Tilottama at a Glance by Sreeparna Sen - Book Review

Tilottama at a Glance by Sreeparna Sen

Genre: Non-Fiction

4.5 Stars 

One-Liner: A delicious collection of tidbits about the City of Joy by a Kolkata girl. 

Tilottama at a Glance is much more than a compilation of information about Kolkata. It’s the heart and soul of a Kolkata girl proclaiming her love for the city, its history, and its people. 

It’s a short and sweet book compiled from the A to Z blog posts written for the yearly A to Z Blogging Challenge. From the Addas to street food to Eden Gardens, Chor Bazaar, and Durga Pujo, the book touches on several aspects that are intrinsic to the city. 

Some of them reminded me of the beauty of my own city, while the fish festival took me to my native state, where a similar event occurs every year. 

I traveled with the author as I flipped the pages, seeing the city with her eyes and listening to the bustling crowd with her ears. 

Read Tilottama at a Glance not to know more about Kolkata but to feel it the way the locals do. Every word in the book reflects the author’s love for her beloved city. 

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author.  

Note: A version of the book was previously available under the title, Kolkata Chronicles: An A To Z Guide For The Uninitiated.

The Little French Bookshop by Cécile Pivot - Book Review

The Little French Bookshop by Cécile Pivot

Publication Date: 3rd Feb 2022 
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Epistolary 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Heartwarming but has nothing to do with the title. 

*****

Esther plans a letter-writing workshop after her father’s death. She and her father loved exchanging letters (handwritten), and Esther wants to experience the same through the workshop. She also plans to offer her copyediting skills to prospective novelists. 

Imagine her surprise when the applicants are everyone else by aspiring writers! From an elderly lady to an angsty teen and a delusional businessman, a total of five people are a part of her workshop. That makes Esther the sixth participant. 

She wants to help them learn how to write better. But what do they want from the workshop? A chance to express themselves? A chance to seek answers? A chance to reconcile and start fresh? 

Esther realizes that her workshop is helping the participants and her in a way she didn’t expect. Letter writing isn’t about writing a letter, is it? 

My Observations: 

• The book takes its own sweet time to progress. (it’s a slow read). The book alters between letters and regular narration (that gives the backstories and more insight into the characters). 
• The letters are arranged in a neat order almost until the end. The slight change at the end is mentioned in the first few pages and makes sense once we get there. 
• Various themes, ranging from postpartum depression to loneliness to social activism, etc., are dealt with. While some are more effective, the others pale in comparison. 
• Each character is distinct and can be identified by the tone of the letter. This is very important when six people are writing letters. 
• The ending is happy, hopeful, and touching. It leaves the reader with a satisfied smile. A couple of issues haven’t been resolved. Guess the author left the issues that way to keep things more realistic. It works in the bigger picture, so no complaints. 
• There are a few hiccups in connecting the letters. It doesn’t always feel smooth and effortless. That said, the character arcs are decent and worth mentioning. My favorites are Samuel and Juliette. 
• The concept of opening up to a stranger via letters was well explored. However, I couldn’t feel the magical touch of letter writing. Maybe it’s because I was reading an electronic copy of the book. Or maybe because there weren’t images of handwritten samples or signatures to give the feeling of reading physical letters. 
• Despite dealing with heavy topics, the book is not a heavy read. It’s both a plus and a minus, depending on the reader. For me, it’s a plus. 

To sum up, The Little French Bookshop is a heartwarming book that deals with quite a few issues. The epistolary style makes it possible to give the topic decent space. However, the title is rather misleading. This isn’t about a bookshop, except that Esther owns a little bookshop in Lille, France. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#TheLittleFrenchBookshop #NetGalley

The Italian Island by Daniela Sacerdoti - Book Review

The Italian Island by Daniela Sacerdoti

Publication Date: 11th Jan 2022
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Paranormal 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Fast-paced and gripping. 

