all about july︱reading, dreaming and escaping to the mountains 🌄

Hello! I think it’s safe to say, this blog doesn’t really have a posting schedule as such. I did try to stick to one but it just was not possible for me to do that last month. I felt majorly guilty about it because I kept thinking about how it’s important to show up and make an effort especially when you don’t feel like it. Atomic Habits by James Clear talked a lot about this too and it’s just been eating at my conscience ever since. All this to say, I will forever be in awe of people who can upload consistently and hope that one day, I can be one of those people too. For now, I shall keep trying.

July still feels like a dream to me because I ended up travelling to a hill station with my family and then recovering from said travels because we all fell sick. That was fun. Anyhow, it was a much needed break from everyday life. I’m very glad I could spend some time up in the mountains and wake up freezing every day. Any time I’ve been able to visit and live in the mountains, it always feels so wonderfully disconnected from all the noise of the real world. And usually I end up feeling extremely emotional knowing it’s only temporary. Which was also the case this time but I think I handled it much better because of one very special little book. I’ll get into that in a bit but for now, here are a few pictures of misty hills and moments from a quieter life for your viewing pleasure.

made a friend who looked just as sleepy as me!!

♡♡♡

This might sound strange, but I do believe fog and me share a very special relationship. I’ve been lucky enough to visit places like this one enough times that now, I can’t not imagine myself living in a little cottage in the hills and waking up to watch the clouds every day. Will that dream ever come true? Who knows but at least I can continue dreaming. Also, fun story that no one asked for. You might or might not be aware of my love for ghost stories. When I was around 15, I’d written one myself. Titled ‘A House in the Fog’ (even had a spooky little drawing of a house…in the fog on the cover). It was about this group of girls at a boarding school (so original I know) and we follow a girl who starts experiencing visions of her family. Her friends notice her odd behaviour and together they try to understand what connects her past to their present.

I can tell you that story has more than 15 chapters written and it’s all just as cliché as you could imagine. I’ve safely looked after it all this time because it makes me laugh. Perhaps one day, I can share it on here too (not all of it, I would never wish to subject anyone to that kind of pain) and discuss classic horror movie tropes that will never go out of style.

Since my July was a little hectic, I chose books from my TBR that were shorter and easy to get through. I hope you find something on here that interests you!

Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag

This was my first read of July and it was…interesting. We follow a middle class family and their desire to be considered as part of the elite. While I liked the portrayal of family politics/tension and the way the concept of money was handled, this story felt almost a bit too short? The synopsis claims Ghachar Ghochar is a quietly enthralling, deeply unsettling novel and I can agree with the first part. It feels like you are getting a peek into the lives of these seemingly ordinary characters with all their wit and humour but also their personal dreams and ambitions in life. I understand why the ending might seem deeply unsettling but personally, I just felt deeply unsatisfied. Perhaps I missed something that others have picked up on because this book has some really good reviews. I did enjoy reading it for the most part but I don’t see this book leaving a lasting impact on me.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

❝It is such a secret place, the land of tears.❞

I don’t think I need to introduce this particular very well loved classic. I get why this is a favourite for so many people because I also happened to love it very much. Children’s books I feel, are so impactful. For children of course but also, adults too because…we were also children at some point? This book is the best example of that. The writing, the story and the character of the little prince himself makes for such a precious read. I love the way he talks and explains things that seem odd to you at first but it makes sense when you really pay attention. The very last page of this book kind of broke my heart and I won’t lie, it took me a while to recover. I just want to carry this book with me wherever I go because just looking at it brings me a lot of comfort.

What a Time to Be Alone by Chidera Eggerue

I was kind of in the mood for non-fiction so I picked this one. This book just uplifts your spirits in a way that you can do yourself but I think this is for those times when you need that little push. It feels like you’re having a conversation with your friend through most of this book except you might be a little suspicious of them when they end up repeating the same things? I listened to this one so I would assume my experience was different as opposed to those who read it via the physical copy. We all know when the author narrates their own story, it sounds that much more powerful and it was the same for this book too. Even though I’m technically the target audience for this book, I still felt like this would suit teenage me better. Just with the style of the book and the content itself, which I kind of got wrong because I was expecting a deep dive into learning to enjoy time spent by yourself. This on the other hand was very much not about that but more a book of quotes that could possibly cheer you up when you’re feeling down.

Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson

Just so you know, that cover is a lot prettier in real life. This was the book that I took with me for our hill station trip. It was all very intentional because I’d been waiting for just the opportunity to take it with me. I’ve never read any book from the Moomin Valley universe before this but I was very well acquainted with the characters because of…Tumblr and the show. Now that I have read it, I want to read all of them. This book was just so soft and it makes you feel like you’re sitting by the fire and listening to your grandma narrate a bed time story. The illustrations of course add to the charm and I loved everything about it. In this book, we are introduced to Moomintroll who finds himself awake while his whole family sleeps. He learns to discover this new world where the sun doesn’t rise and everything is cold, dark and rainy. I really loved Too-ticky and her ability to make a song out of any given situation- even the very sad demise of a squirrel with a marvellous tail. This story also lets you realise that change isn’t always a bad thing. While in the beginning you might be afraid but once you let go and face it, you realise there isn’t much to be afraid of. You might even enjoy it. Of course in the story it’s more about the end of one season and the beginning of a new one. It’s explored in such a gentle and beautiful way. I especially loved the ending and I know for sure I’m going to go back to this one anytime I feel unsure about starting a new phase in my life.

The Red Threads of Fortune by Neon Yang

If you read my previous post, you will know I read the first book in the Tensorate series last month. The Red Threads of Fortune is the second book in the series and I only finished reading it yesterday. I thought this started out very well. We are introduced to the nagas (dragons) early on and you get a clearer understanding of slackcraft, the magic system in this world. The first book also does end on a tragic note and that’s where this story picks off. We watch Mokoya struggle to accept what the fortunes have in store for her and how that knowledge affects her choices. There are new characters as well that we are introduced to, Rider, Raja Ponchak and Princess Wanbeng who is more or less responsible for the major threat that has been looming over their city. Akeha, in this book, does not feature as much as Mokoya but I’m hoping to see more of them in the next one. One thing that I really loved was how grief was handled in this book. It seemed very real to me how Mokoya was dealing with her pain of losing someone she loved. The ending though, felt a little rushed and like it could have been done better? With this particular world and the magic system, there are certain things that might confuse you simply because it’s not mentioned enough times for it to stick in your mind. Every time there is a scene with slackcraft, I try to picture it in my mind but it’s not very clear. I’m still interested in reading more about these characters individually and how the story is going to play out moving forward.

If you’ve made it this far, it means a lot to me so thank you and happy new month! I am now back home and no longer sick so I’m hoping I can be more active on here this month. Currently, I’m in the middle of Nocturnes by Kazuo Ishiguro and I am having a great time with it. Short stories when done right can be very special I think and there’s a different kind of satisfaction after having read something that is short but impactful. If you’ve got any short stories to recommend or any thoughts at all, please do let me know!💕

Much love,

Samiksha 💌

june wrap up🍃

Hello! I was very tempted to title this a mini June wrap up because I only read four books this month. Am I surprised? No. Because I learned that if I don’t write down a TBR for the month, this is what happens. And sometimes, that’s okay. Out of the four that I did manage to read/listen to, one of them I deeply regret reading at all. The remaining three, I really enjoyed so, they’re the saviours of June. Enjoy? 🤭

❝I look at you and wish I could be a teenager again. I know that things aren’t perfect and there are still hardships, but don’t forget to enjoy these years. Live. Live them for the people who didn’t get to enjoy being a teenager. For the people who never lived past being a teenager.❞

This was such a delightful, heart warming story. It made me laugh, made me cry (both happy tears and sad tears) and left me feeling hopeful by the end of it. My opinion on YA novels is slowly changing because stories like this one, deserve to be told. I thought the main character, Felix, made some questionable decisions in this story that could make you dislike him. I wasn’t a fan either but I kept reading because I wanted to understand where the story was going to go. There’s also a love triangle of sorts which I think, was handled really well. This story represents so many things in such a human way, it makes you pause and rethink every one of your thoughts, those you have when you think of yourself and the people around you. My favourite character would have to be Leah because it was so inspiring to see her grow and I loved how protective she was of Felix. Everything about the main characters in this story will make you feel some type of way and I loved the journey of getting to know them.

