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I had heard of Riley Sager from some BookTubers I follow but I had never read any of his books. Like most authors, Sager gets mixed reviews. Some love his work, while others think he should stop writing. A BookTuber I love agrees with the latter and I usually like her recommendations. So, I thought I wouldn’t particularly enjoy his books but I was also intrigued.

‘The House Across the Lake’ is Sager’s latest thriller. His other works include ‘Final Girls’, ‘The Last Time I Lied’, ‘Lock Every Door’, ‘Home Before Dark’, and ‘Survive the Night’. A year ago, paperbackdreams, whom I follow on YouTube, posted a five-minute video, ranting about how terrible Survive the Night was. Apparently, it shouldn’t have been written. She says Sager comes up with great premises. Reading the blurb makes you want to pick up the books. But his stories, she says, always fall short.

I started reading The House Across the Lake with mixed feelings. I wanted to enjoy it but I thought I wouldn’t like it. I was surprised to find myself breezing through it. The writing wasn’t that great but the story was captivating. I didn’t see the twist coming at all. It blew my mind.

The story follows Casey Fletcher, a widow who is forced to retreat from her stressful life at her family’s tranquil lake house. Following the tragic death of her husband, she finds herself taking solace in glasses of bourbon. One day, she saves one of her neighbors from drowning in the same lake her husband had died in. Then, out of curiosity, boredom, or just nosiness, she starts spying on them. She tells herself she feels responsible for Katherine, having saved her life once.

Casey notices Katherine seems to be a little out of sorts. She believes her husband Tom might have something to do with it. Katherine too drops little hints that she isn’t happy with Tom.

Then Katherine disappears and Casey thinks Tom had something to do with it. Is something sinister going on? Or is her alcohol-addled mind playing tricks on her? The deeper Casey digs, the more complex things seem to be. But can we trust Casey?

I admit I had fun while reading the book. It was by no means the best thriller I had read but I also stayed up half the night to finish it. I had to know what was going on. Sager throws a curveball three-forth into the book and I literally put the book down to process what had just happened. I’m still undecided about whether I like that twist but I would definitely recommend The House Across the Lake to anyone who wants a spooky read.

Thriller

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58909880-the-house-across-the-lake  

The House Across the Lake

Riley Sager

Published: 2022

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Pages: 349, Paperback

I’m a 16-year-old boy, studying in grade 11. I prefer to stay alone and I don’t usually share things with anyone. Whenever I’m not doing anything, I’m consumed by thoughts, both good and bad. Sometimes, it’s difficult for me to fall asleep. I wake up thinking about things. I sometimes dream about the things I think about and I feel a little off. Is this normal? What can I do to stop overthinking?

Answered by Kapil Sharma, counseling psychologist, Nepal Institute of Mental Health

First, I’d like to thank you for reaching out. Though it might seem alarming, what you are experiencing is common during adolescence as this is the phase when you are discovering yourself and are curious about things as well. It’s completely normal to have a stream of thoughts. It could be either positive or negative. Having said that, if your thoughts become overwhelming or distressing, you might have to do something to manage them.

According to the development perspective of psychology, adolescence is considered to be the time period when there is a conflict between your need for isolation and social interaction. You said you prefer to stay alone and that’s natural. Everyone wants personal space and it becomes all the more crucial during the teenage years. But you must remember that connection is extremely important for emotional well-being and socio-emotional development.

So, engaging in healthy social interaction can be good for your emotional health. It can also help you gain different perspectives which can be a great learning experience and give you a sense of belongingness as well. I suggest you consider striking a balance between personal time and spending time with others. Make sure you have at least a few good friends who understand you. Also, you must have an outlet for your emotions, be it journaling or by cultivating some hobbies that take your mind off things.

As far as difficulty falling asleep due to racing thoughts is concerned, again I’d like to reassure you that it’s quite common, particularly during the teenage years. Establishing a calming bedtime routine can help. Practice relaxation techniques like listening to music, meditation, etc. Maintaining a sleep diary (like recording when you went to bed, when you woke up, how you felt before going to bed and upon waking up, etc.) can help you understand your sleep patterns and eventually help you sleep better.

Recurring dreams are sometimes connected to our subconscious mind, like how we process our thoughts and experiences. If this is causing significant distress, then you must figure out the underlying emotions. What are you dreaming about? What message do you perceive from them? In this regard too, maintaining a sleep journal can help. It will help you understand your emotions better and address them.

