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jainandsdiary's Reviews (310)
One of my favourite reads of 2023. Such a heartwarming, humourous, feel good book, making me want to repeat some instances as well
Book worth reading!
https://jainandgurjar.home.blog/2023/10/05/i-named-my-sister-silence/
https://jainandgurjar.home.blog/2023/10/05/i-named-my-sister-silence/
A good, enjoyable read.
https://jainandgurjar.home.blog/2023/09/07/when-the-vibe-is-right/
https://jainandgurjar.home.blog/2023/09/07/when-the-vibe-is-right/
Enemies To French Kisses by Elsie Woods is the second book in the “Falling in Paris” series which can be read as a standalone as well, the first one being “Falling for French Kisses”, which was one of my favourite reads of the 1st half of this year, and I was waiting to read this book and have high expectations from it, and it delivered it, much more than my expectations.
https://jainandgurjar.home.blog/2023/08/27/enemies-to-french-kisses/
https://jainandgurjar.home.blog/2023/08/27/enemies-to-french-kisses/
One of my all time favourites! And I want everyone to read this book! And I want to read more books like this!!!
वह किताबें दिल के बड़े करीब होती है, जो आपको सोचने पर मजबूर करे, और अक्सर लिखने को भी। “भली लड़कियां बुरी लड़कियां” अनु सिंह चौधरी द्वारा लिखित उपन्यास एक ऐसी ही किताब, ऐसी ही कहानी है, पूजा प्रकाश की। बिहार के एक छोटे से निकलकर, अपनी अम्मा के सपने को अपनी जिंदगी बनाकर, दिल्ली शहर आने की। एक ऐसा शहर, जो हर कदम पर आपके सामने मुश्किलें पैदा करे। रोजमर्रा की ज़िंदगी में जद्दोजहद पैदा करे। और ये कहानी है पूजा के साथ उसके रहनी वाली लड़कियों – मेघना सिम्ते, सैम तनेजा और देबजानी घोष की। ये कहानी है उस शहर की जो अपनों और सपनों में अंतर बताता है, प्रेम और भ्रम में डालता है, और कैसे अपने आपस के अंतर भुला, इनसे लड़ना सिखाता है।
https://jainandgurjar.home.blog/2023/09/01/bhali-ladkiyan-buri-ladkiyan/
https://jainandgurjar.home.blog/2023/09/01/bhali-ladkiyan-buri-ladkiyan/
Book: Subversive Whispers
Author: Manasi
Translator: J. Devika
Genre: Short Story Collection
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton
Pages: 160
P. A. Rukmini, known by her pen name Manasi, is a Sahitya Akademi Award-winning author for her book Manjile Pakshi and is known for her feminist short stories. And some of her prominent stories are translated by J. Devika in this collection, Subversive Whispers.
In this collection of 13 stories, written from 1968 to as recent as 2001, the author shows her opinions and demolishes the long-rooted, stereotypical ways of society. She questions Brahminical hegemony, opposes patriarchal structure, represents women's voices, struggle, sufferings, life, love, and longings,
It was my first book from Malayalam Literature and I'm astonished, to say the least. The stories were complex, there were so many things hidden in between words, sentences, and paragraphs to read, understand and decipher.
To be honest, there were some stories that I was not able to understand completely, and they went above my head. I hope to understand them with complete understanding in the future, but the stories that I understood, were instantly my favourite and able to leave a deep impact. And I know they will be long remembered. There is rage, anger, and indifference, which was quite visible, somewhere directly and somewhere very subtly.
Some of my personal favourite stories were:
• Devi Mahathmyam: In Praise of the Goddess
• Definition in Different Hues
• Bhanumati's Morning
• Scars of an Age
• The Experiment
After reading this book, I am eager to read more work by the author, more translations by the translator, and more Malayalam literature.
Author: Manasi
Translator: J. Devika
Genre: Short Story Collection
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton
Pages: 160
P. A. Rukmini, known by her pen name Manasi, is a Sahitya Akademi Award-winning author for her book Manjile Pakshi and is known for her feminist short stories. And some of her prominent stories are translated by J. Devika in this collection, Subversive Whispers.
