Monday, 27 May 2019

Book Review: 26 Stories from Mom's Diary #BlogchattereBook


Last weekend, I read Roopali's endearing book "26 Stories from Mom's Diary". The cover of the book does complete justice to the content. Written in the form of fiction, it can be a great self-help book for parents. 

Overview

The protagonist of the book is Asha, a homemaker and mother to two kids. She is happily married to Raj. The book revolves around various incidents in Asha's life. We get to meet various interesting characters through Asha such as a social worker, a person obsessed with selfies, a selfless teacher, and a yogini. 

The best thing that I liked about the book is that it exudes plenty of positive vibes. Written in an endearing tone, the author does not try to be didactic. The chapter titles are interesting and intrigued me when I started reading the book. 

Detailed analysis

The book starts with a chapter that deals with the subject of adoption. The subject has been carefully dealt with and throws light on how society reacts to it, especially when the couple already have a biological child and choose to adopt the second child. The obsession with having a fair child and  a male child is also subtly shown. The author has successfully depicted the ills of the Indian society, while at the same time highlighting how adoption can benefit society. 

Apart from adoption, the author has chosen to talk about important issues that parents face on a daily basis. In one chapter, the author has revealed how to tackle fierce and aggressive kids. There is one chapter where the bond between grandmother and grandchildren is beautifully shown. I really enjoyed reading that chapter for the warmth and love it exuded. It reminded me of the love that I received from my grandmother. 

Apart from discussing parenting, the author has also chosen to show how Asha, the mom protagonist is as a person. She is an understanding wife who knows to keep calm during moments of conflict with her husband.  Her matured outlook is refreshing to read about. There is a chapter where Asha reveals that she keeps a diary where she notes down the hilarious moments of life so that she can go back to it whenever she feels despondent. As a neighbor, Asha is helpful and compassionate. She tries to help her neighbors and fellow parents whenever she gets an opportunity. This makes the reader form a heart to heart connection with the protagonist. 

The book explores the subject of different parenting styles and whether test scores define a child. These are important and relevant topics that need a good amount of contemplation. One of the chapters I really enjoyed reading is where the author has talked about raising daughters not just as a princess, but as warriors. 

Final Words

The editing of the book could have been better as there were a handful of spelling mistakes which disturbed the pace of reading. However, the intention of the author to help other parents stood out. The book is relatable, interesting, and endearing. Filled with warm and cozy moments, you will not only enjoy but also learn a few valuable things from it.

26 stories from Mom's Diary is like a box of assorted nuts - Healthy, delicious, and nutritious! 


The book review has been written as part of the Blogchatter Book Review Program