'It's all your fault.' Mere words these are. "But words can possess a shadow invincible enough to rob even a soul of its eternity."
In a society that finds it easier to mark sins of a victim than the culprit, Nirvi is a young girl punishing herself for the faults she did not do and avenging her hurts by defeating her own truth. She is scared of her future, and ashamed of her past. She is failing herself, and knows it. She has had a long line of boyfriends, and hated them all. She detests the guy she is living with, runs away from the one she loves , and seduces the one who can never love her. When Arsh first sees Nirvi, she's a free and frank girl in whose eyes sparkle the lemony zest of life. The next time he sees her, she is a voiceless doll draped in clothes that cover her body less and shroud her soul more. And Arsh can't rest till he finds out what made Nirvi give up her own real self. Nirvi knows she is dragging herself on a path from which there can be no recovery. Can her spirit survive the treacherous downfall? Or is the pull of fear and push of desperation just too strong to withstand for a girl who believes she has "nowhere else to go" but down.
"When it's time for you to fall in love, even a lemon can become the cause of it," says Arsh. But can love survive, when even the self love dies? Can love survive when respect is no more? Does true love have the power to revive a dying soul?
Find out in the pages of this brilliantly woven, intense, heart-warming and thought-provoking saga of RISING IN LOVE...
Jyoti Arora is an Indian novelist and blogger. She has Master's degrees in English Literature and Applied Psychology. Besides her intense and thought-provoking novels, Jyoti’s writing achievements include several wins in blogging competitions, over five years of freelance writing experience, developing books for kids and abridging 24 famous English novels like Jane Eyre, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn etc. Due to certain medical problems, Jyoti had to quit school after class 8th. But she did not let this stop or discourage her. She continued her education on her own through correspondence courses and is a successful career woman now. For her determination and achievements, Jyoti has received appreciation from several eminent dignitaries and her life story has been covered in various local and national TV shows, radio programs, newspapers, magazines and websites. In the year 2016, Jyoti was chosen as one of the 100 women achievers of India that were invited to witness India’s Republic Day parade as special guests. Besides reading and writing novels, Jyoti also enjoys blogging and has won several blogging competitions. She loves checking out the latest technological innovations, watching movies, and listening to old Bollywood songs.
This story had my emotions in a jumble. I wanted to know exactly what had happened to turn a carefree girl like Nirvi into a hollow shell of a person, but I also dreaded knowing it. One of the things that I liked about this novel is the realistic portrayal of its characters; characters who are imperfect, who make mistakes, who suffer and who are vulnerable. The author does not try to sugar-coat it, and we are presented with the raw emotions of a trapped girl.
Nirvi’s actions and the causes for her actions keep the story intriguing. All she wants is to escape, to have a respite from the horrible circle of self-flagellation. But is escape even possible without defeating her inner demons? “Escape needed a destination more beckoning. But I had nowhere to go.” Even though we only get a glimpse of her initial boisterous persona, I was more captivated by the jaded allure of Nirvi. There was so much more depth to her, and I found myself to be as intrigued as Arsh.
I really liked Arsh. His cocky and bold attitude adds liveliness to the story as well as to Nirvi’s life. Some people leave a lasting impression and so does the Lemon Girl for Arsh. "When it's time for you to fall in love, even a lemon can become the cause of it.” You could see how he really cares for her even before he comes to realise his feelings for her. He’s the only one who even gives a damn about her and sees through her shell to the real woman hiding inside. “ If ever there was defiance mocking itself in its own assertion, then there I saw it.”
I loved watching Nirvi as she comes to the realisation that she wasn’t the instigator, she is the victim. A victim whose voice is silenced before it could form. A victim suffering from the worst sort of betrayal. And that it is NOT her fault. Nirvi’s story spoke of a quite victory, and that victory could only come about due to Arsh, the boy who gives her courage, who makes her see the reality without the prejudices of the judgemental society and who makes her want to fight for her own self.
The author makes a good effort of presenting the brave mien of women. Ms. Arora is a fine story teller. But the writing could have been a little more polished, like this sentence: “Some people there are who believe they have wings even if they find themselves elevated on an ant hill.” I’m not saying that the sentence is wrong, but constructing it this way makes it look conspicuous. And this one: “It was as if something had turned something on in her.” Using ‘something’ twice in a single sentence did not make much sense to me. That said, I really want everyone to read this book. Nirvi’s story is worth it.
My thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
This is a very good book. Thanks to Jyoti for providing me a review copy.
The man woman equation in our society is still skewed. It is good that I read it after watching pink. The story of lemon girl gives the same message. Is rape the mistake of girl? Is she too inviting through her dress or manners so that the boy became horny? Jyoti points this out beautifully:
‘How can anyone treat a victim as culprit and the culprit as victim? If a rapist is a victim. of temptation, then all thieves and robbers and corrupt people are blameless too because they too are victims of temptation and opportunity.’
It is story of Arsh and Nirvi, the Lemon Girl. It is told form their point of view in alternate chapters. There are other characters too like Tia, Kusum, Sam etc but protoganists are Arsh and Nirvi. Nirvi is a happy go lucky girl when Arsh first meets her. Then she is raped by her own brother and her mother blames her. She hates them for it and leaves the home. Then she lives the life of a Gypsy and Arsh meets her. Then it is a journey of healing and love as Jyoti puts it beautifully in this poem:
"As long as we stare at the shadows of the Past, our eyes find only darkness. But the world of Future is a portal of possibilities, and the path to it is paved by the choices we ourselves make."
