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‘The Housemaid’ by Frieda McFadden follows a struggling young woman who makes a fresh start by working as a housemaid to a wealthy, upscale couple. But little does she know that the family isn’t as perfect as it seems. But Millie too has secrets of her own. The premise of the book is simple but gripping. Pristine and prim Nina Winchester hires Millie to cook and clean for them. Millie couldn’t be more grateful. She has been living in her car and would like nothing more than to ‘stretch her legs’ while sleeping. Even though she is given a tiny room on the top floor of the sprawling house, it’s a lot better than sleeping curled up in the backseat. So, she is determined to keep the job, which is basically cooking and cleaning for the Winchesters. But no matter how hard she works, Nina finds a way to create problems for her. Millie is also given a lot more chores than she was told she would have to do when she was being hired. Also, Nina makes a mess just so she can watch Millie clean it. She claims her daughter is allergic to peanut butter when she’s not. She tells Millie to make an appointment for a certain day and then claims she got the time wrong. Her husband Andrew is supportive of Nina and lets her do as she pleases but Millie can sense that he’s increasingly becoming weary of his wife. Worse, the couple’s young daughter seems to hate Millie and is hostile towards her. I couldn’t put the book down and finished it the day I started. I was desperate to know what happens next as well as how it ends. Though I did guess the twist, I didn’t expect it to unravel the way it did. The Housemaid was so good that I immediately bought another book by the same author (The Locked Door) and started reading it. My husband who, in our eight years of marriage, has never seen me read the same author back-to-back was shocked. The Housemaid is on his reading list now, and that’s saying a lot because he prefers non-fiction to fiction. McFadden is #1 Amazon, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author who works as a physician specializing in brain surgery. Her novels have been translated into more than 30 languages. Two-time Emmy nominee Rebecca Sonnenshine (The Boys) is set to make a feature adaptation of The Housemaid for Lionsgate. I’m so excited about that. The book felt like it was written for the screen. I can’t wait to watch it come to life. Four stars https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60556912-the-housemaid Fiction The Housemaid Frieda McFadden Published: 2022 Publisher: Penguin Books Pages: 306, Paperback  

Some books are the literary equivalent of a warm, comforting hug. With reassuring, fun storylines, interesting, relatable characters, or immense wit and humor, here are five books that can pull me up from the depths of despair. I hope they work their magic on you too.  Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan This book is just the right mix of romance, comedy and drama. Nick and Rachel, professors at the prestigious NYU, are in love. Rachel is the daughter of a Chinese immigrant and Nick is a Singaporean. Nick wants to take Rachel home for his best friend’s wedding. But Rachel has no idea that Nick is the heir apparent to one of Asia’s richest financial kingdoms, aka ‘crazy rich Asian’. He is also Singapore’s most eligible bachelor. With jealous spinsters, scheming mothers, and rich men trying to get to the top, ‘Crazy Rich Asian’ is a laugh-riot with some heartwarming moments in between. You can’t read this book and not be in a happy mood. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll This is a classic children’s book that adults must read as well. A story about a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole only to land into a fantasy world full of weird and wonderful people and animals, the book is fun and insightful. ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ is basically a series of curious and strange events that you will never see coming. You will meet some interesting characters who will teach you a thing or two about life. Alice’s conversations with the Cheshire cat and the caterpillar were my favorite bits of the story. I’m sure every reader will resonate with different parts of the story.   The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion Australian IT consultant Graeme Simsion’s first novel, ‘The Rosie Project’, is about a brilliant but socially inept scientist, Don Tillman, who is determined to find a suitable wife. He designs a questionnaire for it—a 16-page survey to filter out the smokers, the drinkers and the late-arrivers. Rosie Jarman is perhaps the most unsuitable woman for Don but he is intrigued by her quest to find her biological father. He becomes increasingly involved with Rosie and the two soon develop an unlikely relationship. The Rosie Project is light-hearted and funny. It’s also an extremely nuanced portrayal of living with the autism spectrum disorder.   What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty Alice, the protagonist, knocks herself out during a spinning class.  When she regains consciousness, she thinks she is a 29-year-old pregnant woman who is happily married to Nick. But she’s actually 40, has three children, and is going through a nasty divorce battle with Nick. Alice struggles to make sense of it all. She also can’t understand how and why she’s estranged from her sister, and how she became a super skinny mom with expensive clothes. She tries to piece together her life and, in the process, put it back together as well. ‘What Alice Forgot’ will make you giggle and it will make you ponder about what’s valuable in life. It’s also about the concept of aging gracefully and why that’s important. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman ‘A Man Called Ove’ is my favorite book ever. I must have included this book in almost every list possible. It’s the book I go back to when I want a pick-me-up. It’s what I recommend to everyone, at every possible chance. The Swedish novel by Fredrik Backman was published in 2012 and adapted into a movie in 2015. It’s a heartwarming story about the importance of community and finding your purpose in life. It also deals with themes of grief and moving on. About a grumpy old man called Ove who dislikes people, the story alternates between the present day and the past.

