivals? Rivals who unknowingly write heartfelt letters to each other through a magical typewriter. The story takes a twist when Iris decides to become a war correspondent and Roman following her in the same path as he misses his rival. And then its all bickering, friendship and much more.     Speaking of the war aspect ,it’s not just background decoration. It actua...

  AGGGTM HOLLY JACKSON "A  Good Girl's Guide To Murder" by Holly Jackson has so far been one of the best crime-investigation novels that I laid my hands on, especially since it's about a female student detective who just loves to go over with a fine tooth comb. And oh boy! I do really admire Pip and I became an ardent devotee of hers, to be frank.      The series is a trilogy , the first one being "A Good Girl's Guide To Murder" itself. It follows around how Pip(Pippa Fitz-Amobi) overturns every stone to get to the roots of the Andie Bell murder case, who was "allegedly" murdered by her boyfriend ,Sal Sing. Pip is accompanied by Sal's brother , Ravi, throughout the investigation, who has his own share of nicknames for her including the most famous 'sarge' .Pip believes with all her heart that Sal is innocent. And the truth? No spoilers! Find it out yourself folks! And don't get me started on the chemistry between Pip and Ravi....

  Metamorphosis Franz Kafka     The whole family is in the rush of Onam and here I am writing another review.  The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is a modernist novella that leaves a deep mark on the reader. In this story, we step into the life of Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a gigantic insect, my guess and imagination-a cockroach. What follows is not just the tale of a shocking transformation, but an exploration of alienation, family duty, and the fragility of human relationships.      The narrative takes us through Gregor’s gradual realization of his condition and the heartbreaking reactions of his family. Once the provider of the household, Gregor now becomes a burden, hidden away in his room, avoided, and eventually rejected. Kafka’s writing captures both the physical horror of Gregor’s situation and the quiet tragedy of his emotional isolation. At the beginning we see a caring sister ...

 

  Wonder R J Palacio      Wonder by R.J. Palacio is a realistic fiction novel that truly touches the heart. In this book we step into the life of August Pullman, a boy born with a facial difference that makes him stand out wherever he goes. For years, he has been homeschooled, but now he faces the challenge of entering a regular school for the first time.      The story follows Auggie as he navigates the ups and downs of fifth grade—dealing with stares, whispers, and sometimes even cruel remarks. Yet, what makes this book powerful is not just the struggles but the way Auggie slowly wins over people with his kindness, humor, and quiet courage. Palacio also shifts the perspective to his sister, his friends, and even other classmates, which gives us a deeper understanding of how one person’s presence can change many lives. The book is in first person narrative narrated by different characters and sometimes feels like a diary by many people.  ...

Aalahayude Penmakkal  Sarah Joseph     Just for a change , today I will be reviewing a Malayalam novel. "Aalahayude Penmakkal" is a Malayalam novel written by Sarah Joseph. It's the first in the trilogy which includes "Mattathi" and   "Othappu" , all revolving around fierce women protagonists in out of the ordinary backgrounds.     The book is narrated from the perspective of Annie, an eight-year-old filled with curiosity , living in 'Kokkanchira' , an imaginary undesirable locality on the outskirts of Thrissur. 'Kokkanchira" is described as a previous dumping ground for carcasses and dead bodies and an abode for the marginalised societies, dalits and scavengers, displaced from the city. However we see how the services of these 'undesirables' are 'desirable' for the city dwellers , a situation where the development of some of few constricts the development of some others. We see conflicts between various social sects, p...

The Midnight Library   Matt Haig      "It is easy to mourn the lives we aren't living. Easy to wish we'd developed other other talents, said yes to different offers. Easy to wish we'd worked harder, loved better, handled our finances more astutely, been more popular, stayed in the band, gone to Australia, said yes to the coffee or done more bloody yoga. It takes no effort to miss the friends we didn't make and the work we didn't do the people we didn't do and the people we didn't marry and the children we didn't have. It is not difficult to see yourself through the lens of other people, and to wish you were all the different kaleidoscopic versions of you they wanted you to be. It is easy to regret, and keep regretting, ad infinitum, until our time runs out. But it is not lives we regret not living that are the real problem. It is the regret itself. It's the regret that makes us shrivel and wither and feel like our own and other people's wors...

The Palace Of Illusions CHITRA  BANERJEE  DIVAKARUNI "Can't you ever be serious?' I said, mortified. 'It's difficult,' he said.'There's so little in life that's worth it." -Draupadi & Krishna      The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a breathtaking reimagining of the Mahabharata , one of the greatest epics ever written. Most of us have grown up hearing the story countless times, but this novel completely transforms the way we see it. Instead of following the familiar narrative shaped by male voices, we experience the epic through the eyes of the woman history has so often blamed for the devastating war that changed the fate of entire kingdoms: Draupadi. The novel takes us deep into Draupadi's mind, revealing her fears, ambitions, desires, anger, and resilience. From her secret attraction to the one man she can never have, her husbands' greatest enemy, to the humiliation she suffers at his hands; from sharing an...

