Books of 2024 (Set #1)

Decided to track my books this year. Just to boost up more reading and keep track of books that I liked. 

#1 Before the Coffee Gets Cold

https://amzn.eu/d/it3jsAH

A friend of mine posted about next book in this series and Satya realized that we have the first of the series at home. Started reading this during year end shutdown. 

It’s a light read, can be finished in couple of days. Overall the story is interesting though not very captivating. It is about a chair in a coffee shop from where you can go back in time and how people use it for multiple reasons. One wants to change the outcome of her romantic relationship, one wants to meet her sister etc. Good book for reading during travel. 

#2 Vegetarian, The: A Novel

https://amzn.eu/d/0iA7lWn

This is a story of a woman who suddenly turns complete vegetarian. For an Indian it is not at all hard to imagine or accept that a meat eating person has turned complete vegetarian. But the book happens in South Korea where it is very hard for her husband and family to accept that their close one has turned vegetarian. The book has three parts and follows story of this female, her brother in law and her sister. I think it is trying to make some social point but I for one missed it. I liked the first part but didn’t enjoy second and third part much. 

#3 Her Last Wish: A story of Love & Loss

https://amzn.eu/d/cOYasvC

I was travelling from Bangalore to Mumbai alone after a long long time. Planned to read Natasha Badhwar’s Immortal Moments but wrong book was delivered so picked this up from bookshelf instead. Though it has a bittersweet ending, it is kind of a feel good book. It is a very light read and I was able to finish it in my journey. Overall it felt like I was reading a movie plot where everything comes together for the protagonist in the end. I felt that it lacked in building depth of characters in the book. 

#4 Swami And Friends, R.K. Narayan

https://amzn.eu/d/a80Pn3X

Mysuru has author R K Narayan’s house which has been turned into a museum. Over past year I have visited the house thrice. Though I had not watched Malgudi Days as a kid, had always heard amazing things about it from Satya. Satya’s friend had given him a book which has Swami and friends, Bachelor of arts and, The English Teacher. I started reading this in my break between jobs. Its an amazing book. Innocence of Swami and his friends, the plans they make, how a new boy that could have disrupted their circle turns out to be a great leader and becomes Swami’s closest friend, his relationship with his grandma etc made me nostalgic and reminded me of my childhood days. This book also reminded me of Marathi book Sare Pravasi Ghadiche by Jayawant Dalwi. https://amzn.eu/d/cq5Xm1V

#5 Bachelor of Arts

https://amzn.eu/d/dDrvjX0

This was the second book by R K Narayan that I started reading. This is a story of Chandran who is studying history in college. As compared to Swami Chandran is more focused on his studies and is kind of an ideal student. The story is about his college years, his first heartbreak and how he develops from a college boy to a man who starts earning and gets married. It was a delightful read. 

#6 Immortal for a Moment

https://amzn.eu/d/9tuNyRI

I had read Natasha Badhwar’s My Daughter'S Mum https://amzn.eu/d/1UvB9Mc long ago before I even became a mother. I read it last year during my travel between office and home. I love her writing style so was excited to see her next book. As expected the book doesn’t disappoint. Similar to the first book this is a collection of her essays and mainly focuses on various relationships in her life. I especially liked the essay about their train travel from Delhi to Mumbai describing how they could slow down and enjoy the moments on the train. Best to read it in her own words. 😀

#7 Welcome to Paradise

https://amzn.eu/d/3gXLM5J

This is latest book of Twinkle Khanna. I had thoroughly enjoyed her first book Mrs. Funnybones (https://amzn.eu/d/fWId1MF) so picked this up in my Blossoms bookstore visit. This is a collection of short stories happening in some or other parts of India. I generally don’t like short stories since they either lack the depth or sometimes leave you hanging. This was similar. For some stories I wanted to know more or read more and for some I never got invested in the characters. Won’t be coming back to short stories for a while now. 😅