Complete Guide to Visiting Yellowstone National Park

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This post might help as a guide while planning the trip to Yellowstone with kids.

Yellowstone National Park is the first National park in the world. This park gives us an opportunity to check the most wonderful hydrothermal and geological features on the earth by walking on the inactive Volcano! Now, coming to the point of How to Plan a Vacation to Yellowstone. 

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How to reach Yellowstone?

Flying to the airport nearby and renting a car is the best way to reach. The nearest airports are Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana (2 hrs to Park), Jackson Hole Airport in Jackson, Wyoming (1 hr to Park),  Idaho Falls airport (2 hrs to Park), and Salt Lake City Airport (4.5 hrs to park).

Here are some Economical flight options to Salt Lake city:

Image by Mike Goad from Pixabay 

Yellowstone National Park is majorly in Wyoming, but also spreads to some parts of Idaho and Montana.

Car rentals from Salt Lake City

Entrance Fee:

The fee is $35 / vehicle. There are 5 entrances - South Entrance (near Grand Teton/ Jackson), North Entrance (near Gardiner), west entrance (near West Yellowstone), East entrance (near Cody, Wyoming), and Northeast entrance (near Cooke City, Montana).

Where to Stay?

Of course, there are many lodges inside the park, but they require a reservation at least 8 to 9 months before.  There are many campgrounds as well, but the key is to plan early as summers get crowded and booked too early.

If staying outside, I suggest you stay in West Yellowstone. West Yellowstone is a cool town with great restaurants, hotels, and tourist facilities. 

Accommodations near West Yellowstone:

The second option is to search around Gardiner. Other entrances might need more driving and beating the traffic.

Image by Olya Adamovich from Pixabay 

Accommodations near Gardiner:

When is the best time to visit?

For the first-time visitors, Summer / early spring / early fall are better as they can explore all roads, waterfalls, and hike more.

In winter and late fall, most of the roads might close. Snowmobile and cross country skiing is popular during that time.

Summer is the peak season for Yellowstone. So, expect more crowds, and more traffic jams. Yellowstone is in mountains, so it will be cooler in the evenings even in summer. Shorts are fine for day time but light jackets are suggested for evenings.

If you want to beat the crowds, you may plan to visit in the early fall. Temperatures are moderate during the fall, but a few unexpected snowstorms might occur spoiling the plans, and road closures might be there. 

How many days to spend in Yellowstone?

I feel, 2 to 5 days is best to cover all major places in Yellowstone. Yellowstone national park covers over 2 million acres of land. It is very big. If you see the map, the grand loop covers most of the park. 

https://flic.kr/p/7JYsuX

The Grand loop is like a number eight with 2 loops - lower and upper. This whole loop takes 5 to 7 hrs. But, considering the traffic due to crowds / Bison jams, it takes 2 to 3 hrs to drive each loop (upper / lower) without stopping by at any places.

The upper loop covers Norris Geyser basin ( home to the tallest geyser in the world - Steamboat geyser), Mammoth Hotsprings, Roosevelt arch, Canyon area (Yellowstone waterfalls). Drive to Lamar Valley takes a few more hours which is not part of the loop. 

The lower loop is the region with more action. It covers the Lower geyser basin, Midway geyser basin (Grand Prismatic Spring), Upper geyser basin (Old Faithful), West thumb geyser basin, and Lake Village.

Here are a few tips to decide on the number of days you need to visit Yellowstone in the Summer:

1. The lower loop can be covered in 1.5 days. Lower Geyser basin is pretty quick to cover - Fountain paint pots and Biscuit basic are some that can be covered. This might take around 1 hr, but to reach this place from the West entrance through Madison junction takes 40 mins to 1.5 hrs depending on traffic.

2. Midway geyser basin is the most attractive and vibrant place with colors. A boardwalk to midway geyser basin and hike to Grand Prismatic spring overlook from Fairy falls trailhead will take around 2 to 3 hrs.

