Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Review and Giveaway: "Haunting Jasmine" by Anjali Banerjee

Newly divorced, with a cheating ex-husband to boot, Jasmine Mistry is struggling to let go of her relationship and start fresh. When her Auntie writes and asks Jasmine to take over running her bookstore, Auntie's Bookstore, located on Shelter Island so that Auntie can go home to India and "heal her heart", Jasmine readily agrees, even though she has a big presentation due at work as soon as she gets back and she needs to stay on top of her work in order to start over financially.

Jasmine bustles into the bookstore ready to clean the place up and attract some new customers, but what she's not counting on is the fact that Auntie's Bookstore already has a personality all its own. Guided along by the spirits of long-dead authors, Jasmine begins to understand what books and the bookstore means to those who come in to browse and she takes steps towards tentatively falling in love again and maybe even letting go of her past.

Haunting Jasmine was even more of an enjoyable read than I was expecting. I'll admit that I was initially wary of the fact that there would be spirits involved- it's not often that a book involving the mystical appeals to me, but in this book it just worked. The spirits of the long-dead authors were simply charming and a welcome addition to the plot. Of course I loved the fact that books played such a central part in the story. It always breaks my heart a little when someone tells me that reading is a waste of their time. Haunting Jasmine portrayed books as I feel about them- that they are there when you need them, always ready to lend a hand, and that there is a book out there for every person and every unique situation.

This was a quick read for me, and a very enjoyable one at that. I recommend it to anyone who loves women's fiction and books with a little bit of the mystical thrown in there.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Challenges: 2011 100+ Reading Challenge, South Asian Challenge 2011

Thanks to Erin at Penguin I have one copy of Haunting Jasmine to give away. To enter:

1. *Mandatory Entry* Answer this in the comments: Have you ever read a book that you felt you were meant to read? If so, what was it? Please leave me an e-mail or a way to contact you if you win. No e-mail= no entry.

2. *Bonus Entry* Become a follower of this blog through Google Friend Connect and leave me a separate comment to let me know that you now follow. Already a follower? Just leave me a comment and let me know that you already follow to be eligible for the extra entry.

3. *Bonus Entry* Spread the word about this contest in some way. Blog about it, add it to your sidebar, Facebook it or Tweet it. Just leave me a comment to let me know what you did.

This contest is open to US and Canadian residents only and runs until March 8, 2011. The winner will be notified by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address. Good luck!

40 comments:

  1. The book I was meant to read is The Anthologist by Nicholson Baker: Goodreads review here: The Anthologist: A Novel

    I am a follower!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oops, forgot my email address!

    The book I was meant to read is The Anthologist by Nicholson Baker: Goodreads review here: The Anthologist: A Novel

    I am a follower!

    harvee44 at yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I just read Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys and I think it was a book I was meant to read - it struck very close to home for me. kathy(at)bermudaonion.net

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great review. The first paragraph didn't catch me, but I continued to read your review and it is great. Sounds like a wonderful book. (I'm meant to read this book).

    I would have to say that several non-fiction books have called out to me to say I was meant to read them. One called Map Addict by Mike Parker is a recent one.

    Also, if a romance promises me a man in a kilt, then I have a hard time not picking it up. But that's a whole nother issue.

    heatherdpear at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. already a follower.
    heatherdpear at hotmail do com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, there are so many books I've read and thought, "Right book, right time." The one that immediately comes to mind is Aidan Donnelley Rowley's Life After Yes, which I'm constantly harping on! One of my all-time favorites. Rowley's thoughts on love and growing up found me at just the right moment.

    Would love to read this one -- thanks, Jonita! :)

    writing.meg [at] gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. A book that resounded with me for a long time was Winter Bloom by Tara Heavey. This book was memorable and special. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have read so many wonderful books but a beauty was Sarah's Key by Tatania de Rosnay. Heartbreaking and compelling. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I loved Stay by Allie Larkin.

    snitz76 [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I just finished a book I felt I was meant to read... South Phoenix Rules... because I was thinking of Phoenix as a good winter retirement community...now changed my mind.

    littleone AT shaw DOT ca

    ReplyDelete
  11. I follow on GFC

    littleone AT shaw DOT ca

    ReplyDelete
  12. Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet. Every time I read that simple little book, I discover something new about myself.

    lana.baker at gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Saving Sammy was one that was powerful for me.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I read Memory Keeper's Daughter...and that story really stayed with me.
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  15. follower via GFC
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I read The Book Thief for my daughter and totally lost myself in the story. It was as if it landed on my lap.
    Lindadao2060@yahoo.com
    GFC follower.

    ReplyDelete
  17. i loved 'a stray drop of blood' by roseanna white :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. i'm a follower :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Have I ever read a book I felt I was meant to read? Yes. I just finished A Wrinkle in Time by Madeliene L'Engle. I had always heard good things about the book but just never cared to read it. I saw it on a top ten list and decided to give it a shot. I was glad I did. I thought it would be just okay, but I fell in love.
    email: leah49 (at) gmail (dot) com.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I feel that I was meant to read Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride. I LOVE SARAH DESSEN'S BOOKS!!! I love how Auden and Eli heals each other...!!! (sorry, I really love exclamation points)

    I'm a follower xD

    hsiu_an(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  21. It sounds great, and different from what I usual read these days - which means exactly something I would want to give a try! Thanks for the review :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Sounds interesting!

    I'd love to enter

    jpetroroy at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm a follower

    jpetroroy at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Reading Michael Connelly for the first time, I knew the relationship between his Detective Harry Bosch books and myself would be a match made in heaven.

    shanaelyse@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm a GFC follower, too!

    shanaelyse@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. The Prince Of Tides by Pat Conroy is the book that immediately comes to mind. It is so well written that it reads like poetry. I consider it my favorite book of all time and I always felt that I was meant to read it at the time.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    eswright18 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I already follow via GFC (ellie)
    eswright18 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/eswright18/status/42716454512103424
    eswright18 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh, I'm glad you found this book so enjoyable - I did too! I hope you don't mind if I include a link to your review to the South Asian Review Database.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I read The Girls From Ames about a lifelong friendship between women who had gone to school together. It made me want to make a stronger bond between my former school friends and myself and I did!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  31. I follow
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  32. I recently read Sugar by Bernice McFadden. The book opened my eyes, and I felt as if I was meant to read it.

    Please enter me in this giveaway!

    bookloversarah1 at yahoo dot com

    Sarah E

    ReplyDelete
  33. Follow via GFC.

    bookloversarah1 at yahoo dot com

    Sarah E

    ReplyDelete
  34. Tweet: http://twitter.com/BookLoverSarah/status/44236931613208576

    bookloversarah1 at yahoo dot com

    Sarah E

    ReplyDelete
  35. I read a book very recently that I feel I was meant to read. Devotion by Dani Shapiro spoke to me like no other book has in a very long time. It's a fantastic book!

    Thank you for this wonderful giveaway!
    Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I'm a GFC follower

    Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  37. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was a book that certainly touched me like no other has. It made me yearn for simpler and more satisfying times.

    susanobryant at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I am a GFC follower!

    susanobryant at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete