A Bird on My Windowsill

 Book Review- A Bird on My Windowsill

Author- Manav Kaul

Translated by- Nandini Kumar Nickerson

Cover design- Shadab Khan

First things first. The cover page of the book caught my eye and actually made me want to dig deep into the mind of the author. The author writes in his simplistic yet charming style, about the experiences he came across and also about his dreams and at times there is an over-lapping of the real with the unreal. Manav Kaul , who is an established actor shows the facet of him as a person who has a way with words. His poetry and prose entices the reader and our thoughts linger on the pages wanting to understand the  mind of the writer and how he sees things. 

This is the first time I am reading his work and it was truly impressive! In fact, this book inspires me to write about my memorable experiences. This book is not a story but a collection of anecdotes and thoughts that flow in the author's mind. The written words are heartfelt and have a touch of nostalgia to them. We connect with the experiences and it gives us a better understanding of what the author, actor, director Manav Kaul is all about. 

Manav Kaul's books are written in Hindi yet the book was well translated and has kept the essence of the beauty of his writing intact. I am sure that the book will be much better in the original because all said and done, the regional language has its own endearing charm that cannot be wholly felt in a translated version. My advice is that if you read books in Hindi, do go for the original Hindi version of the book. Other bestsellers from Manav Kaul are ' Theek Tumhaare Peeche'  (Right Behind You) and ' Prem Kabootar' (Love Pigeon) How interesting these titles sound, right?

There are so many lovely poetic verses and lines all through these pages that we feel comforted and tranquil. The author speaks of solitude, friendship, love and many other feelings that he comes across and the reader becomes one with his thoughts and aspirations. We too take a journey through his life and at the same time also delve into our lives that has met similar situations. In the end , all our lives are not so different yet so different from each others. This book is like a breath of fresh air that blows after a really hot and sunny day giving us respite from our mundane lives and making us feel the beauty of the life in all its hues. This book is a keepsake and we can keep going back to this one for solace and to feel the beauty of words. 

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat TTeokbokki

 Book Review- I Want to Die but I Want to Eat TTeokbokki

Author- Baek Sehee (Korean)

Translated by- Anton Hur

Picked this book online as I read so many great reviews about it that I was tempted. It is a huge best-seller in Korea. This book is a close look at a persons fight against depression. This book is a part memoir and part self help book where the author has shared some of her most vulnerable moments with her readers. 

@thenovelconversation states and I quote ' For those of us who can relate to the unassuming , persistent, spread-out weight of sadness that doesn't quite feel worthy of the title 'depression' this is THE book '

So this book is a collection of conversations of the author with her psychiatrist and throughout the pages inside we can see how she relates her experiences and feelings to her psychiatrist. I truly tried my best to read the book with an open mind although the first few pages itself left me disappointed. I am not against self help books but this one really did not strike a chord and I felt no emotion as I read chapter after chapter highlighting the ups and downs in the protagonist's life. I must add that after a few conversations . the author summed up those emotions in an interesting manner, that part was in fact, according to me the best parts of the book.

There are so many home truths that are shared about the author and the challenges she faced on day-to- day basis. I did not find the conversations interesting and they made me long to stop reading the whole book as when I browsed through the rest of the pages(something that I rarely do) I saw that it continued in the same vein. I think I did not connect because I may not be going through similar situations in life and perhaps a person facing similar issues may feel more connected and like the book. 

For me , it was a below average read but that is just my frank opinion. But I must say that it takes courage to lay bare all your insecurities before readers in the hope that these conversations may help  those facing similar challenges. Many of the issues she has dealt with are the common ones that each of us face so there are chances that many facing crisis in life may be able to relate and it will help them overcome their issues. At the end there is a recipe for how one should have their tteokbokki. 

Frankly speaking, I am a huge fan of Korean Dramas, so when I came across the reviews about this Korean best seller , I was keen to read this one thinking it would give me that touch of Korean life. Unfortunately, that was not to be. 

The Midnight Library

 Book Review- The Midnight Library

Author- Matt Haig

Genre- Fiction

Last year I asked my Secret Santa from my book reading  group to send me a book written by Matt Haig and I was pleasantly surprised to receive not one, but two novels by this author. Just the tag line on the cover 'One Library. Infinite Lives' was enough to infuse me with a kind of urgency to read this one. I had read many positive reviews about this one and wanted to find out for myself if it lived up to all that hype. I read this book at a slow pace and took in every detail. This is a book that actually blew my mind. It is astounding in so many ways. Thank you my Secret Santa for this wonderful gift!  

The Midnight Library is insightful in a way whereby we actually scrutinize our own lives and wonder what we would do differently in our like like the protagonist Nora Seed. Right at the beginning, the reader is aware that this book will be a roller-coaster of emotions. It is about life between life and death. It is all about our choices and the regrets we have after making those choices. Nora Seed goes through depression and hurt throughout her life and finally decides to end her life. When she finds herself in between life and death, she finds herself in a library that allows her to chose different lives that she could have led if she had made different choices. This forms the premise of the novel.

As we move ahead, Nora explores different lives and sees herself realizing that  in every life she finds something amiss. You just cannot have a perfect life for yourself as desired. She experiences so many changes in her mind as she goes through different lives that she understands that the best life you can live is the one you are actually living. What you make of your life is up to you.

This book talks about depression, life goals, persistence and grit. It also has a way of connecting our lives with that of Nora Seed and questioning our lives. 

What is that we regret? 

What would we do differently if given a chance?

Would our decisions make our life story different than the one at present?

More than anything, there are some true gems that are strewn all though the pages. They make us sit up and take notice of something that we failed to notice. All through our lives we fail to take notice of the important things and focus on perfection. We fail to realize that life is not all black and white, we have to accommodate the greys and accept things that are beyond our control. In spite of all the insights we get while reading this book, let me make it clear that this novel is not preachy in any way. All it does is make you think. The what if scenarios keep popping up and we connect with the protagonist all along as if we are soul mates sailing in the same boat. This story is like a slice of life and it has the potential to put a mirror to our lives too. It gives us a realization of where we stand in life and how we have made good and not so good choices that have shaped our lives. This book is an inspirational read.

There are many lines that are worth a mention here, but I am just going to state a few lines that have stayed with me long after completing the novel. 'The paradox of volcanoes was that they were symbols of destruction but also life. Once the lava slows and cools, it solidifies and breaks down over time to become soil- rich, fertile soil. She wasn't a black hole ,she decided. She was a volcano.'

Here are some other thought-provoking lines from the book.

My verdict- This is a must read!

Train to Pakistan

Book Review

Title- Train to Pakistan

Author- Khushwant Singh

Genre- Historical Novel

I read this book during the Republic Day fortnight and I was truly impressed with the storyline and style. This was the first book I read by Khushwant Singh and I still get goosebumps when I remember some of the scenes depicted in the book. The storyline is drawn from the horrors of the partition so the brutality of it all hits hard. It is a gripping book right from the start to the end. The descriptions of the village and the inhabitants of Mano Majra is vivid and makes us become a part of their story. 

The Sikhs  and Muslims of Mano Majra are torn due to the changing circumstances that took place in the country in the year 1947. How the equation between the inhabitants and also the nearby villages change gradually forms the crux of the story. Who is right  and who are the wronged is difficult to decipher. Though not everyone is thirsting for blood, there are many who want to sit on the fence and save themselves instead of taking action to stop the wrongdoing. 

The characters in the story are well defined and the story moves forward at a steady pace. Our curiosity is piqued as we wonder about the turn of events. The climax is the scene stealer. There are some scenes that give us goosebumps and we can actually picturize the horror penned. It is painful to realize that this similar events took place in the country and they are a dark part of History that cannot be forgotten. The pain and the struggles people went through during those times is unfathomable and this book relives that dark side of our freedom struggle. 

This is a must read for all those who would like to walk through the pages of history and relive the horrors of the partition. After reading the book we realize that even after what happened in history we have not learnt our lessons. We still keep fighting out own brothers under different pretexts and there is still disharmony around. This book makes us wonder whether there will ever be hope for peace to reign in our country. This book leaves us with many uncomfortable questions in our minds and for some it will be difficult to erase the scenes of the horrors of partition that were vividly described in the book.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles

Title- The Travelling Cat Chronicles

Author- Hiro Arikawa

Translated from the Japanese by - Philip Gabriel

Genre- Fiction

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a best seller and has also been made into a live action Japanese film. This was my first read for this year and I am glad I chose this one. I am a lover of travel and I carried this book along on my tour to the North-east. I cannot express how blissful it was to sit by the gurgling riverside and read this with the mountains behind me. This book brought a smile on my face at the very beginning when I was introduced to Nana the cat. It is amazing how the cat carries the story forward and tells us about his wonderful escapades with his master Satoru.

