Review-Scandalous Housewives

SCANDALOUS HOUSEWIVES-MADHURI BANERJEE

After reading the synopsis and Being a Sex and the City Addict( TV series ofcourse!!) ,I just had to pick this book up. Also this is the First book I have read of Madhuri Banerjee, and What an Experience it was!!!

Scandalous Housewives is a story that revolves around four characters-Gita,Sarita,Aarti and Natasha. Each one having their own difficulties and glitches. The author wins your heart by the sheer courage with which she handles each and every subject and the way out for all of them.

Gita is an absolutely perfect mother,daughter-in-law and wife. She plays all her varied roles to perfection. But somewhere she does fathom that in performing all these responsibilities she has foregone her own aspirations. We tend to ignore our expertise and strive to work only for the growth of our family. The obstacle of identity crisis faced by the housewives of today is tackled brilliantly with Gita's character. Also another important thing that her story teaches us is that marriage is not only taking care of your husband's family and your children but also involves the active involvement and encouragement of your partner in your area of interests and your growth. We tend to ignore it, in turn ignoring our own progress. A partner helping you in taking you forward in life is the true definition of a happy and successful marriage.

Sarita hails from a conservative Gujarati household where the smallest of things have to be approved by her in-laws and only then it can be taken forward. Due to these conventional beliefs the couple is not able to be open minded and rational with their own children leading to the children going the immoral ways. As mentioned in the synopsis the depiction of “kinky sex” is dealt with very aesthetically. I am bowled over by the author's sheer vividness in scripting these parts.

Aarti has the perfect husband, the perfect in-laws, the perfect son and a fantastic career. She is the only working woman out of the four. But she has a deep dark secret which disrupts her “perfect marriage”. Some people may not agree with this story. But according to me the author has dealt with it very maturely. Do we have to live through a marriage because our husband and in laws are very loving and supportive, isn't consummation equally imperative? This is the question that this story raises and the author has once again dealt with it audaciously.

Natasha's story is of self esteem and morals. An ex-model who is neither respected by her husband nor her daughter. Does love only hinge on physical appearance and your working status? DO people who leave work or who are not as slender as before, deserve affection and reverence of his/her partner? Once again the solution to this glitch is dealt with cleverly. Every woman should stand for her self-respect and the author teaches us this through Natasha's narrative.

The author via this book teaches us not only to take bold steps for ourselves but also that it is not enough to make others happy. The first and foremost person that should be content is yourself. The inner gratification modifies the way we handle other things and other people in our beautiful journey called-LIFE. This may lead to certain decisions that are not as per the “so-called” societal norms but you have to stand by them for your contentment. I want to applaud the author for this experience and the courage to deal with one's problems bravely and fearlessly. Would like to end my review with a very pertinent “Ernest Hemingway quote:

“So far, about morals, I know only that what is moral is what you feel good after and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.”

STARS-4/5

Book Review-And then there were none

AND THEN THERE WERE NONE-AGATHA CHRISTIE

           This book published in Pre-Independence period was a natural choice for deviating from my favoured genre to crime fiction.

           Ten strangers are brought to Soldier Island (a beautiful place that spells luxury with a capital L). Lured with the temptation of such an extravagant splendour all the ten strangers, without verifying any facts, embark on their journey to Soldier Island. The night of them reaching there, a recording is played which accuses all ten of them for murder of someone associated to their respective lives. The slaughter begins. In order to save themselves the inhabitants start looking for evidences After rummaging the entire island, the necessary evidences point out that the killer is amongst them.Also another interesting part is that the killings are based on the poem by Frank Green-Ten Little Soldier Boys. The author has mentioned the poem at the start of the book itself.

            When I started scripting the review of this book I was taken aback. I just did not know what to write or how to write. Twice I initiated and backed out, thought I cannot write review for this one. The third time I got successful. The reason for this was the absolute impeccable writing of Agatha Christie. You cannot speculate the assassin till the very last word in the book. The USP of the book is that you contemplate someone as the killer and the next chapter he is deceased. This leads to the reader being on the edge of his seat throughout the narrative. The writing and the flow of the entire tale is of supreme quality and keeps the reader engaged till the very end.

            The cherry on the cake was definitely the finale. The manner in which the assassin is revealed,it is mind boggling. It leaves you with goosebumps. It just goes to justify the popularity of this book even after so many decades, and also my undersized review :P. So do pick this book up irrespective of whether you like the genre or no. If you like the genre you'll love it more and if you don't you will start liking it.

             I would want to conclude with a Thomas Moore Quote which is absolutely apt for this book:

“It is only through mystery and madness that the soul is revealed” 

STARS-4.5/5

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