Reading Challenge - 2015

With a heavy heart I had to downgrade my challenge to just 25 books this year because of a life re-shuffle, but I aimed for quality instead of quantity and knocked off a few books from my to-read list. Here are some of my favoutites...

Let's Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson: This was a good book to start the year with.What a laugh riot this was. If it was fictional, I probably wouldn't have believed a word of it happened. Seems to be a collection of events that seem hilarious only in retrospect because really - using a shovel to keep away vultures from eating your dead and buried dog, and burning down houses (almost) couldn't have been funny when it happened but is ROFL funny when retold!

Malice by Keigo Higashino: Another gem by this author that will keep you on the edge till you finish the whole book in one sitting. A good insight into the mind of someone who holds a grudge.

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee: I was looking forward to the book's release but it did not live up to expectations. A better way to look at it is to remind yourself that this was written before To Kill A Mockingbird so it is not as polished as that. It still doesn't make up for the fact that it lacks all the power that is there in To Kill A Mockingbird.

Ibis Trilogy by Amitav Ghosh: The stories of many lives brilliantly entwined into one. I waited for all three books to be published before reading this series, and it was a good decision. There is so much happening that it would be difficult to remember if not read all together. Set against the backdrop of the opium trade in China, it narrates the lives of people affected by it.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson: Set in simple verse, she tells her story between the lines of this innocuous poem. There are many questions asked of the reader and some thoughts left unsaid that are the most thought-provoking.

For the animal lovers:

The Dog who could Fly by Damien Lewis: Dogs are heroes...some more than others. This is an amazing story of an extraordinary dog and his wartime antics. How he senses many things before they happen, his devotion towards his master (and vice versa), and his instinct to act a certain way that might save lives - all make for a riveting read.

Dewey by Vicki Myron: A cat in the library would be the best idea for people like me. This is more than a story about an adorable cat who was rescued; it is about the rescuer and her battle with cancer and other tragedies of life. Like it often happens, life sends hope from unexpected places. Anyone who's had a cat knows that they just pretend to be stand-offish - they secretly love the attention. Dewey might be just another cat, but only those who met him can say otherwise. Not many cats would show their affections so readily.

Soul of a Lion by Barbara Bennett: The experiences with some amazing animals will leave you in puddles and make you wish more than ever you lived surrounded by wild animals. Marieta was raised in the toughest way possible but still loved her life and her determination and love for all kinds of animals is inspiring. Even through personal tragedies, she has kept her focus.

Merle's Door by Ted Kerasote: It is a beautiful story of a beautiful, independent dog, and his relationship with his human. The bond between the two can be felt through the pages. It would be ideal if all dogs got the opportunity to live their lives roaming around, socialising, then returning to a loving home for the night. Many times you feel that the author might be projecting his feelings onto the animal, but everyone's who's owned one, and paid attention to it will identify - they tell us things in their own way.

We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee: An inspiring story of rescuing a zoo by people whose only qualifications was that they loved animals. The book gives you enough to know the effort that went in, the problems, the wins, and the stories and it manages to keep it interesting and humourous. I came across this book because of the movie made on it...the movie is not even 10% of the reality. They should have stuck with the actual script - it was far more interesting.

Reading Challenge - 2014

This year I reduced the number of books for the challenge because I felt a bit rushed last year and I knew that I was going to have a busier 2014. I managed to complete the challenge well in time so that I could go on my break without feeling the pressure to read - that's no way to enjoy a book.

Here are some of the books from this year that I think deserve a mention - for better or for worse.

2014 Reading Challenge

Rachna has completed her goal of reading 75 books in 2014!

