Tinted Tales Book Review

Tinted Tales blog

For the last month or two, I have been trying to read and experience different styles in the fiction genre. While they are not strictly something I enjoy as much as fantasy fiction, I am happy that I have begun to widen my range. It started off with Forty Rules of Love, then came Handmaid’s Tale and the last one was Normal People. Tinted Tales is another book that is far from my usual taste. Written by debutant author Akanksha Shukla, Tinted Tales is a collection of 10 short stories that take you back to your childhood and make you reminisce that wonderful time, full of hope and dreams. Each story has its own particular setting but as you go on, you start to see the author’s stamp in all of them. ...  More

Y: The Last Man Comic Series Review

last man

Y: The Last Man is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi comic book series written by Brian K Vaughan with penciller Pia Guerra. True to its name, the comic is about Yorick (yes, referencing Hamlet), a 22-year-old male who is the last living being on the planet. Along with him is the most unlikely of survivors, his pet monkey named Ampersand. Yorick is an amateur magician, (though he prefers the term ‘escape artist’) and is eagerly waiting for his girlfriend Beth to get back from a study trip in Australia so that he can propose. But he can’t keep his excitement contained and decides to propose on the phone. Right then, things go apocalyptic. A mysterious illness instantly kills all other beings with a Y chromosome on the planet (an event referred to as gender-cide in the comic). These were the first few pages of the comic and more than enough to tickle my curiosity. ...  More

Normal People Book Review

normal

The story of Connell and Marianne, Normal People is a yo-yo of emotions as they continue to come close, and then, part aways. It is a fine example of how two people can know each other so well, and yet, completely miss the most obvious signs. A series of such misses ensures that Connell and Marianne never have it steady. ...  More

Handmaid’s Tale Book Review

hand maid collage

The Handmaid's Tale tells the story of a dystopian future, told in the first person by Offred. The society as we know it has crumbled. What's taken its place, is a totalitarian system that oppresses women across social class by establishing an extremely patriarchal society. The narrative has 3 sides, 'The Then' where Offred talks about her past and recalls major events leading up to the fall of the government. 'The Now', which gives us a view of the life of a typical handmaid. The third side is sort of like a dream state or a state of thoughts, where Offred is wondering about a certain event or time in her life - past, present, and future. These 3 sides mix and overlap one another so the narrative switches between past and present seamlessly. There are many themes that the book touches upon, from feminism, inequality to politics, and religion.  ...  More

Forty Rules of Love – Book Review

forty rules blog

I don’t usually read books around spiritual themes but this one came highly recommended by and I am glad I followed their recommendation and picked it up. The book centers around Sufism and draws a parallel between the life of a regular homemaker, and the journey of Shams & Rumi (13th-century poet). It is full of mysticism and pushes you towards deep introspection at various junctures. The writing is deep and if I am being very honest, some of it I just could not relate to. The book also talks about the fact that to become a Sufi, you need to understand the perspectives of everyone, big and small. Hence, the narrative is written from the point of view of different characters including a beggar, a drunk, and a harlot. Every time I left the book after reading a portion, I started liking it more by pondering over what I had just read. I strongly feel that this book can be read multiple times and each time it may offer something different, perhaps something more. ...  More