![Book review: Radio Silence]()
Drama |
Radio Silence is one of my top picks from the books I read in 2019. Every one of my friends who have read this already is in love with this book. And every blog that talks about this one raves about it.
Did I tell I am already looking forward to reading more from this author? Aren’t you interested to know why is Radio Silence so fabulous? Read ahead.
About the book
Book Name: Radio Silence
Author: Alice Oseman
Genre: Fiction – Drama
Characters: Frances Janvier, Aled Last, Daniel Jun, Carys and Carol Last, Raine Sengupta
Setting: Kent County, England, The UK
Plot
Frances Janvier is the boring, nerdy school head girl, at least to her class mates. She is a topper and so obsessed with getting into Cambridge that she gets panic attacks over just thinking about not going there. She is a typical high strung, anxious, perfectionist millennial teen who is trying to do the correct things to achieve her goals.
Unbeknownst to her schoolmates, she is a fantastic artist who is absolutely besotted with a Youtube podcast Univserse City and podcaster’s voice. She draws fan arts for the show which is quite popular among the fanworld. Her two worlds collide when she meets her class nemesis Daniel’s best friend Aled Last, who as she gets to know later is the mind behind Universe City.
Aled Last is a shy neighbor to Frances and his sister used to be friends with Frances until a while ago. When he finds out about her fan art, he asks Frances to collaborate with him on his show. How they help each other to learn to love themselves and find a family of their own forms the rest of the story.
(Do not get fooled by this plot. I am trying to be as mysterious and spoiler free as I can get to make you pick Radio Silence.)
My initial thoughts
I think I made my feelings about the book very clear when I started the review. I loved the diverse representation and that there wasn’t a forced romance. And more than everything, I loved the character arcs and how strongly they were developed.
The theme of mysterious history of Frances and Carys and the mysterious present between Daniel and Aled’s friendship kept me hooked. While the writing quintessentially represents a millennial teenager’s POV, it was not angst-y and irksome, even when it was bit longer.
Things that worked for me
- Every character is fully developed and has a strong storyline.
- Great use of diverse representation, which didn’t feel forced or eclipsing the main plot.
- It talks about the pressure about higher education, which was so relatable to me.
- There is no romance and a lot of friendship.
Things that didn’t work for me
- It felt a longer than it needs to be.
- I liked Aled and Daniel’s part of the story more than Frances. I know it is not a negative thing. Still she is the narrator but I didn’t care for her as much. Maybe.
Bottom-line
Just go pick a copy of this one already please, while I am hunting for Alice Oseman’s other books.
Pin me!
Let us chat
Have you read Radio Silence? Do you ever feel the diverse representation being forced in books, especially in YA? Let us talk.
![Book review: Radio Silence]()
Romance |
It has been a while since a book made me laugh, cry and then root for the characters so hard that you forget they are fictitious. But then, if we get that book every time I read it won’t as special right? So A Quiet Kind of Thunder will be one of those special books.
About A Quiet Kind of Thunder
Book Name: A Quiet Kind of Thunder
Author: Sara Barnard
Genre: Fiction – Romance, YA
Characters: Steffi Brons, Rhys Gold, September “Tem”
Setting: Bedfordshire, England, The United Kingdom
Plot Summary of A Quiet Kind of Thunder
Steffi has been a selective mute since her childhood. But when her parents assume she may not be able to pursue her studies in a University, she decides things has to change. With her best friend, Tem moving off to another school she realizes she has to do this alone.
Or so she thought.
Rhys is deaf and entirely relies on the sign language to communicate. Since Steffi knows a bit of British Sign Language (BSL) she is introduced to him to help him out. She is mute and he is deaf and her rusty BSL is all they have to communicate and it also means they have an entire language just for them, more or less.
But when her parents decide college would be too much for her, she rebels and she rebels with Rhys. You need to read A Quiet Kind of Thunder to know how that goes.
Book review of A Quiet Kind of Thunder
As I might have already mentioned I loved A Quiet Kind of Thunder.
The romance didn’t make me roll eyes. Yes there were cutesy moments but they fit so perfectly into the story. Even when they do the typical teenage-y things it worked.
But again, they were typical teenagers who had physical disabilities and that is a point that A Quiet Kind of Thunder never failed to remind us. They can’t be much different from the other teens, can they? Well almost. And that is where the author and her research shine through.
What worked for me
- A Quiet Kind of Thunder has a great diverse representation with people of color, mental illness and physical disabilities, and none of them felt forced.
- Not everything is pink. There are people who do not understand them, there are ones who behave around them like they walk on egg shells. But I loved how real that made the story.
