The Lost and Found Bookshop

 Author: Susan Wiggs

I am usually enticed towards any book which has a “shop” in its title. So, when I was asked to review this book, I got carried away. The blurb also led to a misconception that it is a romance read.

This book is not a romance book albeit there is a little bit of romance in it. It is about love, loss and family with some history and romance woven into it. Natalie Harper is heartbroken when she realizes that her mother and her boyfriend died in a plane crash. Her mother Blythe, a carefree, fiercely independent woman, ran a bookshop, along with her grand father Andrew who suffers from dementia. Leaving her lucrative career, which incidentally never appealed to her, Natalie returns back to San Francisco to take care of her grand father and resurrect the struggling book shop.

Natalie constantly worries about the finances to sustain the book shop and the decline in her grand father’s health. She hires a local contractor Peach Gallagher to do the necessary repairs to the book shop. His daughter Dorothy comes as a ray of sunshine in Natalie’s troubled life. Peach Gallagher becomes an integral part of the book shop finding some historic artifacts in the walls during renovation. The romance between Peach and Natalie blooms, slowly and steadily.

How Natalie copes up with all the trouble and finally heals, finding love and acceptance is the crux of the book.

It is a very slow read with a predictable plot, but the characters are etched out pretty well. Natalie, Blythe, Andrew, Peach, each of them have had a difficult life and try to cope up with their past differently. The immense inner strength they display when they set out to gather the shattered pieces of their past and take charge of their lives is very inspiring.

I am not sure if I will recommend it. As I said earlier, I set out with different expectations and it backfired on me. But to be fair to the book, if you are looking for a heartwarming read which will lift up your spirits, it is not a bad book to choose. It did remind me of the movie “Chocolat”, the hero’s description so matches Johnny Depp in that movie. So, see, after all, there is a reason to celebrate!

Rating: 👍👍

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The Baker's secret

 Author : Stephan P. Kiernan

Plot

The World War II witnessed many horrors and murders, heinous crimes where people were treated like filth and many died a horrendous death, facing the wrath of Auschwitz.

Germany was looking for supremacy across Europe to establish The Third Reich. The Germans captured France in 1940. It took four long years before the D-Day on June 5, 1944 when Allied forces rallied into the small village of Normandy on the French coast to make the German forces retreat.

The Baker’s secret is the survival story of the villagers in Normandy during the German occupancy and the camaraderie and grit which pulled them together through those atrocious times.

Many a times I found myself comparing this book with The Guernsey literary and potato peel pie society, as both of them have a very similar story line.

Emmanuelle is the local baker in the village whose father was arrested for participating in the Resistance, her lover taken away to work for the Germans and her tutor, the local baker who taught her baking, was killed mercilessly because he was a Jew.

Left alone with her grandmother, at a tender age of 22, Emma has to tread a dangerous path, to keep both herself and her old grandmother safe from the German troops. Emma takes up this challenge splendidly and even goes two steps ahead, helping other fellow villagers in whatever means she could.

The only reason Emma is spared from the troops is because the kommandant of the German army stationed in the village loves her bread. So, she is given flour strictly sufficient to bake twelve loaves of bread every day and deliver it to the German forces. She ingeniously mixes straw to the flour and bakes 2 extra loaves per day to distribute it among the villagers. And then starts her trading venture, where she travels across the village and starts trading one good to another, fuel for fish, fish for eggs, bulb for tobacco and so on, thus touching the lives of most of the villagers and helping them survive.

But things start getting difficult for Emma and the villagers when the German forces tightens their vigilance and start shooting people mercilessly. They are on the brink of losing their faith and hope to live when finally, on the D-Day the Allied forces attack the German base by air and the sea.

It is a story of courage and survival, and could have been an exceptional book, but the narration style makes it a little difficult to read. The narration is a little passive and delves too much into details which are perhaps not very relevant during war times. It does take a while to get into the story and see what is going on.

Survival stories without a lot of heroism are a little tricky, it does take a unique narration style to make them interesting. That is what made Guernsey quite engaging, the entire novel is narrated through a series of letters, a budding romance comes with its own merits. This book lacks that aspect and hence proves to be a slightly arduous read. But in the end, the very fact that hope, grit and courage win over despair and grief is too strong a message to ignore and let go.

I would definitely recommend this book, but be prepared for a slow run. It is quiet one.

