I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver | Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

   

I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver

Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver

Authors: Mason Deaver

ISBN: 978-1035026227

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Length: 336 Pages

Publication Date: 13^th April 2023

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books

Cover Illustration: Sarah Maxwell

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/4drfrKj

About the Author: Born and raised in a small town in North Carolina, Mason Deaver is an award-nominated, bestselling author and designer living in Charlotte. Their debut novel, I Wish You All the Best, was named a Junior Library Guild Selection and an NPR Concierge Book. Besides writing, they're an active fan of horror movies and video games. You can find them online at masondeaverwrites.com

Mason Deaver

Instagram: @mason_deaver

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

I started reading this book in a café, and I couldn't put it down. The first few chapters were intense, narrating some of the most fearful yet liberating moments in the lives of many queer people. Benjamin De Backer comes out as nonbinary and is immediately kicked out of their home. Their estranged sister, Hannah, who hadn't spoken to the family for a decade after her own fallout with their parents, steps in to rescue them. She offers Ben a refuge at her home, where she lives with her husband, a teacher. She gets Ben into therapy and enrols them in her husband’s school mid-term.

From there, the book smoothly takes you through the various aspects of Ben’s new life in Raleigh. The inner struggle of not conforming to the gender binary, attending therapy, battling anxiety and depression—all while managing school and making new friends—feels very real. Making new friends, in fact, becomes a lifeline for Ben. A sweet, almost too-cute love story begins to blossom. The book features some vivid, powerful scenes that are unforgettable, and surprisingly, none of them are romantic. One of my favourite moments is a conversation between Ben and Hannah, where she convinces Ben to get out of bed and face the day. That scene, for me, held more power than any therapy session—pure wisdom. Sure, there are a few cliché tropes, like attending a party and online confidant, reminiscent of the dynamic between Victor and Simon in the Simonverse.

I went into this book expecting to learn something fresh about the nonbinary experience, perhaps something I hadn’t encountered before. However, early on, I realized it wasn't going to offer anything radically unique within the well-trodden American high school narrative. The family conflict and romance make for a strong premise, but the writing feels surface-level, often coming across as a customized version of an all-too-familiar setting with new accessories.

That said, I still enjoyed reading it! I think there’s a distinction between a truly great book and one you simply like reading. This one definitely gave me those butterfly-in-the-stomach moments. It also made me reflect on why some people, especially in Eastern cultures—including Bollywood icons—tend to resist labels when it comes to sexuality and gender identity. This book is an example of how labels, at times, can reduce the nonbinary experience to just pronouns. However, it still validates the complex emotions and struggles that come with gender dysphoria, while delivering much-needed optimism. It's a cosy, safe corner for those searching for comfort and reassurance.

Happy Reading!

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

Dhiraj's Bookshelf

Dhiraj Sindhi's favorite books »

=========================

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. ☮

Uncomfortably Honest: Krishnagopal Mallick’s Queer Tales of Boyhood & Sexual Identity | 'Entering the Maze' Translated by Niladri R. Chatterjee

          

"Uncomfortably Honest: Krishnagopal Mallick’s Queer Tales of Boyhood & Sexual Identity"

Entering the Maze: Queer Fiction of Krishnagopal Mallick Translated from Bengali by Niladri R. Chatterjee

Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

Entering the Maze: Queer Fiction of Krishnagopal Mallick Translated from Bengali by Niladri R. Chatterjee

Author: Krishnagopal Mallick

Translator: Niladri R. Chatterjee

ISBN: 978-9391125905

Genre: Queer Fiction & Short Stories

Length: 176 Pages

Publication Date: 6^th April 2023

Publisher: Thornbird: An Imprint of Niyogi Books

Cover Designer: Pinaki De | Blog: http://pinakide.blogspot.com/

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

Krishnagopal Mallick (Courtesy: Scroll.in)

About the translator:

Niladri R. Chatterjee is Professor, Department of English, University of Kalyani, West Bengal. A recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship and the British Council-Charles Wallace Fellowship, he has co-edited The Muffled Heart: Stories of the Disempowered Male and Naribhav: Androgyny and Female Impersonation in India. He is also the author of a novel called The Scholar. His areas of interest are Masculinity Studies and Queer Studies. Since 2010 he has been running a Facebook group called New Gender Studies.

Niladri R. Chatterjee (Courtesy: Frontlist)

Instagram: @niladdictive

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

Organisations in urban India, OTT media services, and the gig economy are slowly becoming inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community. However, it’s also important to acknowledge that in rural India, which constitutes about 65% of the population, queer individuals struggle against sexual repression and spend a good part of their lives suffering psychologically as they still risk being subjected to conversion therapies, physical violence, and sometimes, even family-sanctioned corrective rapes. The thriving moralism, religionism, and cultural nationalism in contemporary India is engendering a more conservative and heteronormative society and a youth whose traditional values are increasingly at odds with the principles of equal rights for queer folks. Widespread societal bias and prejudice, often perpetuated by those adhering to heteronormativity, have led to a common misconception that queer individuals are prone to trauma and suffering. While Chatterjee labelling this overly generalising perspective, a liberal view may not be accurate, he successfully challenges it through his translation of Krishnagopal Mallick’s queer fiction, which defies such limiting stereotypes and offers a nuanced portrayal of LGBTQ+ experiences.