The book is a mixed bag of humour, sadness, poignancy, romance and hate. It is a roller coaster ride and finally in true Indian fashion all is well. But it is heart-breaking at times which leads to a satisfying climax.
Some excerpts:
How is it that the things that you don't notice while they are happening often come to haunt you years later and raise their phantoms vivid to the last detail? How is it that I now can see clearly how you stood, how you looked, and how you looked at me there in the market in Ghaziabad, five years ago, even though I scarcely noticed any of that then? _______
She heard a million soothing words in your silence that night, a million calming embraces in the stillness of your hands. She stood bare before you, and felt you look into her, your core touching hers and finally bringing it to rest. And the reverberations that had been ringing through her since ages calmed down. She felt comforted, because she thought you cared.
The Author had given me this book for review, BUT, I ended up buying it. It deserves a buy.
*Total spoiler alert* This book is about a woman. A victim. A rape victim. Not only was it a rape, it was rape by her own Brother! After that, her another soul killer was her mother, who said, "It is all YOUR fault!". A girl should be like so and so.
This Girl, Nirvi, a bubbly, cute, open girl, then becomes a reserved fake, gracious, gorgeous woman, but with no respect.
She clings to her fears. Not good and hope. She loses her respect due to fear to hold ANY starw she gets!
Then, Arsh, a person who was most affected and fell in love (without knowing) for her bubbly,open-ness, came to her life and made her realize this.
Due to a sudden misunderstanding, She loses hope of Arsh and runs away where a friend finds her. And she then runs even more far away accepting a painting deal.
There, the owner a decent man, got sad... The other part of Nirvi, fear made her play so that the man proposed her, but then! She struggled and chose the RIGHT path.
" I said nothing. But my hand lifted and pointed towards the Shivalinga. The same light that rested on Shiva touched my hand too. Shiva did not deny me that light. Arsh, He did not deny me His light. His light, or my darkness, I was free to choose. His voice in my heart, or the cries of Nirvi’s fears…I was free to choose. I was free to choose."
Then- She EARNED her respect!
That's the main story, written BEAUTIFULLY! I suggest All women to read this!
A woman would know her preciousness and what not to feel after reading this beautifukly written book.
"A young, pretty, confident and gracious girl with a dream in her eyes and last but not the least, a story behind her smile"
Although I wrote these words almost a year ago, I still remember them as if I just came across them. The reason why I’m bringing the caption up again from the past is these words: 'Story behind her smile'. While I read ‘Lemon Girl’ by Jyoti Arora, I was gripped with curiosity, like darkness grips the night and, the question reverberated in my body and soul was what the story behind Nirvi’s smile is? Lips which purse just too perfectly to bring out the most perfect smile must surely be a lie and, deep down, under the bottom of the ocean, the truth awaits to be discovered. As I read on, I found out there’s indeed a great story behind that smile.
‘Lemon Girl’ by Jyoti Arora is a great Indian story of a great Indian woman, Nirvi, the lead character of the book. The dance of sorrow in Nirvi's eyes and the emptiness of her smile ignited the curiosity of not only Arsh, the lead male character of the book, but also me. What happened to Lemon Girl, I wondered. This is where Jyoti Arora didn't disappoint me. Jyoti Arora weaves a mystery around this very question and takes just the perfect time to reveal the truth. Just as a cocoon takes just the perfect time to turn into a beautiful butterfly, Jyoti Arora reveals the mystery of Nirvi at the right place and right time. And, then Jyoti Arora's story unfolds like a night; it falls slowly calming our souls and then, takes us through the darkest and scariest nights of our lives and, in the end, as the dawn appears, leaves us with tears in eyes and hopes in our hearts.
One of the most fascinating features of the novel is the narration of the story. Jyoti Arora, with her two weapons, a Post Graduate in English Literature and Applied Psychology, narrates the story shifting between two lead characters Nirvi and Arsh’s point of views smoothly and narrates the psychology of both the characters. Jyoti Arora does justice to both the characters perfectly, especially to Nirvi, a girl with a troubled past. I really enjoyed the parts where Nirvi narrated the story. In fact, that was my favorite part of the narration – Nirvi’s narration.
Not only the novel but also a fantastic first page Dedication of Jyoti Arora left me speechless.
Jyoti Arora, a feminist, I assume, couldn’t have chosen better words than this to dedicate the book to Indian women when she says,
“In earlier times, Indian women suffered in the name of culture. Now it’s being done in the name of loss of culture.”
Hardly had I read this very first line of her dedication, when I knew I had the ‘best book of the year’ in my hands.
Well, I have a dedication myself to all the ladies who fell victims to the cruel hands of lust; to all the ladies who are brave and determined to live a respectable life in this unfair world; to all those who are broken, crawling in the dust, helpless and suffering; and last but not the least, to the ‘Lemon Girl’ and the ‘Caption Girl’. I borrow words from Maya Angelou’s poetry, ‘I Rise’, and let her words be my dedication:
“You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may tread me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise. . Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries. . You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise. . I rise I rise I rise.”
