Reading – Page 4 – Anna Bushi

My Lady Jane

I recently started watching My Lady Jane on Prime and enjoyed this quirky, alternate-history take on Jane Grey’s story. As someone who’s read Philippa Gregory’s Tudor novels, I was familiar with the real history. Then, as the credits rolled, I noticed the series was based on a book. You know me—I’m usually a “read the book before watching” kind of person (okay, except for Bridgerton). Naturally, I grabbed the book and devoured it in just a few days. It was an absolute delight—lighthearted, clever, and guaranteed to make you smile. Sometimes we adults feel guilty about reading purely for fun. Ignore that guilt and pick up this book if you want pure entertainment!

Afterward, I returned to the show, and I have to say, it didn’t disappoint. I don’t need adaptations to be perfectly faithful; I just want them to tell a great story, and this one delivered. It’s a shame Season Two was canceled, but at least the book tells the full, wonderfully weird alternate history.

Just finished my 25th book of the year!

The story follows Rose, who has always put her family first, often at the expense of her own needs, driven by a desire to honor her late father. A trip to Paris prompts her to reflect on what she truly wants, and the rest of the book captures her journey to find the courage to pursue it. I loved the Persian cultural elements, drawn from the author’s own life, which are beautifully woven throughout the story. The supporting characters, especially her mother and sisters, are excellent. My only critique is that Rose sometimes behaves more like a teenager in Paris than a woman in her thirties, though it can be seen as part of her late blooming. It’s an easy read with a happily-ever-after ending.

It’s been an amazing reading journey so far, and I’m already diving into the next one. What are you reading currently?

The Caretaker: Book Review

The Caretaker is A.X. Ahmad’s debut novel, though I read it more than a decade after its release. Ranjit Singh, a disgraced ex-military officer from India, is living in Martha’s Vineyard during a cold winter, struggling to make ends meet while taking care of his wife and daughter. He works as the caretaker for a senator’s house. When the heater in his own home breaks down, he moves his family into the senator’s empty house, without his permission. They are attacked in the middle of the night, and so begins the adventure.

I love how the author intersperses Ranjit’s past on the Siachen Glacier with his present circumstances. Ranjit’s Sikh faith keeps him grounded as his life falls apart. The African American senator and his wife are written well; you can almost imagine reading about their lives in the newspaper.

The disabled veteran is another wonderfully fleshed-out character. My only nitpick with the story is regarding Ranjit’s wife, Preetham. I wish we saw more of her to better understand her depression and loneliness.

All in all, it’s a great debut thriller.

Protect your memory

After watching the US Presidential debate, if you are panicking about the candidates, I cannot help you there. But if you want to know how to protect your memory as you age, I have an easy tip.

Read more novels to protect your memory.

One early indicator of memory issues, according to Dr. Restak, is giving up on fiction. “People, when they begin to have memory difficulties, tend to switch to reading nonfiction,” he said.

Over his decades of treating patients, Dr. Restak has noticed that fiction requires active engagement with the text, starting at the beginning and working through to the end. “You have to remember what the character did on Page 3 by the time you get to Page 11,” he said.

Here is the link to the NYT article that discusses this in detail. You can also read my earlier blog that describes other benefits of reading fiction.

It is not too late to start reading fiction. Start with a standalone novel like King in Hiding. Once you finish that, then move on to series like my Land of Magadha series.

Review of Last Summer Boys

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of brotherhood set in 1968. Jack’s thirteen-year-old cousin, Frankie, is visiting them because his parents want to keep him safe from the riots burning his city. Jack’s brother Pete is almost 18 and might be drafted for the Vietnam War. Jack and his cousin concoct an idea to make Pete famous because famous boys seem to avoid the draft. Amidst all the chaos, Will, Jack’s sixteen-year-old brother, tastes his first love.

This tale transported me to rural Pennsylvania. I enjoyed how the family’s love for each other is portrayed through tiny details, even when they disagree on things. I was happy to see our thirteen-year-old protagonist, Jack, cry a few times in this novel. A hopeful tale that felt like a warm blanket on a cold night.

