Over the past couple of months, I've read a few books that I didn't get a chance to review yet. These were all enjoyable in different ways and are recommended reads. A Will to Kill by R. V. Raman I've been looking for an Indian mystery for a while now. So when I came across A Will to Kill in Netgalley set in one of my favorite places in India (also close to my home town), I just had to request it. In so many ways, this is a typical Agatha Christie type mystery - there's a death (in an isolated mansion, no less) and the investigator/detective tries to solve the mystery. Harith Athreya is visiting the owner of the mansion, Bhaskar Fernandez, where a small gathering has been planned for the owner's relatives and friends. Bhaskar has written two wills - and how he dies will determine which will goes into effect. That night, there is a murder and Athreya spends the next few days trying to find the culprit. I generally enjoy the Agatha Christie class of murder mysteries.
Whew! A whirlwind two weeks later, I'm finally somewhat less busy. I'm still in India, but slowly getting back to some form of a routine. After two weeks off the grid, I find myself even reluctant to get back online, because of everything that's pending and needs attention.
The wedding went great! It was very tiring by the end of the day, but still fun. I still haven't uploaded the photos yet, but I have one photo available on PhotoBucket (click the link).
A few things that happened during my absence from the blog.
- I had guest-posted over at Alyce's blog, At Home with Books, on the Best and Worst of Marjane Satrapi. Satrapi's Persepolis was my introduction to the graphic novel medium, and it's still one of my favorite graphic books.
- The shortlist for the Indie Lit Awards is up! Since I'm judging in the Fiction category, I can't wait to read the titles! These are the books shortlisted for the Fiction category:
Dance Lessons by Aine Greaney
Cross Currents by John Shors
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
The Last Time I Saw Paris by Lynn Sheene
- I had already posted my favorite reads of 2011 and plans for 2012 before I took my blogging break.
- I haven't read anything so far this year, save for a short story - The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The short story medium is still a challenging one for me, and I hope to change that this year. I just started reading Banana Yoshimoto's The Lake today, and so far I'm enjoying it.
I still have a few reviews from last year pending, so I'll post them over the next few weeks as I get my posts written. I don't plan to be OCD about reviewing all of them, because I want to get started on my 2012 reading. What have I missed over the last two weeks?

Comments
I like the photo, I was wondering what a wedding in India would be like, maybe I'll get there someday and see for myself (if not for a wedding at least to visit the country).
I've read The Yellow Wallpaper last year and liked it a lot even though I had a feeling the writer was playing tricks with my mind but then maybe that's the reason why I liked it.
Now I'll go and read your other posts, I have some catching up to do.
Have fun in 2012!
Love the wedding photo, congratulations! He has such a nice smile and looks so happy!
And OMG you look AMAZING! You go girl! Congratulations! I can not wait to see more pictures.
<3,
Karen
conceptualreception.blogspot.com
I am only just beginning to catch up on blogs. Thank goodness for Google Reader's 'Mark all as Read'! And I hope you get to visit India some time!
[Noticed that the email (with your post) has a copyright notice going until 2011. It's 2012 now...]
Happy reading for the Indie Lit. I'm judge for the Speculative Fiction genre and reading Stephen King right now.