Monday, December 31, 2007

Happy New Year


pic. courtesy: www.art.com

Wish you all a Very Happy New Year!! May you discover many more exciting books to read in 2008!!

Also, Today is my blog's first anniversary!!! Yeah!! I started off this blog merely as an online journal where I keep track of the books I read and record my thoughts on it. But then, along the way, I discovered so many other wonderful blogs publishing book reviews and suggestions. Truly, Its been a great experience reading your blogs. And, Thank you so much for all the great reviews.

I want to wrap up my final post for 2007 highlighting some of my latest reads. Due to lack of time, I could only squeeze a few lines for each one.

The Nazi Officer's Wife by Edith Hahn Beer ~ A truly fascinating memoir of a Edith, a Jewess & wife of a nazi Officer and her survival in the labor camp in Germany during WWII.

On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan ~ Ian captures the feelings of Florence and Edward, a young couple, on their wedding night on the chesil beach. Most of the story happens in the honeymoon suite. As the night unfolds, Edward and Florence work hard to conquer their innermost demons. Will their wedding night turn out to be a disaster? or may be they can make it up after all... Not sure if I really liked this one. It had an interesting start but then, it lost me somewhere in the middle...

If Today be Sweet by Thrity Umrigar ~ Tehmina Sethna, a parsi woman, visits her son and his family in cleveland, after the death of her husband. Still coping with the loss of her husband, she now wrestles with the idea of what "home" really means to her. Should she go back to her life in Bombay or should she stay with her son in America? Umrigar is one of my favorite authors and I loved reading her previous title 'The Space Between Us'. I highly recommend this one!!

The Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer ~ Shortly after the Iranian Revolution, Isaac Amin, a local jeweler gets imprisoned by the Revolutionary Guards and is sent to prison. Being a Jew and someone who frequently visits Israel, Isaac was severely tortured and flogged and his chances of survival are slim. He suffers severe mental agony wondering if he will he ever see the outside world. A truly captivating story!

A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah ~ A searingly painful memoir of a young boy whose life alters together when a civil war breaks out. To read what war is like through the eyes of a young boy is so heartbreaking. But, I beseech you to read this great memoir!! Highly Recommended


8 comments:

Literary Feline said...

Happy Blogversary! I have read two of the books you listed and have all of the others in my TBR collection or on my wishlist. :-) I have heard mixed reviews about McEwan's novel, but I think I'd still like to read it. I loved The Space Between Us and am looking forward to reading her latest book. Have you read Bombay Time by the same author? I read that one last year and liked it.

Have a Happy New Year!

Radha said...

Happy blog-anniversary & a happy new year :-)
I'm going to pick up Thrity umrigar's novel soon!

bibliobibuli said...

would love to send you a copy of the "growing up in trengganu" book. if you drop me your postal address i will put it in the post for you.

my email is sbakar@streamyx.com

Happy Reader said...

@Wendy ~ Thank you! After reading Umrigar's latest book, I want to go back and read all her novels. She is such an amazing writer. Am planning on Bombay Time sometime this year.
@Radha ~ Thanks and Wish you a great 2008!
@Bibliobibuli ~ Wow! It would be awesome if you could send me a copy!! Thank you so much!

tanabata said...

Happy blogiversary! Sorry I'm so late to wish you also a Happy New Year. Being away for the New Year has made me very behind.
I'm planning to get The Space Between Us soon. Glad to hear that you loved it. I'm adding some of these to my wishlist.

Happy Reader said...

@Nat ~ Thanks and Happy to see you, as always :) Hope you have a wonderful year ahead!!

Lotus Reads said...

A Hap, Hap, Happy Blogversary to you Chitts! Sorry I've been so irregular with my visits, but I am hoping that once things settle down at work I'll be able to make more blog visits, not to mention entries on my own blog! What have you been up to? Did you get my recent e-mail?

Happy Reader said...

@Lotus ~ Thanks and I am so glad to see you :) Please come back soon from hiatus.. Just replied your email. Sorry about the late response.