Review- Olive Beans by Reeti Kalia

Olive Beans on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Olive Beans is a collection of short stories inspired by real-life events. The stories unfold in a café. Maya, the café owner narrates them with deep compassion as she accidentally stumbles upon them. The stories are heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time. They make a compelling narrative as they are nuanced with a range of emotions. The stories are sure to stir the reader and make it a one-sitting reading delight.

Release date: 2020

Published by: Evincepub Publishing

Page numbers: 150

REVIEW: 

Author Reeti Kalia's Olive Beans is a collection of short stories that center around the café of the same name as the book title and its lovely owner Maya who is an army wife. The main theme of the collection is love and how it creates the magical, purest bonds between people from literally all walks of life.

Olive Beans is packed with delightful stories about love lost and found and in some cases, just the feeling of love was enough to make the story stand out. Some of the stories were very heart-touching in the sense that they portrayed how each and very one of us has so much going on than what meets the eye. Some of the stories could have been longer with more details, but then it wouldn't be a short story, would it?

Every story ends with the recipe of a dessert mentioned in the story which was mouth-watering. Another aspect I really appreciated about this book is that for a lover of desserts but a non-baker like me, I was honestly quite impressed by the simplicity of the ingredients and methods of the deserts, which has me tempted to try making one or two on my own. 

Overall, Olive Beans does its work of keeping the reader engaged, curious and content with its crisp, well written, simple and precise stories which make this one a quick, interesting, entertaining and pleasing read, which is perfect for the weekend or for when you want to lose yourself in another world. I would not have picked this one on my own, so I'm thankful the author sent me a copy as this was a nice read.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Reeti Kalia in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Review- The Accident by Shree Janani

The Accident on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Two people - One accident - Their lives change forever.

Release date: February 11th 2018 

Published by: Self-published

Page numbers: 15

REVIEW: 

I always love it when fellow bibliophiles that I met online write a book or a story and approach me to review it. So when Shree Janani contacted me about her short story, The Accident, I was glad to hear about it because: 1) I love supporting my online bibliophile buddies and 2) the story is 12 pages short (or long). I and no idea what to expect from the story, but what I got left me feeling surprised, awestruck and frightened to the last nerve in my body.

The Accident is a story about how the lives of four people intermingle and come to the same point where fate has something planned for them. Ravi and his wife Rini, Anusha and her husband Ashok are the four people around whom this story revolves. And while the story itself is super duper interesting, I would have- had the story been longer, of course or if the author decides to ever write more- loved more insides into the lives of our characters, which seemed just as interesting.

I was not prepared for the spine-chilling ending that this book had, because it made me want to shut it and never open it again. It literally horrified the shit out of me. And that's a positive because I don't normally get frightened while reading. But the way Shree Janani ended her story was insanely incredible. Having said that, however, I would have loved to know more about it.

Overall, The Accident is a great read for anytime you're in the mood to get terrified with an abrupt but well done ending. With elements of drama, thriller, supernatural and horror, this story is packed with action that's bound to leave the reader wanting more. Barely an half an hour read, this one will keep you entertained for the short while that it will remain with you.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Shree Janani in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

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Review- Up All Night: A Short Story Collection by Laura Geringer

Up All Night on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

A brush with the supernatural? A rock concert? A reunion? A poolside revelation? The need to know what's up? The confessions of a friend? The dream of escape? A sick pet? An English assignment? The rear-window view of a murder next door? The search for the mother you never met? What keeps you up all night?

This remarkable collection of award-winning and bestselling authors is thought provoking, insightful, heartfelt, and powerful. 

Release date: April 18th 2008

Published by: Laura Geringer Book

Page numbers: 220

REVIEW: 

Up All Night is a collection of six very unique and very interesting short stories, written by six very brilliant authors. In the collection, there are: Phase 2 by Peter Abrahams, Not Just for Breakfast Anymore by Libba Bray, The Vulnerable Hours by David Levithan (the reason why I decided to read the book in the first place), Orange Alert by Patricia McCormick, Superman is Dead by Sarah Weeks and The Motherless One by Gene Luen Yang (which is more of an illustration with dialogues, really). Aside from David Levithan, all the authors were new to me and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I relished both their story-telling and writing.

