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bookshelfkeeps 's review for:
Aru Shah and the End of Time
by Roshani Chokshi
★★★★
How we met: I picked up this book per suggestion of my favorite librarian, Amelia. As many American's first entry point into Hinduism is through westernized yoga practices, I too had become more interested in the stories and sacred texts of this religion through both my own yoga training and while attending undergrad and graduate school. Given this combination, the idea of two young heroines diving into the stories they grew up with caught my interest.
My thoughts: I was not disappointed. Roshani Chokshi writes in a very endearing way where it's easy to relate to the insecuries and mannerisms of Aru who is only twelve year old. There were times her thoughts were a bit more complex and dynamic, but I didn't feel like it was too big of a stretch. As I was reading I couldn't help rooting for both Aru and Mini as each near-death encounter makes them stronger and more certain of their abilities. It truly is a David and Goliath kind of story. My favorite part (aside from the description of how each key tasted) was when Mini and Aru finally make it into the Kingdom of Death. Chokshi's descriptions are vivid and full of a magical kind of wonder. I am sure some of these ideas come from her own upbringing and stories she's been told growing up, but the way she puts them into writing is a true feat. I also like that even if this is a "children's book," Chokshi takes the time to subtly address the negative connotations with death and dying, stripping away the horror and fear often accompanying it. As someone who wrote their masters thesis on End of Life Care, addressing the harmful way the Western world looks at death and dying, this made my scholarly heart sore.
Spot on Shelf? Oh yes. I rented it from the library and cannot wait to finish the series. This is a series I plan on reading to my future kids or anyone who will let me read it to them aloud.
How we met: I picked up this book per suggestion of my favorite librarian, Amelia. As many American's first entry point into Hinduism is through westernized yoga practices, I too had become more interested in the stories and sacred texts of this religion through both my own yoga training and while attending undergrad and graduate school. Given this combination, the idea of two young heroines diving into the stories they grew up with caught my interest.
My thoughts: I was not disappointed. Roshani Chokshi writes in a very endearing way where it's easy to relate to the insecuries and mannerisms of Aru who is only twelve year old. There were times her thoughts were a bit more complex and dynamic, but I didn't feel like it was too big of a stretch. As I was reading I couldn't help rooting for both Aru and Mini as each near-death encounter makes them stronger and more certain of their abilities. It truly is a David and Goliath kind of story. My favorite part (aside from the description of how each key tasted) was when Mini and Aru finally make it into the Kingdom of Death. Chokshi's descriptions are vivid and full of a magical kind of wonder. I am sure some of these ideas come from her own upbringing and stories she's been told growing up, but the way she puts them into writing is a true feat. I also like that even if this is a "children's book," Chokshi takes the time to subtly address the negative connotations with death and dying, stripping away the horror and fear often accompanying it. As someone who wrote their masters thesis on End of Life Care, addressing the harmful way the Western world looks at death and dying, this made my scholarly heart sore.
Spot on Shelf? Oh yes. I rented it from the library and cannot wait to finish the series. This is a series I plan on reading to my future kids or anyone who will let me read it to them aloud.