I managed to read 3 books this December in an attempt to reach my goal of 40 books before the end of the year. Each of them were interesting in their own way:
- The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson: A classic haunted house tale with a uniqueness brought out by the fact that there is no single ghost or antagonist or evil figure dominating the narrative. A group of four visitors come to stay at the legendary Hill House in order to disprove the fact that it is haunted. A psychiatrist hopes to publish a scientific paper in order to argue that the psychic phenomenon in the house is occurring solely due to scientific reasons. However, among their small party of four, Elenor is the most troubled. Soon the house shows that it posesses a mind of its own. A great book club read whose ending will have you rethinking the plot for ages. Ideal for discussions with friends, this book is a short horror novel executed to perfection with zero jump scares. Tastefully written by master storyteller Shirley Jackson, you’ll find yourself reading this book fully aware that you most likely won’t sleep at night.
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 and Three Quarters by Sue Townsend: A hilarious book written in the format of journal entries by a teenage boy named Adrian Mole. A lighthearted book for kids and early teens with the kind of humour that’s sure to have one crying with tears. A delightful character study, Adrian is going through a lot but has a detached approach to events taking place in his life. He’s simply adorable despite his self-centered nature. A teenager who thinks the world revolves around him, Adrian Mole is restless, a self-proclaimed intellectual and simply bursting with ideas. A light-hearted story that’s fun to read out to your child or present as a gift during Christmas. The ordinary life of this very English teenager will give you nostalgia about your own teenage life. What’s more, this book is set in the early eighties and gives you a peak into British life as it played out back then.
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Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal: Nikki, a twenty-something British girl of Punjabi origin is the headstrong heroine of this story. In the beginning of this story, she lands a job teaching creative writing to women at the religious centre of the neighbourhood temple. However, soon these seemingly innocent classes morph into story telling sessions where her students are busy concocting some very saucy erotic tales. What I liked about this book is that it gives us an honest insight into the Punjabi community in present day England. It offers a take on Punjabi customs, traditions, and the arranged marriage system among people form this community living in England today. This novel is an eye-opening read that sheds light on localities in London occupied by Punjabis where it’s quite a common sight to spot a corner shop selling jalebis or jamuns. Despite living in a first world country, the leaders of this community do their best to tighten its rules and regulations. Thus taking the fun out of the lives of its women, particularly, the widows. I highly recommend reading this at times funny, at times intriguing novel. It’s got a good balance of everything from a murder mystery and romance, to eroticism and the preservation of one’s culture and identity.
Bookish Bulletin 