If We Were Having Tea: Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay

 

I’m not sure where it came from but I suddenly imagine myself in a Bengali household. It’s an old fashioned Bengali home with a large verandah and a small courtyard where a huge neem tree stands tall. This room I stand in has a high ceiling, lined with heavy beams. There are two large windows with green shutters. A big, wooden almirah is tucked at the far corner; its glass doors flaunt nicely stacked books. Old books. I walk towards it and the first book I see is probably Datta, as my very limited knowledge of Bengali tells me. I have read the Hindi translation of this book.

I walk back and sit on a chair by the window from where I can have two views —inside there is a long corridor which leads to a couple of closed doors. Outside, there’s a narrow, quiet alley. The purplish grey sky waits for the dawn to break.

At this eerily early hour, the still sleepy house is breathing a pin drop silence. 

A gust of wind makes the white curtain hanging from the door frame flutter and I glance towards it. Suddenly you appear from nowhere, clad in a crisp white dhoti-kurta, a sombre expression on your face, and my childhood comes rushing towards me. My heart skips several beats as I cannot believe I am actually seeing you. Is it a dream, I wonder. It feels like I have time travelled. And now I feel what if you sit across from me and we have a little chat with a cup of tea? I can almost smell adrak-elaichi waali chai brewing somewhere. 

If we were having tea, I would simply tell you how much I have adored you all these years. 

I don't remember how I got introduced and drawn towards your books. Maybe it was after I found Mannu Bhandari’s ‘Swami’ in the small library of our home. You may not know about it so I’d tell you that it was a modified version of your book Swami. It remains my favourite till date. 

Or maybe it was after I read your poignant short story ‘Ram Ki Sumati’. 

I could see a flicker of a smile on your face and I’d quickly add, with a hint of pride, that we share our native land. I would tell you that I had even crossed  your school in the town where you used to study as a young boy. It was Durga Charan High School, right? This thought fascinates me so much that it's indescribable.

If we were having tea, I would tell you that I read your books in Hindi without even realizing that I was reading translations. I feel so lucky to have access to your books because of beautiful translations. I would gladly inform you that I have become a translator, something I had never thought I would do. But now that I am a translator, it gives me a different kind of feeling thinking of your books. 

If we were having tea, I would tell you that your books have been adapted into many beautiful movies like Khushboo, Swami, Parineeta and many more. I would see a flicker of surprise in your eyes. You shouldn't be surprised though because I have heard that you were on the sets when Devdas was being made. 

I was at my Maa’s friend's place when I found Devdas first. It peeked through the glass doors of an old, dusty bookshelf and I shamelessly borrowed it from her. 

I’d tell you that we have at least fifteen other Devdas movies, and I’m sure it would make you laugh. 

If we were having tea, I’d tell you that I had requested someone to buy your books from Calcutta and she brought me a big fat book — a collection of your novellas — Grihdaah, Chandranath, Parineeta, Srikant, Brahman Ki Beti, Path Ke Davedar, Charitraheen, Biraj Bahu. 

Sometimes I wish I could read Bengali.

 

If we were having tea, we would talk about writing and good storytelling. How could we not? How could I miss this chance? I would tell you how I felt that your stories were way ahead of time. Would you teach me a few (a lot of, actually) things about storytelling and creating memorable characters? Particularly strong female protagonists.

I am sure I would see a content smile playing on your lips. 

If we were having tea, I’d tell you that I dug out your book Panditmashai (Pandit Ji in Hindi) after 17-18 years and am currently reading it.

As we continue to talk, the dawn breaks into a golden, gleeful morning. Streaks of sunshine make a crisscross pattern on the table. A voice comes from somewhere. The sunshine turns bright, so bright that it blurs your presence, as though it's emanating from you. It feels like you are disappearing and my heart sinks. I don’t want this rendezvous to end. I want to talk more. 

‘I have to go. It was lovely talking to you,’ you say with a soft smile and my heart melts. You get up and walk towards the same door you came from. The brightness subsides and I see you fade into the length of the corridor. 

(It is Saratchandra's birthday today)

Written for Bookish League hosted by Ritu Bindra

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Books: Love Virtually and Every Seventh Wave

 

Love Virtually and Every Seventh Wave: Written by Daniel Glattauer. Translated (from German) by Katharina Bielenberg and Jamie Bulloch.

It's one of my favourite quotations, from one of my favourite books. I posted it on Twitter recently, and just like that, I picked Love Virtually and began re-reading it.