- Of late I have been ranting a lot about how much I dislike the ‘love solves everything’ trope. And I am happy to say this one defies that.
- The YA parents are THERE the whole time and they are protective as they should be and even too much at times.
What could have been better
- It is a typical teenage romance without a stronger conflict.
Bottom-line
I would recommend this to anyone who loves YA romance and want to read books with great diverse representation.
Similar reviews you might like
Pin me!
Let’s chat
Have you read A Quiet Kind of Thunder? Do you look for books with diverse representation or they just a bonus to a good story? Let us discuss.
![Book review: Radio Silence]()
review, Thriller |
When I love a book, I give myself some time to let my thoughts brew and write my review in a day or two. Sometimes, that day comes never. That is what happens to my favorite books and I never get around to write those amazing 5 star reviews. But here I am, finally attempting to talk about one of such books – Agatha Christie’s And then there were none.
About And Then There Were None
Book Name: And then there were none
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Fiction – Thriller
Characters: Justice Lawrence John Wargrave, Vera Elizabeth Claythorne, Philip Lombard, General John Gordon Macarthur, Dr Edward George Armstrong, Anthony James Marston, William Henry Blore, Mr Thomas Rogers, Mrs Ethel Rogers, Emily Caroline Brent, Isaac Morris, Fred Narracott.
Setting: Devon, England, The UK
Plot summary of And then there were none
Eight strangers are invited to a private island near the coast of Devon, England by an eccentric millionaire, Mr Owen. The guests are welcomed by a cook and a butler. But their host is nowhere to be seen and they realize none of them know him well.
All they find is a framed copy of an old nursery rhyme with the tale of ten soldiers who one by one leave, disappear or die until none of them are alive. Everyone is intrigued to find ten figurines depicting the ten soldiers in their dining room.
At dinner, a voice booms that every one of them was guilty of murder and they will all be dead soon. Immediately one of them chokes on their drink and dies. And then they find that one of the figurine is broken. Soon one by one each of the guests begin dying, following theme of the childhood rhyme.
Each of them starts suspecting the other, as they are all stranded in secluded island. Who is the murderer and who survives their stay forms the rest of the book ‘And then there were none’ by Agatha Christie.
And then there were none Book review
For me, And then there were none would be one of the best mystery ever written. I read this for the first time when I was around 13 years old and it was not a surprise that I was not able to solve the whodunnit.
Incidentally, I forgot about this book for about another five years until I gave it another read in my late teens. I still didn’t solve it but that’s when I realized how much I loved it. I keep reading it once in a while and it has never lost its charm on me.
And to make matter worse (or better) it has become a sort of benchmark to compare the other mystery novels and ‘whodunnits‘. There have been numerous adaptations based on And then there were none by Agatha Christie, and frankly none of them are closer to the book.
Things that worked for me
- There are so many mini plots within the story that makes it hard to guess the murderer.
- The murders get more and more exciting as it follows an old rhyme and everyone has a theory that someone else’s involved.
- I liked the strong emphasis on ‘fair’ justice system, even if it meant eye for an eye. I understand it is a fantasy but it sounds so good.
Things that didn’t work for me
- I don’t think anyone could guess the murderer on their first read. I mean there are literally no clues, but many many red herrings, you have been warned!.
- There are so many characters that you stop feeling related to them, in a while. There are, more or less, no descriptions for any of the characters.
- Unfortunately, there is a huge plot hole which is a part of the solution. But it is kinda easy to ignore it (at least it was for me).
- The book obviously feels dated but the casual racism and sexism
might should turn you off.
Content warning
Casual racism, Sexism.
Bottom-line
I consider And then there were none as a masterpiece and I am sure everyone would love it. I can’t recommend it enough. If you are going to read only one Christie’s in your life, choose And then there were none.
Pin me!
Let us chat
What is your favorite Agatha Christie novel? Have you read And Then There Were None? Let us chat about my And Then There Were None book review.
![Book review: Radio Silence]()
Drama |
I read Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal before it took the book world by a storm. Ok not the book world, at least the book blogger community loved and everyone who read it raved it. But how did it fare on my scale? Let us get on to the review!
About Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows
Book Name: Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows
Author: Balli Kaur Jaswal
Genre: Fiction – Romance, Drama
Characters: Nikki, Kulwinder, Jason, Mindi, Olive,
Setting: Southall, London, the UK
Plot Summary of Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows
Meet Nikki, a law school dropout, is trying to make her try at being independent after she finally got out of her over-bearing immigrant mother’s house. She tries to distance herself from her Sikh community, that is too traditional and sexist for her liking. Impetuously, she signs up to teach a Creative English course for the widows of her Punjabi community to earn some quick bucks.
