Art

Sameer Gudhate presents the Book Review of The Witch, The Princess and The Tower of Doom by Rajesh Talwar

We’ve all heard the story of Rapunzel — a princess in a tower, a witch who locks her away, and a prince who saves the day. But what if I told you there’s a version of this story that doesn’t follow that script at all? Rajesh Talwar’s The Witch, The Princess and The Tower of Doom takes this familiar framework and turns it into something far richer, more magical, and surprisingly thought-provoking.H...

Art and fear

Sameer Gudhate presents the Book Review of Madness of Waiting by Muhammad Hadi Ruswa, Krupa Shandilya and Taimoor Shahid

There are books that whisper to your soul, and then there are those that leave behind echoes — lingering, lyrical, impossible to shake off. Madness of Waiting is one such echo. Have you ever felt the urge to learn a new language simply because a translation — no matter how brilliant — doesn’t feel enough? That’s exactly what this book did to me. It made me yearn to understand Urdu in its pure, und...

Sameer Gudhate presents the Book Review of Escape from Media by Brandy Stoker

Ever picked up a book and, within a few pages, realized you were holding something that felt hauntingly familiar… yet thrillingly new? That was my experience with Escape from Media. As someone who grew up on the grit of The Hunger Games and the fire of Shatter Me, I felt instantly pulled into Brandy Stoker’s world — a place where magic can kill you, but love might just save you.Stoker, in her debu...

Otoboke Beaver

Break rules. Create art. Bring joy.

Memorial / Obituary

We all congregate to remember someone. The collective mourning resulting in catharsis is a fact as old as human existence on earth. Some are remembered in respectful silence.  Some drink to forget their sorrows. Some share stories. I rather prefer, the celebratory method. The loud, obnoxious, sweaty maelstrom kind. Something like this. May joy and art erupt at your passing, for it will leave your ...

📚 June Read & Review Alert - “The Clothing of Books” by Jhumpa Lahiri

Hi!!This month I read a short, introspective non-fiction book by Jhumpa Lahiri — all about book covers and what they mean to her, both as a writer and a reader. Some of her thoughts really stayed with me, especially how we assume so much about someone/something based on appearances — clothing, covers, packaging.Read the review at - https://jaeeblogscom.wordpress.com/2025/06/19/sip-read-review-clot...

Sameer Gudhate presents the Book Review of The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra

You know that oddly comforting feeling of slipping into a cozy armchair with a cup of chai and a murder mystery that doesn't rush, doesn’t scream for attention, but quietly charms its way into your heart? That’s The Bangalore Detectives Club in a nutshell. Think Agatha Christie meets vintage Bangalore—with a dash of turmeric.Harini Nagendra makes her fiction debut here, though she’s no stranger to...

Lingual Bonds

Lately, the language politics in our country have been disturbing. But in the midst of it all, there are still people who live across states, languages, and cultures — happily and harmoniously.The hosts are warm and welcoming.The guests are curious, open to learning new languages, ideas, and customs — without burden or resistance. 🌍💛 Today’s story is about how she found connection beyond words w...

Sameer Gudhate presents the Book Review of Ram c/o Anandhi by Akhil P. Dharmajan

Every now and then, a book comes along that doesn’t just tell you a story—it wraps itself around your heart, gently stirs up thoughts, and walks beside you long after the last page. Ram c/o Anandhi did that for me.I picked up this novel with zero expectations—no buzz, no hype, just a curious title and a lingering instinct. Akhil P. Dharmajan, a fresh voice from Malayalam literature, pens this stor...