Neil Gaiman is the bestselling author of books, graphic novels, short stories, and film and television for all ages. His notable works include ‘American God’, ‘Neverwhere’, ‘Coraline’, ‘The Graveyard Book’, and ‘Norse Mythology’ among many others. He wrote the script for ‘Doctor Who’. Many people know him for the famous ‘Sandman’ series.  George R.R. Martin, the author of the wildly popular ‘Game of Thrones’ series once said, “There’s no one quite like Neil Gaiman.” I had only read a few of his works and while I had liked them, I hadn’t been crazy about any one in particular. A BookTuber I follow, Christy Anne Jones, raves about Gaiman’s book in almost every other video she makes. She mostly mentions The Graveyard Book, Norse Mythology, and ‘The Ocean at the End of the Lane’. I hadn’t come across these books in bookstores around town but I did get ‘Neverwhere’ and it was okay. I found ‘The Ocean at the End of the Lane’ at the recently opened bookstore, Bookverse, in Civil Mall in Kathmandu. It had the exact same cover Christy used to show in her videos. The copy also felt nice in my hand. It felt like the book and I had gotten off to a good start. And indeed, I loved it. The story is simple, the characters are so lovable, and the plot keeps you hooked. The story follows an unnamed man who goes back to his hometown to attend a funeral and recalls events that happened 40 years ago. He remembers a girl named Lettie Hempstock who had claimed the pond behind her house was an ocean. He stops by the house where the Hempstocks lived and meets a member of the family. In doing so, he starts to recall things he had long forgotten. The theme of the novel is basically our search for identity and the disconnect between childhood and adulthood. It starts off with a man reminiscing about his childhood and evolves into magical realism. The illustrations by Melbourne-based Elise Hurst who specializes in children’s books make the story come to life. They are a bit dark and surreal but the book wouldn’t have been as captivating as it is without them. There’s not much I can say about the book without giving the story away but The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a fantastic book that you should read if you haven’t already. Despite the horror element, it’s oddly comforting. It will also make you question how much of what you remember about your childhood is true, and how much of it is just your imagination. Four stars https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15783514-the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane The Ocean at the End of the Lane Neil Gaiman Illustrated by Elise Hurst Published: 2013 Publisher: Headline Publishing Group Pages: 327, Paperback  

I have never read a book and been on the fence about it. I have either liked what I’ve read or hated it. Or I’ve thought of it as an okay read, one that was good while it lasted but I wouldn’t really recommend it to people. But ‘Really Good, Actually’ by Monica Heisey has me in two minds. I liked it. I hated it. I found it interesting. But it was boring too, and it dragged on. I wanted to DNF it and end the misery right there, but I also wanted to find out how the main character fared in the end. It was such a confusing time. Was the book Really Good, Actually actually really good or was it not that good? That is the question I have been asking myself for the past couple of days. The story takes us into the chaotic world of Maggie, a 29-year-old Ph.D. student who recently got divorced and doesn’t know how to handle it. She’s unable to move on and she’s struggling financially as well. Life’s not that good. But it must go on. And so, Maggie finds herself dating random men, unable to commit to the one who meets all her expectations, spending money that she doesn’t have (and not checking her credit card bills), and ordering burgers at four in the morning, pretending they are for her (non-existent) dog. There is a lot to unpack in this novel. Maggie is going through a lot and she’s unable to deal with it. You get to see how that can impact one’s mental health. The protagonist comes across as pitiful and you want to slap her. Does she have the right to disturb others just because she isn’t feeling okay? Then, you see her trying to fix her life and want to give her a big hug (and maybe some money too). But the self-deprecating way in which Maggie speaks of herself, even if it is to distance herself from the pain, makes her come across as whiny and a bit narcissistic. Heisey, who was a screenwriter for the sitcom ‘Schitt’s Creek, is witty but the subject she’s chosen clashes with her style of writing. While trying to craft Maggie as a hopeless character, Heisey goes haywire and the protagonist comes off as annoying. The story, as real as it feels, gets a bit repetitive when the same thing happens over and over again—Maggie buying clothes she doesn’t need, spending time with friends to forget about her ex-husband, or going on dates just for the sake of it. It feels like an endless loop, without the story going anywhere. But then I wouldn’t really call it a bad book. Marian Keyes, an Irish author I really like, described it as ‘wildly funny and almost alarmingly relatable’. I can see where the appeal lies—the writing is funny and Maggie could easily be you or one of your friends. Some people might actually enjoy it. For me, I guess the book would have been better had it been shorter. Two and half stars Fiction https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60877616 Really Good, Actually Monica Heisey Published: 2023 Publisher: 4th Estate Pages: 376, Paperback

