Reviews

This was really great. Nikita Gill is wonderful writer and this book was a beautiful mix of poetry and short stories that told a great tale of life, love, pain, and a whole bunch of soul searching. Myth beautifully blended with life to make an overall wonderful story told in a unique way. I look forward to more of her work.

bookmarkedbybritt's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is, by far, one of the best books I’ve read this year. ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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The Girl and the Goddess is a novel, written in verse, that follows a young girl from childhood to young adulthood in post-partition India. The story centres on Paro, our FMC, and combines her life with some incredible mythological tellings as Goddesses impart wisdom to carry her through the most harrowing times. This novel was so beautifully written with the verse moving in a way that moved you forward but also stopped you to take in the details when needed. ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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From the age of 5 onward, we journey through life with Paro and face the harsh realities of growing up female in a forcibly sexist society. The expectations on women to protect themselves from a young age were unfair and pervasive. Honestly, it has been a while since I had a book make me so mad I needed to put it down. I cried for Paro; I cried with Paro. Seeing assault being depicted as something to be entirely ashamed of, even blamed for, by other women and family was one of the most heartbreaking experiences I will ever have in reading. ⁣⁣
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The beauty in this novel came from Paro looking to and receiving strength from her belief. When she reached a hand for help, the divine stepped in to guide her and teach her until she was able to claim the Goddess hidden within her own spirit. I found the concept that a person themselves contains their own divinity such an empowering thing to read on, and will carry that message for a long time. Women in India/Pakistan lived such heroic lives despite the mountainous hurdles stacked against them. It was incredibly humbling and rage-inducing but also inspiring to be invited into a snapshot of what that experience was like. ⁣⁣⁣
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I would recommend this to all fans of women’s lit, and especially fans of books like Know My Name. This is an important story, and I hope you give it a try! ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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CW: abuse, death, military conflict, sexual assault, racism, sexism.