Book Review: A book that makes you feel everything extremely

I explore everything about the book 'me before you'.

I have delayed writing this review because I don’t want to say goodbye to this story, or because I’m unsure I can review this book well. Still, I want to do the story justice, so here it goes…

After almost finishing the book, I watched the ‘Me Before You’ movie for the second time in my life. I had watched the movie for the first time quite a few years back and fell in love with it, and had decided that I would read the book one day. However, after having the experience of reading the book, the movie, while still good, did fall short for me. Just because there were so many scenes - important scenes - that were not in the movie, especially Lou’s mother’s scene, which I personally felt was valuable in the book. It was completely cut in the movie along with Lou’s backstory. And Will’s parents were also together in the movie.

The movie left out many vital parts from the book, which weakened the story. If you enjoyed the movie but haven’t read the book, you missed a much deeper experience. The book was far superior. Emilia Clarke and Sam Caffin’s acting and chemistry were the movie’s main strengths.

I’ve shared my complete thoughts on Me Before You— including a deeper look at the characters, themes, and why this book stayed with me — on my Substack newsletter.

Read the full essay here:Full Book Review! 

Book Review: Franz Kafka at his most vulnerable

 Franz Kafka at his most vulnerable 

Everything I felt while reading Letters to Milena

Franz Kafka is such a huge name in the literary world today that it feels almost unreal to believe he died thinking his work would never amount to anything. So convinced was he of his insignificance that he asked his best friend, Max Brod, to burn all of his work after his death. However, Brod did not honour Kafka’s request and instead chose to publish his writings.

In these letters, you get to read Kafka like you may have never read before. Kafka’s longing and yearning for Milena are laid bare in his letters. The few letters Milena wrote to Max Brod, which are included in the book, are equally compelling—they reveal her sorrow and the cruel play of fate with striking clarity.

I’ve shared my complete thoughts on Letters to Milena— including a deeper look at the characters, themes, and why this book stayed with me — on my Substack newsletter.

Read the full essay here: Full Essay

Book Review: This Book Made Me a Fan of Emily Henry — End of Story

 This Book Made Me a Fan of Emily Henry — End of Story

Screaming, crying, laughing, healing: my full review of Happy Place.

OH. MY. GOD. I loved this — Emily Henry, what did you put in this book?? I have read only one other Emily Henry book which is — Funny Story, and I liked that book but — I loved this book!

Everything, and I mean everything, was perfect about this book — the characters, the relationships, the friendships, the character development, the dialogues, the writing. Oh my god — the writing!

This book definitely made me a fan of Emily Henry. I fell in love with her writing in this book along with the characters.

I’ve shared my complete thoughts on Happy Place— including a deeper look at the characters, themes, and why this book stayed with me — on my Substack newsletter.

Read the full essay here: Full Essay

Book Review: Meeting Morrie Through Pages

 Meeting Morrie Through Pages

A deeply personal reflection on “Tuesdays With Morrie”

This book is such a revelation, truly. Throughout the book, it felt like losing a best friend. As if just like Mitch, I was losing somebody close to me too. Morrie was such an inspiration — his strength, his grit, his thoughts — everything is just so unique. I can’t believe I was crying over an old man who died long before I was even born; however, there I was, crying my eyes out over this book.

It’s so hard to believe that there was somebody in reality who had thoughts like this in this world. That Morrie was not a fictional character but somebody real — somebody who had walked this earth, just like us. I could never imagine how God can make people like Morrie and then also create people who are the exact opposite of him in this world.

I’ve shared my complete thoughts on Tuesdays with Morrie— including a deeper look at the characters, themes, and why this book stayed with me — on my Substack newsletter.

Read the full essay here: Full Essay

Book Review: Babel by R.F.Kuang left me shaken (in the best way possible)

 Babel by R.F.Kuang left me shaken (in the best way possible)

A brutal, brilliant story of language, empire, and the friendships caught in between.

I just want to start this review by saying: this book made me feel everything. Sadness, anger, joy, frustration- you name it. Babel is heavy in every sense of the word- both in size and in the emotions it stirs up.

I’ll admit: I was intimidated before picking this up. Not just because of the book’s sheer thickness, but also because I’d heard R.F. Kuang’s writing can be very literary and demanding. I worried it might feel too academic or even boring. But wow- I couldn’t have been more wrong. This turned out to be one of the most compelling books I’ve ever read.

