Review- The Elephant Chaser's Daughter by Shilpa Raj

The Elephant Chaser's Daughter on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Saved by her grandmother from being killed at birth for having been born a female, Shilpa’s life took many unexpected turns and twists through her early years. She faced abandonment by her mother, the formidable constraints placed on her by her family, and the barbs of village elders bound by hundreds of years of oppressive practices and customs that subjugate women. Shilpa is torn between the contrasting lives she leads: one of servitude and injustice experienced by her family; the other of opportunity and empowerment offered by a good education in a school started by a philanthropist.

Just when all seems settled, an unforeseen death under mysterious circumstances shatters whatever stability remains in her life. Pulled in opposite directions, and torn between despair and dreams, Shilpa finally makes a choice for her future. Is she strong enough to stand up to the people she loves, and pursue what she wants?

At its heart The Elephant Chaser’s Daughter is about hope, when all seems lost. Written with raw honesty and grit, this is a deeply moving memoir of a young girl confronting her ‘untouchable’ status in a caste-based society, and her aspirations for modernity.

Release date: July 10th 2017

Published by: Rupa Publications India

Page numbers: 260

REVIEW: 

The reasons I decided to pick up The Elephant Chaser's Daughter are the simple facts that it's the story of a village girl and it's the real story of the author. Without even knowing her, I'm able to say that Shilpa Raj is a very brave woman for sharing her story, which she has penned down in a manner so interesting that I wish she never stops writing. I want to know more about her life.

Any book set in rural India piques my curiosity because the condition and situation of women in Indian villages is a topic I've been interested in since a few years now. Set in Thattaguppe, Kerala, The Elephant Chaser's Daughter is about Shilpa, her family, her village and the one institute that saves her life- Shanti Bhavan, a school started by an American that takes village children into its arms and gives them wings to fly.

Shilpa's family and alma mater were two points that help make her into who she becomes. Shilpa is truly someone to admire and respect for whatever she has been through. I found it so difficult to even imagine some of the stuff that happens in her village. But the girl's courage, determination and strength make her stand on her own two feet. I really liked how Shilpa was, because her story was so real and raw that it's hard not to relate to her at some point or the other.

This book is so well done and so emotionally piercing that it just makes for a very great read. A true memoir of the author's life as a child stepping into adulthood with ups and downs, The Elephant Chaser's Daughter is one brilliant book that talks about the life of people in Indian villages with a focus on women, family and the kindness of strangers. But above all, this book is the voice of the voiceless. 

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Rupa Publications in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Buy the book: AMAZON/ FLIPKART

Review- She Walks, She Leads by Gunjan Jain

She Walks, She Leads on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

• Nita Ambani launched the Indian Super League, on the lines of FIFA, to boost football in India 
• Sudha Murty gave her savings to her husband, Narayana Murthy, to help start Infosys 
• Naina Lal Kidwai was the first Indian woman to graduate from Harvard Business School 
• Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw started Biocon with a seed capital of Rs10,000 
• At the age of sixteen, Sania Mirza became the youngest and the first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam 

These are some snippets from She Walks, She Leads which profiles twenty-six iconic women in modern India. These leaders tell their stories, up close and personal. Their relentless ambition to shatter the glass ceiling, their pursuit for excellence and the challenges that came their way – all of this is captured vividly in this exclusive anthology. Each chapter is based on extensive research and has never-seen-before photographs of these luminaries. The chapters are followed by interviews with their companions and close confidants who have seen them grow over the years. The women leaders profiled in the book come from different fields like banking, media, cinema, sports, fashion, philanthropy and industry.

Release date: July 27th 2016

Published by: Penguin Random House India

Page numbers: 584

REVIEW: 

While I was very much looking forward to reading She Walks, She Leads because I have previously studied and written a paper on feminism and do not miss an opportunity to read about inspiring women, I was apprehensive because it had been a long time since I read a non-fiction work and the sheer length of this book had me questioning everything. But thankfully, this book turned out to be very interesting and packed with information, inspiration and impact.