If you find yourself thinking too much and unable to sleep despite trying the above-mentioned solutions, then I suggest you seek professional help. He or she can guide you better and help you find a way out of the conundrum.

A festival called Pancha Dan, which means ‘Five Offerings’, is celebrated in the Mangal Bazaar area of Patan, Lalitpur, every year which is a testimony to the generosity and compassion of Buddhism. The act of giving is considered a way to accumulate merit and create positive karma. It’s also an opportunity to receive blessings from monks and nuns. The festival is also celebrated in other parts of Kathmandu Valley including the city, Bhaktapur, and Banepa.

Pancha Dan celebration is the act of giving five different things including rice grains, wheat grains, salt, money, and fruits. Communities join hands to provide for those who’ve devoted their lives to religion. Beyond material offerings, Pancha Dan is a time to share knowledge. Elders pass down teachings to the younger ones in the family, fostering interconnectedness.

As the day begins, the surrounding comes alive with melodious chants of Buddhist scriptures and vibrant prayer flags. Younger monks (vhikchu) circle the designated core area of Patan with copper bowls in their hands, receiving the offering from the devotees. Following this ritual, they dine together with their seniors inside a large hall.

Another aspect of the festivities involves the custom of hierarchical seating of grandfathers, referred to as ‘ajus’ in the Newari language. The eldest among them is honored with the title ‘Chakreshwor aju.’ Ajus are placed alternately in combination with people from the Shakya and Bajracharya communities. Devotees also line up to receive blessings from the ajus.

The Olive Garden located at Radisson Hotel in Kathmandu had to close down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, they recently reopened on Aug 20. Intrigued by this, we decided to visit it for some authentic Italian cuisine.

When it comes to Italian food, the usual suspects like pizza, cheese, and pasta come to mind, and we had similar expectations. But to our surprise, there was no pizza on the menu. Nevertheless, the menu had much more than we anticipated.

The restaurant offers two choices of candlelit ‘Table d’hôte’ dinners. This term translates to ‘table of the host’ and refers to a fixed meal offered by the restaurant that can’t be customized much.

Both options are priced at Rs 4,500 net and include a starter, soup, pasta, main course, and dessert. There are both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options available. Additionally, there’s a pricier option at Rs 11,000 net that includes a bottle of premium wine.

We decided to go with the non-vegetarian option with wine. While we waited for our dishes, the executive chef Gyanesh Dass, who has over two decades of experience in Italian cuisine, along with the other staff members, took the time to explain how they meticulously crafted the menu. They reassured us that the flavors were adapted to suit the Nepali palate. The attentive hospitality was evident from the start, not just for us but for every customer.

For starters, we had Garlic Prawns. These prawns were cooked with garlic, complemented by tomato confit, and served with a salad of fresh herbs. Creamy yet slightly crunchy, they offered a delightful burst of flavors. Next, we tried the Zuppa Di Pesce, a rustic tomato stew brimming with squid, shrimp, and fish. Served with toasted bread, the soup had a robust texture and a subtly sweet and distinct flavor, as the executive chef had promised.

Moving on to the pasta course, we savored the Spaghetti Bolognese. Topped with cheese, this dish featured a chicken mince sauce with a pleasant tang from the tomatoes. It was a heavy course leaving us concerned about how we would manage the upcoming main course. Surprisingly, the main course turned out to be light and uncomplicated. The Chicken Oreganata, a chicken thigh marinated in herbs and grilled, was served with a green pea ragout and honey-glazed carrots. It paired seamlessly with sips of wine.

As we waited for dessert, we found that the entire dining experience, including the background music, cozy seating, and the gentle flicker of candlelight, added an extra layer of enjoyment to the meal. The dessert, Classic Tiramisu, was sweet, but a hint of lemon refreshed our palate after the array of flavors we had experienced.

For those planning to visit, we suggest arriving a little starved to fully appreciate the culinary delights this place has to offer.

Their specials

Spaghetti Bolognese

Fresh Wild Mushroom Risotto

Classic Tiramisu

Location: Lazimpat

Meal for two: Rs 4,500

Opening hours: 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm

Contact: 9851048331/01-4511818

Online payment: Accepted

Parking: Available