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Shape of an Apostrophe
'A darkly funny tale about the Indian diaspora' Avni Doshi, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of Burnt Sugar
Lina never wanted children, but now there are two lines on the test. Where does she go from here?
Lina Solanki is pregnant and newly orphaned, living with her in-laws in their opulent Dubai villa. While her husband fails to make concrete plans to find their own place and tensions in their marriage grow, Lina's boisterous mother-in-law interferes with every aspect of the pregnancy. Then, when proof of a horrifying family secret arrives from Mumbai, Lina realises that she has a choice when it comes to her baby, her marriage and her place in the world - but is it a choice she wants to make?
A bittersweet yet life-affirming debut revealing the intricacies of family life behind closed doors, Shape of an Apostrophe is a taboo-breaking exploration of motherhood, obedience, rebellion and the surprising persistence of love.
Lina never wanted children, but now there are two lines on the test. Where does she go from here?
Lina Solanki is pregnant and newly orphaned, living with her in-laws in their opulent Dubai villa. While her husband fails to make concrete plans to find their own place and tensions in their marriage grow, Lina's boisterous mother-in-law interferes with every aspect of the pregnancy. Then, when proof of a horrifying family secret arrives from Mumbai, Lina realises that she has a choice when it comes to her baby, her marriage and her place in the world - but is it a choice she wants to make?
A bittersweet yet life-affirming debut revealing the intricacies of family life behind closed doors, Shape of an Apostrophe is a taboo-breaking exploration of motherhood, obedience, rebellion and the surprising persistence of love.
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 10, 2025
12 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
Uttama Kirit Patel
2 books8 followersUttama Kirit Patel is a writer, magazine founder and editor, and she has lived in twelve cities across three continents. She holds an MPhil in Psychology from the University of Cambridge, has been a semi-finalist in the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest, and was nominated for the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
October 12, 2025
There are books that speak loudly, and then there are books that whisper until their words begin to echo inside you. The Shape of an Apostrophe by Uttama Kirit Patel is the latter, quiet, intimate, yet piercingly profound.
Lina Solanki is thirty-two, a brand manager in Dubai whose picture-perfect life begins to fracture the moment she finds herself pregnant, something she never wanted. Orphaned after her father’s death and haunted by the fact that her mother, Payal, died giving birth to her, Lina grapples with a legacy of loss even as she lives under the same roof as her husband Ishaan’s family. In that glittering villa, surrounded by wealth and scrutiny, her domineering mother-in-law, Meenakshi (Aunty M), treats motherhood as a moral duty, while Lina quietly questions whether she owes the world yet another version of herself. The story unfolds through four women, Lina, Aunty M, Shobha the domestic help, and Payal, each voice revealing a different shade of longing, guilt, and silence. When a buried family secret resurfaces from Mumbai, Lina is forced to confront what it truly means to belong, and what she’s willing to give up to remain her own.
Now the review, took me two days to actually form justified words but here they are :
The writing feels like standing in a sunlit room where every shadow tells a story- delicate, intimate, yet unafraid to linger on discomfort. Through shifting perspectives, she exposes the many prisons women build or inherit: duty disguised as love, silence mistaken for grace, and obedience passed down like an heirloom. What struck me most was how the novel makes space for contradictions, tenderness coexists with resentment, devotion with rebellion. At some places, I did find the pacing a little disconnected, the narrative briefly drifting away from its emotional pulse but if you push through, the rhythm eventually settles, and the story seeps into you like a slow-forming bruise. It’s a quiet yet book that rewards patience, drawing you deeper with every page.
Lina Solanki is thirty-two, a brand manager in Dubai whose picture-perfect life begins to fracture the moment she finds herself pregnant, something she never wanted. Orphaned after her father’s death and haunted by the fact that her mother, Payal, died giving birth to her, Lina grapples with a legacy of loss even as she lives under the same roof as her husband Ishaan’s family. In that glittering villa, surrounded by wealth and scrutiny, her domineering mother-in-law, Meenakshi (Aunty M), treats motherhood as a moral duty, while Lina quietly questions whether she owes the world yet another version of herself. The story unfolds through four women, Lina, Aunty M, Shobha the domestic help, and Payal, each voice revealing a different shade of longing, guilt, and silence. When a buried family secret resurfaces from Mumbai, Lina is forced to confront what it truly means to belong, and what she’s willing to give up to remain her own.
Now the review, took me two days to actually form justified words but here they are :
The writing feels like standing in a sunlit room where every shadow tells a story- delicate, intimate, yet unafraid to linger on discomfort. Through shifting perspectives, she exposes the many prisons women build or inherit: duty disguised as love, silence mistaken for grace, and obedience passed down like an heirloom. What struck me most was how the novel makes space for contradictions, tenderness coexists with resentment, devotion with rebellion. At some places, I did find the pacing a little disconnected, the narrative briefly drifting away from its emotional pulse but if you push through, the rhythm eventually settles, and the story seeps into you like a slow-forming bruise. It’s a quiet yet book that rewards patience, drawing you deeper with every page.
May 25, 2025
This is a book I want to share with every adult woman I know. As a starting point to bring to life so much that is unsaid, about choice, loss, privilege and our sense of self. It left an imprint. Brilliantly done.
October 24, 2025
3.5/5
I reeeeeally admire the brave premise of this book. I haven’t yet read such an open take from a female Indian protagonist grappling with not being sure if she wants to have kids, while being pregnant AND while living with in-laws that desperately want grandchildren.
The novel is about Lina, temporarily living with her husband and very traditional Indian in-laws in Dubai. She finds out that she’s pregnant and fears she will be trapped living with them in perpetuity because it’s the easier choice just to stay and please the elders. What happens next is an exploration of her motivations and traumas that lead her to the choice that makes the most sense for her.
This was some dark subject matter and the humorous tone sometimes worked for me and sometimes didn’t. I also wish the book didn’t meander into the thoughts and backstories of the other characters because Lina was way more interesting. Either way this was great prose and Uttama is a writing talent I’m looking out for!
I reeeeeally admire the brave premise of this book. I haven’t yet read such an open take from a female Indian protagonist grappling with not being sure if she wants to have kids, while being pregnant AND while living with in-laws that desperately want grandchildren.
The novel is about Lina, temporarily living with her husband and very traditional Indian in-laws in Dubai. She finds out that she’s pregnant and fears she will be trapped living with them in perpetuity because it’s the easier choice just to stay and please the elders. What happens next is an exploration of her motivations and traumas that lead her to the choice that makes the most sense for her.
This was some dark subject matter and the humorous tone sometimes worked for me and sometimes didn’t. I also wish the book didn’t meander into the thoughts and backstories of the other characters because Lina was way more interesting. Either way this was great prose and Uttama is a writing talent I’m looking out for!
December 13, 2025
What I especially appreciated was how the book explored the themes of toxic desi in law dynamics and parental behaviors both of which felt very authentic. It also portrayed the way husbands often emotionally detach after marriage, something that sadly happens in many real life situations too.
The narrative is not packed with action or drama. Instead, it unfolds slowly, revealing the inner worlds of Lina and the women around her including her mother, her mother in law, and their house help. Each voice adds layers to the story.
The title is meaningful: an apostrophe in grammar represents something missing. In this book, it stands for the many things missing in a woman’s life freedom, choice, and peace. Water imagery also reflects Lina’s state of mind: calm on the outside but turbulent within.
However, there were a few aspects that really bothered me:
• The use of the term “mullah” in a mocking context was unsettling. In India, it’s often used derogatorily toward Muslims. I feel the need to clarify that “mullah” in Pashto actually means a religious leader or scholar. Using it in this way came across as insensitive and, frankly, racist the author could have just said “Muslims” if that was the intent.
• The comments about Israel being a “blank space” were extremely tone deaf. Israel was never a historical entity it’s a modern, man made state forced upon Palestinians. Given the ongoing genocide, such phrasing feels deeply insensitive to real suffering.
• The description of the half-naked woman half covered in an abaya was also problematic. There is nothing oppressive about choosing to cover oneself; many of us do it willingly. Equating modesty with a lack of empowerment is reductive and, at this point, feels like selective, targeted racism rather than feminism.
Despite these issues, the book made me think and feel a lot. It’s a poignant read for those interested in stories about women, family structures, cultural expectations, and the quiet strength it takes to say “no.”
The narrative is not packed with action or drama. Instead, it unfolds slowly, revealing the inner worlds of Lina and the women around her including her mother, her mother in law, and their house help. Each voice adds layers to the story.
The title is meaningful: an apostrophe in grammar represents something missing. In this book, it stands for the many things missing in a woman’s life freedom, choice, and peace. Water imagery also reflects Lina’s state of mind: calm on the outside but turbulent within.
However, there were a few aspects that really bothered me:
• The use of the term “mullah” in a mocking context was unsettling. In India, it’s often used derogatorily toward Muslims. I feel the need to clarify that “mullah” in Pashto actually means a religious leader or scholar. Using it in this way came across as insensitive and, frankly, racist the author could have just said “Muslims” if that was the intent.
• The comments about Israel being a “blank space” were extremely tone deaf. Israel was never a historical entity it’s a modern, man made state forced upon Palestinians. Given the ongoing genocide, such phrasing feels deeply insensitive to real suffering.
