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Age of Vice
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
This is the age of vice, where money, pleasure, and power are everything, and the family ties that bind can also kill. New Delhi, 3 a.m. A speeding Mercedes jumps the curb and in the blink of an eye, five people are dead. Its a rich mans car, but when the dust settles there is no rich man at all, just a shell-shocked servant who cannot explain the strange series of events that led to this crime. Nor can he foresee the dark drama that is about to unfold. Deftly shifting through time and perspective in contemporary India, Age of Vice is an epic, action-packed story propelled by the seductive wealth, startling corruption, and bloodthirsty violence of the Wadia family -- loved by some, loathed by others, feared by all. In the shadow of lavish estates, extravagant parties, predatory business deals and calculated political influence, three lives become dangerously intertwined: Ajay is the watchful servant, born into poverty, who rises through the familys ranks. Sunny is the playboy heir who dreams of outshining his father, whatever the cost. And Neda is the curious journalist caught between morality and desire. Against a sweeping plot fueled by loss, pleasure, greed, yearning, violence and revenge, will these characters connections become a path to escape, or a trigger of further destruction? Equal parts crime thriller and family saga, transporting readers from the dusty villages of Uttar Pradesh to the urban energy of New Delhi, Age of Vice is an intoxicating novel of gangsters and lovers, false friendships, forbidden romance, and the consequences of corruption. It is binge-worthy entertainment at its literary best.
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LeafingThroughLife
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

This is the most immersive book I‘ve read in a long time. Kapoor brings modern India to life with the haves, have nots, and those who have way too much. Starting with one tragic event, Kapoor peels off many layers of the story surrounding that event from the perspectives of several characters, which is something I love in a book. Characters who are not necessarily lovable but real are another and Age of Vice is full of these. Lives up to the hype!

18 likes1 stack add
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ChaoticMissAdventures
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

This is an epic that is not going to be for everyone. It is a bit violent and gritty. There are a few characters, and a switching timeline. I dove in and was totally taken by Ajay, and while part of me wishes we had stuck with him I understand why the views switch, you get a deeper & rounded view of the situation, of the politics and relationships. There is a lot to take in, I did half on audio which worked well for me.

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currentlyreadinginCO
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

It took me awhile to gather the threads of this story together, yet I couldn't look away. I'm a sucker for retellings of the same events from different perspectives. I pictured Neda so differently from Ajay's descriptions that I didn't recognize her character in Part 2. By the time that there was a Sunny chapter, I had been thinking to myself - "we better hear from Sunny next." I got this so well & found it excellent.

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Victoriahoperose
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Panpan

Way too long and too much description. It could have been a good story but it needed to be cut down a lot.

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vlwelser
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

I thought this was very good but having trouble pinpointing exactly why. It's probably the writing itself.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 10mo
43 likes1 comment
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ICantImReading
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️💫

This book was just so long and convoluted that it was hard for me to get invested. It ends on a cliffhanger, but I don‘t care enough to read another huge book to find out what happens next in the trilogy. To be fair, I‘ve never really been too interested in gangster storylines, and I did enjoy the Indian setting. I might like it better as a TV series, which looks like it may be in the works. 🎧

Ruthiella Oh, I didn‘t know this was the first in a trilogy! 1y
BirdLaVie In hindsight, I probably inflated my rating for this one because I also will not subject myself to the next book 💁🏼‍♀️. Glad you got through that big boy! 1y
ICantImReading @BirdLaVie I started reading my #BOTM copy, but ended up switching to the audiobook through Libby to get through it quicker! 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1y
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ICantImReading @Ruthiella yes, at least I‘ve read that‘s what is planned! I hope you enjoy it if you haven‘t read it already - I‘ve seen a lot of other reviewers who have really enjoyed it! 🙂 1y
CatMS I actually loved this book and hope a sequel will come along. 1y
ICantImReading @CatMS I‘m so glad! It seems like most people loved it! Maybe it also just hit me at the wrong time 🙂 1y
52 likes6 comments
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suvata
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

#StoryGraph: literary thriller dark tense crime-fiction family-saga india
548 pages • first pub 2023 • 4.5 Stars

Age of Vice is a thriller about a poor servant, a rich playboy, and a journalist who get involved in a car crash that reveals the corruption and violence of a powerful crime family in New Delhi. This novel raises important questions about morality, justice and power in contemporary India.

