WinterMoon

“And if the chair can change someone’s heart, it clearly has its purpose.”  Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi is a soft, heartwarming novel set in a small Tokyo cafe where people can travel back in time-but only until their coffee turns cold. With strict rules in place and no power to change the present, each visitor returns to the past seeking something deeply personal: closure, love, forgiveness, or understanding. Honestly, I had this book in my wish-list. But eventually a very dear friend gifted this to me! Told through simple and heart touching stories, the book gently reminds us that while the past cannot be changed, the way we come to terms with it can transform us. Quiet, reflective, and emotionally moving, the story stays with you! The concept itself is refreshing: “Time Travel” contained within the calm space of a cafe. Simply beautiful! The characters are seamlessly intertwined together, each story unfolding effortlessly. I was drawn to every character a...

After hearing influencer and actor Prajakta Koli recommend this book in several interviews and podcasts, I decided to read it to see what it really brings to the reader! A Princess Remembers is a beautifully written autobiography that gives a close and personal look into the life of Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur. Written in a warm and easy style, the book feels as if the princess is speaking directly to the reader, sharing her memories in a calm and graceful way. The book brings out the richness of royal life; its traditions, comfort, and lifestyle, while also focusing on the people and relationships that mattered most to her. Each person and event is described with care, making the past feel real and alive! Maharani Gayatri Devi comes across as a rare mix of beauty and intelligence. The storytelling is smooth and personal, with every incident unfolding like a precious memory connected to the past. She describes the lives of her great-grandparents, parents, and her own with vivid de...

Another Paulo Coelho book review! This was one of the earliest books of his that I picked up. Most people usually start with The Alchemist when they hear his name. I did it a little differently; I read a few of his other books first, and The Alchemist came only as my third read.  This book too feels like a masterpiece- truly a light at the end of the tunnel. Like most Paulo Coelho books, this one feels like guidance. But this is more direct. Unlike his other works, which guide you through stories, this book speaks to you straight and honest. Every page carries its own meaning, and it’s hard not to find answers to the questions you are quietly asking yourself. It teaches you to trust your own journey, listen to your instincts, and accept life as it comes. Each one of us is a warrior, moving forward despite fear, doubt, or the possibility of failure. No warrior is perfect, they fall, make mistakes, feel scared; yet they still take risks and keep going. Just like The Boy, the Mole, t...

I don’t clearly remember what I felt back in 2018.  It was night, and I was travelling somewhere.  I was sitting in a car or maybe a bus,  my head tilted against the window, resting on the cold glass. Without my specs on, I could see vehicles passing by, the lights outside appeared blurred and hazy. That soft blur did something strange- it gently played with my eyes and slowly quietened my mind, pulling me into a calm, almost like trance. “I open my eyes to this immense universe, I catch those minute details, I let them enter my brain, I learn, memorise, recall and re-live whenever I want.” These thoughts came to me while I was sitting in the car or bus. Later, after I reached my destination and reflected on what I had experienced, I wrote these lines- “I cross the line of life; And feel the delight in that flight, In the blur of darkness and daylight, I embrace the beauty of life” Summers of 2018 AS: Happy Observing! 😀