In a Nutshell: A collection of graphic short stories that focusses on the overlap between the observable and the occult. This was too metaphysical andIn a Nutshell: A collection of graphic short stories that focusses on the overlap between the observable and the occult. This was too metaphysical and experimental for my liking, so take this review with a pinch of salt.
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This graphic novel was originally published in Spanish in 2019. This English translation by Andrea Rosenberg is due to be released in September 2024.
The book contains twelve stories that, though not interlinked, have some bearing on each other while still staying independent in their own content. There is no overarching plot, but there certainly is a common theme: self-discovery. The stories focus on the sense of feeling lost, of being summoned by the unknown, of discovering one’s identity under a mask. There is a recurring motif of a character feeling that someone is watching them when they are asleep. While experiencing this sensation, they try to figure out who/what is calling to them, why they can’t make sense of their immediate reality, and who they truly are at their core.
Each of the above aspects reveals how abstract this collection is, and unfortunately for me and my practical Capricorn head, I don’t do abstract. Even when stories go into the surreal, I prefer seeing some sense in the nonsense, which rarely happens here. There is very little dialogue across the stories, so when some characters across multiple stories resemble each other, it is tough to figure out if they are the same person or if the resemblance is yet another random mystery of the universe.
The world in which the stories are based is strangely oxymoronic, feeling primitive yet futuristic. The belief system seems primeval while the lifestyle seems to belong ahead in time. The set comes a full circle when the last story ends at the same place as the first begins. But don’t imagine a circular path because of this coincidence. It is more akin to a random scribble that crosses over an earlier line than the completion of a narrative loop.
This line from the novel best represents what I felt while reading it: “Something's trying to communicate with me but I can't understand the language.” Well, I understood the written language, but I didn’t get what the book was trying to communicate. As there are twelve stories across 150 pages, each tale gets hardly a few pages to create an impression. The only story that I liked was of the widow who feels comforted by a strange presence in her house. I found this the only subplot with a proper flow, even when it didn’t offer closure at the end. The rest go so meta that it feels like having a weird fever dream. (or maybe, multiple little fever dreams.)
The illustrations do save the book to some extent. The art style is different in each story. The colour palette shuffles between B&W, monochrome green, and earth-toned. The sketches match the mood of the story. If the book was intended to serve as a showcase of the author’s artistic talent and range, it functions quite well.
Basically, I didn't understand the point of the whole thing. It might work for someone who is more in touch with the higher consciousness, but I am of a more earthly bent of mind, and hence this book went above my head.
My daughter read this along with me. Unlike me, she IS of a philosophical disposition (she certainly doesn’t get it from me!), and enjoys reading books that delve into the subconscious and the metaphysical. She liked this book better than I did and found it thought-provoking, but what she enjoyed the most were the illustrations as the graphics emphasised the surrealness of the content.
In short, this book might work for the right reader, one who would enjoy an exploration into unknown realms of the mind and the occult. I wasn’t the right reader.
2 stars.
My thanks to Fantagraphics for providing the DRC of “Ocultos” via Edelweiss+. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
In a Nutshell: A horror graphic novel filled with anthropomorphic animals and questionable moral compasses. (More ‘Dexter’ than ‘Zootopia’!) Gripping,In a Nutshell: A horror graphic novel filled with anthropomorphic animals and questionable moral compasses. (More ‘Dexter’ than ‘Zootopia’!) Gripping, chilling, creepy! Definitely not for the faint-hearted. Loved the plot and the character development. Appreciated the complex exploration of ethics. Recommended but not to all.
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Plot Preview:
Samantha Strong is a brown bear who has spent most of her life in the small town of Woodbrook, where everyone knows everyone else and everything about them. At least, that’s what the townsfolk think. But Samantha has a dark secret. Though she is a law-abiding hardware-store owner, she is also a serial killer with one golden rule: Don’t murder the locals. She chooses her target from a big city just beyond the forest. After all, the city is full of potential victims and no one will miss one person in the crowd. All these years, her modus operandi has worked perfectly. But now, there’s a problem. A Woodbrook local has been murdered brutally. Samantha is wild at the thought of some other killer upsetting the status quo. With Sheriff Patterson (literally) barking up the wrong tree, Samantha knows that it is up to her to hunt her rival before she is caught for the murders she didn’t commit, or even for the ones she did.
This graphic novel is a compilation of the six comics of ‘Beneath the Trees’, the critically acclaimed indie series. This edition has the complete story, no cliffhangers. (Thank heavens!)
It is strange to read a book filled with animals, most of them drawn in a cutesy art style and in lovely light pastels, and then to realise that this isn’t a sweet animal fable but the story of a psychopath (Or two!) My mind is still reeling from the aftereffects of this bizarre juxtaposition.
The core plot is brilliant. The story does exactly what a horror-thriller should, keeping us glued to the pages and horrified at the psyche of the murderers, which allows them to commit brutality without any qualms. There is no justification provided for why Samantha kills; she just wants to. This was the toughest part for me to accept - casual killings done just for the sake of it. Very disturbing!
The murders are as brutal as you can imagine, and a bit more. Think Dexter, but with a bear. The strange part is that when the second killer comes into the picture, the proceedings become more brutal, thereby ending up making Samantha look saner. While reading, we know we can’t support Samantha but nor can we support the other killer. Imagine reading a plot where you don’t know whom to root for – the protagonist (who is more of an antihero) or the antagonist (who is working against the antihero but still isn’t a hero.) Mindboggling!
The setting adds to the eerie vibes, with its messed-up lifestyle more like organised chaos. Anthropomorphic bears interacting with actual bears in the forest as if they were two separate species? A butchery where there are slaughtered pig heads on offer though there are pig citizens as well? Humanised animals having ordinary animal pets? Curiouser and curiouser!
All the characters are anthropomorphic animals of various species, so seeing them with human features and human flaws is utterly weird. I also loved the depiction of the townspeople’s fear and apprehension when they hear of a killer on the loose. The change in the town’s atmosphere is palpable through the graphics. The writing captures the small-town pulse excellently.
I read this along with my elder daughter, and both of us were somewhat grossed out by the proceedings, albeit for different reasons. She was more affected by the lack of morality while I was more predictably affected by the butchery. In fact, both of us were feeling so claustrophobic that we took a break after the fourth comic just to start breathing a bit easier. This just shows how successful the book was in its *execution*. [Pun intended.] There were some scenes that caused us to burst into laughter as well, but a part of me thinks it was more hysterical laughter out of nervousness than a genuine fun guffaw.