Will Nirvi ever rise from the dirt? Will Nirvi’s smile ever be back? Will Nirvi earn respect in this unfair world? Will she ever fulfill her dreams?
Read ‘Lemon Girl’ by Jyoti Arora to find out…
Lemon Girl by Jyoti Arora deserves a rating of 5 out of 5! She showed me the mirror of an imperfect world and the beauty of love in the same book and for that she deserves full marks! I recommend this book to every Indian men and women, to every parent, children, grandparents, in fact, to every Indian. This is a book recommended to all feminists and victims of cruel hands of lust. I assure you, you will have a great time reading this book.
The fairer sex is a titular christening for we are anything but fair to the fairer sex! Silently she bears it all and God forbid if she raises her voice-it is blasphemous! In a country of billions where half a million Goddesses dwell and are worshipped, women are happily downtrodden, trampled upon, are killed even before they could know what it feels like to be alive, grotesquely raped. Yet it remains her fault-for being provocative, for being outspoken, for being a woman! It takes a monster to rape, to rob a woman of everything that even a second chance to begin anew is marked with stigma and doubt. The male chauvinists always have the last laugh! Uncanny how we think day after day, year after year, generation after generation!
Jyoti Arora's 'Lemon Girl' sensitively touches this sensitive issue. Nirvi, uninhibited, boisterous is unimaginably raped, robbed of her lemony, happy self and who is to be blamed? Nirvi! A cruel metamorphosis of her former self is all she has to shield the world from her and herself from the world. But the past was lurking to crack open her attempts and push her to the realms of darkness, the ghosts of the past catalysing her fall. Nirvi made a choice and emerged a champion. 'Lemon Girl' is not a tale about redemption, it isn't a tale about how a girl fought the demons tethering her, it is the tale of the cruelty the world imposes, the readiness with which we clip the wings of a girl aiming for a better life, it is the tale of helplessness, but also the tale of the bravery, of the fact that no mountain is too high and no ocean too deep when a resolute mind decides against the norm.
Nirvi and Arsh the two central characters of 'Lemon Girl' keep narrating the story as it shifts from Nirvi to Arsh and back. Nirvi is likeable from page one while personally I never liked Arsh much-he seemed a little too full of himself, a charlatan but thankfully he turns over a new leaf, love brings about a change. A love story different from any romance I have read, 'Lemon Girl' emerges a winner. A funny story in the bazaars of Ghaziabad connect Nirvi and Arsh; while Arsh could never get over the tangy incident and his 'Lemon Girl', I found it a little difficult to digest why Nirvi had held on to that incident even after a gap of so many years! My questions reached a crescendo that the answers emerged, rocking my core. The story takes a new turn, and Nirvi gasps and fights against all odds to stay afloat in a murky world.
I loved the book and here is one author who doesn't write to sell. 'Lemon Girl' is a must read. 3.5/5
And I cannot thank Jyoti Arora for sending me a copy! Finally an author signed book that will sit proudly on my book shelf not because it bears the signature but because it is a truthful account of our times.
This an almost four star. It should be a five star book because it is a strong and powerful tale and very atmospheric as we share the lives and views of Nirvi (Lemon Girl) and Arsh.
Arora's message about it's not a woman's fault if she is raped is fundamental, and applies everywhere in the world, not just in India.
There are some excellent insights into our two main characters, and Nirvi's friend Tiya too, but sometimes I felt there was too much packaging and I was waiting for some sort of action that took too long to come. I found the second part of the book more interesting as Nirvi starts to make an independent life for herself.
Also, writing for an international market means writing at least in English or US English, consistency of house style, and decent proofreading.
So, for me it was up and down. Great story overall, nice in-depth writing style, slowed in parts, could do with a tidy-up.
Brilliant blurb, don’t you think? That is the sole reason that made me pick the book- the reason that we have come across at least one girl like Nirvi in our lives. I personally have! Interesting title? Yeah, a chapter into the book, the reader can find out why she has chosen this title.
A jolly good-natured girl who lightens up the room the moment she enters, the one who has dream in her eyes and hope in heart. The story is about Nirvi and Arsh. Nirvi, who was once a chirpy, bubbly, full of life girl who turns into a lifeless soul. So, what happens for this drastic change?
