The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Storyline

The Great Alone is set in the last frontier, in the wilderness of Alaska during the 1970s. Ernt Allbright,  a POW from the Vietnamese war, was a changed man when he returned home to his family. Something probably broke inside him. After moving through multiple cities, he reckoned that perhaps Alaska could be his sanctuary. So he moved his bag and baggage with his family to Homer, Alaska. A place with daunting terrain and harsh weather. A place where isolation can be as dangerous as the brutal weather, if not more. This new beginning turns out to be a big nightmare. The long winters can completely wreck a person with an already fragile state of mind, which is what happened with Ernt.

It exacerbated Ernt's PTSD, bringing forth his worst side, leaving Cora and Leni alone to endure its consequences. The only solace for them was the community that stood by them through thick and thin. Regardless of this, Leni made some bonds for life there and also found her soulmate in Matthew.

My Thoughts

It was my third book by Kristin Hannah. The Nightingale and The Four Winds blew me away and drove me to read The Great Alone. It rightfully turned out to be an extremely compelling read. However, it was a challenging one to wade through. With a lot of trigger points, it can be taxing for some. Numerous incidents of domestic abuse and violence depicted in the narrative were unnerving and problematic so to speak. 

Most of the characters are well-etched out. There is an immense growth in Leni's character, from an awkward teenager wary of the new place to a confident adult not shying away from tough decisions. My issue was with Cora's character, who despite multiple red flags turned a blind eye to Ernt's violent behaviour. She even justified it to some degree, something which even Leni could not understand. Her submissive and pliant demeanour was beyond my comprehension. I was unable to relate to it and found it irrational. Despite this, the mother-daughter bond is beautifully portrayed, where both always had each other's back. The writing is exceptional, which draws you in, in a way that everything seems to unfold right in front of your eyes. The portrayal of the white Alaskan landscape chilled me to the bones. Being from a tropical country, I can only imagine harsh Alaskan winters and the challenging life led by Alaskans. Only a glimpse of it made me grateful for my fairly easier everyday life. Winters with endless nights can be cruel, where darkness can engulf the person. In the heart, The Great Alone is a poignant tale of love, loss and survival. 

Rating - 4.5/5

Recommend - Do read it!

 

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur by Alka Joshi

Storyline

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur picks up twelve years after The Henna Artist. Lakshmi, the former henna artist is now married to Dr Jay Kumar, the physician at Lady Bradley Hospital in Shimla. She is now the director of Lady Bradley Healing Garden. Malik, her former assistant is now a 20-year-old educated man, who on Lakshmi's request has joined the Facilities Department of the royal palace in Jaipur under the mentorship of Manu Agarwal. The drama unfolds when the balcony of the most ambitious and newly constructed Royal Jewel Theatre crashes. The blame falls on the shoulders of Manu Agarwal. When Malik finds some discrepancies in the construction material billing, he begins to question the scrupulousness of Ravi Singh, the architect of the theatre. The rest of the story is in flashback about all the events leading to the day of the crash. The story also revolves around Malik and Nimmi's love. Nimmi is a young widow from the hills. She blames Lakshmi for sending away Malik to Jaipur. After her initial mistrust of Lakshmi, she slowly warms up to her when she witnesses Lakshmi's kindness. When the tragedy strikes, Lakshmi rushes to Jaipur to support Malik and her friends. 

My Thoughts

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur continues the narrative beautifully after The Henna Artist and does not slacken the pace even once. It builds on the strong foundation set in the first book. Even though Laksmi remains the guiding force, Malik's character emerged strongly and is well-nuanced. Despite the private education he received at the behest of Samir Singh, he remained grounded. He may have had his shortcomings but, loyalty remained his most noteworthy trait. To begin with, the young widow, Nimmi's character appeared to be unappreciative. But then that was probably her insecurities manifesting themselves in her demeanour towards Lakshmi. Alka Joshi has managed to put in words the rich and diverse Indian culture vividly. She has also done justice to the period the book is set in, by bringing to fore the widespread corruption in the society, the adamancy of the privileged to maintain the social hierarchy and the evident gap between rich and poor. I wanted to learn more about Radha, Lakshmi's sister but found that missing here. Maybe the third book would provide greater insight into her life and her equation with Lakshmi. The book has left me wanting more. So looking forward to the third book in the series. 