The ending might generate different reactions among different readers, but considering the inherent contradiction in the storyline, I was prepared for it and satisfied with it. Don’t look for closure, though. You will be confused about whether to heave a sigh of relief or continue to bite your fingernails.
The two main reasons I am not going higher in my rating are: 1. It was a bit too discomposing for my taste. 2. I’d had loved to see more clarity on the rationale of the second killer. The whys aren’t so convincing.
The illustrations complement the plot well, though it’s somewhat unsettling to see light pastels for such a dark story. The anthropomorphic animals are drawn with somewhat human expressions while the actual animals are sketched more true-to-type. This creates a neat distinction between the townspeople and the ‘animals’. The murder scenes are quite grisly – I watched them from between my fingers. (I think it is the killing of and by animals that affected me so much. I have never had any problem reading graphic novels with brutal human murders.) Many panels contain hidden clues in the background, so make sure you don’t race through just the text bubbles. I loved the font style, with Samantha’s inner thoughts coming in a different typeface.
All in all, the graphic novel has a screwed-up yet captivating storyline with excellent illustrations and many points to ponder upon. This is a debut series, so I am mighty impressed at how streamlined the plot development is. I am definitely going to keep an eye out for the future works by this author, even if it means that I’ll be reading his comics with my hands over my eyes.
Much recommended to horror/thriller lovers who are also graphic novel aficionados. This is one of those brilliant books that I’ll promote enthusiastically to all the right readers, but will never read it myself again.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to IDW Publishing for providing the DRC of “Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees” via Edelweiss+. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
In a Nutshell: A contemporary fantasy featuring a ghost in the afterlife. Unusual plot, interesting characters, powerful themes. Unfortunately, the wrIn a Nutshell: A contemporary fantasy featuring a ghost in the afterlife. Unusual plot, interesting characters, powerful themes. Unfortunately, the writing style didn’t work that much for me. But to the right reader, this should offer much to ponder upon.
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Plot Preview:
Mal Caldera. Twenty-seven. Half-Spanish. Ex-rockstar and rebel. Estranged daughter of her Catholic family. Selfish. Newly dead. Does Mal regret being dead? Not really. Her only concern is that her younger sister Cris, who is now alone with their overly religious mother, should know that Mal didn’t kill herself. As the other ghosts are busy enjoying the afterlife, Mal finds a reclusive medium named Ren and attempts to convince him to get in touch with Cris. But as Ren and Mal come close to each other, Mal realises that her life had offered her some options that she no longer has. The story comes to us in Mal’s first person perspective.
In a Nutshell: The term ‘dictionary’ led my expectations askew. The book contains distinctions, but not just limited to common words. It covers too maIn a Nutshell: The term ‘dictionary’ led my expectations askew. The book contains distinctions, but not just limited to common words. It covers too many topic areas and hence feels needlessly complicated. I did have fun with it and learnt much, but I wish it had stuck to more practical distinctions.
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Confusables (words/phrases that are easily confused with another in meaning or usage) are common in every language, but English is possible the champion when it comes to having the maximum number of confusables, courtesy its eclectic composition. Whether homonyms or homophones or homographs, English does its best to muddle up not just newbies but also native speakers. As such, a book that clarifies confusables is always welcome to teachers as well as students.
Except that this one does not exactly fit the above requirement.
I must begin by appreciating the efforts behind the book. The amazing array of distinctions clearly indicates the hard work put into compiling these terms and their differences. Over 200+ pages, the book covers many pairs, triads and quartets of confusables across a medley of subjects.
There are many word sets where I was already aware of the exact distinction (Goblin vs. Ogre vs. Troll), some that I didn’t know precisely (Pidgin vs. Creole), some that I never consciously thought about until I encountered them herein (Convince vs. Persuade), and some that I have read before but still get confused about as understanding them is beyond my mental processing power (Latte vs. Flat White vs. Cappuccino vs. Cortado.) Some were very common terms (Electric vs. Electronic) while some were more obscure comparisons (Hermit vs Anchorite.) A few were words I have never heard of in my life! (Schlemiel vs. Schlimazel!?)
Many words and examples are specific to the USA, which is fine as the book is meant for American audiences but this restricts its appeal outside of the country. Not docking off points for this.
There are extensive notes at the end for further elaborations on some of the words. There are also B&W illustrations for every distinction.
A special note of appreciation for the comparative pairs that begin and end the book. They were brilliant, and an apt way to set the ball rolling and bring it to a stop respectively.
Where I feel the book could have done better is in restricting itself to more practical and common distinctions instead of focussing on a wide range of topics. The ‘dictionary’ covers not just confusables in ordinary English vocabulary but also muddling terms from other subject areas such as geography (Great Britain vs United Kingdom), mathematics (Natural Numbers vs. Integers vs. Rational Numbers vs. Real Numbers), history (Flail vs. Mace vs. Morning Star), architecture (Porch vs. Veranda vs. Deck vs. Patio), and so on. There is even some jargon from topics that only professionals/enthusiasts would need to know, such as music (4/4 Time vs. 2/2 Time), computers (UI vs. UX), and sports (Deadlift vs. Romanian Deadlift.) Why would most people need to know these technical terms? By broadening the scope of topics too much, it ends up being a ‘jack of all trades, master of none.’
A few of the comparisons are unnecessarily convoluted. For instance, there’s one entry for ‘Irony vs Sarcasm’, which contrasts the two words taking into account just one meaning of ‘irony’, ignoring its alternative synonym of paradoxical contrast. And there’s a separate entry many pages later that explores ‘Verbal Irony vs. Dramatic Irony’. Such pairs of words could have been easily combined.
Moreover, with such eclectic topics, I would have preferred the book to have some kind of an organisational method, maybe by grouping the distinctions as per topic/subject or listing out the distinctions alphabetically. At present, the entries are too random and hence feel very jumpy when almost every turn of the page brings a word set from a new subject.
Honestly, I might have enjoyed this more had the content stuck to the fundamental differences between general language-related confusables. By delving into esoteric pairs, the book restricts its target audience. I might have said that this would be a great option for school libraries, except that a few entries are suitable only for adults (Kink vs. Fetish.)
All in all, this would still be a good gifting option for adult word nerds. But it is too abstruse to be recommended to a general reader and not child-friendly enough to be recommended to schools.
