The Spy by Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho is best known for his work 'Alchemist' where he stylistically infuses fable with philosophy to give out a wonderful piece of literature. But it was after reading 'Adultery' that I established my love for his writing. 'The Spy' came in at the right moment. The new found love for 'historical fiction and Paulo Coelho' seemed like the best treat. 

Unfortunately, it was one of those times when you get over excited and the bubble bursts eventually. 'The Spy' is the reason people say 'stick to what you do best'. 

The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad by Twinkle Khanna

Twinkle Khanna came into the spotlight last year when Mrs. Funnybones released her first book of non-fiction. Just a couple of incidents coated with funny remarks and hilarious derivations the book was good enough to make you smile. After reading the book I made a mental note of reading more from her. Not a great fan of the columns, it was a relief when her next book of fictional stories was announced. Fiction I always believed would be her greatest strength if she went on to write one. And God, I was so right! 

Neon Soul by Alexandra Elle

This compilation of poems by Alexandra Elle is a wonderful read for anyone at all, simply due to its very appealing writing style. Here is my experience of reading this poetry book that came out very recently.

the princess saves herself in this one by Amanda Lovelace

My recent interest in different forms of poetry and feminist literature has brought me to 'The Princess Saves Herself In This One'. This book of poems has been appreciated by many poetry lovers and book bloggers alike. Therefore I decided to give this one a shot. Also, the title drew me in at first sight. Who doesn't want to be her own knight in shining armor. This book turned out to be everything I had hoped for. 

Cover page 

The cover page is a glimpse of the poetry inside. It is plain and simple. The title is off-centered on the page, like some of the poems inside. There seems to be a no-nonsense approach in the poetry inside and that is seen in the typography too. The same is reflected in the cover page. 

The straight to the point approach of the cover is much appreciated. It is a brilliant cover design.

Content 

The book is divided into four parts. The first section is called 'the princess'. Here the poems are more juvenile. The content inside focuses on the ripe age of a girl where she is mostly dependent on others. The poet writes about fat shaming, parental negligence, her indulgence in books due to lack of friends and first love which hurt. The poet here is trying to be the daughter that her parents had in mind. She is waiting for the knight in shining armor without realising that she could rescue herself. The first section of the poems is filled with innocence. 

The second part of the book is about 'the damsel' who is rescued from a tower without realising she was only trading one tower for another. There is again, some love and a lot of hurt. At this point, she is already fearing big bad wolves. She is also coping with the death of a loved one. 

The third section is that of 'the queen'. Here she is the sole ruler of her kingdom. She has realised that she can be her own happy ending. The poems are strong and direct. There is a glimpse of rejoice seen in the lines. She has also learned to believe in love and give it a chance. 

The fourth and final part is of 'you'. The poet here is directly talking to the readers. She is encouraging and accusing. 

The poems are very direct and hard hitting. The poet asks people to treat others better if they do not want to end up in other's poems. She is brash and unapologetic. The text inside takes the shape of the feelings inside. Sometimes the letters form a heart and sometimes they are just scattered like stars in the sky. The words are far apart, like the poet is counting words. Like she wants every word to mean something, hit hard like a stone in the ear. 

Language 

Poems are very simple to understand. These are just a few words put out on paper, arranged in a way to convey the direct message. The poet often talks in terms of 'I' and 'You', directly addressing the readers. There is no escaping from the truth and the pain that you have caused her. The poems seem to reach you till your bone, there is no hiding from what you have done.

Good points 

The cover page is beautiful. Not to look at but to feel it. Once the content inside is read the cover feels like a poem on its own. The poems are stunning. They are outrageous, accusing, but stunning all the same. The aches of being a woman and other personal tragedies have been let out in the book, stripped bare. The language is simple and hauntingly direct. 

Bad points 

At times the book feels too full of accusations. It may come across as the author is writing it to put all those who put her through bad times on a scaffold. 

Overall 

Even though at times I felt like the book was treated as a channel to let out the angst, I still enjoyed most of the poems inside. They are to the point and scream for attention. 

Who do I recommend this to 

This book is for all those who are new to poetry and different forms of it. Those who enjoy feminist literature are going to love this one too. 

Quotable quotes 

You have
Been the
Star
Of each
& every
One of
My
Nightmares
-You left but you stayed 

I'm not scared
Of the monsters
Hidden underneath
My bed
I'm much more scared
Of the boys
With messy brown hair,
Sleepy eyes,
& mouths
That only know
How to form
Half-truths
-my dragons

The Trouble with Women by Jacky Fleming

'The trouble with women' is one of those books which lightens feminism as a concept and helps understand the significance and need of it even today. I requested the book after watching a couple of videos on YouTube, all of them heartily praising the book. This is one of the most fun books I have read on feminism yet (not too many, but still!). 

Cover page 

The cover page contains an illustration of a woman in a bubble looking out frantically. This is a reference to the text inside, which can only be understood once the book is read. The cover page is simple and cute. It also segregates the book by its genre. It is a picture book and thus depicted on the cover. It is a very thoughtful yet simple cover. 