Star Rating - 4/5

Recommend - Do Read!

Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee

 

Setting 

Luck of the Titanic is set on the Titanic, the largest ship afloat at the time. The Floating Palace carried some of the wealthiest people of the world along with hundreds of emigrants. It housed every luxury possible- restaurants, swimming pools, gymnasiums etc. In April 1912, it began its maiden and ill-fated voyage. On 10th April, it started from Southhampton on its route to New York City. Four days later, disaster struck when it collided with an iceberg near Newfoundland. Titanic carried an insufficient number of lifeboats which made it impossible to save everyone. Furthermore, the crew untrained in the evacuation process launched half-full lifeboats that left most passengers to fend for themselves. Also, third-class passengers struggled to find space in lifeboats as preference was given to first-class passengers. More than 1500 passengers and crew perished when the Titanic sank. 

The Chinese Exclusion Act, effective from 1882, was a United States federal law that prohibited the immigration of Chinese labourers. It was repealed in 1943. 

Storyline

After being turned away from boarding the Titanic, Valora, a British-Chinese decides to sneak in and stay as a stowaway. That too in a first-class cabin! She had two objectives. One to reach America in search of a brighter future and the other to look for her twin and acrobatics partner, Jamie. She had a plan in place. All she needed was to convince Jamie to perform with her and to impress the fellow passenger and part-owner of Ringling Brothers Circus with their acrobatic tricks. Along with this are the side stories of April Hart-the next big thing in the designing world, Bo and Val's sweet love story and of Jamie's Chinese friends.

My Thoughts

The main reason why I picked this book up was because of its premise. I was always fascinated by the Titanic, so a book set on it was something I was longing for. Stacey Lee's evocative and authentic description of the Titanic brought it alive in front of me. I could feel the plush Persian rugs of the first-class cabins and the crowd and smells of the third-class. She has done justice to both the story and the premise. 

It is not only a story about Titanic. But it is also a tale of sibling love, prevailing prejudices, finding one's identity and striving to realise one's dreams. 

"Don't spend too long looking behind you, or you'll miss out on what's ahead."

All the characters are very relatable and realistic. The sibling dynamics between Val and Jamie is beautiful and the banter between them is enjoyable. Valora dared to dream a better future for herself and her brother in America. Despite her madcap ideas, what is appreciable was her resolve to achieve her dreams. I couldn't stop myself from rooting for her and Jamie when they performed the tricks in front of the owner of Ringling Brothers Circus. Val is the most positive character I have come across lately. Her verve and energy are infectious. She refuses to bow down to anything and absolutely nothing deters her. 

"Life is a balancing act, and the better you get at juggling, the better you get at living."

Though I was aware of the ship's fate from the very beginning, I was still hoping against hope for a happy ending for Val and Jamie. The last few chapters are an exquisite piece of writing. The terrifying atmosphere of sinking cruise liner is well-captured. 

Star Rating - 5/5

Recommend - Oh Yes!

Milk Teeth by Amrita Mahale

I seldom read the same genre back to back. I always prefer to read a light book after a heavy one. Milk Teeth seemed to fit that bill perfectly after my last historical fiction.

Setting

Milk Teeth is set in the 1990s in a housing society in a suburb of Mumbai. It was when Mumbai was still Bombay. When life was much simpler and uncomplicated.

Storyline

Ira Kamat and Kartik Kini are childhood friends who are neighbours in Asha Niwas in Matunga. Their mothers are more like sisters than friends. Ira idolises Kartik and also has a secret crush on him. Several years later Ira is a conscientious journalist trying to highlight the incompetencies of the municipal corporation. She is forthright and believes in honesty in her work as well as her relationships. Kartik who has returned home after several years has a complicated disposition. It has multiple layers to it. He is dealing with his issues which leads to lies and deception. Their families decide for their alliance which they agree to. Alongside, is the story of Asha Niwas which is about to go for redevelopment with no consensus among the residents over it.

Viewpoint

Milk Teeth pertains to changing urban and social fabric of Bombay. It's the story of the perpetual struggle of the middle class for living space in Bombay. It's the transition from Bombay to Mumbai. Along with it, the shift in the nature of relationships from childhood to adulthood. Milk Teeth is a book worth reading. At places, nostalgia would hit you. It would remind you of all the childhood games. All in all, a well-narrated book that has its heart and soul in right place.

