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_askthebookbug's Reviews (1.34k)
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
• r e v i e w •
"We are, all of us, wandering about in a state of oblivion, borrowing our time, seizing our days, escaping our fates, slipping through loopholes, unaware of when the axe may fall." - Maggie O'Farrell.
Death isn't something that we openly talk about; both the possibility and previous elusion of it. Just one near death experience is enough to shake us up badly but imagine death knocking on your door seventeen times. Maggie O'Farrell's memoir is as candid as it gets as she talks about her fears, her vulnerabilities and also of her losses. I have always shared a fondness for memoirs but this one was unlike any book that I've ever read before. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that all the chapters are written intimately, as if Maggie is your friend and she's narrating how close she was to death more than a handful of times. One can't help but ponder over how fragile our lives truly are and how anything/anyone, at any given time is capable enough to take that away from us.
The chapters are named after body parts, like an intimation about what to expect from them. Very quickly you'll notice how there isn't a proper timeline of the incidents so at one point you might be reading about Maggie as a child and the next speaks about her being a grown woman. From being a child with a serious illness that almost took her life to being stalked by a murderer, her life is frighteningly different. It's baffling to think how close she came to joining hands with death, each experience leaving behind a fresh trail of goosebumps on my skin. She also speaks of her pregnancy and the hostility of the doctor who refused to listen to her medical history. A man patronizing a woman for choosing the birthing process as per her convenience was something that infuriated me to no end. There are so many horrifying experiences that she went through, be it her near drowning experience or a mugging incident. The last chapter speaks of her daughter who is surrounded by possibilities of death every day due to severe allergies to almost everything. She brings out our empathetic sides as she talks about motherhood. I Am I Am I Am is as much about life as it is about death.
4.4/5.
"We are, all of us, wandering about in a state of oblivion, borrowing our time, seizing our days, escaping our fates, slipping through loopholes, unaware of when the axe may fall." - Maggie O'Farrell.
Death isn't something that we openly talk about; both the possibility and previous elusion of it. Just one near death experience is enough to shake us up badly but imagine death knocking on your door seventeen times. Maggie O'Farrell's memoir is as candid as it gets as she talks about her fears, her vulnerabilities and also of her losses. I have always shared a fondness for memoirs but this one was unlike any book that I've ever read before. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that all the chapters are written intimately, as if Maggie is your friend and she's narrating how close she was to death more than a handful of times. One can't help but ponder over how fragile our lives truly are and how anything/anyone, at any given time is capable enough to take that away from us.
The chapters are named after body parts, like an intimation about what to expect from them. Very quickly you'll notice how there isn't a proper timeline of the incidents so at one point you might be reading about Maggie as a child and the next speaks about her being a grown woman. From being a child with a serious illness that almost took her life to being stalked by a murderer, her life is frighteningly different. It's baffling to think how close she came to joining hands with death, each experience leaving behind a fresh trail of goosebumps on my skin. She also speaks of her pregnancy and the hostility of the doctor who refused to listen to her medical history. A man patronizing a woman for choosing the birthing process as per her convenience was something that infuriated me to no end. There are so many horrifying experiences that she went through, be it her near drowning experience or a mugging incident. The last chapter speaks of her daughter who is surrounded by possibilities of death every day due to severe allergies to almost everything. She brings out our empathetic sides as she talks about motherhood. I Am I Am I Am is as much about life as it is about death.
4.4/5.
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
• r e c o m m e n d a t i o n •
"You are of me, Loreda, in a way that can never be broken. Not by words or anger or actions or time. I love you. I will always love you." - Kristin Hannah.
The Four Winds educates the readers about the Dust Bowl incident that lasted for six years in America back in the '30s. Six long years of poverty, starvation, death and drought that eventually led people to make countless sacrifices, to sell their precious lands and to bury their animals. Never did I imagine that she'd write something that could possibly be more intense than The Nightingale but The Four Winds claws at your heart. A novel that's gut-wrenching yet utterly hopeful, a feat that only Hannah can pull it off gracefully. I went in with zero knowledge of the Dust Bowl and this novel forever changed my perspective about hardships and love. Very quickly into the book, I realised that like every other story that she writes, this one too is about women. And to me, this was enough to march through the book.
