Girls Like Us

Girls Like Us

by Elizabeth Hazen
Publisher: Alan Squire Press
Release Date:  March 2020

 

Girls Like Us is packed with fierce, eloquent, and deeply intelligent poetry focused on female identity and the contradictory personas women are expected to embody. The women in these poems sometimes fear and sometimes knowingly provoke the male gaze. At times, they try to reconcile themselves to the violence that such attentions may bring; at others, they actively defy it. Hazen’s insights into the conflict between desire and wholeness, between self and self-destruction, are harrowing and wise. The predicaments confronted in Girls Like Us are age-old and universal—but in our current era, Hazen’s work has a particular weight, power, and value.

I love reading poetry, and mostly I instantly feel them connected to me. But with Girls Like Us, it started slow I was confused at the beginning. But as I kept reading, & the poem’s came across as a rebel, and what WE (girls) go through most of our life. Called by names, Eyes those see us, Feeling we go through, Fears our mind has and Thoughts that keep us awake at nights.

I liked how different were each poem’s crafted, with different ideas portraying issues Girls/Women have. The book cover is exactly what the book talks about.

I like poems those rhyme, and this one has only one such poem. But still I quiet liked this whole book, and I would recommend whoever reads it, please read it like a “Spoken Poetry” because that way you will connect more to the poems and words. I realized this a bit later in 3-4th poem and after that, each poem spoke to me.

I would recommend these to everyone, who likes reading meaningful poetry that don’t naturally rhyme.

Moving Day

My mind’s
an emptied drawer, its clutter filed away.

Photograph

He left no trace
but an edge of shadow, the picture’s only flaw.

Driving Home at Dawn

Even now,
my fingertips tingle,
your name like a host
on my tongue.

Electricity

I lie until his
breath deepens and the ticking
clock becomes a heartbeat.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐  .5

Elizabeth Hazen is a poet, essayist, and teacher. A Maryland native, she came of age in a suburb of Washington, D.C. in the pre-internet, grunge-tinted 1990s, when women were riding the third wave of feminism and fighting the accompanying backlash. She began writing poems when she was in middle school, after a kind-hearted librarian handed her Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s A Coney Island of the Mind. She has been reading and writing poems ever since.

Hazen’s work explores issues of addiction, mental health, and sexual trauma, as well as the restorative power of love and forgiveness. Her poems have appeared in Best American Poetry, American Literary Review, Shenandoah, Southwest Review, The Threepenny Review, The Normal School, and other journals. Alan Squire Publishing released her first book, Chaos Theories, in 2016. Girls Like Us is her second collection. She lives in Baltimore with her family.

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*I received an advance readers eBook copy of Girls Like Us, as part of Poetic Blog Tour in return of an honest review. 
The views are my own. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in 
final publication.*

The Dark Lord Clementine

Book : The Dark Lord Clementine
Author : Sarah Jean Horwitz
Pages : 336

The Wizard of Oz meets Harry Potter, magical journey.

Story

The story revolves around Clementine, who has been groomed to be a Dark Lord since birth. Not quiet yet dark lord, she comes face to face with challenges when the curse on her father current Dark Lord, Elithor sees the daylight.
Slowly and steadily losing the power of being a Dark Lord and a father, Elithor shuts himself out and Clementine is left alone with the farm, animals, scarecrows, poisonous apple on Castle Brack.

Until one day, she decides to do something which, according to her father is not how a Dark Lord should act. She finds friends, or maybe she thought they were friends till the real face of her and others come out.

What is the curse ?
Will Dark Lord Elithor, over come the curse?
or will Clementine step up and be the new Dark Lord?

For all these answers you need to read this book.

Writing

I love middle-grade books, especially those who has magic and fantasy world.
This is my first book from authoress Sarah Jean Horwitz, and I like her writing. It was flowing, and even though there were past & present stories shift the shift was swift and easily follow-able.

