Litsy

so-so

This one is not my favorite of “Tookies short perfect novels” that I have read so far, but I do see why it‘s on the list. The end did quite literally take my breath away.

15 likes

Sapphire

Fire on the Mountain | Anita Desai

Weekend reading is to make progress on working my way through the character Tookie‘s “short perfect novels” list in Erdrich‘s The Sentence. This will be #8 of 12.

Soubhiville Oh cool! I made a reading list from her recs, but I don‘t know if I‘ve gone back to follow up on any of them. 🙂📚 2mo

Sapphire @Soubhiville I made it a personal challenge on StoryGraph so I wouldn‘t forget! It‘s taking awhile. This one and the Turgev were a bit harder to find. The only one I haven‘t really embraced (it‘s hard to say like they are all beautifully written but all very dark) is Mrs Dalloway, but I will go back for that one. I am also using most of these for #192025 challenge as well 2mo

25 likes1 stack add2 comments

starlight97

Gun Island | Amitav Ghosh

so-so

This book just didn't really take me with it, it was kinda meh.

Jari-chan Love that picture ❤️😸 3mo

starlight97 @Jari-chan thanks 😁💖 3mo

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 3mo

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfection 🐾🫶🏻 3mo

25 likes4 comments

GatheringBooks

Rabindranath Tagore: An Anthology | Rabindranath Tagore

#PoetryMatters Day 29: #Throng

TheSpineView

TheSpineView 💜💜💜 6mo

27 likes1 comment

sarahbarnes

Tomb of Sand | Geetanjali Shree

pick

I really enjoyed this epic novel. Despite its length, it was very readable, and is equal parts hilarious and heartwarming. The last part of the book was so compelling and turned everything in the story on its head for me. A story about borders and rules and prejudice, and one woman who refuses all of it in the end. I won‘t forget Ma for a long time.

Aimeesue Reading this one now. I agree, It‘s fantastic. (edited) 8mo

sarahbarnes @Aimeesue I love that you‘re reading this right now, too! Glad you‘re enjoying it. 8mo

BarbaraBB I still need to read this and your review is so tempting! 8mo

See All 7 Comments

Deblovestoread I second @BarbaraBB . On my shelf need to move it up. 8mo

batsy So glad you like it! It was one of my favourites when I read it last year. 8mo

sarahbarnes @Barbarabb @Deblovestoread I‘m excited to hear what you think when you get to it! 8mo

sarahbarnes @batsy I loved her narrative and writing style so much, and she told the history and politics of the story in such a creative way. I also loved learning in the translator‘s note that Shree intentionally chose to write the book in Hindi. 🤍 8mo

39 likes7 comments

Bookwomble

Thirty-Two Tales of the Throne of Vikramaditya | Simhasana Dvatrimsika

pick

Despite the somewhat repetitious nature of the stories - King Vikramaditya encounters some wondrous challenge, is prepared to sacrifice himself on behalf of others, wins a fabulous prize, and magnanimously gives it away, so proving himself the most virtuous of kings - I enjoyed these Sanskrit folkloric tales. I read the Hitopadesa a couple of years ago, Sanskrit animal tales, which I think I marginally preferred, but these are still good, full ⬇️

Bookwomble ... of gods, holy men, demons, vampires and monsters. The inescapable "traditional" attitude to women, but it comes with the territory.
There's another story-cycle featuring King Vikramaditya that I'd like to get if I can find it, the Vetala Panchavimshati, in which he has to carry a vampire (vetala) on his back while it whispers stories in his ear. 8mo

43 likes1 comment

Bookwomble

Thirty-Two Tales of the Throne of Vikramaditya | Simhasana Dvatrimsika

"It is the small-minded who
differentiate between 'us' and 'them'.
For the large-hearted the world itself is one family."

[All the pictures of politicians, immigration policies and migrants I looked at to illustrate this quote were too depressing, so here's a cute kitten and puppy to make the point instead ?❤️?]

TrishB I can well imagine. 8mo

batsy 💜 8mo

37 likes2 comments

Bookwomble

Thirty-Two Tales of the Throne of Vikramaditya | Simhasana Dvatrimsika

"Another fourteen manuscripts sent from Bombay were lost in the shipwreck of the Titanic."

Damn that iceberg! ?️?? (Obviously, the loss of life was a greater tragedy, but still! ?)

GingerAntics Oh wow, the tragedy of the titanic just keeps getting worse! 8mo

31 likes1 comment

Bookwomble

Thirty-Two Tales of the Throne of Vikramaditya | Simhasana Dvatrimsika

"Salutation to the great Gaṇeśa,
remover of dark obstacles,
whose gaze is tender
with limitless compassion"

As King Bhoja seeks to ascend a royal throne, the thirty-two supporting statues tell him tales of its former occupant, challenging him to match his virtue with the great King Vikramaditya. As well as the 32 tales, there are 9 stories setting the scene for Bhoja's trial, all full of folkloric magic and wonder.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

29 likes

GatheringBooks

Rabindranath Tagore: An Anthology | Rabindranath Tagore