The book gives us a glimpse into the life of Satoru and his cat Nana and Satoru's childhood friends. It is a look at the travels and explorations of the master and his cat as they move from place to place and as they do that we the readers are delighted with the beauty of the places they visit and we are acquainted with the people they meet. The description of the places is such that we are literally transported there. The cat Nana tells us about his meeting with different animals and people in an interesting manner we feel it is the most normal thing a cat can do.

Though the book is written in simple language it gives us a deep insight about the life of Satoru and the other characters in the book. We meet his childhood friends and learn how their friendship developed. We learn about the bond he shares with them and his cats Nana and Hachi. The cat Nana also makes us delve deep into the thought processes of a cat. How Nana feels about Satoru's friends and family is revealed to us. The storyline is engaging and we cannot help feeling in love with the loyal Nana and we learn to appreciate Satoru's mission to find the right house for Nana.

'The Travelling Cat Chronicles' is a must read for lovers of animals and travel enthusiasts. It takes us on an interesting journey that explores people and places in a unique and simplistic manner. This is a story about loyalty , gratitude and friendship. This story about a stray cat who becomes family really tugs at your heartstrings. 

This is story that is full of heart. There are so many beautiful moments in it. I was surprised to see my tears flow as I neared the end of the book, the climax is an emotional one. It is not only the story but also the cover page of the book that catches your attention. As a reader we would expect the cat on the cover page to resemble Nana the cat in the story but it is an original brush painting entitled ' Man and the World' which is painted by Shuai Liu, a Chinese painter with cerebral palsy whose work is supported by Chilture.com, a studio of disabled artists. Learning about the artist of the cover page was another plus for me  about this book. 

I am glad this was my first read for this year. I too would like to learn to express my gratitude towards people I meet and those who touch my life and appreciate the good things life has to offer instead of focussing only on the the challenges I face. Life is really beautiful if we find the time to look at the beauty around us- the beauty in the places and the people around us. Waiting eagerly to watch the Japanese movie of the same name as the trailor looks really interesting. 

#sunitareads2022

The ABC Murders

 Book Review -The ABC Murders

Author-Agatha Christie

Genre-Mystery/Thriller

I was bowled over by this book! It is difficult to put this one down as we have an urge to know who the killer is. Everything is so mysterious and we start working out in our minds to find the culprit, thinking we are smart enough to guess. Easier said than done. Even at the fag end we think we have the killer and then we are left dumbstruck.

Agatha Christie does it once again with her brilliant story telling. This mystery is about a serial killer, who is seen to be a maniac who kills for the thrill out gives him. He starts with killing a lady whose name begins with the letter A and she also resides in a place that begins with the letter A. An anonymous letter tells us that this is the first among the series is murders that are about to follow, in alphabetical order.

This brings about a state of panic all around. What is the murderer trying to achieve when he is proclaiming in advance about the murders he is about to commit? Mrs Ascher in Andover, Betty Bernard in Bexhill, Sir Michael Clarke in Churston....how long will this list get? Is the murderer successful in completing all the 26 murders and after which must is he actually caught forms the crux of the engaging story.

Hercule Poirot along with his trusted aid, Captain Hastings are a force to reckon with and they are successful in cracking this strange case. The story is well narrated but it is not as impactful as some of the other mysteries. I read this after a superb thriller, 'And then there were None' so maybe it heightened my expectations.

It is always a joy to read when it is raining outside. Reading and raining are a good match!

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

 Book Review

Title- The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

Written and Illustrated by- Charlie Mackesy

Genre- Illustrated book

So this January I had planned to read at least three books each month and it has not gone as per plan. I am not happy about it and so once again I will do my best to get back to reading and focus lesser on watching movies.

I was thrilled to get this illustrated book by Charlie Mackesy, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. This illustrated book is a best seller and was published in October 2019. It has been translated in 17 languages and had been highly appreciated for its depth of meaning. I have been following Charlie Mackesy on Instagram right from the day I read a review about his book and after that I have been a huge fan of his art works and his thought processes.

What can I say about this book? It's a book for keeps and not really a book for reading, it's a book for feeling, understanding and going back to for inspiration. The book has about a 120 pages of sheer joy. There are a few black pages too which I will be happy to fill in with my art work and words of wisdom. In fact, the introduction itself brought a smile on my face that lasted till the end credits and the back cover and even after that! This book is full of white of wisdom and inspiration about life and our role in it. The sketches and calligraphy are exceptional.