The book begins with a lovely introduction by publisher Laura Geringer, who has, very meticulously and poignantly, summarised every story in barely a line and it manages to both give a slight glimpse into the story and pique the reader's interest. I never really bother writing about introductions and all, but this one really stuck with me because it was done so well that I couldn't not say something about it. Besides, Geringer has published a really, really nice book with stories that are creative, touching and thought-provoking.

Coming to the stories, like I mentioned before they were all very well written and told. Some of my favourites are basically all of them, expect Not Just for Breakfast Anymore and The Motherless One, because while the former was very long as compared to the rest and slightly incomprehensible as well, the latter was fun to read, but a narrative would've been much better. Keeping that aside, however, the collection was varied and covered up a bunch of stuff.

Phase 2, The Vulnerable Hours (no surprise there!), Orange Alert and Superman is Dead were stories that I fell in love with because of how unique and splendid they were. These stories took up very daily and mundane events and turned them into something so extraordinary and special that it was difficult not to admire and appreciate them. I would love to summarise every story, but with short stories, there's always the fear of letting everything out and I'm no Laura Gringer to give perfect and on-point summaries.

Overall, I would highly, highly recommend this collection because it's easy to read and yet managedsto leave a heavy impact on the readers because of the way in which every story is portrayed.

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Review- A Perfect Murder and Other Stories by S.R. Nair

A Perfect Murder and Other Stories on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

A naïve man and a divorcee, a wronged woman’s fight for justice, a poor woman’s desire for an iPad, a charming young man plots to seduce a beautiful, blonde tourist, a staunchly orthodox immigrant’s struggle to assimilate in the U.S. … These are some of the captivating stories in this book which heralds a distinct voice and is a “seriously good read”.

Release date: August 17th 2016

Published by: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Page numbers: 170

REVIEW: 

Collections of short stories are irresistible because in one book itself, there are so many stories, with different plots and different themes, making them absolutely enjoyable to read. It's almost like having the world in your hands because of everything they cover up. Author S.R. Nair's collection of fourteen absolutely beautiful short stories titled A Perfect Murder and Other Stories is no exception. This collection is so good that it wouldn't have hurt to have a few more stories in there.

The stories in A Perfect Murder and Other Stories are so well-written and plotted that it kept me on the edge of my seat because I just wanted to know everything at once. To add to it, the author's writing is wonderful and simple, and I don't mean simple in a demeaning way. Simple is good because with short stories, authors just tend to complicate the writing which makes the stories incomprehensible. Contrary to that, however, the writing of this collection was so simple that it made the book as a whole and the reading process very smooth and neat, which I truly admire.

A perfect mix of various themes from NRIs to a typical Indian middle class family to homosexuality to bonding between Hindus and Muslims, the best part about this collection was that it focused more on people rather than on themes, and that made it very relatable and raw in a certain way. Every character was well developed and people from practically all spheres were covered up, especially in a country like India, where we have so many different people in general and that's what makes us so incredible; it was a pleasure to read every story. The subtle way in which the author portrays the mindset of people was meticulous.

Additionally, the book also covers up themes that are super important in today's day and age like feminism, homosexuality, politics and what not. Every theme was incorporated in the stories in an almost steamy way because it just flowed so smoothly and in a lovely manner. For someone who is unfamiliar with India, this read is the best way to get to know about the contemporary people in a fictitious way. I do not have enough good things to say about it, honestly.