I read it first in 2016, without any expectation, to be honest. Because the epistolary form of writing was a new concept for me. But I read and loved it and it made me restless because I had no idea that there was a sequel to Love Virtually. I didn't read Kindle back then so I ordered Every Seventh Wave, the sequel, right away and the wait made me restless.

Now, I'm not someone who rereads books, but I somehow knew I'd reread these two very unique, lovely, endearing books. I have even mentioned it in this post, even on Goodreads.

So, I began rereading and couldn't stop. I finished it in two days and obviously picked the sequel instantly and finished (relished) in almost a single sitting. It was as though I was reading them for the first time. And if you're a reader, you know how wonderful it feels. 

As much as I loved these books, I never got around to writing about them on my blog (I did write a review on Amazon and Goodreads and recommend it to two hundred people though), but this time, I felt like documenting it on my blog. 

Emmi (Emma to others) accidentally sends an email to the wrong address, as she is trying to cancel her subscription to a magazine. After the third message, she gets a reply from someone called Leo who tells her that she had sent her messages to the wrong address. 

After a few months or so, she again sends a Happy New Year/Merry Christmas message to him and for some reason (revealed later), it irks Leo and he doesn't try to hide it in his sarcastic reply. Later, Emmi sends a message again, not purposefully, and thus, on an irritating and sarcastic note, their proper email conversation begins, and how!

You don't even realize when they fall in love, slowly, deeply ―without really meeting (they meet, kind of, that's also very interesting), without knowing how they look, and you, the reader, suddenly begin to feel it. Conflict number one: Emmi is married.

The book leaves you with a sense of fulfilment and a sense of loss at the same time, and the feeling lingers. Love Virtually is complete in a sense, and yet incomplete, and so here comes the sequel to your rescue.

Every Seventh Wave (Love the title!) manages to carry the beauty (of Love Virtually) forward. There are several beautiful moments (emails) in this book. Strangely, it felt more beautiful and deep this time. The longing in their messages, especially Leo…oh, I rooted for them. 

I cherish this unique love story. Leo and Emmi: I believed they would stay with me for a long time, when I read it for the first time, and I was right. 

The books are quirky and fascinating; one of a kind. The writing is so engaging and engrossing. The emails are witty, funny, endearing, very interesting, sometimes touching. You just flow with their conversations. There are some run-on sentences in the emails that sometimes confuse but it doesn't matter. After all, we don't think about these things when we write casual emails, do we?

It is very imaginative, and it is so smart of the author to keep the sense of apprehension, conflicts and cliffhangers intact in such a format. The way he manages to describe the personal lives of Emmi and Leo ―without really describing ―through their emails is truly commendable. It's an art, I'd say, to tell a story (of total 500 pages) through emails, just emails! 

Is there anything I didn't like?

Just one thing ―one particular act. The story could have done without it. Just my view. But it doesn't matter. 

If you're looking for a unique read, if you enjoy reading love stories, you cannot miss this book. There's another book by the author. Forever Yours. I am going to read that, too (it hasn't got good reviews, but now my reading doesn't really depend on the reviews, as I have left many well loved books unfinished).

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There's Something About Sophie Kinsella Stories

A large parcel arrived that afternoon. A parcel that carried books! I can't tell you how excited I was, not just because they were books, but because they were my first review copies. Two books, 'I've Got Your Number' and Twenties Girl’ by Sophie Kinsella immediately got my attention. My first introduction to Kinsella books. I picked ‘I’ve Got Your Number’ first. It was a big fat book and I wondered if it would be able to hold my interest.

But it did and how! In that 400+ page book, not a single page was boring.

She wrote her first seven novels as Madeleine Wickham. Having read a Madeleine Wickham book, I can say that they are very different from Sophie Kinsella books. Even Sophie Kinsella said it in an interview (to Woman and Home). ‘I changed my name to Sophie Kinsella because these novels were so different. I found a new voice and a way of writing, and I found it addictive,’ she said.

I'm very fond of her stories, as they never disappoint. Whenever there's a bad reading phase, when no book manages to grip me, I pick a Kinsella book, and it immediately uplifts my mood.

There's something about Sophie Kinsella books!

The writing style

Sophie Kinsella writes in a chirpy, conversational style, always in first person. Like the protagonist is sharing everything with a friend. It helps you connect with the character and her situations better. And a story can never disappoint you if you feel connected to the characters.