Rating: 👍👍👍

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Becoming Jane

Watching Bridgerton on Netflix made me go back to the books of Jane Austen and a movie ,Belle. To be honest, I did not like Bridgerton - for I felt it wanting both in plot and characterization. It is opulent with beautiful dresses and settings, but there is nothing more I liked about it. I found myself time and again comparing it with Belle and few of Austen adaptations by BBC.

This is one of the essays I had submitted long back to the magazine (much before Bridgerton is released) and it got published again. 

Read the full review at Becoming Jane

A man called Ove

 Author : Fredrick Backman

I ended 2020 with a beautiful, hilarious and a heartwarming book, A man called Ove. It is a story about a Swedish old man who is grumpy and bitter, points mistakes to others on the face, dislikes people in general, a man with rigid principles, strict routine and a very short temper. Ove went by fixed set of rules, his life was black and white. There were no shades of grey. The trials he was put through in his life and his grave personal loss had hardened his exterior and had made him rigid.

We all have met Ove at some point in our lives. All men in our family are relatable to Ove one way or another. Our fathers, husbands and older brothers who are obsessed with different models of cars and take personal offense if someone buys a car which they do not approve of, those who believe in having the right tools in the shed and take personal pride in fixing every nook and corner of the house, those for whom the sky falls down if some unknown car or a person breaks the law on the road, like parking in the wrong place are all shades of Ove.

But yet, when people reach out to Ove in their time of need, he steps out of his rigid zone and takes that brave step to embrace people, despite their imperfections. All it took was an unkempt cat, a chatty imperfect family next door, an orphan who wanted to impress his girlfriend and a common enemy to fight against; the men in white shirts, the people from social services to get his humane side out.

Unlike protagonists in other books who come across supernatural situations and emerge victorious or defeated, Ove is a common man, who could be any of us. Sooner or later, as we age, there is a high probability we all will end up like Ove. As we grow older, it is only natural that we will become rigid in our beliefs and close our doors to many. And we can only hope that like Ove, we will still embrace humanity in time of need and see people beyond their faults instead of judging them harshly.

This book had me laughing in splits throughout, and made me shed tears in the very end. I loved every bit of this book and would highly recommend this book to everyone, especially men. It is written by a Swedish author, Fredrik Backman, who brings out the psychology of a man very naturally on the table. It is a very easy read and you will enjoy every bit this book. A brilliant read, do not miss it at any cost.

Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

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A Gentleman in Moscow

 Read the full review at Bengaluru review's newsletter - December edition

A Gentleman in Moscow

Major Pettigrew's last stand

 Author : Helen Simonson

Set in the English country side in a a small village EdgeCombe St.Mary, Major Pettigrew’s last stand is a delightful tale centered around a retired army officer and his unlikely romance with a Pakistani shopkeeper Jasmina Ali.

Major Pettigrew is a quintessential respected gentleman in the village community. He is 68 years old widower who has lost his wife to illness, member of the golf club, a man of faith and a clear favorite among the ladies. He is very particular about his belongings and proud of his family background. At 68, people have fixed notions about life and are critical about accepting anything new. He is a typical gentleman who has aged well and is accustomed to his definite lifestyle, has selective friends and has fenced his boundaries. People in the village look up to him for his judgement and his word is honored in the community.

Mrs.Ali owns a shop in the village which is a legacy from her deceased husband. She sells essential supplies to the villagers who are not capable or running in short of time to travel to the nearby town for their regular shopping. Over a period of time, Major Pettigrew and Mrs.Ali develop a steadfast friendship because of their common taste in literature, gardening and varied aspects in life. When their friendship comes into limelight in the yearly village dance, the entire village scorns on Mrs.Ali as a permanent outsider, declining her right to be a part of the community. And it is up to the Major to take a stand against the village to give Mrs.Ali the special place she deserves or go on with his life as usual.

The book is a very interesting portrayal of the struggle faced by two old people belonging to two different cultures and the consequences they have to face because of their bold choice. Even the youth face the brunt of the society when they fall in love. The objections, the isolation and the criticism are immense. At a ripe age, when people usually resort to religion and faith, falling in love with someone from a completely different faith, brings rivals of all kind, seen and unforeseen. And as the Vicar very rightly mentions to the Major, “The lovers come to me for blessing to be in heaven together, when I cannot even promise them a grave side by side”.

It is not very difficult to understand certain conservative religious customs and practices, and the status in which the women are held by the conformists of those religions. The doctrines are laid and fanatics stand by them. The author very deftly brings out the difficulties faced by the protagonists when they are confronted by two such conservative belief systems in a very light hearted way.

