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I Love My Amma
I Love My Amma is a tender, funny and heart-wrenching tribute to mothers everywhere. First published in Kannada, this unforgettable collection of essays traces a son's journey from childhood reverence to adult understanding, when he finally sees his mother for who she truly is-flawed, stubborn, fierce and magnificently human.
Bursting with vivid details of smelly school toilets, monkey raids, steel-plate obsessions, temple vows and cinema-crazy crowds, the book brings alive the everyday dramas of growing up in a house ruled by Amma. Fearless before teachers and gods alike, relentless in her devotion and quietly resilient in the face of age and illness, Amma is as unforgettable as she is familiar.
Told with wit, warmth and aching honesty, I Love My Amma captures the messy, tender bond between a mother and child. And when the roles reverse and the son finds himself caring for his ageing mother, love comes full circle in the most unexpected ways. Top of Form
Heartfelt, humorous and deeply relatable, this book is for anyone who has argued with their mother, taken her for granted, and then realized that she was the quiet miracle holding everything together.
Bursting with vivid details of smelly school toilets, monkey raids, steel-plate obsessions, temple vows and cinema-crazy crowds, the book brings alive the everyday dramas of growing up in a house ruled by Amma. Fearless before teachers and gods alike, relentless in her devotion and quietly resilient in the face of age and illness, Amma is as unforgettable as she is familiar.
Told with wit, warmth and aching honesty, I Love My Amma captures the messy, tender bond between a mother and child. And when the roles reverse and the son finds himself caring for his ageing mother, love comes full circle in the most unexpected ways. Top of Form
Heartfelt, humorous and deeply relatable, this book is for anyone who has argued with their mother, taken her for granted, and then realized that she was the quiet miracle holding everything together.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2026
About the author
Vasudhendra
43 books408 followersVasudhendra (ವಸುಧೇಂದ್ರ) was born at Sandur in Ballari district, Karnataka. After working as a software professional for more than twenty years, Vasudhendra now runs his own publication house, Chanda Pustaka, which publishes and encourages new writing in Kannada and has instituted the Chanda Pustaka Award which recognizes young short story writers. He is also associated with local support groups for LGBT individuals. The author of thirteen books in Kannada, that have sold over 80,000 copies, Vasudhendra has won many literary awards, including the Kannada Sahitya Academy Book Prize, the Da Raa Bendre Story Award and the Dr U.R. Ananthamurthy Award.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 25, 2026
Written by @snkjournalchannel
Oh how I wish I could tell you the impact the book had on me. *I Love My Amma* by @bookayya, tr. from Kannada to English by Narayan Shankar, is a story of the author's mother and him. It's witty, tender, aching to an extent that it shouldn't be surprising if you shed a tear or two. Narrated in simple language — I need to applaud the translator for doing such an incredible job — this book leaves you thinking about how people cope differently with grief.
I had the honor to meet and host the author at @justonemorepagebookclub's author meet session. Every chapter ends in a reflective way, making you wonder what went through the author's mind while penning them down.
Not a single moment passed where I didn't deeply remember my father while reading this book. Go pick up this book, ashte. Bye.
#BookReview #KannadaLiterature #IndianBooks #BookstagramIndia #TranslatedFiction
[I Love My Amma, Kannada literature, Indian memoir, translated books, grief and loss, mother-son bond, book review, Indian authors, literary fiction, Bookstagram India]
Oh how I wish I could tell you the impact the book had on me. *I Love My Amma* by @bookayya, tr. from Kannada to English by Narayan Shankar, is a story of the author's mother and him. It's witty, tender, aching to an extent that it shouldn't be surprising if you shed a tear or two. Narrated in simple language — I need to applaud the translator for doing such an incredible job — this book leaves you thinking about how people cope differently with grief.
I had the honor to meet and host the author at @justonemorepagebookclub's author meet session. Every chapter ends in a reflective way, making you wonder what went through the author's mind while penning them down.
Not a single moment passed where I didn't deeply remember my father while reading this book. Go pick up this book, ashte. Bye.
#BookReview #KannadaLiterature #IndianBooks #BookstagramIndia #TranslatedFiction
[I Love My Amma, Kannada literature, Indian memoir, translated books, grief and loss, mother-son bond, book review, Indian authors, literary fiction, Bookstagram India]
June 4, 2026
An ode to a mother. A must read for every child.
July 12, 2026
There is a peculiar tragedy hidden inside every childhood, we spend our earliest years believing our parents are permanent. We assume their presence is as natural as the sunrise, their sacrifices as ordinary as breathing, and their love as something that simply exists without asking where it came from. Only much later, when distance, age, and time begin dismantling that illusion, do we realise that the people we once took for granted were carrying entire universes on their shoulders. "I Love My Amma" by Vasudhendra, beautifully translated from Kannada into English by Narayan Shankaran, is built upon that devastating realisation.
It is not merely a memoir. Nor is it simply a collection of nostalgic essays celebrating motherhood. It is something far more intimate, a slow excavation of memory that begins with a child's unquestioning dependence and ends with an adult's painful understanding. The book quietly asks one of life's most uncomfortable questions, When do we truly begin seeing our parents not as parents, but as human beings? That question lingers beneath every page.
Instead of constructing a grand narrative, the author stitches together twenty-three seemingly ordinary episodes from his childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. On paper, they appear deceptively simple, school days, monkey invasions, temple visits, homemade sandige drying beneath the relentless Karnataka sun, crowded cinema halls, household routines, and endless domestic rituals that define middle-class family life. Yet beneath these everyday occurrences lies something infinitely richer. The ordinary slowly transforms into the extraordinary because memory rarely remembers events, it remembers emotions.
