Hungary: The Invisible bridge - Book Review

This is the third book in the series - Around the World in 24 books! The story is based on Hungary.

Countries visited earlier:

India

Afghanistan

The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is Julie Orringer's first novel. It is a sad love story set against the backdrop of Budapest and Paris during World War II and the family's struggle to survive against forces of annihilation.

An epic historical novel which makes you live through the days of the second World War. The story has been beautifully narrated and the characters have been beautifully portrayed. Some parts of the novel had too much detail and I found myself skimming thorough the pages. The book had a sad tone throughout. Not recommended if you are looking for a happy read. It was a super long novel but I definitely leant a lot more about war, Jews, WWII, Hungary and the hardships faced by everyone during war.

The book made me realize how fortunate I am not living through war and disaster!

View all my reviews

My new hobby - Knitting

I started knitting earlier this year. I have always had fun crocheting little coasters and other fun stuff when I was a kid. I learnt the art of crocheting during one of our summer vacations. I never continued crocheting after I went to college. After coming to the US, I have always loved looking at the different varieties of yarn at the craft stores. I wanted to learn how to knit.

I came to know that our local library had knitting sessions every thursday and I dropped in the first week of January. I was surprised to see kids, ladies and elderly women knitting several cute stuff. I wanted to jump in the bandwagon. A lady was kind enough to teach me the basic garter stitch the first day. I practiced the stitch at home using chopsticks, since I had not bought needles yet.

This scarf is the outcome of my first knitting project! Even though it was not that perfect, I am satisfied with my first try!

Afghanistan : The Swallows of Kabul - Book Review

The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is my second book review while traveling around the world! Check out my review while traveling in India!

Swallows of Kabul is a quick read which portrays vividly the life of the people in Afghanistan under the Taliban rule. It is really shocking to know the desperate lives lead by the Afghans. The author portrays Afghanistan as a land of ruins, dust, heat, hopelessness, confusion, arrogance and isolation. The novel has a depressing and haunting tone. Would recommend this book to people who would like to read more about Afghanistan, the Taliban rule and the hardships people face over there.

View all my reviews

Plate to Pixel : Digital Food Photography & Styling - Book Review

Foodography: Digital Food Photography & Styling by Helene Dujardin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Paperback: 288 pages

This book is not part of the project, Around the World in 24 books, but I wanted to read this book for long. I had placed a hold in the library long back and I started reading this book last week and I just loved reading the book! Here is my review..


Being a food blogger and interested in food photography, I absolutely loved reading the book! It has so much information about food styling, camera techniques, composition, lighting etc. The author herself being a cook and a blogger touches all topics right from plating to editing pictures and copyright issues. The book is filled with beautiful food pictures that make you drool! I see myself using some of the techniques I learnt from this book in the future..

View all my reviews

India: In the Convent of little Flowers - Book Review

In the Convent of Little Flowers by Indu Sundaresan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Country: India

This is the first book for the year 2012!
I have taken up the challenge - Around the World in 24 books and this is my first book for the country - India. Here is my review..

I am a big fan of short stories and quick reads and I liked this book - In the Convent of Little Flowers . Some short stories are intense and mostly talk about lives of Indian women and the struggle they undergo. What was refreshing and interesting about this book was that each short story talks about a different issue and is set about a different class or society in India. Coming from South India, I could relate myself to some of the situations.

Indu Sundaresan's writing has a different personality, that makes you turn pages and leaves much to the reader's imagination. The stories leave you thinking about the various characters even after you have finished the book. The book had more of a sad and intense tone to it, with most stories having a sad ending. It would have been better, had Indu included some stories with happy endings and also portrayed the bright side of Indian culture in few of the stories.

I liked the postscript, where the author includes snapshots of her life which inspired her to write these short stories.

View all my reviews

Around the World in 24 Books!

I have always been fond of reading, right from childhood. I still have a huge collection of Gokulams and Tinkles back at home. I eagerly wait for dad to get the monthly editions and spend away the weekends reading! At school, we were allowed to borrow books and take them home to read after 5th grade. I read almost all editions of Famous Five and Enid Blyton classics. Then I moved onto Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys.. Even during my college days, we had fun reading and exchanging Sidney Sheldons, Agatha Christie and other classics in our hostel. Those were fun days!



Lately, with the advent of the use of internet and social networking sites, my reading habit has waned down a bit. I read sporadically, few books a year. My reading habits have evolved over the years. I would like to start reading all over again and dive into the endless world of books!

I happened to find a website called Goodreads. The website keeps track of what you read and what you like and gives recommendations on what to read. I found a very interesting community - A 2012 Challenge - Around the World in 52 books. The challenge is to pick 52 countries and an author and a book from each. You could set your own rules and start reading at your own pace. I did not want to be too ambitious and finally give up. So I have set myself of reading atleast 24 books next year - 2 books a month.

Here is the list of books I plan to read from the countries I have selected. I also plan to post my reviews after I read each book.

Afghanistan - The Swallows of Kabul
Australia - The Man Who Loved Children
Brazil - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Burma - The Forgotten Highlander
China - The Foremost Good Fortune
Denmark - Music and Silence
Ethiopia - Sweetness in the Belly
Hungary - The Invisible Bridge
India - In the Convent of Little Flowers
Iran - Reading Lolita in Tehran
Israel - A Tale of Love and Darkness
Japan - Kitchen
Mauritius - Wandering Star
Norway - Sophie's World
Pacific Islands - Mister Pip
Pakistan - Burnt Shadows
Poland - The Street of Crocodiles
Russian Federation - The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine
South Africa - Agaat
South America - Bel Canto
Srilanka - Anil's Ghost
Turkey - Birds Without Wings
Vietnam - The Lotus Eaters
Zimbabwe - The Boy Next Door 


Hope everyone had a good 2011 and wishing all a very happy New Year!!

Our Breakfast today!

Our typical weekday breakfast!

Scrambled eggs with vegetables, potatoes, sliced avocados, toast with butter and tea!

Getting ready to be roasted!

Garlic drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt, wrapped in foil and ready to be roasted in the oven. I used the roasted garlic which tastes sweet and mellow in making roasted garlic hummus!

Spice Blend - Black and White Wednesday!

Spices for my all-purpose spice blend.. which I use to make my south indian curries!


Posted for Susan's Black and White Wednesdays

Honeybee!

Work without hope draws nectar in a sieve,

And hope without an object cannot live.

- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Fortune Cookie

July 4/ Day 185 - Tiramisu!

One of the most delightful desserts I have ever tasted!

July 3/ Day 184 - Thai Iced Tea

My lunch - Thai iced tea along with vegetable phad thai!

July 2/ Day 183 - Mickey and Minnie!

Mickey and Minnie coffee mugs which we received as Christmas gifts last year. The picture below, shows the other side of the mug.

July 1/Day 182 - Squares

A simple wall decoration that adorns our guest bedroom!

June 30 / Day 181 - My new hobby!

My new hobby - Cross stitching and embroidery!

June 29 / Day 180 - Golden Eagle!

Golden Eagle - The mascot of my school - Cal State LA!

June 28 / Day 179 - Cucumber Sandwiches

Cucumber sandwiches made with fresh cucumbers and basil-cilantro chutney made with the herbs fresh from my lil' garden!

June 27/Day 178 - Ready to bloom

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.  ~Gerard de Nerval

June 26/Day 177 - Fresh from my balcony

Fresh thai basil plant from my balcony, which I got from the farmer's market a few months back. Made this fresh picnic sandwich using these basil leaves.