Just to clarify: My dissatisfaction has nothing to do with the topic or a lack of interest in it. I'm a language enthusiast and a huge grammar nerd. This was totally my kind of book had it lived up to the title.
3 stars.
My thanks to Union Square & Co. and Edelweiss+ for the DRC of “Dictionary of Fine Distinctions: Nuances, Niceties, and Subtle Shades of Meaning”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
In a Nutshell: A middle grade fantasy about a young boy whose life changes after he meets the town wishkeeper. Quite good, but the action left me (andIn a Nutshell: A middle grade fantasy about a young boy whose life changes after he meets the town wishkeeper. Quite good, but the action left me (and my middle-grader) a bit underwhelmed. Good for younger kids who like darker stories of magic and mystery.
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Plot Preview:
Ten-year-old Felix has been quite lonely since his best friend moved away and his elder sister became more interested in her college friends. When he drops a coin in the wishing fountain, he doesn’t expect to find a strange old man there fishing the coins out. To Felix’s astonishment, the old man declares himself to be the town’s *invisible* wishkeeper and that he is in urgent need of an apprentice. Felix volunteers, but little does he know that he has taken up the assignment at the worst possible time in the wishkeeping history of Whittlestone town. Wishes are at an all-time low, and wish snags are increasing. Plus, the wishkeeper, Rupus Beewinkle, isn’t much organised in his work. Will Felix be able to contribute positively to his new job and also bring some happiness to his own life?
Bookish Yays: ✨ The story begins in the conventional way but around the midway mark, it becomes clear that this isn’t a typical ‘magical assistant’ kind of story. It covers many family-oriented themes and offers great discussion points.
✨ Everything to do with wishkeeping: collecting wishes, granting them, fixing snags! Very creative!
✨ Rupus Beewinkle: What a perfectly quirky character! I loved his portrayal: his appearance, his lack of organisation, his love for his job, and most of all, his passion for sweets.
✨ Felix’s feelings also come out well during the story. His longing to be loved is heartfelt, but I liked him better for his planning skills and his bravery in the face of danger.
✨ The only other character to have a somewhat prominent role is Rebecca, Felix’s older sister. Through their interactions, we get to see some interesting sibling dynamics, both positive and negative.
✨ There is a recipe for ‘Snorlicks’, Rupus’ drink of choice, at the end of the book. It sounds scrumptious!
✨ There are some fabulous B&W illustrations complementing the key scenes. Moreover, every page is also beautifully illustrated. This would be a great book to have as a physical copy.
In a Nutshell: Bit of a misleading title. Most of the book is not about the birthday but about how much the child is loved and treasured. Gets a tad tIn a Nutshell: Bit of a misleading title. Most of the book is not about the birthday but about how much the child is loved and treasured. Gets a tad too cheesy. Outstanding illustrations though.
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Because I loved this author’s ‘I Will Always Be Proud of You’, I decided to try this book, even though his second book, ‘I Will Always Love You’, left me with mixed feelings. Unfortunately, this one also is a mixed bag, albeit for very different reasons.
The book is written in first person, and is addressed by the adult narrator to the child whose birthday is soon coming up. The text is in simple rhythmic prose, in the classic ABCB rhyming pattern. Thus, reading this book aloud works well because of the balanced meter.
However, the content is not like what I had expected. I thought the birthday will be the focal point, and that the entire writing would revolve around the special day and what it might bring. But the birthday is actually the climax of the book. Until then, what we get is hopeful thinking about the child’s future and love-filled affirmations towards the child. This would have been great, had the lines not been so cheesy. I think it went a bit overboard on the "my love" factor, with some of the lines sounding more romantic than parental because of the word choices.
My main problem is that the lines and sentiments are very similar to the content of Book Two. Only the ending is different. This creates a lot of déjà vu when you read the books one after the other. There shouldn’t be so much of redundancy between two standalone books of the same series.
The illustrations are mind-blowing – no surprises here. To be honest, the main reason I pick up the picture books by this author is the outstanding illustrations. Every page is filled with joy! The sketches are inclusive in most ways, except that fat rep is missing yet again, with all the human characters being thin.
There are five famous people incorporated within the illustrations. But as their sketches are based on when they were younger, it's impossible to recognise them. (What made it even tougher for me was that I hadn’t even heard of any except one of the famous people.) The final section of the book reveals the names and achievements of these people.
There are also some special dogs in the illustrations, with their breeds specified at the end. These are really cute, as dogs always are!
Overall, a decent book but with restricted appeal as it works best only as a birthday gift. Then again, the title does hint at this factor. I just wish the book had more individuality rather than being a rehash of the second book.
2.5 stars, rounding up for the illustrations.
My thanks to Picco Puppy and Edelweiss+ for the DRC of “I Wish You A Happy Birthday”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
In a Nutshell: An inspiring collection of 50 bios of women pioneers in the STEM fields. Great content, great page design, great illustrations. Highly In a Nutshell: An inspiring collection of 50 bios of women pioneers in the STEM fields. Great content, great page design, great illustrations. Highly recommended.
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Note: The content of this book was earlier published in ‘The Kitchen Pantry Scientist Biology for Kids’ in 2021.
When we say the word ‘scientist’, many of us (almost all of us?) would picture Einstein or Hawking or even Newton. How many of us would first think of Marie Curie or Rosalind Franklin?
The STEM fields have always been dominated by men, but this is obviously not due to a lack of feminine propensity towards STEM topics but due to the lack of opportunities and encouragement. Thankfully, there have been at least a few women in history who shattered their shackles and went on to have an illustrious career in a STEM field, even though they didn’t always win plaudits for their minds and their work. (I am sure there have been many more women contributors in the STEM subjects over the ages, but their names have been lost in the annals of history, which, as we all know, has been written by men.)
This amazing book brings forth the biographies of 50 such women pioneers from across time and cultures. Women who were sometimes but not always supported by the men in their lives. Women who left an indelible mark in their field of expertise but whose contributions were still not acknowledged most of the times. These 50 trailblazers come from the four fields of biology, chemistry, physics, and ecology. I liked how there is a colour-coded tag about their field in the index and on their biography page, thus making it easier for children to flip through their favourite scientists subject-wise.
The introduction at the start of the book is inspiring as well as infuriating. When you see how much injustice has been doled out to many of these women in terms of recognition and acceptance, you will find their journeys even more admirable.
The structure of the book is somewhat similar to that of the Rebel Girls books. On one side, we have a sketch of the scientist, and on the other side, we have the biography. The bio is divided into even-sized text blocks, each with its own heading. The content thus becomes very easy to focus upon and to assimilate.
Every page also has a special “Try This at Home” section, with a simple activity related to that scientist’s specialty. Most of these are easy for children to do by themselves, or with minor adult supervision.
While there were some popular names herein, many of these women were totally unknown to me. The diversity of the included bios proves how intelligence and capability has nothing to do with gender.
A common theme you will notice across many of the bios is how many of these women didn’t get credit for their creation/discovery, which were attributed to a male scientist who either partnered with them or used their research later. History has never been fair to women, and this book proves it in chunks!
The illustrations complement the bios well. Because they are all drawn by the same illustrator (unlike in Rebel Girls), there is a consistency to the quality of the graphics. At the same time, illustrator Kelly Dalton imbues each sketch with the distinct personality and field of the women scientist in focus, making each graphic appear distinct.
Much recommended to every child (girl or boy or other) who is interested in or wants to be inspired towards the STEM fields. The book is aimed at ages 7-12, but it can work for younger teens as well.
4.5 stars.
My thanks to Quarto Publishing Group for the DRC of “She Can STEM : 50 Trailblazing Women in Science from Ancient History to Today”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
In a Nutshell: This indie picture book began well but some of the writing choices didn’t make me happy. The illustrations are mostly gorgeous.
~~~~~~~In a Nutshell: This indie picture book began well but some of the writing choices didn’t make me happy. The illustrations are mostly gorgeous.
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I had loved Michael Wong’s I Will Always Be Proud of You for its writing as well as artwork. So it was tough to resist this one when I saw it on Edelweiss, especially as the cover is equally stunning. The execution, though, was a bit of a mixed bag for me.
The story is mainly a loving narration from the mother to her newborn daughter, talking about how she will always adore her child and be there for her. The “always” in this case covers a couple of decades, ending with the cycle of life moving on to the next generation. As the mother is addressing her newborn child, detailing her thoughts about what the future might hold for them, the book works for new parents looking for a book to read to their (girl) child.
Some of the situations, such as the first words spoken by the baby or the first day of school, resonated with my very core. The sentiment was completely relatable, and I could see why the mother was so emotional about seeing her child reach new milestones. Up to page 34 or so (in this 50 page book), the content is about the mother reassuring her baby that she is always going to be around, supporting her, helping her, and cheering for her. I found everything till this point pretty good, though a bit too cloying.
However, the remaining few pages had the “child” graduating, leaving for “her own home”, getting married, and having her own baby. Three reasons why this didn’t satisfy me: 1. No mom is going to dream of her newborn baby having *her* baby a couple of decades down the line. This stretched too far into the future to be convincing. Who dreams of becoming a grandmother immediately after becoming a mother? 2. Why is the girl shown with no job/career/professional aspirations? Why are marriage and a baby the goal? 3. How do we assume that the child will grow up to be a heterosexual and get married to a man? I can still understand pt 3 as that is the default thought setting for many parents, but I cannot accept pts 1 & 2.
The story is written in rhythmic prose, and the rhymes are spot on. This makes the book a good option for reading aloud.
The illustrations are as stunning as they were in the other book I read. Every page is vibrant with colours and the characters seem to glow. The sketches are inclusive whenever possible. I am somewhat undecided about the decision to plug the author’s earlier two picture books within the story illustrations. Though these don’t obstruct the flow, they were distracting to me as it felt like too obvious a marketing attempt. The main thing I did not like was the way the mother was sketched. Even when the baby is just a newborn, the mother is as thin as a rake. No sign of a postpartum belly at all! Even until the end, when the mother becomes a “grandmother”, her looks and her dress size stay unchanged. Can we please be realistic about women’s bodies?
Overall, a major part of the book is still good and saccharine sweet. But the final section somewhat messed up my experience.
If you are okay with the ending, then this book ought to work well as a gift option for new mothers.
3 stars.
My thanks to Picco Puppy and Edelweiss+ for the DRC of “I Will Always Love You”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
In a Nutshell: A graphical memoir from the ‘other’ point of view – a woman who doesn’t wish to be a mom. Interesting content, though I expected it to In a Nutshell: A graphical memoir from the ‘other’ point of view – a woman who doesn’t wish to be a mom. Interesting content, though I expected it to be more compelling.
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I am a mother to two lovely girls, being a parent by my choice and not by societal or cultural requirements, and I haven’t ever regretted it. But I have many close friends who have voluntarily decided not to have kids, for various reasons. I know how much familial flak they have faced over this “unnatural” choice. I picked this memoir to see if the criticism and the pressure is similar in European countries. Surprise, surprise! It is!
It seems tough for much of the general populace to accept that a woman is complete by herself. That she doesn’t need to become a mother to “fulfil her womanhood.” That a perfect marriage needn’t have children. There is a constant pressure, either societal or cultural, to have a child, especially once a woman is in a stable relationship and is old enough to have her “biological clock ticking away.’ This memoir depicts the mental stress of one such woman, who feels like the odd one out simply because she has no wish to rear children and everyone around her talks of no other topic.
Written in the first person perspective of author Irene Olmo, this graphic novel begins with her at age 6, doing everything little girls are supposed to do - loving her dolls and pretending they are her babies. This fascination with becoming a mom someday continues till middle school. But when one of her best friends becomes pregnant at age thirteen, and the homeroom teacher decides to have a debate over abortion in class, Irene is forced to open her eyes to the other half of the picture. This formative incident is the first in the step of many that makes her decide not to become a mother, ever. But does society allow a woman such a choice without judgemental remarks?
This bande dessinée was originally published in French in March 2020 under the title ‘Je ne veux pas être maman.’ This English language translation is due to be published in November 2023.
I liked how the author showed her growth, both literally over the years as well figuratively in her thinking. Her arguments, her frustration and her helplessness come out well. A woman not wanting motherhood – this is a voice we hardly ever heard about, so to see someone’s innermost honest thoughts over this topic is a novel experience.
I also loved how the author emphasised that she has no problem with other women opting for motherhood, and similarly, others should have no problem if she chooses to stay away from pregnancy and parenting, for whatever reasons. ‘To each, their own’ is a good policy for everyone to adopt.
The book also depicts the differences between the consequences of becoming parents on a man and a woman, personally and professionally. It also highlights how a woman might sometimes want to be a mother but can’t, and how probing personal enquiries about when she ‘plans to start a family’ can end up as a traumatising experience.
