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Review - So Now You Know by Vivek Tejuja

I was very excited to read this book because this was supposed to tell me the journey of a person trying to be himself and find his place in the world where being LGBTQI+ is a crime. Things might have improved for them in the modern world, but this wasn't the case previously. So, no matter how hard you try to understand, you will never know their suffering. You can only be empathetic.

While reading the book, I felt like my friend was trying to tell me his story. I have read reviews where people said it felt repetitive. But I felt like I could listen to his story over and over because, after all, isn't that what we do when someone is trying to share their grief or joy. They tend to repeat a few things and emphasize some moments more than others. The sole reason for me to read this book was to know my friend better and understand how difficult things were/are for him. It might not be the same, but I got a glimpse of everything.

This book was too personal, as the author has poured his heart out and didn't shy away from telling you his moments to give you a better perspective. Such books are the need of the hour, as even though people say they are okay being their friends, they behave otherwise. Sometimes, they don't even want to be friends with them. I feel every person has a different story and we should judge no one based on their gender. It is still love if a man loves a man. It is still love if a female loves a female. Just because you don't approve of something, it doesn't mean it is not. If you are okay with inter-caste or inter-religion relations, then why not this? Isn't it the same? What is so wrong with identifying oneself with someone other than a girl or a boy? They are still human.

All this comes from a kind heart because I know how my friend feels. What he goes through on a daily basis and still comes out stronger. Read this book to understand people around you better, to remove the barrier of treating them differently just because you found out they belong to the LGBTQl+ community; they haven't changed. They are still the same person you have known for years. It's just that they took time to come out in the open and fight their fears.

Rating - 4/5
Genre - LGBTQI+ , contemporary fiction
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