Book
Name – Myself Meena
Author – Dakshita Das
Publisher – Rupa Publications
Number of Pages – 208
Publishing Year -2016
Edition -Paperback
Price
-266
-266
Rating : 4.5
Blurb
Meena, a young, attractive, fun-loving girl from Bareilly, finds her
life in a state of disarray. On the one hand, she is compelled to play the role
of a dutiful daughter, living out the ambitions that her father had dreamt for
her being an IAS officer. On the other hand, she remains perpetually confused
and bored. Worse, she falls out with her best friend, is unable to sustain
long-term friendships and falls in love but struggles to make choices.
Meena is
forced to confront a few loaded questions. In blindly following her father’s
aspirations, has she missed out on living a life on her own terms? Will she
grow to adjust to a new job, and equally, will she be able to work out her
romance with her colleague and mentor? Most importantly, will she find herself?
Find out in this story of self-discovery and resilience.
life in a state of disarray. On the one hand, she is compelled to play the role
of a dutiful daughter, living out the ambitions that her father had dreamt for
her being an IAS officer. On the other hand, she remains perpetually confused
and bored. Worse, she falls out with her best friend, is unable to sustain
long-term friendships and falls in love but struggles to make choices.
Meena is
forced to confront a few loaded questions. In blindly following her father’s
aspirations, has she missed out on living a life on her own terms? Will she
grow to adjust to a new job, and equally, will she be able to work out her
romance with her colleague and mentor? Most importantly, will she find herself?
Find out in this story of self-discovery and resilience.
My Review
There has been a lot of books on the lives of civil servants and aspiring students. Myself Meena is on of such kind but with a different message and realistic approach.
Meena is the representative of mass of students who succumbed to familial pressure to become something big. Here in the book Meena is crowned with her father’s desire to see his daughter as an IAS officer. A studious rank holder in school changes to class bunker and backbencher who is looked down upon. Later she regains her track and decides to fulfil her father’s dream.
The book shows how the pressure of expectations affects the lives of students. What I liked the most is the relation between Meena and Venkat. Their relation is extraordinarily realistic. I have been waiting to see a book where relationship is not laid down on a golden platter of mollycoddling your lover with filmy surprises and authoress gave exactly the same through the book. Meena’s dilemma has been conveyed with utmost conviction. The book is also about accepting what you are, where you end up and molding yourself into the scenario. The cover image shows exactly what Meena”s life is all about. Narration is simple yet interesting.The blurb mirrored the whole book perfectly. I had intended to give a four stars but for the realistic approach I give half a star extra.
Reviewed for the publisher
Meena is the representative of mass of students who succumbed to familial pressure to become something big. Here in the book Meena is crowned with her father’s desire to see his daughter as an IAS officer. A studious rank holder in school changes to class bunker and backbencher who is looked down upon. Later she regains her track and decides to fulfil her father’s dream.
The book shows how the pressure of expectations affects the lives of students. What I liked the most is the relation between Meena and Venkat. Their relation is extraordinarily realistic. I have been waiting to see a book where relationship is not laid down on a golden platter of mollycoddling your lover with filmy surprises and authoress gave exactly the same through the book. Meena’s dilemma has been conveyed with utmost conviction. The book is also about accepting what you are, where you end up and molding yourself into the scenario. The cover image shows exactly what Meena”s life is all about. Narration is simple yet interesting.The blurb mirrored the whole book perfectly. I had intended to give a four stars but for the realistic approach I give half a star extra.
Reviewed for the publisher
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a
complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write
a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write
a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
About the author
“Dakshita Das is a civil servant who is a graduate of Lady Shri Ram
College for Women. Myself Meena, IAS is her debut novel.”
College for Women. Myself Meena, IAS is her debut novel.”
