Resh Susan: Keep writing until you find your voice

Resh Susan or @thebooksatchel dwelled into journaling as a hobby way back in the year 2015. Her website and book reviews are an absolute treat to the eyes. Her posts are captivating. Hats off to her photography and the props!

Trust me, her website and Instagram handle are actually a "Satchel" - a mixed bag of reviews, pictures and her notes which simply add to the beauty of her writings.

Chinmayee Bhange interviews Ms. Resh Susan on the occasion of "Write a Review Day" which is celebrated on May 3.

Picture Courtesy: Resh Susan

Please tell us more about yourself.

Hi, I am Resh Susan. I run The Book Satchel (https://www.thebooksatchel.com/)and a monthly newsletter Satchel Notes (https://reshsusan.substack.com/)

How long have you been blogging? Tell us more about the idea behind "The Book Satchel"

The Book Satchel has been live since Dec, 2015. I was at a stressful time in my life and wanted an outlet for creative and bookish thoughts.

What genres of books do you generally follow and review?

I am a mixed bag. I enjoy a scary dystopian read as much as a pacy thriller or a literary read. I have a soft corner for magical realism. And I love a book that entertains.

According to you, what makes a good book? The plot or the author?

I try not to associate the person who wrote the book to the characters in the book. A book stands out by its plot, characters, language or structure. In short, a book should move the reader in some way.

How does a certain book achieve its "Best Seller" status? Also what are your tips to newbies in the Book Writing Platform?

My only tip is to keep writing until you find your voice.

How much time does it generally take from receiving a book to posting its review? What is the general flow that you follow?

It depends on the book in question. I don't have a strict flow. I will usually jot down what works for me in the book and what doesn't, and then elaborate.

In this scenario of information overload and binge reading habits, your blogging and Instagram posts have opened up a new avenue for book enthusiasts. What is your message for like minded people?

Do what you like and what you have the time for. You are still a reader if you read but don't post on social media. But if you enjoy posting on socials, you definitely should.

What advice would you share for naïve book bloggers?

Keep writing without being discouraged by view counts.

How many books do you read in a month? And how many are on your shelf right now as TBR?

I have no idea to be honest. I am a moody reader. So the number of books read can vary from 10+ to 1. As for TBR, it is never ending.

Any three books which are very close to your heart and why?

I enjoyed Arundhati Roy's God of small things for the beautiful prose, Normal people by Sally Rooney for the way it cast a spell over me, Stay with me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ for the storytelling.

Has it ever happened that you felt as if you were one of the characters in the book? Which was that book?

Not really. But I've definitely been moved by the characters in books, whether or not I feel a personal connection. A recent book that comes to mind is Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason.

Do your family / friends support you in this venture of book blogging?

Yes, I guess.

What’s your preferred medium to discuss books – your blog, Twitter or Instagram?

I like them all for different reasons—Instagram for the photos and captions, Twitter for the brevity, and the blog for longer content.

What tips would you share for getting more likes / followers on Instagram handles for book reviews?

No tips to be honest. Be consistent and engage with the bookish community to build relationships.

Social Media is ever evolving. How do you adapt yourself to this scenario?

I wouldn't say I have adapted well.

Do you think likes / reviews on Instagram handles has a deep impact on the psychology of the readers?

I don't know. We can't really forget the fact that a 'like' on Instagram is not for the book, but for the photo, and to a smaller degree, the caption. An amazing book can receive smaller number of likes. As for popular books, the algorithm definitely aids them and they gain more visibility, and hence more engagement.

What are your favourite Bookstagram accounts?

I follow many lovely bookstagram accounts and it is difficult to choose a few.

Who inspired you to Book Blogging?

It was more of a spontaneous decision than an inspired one. But of course, over the years I have been inspired by many contemporary bloggers.

Who are your favourite Book Bloggers?

Some of my favourites are — https://www.thebooksatchel.com/best-book-blogs-to-follow/

Social Media:

Book Satchel

Instagram

Twitter

Yet to Read Books!

 

It Ends with Us (It Ends with Us, #1) by Colleen Hoover

Icebreaker (Maple Hills, #1) by Hannah Grace

Alex Through the Looking - Glass (Paperback) by Alex Bellos

Treasure Island (Hardcover) by Robert Louis Stevenson

Physics of the Impossible (Hardcover) by Michio Kaku

References: www.goodreads.com

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023

Generation X: Books to read

 

Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture by Douglas Coupland

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

Bright Lights, Big City by by Jay McInerney

The Broom of the System by David Foster Wallace

Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023

Book Review #4: The Wanderers 3.0: The Ice on the Tower

Title: The Wanderers 3.0: The Ice on the Tower
Author: Sarthak Rathi
Publisher: Notion Press
Copyright: 2023
ISBN: 9798888696408
Language: English


Genres: Fiction, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery, Science Fiction, Space

