Beyond Books

I am no writer, and have no intention of becoming a published author. But sometimes, I do feel like penning my thoughts on all things bookish. Here are a few of my thoughts and writings.
(As is evident, this page is a work-in-progress. I have written a lot more than these few articles. Stay tuned. 😃)

Author Specials:


Bookish Write-ups:



✤ Five Types of Non-fiction that Even Fiction Lovers Will Enjoy! - Guest Article for Blogchatter's BeStorified series. - March 2025.





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Women of a Promiscuous Nature - Donna Everhart - ★★★★.¼

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AUTHOR: Donna Everhart GENRE: Historical Fiction. PUBLICATION DATE: RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: A historical fiction based on true events. Excellent character and plot development. Fabulous atmosphere and research. Graphic abuse, though it’s never sensationalised. Compelling but also highly disturbing. Definitely recommended, but only when you are in a strong headspace. Plot Preview: 1941. Twenty-four-year-old Ruth Foster and fifteen-year-old Stella Temple find themselves enrolled at The State Industrial Farm Colony for Women in Kinston, North Carolina. Stella views it as a kind of escape while Ruth considers it a prison. Stella believes she did something wrong and hence needs to be redeemed during her stay at the Farm; Ruth is clear that she doesn’t deserve to be in the institution and wants to get out asap. Superintendent Dorothy Baker, convinced that she is transforming degenerates and ”mental defectives” into morally worthy citizens, oversees all the training and treatment ...
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The Prophecy - Lisa Zimmermann - ★★

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AUTHOR: Lisa Zimmermann GENRE: Urban Fantasy PUBLICATION DATE: May 31, 2025 RATING: 2 stars. In a Nutshell: An urban fantasy with a mysterious prophecy being at the centre of the plot. The idea was great but the implementation was a bit basic. The writing style didn’t work for me, nor did the main characters who read younger than their age. Despite the shortcomings, I was still curious enough to know what happens. A good choice for those who care more about the story than the plot/character development. Plot Preview: Sarah, who is in her early thirties, lives a quiet life as a barista in an English town. When she suddenly starts getting strange hallucinations, she worries about her physical and mental health. Little does she know that a mysterious man named William, who is possibly stalking her, is connected to her visions. Soon, Sarah’s safe and predictable world is thrown into chaos, and the only solution can supposedly be found through a strange prophecy. But Sarah knows only half o...
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The Best Dog in the World: Essays on Love - Edited by Alice Hoffman - ★★★★.¼

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EDITOR: Alice Hoffman GENRE: Essay Collection PUBLICATION DATE: March 10, 2026 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: A collection of essays by various authors about some best dogs in the world. Given the reputation of the contributing authors, it’s not surprising that this is one well-written collection. A love letter to dogs and a must-read for all dog owners and dog lovers. At times, the cover of a book is such that you are tempted to grab it without doing any other due diligence. Look at the cover art of this book! Just see that unbridled bliss on that beautiful dog’s visage! Add to this, that amazing title! How is one to resist?! Thankfully, the book delivers exactly as the cover and the title promise, not making me regret my impulsive decision for even a second. I don’t often read essay collections, but if the theme of the essays is close to my heart, then I am willing to try the book. This book contains fourteen essays celebrating the joys and challenges of their canine companions. ...
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The Long Game - Ann Leckie - ★★

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AUTHOR: Ann Leckie SERIES: The Far Reaches, #4 GENRE: Science Fiction Short Story. PUBLICATION DATE: June 27, 2023 RATING: 2 stars. In a Nutshell: A sci-fi short featuring a very unusual “alien” and their dreams and disappointments. Attempt to be deep but ends up bland. Might work better for those who enjoy pointless, philosophical tales. Plot Preview: Narr is a slug-like “person” working for humans who came to their planet some years ago. The humans tower over Narr’s species in size, but within the aliens’ work group, Narr is the boss, directing their coworkers to dig and burrow in a better manner. However, when Narr discovers how shortlived their species is, they go on a mission to discover the truth about death and what can be done to extend life. Their quest involves a better future for themselves, their fellow locals, and for the humans as well. How will such a difficult journey of self-discovery pan out? The story comes to us in Narr’s first person perspective. This is the fo...
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The Crane Husband - Kelly Barnhill - ★★★★.½

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AUTHOR: Kelly Barnhill GENRE: Fantasy-horror. PUBLICATION DATE: February 28, 2023 RATING: 4.5 stars. In a Nutshell: A horror-fantasy with elements of surrealism. Retelling of the Japanese folktale ‘The Crane Wife’. Set in an imagined dystopian near-future. Understated yet mindblowing. Love how it handles the characters, the folktale, and even the dark theme. Suspension of disbelief required. Much recommended, but not to those who steer clear of weird stories. Check the triggers listed below if needed. Plot Preview: A fifteen-year-old girl is forced to be the support of her family after the death of her father, taking care of the household as well as of her six-year-old brother Michael, while her mom, a talented but somewhat oblivious artist, weaves stunning tapestries to pay the bills. The mother randomly brought “guests” home, but none stayed for long. Until now. Her latest guest is a tall crane who seems to have captivated her heart even though the daughter finds him manipulative and...
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