The heroines: so similar yet so different

Be it Poppy Wyatt of I've Got Your Number, or Emma Corrigan of Can You Keep a Secret?, or Fixie Farr of I Owe You One, or Katie Brenner of My Not So Perfect Life: they are so similar in so many ways. They are like any girl next door, they’re peppy and kind, they’re hopeful, helpful, and most importantly, they never give up!

 

AND YET, they’re so different from each other. Isn’t it amazing? That a writer manages to create such characters, who are so similar yet so different?

 

Happy, uplifting vibe

‘Don't beat yourself up for not knowing the answers. You don't always have to know who you are. You don't have to have the big picture, or know where you're heading. Sometimes, it's enough just to know what you're going to do next.’

― Sophie Kinsella, The Undomestic Goddess

One of the main reasons why I am not able to finish any book is, they are slow and tend to meander. Kinsella stories are fast-paced. Fast-paced, not rushed. They evoke happy, bright imageries. It makes you feel that there’s hope and you know that everything will be alright. It doesn’t mean her stories do not have conflicts. They do! In fact, her stories are full of conflicts, odd situations, troubles and utter confusion. But there’s is a happy, uplifting vibe in her stories that perks you up.

Humour

‘The trouble with me is, I can’t let things go. They bug me. I see problems and I want to fix them, right there, right now. My nickname isn’t Fixie for nothing.’

This is the opening line of ‘I Owe You One’ and it made me smile.

Humour is the characteristic feature of her writing, one of the strengths of her books. I giggle several times while reading her books (and get strange looks from my husband).

“We're playing Scrabble. It's a nightmare."

"Scrabble?" He sounds surprised. "Scrabble's great."

"Not when you're playing with a family of geniuses. They all put words like 'iridium'. And I put 'pig'.”

―  I've Got Your Number

The chemistry

Frankly, her books are not ideally romantic. But the romance has a very special place in her stories, and it’s so endearing. There’s certain kind of sweetness and warmth in the relationships.

‘Lover? I don’t know. I don’t know if she loves me. I don’t know if I love her. All I can say is, she's the one I think about. All the time. She's the voice I want to hear. She's the face I hope to see.’

___I’ve Got Your Number

I am a very impatient reader. If a book doesn’t grip me by 50-60 pages, I leave it unfinished. But I haven't met any Kinsella book that I could not finish. And it’s a big thing for me, as a reader. Even if I can’t call it my favourite, a Kinsella book would be entertaining for sure.

My Favourite Author – Enid Blyton: A Guest Post by Shalzmojo

Hello readers,

I'm sharing yet another post in 'My Favourite Author'series. I started this series, on my blog recently and featured three guest posts under this category. You can read them HERE. Also wrote about 'My' favourite author! You can read the post HERE.


Today, I am so pleased to host Shalini {Shalzmojo}.  Actually, this guest post is part of the December bloghop '#mymojo with Shalzmojo', all about books and travel! You can read my guest post, 'Top 5 Reads by Women Authors {With Women Protagonists}' on her lovely blog.

'An interior designer by profession, writing is a passion, which coupled with travel love, and blossomed into this blog where I love to just “do my thing”! Be it recipes, food events, travel jaunts, fiction dreaming or even meditative musings; all of it’s taken up quite passionately on my blog. I am a serious wine guzzler and love to chase butterflies in my free time,' she says.


You can follow her on:

| Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest|



OK, now over to Shalzmojo! 

Hello readers. I am delighted to be here on Tarang’s blog to talk about my favourite author. It’s quite difficult for an avid book worm to choose from one of her many most loved writers. I had to really think carefully about why I am listing Enid Blyton as one of my all-time favourites.


“Writing for children is an art in itself, and a most interesting one.”
― Enid Blyton 

I was first introduced to Enid Blyton as a child and I think one of the first books was one from the Secret Seven series. I graduated to Famous five and many other such. But it’s when I chanced on the Enchanted wood and Wishing chai, that I was thoroughly entranced.

The world of children as brought alive by Enid Blyton was just too magical and enchanting for me. The toys in the nursery that came alive at night and went on to have so many adventures is something I found very difficult to fathom. I must confess to staying awake to catch my toys in action night after night ;-)

Her Noddy series was aimed for younger children and are an absolute delight to read to this day. The colourful books with tales of mischief that young Noddy got into, make for quite a fun read.

