REVIEW: The Dazzling Heights

The Dazzling Heights
Published by: Harper Collins
Genre: YA, Sci-Fic
Source: Harper Collins India
Rating: 4/5


This was an entertaining read filled with lies and betrayals.The futuristic technology was amazing. Forever puppies, tunnel in the sky, YES please! I also liked Watts sarcastic artificial intelligence. Despite all the technology, the writing wasnt difficult to understand. Now that Ive read this book, the cover and the title totally make sense. Both books start and end with a bang but the plots a little slower toward the middle. With all the different points of view I was impressed with how easily I could tell them a part. Each voice was unique and compelling.

The storyline in this was mainly about a new girl called Calliope who was a con-artist, and was trying to con the teens in the tower out of money, and mainly had her sights set on Atlas who she apparently had met previously when the pair had been travelling round Africa. This relationship didn’t go down too well with Avery though, whilst Calliope started to have second thoughts about leading the life of a con-artist. 
We did get a little bit of romance in this, with the shaky romance between Avery and Atlas, and from another more unexpected source as well, but there wasn’t a lot of romance. I did find the pace in this book rather slow though, although the mystery over who would end up dead kept me reading.
Despite the futuristic setting and multitude of exciting and innovative gadgets that fill the lives of this elite cast, there remained something essentially understandable about these characters. Their troubles were real and their pain was authentic. Their stories might differ but heartache, grief, and love are timeless emotions experienced by characters and readers alike. I think that's what makes this series so special to me - it is a seamless blend of the exciting unknown and the relatable.

But man, I loved how this book was less about drugs and more about a dangerous web of lies. It was just so good seeing them plot against one anther and ugh, was it juicy!!!!

One thing I thought was choppy was Leda's sudden friendliness with Avery and Rylin. I know Leda said that Watt changed her, but we didn't get much of that, so that transition was a bit weird.

And then there's Atlas leaving for Dubai and staying away from Avery. Honestly I didn't care.

*SPOILER ALERT*

Once again the book starts with the death of a character and in this case it is a person who supposedly drowned. Honestly in the beginning, i thought it just had to be Avery. Like who else. But towards the end I was like no, it has to be Leda because Maribel poisoned her and Leda spilled all their secrets. I was freaking out when Leda said that Maribel was out to get them all in revenge for Eris' death. But then someone murdered Maribel and Leda lived. I feel relived that Maribel is dead but who did it? It could have been either Watt or Leda, but they were with the rest of the group, and Avery and Rylin would have never let them do it, and I don't think they would do it either since Eris' death. But all I have in my mind now is WHO KILLED MARIBEL??!?!?!?!

This book was such a fun and thrilling read and i cant WAIT for the third book. I recommend this book series to anyone who is interested in dark secrets and lies!

REVIEW: Then She Was Gone

Then She Was Gone
Author: Lisa Jewell
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Rating: 4/5
Publisher: Penguin Books
Source: Publisher


So, I have read some books before by Lisa but this was the one which moved me to tears in the end. I totally loved this book.

 The narrative goes back and forth between the present day and the past, and is told from the perspective of four different characters, at different times throughout the book, although mainly from the pov of Laurel and Ellie. As a reader it's not at all difficult to keep on track, the perspectives don't keep changing continually, but rather gently weave in and out. 

Other than that, Then She Was Gone, is an enjoyable suspenseful read, filled with characters with shady secrets and questionable pasts. There are many emotional parts with plenty of moving moments. The book has some twists and turns, but I think I may have read so many books of this genre.

It's not a fast paced story but it does contain a couple of unexpected twists and some heart breaking moments towards the end.I really enjoyed this book and would happily recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well written,engrossing drama/thriller

 The book centres on Laurel Mack whose youngest daughter 15 yr old Ellie went missing on her way to the library.

Ten years later Laurel is divorced from husband Paul and rarely sees her two surviving children Hanna and Jake. Then she receives a phone call from the police, Ellie has been found dead with the same rucksack and clothes she went missing with 10 years earlier.

Laurel meets Floyd in a chance encounter in a cafe. Things are going well and she meets Floyd's 9 yr old daughter Poppy. Poppy reminds Laurel of Ellie, as she gets to know Poppy she finds out some disturbing things about her background.

Keeping things mostly unpredictable, the story flows outwards and back on itself, cleverly allowing certain things to come to light at well placed moments. It is both psychological thriller and family drama, a gorgeous mash up of the two which makes for a highly addictive read.

It was a page turner for me ! Highly recommended !

Thank you Penguin Random House for sending this book for review.

REVIEW: Everybody Lies

Everybody Lies by Seth Stephan
Genre: Non-fiction
Rating: 3.5/5
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Source: Bloomsbury India

This is an engaging and informative book about the huge amount of data available online and what it tells us about society.
As a chapter tells us, ALL THE WORLD’S A LAB. The data collected and shared by Seth Stephens- Davidowitz is downright disturbing at times. That there are dark sexual proclivities isn’t shocking so much as what they are, based on research. Also, who knew that your neighbor winning the lottery can have a strange impact on your own life. How odd human nature, what bizarre subjects human beings become, and subjects of research, it seems, we all are. What the heck does google searches reveal about us? A lot, actually. I spent a few chapters of this book with my moth hanging open, catching flies. Ethical questions certainly give rise to much of the research, just where is the ‘internet’ taking us all? Just who is watching, why? Well, read on my fellow test subjects. Do we think in strange ways? Naturally. I struggle with the methods of collecting data and yet, it’s true that while it can be used for nefarious purposes, just like anything else, there can be great benefits too.

