Shadow of Life

The book has multiple characters, which makes it very difficult to follow. However, once everyone has been introduced, everything begins to make sense. Set amid Edinburgh Festival makes the story more happening as every character has a specific role in the festival. It is fascinating to see how they unexpectedly cross paths. The book starts with Tess Goodwin, who works in the Main office, then moves on to other characters like Albert Deussuin, Angelique Pascal, Rene Brownlow, Gavin, etc. The best thing is each character has a unique gift and struggles to overcome, yet it’s interesting to see how they work together to support one another. Initially, you might be put off, but if you give it some time, you’ll get hooked. I believe each character represents us in some or the other way. When I first started reading this book, I didn’t have high expectations, but by the time I finished it, I was happy with how well-structured it was. If you are planning to read a light book, go for it. Ratin...

There are 30 short stories in the book that focuses on women of different age and background. Each narrative brings out something different. The underlining themes are sexism, racism, toxic masculinity, the feeling of loneliness, undermining one's worth, gender politics, and so much more. Some stories might look weird, some are hilarious, and then some effects you deeply. While reading, you will feel yourself connecting to many stories, so there is this feeling of being connected to other individuals in some way, and you won't feel alone. I felt the book is not blaming anyone per se but how women are perceived, in general, despite doing double the work. Women need to demonstrate their abilities more, especially in fields where they are underappreciated by males. Each story has a deeper meaning since it uses humour to illuminate serious subjects. I adore the vasectomy situation when a man wants one but the hospital's female staff members who uphold the law deny it because it...

While some books keep you interested regardless of the plot, others demand your attention. Then, some show you the mirror and don't differentiate between good and evil. It keeps everything as it is to make you understand what is right or wrong, for you, not for anybody else. This book made me look into myself, my bad habits, my traits where I excel and also those where I can do well. I believe the purpose of reading matters while reading self-help or motivational literature. It is like attending a class where you want to learn something or pass the time. You can only learn about things when you are will take action. So, this book might mean different things to different people. I loved how it taught me to examine my behaviour and rearrange some aspects of my life to address the problem. As is often remarked, all it takes to find a solution is to alter our perspective on the situation. And for that, we need to keep our minds open. Whenever we struggle, one thing occupies our mind so...

It is a book about three characters, Ruhi, Aisha and Tejas. Their lives are interconnected as they work in a publishing house. The book begins on a positive note, discussing the inner workings of publishing houses and the lives of editors, authors and social media administrators. As the title suggests, the book discusses the issues adults face daily. Like anxiety, body-shaming issues, manipulation, coming to terms with our unhealthy eating habits and accepting ourselves, being under the constant pressure of doing things right because of our parents, writer's block, not knowing how to come up with a solution to the mistakes we have made without even realising. It also talks about adult relationships where we forget a few clashes and support each other when it is needed. Not necessarily, being friends, but being a good acquaintance. Also, I found it interesting to observe human behaviour in certain circumstances and reflect on how we behave emotionally rather than being rational abou...

When you hear the word "Sugar bread," what comes to your mind? For me, it was some sugar sprinkled on the bread, just like how my brother and I used to eat during our childhood days. Having something sweet to eat back then was a privilege, and this was a perfect replacement. We don't make it often now, but we still love sugar paranthas. See, I also told you a tale about myself behind this. Similarly, this book is all about mini-stories that involve food. It gives off a warm and fuzzy vibe, where everything looks straightforward, but it isn't. When we witness our elders spending their lives in the same way day in and day out, we tend to assume that adult life is the best. Everything appears to be perfect, but things change once we put ourselves in their shoes. There are moments in our life that change for the better or good we don't get to know at the moment, but they leave us so vulnerable that it becomes difficult to make sense of anything. Here, the mother alway...

Covid - It changed how we looked at life and people. It changed the world. I believe it made us more emphatic. On a small scale, every person has gone through a difficult phase, but if looking at it as a whole, the problems look complex. They can't be solved without proper planning and resources, and the government has tried to do as much as it can. This book intrigued me because I wanted to know more about how the government dealt with the Covid situation. The book talks about both the first wave and the second wave. It gives you a first-hand experience of things that happened when we were sitting in our homes and waiting for this pandemic to get over. The advances government took and the resistance they faced is all there in the book. It was interesting to know how our officials planned everything to cope with the Covid crisis. Had it not been the case, it would have been a scary sight even with the first wave itself.  The narration is simple and to the point. Though it is non-fi...