When I heard the title, i thought it would be love story of a girl who would be selling "lemons" or had a "Lemon Tree" at her home or else or else. But then, the book came to me and i hurriedly swam across the pages because love stories never fascinated me. But i soon realized that this book wasn't what i had taken it for, it was far better than the expectations. It wasn't just a love story either. The story of Nirvi, the " Lemon Girl" is a story of a problem so deep-rooted, still many girls face, not only in the Indian scenario, but in the global as well. Brutal incestuous rape is still forgiven and secured behind veil, because the criminal was a male from the same family. Nirvi, as the female lead, is just a dummy girl, left behind in the adulteration of artificiality with very little of her own inside her. It was never her fault, but the world was never so just, to spare her, so she was burnt, stained, tortured and dragged away from herself, bit by bit. Every time, she tried to recollect herself and resurrect from the ashes, there would be some parasite, groping her, reminding her ‘she was no Phoenix Jackson.’ The only one who really cared and adored the tiny bit which wasn't shrugged off and still pounded in the heart of the infected adobe of the broken soul arrives into her life. He is Arsh, a lucky guy to be the only reminiscing part of the lively “Lemon Girl.” He thrusts himself in her life and tries to preserve her for himself, but at a cost of much devastation in life, she was thrown into. When life doesn't give you wide choices, it’s better to slip off at the instance you were held back. The protagonist girl has successfully made it and went afar to recollect herself. But where true love prevails, all things are meant to end up righteously and the loved ones brought back together. A true facet of our unmerciful and culprit society, this novel has made a move to shrug it off with an eye-opening read. Set on Indian background, it speaks through the eyes and heart of a rape victim, which has been done perfectly throughout the story. About the writing style of the author, I was stunned to find the book told from two minds, giving two dimensions to view the story. Had the story been written on a plain and singleton view from a narrator, the story would have lost its charm. The story has its own emotions and successfully casts a spell over the readers to be in control of the drift in the story and walk side by side with the characters over the plots. It’s not Just a Love story, it’s a lot more than that. It’s a Eye-opening read waiting to reveal the truth in front of our society and show its backlogs.
Jyoti Arora is a self-published author, and I think she did a very good job with this book, sporting the interesting title "Lemon Girl". The reader finds out soon why she has chosen this title, and I think this overall theme fits the novel well.
The story of Nirvi and Arsh is told in flashbacks and from the alternating point of view of both the main characters. It brings them alive as if they were sitting in separate rooms and telling their side of the story to the reader. It was a surprise to be presented with Sam, but he fit into the picture perfectly. The other secondary character, Tiya, is also an important piece of the puzzle. In fact, everyone and everything has a right to be in the novel, and the author weaves a very authentic picture with just the right amount of details. Her finely flowing prose is a plus.
It’s fascinating that you think this is just another love story at first, but then the knot slowly unravels and leaves you shocked and hooked. The way the author deals with the taboo subject of incestuous rape is admirable. At times sensitive and touching, at other times realistic and gripping, at other times emotional and clever, Arora writes about what mostly stays unmentioned and gives millions of girls (not only in India) a voice. She shows how victims might deal with the tragedy, and how they are stigmatized through no fault of their own.
Through using the two protagonist’s different voices to portray the girl who was, the girl who is and the girl who could be, the author makes the tale more gripping. I love all the changes she has characterized. If you like books that make you think and don’t shy away from difficult topics, do read this well written novel!
Lemon Girl by Jyoti Arora is a novel with a lot of heart. The book touches your heartstrings all the way from the first page to the last. The story is imbued with a distinct poetic spirit. In fact, the blurb of the book does not do any justice to its contents. This book is not a simple love story. The book is also not about the struggle of a young woman who is trying to find her voice. On the other hand, this book is about the brutal reality of what it is like to be a young girl. It subtly details the minute nuances of sexual abuses. It is about how the voices of young girls are silenced, even by their own parents. It is one of those books that not only expertly capture the pain of those girls, but also their spirit, strength of mind, fear and hope too. The psychology of those girls is the main point of focus in this book. Jyoti Arora deserves my all praises as she has adequately met the challenges of her tragic theme in this book. In this book, she rises to her fullest stature as a master of existential irony.
Ghost from the past is chasing her and she is running away- probably to escape from the burden of her sin! Wrong! She has been categorized as a sinner for no fault of hers! According to the crime clock 2005 of National Crime Records Bureau, one crime against women is reported in every 3 minutes, one molestation every 15 minutes, one rape every 29 minutes, one dowry death every 77 minutes, and one sexual harassment in every 53 minutes. These are horrible statistics of the largest democracy of the world. And we the responsible citizens relish daily addition to this endless list of brutal assault news with warm tea at the morning reading newspaper and at the evening with snacks and news channels. To us these ‘news’ are entertainment-spicy entertainment! But it may so happen that such incident may occur in our own home –with our near and dear ones. Then probably we will realize what her soul and body might feel after such heinous crime against her. Or will we-in reality? READ THE COMPLETE REVIEW AT https://eokhardahreview.wordpress.com...
This book has a unique kick that makes you want to know more about this once described carefree girl whose jaunty and happy go lucky attitude was captured by an onlooker on a casual day thus making him nickname her as a "Lemon Girl" That spunky, feisty attitude described by Arsh created such an image that the reader kept flipping the pages to know more about Nirvi, who was given the above nickname. But alas when he meets her after a few years, he finds her reclusive, cloistered and unsocial. However, that does not keep him away from her.
a well plotted tale of two people who are bound to each other by fate in inexplicable way. how much patience and love does it take to erase your past and make one hopeful for a future. How does one deal with demons overpowering the good heart you possess ?
i truly enjoyed this story of new beginning, trusting yourself and of a guy's goal to bring happiness back to a girl.
This novel has such a beautiful flowing lyrical prose...after a long time i have come across an Indian author who knows her stuff...story of the lemon girl is relevant in today's society..and gives a strong message to us...four stars for beautifully woven plot and poetic language....