Elsinore has been told all her life that she isn't meant to be loved and that her ugliness will eventually turn her into a spinster. But an unexpected sweet encounter with Rafe Martinelli gives her a new family, one that'll accept her for who she is. Just when she falls into a comfortable routine with her children, in-laws and husband, the Dust Bowl brings in severe drought, upending their lives forever. Six years of being hungry and poor sent people to other cities for job opportunities but were treated like dirt by fellow Americans. They were made to pick cotton for low pay and had to live in camps which were infested with diseases of all kinds. Thousands lost their lives during this period, and Elsa's story (fictional character) gave me goosebumps. The Four Winds is about perseverance and compassion even in the face of difficulties. I struggled with many chapters as I read about how people had to forgo their ancestral and hard earned lands, to having to put down their animals so as to end their sufferings etc. This is the story of friendships, love, acceptance and courage - something that we all need in our lives.
It also happens to be Hannah's finest work.
5/5.
"You are of me, Loreda, in a way that can never be broken. Not by words or anger or actions or time. I love you. I will always love you." - Kristin Hannah.
The Four Winds educates the readers about the Dust Bowl incident that lasted for six years in America back in the '30s. Six long years of poverty, starvation, death and drought that eventually led people to make countless sacrifices, to sell their precious lands and to bury their animals. Never did I imagine that she'd write something that could possibly be more intense than The Nightingale but The Four Winds claws at your heart. A novel that's gut-wrenching yet utterly hopeful, a feat that only Hannah can pull it off gracefully. I went in with zero knowledge of the Dust Bowl and this novel forever changed my perspective about hardships and love. Very quickly into the book, I realised that like every other story that she writes, this one too is about women. And to me, this was enough to march through the book.
Elsinore has been told all her life that she isn't meant to be loved and that her ugliness will eventually turn her into a spinster. But an unexpected sweet encounter with Rafe Martinelli gives her a new family, one that'll accept her for who she is. Just when she falls into a comfortable routine with her children, in-laws and husband, the Dust Bowl brings in severe drought, upending their lives forever. Six years of being hungry and poor sent people to other cities for job opportunities but were treated like dirt by fellow Americans. They were made to pick cotton for low pay and had to live in camps which were infested with diseases of all kinds. Thousands lost their lives during this period, and Elsa's story (fictional character) gave me goosebumps. The Four Winds is about perseverance and compassion even in the face of difficulties. I struggled with many chapters as I read about how people had to forgo their ancestral and hard earned lands, to having to put down their animals so as to end their sufferings etc. This is the story of friendships, love, acceptance and courage - something that we all need in our lives.
It also happens to be Hannah's finest work.
5/5.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
• r e c o m m e n d a t i o n •
Just when you think you've read Bhaskar Chattopadhyay's finest work, you come across another one which surpasses everything else. Best Served Cold was my third book by Chattopadhyay and it quickly became my favourite. There's something incredibly unique about his books and it mostly has to do with the protagonist, the enigmatic Janardhan Maity. A man with a calm demeanor who oozes confidence and displays the right amount of emotions in spite of being a detective. This novel was unlike anything I've ever read because it begins with the prospect of a murder. But what initially appears like an open and shut case, becomes a mess of accusations with many possible suspects. Best Served Cold is undoubtedly a masterpiece, that keeps throwing one surprise after the other, making the entire reading experience an adrenaline filled one.
A powerful man approaches Maity on a balmy September evening, worried that someone's planning to murder him. Some time later, a young woman arrives at the door pleading Maity to stop her husband from murdering the very same man who visited barely a few hours ago. Maity is quick to act and travels to Manikpur tea estate to stop the occurrence of a potential murder. Assisting Maity is his friend Prakash who is a bestseller author and who also happens to be the narrator of the story. The story quickly garners speed, making it almost impossible to keep the book aside. Maity charms us with his wit and unwavering commitment to solve the mystery. Like his other books, I found myself completely immersed in the story, staying up late to know what happens next. Chattopadhyay has an innate ability to balance the story with the right amount of characters, drama and twists. I've said it before and I'll say it again. No one and I mean absolutely no one nails thrillers like he does.