What makes the book remarkable is their refusal to romanticize motherhood.
Amma is not written as an untouchable saint wrapped in impossible perfection. She is strict, stubborn, impatient, fiercely protective, occasionally unreasonable, endlessly resourceful, deeply affectionate, and often intimidating. She disciplines before she consoles. She worries more than she speaks. She expresses love less through words than through relentless acts of care. She is capable of making mistakes, holding grudges, and embarrassing her son while simultaneously becoming the emotional architecture upon which the family quietly stands.
Far too much literature reduces mothers into symbols rather than people. The author refuses that temptation. His Amma occupies the complicated space between authority and vulnerability. She is allowed to be contradictory, flawed, and emotionally messy. In doing so, the book becomes less about celebrating motherhood and more about understanding its impossible burdens.
The emotional evolution of the narrator is perhaps the book's greatest achievement.
As children, we often mistake parental discipline for cruelty, their restrictions for control, and their anxiety for interference. The younger narrator frequently views Amma through precisely this limited lens. Yet adulthood alters perspective in subtle but heartbreaking ways. The same woman who once seemed indestructible gradually becomes fragile. The protector begins needing protection. The caregiver slowly becomes dependent on the child she once carried.
Equally compelling is the book's portrait of Karnataka itself. The stories preserve an entire cultural landscape that feels increasingly endangered by modernity. Temple rituals, neighbourhood gossip, drying papads under the summer sun, cinema fandom, steel utensils, village humour, water shortages, local dialects, festivals, food traditions, and domestic superstitions together create something far richer than background scenery. They become living anthropology. The author documents an entire way of life without ever announcing that he is doing so.
Readers unfamiliar with Karnataka will discover a vibrant cultural world; Kannada readers may instead experience something even more moving, the profound comfort of recognition. Narayan Shankaran's translation deserves special appreciation because it understands one essential truth, language carries culture, but emotion carries humanity.
A literal translation could have flattened these stories into pleasant anecdotes. Instead, the translator preserves their warmth, humour, rhythm, and emotional cadence with remarkable sensitivity. The English prose never feels like it is borrowing from Kannada; it feels as though it naturally belongs in both languages simultaneously. That is perhaps the highest compliment any literary translation can receive.
Humour is another understated strength of the collection. Many of the funniest moments arise from domestic absurdities rather than elaborate jokes. Amma's obsession with household perfection, her practical wisdom, neighbourhood incidents, childhood misunderstandings, and family quarrels create laughter that feels lived rather than manufactured. These lighter passages perform an important emotional function. They prevent sentimentality from overwhelming the narrative, reminding readers that family memories are rarely composed solely of profound conversations. More often, they consist of arguments over food, misplaced objects, embarrassing moments, and shared laughter that only later becomes precious.
Yet despite its many strengths, the book is not entirely without limitations. Readers expecting a tightly structured memoir may occasionally feel disoriented by the episodic nature of the essays. Since each chapter functions almost independently, emotional momentum sometimes resets before reaching its full potential. Certain anecdotes conclude just as they begin uncovering deeper psychological territory, leaving the reader wanting more sustained introspection.
Likewise, the author's restrained prose, while elegant, occasionally avoids emotional confrontation at moments where greater vulnerability might have elevated the narrative even further. There are instances where silence speaks beautifully, but there are also moments where one longs for the author to linger slightly longer inside difficult emotions rather than moving gently past them.
✍️ Strengths :
🔸A deeply authentic portrayal of motherhood that embraces imperfections instead of idealising them.
🔸Beautifully observed snapshots of middle-class family life in Karnataka that preserve cultural memory with remarkable tenderness.
🔸Exceptionally nuanced emotional progression from childhood innocence to adult understanding and caregiving.
🔸Warm humour that balances grief, nostalgia, and affection without becoming sentimental.
🔸An outstanding English translation that preserves both cultural texture and emotional authenticity.
🔸Elegant, understated prose that allows ordinary experiences to acquire extraordinary emotional significance.
✒️ Areas for Improvement :
▪️The episodic structure occasionally interrupts emotional continuity and prevents deeper narrative immersion.
▪️Some essays conclude just when they begin exploring richer psychological territory.
▪️Readers seeking a more expansive memoir or philosophical reflection may find the collection intentionally restrained.
▪️The emotional subtlety, while admirable, sometimes leaves powerful moments slightly underdeveloped.
In conclusion, it succeeds because it understands something literature often forgets that the most profound stories are rarely the loudest ones. The author does not attempt to mythologise his mother or transform ordinary memories into exaggerated drama. Instead, he trusts the quiet dignity of everyday life, allowing love to emerge through routine, responsibility, irritation, sacrifice, and memory.
The result is a work of extraordinary emotional honesty that celebrates motherhood without reducing it to cliché. It reminds us that parents are not heroes because they are perfect; they are extraordinary because they continue loving despite exhaustion, disappointment, ageing, and everything life quietly asks them to endure. Long after the final essay ends, the book leaves behind a gentle but persistent ache, not for the Amma we have just met, but for the countless moments with our own parents that seemed ordinary when they happened, only to become priceless once they belonged to memory.
It is not merely a memoir. Nor is it simply a collection of nostalgic essays celebrating motherhood. It is something far more intimate, a slow excavation of memory that begins with a child's unquestioning dependence and ends with an adult's painful understanding. The book quietly asks one of life's most uncomfortable questions, When do we truly begin seeing our parents not as parents, but as human beings? That question lingers beneath every page.