3. Even though the Upper geyser basin is famous for Old Faithful which erupts every 45 mins, there are many geysers to look at around here. The trail is around 4.9 miles loop and takes around 1.5 to 2.5 hrs. 

4. So, to cover 1, 2, 3 itself we need 1.5 days minimum. 

5. The next not-to-miss point is Canyon. To cover Upper falls, the brink of lower falls, and various scenic points / overlooks for falls, it takes a minimum of 3 to 5 hrs depending on the hikes you select.

6. Norris geyser basin takes around 1 to 2 hrs and this area is the most active and dynamic place. 

7. Mammoth Hotsprings area has many beautiful terrace springs. To cover all the springs, it might take 1 to 3 hrs, but there are many steps in the trail. Roosevelt arch is just 15 mins away.

8. While the above 7 places are not to miss, Yellowstone has many waterfalls which can be viewed with very little / no hike like Gibbon falls, Keppler cascades, Firehole falls, Tower fall etc., There are also some places like Yellowstone lake, Westthumb lake, West thumb geyser basin, Mud volcano which we can visit on the way driving from one place to another.

To be precise, I suggest a minimum of 4 days if traveling with kids as we need to consider food and restroom breaks.

Where to Eat?

Inside the park, Places like Old faithful, canyon village, Lake village, Mammoth hot springs have gas stations, food, and snack options. These places are good to relax and have lunch/dinner too. 

We loved the sandwiches from the terrace grill at the Mammoth Hot springs area and Oldfaithful lodge. Veg options are available at both of these locations. We didn't find many veg options at Old faithful inn. Lake lodge cafeteria / Lake hotel dining room near Lake village and Canyon cafeteria in Canyon region are good. 

Image by Alejandro Guzman from Pixabay 

Homemade ice cream in City Creamery in West Yellowstone came highly recommended. Huckleberry ice cream at the old faithful lodge is great.

West Yellowstone is a beautiful town with multiple dining options. Jackson is another option for good food. 

What else to Know?

Traffic is terrific in Yellowstone. We visited in mid of June and it's not peak season yet. Still, we got stuck in traffic every day for around 1 hr while entering the park and 1 hr while leaving the park. 

It is common for people to get down for fishing or to watch wildlife near Madison junction which caused many traffic jams for hours. Be prepared for traffic.

As mentioned above, food is available at major junctions in the park-like Old faithful, west thumb, Canyon, Lak Village, and Mammoth hot springs. But, there are queues at some places like Old faithful lodge at any point in time.

Restrooms are mostly available at all major hiking locations but expect queues there as well.

When traveling in summer, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are mandatory. Carry lots of water. Carry light jackets for evening hikes. 

Since many places have boardwalks, it might look easier, but each trail is a minimum of 1 to a 1.5-mile distance and we walk 5 to 7 miles per day without knowing by just visiting 3 to 4 places. So, plan accordingly if traveling with kids. Carry snacks and drinks like Gatorade to avoid exhaustion.

Broadwalk near Upper Geyser basin

Yellowstone is a big park and it takes a better plan to make the vacation happier. I hope this guide helps you to plan the trip. 

If you have any other questions about planning the trip, please leave your comments. I will reply back as soon as I can.

Happy and Safe travels :-)

Check here to read about visiting Grand Teton National park which is just 40 mins drive from South Entrance. 

Read the detailed Yellowstone travelogue below:

Yellowstone Itinerary Day #1 - Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and West thumb geyser basin

Yellowstone Itinerary Day #2 - Midway Geyser Basin and Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook

Yellowstone itinerary Day #2 (Part 2) - Upper geyser basin and Lower geyser basin, Old Faithful

Yellowstone Itinerary Day #3 - Mammoth Hot springs, Roosevelt Arch, and Norris geyser basin

Until next time,

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Grand Teton National Park trip with kids - What you need to know

Grand Teton National Park trip with Kids

Grand Teton National Park with the majestic Teton mountain range, lush green valleys, and alpine lakes attracts millions of visitors every year.

