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A review by _askthebookbug
Rebirth by Jahnavi Barua
4.0
~ r e v i e w ~
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Shortlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize and Commonwealth Book Prize, Rebirth is a hauntingly beautiful novel by Jahnavi Barua. This book came to my attention when I read Divya's (@divyashankar553 ) review of Rebirth few weeks ago and seconds later I decided that I had to read it. There are certain books that flourish from the very first line, giving the readers a hint about what's to come next. And then there are other books that start seemingly normal but elevate themselves as they reach the end. Rebirth falls under the second category and I was left with a sense of calmness after finishing it.
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The storyline is very simple; that of a mother talking to her unborn child growing inside her womb. But what makes this book lovely is the ease with which Jahnavi weaves sentences. Kaberi lives in Bengaluru with her husband Ranjit in a quiet locality, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Hailing from Assam, she often dreams of the green lands of Guwahati as she slips into reminiscing her childhood that she spent with her best friend Joya. Kaberi's was an arranged marriage and there was little love between the two to begin with. After trying for years to become pregnant, their relationship sees a deeper crack when Ranjit starts seeing another woman. To her pleasant surprise, Kaberi is finally able to conceive and she finds herself strong enough to withstand the separation.
•
There's no doubt that the protagonist carries an underlying sense of strength from the very beginning which she realises only as the days progress. She tells her child about her family both before and after she got married and peppers the story with references to the Assam Agitation that ultimately took her friend's life. Being married to a man who was indifferent to her, abandoning her and only choosing to come back because of her pregnancy - Kaberi highlights this all with a calm yet fervour filled voice. She draws strength from her womb and in more ways than one, she considers the opportunity of being reborn through her baby.
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What I loved about this novel was the narration. Not only was it poignant but was also compassionate. There were other relationships that supported this storyline, be it friendships, family or just rekindled acquaintances. I enjoyed witnessing female friendships that were utterly unconditional, all the time acting as a soft cushion to protect Kaberi. I could hear the grass rustling, river gushing and Golapi Bai's fingers massaging my scalp in the same manner that Kaberi experienced. I believe that even the simplest of stories can do wonders to the readers if narrated in a wonderful way and this is what Rebirth is all about. A story of betrayal, love, friendships and above all, self worth; I enjoyed every word that this book had to offer. Contrary to popular opinion, I found the ending brilliant. Makes one think about this book hours after finishing it. I recommend this book.
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Rating : 4.3/5.
•
Shortlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize and Commonwealth Book Prize, Rebirth is a hauntingly beautiful novel by Jahnavi Barua. This book came to my attention when I read Divya's (@divyashankar553 ) review of Rebirth few weeks ago and seconds later I decided that I had to read it. There are certain books that flourish from the very first line, giving the readers a hint about what's to come next. And then there are other books that start seemingly normal but elevate themselves as they reach the end. Rebirth falls under the second category and I was left with a sense of calmness after finishing it.
•
The storyline is very simple; that of a mother talking to her unborn child growing inside her womb. But what makes this book lovely is the ease with which Jahnavi weaves sentences. Kaberi lives in Bengaluru with her husband Ranjit in a quiet locality, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Hailing from Assam, she often dreams of the green lands of Guwahati as she slips into reminiscing her childhood that she spent with her best friend Joya. Kaberi's was an arranged marriage and there was little love between the two to begin with. After trying for years to become pregnant, their relationship sees a deeper crack when Ranjit starts seeing another woman. To her pleasant surprise, Kaberi is finally able to conceive and she finds herself strong enough to withstand the separation.
•
There's no doubt that the protagonist carries an underlying sense of strength from the very beginning which she realises only as the days progress. She tells her child about her family both before and after she got married and peppers the story with references to the Assam Agitation that ultimately took her friend's life. Being married to a man who was indifferent to her, abandoning her and only choosing to come back because of her pregnancy - Kaberi highlights this all with a calm yet fervour filled voice. She draws strength from her womb and in more ways than one, she considers the opportunity of being reborn through her baby.
•
What I loved about this novel was the narration. Not only was it poignant but was also compassionate. There were other relationships that supported this storyline, be it friendships, family or just rekindled acquaintances. I enjoyed witnessing female friendships that were utterly unconditional, all the time acting as a soft cushion to protect Kaberi. I could hear the grass rustling, river gushing and Golapi Bai's fingers massaging my scalp in the same manner that Kaberi experienced. I believe that even the simplest of stories can do wonders to the readers if narrated in a wonderful way and this is what Rebirth is all about. A story of betrayal, love, friendships and above all, self worth; I enjoyed every word that this book had to offer. Contrary to popular opinion, I found the ending brilliant. Makes one think about this book hours after finishing it. I recommend this book.
•
Rating : 4.3/5.