So many things in the book reminded me of The Wizard of Oz and Harry Potter, due to the magic, the land, dark lord, evil witches and so many other things. And it is in a good way.
There is magic, there are unicorns, there is friendship and there is a bit of love.

This story is about a twelve year girl, who has been shown a path since birth, but as she is living that journey she isn’t sure if she can be The One.

I loved how weather got changed with the emotional state of people living on the land, and Clementine’s hair color change. I also loved how Gricken came into existence (you need to read to know, what Gricken is 😀 )

About Characters, the main protagonist is Clementine, who is expected to be someone, but she isn’t that. She is a perfect blend to be a good daughter and yet explore things that make her curious or because she likes them. Her journey from being a loner, to being someone whom people can trust upon is amazing.

Black Sheep, is my second favorite character. He is funny, and annoyed at the same time 😀 (You need to read it to know about this one)

Final Note :

A middle-grade book, full of magic and magical creatures, and funny at the same time, you got to read this

Cover: 4/5
Title: 4.5/5
Blurb: 5/5
Theme: 5/5
Story: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Overall: 4.6/5

*This book review was provided by publishers via netgalley in return of an honest review. The views are my own*

*-*-*-*-*-*-*Book Challenges*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Read this book, as part of
>> Pop Sugar Challenge Prompt 4 : A book you think should be turned into a movie : I definitely think this will make a very good children movie.
>> Write Tribe Reading Challenge Prompt 8 : A book with a name in the title

Birthday Girl

Book : Birthday Girl
Author : Haruki Murakami
Pages : 48
Price : 61/-

Now I know why people like him forever, or don’t understand him forever.

Story

The story is about a girl who is celebrating her 20th Birthday. And there is no happiness to look around for her, and on top of it, she is said to deliver food to the owner of the restaurant (where she works as a waitress).
No one has seen the owner, and it’s been always the restaurant manager who delivered the food in the owner’s room. But today is different, and when she goes to deliver the food, it’s not the only thing that happens to her different today.

Writing

Before saying anything, I want to say that this was my first Murakami. Having heard so much about him over the years, this year I thought I would open my eyes to his writing. And when I ordered this one, I didn’t know it would be so small (length and size wise both). But in this 48 page story too, Murakami sir gave words that touched (see next section).

Loved his writing, it was mysterious and thrilling to finally reading him. I love the details and I seriously was messed up by reading “She…She” again. We could have been good enough and gave her a name too rite ?
Well anyways, the magical part left me with questions (and I don’t like hanging on to things). But seeing it is Haruki, we need to keep this is mind that he does keep his readers on edge.

Surely gonna pick up books on my shelf by Haruki Murakami now.

Words that touched

Bumpers are meant to be dented.

No matter how far they go, people can never be anything but themselves.

It’s as though something happened to make me think that things happened that never really happened at all.

Final Note :

If like me, you haven’t read him yet. This one is perfect to start with, it’s short and will give you a taste of Murakami’s writing.

Overall: 3.5/5 (I can’t give more than this, because I have expectations from the writer)

Keep your eyes on this one for the giveaway I will be hosting on my Instagram page.
Feel free to follow and jump in for giveaway. 
India only.

The Golden Record

Book : The Golden Record
Author : Naimesha Thakur
Pages : 253
Price : 249/-
Publication : LeadstartCorp

Travel to the fantasy world of writers.

Story

The story is about three generations of women, who likely or unlikely became a published writer. Their words made changes to the world, how it worked.
The protagonist, Mira Dev has just successfully launched her book and is on a tour with her best friend & best friend’s husband. The bracelet on her hand had four trinkets each for her personal accomplishment. And today fifth one will add to it, but she is on tour. Will she be able to add the trinket like she always does on the next day of her book launch?

Her grandmother Tina died a few years ago, and Mira’s mother Antara find similarities between her mother and her daughter. Will that mean anything in the story ?

What if there is an Island of writers, writers who can affect lives of people, but they can also make mistakes. Can mistake in a person’s like be rectified ? What is the role of Mira in all this?

