Shubhi And Friends Start A BookClub

In this episode we read the book By Any other Name. In this episode, we’ll unpack the novel’s emotional depth, its dual timelines, and the way Picoult once writing on identity, truth, and the stories we tell—both about ourselves and the people we love. Whether you’re a longtime Picoult fan or discovering her work for the first time, this discussion will give you a richer understanding of the theme...

In this episode, we read the final four essays from the book This is the story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett. We have had an incredible time reading this book and her essays from various points of time in Ann's life. The essays so well written, succinct and emotive that we have laughed and cried with Ann.

In this episode we continue to read about Ann Patchett's book This is the story of a Happy Marriage. Essay 16 ' THE BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES 2006 ' is about Ann Patchett's belief that the short stories are relevant, interesting and here to stay. Patchett believes the short stories are here to stay and we agree. Essay 18 is also related to Essay 16 - The bookshop strikes back . Ann Patchett sudd...

In this episode, we read the book Maybe you should talk to someone. This remarkable book offers us a rare dual perspective on therapy - Gottlieb writes both as a seasoned therapist treating her own patients and as someone who finds herself in desperate need of therapy after a personal crisis turns her world upside down. Gottlieb weaves together multiple narratives. throughout the book and we follo...

In this episode, we continue to read the book "This is a story of a Happy Marriage" by Ann Patchett which is collection of her essays. We read and discuss three essays in this episode - Essay 13 - The Love Between the Two Women Is Not Normal , Essay 14 - The Right to Read and Essay 12 - Do Not Disturb. In ‘The Love Between the Two Women Is Not Normal,’ Patchett challenges social judgment...

In this episode, we read and discuss the book Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams. In Careless People , former Facebook executive Sarah Wynn-Williams shatters the curated veneer of innovation and purpose, exposing the company’s inner workings—from whispered power plays on private jets to decisions that fueled global harm. It’s called Careles...

In this episode, we continue to explore Essay 6: Loosening the Past from Mother Pious Lady , where Santosh Desai reflects on the subtle and striking ways India’s middle class is moving away from tradition—without entirely letting go. This section delves into how the boundaries of morality, modernity, and identity are shifting under the influence of globalization, aspiration, and self-expression. F...

In this episode, we explore Essay 6: Loosening the Past from Mother Pious Lady , where Santosh Desai reflects on the subtle and striking ways India’s middle class is moving away from tradition—without entirely letting go. This section delves into how the boundaries of morality, modernity, and identity are shifting under the influence of globalization, aspiration, and self-expression. From “The Mor...

In this episode, we read the book The Wedding People. The Wedding People is a dazzling, deeply moving. Set over the course of a single weekend at a luxurious New England inn, this story invites us into the heart of a destination wedding—where not everything is as picture-perfect as it seems. At the center is Phoebe Stone , a woman at her lowest point who checks into the inn with no intention of ma...

In this episode we read the book A Bend in the Ganges by Manohar Malgonkar. It is a powerful novel set against the backdrop of India’s turbulent fight for independence from British rule. First published in 1964, the book explores the years from the 1930s to the partition of India in 1947—a period defined by political upheaval, civil disobedience, and violence. Through the lives of its three centra...

“Mother Pious Lady: Making Sense of Everyday India” by Santosh Desai is a collection of essays that delve into the quirks and nuances of Indian middle-class life. Through a blend of humor and keen observation, Desai explores the everyday experiences, traditions, and cultural shifts that shape the identity of urban India. In this episode, we dive into Chapter 4 of Santosh Desai’s Mother Pious Lady...

“Mother Pious Lady: Making Sense of Everyday India” by Santosh Desai is a collection of essays that delve into the quirks and nuances of Indian middle-class life. Through a blend of humor and keen observation, Desai explores the everyday experiences, traditions, and cultural shifts that shape the identity of urban India. In this episode, we dive into Chapter 4 of Santosh Desai’s Mother Pious Lady...

In this episode, we read Perfection , Vincenzo Latronico. Perfection is an incisive novel that captures the essence of millennial life in the digital age. Set in Berlin, the story follows Anna and Tom, a couple whose meticulously curated lifestyle—complete with Scandinavian furniture, artisanal goods, and an active social media presence—masks a deep-seated sense of dissatisfaction and yearning for...