There are other interesting characters in this book. Amina, a single mother struggling to find her standing in the village, the Major’s son Roger who befriends an American lady and Mrs.Ali’s nephew Abdul Wahid, who goes deeper into faith after being forced to sacrifice his love, each of them offer a fresh perspective to the reader, on how the personalities of the youth are molded based on their confrontations with the conservative society.

This is my second book from the same author and I love her narration style. Her books are primarily society centric with humor in abundance. But they progress at a very slow pace. A lot of pages are dedicated to social customs and dance parties. The subtle nuances and social protocols are highlighted in great detail. At the same time, they offer a deep insight into people’s characters and their reactions in the face of adversities. If you enjoy Jane Austen novels, you will love Helen Simonson.

It is holiday season and everyone is winding down their schedules. Curl up in your bed, with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy this read.

My Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

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The Mummy of Monte Cristo

The Mummy of Monte Cristo by J Trevor Robinson is a re-take of the ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’, so I was very curious on how the plot will be played.

A group of men put Edmund Dantes behind prison because of vengeance and ambition. Dantes is dejected and heart broken when he finds out he is imprisoned indefinitely.  He finds a friend and a well-wisher who reveals the hidden terrible power in the Island of Monte Cristo.

Besotted with revenge, Edmund escapes prison to go to the island and mummifies himself alive to seek the terrible power. Then he goes on his path of vengeance to destroy the lives of all the men who imprisoned him.

The horror and fantasy elements are very interesting indeed, I never expected the Kraken with it’s prying tentacles in this book. There are vampires, zombies and a dangerous mummy. Horror is usually not to my taste, but I did find myself reading this book, possibly because I grew up reading “The Count of Monte Cristo” and the classic is very dear to me.

I do not want to compare this book with the classic, but this book can stand on its own. The characters are developed and well-rounded to fit in the story.

If there is a qualm, it’s just that it’s a bit too lengthy. Could have been shorter. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book.

My rating: 👍👍👍👍

Buy the book at The Mummy of Monte Cristo

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The Summer before the War

 Author : Helen Simonson

A very delightful historic fiction, The summer before the war is set in a small provincial English town Rye, which borders Belgium. The story is centered around feisty independent Beatrice Nash, who arrives in Rye after the death of her scholarly father. Her outlook is progressive and she wishes to carve a place in this world, and she seeks a teaching position at Rye. She is welcomed by one of the influential women in the town, Agatha Kent and her two nephews Hugh and Daniel. Beatrice’s progressive outlook is not quite appreciated by the small-town members, where people are in general meddlesome. Everyone in the town is well acquainted with others and it does get difficult to draw a line of discretion on private matters. Unmarried Beatrice faces challenges in every direction, first with a rigid landlady, the town leadership, unwanted suitors and tough pupils.

On the onset of the first world war, when the German soldiers march into Belgium, Rye sees an influx of refugees, the wounded and the homeless. It falls on the small community of Rye to provide shelter to these refugees.

Though all seems well at first, the past of few of the refugees comes to the light and does not escape the scrutiny of the meddlesome folks of Rye. Beatrice stands apart questioning their judgment and is forced to bear the consequences. And eventually Britain partakes in the war. Lives of dear ones is at stake. And Rye pays a very heavy price.

It is a beautiful book, albeit a little slow. It has got all the elements of Austen in it, the nuances of social etiquette, literature, dances, dresses, tea parties and of course the army. In between all this is a slow blooming romance between two kindred spirits who are meant to be with each other, but each trying to serve the world their own way.

The only thing which goes against this book is the length. Nearly 500 pages long, it does drag at places. And at times, there are certain episodes which seem out of place and do not get along with the flow of the book.

But I would love to see a television adaptation made out of this book. I am sure it will be on the lines of Downton Abbey and Persuasion. Austen fans, give this book a try.

Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

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Ramayan Rendition-2020 (siya ka vilaap)

Jai Shri Ram ! This year's Ramayan rendition is the narration of events through the eyes of Sita. Sita comes across as a calm and a placid person, but in the end, she did take a stand, in her own way.

This is an attempt to explore feminism in the epic , though it needs to be clearly noted that we are talking about the events and people who lived thousands of years ago, when practices were different and we cannot entirely condemn or criticize anyone completely.

It is published in Amar Ujala, the hindi daily, literature section.  Here is the link.

Siya ka vilaap

Enola Holmes

 Check my review on Enola Holmes in the IMDB critics reviews through The World of Movies.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7846844/externalreviews

https://theworldofmovies.com/enola-holmes-review-a-netflix-original-movie/