Of the fourteen very beautiful and wonderful stories, some of the most amazing ones for me were: Salma's Fate, Seema, The Grandson, The Missing Wife, The Stolen Child, Seduced, Visa for America and The Lost Son. These stories were slightly more appealing to me than the others, but the most exceptional story that the author managed to write in barely three pages but that was packed with emotion is iPad, which was the best one. Having said that, the other stories were just as good, thoroughly enjoyable and an absolute pleasure to read. I highly, highly recommend this read.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by S.R. Nair in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Buy the book: AMAZON (IN)

Review- A Pizza My Heart by Jolene Haley

A Pizza My Heart on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Gooey cheese and warm pepperoni, with a side of kissing and murder.

A Pizza My Heart is a quirky and fun anthology that crosses all genres. Fifteen extraordinary authors have united to tell stories of mystery, mayhem, romance, danger, deceit…and pizza.

Sometimes spicy, sometimes cheesy, but always delicious, A Pizza My Heart invites you to explore life, happiness, and the pursuit of pizza.

Stories Include:

A Slice of Adventure by Maria Carvalho
Between Slices by Andy Grieser
Fresh, Hot, and Deadly by Rena Olsen 
KissingDancingPizzaMURDER by Darci Cole 
Kneadful Things by Jenna Lehne 
Love Pizza No. 9 by Vanessa Rodriguez
Madame Miraval’s Pizza Place by Kelly deVos
Password Is… by Jolene Haley
Pizza On the Brain by Emily Simon
Pizza Buddy by Brian LeTendre
Pizzamergency by Brett Jonas
Survival Pizza by Rebecca Waddell 
The Last Stop at the End of the World by Jamie Adams
The Pizza Guy by Jessi Shakarian
Where There’s Pizza by Jasmine Brown

Release date: February 9th 2017

Published by: Hocus Pocus & Co

Page numbers: 

REVIEW: 

A Pizza My Heart sounded like a delicious read and from what I could make out of the title, I took it to mean a fun take on "a piece" of my heart, which is why I assumed it would be a collection of short romance stories, which I had no problem with. But once I started reading the book and realised that every story had something to do with pizza, I was completely blown away because I want to have something to do with anything that involves pizza. It was so creative to see how the various authors of the anthology incorporated pizza in their stories that ranged from romances to thrillers to mysteries to science fictions and what not.

A collection of fourteen absolutely unique and very well-written stories, A Pizza My Heart is a fun read that will make you hungry with the lovely descriptions of pizza in every story. While there were some stories that I didn't quite understand, some of my absolutely favourites were: Fresh, Hot and Deadly, Kneadful Things, KissingDancingPizzaMURDER, Pizza on the Brain, Pizza Buddy: An Orchard Pointe Story, Where There's Pizza, The Pizza Guy and Love Pizza No. 9. Seeing as I thoroughly liked and had a great time reading a total of eight out of the fourteen stories, it's easy to say that this collection was very interesting, unique and fun which I really appreciated.

What I liked the most about this collection was the way the contributing authors minds worked. It was so nice to see such different takes on pizza when all I am able to come up with is just pizza because let's be honest, once there's a mention of pizza, it's difficult to give anything else a thought. So yes, in that way, the collection as a whole and every story individually is great and a pure delight to read. Besides, being a bunch of short stories, it's super easy and simple to read, which is the biggest advantage.

I would definitely highly recommend this read because it's a quirky and amusing collection.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by YA Bound in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- Secrets, Sins & Struggles by Kamini Kusum

Secrets, Sins & Struggles on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

A collection of five tales,Secrets,Sins & Struggles is about the lives and loves of five women, tracing their long, eventful journeys that are anything but linear. 

Meet Pooja, a teenager forced into the flesh trade but determined to escape and get justice. Shrawani who dreams of becoming a bureaucrat despite all the trials life throws her way. Avni who is torn between her childhood friend and her brand-new boyfriend. Harsha who is trapped in a loveless arranged marriage while still being haunted by thoughts of her forsaken lover. Geshna who falls head over heels for a high school sweetheart only to find her own life shrinking to accommodate his. 