Instead of constructing a grand narrative, the author stitches together twenty-three seemingly ordinary episodes from his childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. On paper, they appear deceptively simple, school days, monkey invasions, temple visits, homemade sandige drying beneath the relentless Karnataka sun, crowded cinema halls, household routines, and endless domestic rituals that define middle-class family life. Yet beneath these everyday occurrences lies something infinitely richer. The ordinary slowly transforms into the extraordinary because memory rarely remembers events, it remembers emotions.
What makes the book remarkable is their refusal to romanticize motherhood.
Amma is not written as an untouchable saint wrapped in impossible perfection. She is strict, stubborn, impatient, fiercely protective, occasionally unreasonable, endlessly resourceful, deeply affectionate, and often intimidating. She disciplines before she consoles. She worries more than she speaks. She expresses love less through words than through relentless acts of care. She is capable of making mistakes, holding grudges, and embarrassing her son while simultaneously becoming the emotional architecture upon which the family quietly stands.
Far too much literature reduces mothers into symbols rather than people. The author refuses that temptation. His Amma occupies the complicated space between authority and vulnerability. She is allowed to be contradictory, flawed, and emotionally messy. In doing so, the book becomes less about celebrating motherhood and more about understanding its impossible burdens.
The emotional evolution of the narrator is perhaps the book's greatest achievement.
As children, we often mistake parental discipline for cruelty, their restrictions for control, and their anxiety for interference. The younger narrator frequently views Amma through precisely this limited lens. Yet adulthood alters perspective in subtle but heartbreaking ways. The same woman who once seemed indestructible gradually becomes fragile. The protector begins needing protection. The caregiver slowly becomes dependent on the child she once carried.
Equally compelling is the book's portrait of Karnataka itself. The stories preserve an entire cultural landscape that feels increasingly endangered by modernity. Temple rituals, neighbourhood gossip, drying papads under the summer sun, cinema fandom, steel utensils, village humour, water shortages, local dialects, festivals, food traditions, and domestic superstitions together create something far richer than background scenery. They become living anthropology. The author documents an entire way of life without ever announcing that he is doing so.
Readers unfamiliar with Karnataka will discover a vibrant cultural world; Kannada readers may instead experience something even more moving, the profound comfort of recognition. Narayan Shankaran's translation deserves special appreciation because it understands one essential truth, language carries culture, but emotion carries humanity.
A literal translation could have flattened these stories into pleasant anecdotes. Instead, the translator preserves their warmth, humour, rhythm, and emotional cadence with remarkable sensitivity. The English prose never feels like it is borrowing from Kannada; it feels as though it naturally belongs in both languages simultaneously. That is perhaps the highest compliment any literary translation can receive.
Humour is another understated strength of the collection. Many of the funniest moments arise from domestic absurdities rather than elaborate jokes. Amma's obsession with household perfection, her practical wisdom, neighbourhood incidents, childhood misunderstandings, and family quarrels create laughter that feels lived rather than manufactured. These lighter passages perform an important emotional function. They prevent sentimentality from overwhelming the narrative, reminding readers that family memories are rarely composed solely of profound conversations. More often, they consist of arguments over food, misplaced objects, embarrassing moments, and shared laughter that only later becomes precious.
Yet despite its many strengths, the book is not entirely without limitations. Readers expecting a tightly structured memoir may occasionally feel disoriented by the episodic nature of the essays. Since each chapter functions almost independently, emotional momentum sometimes resets before reaching its full potential. Certain anecdotes conclude just as they begin uncovering deeper psychological territory, leaving the reader wanting more sustained introspection.
Likewise, the author's restrained prose, while elegant, occasionally avoids emotional confrontation at moments where greater vulnerability might have elevated the narrative even further. There are instances where silence speaks beautifully, but there are also moments where one longs for the author to linger slightly longer inside difficult emotions rather than moving gently past them.
✍️ Strengths :
🔸A deeply authentic portrayal of motherhood that embraces imperfections instead of idealising them.
🔸Beautifully observed snapshots of middle-class family life in Karnataka that preserve cultural memory with remarkable tenderness.
🔸Exceptionally nuanced emotional progression from childhood innocence to adult understanding and caregiving.
🔸Warm humour that balances grief, nostalgia, and affection without becoming sentimental.
🔸An outstanding English translation that preserves both cultural texture and emotional authenticity.
🔸Elegant, understated prose that allows ordinary experiences to acquire extraordinary emotional significance.
✒️ Areas for Improvement :
▪️The episodic structure occasionally interrupts emotional continuity and prevents deeper narrative immersion.
▪️Some essays conclude just when they begin exploring richer psychological territory.
▪️Readers seeking a more expansive memoir or philosophical reflection may find the collection intentionally restrained.
▪️The emotional subtlety, while admirable, sometimes leaves powerful moments slightly underdeveloped.
In conclusion, it succeeds because it understands something literature often forgets that the most profound stories are rarely the loudest ones. The author does not attempt to mythologise his mother or transform ordinary memories into exaggerated drama. Instead, he trusts the quiet dignity of everyday life, allowing love to emerge through routine, responsibility, irritation, sacrifice, and memory.
The result is a work of extraordinary emotional honesty that celebrates motherhood without reducing it to cliché. It reminds us that parents are not heroes because they are perfect; they are extraordinary because they continue loving despite exhaustion, disappointment, ageing, and everything life quietly asks them to endure. Long after the final essay ends, the book leaves behind a gentle but persistent ache, not for the Amma we have just met, but for the countless moments with our own parents that seemed ordinary when they happened, only to become priceless once they belonged to memory.