5/5.
Just when you think you've read Bhaskar Chattopadhyay's finest work, you come across another one which surpasses everything else. Best Served Cold was my third book by Chattopadhyay and it quickly became my favourite. There's something incredibly unique about his books and it mostly has to do with the protagonist, the enigmatic Janardhan Maity. A man with a calm demeanor who oozes confidence and displays the right amount of emotions in spite of being a detective. This novel was unlike anything I've ever read because it begins with the prospect of a murder. But what initially appears like an open and shut case, becomes a mess of accusations with many possible suspects. Best Served Cold is undoubtedly a masterpiece, that keeps throwing one surprise after the other, making the entire reading experience an adrenaline filled one.
A powerful man approaches Maity on a balmy September evening, worried that someone's planning to murder him. Some time later, a young woman arrives at the door pleading Maity to stop her husband from murdering the very same man who visited barely a few hours ago. Maity is quick to act and travels to Manikpur tea estate to stop the occurrence of a potential murder. Assisting Maity is his friend Prakash who is a bestseller author and who also happens to be the narrator of the story. The story quickly garners speed, making it almost impossible to keep the book aside. Maity charms us with his wit and unwavering commitment to solve the mystery. Like his other books, I found myself completely immersed in the story, staying up late to know what happens next. Chattopadhyay has an innate ability to balance the story with the right amount of characters, drama and twists. I've said it before and I'll say it again. No one and I mean absolutely no one nails thrillers like he does.
5/5.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
• r e v i e w •
When Reese's book club picked The Sanatorium , I had no reason to not give it a try. But reading The Sanatorium pretty much was like watching a bad horror movie where the characters get themselves into trouble willingly. It was almost funny if it wasn't for the chilling setting of the story. Considering all the high praise this has received, I went in with high expectations but what disappointed me the most was how in spite of having immense potential, this book failed to stay afloat. The story was perfect. A new luxury hotel is built in the Swiss Alps causing quite a stir amidst the people for all the wrong reasons. The fact that the hotel is built on a previously abandoned Sanatorium doesn't go well with people who carry out protests to stop the construction. But the hotel is built and underneath all the glamour and sleekness, there's a presence of something morbid.
Elin Warner is on a break from her work as a police officer due to a previous case gone wrong. It left her with PTSD and her childhood doesn't really help her situation. When Elin and her boyfriend Will are invited to the luxury hotel to celebrate her brother Isaac's engagement, she has to push back her hostility towards him and try to be friendly. Elin is still worried about Isaac's possible hand in the death of their brother Sam and the new situation at the hotel doesn't make things any easier for her. When an avalanche sets in, the guests are trapped inside the hotel for days. When people go missing and bodies appear, Elin reluctantly takes charge to solve the crime by hiding about her break from work from the Swiss police. Things get heated quickly as more characters are thrown in to keep the readers intruiged. I would have loved this book if it wasn't for the protagonist herself. Elin kept running around in circles because of her troubled past. This was so repetitive that I almost felt like abandoning the book. I also had an inkling about who the culprit might be so that was another letdown.
The Sanatorium would have been a stellar thriller if only it didn't appear so much like a badly shot Scream movie.
3/5.
When Reese's book club picked The Sanatorium , I had no reason to not give it a try. But reading The Sanatorium pretty much was like watching a bad horror movie where the characters get themselves into trouble willingly. It was almost funny if it wasn't for the chilling setting of the story. Considering all the high praise this has received, I went in with high expectations but what disappointed me the most was how in spite of having immense potential, this book failed to stay afloat. The story was perfect. A new luxury hotel is built in the Swiss Alps causing quite a stir amidst the people for all the wrong reasons. The fact that the hotel is built on a previously abandoned Sanatorium doesn't go well with people who carry out protests to stop the construction. But the hotel is built and underneath all the glamour and sleekness, there's a presence of something morbid.
