So this amazing collection of beautiful letters was recently published on the 1st of October, 2019 and I am so happy to have been able to read it. I absolutely love it!
Dear Juliet
So basically this is a collection of only a few of the thousands of letters that people all over the earth write to Juliet.
Yes, the Juliet of Verona. Juliet Capulet. Romeo’s Juliet. Juliet by Shakespeare.
The Juliet Club
If you didn’t know, there is even today the famous Juliet Club, where Juliet’s secretaries reply to all the letters sent to her. It was first started by Giulio Tamassia and a group of artists and scholars in 1972. Today, Giovanna Tamassia directs the club and upholds her father’s legacy. I personally never knew about this club until I saw the 2010 movie Letters to Juliet.
My letter of love
As I read these heartfelt outpouring of love, I realized how many forms of it there are today, which is not to imply that anyone is better or more powerful than the other. This emotion is all-encompassing and kind and caring and love loves to give. As I leafed through the pages, I was touched by the beautiful words – which were spontaneous and intuitive and emotional and some unrefined, but all, beautiful and touching.
I think this is a wonderful book we need to read, especially in present times when we humans seem to have forgotten what it is to love others, and to be kind to others. We have almost relegated this feeling to simply a romantic one, forgetting all the other versions of love that exist, like the love for a sibling, the love for an aging parent and the love for friends.
A visual saga
With scans of original letters sent to the club, in so many different languages, I was blown away by the feeling that the one emotion that binds us all to one another and to life in general, is that of love. We all may have busy lives and be participants in a cut-throat world but to love and be loved is a privilege that we all yearn for, deep inside.
I was very emotional by the time I finished reading this book and I do not think I will really rate or review this book because it was so cavernous a topic. But If I absolutely have to rate it, it will be an astounding 5/5 stars.
I read this poetry collection over the course of two weeks because I usually read poetry quite slowly so that I actually feel the words and can mull them over. Walk With Wings was an enjoyable read that I delved into. The poems were all divided into 5 sections: Monsoon Love, Winter Sorrow, Autumn Grace, Spring Resilient, and Summer Freedom. In short, poignant verses, Tene’s poems are a compilation of reflections on her experiences, thoughts, and feelings through love, loss, pain, healing, and resilience. The collection takes you through the life story of the author while offering advice, notes, and affirmations, which were written to empower the author during difficult times. Walk With Wings tells the story of Tene falling in love, making bad decisions, learning from her mistakes, and discovering how to love her life and herself.
The
pieces here deal with hard work, discipline and the sacrifices we have to make
in order to pursue our dreams. They have been so relatable to me and I was in
love. It is always empowering in a way – to know that what we are feeling is
not just us. So many people are suffering and knowing that gives a sort of
strength – if so many others are dealing with these issues, and progressing,
perhaps we can too?
A few
of the pieces felt like quotes so irked me a bit, but then again, the content
is something you can easily relate to and that makes it the best, I think. Self-love
and empowerment are the two common threads that link all the different pieces
in the book. I think that my personal favourite is Summer Freedom perhaps,
because it is a process I am going through myself – I am healing myself by
learning to accept my own self. I am de-stigmatizing the faults I had
previously found in my skin which had once made me so very uncomfortable in
this skin I wear. Very enjoyable read and i rate it 4/5 stars.
#qotd : Do you have certain books you go back to whenever you need some healing?
A suggestion I have is What Your Soul Already Knows by Salma Farook. It is another book that I loved and I keep going back to it. It is a self-help/motivational book. I am generally not much for this genre but this one book was amazing.
Hey guys ! So if you remember, sometime back I reviewed Heart of Mist, book 1 of the Oremere Chronicles. I had rated that book 5/5 stars, with opes to pick up the sequels ASAP! And today, here are the reviews for book 2 and 3 of one of my favourite fantasy series of all time now!
Reign of Mist, 2018
Title: Reign of
Mist
Author: Helen
Scheuerer
Publisher: Talem Press
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Format: Kindle
ebook
Language: English
No. of pages: 441
Synopsis:
The realm’s darkest secret is out.
The cruelty of the capital and the power-hungry
King Arden have scattered Bleak and her companions across the continents.
On the run in a foreign land, Bleak finds
herself tied to some unexpected strangers. When the answers she yearns for are
finally within reach, she must face the hard truths of her past, and take her
fate into her own hands before it’s too late.