I’ve shared my complete thoughts on Babel— including a deeper look at the characters, themes, and why this book stayed with me — on my Substack newsletter.

Read the full essay here: Full Essay

Critical Analysis: A Critical Study of Obsessive Passion in Wuthering Heights

A Critical Study of Obsessive Passion in Wuthering Heights

Brontë's Gothic Love Story That Was Never Really About Love

The main argument of this essay is that Catherine and Heathcliff’s love is not a conventional romantic ideal but an obsessive, self-destructive force. Through analyzing their relationship, the essay will highlight not only the darker aspects of love but also the rigid societal norms of the Victorian era that contributed to their suffering. Their destructive love story exposes deeper tensions related to class, gender, and emotional repression, ultimately impacting not only their own lives but also those of their families and future generations.

This essay will first explore the nature of Catherine and Heathcliff’s love before examining how it transforms into obsession and possession. It will then analyze the consequences of their obsessive love and the ways in which Brontë uses symbolism to depict love and destruction throughout the novel.

I’ve shared my complete thoughts on Wuthering Heights — including a deeper look at the characters, themes, and why this book stayed with me — on my Substack newsletter.

Read the full essay here: Full Essay

Personal Essay: A Love Letter to Our Parents

 A Love Letter to Our Parents

A Heartfelt Reflection on Imperfect Love and Unconditional Gratitude

To Whomever it may concern,

It truly breaks my heart to see the lack of respect some children show their parents. I just wish everyone could treat their parents with the love and sincerity they deserve. Of course, I'm not talking about parents who genuinely don't deserve that title. But for those who pour their hearts into providing for their kids, day in and day out, and still offer infinite love even when their children say things that would shatter anyone's heart – those are the parents I wish we'd cherish.

I know I don't always treat my parents as well as I could, even though I have the utmost respect and love for them. Everything I am, and everything I hope to be, is because of them. My biggest struggle is the anger I sometimes carry, and I know that's on me.

I’ve shared my complete thoughts on this subject — including a deeper look at the themes, and why this thought stayed with me — on my Substack newsletter.

Read the full essay here: Full Essay

Critical Analysis: Prince Myshkin & Nastasya Filippovna Character Analysis: The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Prince Myshkin & Nastasya Filippovna Character Analysis: The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky

How Dostoevsky's "The Idiot" Expose Society's Cruelty and Double Standards

The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a thought-provoking novel that explores the judgments society casts upon individuals - whether by feeling threatened by the kindness of an innocent man or condemning a woman as "mad" instead of offering her compassion for a life shaped by suffering. At the center of the novel is Prince Myshkin, a man whose innocence and kindness unsettle those around him, leading them to mock him as an "idiot" behind his back. His character stands in stark contrast to the greed and selfishness of the world around him. Paralleling his fate is Nastasya Filippovna, a woman consumed by anger and revenge against the very society that wronged her. A Christ-like man who is too kind and selfless for the otherwise world and a woman who is wronged by society and when she rebels she is named a “mad woman”- both of those characters are too much relevant even in today’s world. Through Myshkin and Nastasya, Dostoevsky exposes how society isolates those who refuse to "fit in."

I’ve shared my complete thoughts on this subject — including a deeper look at the themes, and why this thought stayed with me — on my Substack newsletter.

Read the full essay here: Full Essay

Personal Essay: The Art of Feeling Completely Worthless

The Art of Feeling Completely Worthless

Navigating the Unseen Burdens of Self-Worth and Expectation

To whomever it may concern,

They say failure is just part of life. And isn't it ironic? Because those very same people would probably rip it out of their own lives if they could. They say it, I think, just to make themselves feel a little less awful. So they don't have to face that gut-wrenching, entirely worthless feeling.

Sometimes, something just happens. And it leaves you feeling so utterly worthless. It's the thing that keeps you awake at night, your mind spinning, replaying everything, wondering how you could have just been better? You just wish you could be.

I’ve shared my complete thoughts on this subject — including a deeper look at the themes, and why this thought stayed with me — on my Substack newsletter.

Read the full essay here: Full Essay

Personal Essay: All Marriages Are Doomed to Failure

All Marriages Are Doomed to Failure.

Why I think marriage is just a slow, painful scam. 

To whomsoever it may concern,

Do you really want to get married?