Through the four main characters that are simply named as the boy, mole, fox and the horse we are taken on a journey about an understanding of what life is all about in a matter of fact manner. There are some gems there and this is a book that we can go to again and again for inspiration when we are feeling low. There is so much in it for everyone right from eight to eighty. I am sharing a few of my favourites below.

So once again I must say that this is a book for keeps and a good reminder to us that we need to follow our dreams, spread kindness and try our best to believe in ourselves. We should not expect life to be perfect but we must believe that there is a lot of goodness in this world of ours. This book is uplifting and full of hope and inspiration for everyone .

Milk and Honey

Book Review 

Title: Milk and Honey

Author- Rupi Kaur

Genre: Poetry

I was a fan of Rupi Kaur the day I browsed through this book at a book store. I loved the way this particular book has been divided into four sections- the hurting, the loving, the breaking and the healing.The verses are so true to life and our feelings. There is a strong connect and anyone who reads these verses can feel one with them. 

The emotions are conveyed in such a blatantly truthful manner that at times they seem to be cringe worthy. But then, these are facts and she has portrayed them in simple and profound words. There is no unnecessary jargon and explanation. Feelings and emotions run through each page without any boundary. They can be felt as we read them. There is a strong connect as each one of us has gone through this cycle of hurting, loving, breaking and healing at some time in our lives. It is an on-going process that none can avoid. 

Reading this book is like understanding our own feelings, giving a name to our feelings and acknowledging them. The verses are like a mirror to our thoughts and feelings. They speak of hurt and love and also of being strong and hopeful.

This book has an interesting cover page and it is impressive to know that Rupi Kaur did the illustrations herself. There were some verses that were  really stood out. This book is definitely a good read.

The One You Cannot Have

Book Review 

Title: The One You Cannot Have

Author- Preeti Shenoy

Genre: Fiction/Romance

There comes a time in everyone's life when we wish for true love, a soulmate who will be with us forever in all the ups and downs of life. We also realize that finding your true love or soulmate is not easy. Most of us are not fortunate enough to have that, its like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, not attainable.

Love stories are my favourite reads. We all can connect to them, as most of us have fallen in love at some point in life. The title of this book drew me to it. I have been an ardent fan of Preeti Shenoy after I rtead her book ' The Secret Wishlist '.This book too did not disappoint me.

This is a love story that tells us about three couples who have different equations with each other.This story is about love, friendship, deceit and heartbreak. It is never ever easy to forget the one you truly one. Somewhere there is a corner of our mind and heart where the loved one resides.This story is about that person whom you truly love but you cannot have.  

The love story of Aman and Shruti is envied by all. Theirs is a love story that everyone dreams to have. They are dreaming of a future together in bliss when the inevitable happens. The two lovers are torn apart due to certain circumstances that leave them with only memories of each other to cherish. After a few years abroad trying to get over the break up immersing himself in work, Aman is back in India.

Its here that he comes in contact with a new friend, the buubly and lovable girl next door, Anjali. Aman also meets Vikram and Dipika , a married couple who have their share of fights at home. Shruti is also married to Rishabh and they share a different equation. 

What happens between Shruti and Rishabh to sour things between them?
What tore the lovebirds Aman and Shruti apart?
What is the connection between Aman and Anjali? Is it love?
What happens between Aman and Dipika?

(No, I will not be giving out any spoilers)

All the above queries are answered as you go through the story. The language is simple and the story flows easily . The reader is eager to find out what connects the characters. As we read we are aware of some emotions and instances that are common to us. We feel a bond with the characters. We may also become nostalgic at some point while reading, I did!

Love is like that. It is a universal feeling. The author has a knack of weaving the story beautifully and leading us to the understanding of the varied characters and their traits. A good read for the lovers of romance. I am a fan of Preeti Shenoy and I just found out that there are many other books of hers that I have not yet read. They will all be in my TBR (To Be Read) list now.

The Boy in the Headlights

Book Review 

Title: The Boy in the Headlights

Author- Samuel Bjork

Genre: Fiction/ Thriller 

I was excited to get this book at a book exchange during Christmas last year. The story line is gripping and has too many twists and turns. At some point, I felt it was not worth keeping up with the twists. The characters are shown to have their own battles to fight as they go about trying to solve the case of the murders. 