The book was good.... As a fan of Indian authors, waiting to win many books on goodreads... You guys are the angels for those who find heaven in reading
Lemon Girl is in some ways a typical love story, however it is not a story which would be made into a Hindi movie as the main heroine, is a person with a rather controversial past., The heroine Nirvi, the lemon girl has a live in relationship with another man, Sam, who then ditches her to marry a person of his families choice and goes to the united states. It exposes how being abused by a family member or someone who is trusted can traumatize a person for the rest of his or her life, adversely affecting the persons self esteem, and how people who are trusted can cause the maximum damage. It exposes how many relationships are extremely fleeting in nature, A well written book about the life of young people.
Lemon Girl – A Journey of self discovery Arsh’s story begins with “Watch out, Lemon Girl” and ends with “Watch out, Nirvi” and between these two statements Jyoti Arora has managed to fit a lifetime of emotions – love, hope, despair, hate – a complete circle. I did not just love the story – that is such a simple way of putting it. I was so immersed in it that I could feel the emotions of Nirvi and Arsh at each point. Narrating the story through both Arsh’s as well as Nirvi’s point of view was a stroke of genius. Maybe that is what being God would be like – being able to feel two conflicting emotions simultaneously – knowing both sides of the story and still not being able to take a stand. Jyoti is an excellent story teller and she has spun a beautiful tale of people who could be any one of us. But who says only the story, words and flow make up a book? There should be something more, that little something that makes a book stand out from the dozens of contemporaries and “Lemon Girl” has this little something aplenty. The theme of the book is one that has been a huge social menace since the beginning of time – the disrespect for women. We condition our children in such a way that they do not find anything wrong with blaming a girl for whatever untoward accident happens with her. Girls are asked to wear proper clothes as if it is their fault the guys have lose morals. Every time we restrict the girl, telling her it is her fault and that she needs to be more careful. We do not stop to think how faulty our logic is – we just take the easy and convenient way out and lay all the blame on the girl who is supposed to be more tractable, more obedient. And girls are forced to believe these lies – they too start believing slowly that it is indeed their fault. Lemon Girl tries to give back their dignity and freedom to the girls. Lemon girl is the story of a boisterous and free thinking girl who is forced into submission by society and who again rediscovers her wings without any help. Lemon Girl is the story of every girl in India who dreams of flying and whose wings are mercilessly chopped away every time they dare to grow. It tells us that, “It is NOT our fault.” We too are human beings, we have a right to live. We will not fit ourselves in the corners – the spaces left by you. We will define ourselves, we will find our own place. Kudos to Jyoti for having written such a beautiful story with a message that will reach the masses. Nirvi’s journey of self-discovery and empowerment will definitely force you to think and reassess your misconceptions. That being said, the fast paced story and the simple style in which it is written along with the beautiful and scenic descriptions of places make this book a gem. This book should be turned into a movie. Are you listening, Karan Johar?
I am finally done reading LEMON GIRL written by Jyoti Arora. This is her 2nd book and as far as I can remember, I didn't find her first book quite perfect. Talking about Lemon Girl, I am happy that though the authoress took many years to write it but the way she has grown with her writing has really impressed me. Right from the starting, book holds you and makes you a part of the feelings that Nirvi and Arsh keeps on expressing as first person in chapter after chapter. In some cases, you find Nirvi's point of view correct while in other, Arsh's. That's the magic of this book.
Though the book starts as if it's just another love story but keeping the pace in synchronization, Lemon Girl becomes more than a love story and you find many such topics discussed that makes you think again and again about who's right and who's wrong. The personal trauma of Nirvi is so perfectly scripted that your sympathy with her character remains until the climax of the book. The passion of Arsh towards Nirvi in few scenes initially and then, mainly in climax tells you how beautifully even a male character is portrayed. The character of Tiya tells you how a girl bears a break-up or an unsuccessful relation because of a friend but still remains positive about her. Nirvi's life with Sam is also nicely shown through words and you can easily understand the plight of Nirvi's whole persona that she adopts because Sam does not like her doing certain things.
Lemon Girl also discussed about rape and its after-effect in a girl's life. I liked the way authoress has written the chapter where rape is executed. The climax is also well crafted and does not let you feel that just because the story had to be completed somehow, author took some step foolishly the way Chetan Bhagat did with Half Girlfriend's climax. Last time I had a complain that Jyoti made the story sound bore by over describing things but this time, she kept it short and still effective. Still I would like to compliment the way she discusses few sensitive topics and love in few chapters. After reading the whole book when you will see its cover page again, you will be lost in thoughts and it would become hard to forget about Nirvi's struggle once she leaves her current world and goes to work in Rishikesh. Overall, a good attempt which can be surely read. I give it 3.75 stars out of 5.
Disclaimer: This review has not been commissioned by the Author even though I wish it was :D But Amazon! You have killed by profession.
I had completed Lemon Girl a week ago but was putting off from writing a review as I was not able to decide whether I associated with the character of Nirvi or not. I am a feminist and every female protagonist should stand up for herself, fight her battles and come out as a stronger person. Nirvi is not a black-and-white character where I can say that yes I like this about her and this is how I relate to her. She in fact reminded me a lot of Moll Flanders by Daphne du Maurier and then it striked me- is this the reaon why I found Nirvi so different. Like Moll, Nirvi is a survivor too. The methods used by her cannot be understood and liked by many of us but that does not mean she's not a survivor. So when I could connect with her, this story opened up for me.
