People on Our Roof by Shefali Tripathi Mehta | A Family Caregiver's Journey

            

"Moss-Green Judgy-Eyed People on Their Roof Catalyze a Daughter and Sister’s Caregiving Journey Fraught with Absent Father, Amatory Turbulence, and a Quest for Catharsis"

People on Our Roof by Shefali Tripathi Mehta

Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

People on Our Roof by Shefali Tripathi Mehta

Authors: Shefali Tripathi Mehta

ISBN: 978-9389136708

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Length: 228 Pages

Publication Date: 14^th December 2020

Publisher: Niyogi Books India

Cover Designer: Misha Oberoi | Instagram: @misha.oberoi

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/3yJWSm8

About the Author: Shefali Tripathi Mehta’s most recent book is Ek Koshish: The Story of Arushi (2019). This is her fifth book and the second work of fiction after Stuck Like Lint (2017). She has published short stories and poems in anthologies and online. She writes on disability awareness, social issues, travel and parenting. For close to ten years, Shefali wrote the cover story for the Sunday supplement of the Deccan Herald. She lives in Bangalore and works at the Azim Premji University. Shefali volunteers with the disability organization, Arushi, and curates Gond art to support tribal artists.

Shefali Tripathi Mehta

Instagram: @shefalitripathimehta

Disclaimer: This review is only intended to initiate discussions. The opinions and views presented in this article are my own and do not reflect anything about the book's author. 

REVIEW

In 1.7 billion strong India, 197.3 million people, or nearly 15% of the population, were battling mental disorders in 2017. In a country where nearly 1 in 7 people struggle unseen, People on Our Roof sheds light on the realities of living with and caring for those affected. Since numbers can't capture the human cost of mental disorders, this novel offers a poignant look at the emotional toll.

We've all encountered those in our communities grappling with mental illness, who wander the streets and markets of our neighbourhoods, perhaps engaging in seemingly nonsensical behaviour in a desperate plea for recognition or brandishing a stick, lost in solitary conversations. These quite conspicuous figures become invisible when it comes to understanding their psychiatric disability, their needs, and providing care. The stigma and lack of awareness render these realistic experiences as surreal. Still, this book validates these experiences by reflecting on the real world where knowing people with mental disorders is not uncommon.

People on Our Roof addresses this issue with refreshing candour. The protagonist's once-prosperous Delhi-based family, blessed with well-heeled privilege, circumvents the conventional "faith healing, crystal healing, exorcism" circuit by accessing a qualified medical expert. This subtle nod underscores the importance of modern psychiatric treatment, coupled with social support and compassionate care, as the dignified path toward healing.

However, family caregiving can be emotionally exhausting, and frustrating, and at times, it can strip one of identity and strain relationships, even beyond the family circle. Shefali Tripathi Mehta offers a refreshingly optimistic portrayal, grounded in realism, that avoids romanticizing the situation. She expertly straddles the fine line between depicting the challenges of caregiving and showcasing the unexpected pockets of joy within the quotidian chaos and the profound strength discovered within the caregiver.

There is the fear of the unknown, and greater still is the fear of the unknown within the minds of loved ones, which can weaken you even in the face of strangers. Yet, once you find the courage to overcome this fear and accept it for what it is, you conquer the world. This is the hope the book delivers, concluding with a delightful and uplifting ending.

Despite Naina’s struggles to make peace with her personal history, her mother’s psychotic episodes, the family's ostracism under the whispers of ‘pagalkhana,’ harrowing nightmares, the plight of independent women taking tough life decisions for themselves under the watchful, often disapproving eyes of society, and society's pitiless math deeming Naina fit only for a spouse branded by madness, People on Our Roof is enveloped in the warm embrace of the late 1990s. The narrative delights in the little things—crossword puzzles, childhood anecdotes, the Madhukamini bush, and chats over chai, all rendered in a soothing writing style imbued with penetrating empathy. A few male characters with sunny dispositions provide a safe haven, adding another vibrant thread to the fabric of this powerful tale.

Happy Reading!