In this collection of 13 stories, written from 1968 to as recent as 2001, the author shows her opinions and demolishes the long-rooted, stereotypical ways of society. She questions Brahminical hegemony, opposes patriarchal structure, represents women's voices, struggle, sufferings, life, love, and longings,
It was my first book from Malayalam Literature and I'm astonished, to say the least. The stories were complex, there were so many things hidden in between words, sentences, and paragraphs to read, understand and decipher.
To be honest, there were some stories that I was not able to understand completely, and they went above my head. I hope to understand them with complete understanding in the future, but the stories that I understood, were instantly my favourite and able to leave a deep impact. And I know they will be long remembered. There is rage, anger, and indifference, which was quite visible, somewhere directly and somewhere very subtly.
Some of my personal favourite stories were:
• Devi Mahathmyam: In Praise of the Goddess
• Definition in Different Hues
• Bhanumati's Morning
• Scars of an Age
• The Experiment
After reading this book, I am eager to read more work by the author, more translations by the translator, and more Malayalam literature.
The Witch In The Peepul Tree by Arefa Tehsin is a murder mystery, suspense novel. In the recent dawn of partition, in the Makar Sankranti of 1950, when Sanaz’s body was found dead, it shook the walls of Tahir’s or commonly known as Dada Bhai’s house in Bohrawadi, Udaipur. One Murder, many suspicions- Rao Sahib of Singhgarh, a zamindar who was there for his good; Hariharan, an opportunistic in the newly minted Hindustan; Nathu, a Bhil, who came there to inform Dada Bhai about a leopard kill; Parijat, a Bhangan- nightsoil worker; Sugra, Dada Bhai’s mother who is constantly seeking the “Jeevti Dakkan” – the witch in the peepul tree! Who did this, is what the police are trying to find out. Read this book to know the Murderer.
The Makar Sankranti, Jeevti Dakkan on the peepul tree, murder mystery, and suspense, it was more than enough for me to get into the book.
The story although covers the history of the characters in detail, it takes place in a single day and thus follows intense details and information. All the characters have their motives, intentions, and aims which they want to achieve and it has been shown in detail.
The author’s writing is detailed, consisting of lots of local words and sentences which gives it a real touch. It sheds light on the landlord system and social structure after partition and its after-effects.
The character of Parijat and Sugra were very intriguing and they show the diversity of emotions one can go through. They both come from polar opposite backgrounds, and they might appear to have nothing in common, but when it comes to emotional dilemma, turmoil, and intensity, there appears a ray of similarity in them, with which I feel connected.
The book was slow and it takes time to get into it. The story of Parijat and Rao Sahib astonished me in the end but otherwise, the ending was predictable for me. The story shows casteism in great detail, but it takes center stage rather than murder and loses interest. The police investigation seems very superficial and I expected more from it.
The book has a great world-building and if it looks interesting to you, you can pick it up.
The Makar Sankranti, Jeevti Dakkan on the peepul tree, murder mystery, and suspense, it was more than enough for me to get into the book.
The story although covers the history of the characters in detail, it takes place in a single day and thus follows intense details and information. All the characters have their motives, intentions, and aims which they want to achieve and it has been shown in detail.
The author’s writing is detailed, consisting of lots of local words and sentences which gives it a real touch. It sheds light on the landlord system and social structure after partition and its after-effects.
The character of Parijat and Sugra were very intriguing and they show the diversity of emotions one can go through. They both come from polar opposite backgrounds, and they might appear to have nothing in common, but when it comes to emotional dilemma, turmoil, and intensity, there appears a ray of similarity in them, with which I feel connected.
The book was slow and it takes time to get into it. The story of Parijat and Rao Sahib astonished me in the end but otherwise, the ending was predictable for me. The story shows casteism in great detail, but it takes center stage rather than murder and loses interest. The police investigation seems very superficial and I expected more from it.
The book has a great world-building and if it looks interesting to you, you can pick it up.