Hope is a precious thing. It can make the impossible seem like child’s play. But our daily life tends to get to us and as lethargy sets in, it’s often difficult to look at the brighter side of things. I feel this is where books can come in, to show us a different side to life and remind us that even though things might look bleak sometimes, we can always turn things around. What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey has always been able to have honest and empathetic conversations with people. In Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey’s ‘What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing’ she puts the trauma therapist on the spot, and together they discuss what trauma does to the brain, focusing mostly on what a traumatic upbringing does to your overall development. They also explore the importance of community and connection for healing. You might not be inclined to pick up a book on trauma when you want to feel better and hopeful but this has some valuable lessons about life. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert I know many voracious readers who love this book. I read it on the recommendation of a relative and I loved it. It’s essentially a self-help book with lots of practical advice on life and love and everything in between. With instructions on how to live a creative life, Gilbert has written a book that you will find yourself going back to time and again. The author discusses how fear plays a key role in all our decisions and shows us how by acknowledging fear and not trying to run away from it, we can strip it of its power. ‘Big Magic’ is an enjoyable read that will give you a lot of food for thought. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch Randy Pausch was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in August 2007. The university has a tradition of inviting professors to give a lecture as if it were their last. What would you share? What life lessons have you learned? What advice would you give? Randy’s ‘Last Lecture’ was titled ‘Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams’ and it actually was his last lecture. He passed away in July 2008, shortly after the publication of the book early that year. The book or the lecture is full of stories from Randy’s childhood, his life as a husband and a father, and the lessons learned along the way. It’s wildly optimistic and funny as well. Under the Whispering Door by T J Klune T J Klune is a fabulous writer. His book ‘The House on the Cerulean Sea’ is one of my absolute favorites. His stories are empathetic and leave a lasting impact. ‘Under the Whispering Door’ is a whimsical fantasy novel about a man named Wallace Price who dies and becomes a ghost. It’s a story about what it means to be a ‘good’ person and how you can live a life that you won’t regret when the end eventually comes. The book is about death and grief and it would have been a depressing read had Klune not gotten the balance between the serious stuff and the lighter moments right. And thanks to an engaging plot, the book leaves you feeling hopeful. The Humans by Matt Haig ‘The Humans’ is a humorous look at the human condition as seen by an alien. The narrator comes from the planet Vonnadoria, where life is based on math, logic, and rationality. There are no emotions to deal with. The narrator comes to Earth to kill a Cambridge University professor named Andrew Martin who has discovered the Riemann hypothesis, a real mathematical conundrum involving prime numbers, that the Vonnadorians believe holds the key to space travel. At the beginning of the book, Martin has been killed and an alien inhabits his body. He quickly absorbs all the knowledge but doesn’t understand the ‘human customs’ and that leads to some hilarious incidents. Through the eyes of an alien, we are forced to see humans (aka ourselves) as we truly are. It makes for some eye-opening moments.  

A little while ago I read ‘Finlay Donovan is Killing It’ by Elle Cosimano and I absolutely fell in love with Finlay and Cosimano’s sharp writing. In it, Finlay is overheard discussing the plot of her new suspense novel over lunch with her agent and she’s mistaken for a contract killer and hired to kill someone. Finlay isn’t a murderer and has no intentions of actually killing anyone. But somehow, the man ends up dead, in Finlay’s garage. The plot is a laugh riot and it just consumes you. I was disappointed when I didn’t get the second part of the series, ‘Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead’ at bookstores around town as soon as I finished the first book. When I saw a slightly bruised copy of the book at a bookstore in Civil Mall in Kathmandu, I didn’t hesitate a second before buying it even though I like my copies to be pristine when I get them. I was so excited. ‘Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead’ takes off where the first book ended. I would recommend you read the first book before picking it up otherwise you won’t be able to keep up with the storyline and it might get a bit confusing. In the second book of the series, Finlay has to figure out who wants her ex-husband dead to try and save him. But he’s not ready to believe her and actually thinks that she is the one behind all the ‘accidents’ he keeps getting into, and that complicates things even more. Also, Finlay is on a deadline. Her editor wants a certain number of words in an impossibly short time. Again, she finds her fiction work bordering on the truth. Finlay can only hope it doesn’t eventually get her sent to jail. But Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead lacks the charm and the wit of the first book. The sense of urgency that was there in the first one is missing in this one. It also lacks a clearly defined plot. There is a lot happening but it takes the story nowhere. There are random little incidents that don’t tie up. Instead, it feels like vignettes of Finlay’s life. That wouldn’t have been a problem had Finlay been as interesting as she was in the first book. But here she seems like a pawn in a game controlled by someone else rather than her smart self. Call me crazy, I’m still going to read the third book in the series ‘Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun’. I loved the first book in the series and I’m hoping Finlay gets her mojo back. Two and a half stars Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead Elle Cosimano Published: 2022 Publisher: Headline Review Pages: 357, Paperback