To answer above questions, you need to read the book.
<writing spoiler free review for The Golden Record will be so difficult>

Writing

First book by Naimesha Thakur, and I am already a fan of the plot she used, the world she created, the characters she introduced.
The language is easy to read and understand. But the Island and the writer’s world can be a bit difficult to understand. There is SO MUCH information and yet I felt there should be some more about it.

I always imagined the Island of Writers, a blue meadow place.<hence the image>.

The characters are many, and they are given their share of place and plot to fill in their characteristics page by page. The character’s aren’t shady and are as we read them, one directional. There are a variety of characters, there are Periwinkle, Penchantress, CaRule and so many more.
<saying again, it’s so difficult to writer about this and make it a spoiler free.Umm!!>

Loved the idea of adding trinkets on special achievements (will surely think of something like this to do in real life).
Naimesha, has given an amazing description of how the “PROCESS” works. Still, I was confused, because there was lots of information thrown at me at a single time. I wish this was done in due time, given bits of information while the story proceeds.
The “Black Mistake” , I am curious to know what was it about ? I mean, <umm leave it. #spoilerFree remember>

Final Note:

Amazing book to build up a fantasy world around you, and you living in it. Totally recommend and these doesn’t have usual fantasy world of dragon’s and other creatures. Something new.

Cover: 3.5/5
Title: 3/5
Blurb: 3.5/5(blurb gives some of the things out)
Theme: 4/5
Story: 3.5/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5

*This book review was provided by publishers in return of an honest review. The views are my own*

The Soft Target

*image will be posted later*

Book : The Soft Target
Author : Kalyan Nanda
Pages : 202
Price : 249/-
Publication : Notion Press

Journey of Mohan, from boyhood to manhood.

Story

The story revolves around a boy named Mohan, he has a unique mental illness whose cure isn’t known to his parents yet. No one understands him, his teachers and fellow students come as bullies to him. Yet Mohan smiles to each one, says something and go away.
And after years of wait, they are ready to take Mohan to a specialist in Chennai, which will change him for sure.
But what will change to know that, you need to read the book.

It’s Mahashivratri, and Mohan’s mother had a dream about Shivji, to let her know to come to him and pray for Mohan’s success for his engineering exams.
Will the fate of Mahashivratri reap a good result for the family ?

Moving from his hometown to join an engineering college will change his life for forever.
Make sure you read Mohan’s life as a roller coaster thriller and heartfelt story is unrolled in front of you.

Writing

A debut book by author Kalyan Nanda, and what an effort. The book plot, and Mohan’s unique disability surely raise our interest more to the book.
The writing was easy to understand and there are many references used to connect with reader’s by talking about Dhoni finishing shot and Sachin’s slong shot (mostly in the first half of the book)
There were details even for the “things” in story to make them real life. for example, the explanation of the cooker in the first 10 around pages, that was made sure that it looked like a perfect cooker in respective of middle class families.then up again in the next 10 pages, about how a middle class man “gets ready”. Which I felt was a little too much may be, sometime in life most of us has come in from a Middle class family, and reading such things made me think it is used as a mockery instead of showing how one Middle class family lives.

This will be my first book,where author himself has a talk in his own book. He talks to readers about a certain situation(Dear Readers…).
I almost had feeling like “Main Samay hun”(remember ? A man aura used to come in Mahabharat’s TV)

The friendship between Mohan, Nikhil, Brij & later Revathy was amazing to read about.
The main characters were BIG time “flawed”, and I loved them because they felt real.
Mohan – A boy with unique mental illness, and exceptional IQ who solved “the” maze
Nikhil – Wealthy boy having everything yet nothing because he stammers
Brij – The comedy kid of the book, a fan of Salman khan(from Tere Naam)
Samidha – <won’t tell you what her relation is> But she is one of my favorite characters, because she said my most favorite line of the book “I want to be your Café Madras”

I love when Books, talks about other books and authors, and I haven’t read ‘PG Wodehouse’ yet, but this book surely has increased my interest in him.