Meanwhile, secrets and magic unravel as a dark
power corrupts the realm. Bleak’s friends are forced to decide where their
loyalties lie, and who, if anyone, they can trust.
But one thing is certain: war is coming, and
they must all be ready when it does.
Intriguing and action-packed, Reign of Mist is
the second instalment in Helen Scheuerer’s epic YA fantasy series, The Oremere
Chronicles.
My review:
I received a digital copy of this via my participation in a blog tour organized by Shealea from ShutUpShealea . Thank you, Helen Scheuerer and Talem Press!
My love for this series seriously continues and it was proved by the fact that I finished book 2 in a day as well! Reign of Mist is the second instalment in the Oremere Chronicles and I picked up this book as soon as I had finished the first one – Heart of Mist. The mysteries continued to gnaw at me and the amazing world-building of the new setting was spellbinding.
We see themes of animal abuse, courage in the face of hardships (which is an admittedly a repeated theme throughout the series, I suppose), human fear, greed, torture etc. Sisterhood is another theme that runs throughout the novel and it is one I completely adored. This bond that is formed among many of the female characters in the novel was great to read and explore, as varying facets were revealed.
The truth about Dash’s heritage came as a shock. I had truly not expected it and was therefore hit by this barrelling force, right at the face. Swinton’s story is delved into in this novel and this aspect of his past really made me see him as a human and not just a killing machine of the king. His character has become so much more dynamic and I can only wait with baited breath as to what the author has got up her sleeves. Besides, his budding romance with Therese is beautiful and I hope to read more of it. On the other hand, we see some very twisted characters – Ines and Langdon, some sadistic ons, who relish hurting others. The plague can also be seen as another character in itself, which destroys so much more than it reveals the identity of the people.
Other characters such as Casimir and the Tailor of Heathton were well introduced and I hope to see more of their development in the next novel. I love the fun their banter provided. Casimir’s display of power was one that truly took my breath away and the writing felt real and exquisite. I felt as if I was truly in the room along with the characters.
Another thing that I love about this author’s writing was specially her ability to bring together various events whose significance had not been starkly clear earlier. For instance, when we realise it was Ethelda whom Bleak had met so long ago, it was a calming event – as if we are moving to a full circle. I also applaud the manner in which the author has been able to bring together and tie up all the loose ends to provide an explanation; it was really very welcome.
A lot of the portion in this book is about the preparation for war. Throughout the novel, we see the relationships form among all our different characters and I loved their interactions. I was so excited and anxious as everyone moved to Havenesse because their meet up was something that was completely unpredictable. And especially the long awaited meeting of the two sisters caused me quite an emotional upheaval.
Verdict:
My love for this series only seems to continue to grow. I rate this one a total 5/5 stars!
War of Mist, 2019
Title: War of
Mist
Author: Helen
Schuerer
Publisher: Talem Press
Genre: Fanatsy,
YA
Format: Kindle ebook
Language: English
No. of pages: 500
Synopsis:
War is here.
Toxic mist drives all life to the brink of destruction
and the conqueror queen, Ines, has her talons in the kings of the realm.
Bleak, having discovered her true heritage, must
now scour the lands for the one thing that might save them all.
But the search is a treacherous one – and it
will push her to the very limits of endurance.
Amidst secrets, lies and the intricacies of
battle, Bleak and her companions learn just how far they’ll go for the ones
they love. But will it be enough?
As deadly forces grapple for power across the
continents, families, friends and allies unite to take one final stand.
Explosive revelations, heart-wrenching betrayals
and breathtaking magic soar in the epic conclusion to Helen Scheuerer’s
bestselling trilogy, The Oremere Chronicles.
My review:
I received a digital copy of this via my participation in a blog tour organized by Shealea from ShutUpShealea . Thank you, Helen Scheuerer and Talem Press!
War of Mist is the third and final installment in the Oremere Chronicles by Helen Scheuerer. I have loved and given 5 stars to the first book – Heart of Mist, as well as the second – Reign of Mist.
This book picks up from one month after Reign of Mist ends. The Prologue here itself gives us a glimpse into Ines. Her character is something very dynamic. And it is here that we are given such views of her past. As such, we see her varied personalities throughout the years and although it explains why she has become the way she is, it is never an excuse. However, it is also an unavoidable fact that trauma often shapes some of us into non desirable beings, I suppose. Ines is alluring, and that cannot be debated. Her power is like a flame that I as a reader, was utterly drawn towards.