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What you need to know:

This park is located to the north of Jackson in the Wyoming state of USA. The entry fee per vehicle for a seven-day pass is $35.

The Park can be reachable by flying to Jackson / to Salt lake city and driving around 4.5 hrs on road. 

Top things to do in Grand Teton National Park with kids:

Drive the scenic loop:

One of the must-do things is to drive the scenic loop. We took the scenic drive from Moose Entrance. 

One great thing about the park is that we can see the zigzagged Teton mountains everywhere from the park.

Teton Peak

Some viewpoints with great overlooks are Windy Point Turnout,  Mount Moran turnout, Chapel of Sacred heart, Cascade mountain overlook, Jackson dam, Schwabacher landing, Oxbow bend overlook, Cascade Canyon overlook, and Snake river overlook.

Jackson Dam

This 42-mile long drive takes around 1 to 2 hrs.

Take a boat ride on Jenny Lake and Hike to Hidden Falls:

Jenny lake is the most popular site in the park and parking gets filled pretty quick. 

Jenny Lake

We can either hike around Jenny lake / ride the boat shuttle which runs every 15 mins from South Jenny Lake Junction. With kids, it's better to take a shuttle so that they can hike to hidden falls easily.

The boat ride (round trip) costs $18 for adults and $10 for kids above 2 years.

Hidden Falls

We took the shuttle in the afternoon, hiked to Hidden falls and to Inspiration point. The views are awesome during hikes and boat rides. 

The hidden falls are excellent with a magnificent flow of water. The hike to Inspiration Point is not easy with more elevation and steep path, but we took more breaks and could make it. The view of Jenny Lake from the Inspiration point is unexplainable in words. 

Take a hike to Taggart Lake:

This hike came well recommended for families with kids. Taggart lake trail is around 3.3 miles out and back trail. A few people hike to Bradley lake as well. The trail is an average difficulty level with mostly flat and less elevation.

The lake gives the best reflection of Tetons in the water. We could even get our feet wet and relax a bit with snacks at the lake. 

Click a Photo of photogenic Mormon Row barn:

Most of you might have seen this beautiful barn with the background of the majestic mountains. It's so popular that people set up their cameras with tripods in the early morning and evenings and wait for hours to get a better shot with different lighting. Artists even paint there to cover the gorgeous scene.

Mormon Row is on the Antelope flats road near Moose entrance.

We visited this place in the evening when the sun is still bright. But, photos might be better in the evening.

Image by WikiImages from Pixabay 

Enjoy the food and facilities at Dornan's:

Dornan's near Moose Entrance is a great place to have a quick lunch/dinner or stop by for ice cream and snacks. Chuckwagon Grill provides lunch and dinner options. 

There is a gas station here as well. 

Other Food options:

• Leek's marina near Jackson lake - Northern part 
• Mural dining room, Jackson lodge
• Pioneer Grill in the Jackson Lake Lodge for the best milkshake

Other things to do with kids:

• String Lake - 4.4 miles - slightly difficult with kids - but possible with many rest breaks

• A drive through the Jenny lake loop to get Jenny lake overview

• A drive to Signal mountain

• Relax at Colter bay - one of the highest alpine lakes in the USA

Hope you liked our itinerary and I would be glad if this helps in your planning.

Please do let me know in the comments how you plan to visit this national park. 

More travelogues on Yellowstone and Idaho follow soon in the coming posts.  

Until next time,

The Winter Song by Saurav Dutt - [Book Review]

Book Details:

Title: The Winter Song

Author: Saurav Dutt

Print Length: 171 pages

Genre: Memoir, Contemporary Literature

Source: A free review copy through Rachel's Random Resources

Blurb:

From the acclaimed Author of 'The Butterfly Room' comes a powerful afterlife drama conveying how great gifts can be hidden in death and how they can bear fruit in our lives if we have the faith to let them unfold.