A great debut novel by the author. I am looking forward to reading more of his stories.

Favorite Quotes

If you go long enough thinking you don’t have a say in your life, you reach a point where you’ll do anything to show others that you do. If it’s lighting fires, you light fires.

I don’t believe there’s a boy on earth can see his mother cry and not do the same.

Would that make me love you any less? Would you love me any less?

Do you believe in prophecies?

I did once.

My name is Meera

At the time of my marriage, an older woman uttered this prophecy to me:

“Queen she will be one day, her name will be celebrated, near and far. Her son will rule the three kingdoms and beyond.”

Was this prophecy about me? Once, I believed it was. Now, I don’t know.

I did become the Queen of Padi. I had three sons. In a twist of fate, my youngest, Atul, is the heir to the Malla throne. I worry sometimes about this prophecy coming true, especially with Atul in Kashgar, surrounded by unknown dangers. My mother’s heart clenches with dread for my surviving children.

As a heartfelt gesture to her dearest readers, Anna Bushi, the storyteller behind my son’s journey, has set the launch price at just $0.99. Don’t miss out on this special offer, as the price will rise upon release. Grab your copy today!

Read Child of the River

2023 in Books

Reading is my first love, and I have read 39 books so far this year. I am hoping to read one more to reach 40.

Some of my favorite books of this year in no particular order:

Half Gods by Akil Kumarasamy
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
I read multiple books by Philippa Gregory, Andrzej Sapkowski, and Robin Hobb and thoroughly enjoyed them.

You can read all my reviews on Goodreads or my blog.

Reading multiple books at once?

Do you read multiple books at once? I do, and it can feel like feasting at a buffet—a literary one. I am currently reading a non-fiction paperback and a fiction ebook. Since only the fictional novel has characters I need to keep track of, I don’t have to worry about confusing my characters’s dramas. That had happened to me before when I started a new fictional tale while in the middle of another one. I did that because I had borrowed a book from the library and needed to return it soon. It was quite the juggling act, keeping the plots from both books from dancing together. My brain enjoyed the workout.

Usually, I prefer to give each book its moment in the sun. I have read 37 books so far this year. Let us see how many more I can complete before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve.

Book Review: Anxious People

(Mis)quoting Hermoine, if anyone thinks all men have the emotional range of a teaspoon, they have not read a book by Fredrik Backman.

Anxious people took me on a fantastic journey of human emotions. Like a lunatic, I laughed and cried over imaginary characters, never feeling better.

How does this author tug our hearts with simple words?

Some of my favorites without revealing any spoilers:

We never got past the first flush of infatuation
my heart broke into a dance at reading this line

The dialogue ending with “But she was your mom.”
encapsulates the wonderful family ties.

Jack and Jim, the two police officers: every scene between them was brilliant.

I wrote about two characters who plan to take their own lives in the War of the Three Kings. One does jump off a balcony, and the other doesn’t. Both their actions create ripples that touch all who have come in contact with them. Writing about suicide is hard, and Fredrik does it with a gentle touch while not shying away from digging deep into how it affects the living.

Go read this book. Fall in love with these characters. Let them break your heart and put it back together. All within the same paragraph.

Book Review: The Song of the Marked

This is the first book I am reading by S. M. Gaither, and I thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy novel.

Protagonist Cas survived fading sickness, an illness that killed nearly everyone else. The reason for her survival is a mystery, though the disease leaves its mark on her with her colorless hair and eyes.

She and her outlaw friends are returning from a mission when she meets Elander. Sparks fly between them.

Elander is the king’s captain and captures her in another encounter and seems intent on protecting her from the king. Cas, who is plenty capable of protecting herself, agrees to help the king find a way to cure fading sickness.

I loved all the world-building and the magic system. Powerful and mysterious God and Goddess are always a draw, and the author paints a dark and intricate picture of this empire.

The author peels the layer of mystery one by one, leaving the readers wanting more. The ending was a nice twist.

I enjoyed this book and looking forward to reading the other four books in the Shadows and Crown series.