However, as is often the case in a memoir, the portrayal of the ‘truth’ is somewhat one-sided and extreme. I found it tough to accept that every single woman the author interacted with had only babies and motherhood in mind. Did no woman ever talk about career? Education? Boyfriends and husbands? Other friends? Office bosses and colleagues? The portrayal of the other women is mostly unidimensional and this brought down the realism of this memoir in my eyes. The text sometimes ends up doing exactly what it is so opposed to – judging others for their parenting choices, though the author makes amends for this at the end.
The book is strictly a personal narration and not a manifesto in favour of choosing a lifestyle without kids, so it has more of a coming-of-age feel than a serious discussion on the merits or demerits of choosing to have/not have kids.
Moreover, as it is a first person narrative, it focusses so heavily inward that it forgets to provide us some crucial outward details. For instance, she is in a steady relationship. So how did her boyfriend accept her decision? Was it mutual, or did he argue against the idea? Did it affect the harmony of their relationship? External influences play a varying role, depending on whether they come from your own family or your other half or from friends, or strangers. So her relationship definitely needed greater mention in this novel.
The conclusion of the book, containing the author’s suggestions for those like her, is the best part of this memoir, though most of the advice isn’t really unexpectedly mindblowing counsel but more of common-sense-based guidelines. Still, it has some practical instructions for those struggling with the same condemnation.
It’s a fact that condemning comments aren’t aimed only at women who don’t want to become mothers. Becoming a mother doesn’t stop society from passing judgemental remarks against you; it’s just that the nature of the barbs changes. All women face some or the other kind of shaming, and with time, we are forced to grow a thick skin for the sake of our own sanity. I wish the author had realised this sooner; it would have saved her a lot of stress. But I am glad she brings this point up in her conclusion, and highlights the importance of unanimity across women irrespective of their life choices.
The illustrations are quite good, though a bit too cutesy for such an emotional and serious topic.
Definitely recommended to everyone, but especially to those who don’t want kids so that they may find some solidarity in the author’s thoughts, as well as to those who already have kids to see the grass from the other side of the fence and hopefully, tone down the ‘mothering’ demands.
3.5 stars, rounding up for the novelty of theme.
My thanks to Graphic Mundi - PSU Press and Edelweiss+ for the DRC of “I Don't Want to Be a Mom”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
In a Nutshell: A graphic novel version of the old Arabic legend about the unfulfilled love of Layla and Majnun. Outstanding illustrations. The textualIn a Nutshell: A graphic novel version of the old Arabic legend about the unfulfilled love of Layla and Majnun. Outstanding illustrations. The textual content was a mixed bag for me.
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Story Synopsis:
The narrative tells us of an Arabic poet named Qays, and his ladylove Layla. They fall in love while very young. Qays’ love soon turns into an obsession, and he begins composing poems about his intense feelings. His community gives him the name “Majnun”, meaning “The Madman.’ Majnun is unaffected by his new name, as his thoughts are entirely centred on his beautiful Layla. However, Layla’s father hears stories of his craziness, and decides that he cannot spoil his tribe’s name or his daughter’s future by marrying her to Majnun. To avoid the scandal, he forces her to marry another noble. Meanwhile, Majnun, almost entirely mad, goes off to the desert yearning for nothing but Layla. After he hears of her marriage, his thoughts turn even more philosophical but his love doesn’t diminish. What becomes of Layla with her new husband? Will Majnun and Layla be able to meet and fulfil their love?
This graphic novel was originally published in France in 2022 under the title ‘Majnun et Leili, chants d’outre-tombe’. This English translation is due for publication in November 2023. The source for this work is the epic 4600-stanza poem by 12th century Muslim poet Nizami Ganjavi
Western readers might think of Romeo & Juliet when it come to a story about star-crossed lovers. But here in India, we first hear of two other couples: Heer & Ranjha, and Layla & Majnun, though strictly speaking, the latter are of Arabian than Indian origin. When I saw this graphic version retelling this classic Arabic undying-love story, I knew I would give it a go.
One interesting aspect for me was the order of the couple’s names in the title. The original poem is “Layla and Majnun”. In India and the Indian subcontinent as well, we know this story as the tale of Layla and Majnun. (Spelt slightly differently here: Laila and Majnu.) But this graphic adaptation chooses to put Majnun before Layla. Wonder why!
I haven’t read the original but am familiar with it through adaptations. Based on what I know, this novel seems mostly faithful to the foundational work. I am not too sure about its depiction of Layla’s fate as it doesn’t match any version I know. Ganjavi’s poem also didn’t end this way. However, as there are many adaptations of the original legend, this ending might have been taken from a source I am not familiar with.
The text is where I struggled much to connect with this novel. The original is an epic poem, so there is of course a strong element of poetry and philosophy threaded into its motif of eternal love. This translation stays very true to the poetic flavour, and thus, every page feels more like a verse than an ordinary sentence, with the words conjoining to create a symphony of love and loss. All this would have been very good had I comprehended and appreciated poetry. I don’t. (My poetic bone is not even a vestigial organ; it is simply non-existent.) I guess I was hoping that the poem would be adapted to a more prose-dominated version. I do understand why simple prose wouldn’t have worked for the book, but the poetry in this case appears more forced than mellifluous. The overall effect is very artificial.
The themes are consistent with the original, touching upon unrequited love, obsession, society, scandal, and mental degradation. But the most impactful one for me was how the book highlighted Layla’s compulsion to put on a happy face for those around her even when her heart was broken, and still be at the receiving end of jibes. The effect of a patriarchal culture on its women comes out excellently through the text and graphics of those pages.
I am not happy with the translation though. The words chosen are sometimes overly abstruse (concupiscence, logorrhoea, egregore?!?!? ...more
In a Nutshell: A charming illustrated anthology of fairy tales and folk tales related to winter, taken from across the world. I continue to be a fan oIn a Nutshell: A charming illustrated anthology of fairy tales and folk tales related to winter, taken from across the world. I continue to be a fan of Angela McAllister’s children’s story collections.
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This book has fifty stories themed around winter, each ranging from 1-4 pages. The tales have been distributed across six sections: Birds and Beasts, Tricks and Troubles, Ice and Snow, Quests and Journeys, Spirits and Magic, and Christmas.