June 10, 2026
🅱🅾🅾🅺 🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆
𝑰 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑴𝒚 𝑨𝒎𝒎𝒂
ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ: Vasudhendhra
ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛ: Paperback
ᴘᴀɢᴇꜱ/ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀꜱ: 256
ᴘᴜʙʟɪꜱʜᴇʀ: Harperfiction India
ɢᴇɴʀᴇ: Memoir
If you know me, then you know how much I love regional literature in translation. There’s something incredibly special about being able to access stories from different languages and cultures through translation. And honestly, how does it feel when you finally get your hands on a book by one of your favourite regional authors? For me, it always feels like coming home.
Ever since I read the author's previous book, I knew I wanted to explore more of his work. With I Love My Amma, that wish finally came true.
Interestingly, I didn't realise that this book was written as a memoir until I reached the introduction. I'm glad I read it because it added so much context to the reading experience. The author shares the journey of how this book came to be translated, and as a reader who deeply appreciates translated literature, that made me incredibly happy. Without the translation, I may never have had the opportunity to experience this beautiful memoir.
The book opens with one of the most hilarious anecdotes from the author's life, and you'll understand exactly what I mean the moment you read the title. From there, the narrative unfolds through a series of memories centred around the author's family his Appa, Akka, and, most importantly, his Amma.
The author gently takes readers down memory lane, recounting how his mother shaped his personality and worldview, the bond he shared with his sister, and the struggles his father endured while supporting the family on a modest income. What I loved most was the vivid and picturesque storytelling. The writing brings every scene to life so beautifully that it is impossible not to feel nostalgic. From childhood school days and neighbourhood friendships to festivals and family traditions, the book captures the essence of a simpler time with warmth and authenticity.
Several moments in the book are an absolute delight to read some will make you smile, while others may leave you emotional. At its heart, this memoir explores themes of family, love, friendship, community, middle-class struggles, and, of course, the irreplaceable presence of Amma.
While reading this book, you'll find yourself thinking about your mother. And once you finish it, you'll probably miss her even more. Tender, heartfelt, and deeply nostalgic, I Love My Amma is also a wonderful example of how a translation should be done retaining the soul, warmth, and cultural richness of the original while remaining accessible to a wider audience.
𝑰 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑴𝒚 𝑨𝒎𝒎𝒂
ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ: Vasudhendhra
ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛ: Paperback
ᴘᴀɢᴇꜱ/ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀꜱ: 256
ᴘᴜʙʟɪꜱʜᴇʀ: Harperfiction India
ɢᴇɴʀᴇ: Memoir
If you know me, then you know how much I love regional literature in translation. There’s something incredibly special about being able to access stories from different languages and cultures through translation. And honestly, how does it feel when you finally get your hands on a book by one of your favourite regional authors? For me, it always feels like coming home.
Ever since I read the author's previous book, I knew I wanted to explore more of his work. With I Love My Amma, that wish finally came true.
Interestingly, I didn't realise that this book was written as a memoir until I reached the introduction. I'm glad I read it because it added so much context to the reading experience. The author shares the journey of how this book came to be translated, and as a reader who deeply appreciates translated literature, that made me incredibly happy. Without the translation, I may never have had the opportunity to experience this beautiful memoir.
The book opens with one of the most hilarious anecdotes from the author's life, and you'll understand exactly what I mean the moment you read the title. From there, the narrative unfolds through a series of memories centred around the author's family his Appa, Akka, and, most importantly, his Amma.
The author gently takes readers down memory lane, recounting how his mother shaped his personality and worldview, the bond he shared with his sister, and the struggles his father endured while supporting the family on a modest income. What I loved most was the vivid and picturesque storytelling. The writing brings every scene to life so beautifully that it is impossible not to feel nostalgic. From childhood school days and neighbourhood friendships to festivals and family traditions, the book captures the essence of a simpler time with warmth and authenticity.
Several moments in the book are an absolute delight to read some will make you smile, while others may leave you emotional. At its heart, this memoir explores themes of family, love, friendship, community, middle-class struggles, and, of course, the irreplaceable presence of Amma.
While reading this book, you'll find yourself thinking about your mother. And once you finish it, you'll probably miss her even more. Tender, heartfelt, and deeply nostalgic, I Love My Amma is also a wonderful example of how a translation should be done retaining the soul, warmth, and cultural richness of the original while remaining accessible to a wider audience.
June 14, 2026
The bond shared between a mother and child is one of the most profound and sacred connections in human experience. It is a unique relationship where love begins even before a child is brought into the world.
I Love My Amma by Vasudhendra beautifully honors this incredible relationship through a collection of 23 short stories drawn from the author’s memories of his mother and family.
In this book, Vasudhendra captures the essence of everyday life, exploring the intricacies of parenthood with a blend of humor and deep emotion. Each story reveals the quirks, sacrifices, and unwavering love that characterize the parent-child relationship, painting a vivid portrait of family dynamics. The anecdotes resonate with warmth and laughter, evoking smiles and fond memories, but they also invite readers to reflect on the more profound themes of aging, caregiving, gratitude, and the inexorable passage of time.
The writing is marked by its simplicity yet is imbued with evocative imagery, making it accessible while also deeply resonating with readers from all walks of life. Through his vivid storytelling, readers are encouraged to connect not only with his experiences but also to relate them to their own familial memories.