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CatMS
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor

#CampLitsy23 @Megabooks @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain just learned about #CampLitsy23 so didn't come up with 6 books but would love to throw Age Of Vice by Deepti Kapoor into the mix for summer reading.

squirrelbrain Hi @CatMS - lovely to have you along. It‘s not too late to nominate, but only just! We‘ll be posting the longlist in about 12 hours, if you have time to think of 6 books? If not, we‘ll add you to the tag list so that you can vote when the longlist is posted tomorrow. 2y
squirrelbrain Oops, should have also said that Age of Vice has been nominated, but we had to take it out as it‘s a bit long to read in a fortnight. 2y
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marleed
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

My HS-aged daughter and I discovered Netflix Bollywood dvd‘s in the 00‘s, and I‘ve been intrigued with stories set there ever since. The last few India-based books I‘ve read had female protagonists so this action-packed story was an interesting diversion. There is still though the theme of have and have-nots where the power of those that have is devastating to those who have not - and to those who try to escape what power buys. ↓

marleed My idea going into 2023 was to ‘steal‘ 2-3 days of the previous month and read down a chunkster so there‘s just 200-300 pages to finish in my current month. It‘s working! I‘ve actually completed 4 chunksters, which for me is anything over 500 pages, this year! 2y
tpixie @marleed fun strategy 2y
Cinfhen I LOVE your colorization #ShelfEnvy 🙌🏻😍 2y
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marleed @tpixie I can‘t believe it‘s working! 2y
marleed @Cinfhen The amount of time I spend ‘playing‘ with the books on my Billy shelf lined reading room is something I only admit to fellow Littens! 0h, did you notice the tab on a book there? I don‘t separate my TBR from my read books on my shelves, but I did go through my hardback books in Jan and put tabs on the spines of my TBRs! (And again, the hours spent doing that is only disclosed here :) 2y
Cinfhen Hahahaha 😁your secrets are safe with me xx 2y
Reggie Have you ever read Sister of My Heart by Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni? It‘s my favorite book set in India. My 2nd would be A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth WHICH if you haven‘t read totally works with your goal because that book is 1500 pages. Lol. Also this resonates with me because my parents have taken to watching Bollywood movies at the theaters lately which I find lovely. 2y
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Meghan1
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

Book 13 of 2023! Wow, what a story! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

RebelReader I‘m 200 pages in…..I‘m a sucker for a Mafia story. 2y
Meghan1 @RebelReader it was so good! I don‘t think you‘ll be disappointed! 2y
38 likes2 comments
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eraderneely
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

Liked, didn‘t love. On to the next!

Beatlefan129 I love your amaryllis 🌺 2y
eraderneely @Beatlefan129 thanks! It was a Christmas gift from our neighbor to our kids. They‘re loving it! 2y
19 likes2 comments
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CatMS
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

Every now and then a big book comes around that grabs you and won't let go even after it has been finished, "Age of Vice" is that book. Gangsters, decadence, conspicuous consumption, fathers and sons in conflict, romance and loss, loyalty, toxic friendship, and a story that doesn't end well. I hope the author continues this saga as there is certainly many open ends that could be explored.

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BookishTrish
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

I liked none of the characters and thoroughly enjoyed reading about them all. The ending felt a bit rushed to me - despite it being a longer read. Still a very strong pick.

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Decalino
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

This was a fascinating story of corruption and greed, told from three different perspectives: Ajay, a Dalit child sold into servitude after the murder of his father, later personal servant to Sunny Wadi; Neda, a young journalist from an upper caste family who falls into Sunny's orbit; and finally Sunny, son of an unspeakably wealthy and powerful man. An absorbing and memorable novel, even if it ultimately chooses plot over any deeper meaning, imo.

