pen.books.and.scalpel

As someone born in the 90s, something I truly miss doing in this bustling world is writing a letter to a loved one. The ease of sending a WhatsApp message, an Instagram DM, or an email has brought down the joy of writing on a piece of paper, sealing it carefully inside an envelope, and securing it with glue or tape. We took pleasure in walking to the post office, affixing a stamp before posting it and waiting anxiously until we knew the mail had reached the recipient. Modern times have certainly reduced the waiting time and the efforts involved, but the joy of the process is lost with time. The future generations might never know that feeling. THE BEGINNING The first letter I ever wrote was to my maternal grandfather. As a well-read man with a love for books and writing, his shelves were always brimming with personal and professional postcards and letters. We would often watch him unwrap the letters one by one, carefully stacking them in order. Whenever the table was left empty, we wou...

BOOK NAME: DREAM MACHINE AUTHOR NAME: APPUPEN AND LAURENT DAUDET GENRE: GRAPHIC NOVEL PUBLISHER: CONTEXT (WESTLAND) PUBLISHERS BOOK BUY LINK:  https://amzn.in/d/3gttBq4 BOOK RATING: 5/5 BOOK COVER IMAGE BOOK REVIEW Dream Machine is a comic book about AI and its significance and complications in human lives. Hugo, the protagonist, is the founder of an AI startup who is about to merge deals with a tech supergiant, REAL.E, whose entire vision is to take over the world with the help of artificial intelligence. After discussing his doubts with his partner Anna and his friends, Hugo is caught in a moral dilemma. Now, Hugo has to decide what he wants quickly or else he will suffer one way or the other.    I went in with the least expectations into this book because sci-fi is not for me. I haven’t enjoyed science fiction on AI as much as I should have before. But this book was an instant hit. It stuck with me since the first page, and I knew I would like it. The illustration...

BOOK NAME: THE BOOKSELLER OF MOGGA AUTHOR NAME: ANAND SUSPI GENRE: CONTEMPORARY FICTION PUBLISHER: CLEVER FOX PUBLISHING BOOK BUY LINK:  https://amzn.in/d/iFUkdp7 BOOK RATING: 4/5 BOOK COVER IMAGE BOOK REVIEW This book is a light-hearted take on the world of books and an ambitious reader who wants to shape his world through books and readers. The Begur family is a special case in the town of Mogga. They delve into fiction and fantasy not to escape reality, but to build one of their own. Begur inspires the boy who grows up in his house, Cylinder, to read and write. He takes up books with one mission in mind - if people don’t come to books, the books will go to them. But everything along his path is challenging. He endures the intense heat, unforgiving showers, chaotic traffic and the unyielding people of the town of Mogga. But Cylinders isn’t among those who give up. I chose this book purely because it was suggested by the Blogchatter book list, and since it was a book about bo...

BOOK NAME: FOR THE LOVE OF APRICOTS AUTHOR NAME: MADHULIKA LIDDLE GENRE: ROMANCE PUBLISHER: SPEAKING TIGER BOOK BUY LINK:  https://amzn.in/d/9K2y7hk BOOK RATING: 4/5 BOOK COVER IMAGE BOOK REVIEW Forty-year-old Nandini has moved to the small Himalayan town of Mukteshwar at her father’s insistence after suffering heartbreak in Delhi. Independent and outspoken, she starts a homegrown pickle business and successfully turns it into a women’s cooperative. She meets Vikas Joshi, a 32-year-old former IT employee who has called it quits and moved to the same town to take over an apricot orchard. The young widower initially locks horns with Nandini over minor issues, which soon sparks something deeper between them. Nandini never thought she could fall in love again. Yet, she finds Vikas irresistible. Will her fears take over, or will Vikas’s love prevail? I always keep nagging about not being able to enjoy romance books because of their unbelievable plotlines and cliches. Well, this one...

BOOK NAME : THE EX DAUGHTERS OF TOLSTOY HOUSE AUTHOR NAME: ARUNIMA TENZIN TARA GENRE: PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER  PUBLISHER: SPEAKING TIGER BOOK BUY LINK:  https://amzn.in/d/2ZS5UBV BOOK RATING: 5/5 BOOK COVER IMAGE BOOK REVIEW Every family is complicated and harbours secrets, but none like those who live in the Tolstoy house. ‘Tolstoy house’ is home to a seemingly perfect family living in Delhi. From the outside, Ambarish and Meera appear to be the ideal parents any child could wish for. Ambarish, a surgeon trained in China, is smart and successful, while his wife Meera is the epitome of grace and loyalty. They raise their three daughters with culture and lots of love, ensuring they carry forward their family’s values without any questions. But beneath the surface lie stories and secrets that would leave anyone’s blood curdling. Sujata, Kavita, and Naina were taught to obey their father’s every order and to never reveal what he is truly up to. But unlike any normal father, Am...

BOOK NAME: THE LAST KNOT AUTHOR NAME: SHABIR AHMAD MIR GENRE: HISTORICAL FICTION / FOLKLORE / CONTEMPORARY FICTION PUBLISHER: PANMACMILLAN INDIA BOOK BUY LINK:   https://amzn.in/d/c21Ekmm BOOK RATING: 5/5 BOOK COVER IMAGE BOOK REVIEW I have never been so dumbstruck by a book in a long while. I am really at a loss for words. I can’t believe I almost passed this book off as a regular contemporary fiction unless recommended by the Blogchatter book list 2025.  The Last Knot is the story of a carpet-maker who dreams of weaving a flying carpet someday to escape his fate and life of oppression. During his attempt to do so, he crosses paths with Heemal, a dye maker’s daughter who is paying the heavy price of being born a daughter to a man who needs a son to carry on their family business. Though Heemal could cure his madness and mayhem, he can’t have her for himself—not right now, not ever. Because all his life he must run—run, weave, knot and wander—to escape slavery. But what w...

“My husband cooked today,” is a common phrase that usually raises a lot of heads and rolls a lot of eyes whenever I say it at a family gathering or a meet-up. I know exactly what they expect me to say to fit me into that ideal wifey box. Or sometimes, they just don't so that they can boast about being one while I am not. Yes! I work 9 to 5, cover emergency shifts, wake early in the morning to cook breakfast and lunch and steal time in between to come back home defeated only to cook dinner again would have made me look perfect in their eyes. But sadly, I ain't that and my bare minimum husband understands our responsibilities as a couple.    Yes, women are doing it, and kudos to them for their energy and commitment. But my schedule doesn't allow me the same. When I and my husband got married 4 years ago, my schedule was even more chaotic, and he stepped up. He made sure we did not starve in between our hectic work and personal lives. What facilitated his taking up cooking ...