Somewhere between the mountains and the mist in Simla, India a widower must reconcile himself to the loss and grief that haunts him after the recent death of his wife.

Unhinged by grief, anger, and guilt, John Perera has set off on a journey, a journey to honor the love of his life and to fulfil the promise he made to her to uncover the truth behind the mysterious death of their son. It is a journey of extraordinary self-discovery that will take him to the extremities of his soul and question all he believes about life, death, and faith.

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Winter-Song-Saurav-Dutt-ebook/dp/B08NFD2ZNS

US - https://www.amazon.com/Winter-Song-Saurav-Dutt-ebook/dp/B08NFD2ZNS

My Review:

The Winter Song is about how death impacts loved ones. It is a poignant story of John who embarks on a journey to fulfill a promise given to her dead wife Asima. On this journey, he realizes the mistakes he made in his life. He also thinks of the opportunities he missed to change some circumstances.

This is the story of grief and guilt. The message is clear - we love our family a lot but we don't show it enough to the family members when they are alive. Of course, the guilt remains when they are no more to express our love and care.

What's great?

The writing is beautiful. A great literary work. But, it is emotionally wrenching and it is a sad read around the death. So, if you are mourning for someone, you will immediately connect to it. If not, it will definitely give you an emotional ride.

The book cover is beautiful and well done. The title is apt too.

The emotions are well expressed - grief, guilt, and love.

What might have been better?

The sequence of events seems abrupt. It would have been good if they had a smooth and clear transition when the narrative goes between current and past. This part is a bit confusing at some times.

It is a slow read and it will take time to get into us (if that's a concern to you as a reader).

My Rating: 3.5/5

PS: I am thankful to Rachel's Random Resources for a free review copy and this is my honest opinion on the book.

About the Author:

Saurav Dutt is an Author, Political Columnist and Human Rights Campaigner. A journalist in three continents, his acclaimed debut novel 'The Butterfly Room' explored issues of domestic violence and homophobia within South Asian communities and has been showcased alongside leading political figures and human rights campaigners. His work for human rights and charity campaign work has taken Dutt to speaking engagements at the WEF, IKWRO, IWN, Houses of Parliament and TEDx.

After exploring the issue of psychological abuse and domestic violence in 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out' Dutt was commissioned by a major Hollywood production house to pen the official novelization of the major motion picture 'Tiger' (starring Golden Globe winning and Academy Award nominated actor Mickey Rourke) and he commemorated the centenary of the infamous Amritsar Massacre in India with 'Garden of Bullets: Massacre at Jallianwala Bagh' which was featured in TIME magazine. TIGER is the biographical account of Parminder Singh Nagra, a trailblazing Sikh boxer who fought successfully for the right to compete in the ring with his beard, an essential part of his faith.

A syndicated political columnist, Dutt writes for the International Business Times, The Times of Israel, Human Events, and American Herald Tribune. He has featured on CNN, GQ, Huffington Post, Business Insider, BBC television and radio, RT (Russia Today), Press TV, Sky News, and more. He has been shortlisted several times for the Asian Achievers Awards and Asian Media Awards. He resides in the United Kingdom, Los Angeles, and India.

Social Media Links – @sd_saurav on Twitter

Until next time,

Adventure by Chicken Bus: An Unschooling Odyssey through Central America by Janet LoSole - [Book Review]

 Book Details:

Title : Adventure by Chicken Bus: An Unschooling Odyssey through Central America

Author : Janet LoSole

Genre : Memoirs, Non-Fiction

Publisher : Resource Publications

Print Length : 217 pages

Source: A free review copy from the author

Blurb:

Embarking on a homeschooling field trip to Central America is stressful enough, but add in perilous bridge crossings, trips to the hospital, and a lack of women’s underwear, and you have the makings of an Adventure by Chicken Bus…a tale of one family, buckling under a mountain of debt, who sells all worldly possessions and hits the road.