Clearly author Gunjan Jain has done heaps of research because while she has written about well-known women, there are many facts that are new and interesting to know. So while I was worried that this book wouldn't tell me anything more than what Google would be able to, there were so many aspects and points that me go "oh, is it?" And that means it was new, fresh and informative, which was the biggest plus point.

An eclectic mix of women from various fields, Gunjan Jain has interviewed and written about women in business, movies, sports and what not, so we go from Nita Ambani to Sudha Murthy to Saina Nehwal to Priyanka Chopra and the stories of each of these women and all the others are truly inspiring and nicely told. That fact that the author even interviewed people close to these women was really lovely because it gave another perspective entirely on the life of these powerful women.

In spite of its length which was the biggest problem for me, She Walks, She Leads was a nice read, both because of the structured and meticulous way in which it was written and Gunjan Jain's crisp and to the point writing. I also felt that the book focused only on well-known women, while people around you and I do their own little inspiting bit in their own way. Nevertheless, I would definitely recommend this book to those who wish to be inspired. 

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by author Gunjan Jain in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- This Book is Gay by James Dawson

This Book is Gay on Goodreads

Hi, everyone! As this book is LGBT, I'm putting it under The Literary Others: An LGBT Reading Event, hosted by the lovely Adam @ Roof Beam Reader. 

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Former PSHCE teacher and acclaimed YA author James Dawson gives an uncensored look at what it's like to grow up as LGBT. Including testimonials from people 'across the spectrum', this inclusive book explores everything anyone who ever dared to wonder wants to know - from sex to politics, how to pull, stereotypes, how to come-out and more. Spike Gerrell's hilarious illustrations combined with funny and factual text make this a must-have read.

Release date: September 4th 2-14

Published by: Hot Key Books

Page numbers: 271

REVIEW: 

The prospect of a book being both informative and fun at once always seemed odd to me, until I started reading This Book is Gay. The book is packed with information and you know what the best part is? It's fun. Fun, in the sense that it'll literally make you laugh out loud at some instances and also in the sense that for a non-fiction book (pardon my stereotyping), it is not boring at all, so that makes it kinda fun. This Book is Gay is such a good book.

There is so much to learn from this book, and not just in the sense that it will clear misconceptions and make you more aware of everything, but I honestly feel that the book should be used as a handbook or guide to know about homosexuality because it literally has everything you need to know. This book is not just for the LGBTQ community, but I feel it is for everyone because when homosexuals are forced to learn about heterosexuality, why shouldn't heterosexuals know about homosexuality? We're all humans, and for that sole reason, we need to know about fellow humans. And perhaps to be more understanding as well. Simple as that.

This Book is Gay is such a good, informative and fun read in which author James Dawson explains and shares as much as he can and as much as he has researched on LGBTQ. With illustrations, tables and even space to write some stuff, this book is so well done and well made. Some of the illustrations are extremely hilarious, and some of the questions that the author asks are so good that they really need thinking.

I would highly, highly recommend this book, because it'll make you a little wiser and a lot more accepting, hopefully.

Buy the book: AMAZON/ FLIPKART

Review- Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin

Beyond Magenta on Goodreads

Hi, everyone! As this book is LGBT, I'm putting it under The Literary Others: An LGBT Reading Event, hosted by the lovely Adam @ Roof Beam Reader. 

 BOOK SUMMARY:

A  2015 Stonewall Honor Book

A groundbreaking work of LGBT literature takes an honest look at the life, love, and struggles of transgender teens.

Author and photographer Susan Kuklin met and interviewed six transgender or gender-neutral young adults and used her considerable skills to represent them thoughtfully and respectfully before, during, and after their personal acknowledgment of gender preference. Portraits, family photographs, and candid images grace the pages, augmenting the emotional and physical journey each youth has taken. Each honest discussion and disclosure, whether joyful or heartbreaking, is completely different from the other because of family dynamics, living situations, gender, and the transition these teens make in recognition of their true selves. 

Release date: February 11th 2014

Published by: Candlewick Press

Page numbers: 192

REVIEW: 

Beyond Magenta is a book that's written and photographed by Susan Kuklin, who spoke to six transgenders who have shared their absolutely shattering but incredible stories. To know that there are people out there who suffer immeasurably simply for being who they are, is so heart breaking that it brings tears to the eyes. There are honestly no words to describe how raw and rustic this book is. 