 *****

Annie, a twenty-year-old, reaches the Sicilian island of Galatea after the death of her beloved father. She is grieving the loss of the only loving person in her life. Annie has always been low on confidence, thanks to her mother’s standards. The trip to Galatea is a way to gain confidence, get her life back on track, and complete her father’s quest for his birth mother. 

Meeting Salvo, the local fisherman, gives Annie the support she needs to search for her grandmother’s history. The delicate bracelet on her wrist makes things easier, but only until she realizes what her grandmother had to do to save her loved ones. 

Even as Annie gets used to past unfurling in front of her eyes (literally), is she strong enough to handle the truth? Can she find peace and look forward to her life with Salvo, or will she abandon her quest and go back to the safety of her home? 

What happened on Galatea that her grandmother was last found in the WWII concentration camp?

What I Like:

• It’s a short book (240+ pages) and goes at a steady pace. The combination of show and tell works well to keep me hooked. 
• The touch of paranormal without putting too much emphasis on it makes it alluring. It suits the beauty of the setting and the ancient ties between the people, land, and sea. 
• Mira and Mimi are both strong characters. Annie is, too, without being obvious about it. 
• The shift between the past and present is seamless. The story weaves in and out without jerks. 
• WWII wasn’t the central focus of the story. After reading quite a few of those this year, I’m glad to read something a little different. 

What didn’t Work for Me: 

• The rushed ending spoiled the beauty of the story. Sure, the actual issue is solved, but we could’ve gotten a little more information about the characters. I was surprised to see the epilogue when I expected another final chapter to tie the loose ends. 
• The epilogue isn’t as effective as it should be. We get the happy ever after, but something vital felt missing from the end. Also, there is no mention of Annie’s mother or her reaction to the developments. Since Annie’s character arc depended on her mother, it was disappointing to not know. 
• Annie’s character development wasn’t steady. It went up and down to suit the flow of the story rather than being the other way round. She needed more time to establish herself. The past track stole the limelight (as it almost always happens with dual timelines).

To sum up, The Italian Island is an intriguing and fast-paced story about women connected across generations and stood up for love. It’s not a heavy read, though it does deal with some complex issues of life and relationships. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#NetGalley #TheItalianIsland

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain - Book Review

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain

Publication Date: 11th Jan 2021
Genre: Social Drama, Dual Timeline, Mystery (sort of)

3 Stars 

One Liner: A social drama with a bit of mystery

2010: Kayla’s Carter lost her husband in an accident when building their dream house in Round Hill. The house is now complete and ready for Kayla and her four-year-old daughter to move in. However, a strange woman walks into the office and tells her not to move in. The meeting leaves Kayla shaken, but she has no choice but to move into the new house. 

Kayla soon meets Ellie Hockley, a woman with secrets from her past. Ellie is a lovely lady, but what does Kayla know about her anyway? 

1965: Ellie is determined to do something worthy in her life. Marrying her boyfriend and having kids isn’t on her list. When Prez Johnson announces a change in voting registration, the civil rights activities plan SCOPE, a program to convince black voters to register and vote for their rights. 

Ellie knows she needs to be a part of the program even if her family and friends don’t see the reason. But life is hardly easy when a revolution is brimming. Ellie’s decision changes many lives, including her own. What had happened back then that Ellie still holds resentment in her heart and maybe even desire for justice? 

How do Ellie’s and Kayla’s lives converge with so many decades between them? Why is the house on the hit list? What will happen when the secrets come out in the open?

What Worked for Me:

• The second half of the book, or rather the last 100 pages or so. 
• Side characters seemed more defined (with their flaws) and real than the main leads. 
• Rounded ending with no loose ends. 
• Not a happy ever after but hopeful and assuring. 
• The portrayal of racism, KKK, and bigotry. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

• The first 65% of the book is slow and left me wondering what the mystery was and when it’ll be solved. 
• Kayla paled when compared to Ellie. Her track didn’t feel emotional or touching despite her apparent sorrow and fear. 
• Ellie’s track was the primary focus of the book, and that affected the mystery angle as well as the modern-day Kayla’s story. What saved the story was how the two came together at the end. 
• Ellie fights for the cause, against racism, and for black rights. All good. She has better character development than Kayla. But she appears too good, too innocent, and unwilling to believe the worst of those she loves. 