Elin Warner is on a break from her work as a police officer due to a previous case gone wrong. It left her with PTSD and her childhood doesn't really help her situation. When Elin and her boyfriend Will are invited to the luxury hotel to celebrate her brother Isaac's engagement, she has to push back her hostility towards him and try to be friendly. Elin is still worried about Isaac's possible hand in the death of their brother Sam and the new situation at the hotel doesn't make things any easier for her. When an avalanche sets in, the guests are trapped inside the hotel for days. When people go missing and bodies appear, Elin reluctantly takes charge to solve the crime by hiding about her break from work from the Swiss police. Things get heated quickly as more characters are thrown in to keep the readers intruiged. I would have loved this book if it wasn't for the protagonist herself. Elin kept running around in circles because of her troubled past. This was so repetitive that I almost felt like abandoning the book. I also had an inkling about who the culprit might be so that was another letdown.
The Sanatorium would have been a stellar thriller if only it didn't appear so much like a badly shot Scream movie.
3/5.
fast-paced
• r e v i e w •
Poetry is something that I rarely indulge in, but if I do, I almost always make sure to appreciate well written ones. Natasha's 'Reinvention' begins where her previous poetry collection 'Boundless' ends. While Boundless focussed on finding her identity as she moved abroad, Reinvention speaks of her return back to the motherland. While I haven't read the former, the author was kind enough to send me a copy of her second book of poems. But soon into the book, I realised how the title and its content didn't really go hand in hand. The poems have been divided into nine categories, the very first one being named Freedom. But when it comes to poems, I appreciate a certain amount of structure which was missing in Natasha's'Reinvention'.
You look
across
the table
-restless-
you know
they're adequate
(not enough)
love is more
than this.
Much of what the book has is simple writing and Natasha doesn't follow the rhyming method that is usually associated with poetry. While I have nothing against simplicity but consider it an effective tool in luring the readers, what baffled me was the usage of few punctuations like '-' and '+'. The book is paired with illustrations, which could have been better. To me, poetry has to carry a sense of emotional connection which unfortunately, was missing from this. Albeit I tried my best to enjoy what she has to offer, I couldn't get rid of the thought that this book felt more like a journal, in which Natasha pens down her thoughts in no set manner. This book had great potential but it didn't quite live up to my idea of good poetry.
Rating : 1.8/5.
Poetry is something that I rarely indulge in, but if I do, I almost always make sure to appreciate well written ones. Natasha's 'Reinvention' begins where her previous poetry collection 'Boundless' ends. While Boundless focussed on finding her identity as she moved abroad, Reinvention speaks of her return back to the motherland. While I haven't read the former, the author was kind enough to send me a copy of her second book of poems. But soon into the book, I realised how the title and its content didn't really go hand in hand. The poems have been divided into nine categories, the very first one being named Freedom. But when it comes to poems, I appreciate a certain amount of structure which was missing in Natasha's'Reinvention'.
You look
across
the table
-restless-
you know
they're adequate
(not enough)
love is more
than this.
Much of what the book has is simple writing and Natasha doesn't follow the rhyming method that is usually associated with poetry. While I have nothing against simplicity but consider it an effective tool in luring the readers, what baffled me was the usage of few punctuations like '-' and '+'. The book is paired with illustrations, which could have been better. To me, poetry has to carry a sense of emotional connection which unfortunately, was missing from this. Albeit I tried my best to enjoy what she has to offer, I couldn't get rid of the thought that this book felt more like a journal, in which Natasha pens down her thoughts in no set manner. This book had great potential but it didn't quite live up to my idea of good poetry.
Rating : 1.8/5.
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
• r e c o m m e n d a t i o n •
"You see, baby, you have to protect yourself. If you don’t protect yourself, you look like a fool asking somebody else to protect you.” I thought about that for a second. She was right. A woman needs to support herself before she asks anyone else to support her." - Maya Angelou
Not everyone has uncomplicated relationships with their mothers. Maya Angelou, for instance grew up without one for most of her younger years. Thanks to a kind grandmother, Maya and her brother Bailey are brought up fairly well. Back in the day when racism was at its peak and when black people were flogged for something as simple as meeting a white man's eye, the kids were sent to San Francisco to live with their mother. Vivian Baxter was a fashionable woman, knowing what she wants and how to get it. But the humiliation of being abandoned sits fresh in Maya's mind and builds an invisible wall to see if her mother will knock it down. From not knowing anything about Vivian to being influenced and protected by her, Maya notices several flawed yet wondrous traits of her mother.
