OUTFIT OF THE WEEK, RANDOM MUSINGS FAVOURITE READS 2017

By Juhi Bansal

I am nowhere close to my amazing feat of 50 books last year (yes I know, can’t believe it myself!) but I’ll cut myself some slack because of the extra 75 mins of workout everyday that I wasn’t doing in 2016 (religiously). Sharing my favourite 5 reads from this year’s tally.

Check out my Top 5 from last year here.

PS: Before you ask, I mostly read e-books. Earlier it was just for convenience but I think I like them more than physical books now.

Also, this year I’ve been exploring audio books quite a bit. Especially when I work out. So much better than listening to music. 

So here goes (you may already know some of these if you follow me on instagram):

1. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

Even with all my love for books and fiction, I’ve particularly found my peace in whodunits. I grew up on them (I read my first Agatha Christie when I was 12) and somehow never found my way back. Wherever I am, whatever I am doing, I can always trust a good whodunit to make my day. Sometimes my more learned friends jibe- telling me I don’t read “real stuff” or that I haven’t grown up but if only they knew the joy of a murder happening unexpectedly, a slew of suspects presented to you and an arrogant (Hercule Poirot/Sherlock Holmes) or a terse (Miss Marple) or a troubled (Cormoran Strike) detective who has his/her faults but can see through commonplace people and situations and the culmination of the story with the big reveal- they would know what I am talking about.

What I particularly like about them is that they are not larger than life- neither the story nor the characters and that’s why you feel invested. I never try to guess the killer- sometimes it becomes very obvious (I make it a point to not go back to the author again) but most times I like to be surprised. Agatha Christie does it for me every single time. 

Why I am saying all this- because Magpie Murders is narrated by someone like me. Someone who loves whodunits as much as I do and is not apologetic about it. While reading one she stumbles upon a whodunit for real and solves it. I wouldn’t say I was very surprised with atleast one of the reveals but if you love whodunits as much as I do (or even a tad bit lesser) this one is for you!

2. A Man Called Ove by Frederick Backman

All through the book I either had tears rolling down my eyes or I was laughing out loud. This book is funny, smart, sensitive all rolled into one. Ove’s character tugs at your heart strings like no one else. He is a typical grumpy septuagenarian who lost the only person he cared for in his life- his wife. He doesn’t seem to care for anyone or anything apart from the rules laid down by his Residential Society and his beloved Saab. But, life brings a lot of interesting people and circumstances in his life and he tackles them “Ove” style. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Whether you are a cynic or a believer Ove will win you over