Star Rating - 4/5

Recommend -Yes

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

Storyline

In 1791 London, Nella an apothecary carries forward her mother's legacy by continuing to run her apothecary shop for women's maladies situated on 3 Back Alley. After suffering betrayal by the man she loved, she changes her path and starts dispensing poisons along with the medicines. She began to help women in a similar predicament to hers by providing them with means to get rid of their problems. From a barren wife to a jilted woman, she helped them all. She meticulously made note of every tincture she had ever dispensed. The second timeline is in the present time when Caroline after being cheated on by her husband embarks on a trip to London alone. The trip was to be a tenth anniversary celebratory trip for them. But it turned into a trip of self-realization and discovering her own identity. On a whim, she goes mudlarking and discovers an old apothecary bottle in the Thames. Thus began her journey to uncover the origins of the bottle and along the way finding her true passion.

My Thoughts

Usually, in a dual timeline book at least one of the storylines is captivating enough and holds your interest. But somehow here, none of the stories grabbed my attention. Nella's story of a female apothecary living in late eighteenth-century London had immense potential but the story didn't pan out as it should have. It dragged so much that after a point I was struggling to finish the book. In the other timeline, Caroline's discovery of the bottle and later her subsequent discovery of the apothecary itself was nothing short of a miracle. What astounded me was how just one google search led her to the article related to a 200-year-old bottle. Talk about the accuracy of the Google search! Furthermore, she could locate the apothecary store itself that was standing intact in the middle of London nearly 200 years later, hidden from everyone. I was unable to draw any parallel between the two stories. I would not recommend the book.

Rating - 2/5

Recommend - Skip it!

 

Island in the East by Jenny Ashcroft

 

Setting

The book is based in the island country of Singapore and spans from 1897 till after the Second World War. Singapore was an important British colony and a major allied base in south-east Asia. During World War II, it became Japan's prime target in its bid to capture south-east Asia. After the invasion of the Malay peninsula in December 1941, Japan proceeded to attack Singapore. Ultimately, on 8th February 1942, Japanese troops landed in Singapore. The battle continued for the next seven days and eventually led to the fall of Singapore and the largest British surrender in history. All the British and Australian soldiers and citizens were sent to Changi prison 

Storyline

The story unfolds in dual timelines of 1897 and 1941 in Singapore. In 1897, identical twins Mae and Harriet travel to Singapore from India with a scandalous past for new beginnings. Their benefactor wants one of them to marry David Kelley. While Harriet takes an instant dislike to David, Mae tolerates him bearing in mind their future. Both the sisters fall for the same man, Alex Blake and the sisterly rivalry comes to the fore. Mae turns bitter as despite being identical, Harriet hogged all the male attention. This soured their relationship too. When Harriet rejected David's proposal for marriage, he turned vengeful. It prompted a chain of events that led to heartbreak and betrayal. In 1941, Ivy-Mae's granddaughter suffered from nightmares after she nearly died, buried under the rubble after a bombing. She got posted to wartime Singapore much against the wishes of her grandmother. Mae had lived for a year in Singapore, a fact she had hidden from her granddaughter. With the Japanese invasion of the island country imminent, Ivy falls in love with Kit, an Australian officer. As she builds new relationships in Singapore, secrets from the past unravel. 

My Thoughts

After reading umpteen number of World War II fiction based in Europe, I wanted to read a book about World War in South-East Asia. Island in the East is essentially a love story with the backdrop of the Second World War. Jenny Ashcroft has managed to seamlessly bridge the two timelines. Both the periods hold your attention equally. She has crafted complex characters with passionate love stories. Harriet/Mae's story has intense love, betrayal, heartbreak and sacrifice. Ivy's love story begins during the war when so much uncertainty prevailed. I got emotionally invested in both the stories. She has evocatively described the endless summer, intense heat and humidity of the island nation. The vivid description of the Fall of Singapore and the appalling living conditions of the inmates of Changi prison are well done by the author. A moving tale of love that I highly recommend. 

Rating - 5/5

Recommend - Go for it !