As this is my fourth collection by Angela McAllister, I knew what I could expect from this themed work. And the book didn’t disappoint! In Mumbai, ‘October heat’ has begun, with the end of the monsoons resulting in the return of clammy days. So reading a bunch of winter stories somewhat helped in cooling me, at least virtually. The writing style reminded me of the storybooks I read in my childhood, so the collection also ended up making me feel quite nostalgic.
Every story is either a folk tale or a local legend from a specific region or culture, which is mentioned next to the title. The stories have been gathered from all over the world. Almost every human-populated continent (Australia being the sole exception!) is represented in the book. The countries are as varied as Argentina and Sweden, Mongolia and even Jamaica. It’s good to see such diverse countries represented in this anthology. There are many stories from the indigenous tribes of North America as well. (I appreciate how the credit for these tales mentions the tribe’s name rather than ‘USA’.)
Each of the tales is delightful as it contains an old-world kind of charm that is so typical of folk tales. The way in which winter plays a role in the plots varies. Some stories are merely set in the cold season, while some others have winter-based characters such as frost fairies and snow witches. The Jamaican and the Finnish stories in the last section had no direct elements of winter except that they were set during Christmas.
A children’s book, no matter how great in content, needs attractive illustrations as well. The sketches in this book match the requirements of the stories perfectly. Each graphic goes well with the region and theme of the tale, and adds the perfect flurry of cold elements to suit the winter theme. Every single story has at least one illustration, and some of the sketches are even full page ones.
Though a few of the tales were already known to me, I still enjoyed rereading them. I must mention the story ‘Alexander Jones’ from Scotland, which was hilariously frustrating. I simultaneously laughed and went ‘Aargh!’ at the end. ...more
In a Nutshell: So cute! Loved everything about this little gem. A great book for soon-to-be elder siblings.
Story Synopsis:
Gertie, the little Yak, is
In a Nutshell: So cute! Loved everything about this little gem. A great book for soon-to-be elder siblings.
Story Synopsis:
Gertie, the little Yak, is going to be replaced as the littlest yak of her community. She is quite excited at the thought of having a “brand new” baby sister and begins dreaming of the things they’ll do together. But soon, her thoughts raise a doubt – Will Mummy have enough space in her heart for both of her little yaks? Gertie does her best to estimate the size of Mummy’s heart, but her calculations leave her even more worried. To soothe her worry wobbles, she goes in search of the only person who can relieve her anxiety – Mummy. Will Mummy be able to soothe away Gertie’s fears?
This picture book was the perfect package for me. It had everything I love in this genre, and it also had one thing I strongly dislike but that still delighted me in this instance – rhythmic text.
Here are all the things I relished about this read: ❃ The star of the show is undoubtedly little Gertie, soon to be not the littlest. I adored her personality, right from her enjoyment of books to her colourful welcome banner for her sibling to her love for her Mummy. Gertie is one of the sweetest characters I have read in picture books.
❃ The build-up of the story covers all the emotions generated at the news of a younger sibling, beginning from excitement and joy and moving on to fear and worry. I loved how both the sides of the emotional scale were balanced out, rather than focussing only on the apprehensions.
❃ There are many witty scenes, courtesy Gertie’s overenthusiastic preparation for her new sibling.
❃ I liked the other characters as well. Mummy is exactly as Mummies should be – sensible and loving and understanding. Granny Hilda, who rocks her curls btw, is also amazing in her caring encouragement of Gertie’s plans.
❃ I appreciate how Mummy Yak calmed little Gertie’s worries by explaining how hearts work when families grow. Her answer was something the target age group will easily understand due to its simplicity.
❃ I am not at all a fan of rhythmic prose in children’s picture books as many a time, authors force in words just to make a rhyme work. In this book though, for the first time ever, I could see the beauty of the rhymes from the first page itself. Every single verse is perfect in its meter and tone. Moreover, the verses actually feel like verses, with an intelligent use of figures of speech such as alliteration and onomatopoeia to enhance the poetic feel. *chef’s kiss!*
❃ The illustrations are equally adorable. I loved not just the yaks with their knitted hats and poncho-style blankets, but also the background detailing on every page, including Gertie’s two little animal companions keeping an eye out for her, and the snowy forest that somehow never feels cold or lonely. One page shows Gertie keeping some of her books aside for the new baby. Don’t forget to read the titles of her books; they are hilarious! It’s amazing how much of an effort the illustrator put into making even the tiny details memorable.
In short, every aspect of this book – story, rhymes, illustrations, and message –gets full marks from me.
The book is officially intended for ages 4-8, and based on its vocabulary and content, it ought to work nicely for this age range. It might also work for slightly younger kids who are soon to be elder siblings, but a couple of the words could be a tad difficult for them to grasp.
This is a follow-up to the bestselling book, ‘The Littlest Yak’, which I had no idea about prior to reading this. I am going to remedy this lacuna and get my hands on the first book to know more about little Gertie and how her story began.
Recommended with this Mummy’s entire heart!
5 huge stars.
My thanks to Penguin Random House, Peachtree, and Edelweiss+ for the DRC of “The Littlest Yak and the New Arrival”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
In a Nutshell: Not a book you will read for answers but to discover more questions about the world around you. Welcome to the ‘Mysteryverse’! #CliveGiIn a Nutshell: Not a book you will read for answers but to discover more questions about the world around you. Welcome to the ‘Mysteryverse’! #CliveGiffordRocks!
This is my fifth Clive Gifford book, and I am yet to be disappointed by his works. In fact, when I saw this book on Edelweiss, I grabbed it as soon as I saw the author’s name, without even bothering to read the synopsis. The content delivers, and how!
The word ‘multiverse’ has become quite popular in the last few years courtesy some books and movies. Playing around with the same, Gifford offers us the concept of ‘mysteryverse’, representing the (as yet) unknown and/or unknowable elements of our world and beyond.
As humans are inherently curious (which is also evident in our habit of poking our noses in others’ businesses!), we always want to find out more not just about ourselves but also about other creatures and the world in general. All of today’s scientific, technological, medical and other advancements spring from this curiosity. Our need to learn more has made us reach a point where we consider ourselves knowledgeable. This book proves how minuscule our awareness is, and how many components of the universe are still unfathomable to our puny brains.
This book touches upon a variety of mysteries connected to the human body, earth, wildlife, space, and miscellanea. Most of the information offered is mindboggling. There are scientific theories offered as possible solutions to a few of the puzzles, but as the title makes it clear, most of the trivia concerns unsolved mysteries. The number of questions and doubts the book will generate in your mind will far outnumber any answers or solutions it might offer.