• The description of the half-naked woman half covered in an abaya was also problematic. There is nothing oppressive about choosing to cover oneself; many of us do it willingly. Equating modesty with a lack of empowerment is reductive and, at this point, feels like selective, targeted racism rather than feminism.
Despite these issues, the book made me think and feel a lot. It’s a poignant read for those interested in stories about women, family structures, cultural expectations, and the quiet strength it takes to say “no.”
October 15, 2025
Some stories don’t arrive with grand gestures, they seep in quietly, like a whisper that becomes impossible to ignore. It is one of those rare novels that showcases the rawness of emotion in a meticulous scale that leaves you daunting.
Lina’s life is suspended between grief and expectations.She’s mourning her father and finds she's carrying a child she never wanted. What unfolds isn’t just the story of one woman’s rebellion, it’s a delicate unraveling of what it means to inhabit a woman’s body that the world keeps trying to define for her.
Her husband Ishaan exists somewhere between affection and absence not cruel, but complicit in silence. And her mother-in-law, with all her sharp edges and small kindnesses, becomes both antagonist and mirror, a woman shaped by the same patriarchy she now enforces. The power dynamics within that household feel claustrophobic yet heartbreakingly real you can almost sense the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air.
The writing is raw yet devastating letting you sail the loads of raw emotions through these pages until you feel them pulse beneath your own skin. The book meticulously portrays the motherhood, emotions a women deals with and how her journey is her own to pertain.
Lina, like the apostrophe, exists in between claimed and unclaimed, seen and unseen. The letter was the cathartic call of a mother to universe, to sustain the life after her loss, leaving you emotional with such raw emotions.
If you are interested in understanding women's encore through different perspectives, this book might be an read that might revere your perspective.
Lina’s life is suspended between grief and expectations.She’s mourning her father and finds she's carrying a child she never wanted. What unfolds isn’t just the story of one woman’s rebellion, it’s a delicate unraveling of what it means to inhabit a woman’s body that the world keeps trying to define for her.
Her husband Ishaan exists somewhere between affection and absence not cruel, but complicit in silence. And her mother-in-law, with all her sharp edges and small kindnesses, becomes both antagonist and mirror, a woman shaped by the same patriarchy she now enforces. The power dynamics within that household feel claustrophobic yet heartbreakingly real you can almost sense the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air.
The writing is raw yet devastating letting you sail the loads of raw emotions through these pages until you feel them pulse beneath your own skin. The book meticulously portrays the motherhood, emotions a women deals with and how her journey is her own to pertain.
Lina, like the apostrophe, exists in between claimed and unclaimed, seen and unseen. The letter was the cathartic call of a mother to universe, to sustain the life after her loss, leaving you emotional with such raw emotions.
If you are interested in understanding women's encore through different perspectives, this book might be an read that might revere your perspective.
May 25, 2025
“Shape of an Apostrophe”was a deeply emotional read that beautifully explores how society and culture attempt to shape a woman’s life. The book highlights the weight of expectations and the rigid imagination of what a woman should be and how she should live. Yet, at its core, it reminds us that we have the power to choose our own path. By doing what we believe is right, we reclaim our agency and define life on our own terms.
July 31, 2025
Shape of an Apostrophe is a beautiful and emotional book. It tells the story of Lina, a woman living in a big house in Dubai with her husband’s family. She is pregnant and has just lost her parents. Everyone expects her to be happy and excited, but she feels lost and unsure. What if she doesn’t want to be a mother? What if she wants something different?
This book is not full of action or big drama. Instead, it slowly shows the deep feelings inside Lina and the women around her. We also read parts written by her mother, and stories from her mother-in-law and their house help. Every voice adds something important.
The title is very meaningful. An apostrophe in grammar shows something that is missing. In this book, it stands for all the things missing in a woman’s life—freedom, choice, and peace. Water is also a strong image in the book. It shows how Lina feels inside—calm on the outside, but full of emotion inside.
This book made me think and feel a lot. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy emotional, thoughtful stories about women, families, and the quiet strength it takes to say no.
This book is not full of action or big drama. Instead, it slowly shows the deep feelings inside Lina and the women around her. We also read parts written by her mother, and stories from her mother-in-law and their house help. Every voice adds something important.
The title is very meaningful. An apostrophe in grammar shows something that is missing. In this book, it stands for all the things missing in a woman’s life—freedom, choice, and peace. Water is also a strong image in the book. It shows how Lina feels inside—calm on the outside, but full of emotion inside.
This book made me think and feel a lot. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy emotional, thoughtful stories about women, families, and the quiet strength it takes to say no.
July 20, 2025
A beautiful novel about expectations, motherhood, grief and identity. We follow Lina, a young woman living in Dubai at her in law's house on Jumeirah Palm, struggling with a difficult mother-in-law, and unsure about what to do about her unwanted pregnancy. She is also grieving her father, and trying to reconnect with her family in India. Her husband is a man-child and you feel her loneliness and grief at every page.
It was well written but I would have liked to know some of the secondary characters better, like Shoba, the daughter of her father's servant, or Pari, her estranged aunt she reconnects with.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
It was well written but I would have liked to know some of the secondary characters better, like Shoba, the daughter of her father's servant, or Pari, her estranged aunt she reconnects with.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
April 7, 2025
Shape of an Apostrophe is such a beautifully written exploration of identity, belonging, and the pressures of societal and familial expecting against a backdrop of the South Asian diaspora in the Gulf.
With so many weighty themes tackled, it was bittersweet experiencing things from Lina's perspective, as she battles with the grief of losing her father and discovering her unwanted pregnancy. She really grows as a character, despite all the hardships and emotions she goes through within the pages of this book, and it was both relatable and powerful to read how her opinions and mentally shifts throughout.
The ending, with that letter, just spoke volumes to me, making me want to hug the book tight in order to try and put the pieces of my shattered heart back together again.
A powerfully moving debut and a treasure to read again and again.
With so many weighty themes tackled, it was bittersweet experiencing things from Lina's perspective, as she battles with the grief of losing her father and discovering her unwanted pregnancy. She really grows as a character, despite all the hardships and emotions she goes through within the pages of this book, and it was both relatable and powerful to read how her opinions and mentally shifts throughout.
The ending, with that letter, just spoke volumes to me, making me want to hug the book tight in order to try and put the pieces of my shattered heart back together again.
A powerfully moving debut and a treasure to read again and again.
August 4, 2025
I was deeply moved by "Shape of an Apostrophe," a story of Lina Solanki that chronicles Motherhood, marriage, and the slow but certain return of self. Living among her in-laws in Dubai, she faces a small, relentless tide of everyday challenges: a mother-in-law bent on fixing the fixable and a husband who leaves her to mop the wreckage of what he won’t notice. The book does not flinch from the heft of duty, yet it never treats duty as an ending.
What held me was Lina’s gradual, almost tissue-paper small, but unmistakable metamorphosis. Grief and uncertainty begin as her only companions, but by the last page they have been edged out, not by fireworks but by quiet, studied choices that re-draw the clauses of her life.
The story is nimble, the people inside it altogether breathing. The small complaints and small victories are on the same level, given the same careful attention, and that attention is what turns the book from a story into a companion.
The novel dives into heavy waters: buried family secrets, the weight of what society expects from us, the silent pressures that mold every choice. The author’s approach is both gently probing and deeply felt, crafting scenes that linger in the mind well after the page is turned.
And then there’s that final letter, burning in its honesty; it knotted my stomach and quickened my pulse. The book, already simmering with feeling, rose into something unforgettable in those last lines, turning recollection into reckoning.
What I Loved:
—Lina comes alive on the page; I watched her shed armor and step into her own skin, and I couldn’t help cheering for every small victory.
—Identity, belonging, the tug-of-war between who we are and who we’re told to be: the author writes these struggles as if they were skin.
—The story feels both precise and tender; it’s as if the sentences are woven from the same thread that stitches us to one another.
—The weighty subjects are handled with a steadiness that respects the scars they carry, never sensational, always sincere.
“Shape of an Apostrophe” is an arresting first novel that reverberates. It’s a book about the quiet rebellion of finding your voice, of daring to choose.
What held me was Lina’s gradual, almost tissue-paper small, but unmistakable metamorphosis. Grief and uncertainty begin as her only companions, but by the last page they have been edged out, not by fireworks but by quiet, studied choices that re-draw the clauses of her life.
The story is nimble, the people inside it altogether breathing. The small complaints and small victories are on the same level, given the same careful attention, and that attention is what turns the book from a story into a companion.
The novel dives into heavy waters: buried family secrets, the weight of what society expects from us, the silent pressures that mold every choice. The author’s approach is both gently probing and deeply felt, crafting scenes that linger in the mind well after the page is turned.
And then there’s that final letter, burning in its honesty; it knotted my stomach and quickened my pulse. The book, already simmering with feeling, rose into something unforgettable in those last lines, turning recollection into reckoning.
What I Loved:
—Lina comes alive on the page; I watched her shed armor and step into her own skin, and I couldn’t help cheering for every small victory.
—Identity, belonging, the tug-of-war between who we are and who we’re told to be: the author writes these struggles as if they were skin.
—The story feels both precise and tender; it’s as if the sentences are woven from the same thread that stitches us to one another.
—The weighty subjects are handled with a steadiness that respects the scars they carry, never sensational, always sincere.