I prefer a thriller that is not too complicated for the reader. This book did not make me curious enough to want to find out the murderer. half way through the book I lost interest and kept it aside and picked it up again after reading another book. This was unusual for me. There are two more books in this series but they surely don't lure me.

For me this was an average read. Too many issues, too many plots and too much confusion spoiled it for me. Of course , there may be many who feel differently as all the three books in the series have got good reviews. So do pick it up if you are a lover of thrillers after reading the reviews. For me, this did not live up to my expectations.

Notes to Myself

Book Review 

Title: Notes to Myself, My struggle to become a person

Author- Hugh Prather

Genre: Self help 

 I was at my sister's place for the weekend recently and I came across this book among her huge collection of books. The title caught my attention and I started reading this just to see what it was all about.It is rarely that I read self help books . Since my stay was a short one I came back home with that book and the lockdown this March due to the COVID19  pandemic  gave me enough time to read this little book. 

This book does justice to  the saying in Hindi- Chhota packet, badaa dhamakaa.
It means it is small in size but is truly explosive.Really, this book was just apt for this period of lockdown. It is said, when you cannot go outside, go inside.I did just that. This book helps us introspect and try to find answers to questions that are universal. The questions that we keep asking asking at different situations in life. 

Life keeps hurling curve balls at us and at times we are clueless about how to react, if we do react we keep thinking whether we did the right thing or we were wrong to react like that. Over thinking is something we all have become masters at. This book  helps us get a new perspective to all the challenges we have faced, are facing or will be facing. It tells us in a matter of fact manner about things, relationships, attitudes and about life on the whole.

Thankfully there are no lengthy sermons or preachy stories,but simple observations about life as it . Each one who reads the book can relate to some or most of the situations  in the book.It is a book about the emotions we feel and it is a reassurance that its all right to feel like that. The narrative is crisp and in an easy to understand language. Interestingly, all the pages are not fully written or filled in. There are vacant places in most of the pages that make the reading easy on the eyes and mind too. Actually relaxes us in a way, cant say how! The book is like a reminder for us to look inside and see where we stand in this journey called life. It gives us an opportunity to look at our emotions, reactions and gather a sense of understanding of some kind.It makes us introspect and learn whether we are walking on the right track.It clears some doubts about why we think or react like the way we do at times. It tells us that each one of us are basically having similar struggles and they can be overcome.

This is a nice read if you really want to be one with your emotions and gain a better understanding of yourself. Of course , it is not a book that will solve all your problems, but is js an exploration of self.

There were some lovely lines in the book that stayed with me and I would love to share them with you. 

Don't we all!

Being your true self is never easy.

What we desire is not the same as what we get in life.

We want others to accept us as we are, but at the same time we cannot accept others with their flaws.

Grandma's Bag of Stories

Title- Grandma's Bag of Stories

Author- Sudha Murthy

Genre- Short stories for children

As a teacher of the Elementary section I am in close contact with children . I need to know how they think, know what they like and also be able to suggest good reads for them. Many times I read children's books in order to rewind and bring out my inner child. Sudha Murthy's books live up to my expectations time and again and this time it was no different.

Who does not like stories? Everyone from a toddler to an adult loves stories.Stories do more than entertain, they educate and improve vocabulary. They are the best means to tell stories to a generation that has little or no contact with their grandparents.In this competitive world , stories like the ones in this book take us closer to our roots, traditions and make us feel one with our native land.In this world of gadgets, books like these are like a breath of fresh air for young readers.

The stories are narrated in simple language and are interesting and vividly presently. Each story has a value that encourages the young reader to become a better person. The stories teach us to appreciate the little things in life through instances in day to day life. All the stories are based in the village and they acquaint the readers with village life in a matter of fact manner.For the city bred readers, this is an added bonus, to learn about the simplicity and calm of life in the village as compared to the hustle and bustle of a city.

To conclude , I would say that this book of short stories is great for young readers but adults too can pick this one for a simple read.

The Greatest Bengali Stories Ever Told

Book Review 

Title: The Greatest Bengali Stories Ever Told 

Selected and translated by- Arunava Sinha

Genre:Short stories

 I received this book at a gift Christmas book exchange and was excited to read it.Arunava Sinha has compiled and translated twenty-one stories that were originally in Bengali. 

The authors of the stories are exceptional story writers and the stories are a slice of life and bring out the flavour of Calcutta. 