Characters 

The chief character featuring in the book is woman. Women from different time periods adorn this book. They come in different forms, brain sizes and clothing. Some are lazily doing crochet while the others are making fools of themselves on bicycles. The author has done a brilliant work in describing women in the book both using wit and sarcasm. 

Content 

There was one time in the world where there were no women. There were only men. And few of them were geniuses. Therefore we only hear of men. The book is filled with such quirky lines and equally funny illustrations that go with the text. It also talks about the function of bloomers, hobbies of the ladies and their brain size in general. Women were just dainty living things  who never could take any stress. There are also a few mentions of some doing great things like shooting and running a county. But sadly they were not good enough to go to Olympics. These comments raise questions and laugh at the stupidity of the society. They are funny enough to make you laugh and give out great message on feminism too. 

Language 

The book is full of quirky, funny, witty comments and observations. They are simple and fun to read.A light and hearty read. 

Good points 

The cover page is beautiful. Women are described well using myths and sarcasm. They are lovely to read about. The content is funny. It will keep the smile on your face always. 

Bad points 

The length. I wish the book was longer. But I am going to read and reread it. 

Overall 

Overall, it is a funny light read on feminism. Definitely worth checking out. 

Whole do I recommend this to 

This book is for all those who like feminism as a concept but hate reading lengthy prose about the same. Those who look for funny reads on serious topics are going to enjoy it too. 

Quotable quotes

In olden days there were no women which is why you don't come across them in history lessons at school. There were men and quite a few of them were geniuses. 

Very occasionally a woman would go and learn a foreign language, go abroad to study, and come back qualified as a doctor, but that didn't prove anything except that women cause trouble as soon as you allow them out.

There were many ways of becoming fallen, including having a side part, having your own mind, speaking out loud instead of just thinking it, and not remaining a virgin after giving birth. Only women could fall.

Once girls had learned sixty different embroidery stitches there was no more room to learn anything else.

I received this book from the publishers for review. The opinions are entirely my own, completely uninfluenced.  

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

'Sometimes I think these scarves aren't sent to the Angels at all, but unraveled and turned back into balls of yarn, to be knitted again in their turn. Maybe it's just something to keep the wives busy, to give them a sense of purpose. But I envy the commander's wife her knitting. It's good to have small goals that can be easily attained.' 

Such are the thoughts of Offred. Her days are comprised of demeaning activities, and nights. Of course, nights which are sometimes less eventful than the others, but still, eventful. Margaret Atwood scored a nomination for Booker prize for this book in 1987 and since then it has become probably the most read book of her. A modern classic, as often bracketed in, this book is a great amalgamation of theories such as feminism, war fiction and science fiction. 

Cover page 

Vintage's future edition is the copy I posses. These editions have a common cover designs. There is an image on the cover which is maligned by the continuous lines through in one direction as seen through a futuristic scope. This image looks like a peek into the future which is continuously haunting. The back cover is swirl into the darkness. The spine is clean. It is where the information is, such as the title, publisher's name and bar-code. There are, seemingly, nine books in the editions. I intend to acquire some more of these soon, not just for their cover but clean typography. 

Characters 

The book is story of Offred during wartime. It is time where each citizen is required to be useful and it is what is expected of Offred too. Offred is expected to make use of her breeding ability to grant her commander and his wife a child. Male preferably, but child more so. Offred is a calm woman who has a tornado swirling inside of her. She wants to be loved, to be teased and hopes for a future other than what she is bestowed upon. She is trying to understand the difference between 'freedom to and freedom from' and finding the silver lining where she could be happy in her state. She has also lost her own identity. She wants all of it back. 

There is Commander in whose household Offred works. Commander is a sly male who secretly hates the current regime where women are either boring or sacrificial. He is looking for a tinge of tease in life. Just a spark enough to light a fire but not burn his house down.

Selena Joy is the wife of the commander. Selena is jealous of the handmaids who come to her house and get to lie naked in front of the commander once a month. This is when she is not busy with pointless activities such as tending the plants in her garden and knitting. These activities must have been meant for bored housewives who wanted to distract themselves from their preoccupied cheating husbands and a houseful of maids who talk behind their backs. And so they found a perfect fit in each other. 

Content 

There was a time where the birth rate was in huge decline. These maybe due to the recorded increase in the birth control measures, the nuclear plants accidents, leakages from different biological sites and extensive use of insecticides and other sprays. Several states began reacting to these by shutting down abortion clinics and use of birth controls. The fertility and births were proportional to the wages one received. Several resorted to polygamy but certain sects disobeyed it completely citing religious reasons. 

History changes. Government topples. Women lose their jobs. Second marriages, live-in relationships de-recognized, same sex marriages were scorned upon. Women were used by the upper class to breed. 