  Ramachandra Series (Review series) Amish Tripathi     The 'Ramachandra' series is a Indian-Mythological fiction tetralogy by Amish Tripathi. This is the author's second book series.The four books in the series are respectively given in order : Ram : Scion of Ikshvaku Sita : Warrior of Mithila Raavan : Enemy of Aryavarta War of Lanka     And let me warn you in advance this is not the Ramayana you believe in or are familiar with. Be ready for an ignored Ram, a resilient Sita and a man-who-turned-into-evil-cause-he-lost-the-love-of-his-life  Raavan. And hence I welcome you to my first review series... Ram : Scion of Ikshvaku      “Swagruhe Pujyate Murkhaha; Swagraame Pujyate Prabhuhu ,Swadeshe Pujyate Raja; Vidvaansarvatra Pujyate. A fool is worshipped in his home. A chief is worshipped in his village. A king is worshipped in his kingdom. A knowledgeable person is worshipped everywhere.”     May these truly spoken words inspire...

  PARADISE Abdulrazak Gurnah “They offered me freedom as a gift. She did. Who told her she had it to offer? I know the freedom you are talking about. I had that freedom the moment I was born. When these people say you belong to me, I own you, it is like the passing of the rain, or the setting of the sun at the end of the day.”     These touching words are an excerpt from 2021 Nobel Prize Winning  'Paradise' by Tanzanian Writer Abdulrazak Gurnah. It follows around Yusuf , a Muslim teenage boy , in East Africa. He is unknowingly sent with his 'Uncle Aziz' , just to know later that he has been sold to him by his parents for money and a temporary escape from poverty. Life isn't easy. He has to travel long to reach his destination. Even after reaching their life isn't easy. It is the story of coming of age of Yusuf against the backdrop of an Africa of myth, dreams and Biblical and Koranic tradition. The book also ends with a creeping in of corruption and colonialism...

  THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS  A Stirring Masterpiece of Memory, Love, and Loss Arundhati Roy "D’you know what happens when you hurt people?" Ammu said. "When you hurt people, they begin to love you less. That’s what careless words do. They make people love you a little less." These hauntingly beautiful lines from Arundhati Roy’s 1997 Booker Prize-winning novel The God of Small Things echo the emotional undercurrents that define the story — raw, unflinching, and heartbreakingly human. Set in Ayemenem, a village in Kottayam, Kerala, the novel intricately weaves the fragmented lives of fraternal twins Estha and Rahel. Branded the "two-egg twins," their seemingly innocent world begins to unravel with the arrival of their beloved Anglo-Indian cousin, Sophie Mol — "the Sophie Mol who smells of cologne, whom everyone adores, even Ammu, their mother." But beneath the surface of familial affection and cultural pride lies the unyielding grip of societal norms...

  All Of Me Venita Coelho      'Burning through day, burning through night, It takes eyes to see light.'           The book "All Of Me"  by Indian Writer Venita Coelho is a thrilling tale set it 1854, London. It is the first book of the series. It follows around the protogonist, Castor, imprisoned in a cellar for five years, one month and three and a half days.It follows around his rambling around for finding the famous "Koh-i-Noor" ( The Mountain Of Light) diamond which is just a finger tip away from him. The most interesting part of the story is The Family which lives inside his head. Mr Pickwick is the father figure with a habit of quoting from the Bible. Miss Trent is the nervous governess who dreads germs. Skinner is the street urchin with a smart answer for everything.The Infant Prodigy... well from the name you know he's a genius.The rambling unwinds many truths in the process. It turns out Castor's mother was an Indian Princ...

  FRIGHT OR FLIGHT 'A corpse smiling at you in the middle of the night is not the most pleseant of experiences. It is calculated to give you goosebumps. And when the smile becomes an evil grimace, it is time to say your prayers. But there was no time for prayer. The smile widened even further, and...'           I hope the genre of this book needs no further introduction.  " Fright or Flight" is a spine tingling and blood curling collection of  horror stories put together by Ruskin Bond and published by the Rupa. But these are not the ghost tales you are expecting. These are the real tales of horror in life. Sometimes we may not be sure what time and nature has for us and even menial things can sometimes be a source to horror sometimes. You never know. Some of my personal favourites are 'The Last Match' by Edward Fitz- Gerald  Flipp , 'The Beast with Five Fingers' by W.F. Harvey and 'A Fright at Night' by Ruskin Bond. So whom would you w...

Here's a small documentary film on Kashmir capturing it's rural beauty that only a few experience. Watch and enjoy! 🍁🍂🍁 Click Here to Watch  

The Blue Umbrella RUSKIN BOND     I found this among some old books. I read this book about 6 years ago, but the vivid and colourful details Ruskin Bond puts in each story makes us remember it lifelong.This one is set in Garhwal, a hill village in Uttarakahand.Binya the protagonist of this novella is like any other brave village girl. She herds cows and has a very caring elder brother . But then comes the blue umbrella with the picnickers from the outside world which she hasn't ever seen. She falls for that blue silk umbrella and is even ready to give her lucky leopard claw away for that bauble.And the rest ... well for that you have to read the book. This simple novella turns each ordinary character from the village into a hero and gives them an oppurtunity to redeem themselves.