hide

76 of 75 (100%)

view books

Non-fiction

• Zealot by Reza Aslan: It gave a good historical background into Jesus life and how he became a man of legendary status. Although it was a very interesting read, I felt I missed out on a lot of references because I am not familiar with the Bible stories. 
• The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk by Sudha Murty: It's a nice collection of stories based on her actual experiences, but if written with more feeling rather than 'I went here and this happened' dry fact-telling, it would make a wonderful book to read to young kids
• The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz: What really got to me was how she saw the sweater she had donated being used by a kid half way across the world. It feels great to know that whatever little you have done has made a difference, no matter how small, somewhere. It has many great examples of her work in Africa and how blind charity is not the way forward.
• The 6th Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert: This one really brought home how dangerous it is on the ecology to bring one species of plant or wildlife into a region that doesn't have a natural defense system to check it's growth. It makes you wonder what part of our current natural environment will not survive the next generation. We might be telling our grandkids about this amazing wild animal that used to exist when we were their age.
• The Monuments Men by Robert Edsel: Of course I got here because of the movie. It brings an interesting point - with so many people dying in the war, what was the point of more men sacrificing their lives for a few paintings - but preserving art and architecture isn't just something nice to look at. It is part of our culture and our heritage. By destroying them, you erase a big part of the history of the people. 
• E Squared by Pam Grout: I do believe that you get what you attract in your life by thinking about it. However, to just say to someone that this happens, go try it, without telling them how to manifest it makes it quite useless. This book though takes you through baby steps to reach to the level you want, and most of the things the book asks you to attract, I could manifest in reality. A good book for those who were baffled by the secrets that The Secret didn't reveal.
• War of the Whales by Jashua Horwitz: This one was heart-breaking. In the name of defense and security, navies get away with careless and harmful behaviour towards marine life. Yes, security is important, but with all the technology available to us there are ways to achieve it without harming the ocean life, or at least ensuring minimal casualties. The book documents the work of activists trying to fight the money and power to save certain marine life from extinction.

Fiction

• Train to Pakistan by Khushwant Singh: I had seen the movie based on the book over 10 years ago and was moved by it. I don't know why it took me so long to read the book. It is a story filled with many emotions and brings the reality of war and hatred to the forefront.
• The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt: I have realised that very few novels over 700 pages are worth the effort because a lot of pages are wasted in useless descriptions and going off on tangents. This book thankfully was not one of those. It is a slow read but it somehow draws you in with it's outward simplicity.
• Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky: The story introduces us to many characters on both sides of the war, but more interesting than the story is the reality of the author's life. She was a Jew thrown out of Russia who found a home in France only to be sent to die at the internment camps. It is heart-breaking to read the letters her desperate husband wrote to anyone he could for information about his wife's whereabouts, only to himself be taken to the camp some weeks later. Their kids were raised by an aunt, and the manuscript for this novel was found years later by their daughter. 

Fantasy

• Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card: I found it very sexist. It is one thing to omit women from a story, but to specify their absence because they are not as capable as men is just not acceptable, especially in a fantasy world where spaceships and whatnots are completely believable.
• The Giver (4 books) by Lois Lowry: The series of books follows different characters and how they eventually meet. Many storylines are not completely closed so you are left to wonder about what happens to the people you just left behind. But you learn to look forward into the lives of who moved on. It is a dystopian world like many other books that have become popular now, but the story progression is unique.
• Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin: At first I thought the pages of descriptions of New York seemed romantic, but then they just went on and on and on. I read through those, and the flying horse, and the mysterious ship, and the leap in time hoping something would come of it. Nothing did. One of those books that are over 700 pages long and completely pointless. 
• Perdido Street Station by China Mieville: Another book that's over 700 pages long and completely pointless. I can't even!
• Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson: I read the first 3 books in the series and found it a good read with a girl as the hero no less. It has an interesting premise and is well delivered. But after the 3 books, I felt I had all the closure I needed and didn't feel compelled to read on the series. I also tried Sanderson's first book from his Stormlight Archives Series and didn't find it engrossing enough to pick up book 2.
• The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss: After a long time a fantasy story has been so engrossing. There are some slow moments in book 2, but overall, you can't wait to find out more about the history of the narrator. Eagerly waiting for the final book of the trilogy that's supposed to release in 2015.