Adventure by Chicken Bus demonstrates how to travel sustainably, but more importantly, how to nurture the next generation of environmentalists and social justice activists by exposing them to the conditions faced by those in the developing world.

From a remote monkey sanctuary tucked into an enclave on the Panama-Costa Rica frontier to the overdeveloped beaches of the Mayan Riviera, we endure chaotic border crossings, infections and injuries, learn about the history of the civil war in Nicaragua, visit UNESCO heritage sites, and hike the ancient Mayan temples of Tikal in Guatemala.

For the sake of safety, we plan our route down to the kilometer, navigating the region by chicken bus, an eye-opening mode of public transportation ubiquitous in the developing world. Along the way we re-connect with each other, re-kindle our commitment to the environment, recognize the privilege into which we were born, and become compassionate global citizens.

My Review:

A couple leaving their jobs as school teachers in Canada travel to Costa Rica with their 2 kids to work at an organization that saves endangered sea turtles. This is their story of homeschooling their children while learning the native cultures of the places they visit to live like a local with meager income without any luxuries like electricity and a refrigerator.

This is about their travel experiences and their hurdles. This is kind of a homeschooling field trip but a long one to Central America.

While reading the book, at some points I got a chill in my spine, when they had to stay in musty, Narrow rooms, travel in overcrowded buses without enough air to breathe, when their daughter misses an accident in seconds, etc.,

I appreciate and understand  Janet and Lloyd's interest in community-based travel supporting local businesses and homeschooling their kids.👏

Why the name Chicken bus? 🐔🐣

Chicken Bus is a colloquial term used to describe the run-down, discarded school buses from North America sold to Latin American countries, where they are repainted in bright colors, outfitted with stereo speakers, and upcycled with more seats to accommodate more people with their potatoes, avocadoes, and chickens. 

What's great?

Loved the book cover and the title is appropriate. The map at the beginning of the book is very helpful to understand the route they travel and the places they visit.

The Author's passion to homeschool their kids by showing the local people and their culture are worth an appreciation. 

What might have been better?

I felt the book is too verbose. Some photos might have made reading easier.

The font might have been larger.

The book ends with this line which I agree 100%

" Yes, The Chicken buses, crammed full and whistling down a bumpy road, unveil a great deal indeed"

My Rating: 4/5

About the Author:

Elif Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish novelist. She writes in both Turkish and English, and has published 18 books, 11 of which are novels. Her work has been translated into 54 languages. Her latest novel 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and RSL Ondaatje Prize; and chosen Blackwell's Book of the Year. Her previous novel, The Forty Rules of Love was chosen by BBC among 100 Novels that Shaped Our World. Shafak holds a PhD in political science and she has taught at various universities in Turkey, the US and the UK, including St Anne's College, Oxford University, where she is an honorary fellow.

Shafak is a Fellow and a Vice President of the Royal Society of Literature. She is a member of Weforum Global Agenda Council on Creative Economy and a founding member of ECFR (European Council on Foreign Relations). An advocate for women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of speech, Shafak is an inspiring public speaker and twice TED Global speaker, each time receiving a standing ovation. Shafak contributes to major publications around the world and she was awarded the medal of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. In 2017 she was chosen by Politico as one of the twelve people "who will give you a much needed lift of the heart". Shafak has judged numerous literary prizes, and chaired the Wellcome Prize and is presently judging the PEN Nabokov Prize.
www.elifshafak.com
Twitter @Elif_Safak
Instagram @shafakelif

Until next time,

5 ways to reduce stress

 Stress, Stress, Stress..

We have been learning more about mental health, anxiety, and stress these days. 

What is Stress?

Stress is the body's reaction to a challenge. It can be positive like when we have to avoid some danger or accomplish any task on time. But, too much of it can negatively affect our health. Stress is the way we react to a difficult situation like anger, frustration, etc.,. 

