Preeti Shenoy is one of my favorite writers (though I
have not read many authors !! ) for a fact that
her writing is beautiful, simple and precise which makes her books interesting. I regularly follow her blog which is an oasis of words and thoughts. I also have read her first book (34
Bubblegum and Candies) of which all are candies :) and the sweetness still lingers in my mind !!!
What is your wish list? Go on, write it down.
You never know how it will change your life!
The story is about Diksha, coming
from a traditional middle-class family, finds her life taking a complete 'U' turn when at sixteen a harmless innocent kiss; with a senior from
school, her then crush Ankit lands
her in trouble. She is withdrawn from the school by her parents and soon is married off to Sandeep at a early age.
Eighteen years down the line Diksha is a housewife metamorphosed into a maidservant and a cook, lives a mundane life on the whims & fancies of her
insensitive & orthodox husband Sandeep, seeks “permission” to travel
anywhere, even to her own years. The only silver lining is her (not theirs!!) nine-year-old-son
Abhay bringing him up almost single handedly.
Suddenly life knocks onto her .. events & characters drops into her life like bitten
hand grenades waiting to explode. Urged by a twist of events, a wish list is
born. She realizes how she has been dancing to everyone’s tunes but has
forgotten to listen to the music in her own heart. She is a bundle of contradictions... perhaps a bit of communication could save the situation. She faces bitter sweet serendipitous dilemma,
until she decides the direction for her life.
The characters in her novel are well visualised and believable, from Vibha an audacious independent yet conservative cousin, Gaurav a sophisticated Instructor friend, Tanu a bubbly spirited childhod friend, Abhay an innocent matured son, Ankit a soulful crush and Diksha the woman with dreams!!
Preeti
Shenoy’s novel perhaps brings up the lives of many women who have, confined
within the barriers of their own little existence. She brings out the ode of a married woman who is convinced and settled herself on domesticity for bliss and that delusion works only to a point till the veil has worn thin.The novel shows an alternative path taken by a
brave lady when everything seems to be breaking apart for her. A little of
spice and love in her life only serves to make her evolve to be stronger.
The crux
of the novel is “Life is short. Follow your
heart and chase your dreams And yes, they will come true” which is so true!
Written in an extremely conversational style, Preeti Shoney’s new offering “The Secret Wish List” is fluid in its narration and is an easy read which doesn’t disappoint at all. The book kept me mesmerised & hooked onto
it the whole night :)
Deepali…
I loved “life is what you make it” by the same author. Infact it was first book of her that I read. I equally enjoyed, “tea for two and piece of cake”. So I was very excited to read, “the secret wishlist” specially since I had preordered it and got a personalized author signed book.
ReplyDeleteThe interesting and intriguing story of protagonist Diksha made me read the complete book in one go. Though at some places I found striking similarities with “tea for two and a piece of cake’ yet I could appreciate the subtle and nuanced subtext that the author weaves in so effortlessly in this book.
If I have to say, what’s the one thing about Mrs Shenoy’s books that I admire most. It will be undoubtedly her realistic portrayal of a marriage. Like her previous book this one is bang-on on the biggest weakness in the institution of marriage specially in the Indian context, and it is the MCP AND NARROW MINDED INDIAN MEN. Surely not all Indian men are so, but most are. I loved how the entire plot, setting , backdrop, characters are SO REAL. They are flawed and that’s make them even more relatable. It’s not a fairy tale story and neither are the characters Godly.
I hope that Mrs Shenoy continues to write more such books that are real, socially relevant and absolutely enjoyable. What further reflects in all her books is her own real life persona and her genuine niceness. Mrs. Preeti Shenoy, thanks for being in our times. The way you portray “agenda-less friendships” in your books conveys volumes about your faith in friendship.