Book Name: Secrets, Sins and Struggles
Authoress: Kamini Kusum
Publisher: Zorba Books
Price: Rs. 199
Blurb:
This collection of tales about the lives and loves of five women traces their long, eventful journeys. Meet Pooja, a teenager forced into the flesh trade but determined to escape and get justice. Shrawani who dreams of becoming a bureaucrat despite all the trials life throws her way. Avni who is torn between her childhood friend and her brand-new boyfriend. Harsha who is trapped in a loveless arranged marriage while still being haunted by thoughts of her forsaken lover. Geshna who falls head over heels for a high school sweetheart only to find her own life shrinking to accommodate his. These stories are about the odds stacked against these women in their paths to love and success, and their hope that the next turn that they make will be the one that leads them to the happiness they are longing for.
Review:
Brothel to Assembly
Story in a nutshell:
Pooja lives with her parents in a small village called Dudhla. Their lives wasn't great. They were happy with what they had. Pooja was in her SSC. She scored good marks at her examination and that was the reason why her parents wanted her to pursue higher education. Destiny plays a foul game with this happy family. Pooja's mother leaves this world. Her father remarries hoping that Pooja would be showered some motherly love. But nothing of that sort happens. Her step-mother treats her bad. She also agrees to get Pooja married to the son of zamindar of their village. The son of zamindar is accused of raping a girl. Pooja musters up courage and leaves her home in hope of a better life only to find herself in a brothel. What does she do? Is she able to get out the brothel?
Review:
The story has an effect to keep you hooked until the very end. You will feel connected with the protagonist, Pooja. The struggle which Pooja goes through will surely make your heart ache. The narration is in third person narrative. The language is simple yet the story engages the readers. The protagonist teaches the readers not to lose hope for hope stands for 'Hold On Pain Ends'. She teaches the readers a lesson of courage.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars.
Love, Corporate and Custody
Story in a nutshell:
Love is something that can happen to you at any time and at any place. Geshna finds herself in dilemma when Nihal enters her life. Over time she realises that she is head over heels in love with him. Geshna wishes to pursue her graduation through a college in Delhi. The very thought of having a long distance relationship scares both of them. Geshna compromises and enrolls herself in a college in her town. Many instances occur where she agrees with Nihal over his decisions, where she ignores her dreams and wishes. Is it worth? Is Geshna really happy?
Review:
Anger, repent and sympathy will emerge in your heart when you read this story. You will surely question yourself whether it was really worth. Love makes you lose many things, people in life and the most irreparable is losing your own self. The narration is in third person and the story manages to keep the reader stuck on to it until the end.
Rating: 3/5 stars.
Madam Bureaucrat
Story in a nutshell:
You are passionate about achieving something. You strive hard inorder to make that dream come true. But during the eleventh hour, some disturbing incident takes place and you lose all the zeal, all the enthusiasm. What will you do when this keeps repeating? Will you give up? What would you do if that 'disturbance' is the person you love the most? Shrawani finds herself in such situation. What is Shrawani's story?
Review:
Madam Bureaucrat is an inspiring story. It teaches you to never give up. Destiny is pre-written. You can't do anything to change it. Accept it the way it is. It also tells you that if it's meant to happen, it will. The protagonist of this story, Shrawani is an ambitious girl. This story will inspire you.
Rating: 3/5 stars.
Sin
Story in a nutshell:
Would you marry a person whom you don't love? Meet Harsha - a girl who is in love with Anish but the one who marries Snehil for keeping the word of her parents. Is Harsha happy with the marriage? What does she do when Anish enters her life in spite of knowing that she is married? Why is the story titled 'Sin'?
Review:
This story is a confusing one. It places you in a tough situation. At one point of time, you will positive about a particular situation and at some time, you feel bad. Categorizing this story as a good one or bad will lower its importance. There are varied emotions involved. Only a sentimental heart will feel these emotions.
Rating: 4/5 stars.
That rave party night
Story in a nutshell:
What would you do if the person you loved the most betrayed you? What would you do if the person you loved the most treated you like shit? What if cheat, deceit, betrayal are the only words in your loved one's dictionary? Won't you feel angry? Avni doesn't care a bit when Soumya, her best friend asks her to stay away from Jeevak. She ignores her and trusts Jeevak blindly only to realise his falsehood. How does Avni cope with the betrayal?
Review:
I believe that love and hatred coexists. When love leaves, hatred takes its place. Avni exhibits such an emotion in this story. The third person narration with that emotional touch makes this story a good read.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars.
Secrets, Sins and Struggles can be summed up as an emotional and inspiring story collection. The protagonists are strong-willed women who know to take a stand for themselves and make a change in their lives. They are a true source of inspiration.
I rate:
Cover: 3/5
Stories: 3.5/5
I rate 'Secrets, Sins and Struggles' with 3.5/5 stars.
You can buy your copies on Amazon.
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