37 books in a year. Probably a personal best. Thanks, Brunch
- Elanor and Park, Rainbow Rowell
- The Psychology of Terrorism, John Horgan
- The Long Silence, Shashi Deshpande
- The Sociology and Psychology of Terrorism, Rex Hudson
- A Study in Scarlett, Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Lucifer Effect, Philip Zimbardo
- Interpreter of Maladies, Jhumpa Lahiri
- The Parrot who Wouldn’t talk and other stories, Ruskin Bond
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling
- The Palace of Illusions, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.
- The Duff, Kody Keplinger
- Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen
- Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
- A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway
- All the Bright Places, Jennifer Niven
- Hyperbole and a Half, Allie Brosh
- Is Everyone Hanging out without me?, Mindy Kaling
- The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet, Bernie Su.
- Mr Darcy’s Diary, Amanda Grange.
- A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin
- Royal Wedding (Princess Diaries #11), Meg Cabot
- I am Malala, Malala Yousufzai
- A Clash of Kings, George R R Martin
- Girl Online, Zoe Sugg
- A Night to Remember, Walter Lord (Audio)
- Seriously… I’m Kidding, Ellen Degeneres
- Howl and Other Poems, Allen Ginsberg
- Princess in Love, Meg Cabot
- Bridget Jones’ Diary, Helen Fielding
- To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, J.K.Rowling
- Ravan and Eddie, Kiran Nagarkar
- The Color of Our Sky, Amita Trasi
- On the Road, Jack Kerouac
- Girl On Tour, Zoe Sugg
- A Work in Progress, Connor Franta
- Love and Misadventures, Lang Laev
- Oedipus the King, Sophocles.
It’s a YA novel about two misfits, who like any YA protagonists, find love. It’s a brilliant book that deals with many issues. I’d rate it 8/10.
What worked- The plot, the characters, the way conflict has been handled.
What didn’t work- The narrative (I’m not a fan of changing POVs)
Crying: π
I read it around the time of the attacks in Peshawar and the Je Suis Charlie movement, and the happenings made a lot more sense to me. I’d rate it 8/10.
What worked- The compelling theories, the scope.
What didn’t work- The structure of the book
Crying: π
It’s a beautiful book about what it means to be a woman in a man’s city- about resilience and humanity. I’d rate it 7/10
What worked- The raw honesty, and the characters.
What didn’t work- The negativity.
Crying: π
Again, this was read around the aforementioned attacks. I’d rate it 8.5/10
What worked- The case studies, the non-discriminantly explained theories.
What didn’t work- The narrative, the technique.
Crying: π
The first story introducing Sherlock Holmes. Rating: 9/10
What worked: The suspense, the mystery, and the unveiling of the crime.
What didn’t work- The narrative, the fact that I’ve already read it- the original as well as versions of it.
Crying: π
This book details The Stanford Prison Experiment and uses the findings to explain what was seen at the Abu Gharib Prison, where the author was an expert witness. Rating: 9/10
What worked: The details, the writing style, the techniques.
What didn’t work: the negativity.
Crying: π (It was awesome and overwhelming)
A set of short stories surrounding diasporic themes. Rating: 8/10.
What worked: The narratives, how I could identify with most of the conflicts, the variety.
What didn’t work: The pace of some of the stories.
Crying: π
Another set of short stories, which I found lying about my store cupboard.
Rating: 6/10
What worked: The writing style
What didn’t work: It was a children’s book, so although I shouldn’t say it, it was too childish.
Crying: π
Well. π
Crying: π₯
It’s a retelling of The Mahabharata (an Indian mythological epic ) through the eyes of Panchali. Rating: 9/10
What worked: The POV, the writing style, the characters.
What didn’t work- At some parts, it got too preachy.
Crying: π
Another YA tale about two seemingly misfit teens. This book is so much better than the movie, though!
Rating: 7/10
What worked- I could identify, the plot
What didn’t work- The conflicts, the characters.
Crying: π
A 17 year old ‘heroine in training’ who loves Gothic novels and loves the idea of drama.
Rating: 7/10
What worked: Typically Austen.
What didn’t work: Typically Austen.
Crying: π
Scarlett O’Hara and her struggle to survive and the will to live is what stood out for me.
Rating: 8/10
What I loved: The storyline, the way I could feel what the author wanted me to feel
What I didn’t like: Scarlett is so annoying. Rhett is so frustrating. “I will think about it tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day”
Crying: π
So much more than a World War I love story.
Rating: 7/10
What worked: It had the effect it was intended to have.
What didn’t work: I’m not a fan of the cold way Hemingway writes.
Crying: π
It’s a story about a popular girl questioning her life and a not-so-popular boy struggling for it.
Rating: 9/10
What worked: I loved the character development, and how the protagonists interacted with each other
What didn’t work: Sometimes, it felt like the characters were caricatures of themselves/what they’re supposed to represent.
Crying: π
It’s a brilliant! I read it mainly because it is one of my favourite blogs on the Internet.
Rating: 10/10
What worked: Everything!
What didn’t work: It got over.
Crying: π
It’s a hilarious collection of essays by the amazing Mindy Kaling.
Rating: 9/10
What worked: Her sense of humor, the stories she shared
What didn’t work: Had to follow Hyperbole and a half.
Crying:π
Adapted by the creators of The Lizzie Bennett Diaries, this is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in San Francisco.
Rating: 8/10
What worked: The form, the plot, the adaptation, the minor changes new to the book.
What didn’t work: The chemistry wasn’t as sparkling as the web series.