Aside from just being a book full of stories where Jessy, Christina, Mariah, Cameron, Nat and Luke share their painful coming of age stories, Beyond Magenta is a powerhouse of knowledge because there is so much to learn from the book. It almost feels like as if, over the years, the word "different" equals bad or unacceptable. But that's clearly not true, because no dictionary defines different as that. Reading this book is like reading a widely acclaimed knowledge book, because it has so much to tell and teach. 

Every story in this book moved me so much that it made me want to hug the person I was reading about. Without even meeting Jessy, Christina, Mariah, Cameron, Nat and Luke, I feel like I know them quite well, and I want to be their friend. Each of their stories was engaging and sad but also very well shared and the latter is so very brave of them all. To know that there are people who might face the same problems as all of them, and to be assured that they will have them all to lean on to, is simply magical. 

Beyond Magenta is an emotional read, and definitely one that is an eye-opener to the world around us.

Buy the book: AMAZON (IN)

Review- Very Good Lives by J.K. Rowling

Very Good Lives on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

In 2008, J.K. Rowling delivered a deeply affecting commencement speech at Harvard University. Now published for the first time in book form, Very Good Lives offers J.K. Rowling’s words of wisdom for anyone at a turning point in life, asking the profound and provocative questions: How can we embrace failure? And how can we use our imagination to better both ourselves and others?

Drawing from stories of her own post-graduate years, the world-famous author addresses some of life’s most important issues with acuity and emotional force. 

Release date: April 14th 2015

Published by: Little, Brown and Company

Page numbers: 80

REVIEW: 

Before I begin writing about Very Good Lives, I just wanted to point out that I read this book on an epic day in magical history, and that's 31st July, 2016 which aside from marking the birthdays of my hero Harry Potter and my Queen J. K. Rowling, also happened to be the release of the most awaited book that had Potterheads all over the world go mad, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Well, I read it more in honour of the Queen's birthday, but it was a special day overall. 

I have never reviewed a J.K. Rowling book before, and frankly, I don't need to; because no matter what she writes, it's gold, it's always going to remain etched in my heart and it's going to get five out of five bright and shining stars. Nonetheless, I decided to write something about Very Good Lives because I honestly feel that this book deserves to be read as much as Harry Potter, because it is very important. I don't know how she does it, but JKR makes me cry every time with her powerful writing, that conveys so much. 

Very Good Lives is barely a half an hour read, which gives us the opportunity to read the speech JKR delivered at the Harvard 2008 graduation. I so wish I had graduated from Harvard in 2008, but that's when I got done with school, so I feel it's easy to pretend this was written for me. Anyway, the speech is packed with so much power and influence that it really touched me and had me thinking how is it that we Potterheads haven't made a big deal out of this beautiful piece of art? Because it certainly deserves that. 

There's not much I want to say aside from the fact that JKR knows how to tell stories AND influence people better than anyone else. She keeps saying that all the magic we need is within us, but really, she is magic. Everything she does is wonderful. I don't care when everyone reads this book, but I sure hope they do, because they might not know this, but they need it. Read this book. Please. 

Buy the book: AMAZON/ FLIPKART

Review- Branded by the Pink Triangle by Ken Setterington

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Before the rise of the Nazi party, Germany, especially Berlin, was one of the most tolerant places for homosexuals in the world. Activists, including Thomas Mann and Albert Einstein, campaigned openly for the rights of gay men and women, and tried to repeal the old existing law against homosexuality. But all that would change when the Nazis came to power and existence for gay people turned into one of fear. Raids, arrests, prison sentences and expulsions became the daily reality. When the concentration camps were built, homosexuals were imprisoned along with Jews and any other groups the Nazis wanted to suppress.

The pink triangle, sewn onto prison uniforms, became the symbol of the persecution of homosexuals, a persecution that would continue for many years after the war. A mix of historical research, first person accounts, and individual stories bring this time to life for readers. Stories of bravery in the face of inhuman cruelty, friendship found in the depths of despair in the camps, and the perseverance of the human spirit will both educate and inspire. 