Then came the boarding school series and I couldn’t get enough of any of them. Imagine glamorising this world in a book to make kids like me beg their parents to send them to such a school. The description of high teas that were served to these children in the stories left me wanting more. 

What's SO special about Enid Blyton?

I think the charm of Enid Blyton for me was the way she teased my imagination with just the right bit of dramatic flair. Reading her books has made my childhood richer by much and I would say this is one author every parent should encourage their child to read. 

Something about my favourite author:

Enid Mary Blyton (1897-1968) was a prolific children’s book writer from England who indulged in poetry, playwriting and short story writing among other things. She has been one of the bestselling authors since 1930, selling about 600 million copies worldwide so far. She set up many clubs to encourage the children to work for a worthy cause. Her books have been translated into 60 languages across the world.

She started out with poetry and one of her poems was published in a magazine when she was just 14. One of her closest friends illustrated one of her early books which incidentally was a collection of poems.

I don’t think I know of another such writer whose popularity soars so high and for so long. She has been on top of the book reading charts for as long as I have been reading books.

I hope I have enchanted you with my fascination for Enid Blyton. Are you a fan of hers too?

{You could read my book review of  The Bell Jar by Slyvia Plath, one of my favourites!}

Who's your favourite author?

My Favourite Author: Debbie Macomber

I started this series, My Favourite Author, on my blog recently and featured three guest posts under this category. You can read them HERE. Now, it's my turn!

First of all, when it comes to reading, I, unapologetically, prefer women authors who write about strong women, women who have equal, substantial presence in the story. You can read my article 'I’m Not Afraid To Say That I’m Biased Towards WomenProtagonists And Authors!' on Women's Web.

'Be an encourager. Scatter sunshine. Who knows whose life you might touch with something as simple as a kind word.' 

― Debbie Macomber

Hard hitting, dark stories on social/political issues are okay, but I enjoy reading pleasant, delightful stories. And, when I think about pleasant, delightful stories, Debbie Macomber comes to my mind.

I remember that quiet afternoon when I had nothing new to read. Back then, I was not familiar with online shopping and and needed to visit bookshops/stalls to buy books.

I badly wanted to read something, so I picked 'This Matter Of Marriage' by Debbie Macomber and reread it. It was my first book by the author. I enjoyed it like I had enjoyed reading it for the first time. And, I rarely re-read books!

I had recently discovered a bookshop that sold old books at a very reasonable price. And, there I found Debbie Macomber, I mean her books. And I am so glad. What attracted me? The blurb, of course and lovely covers that looked like paintings.

After re-reading 'This Matter Of Marriage', I went to the bookshop and bought 7-8 books by Debbie Macomber. I read all of them, and realized that she never failed to entertain me.

Her stories are delightful. Her male protagonists are charming! There's a thing --- the stories by Debbie Macomber are happy stories. You won't find many twists and turns yet you would find them engrossing if you like reading romance novels. It's Debbie's storytelling and her relatable characters and situations that make her stories interesting.

A Little Bit Country was a novel that was so gripping that I stayed awake till the wee hours to finish it. The characters, their chemistry, their unexpressed feelings gripped me. In 'Moon Over Water',  Lorraine and Jack sail together, due to an emergency, in Jack’s private boat for many days. They initially detest each other but in these few days they grow loving each other immensely yet unable to express their feelings {because Lorraine is engaged}.

You see, I like this 'unexpressed feelings' thing in her stories as I do not like insta love thing. It may sound similar, but it's different in every story, in its own way.

It's been a long time since I read her novels. Back then, I was not an author, I didn't read books to review; I had just started discovering new Indian authors. My TBR was not that long; I was not on any social media platforms --- reading life was easier.

But, I've planned to buy her novels soon. I've selected already ---  Little Bookshop Of Promises, Starry Night and Dashing Through The Snow. Interesting titles, no?

So, have you read Debbie Macomber? If yes, which books did you like? If no, then you should if you like romance. And, who is your favourite author? Please share.

My Favourite Author: Saadat Hasan Manto - Guest Post by Sona

   
Hello everyone. So this is the third post in the 'My Favourite Author' series. You can read the previous guest posts HERE.

Today, I'm happy to host Sona, an avid reader and blogger. She writes about her favourite author --- Saadat Hasan Manto!

'If you find my stories dirty, the society you are living in is dirty. With my stories, I only expose the truth." - Saadat Hasan Manto (1912-1955)

Novelist, playwright, essayist, screenwriter, short story writer, Manto is considered one of the finest in Urdu literature. His work is stark and 'uncomfortable' to the custodians of society's morality. He was reviled by the establishment in his lifetime, having been charged for obscenity multiple times. Why then, is he a writer who was considered ahead of his times?