I wish the cover was something else, as it doesn’t justify the content and deepness of the plot of book.

Also if you read it, would love to know your theory of who the actual Soft target is 😉 as the book end with that question too!

Final Note:

If you want to read a book that is different from cliché stories, grab this one up.

Cover: 1/5(really wish it was something much more)
Title: 4/5
Blurb: 3.5/5 (as it reveals too much)
Theme: 5/5
Story: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Overall: 3.7/5

*This book review is a part of The ReadersComsos Book Review Program and Blog Tours*

Kingdom Cold

Book : Kingdom Cold
Author : Brittni Chenelle
Pages : 278 pages
Edition : Kindle
Price : 212.00/-

YA with Thrill, Adventure and twist and turns.

Story

The story starts with Princess Charlotte, and her parents talking about getting Princess married off to Prince of another side for saving the kingdom and Princess denying to marry ‘any one’, as it’s too early. (she is 16, of course it is too early). On the other side, Prince Young of Vires is in a dilemma is it fine to marry because of political agreements.

As the time pass, will they both change their mind or will fall in love ever?

Before the Big moment occurs (which was exactly a day after the start of the story I guess), Kingdom of Besmium is attacked and Prince Young and his elder brother Prince Minseo try to win over the sudden attack.

Will they make out safe ? Will they win over ?

Who is Prince Emmett? Why he tries to protect the Princess and Besmium Kingdom?
Read the novel to know all about it

Writing

I love reading new Authors, and some of them amaze me with their novel. Brittni Chenelle is one of them, I picked the novel because of the Blurb which looks more like a simple YA read. But it has so much more to offer with its the twists & turns.
Language used is simple, and easy to understand.

The story is written from multiple POV’s, and even though I loved the smooth transformation from chapter to chapter. As each chapter starts from where the earlier one left, but another character’s POV. Only issue, I found in POV’s where there was no differentiation was the characters tones/talking. They were read same way.

Character development can be seen between the first time(when they were introduced), and last time(when they were read). But there was no specific development as the character grew, except Princess Charlotte. She reminded me so much of Merida (from Brave), the way she said No on marriage proposal, was childish, and grew brave from whatever happened to her.

I am in love with Prince Young, and he is definitely my latest fictional CRUSH♥♥. The way he handles situations, with his presence of mind is amazing. He has got charm of a prince, and believe me when I say, he doesn’t behave much like a Prince. He adapts to situations well, and before thinking of himself, he thinks of ‘people he love more’ (depends on situation we are talking 😉 ) I still laugh when I remember **spoiler** the First night of Prince Young and Princess Charlotte

This single book, contains exactly 3 books. I am seriously telling this, it could have been easily converted to a series, and there were so many points where Author could have stopped on a happy ending. But author chooses to give us twists, and twists, and THE END.
Though author Brittni, says she is working on another novel. Which will have characters from this novel, and will not be exactly a series, but will be a sequel to this one.

The end actually feels like MORE to be seen.

Final Note:

If you want to start reading YA, this one is super good to start with. YA Lovers will love it too, also it has twists and many adventures.

Cover: 5/5
Title: 4/5
Blurb: 4/5
Theme: 5/5
Story: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Overall: 4.3/5

*Thanks to author for providing review copy in return of an honest review. All views are my personal, and nowhere affected by receiving it from author.*

 

*-*-*-*-*-*-*Book Challenges*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Read this book, as part of
>> #leastreader_nb : Feb Prompt : Read a love story
>> #popSugarChallenge Prompt 26 : Book published in 2019
>> #readinWomenChallenge : Prompt 18 : Romance or love story
>> #BTBFEBRUARY19 : Feb 14 : Cover love

When I Had a Little Sister

Book : When I Had a Little Sister: The Story of a Farming Family Who Never Spoke
Author : Catherine Simpson
Pages : 367
Price : 1,158.00/-
Publication : Fourth Estate

Sad memoir written by authoress Catherine about her sister Tricia.

