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A review by thewordsdevourer
She of the Mountains by Vivek Shraya
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
a satisfyingly effective and surprisingly impactful book that says a lot w/ little, she of the mountains is another proof of vivek shraya's awesomeness.
this short novel contains two concurrent stories: one abt hindu gods and another abt a contemporary exploration of identity and self-love. shraya manages to make the former not merely compelling but very accessible, which is a rare feat. the latter, meanwhile, is jam-packed w/ the author's signature themes of race, queerness and their intersectionality in identity.
the book's able to somehow say so much and explore many complex issues in so little words. better yet, it's all done w/ equal parts detachment and emotional connection that are nevertheless impactful; certain parts esp towards the end rly move me, w/ one in particular making me simply pause and marvel on what i just read.
in short, this is a short book that packs a punch and lingers on one's mind quite a while after reading.
this short novel contains two concurrent stories: one abt hindu gods and another abt a contemporary exploration of identity and self-love. shraya manages to make the former not merely compelling but very accessible, which is a rare feat. the latter, meanwhile, is jam-packed w/ the author's signature themes of race, queerness and their intersectionality in identity.
the book's able to somehow say so much and explore many complex issues in so little words. better yet, it's all done w/ equal parts detachment and emotional connection that are nevertheless impactful; certain parts esp towards the end rly move me, w/ one in particular making me simply pause and marvel on what i just read.
in short, this is a short book that packs a punch and lingers on one's mind quite a while after reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Homophobia
Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, and Sexual content
Minor: Child death