Mom & Me & Mom was the last published book by Maya Angelou before she passed away in 2014 and I can't help but notice the subtle beauty about it. This autobiography is more about trusting her mother and the transition between being strangers to thick friends. Vivian was a headstrong woman who knew her worth and she passed on most of these precious qualities to Maya. Maya encouraged to work in a predominantly white country, to be independent and to follow her dreams in spite of every factor being against her. Vivian was not perfect but she was honest and even her apologies were straight to the point and practical. This autobiography gives a glimpse of the beautiful relationship that blossomed between the two across many decades. Maya's life too was a series of highs and lows, but with Vivian supporting her, she never gave up. Mom & Me & Mom is a heartwarming and inspiring tale of not one but two women.
'I will look after you and I will look after anybody you say needs to be looked after, any way you say. I am here. I brought my whole self to you. I am your mother."
5/5.
"You see, baby, you have to protect yourself. If you don’t protect yourself, you look like a fool asking somebody else to protect you.” I thought about that for a second. She was right. A woman needs to support herself before she asks anyone else to support her." - Maya Angelou
Not everyone has uncomplicated relationships with their mothers. Maya Angelou, for instance grew up without one for most of her younger years. Thanks to a kind grandmother, Maya and her brother Bailey are brought up fairly well. Back in the day when racism was at its peak and when black people were flogged for something as simple as meeting a white man's eye, the kids were sent to San Francisco to live with their mother. Vivian Baxter was a fashionable woman, knowing what she wants and how to get it. But the humiliation of being abandoned sits fresh in Maya's mind and builds an invisible wall to see if her mother will knock it down. From not knowing anything about Vivian to being influenced and protected by her, Maya notices several flawed yet wondrous traits of her mother.
Mom & Me & Mom was the last published book by Maya Angelou before she passed away in 2014 and I can't help but notice the subtle beauty about it. This autobiography is more about trusting her mother and the transition between being strangers to thick friends. Vivian was a headstrong woman who knew her worth and she passed on most of these precious qualities to Maya. Maya encouraged to work in a predominantly white country, to be independent and to follow her dreams in spite of every factor being against her. Vivian was not perfect but she was honest and even her apologies were straight to the point and practical. This autobiography gives a glimpse of the beautiful relationship that blossomed between the two across many decades. Maya's life too was a series of highs and lows, but with Vivian supporting her, she never gave up. Mom & Me & Mom is a heartwarming and inspiring tale of not one but two women.
'I will look after you and I will look after anybody you say needs to be looked after, any way you say. I am here. I brought my whole self to you. I am your mother."
5/5.
relaxing
fast-paced
• r e v i e w •
It's Also About Mynah is not entirely about Mynah like the title suggests but includes a wide array of characters. Rucha Chitrodia's debut book packs a punch and carries witty lines throughout the length of it. She presents human relationships in a different angle, no character too unimportant to feature in the story. Mynah, the one with the quirky name moves to Mumbai from Bengaluru to work for an ad agency, leaving behind her concerned father, Gopala. Brought up by a single parent, Mynah lives a carefree life not wondering much about her mother who abandoned them for another man. Once in Mumbai, she lives in a paying guest accommodation where she forms a close bond with the owner, Aruna. Aruna has her own tragedy to tend to but finds a dear friend in Mynah. This story is as much about Aruna as it is about Mynah but between the two, many servants, their spouses, Gopala and others score a few pages.
Mynah falls in love without wanting to but once she does, she's heartbroken. A troubled Gopala and a concerned Aruna look after her while themselves becoming friends. Aruna's story is a common tale, of a husband being insecure for various reasons and punishing the wife by abandoning her. Tragedies like these are narrated almost casually, making the readers not to feel much of a connection with any of the characters. Coupled with a breezy narration, this novel ends before one can even realise it. There's no doubt that Chitrodia is a talented writer and her portrayal of the younger generation, poverty and infidelity comes off very accurately. But within all the intricate layers that every character possesses in the book, there's a single thing that lays snuggled comfortably for the readers to take. It's hope. It's the assurance that sometimes hope works miracles. I only wish that there was more substance to the story, some level of emotional connection for us to hold on to. A light read to sneak in during busy days.