I Love My Amma serves as a heartfelt celebration of motherhood. Its themes resonate long after the final page is turned, leaving an indelible imprint on the heart for the mothers who nurture us so selflessly. Whether through shared laughter or the bittersweet reflections on growing older, this collection is a touching reminder of the profound impact of maternal love.
I Love My Amma by Vasudhendra beautifully honors this incredible relationship through a collection of 23 short stories drawn from the author’s memories of his mother and family.
In this book, Vasudhendra captures the essence of everyday life, exploring the intricacies of parenthood with a blend of humor and deep emotion. Each story reveals the quirks, sacrifices, and unwavering love that characterize the parent-child relationship, painting a vivid portrait of family dynamics. The anecdotes resonate with warmth and laughter, evoking smiles and fond memories, but they also invite readers to reflect on the more profound themes of aging, caregiving, gratitude, and the inexorable passage of time.
The writing is marked by its simplicity yet is imbued with evocative imagery, making it accessible while also deeply resonating with readers from all walks of life. Through his vivid storytelling, readers are encouraged to connect not only with his experiences but also to relate them to their own familial memories.
I Love My Amma serves as a heartfelt celebration of motherhood. Its themes resonate long after the final page is turned, leaving an indelible imprint on the heart for the mothers who nurture us so selflessly. Whether through shared laughter or the bittersweet reflections on growing older, this collection is a touching reminder of the profound impact of maternal love.
June 1, 2026
I recently read "I Love My Amma", and words hardly seem enough to capture its quiet beauty. The book doesn't idealize motherhood, instead, it remembers an amma who brings you into the world, teaches you, disciplines you, and stands by you like a rock. The author does not write about a perfect mother but about an amma who runs the house with discipline, fear, and affection. Amma not only nurtures the child but quietly holds the family together while managing everyday chaos.
Rooted in a small town in Karnataka, the book presents a family shaped by water queues, temple rituals, cinema halls, steel plates, Deepavali crackers, monkeys, the scorching sun, and the rhythms of ordinary domestic life. Above all, the mother son relationship is so beautifully drawn that it feels as if we are living their life.
One of the most moving parts of the book is the son’s emotional journey. The book traces his growth from childhood to adulthood and then into a more painful stage when he begins caring for his ageing mother. This change alters the emotional shape of the story,love is no longer only admiration, it becomes responsibility, irritation, guilt, and tenderness all at once, and we come to understand our parents only after time has made them vulnerable.
Read this book if you want a story that will make you laugh, ache, and view your own mother differently by the end. Even if you enjoy translated Indian literature or emotionally memoir like essays, this is a deeply rewarding read- tender, funny, painful, and quietly profound all at once.
Rooted in a small town in Karnataka, the book presents a family shaped by water queues, temple rituals, cinema halls, steel plates, Deepavali crackers, monkeys, the scorching sun, and the rhythms of ordinary domestic life. Above all, the mother son relationship is so beautifully drawn that it feels as if we are living their life.
One of the most moving parts of the book is the son’s emotional journey. The book traces his growth from childhood to adulthood and then into a more painful stage when he begins caring for his ageing mother. This change alters the emotional shape of the story,love is no longer only admiration, it becomes responsibility, irritation, guilt, and tenderness all at once, and we come to understand our parents only after time has made them vulnerable.
Read this book if you want a story that will make you laugh, ache, and view your own mother differently by the end. Even if you enjoy translated Indian literature or emotionally memoir like essays, this is a deeply rewarding read- tender, funny, painful, and quietly profound all at once.
June 10, 2026
✨ REVIEW:
From the moment we are born, we watch our mothers give endlessly. They set aside their own dreams, aspirations, and desires to become the best mother, wife, and daughter-in-law they can be. Yet, sadly, much of their sacrifice goes unnoticed. Many children grow up believing that everything a mother does is simply her duty or responsibility, rarely pausing to appreciate the countless ways she shapes their lives. We frequently don't realise the full extent of all they have done for us until we become older, move away from home, and confront life on our own.
This book beautifully captures the dreams, struggles, sacrifices, and silent resilience of a mother. It shines a light on the choices our mothers make every day and the immense strength they carry, often without recognition.
🌻 THINGS WHICH I LOVED:
One thing I love about this book is the son who finally saw his mother's pain. Through him I see a circle finally starting to heal.
It was really moving to read this journey from the viewpoint of a little child to that of an adult taking care of his elderly mother.
There are several times in the book that will get you to think, grin, or perhaps cry. The story feels genuine and emotional since it draws from the author's experiences in school, college, and adulthood. The writing is straightforward but impactful, evoking feelings that remain long after the last page.
🎯 TARGET READERS:
Anyone who appreciates emotionally charged stories that have a lasting effect should read this.
From the moment we are born, we watch our mothers give endlessly. They set aside their own dreams, aspirations, and desires to become the best mother, wife, and daughter-in-law they can be. Yet, sadly, much of their sacrifice goes unnoticed. Many children grow up believing that everything a mother does is simply her duty or responsibility, rarely pausing to appreciate the countless ways she shapes their lives. We frequently don't realise the full extent of all they have done for us until we become older, move away from home, and confront life on our own.
This book beautifully captures the dreams, struggles, sacrifices, and silent resilience of a mother. It shines a light on the choices our mothers make every day and the immense strength they carry, often without recognition.
🌻 THINGS WHICH I LOVED:
One thing I love about this book is the son who finally saw his mother's pain. Through him I see a circle finally starting to heal.
It was really moving to read this journey from the viewpoint of a little child to that of an adult taking care of his elderly mother.
