Reading Rehash 2020-Part 2

In year 2020 I've read many new authors, most of them were impressive. A few award-winning books I've picked were interesting. I must admit I have a mental block when it comes to horror and sci-fi genre, and year 2020 failed to break the jinx. I'm jotting down a list for no particular reasons.

The first book I read this year

The Collector-Nora Roberts

A Book everybody liked but I didn't

The Night Circus-Erin Morgenstern

The best book that I read in 2020

Where the Crawdads Sing-Delia Owens

Not-So-Good book that I read in 2020

In Five Years-Rebecca Serle

An Award-winning book that I thought I'l never enjoy

The Dutch House-Ann Patchett

A book that I read after watching the television drama of the book adaptation

None

A book that was intriguing enough to put the screen adaptation in the "to be watched" list

Daisy Jones and the Six-Taylor Jenkins Reid

A book that disturbed me in days to come

Beartown-Fredrik Backman

A book that I couldn't decide whether I liked or not

The Thirteenth Tale-Diane Setterfield

A book that I abandoned in the middle

Untamed-Glennon Doyle

A book that I wish I had read in 2020

Becoming-Michelle Obama

A Kannada book that I read in 2020

Jugari Cross-Poorna Chandra Tejaswi

A series I immensely loved 2020

Millenium-Steig Larsson

An author that I've read most in 2018  

Ruth Ware 

A book that I was embarrassed to read

Sex and Vanity-Kevin Kwan

A best author you discovered this year

Elif Shafak

 

The last book I read in 2020

The Midnight Library

A DNF book you finished in 2020

Book Thief-Markus Zusak 

Top 10 new authors I discovered in 2020

Taylor Jenkins Reid, Riley Sager, Matt Haig, Kate Quinn, Delia Owens, Ann Pachett, Keigo Higashino, Jane Harper, Elif Shafak, Steig Larsson 

Reading Rehash 2020-Part 1

I have a note in phone containing the names and authors of each and every book I've read in 2020. This is a habit that I've practiced from the last six or seven years. I would be more pleased if I can write a detailed review of all of them. That way I can just visit the page to get the perceptive of the book. It is impossible to remember otherwise. I've read total of 50 books this year, completing my reading challenge.  Without further ado:

1. The collector-Nora Roberts

2. Turn of key-Ruth Ware

3. One perfect lie-Lisa Scottoline

4. American marriage-Tayari Jones

5. The Whisper Man-Alex North

6. Run Away-Harlen Coben

7. Lock Every Door-Riley Sager

8. Final girls-Riley Sager

9. The Last time I lied-Riley Sager

10. The Lying Game-Ruth Ware

11. The woman in cabin 10- Ruth Ware

12. The Devotion of Suspect X- Keigo Higashino

13. The death of Ms. Westaway-Ruth Ware

14. Where forest meets the stars-Glendy Vanderah

15. Jugari Cross-Poorna Chandra Tejaswi

16. Ask again, yes-Mary Beth keane

17. A woman is no man-Etaf Rum

18. Huntress-Kate Quinn

19. The Alice Network-Kate Quinn

20. The lost man-Jane Harper

21. In Five Years-Rebecca Serle

22. Daisy Jones and the Six-Taylor Jenkins Reid

23. Queenie-Candice Carty-Williams

24. Overdue life of Amy Byler-Kelly Harms

25. Where the Crawdads Sing-Delia Owens

26. The Guest List-Lucy Foley

27. Sex and Vanity-Kevin Kwan

28. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo-Steig Larsson

29. A Hundred Little flames-Preethi Shenoy

30. Hunting Party-Lucy Foley

31. Verity-Colleen Hoover

32. The Perfect Roommate-Minka Kent

33. The Dutch House-Ann Pachett

34. The Girl Who Played with Fire-Steig Larsson

35. The Book Thief-Markus Zusak

36. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest-Steig Larsson

37. I See You-Clare Mackintosh

38. After the End-Clare Mackintosh

39. The Night Circus-Erin Morgenstern

40. Pieces of Her-Karin Slaughter

41. Circe-Madeline Miller

42. Forty Rules of Love-Elif Shafak

43. Daddy's Girl-Danielle Steel

44. Anxious People-Fredrik Backman

45. Evidence of the Affair-Taylor Jenkins Reid

46. Blue Umbrella-Ruskin Bond

47. Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo-Taylor Jenkins Reid

48. The Thirteenth Tale-Diane Setterfield

49. Beartown-Fredrik Backman

50. The Midnight Library-Matt Haig 

Sultan-Film Review

Film: Sultan

Director: Ali Abbas Zafar

Cast: Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma, Amid Sadh, Anant Sharma, Randeep Hooda

Year: 2016

We have never been a fan of Salman Khan and couldn't understand why people go gaga over him. Honestly he comes third in the much coveted Holy Trinity of 'Khan'. The last movie we genuinely liked of him was Bajrangi Bhaijaan. However, that didn't encourage us to go and watch his next 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo'. Surprisingly when we did we liked that film as well. So, we decided to give 'Sultan' a try this time.