These stories are about the odds stacked against women in their path to love and success.They are also about hope that the next turn will lead to the happiness and success they all long for.

Release date: November 10th 2016

Published by: Zorba Books 

Page numbers: 224 

REVIEW: 

Author Kamini Kusum's Secrets, Sins & Struggles is a compilation of five contemporary short stories about women who face many hardships and even then manage to get up from it and live their life. Because every story is very different, here are reviews of each of them:

Brothel to Assembly- This was the best story of the entire collection. I only wish it featured at the very end instead of at the very beginning because while the other stories were super good, this one increased my expectations which weren't necessarily met. The story of a simple, intelligent and strong girl, Brothel to Assembly tells the very hard-hitting and sad but truly amazing and inspiring story of Pooja, who, as the title suggests, gets to the assembly from a brothel only because of her determination and courage. This story is honestly amazing.

Love, Corporate and Custody- This was a rather typically romantic story of Geshna who is madly in love with Nihal and will do whatever it takes- and that includes putting aside and shattering her own dreams and goals- to be with him and make him happy. I found this story to be interesting, yes, but when I got to the end of it, it seemed very mediocre in terms of the plot itself. For the life of me, I couldn't understand why Geshna needed a man like Nihal when she had the amazing and unending support of her doting and wonderful parents. Nonetheless, Love, Corporate and Custody was a nice, subtle and refreshing read after the first story which was a heavy read.

Madam Bureaucrat- Now I found Madam Bureaucrat to be very similar to Love, Corporate and Custody and that was slightly disappointing. Both are stories of girls who keep aside and even give up their dreams to please the man they think they love. I did, however, love reading about the glimpse this story gave me into the world of bureaucracy and the hardships people undergo to become an IAS officer; that part was informative and enjoyable to read about. Shrawani's character was admirable, yes, but for someone as smart as her, I was hoping she'd do more than just give into something so easily.

Sin- Coming to Sin, the fourth and second last story of the collection, it was a very filmy story which was nice all right, but for a contemporary women-centric collection, I didn't get why it focused so much on the very conventional role of a woman which really put me off. Besides, I couldn't manage to stand- let alone like- the main protagonist Harsha, whose character was really hard to accept. The highlight of this story was Snehil who was such a wonderful person with a heart of gold and clearly gave Harsha the treatment she didn't deserve. Quite an eye-opener to the reality of today probably, I couldn't stand Harsha which made this a very disappointing and okay read for me.

That Rave Party Night- This story was very informative and well-written and the plot was really good too. Again, I did have some problems with the characters, but I could definitely oversee it because this was just well made, which means the book ended on a good note. Avni was the main character in this story and what she went through was horrible but I admired how she stood up to herself and made sure justice was served. This was a good story.

All in all, Secrets, Sins & Struggles was a mix because it did start and end with two realistic, raw and extremely strong and inspiring stories. The stories in the middle were just about okay. I would definitely recommend this book because it has some really good stories and when you combine that with author Kamini Kusum's simple and smooth writing, it makes for a great collection to read over a nice, long weekend or for feminist research and to understand the condition and situation of women in India. 

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by author Kamini Kusum in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Buy the book: AMAZON (IN) / FLIPKART

Review- These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscapes by Tejaswini Apte-Rahm

These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscapes on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

A fanatical collector of beetles finds out too late where his passion has led him. A woman out on a shopping spree in a glitzy mall finds she can’t go home again. A servant girl experiences a cruel loss of innocence when she eats something that wasn’t meant for her. In the sweltering heat of Bombay, a schoolgirl finds the ground slipping beneath her feet except when she’s watching Star Trek. Four friends meet for drinks one evening, only to find that their friendship is not what it seems. And, in the extraordinary title story, a student who has worshipped his teacher for decades comes to a terrible realization about him. Meanwhile, his old mentor is planning a cunning legacy of his own.

