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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The Language of Love and Other Stories - Nancy Christie - ★★★★

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  AUTHOR:  Nancy Christie GENRE: Short Story Collection PUBLICATION DATE: February 4, 2025 RATING: 3.9 stars. In a Nutshell: A delightful short story collection focussing on all aspects of love. Yes, “love”, not “romance”! Interesting plots, multiple emotions, steady paced, beautiful endings ranging from sweet to bittersweet. Not corny or mushy as you might assume. Much recommended! I had misjudged this short story collection on initial glance, dismissing it as being cheesy romance tales. ( Very hasty and judgemental of me, I admit. No offence intended to readers of the genre. It is just that I no longer enjoy such stories .) As the cover gave me romance vibes, I almost decided that this is not for me. But then, the title made me pause, bringing to my mind the fabulous "The Five Love Languages of Children" by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell – probably the only self-help/inspirational book I've read that I found authentic and practical. I wondered if the "language...
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The Awful Truth About The Sushing Prize - Marco Ocram - ★★★.¾

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\   AUTHOR: Marco Ocram SERIES: The Awful Truth, #2 GENRE: Crime Thriller Parody PUBLICATION DATE: June 4, 2019 RATING:  3.75 stars.  In a Nutshell: A spoof crime novel, the plot of which is nigh on impossible to explain in a line. Possibly the silliest book I have ever read! (I mean this as a compliment!) Enjoyed it to a great extent. Recommended, but only to those who read spoofs the way spoofs are meant to be read: by tossing out their thinking caps.  Plot Preview: (Honestly, I have no idea how to offer a preview to this crazy book! Trying my best!) Marco Ocram ( Yup, the “author”! ) is a high-achieving, super-intelligent, uber-popular, humble writer who has a secret: whatever he writes happens immediately. As his natural affinity is towards writing crime, Marco writes crime novels, much to the chagrin of his book’s lead character DI Como Galahad, who is stuck solving the crime while Marco keeps penning impossible twists and getting them into d...
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The Matchmakers - Vanessa Edwards - ★★★★

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  AUTHOR: Vanessa Edwards GENRE: Suspense Thriller PUBLICATION DATE:  December 2, 2024 RATING: 4 stars. In a Nutshell: A contemporary suspense with shades of cat-and-mouse thriller and revenge drama. Quite a tricky story with many characters, slow-ish pacing, and a bit too much telling in the writing. But I was so hooked by the proceedings that I still enjoyed myself. Recommended!  Plot Preview: (For the first time ever, I find myself stumped about what to write in this section. The plot is quite complex, and any slip-up could be a major spoiler. So here’s just a barebones preview.) Stephanie dies on the very first day of her honeymoon. Her estranged sister Lucy is devastated and wants to reach out to her sister’s widower to offer her condolences, but has no way of contacting him. She knows that Stephanie used a matchmaking agency named ‘MadeInHeaven’, so she gets in touch with them for his contact details. They deny having served Stephanie or her groom through their...
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Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times, Volume 2 - Pam Gittleman - ★★★★

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  AUTHOR: Pam Gittleman ILLUSTRATORS: Dan & Catherine Markowitz GENRE: Children's Picture Book PUBLICATION DATE:  March 4, 2025 RATING:  4 stars. In a Nutshell: An interesting collection of traditional nursery rhymes updated for contemporary times. The focus is on removing the dark elements and incorporating an attitude of kindness and gratitude. A great option for parents who know the importance of rhymes but do not want the outdated ones. Quite a few nursery rhymes we learnt in our childhood were taught to us without any adult questioning their efficacy or relevance. The rhymes and songs I learned in my pre-K years four decades ago were a part of my children’s curriculum as well. ( And not just in school; these songs are also used in introductory music books as simple beginner tunes for instruments. ) Seeing the rhymes with adult eyes made me wonder why such inappropriate stuff was still being taught to kids. A baby in the cradle who will fall when the bough br...
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Black Woods, Blue Sky - Eowyn Ivey - ★★★★.¼

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AUTHOR: Eowyn Ivey GENRE: Literary Fiction, Magical Realism PUBLICATION DATE: February 4, 2025 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: An poignant literary fiction set in Alaska. Haunting plot, flawed characters, atmospheric writing, intense emotions, slow pace, magical realism. Not a ‘Beauty & the Beast’ retelling as some sources claim. Much recommended but not to those who prefer likeable/perfect characters. Plot Preview: Twenty-six-year-old Birdie is a single mother to six-year-old Emaleen. Her waitressing job in an Alaskan lodge helps them survive, and the lodge owner even allows Birdie to live with Emaleen in one of the cabins. But while Birdie loves her daughter, she still has a reckless side to her that makes her yearn for more wild adventures. When Arthur, a local recluse who barely speaks to anyone, brings Emaleen back to safety when she goes wandering into the woods one day, Birdie finds a new hero, and a new dream. Ignoring the advice of those around her, Birdie decides to ...
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