There are several times in the book that will get you to think, grin, or perhaps cry. The story feels genuine and emotional since it draws from the author's experiences in school, college, and adulthood. The writing is straightforward but impactful, evoking feelings that remain long after the last page.
🎯 TARGET READERS:
Anyone who appreciates emotionally charged stories that have a lasting effect should read this.
June 18, 2026
Worry is a form of manifestation - what you fear, you attract.
What you seek, is seeking you.
Cheat Code to Manifest Miracles by Sneha Chauhan explores manifestation, consciousness, spirituality, free will, self-love, and the idea that our thoughts shape our reality. Through personal stories, spiritual concepts, and practical exercises, the author tries to simplify manifestation in a way that feels approachable for everyday life.
What stood out to me most was how the book blends spiritual ideas with real-life emotions and experiences. Chapters like The Invisible Power of Words Shapes Our Reality, Free Will vs Destiny, and Your Reality Is a Choice really stayed with me because they encourage self-reflection rather than just “positive thinking.”
What I liked about this book:-
- The writing feels simple and easy to follow
- Covers manifestation with emotional and spiritual depth
- Includes practical concepts like visualization, intention, and mindset
- Makes you reflect on your own beliefs and choices
- The personal stories make the book feel more relatable
What stayed with me:-
- “Your reality is a choice.”
- The idea that words and thoughts carry energy
- Healing and self-forgiveness are part of manifestation too
- Manifestation is not only about getting things but it’s also about becoming aligned with yourself
This book will connect most with readers who enjoy spirituality, manifestation, self-growth, and reflective reads that make you think deeply about life and consciousness.
What you seek, is seeking you.
Cheat Code to Manifest Miracles by Sneha Chauhan explores manifestation, consciousness, spirituality, free will, self-love, and the idea that our thoughts shape our reality. Through personal stories, spiritual concepts, and practical exercises, the author tries to simplify manifestation in a way that feels approachable for everyday life.
What stood out to me most was how the book blends spiritual ideas with real-life emotions and experiences. Chapters like The Invisible Power of Words Shapes Our Reality, Free Will vs Destiny, and Your Reality Is a Choice really stayed with me because they encourage self-reflection rather than just “positive thinking.”
What I liked about this book:-
- The writing feels simple and easy to follow
- Covers manifestation with emotional and spiritual depth
- Includes practical concepts like visualization, intention, and mindset
- Makes you reflect on your own beliefs and choices
- The personal stories make the book feel more relatable
What stayed with me:-
- “Your reality is a choice.”
- The idea that words and thoughts carry energy
- Healing and self-forgiveness are part of manifestation too
- Manifestation is not only about getting things but it’s also about becoming aligned with yourself
This book will connect most with readers who enjoy spirituality, manifestation, self-growth, and reflective reads that make you think deeply about life and consciousness.
August 22, 2026
"I Love My Amma" is a poignant and heartfelt tribute to mothers, brilliantly penned by author Vasudhendra and translated from Kannada by Narayan Shankaran. This compelling collection of twenty-three memoir essays traces the evolving relationship between a son and his mother, capturing the intricate nuances of love, frustration, and understanding that define a mother-child bond.
From the innocence of childhood admiration to the mature recognition of his mother’s flaws and strengths, Vasudhendra lovingly portrays Amma as a complex, fiercely human figure. Her stubbornness, resilience, and unwavering devotion come alive through vivid recollections—making the everyday🌤 experiences both relatable and rich with cultural texture. As the son transitions into the role of caregiver for his aging mother, the cyclical nature of love and sacrifice unfolds, showcasing the profound ways in which relationships evolve over time⏳️.
The narrative beautifully illustrates the messy, tender moments that define familial love. This collection stands out not just as a memoir but as a universal ode to motherhood, making it a must-read for anyone who cherishes the bond with their mother. This collection is a touching reminder of the complexities of love, making it a perfect addition to the bookshelf of anyone who appreciates the intricacies of family life💖🌜
From the innocence of childhood admiration to the mature recognition of his mother’s flaws and strengths, Vasudhendra lovingly portrays Amma as a complex, fiercely human figure. Her stubbornness, resilience, and unwavering devotion come alive through vivid recollections—making the everyday🌤 experiences both relatable and rich with cultural texture. As the son transitions into the role of caregiver for his aging mother, the cyclical nature of love and sacrifice unfolds, showcasing the profound ways in which relationships evolve over time⏳️.
The narrative beautifully illustrates the messy, tender moments that define familial love. This collection stands out not just as a memoir but as a universal ode to motherhood, making it a must-read for anyone who cherishes the bond with their mother. This collection is a touching reminder of the complexities of love, making it a perfect addition to the bookshelf of anyone who appreciates the intricacies of family life💖🌜
May 26, 2026
"Inspired by the blazing sun, amma prepared the again. This time, the moment they were put into hot oil, they bloomed like marigold flowers. Amma served me the contrasting Bangalore and Bellary sandige in a single plate and proudly said, 'Meet your scraggy Laurel from Bangalore and my bloated Hardy from Bellary."
'I love my amma' is a collection of essays written by Vasudhendra, translated from the kannada by Narayan Shankaran. Kannada translations are the best. As a kannadiga myself, I can't wait to read these books that connect me to my motherland.
When we are young, we never get to understand our mothers. It's only after we move out of our homes as adults we try to understand them truly. When I read this book, and these stories from a young boy to a grown up — where the roles reversed and the son is taking care of his aging mother, I felt really emotional. Having said that, the book isn't a profound one. You get all sorts of emotions up and running.
