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Author: – Anukrti Upadhyay
Pages: 276
Price: ₹ 338.00
About the Author: –
Anukrti Upadhyay writes fiction and poetry in both English and Hindi. Her Hindi works include a collection of short stories titled Japani Sarai (2019) and the novel Neena Aunty (2021). Among her English works are the twin novellas, Daura and Bhaunri (2019), and her novel Kintsugi (2020); the latter won her the prestigious Sushila Devi Award 2021 for the best work of fiction written by a woman author. Her writings have also appeared in numerous literary journals such as The Bombay Review, The Bangalore Review and The Bilingual Window. Anukrti has post-graduate degrees in management and literature, and a graduate degree in law. She has previously worked for the global investment banks, Goldman Sachs and UBS, in Hong Kong and India, and currently works with Wildlife Conservation Trust, a conservation think tank. She divides her time between Mumbai and the rest of the world, and when not counting trees and birds, she can be found ingratiating herself with every cat and dog in the vicinity.
Blurb
A young girl who forms a curiously intimate friendship with a bat…
A man whose life is wrecked by an unsightly big toe…
A teenager who will go to any lengths to have her stepfather to herself…
The stories in The Blue Women paint vivid portraits of people’s lives as they encounter the strange and the enigmatic – whether it is other people, creatures, nature, the inanimate, or themselves. With rare insightfulness, Anukrti Upadhyay shines a light on the fractures and fears, the prejudices and wounds, the desires and memories that inhabit the deepest recesses of her characters’ psyches.
Original and gripping, these are stories that will worm their way deep into your heart and mind.
Review
A rollercoaster of emotions, the twelve stories in this book are a perfect example of elegant, pleasant and powerful writing. Although the endings of many stories are surprising, the author tries to use the story healthily to leave mainly an emotional impact on the mind of the reader. The title of the story is based on the first story of this anthology which stands apart from the rest for its paranormal element. How I wish the author would have given it a different and more dramatic ending. Apart from that, the story keeps you engrossed and curious.
The author, through her powerful writing, has also subtly unwrapped the woes of women. And a perfect example of that was the story ‘Made in Heaven’. The story of Ujla and her sister reminds me of every Indian mother who sees her daughter happily give up on her dreams to fulfil theirs. Ujla, after her parent’s demise, raises her sister as a mother. Jyoti, on the other hand, is married to Pankaj, a perfect example of an orthodox Indian husband. He is self-centred, unaware and ignorant. His love for Jyoti is what is making her suffocate in her marriage and you realize every bit of it as the story proceeds. This particular story was my personal favourite and had the potential to be a novella.
Anukrti’s anecdote-driven writing style forces you to stay glued to the book till the last page. The author has been successful in capturing human emotions without making them too loud and outspoken. Where stories like ‘The Dragon in the Garden‘ takes you through childhood loneliness, isolation and sadness, there are also tales like ‘Sona‘ that talk about a teenage girl, obsessed with her stepfather. The author has given you a bag full of mixed emotions & secret desires. From thriller to jealousy, from revenge to love, these twelve stories have all covered for you.
Pick this book if you are a fan of simple stories with strong emotions.
Rating
Narration: – 4/5
Audience Connect:- 3.5/5
Entertainment:- 4/5