Release date: April 15th 2013

Published by: Second Story Press

Page numbers: 155

REVIEW: 

When I first came across Branded by the Pink Triangle, I was very curious to know about the condition and situation of homosexuals during World War II because I never even gave it a thought. I always love reading about World War II because books based during that time are full of raw emotion and they shatter me. I also love reading LGBT books for more or less the same reason. So when I realised that there is a book that takes up both the themes, I was overwhelmed and I had to read the book. 

Branded by the Pink Triangle is a non-fiction account of homosexuality during Hitler's regime. Now we all know that this time was the most bloody and brutal of all history. This book isn't any different. It already kills me on the inside to read about the way people were treated during this period, but to have learned that homosexuals were treated even more badly by means that were absolutely disgusting and nasty, had me devastated. 

A very well written book with thoroughly researched information, Branded by the Pink Triangle is a true eye-opener to something that hasn't been spoken of enough, and that deserves a place in history and in all our hearts. Author Ken Setterington has put out a commendable and remarkable piece of work that deserves and demands to be read, just to understand everything a little better. And to all those people mentioned in the book... Wow, we salute you. 

Buy the book: AMAZON/ FLIPKART

2015 Diwali Giveaway! (India only)

Hello, guys! Diwali is here, and that means there's happiness and lights all around. To brighten up your already bright Diwali, we have a giveaway for you. Without much ado, let's get onto what's in store for one lucky Indian reader! 

But, before that- here's wishing you and your loved ones a very happy Diwali! We hope you have a lovely time. Don't burst crackers, eat loads and just have fun. And squeeze in some reading during the holidays, if you can. *winks* 

P.S: Those cute elephants though!!! ♥

This is a mostly non-fiction giveaway, where you can win the following two books: 

Also, the winner will get some bookmarks made by me!

As always, giveaway rules are simple- 

*The giveaway is open for residents of India only.

*To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter from below.

*If the form doesn't load, go here. 

*Once a winner are picked, she/ he will have 48 hours to respond, or else, we'll be compelled to pick  another winner. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading, guys! 

Review- Introducing Existentialism by Richard Appignanesi and Oscar Zárate

Goodreads Summary:

Richard Appignanesi goes in personal quest of Existentialism in its original state. He begins with Camus' question of suicide: 'Must life have a meaning to be lived?' Is absurdity at the heart of Existentialism? Or is Sartre right: is Existentialism 'the least scandalous, most technically austere' of all teachings?

REVIEW:

I had first developed an interest in existentialism when we studied- and no one is going to be surprised by this- Albert Camus' The Stranger in our twentieth century French literature class. At that time, I just put the word "existential" in the dictionary, hoping it would suffice. No prizes for guessing that it didn't. It was only a little later that I actually bothered looking it up online. During my state (pun intended) of finding out more about the concept and the theory, I came across Introducing books. Having read the same books on Camus and Sartre, I knew that Introducing Existentialism would be a quick and knowledgeable read. 

I can guarantee that Introducing Existentialism is a very deep, intellectual and knowledgeable read, but it definitely isn't a quick read. Short, yes, but not quick. That is simply because existentialism, contrary to my initial beliefs, is a very complex and complicated concept and theory to understand. I am not going to tell you what existentialism is, because it is not possible to do that with just one reading, of Introducing Existentialism and of existentialism in general. I am not sure if even I know for myself what it really is. All I know is that I don't really have an opinion on it as yet, but it sure is something to contemplate over. It is complex and complicated, but also very interesting.

Coming to the book itself, Introducing Existentialism, unlike two of its counterparts that I previously mentioned, is not as easy a guide to existentialism as it should be. But then again, existentialism in itself isn't, for me at least. It isn't just a philosophical concept, but includes history, science, technology, religion and psychology as well. Deep, I tell you. And at the same time, this book definitely does not serve as an introductory "guide" as it's way above a simple introdcution. I found myself reading a few pages and keeping the book aside just to gather my thoughts and to try and see if I understood what I just read. 