Story

The story starts with room view of Tricia, 46 years old, after she died. Her cigarette’s found in the bathroom, because that was the only place she allowed herself to smoke, to have a healthy life.

“When did she decide to die? Was it before midnight on Friday the 6^th, because she couldn’t face another night, or was it before dawn on Saturday the 7^th, because she couldn’t face another day?’

A question that makes the author think about how mental illness of her baby sister has finally made her choose death over living an unhappy life. Catherine started writing this family memoir on a fellowship at Hawthornden Castle in 2016 (three years after Tricia died).

Read the book to know the story of how a family kept mum about the taboos of mental illness and other social norms.

Writing

When I had a little sister is so personal to Catherine, and yet hats off to her for going through this experience and coming out as a winner (writer). The amount of memories author has shared may sometimes look like very descriptive, and in my case I felt wasn’t needed. But as this is from personal experience, the author made sure she covers everything from the way she felt.

The author talks a lot about her Mother, and it felt like she was still angry with her for all the part she played in “Growing them up”. There are sentences like ‘I was here and she was not’, that author said after her mother died and she got to see the jewellery box and everything that their mother have never let them touch. I was sadden at such references, being grown up with a close-knit family I feel sorry for the author and her sisters that they didn’t get the love they deserve.

Furthermore, in the story she talks about ancestors, who have moved after World War I and how the property and things in them (bed and other stuff) that were kept from generations of belonging year after year, needed to be destroyed and get away from. This saddens me again, because I live for “Old is Gold”, but at the same time having such things that can bring back sad memories are good to let go.

It was only later part in the book, that author has talked about Tricia and her going through mental illness. The way she was drawn towards people, and withdrew herself from them soon enough without a reason. There were times, when I could see/feel that Tricia wanted to say so much, but there was no one to understand here silence, and sometimes words. She kept away from here loved ones, and her loved ones left here alone too. In my experience, and what I know a person with mental illness is weaker at such points, when they want a company and there is no one to talk or share their thoughts with. Catherine, the author herself says that she wanted to reach out to Tricia but her kids (one of them are with special needs), and her own mental health didn’t allow her to do so.

I will again say, it is very brave of Catherine, the author that she has come out with a book that will help people who still think that mental illness is something to keep mum about. It’s about time that our educated people and kids that they can come and talk to their elders about anything and everything if they feel like it. Mental illness should be treated as another health issue, and not a thing with “give it time, it will be all okay”. It won’t be, talk to someone if you feel your mood swings a lot, talk to someone if you have dark thoughts.

I may not be the correct person to say this, but I guess this book can trigger to people who suffer through the same. Because it’s just so sad, made me cry for Tricia and her family.

Final Note:

It’s difficult to review and read a sad memoir by someone who has gone through a lot herself. And rate it on any scale, is like to rate someone’s life and what they have gone through.
Pick this one up, if you want to read something that talks about how families can be, and what mental illness can do to a person/family if not taken care beforehand.

Overall: 3.5/5

*Thanks to publishers for providing review copy in return of an honest review.*

 

Batman’s Guide to Life: Breaking myths since 1994

Book : Batman’s Guide to Life: Breaking myths since 1994
Author : Chetan Soni
Edition : Kindle(e-read)
FREE on Kindle Unlimited
Publication : Half Baked Beans

Okay! So finally Batman is out in the light, at daytime, in front of the public without the mask.
And what he brings to you? Sarcasm!
Because that’s what he asked from the Divine, Lord!

Super easy read, with text not only sarcastic, but also philosophical. I am bad with sarcasm, and have seen some of Chetan’s sarcasm in the HBB group. I stay away from Batman because I am a fan of the Joker, and you can never trust Batman-Joker. 😛

Coming back to the Book, the book consists of super short quotes(but some are deep), and a love story in the end.
Quotes/Text are good, that some will surely hit your funny bone, some will make you think, and for me, some I didn’t understood (I am too lame I guess).
But the story, aah, it was stereotyped to the core. I like love stories, but this was so predictable. Of course, given the length of the whole book, there was not much to give depth to characters and all.

