Riya Joseph Kaithavanathara

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" Madeline had seen her mother in a thousand different ways --first thing in the morning , last thing at night , learning away from a bunsen burner , peering into a microscope, facing off with Mrs. mudford, frowning into a powder -filled compact , coming out of the shower, gathering her in her arms. But she had never seen her mother like this ----never, ever like this. Mom! She thought, her heart filled with pride. Mummy!" BOOK: Lessons in Chemistry AUTHOR: @bonniegarmus GENRE: #tragicomedy #humurousfiction #fiction RATING: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪 Let me begin by saying, it will be absolutely sad if you never get to read this amazing story of Elizabeth Zott's life's graph, how she desperately tries to do what she loves without bias even when she is born and living in an era where women are not appreciated at all, for being unique and intelligent. Elizabeth though with her terrible childhood managed to find interest in books, studies , to learn! She enjoyed her time in the library and she got into chemistry, everything was chemistry for her , bonds, relationships, cooking, peoples behaviours , even her own life. Chemistry had all explanations to her problems, and she sought only solutions because she was a scientist and a damn good one too ! Even when she was enjoying a relationship with a man who respected her, whose intellect never challenged her more than it supported her, she found an equal. Even when she had to face many sexist comments from peers and others, she kept going focused on her goals. She proved herself over and over again, without thinking about anything but rationality. She taught her daughter to be self sufficient too, and be highly ambitious and productive. They never saw their life to be any less, rather they saw why others were not rational enough. We often tend to feel demotivated and hurt by how others see us ; this is when Elizabeth Zott and her unusual family comes as an inspiration to us. This is a #mustread book, never miss it ! ❤️ #suggested #goodbook

"What's special about your vagina ? Somewhere deep inside it I know it has a really really smart brain." BOOK: The Vagina Monologue AUTHOR: @eveensler GENRE: #drama #play #lifeevents RATING: 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸 I was browsing through the shelves of a small, cute bookshop named *Bookstop* when I found this gem. Reading this book ignited the empowerment already active within me. When it comes to women, children, and their struggles, I feel a fierce power to reach out and say, "I understand." But the first step in our movement to empower and uplift others is to feel strong when we speak out loud the words "vagina" and "cunt." It’s not "pussy," it’s not smelly, it’s not bad. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s a beautiful organ that ignites passion, strength, and serves as the doorway to new life. Eve Ensler and her revolutionary movement are incredibly strengthening. Knowing that so many women have been given the option to start over, leaving behind pain, abuse, insignificance, and ignorance, brings pure happiness and purpose. We need more books like this. We need to talk about them—write and speak about them—until these conversations become normal. Not just about women’s bodies, but about human bodies. They are universes with endless possibilities. Our bodies are flexible, detailed, flawed, powerful, creative, transformative, and life-giving. They are simply awesome. Everyone should live in a safe, protected, and provided environment. Everyone deserves education and the free will to pursue their dreams. We must work toward a world where rape, abuse, and suffering are eradicated. Women should be audacious enough to demand a beautiful and meaningful life for themselves—a life rich in the essence of their own being, where they can simply exist and own it, without being slaves to anyone. #inspiring #inspiringbook #reader #read #reads #bookstagram #booklover #bookwbooksbooks #sexuality #abuse #exploitation #crime #inequality #women #beingwoman #life #review #bookreview #reviewer