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Glitz, Gossip, and Greed: Ong Chin Huat's Harmony Heights Exposes the Underbelly of Opulence

           

"Glitz, Gossip, and Greed: Ong Chin Huat's Harmony Heights Exposes the Underbelly of Opulence"

Harmony Heights by Ong Chin Huat

Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

Harmony Heights by Ong Chin Huat

Authors: Ong Chin Huat

ISBN: 978-9815144512

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Dramedy

Length: 288 Pages

Publication Date: February 2024

Publisher: Penguin Random House SEA

Cover Designer: Chinmayee Samant | Website: chinmayeesamant.com

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/3PRgeva

About the Writer: After graduating from the London School of Economics with a law degree and later called to the Bar in both the United Kingdom and Malaysia, Ong Chin Huat studied History of Art at the British Institute of Florence in Italy. Deciding to pursue a career in journalism, he became the first Chinese person to work at the Hong Kong Tatler as the Social Editor. After a stint as a columnist at the South China Morning Post, he started his own PR Consultancy specialising in fashion and luxury goods. He has been a judge for the Miss Asia Pageant in Hong Kong, Miss Charm de Chine in Shanghai and Mrs.International Global Grand Final in Kuala Lumpur. Currently, he is a freelance writer, fashion stylist and TV Host and has contributed to The Star, Life Inspired, Luxurious Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Design Anthology, Elle and Conde Nast Traveller among others. He hosted a TV Show called ‘Hong Kong High Life’ on ATV Hong Kong as well as a talk show named ‘Driven’ on TheStarTV.com. Voted as one of Hong Kong’s Best Dressed Personalities by the Hong Kong Fashion Designer’s Association, he has met and interviewed everyone from movie stars and business tycoons to politicians and world-class athletes.

Ong Chin Huat (Source: Tatler Asia)

Instagram: @chinhuat_ong

Disclaimer: This review is only intended to initiate discussions. The opinions and views presented in this article are my own and do not reflect anything about the book's author. 

REVIEW

Ong Chin Huat's Harmony Heights takes us on a whirlwind tour of a Malaysian condominium complex. The setting is idyllic – a low-density condo retreat on the outskirts of KL. But beneath the surface of manicured lawns, designer facades, wealth, respectability lurk dysfunctions, deceit, mental health struggles, and a hunger for power.

The novel lays bare the hypocrisy of a society that prides itself on status while rotting from the inside out, where acts of desperation and greed could be seen as personal failings and systemic issues that perpetuate the cycle of disparity. 

The strength of Chin Huat's novel lies in its characters. They're a fascinating bunch, each harbouring secrets that could shatter the illusion of their perfect lives. We've got a cast that's more crowded than a Black Friday sale. We have typical high-society types with closets so deep that you could lose a pair of Jimmy Choos in there and not find them until next season. Here, gossip flows faster than teh tarik at a mamak stall. But then we also get a glimpse of the struggles of the domestic workers and the immigrants trying to make ends meet. And the secrets? Oh, they're juicier than a ripe mango on a hot day. 

Chin Huat throws us into this melting pot of cultures, nationalities, and social classes. There's Jan and Erika, a lesbian couple with their adopted Bangladeshi daughter, and Azizah, a former singer, alongside the wannabe aristocrat Padma and her equally troubled daughter Shivana. Widya, the Indonesian maid, harbours a secret romance with the groundskeeper, Iqbal, who lives with Asperger's. Let's not forget Dr. Desmond, a controlling patriarch who paints a far cry from the image of a respectable doctor. And many more! All with a side of drama that could give any soap opera a run for its money.

From Azizah's battle with menopause and its psychological effects to Padma's ****mania and Shivana's ****mia, Chin Huat paints a vivid picture of individuals struggling to cope with their personal demons. (**** - Mental health issues not mentioned to avoid spoilers.)

The initial chapters meander slowly, like a monsoon breeze. We're bombarded with introductions, each character sketch accompanied by a peek into their past and present woes. Just when you think it can't get any wilder, the narrative explodes around the 100-page mark. Flaws unfurl, secrets spill, relationships combust, and the narrative transforms into a full-blown suspenseful noir.

Despite the meticulously crafted build-up, the resolution is both abrupt and unbelievable. The individual character arcs are conveniently left dangling to readers' imagination. "Harmony Heights" stumbles in its attempt at a grand finale. The climax feels rushed, failing to deliver a satisfying resolution to the multitude of brewing conflicts. 

Instead of a grand, unifying climax, we get a series of individual denouements. The individual resolutions feel underwhelming. The ending is open-ended, not in a way that tantalizes but in a manner that feels incomplete. It's like devouring a seven-course meal only to find the main course missing.

Harmony Heights gets bogged down by its sprawling cast and melodramatic climax. The constant brand-dropping becomes a distraction. It's like the characters are walking advertisements, but it gets a bit eye-roll-inducing after a while.

There's also a nagging sense of missed opportunities. The overarching societal issues teased throughout the novel remain unexplored. Each resident is a potential protagonist, brimming with a backstory and struggles begging to be explored. Honestly, this feels like the first season of a killer show - this gossip rag of a novel deserves a second act! (I can't wait to see where Chin Huat takes things next.) Each book could delve into the lives of a specific character or group, tackling social issues and personal battles with greater nuance. Each book could culminate in a character arc that feels earned, delivering the closure that the sprawling narrative of the single novel lacks.