The language is simple.A light yet deep blend with humor, surely make you take away things after the read.

I love reading Acknowledgments and Prologues, and to tell you the truth the Prologue here gives you a kick in what you are about to read. Starts from what does a Prologue mean, to why since 1994 😀

Words that touched

Life is always black and white. People are grey.

Whenever you find yourself on the side of majority, it is time to pause and reflect.

He dragged his body to work everyday.
His soul still seeing the last night’s dream lying on the bed.

 

Final Note :

If you want to start reading, this one is the perfect you can start with. A light yet deep blend with humor, surely make you take away things after the read. Go buy for yourself, after all it’s FREE FREE FREE in here

Overall: 3.2/5

Table for One

Book : Table for One
Author : Neha Bindal
Pages : 117
Price : 199/-
Publication : Half Baked Beans

Light, easy, refreshing read that will give you, Queen meets, DDLJ and English Vinglish vibes.

Story

Taara Maheshwari, a 31-year-old unmarried girl living her life in the restrictions created by her father. Happily siting and having fun with family, but just from outside, inside she craves for more, more from her family and more from her life.
Her parents keep brushing the marriage topic to her on and off, until one day she sees DDLJ playing in the background and agrees to her parents wish to get married. BUT ON ONE CONDITION ! She wish to travel alone to Europe before her marriage. Reluctant Indian parents don’t agree to her demands, but give in when they think of the outcome after this trip.

Taara visits places, meets people. Is this what her heart always wanted?
Will she find the “more” she always wanted from life?
Will she finally tie in the knot to the person her father has finalized ?

For all this, and more you need to read the book 🙂

Writing

First things, first I LOVED the cover, it gives such soothing, travel vibes. All I want to do is pack my backpack and leave the country too.
Language was simple and easy to understand. There is the of other languages as well, but it’s too minimum to cause any hindrance to the story. Hindi touch sometimes adds up pretty good in some novels, and here it did same.
But at the same time, saying “blah blah blah” to any non-understanding language is an insult. Instead, it could have been handled more mature ways, like Taara simply saying “I couldn’t understand” or something.

There were too many parts, where my mind remembered number of Bollywood movies. References like Girl says yes to marriage, only after a Europe trip, the church scene, and some more reminded me of DDLJ
If we look closely the story is so much inspired with Kangana Ranaut’s Queen movie. “INSPIRED” not copied , that while imagining Taara my mind always thought of Kangana somehow.

The writing made it very easy to imagine the situations, the places and the fun she was having. We could see the whole transformation of Taara in these 117 pages. From a fearful girl, with family pressures turned into a wanderluster (is that even a word eh ?) and someone who in the end took a step that her heart allowed, and didn’t go with the flow of things happening.

Loved the chapter titles they were apt for the content of chapter and those quotes by famous people aptly went with the novel.

Writing style of Authoress, Neha reminded me of articles that was shown/written by Carry Bradshaw in Sex & the City. They always had that edge of questions at the end, and they were two faced. Also italics of deep meaningful words were good at starting, but by the middle whenever I saw italics font coming, I knew there will be a question, or a thought, or meaningful words etc which took my sense completely to that part rather than current part I am reading 😛 (sounds weird right ? but it happened :-/)

Having said above all that, there were a few things that my over thinking mind couldn’t take.

**** New section ****

Weird Things

>> Going to a new city, and Taara’s over precious parents didn’t call her? They were shown too protective of her in starting, and suddenly Europe made them vanish. I would have loved to read about them in novel every now and them.

>> The simple novel turned into quiet an erotica ! WHY ? There was absolutely no need for that, a clean novel is also liked by everyone. We can simply say, they made love instead of describing THINGS!