A lot of the story in this book is told through somewhat of a treasure hunt, including Bleak, Ermias and Casimir as they put their wits together, face their monsters, share their fears and form better and deeper bonds for it. The revelation of Fi’s heritage was welcomed wholeheartedly by me. He deserves the world and I need to see more of him.
The everlasting war of morality – of good versus bad, is again portrayed here. Moreover, the theme of justice and duty is a continuing presence in this novel, as in the other ones, although nowhere has it been more pronounced. Someone rightly said that duty is the death of love. Every so often, we see the darkness take over Bleak. In my own interpretation, it is trauma and depression and I love how real it made these characters – having their own struggles. No one is perfect and yet they are all trying and not giving up. No truer words were said than when Henri had quietly claimed that life was not always black and white – so much of it is grey! No wonder we humans suffer so much and are confused at so many times!
One of the greatest character arcs in this novel is undoubtedly that of Swinton. I love him and his redemption was powerful to read about. We see him changing and growing throughout the series and in this last one, he is transformed into a wonderful man – flawed but real and accepting of these flaws, with the hope to become better. I also loved the final stand all the characters take together and the writing was great enough to give me goosebumps.
And oh my god! I did not see that coming with the ‘madwoman’!!! That was so very shocking.
PS. You just need to pick up this series!!!!!!!!!!!
With some shocking betrayals, War of Mist was a fast-paced final novel in a fantasy series that has made me a lifelong fan of the author. The suspense that the author flavours this book with, is perfect and the final result is an experience that will keep you reeling.
Verdict:
Needless to say, I loved this book too and just like the first two instalments in the Oremere Chronicles, I rate War of Mist 5/5 stars too!
The Dark Side Of The Moon is a collection of
short stories that are dark, grim and flirt ambitiously with notions of the
unexplained.
Volume 1 includes three fast paced stories which are bound to keep you hooked
–
THE LAST SKYPE:
What do you do when you are thousands of miles away from the person you
love?
You Skype.
But what if what you see isn’t what it actually is?
IN MY HEAD:
All killers have a motive. People don’t kill out of necessity; people kill
because they want to kill.
Would a mother murdering her own child have a motive too? He has seven days to
find out.
THE RITUAL:
It’s been 33 years. The comet is returning. His god is returning.
The time is right for The Ritual. Will his god come home?
My review:
The
Dark Side of the Moon was a fabulous read. With just the perfect combination of
the macabre and the thriller elements, it was a fast-paced read overall.
In
all the three stories, the author has been able to create a world for the story
and then proceeds to tell his tale in the most deliciously mysterious way as
possible. Like the synopsis claims, the stories all flirt ambitiously with the unexplained.
The atmosphere is dark, as can be expected, and the stories were absolute in
themselves. The beauty lies in the fact that the author is able to wrap up an
entire story in just a few words – kudos to his writing – and yet leave so many
unanswered questions in the readers’ minds.
The
themes, although horror permeated through every story, were that of normal
everyday emotions and perhaps that is why the author has been able to so
easily, capture the readers’ minds; familial love, romantic love, human hopes
and aspirations, human’s thirst for knowledge, technology etc., abound this
collection. The writing style is simple yet engaging and makes you wonder – is it
possible? Can this really happen? And what if it does?
These
questions flitted about in my mind as I read one story and then moved on to the
next. What they did is really made me question a lot of things we as humans
have already come to accept and believe. Are these paranormal phenomena even
true? And maybe, somewhere around us, they are happening?
My
favourite was The Last Skype and its ending left me so very shocked and yet thirsty
for more of this author’s work. Considering that this collection is the Volume
1, we can no doubt expect a Volume 2 perhaps to come out soon, and I wait
eagerly for that. This was one book that was very interesting and I hope to read
more of this author’s works.
Verdict:
I
really enjoyed this collection and rate it a 4/5 stars.
About the reviewer:
Nayanika
Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam, and
is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She
publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction
etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the
NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines
etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com
.