In the rich tapestry of Indian literature, the voices of LGBTQ+ individuals often find expression in regional languages, offering authentic and diverse perspectives on sexuality and identity. Unfortunately, many of these nuanced narratives have been overlooked or marginalised due to their divergence from heteronormativity. Translation emerges as a vital tool, a bridge that allows these hidden stories to resurface and flourish. It preserves the cultural nuances and authentic voices and challenges the pervasive homophobia that has marginalised them. ‘Entering the Maze’ is one such attempt to bring these voices into the spotlight and celebrate the richness of India’s LGBTQ+ literary heritage.

‘Entering the Maze’ is a collection of queer fiction stories by Krishnagopal Mallick, translated from Bengali by Niladri R. Chatterjee. The book is divided into four parts: an introduction by the translator, two short stories titled ‘The Difficult Path’ and ‘Senior Citizen,’ and lastly, the novella ‘Entering the Maze’ (initially published in May 1993).

In the introduction, Chatterjee introduces us to the world of Krishnagopal Mallick’s literary works and dives deep into it, drawing connections between his texts, his worldview, his life, and the profound influence of his homosexuality. Chatterjee references a passage from Mallick’s memoir ‘Hujugani,’ where he writes about ‘Byuhprabesh’ and mentions that he never resorted to imagination, validating that the work is not entirely fictional and complements the cover, featuring two identical figures, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. He compares Mallick with his contemporaries globally, nationally, and regionally in terms of queer themes, sources of inspiration, the use of author surrogate, and their romantic involvements. The scope of his comparisons spans from the French Nobel Laureate Andre Gide to E.M. Forster and even includes the Gujarati artist Bhupen Khakhar. Yet, he concludes, seldom do writers approach the innocent candour with which Krishnagopal Mallick presents stories of his boyhood and homosexuality in print, all while leading a contented married life with a child.

In ‘The Difficult Path,’ the 58-year-old narrator leads you on a journey through College Square in North Kolkata, observing and chronicling every subtle and monumental transformation. During a chance encounter with a lost boy near a concert venue, their journey together becomes a metaphorical exploration, depicted through a stoned and muddy path, raising questions about intentions and boundaries leaving readers with lingering thoughts. The story skilfully weaves the narrator’s reflections on the evolving spaces of Kolkata and human connection.

Sensual undertones are Krishnagopal Mallick’s hallmark, cleverly threaded with provocative details like a reference to a VIP Frenchie commercial. Similar to ‘The Difficult Path,’ ‘Senior Citizen’ also places readers in a morally challenging predicament. The author artfully employs irony to craft the persona of an elderly narrator. The story sets your moral judgment on an unpredictable course, prompting recalibration and a deliberate examination of right and wrong. However, what becomes evident is that the situation presented is far from being clear-cut; it resides in shades of grey. Despite a conspicuous absence of concern for issues like consent, the author adroitly blurs the line between consensual and non-consensual acts of intimate contact. This deft handling of a sensitive subject, conveyed with playful and mischievous authenticity, reflects the reality of such situations, ultimately underscoring the paramount importance of consent.

Finally, the pièce de résistance within this anthology of queer fiction presents itself—the novella bearing the title ‘Entering the Maze.’ It stands as a prime exemplar of the most candid and timeless coming-of-age literature. Within its pages unfolds a richly layered and subtly nuanced narrative, an exploration of boyhood, puberty, and the intricate journey toward self-discovery. The author employs a fourteen-year-old protagonist as a surrogate, charting the course of his life over a single year against the backdrop of post-Indian Independence Kolkata in 1950-51. The narrative embarks on a resounding note, providing readers with a glimpse of what awaits within its chapters. The novella begins with a portrayal of Gopal in shorts, and his transition to embracing dhotis and pyjamas towards the end symbolises his coming of age. Gopal’s fervent engagement in crafting a detective novel and the ingenious interplay of nested narratives illuminate the author’s unquenchable thirst for literature during his formative years. In a profound manner akin to the preceding short stories, ‘Entering the Maze’ unflinchingly captures the essence of the coming-of-age experience. It confronts the unspoken aspects of this transformative journey, which often remain concealed. These pivotal years, marred by the struggle to conform to prescribed notions of femininity or masculinity, bear profound significance.

The novella also features the influx of Bengali Hindu refugees from East Pakistan, the spectre of recurring riots, and haunting memories of war. The novella illustrates how these experiences shape the lens through which teenagers perceive the world. The author adeptly navigates these intricate layers, summoning vivid imagery and seamlessly traversing the terrain of adolescent self-discovery. The ordinary rituals of student life - the pursuit of geographical knowledge, the recitation of poems, and the fascination with stamp collection - all find a place within this novella’s pages. Each page, every line, and every word reverberates with profound meaning, offering readers a glimpse into the invaluable treasures concealed within its narrative depths.