Even when we train ourselves to be calm, it's not easy to handle all kinds of situations and maintain cool. 

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Signs of Stress:

As per the article from MedlinePlus, the following are some signs of stress:

• Diarrhea or constipation
• Forgetfulness
• Frequent aches and pains
• Headaches
• Lack of energy or focus
• Sexual problems
• Stiff jaw or neck
• Tiredness
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Upset stomach
• Use of alcohol or drugs to relax
• Weight loss or gain

In long term, stress can cause harm to the body and can be a reason for many diseases.

So, here are 5 ways that I learned from my experience which help in reducing mental stress.

5 ways to reduce stress:

1. Excercise

Exercise found to have many benefits and reducing stress is just one of them. 

Exercise need not mean hitting the gym and working for hours. It can be as simple as dancing to your favorite tune, hiking to explore nature, trying swimming/karate lessons, biking/jogging etc., 

If the activity is something you love, chances are more for you to continue the activity and even enjoy the experience.

PC: www.pixabay.com

2. Explore Hobbies and Fun Activities

Ensure you spend time on your hobbies at least 30 mins a week to start with and increase to more days in a week slowly.

Reading books, painting, even playing simple games online like word search, candy crush, playing board games like chess / Chinese checkers with family can relax your mind.

How games have changed these days? From Tetris, Pacman to PubG, Pokemon.. There are so many games available online and even free on Plays.org. (By the way, this site has no ads, that's a relief :-)). While I liked Arcade games, my kids loved games from the Base Defence category.

Listening to music/ singing songs, learning different types of dance styles/music instruments, etc., are very helpful in reducing anxiety.

3. Enjoy the Outdoors and Nature

Our Earth is gorgeous. Traveling outdoors and discovering different places is relaxing and also a learning experience. 

Experiencing different foods, meeting people from different cultures, traveling to new places, staying near the beauty of nature like forests, mountains, and beaches are definitely mood changers and can brighten our souls. Agree?

Image by Leonardo Valente from Pixabay 

4. Spend time with people you love

Humans are social animals. Love and social interactions are essentials in our lives. It doesn't matter how much we earn, but how many good friends we earn is important. 

Due to Covid, we are not able to meet people in person. Since most of us are getting vaccinated, it's not far when we can go back to family dinners and parties with friends. 

Happiness keeps the stress away. Spending time with loved ones gives us security and satisfaction in life.

5. Practice Mindfulness and Gratitude

I came to understand the importance of mindfulness and gratitude a bit late in my life. But, these 2 are great ways to have positive thoughts in our mind which, in turn, reduce stress.

Mindfulness means appreciating the moments in the present. Gratitude is feeling thankful for what we have than worrying about what we don't have.

Image by Alfonso Cerezo from Pixabay 

Enjoying the beauty of flowers blooming in our garden, appreciating the help from a stranger, relishing the smile of our children when they are playing, gorging the delicious food made at home, enjoying a hug from a close friend, etc., - These everyday small things make our day.

Yoga and Meditation can improve mindfulness and positive thinking. When we can stop overthinking and reduce negative thoughts, the mind feels relaxed.

Thus, there are many simple ways to reduce stress in our daily lives. Always remember, for a long-term impact, we should eat a balanced diet, meditate and try to think positively. 

How do you cope up with stress? Would love to know your suggestions in the comments.

Until next time,

Happy to collaborate with Plays.org to write this article on some simple ways to reduce stress. 

The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak - [Book Review]

 Book Details:

Title : The Forty Rules of Love

Author : Elif Shafak

Genre : Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

Publisher : Penguin

Print Length : 370 pages

Blurb:

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

* One of the BBC's '100 Novels that Shaped the World'*

"Every true love and friendship is a story of unexpected transformation. If we are the same person before and after we loved, that means we haven't loved enough . . ."