Crying:π
A fanfiction-esque diary of Darcy.
Rating: 9/10
What worked: Enough Darcy to last for a while.
What didn’t work: It felt like an adaptation- a bit too forced.
Crying:π
In my defence, I’m updated on the TV series (because it’s less time consuming, okay?)
Rating: 7/10
What worked: The writing style stood out for me
What didn’t work: Because I already knew what was going to happen, it was frustrating to see the characters make those mistakes that lead up to their death.
Crying:π
The 11th book in the Princess Diaries series follows Mia aged 28.
Rating: 8/10
What worked: Pop culture references, and the usual thing that works for Princess Diaries. “Leia and Luke.”
What didn’t work: Not enough Michael Moscovitz. It wasn’t as good as the previous books, maybe because Mia has more adult issues
Crying: π
This book changed my perspective on what’s important in life, and how blinded I was to the world outside.
Rating: 10/10
What worked: Everything
What didn’t work: It was a pretty difficult read, emotionally. But so worth it
Crying:π
Book #2, A Song of Ice and Fire.
Rating: 7/10
What worked and didn’t work: The same as that for GoT.
Crying:π
An anonymous blogger (goes by the name Girl Online) who meets a mystery boy when her family takes a workation to NYC.
Rating: 7/10
What works: Full of Pop Culture references, “Wiki”, Penny’s brother is a cutie, Brooklyn Boy.
What doesn’t: The plot is kind of predictable.
Crying:π
I heard this is the audio book format
Rating: 8/10.
What worked: The speed, the technique, the picturesque writing
What didn’t work: I’m not the biggest fan of audio books, as I learnt.
Crying: π
It’s by Ellen, okay?
Rating: 10/10
What worked: It’s beyond hilarious!
What didn’t work: My parents woke up because I was laughing too hard.
Crying: πππ
I’d been wanting to read it for a couple of years now. And I don’t think there was a better time to read it than at night, when everyone around me was asleep
Rating: 8/10
What worked: The rawness of Ginsberg’s voice, the hard hitting roughness
What didn’t work: Didn’t understand some of the references.
Crying: π
The third installment of Princess Diaries, read because I needed more Michael Moscovitz.
Rating: 8/10
What worked: What usually works for Princess Diaries. Also, Michael!
What didn’t work: He loves you, Mia! Good lord, young lady.
Crying:π
Another reinterpretation of Pride and Prejudice.
Rating: 6/10
What worked; The familiarity of the story, the format
What didn’t work: The style of writing.
Crying:π
Again, well. π
Rating: 9/10
What worked: The POV, the plotline, the character growth.
What didn’t work: A little less hedonistic pleasure while reading
Crying:π
WHY DID RON AND HARRY COMPLAIN ABOUT HOMEWORK???
Rating: 10/10
What I liked: The hilarious notes
What I didn’t: The wait for the movie!
Crying:π (cuz I’m not a witch)
This is about two young boys living in a chawl in Bombay, whose fates are intertwined in ways we cannot even imagine.
Rating: 7/10
What I liked: The novelty. The raw truth. The writing style.
What I didn’t like: The plot kept stretching for a bit.
Crying: π
Two girls who are as different as you can be, are each other’s strength and reason to live years after tragedy hits them.
Rating: 9/10
What I like: The narration, the plot line, the character development
What I didn’t like: Some of the characters annoyed me at some point. But they were supposed to. Like you’re supposed to hate Umbrige.
Crying: π’
Been meaning to read this for years! It’s about being on the road, d’uh. But it’s SO MUCH MORE.
Rating: 8/10
What I liked: Kerouac spoke to my caged bird soul
What I didn’t like: I want breaks in books, okay? Also, I thought it would be my new favourite book. But it wasn’t.
Crying:π
It’s a sequel. Had to read, obs.
Rating: 6/10
What I liked: YA! *spoiler* Wiki being happy, finally. *end of spoiler*
What I didn’t like: Less Brooklyn Boy. Too predictable.
Crying:π
It’s fantastic, it’s a memoir, and I got all the feels. Connor, I really wish I were a guy, and then Troye, you, and I could be gay together.
Rating: 10/10
What I liked: He was so honest, and open, and just awesome! The book was aesthetically pleasing, and looked like his Instagram account. Is there anything this boy can’t do?
What I didn’t like: It got over. Also, within 2 weeks of me finishing the book, he announced the hardcover version. I’m broke, OK?
Crying:π’ (Because I’m SO PROUD)
Lang Laev is BRILLIANT. I have to thank my friends for this one. They gifted this for my birthday!
Rating: 10/10
What I liked: Everything. Every poem. Aaaa.
What I didn’t like: Nothing. Seriously. She deserves much more recognition than she already does.
Crying:π₯ (Because so beautiful)
Oedipus. As a Psych and a Literature student, I HAD to read it.
Rating: 6/10
What I liked: Well, the plot was quite nice. And a little creepy, but nice.
What I didn’t like: Not my cup of tea.
Crying: π
Obviously, my PERSONAL ideas. Nothing more. Not even reviews. Just what I thought about the books.
Crying scale (from least to most): πππππ’π₯π
I’ve obviously been writing this since end of December.π
Also, now I have a poetry blog on Tumblr. You may want to check it out? Here. Please do. π
Twitter: @WallflowerBlack
We share the same interests in the field of reading..I read almost half of the novels that you’ve mentioned in your article and I must say Eleanor & Park is my favorite – it has a gripping plot with an amazing storyline! π