I had so much fun reading this one. More than the actual mystery element (which was really great), I found Will Parker to be such a charming character and she was pretty much the highlight of every scene, for me. Also loved the dynamic between Lilian and Will, their conversations genuinely brought a smile to my face. It was especially sweet to see how Will had grown to look after her boss because of certain health conditions (much to her annoyance). As for the relationship aspect, I really really enjoyed how it was woven into the rest of the plot. It doesn’t really play a major role in that, it wasn’t anything grand or intense. It was just accepted and I loved that about it. The fact that you can have a story with a bisexual main character falling for another woman and not have that be something that needs to be announced, was kind of refreshing to me.

Now for the actual murder mystery. First of all, the atmosphere. It was spot on and I really felt like I was transported to 1940’s New York where this story is set. Secondly, the twists kept me hooked. At no point did I feel like I was losing interest or that I’d figured it out (maybe I had an inkling of what was coming?) and that made it all the more exciting. The ending I thought was satisfying if not a little sad but the fact that a sequel exists, kept me from being too sad. Definitely will be reading that one.

My first ever fantasy series. Are we off to a good start? I think yes. I have never read a story as unique as this one. What makes this book so special is that in this world, you are born without a gender. As you grow, you are given the choice of deciding what you want to be identified as and only then will your body begin to change. That is how we are introduced to the two main characters, Akeha and Mokoya, who are siblings. We follow their individual journeys from childhood to being teenagers to adulthood. The magic system in this world is referred to as slackcraft which also has five categories – earth, water, fire, forest and metal. I found this very interesting and magical but I also feel, you need to continue on with the series to truly experience the world building for what it is because a lot goes down towards the end of book one. I also listened to this one via audiobook and absolutely loved the narrator’s voice. It was like I was meditating and practicing slackcraft myself.

If I go back to my notes on this book, it just says ‘why did I read this???’ which is accurate. This is definitely my fault for not double checking because I thought this was…a different book altogether (I know). Anyhow, this story felt like a really bad horror movie. There were some strange flying creatures that were meant to be spooky and characters that were very easy to dislike. It’s also very short with even shorter chapters so if it wasn’t for the audiobook, I would have given up.

Unlike last month, I have a clearer idea of what I’d like to read this month so…yay? I hope July treats us well💗

Much love,

Samiksha 💌

wholesome web comics to read this (and every other) pride month 🏳️‍🌈

Hello friends! So…technically this post should have come a lot sooner but I decided on trying something new which is why it’s taken me such a long time to…compose this list. Its been on my mind for so long now and I’m so happy to be talking about these stories because I think about each of them at least once every day.

I first discovered the wonderful world of web comics way back in 2019. At the time, I wasn’t as into the habit of reading as I am now mostly because I simply wasn’t able to make time as a full time student (those were certainly not the days for me). Which is why, web comics proved to be my go to source of comfort because how could you not get lost in a story that is easy to read AND has stunning illustrations that make you want to stare at it for hours on end??? Fair warning, this is kind of just going to be me fangirling over these masterpieces because I’ve been holding this in for too long.

This isn’t a very extensive list at all but, as I was going through them, I noticed all of them are LGBTQIA+ friendly which is why I wanted to make this post this month! I’m aware there are various platforms on which you can read web comics but I’ve only ever used Webtoon, Dillyhub and occasionally MangaDex. All of which are free and very accessible so I’ve made sure to provide a link wherever I can!

R E A L T A

Creator: rayleeart

When I tell you this is the most beautiful work of art I’ve ever seen, you MUST believe me. I first began reading this when it used to be available on Canvas but as of now that version is currently only available on the creator’s Patreon. And that is because (as you can already tell from that cover)…Realta is officially going to be a Webtoon Original!!! I remember while I was reading this, I kept thinking to myself this is just a bit TOO BEAUTIFUL for me to be viewing it just like that because this story, the CHARACTERS and the ART deserve so much love. It’s been a while since I read this but I have to say….Walden the crow has such a special place in my heart. I’m just in awe of the creator for coming up with a story that is SO creative (and STUNNING visually) with such a unique cast of characters too. I don’t want to spoil it for you by saying too much but when it comes out as an original, PLEASE READ IT because I have no doubt you will fall in love it.