Release date: December 10th 2016

Published by: Aleph Book Company

Page numbers: 168

REVIEW: 

If there's one thing that's absolutely flawless and meticulous about These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscapes, it's the writing. Author Tejaswini Apte-Rahm's writing is so crisp, precise and completely amazing, that it made the book unputdownable. The writing reminded me so much of Meghna Pant, who is one of my favourite Indian writers, so that's commendable.

These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscapes has a total of ten short stories, that are each different from the other and take up an interesting subject. So in one book itself, we go from Star Trek to the mall to Dean Martin to homosexuality to teacher-student and servent-master relationships and what not. As a collection, this was very interesting and versatile because there is something for every taste and there's to bound to be a story that will stay with the reader long after putting the book down.

Short stories can be tricky because they leave you wanting more and can end up being incomprehensible because not everything can be explained in a few pages. For me, this collection was an exact 50-50 split between stories I liked and those I didn't really get. Of the ten, five stories really stood out for me as they were relatable and very well made. They were: The Mall, The Girl Who Loved Dean Martin, The House on the Hill, Sandalwood and Mili; these were wonderful, but of them all, Sandalwood is the one that I liked the most.

Overall, These Circuses That Sweep Through the Landscapes is definitely worth a try because of the- and I repeat myself for the 100th time here- beautiful writing and the very detailed and precise story-telling. I would definitely recommend this book because there's something for everyone. Give it a go over the weekend or something because you're bound to have a good time exploring this one.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Aleph Book Company in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

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Review- How They Met and Other Stories by David Levithan

How They Met, and Other Stories on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes a confection from David Levithan that is sure to appeal to fans of Boy Meets Boy. Here are 18 stories, all about love, and about all kinds of love. From the aching for the one you pine for, to standing up and speaking up for the one you love, to pure joy and happiness, these love stories run the gamut of that emotion that at some point has turned every one of us inside out and upside down. What is love? With this original story collection David Levithan proves that love is a many splendored thing, a varied, complicated, addictive, wonderful thing.

Release date: 2014 (first published January 8th 2008)

Published by: Electric Monkey

Page numbers: 307

REVIEW: 

Authors normally pick up a pen to write, but I always imagine David Levithan picking up a wand. We might still be waiting for our Hogwarts letter, but I'm a 100% sure that David Levithan topped his OWLs and NEWTs, because he is a wizard and magic runs in his blood. He makes magic. I always, always imagine him waving his wand and words just coming out and forming that whole Avada Kedavra and Expelliarmus magic or something like Tom Marvolo Riddle- I am Lord Voldemort.

Now that I've proved that my most favourite contemporary writer of our time is a magician, let me tell you that he was as magical during his high school as he is now, because How They Met, and Other Stories is a collection of short stories written by the author in his school years. "If he's THAT incredible when he's so young, imagine what he'll do later", I'm sure someone must've said this to young David, and it goes to say, without doubt, that he kept getting better and better, to the point where he has established himself as a bright, brilliant, sparkling and shining star of an author.

How They Met, and Other Stories is incredible and every story is so different and unique that it feels like it's written by different people. Of course, I loved this collection as a whole, but some of my absolutely favourite stories were: Starbucks Boy, The Alumni Interview, The Number of People Who Meet on Airplane, What a Song Can Do and Without Saying. But I have to say that my most favourite story was Lost Sometimes, which is a sexy story of two boys in a more physical relationship. I have read almost all books by David Levithan, but I've never read something so sexy, gorgeous and exhilarating.

A book I always wanted to read, How They Met, and Other Stories had stories that I both loved and liked, but none that I didn't like. I didn't have any expectations, but I was way too happy with what I got, because the lovely magician never fails to deliver. I loved the book, but this book has proved that I love David Levithan even more.