“Shape of an Apostrophe” is an arresting first novel that reverberates. It’s a book about the quiet rebellion of finding your voice, of daring to choose.
June 22, 2025
a whimsical novel about a disgruntled woman trapped in an unhappy marriage with a manipulative mother-in-law and a weak chin husband. bitter truths about pregnancy and death upon birth.
August 14, 2025
Shape of an Apostrophe was not something I can say I loved getting involved with. I struggled to find coherence in between the story and the narration. But it has its own speciality which I dare not ignore.
It’s a story of a woman who wants to live on her own terms but gets misguided by patriarchy. She’s bold, smart, assertive, and funny, but that’s not the only sole of the story.
Lina doesn’t want to be a mother. She avoids getting pregnant but when she accidentally does, she almost aborts the child. She suffers through the hands of patriarchy — lives the tragedy of being a wife, daughter-in-law, and a mother. Her mother-in-law, Meenakshi is the epitome of quintessential patriarchal woman, who doesn’t benefit from the patriarchy itself but still adopts its behaviors and practices, which further contributes to the oppression Lina suffers through.
The story had a lot of potential. It started on a strong note but somewhere along the way, it lost its purpose and spark, at least that’s the way I felt. It gains the momentum back after 80%, which does not really help the readability of the text. The characters are not well-written and the narration feels scattered throughout.
But, the one thing I LOVED was the last 10 pages, especially the letter Lina writes to her son, Aakaash. It was heartwarming, gut-wrenching, and equally soulful. It’s special because it doesn’t put labels, expectations, or societal pressure to be a man or any version of patriarchal man.
I also felt that Lina and Ishaan’s story could have been written better. There was no real depth and I couldn’t connect with their relationship. I liked Lina and her bold response to internalized misogyny. I hated Meenakshi but liked how the tragedy of motherhood somehow brought them together, even though for a while.
It’s definitely not an easy read. Maybe that wasn’t the real purpose. The author doesn’t spoon feed you with emotions as it is right away — she wants you to take the journey yourself and no matter how strongly you want to give up, stay till the end and feel the tragedy of a daughter, a wife, and a daughter-in-law.
It’s a story of a woman who wants to live on her own terms but gets misguided by patriarchy. She’s bold, smart, assertive, and funny, but that’s not the only sole of the story.
Lina doesn’t want to be a mother. She avoids getting pregnant but when she accidentally does, she almost aborts the child. She suffers through the hands of patriarchy — lives the tragedy of being a wife, daughter-in-law, and a mother. Her mother-in-law, Meenakshi is the epitome of quintessential patriarchal woman, who doesn’t benefit from the patriarchy itself but still adopts its behaviors and practices, which further contributes to the oppression Lina suffers through.
The story had a lot of potential. It started on a strong note but somewhere along the way, it lost its purpose and spark, at least that’s the way I felt. It gains the momentum back after 80%, which does not really help the readability of the text. The characters are not well-written and the narration feels scattered throughout.
But, the one thing I LOVED was the last 10 pages, especially the letter Lina writes to her son, Aakaash. It was heartwarming, gut-wrenching, and equally soulful. It’s special because it doesn’t put labels, expectations, or societal pressure to be a man or any version of patriarchal man.
I also felt that Lina and Ishaan’s story could have been written better. There was no real depth and I couldn’t connect with their relationship. I liked Lina and her bold response to internalized misogyny. I hated Meenakshi but liked how the tragedy of motherhood somehow brought them together, even though for a while.
It’s definitely not an easy read. Maybe that wasn’t the real purpose. The author doesn’t spoon feed you with emotions as it is right away — she wants you to take the journey yourself and no matter how strongly you want to give up, stay till the end and feel the tragedy of a daughter, a wife, and a daughter-in-law.
October 25, 2025
𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖: 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄
𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: 𝐔𝐓𝐓𝐀𝐌𝐀 𝐊𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐓 𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐋
“𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬, 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬 - 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞, 𝐚 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐥, 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝.”
♪ You know what I felt? - grief, identity through life, women between cultures, expectations and womanhood.
♪ This plot navigates a woman's life in a foreign city. Married into wealth and surrounded by family expectations, Lina is still haunted by the sense of being “resident but never citizen”. Set primarily in Dubai, the plot shows the emotional ties stretching back to Mumbai. I felt motherhood and marriage as a topic of silence - the things that women swallow to survive and keep them in between love and duty.
♪ Lina's life is picture perfect - almost. She lives with her husband Ishaan in a grand Dubai villa. But an aura of dissatisfaction is roaming around - beneath the marble and air conditioning hums a quiet tension is growing. Lina's father has just died, she was without her mother since birth - she is now alone. Not physically, but mentally.
♪ She got the news that is enough to shake her core : “Two pink lines — not joy, not shock, something else. Something I can’t yet name.” She is like any other woman- she fears to become invisible, to be uprooted. Lina never wanted children for that. Her restraint isn't rooted in rebellion but in fear. In this culture of womanhood, motherhood is the antonym of treason.
♪ Ishaan, her husband, is a distant person - a man more at ease in his business meetings rather than his personal life. Her mother in law, Mrs. Solanki is a representative of a suffocating persona of tradition. She is polite, poised and unrelenting. But what about Lina? Her body becomes the new battlefield for control.
“He never shouted. He didn’t have to. His silence filled every room.”
♪ What will happen when an unexpected family secret from Mumbai surfaces? A revelation about her parents and a betrayal long buried into emotions? Lina is forced - forced to confront what she has been running from : her lineage, choices and her sense of self. Lina begins to see the unseen threads of her relationships with everyone else. Her own life and her mother - a woman who also resisted expectations but was punished for it. The narrative to showcase those phenomenons between past and present, between Mumbai and Dubai.
♪ The author challenges the norms. Lina's ambivalence is not portrayed as selfish but deeply humanic. Her pregnancy becomes a metaphor of inherited expectations. Something is growing inside her whether it's a human being or a self reliant dignity and pride. She did not choose that but she must admire it. The city of Dubai is portrayed as a dreamland - everything is so perfect but nothing is owned. Patel writes beautifully about this rootlessness. Lina is an Indian by blood, by marriage she is a Dubai based woman but emotionally she is homeless.
“I live in a city where everyone belongs somewhere else.”
♪ For me, it's topnotch. The writing style is lyrical and heavy. Every sentence picks up an emotion. They are quiet and cutting. Her background shows the rhythm of her presence. The APOSTROPHE in her title is used cleverly - a symbol of something small yet powerful., marking the absence and belonging at once. It mirrors Lins's journey. She lives in her margins, yet her story shapes the sentence of our world. Women's world.
♪ SHAPE OF AN APOSTROPHE is louder than I can think. It doesn’t push me to rush. It lingers with sigh, grief, and an unsaid world. Patel draws how to be a woman - the choices are decided for you, also the grief, love, loss, expectations and leaving the things behind.
𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: 𝐔𝐓𝐓𝐀𝐌𝐀 𝐊𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐓 𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐋
“𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬, 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬 - 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞, 𝐚 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐥, 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝.”
♪ You know what I felt? - grief, identity through life, women between cultures, expectations and womanhood.
♪ This plot navigates a woman's life in a foreign city. Married into wealth and surrounded by family expectations, Lina is still haunted by the sense of being “resident but never citizen”. Set primarily in Dubai, the plot shows the emotional ties stretching back to Mumbai. I felt motherhood and marriage as a topic of silence - the things that women swallow to survive and keep them in between love and duty.
♪ Lina's life is picture perfect - almost. She lives with her husband Ishaan in a grand Dubai villa. But an aura of dissatisfaction is roaming around - beneath the marble and air conditioning hums a quiet tension is growing. Lina's father has just died, she was without her mother since birth - she is now alone. Not physically, but mentally.
♪ She got the news that is enough to shake her core : “Two pink lines — not joy, not shock, something else. Something I can’t yet name.” She is like any other woman- she fears to become invisible, to be uprooted. Lina never wanted children for that. Her restraint isn't rooted in rebellion but in fear. In this culture of womanhood, motherhood is the antonym of treason.
♪ Ishaan, her husband, is a distant person - a man more at ease in his business meetings rather than his personal life. Her mother in law, Mrs. Solanki is a representative of a suffocating persona of tradition. She is polite, poised and unrelenting. But what about Lina? Her body becomes the new battlefield for control.
“He never shouted. He didn’t have to. His silence filled every room.”
♪ What will happen when an unexpected family secret from Mumbai surfaces? A revelation about her parents and a betrayal long buried into emotions? Lina is forced - forced to confront what she has been running from : her lineage, choices and her sense of self. Lina begins to see the unseen threads of her relationships with everyone else. Her own life and her mother - a woman who also resisted expectations but was punished for it. The narrative to showcase those phenomenons between past and present, between Mumbai and Dubai.
♪ The author challenges the norms. Lina's ambivalence is not portrayed as selfish but deeply humanic. Her pregnancy becomes a metaphor of inherited expectations. Something is growing inside her whether it's a human being or a self reliant dignity and pride. She did not choose that but she must admire it. The city of Dubai is portrayed as a dreamland - everything is so perfect but nothing is owned. Patel writes beautifully about this rootlessness. Lina is an Indian by blood, by marriage she is a Dubai based woman but emotionally she is homeless.