Belonging by Umi Sinha

Setting

The story is set in colonial India from the late 1800s till after the First World War. It was the time when India was under British rule. In 1857, Britishers saw the first major uprising against them, which we also refer to as the first struggle for India's independence. 

Storyline

The story is told from three perspectives of people belonging to three different generations of the same family. Cecily, in the 1850s, when she was travelling to India from England to get married to a much older Army officer posted in India. She also recounts her struggles of getting accustomed to living in a new country. Most of Henry's story is about his motherless childhood during the 1860s and later his troubled marriage with Rebecca during the 1880s. Henry's daughter, Lila's story is about the loss she suffers in her childhood and later her life in England. 

My Thoughts

Belonging is a multilayered book and not an easy one to read. Several times I had to keep the book aside to comprehend all that was happening in the lives of the protagonists. I like to read about India under British Raj as it was the dark times in our history. But reading about a British family in India was something new for me. It gave a glimpse of the British lifestyle during the Raj. Although the story is about a British family living in India, it does not stereotype the Indians. Henry and Lila both had an innate attachment towards India which was endearing. The three POV's could have been disastrous but the author has handled them well. They contribute to the flow of the narrative instead of disturbing it. The story is engaging and will ensure that you keep turning the pages. I honestly didn't see the twist coming at the end. Also, the epistolary style of writing adds to the beauty of the story. Cecily's letters to her sister and Henry's diary entries take the narrative forward. I would love to read how Lila's life continued in India. 

Rating  - 4/5

Recommend - Yes

 

Those I Have Lost by Sharon Maas

Setting 

During the Second World War,  Ceylon was a British colony like India. The tea plantations around Kandy were largely owned by English men. They regarded locals beneath them and only worthy for menial jobs. Mingling with them was frowned upon and children of mixed parentage were shunned. After the fall of Singapore, the Japanese conducted air raids over Colombo bringing the war to the shores of Ceylon.  

Storyline

Rosie lived with her family in Madras, India. Her father was a scholar,  mostly lost in the world of books. But her mother, Lucy was her companion and shared a deep connection with her. After Lucy’s sudden and unexpected death, to bring her out of her spell of grief and to honour her mother’s last wish, Rosie was sent to Ceylon to live with Aunt Silvia, her mother’s best friend. Rosie thrives amongst the glorious lush green tea gardens with Aunt Silvia’s two boys. She also forms a friendship with the servant girl Usha. Despite a vast gap between their social standing, they take to each other well. When the war reaches Ceylon, one after the other, all three Huxley brothers enlist themselves. Huxley family was left behind living in constant dread of the inevitable.

My Thoughts

Those I have Lost is like a memoir of a fictional character, Rosie, who grew up in India and Ceylon during World War II.  Rosie’s character is relatable and realistic. She has her set of flaws along with being headstrong and fiercely independent. Her bond with Usha was not of mistress and servant but rather of equals. She never allows her social status to get in the way of their friendship. The British perception of whites being a superior race and natives being beneath them has been described well. The author has eloquently expressed the fears and anxiety of loved ones left behind during the war. The historical facts like the Japanese invasion of Malay, the fall of Singapore or the Burma railway have been seamlessly weaved in the narrative and don't sound like a history lesson. The book is overall slow but then such books are meant to be read at a leisurely pace. 

Rating - 4/5

Recommend -  Yes!

 

The Shut Away Sisters by Suzanne Goldring

Setting

During the First World War or the Great War, England was at war with Germany. Across Britain, men joined the army to fight in the war and serve their country. Later conscription was introduced wherein single men between the age of 18-40 were liable to be called to serve in the army. In 1918 a global pandemic called Spanish Flu struck Britain resulting in a large number of fatalities. 

Storyline

The books run in two timelines. First is in 1999, where Kate discovers the unfaithfulness of her partner David. She seeks refuge in her Great-Aunt Florrie's Victorian House. Her father also tasks her with the sorting of the house. While sorting, she comes across a closed door with no idea what is behind it. She starts digging into the life of her reclusive aunts. 

The other timeline takes us back to the beginning of the First World War, in 1915. Florrie as a young girl lives with her parents and siblings- elder sister Edith and younger brother George. Edith's fiancée Frank was out fighting the war. Edith shuts herself away from the outside world, always writing to him, leaving young Florrie to lend a hand to their mother in the running of the household. Furthermore, Spanish flu struck rendering a two-fold blow to the populace. Florrie’s family doesn't remain untouched by the disease leaving the family devastated. Everyone responds to grief in their own way. Edith’s answer to her grief was shutting herself into an illusionary world where Frank was still alive. 