Publisher: Greenwillow
books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Children’s
literature
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
No. of pages:
352
Reading level: Middle-grade
Synopsis:
Twelve-year-old Esme’s life changes when she
discovers dinosaur bones on her family’s peach farm in Texas. Fans of Wendy
Maas and Lynda Mullaly Hunt will love this perfectly pitched story about
friendship, family, and loss from Suzanne Crowley, the acclaimed author of The
Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous. After her grandfather died from a heart attack while
driving his tractor, Esme has avoided returning to the spot where he lost his
life. But when she follows her little brother, Bo, up the hill while chasing
fireflies, she makes an incredible discovery—dinosaur bones peeking out from
underneath the abandoned tractor. Esme
sees the bones as a message from her grandfather; a connection beyond the
grave. But when word gets out that Peach Hollow Farm is hiding something
valuable, reporters, researchers, and neighbors arrive in droves. Esme must
find a way to understand who has her best interests at heart—especially as the
memories of her grandfather begin to slip away. From acclaimed author Suzanne Crowley, this engaging adventure set on a
Texas peach farm is just right for fans of Rebecca Stead and Ann M. Martin.
My review:
I
had honestly no idea that I would come to love this book so much! Finding Esme
is truly a one of a kind middle-grade novel that I enjoyed delving into, as did
my brother!
Speaking
about the characters, the protagonist Esme is one I found to be utterly wonderful
and dynamic in her own rights. She is so matured for a mere twelve-year old and
while it awed me a lot, at times, I could not help but feel sad for she has
lost quite a part of her childhood. As she so ardently asserts to her
grandmother, she is after all a kid who has been force to grow up too early. It
also does not help that Bee admittedly treats her like an adult.
Bee
on the other hand, is a hard woman. She has faced a lot in her life and her
great tragedy perhaps defines a lot of this novel – I believe this backstory is
crucial in the way it has also defined the lives of Esme, her brother Bo, her
mother June Rain and her father Harlan. (If you want to know what great tragedy
I am talking about then you should surely read this book!) It is not a tragedy
in as much as a terrific incident or something of catastrophic expanse, but the
implications of that melancholy secret is utterly poignant and moving.
Speaking
of Bo, I absolutely loved this cuteball! Having a brother myself really made it
possible for me to relate to Esme on another level – the bond that one has with
siblings is simply unbreakable. Bo is fun and offers the bit of humour in this
story. One cannot help but fall in love with him. His understanding of the
things around him is also utterly profound and I found him, in some amount,
very enigmatic.
June
Rain broke my heart. It is only towards the end that we know so much as to why
she is what she is and behaves as she does. Sweetmaw, who is Bee’s sister is
also another lovable character. I also quite liked Finch’s character and he
truly is a good friend to Esme. We also see his story as the author really
wraps around the lives of the people with each other. The end product is
utterly magical.
The
plot was also really enjoyable and while the overall pacing was good, I think
that the beginning was a bit slow. Nonetheless, it wraps up the story
perfectly.
The
themes of family, friends, love, were well evolved in the story. We see so many
shades of human emotions that it was an utter ride in itself. Love, hatred,
jealousy, competition… everything was included and the result was something
very real. The supernatural element was also what I think formed a lot of the
backbone in this story, but of course that is a personal interpretation. I suppose
I cannot stress enough on how deep and impactful this middle-grade novel turned
out to be! And as such, I feel that this is a story people of all ages will
enjoy – the kids for the mystery, and the adults for the various hidden layers
of meaning and implications within the story.
Verdict:
I
absolutely enjoyed this story and I rate it a 4.5/5 stars!
About the
author:
Selected among Book Sense and Indie Next top
picks, and Amazon and Bookbub Editor’s Picks for Best Books, Suzanne writes
novels that School Library Journal calls “amazing” and
“poignant” and VOYA calls “heart-stirring” and
“marvelous.” Suzanne, the author of both middle grade and young adult
fiction, is a wife, mother, a crafter of dollhouse miniatures, an avid
traveler, dog hugger, nap expert, and chocolate lover extraordinaire. Suzanne’s
novels have received starred reviews in SLJ, KLIATT, VOYA and BCCB, and have
been selected for state and national reading lists. After living all over the
United States, Suzanne and her family now make their home back in her native
state of Texas. www.suzannecrowley.com
About the
reviewer:
Nayanika
Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam,
and is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She
publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction
etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the
NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines
etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com
.
Twelve-year-old Esme’s life changes
when she discovers dinosaur bones on her family’s peach farm in Texas.
Fans of Wendy Maas and Lynda
Mullaly Hunt will love this perfectly pitched story about friendship, family,
and loss from Suzanne Crowley, the acclaimed author of The Very Ordered
Existence of Merilee Marvelous.