Despite its shortcomings, the novel has flashes of brilliance. The characters, especially Jan, Erika, Widya, and Iqbal, are endearing and complex. The book is a reflection of life's complexities, and while it may not offer all the answers, it certainly raises some thought-provoking questions. Through its characters, the book challenges readers to look beyond the surface and see the actual cost of fake elitism. It's a reminder that the most dangerous kind of poverty is the one that affects empathy, equality, and justice.

Harmony Heights is a juicy, fast-paced read. It's a peek into the lives of the privileged, the struggling, and everyone in between, reminding us that appearances can be deceiving. Harmony Heights will keep you turning the pages. It's a front-row seat to the greatest show of human nature in all its flawed glory. And trust me, you don't want to miss this spectacle.

Happy Reading!

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Will see you in the next post. Till then buh-bye. Take Care. Peace. ☮

Book Review: One Night Only by Saumyaa Vohra | Contemporary Fiction

         

"One Night Only by Saumyaa Vohra"
Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

One Night Only by Saumyaa Vohra

Author: Saumyaa Vohra

ISBN: 978-9395624510

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Length: 288 Pages

Publication Date: 5^th May 2023

Publisher: Pan Macmillan India

Cover Illustrator: Rijuta Agarwal | Website: rijutaagarwal.com

Cover Designer: Haitenlo Semy

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/3NNyRPW

About the author:

Saumyaa Vohra is a writer and editor. She is currently Lifestyle Editor at GQ India, and was previously Editorial Head at LBB Delhi and Features Editor at Cosmopolitan India. Her work has appeared in various publications, including several international GQ editions, Vogue Italia, Hindu, Hindustan Times Brunch, Outlook and Condé Nast’s queer magazine Them. She is fun to hang out with, despite her penchant for bad British panel shows, boxing classes, baking needlessly elaborate desserts and cats that don’t love her back.

Saumyaa is bisexual and an unflinching feminist – even when it’s terribly inconvenient and not particularly cute – and somehow still manages to maintain a sense of humour and several unburnt bras.

Saumyaa Vohra

Instagram: @saumyaavohra

GQ India: GQ India Saumyaa Vohra

Disclaimer: This review is only intended for initiating discussions. The opinions and views presented in this article are my own and do not reflect anything about the book's author. 

REVIEW

One Night Only is a tantalizing and mood-lifting contemporary fiction transporting the readers to the journey of four friends rediscovering the power of sisterhood on a girls' trip to Goa after one of them—a 'serial monogamist'—gets dumped by her long-term boyfriend. Set against a backdrop of pulsating nightlife, exquisite cuisine, and endless possibilities, the book travels the roller-coaster arc of the friendship (I'll take it as a main character here), where life-changing and meaningful one-night stand stories are unearthed from the archives in the pursuit of understanding each other and themselves, their needs and wants, ambitions, and insecurities. The narrative boldly embraces sex-positive (as Meenakshi suggests in her editorial review) ethos, fostering an environment where sexual exploration and empowered self-expression ignite a sense of liberation and self-discovery.

Apart from the little spicy friendship dynamics, the book explores their relationships with their partners and their views on relations of all kinds, from marriage to open relationships and being friends with an ex. One Night Only is also one of the best hosts of bisexual representation, with a healthy discourse that thoughtfully dismantles myths and misconceptions about bisexuality, celebrating diverse identities and experiences. Goa is another significant subject as characters reminisce about their Goa memories tinged with bittersweet nostalgia and how it has transformed over the years. Out of all the characters, I could relate most with Rubani, and if you've read the book, you'd know how much I needed this book. Lol.

It's an escapist read, detached from the world and only focusing on the fierce foursome, as people often do when on a break. It'd be a fantastic read if you are looking for a break. I liked how Saumyaa enveloped the book with an open-ended ending and a profound climactic story that surpassed all others in delivering the message. It explores unconventional territory while deftly navigating the waters of reality. Thankfully, it did not veer too far into conventionality to be dismissed lightly but rather challenged readers to engage with the complexities woven throughout the pages.

Happy Reading!

Are you on Instagram and Goodreads? Let's connect!

Dhiraj's Bookshelf

Dhiraj Sindhi's favorite books »

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Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Don't forget to subscribe for more content. Thank you so much for reading!

Will see you in the next post. Till then buh-bye. Take Care. Peace. ☮