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emmaturi
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

This was 5 🌟 it was just fantastic, yes it's violent, violence against women, it shows the difference from the poor to the mega rich and corruption. But you are drawn in to life in India. The three MCs you kind off root for them inspite of they do horrible things. This is the the first in a trilogy. Definitely look forward to the next book.

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Kimberlone
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Decided to skip this month. I was curious about Georgie, but it‘s currently available for free on Hoopla, and there weren‘t any other options I was too excited for.

Also due to a shipping error, BOTM had to send me a new January box, so I am still waiting for Age of Vice to arrive.

ChaoticMissAdventures I am skipping too. I am curious about Maame it is Jenny Lawson's bookclub pick and she normally picks interesting things so I may go back for that later. 2y
Kimberlone @ChaoticMissAdventures I will probably try to find a few of them from the library but didn‘t want to use a credit on any of the options 2y
Laughterhp Yeah, I wasn‘t too excited about these picks either. 2y
vivastory I had a couple of credits, so I selected The Writing Retreat so that I could add The Shards to my box. Otherwise I would have skipped. 2y
Kimberlone @vivastory if The Shards had been a main pick I probably would have grabbed that (edited) 2y
46 likes5 comments
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Kimberlone
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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👀 coming soon…

Side note, still haven‘t received my January box due to a USPS delivery error, so they had to send me a new box, which is still not set to deliver until Feb 6-8 at the earliest. 🫤

Trashcanman 😶 2y
TheBookHippie 👀🤐💌 Oy 2y
Gissy Whaaat? Well, it will be like a pre-San Valentine‘s box❤️A positive way to see it🤗 2y
Megabooks Boo! Hope it gets there quickly. 2y
55 likes4 comments
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Floresj
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

I‘m not saying this book isn‘t without flaws, but if this was a Netflix series with 2 seasons, I‘d complete it at the same rate as The White Lotus. If you want family drama, forbidden romance, parties, servants, conspiracy to break from your role, jail, violence, setting in India, this book is for you. It‘s long, but it never dragged!

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GerardtheBookworm
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

An epic story of power, wealth, greed corruption, romance, crime, and social status set in New Delhi. It's basically a 500 page soap opera centering a trio of characters and their connection to the criminal underworld.

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Jnnlb
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Hooked_on_books
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Bailedbailed

This book opens with an intriguing scene then immediately jumps into backstory. A little over 2 hours into the audio, it was clear we weren‘t going to get back to that scene anytime soon and I was not at all engaged in it, so I‘m out.

Megabooks You didn‘t miss much. Odd, convoluted, not very good book. 2y
Hooked_on_books @Megabooks Your review is part of what helped me to go ahead and bail, so thank you! 2y
51 likes2 comments
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Tonton
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

Started after dinner and couldn‘t stop til finished! Eyedrops needed. Action, violence, hard-boiled but lyrical thriller set in New Delhi. Epic storyline of corruption, disparity between wealth and poverty via collision of rich playboy with delusions of doing good, a journalist, and the playboy‘s valet. A car crash is the triggering incident. Hindu concept of cyclical eras defines this time as the age of Vice and spiritual loss for all.

Tonton It‘s a big sprawling story of a destructive criminal dynasty that brings The Godfather to mind. I think it‘s already been picked up for production; can‘t wait! 2y
jlhammar Great review! Looking forward to this. 2y
batsy Interesting! I didn't like her other novel but this one sounds completely different. 2y
Tonton @batsy Her other novel looks very different! 2y
23 likes4 comments
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KristiAhlers
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

This is a soft pick for me. To be honest I feel super conflicted about this book. On one hand the author did a beautiful job bringing India and Ajay and his world and circumstances to life…on the other hand this is bogged down with so many details the story gets kinda lost in the quagmire of it all. A bit overhyped to be honest. #chunksterreadingchallenge

AmyG Good to know. Thanks. 2y
KristiAhlers @AmyG maybe you‘ll really enjoy it! I liked it. Just not enough to keep it. 2y
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Branwen
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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WHOO HOO! 🎉🎉🎉 The only day better than the day Book of the Month drops their new monthly picks is the day your box arrives! 😍📚💕 #botm

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Megabooks
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Mehso-so

The sunset was more enjoyable than the book. 🙄 💯 overhyped and underdelivered. The #audiobook narration was great though.