3.8/5
Thank you for the copy @amaryllispublishing 🐦
It's Also About Mynah is not entirely about Mynah like the title suggests but includes a wide array of characters. Rucha Chitrodia's debut book packs a punch and carries witty lines throughout the length of it. She presents human relationships in a different angle, no character too unimportant to feature in the story. Mynah, the one with the quirky name moves to Mumbai from Bengaluru to work for an ad agency, leaving behind her concerned father, Gopala. Brought up by a single parent, Mynah lives a carefree life not wondering much about her mother who abandoned them for another man. Once in Mumbai, she lives in a paying guest accommodation where she forms a close bond with the owner, Aruna. Aruna has her own tragedy to tend to but finds a dear friend in Mynah. This story is as much about Aruna as it is about Mynah but between the two, many servants, their spouses, Gopala and others score a few pages.
Mynah falls in love without wanting to but once she does, she's heartbroken. A troubled Gopala and a concerned Aruna look after her while themselves becoming friends. Aruna's story is a common tale, of a husband being insecure for various reasons and punishing the wife by abandoning her. Tragedies like these are narrated almost casually, making the readers not to feel much of a connection with any of the characters. Coupled with a breezy narration, this novel ends before one can even realise it. There's no doubt that Chitrodia is a talented writer and her portrayal of the younger generation, poverty and infidelity comes off very accurately. But within all the intricate layers that every character possesses in the book, there's a single thing that lays snuggled comfortably for the readers to take. It's hope. It's the assurance that sometimes hope works miracles. I only wish that there was more substance to the story, some level of emotional connection for us to hold on to. A light read to sneak in during busy days.
3.8/5
Thank you for the copy @amaryllispublishing 🐦
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
• r e v i e w • ( partnering with @niyogibooks )
Mental health is still such a taboo topic in Indian households. Perhaps this is why it makes me immensely happy to see so many books coming out to address the importance of mental health and how it is anything but a forbidden subject. When @niyogibooks mentioned about People On Our Roof, I was quick to say yes. Yes, that I'd love to read and review this novel. Shefali Tripathi Mehta writes with ease, instantly building a connection between the readers and the characters. Naina, the protagonist is from a middle class family who was mostly brought up by her grandparents. Having to look after a schizophrenic mother and an autistic younger sister, Naina grew up much before her time.
Naina struggles with a myriad of emotions in trying to find a normal life and her own love life doesn't make things easier for her. People whisper about madness running in her family and to make things worse, her father's abandonment often feels like salt being rubbed on a wound. Yet, Naina is patient and kind towards her mother, constantly reassuring her that there are no real people on the roof trying to cause them harm. By finding a job, she finds friendship in a gentle and practical man but her turbulent feelings refrains her from committing to anyone. Throughout the novel, Naina faces countless hurdles but she crosses them all. Shefali goes on to show how being a caregiver is a taxing process, to constantly keep an eye on the safety of mentally challenged people, to not listen to gossipmongers and to love the ones in their care unconditionally. Through simple yet effective narration, Shefali paints a striking picture of a young woman who cares for her family in spite of several ups and downs. I recommend this.
Rating : 4/5.
Mental health is still such a taboo topic in Indian households. Perhaps this is why it makes me immensely happy to see so many books coming out to address the importance of mental health and how it is anything but a forbidden subject. When @niyogibooks mentioned about People On Our Roof, I was quick to say yes. Yes, that I'd love to read and review this novel. Shefali Tripathi Mehta writes with ease, instantly building a connection between the readers and the characters. Naina, the protagonist is from a middle class family who was mostly brought up by her grandparents. Having to look after a schizophrenic mother and an autistic younger sister, Naina grew up much before her time.