After her grandfather died from a
heart attack while driving his tractor, Esme has avoided returning to the spot
where he lost his life. But when she follows her little brother, Bo, up the
hill while chasing fireflies, she makes an incredible discovery—dinosaur bones
peeking out from underneath the abandoned tractor.
Esme sees the bones as a message
from her grandfather; a connection beyond the grave. But when word gets out
that Peach Hollow Farm is hiding something valuable, reporters, researchers,
and neighbors arrive in droves. Esme must find a way to understand who has her
best interests at heart—especially as the memories of her grandfather begin to
slip away.
So
the things I found in this amazing box were:
A beautiful turquoise
coloured black ball-point pen, with Finding Esme inscribed in orange.
Two amazing
badges with the illustration from the book cover.
A cute pin of
the book cover!
A soy candle,
scented Peach, from Minneapolis Chandlery.
Another soy candle,
scented Fresh Cut Grass, from Minneapolis Chandlery, as well.
A card from
the author!
Candies of
course! Of various flavours as well!
And last, but
not the least, a beautiful hardcover edition of the book Finding Esme. And it
was a signed copy as well!
I was absolutely delighted to unearth each item, just as Esme was, unearthing the dinosaur! I also loved reading this book, and my review is scheduled to be uploaded tomorrow evening in fact! So do click the follow button and like, to stay in tune to all my book reviews! But I also hope that you all will order your own copies as well! I totally loved reading this book!
Moromor Deuta is truly a book that I suppose almost every Assamese youth has read, and if not, then it is surely something that I would recommend them all to.
So this year, I have my very own reading challenge #readyourmothertongue wherein, I read at least 1 Assamese (I am from Assam, and my mother tongue is Assamese) book each month. Now I do not read as many Assamese novels as I do English ones and as such, my proficiency in considerably less in this language. I am trying to get better at it, however, and that is why I had picked up the famed Burhi Aair Sadhu by Lakshminath Bezbruah, for my beginner’s pace in January. In February, the book that I picked up – Moromor Deuta – is s story for kids, with its easy language, but the meaning is universal and it touches all of us.
I was first introduced to this story years ago when I was sick (I had the pox) and I had to rest and I was so bored that my mother bought me new books. One of them was ‘Dear Father’, a story which was originally written in Assamese, but Mom had got me an English version. I had loved the seemingly simple plot then and continued to pick it up again and again over the years. But this time around, as I read the real version in my mother tongue, it touched me deeply. This story will resonate within all the readers’ hearts.
The plot, while seemingly a simple one, encompasses a variety of morals and various themes. The family bonding, parents’ and siblings’ love is by far the focal one in my view and the author leaves with a bang. The reason why I read the English version, again and again, all those years back, is simply why this book, and this time in my mother tongue, did not fail to strike me – when I used to be angry with my parents, I inadvertently used to pick this one up and the message, which was loud and clear, continued to calm me down – it is simply that no matter how harsh one’s parents may seem at times, they never even once fail to think of the betterment of their children. And even if their rules and their authority may seem too much at times, we kids need to understand that they always have or good in mind.
The language used by the author is simple and easy to understand – I certainly did not find much difficulty in reading this book, considering that I haven’t read any ‘novel’ in Assamese before. I am truly enjoying this reading challenge and I hope it will be successful in bringing you closer to your roots as well.
Verdict:
I rate this book a solid 5/5 stars.
About the reviewer:
Nayanika Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam, and is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com .
Recommended for: Warning: Graphic content; not for the light-hearted
Synopsis:
In a reimagined Ancient Rome, during the last days of the republic, enslaved prostitutes are brainwashed to eat and sleep only after sex.
Matt-Lin—a surly teenage girl—is trafficked to the world’s preeminent brothel, the Lupanarium.
She is tasked to perform a dangerous live sex-act in the arena with Jak—the Lupanarium’s most popular male prostitute and gladiator.
Jak attempts to mentor Matt-Lin, but she proves unwilling to please her clients, and she vigilantly seeks a way to escape, putting her life, and his, in danger.
The Lupanarium is the first book in The Many Trials of Matt-Lin and Jak, a series about trauma survivors learning how to love. With the amount of sex in the series, it would be easy to categorize it “erotica” or “pornography.” However, this book’s primary function is not to titillate. Instead, it comments on, critiques, and satirizes these genres, which often serve to normalize rape culture.