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Review- All of Me by Jonali Karmakar

 BOOK SUMMARY:

All of Me is a collection of thirteen little stories that have been gleaned from real life as well as imagination. Exploring a range of genres, these throb with everything primal to human nature: fear, angst, joy, love, and longing. Some stories are designed to elicit smiles, chuckles, and maybe even a belly laugh or two whereas some are meant as a reality check. Universal in nature, each story provides a glimpse of what women empowerment or a lack thereof can mean in a person’s life.

From a small hamlet in India to the roads of Australia; from a mother’s betrayal to a daughter’s confession; from an extra marital affair to a same sex relationship learn for yourself the what, how and whys.

Originally written for anthologies and ezines, these stories have been revisited and updated for this new collection. 

Title: All of Me
Author: Jonali Karmakar

ASIN: B01G0P8JGK

Release date: May 29th 2016

Page numbers: 81

REVIEW: 

I'm always up for reading short stories, so when author Jonali Karmakar asked me if I wanted to read her collection, I was more than glad to give it a go. She has written many short stories as contributions to various anthologies, and All of Me is basically a compilation of all those stories. It's titled what it is titled because it has most of Jonali's short stories, and that is a great title with an adorable little background story, which I had to share.

Coming to the book, I feel that the collection is absolutely lovely. Every story is unique and mesmerising in its own way. Usually what happens with short story collections is that all the stories either never end satisfactorily or they seem to be the same. But luckily, none of this was true in the case of All of Me. Every story seemed like it was written by a different author, because aside from the plots, the writing was different and true to the voice and the theme every story was trying to convey.  The all ended really well, as well, but I do wish that some stories were slightly longer simply because I wanted to know more.

While I liked all of the stories, some of my most favourites are Confessions Of A Daughter, Finding Myself, Unbridled and Walks To Remember; all of which- now that I think of it- somehow end up focusing on the very core of feminism. But that's really not all that there is to this collection. There are stories about friendship, love, marriage, work, politics and what not. So it's a nice blend of a little bit of everything, which is enjoyable and refreshing.

It barely took me a few hours to finish this collection, which is a major advantage. So whether you read this while travelling or on a weekend or just whenever you get the time, you're bound to have a great time reading these wonderful stories that are beautifully written. Besides, you'll be sure to come across a story that speaks to you and talks of something of your interest. I suggest you pick this up and find out for yourself which that story is and just how nice this collection really is.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by author Jonali Karmakar in exchange for an honest review. We thank her.

Buy the book: AMAZON (IN)

About the author:

 Jonali Karmakar is a fiction writer with a Masters in English. Writing is not just her passion but her way of dealing with life. She loves being able to escape into the worlds she creates. Everything that she writes becomes a part of her and she wants her readers to know the woman behind those words. In addition to being an educator, she works as a content editor for a local news portal. She has been providing editing, proofreading and translation services for the past few years.

Jonali’s work has been published in several journals, anthologies and poetry collections both national and international. An avid reader, she loves flipping pages of anything and everything on the table and reviewing the same on her blog Eclectic Moods. She feels that reading and writing are the flip sides of the same coin. Writing is her way of communicating with the world. When she’s not writing or teaching she loves to experiment with her paintings.

She has quite a few accolades to her name.

Contact:

Email / Facebook / Instagram / Blog / Twitter / Goodreads

Review- The Memory Man by Helen Smith

The Memory Man on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

The Memory Man is an intriguing new short story from bestselling British author Helen Smith. Two women become friends in an abandoned post-apocalyptic building. A psychic makes contact with a lost soul. His apprentice tries to find news of a man he has lost touch with. Fragments of memories are traded and twisted. Friendship provides comfort, but the recovery of memories brings torment rather than reassurance - until truth becomes secondary to survival.

Release date: November 12th 2014
Published by: Tyger Books
Page numbers: 50

REVIEW: 

The Memory Man by Helen Smith is quite an interesting read that I didn't quite get. Set in the backdrop of a dystopian situation (I suppose), this short story has Sarah and Valerie as the main characters around whom the story revolves and always comes back to. There were a few other side characters, all male, whose roles I didn't really understand.

