Scan barcode
A review by nadiamasood
The Prince And The Nightingale by Abhishek Bhatt
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Though this is a timeless tale of forbidden love between a prince and a commoner, what sets it apart is the blend of real-life history, India's rich culture, the thrill of cricket, and the glamour of Bollywood.
This book took me by surprise. I expected the typical prince-and-commoner love story, but it delivered so much more! The characters are beautifully flawed, the circumstances feel realistic, and the ending is imperfectly perfect. Did I mention that I enjoyed Abhishek Bhatt's writing style, too?
Our main characters' journey is one of love, duty, and heartbreak. Both are strong and passionate, and I loved how they brought out the best in each other. Abhimanyu chooses family and duty above all else (which is what a prince in real life would do), and Meera stays strong and pursues her dream. She's young yet I like how sensible she is despite her circumstances. She's strong, protective, and loyal.
Cricket is a huge part of Abhimanyu's story. I'm not a fan of cricket and have limited knowledge of the sport, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. I would advise not to skip those sections entirely because crucial, life-altering scenes unfold during those games!
I found the Bollywood aspect of the story particularly fascinating! It provided a glimpse into how soundtracks are created and the behind-the-scenes of recording songs for films. We get to see Meera's transformation from an Indian classical prodigy to a sought-after playback singer.
The Indian politics and history in the story might not appeal to everyone, but they provide context for the time our characters lived in. It was a period right after India gained independence, formed a new parliamentary government, and stripped the royals of their powers. Elections were held for the first time, yet many people were still illiterate.
This book was an easy read with characters you can easily connect with and a realistic conclusion. I enjoyed its straightforward language and well-balanced pacing. The poetic verses in Hindi/Urdu sprinkled throughout added a delightful touch.
If you're in the mood for a genuine love story featuring flawed yet relatable characters, and if you're interested in exploring India's rich history and culture, this book is worth picking up.
This book took me by surprise. I expected the typical prince-and-commoner love story, but it delivered so much more! The characters are beautifully flawed, the circumstances feel realistic, and the ending is imperfectly perfect. Did I mention that I enjoyed Abhishek Bhatt's writing style, too?
Our main characters' journey is one of love, duty, and heartbreak. Both are strong and passionate, and I loved how they brought out the best in each other. Abhimanyu chooses family and duty above all else (which is what a prince in real life would do), and Meera stays strong and pursues her dream. She's young yet I like how sensible she is despite her circumstances. She's strong, protective, and loyal.
Cricket is a huge part of Abhimanyu's story. I'm not a fan of cricket and have limited knowledge of the sport, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. I would advise not to skip those sections entirely because crucial, life-altering scenes unfold during those games!
I found the Bollywood aspect of the story particularly fascinating! It provided a glimpse into how soundtracks are created and the behind-the-scenes of recording songs for films. We get to see Meera's transformation from an Indian classical prodigy to a sought-after playback singer.
The Indian politics and history in the story might not appeal to everyone, but they provide context for the time our characters lived in. It was a period right after India gained independence, formed a new parliamentary government, and stripped the royals of their powers. Elections were held for the first time, yet many people were still illiterate.
This book was an easy read with characters you can easily connect with and a realistic conclusion. I enjoyed its straightforward language and well-balanced pacing. The poetic verses in Hindi/Urdu sprinkled throughout added a delightful touch.
If you're in the mood for a genuine love story featuring flawed yet relatable characters, and if you're interested in exploring India's rich history and culture, this book is worth picking up.