Welcome to Litsy!

The combination of high expectations and high page count mingled together to make me want to quit this many times. I persevered (I‘m leading the book club meeting for it tomorrow) and the ending was worth it! A family saga across 70 years set in India…unbelievably tragic and relentless in its melodramatic tone but despite myself, I loved the family matriarch and cried at the end. Heavy on the medical/disease/hospital scenes which aren‘t for me.

Lynn, Thanks so much for your generosity! The tagged book is my wishlist book, I‘m The lost man of Bombay by Vaseen Khan. #49bdaygiveaway

Happened upon this one by chance. A short but impactful read. Of the dreams, usually dashed, that revolutions are founded on.

I finished one more since this was sent to me so 52 books this year!

Tagged was my favourite, I think. It‘s hard to pick!

#goodreadsyearinbooks

How can I put into words how much I loved this book? I loved every bit of this 715 page story! Not a word of it felt drawn out, and I didn‘t want it to end. I learned so much about India, about surgery, about leprosy, about politics in India, and more! I loved so many of the characters and began to feel that I knew them personally. I highly recommend this book!

May selection for #12booksof2024 goes back to the mystery genre, as promised.

Not only is it an interesting story, but also the book was a surprise gift for guests at Malice Domestic, which I attended for the first time this year.

A long look at the mixture of cultural elements in lawyer‘s family in some unspecified village outside Dehli. And then a depressing parallel in Massachusetts. The 1st hundred pages are vibrant and dynamic and I truly loved reading them. The fun fades and purpose is curious. But I enjoyed the book overall.

The story is told mainly through Mr Byrd‘s point of view, a middle aged English man traveling through India after a breakdown in the UK. In the remote mountain town where the English had found respite from the heat in the plains, Byrd also finds an idyllic quiet home in the bungalow near the presbytery. He fills his days driving around town with Jamshed, having dinner with the padre& teaching his young protege Priscilla. But … .

One of the best things about a kindle is getting a sample before you buy. The reviews would have me buying this in a heartbeat but I bailed half way through the sample. The writing is poor and I find that the main protagonist is an annoying snob. Should I continue and maybe buy? Is it worth it?

I still haven't completely made up my mind whether I hate the bits where people blame God for all bad things, or simplistically and irrationally see his hands in events, but I do love the general feel and writing of the book. I laughed out loud once and cried multiple times. It made me think a lot about my life right now and my hopes and dreams, and what gives true joy. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