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  • GIRL IN A MILLION Book Review by Monica Gupta

    GIRL IN A MILLION Book Review

    ANITHA PADANATTIL’S GIRL IN A MILLION: A TALE OF BONDING AND REDEMPTION.

    “Never judge a book by its cover”, said someone. “A thing of beauty is joy forever” said another. Agreeing with the former and justifying the latter, the vibrant book cover of Girl in a million immediately captivates the attention and the pages hold you. Told in the 90s at the beautiful town of Oothukudi, the story moves back and forth between the past and present. Sagharika also known as Dr.S, the protagonist, along with other minor characters, Marge, Shruthi and Ratna are crafted well from their adolescent age knows as Core Z to their adulthood, covering details of their schooldays, to facing horrifying events, to moving away in different direction as they pursue their individual goals. The plot pivots around these girls. How they connect? The secrets they share. How they come to terms with the ill-fated past? What binds them? How their personalities lead them to their individual fate? And most importantly, how these girls leap the time and space distance to stay bonded?

    The rich vocabulary with complex phrases makes it a slow paced read, a bit difficult for beginners. The book is outstanding in vividness. The minutest description of the places, food, and culture of the states the girls move to speaks of Anitha’s extensive research and outstanding descriptive skills.

    “My disability…….despite everything life throws at us, the essence of true happiness lies within us.” (Excerpt from the book). Such sprinkle of wisdom here and there add to the depth to the story, offering the reader philosophy to ponder upon.

    Anitha Padanattil has a true winner on her hands with “Girl in a Million”. The powerful protagonist, Koteeshwari (Sagharika) is sure to inspire, and the main story is emotional without being preachy. A poignant inspirational story of one girl’s journey to redemption.

    This is a book everyone will enjoy!

    Review By -Author Monica Gupta.

    Book: GIRL IN A MILLION

    Author: ANITHA PADANATTIL 

    To buy the book on amazon : 

    Publishers : Room9 publications (Room9 Publications by ArtoonsInn ArtoonsInn)

  • Book Review of Sublimina by Monica Gupta

    Book Review of Sublimina by Monica Gupta

    Poetry is my go to waters. For relaxation. To dive into solace. Unlike the fast paced prose reading, while reading poems, I hold on to the emotion, ponder over the theme and ruminate over the essence.

    “Sublimina”, a poetry anthology by Digant M Trivedi was a perfect pick to unwind. The term “Sublimina” is coined by the poet, personifying Sublime. The 127 poems contain various themes of love, life, beauty, death, happiness, punishment and many more. Hence, the variety of poems cater and comply with the varied moods of the reader.

    An excerpt from one of my favorite poem, Death of Socrates.

    “…..My quest is mine alone.

    As time and people have shown.

    The only cure for me,

    Is to drink and be free……”

    Besides the unusual choice of subject, the poems are outstanding in usage of profound words. The impact is immediate. The rhyming scheme, and the use of meters makes them an ideal for recitation. The tales are laced into the poetic fabric beautifully. You may just not want to read them but recite them too. They will delight the ears.

    Another interesting poem, “The Horseman” poignantly gives away the message metaphorically, that however far the horseman may ride into the deep woods, his sins shall outrun him. Conveying the sublime message, to resolve issues and not escape them.

    I can mention many more as my favorite. The book is filled with such great poems.

    For all the bibliophiles and for all in the making, this book is a must read.

    Sharing the link below. Paperback in US – https://amzn.to/2ZPJdX1

    (Same link for anyone buying a paperback outside India)

    Paperback in India Amazon India – https://amzn.to/2BgsiCM Flipkart India – https://bit.ly/3ew7GEJ Pothi.com – https://bit.ly/3evfkzk

    Ebook Worldwide (Kindle Edition) Amazon – https://amzn.to/3dcdQd3

  • BOOK REVIEW OF “A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS” BY AUTHOR MONICA GUPTA.

    “A thousand splendid suns” by Khaled Hosseini, is a heart-rending tale of two women set in Afghanistan in the 1960s, when the country was at a war between the Soviet Communist and the Taliban.

    “One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.” The plot pivots around stories of two women, how their lives merge not by choice but for survival. Their relationship ignites with flares of jealousy and a tug of war for power over the household and husband. But when the two realize that they share the same enemy and are battling the horrendous consequences of the war, they lower their guards and bond into a love that transforms them into courageous women.

    The book is divided into two parts. The first part revolves around Mariam, an illegitimate child of a popular, affluent businessman in Herat. She faces ruthless prejudices and blames not just from the big legitimate family of her father but her mother as well. “You are a clumsy little harami. This is my reward for everything I have endured. An heirloom-breaking, clumsy little harami.” Miriam is raised with a belief that she is a mistake. Her identity is carved with the repetition of such words. The second half revolves around Laila’s story. A good looking, intelligent daughter of progressive parents. There is a strake contrast in both the characters, not just in terms of their age but in terms of outlook and upbringing. Laila is portrayed as the woman Afghanistan needs. An educated, free-willed girl with a mind of her own. Her pre-marital sex with the love of her life, going to school, not wearing a burqa, are all reflective of it. The tragic death of Laila’s family in a bomb blast lands her in Miriam’s life. Although Miriam is the age of Laila’s mother, they become the wives of the same man. The latter half of the book offers some hope to the reader when love fumigates between the protagonists. The book begins to turn towards the brighter side.

    The intricate description of the landscaping of Afghanistan, their food, aromas, homes, clothing and rituals give a feeling of a tour around the place. I found the book outstanding, in Khaled Hosseini’s ability to unveil the vulnerabilities of the characters clad in a burqa and how a bond of love lead to their metamorphosis. The language is lucid and the gripping narrative makes the book a page-turner. The graphic description of the war, depiction of bloodshed, oppression, suppression, brutality, starvation, loss and trauma leave the reader’s heart injured and their vivid depiction makes the eyes sore. All in all, this classic literary masterpiece by Khaled Hosseini leaves behind a bittersweet taste.