Shelving Location: Novels, Leisure Reading

Dewey Decimal Classification: 823.8

Writing Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Narration: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cover/Title: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Concept: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Review:

The Wanderers 3.0 by Sarthak Rathi takes us on a breathless roller coaster ride filled with suspense and intrigue. It is an adventure which involves Pari, Sarthak, Anu and Yash. Their journey from one adventure to another is enthralling and captivating. We get engrossed by words such as Marsians, Jammari, Nameri, Whizari, Sakuris, Xinians. It is page turner and picks up pace after the first two chapters. The story proceeds as Hanginton captures these four teenagers for a mission which is really dangerous and can claim their lives. These kids have magical powers and they are always put in life endangering situations by their antagonist. They get hurt, wounded physically and emotionally and have irreversible injuries. But to their surprise, they are completely healed. But for this to happen, they have to be on a planet which will soon be destroyed. So what do they do now? Do they get involved in the mission or go back to school?

The book is a best example of the advancements in nanotech such as the anti artillery guns destroying emerging ships, rebuilding of defense equipment and the like. As the story unfolds itself, the characters also evolve.

In particular, I liked the portrayal of relation between the main characters - Pari, Sarthak, Anu and Yash. Their bond of trust intertwined with responsibility and maturity is something which is reflected in a very subtle manner.

If you are an ardent fan of Sci-Fi stories, this book is a must read for you. Do not risk not reading it!

Excerpts from the Book:

"There was a pin drop silence in the room. We would have to go through hell to get that magic out of us. We may even die. But for some reason, I wasn't afraid. I wanted to do it." - Page 93.


"I miss my mom. I miss my family". She gripped the gun she was holding tightly. "They were killed by the damn Hanginton's people 13 years ago. All because they opposed them." - Page 102.

About the Author:

Sarthak Rathi is an author at a very young age. He started writing some short stories and blogs at the age of 8. His first book, the Wanderers: The Sound of the Lake, was published last year in 2019 when he was only 12. His writings are appreciated by many industry stalwarts like Vijay Shekhar Sharma (Paytm), Manu Kumar Jain(Xiaomi India), Shradhha Sharma (Yourstory media) and many more.

Writing comes naturally to him and weaves his imagination around words. Sarthak also reads voraciously. He travels a lot to enjoy and enhance the stories he writes. He has travelled to national and international destinations such as Dubai and the USA. He runs half marathons, likes to play badminton and is part of his school team. He is fond of chocolates, video games, coding and reading.

Social Media:

Instagram

Personal Website

Book Review 1: Sita's Kitchen by Raghav Khanna

 

Sita's Kitchen / Author: Raghav Khanna / Publisher: Rupa / Total Pages: 212

Category: Non-Fiction

Read Time: 24 hours

Rating: 3 stars ⭐⭐⭐

'The food...it was good, ' he said. 'But not something one expects in the middle of the road in Himachal,' he added as am afterthought.

'So, if you ate this food in Chandigarh or Delhi, you would not be surprised?'

'No, it is not that.'

'Then what is it?'

'Perhaps it is that. It's unusual, unusually exquisite to be in the middle of a highway littered with traditional dhabas to find a place where the decor, the menu and the food bring flavours from thousands of miles away,' he added.

Arun Mehra - owner of Bellissimo - an elite restaurant in London and Sita Pandit - owner of a small time tea stall in Himachal are the protagonists. The story begins with a casual business visit to Himachal by Arun and his friend - Ben. The cooking and its subtle ingredients take these two visitors by surprise when they learn that the chef is a small time village girl - Sita. Sita's cooking skills are put to test every time Arun comes to her small dhaba. And as destiny might have it, she is being invited to the world on the other side - London by the Master Chef owner himself. The constant nagging by Arun and Ben and the reluctant Sita who has a secret desire to be amongst the one who get a chance to make their dream come true is what sets the tone of this book.

After much "No Means No" dialogues, Sita finally lands in the glamour world of London and finds herself in the Bellissimo restaurant. She learns the nitty-gritties of the kitchen from Anwar Chacha. She whole heartedly admires the Chief Chef (and her rival) of this restaurant and learns that life is not easy after all. You need to master the tricks of the game if you are playing it! 

All throughout the book, we come across a food platter with names such as Bircher Muesli, Fruit and Granola Parfait with yoghurt, Haak Ravioli, Rigatoni alla Carbonara, Nihari Ossobuco etc.

The casual descriptions of these various dishes sketch a picture for themselves (for those like me who have not tasted any of these) and make us feel a part of the kitchen. The journey is so refreshing and enchanting for kitchen enthusiasts.

'The food is global, so too can be the chef,' is the line that might summarize this sumptuous book😊 

Get your copy here - https://www.amazon.in/SITAS-KITCHEN-Raghav-Khanna/dp/9355201893