Krishnagopal Mallick’s unreserved and unapologetic expression of his homosexuality tells you what it means to embrace your sexuality; it’s like, through his queer fiction, he shows you that he takes pride in being a homosexual man without ever saying the word “pride”. Such innocent, honest, and vibrant narratives of coming-of-age and the exploration of one’s sexuality have the power to ignite hope anew. As Chatterjee concludes his introduction, and I concur, we must bring such books back on the shelves. They not only enlighten us but also empower those who continue to fight for their right to love freely and authentically.

Happy Reading!

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

Dhiraj's Bookshelf

Dhiraj Sindhi's favorite books »

=========================

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. ☮

Book Review: Homeless: Growing Up Lesbian and Dyslexic in India by K. Vaishali

       

"Homeless: Growing Up Lesbian and Dyslexic in India by K. Vaishali"

Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

Homeless by K. Vaishali

Author: K. Vaishali

ISBN: 978-9392099519

Genre: Non-fiction

Length: 240 Pages

Publication Date: 20^th March 2023

Publisher: Simon & Schuster India

Cover Designer: Vishwajyoti Ghosh | Instagram: @vishwajyotighosh

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/3Mka59V

About the author:

The author of the novella, Means to an End, and several short stories like ‘Hot off You’, and ‘Blow’, K. Vaishali has been published in the in Gertrude Press, Leicester Writes Prize Anthology, Sahitya Akademi’s Indian journal, Out of Print, and elsewhere. Her short fiction made the Leicester Writes Short Story Prize 2021 shortlist and the 2021 Disquiet International Literary prize longlist. With a Master’s degree in communication, she writes developer documentation for a tech company. When she is not writing, Vaishali watches classic films and enjoys world cinema.

K. Vaishali

Instagram: @_kvaishali

Twitter: @_kvaishali

SYNOPSIS

After discovering she’s lesbian and dyslexic at 20, Vaishali begins to untangle her anxieties around reading and writing. She comes out to her mother at 22 and leaves her Bombay home to make her own way. In a dingy, insect-ridden yet rent-free hostel room in Hyderabad with a door that doesn’t quite close, she tries to make the best of the situation by writing a book about her experiences. As she writes, she finds the past has a way of catching up with her, even as she explores her dyslexia, homosexuality, and the clitoris; falling in love and recovering from a harrowing breakup; academic failure, loneliness, and homophobia; living with sickness, anxiety, depression, and her caste, gender, and body. This is the story of Vaishali's relationship with her many truths and the truths of many young people in India.

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. 

Trigger Warnings: Abuse, Violence

REVIEW

Homeless by K. Vaishali is a memoir of the author’s days spent introspecting in her own company as she is forced to leave her Mumbai home after coming out to her mother as lesbian; at first, in a co-rented flat in Ahmedabad and then in a UoH hostel, left to fend for herself devoid of the comforts, yet burdened with the ongoing challenges of dyslexia and dysgraphia. The memoir, for the major part, revolves around this major conflict—a type of parenting, the end goal of which is to prepare children for marriage and reproduction, or simply, to affirm that their children are as capable and qualified as children of other community members. Exactly, it doesn’t make sense to our generation. Parenting is and should be about embracing and celebrating children’s individuality while nurturing their physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual needs to help them navigate the turbulent waters and positively impact the world.

When K. Vaishali scores below average in an exam, she gets physically abused, and whacks on her head and pinching on her thigh continue as dyslexia remains undiscovered until much later. The problem with such type of parenting is the unacknowledged generational gap that leads to the normalisation of the imposition of parents’ beliefs, ideals, perceptions, and everything imaginable—that it’s okay to make your kids go through what they had gone through, that it’s maybe good for developing their kids’ mental strength, that whether it’s parental abuse or frequent fights between parents, there are going to be no repercussions. Ultimately, the children may suffer from clinical depression and lifelong mental disorders like anxiety and OCD. If left unattended or found no conscious way to deal with it, the next generation is fated to receive what is popularly known as “generational trauma”— a deeply ingrained legacy of pain and suffering, including substance abuse, violent behaviour, and whatnot.

Before I digress further from the memoir, apart from the subject discussed above (one of the several issues that surface in the book), the author talks about being lonely, breakup, finding a partner, the fear of getting outed as having ‘homosexual tendencies’ in the times when homosexuality used be a criminal offense, casual homophobia, and daily struggles that come with many disorders she is trying to control and manage consciously. Although this is a gripping memoir with a seamless flow taking you through the roots of problems and back to anecdotes, the narrative felt excessively one-dimensional, with a microscopic focus on inconveniences coupled with dark humour, making it less of a memoir and more of a trauma dumping that could be dealt with a multifaceted or multi-layered approach, something that I’m expecting from the author’s upcoming novels, for which, she has shared fascinating ideas throughout the memoir—a box full of kimberlites, where a shining gem is waiting to be discovered, cut, and polished. Overall, as the synopsis reads, living with disabilities that are not apparent from the outside, fighting against homophobia, and being a victim of inter-generational trauma are the truths of many young Indians, and we must listen to them.

Happy Reading!

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

Dhiraj's 2022 book montage

Dhiraj Sindhi's favorite books »

=========================

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. ☮