“I live in a city where everyone belongs somewhere else.”
♪ For me, it's topnotch. The writing style is lyrical and heavy. Every sentence picks up an emotion. They are quiet and cutting. Her background shows the rhythm of her presence. The APOSTROPHE in her title is used cleverly - a symbol of something small yet powerful., marking the absence and belonging at once. It mirrors Lins's journey. She lives in her margins, yet her story shapes the sentence of our world. Women's world.
♪ SHAPE OF AN APOSTROPHE is louder than I can think. It doesn’t push me to rush. It lingers with sigh, grief, and an unsaid world. Patel draws how to be a woman - the choices are decided for you, also the grief, love, loss, expectations and leaving the things behind.
October 13, 2025
"Shape of an Apostrophe" by Uttama Kirit is a deeply emotional take on the expectations placed on Indian women—even when they live abroad and claim to be more modern, independent, sophisticated, and cultured than those in their home country. The book shows that no matter the place or level of education, societal expectations of women persist.
In the book, we mainly follow Lina Solanki, a woman who loves her husband but cannot always be truthful in front of him. She is a woman on the edge, worn down by a hovering mother-in-law who believes it’s acceptable to invade their privacy. Lina does not want to have a baby, and when she becomes pregnant unexpectedly, she is prepared to abort the child. Yet, this is also the story of a Lina who wants to make things work because of her love for her husband—a Lina who tries to bring about change without hurting others, even when it's destroying her inside. It's a story of whether she will find her peace or lose herself completely amidst it all.
The book is deeply touching, dark, honest, and far more relatable than anything I’ve read before. Lina's inner confusion and hesitation are portrayed so beautifully that you can feel every one of her emotions. I especially loved her internal monologues about people and their opinions—often hilarious, sharply humorous, and, most importantly, probably your own thoughts too, if you've ever faced similar situations.
But the story is not only about Lina—it’s also about Shobha, the daughter of Lina's father's servant, Raja. Raja left his home to earn money for his family, but there are darker truths behind his absence, which shape Shobha's life in painful ways. We witness how Shobha faces countless hurdles simply because she is a girl, and later a woman, and how she manages to escape a doomed future to live life on her own terms.
I also loved the portrayal of Aunt M, Lina’s mother-in-law. She’s evil—and yet, at the same time, not. She, too, is a victim. There are strong parallels between Lina and Aunt M, but as the book says: "The fact that she could not articulate that shared sentiment to Aunt M further sharpened their respective invisibilities."
The book powerfully explores how taboos and superstitions continue to oppress women, how they are suppressed little by little by everyone around them, and how, when they try to break free, they face immense disapproval. No matter their status or location, women are constantly being asked to prove their worth.
This novel is bold, dark, and, at the same time, a powerful and timeless portrayal of womanhood. It will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend it—everyone should read it and try to understand these truths.
In the book, we mainly follow Lina Solanki, a woman who loves her husband but cannot always be truthful in front of him. She is a woman on the edge, worn down by a hovering mother-in-law who believes it’s acceptable to invade their privacy. Lina does not want to have a baby, and when she becomes pregnant unexpectedly, she is prepared to abort the child. Yet, this is also the story of a Lina who wants to make things work because of her love for her husband—a Lina who tries to bring about change without hurting others, even when it's destroying her inside. It's a story of whether she will find her peace or lose herself completely amidst it all.
The book is deeply touching, dark, honest, and far more relatable than anything I’ve read before. Lina's inner confusion and hesitation are portrayed so beautifully that you can feel every one of her emotions. I especially loved her internal monologues about people and their opinions—often hilarious, sharply humorous, and, most importantly, probably your own thoughts too, if you've ever faced similar situations.
But the story is not only about Lina—it’s also about Shobha, the daughter of Lina's father's servant, Raja. Raja left his home to earn money for his family, but there are darker truths behind his absence, which shape Shobha's life in painful ways. We witness how Shobha faces countless hurdles simply because she is a girl, and later a woman, and how she manages to escape a doomed future to live life on her own terms.
I also loved the portrayal of Aunt M, Lina’s mother-in-law. She’s evil—and yet, at the same time, not. She, too, is a victim. There are strong parallels between Lina and Aunt M, but as the book says: "The fact that she could not articulate that shared sentiment to Aunt M further sharpened their respective invisibilities."
The book powerfully explores how taboos and superstitions continue to oppress women, how they are suppressed little by little by everyone around them, and how, when they try to break free, they face immense disapproval. No matter their status or location, women are constantly being asked to prove their worth.
This novel is bold, dark, and, at the same time, a powerful and timeless portrayal of womanhood. It will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend it—everyone should read it and try to understand these truths.
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October 12, 2025
Shape of an Apostrophe, the debut novel by Uttama Kirit Patel, is a powerful and emotional story about grief, motherhood, and the choices women are often forced to make. It follows Lina, a young woman living in Dubai, who is mourning her father’s death while also facing an unplanned pregnancy. She shares a tense home with her husband, Ishaan and his parents, whose relationships are strained and complicated.
Lina was raised by her single father and their loyal helper, Raja. Her independence and outspoken nature clash with her conservative mother-in-law, creating an undercurrent of conflict in their home. Lina’s thoughts are honest, funny, and deeply human. She worries about childbirth, questions her ability to be a good mother, and struggles with the expectation to be grateful simply because she is married. The portrayal of grief and family pressure is handled with sensitivity and shows how suffocating it can feel to live within social and emotional expectations.
The novel explores patriarchy in subtle yet powerful ways. Lina’s reflections question the gender roles that confine women. At one point, she observes how men are expected to serve their parents unquestioningly, while women are expected to abandon theirs after marriage. The author also touches on the complex topic of abortion, showing that society only accepts certain reasons for a woman’s decision while condemning others.
The story unfolds through multiple perspectives—Lina, her mother-in-law Meenakshi, her mother Payal through her diary entries, Raja’s daughter Shobha, and Ishaan. Each voice adds depth and nuance, revealing how grief, love, and control shape every relationship. The grief that runs through the book is beautifully written. Lina’s pain is raw and visible, while Ishaan’s grief is quiet, shaped by his struggle to mourn someone who truly understood him.
The novel’s title, Shape of an Apostrophe, is deeply symbolic. Just as an apostrophe floats within a sentence, connected yet apart, Lina exists within her husband’s family, but never fully belongs. The story captures this feeling of being close to others but emotionally distant.
The writing is rich, layered, and deeply observant. It doesn’t just tell a story about one woman’s grief. It reveals the emotional baggage people carry, the silent traumas that shape their choices, and the quiet resilience that helps them endure. The men in the story add balance to the women’s emotional journeys.
Shape of an Apostrophe is a tender, thought-provoking novel that looks at identity, love, and the cost of becoming oneself.
Lina was raised by her single father and their loyal helper, Raja. Her independence and outspoken nature clash with her conservative mother-in-law, creating an undercurrent of conflict in their home. Lina’s thoughts are honest, funny, and deeply human. She worries about childbirth, questions her ability to be a good mother, and struggles with the expectation to be grateful simply because she is married. The portrayal of grief and family pressure is handled with sensitivity and shows how suffocating it can feel to live within social and emotional expectations.
The novel explores patriarchy in subtle yet powerful ways. Lina’s reflections question the gender roles that confine women. At one point, she observes how men are expected to serve their parents unquestioningly, while women are expected to abandon theirs after marriage. The author also touches on the complex topic of abortion, showing that society only accepts certain reasons for a woman’s decision while condemning others.
The story unfolds through multiple perspectives—Lina, her mother-in-law Meenakshi, her mother Payal through her diary entries, Raja’s daughter Shobha, and Ishaan. Each voice adds depth and nuance, revealing how grief, love, and control shape every relationship. The grief that runs through the book is beautifully written. Lina’s pain is raw and visible, while Ishaan’s grief is quiet, shaped by his struggle to mourn someone who truly understood him.
The novel’s title, Shape of an Apostrophe, is deeply symbolic. Just as an apostrophe floats within a sentence, connected yet apart, Lina exists within her husband’s family, but never fully belongs. The story captures this feeling of being close to others but emotionally distant.
The writing is rich, layered, and deeply observant. It doesn’t just tell a story about one woman’s grief. It reveals the emotional baggage people carry, the silent traumas that shape their choices, and the quiet resilience that helps them endure. The men in the story add balance to the women’s emotional journeys.
Shape of an Apostrophe is a tender, thought-provoking novel that looks at identity, love, and the cost of becoming oneself.
November 26, 2025
4.5/5 ⭐
For a debut, this is a brilliantly written book. I bought it just by looking at the title of the book, unknown of what I will find inside it and man, oh man, what a banger this one turned out to be.
This book centres around Lina and Ishaan both NRIs. Ishaan a prodigal heir to the diamond merchants settled in UAE and Lina a wild and free spirited daughter of a marine biologist dominating (or trying to) the world ruled by men just by being herself.
Lina doesn't want to be a mother, she has been free all her life, lived her life on her own terms and she intends to do so in the future also, yet she becomes pregnant and is trying to find her footing with this new reality of hers, only if Ishaan sticks to what he was when he met her, became her boyfriend and not the person who he has become as a husband which she never thought he could become.