Ellie finds solace in yoga after whatever happens in her life and is a yoga teacher in the present track. She is also vegan and loves Middle Eastern cuisine. Of course, she couldn’t find solace in any other profession (despite being a pharmacologist) or fall in love with another cuisine. Talk of irony! Racism is much more than abusing a race/ culture or burning crosses. 

To sum up, The Last House on the Street deals with poignant issues and is more of a social drama than a mystery. Many people loved the book, but some elements didn’t work for me. 

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#NetGalley 

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari - Book Review

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari

Publication Date: 7th June 2022
Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: Promising start to a new series 

****

London, 1923: Saffron Everleigh is a botanist and the only female assistant on the campus and works with Professor Dr. Maxwell. The man is her mentor, guide, and murder suspect. He has been arrested on the suspicion of murdering Mrs. Cynthia Henry, the wife of Dr. Henry. Dr. Maxwell had a row with Dr. Henry a few days ago bout a Brazilian expedition. 

The toxin that killed Mrs. Henry is unknown, and the case is getting stronger against Dr. Maxwell. Saffron knows that he would never be capable of such a crime, and it’s up to her to prove his innocence. 

Dr. Alexander Ashton, a fellow researcher, reluctantly helps her uncover the truth and get to the bottom of the matter. Dr. Ashton has demons of his own but cannot resist helping Saffron. Can the duo use their expertise in botany to identify the killer before it’s too late? Given the secrets surrounding them, can they come out alive? 

The requested the book for three reasons: 

• The title
• The cover 
• The alliteration in the author’s name

My Observations: 

• The narration is slow almost throughout the book. The saving grace is that the story kept me hooked enough to read more. The book is the first in the series, which explains the ‘slowness’. 
• There are no cliffhangers (the case is solved) though there is enough to start the next in the series. The mix of mystery, suspense, romance, and light action works well for the plot. 
• The characters are well-etched, though I’m in half a mind to knock sense into Saffron. Alexander has lots of promise and is an intriguing character. Inspector Green and Elizabeth are promising. 
• Saffron is fiery and has a tendency to act first and think later, which doesn’t do well to keep her out of trouble. She’s strong, kind, funny, and talented in her field (and yet to attain that level of expertise in investigating crimes). 
• The book is well-researched and yet doesn’t feel heavy or dense. We can follow the investigation even if we aren’t botanists and scientists. Still, I wished there were a couple of illustrations of the plants. 
• The book shows how women had to deal with assumptions and indecent proposals to make a career in the field. Sadly, things haven’t changed a lot in this aspect. Women still need to prove their worth time and again. 
• Some of it seems a little too farfetched towards the end, but then it’s a work of fiction. I can let it go (and roll my eyes, of course).
• Quite a lot of adverbs to read, and I tried my best to ignore them. :/ 

To sum up, A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons is a promising first book in the series. It’s a decent historical cozy mystery and keeps you interested most of the time. It’s a tad predictable, but that’s fine too. I’m looking forward to the next book. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#ABotanistsGuidetoPartiesandPoisons #NetGalley

To Love and Be Loved by Amanda Prowse - Book Review

To Love and Be Loved by Amanda Prowse

Publication Date: 11th Jan 2022
Genre: Women’s Fiction

3 Stars 

One-Liner: Some great side characters, but not enough. 

Merrin was in love and excited to marry her beau, Digby. She could see her entire future with her family and Digby in Port Charles, Cornwall. It was her home, after all. But the day of the wedding leaves her shattered and vulnerable. Merrin leaves her home in the fishing village to rebuild her life. 

Six years have passed, and Merrin has a life of her own away from home. She doesn’t want to go back but has no choice when a tragedy strikes. Merrin realizes what she missed by leaving her community and dear ones and changing into someone she isn’t. Back home, Merrin has to decide who she is and what she wants from life. What does her future hold? Is she willing to move on and be truly happy? 