"If two people at the very same moment hold visions of each other, perhaps atoms coalesce into invisible forms, like radio waves , and connect them. Her beautiful face is before him as he falls into a peaceful slumber , the kind of sleep that can only happen in his own bed, in his house , on parambil soil and in God's own country." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #suggested A beautiful meaningful fiction written by Dr. @abraham.verghese.official which speaks the story of the timeline from 1900 to 1977, the lives that intertwine and spread like grape-wine branching and colliding , very codependent even when they stand independent , we start with the story of a 12 year girl mariamma who becomes the matriarch of parambil a house that spans across 500 acres or so, then the story keeps traveling in time slowly into the next two generations in her line and the parallel stories of Dr Digby , a man who gets a chance at rebuilding his life even when he wishes not. Lenin the eccentric 'story , short but hopeful. The story of kerala specifically travancore years and years back in time, the diseases , and the cure, is all in the book. Cure to any disease is love and taking care of the diseased is the most holiest and humbling. I genuinely loved this book. A little strange but not so strange in the 1900s for a 12 year old girl to Mary a 40 year old man, even though I deeply hated the child marriage fact , the vulnerabilities of human beings, their fragility, their transparency, their secrets, their ordinary and spontaneous geniuses, that reality I loved alot. Every couple in this book felt real Mariamma and her husband , Elsie and philiphose , Elsie and Digby, Mariamma and Lenin. The book ends in a cliffhanger, I really wish to know how Mariamma's life progressed from there, but the ending I'm imagining in my mind is that Mariamma took courage and spoke to her mom, they share love and comfort, she then starts a new life with Lenin working on the MMM hospital after his jail-time , they re-visit Mahabalipuram, and remember the anniversary of their first time. And then they had children, mariamma still working for the cure , for their family secret. #review #honest #novel

"It is a world of paradox where people say, "Every individual who is born on this planet has an equal opportunity in life", but that is absolutely false though easily said by someone born into wealth. When I was working in the U.S., I would hear another statement from the wealthy too, "I have what I have because I worked hard for it and earned it myself." I don't think a person would utter such words if he or she was born in a disintegrating shack without a roof over their head." BOOK:Dream Beyond Shadows AUTHOR: #karthikeyaladha GENRE: #travelogue #autobiography RATING: 3.5 This is a part travelogue, part autobiography of a man trying to find meaning of his life, through various humbling and new life experiences, the author wants to know the purpose of his life. The journey was very interesting to read and also there are alot of thoughts with intense world-changing possibilities only if we could make everyone understand it, but it is also nothing we havent thought before. It was like reading something ww have always been thinking ourselves. But I wouldnt say that this book was a complete success or the genuinity of the author, the book speaks about karthikeya ladha resigning his job and going to peru, aiding underprivileged children's education, creating syllabus for them etc But the way he speaks about the people he meet on the way disregarding their privacy, pointing out their habits of excessive drinking or bad relationship experiences with some peoples photo also cannot be considered acceptable. Also, speaking of his amazon jungle ayahuasca experience, he spoke so beautifully about the shamas organic farming and the people he met there, but again the ceremony, I dont think it was genuine- you drink a brew in the middle of the night with just a candle light brightness of whats happening around and after drinking you are getting drugged in some way, specially the author himself have mentioned that some people were laughing after taking the portion, all their intense emotions were coming out, its because people were not in their right senses. Hence, I wouldnt recommend this book to all for the insights, but if you can read it as a travelogue then good

" I have two paintings that I would like to include in your auction on 10 March. I hope that wont be a problem?" BOOK: The portrait of a Secret AUTHOR: @tarunmehrishi GENRE: #political #historicalfiction RATING: 4.2 The political novel is centered on a small place called Kappar. There are few parallel stories that connect into one whole story; there is love, art, and terrorism, but the novel's core is always about patriotism. I usually don't read many political plots, but this was an enjoyable read. The love story between the painter Roerich and the superstar Devika, the friendship between director Asif, actor Shiva, and actress Devika, and the patriotism of Asif, Kamal, and Jiten. The detailed way in which the terrorism scheme is explained in the book is very intriguing. The details about old Kappar and new Kappar are outlined distinctively. The lives of different classes of people are vividly portrayed. The value of art and the artist, as seen through the eyes of the author, is elegantly shown. Overall, I feel the author has really paid attention to the details, and there is no doubt about that as he is a lawyer also. The patriot in me was thrilled with the climax scenarios. I would want to explain a little more, but I don't want spoilers to be in the review.#suggested