Because Manto’s writing is realistic, holding out hard hitting facts. He chose to expose when others looked away.

He is best known for his stories about the partition of the subcontinent. He challenged the hypocrisy and the sham morality of the society.  Manto's work reiterates that literature does not need to be polite and that political satire can comment on the present day happenings.

One of his most controversial short stories 'Khol Do', is a shocking portrayal of the violence and the depravity of people at the time of the partition. The ending of the story is like a punch to your gut. 'Thanda Gosht', another intense story depicts how the rape of women was a way to punish the people of the 'other community'.

'The Assignment' is bone chilling and much as you wish to believe in trust, loyalty and brotherhood, you cannot.

Women in Manto’s Stories ---

The women in his stories were considered 'scandalous'; he drew them from unconventional backgrounds such as brothels. They were sexually liberated and showed characteristics that are mostly attributed to males: rage, vengeance, driving their destiny. I consider Manto a feminist who humanizes women through his realistic portrayal.

Manto was called vulgar because the women he wrote about were neither weak nor sexually repressed. There is a mention of lesbianism and first sexual stirrings in 'A Wet Afternoon'. 'Kaali Shalwar' features a small town prostitute Sultana, who is disillusioned by Bombay. 'Mozail', the story of a Jewish woman living in Bombay, showcases her free spirit, her independence of thought, her courage in the face of rioters and her complete disregard for the facade of religion.

One of his best known stories, 'Toba Tek Singh', based on his own experience in a mental asylum, brings out the agony and the absurdity of partition.

I don't recommend Manto to everyone, even though he is my favourite writer. Manto's work has the capability to shock, to bring you out of your being so that you never feel the same again. It takes courage to look at the mirror that Manto holds to your face. He delves into the darkest part of the human psyche. His stories are rooted in the real life incidents of the partition violence, the fake morality that people uphold and in the dignity of women, even when they are prostitutes.

My Favourite Author – Beatrix Potter: A Guest Post by Sudesna Ghosh

Hello! So, this is the second post in 'My Favourite Author' series that I started last week. You can read the first guest post by Mithila HERE

Today, I'm so pleased to host Sudesna Ghosh, author of 'My Perfect Newyork Christmas, My Singapore Fling, and many others. She is an ardent animal lover and write lovely stories for children.

So, here it goes. A guest post by Sudesna ---

Every time I sit down to write, Beatrix Potter quote takes me to the end of my story…

'There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they'll take you.' 

― BeatrixPotter

My addiction to books developed from an early age. My mother is a bookworm who loved taking me to the local library every weekend. While other children played outside or hung out in cliques in their school days, I stayed inside with my stacks of books, living alongside book characters that I admired.

I started my writing career with short stories. First, in elementary school while I was growing up in the United States, and then years later at The Telegraph newspaper where I was on the team that edited the children’s weekly supplement. 

While I have written some books for adults, writing stories for kids warms up a special part of my heart. Why? Well, I don’t like the idea of growing up so fun stories about childhood let me keep my nostalgia and innocence in a way. And also because I can’t stop thinking about my idol Beatrix Potter every time I write kidlit.

Her name makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Most of my childhood books are still in my house and hers are right up front so I can touch them, see them, devour them, whenever I need extra inspiration. 

'Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality.'

This quote by Beatrix won me over when I read it years ago. This intelligent woman years before our time, knew how formal education didn’t determine a person’s talent or intelligence. 

Beatrix’s first artist models were her pet rabbits. Her first rabbit was Benjamin Bouncer. Benjamin was followed by a rabbit called Peter Piper, who performed tricks and stayed with her all the time. When I read this anecdote about my favourite author, I was quite pleased as I adore all animals and spend all my time with them as well. My late dog Goti and now my cats, keep me amused and I am rarely seen without them by my side.

Annie Moore, who was governess to Beatrix, stayed in her life for decades. In fact, one of Beatrix’s earliest stories was actually from a letter (with illustrations) sent to Annie Moore’s son. Publishers did not take on her story, leading the author to self-publish The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1901. So you see, self-publishing is not a new phenomenon at all.

Thanks to the book’s success, a publisher who had turned it down offered Beatrix a deal. Inspiration for aspiring authors that even famous writers may have to struggle in the beginning.

