Book Review: Someone to Love

Book: Someone to Love

Author: Ruchita Misra

Publisher: Harlequin India

Pages: 237

Price: 175 INR

Blurb:

Not everyone is lucky enough to find this kind of love. Koyal and Atharv are childhood friends. They are also soulmates. Confidantes. Kindred spirits. They are made for each other only, neither of them seems to have figured it out just yet. As they grow into adulthood, they turn to each other in sorrow and joy, only becoming closer. But then one day, something happens, and their rare friendship is cruelly transformed into something a lot like hatred. Atharv, scarred and hurt, fumes with anger, while impetuous Koyal presses the self-destruct button. 

Years later, just when they've both found peace within themselves, their paths cross again. And destiny, that strange creature, has a few tricks up her sleeve. Will these two ever forgive each other? Or have they already lost their one chance to find someone to love?

My Rating:

Plot: 3.5/5

Writing Style: 4/5

Character Sketch: 4.5/5

My Review:

"Someone to love" is a beautiful love story of childhood best friends, Atharv and Koyal separated by destiny to meet again. I loved the way the author had sketched these two characters. Koyal is hyper. Atharv is calm. Koyal is extremely emotional and unable to control her emotions. Atharv is emotionally stable. She is self-destructive when hurt. He is distant when hurt. Since childhood, Atharv keeps Koyal calm and stable. They are like yin and yang. Without one, another is lost. 

They have a soul connection and can understand each other's silence. Even when both of them don't have an idea about each other's whereabouts, the soul connection is still there. They can communicate through telepathy and know if the other person is going through a difficult time. The way the author had depicted the beautiful and complicated relationship between Atharv and Koyal is indeed praiseworthy. 

The story constantly oscillates between the past and the present and that keeps the story interesting and unpredictable. The beautiful friendship between Atharv and Koyal breaks when Koyal decides to go away from his life. Atharv gets hurt when Koyal cuts off the friendship suddenly without any explanations, leaving only questions and hatred between them. They move on with each other's lives and finally meet after more than a decade in London with questions and resentments. 

The author cleverly camouflaged the reason behind Koyal's decision, dropping subtle hints at certain places. It was only in the last few pages of the novel that she reveals the reason why Koyal walked out of Atharv's life and all the dots finally get connected. The prologue of the book is very intriguing.

After a long time, I read a romance novel that I enjoyed reading so much. I was totally invested in these two characters, Atharv and Koyal. I also loved the character of Koyal's mom, Atharv's mom, Mansha and Hema. Although the plot was not very unique, the writing was fresh and intense. Here are some of the lines of the book that have stayed with me:

"Sometimes, even if we forget our friends, our soul does not."

"Love sets free, love empowers, love liberates, love exhilarates. Madness destroys. Possessiveness destroys. Hatred destroys."

"The language best friends use to communicate is facial expressions. And sometimes, though words mean one thing, the expressions tell the truth." 

"Nothing, she realized in that moment, ever separates a child from her mother. Not even death."

"Letting go of someone you love is hard, but holding on to something that was never meant to be yours is harder. Hating anyone is hard, but fighting with yourself to keep on hating a person you hate to hate is exhausting."

There are various scenes of the book that made me emotional. If you are a romantic person and if you believe in soulmates, you will absolutely love reading this book and may require a few tissues while reading it. Those who do not like romantic novels may find some of the scenes cliched and a bit over the top. 

I would give it a 4 stars and recommend it to all the romantic souls. Now that Valentine's Day is just around the corner, this book can be your perfect read. 

'I received a copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.'

Book Review: Lanka's Princess

Book: Lanka's Princess

Author: Kavita Kane

Publisher: Rupa Publications
Genre: Fiction|Mythology

Pages: 298

Price: 295 INR

Blurb:
Surpanakha, Ravan’s infamous sister—ugly and untamed, brutal and brazen. This is how she is commonly perceived. One whose nose was sliced off by an angry Lakshman and the one who started a war but was she really just perpetrator of war? Or was she a victim? Was she Lanka’s princess? Or was she the reason for its destruction? 

Surpanakha, meaning the woman as hard as nails was born as Meenakshi—the one with beautiful, fish-shaped eyes. Growing up in the shadows of her brothers, who were destined to win wars, fame and prestige, she, instead, charts up a path filled with misery and revenge.

Accused of manipulating events between Ram and Ravan, which culminated in a bloody war and annihilation of her family, Surpanakha is often the most misunderstood character in the Ramayana. Kavita Kané 's Lanka’s Princess tells the story from the vantage of this woman more hated than hateful.

My Review:

"Lanka's Princess" tells the story of Surpanakha, Ravan's sister. She is the protagonist of this book and I must say that the author has beautifully brought her into life in the pages of the book. It was interesting to know all the major characters of Ramayana through Surpanakha's eyes. 

The book starts on a very interesting note where we see Lord Krishna talking to a woman with a  hunchback known as Kubja after coming to Mathura. He recognizes her at once and the woman also senses an uncanny familiarity when Krishna talks to her. Later, after some days, Krishna heals her deformed body and tells her that she was Surpanakha in her last birth. Then Krishna starts narrating her story to her. 

The prologue of the book totally won my heart. I was hopeful that this book will be a great read and I am happy to announce that the book lived up to my expectations. The epilogue was also beautifully written. 

Surpanakha was born as Meenakshi to Kaikesi and Rishi Vishravas. She was loathed by her mother as soon as she was born. Her mother's extreme fondness for Ravan and her father's fondness for Vibhishan made Meenakshi feel abandoned. She felt only her middle brother, Kumbhakarna loved her. The childhood incidents of Meenakshi were beautifully narrated, especially the one in which she attacks Ravan with her nails because he killed her pet. 

The girl who yearned desperately for love and attention from her family finally found love in Vidyujiva, her husband. When her husband got killed, she felt she had lost everything in her life. Destruction of Ravan became her only goal, which ultimately resulted in the great war between Ram and Ravan.

The way the author has shown the metamorphosis of Meenakshi (the girl with golden eyes) into Surpanakha (the woman as hard as nails) is praiseworthy. She made the character of Surpanakha so human that anyone can relate to it. The girl who craved love throughout her childhood became the victim of revenge. Although she wanted to destroy Ravan, she suffered more destruction in the process. The last chapter of the book where Urmila, Lakhman's wife makes her realize that she was the victim of her own wrath was poignant.

"None of us are innocent, all of us are guilty of our actions.",said Urmila. "But we have to take onus for those actions, should we not? You cannot blame it on others or on fate to have created our fortunes and our misfortunes. It is us, Surpanakha , we have none to blame, or absolve, but us. There is no escaping our responsibility."

The book is fast paced and very engaging. There is not a single dull moment in the book. However, there are a few typos and editing errors. 

I will go with 4 stars.

If you are interested in knowing Surpanakha's story, you must read this book. 

 'I received a copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.'