A gross miscommunication leads to her teaching basic English to the lonely widows and most of them turn out to be illiterates. During the classes Nikki realizes these women are much more interested in oral story telling, especially erotic ones.
While the traditional Sikh community considers this as a scandalous act, especially for widows to be involved in, the women (with Nikki’s help) continue their lessons. They try and keep it a secret from the ‘Brotherhood’, a self appointed moral police team, who take it upon themselves to protect the virtue of the woman in their clan.
There is another much more interesting sub plot involving another younger woman who had ‘committed suicide’ after disagreeing with her husband’s way of living and was generally ‘too modern’.
Did the Brotherhood have a hand in her death? Does Nikki’s attempt to bring in empowerment to these widows through erotica meet with the same hatred? You will have to read the Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows on your own to find the answers.
Book review of Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows is one of the most ‘un-put-down-able’ book I read so far this year. I read through it fast and still couldn’t get to the last page quick enough. I needed to know the answers right then and there. But sensibility prevailed and I didn’t peek into the last page to find the answers. The writing was crisp and fast paced.
Yes there are some ‘erotic stories in them but they are written tastefully (is that correct word here?) and not cringe worthy at all. But if you do not wish to read them, you can skip them and it will not hinder the flow of the novel at all.
It has been a while since I loved the side characters and Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows has a bunch of well written and quirky characters.
While I didn’t like Nikki’s holier-than-thou attitude, I was able to relate to her at some point (or did I?) coming from a desi background and all. She reminded of the small sexist things that we do because our tradition demands it and how hapless women who can’t and won’t fight against them are.
Also I was reminded me of the BBC’s sitcom ‘Citizen Khan’ and I am definitely gonna watch them again in a bit.
What worked for me
- I loved the narrative pace and it kept me on my toes until the end. Truly un-put-downable!
- Kudos to the author in keeping the erotic stories in taste and yet interesting.
- I loved the well written and memorable characters.
What may have been better
- I felt Nikki was a bit annoying and judgmental, at least in the beginning.
Bottom line
If you are looking for something light and funny, or something that might make think about thoughtful or erotic, Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows will fit your bill either way. The book is funny. It is fast paced. It talks about woman empowerment. It has it all. Read it already, I say.
Similar book reviews you might like
Pin me!
Let us talk!
Have you Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal? Do you like books that might hit a little close to your home? What was the most unputdownable book you read this year? Let me know. We should dish!
![Book review: Radio Silence]()
review, Romance |
What do you do when all you have worked for threaten to fall in a minute? How do you escape from the past that you are ashamed and scared of? Parallel Lies
written by Georgia Rose attempts to answer these questions through the life of Madaliene Rose.
Book Name: Parallel Lies
Author: Georgia Rose
Genre: Fiction – Romance
Characters: Madeleine Ross, Daniel Travers, Tag, Letitia, Ben, Cubby.
Setting: England, The UK
Disclaimer: Thanks to the Author for the free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Maddy lives in a laid back, picturesque village. She has made friends with a few, yet believes she will be considered an outsider whatever she does. She wishes that she blends into their life without arousing any suspicion to escape from her past. Will the reality catch up with her fake life?
Enters Dan, her new boss who disapproves everything she does – her ethics, her job, and her lifestyle. The attraction seems mutual, but Dan would not take anything less than what he bargains for. When things finally smoothen for them, her luck runs out. Her ex and everything else that she has been running away for years have finally leaped on her. Can she survive this setback? Would running away again solve her problems? Would her self-righteous boyfriend be able to handle her truths? Read Parallel Lies to know more.
The story travels at a slow pace, but the writing grows on you. It takes about a 100 pages for the story to move, and we get to meet the other characters. Though we primarily hear the story from Maddy’s POV we get to hear Dan’s view a few times, which help us understand Maddy’s history and character better.
I loved how Maddy’s character developed throughout, from someone who was struggling to fit into her fake life to someone who has realized what she wants in life and lets her past go. I liked how she helps Kourtney to move ahead in her life, and the other minor characters like Diane and Chris are nicely etched.
I didn’t care much for the parts of Dan’s POV in the second person, and thankfully they were few and short. Parallel Lies is surely a Happily Ever After kind of story, yet it offers many variations from the heart-wrenching ones that we often get to read. It involves action, mystery, drama, and pinch (or more) of romance – a perfect combination for a summer read.
Enter the giveaway to win a copy of this book.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
