A walk, a milestone and a turn

Since I started this blog 7.5 years ago, it has undergone so many changes. And yet there is not a single day when I am not feeling proud of having been at it. Throughout all the changes my life has been through in these years, books are one of the many things that kept me sane and this blog continues to be a testimony of my love for it.

So it was extremely overwhelming to see my blog featured in the top 25 literary blogs of India. From being among the top 50 for 6 consecutive years (out of 7.5!) this one is a huge leap for me. Especially since last year when I have consciously started making changes in my review style and trying to lean more towards literary criticism.

It is weird that this had to come at a time when a post titled ,'Why I stopped reviewing books' has been lying in my drafts. But as they say Universe has a way of sending you the signs when you need them the most. I take this as a sign, to keep reading and talking about the books that leave an impression on me.

To read more about my escapades into the literary criticism world, do hop over to this page - Belles-Lettres. I will keep updating it from time to time with my adventures, mishaps and the lessons.

Also, if you love my recommendations and would like to know more about the essays I read on the World Wide Web then do subscribe to my newsletter by the same name HERE. I promise, no spamming your inboxes. Just plain simple monthly recommendations landing in your inbox.

A perfect SUNDAY

Remember the time when Sundays used to mean waiting for the evening, to be glued to TV screens for the popular award functions? That was my defination of perfect Sunday. Well today is going to one such as (clearing throat) I have been awarded. (*** Doing the happy dance***) Source: Google Images

Book Review: Palestine Wail - Poems by Yahia Lababidi

In Palestine Wail: Poems , Yahia Lababidi creates a profound and unflinching exploration of the ongoing Palestinian crisis, drawing from his own heritage and heartbreak to reflect on a political and humanitarian catastrophe that has unfolded across decades. This collection, imbued with personal history, political outrage, and spiritual contemplation, serves as both a witness to injustice and a call to humanity. The work’s origins lie deeply in Lababidi’s own roots—his Palestinian grandmother, Rabiha Dajani, was forced to flee Jerusalem at gunpoint, a traumatic event that reverberates throughout Lababidi’s poetry. As an Arab-American writer, Lababidi is uniquely positioned to speak on the intersection of identity, politics, and human rights. His poetry, both personal and political, draws a clear line between the suffering of the Palestinian people and the complicity of global powers in perpetuating that suffering. Through his words, Lababidi eloquently counters the equation that Z...

Book Review: Butterflies of Success by Ranga Iyer

ISBN: ‎ 978-8196920951 Genre: Personal Transformation Publisher: Highbrow Scribes Year of Publishing: 2024 About the Book "Poverty is relative term" Lack of money alone cannot stop someone from succeeding in life. The social evil of poverty can be defeated with a determined mind, courage, mental strength, and education. Butterflies of Success follows the compelling journey of Mukta and Prem, a couple with four daughters who leave their village in search of a better life in Thakurli, near Bombay. Facing numerous challenges, including living in a small, unsanitary dwelling, financial struggles, and health issues, Mukta leads her family of six in a fight to improve their situation. She starts by selling boiled chickpeas and gradually expands to open a diner and a tailoring unit with Prem's help. As the business progresses, the family strives to educate and marry off their daughters, which brings new challenges, including mounting debts. Not oblivious to her parents' da...

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