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A review by prisoner_of_books
The Direction of the Wind by Mansi Shah
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was so real. I wasn't planning on finishing the book today, just start it and see what my first thoughts were, but once I started I could not stop. The Direction of the Wind is a story about culture, family and self. How each can protect you, but also hold you back. It shows us that sometimes you just have to go discover some things yourself without a plan.
This is the story of Nita and Sophie, Mother and Daughter. Nita feels lost, trapped, unable to peruse her passion for art but most of all like she is living a lie. So she runs away to France, leaving her family behind. Sophie thought her Mother to be dead and after discovering the truth decides to take her future in her own hands and find the mother that left her. But as her father said <i>The direction of the wind cannot be changed, but we can change the direction of our sails.</i> Sophie may discover truths about her mother that she never knew, but she will most certainly discover new things about herself.
There was so many things that resonated with me throughout this book, so many things that I learnt, that I felt. Told in dual timelines and set across continents this book revealed twist after twist that left me reeling and emotional. What I thought to be a simple story turned out to be impactful and expansive. Everything was happening while nothing was. The author just found a way to push the characters thoughts and feelings into my mind. The dual timeline was so effective there was contrast but still a subtle similarity that echoed through the generations. And while there are definitely some dark themes that appeared, like addiction and toxic relationships, they were handled and written amazingly and it did wonders for the story itself.
Despite all the hardship both women went through I was inspired. It was bittersweet but still left me speechless. I cannot form my thoughts into words. I am not from India, I do not their culture, but I got a glimpse of it because of this book. It felt surreal being able to experience this stark contrast of their culture against another. Nita and Sophie were such great characters not to mention all the wonderful and not so wonderful people they met along their journey. I really felt as if I knew each of the characters, they all had their own distinct personalities that added to the story in different ways.
I felt like both women were lost. Trying to see where they fit in this large world. I can largely relate to that. Both were sheltered but thrown into real life. Each searching to belong, to follow what they thought was right. Nita wanted to fit in, to appear normal, invisible and blend into a new culture. So much so, that it seemed she lost herself in this person who just followed whatever someone else did.
This book just had me writing notes! That may not seem like much but to me it was, I was able to have a whole conversation and develop theories and messages with myself, like I am now. This is a women's fiction novel for those who love the journey, the bittersweet moments and the hardships. For those who love the sense of self that appears after such a journey. But most of all for everyone, because I belief that everyone needs to read this book. As I look back it seems like it was slow paced, but in the moment it could not have gone quicker. I am definitely out of my reading slump now.
If you read that far, wow. Good job have a gold star! ⭐
This is the story of Nita and Sophie, Mother and Daughter. Nita feels lost, trapped, unable to peruse her passion for art but most of all like she is living a lie. So she runs away to France, leaving her family behind. Sophie thought her Mother to be dead and after discovering the truth decides to take her future in her own hands and find the mother that left her. But as her father said <i>The direction of the wind cannot be changed, but we can change the direction of our sails.</i> Sophie may discover truths about her mother that she never knew, but she will most certainly discover new things about herself.
There was so many things that resonated with me throughout this book, so many things that I learnt, that I felt. Told in dual timelines and set across continents this book revealed twist after twist that left me reeling and emotional. What I thought to be a simple story turned out to be impactful and expansive. Everything was happening while nothing was. The author just found a way to push the characters thoughts and feelings into my mind. The dual timeline was so effective there was contrast but still a subtle similarity that echoed through the generations. And while there are definitely some dark themes that appeared, like addiction and toxic relationships, they were handled and written amazingly and it did wonders for the story itself.
Despite all the hardship both women went through I was inspired. It was bittersweet but still left me speechless. I cannot form my thoughts into words. I am not from India, I do not their culture, but I got a glimpse of it because of this book. It felt surreal being able to experience this stark contrast of their culture against another. Nita and Sophie were such great characters not to mention all the wonderful and not so wonderful people they met along their journey. I really felt as if I knew each of the characters, they all had their own distinct personalities that added to the story in different ways.
I felt like both women were lost. Trying to see where they fit in this large world. I can largely relate to that. Both were sheltered but thrown into real life. Each searching to belong, to follow what they thought was right. Nita wanted to fit in, to appear normal, invisible and blend into a new culture. So much so, that it seemed she lost herself in this person who just followed whatever someone else did.
This book just had me writing notes! That may not seem like much but to me it was, I was able to have a whole conversation and develop theories and messages with myself, like I am now. This is a women's fiction novel for those who love the journey, the bittersweet moments and the hardships. For those who love the sense of self that appears after such a journey. But most of all for everyone, because I belief that everyone needs to read this book. As I look back it seems like it was slow paced, but in the moment it could not have gone quicker. I am definitely out of my reading slump now.
If you read that far, wow. Good job have a gold star! ⭐