The Illuminated

 There are two kinds of writers - the ones who spill flowery words on pages without any story to speak of, and then there is a type that writes some stories in the style you can relate to. Anindita Ghose's grand debut falls into the latter category. But then just because there is a story doesn't mean it is going to touch your heart. 

Sashi Mallick is the wife of Roby Mallick, a big-shot architect. Her son is doing good in the USA, and her daughter, a Sanskrit Scholar is studying in Mysore. All was well in Sashi's world till her husband dies suddenly of cardiac arrest.  The country is seeing itself slowly getting into the clutches of a regressive religious party, MahaLakshmi Seva Sangh, and then there is Sashi, yearning to discover herself all over. 

It would have been a really basic and boring book if it wasn't for Tara Mallick, a posh Delhi girl who chooses to study Sanskrit, of all the subjects in the world. When her father, Roby Mallick learned she has made it to an institute designed by her father, he instantly wished how he had constructed a girls ' hostel for his daughter, if he had known Tara wanted to study there. Yes, that's how privileged she was. 

She instantly falls for this controversial visiting professor called Amitabh Dhar, who she refers as AD. Now AD, more than twice her age, is an HoD in Chicago University, has written banworthy books, is rumored to have been dating Salma Hayek, and is twice divorcee. Rushdie vibe, anyone? The two start flaming fling that left Tara all broken. 

Tara sometimes reminds you of Shalini from The Farfield, except the latter was a rebel with a reason. For example, we are never told why Tara, a brat chooses to study Sanskrit at this age and era when are desperately pleading with authorities to not make it compulsory for students. Kudos to Ghose, ex Vouge editor for getting deeper into research and writing relevant Sanskrit couplets in the book to back Tara's interest. And yet you keep asking all the time, why Sanskrit. 

Ghose has taken different characters, mostly women, and tried to string them together. But there are many loose ends that make you wonder about the real purpose of the book. 

Was it about a woman who finds herself at 50 after her husband dies? Was it about a young girl who has an affair with her professor who had actually assaulted her on more than one occasion?  Was it about New India which is slowly losing her freedom to fundamentalists? Was it about all of the things mentioned? If yes, then why was it not structured that way? 

All in all, an entertaining read that doesn't leave you much to ponder about. 

 Manjiri Indukar is a writer from Jabalpur who has extensively written essays on mental health and It's all in your head, M is just the extension of what all she has written in the past. The book starts in a hospital where Manjiri is admitted because of Rotavirus infection. Her stomach is hurting and she is pooping nonstop. But wait. It is not just any other stomach infection. If you are as ignorant as I am about mental health issues, you would be surprised to know that there is a connection between stomach issues and depression. Manjiri's stomach reacted when the brain has had too much. Sounds weird? This is why we needed this book. 

She further speaks about her childhood issues that went unanswered and how they shaped her into the adult she is today. Her relationship with her boyfriend and her career and her writing were all the reflection of the relationship Indukar had with herself. 

But nothing could be done. Indukar or anybody for that had no idea why she had this constant nagging fear of dying or the constant itch to pluck her hair. But then happened this MA course in English literature that changed her life. Not only she discovered her love for reading and writing, but also a support group that was offering therapy to the students at a discounted rate. 

It was then she discovered the nameless feeling that did not let her live her life fully actually had a name. It was called depression. And the book is nothing but her life with depression. 

Indurkar had a childhood that could be anybody's childhood in a small town. Both her parents were working and got Indukar everything they could. And yet she was depressed. Now, someone who had never faced or is simply ignorant about mental illnesses would absolutely loath the book. And that's exactly why we need more books like that. 

Her breakup with her boyfriend further aggravated her condition and this is something we all can relate to. I don't remember any book that describes the layers of heartbreak the way this book does. 

Overall a triggering book but must read

As a budding writer myself, I could relate to the parts where she has written about the rise of her as a writer. I would recommend this book to those trying to publish a book or seek a career as essysists. 

Exciting times

 So, I read this very exciting book called exciting times, and I must tell you that even though I am not that kind of millennial, I haven't read anything in a long that had spoken to me the way this book did. So, Awa is a 22-year-old English teacher in Hong Kong. Her life is what you expect to be of any 22-year-old graduate in this economy. She shares an apartment with her roommate which is not exactly liveable. Her salary is low and her self-esteem is even lower. She is confused about her sexuality till she meets this wonderful girl who is everything she is not but aspires to be. She has a job that pays well and a self confidence that inspires Awa to be the better version of herself. But just because it inspires her, doesn't mean she actually makes any effort. 

She lives with an Oxford graduate who fucks her , but is nice enough to let her live in her flat. Now, this is something Awa's girlfriend doesn't like about her. And the rest of the novel is the tussle between the two and Awa's tussle with herself. 

The novel talks about class and power struggles in the most relatable way. Awa grew up poor and has certain kind of resentment against rich people. But then both her girlfriend and the man she lives with Julian are Oxford graduates. She finds that to be intimideting and fights hard to shut the noises in her head. 

The language is raw but incredibly funny. It seemed like the writer's aim was just to let her know her unadulratted thoughts and she does it well via Awa.