Reviews

Ma is Scared and other short stories by Anjali Kajal

peruseapage's review

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

✨Book Review ✨

Ma is Scared - Anjali Kajal 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A beautiful collection of translated short stories depicting the struggles many Indian women face. The themes were similar but each story had its own unique struggle and that’s what I loved about it! The stories were highly emotive and relatable to an extent!

I particularly enjoyed learning about the caste system in India. It was an eye opener and allowed me to reflect on just how much we take for granted! Education, parent support and equality in relationships are just some of the themes that came up in the book and reminded me how grateful I should be for each of them! 

My only wish was that I could have read this in its own language. At times, I do think the stories were a little to the point: I believe something was lost during the translation. However, saying that, I’m glad I was able to read it regardless! 

Thank you so much @tandemcollectiveuk and @commapress for my copy of this wonderful book! It will be cherished! 🥰🫶🏼

bookishgeeky's review

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Ma Is Scared is a collection of short stories, centralising the experiences of most Indian women. Each of the stories have similar themes but are all different in their execution and completely unique. At times it could be triggering as I can totally relate in each one of them. Most of the stories are thought provoking 

I enjoyed reading every single one and would recommend it.  This is a book full of brave, strong and absolutely beautiful women. 

There’s one story that totally resonate with me and that’s the newspaper. It reflected on my mental health when I was pregnant with my second child I was suffering with perinatal depression so everything around me triggered me especially the news. I shut down all my social media and email accounts thinking someone was out to get me. I can totally relate with her Ma. All the worries and heartaches that’s happening around us. It hurts especially if you have children and this is the world we are leaving to them. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4 amazing stars 

nisreen110's review

dark informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

dessi_bocheva's review

informative reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

jemima_reads's review

reflective medium-paced

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

4.0