I’ve had some of the author’s previous books on my TBR list for a while. When this one showed up in the Read Now section on NetGalley, I decided to go ahead and give it a shot. 

Plus Points: 

• Ruby (Merrin’s older sister) and Bella (Merrin’s bestie) are two fab characters in the book. Merrin’s mother was just as good. 
• The tension between Ruby and Merrin is a highlight of the book. 
• Women have a larger role to play (as expected) throughout. They are the decision-makers. 
• Beautiful descriptions of Cornwall. Something different from the city/ small town descriptions I usually read. 

Not-so Plus Points: 

• The narration is too slow. I understand slow beginnings, but this one is slow from start to finish. At no point did I want to read fast to know what happened next. The story went its own sweet way. 
• Despite Ruby being painted as the insecure sister, Merrin seemed self-absorbed in many scenes. It was about her most of the time. Even when I understood what she went through, I couldn’t continue feeling sad for her for the rest of the book. 
• Multiple POVs (in the limited third person) but none for Ruby. I wanted to know her more. She seemed more real and vulnerable than many others. 
• No clear indication for time leaps. We won’t know that a few months/ years have passed until we read the first 2-4 paragraphs in a chapter. Makes it a little hard to track the timeline.
• The happy ending was good, but bringing a new love interest in the last chapter somehow didn’t work for me. Given what Merrin repeats throughout the book, it felt surreal. 
• Some weird adverbs (I forgot to note them but I remember wondering why they had to be used). 

To sum up, To Love and Be Loved has its merits but hasn’t been a noteworthy read for me. Pick it up if you want something slow and sedate with bursts of emotions. 

Thank you, NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#ToLoveandBeLoved #NetGalley 

The Night of the Party by Anna-Lou Weatherley - Book Review

The Night of the Party by Anna-Lou Weatherley

Publication Date: 12th Jan 2022
Genre: Thriller 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: Interesting, but nothing new to offer 

*****

The Drayton family is enjoying dinner with close friends on a cold night. Libby is a 17-yo and the perfect daughter of Evie and Tom Drayton. Brandon, Evie’s stepson, doesn’t enjoy the same adoration. 

Una and Jim are Evie’s college friends. Jim is a GP and a docile middle-aged man, while Una is the life of the party. When Libby goes out for an event and doesn’t respond to Evie’s messages or calls, Evie starts to panic. When the girl doesn’t come home, Evie knows something is wrong. 

Dan Riley is assigned to find Evie and soon discovers that the girl was neither perfect nor as innocent as Evie believed. Soon enough, Libby’s body is found, and thus begins a murder investigation. As secrets are uncovered, we realize that no one is who they seem to be. 

What made Libby turn into a manipulative daughter? Can Dan find out who the killer is? 

The story is revealed in multiple perspectives, with Dan’s voice in the first person and the rest in the limited third person. This gives us all the necessary information to solve the case ourselves even before Dan does. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage. 

Plus Points: 

• I got to know after reading the book that it is a part of a series of cases solved by DI Dan Riley. Makes sense that his voice is the first person. It worked so well as a standalone! I wondered why there was a chapter at the end with more details about Dan. Now I understand. 
• The main characters are all flawed, some more than others. The side characters are decent, though. 
• The story moves more like a show on the telly. Given the characters, this approach worked well. I could read the book without being involved and still enjoy it. 

Not-so-Plus Points: 

• There isn’t anything new in the book. Story-wise or character-wise, we don’t have much to look forward to. 
• The twists are super easy to guess (especially for a thriller reader). That does make the book slightly dull. Since there wasn’t any action, the story felt bland towards the end. 
• Readers following the Dam Riley series might connect more and like it better than I did. For me, it was just another regular thriller. 

To sum up, The Night of the Party is a decent thriller with a fast-paced narration. Non-thriller readers might find it more entertaining. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#TheNightoftheParty #NetGalley