To conclude, I can safely say that this book is just an okay introductory guide that requires heaps of supplementary reading and research to fully understand what it is trying to say and maybe even a reread or two. The illustrations are really well done; my favourite being Camus (of course!) and the cafe scenes between de Beauvoir and Sartre. What I did appreciate most about this book is that I suppose I finally understood the reason behind the rift between Camus and Sartre. I must also just mention the interesting front and back cover that show a spilled glass of and an almost full bottle of wine and a neat glass on the table and a half bottle of wine respectively. Funny how it goes front to back rather than reverse which is expected of existentialism. 

RATING:

Review- The Etiquette of Social Media by Leonard Kim

Goodreads Summary:

The Etiquette of Social Media: How to Connect and Respond to Others in the World of Social Media

Social Media is paving the way of the future. It is a new trend that is becoming standardized as a part of our daily lives. This new standard includes media outlets ranging from Facebook to LinkedIn to Quora and Twitter, along with many others.

With how new social media is, there are no classes at our schools that cover the etiquette of social media. Whether you are in high school or a senior level executive, chances are you are oblivious to the guidelines of how to act on social media. In this day and age, that has been forgivable.

Why?

Because never before has there been a guide covering The Etiquette of Social Media, until now.

Inspired by best-selling author James Altucher, Leonard Kim decided to write his first book of many. Being a personality with high visibility and a Top Writer on Quora, an Online Knowledge Market, Leonard has seen it all.

From comments to messages to public attacks, Leonard has broken free from the viewpoint we all have of what is right in front of us. He has been able to expand outside of the myopic bubble of the Internet we have all come to see. He has expanded his view of our online society as a whole. In a single year, Leonard went from being a nobody to having over five million views on the internet. He went from being an introvert with less friends than he has fingers to cultivating friendships all across the world.

Through decades of experience, Leonard has acquired a unique skill set. With a background in branding, Leonard understands the importance of your online reputation. He has been able to identify the key points to ensure that you come across as an approachable and likable human being.

Are you looking to make new friends? Manage your online reputation? Or expand your business connections?

This book will provide you with the essential tools you need to get ahead.

The world is changing. Soon it will no longer be forgivable to be ignorant of your behavior on social media. People will start to judge you for each action you make. Read this guide to prepare yourself before that dreadfully awaited day finally arrives.

REVIEW:

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of The Etiquette of Social Media by Leonard Kim in exchange for an honest review. We thank Leonard for the book! 

Initially, I did not want to read author Leonard Kim's The Etiquette of Social Media. It's just that it didn't sound like something I would require. But I was very interested in knowing what the book is all about when I was making the author interview and giveaway post we did for the same. While it wasn't the best book I've read, I really do not regret reading The Etiquette of Social Media as I learnt a lot from the book; most of which I'll definitely be keeping in mind while establishing social media relations henceforth. 

In a very simplistic, systematic and meticulous way, in his book, author Leonard Kim explains how, by being a little more aware of our surroundings by knowing how what we say to someone online affects them and stays on the internet forever, it just takes some common sense and a few easy steps to be accepted and appreciated online. While most of the stuff is pure common sense, we all know that common sense is not very common, so this book is really very helpful and useful. I did feel that there was a lot importance given to the "image" that one creates of oneself and how one is "expected" to be. Although those lean towards negatives for me, I did get the author's point when he stressed on how this affects our future and our present in many ways. 

The Etiquette of Social Media is a very informative read that will make the reader think twice before typing and hitting send. For a very short read, the book is seriously packed with information. Some points are even illustrated with examples. I don't know if publishing the comments is the way to get back to someone who said something mean, but these people do exist all over the internet, and those of us who use the internet to actually gain knowledge and make a mark there need to keep our distance and stay safe. With a nice exercise, the author manages to make readers question their purpose in life as well. That made the book very reader/ user- friendly to me. 

Overall, The Etiquette of Social Media was a good read that social media beginners will find very apt before starting their online journey. 

RATING:

Review- On Women by Khushwant Singh

Summary (from Rupa Publications):

Well known for his unabashed interest in the fairer sex, Khushwant Singh revelled in the notoriety 

his interest evoked, almost as much as he did in the response he received from women. Indeed, this 

enduring obsession provided fodder for some of Singh’s best-known work, both as a journalist and as 

a peerless raconteur. 