Ella Rubinstein has a husband, three teenage children, and a pleasant home. Everything that should make her confident and fulfilled. Yet there is an emptiness at the heart of Ella's life - an emptiness once filled by love.

So when Ella reads a manuscript about the thirteenth-century Sufi poet Rumi and Shams of Tabriz, and his forty rules of life and love, her world is turned upside down. She embarks on a journey to meet the mysterious author of this work.

It is a quest infused with Sufi mysticism and verse, taking Ella and us into an exotic world where faith and love are heartbreakingly explored. . .

'Enlightening, enthralling. An affecting paean to faith and love' Metro

'Colourfully woven and beguilingly intelligent' Daily Telegraph

'The past and present fit together beautifully in a passionate defence of passion itself' The Times

My Review:

First of all thanks to the fellow book review bloggers and bookstagrammers who suggested this book. Else I would have missed a gem in my life.

The forty rules of love is about the life of Shams, a sufi, his relationship with God, his friendship with scholar Rumi, his compassion and love. We get introduced to Shams by a novel written by Aziz. Ella is given this book by their publishing office to read, review and write a report on the book. It is interesting how the lives of Aziz and Ella are influenced by Shams in the novel.

The story flows smoothly covering 3 lives in parallel- Shams, Aziz, and Ella's. The narrative is very interesting. The whole book is full of beautiful quotes in the form of forty rules of love. I have never used the kindle highlight feature as much I used for this book.

This book in some way might change you, beware! We learn The principles of Sufism, the importance of selfless love, the feeling of oneness with God and other human beings, and a lot more.

I seriously think I cannot rate this book. Is there any option to rate more than 5 out of 5?

I suggest this book to readers who would like to understand the deeper meaning of life without getting bored by religious lectures. 

About the Author:

Elif Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish novelist. She writes in both Turkish and English, and has published 18 books, 11 of which are novels. Her work has been translated into 54 languages. Her latest novel 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and RSL Ondaatje Prize; and chosen Blackwell's Book of the Year. Her previous novel, The Forty Rules of Love was chosen by BBC among 100 Novels that Shaped Our World. Shafak holds a PhD in political science and she has taught at various universities in Turkey, the US and the UK, including St Anne's College, Oxford University, where she is an honorary fellow.

Shafak is a Fellow and a Vice President of the Royal Society of Literature. She is a member of Weforum Global Agenda Council on Creative Economy and a founding member of ECFR (European Council on Foreign Relations). An advocate for women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of speech, Shafak is an inspiring public speaker and twice TED Global speaker, each time receiving a standing ovation. Shafak contributes to major publications around the world and she was awarded the medal of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. In 2017 she was chosen by Politico as one of the twelve people "who will give you a much needed lift of the heart". Shafak has judged numerous literary prizes, and chaired the Wellcome Prize and is presently judging the PEN Nabokov Prize.
www.elifshafak.com
Twitter @Elif_Safak
Instagram @shafakelif

Until next time,

Short Horror Stories Vol.3 by Brendon Faife - [Book Review]

Book Details:

Title: Short Horror Stories Vol.3: Aliens, Reptiles, Paranormal & Supernatural Hauntings (World Creepy Tales Collection)

Author: Brendon Faife

Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Short stories

Print length: 58 pages

Blurb from Amazon:

Not all Gods are benevolent….

I am thrilled to put together this collection of creepy short stories set in different parts of the world!!
From the pristine beaches of the Andaman Islands, a quaint seaside town in Bali or the rugged plains of Oregon — the locations are as beautiful as the horrifying events which unravel in them!

This volume contains 3 horror stories that will have you feverishly turning pages, wanting more—

Whether it is the mysterious tribe of the Sentinel Island who violently reject contact with outsiders , an abandoned theme park in Bali that holds a dark disturbing secret, or the sinister undertones of mysterious cattle mutilations that take place in Oregon, I hope you find every story as creepy and exciting as I imagined it in my mind’s eye!