This book comes with a graphic content warning for its depictions of sexual assault and child rape. Adult readers only, please.
My review:
The Lupanarium, Book 1 of The Mnay Trials of Matt-Lin and Jak, is not a light-hearted read at all. It has rape, child-rape, sex, and gore. What I would like to also add, is that despite the inclusion of all of these acts, it would not be right to simply categorize the book as erotica.
The author introduces us to an entirely different world. It a dystopian novel, with a world where rules are perversely made and followed. And at times, it was harrowing for me to read as well. The themes and plot, the events – the narrative in itself, is so raw and what scares one is that who knows if this might be true one day?
This is a world where rape is glorified. And people pay to watch these inhuman acts. The poet truly has written a satirical piece keeping in mind the degeneration spreading rife today. The corruption of power – we see officials use these ‘slaves’ rather, ‘sex slaves’ and in this world, it is ‘normal’, it is what is ‘expected’ of them. These slaves do not know the concept of love. They are made to think that they do not deserve love. Looking from a socialist viewpoint as well, we see the vast differences among the ‘elites’ and the ‘slaves’. Moreover, there are again so many layers to these social classes.
I suppose I could go on and go about all of these issues which the author has successfully portrayed in mere 127 pages.
Matt-Lin is a what you would call a ‘prodigy’ in this world. Perversely, she is famous because she has survived the 9-layered heel to be known as the ‘niner girl’. As a survivor, we see her coping with the world doing what she is expected to do. However what the world does not know, is that, despite coming out alive of the tests, she still is left with her ‘fighting spirit’. I am definitely looking forward to see her growth in the sequel. Jak is another character with depth. There is still the humanity left in him, which seems to have been lost and absent from the rest of the people in society. Joanna is another intriguing character whom I loved reading about and look forward to her appearance in the sequel.
Verdict:
This was a really through-provoking book and I look forward to the sequel. I rate it a 4/5 stars.
About the reviewer:
Nayanika Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam, and is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com .
In September 1857, the Indian way of life
changed for ever, after the overnight downfall of the Mughal Dynasty, with the
capture and exile of Bahadur Shah Zafar. This book, translated by Safvi,
presents translations of four texts that talk about Dilli (today, Delhi) on the
eve of the downfall and the fate of royalty following the uprising of 1857.
Invoking nostalgia, chronicling both beauty and hardships, it is a gemstone to
understand exactly how the royal household functioned and how it ceased to
be.
My review:
City
of my Heart is a chronicle, a romance, and history all mixed in one. It is a
scenery of a time rich in cultural and intellectual activity in Dilli as it was
then known, the multifaceted aspects of the Mughals and their reign that made
it a paradigm, and it is a nostalgic read- almost as if one’s relatives had
lived and loved in those times, as if this illusion is just within one’s grasp
in a few years in the past and not in the actual centuries that separate them
and us.
City
of my Heart has a beautiful cover, and it catches the reader’s eye at the very
instance they fall on it. Had I not been given a review copy, I am sure that I
would have picked up the book just for the sake of the cover, without having
even read the synopsis. But this book is one of those rare ones, for which the
covers and the content go hand in hand.
While
the stories are wonderful, as a non-Urdu learner I cannot possibly waive aside
the diligent work of the translator, without the presence of whom I would have
still been believing Dilli of that time to be a mere decadent one.
As
I so vividly found out, the first half of the nineteenth century has been very
much misunderstood, and this book truly sets that to right. No words I utter
today can possibly pierce the pregnant thoughts I harbor for it – full of calm
yet sorrow, awe and some strange, perhaps misplaced (or not), sense of
nostalgia. It is a masterpiece, and apart from the actual academic importance
it has got, this is a must read for those wishing to know more about our country’s
past, from the works of actual people of those times, and translated by a
master storyteller into a language that is easy to understand, and a portrayal
of a world just as easy to slip into.
Verdict:
I
quite enjoyed this book and I rate it a 4/5 stars.
About the
reviewer
Nayanika
Saikia, is one of the foremost book reviewers from the North-east and Assam,
and is also an admin for the official India bookstagram page on Instagram. She
publishes her own reviews and recommendations for poetry, fiction, non-fiction
etc. on her bookstagram account @pretty_little_bibliophile which won the
NorthEast Creator Awards 2018, as well as in daily newspapers, online magazines
etc. She can be contacted at nayanikasaikia98@gmail.com
.