Ishaan is an epitome of those mollycoddled boys whom the Indian mothers protect from evil eyes a.k.a the bahu, irrespective of where they live and how educated they are. Although he's spineless, he's also fragile and confused. The way Meenakshi controlled and manipulated Ishaan, felt personal. The rage Lina suppressed, felt personal.
I hated Meenakshi with all that i have, because the way she spewed vitriol against Lina without giving her the benefit of doubt shows her blatant disregard for the womanhood in general and making her both the victim and the perpetrator of patriarchy. Meenakshi is a quintessential case of how patriarchy shapes and flows through women from one generation to another.
I loved Lina's character. She is wild, free, independent, flawed, conflicted, complicated but still she's herself because she never claimed to be someone else.
The book is richly dark & darkly rich. It hits home with regard to the struggle of being a woman in the men's world. We get to see Meenakshi's human side later in the book but that doesn't absolve her but somehow shows the insecure side of being a mother and a survivor.
I loved how beautifully the author has written such complex characters adding the subtle amount of depth and layers to it.
For a debut, this is a brilliantly written book. I bought it just by looking at the title of the book, unknown of what I will find inside it and man, oh man, what a banger this one turned out to be.
This book centres around Lina and Ishaan both NRIs. Ishaan a prodigal heir to the diamond merchants settled in UAE and Lina a wild and free spirited daughter of a marine biologist dominating (or trying to) the world ruled by men just by being herself.
Lina doesn't want to be a mother, she has been free all her life, lived her life on her own terms and she intends to do so in the future also, yet she becomes pregnant and is trying to find her footing with this new reality of hers, only if Ishaan sticks to what he was when he met her, became her boyfriend and not the person who he has become as a husband which she never thought he could become.
Ishaan is an epitome of those mollycoddled boys whom the Indian mothers protect from evil eyes a.k.a the bahu, irrespective of where they live and how educated they are. Although he's spineless, he's also fragile and confused. The way Meenakshi controlled and manipulated Ishaan, felt personal. The rage Lina suppressed, felt personal.
I hated Meenakshi with all that i have, because the way she spewed vitriol against Lina without giving her the benefit of doubt shows her blatant disregard for the womanhood in general and making her both the victim and the perpetrator of patriarchy. Meenakshi is a quintessential case of how patriarchy shapes and flows through women from one generation to another.
I loved Lina's character. She is wild, free, independent, flawed, conflicted, complicated but still she's herself because she never claimed to be someone else.
The book is richly dark & darkly rich. It hits home with regard to the struggle of being a woman in the men's world. We get to see Meenakshi's human side later in the book but that doesn't absolve her but somehow shows the insecure side of being a mother and a survivor.
I loved how beautifully the author has written such complex characters adding the subtle amount of depth and layers to it.
October 13, 2025
Shape of an Apostrophe is a very moving novel written from the perspective of a woman. It defines how each and every marriage doesn't look the same and how this story is relatable for many women too
The protagonist of the novel is Lina Solanki who is Indian and married in Dubai and gets pregnant unexpectedly!
The story has three main themes
Motherhood
Family
Identify
The story reaches one of the climax scenes when she gets to know certain secrets of the family! So intensely brutal that forces her to think twice about her husband or baby!
Importance of the title
The Title is extremely metaphorical in one side it means the shape of the woman (Lina Solanki) just like an apostrophe bending down with family expectations and societal pressure
And on the other hand it also pauses the gaps between the thoughts and situations which Lina Solanki has to go through
Character Analysis
The author has put in great effort for characterisation there is her husband, her mother in law, Meenakshi, House help Sobha and each character receives pertinent presence in the book with strong story telling of the author
Narrative style
The author has done great work with Narrative style. The story is narrated from different perspectives of Lina 's perspective, Their House helps Sobha 's perspective and Mother in Law Meenakshi's perspective.
Protagonist
Lina is termed as a 'Complex Protagonist ' where she grieves with her father's recent death, she feels claustrophobic with the uncertain expectation of the child and staying with In laws in the faraway country away from family and friends
Literary techniques which the author has used
1. Lots of imagery and symbolism has been used
2. Intellectual wits for societal expectations have been used
3. Theme of identity, motherhood, societal norms and pressure have been used and so much more
A very strong moving novel with insightful depths . We loved the book so much .
The protagonist of the novel is Lina Solanki who is Indian and married in Dubai and gets pregnant unexpectedly!
The story has three main themes
Motherhood
Family
Identify
The story reaches one of the climax scenes when she gets to know certain secrets of the family! So intensely brutal that forces her to think twice about her husband or baby!
Importance of the title
The Title is extremely metaphorical in one side it means the shape of the woman (Lina Solanki) just like an apostrophe bending down with family expectations and societal pressure
And on the other hand it also pauses the gaps between the thoughts and situations which Lina Solanki has to go through
Character Analysis
The author has put in great effort for characterisation there is her husband, her mother in law, Meenakshi, House help Sobha and each character receives pertinent presence in the book with strong story telling of the author
Narrative style
The author has done great work with Narrative style. The story is narrated from different perspectives of Lina 's perspective, Their House helps Sobha 's perspective and Mother in Law Meenakshi's perspective.
Protagonist
Lina is termed as a 'Complex Protagonist ' where she grieves with her father's recent death, she feels claustrophobic with the uncertain expectation of the child and staying with In laws in the faraway country away from family and friends
Literary techniques which the author has used
1. Lots of imagery and symbolism has been used
2. Intellectual wits for societal expectations have been used
3. Theme of identity, motherhood, societal norms and pressure have been used and so much more
A very strong moving novel with insightful depths . We loved the book so much .
August 19, 2025
2.5 stars
I've seen many women around me have this underlying fear of motherhood. In addition to labour and a changed body, it's a responsibility for life: to raise a person to face this cruel world. Lina in "Shape of an Apostrophe" also faces this fear and she masks it with a refusal to ever have children. She is a headstrong woman, a trait that draws her husband in instantly. Two opposites attract but the attraction fades. When Lina finds herself accidentally pregnant, their opposing worlds, safety pinned together, start to rip apart.
Lina also contradicts her mother-in-law: a woman who is bound fast by traditions. A stereotypical aunty next door, Meenakshi wants to control every aspect of her son's life in hopes of keeping him as hers only, safe from the clutches of Lina. And amidst all this, Lina feels utterly alone, only the child in her as company whom she did not want.
I think the concept was potent and very relatable at certain parts. I've personally seen the generational trauma that mothers-in-law put on their daughters-in-law just because they view the torture as a rite of passage. The way Lina and Meenakshi's lives converge and diverge was a clever nod to the fact that we often become the person we endure. I also liked the discussion around motherhood as a choice and the immense toll it takes on women's lives which they're expected to accept as a blessing. But somewhere along the line, it really started to make me feel like I was watching one of those daily TV soaps. Everything seemed extreme: they're filthy rich to the point that the author can't stop namedropping expensive brands and the mother-in-law is one of those doting boy moms instagram openly shames. I think Patel brings to the forefront some important topics that can go unsaid but I really wish the writing was more nuanced, the characters better developed, and the loose ends fewer.
I've seen many women around me have this underlying fear of motherhood. In addition to labour and a changed body, it's a responsibility for life: to raise a person to face this cruel world. Lina in "Shape of an Apostrophe" also faces this fear and she masks it with a refusal to ever have children. She is a headstrong woman, a trait that draws her husband in instantly. Two opposites attract but the attraction fades. When Lina finds herself accidentally pregnant, their opposing worlds, safety pinned together, start to rip apart.
Lina also contradicts her mother-in-law: a woman who is bound fast by traditions. A stereotypical aunty next door, Meenakshi wants to control every aspect of her son's life in hopes of keeping him as hers only, safe from the clutches of Lina. And amidst all this, Lina feels utterly alone, only the child in her as company whom she did not want.
I think the concept was potent and very relatable at certain parts. I've personally seen the generational trauma that mothers-in-law put on their daughters-in-law just because they view the torture as a rite of passage. The way Lina and Meenakshi's lives converge and diverge was a clever nod to the fact that we often become the person we endure. I also liked the discussion around motherhood as a choice and the immense toll it takes on women's lives which they're expected to accept as a blessing. But somewhere along the line, it really started to make me feel like I was watching one of those daily TV soaps. Everything seemed extreme: they're filthy rich to the point that the author can't stop namedropping expensive brands and the mother-in-law is one of those doting boy moms instagram openly shames. I think Patel brings to the forefront some important topics that can go unsaid but I really wish the writing was more nuanced, the characters better developed, and the loose ends fewer.
September 10, 2025
Reading Shape of an Apostrophe was more like ending a novel and being invited into an intimate confession. Uttama Kirit Patel @uttama doesn't narrate a story she sculpts out silences, half-articulated ideas, and the unseen negotiations that women are compelled to negotiate with themselves and the world.
Lina's story impressed me in its contradictions. This is a wife, a bereaved soul from recent death, and an unplanned pregnancy, she now stands at the threshold of motherhood but at the precipice of her own self. I felt her discomfort in every page, being both necessary and confined, loved and discarded. Dubai as the backdrop, with its glass houses and manicured beauty, only served to amplify that tension. It brought back to me how some forms of privilege can obscure an underlying isolation.
