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The Silent Patient – Review

Wow! I did NOT see that coming! With mystery novels, usually the author builds up the story so much that the readers anticipate a mind-blowing end, and if it isn’t close to that, we get highly disappointed. With a plot like this one, there are many expectations and one could easily be deceived by a fantastic start to the novel, without any real meat to the story itself. To be fair, this novel was highly gripping right until the end. In fact, I was up all night trying to finish the last few chapters. Of course, it didn’t help that I had work the next day and I had to rely on heavy doses of caffeine to keep myself awake, but it was worth it, haha!

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The One – John Marrs

Over the past few months, I kept collecting books on Kindle and didn’t read a single page. Well, I tried to, but it was getting harder and harder to stick to a routine. Whether it was my hectic work life, pure boredom or just lack of dedication, I would never know.

I was in search for a book that just hooks me, thrills me and consumes me. It should be difficult to stop reading. It should be an all-nighter read. After understanding all my expectations to bring me back from my non-reading hibernation mode and researching like a crazy person, I stumbled upon The One! Let me just say this, I could NOT stop reading!

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Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier

I confess to have picked up this book about ten years ago and giving it up in ten pages. Maybe it wasn’t the right time for me, or I wasn’t in the right state of mind, but a book can’t be read if it fails to hit the sweet spot, doesn’t it? So when I was moving away from my beloved city, Pune, I received this book as a parting gift from a friend. For a long time, it was kept on the shelves gathering dust and existing. Anxiously, one day, I happened to pick it up and scroll through the pages. The cover is black, has a picture of rhododendrons and a name inscribed in gold – Rebecca! Don’t know what lured me in, but I decided to finally read one of the world-renowned classics of the century.

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Kafka on the shore – Review

Kafka on the shore

I picked up this book without having any knowledge about the plot or the writing style of the author. Well, that’s what I do now a days because I feel like when I am trying too hard on shortlisting a book for my next read, I keep exploring more plots and reviews, than actually picking up the book itself. I wanted to end this never-ending drama about choosing my next book. It should not be that difficult, right? So anyway, all I knew about Kafka on the shore was this:

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Three places to visit this month!

Hot chocolate
Hot chocolate

Pune has a good mix of students and working class people and the restaurants in the city are a reflection of the same. From street food to pricey, high-end restaurants, you can find your perfect meal as per your choice and budget here. What I decided to do was list my favorite restaurants/cafes/eateries for this month and share them with you. Here are three options for you to choose from, one is a small yet wonderful cafe which serves food well-suited at a classy restaurant. The second option is considered to be the best waffle in Pune, which in my opinion, it totally is. And last, but not the least, we have this beautiful restaurant with it’s vibrant decor, finger-licking good cuisine and it’s right in the middle of the city.

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Dino and Duggy’s, Pune

DND ambience
DND ambience

When I first got an invite from this place, I thought Dino and Duggy’s was either a simple mess kind of place, or college-student hangout kind of cafe. But it’s none of those. This place is elegant and the decor is amazing. Loved the ropes on the ceiling and the art-work on the wall! The atmosphere is very welcoming and cozy, so you can spend hours here (when it’s not crowded during lunch-hours) and enjoy their delicious food. The owners, Dino and Duggy, are experts in the area of culinary and have hands-on experience as chefs. The food speaks for itself and without wasting any more time, let’s dive into their menu:

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Coorg Connection – Hyatt

Guilty, never been to this beautiful hill station called Coorg in Karnataka. This place is famous for it’s lush greenery and exotic views. It has been a favorite holiday spot for most travelers and families, but I never got a chance to visit it, until Hyatt happened! Hyatt brings on your table a taste of Coorg, all in one special thali! Let’s go through it one by one:

You notice the lovely decor and spacious seating as soon as you enter The Cafe (where this festival is taking place). We were greeted by Chef Anirban DasGupta, who kindly explained to us where this food comes from and what is the history attached to it. You see, he believes in the idea that food is not only about what’s put in front of you, but it brings in many stories that you can share on the table, which I completely agree with! So Coorg is a place where many warrior clans initially lived which is why their food is prepared fairly quickly and uses simple ingredients to bring in that flavor. This does not mean that the food tastes mediocre, no no, every element on your plate is carefully prepared and well thought-out and you can see that in the presentation and flavors. Let’s dive right into our tasting now:

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The Killing Lessons – Review

The Killing Lessons
The Killing Lessons

I was looking for an interesting read in the huge pile of books that lay before me during a book sale and at that instant, The Killing Lessons popped up and lay itself in front of me. And when the cover looks like that, you have no choice but to grab it before anyone else even gets a glance. Believe me, I literally pounced to get this book off the table. Have you read the disclaimer on the cover? Do not read this. No reader deserves to be terrified like this. How could I let it go?

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SOUK by Cafe Arabia, Pune

Vibrant colored outdoors, courteous staff, magical evening lights and finger-licking good food! Welcome to SOUK by Cafe Arabia! The air here smells deliciously of roast chicken and instantly prepares your stomach and taste-buds for their scrumptious meal. This franchisee has been in Pune for a while now, mostly operating in malls at different locations. So, what’s different about this branch at Salunkhe Vihar? Have a look below:

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The Big Slice Pizzeria, Pune

BSP
BSP

There is something amazing about family owned restaurants, isn’t it? Mr. and Mrs. Sehgal invited us foodies for a tasting session which turned out to be so much fun! This lovely couple brings in a lot of warmth along with serving some delicious food. I didn’t even know Vadgaon Sheri area had developed so much since I visited nearly after 6 years or so. But I am so glad to have found this place, which is highly under-rated to be honest! Okay, let’s get started with my review!

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A feast for crows – Review

A feast for crows

How many months have I taken to finish this book? I can’t even remember. Blame my hectic work hours or my laziness, it was difficult to take out time to read. In fact, I didn’t even touch my kindle for a WHOLE WEEK because I was so exhausted at the end of the day. This book also must share some part of the blame since it started on such a boring note. The chapters? Longer than ever.

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Orion, Pune

A fine-dining restaurant located in Baner which serves delicious food and awesome cocktails! My first encounter with Orion hadn’t been a great experience. Reason? I showed up on a Saturday night which is their DJ night where the music is quite loud for the likes of us. So for me and my friends, the experience wasn’t a memorable one. But when I was invited by Team Orion to a food-tasting session, I couldn’t say no because I had already heard raving reviews about their food. So here’s how my perception changed about Orion:

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FC Grill House, Pune

A small group of people invited for the food tasting at FC Grill House, yet it turned out to be a fun evening!

 

FC Grill House, a restaurant located bang-on FC road, above Oriental Bank of Commerce, not difficult to locate. Before you open the door to this restaurant, you can hear the music buzzing beyond the walls. And when the door opens, voila! You can see that the place is jam packed on Friday evenings or weekends! I was invited here on a Friday evening and Sabali was performing Live for the audience. I have to admit, although I am not much of a Live music fan kind of person, the music slowly grew on me. Sabali not only plays various kinds of songs but adds their own version of Rap (some good, some meh!) to the songs they play. Kind of keeps you guessing, doesn’t it?

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And then there were none – Review

 

And then there were none
And then there were none

Agatha Christie. What can I say about her? A mastermind, truly. She was the one who first introduced me to the world of crime, needless to say, I have been hooked ever since. Her work is still considered to be an epitome of sheer perfect crime novels. Every book she has written is mind-boggling. I have always read her books at such a fast pace, my heart racing, reading them at a stretch because I couldn’t put them down. But this one tops them all! It is an extraordinary, gripping and timeless novel!

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Travel To Bali

En route

Bali has become one of the hottest travelling destination for honeymoon couples these days. Most newly-wed couples that I know of, opt for Bali. But is it only a honeymoon destination where you can sip on cocktails, party and watch the sunsets together? Or is it meant for families as well? Worry not my friends, my personal experience tells me, it is meant for both.