The fast-paced, simple narration will keep you hooked until the chilling climax!

So, settle down in a quiet place, dim your lights and let the stories transport you, across different cultures and continents, into another world!

This horror short story collection contains:
1.The Island
2.The Theme Park
3.The Visitors

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

This book is a collection of short stories mostly themed around horror, alien, supernatural, reptile / alien creatures. I would say, the stories are mysterious, not gory or scary. But, only 3 stories in a collection felt very short.

By the way, the book cover is amazing!

The island

This story about a mysterious creature on a remote island is riveting and well written. But, it felt a bit predictable and fell flat at the end. 

The Theme park

This story is interesting throughout and has a good unpredictable end.

The Visitors

This alien suspense is my favorite in the book. The suspense build-up is good till the end. The theme of the story is unique and the ending is not predictable. 

My Rating: 4/5

About the Author:

Brendon Faife is an engineer by profession and works for a leading MNC in Bangalore. If he was not an engineer he would have been a teacher! He is passionate about writing short stories and is inspired by the works of Ruskin Bond, RK Narayan and Kenneth Anderson. His short stories are a mix of supernatural events, human relationships and everyday life. He likes to think of himself as a free thinker, a dreamer and a great singer when no one is listening!

Until next time,

The Institute by Stephen King - [Book Review]

 Book Details:

Title: The Institute

Author: Stephen King

Genre: Mystery, thriller, suspense

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Print Length: 577 pages

Blurb:

In the middle of the night, in a house on a quiet street in suburban Minneapolis, intruders silently murder Luke Ellis’s parents and load him into a black SUV. The operation takes less than two minutes. Luke will wake up at The Institute, in a room that looks just like his own, except there’s no window. And outside his door are other doors, behind which are other kids with special talents—telekinesis and telepathy—who got to this place the same way Luke did: Kalisha, Nick, George, Iris, and ten-year-old Avery Dixon. They are all in Front Half. Others, Luke learns, graduated to Back Half, “like the roach motel,” Kalisha says. “You check in, but you don’t check out.”

In this most sinister of institutions, the director, Mrs. Sigsby, and her staff are ruthlessly dedicated to extracting from these children the force of their extranormal gifts. There are no scruples here. If you go along, you get tokens for the vending machines. If you don’t, punishment is brutal. As each new victim disappears to Back Half, Luke becomes more and more desperate to get out and get help. But no one has ever escaped from the Institute.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

My Review might be biased as this is my first audiobook ever. So, there will be a lot of difference in the experience while reading a book Vs listening to the book.

Coming to the audio narration, it is excellent and the narrator's voice brought life to the author's words. The story is unique and the concept is about psychic kids which is interesting for me to pick the book. 

I loved the characters and the details the author has put in. The research about psychic abilities and how they can help mankind is interesting to know. The pace of the story is perfect making it a good thriller. But, I felt, the last part after Luke reaches a small town in South Carolina is too much dragging. 

The story is thrilling for sure, but dragging at the end made it less interesting. The last few pages might have been edited and cut short. Other than that, everything else is just perfect for a mystery story.

Avery Dixon and Luke steal the show for their bravery. Overall, a bit lengthy but a satisfying thriller.

My Rating: 4/5

About the Author:

Stephen King is the author of more than fifty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His first crime thriller featuring Bill Hodges, MR MERCEDES, won the Edgar Award for best novel and was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award. Both MR MERCEDES and END OF WATCH received the Goodreads Choice Award for the Best Mystery and Thriller of 2014 and 2016 respectively.

King co-wrote the bestselling novel Sleeping Beauties with his son Owen King, and many of King's books have been turned into celebrated films and television series including The Shawshank Redemption, Gerald's Game, and It.

King was the recipient of America's prestigious 2014 National Medal of Arts and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for distinguished contributions to American Letters. In 2007 he also won the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America. He lives with his wife Tabitha King in Maine.

Until next time,