In this episode, we read the book Cotillion by Georgette Heyer. Georgette Hayer is Annapurna and Mary's one of the favorite authors and makes them feel at home. Cotillion is a Georgette Heyer’s charming and witty Regency romance. The book has the delightful twist on romantic tropes, the lovable dandy-turned-hero Freddy Standen, and Kitty Charing’s clever plan to take control of her future. Shu...

In this episode, we continue to read the book "This is a story of a Happy Marriage" by Ann Patchett which is collection of her essays. We read and discuss three essays in this episode - Essay 10 - “The Wall”, Essay 11 - “Fact vs. Fiction” and Essay 12 - "My Life in Sales" In “The Wall,” Ann Patchett describes learning to climb a rock wall, which at first feels impossible. As sh...

In this episode, we continue to read the book "This is a story of a Happy Marriage" by Ann Patchett which is collection of her essays. We read and discuss two essays in this episode - Essay 8 - “ Tennessee ” and Essay 9 - “On Responsibility”. In “Tennessee,” Ann Patchett reflects on her strong connection to her home state, especially Nashville. She shares how the place has shaped her lif...

In this episode we discuss this book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. It’s a mystery novel told from the perspective of Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old boy with autism, who investigates the mysterious death of a neighbor’s dog. This book stands out because some of us have close relatives we’ve observed closely. Many authors struggle to depict this accurately, often relying on as...

“Mother Pious Lady: Making Sense of Everyday India” by Santosh Desai is a collection of essays that delve into the quirks and nuances of Indian middle-class life. Through a blend of humor and keen observation, Desai explores the everyday experiences, traditions, and cultural shifts that shape the identity of urban India. In this episode, we discuss sub chapters within Essay 3. These essays talk ab...

In this episode we read and discuss the book you are free. All three of us were having a series of hectic weeks and wanted to read something light. This book is charming, bittersweet novel about loneliness, second chances, and unexpected connections. If you love stories that blend romance, humor, and emotional depth, this one’s for you! What we discuss: - What is friendship and how it may be simil...

In this episode, we discuss The Fraud. This book is a historical novel set in 19th-century England, revolving around a real-life scandal—the Tichborne Trial, one of the most infamous fraud cases in British history.  t the heart of the novel is Eliza Touchet, a sharp and independent Scottish woman who serves as the housekeeper (and cousin by marriage) of William Harrison Ainsworth, a once-famous bu...

In this episode, we continue to read the book "This is a story of a Happy Marriage" by Ann Patchett which is collection of her essays. We read and discuss two essays in this episode - Essay 6 - “The Best Seat in the House” and Essay 7 - “My Road to Hell Was Paved”. “The Best Seat in the House” was published in The Wall Street Journal on June 21, 2008. In this piece, Patchett reflects on the transf...

In this episode, we read three essays from the book Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris. David Sedaris’s Santaland Diaries is a hilariously candid essay recounting his experience as a seasonal Christmas elf named “Crumpet” at Macy’s department store in New York City. In this essay he discusses becoming an Elf, elf duties, holiday cynicism, etc. The essay is filled with laugh-out-loud moments, such as...

In this episode, we discuss the book Dopamine nation. The book is focused on exploration of the role of dopamine—the brain’s pleasure chemical—in shaping human behavior. Drawing on her experience as a psychiatrist, Dr. Lembke examines how modern society’s endless access to pleasurable experiences (like social media, junk food, and drugs) has led to widespread addiction and a crisis of imbalance. W...

In this episode, we read and talk about Remarkably Bright Creatures. It is a heartwarming and beautifully written novel about the unlikely friendship between Tova Sullivan, a widowed woman in her 70s, and Marcellus, a curmudgeonly giant Pacific octopus who lives in the local aquarium. The story is set in the small town of Sowell Bay, Washington, and blends themes of grief, healing, and unexpected...

“Mother Pious Lady: Making Sense of Everyday India” by Santosh Desai is a collection of essays that delve into the quirks and nuances of Indian middle-class life. Through a blend of humor and keen observation, Desai explores the everyday experiences, traditions, and cultural shifts that shape the identity of urban India. In this episode, we discuss what are the movies that we grew up watching and...