As a STEM resource, the book stays restricted to tangible mysteries and doesn’t venture into unexplainable concepts such as ghosts or UFOs.
There is a glossary at the end, to explain the terms that can be explained.
The content thus delighted the geek in me. Where the book lost a star is in its presentation.
Each page is like a visual bombardment, with too many trippy illustrations in hallucinatory colours. I am not sure if this creative choice intended to add to the intrigue of the mysteryverse, but it made concentrating on the content very difficult. (Not to forget that I was reading this digitally, so the teeny font set against a rainbow of bright hues further aggravated my annoyance. I hope the physical copy will be more eye-friendly.)
All in all, if you can wear sunglasses to mitigate the effect of the pseudo-psychedelic graphics, this will be an excellent resource to learn more about things you cannot learn more about. ...more
In a Nutshell: Oh, how I loved this book! Full of light in various ways. One of the best picture books I have read about Diwali.
Story Synopsis:
Little
In a Nutshell: Oh, how I loved this book! Full of light in various ways. One of the best picture books I have read about Diwali.
Story Synopsis:
Little Diya is very excited that she is flying to India for Diwali. After moving to the US, she has been very lonely, and now she will get to meet Nani, her darling grandmother, whom she misses the most. In India, Diya immediately feels at home, and happily joins in the Diwali preparations with Nani, going shopping, drawing rangoli, dressing up in fancy outfits, lighting diyas and firecrackers, and having a lovely time with family and friends. But soon, it is time to return home. Is there any way Diya continue to carry the happy light of Diwali in her heart?
There are so many things to adore about this book!
In a Nutshell: A perfect fictional story filled with nonfiction facts about humpback whales. Hits the right *notes* in text, moral, and illustrations.In a Nutshell: A perfect fictional story filled with nonfiction facts about humpback whales. Hits the right *notes* in text, moral, and illustrations.
Story Synopsis:
Soren the teenaged humpback is quite bored of the long and droning whale songs. He decides to write his own music, aiming to make it shorter and more entertaining. He works hard at his song and makes sure he eliminates whatever he doesn’t like about traditional whale songs. But when he performs his new masterpiece before his friends, the reactions aren’t quite what he expected; they hate it! Soren is obviously very disappointed and even angry, but once he has calmed down, he does what all sensible people do: he takes the feedback in the right spirit and tries again.
This beautiful picture book won my heart with its central character. Soren is the cuddliest and sweetest humpback in fiction! I couldn’t help admire his determination to try something new, his acceptance of his friends’ rejection with an open-minded attitude, and his wholehearted joy at even the tiniest of positive reactions. He imbues this story with heart, and his character makes the book worth a pick.
But we don’t buy books only for one reason, right? So here are a few more to tempt you:
In a Nutshell: A beginner-level graphic novel that ought to work well for a really young audience. A sweet story, but too simple to keep slightly oldeIn a Nutshell: A beginner-level graphic novel that ought to work well for a really young audience. A sweet story, but too simple to keep slightly older kids interested.
Story Synopsis:
Peaches and her friends Mango and Pogi all live in a place named Pocketon. When a new cat named Taro moves into their neighbourhood, Peaches is determined to befriend her. But Taro likes horror movies and scary books, while Peaches is more of a cute and sweet movie lover. Will they be able to be friends with such differences?
The story is certainly sweet. Verrrry sweet. Okay, it is at a diabetes-inducing level of sweetness! Peaches and her friends are all endearing, but their saccharine levels were off the charts. Even when they were watching a horror movie, their cuteness doesn’t diminish. This probably makes the book perfect for little readers but it also limits its scope to an older audience.
There is not much of a backstory to the friendship of the characters or to the place they live in, which seems home to a variety of anthropomorphic animals. A part of me wondered if I had missed the first book of this series but no: this was the very first one. A Google search revealed that the characters are from the Instagram account @pocket.peaches. As always, I am totally blank about all things Insta, so this book was my first ever glimpse of the characters. That was probably why I felt like I didn’t get to know them at all.
The writing is quite basic. I was hoping for a little more intricate story, but the book kept all aspects at the beginner level as promised, without much substance to the plot or depth to the characters. The message is good though, talking about how lying about your tastes isn’t the right way to make new friends. I also loved how no one in the book judges Peaches for being scared of horror movies. It is a nice lesson about how an inclusive and accepting friendship should work.
The kawaii-style illustrations are perfect for the story, with charming sketches in bright rainbow colours. The book uses a dyslexia-friendly font, which is certainly an advantage.
I can see this book working for the younger age group, say 5-8 years, who are just beginning their graphic novel journey. Older kids might not find it that engrossing, though the discussion about the right ratio for cupcake frosting would be quite interesting to them.
All in all, recommended to the target age group. Kids who love stuff like ‘My Little Pony’ will lap up this cute graphic novel. I am not sure if this is part of a planned series, but this book works nicely as a standalone.
3.25 stars. (I would have rated this higher had my kids enjoyed this book, but they too found it an okayish one-time read.)
My thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and Edelweiss+ for the DRC of “Pocket Peaches”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
Most of us would have heard about the Apgar Score, which is used to gauge a newborn’s health at birth. But do weIn a Nutshell: Perfection all the way!
Most of us would have heard about the Apgar Score, which is used to gauge a newborn’s health at birth. But do we know how this score came to be used?
Dr. Virginia Apgar was an American physician and anaesthesiologist. Born in 1909, she was not a typical girl child of that era, more interested in music and medicine than in homemaking. This book looks at her life, right from childhood to the development of her rating system that would later be called APGAR in her honour.
Every single page of this book is a feast to the senses. Right from the content to the illustrations, the book gets all the important aspects spot on!
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Dr. Apgar’s life is inspiring in every way. Even today, the STEM fields are male-dominated, so imagine how tough it would have been for Dr. Apgar a century ago to be accepted and to be heard.
I loved how the book highlighted her skills as well as her supposed shortcomings such as the lack of passion for cooking. But more importantly, I appreciate how it highlighted her values and her hard work. Dr. Apgar didn’t come from a wealthy family, and she worked her way to success and stuck to her principles throughout. A true inspiration!