The author has shared experiences from his school, college, and adult life. The writing is eloquent and will make you call your mom right away. It's a book that will stay with me for a long, long time.
'I love my amma' is a collection of essays written by Vasudhendra, translated from the kannada by Narayan Shankaran. Kannada translations are the best. As a kannadiga myself, I can't wait to read these books that connect me to my motherland.
When we are young, we never get to understand our mothers. It's only after we move out of our homes as adults we try to understand them truly. When I read this book, and these stories from a young boy to a grown up — where the roles reversed and the son is taking care of his aging mother, I felt really emotional. Having said that, the book isn't a profound one. You get all sorts of emotions up and running.
The author has shared experiences from his school, college, and adult life. The writing is eloquent and will make you call your mom right away. It's a book that will stay with me for a long, long time.
June 10, 2026
'I Love My Amma' written by Vasudhendra and translated by Narayan Shankaran is an emotionally rich book which makes you laugh, weep and feel the emotions of childhood. This book transports you to your childhood, where Amma isn't the perfect human being. She's flawed and humane in the most relatable ways. I felt like I was growing up again while reading this book.
I remembered a line from one of my favourite movies Ye Jawani Hai Deewani while I read this book- "Yaadein mithai ke dibbe ki tarah hoti hai, ek baar khulo toh sirf ek tukda nahi kha paoge" which translates to "Memories are like a packet of sweet, once you open it, you can't take just a bite." That's what this book felt like. A book full of warm and relatable memories, with Maa.
This book made me realise how much a mother sacrifices silently for the family. What addicted me most deeply is when the son realises that his mother is getting old. The once caretaker of the family needs care now. The book is deeply reflective and made me sit in silence after I read it.
I remembered a line from one of my favourite movies Ye Jawani Hai Deewani while I read this book- "Yaadein mithai ke dibbe ki tarah hoti hai, ek baar khulo toh sirf ek tukda nahi kha paoge" which translates to "Memories are like a packet of sweet, once you open it, you can't take just a bite." That's what this book felt like. A book full of warm and relatable memories, with Maa.
This book made me realise how much a mother sacrifices silently for the family. What addicted me most deeply is when the son realises that his mother is getting old. The once caretaker of the family needs care now. The book is deeply reflective and made me sit in silence after I read it.
May 27, 2026
"A mother’s love is often understood the most when we begin to miss the little things she did every day."
Reading I Love My Amma felt like opening an old box of memories filled with love, noise, sacrifice and tears. The book shows a mother who is strict, funny, stubborn and endlessly caring at the same time. Every small moment feels real from childhood fears to growing up and finally understanding how much a mother silently carries for her family every single day.
What hurts the most is watching the son slowly realize that his Amma is growing old too. The woman who once protected everyone now needs care herself. That change feels deeply emotional and painfully beautiful. This book reminds us that mothers are not perfect angels — they are tired humans who still choose love every day. “To the world you are a mother, but to your family you are the world.”
Reading I Love My Amma felt like opening an old box of memories filled with love, noise, sacrifice and tears. The book shows a mother who is strict, funny, stubborn and endlessly caring at the same time. Every small moment feels real from childhood fears to growing up and finally understanding how much a mother silently carries for her family every single day.
What hurts the most is watching the son slowly realize that his Amma is growing old too. The woman who once protected everyone now needs care herself. That change feels deeply emotional and painfully beautiful. This book reminds us that mothers are not perfect angels — they are tired humans who still choose love every day. “To the world you are a mother, but to your family you are the world.”
June 18, 2026
Books about mothers! What can one even say about them. A mother is the best thing God has created. This particular book feels like sitting beside someone as they lovingly remember an entire lifetime with theirs. Vasudhendra paints a vivid portrait of his mother through a series of deeply personal, funny and moving recollections. This memoir is a beautiful tribute.
Whether he is recounting childhood adventures, household dramas, temple visits, school-day embarrassments or Amma's unique way of handling life's challenges, every story feels authentic and wonderfully alive. It is intensely personal. It is an emotional outtake. It's beautiful storytelling.
The everyday details of family life, village customs and growing up in a traditional Indian household are shared unapologetically and candidly. It is a celebration of motherhood. Warm, funny, nostalgic and touching.
Whether he is recounting childhood adventures, household dramas, temple visits, school-day embarrassments or Amma's unique way of handling life's challenges, every story feels authentic and wonderfully alive. It is intensely personal. It is an emotional outtake. It's beautiful storytelling.
The everyday details of family life, village customs and growing up in a traditional Indian household are shared unapologetically and candidly. It is a celebration of motherhood. Warm, funny, nostalgic and touching.
June 11, 2026
I Love My Amma by Vasudhendra is a collection of personal and beautifully written words, portrait of his mother, not as a perfect figure, but as a strong, stubborn, loving, and unforgettable woman who shaped his life in countless ways.
The book captures the small moments, family memories, laughter, arguments, sacrifices, and the bittersweet reality of watching a parent grow old. Amma feels incredibly real, reminding us of our own mothers and the love we often fail to express enough.
Warm, nostalgic, emotional, and filled with gentle humour, this is a book that made me smile, reflect, and cherish the people who quietly hold our worlds together. A beautiful tribute to motherhood and the bonds that stay with us forever.
The book captures the small moments, family memories, laughter, arguments, sacrifices, and the bittersweet reality of watching a parent grow old. Amma feels incredibly real, reminding us of our own mothers and the love we often fail to express enough.