How Patel allows various women's voices into the tale impresses me. Meenakshi, Payal, Shobha each bring her own tale of responsibility, desire, and defiance. Their lives don't revolve around men so much as around one another, in a complex network of judgment, concern, resentment, and tacit solidarity. I found myself stopping to consider women I know mothers, aunts, friends,who may never have uttered their truths aloud but who live through the same silent reckonings.
The title's apostrophe lingered with me. It's such a tiny mark, a swoop of language that means possession or lack. And isn't that precisely what Lina struggles with? The dimmer switch that distinguishes what she owns her body, her decisions and what other people claim in the name of love or custom.
This is not a brash book. It doesn't call with theatrics; it decommits the truth. When I finished, I felt as though I'd been given not only a tale but a mirror one that softly asks, 'What do you bear that no one finds out?'
Lina's story impressed me in its contradictions. This is a wife, a bereaved soul from recent death, and an unplanned pregnancy, she now stands at the threshold of motherhood but at the precipice of her own self. I felt her discomfort in every page, being both necessary and confined, loved and discarded. Dubai as the backdrop, with its glass houses and manicured beauty, only served to amplify that tension. It brought back to me how some forms of privilege can obscure an underlying isolation.
How Patel allows various women's voices into the tale impresses me. Meenakshi, Payal, Shobha each bring her own tale of responsibility, desire, and defiance. Their lives don't revolve around men so much as around one another, in a complex network of judgment, concern, resentment, and tacit solidarity. I found myself stopping to consider women I know mothers, aunts, friends,who may never have uttered their truths aloud but who live through the same silent reckonings.
The title's apostrophe lingered with me. It's such a tiny mark, a swoop of language that means possession or lack. And isn't that precisely what Lina struggles with? The dimmer switch that distinguishes what she owns her body, her decisions and what other people claim in the name of love or custom.
This is not a brash book. It doesn't call with theatrics; it decommits the truth. When I finished, I felt as though I'd been given not only a tale but a mirror one that softly asks, 'What do you bear that no one finds out?'
October 25, 2025
Shape of an Apostrophe Uttama Kirit Patel’s debut novel, Shape of an Apostrophe, is a hauntingly intimate portrait of a woman caught in the crossroads of loss, legacy, and looming motherhood. Set against the luxurious yet isolating backdrop of Dubai, the story follows Lina Solanki,a newly orphaned, unexpectedly pregnant woman navigating the suffocating confines of her in-laws’ home and the emotional wreckage of her father’s death. As voices from multiple women, including her caretaker’s daughter(Shoba) and her mother-in-law, intertwine with her own, the story reveals the quiet burdens, small triumphs, and whispered rebellions of women who thrive shouldering the weights of patriarchy and family history, ultimately charting her own path toward acceptance and being independent.
Lina’s monologue is raw and unfiltered. The way she expresses grief is cruel and intrusive. The author makes Lina mourn reach each and every corner of her life. Lina navigates the mourning of her father while unearthing a family secret in Mumbai that further complicates her sense of belonging. The novel uses flashbacks and intersecting voices to reveal how grief reverberates across generations.
Lina’s pregnancy is not a celebration but a confrontation: with her past, her marriage, and her own autonomy.
The novel subtly critiques the performative perfection of diasporic life. Behind the marble floors and manicured facades lie secrets, silences, and simmering resentments.
The book demonstrates fragile but powerful connections among Lina, Shoba and Lina’s mother-in-law that is across generations.
Shape of an Apostrophe is not a comforting read,but it is a necessary one. It’s for readers who crave fiction that doesn’t flinch, that asks hard questions about womanhood, and that finds poetry in the punctuation marks of life.
January 5, 2026
This book feels like a quiet conversation about identity, belonging, and the small moments that shape who we become. Shape of an Apostrophe is a reflective and thoughtful work that looks at migration, memory, language, and selfhood with subtlety rather than drama.
Instead of following a traditional plot, the book unfolds through fragments - moments, observations, and emotions that mirror the experience of living between places and identities. Uttama Kirit Patel writes with restraint and clarity, allowing silence, pauses, and unsaid feelings to carry meaning. The writing doesn’t rush to explain itself, which makes the reading experience intimate and personal.
A strong theme throughout the book is the idea of in-between spaces, between countries, cultures, languages, and versions of the self. The apostrophe becomes a quiet symbol of this pause, a mark that connects yet separates. The author explores what it means to belong without fully fitting into one place, and how memory and language become anchors in unfamiliar worlds.
What stood out to me was the emotional honesty. The book doesn’t seek sympathy or grand conclusions. It simply observes - loneliness, nostalgia, quiet resilience, and the slow process of self-acceptance. The emotions feel lived-in and real, especially for readers who have experienced displacement, migration, or cultural duality.
What Works Well
• Subtle, reflective writing
• Strong themes of identity and belonging
• Powerful use of silence and space
• A fresh take on migration beyond clichés
What to Keep in Mind
• This is a slow, contemplative read
• Best suited for readers who enjoy literary reflection over plot
Overall, Shape of an Apostrophe is gentle yet impactful. It doesn’t try to explain identity, it lets you feel it. A meaningful read for anyone who understands what it means to live between worlds.
Instead of following a traditional plot, the book unfolds through fragments - moments, observations, and emotions that mirror the experience of living between places and identities. Uttama Kirit Patel writes with restraint and clarity, allowing silence, pauses, and unsaid feelings to carry meaning. The writing doesn’t rush to explain itself, which makes the reading experience intimate and personal.
A strong theme throughout the book is the idea of in-between spaces, between countries, cultures, languages, and versions of the self. The apostrophe becomes a quiet symbol of this pause, a mark that connects yet separates. The author explores what it means to belong without fully fitting into one place, and how memory and language become anchors in unfamiliar worlds.
What stood out to me was the emotional honesty. The book doesn’t seek sympathy or grand conclusions. It simply observes - loneliness, nostalgia, quiet resilience, and the slow process of self-acceptance. The emotions feel lived-in and real, especially for readers who have experienced displacement, migration, or cultural duality.
What Works Well
• Subtle, reflective writing
• Strong themes of identity and belonging
• Powerful use of silence and space
• A fresh take on migration beyond clichés
What to Keep in Mind
• This is a slow, contemplative read
• Best suited for readers who enjoy literary reflection over plot
Overall, Shape of an Apostrophe is gentle yet impactful. It doesn’t try to explain identity, it lets you feel it. A meaningful read for anyone who understands what it means to live between worlds.
August 9, 2025
Shape of an Apostrophe by Uttama Kirit Patel is the kind of book that doesn’t shout for your attention — it settles quietly into your heart and stays there. It follows Lina Solanki, a woman who finds herself pregnant when she never wanted to be, grieving the loss of her father, and living in her in-laws’ luxurious Dubai home that feels more like a gilded cage. Her husband drifts through life avoiding hard truths, her mother-in-law controls every detail of her pregnancy, and the weight of cultural expectations leaves her feeling suffocated. Through it all, Patel writes with such tenderness and honesty that you can almost feel Lina’s loneliness, her small rebellions, and her aching need to be seen.
What’s special about this book is how it shows the quiet ways a person changes. Lina doesn’t have a sudden transformation — instead, she shifts little by little, like water finding its own path. The novel doesn’t glorify motherhood or marriage; it asks the harder questions about whether these are choices or obligations. Multiple voices — from her mother, mother-in-law, and even the house help — add layers to the story, making it feel like you’re hearing a whole chorus of truths. And the title itself is perfect: an apostrophe is small but powerful, marking what’s missing. For Lina, it’s freedom, choice, and peace.
Reading this feels less like reading a novel and more like listening to a friend tell you the story of her life — raw, honest, sometimes painfully funny, but always real. It leaves you thinking about the invisible burdens women carry, and the quiet bravery it takes to step out of them. It’s a book you don’t just finish — you carry it with you, long after the last page.
August 19, 2025
"Shape of an Apostrophe" is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that masterfully weaves together themes of family, marriage, motherhood, and identity. At its core, the story follows Lina, a complex and deeply human protagonist, as she navigates the challenges of an unplanned pregnancy, a strained marriage, and the suffocating expectations of her in-laws in the opulent yet stifling environment of a Dubai villa.
The author's writing is evocative and immersive, bringing to life the intricate dynamics of Lina's relationships with her husband and in-laws, particularly the overbearing mother-in-law who seems determined to control every aspect of Lina's life. As Lina struggles to find her own voice and agency in a world that seems determined to silence her, the novel raises important questions about the choices women make – or don't make – when it comes to their own bodies, desires, and futures.
What truly sets this novel apart is its unflinching examination of the darker aspects of family secrets and the ways in which they can shape and distort our relationships with others and ourselves. As Lina confronts the truth about her husband's family, she is forced to re-evaluate her own place in the world and the choices she has made.
Ultimately, "Shape of an Apostrophe" is a bittersweet yet life-affirming read that will linger long after the final page is turned. It's a powerful exploration of the human experience, full of nuance, complexity, and emotional depth. The novel's portrayal of the intricacies of family life behind closed doors is both deeply relatable and uniquely cultural, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of women navigating the complexities of marriage, motherhood, and identity in a patriarchal society.
The author's writing is evocative and immersive, bringing to life the intricate dynamics of Lina's relationships with her husband and in-laws, particularly the overbearing mother-in-law who seems determined to control every aspect of Lina's life. As Lina struggles to find her own voice and agency in a world that seems determined to silence her, the novel raises important questions about the choices women make – or don't make – when it comes to their own bodies, desires, and futures.
