Chronicling Shame-Veiled Sensual Realities: 'Cockatoo's' Liberating Echo | Cockatoo by Yashraj Goswami

           

"Chronicling Shame-Veiled Sensual Realities: 'Cockatoo's' Liberating Echo"

Cockatoo by Yashraj Goswami

Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

Cockatoo by Yashraj Goswami

Author: Yashraj Goswami

ISBN: 978-9389109955

Genre: Collection of Short Stories

Length: 216 Pages

Publication Date: 18^th July 2023

Publisher: Pan

Cover Illustration and Design: Devangana Dash | Website: https://www.devanganadash.com/

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/3Rrmc6Y

About the Author:

Yashraj Goswami is a writer, poet and teacher based in Delhi. His words have appeared in various publications, including the Indian Express, Huffington Post, Scroll.in, and DNA. His poems and short stories have been widely anthologized. His writing gently probes the varied shades and expressions of masculinity in modern India. Cockatoo is his first book.

Yashraj Goswami (PC: Youth Ki Awaaz)

Instagram: @mubble.fubbles

Twitter: @aviDSays

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

I finished reading this gem a few days ago, yet I found myself at a loss for words to convey my thoughts immediately after finishing it. I took time to let this paperback sink in. Cockatoo, seemingly a collection of short stories, goes beyond the concept of a novel. It features diverse characters and narratives, all set in ordinary Indian surroundings. It highlights the profound spectrum of emotions and experiences that characterize everyday life.

It's remarkable how authentically the author portrays these themes, given that our society tends to sweep anything unconventional under the rug. A significant part of society, including anxious and conservative Indian youth, remains closed to discussing or destigmatizing natural aspects of life, like desire, sex, sexuality, dating, non-binary gender identity, mental health, and the stigma surrounding infertility. While acknowledging that change is underway, I feel that the pace of this transformation is not ideal, and any halt in progress could regress us to where we began. Goswami also sheds light on critical issues like divorce, barriers to quality healthcare for trans people, domestic violence, and police brutality.

These subjects aren't superficially tackled; Goswami has crafted finely detailed stories with well-fleshed-out characters, intricately woven and nested structures, and brilliant storytelling from various perspectives, utilizing irony and other literary devices to engage with readers on an open canvas that says, "you may see it coming, but I'm going to surprise you anyway." I found myself laughing, shedding literal tears, and experiencing numerous jaw-dropping moments throughout my reading journey.

Despite the episodic and stand-alone nature of the stories, akin to the structure of Arabian Nights, the book culminates in a cohesive whole. Upon finishing the book, readers can piece together a completed puzzle—a comprehensive novel with a clear beginning, middle, and closure. And since this work of joining the dots is upon readers, or you can say because of its open-endedness, readers get a huge enough canvas to make the best out of their reading experience. You can't get enough of it.

Goswami, in this debut masterpiece, demonstrates exceptional storytelling skills and accomplishes a commendable feat in stirring the depths of the reader's mind with thought-provoking narratives. These stories deserve to be read and retold, for they carry significant impact and offer validation to the diverse and queer experiences they portray.

Happy Reading!

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Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee | YA Romance

          

"Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee"
Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee

Author: Sher Lee

ISBN: 978-1035028313

Genre: Young-Adult Romance

Length: 272 Pages

Publication Date: 15^th June 2023

Publisher: Pan Macmillan India

Cover Art: Myriam Strasbourg | Website: www.myriamstrasbourg.com

Cover Designer: Casey Moses | Website: www.caseymoses.com

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/44LeZ5u

About the author:

SHER LEE writes rom-coms and fantasy novels for teens. Fake Dates and Mooncakes is her debut. Like the main character, she has made mooncakes with her favorite aunt and has an abiding love for local street food (including an incredible weakness for xiao long bao). She lives in Singapore with her husband and two adorable corgis, Spade and Clover.

Sher Lee with Spade and Clover

Instagram: @sherleeauthor

Website: sherleeauthor.com

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

"Fake Dates and Mooncakes" is a feel-good teen drama that had me hooked from the very first page. From the outset, it was clear that FOOD would play a vital role, and the delectable prose, steeped in Singaporean and Chinese culinary traditions, lived up to the promise hinted at in the title. Set in the vibrant backdrop of Brooklyn and the Hamptons, the narrative unfolds through the eyes of Dylan. His world revolves around family – Aunt Jade, along with her children Megan and Tim, not to mention their lovable pet, Clover the Corgi. Dylan grapples with a life-altering decision, torn between pursuing a career as a veterinarian or a chef. At the heart of it all lies Wok Warriors, Aunt Jade's Singaporean-Chinese takeout restaurant, where Dylan lends a helping hand when he's not buried in his studies. However, his world takes an unexpected turn when Theo, the son of a wealthy businessman, enters his life. Theo crashes his cousin's wedding uninvited, with Dylan reluctantly posing as his pretend boyfriend.