On Women, a wide-ranging selection of Singh’s writings on the subject, includes Singh’s recounting 

of an embarrassingly drunken meeting with Begum Para, an actress of yesteryears; a sharp profile of 

Shraddha Mata, a tantric sadhvi who was alleged to have borne Jawaharlal Nehru’s illegitimate child; 

and a touching sketch of Singh’s grandmother in the twilight of her life. Also featured in this volume 

are unforgettable women characters from Khushwant Singh’s most popular works of fiction: Georgine, 

a clueless American teenager who is seduced by a middle-aged tour guide in Delhi; and Nooran, a 

young girl in pre-Partition Punjab, who discovers the sweet pleasure of first love only to be overtaken 

by cataclysmic events which leave her adrift.

Insightful, poignant, and occasionally wicked, the essays and extracts in On Women are testament to 

why Khushwant Singh remains one of the most popular writers of our times. 

REVIEW:

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of On Women by Khushwant Singh from Rupa Publications in exchange for an honest review. We thank the publishing house for the book.

 I was looking forward to reading Khushwant Singh's On Women. As I've been working on feminism and women representation for my research, I thought the book would help me in some way or the other. Turns out, I was completely wrong. It's not that I didn't learn anything. It's just that I didn't come across anything that would help me as such. Don't get me wrong. That in no way means I didn't like the book. I started off not liking it as I thought it was sexually exploitative, but as I moved ahead, I realised there was more to the retellings than just female bodies and sex. 

On Women tells the readers short tales of women in Khushwant Singh's life- either in fiction or in reality. Some of the women are characters taken from his works, while others are women he has come across, met and been with in his life. The latter goes from his grandmother, his mother to his wife, his classmates from various academic institutions, the foreign tourists that he received to a beggar on the street to famous personalities like Phoolan Devi, Indira Gandhi and Mother Teresa. 

As far as the book is concerned, I thought the stories were very well picked and put together. There was something interesting in Khushwant Singh's way of depicting women. Even when there were times when things got physical and it seemed like the whole purpose of the story, there would be something that brought up intelligence and integrity in a woman which made the stories really satisfactory and strong. I especially liked how women were portrayed as well-developed personalities and they stood their own alongside the presence of one of India's most renowned and powerful writer. 

I have previously read Khushwant Singh's Train to Pakistan and for the life of me, I never understood that novel but it still left a mark on me. I was pretty glad when I read and understood On Women. Overall, while I did start off not liking On Women, I ended up liking it more than I have possibly been able to say. It was a really nice and short read that could have been more interesting, but even in the absence of that, it was a great read. 

RATING:

DNF Review- Twelve Years A Slave by Solomon Northup

Goodreads Summary:

This unforgettable memoir was the basis for the Academy Award-winning film 12 Years a Slave. This is the true story of Solomon Northup, who was born and raised as a freeman in New York. He lived the American dream, with a house and a loving family - a wife and two kids. Then one day he was drugged, kidnapped, and sold into slavery in the deep south. These are the true accounts of his twelve hard years as a slave - many believe this memoir is even more graphic and disturbing than the film. His extraordinary journey proves the resiliency of hope and the human spirit despite the most grueling and formidable of circumstances.

REVIEW:

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of Twelve Years A Slave by Solomon Northup from Pirates in exchange for an honest review. We thank the publishing house for the book! 

When we first received an email about Twelve Years A Slave, I was extremely intrigued by the book since at that time, I was reading Edward Said's Orientalism for my literature class and studying the theory as well. So this book seemed like the perfect way to apply the theory to a literary work that isn't fiction. For some reason or the other- and the reason being studies mostly- I kept putting the book aside although ideally, I would have loved to read it while doing orientalism. When I finally picked up the book to read, it was too late, I guess. 

When I went to Quebec for an exchange programme, the in-flight services provided by our airlines had the movie Twelve Years A Slave and I decided to watch it after having watched actors from the film go receive their Oscars for the same. I didn't like the movie much but I did find it interesting. It was sad and devastating, and I wouldn't really know how much of the book was taken to the big screen. I had the book with me at that time as well, but I already said, I never got to it since I had other stuff to do. 