Biographies

• Then They Came for Me by Maziar Bahari: He was imprisoned because he reported on the injustices in his country. The book documents his days as a prisoner and gives a peek into the volatility of the situation in Iran.
• Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand: Just when you think the worst is over, something even worse happens. A story of how strong the instinct for survival is in all living things. No matter how bad it gets, you push to live even though it might be easier to let go.
• 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup: When you read or hear about stories of slavery and racism, it is difficult to imagine that it wasn't really that long ago that it happened, and in some places are still happening (albeit in a more subtle way). This is the story of one man sold into slavery and the treatment of slaves that was standard practice at the time in America. A dark time in the history of the world.
• Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh: This started as a fun story of silly things the author has lived through, but progressed into much more than that. She takes us through how it is to be clinically depressed and why exactly the supposedly helpful advice others offer them are completely useless.  

Romance

• Jane Austen novels: It is beautiful to read and re-read these novels, because even at a time when there were many more restrictions placed on women's behaviour and actions in society, Austen's heroines stand out as independent and trying their best to be as much as they can while following the binds of society. They might be love stories, but show so much more of society and strong women if you look closer. 
• P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
• If I Stay by Gayle Forman
• Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
• Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

All these 4 novels come under the same category for me: A girl is good only if she is a virgin and no matter how independent she might seem to be, she is not complete without a super macho male in her life who has slept around with many women but is looking for someone 'pure' and 'innocent'. Said male then becomes what the girl's life will revolve around from now on. I have read Mills & Boons novels that have stronger women roles than these!

Mystery/Suspense

• Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
• The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
• The Devotion of Suspect X & Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino
• Before I go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

All these are highly recommended reads for those who enjoy mystery and detective work. They will keep you on the edge of your seats and you won't be able to sleep till you've reached the end.

Reading Challenge - 2013

2013 Reading Challenge

Rachna has read 99 books toward her goal of 100 books.

hide

99 of 100 (99%)

view books

This year I discovered Goodread's Reading Challenge. You set your reading goal for the year and try to achieve it. This came at a great time for me because since I had stopped working last year, I had been planning on catching up on my reading. I have always loved to read but with all of life getting in the way, it had been difficult to make time to read.

I started with a simple goal of 50 books for the year, but within a few days changed it to 100 - it's a challenge after all. Although each book I read has it's review on the site, I wanted to highlight some of them that made me think.

1. A Dog's Tale by Mark Twain - It's only a few pages long but manages to squeeze in so much heartbreak that it was difficult to read the whole thing without pausing and reflecting on it. I would encourage people to have their hearts broken by this story.

2. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins - There was a time when people imagined the future as a Uptopia, but now we think of it as being Dystopian. I loved the concept of war and peace tackled in the book and how history  too often repeats itself. The story is exciting, but it was the underlying thought-provoking dialogues that I loved more.

3. Until Tuesday by  Luis Carlos Montalván - This was such an inspiring story. It's partly about a service dog named Tuesday, which has enough heart-warming power on it's own. The difference I found in this book was the way Luis explains what PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) means from the point of view of someone who has to go through it everyday. I have studied psychology in college but never was it so clearly explained as here. 

4. 50 Shades of Grey series by E.L.James - It was my first foray into erotica and is not a great story but I bring it up because the lumpy series takes you completely out of the reality sector and keeps you there till you finish all 3 books. You will want to finish the whole series out of plain curiosity about how the author can drag the story through hundreds of pages (hint: 99% of the pages are a guide and just 1% of it has some semblance of a story line). Leave all commonsense and logic aside when you read it though.

5. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini - Not much happens in the book, but it is not slow or boring by any means. I love the way he understands relationships and drags you into the lives of the people he writes about. Just a good piece of simple writing.

6. Total Recall by Arnold Schwarzenegger - I was never a fan of hard-core action movies but I loved Arnold and Stallone because they didn't put all their eggs in the action basket. It is inspiring how he pushed himself to be better when he could have taken it easy - it fills you with optimism because he puts his personality in the pages. He does talk about his mistakes and doesn't just glaze over it. A complete look into his life till now.

7. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - The book is beautifully written and makes you feel every emotion as it were happening right in front of your eyes. I didn't read up on the background in which the story is set till after I read it (in one sitting because I couldn't put it down) and it was close to what I had gathered from my reading - so expertly it has been presented.

8. Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo - It reads like fiction but it is not. The stories of a handful of people from the slums is brought alive. It is often easy to dismiss people you see begging on the streets as someone who doesn't want to work, but when you look into the environs they've been forced to live in, you wonder what makes them smile so joyously sometimes.

9. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë - Having read books like Twilight and 50 Shades, and hearing of current books that depict girls and women as self-pitying creatures only interested in bagging a boy, this age-old book was such a fresh breath of air. The dialogues of a woman secure in her independence and self-worth fill you with pride: 

“I am not an angel,' I asserted; 'and I will not be one till I die: I will be myself. Mr. Rochester, you must neither expect nor exact anything celestial of me - for you will not get it, any more than I shall get it of you: which I do not at all anticipate.”

9a. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - I re-read this classic and was blown over by it again. It is a book that gives you something different each time you read it in different stages of your life. The first time I read it, I looked at it as a love story. This time I saw how the strong-willed Elizabeth stood out in comparison to her sisters and friends. I classify it in the same bracket as Jane Eyre in terms of girl-power.

10. Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain by Portia de Rossi - I was never able to understand how anorexic women don't realize that being skeletal is unattractive or that if they don't eat something, they will die. Portia explains it in this book. No matter what kind of support system you have in your life, sometimes it is just not enough. One can only hope that self-realization comes before it is too late.

11. The Fault in our Stars by John Green - It is a typical book for teenagers, with young humour and romance. The only difference is that the protagonists have cancer and they look for ways to make the most out of life while they can. What really got to me though was the story within the story: an author writes a book from the point of view of a terminally ill girl and ends it mid-sentence. Powerfull stuff!

12. The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony - Elephants are such perceptive creatures and have strong family ties. The instances from their behaviour Lawrence relates are so relatable as human traits that you stop to wonder why they are inside fences.

13. The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida - There have been many books on autistic children by parents and care-givers but this is one of the first by the child himself. He debunks many myths surrounding autism - they're not immune to feelings and don't want to be isolated. An important book to read to have a clearer understanding of people around you.

14. I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai - I was impressed by how this young girl from a small rural town spoke even with International audiences. She exudes confidence. She talks of her village and the troubles that plague it, but unfortunately instead of promoting her stand on education for all, her countrymen have criticized and attacked her for airing their dirty laundry in public. I was also touched by the support she has received from her father even in the face of threats. Even if you don't read her book, hear her speak.

15. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid - I like the way the book is presented as a monologue, and how he points out the discomfort of his companion with naivete. I especially liked how ambiguously he ended the narrative.

16. An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield - His life is a classic example of picturing your goal and working backwards from there to achieve it. His life lessons and descriptions of what life is like as an astronaut are a pleasure to read, mixed with enough light-heartedness and anecdotes.

Biographies of Prominent Indians

Although every story in this section was inspiring to the core, and of Indians who have excelled in their fields, the books were written and edited in a way that put a dampener on my experience. The sequence of events are presented in a very matter-of-fact way and doesn't make you empathise or feel (unless you try very hard). Indian editors should encourage the concept of ghost-writing and making the story relatable, otherwise how is it better than a Wikipedia article?

17. The Race of My Life by Milkha Singh - I was very excited that he was sharing his story. I have always heard of his achievements as one of India's greatest athlete (and only prominent runner) but how he got to that point is an even better story although one filled with sadness and hardships.

18. The Victoria Cross by Ashali Varma - Written by the daughter, it is the story of the first Indian to be awarded the Victoria Cross, and his wife. I had picked this book up from a random selection without knowing about Lt. Prem Bhagat - a great military man and manager.

19. UnBreakable by M.C. Mary Kom - Coming from a region largely ignored my the mainland, she has achieved much and is an inspiration to young girls who are boxed into 'girlie' life-roles. One of the few sportswomen who has been able to achieve greatness on an international playing field solely on her dedication and hard work (and the amazing support of her husband), even after giving birth to three children.

20. Wings of Fire by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam - You would assume a scientist would be an atheist and not be impressed with poetry, preferring reality and straight-forwardness. But Kalam is in a different league. He quotes and writes beautiful poems, quotes religious texts and is very spiritual. As outsiders to someone whose life is focused on a single goal, we feel like they are missing out on the rest of the world. But he reminds us that if he is getting his happiness and contentment from the work he is doing, then who are we to judge.