Tiny Book & Movie Reviews

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Movie #88

Zakhm (1998)

A really good movie - cast, direction, story. It was poignant to notice how much has changed in the last 30 odd years -with it's theme, characters and dialogues, it could possibly never be made now.

4.5/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Book #213

The Anarchy by William Dalrymple

Excellently written and about a period of history which we typically don't really see covered much in curricula or in fiction: the phase between the waning of one empire (Mughal) and the coming of the next (British).

4.5/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Movie #87

The Blue Angel (1930)

Thanks to the FHF, saw this on the big screen.

I was astonished that a movie almost 100 years old, and which depicts a world and moral order long gone, could still be so compellingly watchable. Though, I do wish it didn't end so sadly.

4/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Book #212

My Grandmother Sends her Regards and Apologies by Fredrik Bachman

Tried quite hard but could not read beyond a few chapters. Too cutesy and sentimental perhaps for my jaded palate.

1/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

something felt stilted and unsatisfactory. And I am not able to put a precise finger on what it was.

3/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Movie #86

Trikal (1985)

I was intrigued by the theme of this movie: the end of Portuguese rule in Goa and unification with India. The cast is fabulous (Lucky Ali was a surprise) and the sets, costumes and general evocation of the era very well done. Despite all this,

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Book #211

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

A super debut, but her later writing is much, much better.

3/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Book #210

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

A good book that demystifies what talk therapy looks like, and more importantly, gently coaches the reader to examine their own patterns of thought and action, that are perhaps holding them back.

5/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Movie #85

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

A very impressive movie, but I confess I didn't love it as much as many others seem to.

3.5/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Book #209

The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee

An excellent book, although I enjoyed The Gene more, maybe because that I read that first.

4/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Book #208

With One Lousy Free Packet of Seed by Lynne Truss

Laugh out loud funny, although towards the end it careens into slightly over the top madness.

4/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Book #207

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

Tender, beautiful and so fabulously written. Even better than Normal People.

5/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Movie #84

The Count of Monte Cristo (2024)

Decent movie but unremarkable.

3/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Book #206

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronté

Re-reading after a long time and the dramatic change in my reaction to the book and its characters surprised me. Sign of a great piece of art!

5/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Movie #83

Rudaali (1993)

I've wanted to see this movie for ages, having heard so much abt it. The titular character was doomed to suffer every possible catastrophe which was terribly sad of course, but the only moments which really touched me were the ones with Raj Babbar.

3/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Book #205

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Felt very artificial - a woman in 2020s imagining that feminism in 1960s is the same as the present. Failure of imagination (and research).

Abandoned on page 35.

0/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Book #204

How to Feed a Dictator by Witold Szabłowski

A fascinating and slightly creepy book. Recommended.

4.5/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Book #203

Loyal Stalkers by Chhimi Tenduf-La

Good writing but way too dark for my present state of mind. I am getting better at abandoning books midway.

3/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Book #202

Loal Kashmir by Mehak Jamal

The road to hell is paved with good intentions, as they say. Abandoned this book mid-way when the stories became too repetitive. The writing quality, to be polite, is middle school.

2/5

[Tiny Book & Movie Reviews @Bookworm221B]

Book #201

The Laughter by Sonora Jha

I wasn't expecting much and was surprised by this book. Well written and with a structure that keeps one hooked. Filled with sly humour. Very relevant for our times. Enjoyed this!

4.5/5