Since we’re kids, everyone keeps telling us, “One day when you grow up, you’ll get married, blah blah blah.” But does anyone ever stop to actually think about it? Maybe you just don’t want to get married. And why not? Well, because—obviously—all marriages are doomed to fail.

And no, it’s not a matter of perception. Some people get out of their marriage through divorce. Some people stay in it until they die—showing the world how happy they are, while secretly thinking that if killing each other were legal, they'd have done it ages ago.

Trust me when I say: I want to believe people can stay happy in a marriage. It’s just hard to believe when you’ve never actually seen it happen.

I’ve shared my complete thoughts on this subject — including a deeper look at the themes, and why this thought stayed with me — on my Substack newsletter.

Read the full essay here: Full Essay

Personal Essay: Where is God & Where you can find him?

 To whomever it may concern,

Anything related to God is a heavy yet fascinating topic, not just for me but for many others. Growing up in a religious household—much like almost every other household in India—you witness people going to sacred places in search of God, praying to every deity they can find, some even praying for personal gain. It makes you wonder: how can these people believe so strongly in something they have never seen? What drives their faith? What do they hope to gain from it? Peace? But is peace truly attainable in this life?

Is it wealth? How can one expect to gain money without putting in the effort to work? Is it success in exams? Can someone pass an exam without studying? Is it marriage? If a person struggles to find a good partner, is it impossible to live alone? And if not, why not explore marriage websites instead of seeking divine intervention at a temple?

I’ve shared my complete thoughts on this subject — including a deeper look at the themes, and why this thought stayed with me — on my Substack newsletter.

Read the full essay here: Full Essay

Book Review: Life's Amazing Secrets

Life's Amazing Secrets by Gaur Gopal Das

Quote: "We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are."

Plot: As Gaur Gopal Das and his friend Harry get stuck in traffic, they start to have a conversation about many aspects of life, from finding one's purpose in life to the key to lasting happiness. Gaur Gopal Das is a sought-after monk and a well-known life coach. Through many stories, some of which are based on real life, Das tries to answer different questions about life in a light-hearted way in this thought-provoking book.

My Personal Views: I got to know about Mr Gaur Gopal Das via Instagram reels (I know many of you Gen-Z's might relate lmao) however, I am not really someone who listens to life coaches or monks really, to be honest. However, when I got the chance to buy his book 'Life's Amazing Secrets' when I went to a book fair, I couldn't help but buy it. Probably because the last few self-help books I read, I ended up liking so I didn't really give it a second thought. 

Now that I have read the book, I can say I probably should have searched a bit more about the book. I am not really saying that I didn't like the book, it was a great read, not going to lie, however, many times while reading this book, I couldn't help but feel as though it was missing something. 

It is written and presented quite well and the instances and examples that the author has used when understanding one life rule are quite easy to understand as well. However, I felt like some of the instances and examples were a bit childish and some better instances could have been used to make it better. In the book, the author talks about the 4 principles that form the foundation of happiness in life, that is, work life, personal life, relationships and social contribution and how to balance them in life.

Overall, the book was good but it could have been better and could have used some better examples to make it a bit more interesting. However, I would say it was easy to read even though I lost interest many times while reading. 

Ratings: ⭐⭐⭐/ 5

All of my Year 2022 reads!

Book 1: The Dark Between Stars by Atticus

This was the first poetry book I read, which definitely did not disappoint! After reading this book, Atticus became one of my favourite poets (not that I have anyone else tbh). But it was actually a really perfect book filled with beautiful poetry. It was a great read for sure.

Book 2: The Twisted series by Ana Huang

I read all four of the books in this series, and that is, Twisted Love, Twisted Games, Twisted Hate, and last but not the least, Twisted Lies. Of all four books, my favourite was Twisted Games and my favourite character was, of course, Rhys Larsen. Who could deny the charms of Mr Larsen? Twisted Love was not that good, to be honest, but we of course should not overlook the fact that it was the author's first ever book written, then Twisted Games (as I said) became my favourite, Twisted Hate was a huge disappointment for me and Twisted Love was okay-ish. That pretty much sums up my feelings for the twisted series!

Click on the link to read more: Twisted Love Book Review, Twisted Games Book Review, Twisted Hate Book Review

Book 3: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Ugly love was my first romance book in years. I had heard a lot about CoHo books and it is kind of pretty much famous in TikTokso I had to try it out! But it was okay-ish for me. Kind of (a little bit) disappointing. Because of this, I have still not read one of Colleen Hoover's best-seller It Ends with us. I am afraid, as this was so overhyped, I will feel the same with the other book.  