My first Beatrix Potter experience was with her book called The Roly-Poly Pudding. It has a mischievous mouse in it. And cats. Adorable cats wearing frocks and aprons and all that. This cat lady can visualise every page of that book. Not surprisingly, I wrote a little book about a cat expert and his cats and it was after I re-read The Roly-Poly Pudding for the hundredth time of my life.

*****

Sounds lovely, no? 

So, who is your favourite author? And why? Please share your thoughts. 

My Favourite Author --- Jodi Picoult : A Guest Post By Mithila

I love spending time on Goodreads (And Amazon). If you're reading this, I'm sure you are a reader, and if you're a reader, you can totally relate to this. Recently, while reading reviews on Goodreads, I found a review where the reviewer said, 'I do not have a favourite author. I have favourite books.'

It made me think. It happens. Sometimes even your favourite author fails to entertain you? Even your favourite author's writing does not touch you in a special way? But then, I realized that we all have at least one author who never disappoints you (And you don't mind even if their story does not create that magic at times). You could pick her/his book without even reading the blurb. 

So, I have decided to do a series --- My Favourite Author --- on my blog. And, this is the first post in this series. I am so pleased to host Mithila, an avid reader and popular blogger, on my blog! Guest first, right? 

She writes about Jodi Picoult, her favourite author. In Mithila's words, 'Jodi Picoult is an author who melds the intellectual and emotional aspects of reading into one.'

How beautiful, isn't it? So here it goes --- A Guest Post by Mithila!

‘You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not.’ --- Jodi Picoult

I read my first Jodi Picoult on my Kindle on a cold, rainy night. It was the classic “My Sister’s Keeper”, which has been adapted into a movie I have yet to watch. It is a book about siblings and the love/hate relationship they share, and how sometimes taking a certain decision can be morally correct, yet feel emotionally saddening. Or morally incorrect, yet emotionally redeeming.

This very dilemma that Picoult creates in the mind of the reader is the reason why I started hunting for more books by her.

Why is she one of my favourite authors?

As a reader, I love the intellectual and emotional challenge of understanding characters, their intentions and trying to predict what will eventually happen in the end. Picoult provides this challenge to me. As a writer, I am in awe of the way Picoult creates such highly complicated plots and conflicting interests, and yet narrate an ending that seems fitting and just. I can only imagine the feelings of the storyboards who witnessed first-hand the evolution of brilliant plots in novels like “House Rules”, “Picture Perfect”, “Change of Heart”, “Nineteen Minutes” and who carried the weight of her thoughts.

Another defining characteristic of Picoult’s writing that I have noticed is: Many characters, main and supporting, and the intricacy with which they are interconnected to each other, leading to a domino effect of scenes. For example, “Nineteen Minutes” includes the following set of characters: the ‘criminal’ Peter Houghton, his parents and brother, his ex-best friend Josie Cormier, her mother (who is also the judge) Alex Cormier, Josie’s friends who were Peter’s bullies, Josie’s boyfriend Matt, Alex’s love interest (who is also the detective) Patrick Ducharme, and many more.

Even if you haven’t had the pleasure of reading “Nineteen Minutes” yet, I would invite you to analyse how all the above characters are related and how their relatedness is the reason why the conflicting interests arise.

Oh wait, I can’t calm my fangirl mode. And hence I will analyse an example for you, trying my best not to give any spoilers. Josie, who used to be Peter’s best friend, holds knowledge of a crucial part of Peter’s life, the part of his life that may be relevant to his descent into becoming a school shooter. She has the power to speak up and tell the court and the world everything. But she also has the added pressure of being the daughter of a judge and the girlfriend of Peter’s bully. Would she be a dutiful daughter, a loving girlfriend or a supportive friend? The more important question is: Who should she choose to be? All the roles are mutually exclusive, and selecting any role may have unpredictable consequences.

Have I charmed and teased you into reading Jodi Picoult already? I hope so. I sincerely do.

If you’re a teenage reader, here’s something for you: As I was working on the research aspect of this post, I stumbled upon this fact: Jodi Picoult has also written YA Fiction novels “Between The Lines” and “Off The Page”. No prizes for guessing what my next read (and hopefully, your next read) is going to be!

*****

Thank you so much Mithila! Yes, you've charmed and teased me into reading Jodi Picoult. I think I'd pick 'House Rules'!

So, have you read Jodi Picoult? Who is your favourite author? Would you like to share?