C R U M B S

Creator: Whitherling

Tell me honestly, after reading that description, you’re not at least a little bit in love? I remember reading this one and feeling very warm and safe and all things comforting because this story, in its essence, is an ultra comforting coming of age story. The art style is just so adorable and makes for the perfect little cosy evening read with maybe your very own bakery special to keep you company? I thought the characters were so interesting because you get to see them grow in so many ways, Laurie and Ray especially have my heart for being the cutest EVER. You also have Wobble and Stella who…I’m not sure what to call them exactly but just know they’re really precious. I like to dream of a world where I’d have a Wobble like companion someday too. Also, because I did a little digging for this post, Crumbs is soon going to be available as an official graphic novel!!! Its supposed to go on sale starting July 19th 2022 and I will patiently wait for the day I can have a copy too because I might cry if that doesn’t happen. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Small Blessings as well, which is another one of the creator’s works that I hope to read very soon!

C A T E A S & B O O K S

Creator: Manu Cunhas

Okay, so this one is just pure…fluff. Not that there’s nothing else to it but the chapters are very short and sweet which means its one of those stories that you can very well binge read. The art style is so cute and soft and all things lovely. There’s also a fantasy element to this story because we follow Sophie, a faun, who looks after stray cats and books and also has a huge crush on Aisha, a dryade, the owner of a flower shop opposite Sophie’s cat library. When you have such well designed and lovable characters, I don’t think you need much else because this story is so heart warming, it deserves all the love.

S O U L M A T E

Creator: Wenzhi Lizi, Ke Ran Bing 

I’d come across this story a few years ago and I remember laughing out loud at some of the scenes because I genuinely found it that funny. If you read the description, you can imagine how the story plays out because I’m sure the switching bodies/souls thing has been done before BUT probably not in this way. It was so entertaining and because this is a translated work, some of the dialogue might seem a little odd but I personally didn’t mind because I was just really enjoying the story and the art, of course. It’s just one of those stories that stays on your mind and you keep wanting to go back to it. Or, at least that’s how it is for me.

C A N ‘T D E F Y T H E L O N E L Y G I R L

Creator: Kashikaze

Now, I know this title and that cover might seem like a lot BUT you have to understand, this is a high school romance which means its bound to be at least a little bit…cringey? And while it was that, I thought there were so many other aspects of this story that were real and very well handled. Ayaka’s issue with getting nervous before exams was depicted in a way that seemed comical, sure. But it was also kind of an eye opener because it makes you realise that not everyone can be good at handling that kind of stress. As for Sora and Ayaka’s relationship, I thought it was really cute? The amusement park scenes were especially funny to me because it reminded me of my own school field trip days to the same amusement park every year. It might take you a while to get into it but when you do, I think it can be really entertaining!

This was so much fun and I hope you found something that you could see yourself reading! These are just the ones I’ve enjoyed the most the past few years and I’m excited to find new ones! On that note, please do let me know if you’ve got any web comic recommendations for me because I’m always on the look out. It doesn’t have to be a particular genre either, I’m open to reading anything with a fun plot!

Also, I realise in my last post I’d said I’d be making a list of all the books I’d love to read this month but uh. Obviously, that didn’t happen because this month so far has been kind of hectic for me. However, I am currently in the middle of The Black Tides of Heaven by Neon Yang which has been very interesting so far! I shall see you in my next post which should be a review (hopefully!)

Until then, happy reading!

