February 2024 Wrap-Up!

Posted On February 29, 2024

Hi Readers! How are we already at the end of February? This month went by as quickly as January went by slowly. Despite literally being a shorter month, I got to do a lot of things aside from working like a slog during the week days. I travelled, I visited art galleries, I went on a solo date & I made sushi! But, let’s start with the reading, shall we?

~~BOOKS~~

I read three books across 803 pages in February. My reading has become much less compared to the past years. So, I am thinking of changing my reading target for the year. There is no way I would be able to read 90 books. Will probably change it to about 50. *sobs* It’s difficult to take out reading time during the work week. And, if I keep reading only for weekend, that’s just eight days in a month. How sad is that? Anyway, check out the books I read, mediocre in quantity as well as quality, for the most part.

~~THE FURY by ALEX MICHAELIDES~~

I read Alex Michaelides’ third book The Fury. Just like the previous two books, it let me down. Yes, it is a lot different than his earlier books even if it’s a mystery. In some ways, this attempt is the best one yet, but somehow it lost its way. I thought the book had a lot of potential because of the narration. When I started the book, I loved how the author’s writing style had enhanced. The narration from Elliot Chase, from the outset felt like it was entirely unhinged and would perhaps lead us astray in the best possible way. But despite this brilliant idea and initial spark it created, it soon foundered and became just about satisfactory. I have rated The Fury by Alex Michaelides at 2/5 stars!

Non Book Recommendation: The Fury by Alex Michaelides

~~YOUR UTOPIA by BORA CHANG, TRANSLATED by ANTON HUR~~

This book is a collection of eight short stories, each story thrilling, unpredictable and stunning in its own unique way. Your Utopia captures several themes at once, but at its heart, it is about the humanity in humans. We always want to survive and we have always survived. Whether it is monotonous jobs which we don’t love or the fear of AI taking over our monotonous jobs which we don’t love or global pandemics or rising temperatures or failing ecosystems or rising inflation or untreatable diseases or unexplainable intrusive thoughts of our own creation. We have survived, and life has always found a way. Yet after reading this book, you will be forced to wonder when will we stop surviving and really start living. When will we reach a place of ideal perfection for our humanity? I have rated Your Utopia by Bora Chung, translated by Anton Hur at 4/5 stars!

Your Utopia: Korean Short Stories Book Recommendation

~~EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WILL SOMEDAY BE DEAD by EMILY AUSTIN~~

I listened to this book on Audible, and was not impressed. It’s Gilda’s story, a barely functioning adult who is anxious, a hypochondriac and somehow starts working at a church despite being an atheist lesbian. You would think that this would make for a relatable and funny read, but you would be wrong. It’s more of plain ramblings and a story that is so unbelievably boring that I questioned myself several times and felt like DNFing it. It was quite similar to Dolly Alderton’s Everything I Know About Love. I wonder if the format also makes it less likable for me. Anyway, I have rated Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin at 2/5 stars!

~~STATISTICS: BOOKS, MOVIES, SERIES & MORE~~

February is the month I didn’t finish reading any physical books. I read two ebooks and one audiobook. I have been reading Babel by R.F. Kuang and Greening the Earth as well, but it’s going to take a while for me to finish them. From the three books I read, I liked only one, which is quite dreadful. In terms of movies, watched many average ones. But, the only series I watched was One Day and I absolutely loved it.

~~LIFE LATELY~~

Slides 1-3: I was working way too much, so once when I was stressed out, I decided that it can’t be just work-work-work from Monday to Friday and then rest-rest-rest on Saturday & Sunday. So, last Saturday I went on a solo date around Mumbai! I first went to Parel to The Designera to watch the Zeitgeist art exhibition, which I absolutely LOVED! After an artistic treat, I went for a culinary and literary treat. Went to Demy and read Babel. I cannot overstate the level of happiness and independence this created. Then I took the train to CSMT and visited Chatterjee and Lal to watch Line of Fire art exhibit by Nikhil Chopra. And then, came back home! A perfect fun day alone!

Slide 4: I went to visit Statue of Unity this month in Gujarat with my parents. It was a three-day trip, extremely exhausting but quite fun. This trip with parents was after more than 1.5 years, so that made it memorable.

Slide 5: Food was nothing exquisite this month, because Suruchi and I did not go anywhere, haha! But I did love the Gujarati thali in Baroda. I also made sushi at home, which I loved!

March is my birthday month. I am going to be 30! Bittersweet, isn’t it? But, I will still enjoy it like I am 13. Just need my people to love, brilliant books to read, delicious food to eat, serene places to travel, quirky art to behold and perfect health to enjoy it all!

Until next time,