My Thoughts

Another historical fiction with dual timelines though it appeared that I was reading two altogether different stories or as well different books. The link between the two is threadbare and barely there. The book is more about the toll the First World War took on the people, the cost each family had to pay rather than about the war itself. But only reading about the daily toil of Florrie’s family with a detailed description of their meals, bored me to tears. Florrie is a dutiful daughter who takes care of her family selflessly. Her self sacrificing and ungrudging attitude was beyond my comprehension. I found it too good to be true. During our current covid times reading about Spanish Flu would have been interesting. But even the spread of pandemic is not delved into in-depth. Overall, it was a disappointing read. 

Rating - 3/5

Recommend  - No 

The Girl Behind the Wall by Mandy Robotham

 

So after numerous World War II fiction this year, this one is about the aftermath of the war, the tribulations of the people who ended up on the losing side. It's about those who suffered first through the war because of the oppressive regime and later as they lost the war - the plebeians.  

Setting

Post the Second World War there was an ideological and political divide between the Allies and the Soviet Union and thus began the Cold War. Germany was divided into West Germany led by Allies and East Germany under the Soviet occupation. Amidst this was Berlin situated entirely in East Germany but still divided into two parts one under Allies (west) and the other under Soviets (east). West Berlin was the symbolic presence of Allies behind the iron curtain. 

"It's hard to picture an entire metropolis as floating in the land-sea of East Germany, 160km adrift from the remainder of West Germany, but that's how it is in the post-war world."

Storyline

August 1961, the people of Berlin wake up one morning to realise that barbed wire has been put up between East and West Berlin with no way to access the other part. This barbed wire gradually transformed into a concrete wall. Karin, a West Berliner unfortunately gets separated from her family and her twin Jutta as she was hospitalised in the eastern part of the city. Karin was the quiet and the creative type and Jutta was the ambitious one out of the two. Unable to cross the wall, Karin builds a life for her on the eastern side with Otto. Despite the constant fear of Stasi and a life of always looking over your shoulder, she made peace with her predicament and tried to adjust to life in East Berlin. While Jutta spends almost all her waking minutes trying to reach or get a message across to her twin. But with the love of her life on the eastern side, would Karin ever decide to get back to her family?  

My Thoughts

Mandy Robotham has written the book in a single timeline which does not break the flow of the story and kept me engrossed. The exposition of people separated and divided by the wall is done beautifully and vividly. Their anger, fear, misery and helplessness are palpable. I was completely invested in Jutta's character. She went to great lengths to reach her twin. For some reason, I was unable to understand Karin's indecisiveness and hesitation to cross over. But then maybe love does that to you. The book is slightly slow and at times some events appear repetitive and stretched. But overall a good book and worth reading. It made me go back and research about Berlin Wall. 

Rating - 4/5

Recommend - Yes!

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

Setting

In 1939, France was on the verge of war with the constant threat from the Nazis. The majority of the Parisians were in denial about this. Amidst this was the American Library, founded in 1920, that kept its doors open throughout the war serving its subscribers selflessly. 

Storyline

The Paris Library follows a dual timeline. In 1939, Odile Souchet was a young, aspiring and somewhat impulsive librarian working in The American Library. With the threat of war on the horizon, her twin Remy- a law student, enlists himself in the army, much against the wishes of the family. Odile loved books and with her dream job in American Library, she settled right in. When Paris was declared an open city to avoid destruction, Jews were declared persona non grata by the Nazis. Paris was teeming with Nazis with checkpoints at every street corner. Jews and people from Allied countries deemed as enemy aliens were randomly picked up and thrown into prison or sent to internment camps. Nazis appointed Bibliotheksschutz the library protector who censored the books which didn't agree with Nazi propaganda. In other words, they were the Book-Gestapo. They barred Jews from the library. When war broke out, Odile and her co-workers at the American library sent book care packages to soldiers on the front and also to injured one's in the hospital to lift their spirit and morale. They also hand-delivered books to the subscribers who were no longer allowed in the library. 

