After spending the last quarter of 2022 not reading a lot, I am glad to be back to reading. I've realized it just takes one good book to get you out of a reading slump and thankfully I found that book this month. While I wanted to spend more time reading, I had a lot of distractions that got in the way of me completing my 4 books this month. So I managed to read 3.25 books this month. My reading goal for this year again is 30 books. I wish I could read more than that but life always gets in the way so I want to set a realistic target for myself.
Here's what I read in January 2023 -
Rock Paper Scissors By Alice Feeney
Plot: Mr. and Mrs.Wright have been having marital issues for a while now. So when they win a weekend trip to a beautiful bed and breakfast in Scotland, Amelia convinces Adam to head there to give their marriage one last fighting chance. Despite the snowstorm, they managed to the BnB which is a hauntingly beautiful Cathedral that has been converted into a home. Things seem off from the moment they reach, the front door that was locked but mysteriously opens up, the dust gathered in every corner of the room, their uneasy dog and their mutual distrust for each other. Will their marriage survive the weekend or will only one of them make it back home?
Review: I LOVEEEEEE THIS BOOK! If you're a follower you know I'm a sucker for thrillers and this one packs a punch. The book starts off on an eerie note but lulls you into thinking it's just a regular thriller with no twist and then BAM out of nowhere comes the twist. I literally couldn't put down the book after the second half. The book is brilliantly written and a nail-biting read. I absolutely can't wait to read more books by this author. This book is now one of my favourite thrillers sharing the top spot with Gone Girl, The Family Upstairs, and The Woman in Cabin 10.
Verdict: 9/10 definitely definitely pick this one up
Shop it here.
Five Tuesday In Winter by Lily King
Plot: This is a collection of 10 short stories covering an array of human emotions like love, loss, growing up, and more. From the synopsis - "A bookseller's unspoken love for his employee rises to the surface, a neglected teenage boy finds much-needed nurturing from an unlikely pair of college students hired to housesit, a girl's loss of innocence at the hands of her employer's son becomes a catalyst for strength and confidence, and a proud nonagenarian rages helplessly in his granddaughter's hospital room."
Review: I picked this up as an easy read to just meet my reading goals for the month. Some of the short stories are really endearing like the one about the bookseller. These stories left me feeling really good and warm inside. Some stories were a little bit basic and didn't leave an impression on me. But overall it was a nice, easy, feel-good read and I'd recommend picking it up.
Verdict: 7.5/10
Buy it here.
Banaras: CITY OF LIGHT by Diana L. Eck
Plot: The city of Banaras has captured many a person's imagination across centuries. Said to be the abode of Lord Shiva, this center of Hinduism and its elaborate rituals and myths, are explored in this book.
Review: A friend recommended reading this book before heading for our trip to Benaras/Varanasi. I, unfortunately, picked it up 2 days before our impromptu trip and was only able to read 25%. The book is extremely detailed and is a really interesting read for tourists who like to get an in-depth understanding of a place before visiting it. If you are visiting Varanasi, definitely read this book to understand the roots and origin of this city.
Verdict: I'm not rating it since I didn't finish reading the book but it is a must-read for tourists and history buffs.
Buy it here.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I've already written a whole post about this. I loved this book. It was so relatable just because I have been feeling the same things the protagonist was in the book.
Verdict: 9/10 (Must read for those going through an existential crisis!)
I was going to post this yesterday but waited to post it with a fun update. I met one of my favourite authors yesterday - Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. I was so so excited to meet her and get my hands on her latest book - Independence.
Those were the books I read this month. Rock Paper Scissors has to be my favourite read for the month. What are you reading? Any book recommendations?
Reading Goal 2023: 3/30
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