Book Review- Swallowing the Sun: A Novel by Lakshmi Puri

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With its beautiful cover and an equally exquisite story, this book is the latest read, titled Swallowing the Sun. I got the chance to attend the book launch event (my first ever!!) of this book and briefly met the author, Lakshmi Puri.

"Swallowing the Sun" is not the mythology story of Hanuman, who eats the sun, considering it the ladoo. This historical fiction is an imaginative, compelling tell about the epic feat of progressive thinking of a father, the saga of bold and beautiful girls woven into the fabric of India's fight for Independence, and the various social issues offering a gripping and authentic portrayal of the struggle and its impact on individuals and families.

The story is majorly told through the eyes of its feisty young heroine, Malati. As a young girl, Malati fights and defeats the school bully at her village school in Maharashtra. From then onwards, backed by her progressive father, she and her sister Kamala push the boundaries constantly. After an eventful girlhood, the sisters become the first women in their family to go to college. They end up in Bombay, a hotbed of political ferment, where, even as she is whirled along by the irresistible current and excitement of the battle for Independence, she negotiates the small and significant aspects of everyday life—love, loss, failure, and compromise.

The novel is a tribute to the courage and resilience of women who fought for their rights and dignity in a patriarchal society. The story is also a rich and vivid portrayal of India's culture, politics, and history, woven with humour, emotion, and insight. 

The book tackles pertinent issues like patriarchy, women's rights, and societal expectations, adding depth and nuance to the narrative. The author highlights different facets of life’s struggles and one’s duty and acceptance to move on during challenging situations.

Overall, “Swallowing the Sun” is a novel that will inspire and enlighten the reader with its powerful storytelling and unforgettable characters.


Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 23, 2024 at 5:58 AM

    all the best

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 23, 2024 at 6:00 AM

    Very nicely explained the thoughts of the author as well as your own. I think that there is a capacity to swallow the sun in each women around us but if we deep dive into everyone’s life, we find the woman always outperforming in every field. Thank you so much for bringing this review.
    As I always say, it’s a pleasure, reading your candid comments, dil se…

    ReplyDelete

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