Lemon Girl by Jyoti Arora has all the complexities of love. Desire, want, lust, wanting the forbidden fruit and heartbreak. It's a story about a girl, Nirvi who started out as a simple girl, living with her parents in a protected environment. And then Jyoti hits us with a very poignant question, "how safe are we behind the closed doors of our home?" That unnerved me. That relationship is too close, too pious. But that does not mean we can live as ostriches burying our head in the sand. Jyoti has not overplayed on what had changed in Nirvi's life. But with a subtlety, she has drawn the gory picture of how relationships can change in the blink of an eye. It was very scary moment for me.
From that point of time, Nirvi is looking for closures. Did she find it in the series of men she stayed with? The most prominent question would be why did she choose this path? Victim's guilt? Survival? At this point of time when Arsh enters her life she is no more the Lemon Girl he had met in the market a few years back. This not only intrigues Arsh but also me as a reader. What had happened in Nirvi's life that changed her so much? As I travel along with Arsh to understand the situation many things come in front of me which makes me question Nirvi's character. The feminist in me revolted and the woman in me understood. Conflicting emotions.
Welcome to the front row seat to take a journey of one girl, Nirvi.
Once a jovial and carefree girl, Nirvi’s life changes drastically when she is raped. While it is no fault of her own, she feels otherwise. She is victimized as the victim of a tragedy in this ‘wonder-ful’ society of ours. Now she lives life as a mere shadow of the person she once was – ashamed of her past and with no hopes and dreams of a future. Arsh remembers the girl she was and sees the girl she has become. He takes it upon himself to help her find the girl she once was.
It is so easy to fall in love with Nirvi. She is real and she lives amongst us. Most of us have had friends like her – one who lights up a room with her presence and sense of humour. As a woman myself, I could not help but feel outraged on her behalf at the injustices of our society. But I also realize that the author has merely portrayed the truth of today’s world where a woman is blamed for everything no matter if it is really her fault or not. It is the victim’s life that is ruined while the perpetrator lives a respectful life and simply moves on to find his next victim. However she fights on in whatever small ways she can to live and to find love and hope one day.
Arsh’s character is an interesting one. In the beginning he came across as a bit too full of himself and makes it difficult for us to like him. However over the period of the novel he redeems himself as he inserts himself in Nirvi’s life and help her find the girl she once was. He is ceaseless in his endeavors to resurrect and preserve the jovial girl that Nirvi once was. His voice is a refreshing one.
Rape is a sensitive and widespread issue that the author has handled with great care. Not once did the book feel unreal or overdone. In fact, there was a nagging feeling about the truth in the pages. Jyoti Arora has kept her language and narration simple, letting the plot and the characters take the center stage. Fiction or Reality? That is the question I had while reading this book. The novel maybe a work of fiction, but it is the reality of too many women in our society.
Engaging and emotional, this novel is a must read for all.
I had been planning to read Lemon Girl ever since I read its review in eFiction India Magazine. Well, I finally have... and I regret not having done it sooner. It was refreshing, well-thought, excellent.
It was thorough on many levels. I especially enjoyed the dual narrative by the two protagonists, which kept the spark alive throughout the end and did not tire me of from reading only a single person's point of view over the turn of events - the story demanded it and it was done very well. I loved how it was not just another College Romance Saga with unreal characters and situations but was a story well-crafted and written, with extremely relatable characters and a dark backdrop - story of a tortured soul finding itself again.
Yes!! the most remarkable thing about Lemon Girl is its characterization. They are far from perfect people. There choices and words are influenced by circumstances and not by sensibility - at most times. They, misjudge, miscommunicate, misunderstand, misbehave and pay for their actions. They are average human beings, who do what any other average person would do, would they find themselves in such situations. The thoughts and words of Arsh are remarkably very well observed and written ( being them written by a female author ) .
SPOILER ALERT !
* It is not just another romance story. It is a story of a girl who was raped by his own brother; it is the story of her downfall; it is the story of the desperate and immoral choices she makes to survive; it is the story of her realizing she can't run away forever; the story of her redemption and then her rising back up; and to roar with confidence that it wasn't HER fault. *
Lemon Girl is not a perfect book. Infact, it is far from a perfect book. It has spelling errors ( 'may' is written 'my' ) and some grammatical errors even; and also the ending is not completely satisfying, for me atleast. But it will never let your mind wander of anywhere else while you're reading it , and that's the beauty of it.
Overall, it was a smoothly written, brilliant story of facing your fears, standing up for yourself, accepting your past, and finding a long lost joy again. I will definitely look out for future novels from Jyoti Arora.
