2024 Wrap Up

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The blank page seems daunting. Even for jotting down the highs and lows of this year- 2024. But try I will. It’s been long I have blogged just for the sake of blogging, not for a sponsored book review, not for a blog hop, just plain and simple purpose of curating my thoughts. I saw the archives and seems I just posted 5 posts this year. Well, motherhood and mood swings have taken away most of the zeal and enthusiasm from me, and the low readership of the blog does for the rest. All me-time goes to binge watching K-drama while I should be catching up on my sleep schedules. I had the luxury of reading though, through thick and thin. And I managed to clear few interviews and get offer letters and resign at my current company, though I am yet to get onboarded.  We traveled quite a bit with family too. Huge win. And our home couldn’t be more disheveled as it is lively currently with an active toddler who is a few months shy of speaking. So, it’s a cycle of cuddling, throwing, spitting, splashing, bawling, tearing, snatching, running, climbing, and cuddling again. So best and worst are all here. Savoring the highs and sticking it out through the lows.

December was a month I was always excited about – as it had Christmas and winter chill with loads of hot chocolate and coffee. Clicking pics with the Christmas decorations and Christmas trees and watching cozy and warm Christmas movies. All feel good vibes in the air. Home Alone and Harry Potter. Binging with good food and good company. Secret Santa was what I was most excited about – gifting people and receiving gifts. Sadly, all rituals are paused now till further notice. Life’s been busy. But still we do cook up a storm – mostly husband does – recently he cooked this Kerala style coconut chicken curry – Nadan Kozhi I guess, which turned out lip-smacking delicious. Who knew coconut oil could work such wonders. I feel my tastebuds had never encountered such a concoction before. And even simple mishmash of winter veggies is so welcome and comforting this time of the year.

Books that stood out:

1.      POD

 

2.      The Far Field :

            I personally am drawn to books where the character takes a journey, with a purpose. Our female protagonist here travels from Bangalore to Kashmir in search of a Kashmiri merchant who used to frequent their home when she was a teenager, and could make her mother laugh. The mother daughter dynamics in the book was what stood out for me. Kashmir and its people, their secrets, and the air of stress and tension, it was unputdownable. 

3.      Rumors of a Spring


4.      Invisible Women

            No non-fiction had me in such a rage for the system, the society and the world at large. It is not a pessimistic book, but a data book, where it shows how the modern amenities and world in general is not designed for women. A must read.

5.      My Dark Vanessa


Drama I loved:

1.      Love Next Door
2.      She’d never Know
3.      Hidden Love
4.      Lovely Runner
5.      When the Phone Rings

Delicacies I tried for the first time and loved - 1.      Laksa - This Malaysian or Singaporean soup is so comforting!

2.      Kerala coconut chicken curry - Yum!

 

I feel as long as I have good movies or dramas to watch and good books to read (fiction only), life is sorted. I can live through it. Some highlights of this year for me personally:


  1. Spent the longest time at my maternal home post marriage, with my baby. Had a gala time reading all the while the baby slept. Home is so comforting. So needed it.
  2. Joined back job (read workforce) after maternity leave.
  3. Gave several interviews some with preparation, some without, got rejected directly in the face for few and cracked through exactly two. But missed many interview calls as I got overwhelmed with it all.
  4. Traveled with toddler for the first time. Chennai -> Mahabalipuram -> Pondicherry -> Kanchipuram. It was awesome, though we all got sick after reaching home.
  5. Took a 3 hours course, that cost a whopping 2500/- INR on Creating the Perfect Pitch / Pitching Your Book Idea to a Publisher. And it was great. It doesn’t matter that I do not have a book yet, nor an idea. Spending money on oneself feels great. I know now why shopping gives people a high.
  6. And my TBR pile is an all time high. Buying never ceases. Only reading takes a back seat.

 

Some thoughts for the new year. Every plan may not be successful, but will try to find peace in the fact that family and friends are there for me. And hopefully there would be a next time for the unsuccessful plans. Will try to live in the moments. Small is big. 

Idea for a personal project.
1.      Watch all Audrey Hepburn movies.
2.      Read Anne Tyler Books – or some other author -  Taylor Jenkins Read.
3.      Duolingo do everyday – Learning a new Language.
4.      A Translation Project – An Odia Short Story Translate.
5.   Take Voice notes. Record your thoughts, ideas, a short story – audiobook try to record. Do reels voiceover for book reviews.

 

I am reading Butter currently and salivating on every page. I wish to cook a few of the things mentioned in here. Try a few at Japanese restaurants. Cannot read this book on an empty stomach. It would be a torture.

Watching When the Phone Rings. And Only Murders in the Building. Cozy Winter watches. 


See you next year !!

 

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Queeristan by Parmesh Sahani

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  Queeristan (Amazon Link) Thanks to Audible Free Trial I listened to this amazing non-fiction on LGBTQ inclusion in Indian workplaces. Author Parmesh Sahani identifies as gay Indian, working closely with Godrej higher management and employees for years to create an inclusive workplace, both legally and in spirit. This book is a result of those years of experience, research, collaboration with individuals from difference spectrum of the society and organizations who has successfully transitioned into a queer friendly one.   Indian history is inclusive. From the Khajuraho temple architectures, to Konark to the Rig Veda, there is existing proofs even 2000 years ago of Indian inclusiveness of queer. It’s the draconian British law that criminalised it, which was scraped in 2009, came into effect once again following a sad judgement in 2013 and eventually was scraped off for good in 2018. I am in awe of the lawyers who fought this legal battle- colleagues and partners – Arundh...
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