Much love,

Samiksha 💌

everything i read in may ☁️

Hi? I know, it’s been a while. I didn’t mean to not post anything in May. What happened was that I just wasn’t able to make time for elaborate reviews like I’d planned which, is a shame. Because I did end up reading quite a few books last month, most of which I enjoyed so I’m going to try and do mini reviews for them. I haven’t included the two design books I read but if you’re curious, it was Design as Art by Bruno Munari and Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon (this one is a quick read but very inspiring for anyone who creates which, if you’re reading this, you probably also do). The rest of the books on here include a series of cosy mysteries, a few melancholy island stories and of course, spooky and wholesome middle grade reads. May for me was kind of cold, dark and rainy so, the weather definitely inspired most if not, all of these books.

This was my first read in May. I’d seen so many people talk about this book that it was almost impossible not to be really excited. It sounded exactly like the kind of story I would love and while I did love certain elements of it, I didn’t love all of it as much as I thought I was going to? It does feel like a Disney movie in book form and that is mainly because of the characters. We have a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. As for the actual storyline, unfortunately I wasn’t all that into it. Not sure if it was the writing or the dialogue but it felt like I already knew what was coming when Linus gets assigned to the new case. I did like the imagery behind the children of the island, they each highlighted the need for acceptance and what happens when someone is repeatedly shunned for being who they are. If this book ever gets a Disney adaptation, I would for sure watch it because I can already imagine how beautiful it would look. In book form though, I didn’t love it but I liked it.

I first watched When Marnie Was There back in 2018 I think and I kind of fell in love with it. That is basically why I read this book, or listened to it via audiobook. And it was magical. I loved reading the little note at the end where we find out the real inspiration behind this story and the reason why it was born. If you’ve watched the movie, then you know there is kind of a paranormal aspect to it. It was so much fun following Anna figure out who Marnie really was and it was also very emotional to watch her find herself in the process.

❝Stories are strange creatures. Like the contents of a sealed and buried box, they exist only in the minds of those that recall them. If a story isn’t shared, if it isn’t kept alive through the telling and retelling, it ceases to exist. If the last keeper of a tale dies without passing it along, the tales dies as well. And when a true story dies, perhaps the truth dies too.❞

I came across this book by accident which is really on brand because it happens to little Fiona in this spooky tale as well! It was simply wonderful and so full of adventure. I found Fiona to be such a real and accurate representation of a young girl who isn’t very happy with her family but still knows deep down she loves them regardless. The relationship she shares with her sister seems rocky at first and it’s possible you might not even like Fiona for her not-so-noble actions because she does come off as stubborn and a little selfish. I think it made me love her character that much more because you get to see her grow and learn from her mistakes through this really well thought out paranormal story.

Along with that, you also get to know all the characters and witness some really strong family relationships develop which always hit me the hardest. There was this one scene in particular with Arden, the older sister where she seems to be struggling with herself because of the pressure to win a figure skating competition. Again, this felt very real and even got me emotional, especially when Fiona tries to make her feel better. It just depicted real life relationships in all their messiness in a very clear yet wholesome way. I just loved this story so very much and honestly, now that I think about it, it’s definitely a five star read. That cover alone deserves as much because look at it! That is SO VERY GORGEOUS. Fun fact, it’s designed by twin sisters, Ana and Elena Balbusso, also known as the Balbusso twins (I am now a fan).

So, I’ve raved about Michelle Harrison’s A Pinch of Magic series on this blog quite a few times now. This particular book I read simply because I follow her on Goodreads and she happened to love it. Did I love it as much? I don’t think so. This proved to be a rather slow read for me because sadly, I wasn’t able to get fully invested in the story. I guess it had all the elements of a classic spooky, ghost story from magic mirrors to soul capturing cabinets but I didn’t feel much of anything for the characters. What I did appreciate were the moments with Leander, Charlotte and Felix. The way their friendship grew steadily and eventually became strong enough to be considered a team, was inspiring.

I read this collection of short stories from Goa as part of the Champaca reading challenge I’m participating in this year. This particular book fills the prompt of reading a book translated from Konkani, which is coincidentally, my first language. Most of the stories in this collection were your everyday slice of life stories but the very first one, From the Mouths of Babes is definitely one that made me laugh. I could go into detail but there were just so many elements from that story that I could relate to because I’ve witnessed those situations personally. I also loved Bandh and Happy Birthday for everything they represented. I just felt really happy reading these short stories because I’ve never read a book that featured Konkani as a language in the dialogue so, this was really special.