Plot: Aakash Oberoi's brain child private freestyle wrestling league, called Pro Take Down has lost its popularity. His father advises him to get an Indian wrestler to the ring and suggests 'Sultan Ali Khan's name. He travels to Haryana and meets sultan who turns down his offer outrightly. Now with no other option he approaches Govind, Sultan's friend for details. Here the story goes to flashback of eight years.

Sultan, a cable TV operator of 'Mehbooba and Mehboba' falls in love with Aarfa, a state level wrestler and daughter of local wrestling coach. She a Delhi educated girl and her only dream is to win Olympic gold medal. Understanding that Aarfa will only marry wrestler, Sultan decides to become a wrestler and succeeds at becoming a brilliant one. They get married in no time and both represent India in various games. Sultan goes on to win Olympic gold medal, however, Aarfa couldn't despite being selected to play for India due to her pregnancy. Success goes to his head slowly and he starts taking everything for granted. A tragedy hits when he returns home winning World Wrestling Champion. Aarfa leaves him and he decides to stay away from ring as redemption.  Though Aakash convince Sultan to return to wrestling as a way to fulfill his dream, it is not an easy feast. Will cynic coach Fateh able to help him? What is the reason Aarfa drifted away from him? Will he able to win the game as well as Aarfa in the end?

WeReflect: Although a very average, predictable story, it is gripping and entertaining. There is not a single boring moment where your mind wanders off the screen. It has humor, drama, emotion, love, and action. Anath Sharma who plays Salman's friend is brilliant. One of the highlights is the music. We loved almost all songs, however, Bulleya and Jag Ghoomeya" are the tune to stay on.

For the first time we felt Salman Khan act too. He carried off the role of Sultan as a smitten lover, grieving husband, hardcore wrestler to the T. A scene where he takes off his shirt in front of a mirror and breaks down after seeing the paunch and his repeated attempts to put back on the shirt was just superb. We couldn't control saying "Well done boy! His hard work really shows off in the movie. The chemistry between him and Anushka is endearing. Ms. Sharma is very good as nothing less is expected of her. Though we wished her progressive character was not sidelined in the second half, just to brood and mop around.

All in all a entertainer which definitely leave a mark of its own. Life is all about fighting our own battle and never accepting defeat.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo-Book Review

Image Source-Google

Book: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Genre: Historical Fiction

Year: 2017

“People think that intimacy is about sex. But intimacy is about truth. When you realize you can tell someone your truth, when you can show yourself to them, when you stand in front of them bare and their response is 'you're safe with me'- that's intimacy.”-Taylor Jenkins Reid

If I like literary work of some authors I have the tendency to pick books of the same. Taylor Jenkins Reid is one such author.

'Smash the patriarchy, sweetheart" author tells her daughter in dedication and our protagonist single handedly does it.

WeReflect: Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a story of a geriatric Hollywood superstar who decides to give an interview to lesser know journalist Monique Grant. Everyone is surprised of the choice including Monique. In her swanky Upper East side apartment Evelyn tells her story starting from her Cuban origin, her well-thought escape from Hell's Kitchen to her slow and steady entry into LA scene in the 1970s to becoming the scandalous reigning queen of Hollywood to her voluntary retirement in the 1980's. And as the title suggests her 'seven' husbands along the way.

The immediate actress came to my mind when I heard the number seven was Elizabeth Taylor. The story drives home Evelyn's ruthless ambition, fame, forbidden love, and scandalous life.

Evelyn is a character who does not shy away from getting what she wants and will go to any extent to achieve that. She is unapologetic about the life she lead. She is brash, she is flashy, she is manipulative, she is very much real. She married seven times, but they are just husbands. Who was the love of her life among them? Why did she choose Monique for the interview?

Though I was trying to solve the puzzle at the beginning, it drew off my attention as progressed. And I was amazed to find the twist. Along the interview Monique draws strength from Evelyn's character to take few decisions pertaining to her marriage and career.

An easy read. I liked it better than TJR's Daisy Jones & The Six.