Warm, nostalgic, emotional, and filled with gentle humour, this is a book that made me smile, reflect, and cherish the people who quietly hold our worlds together. A beautiful tribute to motherhood and the bonds that stay with us forever.
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June 13, 2026I don't rate autobiographical books, and this is definitely one that fits into the genre.
May 30, 2026
I Love My Amma by Vasudhendra, translated from Kannada by Narayan Shankaran, is a compendium of essays the author wrote after his mother's death. In an insightful introduction, he mentions how writing these essays had a therapeutic effect. He says the fact that she wouldn't read them granted him the gift of great candour. As pages turn, we learn about the author's growing up years in a small town in Bellary, his college and work years in Surathkal and Bangalore respectively. Hailing his Amma as a colorful personality who did everything with immense sincerity and passion - be it cooking and other household chores or arguing with people or telling stories with a cinematic effect, the author writes about her with earnestness and intimacy while maintaining a measured emotional distance. He portrays her as a normal mortal, accepts her strengths and foibles with equanimity, without aggrandising her as a goddess with unconditional love for her family. Though the fountainhead of the essays is the author’s mother, his father who is exactly opposite in nature to the mother has a prominent place; his elder sister, neighbours and townspeople too get space and attention.
The book begins with an essay titled ‘The Chaddi Rascal’ which shows how life comes full circle with the mother and son finding themselves in similar predicament many years apart. Though the essay begins on a humorous & jaunty note, the end leaves us moist eyed and contemplative. More than a memoir, I Love My Amma portrays a way of life in small towns in India. How scorching heat, scant water, rampant poverty and other hardships in villages and towns in Bellary teach patience, make frugality life's motto are highlighted well. Each essay works well standalone, feels wholesome & is packed with an array of well etched characters and a gamut of emotions. The translation deserves accolades with a special mention on how creatively an apotropaic ritual the mother performs to ward off the evil eye is rendered in English.
Meant for slow relish, these essays leave you smiling, chuckling, mulling, nodding your head in approval and moist eyed. Beautiful read!
The book begins with an essay titled ‘The Chaddi Rascal’ which shows how life comes full circle with the mother and son finding themselves in similar predicament many years apart. Though the essay begins on a humorous & jaunty note, the end leaves us moist eyed and contemplative. More than a memoir, I Love My Amma portrays a way of life in small towns in India. How scorching heat, scant water, rampant poverty and other hardships in villages and towns in Bellary teach patience, make frugality life's motto are highlighted well. Each essay works well standalone, feels wholesome & is packed with an array of well etched characters and a gamut of emotions. The translation deserves accolades with a special mention on how creatively an apotropaic ritual the mother performs to ward off the evil eye is rendered in English.
Meant for slow relish, these essays leave you smiling, chuckling, mulling, nodding your head in approval and moist eyed. Beautiful read!
May 25, 2026
'Look, God has blessed me with just one son. I've raised him like the apple of my eye. Come what may, I'm not ready to stake his life for some silly TV repair ...’
- Vasudhendra, I Love My Amma (Transl. Narayan Shankaran)
I Love My Amma by Vasudhendra (Translated from Kannada by Narayan Shankaran) is a tender, deeply aching memoir that is a fond tribute to motherhood. Through vivid anecdotes, the readers begin to understand the bond between the mother-son duo and at the same time, know them as individuals.
”My little prince,' and fondly kissed me on my cheek. 'Do you know where you were before you were born?' she asked me, chuckling.”
Chaddi Master is an evocative story of how the roles of a caregiver and caretaker were switched. A mom is portrayed to be a role model in that particular essay. But as I flipped the pages, I understood how beautiful her flaws were that depicted her to be a human first.
There's a quiet melancholy that's recurring as a thread in each of the essays. It can be the guilt of breaking promises or a feeling of remorse during her last days. For instance, the inability to preserve Amma's favourite steel vessels or a priest's helplessness of spending the money reserved to be kept at a sanctum. Her name isn't mentioned as the word, Amma transcends the individual; it becomes an archetype of motherhood itself, carrying within it memory, loss, love and sacrifice. Finding humour in the mundanity of life, the two contradicting emotions (joy and sorrow) co-exist with each other among the pages.
Narayan Shankaran's craftsmanship of translating a work to a universally accepted language by preserving the authenticity is commendable.
- Vasudhendra, I Love My Amma (Transl. Narayan Shankaran)
I Love My Amma by Vasudhendra (Translated from Kannada by Narayan Shankaran) is a tender, deeply aching memoir that is a fond tribute to motherhood. Through vivid anecdotes, the readers begin to understand the bond between the mother-son duo and at the same time, know them as individuals.
”My little prince,' and fondly kissed me on my cheek. 'Do you know where you were before you were born?' she asked me, chuckling.”
Chaddi Master is an evocative story of how the roles of a caregiver and caretaker were switched. A mom is portrayed to be a role model in that particular essay. But as I flipped the pages, I understood how beautiful her flaws were that depicted her to be a human first.
There's a quiet melancholy that's recurring as a thread in each of the essays. It can be the guilt of breaking promises or a feeling of remorse during her last days. For instance, the inability to preserve Amma's favourite steel vessels or a priest's helplessness of spending the money reserved to be kept at a sanctum. Her name isn't mentioned as the word, Amma transcends the individual; it becomes an archetype of motherhood itself, carrying within it memory, loss, love and sacrifice. Finding humour in the mundanity of life, the two contradicting emotions (joy and sorrow) co-exist with each other among the pages.
Narayan Shankaran's craftsmanship of translating a work to a universally accepted language by preserving the authenticity is commendable.
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