The author's writing style is comfortable to read, which is no easy feat when you're talking about statistics and other difficult concepts. The dude obviously is a brainiac but he makes sure you're not intimidated by that fact


His conclusion is an argument that Big Data is the best shot for the social sciences to officially move into the realm of “real” science, even claiming that if Karl Popper were alive he’d likely be convinced. I’m not quite so skeptical of the social sciences as Popper was, and certainly no science, even “hard” science, is completely free from the biases of the scientist. But there is definitely more room for ideology to skew results in the social sciences. Stephens-Davidowitz makes a good case that big data (in combination with smaller data) can significantly strengthen the reliability of results. He convinced me that it does, but not to the extent that he believes it does.

The book makes the point that social science and literary studies have a fantastic new source of great data in big data. It's an interesting and seemingly valid point.

In short, this was a great read. I really enjoyed reading this book.

 Thank you Bloomsbury India for sending this over !

REVIEW: My Absolute Darling

Book: My Absolute Darling
Publisher: 4th Estate Books
Genre: Fiction, Yong Adult
Rating: 4.5/5
Source: Publisher



Damn! This book is a masterpiece.
The writing is some of the finest I've ever come across in modern literature, and I dare say it actually got me out of the book rut I was in. 


At the start of "My Absolute Darling", it's clear by the descriptions--that Author Gabriel Tallent wasn't painting us a rosy picture of Turtle's home life --no matter how gorgeous the beach was. The old house up on the hill…with peeling white paint, boarded windows, an unfinished back deck, grainy redwood kitchen counters, and *Turtle*, 14 years old, has been sleeping on a plywood bed, with an army surplus bag pulled over her since she was 6 years old. 
She goes to sleep at night listening to rats eating off the dirty dishes in the kitchen. She wakes up in the mornings- going into that kitchen - getting a can of beer to toss to her dad grabs eggs for herself that she cracks right into her mouth. 

As I was reading throughout this story --there are so many situations where we see how the 'daddy' manipulates Turtle's thoughts - and is so clever at it. What Martin did next with the knife boggled my mind. He turned Turtle's thinking around- ( while still controlling and abusive) - to where she surrendered inward -- in the same way a turtle retreats it's head into its shell. 

The one thing that truly bothers me is hard to quantify here, but it has to do with the way it's written. It almost feels as if there's a deliberate attempt to stir adrenaline in the reader or even to reap enjoyment from reading about the graphic sexual abuse. I've seen this in some horror movies as well, where the creator appears to want the viewer to enjoy what they're seeing...

If I had to guess I'd say that this is the root cause of why so many of us feel uncomfortable, unsettled, or downright disturbed with this book. It isn't the story line per se, but the way that it's presented to the reader.

The prose is excellent. Gabriel Tallent writes in a measured, unmelodramatic but rather lyrical style, which brings the people, especially Turtle, wonderfully to life. Just as a tiny example, we get sentences like this: "She waits there in the grass, feeling her every thought stored up and inarticulate within her," and this sort of brilliant distillation of internal experience shines through the book. The sense of place is excellent and dialogue is completely convincing; I especially liked some wonderful episodes of the jokey, wordy, literate chatter of two High School boys as it contrasted with Turtle's near-silent inarticulacy. 

I find it hard to express quite how good I thought this book was. It is a rare combination of an utterly gripping story, excellent writing and genuine depth of content. 

Highly recommended.

REVIEW: All the Wicked Girls

Book: All the Wicked Girls
Author: Chris Whitaker
Genre: Mystery, fiction, crime
Source: BonnierZaffre
Rating: 5/5












I highly enjoyed this book, I was drawn into the story immediately and it never let go, keeping me gripped to the very end. 
Everyone loves model student Summer Ryan, she's a ray of light in the struggling small town of Grace, Alabama, especially compared to her troubled sister Raine. Then Summer goes missing, after several girls also went missing in Briar County and never found the residents aren't sure whether the same person nicknamed "The Bird" is responsible for Summer's disappearance. Her sister throws herself into finding her, supported by a most unlikely ally. But maybe there was more to Summer than meets the eye.....





"Raine sometimes complains that nothing exciting is ever gonna happen in Grace again. Daddy told her careful what you wish for." 



I found myself reading this book so slowly as I was savouring each page/chapter and character instead of my usual rapid read and that is because each page is a literal work of art.

This is a crime story with a difference, a beautifully plotted, genuinely absorbing set of character studies, worked into a wider story of missing girls and religious fervour. If you try to put All the Wicked Girls into a genre box you’ll fail miserably because there isn’t one. I guess crime novel suits it as much as anything else would but when I was attempting to describe it to someone at work the other day I ended up tongue tied. It is deliciously dark but so intensely traumatic I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. Maybe Chris won’t either but I hope so because seriously he needs to write forever. Tall Oaks was amazing, add to that quality x 1000 with what is sure to become a trademark touch of insanely creative genius and you’ll be close to All the Wicked Girls.