To think I was ready for this book in any way, shape or form. This had been on my TBR for such a long time and despite the heart ache it caused me, I am very glad to have read it. I went into it knowing the fact that there’s going to be some big reveal at the end that will blow my mind. Which it did because I didn’t see it coming. This was narrated in such a clever way and I completely get why it’s a favourite. I stayed up past 2am just because I HAD to know how Monique was connected to Evelyn. The very character of Evelyn herself could have been a real person and that’s not hard to imagine. I don’t know a lot about cinema back in the 1950’s but from the little I know, the likelihood of this story being a reality for someone makes me feel terrified and heartbroken at the same time.

This one I decided I wanted to read simply because I had it on my Kindle and, the title, naturally. I don’t know if I regret that decision but I will say, this was not what I was expecting. It ended up being a love story of sorts and I say that because I didn’t really enjoy that aspect of it. The incredibly detailed descriptions on women’s bodies really put me off because it was just unnecessary, in my opinion. There was also this very weird idea surrounding a woman’s self esteem and virginity? It was mainly brought up anytime this one character called Chiyoko made an appearance and. It really frustrated me because it was almost as if that character was created to represent women with low esteem with only one goal. To look attractive enough so a man can consider choosing them for a wife. Despite all this, I still managed to finish the story. I found Shinji to be the only likable character because you see him work for what he wants to achieve with a very dedicated mind. So, the only nice thing that I can say about this story is that it teaches you to be resilient and hard working.

This book I read since it was on my 2022 TBR and I have some thoughts. I went into it expecting a really atmospheric paranormal story. And while there were elements of paranormal stuff, what with Jillian’s uncle being an actual ghost hunter, this story sadly was more of a romance than anything else. Which was disappointing because that’s not what I was expecting. The first half of the book was basically just this very young inexperienced woman falling for the town’s inspector who, obviously has to be a lot more experienced, isn’t ready to commit, has a dark past he can’t talk about etc etc. You get it. The rest of the plot surrounding Jillian and her story kind of gets pushed aside and this romance is all she can think about. Sure, there were a few suspense driven scenes, if I can call it that but overall, it just wasn’t all that exciting for me to read, so. That’s that.

❝Oh, I would like to see my way more clearly. I, who have never understood the mystery of fog. I would perhaps like to capture it in a jar like the beautiful childhood butterflies that always die in spite of the airholes punched with nails in the covers of their captivity━ leaving behind the vapours of their lives and deaths.❞

─ The Lost Salt Gift of Blood

This is another book I read as part of the Champaca reading challenge for the prompt of reading a book featuring a fisherman. Majority of the stories in this collection left me feeling quite sad which was what I wanted out of this so, that’s great. What I found even greater was, without a doubt, the writing. I had no idea what beautiful writing was until this author and this book. Each of the sixteen stories might be very different in terms of the content but one thing that remains consistent is the atmosphere that feels so vivid and intense. I’m aware I might not be the target audience for this book, seeing as it features the Canadian landscape in a way that would resonate really deeply with a native so that must be very special.

For me, I found almost every story in this collection had characters you could connect with in one way or the other. The hardships of daily life or losing a family member are all things that happen to everyone so it was really heavy in that way and definitely made me cry more than once.

Lastly, this very addicting series. You can’t not read the second book as soon as you finish the first one. And then you read the third one because you have no self control but you also just NEED to know what happened with Alice and Iris Ellingham. The fourth, well. That one really was just self care at this point because it had nothing to do with the Ellingham case. Still very enjoyable. I don’t want to spoil anything by saying too much but if you’re looking for something to binge read, read this series. For me it was just the perfect kind of distraction from the stress of everyday life and so I really don’t have any complaints. I also listened to it via audiobook and I have to say, really loved the narrator’s voice.

Hello June and Happy Pride Month!!🏳️‍🌈💗

I’ll be talking about all the books I would love to read this month in my next post which I’m very excited about so I’ll see you then!

As always, feel free to let me know what your favourite read of May was!💞

Much love,

Samiksha 💌