Watching Dylan navigate the world of "rich-people problems" alongside Theo was undeniably adorable. Dylan agrees to this charade because of his growing fondness for Theo. On the flip side, Theo's character raises some eyebrows. More often than not, Theo's well-intentioned actions and privileged background seem to bring more chaos than harmony into Dylan's life. Their relationship becomes overshadowed by the financial support Theo provides. Consequently, the focus shifts away from matters of love or genuine dating; it becomes more about friendship and Dylan's reliance on Theo, as it appears he has no other confidant in this endeavour—winning the mooncake-making contest to save Wok Warriors.

Honestly, I found it challenging to see their relationship as anything beyond friends with benefits. Dylan brings emotional depth to their connection through his rich cultural values, while Theo helps Dylan navigate the challenges of opulence, attention, and some rather indifferent individuals. This dynamic didn't resonate with me. Their relationship feels shaky right from the start, lacking the profound connection I was hoping for, aside from a few symbolic gestures like the bracelet, baseball cap, and 'remembrance,' which contribute to the plot but don't really add depth to their bond. However, apart from the aspect of love, other themes are skillfully woven into the narrative. I found myself captivated by the exploration of the legend of Chang'e, the sensitive handling of xenophobia, the tantalizing food, and the intricacies of mooncake-making. Whether you're seeking solace in a comforting read during your leisure time or looking to mend a wounded heart, this book is a perfect choice.

Happy Reading!

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

Book Review: KaiKa's Songs by M.A. Modhayan | Mythopoeic Speculative Fantasy

        

"KaiKa’s Songs by M.A. Modhayan"

Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

KaiKa's Songs by M.A. Modhayan

Author: M.A. Modhayan

ISBN: 978-0143459125

Genre: Fantasy

Length: 160 Pages

Publication Date: 30^th January 2023

Publisher: Penguin Random House India

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

About the author:

M.A. MODHAYAN is a devoted father and husband. A middle child, yet an elder brother. A debut writer with a deep interest in music history and theory. Mostly inspired by man-made gods, the concept of time, futurism, and humanism. KaiKa's Songs is his debut novel.

Instagram: @modhayan

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

KaiKa's Songs is a speculative mythopoeic fantasy that explores the origins of gods and their relationships with mortals through a fictional world. The novel is set during no particular time on an island, and rather it defines the time for the island through the songs the people of the island must sing to keep sandstorms at bay, the primary antagonist for the story. Sandstorms are seen as monsters that destroy the island and devour the inhabitants. The novel begins with a proem informing readers of the death of the last mother on the island, which leaves behind only five inhabitants on the island - two men (NooaKhi & LaKhi), two women (KaiKa, the chief & SeeKa), and a blind girl (AiYi).

The plot revolves around the survival of the islanders, the violence of the mad fathers, matriarchal leadership, and reproduction in a situation where everyone is a half-sibling to others. Songs are the only way to transfer knowledge about everything, from hunting to motherhood. The second part of the novel, called Green Island, acts as a catalyst; until then, the story progresses quite steadily. KaiKa's Songs is exposition-heavy and suffers from 'tell, don't show,' which takes away the fun of an immersive experience in a different world built by the author and distances readers from the characters, leading to a complete passive reading experience. Although the characters are well-defined with sharp edges, the plain storytelling makes it boring.

The last few chapters are dedicated to the depiction of the origin of sandstorms and the significance of songs/prayers. The last few pages reveal the potential of the novel that it didn't live up to and fell beneath its possibilities. The book, thus, becomes a tiny fraction of a possibility among the limitless narratives it may have explored with lyrical and creative prose dealing with each feeling of the islanders rather than naming the emotions separated only by commas and not by powerful imagery. The abstract portrayal of the essence of the story through these 150 pages may be futile since it can be conveyed in a short story. My disappointment may be attributed to the fact that I expected it to be an epic fantasy. Overall, I'm glad I got the gist and could understand the essence of impermanence and the transience of existence, where gods rise and fall, planets cease to be,and the construct of time holds the potential to diminish memories in this vastness of history.

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. ☮