" The term late bloomer is often used to describe someone who doscovers her talent , perhaps even the ikigai that guides her in life, at a later stage". BOOK: The book of Ichigo Ichie AUTHOR: #hectorgarcia and #francescmiralles TRANSLATED BY : #charlottewhittle GENRE: Self Help RATING: 4.7 Ichigo Ichie was a pleasant and light hearted read with a lot of deep and meaningful thoughts; this book is like a seed which will plant in our brain the thoughts about the way of seeing and experiencing life without any inhibitions or worries. Here, the authors talk about the concept of Ichigo Ichie, kaika ans mankai,the beautiful sakura blossoms, basic emotions and time, the present, zensations - zazen serenity, the buddist concept of dhukka, the japanese expression of mono no aware, carpe diem, destiny, meaningful coincidences, sychronocity, chanoyu- attention , Raku and kintsugi- teacup and repairing ceramics, wabi-cha , the art of listening, the art of looking , the art of touching, the art of tasting, umami - the fifth flavor, the art of smelling, the art of parties,mindfulness, returning to Now, zen meditation , importance of asking the question what-if? Etc Its a very light read like a tea-room conversation but it sure brings to us deep awakening. We know most the of the concepts spoken in this book, but yet we dont implement it in daily life. We are asked to experience "Life" and the importance of each moment in our life because we might not experience it before. All experiences and lives situations are unique. Our life on earth is short, all we have to do is make it count. #suggested

"She had long forgotten the taste of praise and self-worth." "Not to forget a survelliance camera is waiting for you." BOOK: I HEAR YOU AUTHOR: @nidhiupadhyaywrites GENRE: #sciencefiction #thriller #psychologicalfiction RATING: 🤰🤰🤰🤰 Mihika and shivam a couple who have had a love-cum- arranged marriage, living like the hunter and the hunted, in a cat and mouse game. Abusive marriages are nothing new for us, its one of the worldwide discussed and yet continued in the silence and anonymity of a house at many places , many families, mihika our central character is also abused, but her love- hate feeling for her husband is clouding her judgements at times, like all loving wives. This book speaks about one of the major social issue we face since forever domestic violence and abuse. But the highlight of the book is that it can be categorised as a science fiction; which takes us into a slow and intense journey of what happens when science and money together can be put into the wrong hands ! Its also a psychological thriller that speaks about an intense personality to crack called "Shivam". The storyline of this book is strong, I would give 4 rating for this book for the idea and the character depth, but there are few points I would have liked the author to have focused on there were some unexplainable deaths of Dr Mishra , when we read the book we will know who killed him but the real question is , how was he killed? Whats the secret behind Neil's family ? Are they just a coincidence? What happened to the twins of Dr. Grace? How was Rudra's birth like ? How difficult was it for mihika to give birth to such a child? The story was going in a slow pace and then towards the end quickly paced. Somewhere I could sympathize with Shivam and fall in love with Rudra, I am well aware of childhood abuses, so I know why the antagonist turned out the way he did. " I doubt you can put together this puzzle , my friend."

You've been on the edge of insanity your entire life, haven't you? So many people called you crazy you actually started to believe it. You wondered if they were right. You wondered if you could fix it. You thought if you could just try a little harder, be a little better, smarter, nicer-you thought the world would change its mind about you. You blamed yourself for everything." BOOK: Shatter Me BOOK NO. : 1 SERIES: Shatter Me Series AUTHOR: @tahereh GENRE: #dystopianromance #fiction RATING:🌟🌟🌟🌟 Juliette, has nearly forgotten what a normal life meant, what the world was like before it all happened, before she was captivated into a locked small cell by the reestablishment. She had some powers, which made her feel like a monster, she couldnt control them, she couldnt touch anyone..or so she thought until she got a new cellmate a boy, Adam! She knew him from somewhere...her past life. #suggetsed to all fantasy fans! The last book I read of #2023 . This year I read alot of amazing books, thank god!