>> The age of Taara is mentioned quite a lot in starting. I mean, yes, it matters that a 30 year unmarried thinking of taking such trips, leaving a job. But really, does age actually matters? I mean any age “girl” doing such things will make NEWS !! 😛

>> The stone, that beautifully came to Taara’s escape in starting lost its way in the mid. And suddenly came in at the end. Well, please let the stone be there like in every situation 😀

>> Where did Charu go? There were two sisters right ? And after one night I couldn’t see why Charu isn’t accompanying Purvi anymore.

Things that worked out for me :

> BEA-U-TIFUL Cover, the Title and the story in general.
> Loved the description of places Taara visited.
> Emotions were shown plain and simple yet deep, and I could connect with them (except some)

Things that didn’t worked for me :

> There were parts in the story that I wish were given more read-time, too many loose ends. (mentioned in weird things’ section)
> The steamy action wasn’t required at all. Sometimes things can be left unsaid and to be felt loved.
> The end was kind of cliffhanger, it left me with so many questions. (Is she working now ? How her parents reacted to the fact that things didn’t work out as she said before leaving.) Well, I am a very caring person, and it makes my duty to know about the character I invested in.

Authoress Neha Bindal YOU NEED TO WRITE A SEQUEL, to answer above . 😀

Words that touched

No matter who we are, what we do, or where we live, deep inside we all feel incomplete. It’s like we have lost something and need to get it back. Just what that something is, most of us never find out. And of those who do, even fewer manage to go out and look for it.

Like the houses we build, the sky was also a shelter to few.

Alone wasn’t just a closed dark room anymore but a whole wide world full of opportunities. I needed to explore and occupy the vastness of the world inside of me, which until now I hadn’t truly understood.

Memories is a beautiful thing if you don’t have to deal with the past. – Before Sunrise (movie)

We are all taught that the most beautiful part of a fairytale is “happily ever after”. But we fail to notice that all fairy tales begin with “Once upon a time”. Once. It all happened. It was all real. Once.

Final Note :

Wanna go out and travel Europe in words ? This is for you. A short, light breeze in that hectic day of yours..

Cover: 3.5/5
Title: 3/5
Blurb: 2.5/5 (blurb gives vibes of queen/DDLJ a lot, and it just doesn’t justify the whole other things novel brings to us)
Theme: 4/5
Story: 3.5/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Overall: 3.3/5

*Thanks to Half Baked Beans for providing review copy in return of an honest review.*

 

A Trunk Full of Sunshine

Book : A Trunk Full of Sunshine
Author : Sapna Dhyani Devrani
Pages : 137
Price : 150/-
Publication : Frog Books (imprint of LeadstartPublishing)

The book is a memoir for life of military wife, which she has gone through for 13 years. 27 short reflections of how a family is affected by one person’s job.
The book is an easy read, and can be relatable in some manner. We all have the trunks we keep in for memory purposes, I remember having a separate carton for things that I did never unpacked. It was always used to pack things when I moved from one pg to another pg. That secret carton had many little memories of the room I was leaving and moving ahead. In same case Authoress Sapna, has opened a trunk of memories with us to share the emotions, situations she has gone through all this time.

The language used was easy to understand and narration was first person. Authoress husband being an Infantry officer when she met him, and how she has been moved to places, met new people, adapted to the life of being a military life was shown very nicely.

The stories are very short, sometimes a page, or sometimes 4 pages. To be honest, when it started I didn’t like the flow. Narration was supposed to be witty, but I couldn’t find my funny bone to laugh on it. As the middle part came, where author covered some emotional phases of her life was the best of all. Ending stories were again okaish kind, the composure of middle part reading where reader were kept in a grip was taken off the hook.

The book lasted few hours, but it surely has my eye to it. Because somewhere in the middle I had fallen for the grief and pain a military wife go through when the men are out guarding us(mango people).

Final Note :

Pick this one, if you are good to go for a story that last just a page or 3 pages. If you have any army/military background I guess this will be relatable to you.

(I wish to give it more, but it was an oka-ish read)
Overall: 2.5/5★

**Thank you publishers for providing the review copy, in return of an honest review.**