Just like with her Emily Castle Mystery Christmas short story series, Helen manages to have that mysterious aura in her book throughout, which I highly appreciate. Even though I didn't get the story like I said, I still had this urge to know more, which, for me, is always a plus point as it keep readers on the edge on the seat.

While it does have a promising plot and an interesting storyline, The Memory Man didn't work that well for me, at least not as a short story. If this were a full length novel with more details about the happenings, I would have liked it better. Neither the setup, not the situation was very clear to me.

Nonetheless, in spite of what I have said, The Memory Man is still a well written story that oozes with awe and mystery.

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- Real Elves by Helen Smith

 Real Elves on Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

~ This is a short story ~

In a department store in London, a little girl called Sophie visits Santa’s magical forest with her grandfather. As they emerge from the forest, Sophie’s grandfather reports her missing… but the little girl’s right there. Is she a ghost, a twin, an alien abductee—or is there some simpler explanation? Twenty-six-year-old amateur sleuth Emily Castles has fifteen minutes to figure out the puzzle before the police are called and Christmas is ruined.

REAL ELVES is a standalone story set in London. It first appeared in the anthology Naughty or Nice in aid of Kids Need to Read. The Emily Castles mysteries can be read in any order.

Helen Smith has created a great little cozy series with the charming Emily Castles Criminal Element



Release date: September 16th 2014
Published by: Tyger Books
Page numbers: 35

REVIEW: 

This was the first Helen Smith book that I read. The story behind how I came across it is rather interesting, but it's telling could possibly wait. I feel like this book came to me at the perfect time since I had been looking for some cozy and enjoyable short stories.

Real Elves is a short story that can be read as a standalone or as part of the Emily Castles Mystery series of which it is the fifth book. I honestly don't see the point in summarising this short story, as the story in itself is barely a half and hour long read and the summary aptly describes what it is about anyway.

I absolutely enjoy short Christmas stories. I believe all of them are wonderful and warming, and the latter is a feat especially when the weather almost everywhere is cold. Real Elves was no different. Although what I found most interesting about this story was the kind of hazy and subtle mystery surrounding it.

For a few pages short story, Real Elves was very intriguing and quite an enjoyable read. Author Helen Smith's writing is very easy to follow and beautiful in its innocent and charming simplicity. I enjoyed this book, and I would definitely recommend it.

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Review- Of Bridges Among Us by Neeru Iyer

Of Bridges Among Us on Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The world of Of Bridges Among Us is inhabited by interesting characters -- porn actors weighed down by family values, lesbians coming out to their families, suspicious homemakers, and lunatics in confinement with a love for mangoes -- and each person has a unique story to tell.

Release date: November 2015

Published by: Palimpsest Publishers

Page numbers: 216

REVIEW:

Author Neeru Iyer's Of Bridges Among Us is a collection of ten short stories that focus on exactly what the title says by portraying human emotions in a very subtle yet powerful manner. With short stories, it's either make it or break it; a reader either loves it or hates it. There is absolutely no in between. Luckily for me, albeit the predictability of the stories most of the time, Neeru Iyer's simple writing and sharp storytelling combined beautifully to make for an absolutely amazing collection of wonderful stories that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

While all the stories in the collection were really well made, the ones that stood out most for me are Falling Stars, The Girl by the Fourth Window, Moonwalker and She's not Afraid of Spiders. Close to these are also the stories titled A Stranger to Life, The Best Mango and The Reunion. The only stories I wasn't the most fond of were The Other Woman and Fever. But honestly, when more than half the stories end up being so beautiful , two can easily be overlooked and kept aside. My most favourite of them all, however, was Somewhere over the Rainbow. 

Neeru Iyer takes up so many themes, emotions and storylines that in one book itself, we go from issues like rape to cheating to LGBT to abuse to separation and so much more. I'm always looking for stories that have character development and heavy substance to them, which is why all these stories left me leaving satisfied. There was something so real and so unique about every story that it made it seem as if a different person was telling each story, and that's where Neeru Iyer's talent really takes centre stage. 