A good picture book must have outstanding illustrations, regardless of its textual content. This book delivers well even on the graphics front. I loved how inclusive the illustrations were, incorporating parents and babies of various cultural backgrounds as well as familial backgrounds. The colours are in muted pastels, which works perfectly for the story as the hues don’t distract from the text. A plus for me was the presence of all those cute babies on almost every page. (Of course, this is a kids’ book, and kids won’t go all gooey-eyed at the sight of the babies the way I did, but hey… it is a plus for me!)
There is a detailed author’s note at the end, revealing some fascinating insights about this amazing doctor and even having a couple of her photographs. Loved this inclusion!
The book is officially aimed at the age group of 4-8 years, but I think it will work better for a slightly older age range, say 6-10 years, because of the content and vocabulary.
Definitely recommended to homes, schools, as well as libraries. No better way of creating a greater gender balance in STEM fields than by inspiring the next generation of girls through the story of a pioneering woman medical professional!
5 stars.
My thanks to W. W. Norton, Norton Young Readers and Edelweiss+ for the DRC of “Virginia Wouldn't Slow Down!” This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
In a Nutshell: A good thought behind this book, but the execution should have included a few things more.
Story Synopsis: When a spaceship crashes near In a Nutshell: A good thought behind this book, but the execution should have included a few things more.
Story Synopsis: When a spaceship crashes near the Abraham household, the aliens inside ring their doorbell. Although the Abrahams were expecting some other guests, they still fulfil the mitzvah of welcoming guests to their best ability, even though these guests are strange and speak in an odd manner.
I loved the thought behind this book. In India too, we have the tradition of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, which means that a guest is akin to God and should always be welcome. Even the Biblical/Torah story of Abraham welcoming the three angels highlights the importance of offering hospitality to guests. In that sense, this book hits the mark as the Abraham family doesn’t question the weird behaviour or unusual appearance of their guests but proceeds to be gracious hosts. I enjoyed the aliens’ funny language just as much as their technical devices.
The story highlights the importance of having a welcoming spirit not just to literal guests but to anyone who is in need of assistance and friendship, be it refugees from another region/country, new neighbours who have just moved in, the poor who might need support, or the aged/lonely who might be alone in their homes. In a world that’s getting more and more isolated everyday, courtesy our habit of having more online interactions than offline ones, such a book serves as a good reminder of what actually matters.
At the same time, I cannot ignore the practical side of this open-armed approach. Inviting strangers in the house isn’t always safe, and kids do need to keep this aspect in mind before welcoming strangers in their homes without parental permission. So there has to be some pointer to the kids about having adults around or letting adults know before allowing strangers in, and also explaining the difference between guests and strangers. There’s an interesting author’s note at the end, but it should be expanded to include this note of acting responsibly.
The illustrations were decent. I loved the Abraham’s dog, who seems to show his true emotions whenever he comes on the page. The aliens (who have their own pet animal as well) were also drawn well, with their exploration of the human home leading to several funny moments. However, the depiction of the actual guests on the last page seemed too exaggerated.
Recommended, but to be read under adult guidance and with a clear discussion on the practical implications of the matter. The language of the book makes it suitable for kids aged 4-7.
3.5 stars.
My thanks to Kalaniot Books and Edelweiss+ for the DRC of “How to Welcome an Alien”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
In a Nutshell: A fun + informative book about deep sea creatures. Loved the fiction plus nonfiction combo, as well as the writing approach. The first In a Nutshell: A fun + informative book about deep sea creatures. Loved the fiction plus nonfiction combo, as well as the writing approach. The first ever picture book that startled me into stunned silence on one page! If you read this book, you’ll know what page I am talking about. ...more
In a Nutshell: More suited to food history lovers than to general foodies. Read only if you like history. Luckily for the book, I do.
No one is more suIn a Nutshell: More suited to food history lovers than to general foodies. Read only if you like history. Luckily for the book, I do.
No one is more surprised than I am that, after not having read a single food book all these years, I have now read two in 2023 itself. And in both cases, the title was the reason. The samosa is a favourite snack of mine, and when I saw this amazing title, I jumped at the book without doing any due diligence. I am sure many of my Indian friends will feel the same about such an appealing book name.
Sadly, the title is quite click bait in intent and misleading in effect. To know what the book is about, you need to focus more on the tagline: “The Story of Where 'Indian' Food Really Came From.” This represents the book precisely.
People always talk about Indian dishes and Indian food. Even I claim that “Indian food” is my favourite across whatever cuisines I have tried. But the fact is that there is nothing called “Indian food.” Food in India is as diverse as its regions and its cultures. Westerners might refer to every single “Indian” dish as “Indian food”, but to us locals, food choices come with a reference to their location or community such as Punjabi, Kerala, Goan, Bengali, Mughlai, Assamese, East Indian (who are funnily not based in East India but in Mumbai), Chettinad, and so on. Contrary to common misconception, many Indians are non-vegetarian as well (and have been so since millenia). Hence, many regions/cultures are reputed for their nonveg cuisine too.
What is common to all of our food, whether veg or nonveg, is the ubiquitous and generous use of spices. Indian food is quite hot and flavourful, (and its desserts – sweet and flavourful), so it is tough to digest that many of our spices weren’t, in fact, *our* spices just a few centuries ago. The omnipresent potato and green chilli are also not Indian in origin, and our so-called national drink – ‘chai’ or tea, but not ‘chai tea’ please! – was introduced here by one of our colonial invaders. Cucumbers on the contrary, have their roots in India. Moreover, millets, though hailed as a modern superfood, were a part of the Indian diet even before rice was.
If such a history of our cuisines, our food habits, our spices and our local produce interests you, this is a great book to read. It begins with the early “Indians” around 6000 BCE, then covers the development and food habits of the Indus valley civilisation - the earliest-known culture of the Indian subcontinent around 2500-2000 BCE. Making its historical way down the ages, the book covers the impact of traders, invaders, royalty, and religions on local food, reaching down to modern times, though the modern era is quite brief.
While the author’s perspective on modern Indian food is somewhat elitist—I can bet a million dollars that not every urban Indian has truffle oil in their pantry or enchiladas in their tiffin—her presentation of the historical development of and additions to the Indian palate is spot on. Her meticulous research proves itself in every single chapter and in the long list of reference material provided in the appendix. There are some fascinating facts as well, some familiar to me and some new and mind-boggling. I never knew that my favourite sambar was named after the Maratha king Sambhaji or that Tagore featured in an advert for Bournvita!
If I am so impressed with the book’s facts and the author’s research, why is my rating so low? Well, you had to make me open my mouth, didn’t you? Here you go: ...more
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