There is something immensely satisfying about picking up a book and finishing it in a single day. I haven’t had those days in a really long time which is why I have been perusing my bookshelves, looking for short reads that I have enjoyed in the past. Perhaps picking up a book I’ve enjoyed in the past and reading it in a single sitting will give my currently sluggish reading life the boost it needs. Here are my top three picks. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros This modern classic, about a Latina girl growing up in Chicago, has been translated and has been a part of many syllabi all over the world. Written in 1984, it has been banned time and again. Written in short bursts, with small chapters, some of which are barely a page long, this little book has sold millions of copies. Loosely based on the author’s own experience, The House on Mango Street is the story of Esperanza Cordero, a 12-year-old Chicana girl growing up in the Hispanic quarter of Chicago. The story explores what it’s like belonging to a low economic class family and living in a patriarchal community besides also dealing with elements of class, race, identity, gender, and sexuality. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry If you haven’t read The Little Prince, you’re in for a treat. And if you have, then I suggest you pick up the slim volume again because it hits a little differently every time you read it. It’s considered one of the best children’s books ever written but I believe adults could do with the wisdom as well. The book also has watercolor illustrations, done by the author, that make the story charming and tender. The Little Prince is essentially a philosophical tale about a little boy who decides to leave home to see what the world has to offer. Traveling through neighboring asteroids (before finally landing on Earth), he comes across strange people all of whom teach him valuable lessons. It’s a poignant story about the importance of having a child-like enthusiasm for life. The Awakening by Kate Chopin Kate Chopin wrote two books in her life. The first is forgotten and the second is a classic. When The Awakening was first published in the late 1800s, it was condemned as it was a story about a woman who was trapped in a loveless marriage and went on to have an affair. But this feminist novel of identity has a social relevance that is difficult to overlook. What does it mean to be a woman and how far are we willing to go for others, especially in a society where our very existence seems to be in relation to men? You might breeze through this short book but the message and emotions it stirs up will consume you. The protagonist, Edna Pontellier, is a formidable heroine who knows what she wants and doesn’t settle for anything less. She is perhaps the woman we should all learn to be.

The front cover has a picture of a raccoon, a taxidermized raccoon to be exact, with outstretched arms and a huge grin. The blurb has raving reviews from Neil Gaiman and Brene Brown. It’s a book that instantly grabs your attention. And I’m glad it did as I was having quite the reader’s slump when I came across it. This book got me out of it and how. It was funny, insightful, and educational. In ‘Furiously Happy’ Jenny Lawson explores her lifelong battle with mental illness. The title is based on her #furiouslyhappy movement which trended on Twitter. The theme of the movement was that people take their lives back from the ‘monster of depression’. She wanted to be furiously happy to make good moments amazing. It’s not a sequel to her first book, ‘Let’s Pretend This Didn’t Happen’ but rather a collection of bizarre essays and random thoughts. Lawson talks about her depression and anxiety and makes you laugh. You feel guilty for laughing but Lawson is witty and you just can’t help it. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t empathetic. She gives mental health its due. She makes you mull over just how important talking about depression and anxiety is so that people don’t shy away from getting the help they need. At times you forget you are reading a book on an important issue. It feels like you are witnessing an argument between the author and her husband, Victor, or watching her make a fool of herself in the cutest way possible. But Lawson’s stories are inspiring. She is also very real and honest about some personal things. And, whenever she can, she lives her life, furiously happy. Reading the book makes you realize that you too should go out there and be furiously happy. The least you can do is try to fill your memory bank with good stuff so that you can deal with the hard times. I’ve watched my family and friends struggle with mental illness. While I’d like to believe that I’ve always extended the support they needed, reading Furiously Happy has given me a much deeper understanding of just what they might be dealing with. Her book is an important read to normalize and destigmatize mental illness. It gives readers an insider’s perspective. There were a few chapters that I didn’t enjoy because Lawson has no filter and her language can come off as offensive. But that doesn’t mean someone else won’t be able to see themselves or their loved ones in those moments. I wish I had read this book sooner. Now, I wish for everyone to read it. Four stars Non-fiction Furiously Happy Jenny Lawson Published: 2015 Publisher: Picador Pages: 329, Paperback