All The Wicked Girls might sound like a book that is just about one girl’s search for her missing sister, but it is not. As I read many pages I was quoting sentences aloud to anyone who would listen. There is a very distinct style to Chris Whitaker’s writing. He has captured the essence of this small Southern town with all the characters and nuances you would expect to find.

All The Wicked Girls is a novel that you will become one with. The characters’ emotions will become your emotions ; Tragedy, grief, sorrow, regret, yet also, hope, self-discovery and atonement.

REVIEW: Home Fire

Book: Home Fire
Published: 15th August
Published by: Bloomsbury
Genre: Modern Literature
Rating: 5/5
Source: Bloomsbury India

Home Fire is the candidate I support to win the Booker Prize. 
The novel is divided in 5 sections, each focusing on the experience of one character. At its core, it is the story of a British family of Pakistani origin and their struggle to live in their adoptive country in the shadow of the terrorist threat, especially because of their troubled history. 

I thought the beginning to be a bit shaky but please persevere. The writing gets much better after 30 pages or so. It becomes a powerful, emotional and important novel for our times. 

We learn about the methods used to recruit young people, usually 18 or 19, to the Islamic terrorist cause. The novel is narrated in alternating chapters by the five main characters. Each succeeding chapter is more intense, and by the time we hear from Aneeka, this story had radically changed, become super charged, very intense. The novel displays a confidence not only in prose but in how the story is related, which I found extremely effective.Complex issues. Love of family, youthful mistakes, how much can be forgiven. Government stances versus family, fear versus love, and the difficulties of Muslims, how they must act to fit in with society. 

In Home Fire, we get the story of Isma and her twin, younger siblings Aneeka and Parvaiz. Since their mother died, Isma has raised the two younger children. The story starts when Isma gets the opportunity to travel to America to resume her interrupted studies (the other children now being old enough to not need her around). Her journey to America quickly reveals some of the key themes that will develop. At the airport, she is detained for questioning purely, it seems, because she is a Muslim. Once in America, she continues to worry about her brother and sister and it soon becomes clear that something has gone seriously wrong with Parvaiz. Then Isma meets someone whose father is an influential politician back in England. 

Long listed for the Booker, I find tis a very worthy addition. Unforgettable, some of the visuals displaying a sister's love I don't think I will forget.

I have not read any of Shamsie’s previous novels, so this was new territory for me. It’s a good sign, I guess, that I have immediately added two other books to my “to read” list to try some more. 


No doubt, its a very strong book. And ending was quite unexpected for me.
Home Fires poses some complex questions about race and does answer them.

So yes, I thought this book was excellent. It piles on some heavy themes but is readable, and let's face it: a well constructed novel.


Thank you Bloomsbury India for sending this book to me for review !

REVIEW: Dunkirk

Book: Dunkirk
Author: Joshua Levine
Publisher: 4th Estate Books
Rating: 4/5
Source: 4th Estate Books
Genre: History, Non-fiction




The Dunkirk evacuation is such a remarkable story of survival and the sheer courage humans have, when tested to the absolute limit.
The narrative begins a tad slow, and it did take me a couple of chapters to really be pulled in to the book completely. By the time the actual stages of the evacuation of Dunkirk were being described, I was completely in deep. 

Levine has personal accounts in this book of soldiers on the ground, as well as higher ranks. It was interesting to read the different perspectives from individuals.
An amazing, inspirational story that changed the fate of the world! I thought I knew about Dunkirk from history classes but I learned so much more about the defeat/success that occurred there from this book. This made the action real and personal. This was a treat to read.


"When you're in the middle of what turns out to be history, you don't know it's history. It's not history to you. It's another day for you, it might be a more dangerous day than usual, but it's a day. And then you hear Winston Churchill talking about you and your life. Turns out you were present at the beginning of something" 

Dunkirk is a fascinating look at a historical event that many people don't know about. While some people felt that this event was a story of a failed battle, Levine looks at it as an incredible story of survival. The goal was to save 40,000 troops, and the reality was that over 260,000 troops were rescued from the shores of Dunkirk, an astonishing number.

England used Dunkirk as a rallying cry and people in England today still speak of the "Dunkirk Spirit" when talking about bucking up and working together to achieve a goal that seems unattainable.

This book was an interesting read. I appreciated the fact that it not only held to what the British and French, but also the German and American viewpoints. It is quite simply, unlike most books ever written. While this is now a motion picture 
 The history and the time that this book encompasses shows the authors attention to detail, details that we do not find together. Take the young German girl who laughed at the ideals that were set forth during their education and had a Jewish friend, but refused to think anything about the treatement that was being meted out to Jews all over Germany. I feel as though this book (and the movie) will appeal to many. It is a simple timeline, but begins a chain of events which will, quite literally, change the world.



Thank you 4th Estate books for sending this over !
Highly recommended book.