The second timeline follows Odile, widowed, four decades later, in a small town in America. Her unusual friendship with Lily, a teenage girl who idolizes her. She shares her life experiences with Lily, who is intrigued about Odile’s past. Lily makes her revisit her past and make peace with it.

My Thoughts

It is an extremely well-researched book based on a true story. To me, it gave a different perspective on the war. Common working people contributed in their small ways to raise the morale of people. It showed the resilience of the library staff who in defiance of the Nazis continued serving the library subscribers. Despite the hostile environment, they hand-delivered the books to their Jew patrons. Books kept hope alive in people and provided them respite. It makes you fall in love with books and stories again and believe in their healing power.

“But seriously, why books. Because no other thing possesses that mystical faculty to make people see with other people's eyes. The Library is a bridge of books between cultures.”

The camaraderie between library staff and its patrons was especially entertaining. Also, the reference to the Dewey Decimal System and extracts from books was interesting. The book is a little slow in the middle but keeps you engrossed. It would have been interesting to find out if Odile made her journey to Paris to get closure to all the things she left unfinished behind. If you love historical fiction and books, then this one is for you.

Rating - 4/5

Recommend - Go for it!

 

Darjeeling Inheritance by Liz Harris

I picked up this book because I wanted to read something light for a change. I have been reading a lot of world war fiction and wanted a break from it. Darjeeling Inheritance gave me that much-needed break. 

Setting

Darjeeling in 1930 was a quaint little hill station in the Himalayas used as a sanitarium by Britishers in Pre-independence India. The Britishers found the climate of Darjeeling conducive for tea cultivation. Soon many tea estates cropped up on the hills of Darjeeling. These were owned and run by Britishers. Labourers mostly consisted of local people and Nepalis, needed for the back-breaking work of planting, tending and plucking of tea leaves.

Storyline

Charlotte grew up in a tea estate in Darjeeling called Sundar(beautiful) with her father Charles and mother Winifred Lawrence. She returned to India from England after completing her education only to find out that her father had passed away with Sundar bequeathed to her. He wished her to marry Andrew, younger son of a fellow tea estate owner. Andrew was a frivolous young man with no interest in the working of a tea estate. Ada was travelling to Darjeeling to get married to Harry Banning, a tea estate owner. She accompanied Charlotte on her trip to India and acted as her chaperone. Charlotte meets Dan Fitzgerald, the assistant manager of the estate who helps her in learning the ropes of managing the tea estate, much to the chagrin of her mother. What follows is a tale of love and betrayal. 

My Thoughts 

It is a well-researched book with details of how tea is grown and processed woven beautifully in the narrative. The vivid description of the picturesque town of Darjeeling is captivating. It transports you to the hills of Darjeeling with lush tea gardens, the snow-covered Himalayas in the background and the aroma of tea in the air. 

“His vision blurred, he turned to face the mass of dark green forested slope that rose in layers beneath the clear blue sky, and the range of mountains behind them, their gold-tipped peaks linked in a chain of gold above the snow-covered slopes, as if suspended in nothingness. ”

“As they stood watching, the gilded rays of the burgeoning sun caught the crests of Kanchenjunga. Drenched in liquid gold, the jagged peaks burst through the mass of white that spanned the sky, and stood out proudly.”

Charlotte’s character exudes certain innocence and vulnerability. She is a young girl who knows her mind and wants to preserve her family's legacy. Ada contrastingly is a deceptive and self-absorbed person. She doesn't give a second thought before backstabbing her friend and deceiving her husband. The arrogance of Britishers during that era is aptly depicted. Also, the position of women in British society wasn't much different from anywhere else in the world. The role of women was primarily to raise the family and manage the household, leaving the role of bread earner to the men. 

“Out here, women run the household. They oversee the care of their children. They discuss the daily menu with the head bearer. They ensure that the servants are doing what they ought to be doing and not cheating them. They check that the milk’s covered and that the water's boiled and filtered. And they keep their husbands happy. They don't run the tea estates.”

The end is very much predictable. I would have appreciated an epilogue that I felt was missing and would have added to the appeal of the book. It is a book to read while in a cosy chair watching the rain outside the window with a cup of hot chocolate (or rather a tea!). Go for it for some old-world charm.

Star Rating - 3.5/5

Recommend - Try if you want to unwind with a simple story.