The Waadia family is part of the new money that rules New Delhi with an iron fist. Sunny, dilettante son of the patriarch, messes about with women and drugs, and his valet Ajay is ready to clean up his mess. Loyal Ajay was sold as a child and met him in Goa. Part thriller, part family saga, I found the plot over complicated.

Megabooks @mamareading here‘s my review. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I didn‘t really care for this one. 2y
AmyG Good to know! Thank you for saving me some precious time so I can read something else. 🤣 2y
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TheBookStacker Oh no this was my BOTM pick 😖 2y
Megabooks @TheBookStacker other people have raved about it, so it could just be me. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I‘m interested to see as other reviews come in. 2y
Megabooks @AmyG I found it really uninspiring 🤷🏻‍♀️ so I‘m glad I could be of help! 😉🤣 2y
BarbaraBB That sunset! Great review! 2y
Breanne1 I‘ve been really struggling to get in to this and thought it was me!! 2y
Cinfhen It‘s my #BOTM pick too @TheBookStacker and it‘s MASSIVE !!! Oy!! Glad to hear it works for #Booked2023 prompt though 😜 2y
swishandflick Whew! Good to know, my library hold just came in and for some reason I couldn't bring myself to start it. Now I feel less guilty 😬 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen @swishandflick I read a lot of the same books as both of you, but we often have very different feelings, so I‘m really interested to read what you both think when you read it. 🤔 2y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB thanks!! 2y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB I love the winter sunsets here. 💜 2y
Megabooks @Breanne1 nope, not just you! 2y
BookBosomed1 Started it this weekend. I‘ve mixed feelings about it, but I‘m going to keep going for now. 2y
97 likes15 comments
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Megabooks
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Some recent #bookmail! Hopefully I‘ll be getting new bookshelves soon because I‘m double stacked almost everywhere. 😂 I‘ve already finished The Bell Jar, and I ended up reading Age of Vice on audio, so look for those reviews soon! I had to get the newest edition of Tiny Beautiful Things even though I have a very well loved old one.

CBee Will look forward to your review of The Bell Jar - one of my all time favorites! (No pressure 😂) 2y
Ruthiella Hope you show pictures of the new shelves when you get them! I love seeing other people‘s bookshelves! 2y
squirrelbrain Loved Tin Man! ❤️ 😭 2y
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mamareading Age of Vice got to be too much for me, but now I‘m wondering if I was just stressed out from driving in a storm while listening to it! Maybe I shouldn‘t have returned it to Libby. 🤦🏽‍♀️ I‘m looking forward to hearing your thoughts. 2y
dabbe Don't you love it when you have to move books in order to see the ones at the back? 🤣 2y
rockpools Ooh, Burnt Shadows. I‘d like to read that again. 2y
Megabooks @CBee I do wish I had read it at 25 because I think I would‘ve enjoyed it even more, and it would have had a stronger resonance at that point in my life than it has in my 40s. 2y
Megabooks @squirrelbrain that popped up in my Amazon for $6 so I had to jump! Looking forward to it…when I need a good cry. 2y
Megabooks @mamareading eh. I was unimpressed. While I liked (well maybe enjoyed is a better word) some of the characters, the plot was over complicated and uninspired. 3⭐️ I‘d say don‘t bother going back, but probably read some other reviews too. 😂 2y
Megabooks @rockpools that was a Christmas gift from @BarbaraBB which I‘m super excited about because I want to dive into her backlist later this year! 2y
mamareading @Megabooks I‘m so relieved to hear it wasn‘t just me 2y
BarbaraBB Looking forward to your review of The Bell Jar. Was it a reread? 2y
Cinfhen I love seeing #BookMail 😍 2y
Cinfhen And Im not surprised you need more shelves!!! 2y
93 likes15 comments
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JenReadsAlot
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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KLyn1 This was my #botm as well 😊 2y
32 likes1 comment
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mamareading
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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How many books can I start at the beginning of this year? I left the kids at home to drive through and get dinner (no kids means audiobooks). This book drew me in today when I finished Sea of Tranquility, it‘s an audiobook day cuz I‘m preparing for a trip.

Real life will start again soon and I won‘t have time to look for one more good book, until then, I‘m enjoying the season!

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Rhondareads
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Rave Reviews perfect first book of 2023

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Branwen
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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I was SO EXCITED to see the Book of the Month choices already up! 😱💕📚 What did everyone pick? I ALMOST went with Hell Bent, but then I realized that I already preordered it and want it to match my copy of Ninth House, which is not a BOTM edition! 😊 #botm

DeeLew I picked What Lies in the Woods. My goal for 2023 is to read some of my BOTM picks that have been sitting on my shelf for a long time. We‘ll see how that goes. 🤣 2y
vivastory I am very very excited for my box. I selected Kuang's Babel, Hell Bent & Tomorrow x 3 🤘 2y
BookBosomed1 A Quiet Life is one of my favorite reads this year. It is a beautiful depiction of grief and how grief connects us. I picked Queen of Thieves, Age of Vice, and The Circus Train. I‘m a sucker for historical fiction. (edited) 2y
Branwen @DeeLew Nice choice! And that's a great goal to have! 🎉🎉🎉 Good luck! @BookBosomed1 Oh wow! That's wonderful to know! I might have to read that one first! 😄 @vivastory NICE! I just finished Babel last night and cried! It is so absolutely amazing! And the ending is 💕💕💕 I am super excited to hear your thoughts on it! 2y
43 likes4 comments
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Breanne1
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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January #botm confirmed!! Hoping some of the others wind up as $1.99 ebook sales 😝

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ChaoticMissAdventures
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Blurry screenshot.

I picked Age of Vice, but was super torn and want Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni I read her Palace of Illusions years and years ago and loved it. I no longer have a copy but might pick one up and read it this month so that I can grab the new book next month.

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Mpcacher
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

This a long book, but so wonderfully written that it never drags and I became invested in both the lives of the characters, especially Ajay, and the setting. It is a fascinating look at wealth and corruption in India. I admit the ending left me a little confused, as it felt unfinished, but then found out it is meant to be a trilogy. I look forward to reading more about the characters and optimistically hope they get their life together. 4.5/5

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Megabooks
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Eh. Other Age of Vice, which I am really excited for, this month‘s #botm choices underwhelmed me. Picked up a previous choice that‘s been getting good reviews as an add on. Bring on Aarvark!

CBee I skipped 🤷‍♀️ 2y
Jess I skipped too. Ugh. 2y
Cinfhen I ordered tagged book too and I LOVED 2y
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JamieArc If it weren‘t my birthday month I would skip too… 2y
ErikasMindfulShelf Someday, Maybe was excellent!!! 2y
Megabooks @CBee @jess @JamieArc this was a really lackluster selection. 2y
Megabooks @ErikasMindfulShelf @Cinfhen I‘m really excited and feel this is a better time to tackle such an emotional book. 2y
marleed I ordered both of those, as well! 2y
CBee @Megabooks I just didn‘t recognize anything and it‘s not like I don‘t already have PLENTY to read 😂😂 2y
Cinfhen It‘s a bit of a chunkster but the description just appealed to me. 2y
69 likes1 stack add10 comments
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PNWBookseller85
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Pickpick

This is a hard one to describe. It reminded me a bit of “A Brief History of 7 Killings” by Marlon James only set in India and with fewer characters. The writing was other-worldly. Absolutely jaw-dropping, stop everything and read sentences out loud to whoever is nearby because holy shit the way she uses words… five stars. So so good.

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swishandflick
Age of Vice: A Novel | Deepti Kapoor
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Maybe? What do we think about this as the #BOTM clue? 🤔

Megabooks Ooooo! I‘m so excited about this book! 2y
ICantImReading I am really intrigued by this book! 2y
66 likes1 stack add2 comments