All this, was a slow jolt to Offred who used to be an independent woman who made choices for her own life. She was in denial for a long time but when she planned her escape is when she got caught. Now she finds herself in the house of her Commander and his wife, dressed in red and sent for, once a month, to conceive a child. 

This is Offred's story. And many others like her. This is a story of women whose worth were measured by their fertility. 

Language 

Offred is not meant to say much. Or anything. So she thinks. She thinks a lot in her head. Her thoughts wander. And so does Atwood's writing. The writing is spilled all over like how thoughts are. There are too many descriptions. Too many feelings. Too many inferences. There are also alternate scenarios which the character imagine in her head and then the line of reality and imagination blurs till she doesn't quite know which version of it in her head is the real one. 

Overall the language is dreamy. It is coming directly from someone's head, therefore its viscous. 

Good points 

Everything. The cover page is thoughtful. Vintage segregates the genre with its covers beautifully. The characters are multidimensional. They all possess a need for something else and this drives them into action. The concept is as close to reality as it could be. The narration is hauntingly beautiful. 

Bad points

The end could appear a little abrupt but the historical significance towards the end explains the sudden end. But there is definitely an eagerness to know more. 

Overall 

The book is a classic, true to the word. 

Who do I recommend this to 

This book is for classic lovers. Those who like unusual narration are going to enjoy this. Those who like dystopian novels but are tired of young adult fiction are going to enjoy this one. Feminists are going to find this book appealing. 

Quotable quotes 

There is more than one kind of freedom, said aunt Lydia. Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from. Don't underrate it. 

It gave us more freedom. When we lived in the gaps between the stories. 

Even his singing worries me. We've been warned not to look too happy. 

But remember that forgiveness too is power. To beg for it is a power, and to withhold or bestow it is a power, perhaps the greatest. 

We are two-legged wombs, that's all: sacred vessels, ambulatory chalices. 

For him, I must remember, I am only a whim. 

It's over, in seconds, and the traffic on the street resumes as if nothing had happened.
What I feel is relief. It wasn't me. 

I'm sorry there is so much pain in this story. I'm sorry it's in fragments, like a body caught in crossfire or pulled apart by force. But there is nothing I can do to change it.

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

'Gender matters everywhere in the world. And I would like today to ask that we should begin to dream about the plan for a different world. A fairer world. A world of happier men and happier women who are truer to themselves. And this is how to start: we must raise our daughters differently. We must also raise our sons differently.' The book is an adaptation of a TED talk given by the author some time back. She is a men loving, make up wearing, fun and happy feminist. The author has compiled her thoughts on feminism in this short book. It is short but definitely differentiates feminists from pseudo feminists. 

Cover 

The cover art is very simple. It is some pattern with the name and title of the book displayed in bold. This is a good cover to be kept in the shelf. 

Content 

The book contains the talk given by the author on TED. The author touches all the topics which lead to feminism. The need of it today and lack of it ages ago. She also talks about how men have become the standard by which even women are judged. The author throughout makes it clear that men and women are two different genders. But to associate one gender to a chore is unfair. She says,'what if, in raising children, we focus on ability instead of gender? What if we focus on Interest instead of gender?' 

There is also an argument of calling for human rights rather than feminism since feminism is also human right. The author asserts the importance of specificity in the subject. 

Largely the author demands social change from men and women alike. The text is rich in logic and facts. The everyday behavior is well spoken in the talk by the author.

Language 

The language is very clean and to the point. The author does not like beating around the bush and it very evident in the text. There is also a direct addressing of the issues in the book which clears most of the stigma attached to the word 'feminists'. 

Good points 

The book is a great text in feminism. The author has addressed the issue head on. It is rich in observation. It is also a short read on the subject, for those who like to keep to the point. 

Bad points 

The book read more like a talk than a work of literature. It is from a talk on TED but even some change in text was expected. 

Overall 

The book is an excellent read on feminism. Must read for those who are interested in the subject.

Whom do I recommend this to 

This book is for those who want to learn about feminism but also want to be saved from false opportunistic voices. It is a great short read for those who like to keep things short and to the point.

Quotable quotes 

So I decided I would now be a Happy African Feminist Who Does Not Hate Men. At some point I was a Happy African Feminist Who Does Not Hate Men And Who Likes To Wear Lip Gloss And High Heels For Herself And Not For Men. 

Our society teaches a woman of certain age who is unmarried to see it as a deep personal failure. While a man at a certain age who is unmarried has not quite come around to making his pick. 

Some people ask, 'why the word feminist? Why not just say you as a believer in human rights, or something like that?' Because that would be dishonest. Feminism is, of course, part of human rights in general- but to choose to use the vague expression human rights is to deny the specific and particular problem of gender. 

For centuries, the world decided human beings into two groups and then proceeded to exclude and oppress one group. It is only fair that the solution to the problem should acknowledge that. 

Culture does not make people. People make culture. If it is true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we can and must make it our culture. 

Feminist: a person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes. 

My own definition of a feminist is a man or a woman who says,'Yes there's a problem with gender as it is today and we must fix it, do better.