I finally read some books, finally. I may have lost my way and got distracted by some TV (oh Hello, Emily In Paris). But I’m refocusing and I finally picked up a few books. Yep, I ignored my kids, the laundry and the constant streaming of CNN in order to get back to reading. A couple of these I would definitely recommend for book club picks. You can find them all in my affiliate amazon shop. Here’s what I read recently:
The Guest List by Lucy Foley:
This fiction novel is sort of a thriller/mystery/whodunnit. It is set on a mysterious Irish island with its’s ruggedness, which itself plays an important character in the novel. The other characters include the bride who seems to not have it altogether as it appears, her sister the bridesmaid, the groom and of course the groomsmen. While many of the plot lines may be obvious ( I say this in retrospect), there are
Raj’s Rating: 😎😎😎
Well Behaved Indian Women by Saumya Dave:
The author takes us on a journey to examine what it is to be an Indian woman. She focuses on the societal expectations of South Asian culture both in India and in the diaspora. The characters are an adult daughter and her mother and are both American-Indian. They each feel the constraints in their lives and make decisions according to the expectations of societal norms. I found this book very enjoyable to read and often quite relatable.
Raj’s Rating: 😎😎😎
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi:
This is a historical fiction that set is in the vibrant pink city of Jaipur in the 1950’s. I absolutely fell in love with Joshi’s descriptions of the magical city freshly off of Independence. It may have something to do with my obsession with the myth of Rajasthan. The magical dessert, the pink city full of palaces. The alleyways full of bandini prints, mirrors and colours. Joshi also weaves the story of a woman and her quest for self fulfillment. This would be my choice for as a book club picks.
Raj’s Rating: 😎😎😎😎
The Matchmaker’s List by Sonya Lalli:
Raina is a single professional who is raised by her nani, her paternal grandmother. Even though she is raised in an unconventional family her expectations for marriage are still quite conventional. The book is light and funny. It is especially relatable for me as it was set in Toronto. Also, the theme that a South Asian woman can’t seem to escape society’s expectations that marriage is the end game.
Raj’s Rating: 😎😎😎
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett:
I read her novel, Bel Canto years ago, and I had loved it. It’s in my top 10 reads ever. So clearly I had high expectations for The Dutch House. It didn’t disappoint – entirely. Even though it moved at a slower pace, but was engaging. We follow the journey of a brother and sister from childhood to adulthood and how the Dutch House played such an important role in so many lives.
I do have a critique though: there was a clear lack of diversity in the characters of this novel. It is set in the 1950s into the 1990s in the suburbs of Philadelphia and in New York City. Yet, not one character reflected anyone in a diverse America. Nor was there any commentary about that diversity. Yes, the story is told from the lens of a white male. But his time in New York is obsessed with real estate and frankly as a facilitator of gentrification. The novel was published in 2019, so I am going to ignore any commentary of “she didn’t know”. Because if you are an educated or even conscious human, you know that our world is full of diversity. That should play a significant role in how any story is told.
Raj’s Rating: 😎😎😎
Normal People by Sally Rooney:
This book is heralded as one of the best books of the year. It was long listed for the man booker prize as well there is a new television series of the same name. So the expectations for the book were high. While perhaps I’m not so sure about why it is given so many accolades. I do admit it was an engrossing read. It follows the long relationship of two young people, set in Ireland. They learn to figure out themselves and each other. I’m not sure how this would work for book club picks. It may lack points of discussion.
Raj’s Rating: 😎😎😎😎
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