Click on the link to read more: Ugly Love Book Review 

Book 4: Hedon by Priyanka

This one was a good book actually, I really really hated the ending with a passion though. I think the author should have gone with any other ending rather than the one that is in the book. I mean, seriously?? That ending was so bad. The book is actually about a girl who is trying to find herself, even though I thought it would be another romance novel, it definitely was not.

Book 5: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Oh yes, one of my favourite books I read last year. This one is so good, I would gift it to every reader if I could. Definitely, a must-read! (I know I have said it already in my blog) But I don't care if you are a teenager or an adult, you definitely should give this book a try, no matter what's your age.

Click on the link to read more: Looking for Alaska Book Review  

Book 6: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

 Another good book. Not my top-5 book but definitely worth a read. This book will surely give you some life lessons that will really help you. I had heard a lot about this book from a lot of people, and I thought I should give it a try, and I, for sure don't regret buying and reading this book. Finally, a book that is worth the hype that it got. 

Click on the link to read more: The Alchemist Book Review

Book 7 Illusion of my Life by Muskan Pawar

This one is quite personal. This book is actually written by my best friend so being a good friend I knew I had to read it (even though I had already read it before when it was yet to get published). Sorry not sorry but my name being mentioned in the book was the highlight of the book (lmao). But on a serious note, for a first-time author, this book actually had some solid scenes and dialogues that I never thought Muskan could write. This one is, of course, close to my heart and is definitely going to my Top 10.

  

Book 8: The Tempting of Thomas Carrick by Stephanie Laurens

Oh my god, this was such a bad book. I tried reading it as much as I could but I just couldn't continue reading it. I hate leaving a book in the middle with a passion but this was one of those books that I just could not continue reading. After reading this one, I got the idea that reading old-age books is not my type of thing.

Book 9: All he saw was the girl by Peter Leonard

Another disappointment of a book. Left it in the middle as I couldn't continue reading it. Though, for this one, I do blame my judgement. This book was not what I thought it would be.

Book 10: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

A classic, however, this was so boring that I left this one in the middle as well. I, unfortunately, couldn't continue reading it. I thought that since this is a classic, and so loved by people all over the world, it would be a great read but it wasn't. After this, I think classic books are just not for me. 

Top 5 Best Anime Opening Songs

It might be too obvious to say but Anime has some kickass opening songs. After all, when people say that nothing is complete without a little bit of music they might not be totally wrong.

When it comes to anime opening theme songs, we all might have our own set of favorites (or for some people it might be too difficult to choose) but which ones are those that can be called the greatest of all time? 

Just like every other anime fan, I have my own anime playlist some of which I am sharing with you all (sadly). Check out my top 5 favorites of all the anime that I've watched until now. Not going to lie, it was a little bit difficult to choose, but eh, you gotta choose what you gotta choose. 

1) Unravel by Toru Kitajima (Tokyo Ghoul)

If you've watched Tokyo Ghoul then how can you not have this banger as one of your favorites? In my opinion, one of the reasons Kaneki Ken Vs Jason's fight was legendary is because this song was playing in the background. I have been kind of vibing to this song ever since I heard it, I am not going to lie. 

2) The World by Nightmare (Death Note)

Death Note might not have been one of my favorite anime but this song remained with me for sure. When I started watching Death Note, I remember listening to this song and thinking how cool this song was.  

3) Blue Bird by Ikimono-gakari (Naruto Shippuden) 

Okay, I am pretty proud to say, I knew this song was a banger before it started coming in my Instagram reels. The voice of the singer is pretty amazing. Naruto has had its fair share of some of the greatest openings but this one tops them all for me 

4) Haruka Mirai by Kankaku Piero (Black Clover)

I recently started watching Black Clover (of which I have yet to write a blog about but I haven't finished watching it yet) and it's an amazing anime. This is the first opening song of the anime, and it honestly kicks ass.  

5) Paint by I don't like Mondays (One Piece)

This opening song is the recent opening song that is appearing in the One Piece anime. I am up to date with the anime and the manga as well. I want to make a blog about this anime as well, but it is never-ending, right? Lmao. I actually sing along with the song whenever it comes up and now that I think about it, I probably look funny when I do that. 

Anyways, these are my top 5 best anime opening songs that I think are just bangers and the greatest of all time.