pickI read The God of Small Things years ago and loved it but knew nothing about her life. She has been an actress, an architect, an activist, a writer, and has lived life completely on her own terms. This memoir tells about her unconventional and fascinating life with the main thread of her complicated relationship with her mother at its core. Roy‘s wildly varying life experiences and relationships make for a compelling read.
pickHow did some kid from the east end of London end up being the great restaurateur of NYC ?Keith will tell you!He dabbled in acting , stagecraft, but creating memorable restaurants became his thing . He admits that great business partners & chefs that helped build his vision. He admits to his fails & follies too. I visited NYC often for several years & never found a place I liked better than Balthazar. The look , the vibe , the food ! Chefs kiss 😚
This is a pulled from the depths of my TBR read… I really enjoyed I‘ll Give You the Sun so I‘m hoping for another great read.
Book #2 of 2026. I have read The God of Small Things twice and it‘s one of my favorite books so I am enjoying getting to know the author. She has led an incredible life!
#12BooksOf2025 - day 11 November
Honorable mentions:
The Loneliness of Sonny and Sonia by Kiran Desai
The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens
pickI, like many others, read her debut novel The God of Small Things when it was first published and loved it. I had no idea what she was living through and the activism she was involved in for the years following that. And, of course, how her mother was with her. What a complex relationship and a brave life Roy has lived. A five star read for me. #offtheshelf
Roy is reading passages from one of her books to John Berger, another author. She talks about how carefully he listens and how meaningful it was to her. I agree with what she has to say about that kind of listening. It‘s a rare and beautiful thing. I hope it‘s not a lost art.
pickStrong start to the reading year 🔥💪💔. God of Small Things is and exceptional novel and my husband bought me this memoir about the author for Christmas. I‘d heard a lot about it and its focus on her complicated relationship with her mother. Wow; complicated doesn‘t begin to describe it. I learnt about India and Kashmir in particular, and now plan to read her only other novel The Ministry of Utmost Happiness.
pickIn my latest video, I am looking back on my 2025 reading: some of my faves, lots of stats and my top book of 2025 (tagged)
#Booktube #yearendstats
https://youtu.be/6yOgPlV32tI