Overall, I would definitely recommend Of Bridges Among Us for it is a very beautiful read that will leave the reader in a happy place but at the same time, in a contemplative mood. I just feel like this book really spoke to me, and I adore it when books so that, so this was an instant hit that will remain with me for a long time. 

*Note: This book was provided by Neeru Iyer in exchange for an honest review. We thank her for the book. 

Buy the book: AMAZON / FLIPKART

Review- Every Day and Six Earlier Days by David Levithan

Every Day (Every Day #1) on Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.
There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

Release date: August 28th 2012

Published by: Knopf Books for Young Readers 

Page numbers: 322 

REVIEW:

After reading almost half a dozen books by David Levithan, I can finally identify and make out the author's writing style. Every book he writes is so unique, creative and astounding that it seems like it's a different person writing each time. Every Day was no exception. Once again, David Levithan has proved that he is the most brilliant contemporary writer of our times. And this time, he has shown that he is brilliant even when he deviates from contemporaries. He doesn't just write. He creates magic. Author Jodi Picoult is so right in her blurb for the book where she says that she didn't just read Every Day- she inhaled it. 

A book like Every Day is difficult to explain. It's easy to read. Easy to understand. Easy to follow Easy to live. But very difficult to explain. Reading this book was an experience that I wish to experience every time I read a book, but that's not possible. Because the magic that David Levithan creates is unparalleled and unbelievable. He goes so deep in the head of his characters that they start to seem more real than the author himself. He doesn't just create characters- he becomes them, and in becoming them, he takes the reader along and the reader becomes the character too. And that is truly special. 

I don't want to say that I was lost in Every Day. I want to say that I was found in it. I was left speechless by the end of it, and all I managed to get out was a silent but heartfelt wow once I closed it. It was so special and interesting to read about a new individual, a new personality, a new body, a new life but the same head. Every time. It never ceased to amaze me how intimate and magical it was. I thought I was reading this book because it as so well written and so well made, and it was only after I was done reading it that I realised that there's so much more to it than just that. It's a book that connects and touches people because one of the lives portrayed in the book could very well be the reader's life. 

Buy the book: AMAZON (IN) / FLIPKART

***

Six Earlier Days (Every Day #0.5) on Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In Every Day, New York Times bestselling author David Levithan presented readers with his most ambitious novel to date: Every morning, A wakes up in a different body and leads a different life. A must never get too attached, must never be noticed, must never interfere. 

The novel Every Day starts on Day 5994 of A’s life. In this digital-only collection Six Earlier Days, Levithan gives readers a glimpse at a handful of the other 5993 stories yet to be told that inform how A navigates the complexities of a life lived anew each day. 

In Every Day, readers discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day. In Six Earlier Days, readers will discover a little bit more about how A became that someone.

Fans of Levithan’s books such as Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, co-written with Rachel Cohn, and Will Grayson, Will Grayson, co-written with John Green, will not want to miss A’s adventures in Every Day and Six Earlier Days.

Release date: November 26th 2012

Published by: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Page numbers: 47 (ebook)

REVIEW:

The edition of Every Day that I read came with Six Days Earlier, a prequel that has six chapters. I read the prequel before starting the book, so it gave me a glimpse into Every Day and the very unique and special life of A. It also helped me in knowing what was in store for me in the first book of the series. While on the one hand, Six Days Earlier was really nice; on the other hand, I do believe that it was slightly unnecessary, especially if I were to read it after Every Day, because the first time was sufficient. More than sufficient, it was enough. And it was breathtaking in every way possible. Giving me six chapters is great- I'll take it, but I'd rather start from Day 1 and never stop reading about A, because he is that intriguing, exciting, special, magical and unique. To sum it all up, if you are giving me more, I want everything, David Levithan; and not just peeks, I want the whole damn life of A.