What truly sets this novel apart is its unflinching examination of the darker aspects of family secrets and the ways in which they can shape and distort our relationships with others and ourselves. As Lina confronts the truth about her husband's family, she is forced to re-evaluate her own place in the world and the choices she has made.
Ultimately, "Shape of an Apostrophe" is a bittersweet yet life-affirming read that will linger long after the final page is turned. It's a powerful exploration of the human experience, full of nuance, complexity, and emotional depth. The novel's portrayal of the intricacies of family life behind closed doors is both deeply relatable and uniquely cultural, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of women navigating the complexities of marriage, motherhood, and identity in a patriarchal society.
August 22, 2025
Being a woman who wants to be child free isn't always perceived in the best light, especially if you are Indian and married, living in your in-laws' villa in Dubai.
Especially if you are already pregnant.
But that is the situation Lina finds herself in, and with her nosey, overbearing mother-in-law to contend with and a moist blanket of a husband, Lina is left to process the recent loss of her only parent and decide what is next for her.
This heartbreaking, thought-provoking tale deals with some seriously heavy themes. The impact of pregnancy on marriage, dealing with loss, the complicated impact of oppressive, patriarchal societies combined with the impact of colonialism, belonging, and the motherhood & identity.
I really sympathised with characters on some counts, but felt angry with them in others. The chapters that included other voices that were important and impactful; they really drove home how complex these issues are.
That being said. I didn’t quite like Lina, despite feeling sorry for her and appreciating her forward-thinking and fight for visibility. I admired her ability to reflect and understand how she also acted in ways she disliked and this accountability was a redeeming factor.
I found Ishaan frustrating. I wanted him to man up but saw why he didn’t too and didn’t always like how Lina treated him but he was ridiculous. Raja made me want to scream. Aunty M was a nightmare but while I couldn’t live with her, I liked her. I wish we could have learned more about Shobna.
I found some of it really hard to read as some aspects were very close to home, but I’m glad I did. I found reading about colourism and womanhood in another diaspora particularly interesting.
So much more connects us than divides.
Especially if you are already pregnant.
But that is the situation Lina finds herself in, and with her nosey, overbearing mother-in-law to contend with and a moist blanket of a husband, Lina is left to process the recent loss of her only parent and decide what is next for her.
This heartbreaking, thought-provoking tale deals with some seriously heavy themes. The impact of pregnancy on marriage, dealing with loss, the complicated impact of oppressive, patriarchal societies combined with the impact of colonialism, belonging, and the motherhood & identity.
I really sympathised with characters on some counts, but felt angry with them in others. The chapters that included other voices that were important and impactful; they really drove home how complex these issues are.
That being said. I didn’t quite like Lina, despite feeling sorry for her and appreciating her forward-thinking and fight for visibility. I admired her ability to reflect and understand how she also acted in ways she disliked and this accountability was a redeeming factor.
I found Ishaan frustrating. I wanted him to man up but saw why he didn’t too and didn’t always like how Lina treated him but he was ridiculous. Raja made me want to scream. Aunty M was a nightmare but while I couldn’t live with her, I liked her. I wish we could have learned more about Shobna.
I found some of it really hard to read as some aspects were very close to home, but I’m glad I did. I found reading about colourism and womanhood in another diaspora particularly interesting.
So much more connects us than divides.
September 7, 2025
Shape of an Apostrophe by Uttama Kirit Patel captures the woes of an Indian woman who has been burdened with societal expectations. It follows the story of Lina, an Indian expat in Dubai, and her life with her in-laws. Lina, who was raised by her father in the foreign land, whose mother died at childbirth, who is now married to Ishaan— the only son of a wealthy Indian businessman, has been riddled with the expectations to become a mother.
After Lina's father dies, she can't help but think of how she has no blood relative left. Her mother-in-law expects Lina and Ishaan to live with them, expects Lina to be a mother to her 'grandson', and of course expects her to be subservient. Lina doesn't want any of this. When Lina does become pregnant and goes to her deceased mother's place back in Mumbai, she uncovers a truth that shambles her whole identity.
The book eloquently shows the internal dissonance that Lina goes through. Whether she should be a mother or not. It doesn't help Lina that her husband Ishaan cannot stand up for her, who is himself struggling to pick a side. Meanwhile her mother-in-law whom she called Aunty M, emotionally manipulates her son to take her side.
This book not only showcases the misogynistic struggles of the rich Indian diaspora, but also the struggles of the working class diaspora— who are easily disposable. The book give you the POV of all the main characters. While I liked reading Lina's POV the most, I couldn't help but think that at the end of the day she's an entitled person who likes to victimize herself so I couldn't really sympathise with her. Meanwhile Aunty M's POV adds the voice of another entitled person and does nothing to dim down her misogynistic mindset.
After Lina's father dies, she can't help but think of how she has no blood relative left. Her mother-in-law expects Lina and Ishaan to live with them, expects Lina to be a mother to her 'grandson', and of course expects her to be subservient. Lina doesn't want any of this. When Lina does become pregnant and goes to her deceased mother's place back in Mumbai, she uncovers a truth that shambles her whole identity.
The book eloquently shows the internal dissonance that Lina goes through. Whether she should be a mother or not. It doesn't help Lina that her husband Ishaan cannot stand up for her, who is himself struggling to pick a side. Meanwhile her mother-in-law whom she called Aunty M, emotionally manipulates her son to take her side.
This book not only showcases the misogynistic struggles of the rich Indian diaspora, but also the struggles of the working class diaspora— who are easily disposable. The book give you the POV of all the main characters. While I liked reading Lina's POV the most, I couldn't help but think that at the end of the day she's an entitled person who likes to victimize herself so I couldn't really sympathise with her. Meanwhile Aunty M's POV adds the voice of another entitled person and does nothing to dim down her misogynistic mindset.
October 9, 2025
"Shape of an Apostrophe" by Uttama is a debut novel that explores the subtle yet complex intersections of womanhood, grief, and familial expectation through the lens of its protagonist Lina, a woman confronting an unexpected pregnancy while navigating personal trauma and societal pressures in Dubai. The story distinctly avoids melodrama, focusing instead on the quiet moments of choice, agency, and internal rebellion that shape Lina’s transformation and the fabric of her relationships.
The narrative centers on Lina Solanki, who never wanted children but finds herself unexpectedly pregnant and caught between grief for her deceased parents and the suffocating expectations of her in-laws. As Lina copes with her loss and her changing circumstances, the novel delves into broader themes—reproductive autonomy, the inheritance of cultural guilt, and the silent pressures that weigh on women in patriarchal societies. Patel uses the title’s symbolic resonance to reflect both belonging and absence, further deepening the book’s emotional stakes.
The narrative maintains a restrained tone, focusing on internal conflict and character-driven moments. Water imagery is employed throughout to underscore Lina’s search for comfort and autonomy, offering metaphorical depth to her journey.
While “Shape of an Apostrophe” has been lauded for its emotional clarity and social relevance, the novel’s quiet approach may not suit readers seeking a more action-driven or conventionally uplifting narrative. The story refrains from easy resolutions, instead favoring thoughtful ambiguity and nuance.
In summary, Uttama’s debut provides a subtle, reflective examination of women's choices, familial bonds, and the ways silence and agency shape identity, making it a significant contribution to contemporary literary fiction.
The narrative centers on Lina Solanki, who never wanted children but finds herself unexpectedly pregnant and caught between grief for her deceased parents and the suffocating expectations of her in-laws. As Lina copes with her loss and her changing circumstances, the novel delves into broader themes—reproductive autonomy, the inheritance of cultural guilt, and the silent pressures that weigh on women in patriarchal societies. Patel uses the title’s symbolic resonance to reflect both belonging and absence, further deepening the book’s emotional stakes.
The narrative maintains a restrained tone, focusing on internal conflict and character-driven moments. Water imagery is employed throughout to underscore Lina’s search for comfort and autonomy, offering metaphorical depth to her journey.
While “Shape of an Apostrophe” has been lauded for its emotional clarity and social relevance, the novel’s quiet approach may not suit readers seeking a more action-driven or conventionally uplifting narrative. The story refrains from easy resolutions, instead favoring thoughtful ambiguity and nuance.
In summary, Uttama’s debut provides a subtle, reflective examination of women's choices, familial bonds, and the ways silence and agency shape identity, making it a significant contribution to contemporary literary fiction.
October 10, 2025
Society has long imposed expectations on women, portraying them as the perfect daughter, devoted wife, dutiful daughter-in-law and nurturing mother. Amidst these, where lies a woman's own aspirations and desire to shape her life? Has anyone truly taken the time to listen to those inner yearnings?
Shape of an Apostrophe by Uttama Kirit Patel weaves the story of Lina, settled in Dubai, who is grappling with the death of her father and facing the turmoil of an unplanned pregnancy, but she doesn't want motherhood.
Lina's mother-in-law imposes her expectations on her and her husband, Ishaan, insisting they live with her and Lina fulfil the role of a mother to her grandson. But Lina wants none of this prescribed life. When Lina returns to Mumbai, she uncovers a startling truth that shatters her.