Naina struggles with a myriad of emotions in trying to find a normal life and her own love life doesn't make things easier for her. People whisper about madness running in her family and to make things worse, her father's abandonment often feels like salt being rubbed on a wound. Yet, Naina is patient and kind towards her mother, constantly reassuring her that there are no real people on the roof trying to cause them harm. By finding a job, she finds friendship in a gentle and practical man but her turbulent feelings refrains her from committing to anyone. Throughout the novel, Naina faces countless hurdles but she crosses them all. Shefali goes on to show how being a caregiver is a taxing process, to constantly keep an eye on the safety of mentally challenged people, to not listen to gossipmongers and to love the ones in their care unconditionally. Through simple yet effective narration, Shefali paints a striking picture of a young woman who cares for her family in spite of several ups and downs. I recommend this.
Rating : 4/5.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
• r e c o m m e n d a t i o n •
Dusk Over the Mustard Fields is an achingly beautiful novel set in pre-Partition Punjab. The cover is aptly designed, reminding one of the mellowed yellow hues of the mustard fields, swaying gently in the breeze painting a vivid picture of Sahnewal. The story begins with a sense of brotherhood between the Hindu-Muslim communities but ends in separation. Nimmo, daughter of a Zaildar, leads an ordinary yet fulfilling life with her family and friends. Unknowingly, she finds herself blushing under the gaze of her neighbour's son, Akthar. But before they could give it a name, her wedding is fixed to Lt Hukum Singh and Nimmo quickly forgets about Akhtar. Dreams of becoming an Officer's wife clouds her mind blissfully. Although Nimmo grew up facing taunts by her grandmother for being born as a girl, patriarchy rises it's hood like a snake filled with vengeance when she moves to her in-laws house in Raipur.
Nimmo is quick to realise the unfairness of being a woman in a male dominated society. While it's easier for men to discard wives at their whim, women are warned not to utter a word of objection. A childless home was almost always the failing of a woman, for a man can never be at fault. Being beaten, raped or abandoned were the norm and returning to their maternal homes was a thing of shame and fallen honour, forcing them to suffer in silence. Nimmo too, faces countless hurdles much like other women and is pushed aside to make space for her husband's new wife. The trials she has to go through are truly heartbreaking. While she struggles to come to terms with everything that's happening around her, India is on the verge of separation. Ranjit Powar ties the country's fateful events with that of Nimmo's skillfully. There's an underlying sense of pain throughout the story with an occasional glimpse of hope.
I read this for #readingindia readathon in which we are covering Punjab this month.
I highly recommend this underrated gem.
Dusk Over the Mustard Fields is an achingly beautiful novel set in pre-Partition Punjab. The cover is aptly designed, reminding one of the mellowed yellow hues of the mustard fields, swaying gently in the breeze painting a vivid picture of Sahnewal. The story begins with a sense of brotherhood between the Hindu-Muslim communities but ends in separation. Nimmo, daughter of a Zaildar, leads an ordinary yet fulfilling life with her family and friends. Unknowingly, she finds herself blushing under the gaze of her neighbour's son, Akthar. But before they could give it a name, her wedding is fixed to Lt Hukum Singh and Nimmo quickly forgets about Akhtar. Dreams of becoming an Officer's wife clouds her mind blissfully. Although Nimmo grew up facing taunts by her grandmother for being born as a girl, patriarchy rises it's hood like a snake filled with vengeance when she moves to her in-laws house in Raipur.
Nimmo is quick to realise the unfairness of being a woman in a male dominated society. While it's easier for men to discard wives at their whim, women are warned not to utter a word of objection. A childless home was almost always the failing of a woman, for a man can never be at fault. Being beaten, raped or abandoned were the norm and returning to their maternal homes was a thing of shame and fallen honour, forcing them to suffer in silence. Nimmo too, faces countless hurdles much like other women and is pushed aside to make space for her husband's new wife. The trials she has to go through are truly heartbreaking. While she struggles to come to terms with everything that's happening around her, India is on the verge of separation. Ranjit Powar ties the country's fateful events with that of Nimmo's skillfully. There's an underlying sense of pain throughout the story with an occasional glimpse of hope.
I read this for #readingindia readathon in which we are covering Punjab this month.
I highly recommend this underrated gem.