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12 Months, 12 Books: My 2024 Reading Journey

In 2024, I made a conscious decision to read regularly. Instead of treating reading as a past time activity, I adopted it into my daily routine - aiming to read 10 pages each day. There were days where I couldn't read due to various reasons - sickness, time constraints, fatigue or other commitments. However, I managed to meet the target of 10 pages a day (on an average), over the year. This approach helped me overcome the reading slump and voila I could finish one book each month, totaling 12 books in 2024. In this post I would like to share all the titles I read last year.

The Art of Happiness: My quest to learn more about Buddhism led me to this book by His Holiness Dalai lama in collaboration with Howard C Cutler. The content of this book is deep and highly relevant to everybody's life irrespective of one's region, religion and culture. The authors put forth "How to be happy" in very simple terms, while implicitly explaining the essence of Buddhism and Buddhist way of living. You can read the synopsis here .

Meet Me in Mumbai: A fictional story written by Sabina Khan. It is the story of a mother and daughter, love and heartbreak and everything in between. What I liked most about this book, is the engaging way the story is told and makes for a good teen fictional novel. You may check out my detailed review of this book on my youtube channel. The link is here.

Sita's Sister: In this mythological-fiction, Kavitha Kane reintroduces Ramayana from a completely new perspective. I have heard and read Ramayana many times since childhood, but often felt those stories have been biased towards glorifying only Rama and Sita, while the sacrifices and heroism of other characters were left in the shadow. In this book, Kavitha Kane gives a befitting tribute to Urmila, who emerges as a far more bold, beautiful and charismatic than any other female characters in Ramayana. Through the author's lens, we see the depth of Urmila's strength, resilience and quiet sacrifices, which are often overlooked. A must read for anyone who seeks to uncover the untold stories of remarkable characters in Indian mythology.

Before We Say Goodbye, Tales From The cafe: These two novels are from the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series written by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. The story set in a retro Tokyo cafe that allows customers to travel through time with strict rules. The story follows individuals who seek to relive moments from their past or glimpse into the future, all the while exploring themes of love, regret and closure. Each book in the series, while standing alone, connects emotionally through its characters and their shared desire to resolve unfinished business, offering readers bittersweet and thought-provoking narratives. You can find my complete review in this link.

Autumn Bird & The Runaway: This children fiction is a collaboration between two authors Melaine Florence and Richard Scrimger, well known for their children literature. The story follows two kids from opposite worlds who come together in unexpected circumstances. The story is very beautifully build on friendship, compassion and kindness, making it a perfect read for kids and teenagers. Full synopsis and my review is available on youtube. Click here to watch.

Sidney Sheldon's Silent Widow: A fictional thriller written by Tilly Bagshawe, where Nikki, the protagonist is a successful psychiatrist who lost her husband in a car accident. Mysteriously, her patients die one after the other and soon Nikki's own life is at risk. As the plot unfolds, it focuses on tracking down the killer. I was slightly disappointed with this work, given the association of Sidney Sheldon's name. If you want to watch my review, do check out here. 

The Light We Carry: This book by Michelle Obama serves as a guide to building resilience, confidence and meaningful connections through habits, self-awareness and practical life lessons drawn from her experiences. She emphasizes the importance of small actions during overwhelming times, managing fear wisely and nurturing self-worth to overcome challenges. This book inspires readers to harness their inner strength and foster togetherness, empowering themselves and others to thrive during uncertainty. Visit this page to read my review on this title.

The Swallows of Kabul: A fictional novel originally written by Yasmin Khadra in French and translated into English by John Collen. Through his work, the author takes us through how Talibans destroyed the lives of people after they took over Kabul. Yasmin deep dives into the lives of two couples, who struggle to achieve authority and freedom, love and peace. This book didn't quite appeal me, despite the strong content and emotions involved. Find out why in my audio review available in this link. 

Where The Crawdads Sing: Kaya, the protagonist of this poignant fictional novel by Delia Owens, takes readers on an emotional journey through her extraordinary life. Young Kaya is abandoned by her family and lives alone in the marsh lands of Barkley Cove in North Carolina. As she grows into a beautiful young lady, she is arrested as the prime suspect for murdering her ex-boy friend. What unfolds is the compelling story of survival, love and mystery. I thoroughly loved this book. Click this link to know more about this unforgettable story.

Death By A Thousand Cuts: A short story collection by Shashi Bhat explores the struggles of modern-day women, particularly Asian women in Canada, as they navigate dating apps, beauty standards, misogyny, loneliness and societal pressures. While the book features relatable themes and solid prose, many of the stories felt repetitive, focusing heavily on negative relationships and lacking the deeper emotional impact or resolution I was hoping for. Overall, it’s an okay collection with contemporary relevance and relatable moments, but for me, it didn’t leave a lasting impression or offer significant takeaways. You can check my detailed review in the link here.

Five People You Meet In Heaven: Written by Mitch Albom, Five People You Meet In Heaven is the story of an 83 year old man, Eddie, a war veteran who feels stuck in an insignificant life as a maintenance worker in an amusement park. On his birthday, he dies in a tragic accident while trying to save a small girl from a falling ride. After his death, Eddie meets five people in heaven who reveal the unexpected and profound ways his life is intertwined with theirs. This beautifully crafted book is a heartfelt exploration of the unseen connections that shape our lives and the lives of others.

As I reflect on these books, I'm reminded of how they have shaped my thoughts, broadened my horizons and offered a welcome escape into new worlds. 

Here is to another year of discovering stories that stay with us long after the last page. Happy Reading!!

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