The authors include literary greats like Rabindranath Tagore, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak and Mahasweta Devi. The language is simple and each story is about day today life. The line up begins with Rabindranath Tagore's masterpiece 'The Kabuliwallah' so naturally it sets a bench mark of sorts.

The rest of the stories fall to live up to my expectations. Sadly,I found most of the stories long drawn and uninteresting. In fact I lost interest midway and it was a task to complete reading the rest of the stories. 

I think a Bengali reader will be able to relate better to these stories and enjoy them more.It's not that the stories are not good or not well-translated, it just fails to appeal due to different geographic location and lack of connection to the local flavour present in the stories. The read was long drawn as the stories failed to create a spark of interest. For me, this book was disappointing, but maybe for a Bengali these stories are more relatable. 

Tales from the Road

Title: Tales from the Road 

Author: Aniket Ketkar 

 Genre:Travel Journal

 

This was what my Secret Santa at my work place gifted me. This person knows about my love for travel and reading and came up with this book for me.

 

The author has tried to be sincere in his narrative and has penned down his experiences as a traveller without trying to use any fancy words or being overly dramatic.even when there was enough scope for him to do so.

 

As we read we are transported to different locations and we too get a slice of a traveller's life.The local food, night life, rendezvous with fellow travellers and the highlights of each location is described in an interesting way. 

 

The author has vividly expressed his encounters during his solo travels.His tales make us long to take a long tour to unknown destinations too.The most enticing part for me was that before every chapter he has written the views of his co-travellers about travel.Each chapter also begins with his notes about the place which will a chord with all travel enthusiasts for sure. The swaying rice fields, the volcano, beaches the treks to the mountains, changing weather, bus rides, the guest houses he stayed at or the food ,drinks (even the notorious mushroom) all beckon us through his travel tales.

What I enjoyed most is his treks, diving experience and his description of the people and places he came across.

 

There is also a visual treat in store for us towards the end as we have a few beautiful photographs by the author which give us an idea of the places he has mentioned,. This book makes us realize that although travelling is not without its share of misadventures, it is fulfilling and an experience to cherish.

 

To quote the author- 'Travel does not only teach you about the unknown, it brings to the surface your inner-most emotions.....and your true identity, which is hidden beneath the routine we call life.'

This is definitely an interesting read for all travel enthusiasts.It develops an urge in us to leave the routine and travel to unknown destinations.This book gives us travel goals.A book that will take you to places you have not been to and awake the traveller in you.

 

 

 

Daughters Of Shame

Just caught my friend reading this book and she recommended it for reading.The book is a non-fiction written by Jasvinder Sanghera ,whose first book on the same lines, Shame was a best seller.

 Book Review 

Title: Daughters of Shame

Author- Jasvinder Sanghera

Genre: Non-fiction

'Daughters of Shame' tells us about the atrocities faced by young married and unmarried girls under the guise of family honour and traditional values.It is shocking to know that people from the so-called educated and reputable families in the west treat their women so inhumanely.These families who originally belong to India and Pakistan try uphold their traditional upbringing in the western society they reside in.There is a plethora of problems in doing this as the young girls who are surrounded by the western influences and culture prevalent around them are confused about their identity and find it difficult to co-relate with the traditional values and submissive culture while being bombarded each day with the open and permissive values of the west.

Some of the real life incidents gave me goose bumps like the one which depicts how a father brutally attacked and killed his teenage daughter when she expressed her desire to marry a westerner.The father,in the name of family honour ,stabs her about 26 times and the attack is so brutal that the knife too bends.There are many such instances that portray how families subjugate their young daughters behind the closed doors and try to get them married forcibly at a young age without allowing them to decide for themselves.Even after the forced marriage the ill-treatment of the young bride continues in her in-laws house and she surrenders to the atrocities meekly.

A few among these young girls are helped by the social organisation started by Jasvinder Sanghera who herself went against her family to marry a man of her choice.All the incidents are a part of the efforts taken by the organisation to help these girls fight back and lead a life of their own without being subjugated by their family.It is a book that brings hope to the many young women out there who are fighting alone for an identity for themselves.It is inspiring and at the same time depressing to know about the problems faced by the girls living in a mixed social set-up.

Frankly speaking,after reading the book I decided to read something more positive and picked up the book 'A Cup of Comfort for Teachers',a book which is a part of the series which tells us inspiring stories that gives us hope.I do not intend to read the book 'Shame' by the same authoress as I have read enough about the pain and want to read about positive stories now.