It is going to be an erudite Friday at The Incredible Women Of India, as Koral Dasgupta, Kiran Manral and Mona Verma engage in a lively chat with Anupama Jain. There cannot be a better time to remind you of how awesome they are with their craft! Here is a short review of their most recent works.

We look forward to meeting you on Friday at 6.30PM on our Facebook page, as we celebrate Women In Writing, this January.

Ahalya by Koral Dasgupta : A Review By Meera Nair

Through a poetic retelling of Ahalya’s story, Koral Dasgupta shines a spotlight on the life of this resilient character from Hindu mythology. From her birth to the events leading up to Gautam’s curse on her, this book gives you a glimpse into Ahalya’s perspective. It addresses questions of women empowerment, societal norms, and patriarchy in an attempt to deliver the story with great clarity. What a splendidly written book! I am always mesmerized by stories of Hindu mythology. But the writing in this one takes the cake. Koral Dasgupta has penned Ahalya’s story with such a fluid and dream-like composition. The writing is driven by nature imageries and the constantly pondering state of Ahalya’s mind. Over the course of the story, we see Ahalya’s character transform from that of an innocent child to an enthusiastic grown woman who has discovered the pleasures of life on her own accord. There are so many profound thoughts that form the basis of this book. I annotated so many pages and I look forward to revisiting the story again later. Also, I am really elated to know that this is the first book in the Sati series and I can’t wait to get my hands on the other 4 titles. Highly recommend this book to everyone who is interested in mythology!

The Kitty Party Murder by Kiran Manral : A Review by Ashima Jain

While I am familiar with Kiran Manral, the author, this was my first time reading any of her books. I didn’t get into it with a lot of expectation but I was excited nonetheless. The book starts with a generous serving of humour and maintains the flavour throughout the course of the story. I experienced a slow start with the book which, while incredibly funny, seemed to be teeming with metaphors. As a literary device I have nothing against them but felt they were overused. Then, past the one-third mark, maybe their use diminished, or it didn’t bother me enough to notice. I imagined this to be a comedy about a bored mom in search of some drama in her apartment building to spice up her mundane life. Where the book truly surprises you is that it is not only a murder mystery but a real thriller with nail-biting moments and edge-of-the-seat suspense. While the clues get more perplexing, the bodies keep dropping, and when people start to disappear overnight, it becomes evident that time is running out. Hilarious and riveting, The Kitty Party Murder seamlessly blends two distinct genres into one intense novel. With so much variety, it is guaranteed to capture everyone’s interest. You’re effectively getting two books for the price of one. I say grab it with both hands and get ready for an adventure that will send your idea of ‘routine’ up in smoke.

Lost and Found In Banaras by Mona Verma : A Review by Nithya Rajagopal

Mona’s writing stands out and shines in this book. This story traces the life of a girl who has been widowed at the age of 3. The description of the wedding and the subsequent widowhood reflect the cruelty of the practice. The writing is vivid, powerful and realistic. Mona retains the mystic aura of Banaras and transports the reader there. This style reminded me of Anandmath by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. I was amazed by the philosophical insight that the characters provided from time to time as well as how the characters came together so beautifully in the end. There are some portions where the descriptions are slightly excessive, but you can take your time to read this book.