ANYWAY. I guess I've gone off topic enough and it's time I finally get to the review instead of just blabbering about random stuff that no one even cares about. 

So, the book. Well, first off, I did not like the pace of it. It was way too slow for my liking without much happening. I understand why there was a lack of dialogue and a heavy dose of description, but for me, it was too boring. I admit that the binary opposition of master/ slave has been the most interesting relationship since it's nothing but a human thinking another human as savage and using him for his own benefit. But all that aside, the problem I have is not with the story. I don't want to talk about it since I'm not really sure I am capable of doing it. 

I was under the impression that I was reading Twelve Years A Slave when I received an email from Goodreads asking me to update my progress on the book and telling me that it's been 50 days since I started reading it. 50 days. Can you imagine that? 50 days is almost a month and a half. And I read only 90 pages of the book. And in that time, I didn't even read any other paperback since I knew I was reading Twelve Years A Slave and it's better to finish one book before getting on to the next. Honestly, it's not the book's fault. It is mine. I did not read it on time and when I was in the mood for it. So if anyone is to be blamed, it's me. I would have liked to just sit down one day and finish off the book, but somewhere, I know it's not going to happen and I don't want to waste time reading something that I won't exactly prefer to read otherwise. What should be noted is that whatever I read, I found alright. It was profound and I learnt a lot of stuff here and there. But it's taking too long and I've lost interest, honestly.  

I know there are people who will love this book, and I would have as well, but no. It's too time consuming (as if my current pile of books doesn't haunt me enough) and I must close one door to open the next. Sorry, book. 

RATING: 

Review- Four Miles To Freedom: Escape From A Pakistani POW Camp by Faith Johnston

Goodreads Summary: 

When Flight Lieutenant Dilip Parulkar was shot down over Pakistan on 10 December 1971, he quickly turned that catastrophe into the greatest adventure of his life. On 13 August 1972 Parulkar, along with Malvinder Singh Grewal and Harish Sinhji escaped from a POW camp in Rawalpindi. Four Miles To Freedom is their story.

Based on interviews with eight Indian fighter pilots who helped prepare the escape and two who escaped, as well as research into other sources, Four Miles is also the moving, sometimes amusing, account of how twelve fighter pilots from different ranks and backgrounds coped with deprivation, forced intimacy, and the pervasive uncertainty of a year in captivity, and how they came together to support Parulkar's courageous escape.

REVIEW:

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of Four Miles To Freedom: Escape From A Pakistani POW Camp by Faith Johnston from Random House India in exchange for an honest review. We thank the publishing house for book! 

Four Miles To Freedom: Escape From A Pakistani POW Camp is a tale set in the backdrop of the 1971 war between India and Pakistan which ultimately led to the creation and recognition of the independent country of Bangladesh. While the entire political situation is something I have studied and know very well, what I wasn't aware of was the battle both Indian and Pakistani soldiers had to face while being held as prisoners of war in the opposition camp. 

Four Miles To Freedom is the tale of a bunch of Indian army men who, while being stuck as prisoners of war in Pakistan, decide to make an escape plan to get back to their country. The reason I call the book a tale is because it is a piece of work put together by author Faith Johnston after having interviewed army men who were actually soldiers in the 1971 war and some of them even fought the 1965 India- Pakistan war. For a non-fiction read, this tale is very well executed and quite gripping, for which the retelling of a brave and courageous act of the soldiers and the brilliant execution of it by the author deserve credit. 

While there have been and still are many books depicting the army lifestyle in general, Four Miles To Freedom took a fresh and new turn by focusing on the duties and work of army men rather than their way of life. What adds even more to the reality of an already real tale is the use of illustrations for geographical representations made by the soldiers, the sharing of letters exchanged between them and their loved ones and a set of absolutely lovely black and white photos that are showcased as well. 

Four Miles To Freedom wasn't as moving a tale as I would have liked it to be or even expected it to be, but it was still a great piece of work put together. Even though I did not like the book as much as I would have loved to like it, I still liked reading the tale as it was put down brilliantly. 

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