The book begins with the nitty-gritty of marriage and motherhood, but slowly delves into buried family secrets, the quest for freedom and the wounded woman's heart, which takes time to heal. Here lies a rich exploration of womanhood’s veiled struggles: the unchosen burdens of motherhood, the inherent friction within marriage, and the emotional turmoil stemming from societal expectations.
The author bravely confronts the uncomfortable realities, the stark contradictions, and the weight of expectation. The title itself is telling—an apostrophe, while small and often overlooked, possesses the power to alter meaning entirely. This book sheds light on the seemingly insignificant choices and silences that profoundly shape our lives.
The book serves as a haunting meditation on the silent corners of womanhood, illustrating the intricate collision of choice and cultural expectation, freedom and duty.
Shape of an Apostrophe by Uttama Kirit Patel weaves the story of Lina, settled in Dubai, who is grappling with the death of her father and facing the turmoil of an unplanned pregnancy, but she doesn't want motherhood.
Lina's mother-in-law imposes her expectations on her and her husband, Ishaan, insisting they live with her and Lina fulfil the role of a mother to her grandson. But Lina wants none of this prescribed life. When Lina returns to Mumbai, she uncovers a startling truth that shatters her.
The book begins with the nitty-gritty of marriage and motherhood, but slowly delves into buried family secrets, the quest for freedom and the wounded woman's heart, which takes time to heal. Here lies a rich exploration of womanhood’s veiled struggles: the unchosen burdens of motherhood, the inherent friction within marriage, and the emotional turmoil stemming from societal expectations.
The author bravely confronts the uncomfortable realities, the stark contradictions, and the weight of expectation. The title itself is telling—an apostrophe, while small and often overlooked, possesses the power to alter meaning entirely. This book sheds light on the seemingly insignificant choices and silences that profoundly shape our lives.
The book serves as a haunting meditation on the silent corners of womanhood, illustrating the intricate collision of choice and cultural expectation, freedom and duty.
October 13, 2025
Shape of an Apostrophe by Uttama Kirit Patel is a beautifully written story that touches the heart of the readers and lingers with them long after reading the book.
Set in Dubai, we follow the story of the protagonist Lina, a working woman, who is struggling with the grief of the loss of her Papa, the only parent she had, and at the same time, battling with her emotions about her unwanted pregnancy. Amidst all this, she learns of a secret that changes everything that she thought she knew.
While the book is primarily told from Lina's point of view, we occasionally see the perspectives of other characters - Shobha, Meenakshi & Ishaan. This offers the readers a glimpse into the characters and shows us why they are the way they are. The writing is beautiful and the author manages to make the reader feel a range of emotions, with rage and grief being the predominant emotions.
What truly broke my heart was how lonely Lina felt in her marriage, despite it being a love marriage and how she felt like an outsider in her in-laws’ house. What makes it sadder is the fact that this is not just a story but a reality for so many women.
The story shows the life of a woman, whose only value in the in-laws' home is to produce an heir, who at work is overlooked for promotion on learning of her pregnancy, whose inheritance as per the laws in Dubai, is questionable with a great chance of losing it to the closest living male relative of her father, despite he having a will written in her favour.
This emotional story touches the themes of motherhood, family and what it is like to be a woman in a patriarchal world. This book will definitely move you and will constantly call you back to this story days after you finish reading it.
Set in Dubai, we follow the story of the protagonist Lina, a working woman, who is struggling with the grief of the loss of her Papa, the only parent she had, and at the same time, battling with her emotions about her unwanted pregnancy. Amidst all this, she learns of a secret that changes everything that she thought she knew.
While the book is primarily told from Lina's point of view, we occasionally see the perspectives of other characters - Shobha, Meenakshi & Ishaan. This offers the readers a glimpse into the characters and shows us why they are the way they are. The writing is beautiful and the author manages to make the reader feel a range of emotions, with rage and grief being the predominant emotions.
What truly broke my heart was how lonely Lina felt in her marriage, despite it being a love marriage and how she felt like an outsider in her in-laws’ house. What makes it sadder is the fact that this is not just a story but a reality for so many women.
The story shows the life of a woman, whose only value in the in-laws' home is to produce an heir, who at work is overlooked for promotion on learning of her pregnancy, whose inheritance as per the laws in Dubai, is questionable with a great chance of losing it to the closest living male relative of her father, despite he having a will written in her favour.
This emotional story touches the themes of motherhood, family and what it is like to be a woman in a patriarchal world. This book will definitely move you and will constantly call you back to this story days after you finish reading it.
October 17, 2025
Shape of an Apostrophe is a testament of a married woman (named Lina Solanki), living in a modern yet a backward housefull , confined within the rules set by the society. She's dealing with the grief of losing her father, the shock of bearing a child she did not intend to have, and the constant nagging of the people around her. Although a fictional work, this book mirrors the situation of women around the globe, irrespective of the status or place they belong from.
There is back and forth between the timelines when Lina reminisces about her past which comprises joyous moments. These instances give an insight into Lina's (and in fact many other women's) life, when she held the decision making power. The author has not only written about Lina, but also other women inspired from the real world. Aunty M, another woman who faced the similar wrath, takes up the tradition from her in-laws, causing Lina to question her choices. Shobha, a brave woman who ran from her house, but now works as a servant, does not want to be confined. She's aiming to have wings to fly high.
The meaning behind the title is uncovered within the early chapters, and it's quite an insightful one. The analogy of it is that we consider an apostrophe to be a very insignificant symbol in the English language. Similarly is the case for people in our lives.
This book began at a slow pace, but soon found momentum with shocking revelations and Lina's witty remarks on Aunty M's unsolicited opinions.
The writing style of this book is beautiful, with raw moments and real and relatable characters. Topics such as feminism, male chauvinism, human relations have been discussed, making it a touching and an insights read.
There is back and forth between the timelines when Lina reminisces about her past which comprises joyous moments. These instances give an insight into Lina's (and in fact many other women's) life, when she held the decision making power. The author has not only written about Lina, but also other women inspired from the real world. Aunty M, another woman who faced the similar wrath, takes up the tradition from her in-laws, causing Lina to question her choices. Shobha, a brave woman who ran from her house, but now works as a servant, does not want to be confined. She's aiming to have wings to fly high.
The meaning behind the title is uncovered within the early chapters, and it's quite an insightful one. The analogy of it is that we consider an apostrophe to be a very insignificant symbol in the English language. Similarly is the case for people in our lives.
This book began at a slow pace, but soon found momentum with shocking revelations and Lina's witty remarks on Aunty M's unsolicited opinions.
The writing style of this book is beautiful, with raw moments and real and relatable characters. Topics such as feminism, male chauvinism, human relations have been discussed, making it a touching and an insights read.
October 10, 2025
Marriage. Pregnancy. Child.
Three most, supposedly, important and poignant junctures in a woman's life. And if the woman is an independent, working woman able to think for herself - then these become a test of resilience for that woman.
That's what Shape of an Apostrophe by Uttama is. Although it is her debut, it didn't feel like one.
The dominant emotion that I felt while reading the book was - rage. Pure feminine rage. Rage at how women are duped by men who don't have the spine to stand up to their parent's wrong demands, or men who don't have the gumption to know themselves.
Rage at how mothers-in-law stifle a marriage by continuously undermining their daughters-in-law. And yet they have the audacity to make it all about themselves by thinking about the injustices meted out to them. If only, they break this cycle.
But I was also pleased by the author’s writing style. She has a way with words, quietly portraying the world slowly closing in on Lina, our protagonist. The author deftly depicts Lina's hopes, dreams, and connections slowly withering away under the pressure of a suffocating marriage.
I loved the relationship between Lina and her father, the quiet bedrock of her life who gives her the strength and freedom to fly. How I wished, like Lina, for him to come back.
This was definitely a thought-provoking, emotional, and in many pages, a mind-numbing book. My only gripe with this book was that not every moment needed to be captured so verbosely.
The book could have been edited to cut down a few pages easily.
However, I will recommend this to anyone looking for a thoughtful story about women losing and reclaiming back their peace.
Three most, supposedly, important and poignant junctures in a woman's life. And if the woman is an independent, working woman able to think for herself - then these become a test of resilience for that woman.
That's what Shape of an Apostrophe by Uttama is. Although it is her debut, it didn't feel like one.
The dominant emotion that I felt while reading the book was - rage. Pure feminine rage. Rage at how women are duped by men who don't have the spine to stand up to their parent's wrong demands, or men who don't have the gumption to know themselves.
Rage at how mothers-in-law stifle a marriage by continuously undermining their daughters-in-law. And yet they have the audacity to make it all about themselves by thinking about the injustices meted out to them. If only, they break this cycle.
But I was also pleased by the author’s writing style. She has a way with words, quietly portraying the world slowly closing in on Lina, our protagonist. The author deftly depicts Lina's hopes, dreams, and connections slowly withering away under the pressure of a suffocating marriage.
I loved the relationship between Lina and her father, the quiet bedrock of her life who gives her the strength and freedom to fly. How I wished, like Lina, for him to come back.
This was definitely a thought-provoking, emotional, and in many pages, a mind-numbing book. My only gripe with this book was that not every moment needed to be captured so verbosely.
The book could have been edited to cut down a few pages easily.
However, I will recommend this to anyone looking for a thoughtful story about women losing and reclaiming back their peace.
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