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Aloha From Hell Sandman Slim #3 - Richard Kadry

Aloha From Hell Sandman Slim #3 – Richard Kadry

Okay so this is officially my new favorite book. I cant believe how much i have forgotten about this series as i am reading it again. Quick Recap – Sandman Slim aka James Stark is the new hot thing in LA, lived in Hell (literally) sruvived and is now back on Earth. In the previous books, he took on the agents of both Heaven and Hell, yes angels and demons (no mere mortals would do), reconnected…

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Storm Front Dresden Files #1 - Jim Butcher

Storm Front Dresden Files #1 – Jim Butcher

Everytime i read this series, its like the first time. Even though i know what’s coming, it’s still fun to read and rediscover. Harry Dresdon is a wizard and available for hire as per the yellow pages. It made me check mine here in Singapore to see if there was any listings for wizard, but alas, none! Why do these magic people seem so keen on hiding all the magic stuff from us the normals…sigh!…

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Kill The Dead Sandman Slim #2 - Richard Kadry

Kill The Dead Sandman Slim #2 – Richard Kadry

WOW two books of the series in two days – they sure are addictive. Quick recap – our antihero protagnist is a half angel, Nephilium, also knows as James / Stark / Sandman Slim, who has spent eleven years in Hell (literally) and come back from the dead to avenge on the magic circle that betrayed him and murdered his girlfriend. He ends up with four of the six in the circle dead, one (Mason) in…

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Sandman Slim, #1 - Richard Kadrey

Sandman Slim, #1 – Richard Kadrey

On break from work for a few months (loving unemployment so far) and I have decided to use this time productively, i.e. read my old (and new of course) favourites and write reviews. This book is as Dark as Dark gets – maybe not “Irreversible” movie dark but it has its moments. James Stark, who does not like being called ‘Jimmy’ or even ‘James’ has literally come back from the dead. In a magical…

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Dragon(E) Baby Gone - Robert Gainey

Dragon(E) Baby Gone – Robert Gainey

I got this book recommendation off of Twitter directly from the author 🙂 Yes people! it helps to follow #writerslift on twitter and even more so to ask for book recommendations. You end up finding these little jewels, which you for sure would miss out on otherwise. When it’s a book full of magic, evil wizards, slimy but helpful demons along with a couple of dragon eggs thrown in, the fact that…

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The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan

The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir by Jennifer Ryan

“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way” Anna Karenina I read this book through the night, slept a few hours and woke up happy. Considering the countless number of books written and read on war, leading to war, during the war and post war, my expectations were moderate. This book did we a world of good, especially during a low period in my life. It reminded…

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The Kaiser's Web - Steve Berry

The Kaiser’s Web – Steve Berry

What an outstanding book! If you are a historical fiction enthusiast with penchant to follow current day politics, this book is an absolute treat. “”If history has taught us nothing else, we have learned that we must defend ourselves against extremism…..from the beginning” Author has done a marvellous job of linking past with the present and subtly pointing out how the history might end up…

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Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up - Alexandra Potter

Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up – Alexandra Potter

“Dont worry about getting older, worry about becoming dull” Well, as a forty something myself, I was quite curious to see how other similar aged species thinks, behaves and even writes about this stage in life. Though, written in a light tone, this book has incredible depth. The things that will sound funny, will have most profound meaning behind them. Just because people smile and laugh, you…

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Becoming Duchess Goldblatt - Anonymous

Becoming Duchess Goldblatt – Anonymous

“The only way to be reliably sure the hero gets the girl at the end of the story is to be both the hero and the girl yourself”

The delight at encountering a super fun and super positive book is beyond description. I came across this gem while I was voting on goodreads for the best books of 2020. I think i have a hangover from this book – its making me smile or laugh or think ever since I…

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The Midnight Library - Matt Haig

The Midnight Library – Matt Haig

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams,” Thoreau had said. “Live the life you’ve imagine.”

As an author, Matt Haig’s books hit close to home. His characters portray a depth close to reality, embodying both failure and negativity, which is not entirely unknown to most of us. He reminds the readers that life is a combination of reasons – reasons to regret and yet reasons to celebrate.…

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Sold on a Monday - Kristina McMorris

Sold on a Monday – Kristina McMorris

“Two children on a porch were being offered for sale. Like cattle at market.”

Looking for my weekend read, i came across this book on kindle. Title i might have browsed past, but the cover page tugged at my heart – with a small little boy sitting with a small suitcase at his feet, waiting to be sold.

“it started with a picture.” Ellis a journalist at a local newspaper took a picture of two boys…

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Dear Mrs. Bird - A.J.Pearce

Dear Mrs. Bird – A.J.Pearce

After reading “Less” by Andrew Sean Greer (this years Pulitzer prize winner), i needed something light, funny and entirely optimistic. Prize winning books are deep but too dark and do take a lot of energy to get through sometimes.

“Dear Mrs Bird” though set in war zone London, is the first book i have come across, which in spite of the war setting, have an exuberance that leaves you happy and…

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The Banker's Wife - Cristina Alger

The Banker’s Wife – Cristina Alger

“Optics, Annabel reminder herself sternly. It’s all optics.”

This one line perfectly lays down the plot. When i think about Bankers, it brings the image of well dressed, culturally aware and snooty men and this book, validates the image to the core.

Annabel, our protagonist, is an art connoisseur and a banker’s wife, who finds herself in Geneva, chasing the money-making dreams of her banker…

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Love and ruin - Paula McLain

Love and ruin – Paula McLain

“I was dying to write a character as glittering and sharp as Lady Brett from The Sun Also Rises, but since i couldn’t, I would settle for trying to be her.”

The love i feel for some of the characters across hundreds of books, could not have been articulated better. I asked for recommendation to read on twitter, and came across this rather interesting book. If you know enough about Ernest…

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The sweetness at the bottom of the pie: A Flavia De Luce Mystery - Alan Bradley

The sweetness at the bottom of the pie: A Flavia De Luce Mystery – Alan Bradley

I don’t remember how i came across this series, but within a few pages i was hooked and by the end of the first book, i was in love. I love our eleven year old sleuth (by accident), who is irreverent and innocent all at the same time. Alan Bradley is my hero for creating this little genius detective. These books are funny, heart breaking, great plots all rolled into one.

Flavia lives in Buckshaw…

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The Word is Murder - Anthony Horowitz

The Word is Murder – Anthony Horowitz

“Mr. Tibbs is the reason everything happened, Tony. If it hadn’t been for him, Mrs Cowper might never have been killed. And nor would her son.”

This line pretty much describes the entire mystery in the book and trust me, even if i tell you that Mr. Tibbs is a cat, you still wouldn’t have a clue until the very end. That my dear fellow readers, is the beauty of Anthony Horowitz’s writing. Just as…

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Chandramani - Kimsuka Narsimhan

Chandramani – Kimsuka Narsimhan

In my quest of finding new and international authors, this book was recommended to me by the author herself – who herself, is a finance wizard and a reputed corporate mogul in her own right. Who wouldn’t be intrigued to read a ‘who-dunit’ written by a “not author by profession” – that in itself was mystery enough to pique my interest!

Dont miss the characters introduction at the beginning of the…