I have been to Bali, once with my hubby dearest and our couple of friends, and second time with my whole family. There is much more to Bali than just drinks and beaches. Bali is full of culture, temples, good people and amazing dining places! But how do you decide where you want to stay? How many days you want to spend on your holiday there? Should you prefer a villa or choose a hotel? I will answer all these questions while I share my experience below. Read on people!

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Game of Thrones – Review

GOT 1
Game of Thrones

If you haven’t heard about Game of Thrones, then you must be living under a rock! GOT has taken the television world by storm. People are going gaga over the internet praising the series, characters and story-line. There are fan clubs out there obsessed with this sensational show. I even know a cafe in Pune which has opened up solely based on the GOT theme. But, if you are a voracious reader, then I am sure you would be more interested in reading the work of George. R. R. Martin.

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The Remnant Chronicles – Review

The Remnant Chronicles

Some Young Adult YouTuber suggested ‘The Kiss of Deception‘ as one of the books with a mind-blowing plot-twist. I usually don’t read princess stories because I don’t like the way they portray the women in these kind of novels. Why does a princess have to be so delicate? Why is she always waiting for her prince charming? Why is her sole purpose to only get married in life? But The Remnant Chronicles does break the stereotypes and takes you to a world of kingdoms and magic. It got my attention and I started reading it. Well, at that time, I did not know that this book was the first one of the series.

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Where Else Cafe, Pune

Dog friendly places in Pune – Number Three!

If you have a dog who is way too restless and jumpy, just like mine, you will know how painful it is to take him out and make him BEHAVE! What behave? My dog thinks he can pee anywhere he wants and wants to jump over every person he spots. Yes, he is friendly like that. Not that I mind, but I do not wish to disturb other guests in a restaurant. So, when I recommend Dog-friendly restaurants on my blog, I have to take into consideration the jumpy kind of dogs as well. And for this reason, I would strongly recommend Where Else Cafe!

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The Immortals of Meluha – Review

The Immortals of Meluha
The Immortals of Meluha

This book has been praised over and over by the people around me. I am a big fan of Indian mythology and I love reading about Maha-Bharatha and Ramayana. So, when someone told me about the plot of this book, I felt like grabbing it right away. The journey of Shiva, born as a human, turning into a God, on the basis of his Karma, sounded extremely intriguing to me. It was also a big decision as this book is the first one in the Shiva Trilogy series, so finishing a series was equally important. What are my final thoughts on the book? Amazing plot! Disappointing content!

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Travel to Bhutan

Bhutan – The happiest country on earth!

Bhutan kids

 Happiness is a place, and in all honesty, I couldn’t agree more. When my husband first suggested a trip to Bhutan, I was really surprised at how little I knew about this country. I knew that people took a road trip to Bhutan generally after they visited Ladakh, but that thought never occurred to me and Bhutan was ignored for a while. The other reason, I feel, people don’t think about travelling to this country, is because there is so little information provided on the internet about it. When we started researching more, we hit a wall where it was impossible not to let the travel companies get involved. They helped us with the itinerary and we didn’t have to worry about a thing because they took care of the minutest details. Nevertheless, writing an article about the same might help someone out there plan a trip on their own, so here it goes:

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A Fine Balance – Review

 

A Fine Balance

This is the only book by Rohinton Mistry that I’ve read till date and it surely climbed up to my top three favorite books of all times slot. It is absolutely magnificent! I know, I know, you might have heard that this is quite the depressing novel and might even think that I am a sad, sad person. On the contrary, I am very positive but I don’t shy away from showing my love for melancholic novels.

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The Flour Works, Pune

Dog friendly places in Pune – Number One!

I love dogs! But I love my dog the most! 🙂

Weekends are all about spending time with my cute little ball of fur. Belly rubs, treats and taking him out for a ride, which is his absolute favorite! It breaks my heart when I have to leave him at home, so I try to tag him along whenever I can. On our little weekend adventures, we have managed to explore a few cafes which were kind enough to allow pets. In a city like Pune, there are a bunch of restaurants and cafes, that are extremely pet-friendly. Here is the first one on my list where you can take your little buddy along.

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