Personal compliment : I am a big fan of yours!I am in love with this novel and its characters. From the day nirvi started blaming herself saying "Its all my fault" till the day she denied the sentence n declared "Its not my fault." Ma'am you've portrayed it all brilliantly.. Ups and downs in the novel made me swing along with the perfect setting of conceived imagination..More like a fabricated emotional movie. The novel expresses each and every emotion precisely. Its a beautiful combination of genres.. I personally appreciate this novel from the core of my heart, because it has enlightened many kinds of stereotypes and social issues like rape and what a women goes through when she has been raped..Even today living relationship is widely not accepted in our society , there is always a third thought if a girl lives with a guy and then the girl is considered to be rotten! So basically, according to our society..A girl is in cheap criterion if she listens to what her heart says.. Which deliberately desponds the confidence of many such girls like Nirvi, Nirvi is just a Fictional character.. I marvel at the fact that many rape victims are still behind the curtain, afraid to express their blame and pain in front of the world, hiding themselves and blaming themselves for such heinous acts. Nirvi is not just a character for me but a motivational power for all those girls blemishing themselves. On the other hand Arsh is one of the strongest character in this novel, he is the backbone probably who has amazingly created the suspense till the very last page of lemon girl.. Where she lost all hope that she is merit less and worthless to life n people in her life, ironically she proved herself wrong and just moved on with the attitude of "come what may!" Another beautiful point here i notice is, there ain't a lot many characters filled in this book to make the story messy.. It makes easier here for the reader to plot the characters. Love, faith, trust,hurt, friendship, blame, family, professional life, respect and much more this book offers you. Veritably, This novel is yarned with the essence of true love and other complications to meet up the "happy life." Love the way in which story is narrated, commendable.. Must read.
'Lemon Girl'- is the second novel from the most talented author Jyoti Arora who won several national level blogs in past couple of years. Being a Thalassemia patient, the Author Jyoti Arora faced the curves of adversities through her journey towards the road which entitled her to gain a post graduate degree in English Literature and Applied Psychology. Her zest to overcome her medical problems and zeal to achieve success keeps her striving and endeavours her to embrace the joy of making her dreams come true. And thus she succesfully shades through the story line of the most beautifully crafted plot of 'Lemon Girl'- which makes this novel unique.
Lemon Girl- : A love story filled with emotions, betrayal, relationships, confidence, revival, and courage where Nirvi struggles to face her unknown and uncertain future, once though a charming bubbly cute Lemon girl as addressed often by Arsh who continues his search to find what went wrong in her life that could change her forever and helping her gain her lost confidence and courage to stand.
The Author skilled in depicting a very graceful romance that keeps the readers enchanting with the best captivating words. A compassionate story filled with decisions and emotional grips enthralling readers till the end that they both face on their personal dilemmas, and stand against all odds.
A narrative well written with different point of views expressed through the voices of the primary and strong characters Nirvi and Arsh. Lemon Girl is the story of a bright-spirited Nirvi and her struggle and transitions after she is molested. Elegantly woven amidst the narrative is a love story that begins and grows in strength and spirit.
A compelling and an exciting page turner that keeps you wondering about the harsh realities subscribing to the fact that true love powers to revive almost everything. Tia yet another character who registered the uniqueness of the plot being Nirvi's best friend makes something that's engaging and uniquely presented for the readers.
A well conceived and very elegantly crafted romantic and emotional saga engrossing the facts... by Jyoti Aurora Deserving a 5⭐Review. I intend to read more from the Author and wishing her best regards. Inderjit Kaur.
Lemon girl - It is not often that we come across a book title with a cute little reasoning behind the name. If I were to flatter the Author, I would say that this title is something I really liked only next to the Magnum Opus 'Ponniyin Selvan'(a Tamil Historic Fiction written in the 1950s. The culprit behind my reservations against giving 5 star to books I like). When it comes to story telling, I have read books that paint the story in your mind. Few manage to give life to it. Lemon girl is neither of these. Its like listening to someone tell a story. Its captivating and engrossing. The story is narrated in Nirvi(the Lemon Girl) and Arsh's point of views alternatively. It deals with such an intense topic but without the gory details. It makes you feel sad & thinking rather than angry & raging. And I guess 'thinking' works better in long term than 'reacting'. I loved how Arsh was not trying to behave like a hero when he kept reminding himself that Tiya would make an ideal partner(especially when Nirvi tried to seduce him). And I enjoyed the analogy between Nirvi's actions and Parasites. The story comes to a close naturally and beautifully, just the way I would like it to be. One can't afford to sound dramatic or cliched when handling such a sensitive topic. And that's what someone like Nirvi deserves - to be respected and treated like any other women. It's not her fault!
I liked everything about this book - the plot, the characterization, the ending. Only thing I did not enjoy is the cover. The cover actually put me off from reading the book earlier than I did. That's why someone wise had suggested not to judge a Book by its cover! Apart from the cover, I thought I should have felt a stab in my heart when I read about Nirvi's past. A Part of it can be attributed to the spoilers online(and a part to the story telling syle as mentioned above?) but I still believe the Author could have worked more on that part. Nevertheless, Author Jyoti Arora's brilliant writing shines through every page. I really wish she writes more and more.
Firstly am so glad I got the chance to read this wonderful novel. A big thank you to the author for sending me this book. Books with strong women have always stood out to me, because I believe that love stories should not only be about sappy princesses just waiting to be meet some wealthy rich dude. Acceptance for your true self is way more romantic that simply being swept off ones feet!
Jyoti Arora’s ‘Lemon Girl’ is beautifully narrated in the alternating viewpoints of the protagonists, Nirvi and Arsh. It is primarily the story of a bright-spirited Nirvi and her struggle and transformation after she is molested. But woven amidst the narrative is a love story that begins in the most unlikely of places and grows in strength and spirit along with the journey of our characters.
Nirvi is a truly memorable character who steadfastly works every day to battle her demons. Her spirit and determination stay with you long after you close the book. There were few times when I was really irritated by Arsh’s antics, but eventually he turned out to be pretty alright once he began to confront his feelings. The roles of the minor characters - the false boyfriend Sam, best-friend Tiya and the decent but morose employer Giri – were well-etched out.
What was extremely saddening was the utter betrayal from the one place that should be a haven of shelter - ones very own home.
Two standout messages from the novel that I loved: 1. Difference between being needed and wanted and the importance of knowing the difference in a relationship 2. The absolute must of self-respect for a healthy relationship
‘Lemon Girl’ is a must read. Despite the ugly patriarchal society we live in, this book gives us so much hope that as long as we keep fighting and not give up, we can keep the darkness at bay.
3.5* When I first heard that the title of Jyoti's second novel was Lemon Girl, I expected a simple, feel-good romance, but I couldn't be more wrong. It is not a simple love story of Arsh and Nirvi. Rather, it is the story of a girl's journey of regaining her sense of self-worth and respect, after being damaged and wounded in the worst possible way. It is also the story of the care and persistence of a guy who helps her out of the path to self-destruction. At a time when our whole nation is discussing violence against women, Jyoti has boldly taken up the taboo subjects of incestuous rape and victim-blaming, which are topics no one who even skims through the news headlines these days will be a stranger to. The author certainly needs to be applauded for attempting these themes and executing them sensitively. Having read Jyoti's first novel also, I can say that she has definitely grown as a writer- I found Lemon Girl more engaging than Dream's Sake. The alternating first person points of view of Nirvi and Arsh worked well enough. Although I did spot a few mistakes here and there, probably typing errors, nothing too bothering nor enough to disrupt the flow of reading. Overall, a nice attempt by the author to present a love story while also highlighting the more serious and sensitive issues of violence against women and the deep-rooted misogyny that exists in our society.
Sometimes, when in life, there aren’t enough twists and turns, my suggestion is to pick a book that has enough twists and turns to keep you interested. A book in that kind of category might be hard to find when you need it the most, but sometimes you just have to look on your book-shelf, read some back cover blurbs and Viola! You did it. Now go back to your comfort zone and start reading it.
Similar production is Jyoti Arora’s Lemon Girl. The book is full of aforementioned twists and turns that goes with the character reflecting their lives as real as our reality is present in front of us. The book is a fast pace read as it alternates between the first person narratives
To grab this book in your intellectual there is a definitive understanding of characters, to question their motives, and analyse them rationally. I feel the character of Arsh, the narrator other than the protagonist, is the way to do so.
I have talked a lot about alternative or multiple narratives in the earlier book reviews, and it always grab my attention, when this element is used properly, that is driving the plot forward, as done by the author of this book, the book becomes an enjoyable read too.
This book is a good read, a perfect match if you are looking for something different from you usually read. It touches a theme that the society, in the awe of itself, looks upon rather gruesomely and I think that is something needs to be change.
I credit the author for the work and congratulate her, because the way she has described the events of this book, in my view is a difficult task.
Rape…Rape…Rape… I am confident that by the time, this review catches your eyeballs, you all might have read numerous accounts and reports about females being raped and call of the learned people on the misdeeds but how many of you have ever tried a decent and true attempt to go beyond the boundaries of books and words in order to find out what happened next?
What about the ill-fated girls who are besotted by their lovers? Whom should they look up to then? Is losing independence the ONLY cost of breaking the shackles of dependency? Is it necessary that confident and outspoken girls need to be punished this way for being what they are? Is it necessary that females are bound to be fragile, timid and limited within the boundary walls? What to do if the saver himself attacks her?
The author Jyoti Arora picks one such plot and raises the concern for the security of confident, well educated, self made – in short a lemony girl. She named her Nirvi – the lemon girl. She is blessed with all the zest in life until one day she loses it all. Jyoti herself is a strong headed girl and she understand what all does it takes to stand up again and with heads high! She teaches this to her readers through this story. This is not a normal victim turned victorious types of story glorifying the social causes rather it is about the inner strength, the inner beauty.
Lemon Girl is a fantastic and brilliant book written by Jyoti Arora. The book consists of two unique and strong characters Nirvi, Arsh and their journey towards becoming one. The author Jyoti Arora has described Nirvi in a spectacular manner. In a way that will make you shed tears for Nirvi in her pain , distress and anguish which she goes through after being disrespected and raped by her own brother. This forces her to leave the house forever .In search of solace and happiness. On the other hand the author has described Arsh in an realistic way .The author has portrayed him as a gentleman who has his intentions clear about helping Nirvi in 1000 different ways .The author has also described his helplessness to reproach her, to ask for forgiveness for his actions in an mind-blowing fashion .The author has described the emotions of characters in an very enchanting manner .The dialogues are simple .The plot is very simple and sweet .What I like about this book is that the author has used Tiya like a sunshine in Nirvi's life. Lemon Girl by Jyoti Arora is an amazing book .An Awesome Read. Lemon Girl by Jyoti Arora is highly recommended read to all book lovers.