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A Home for Urvashi: A Novel
Death separates Dulari from her beloved twin sister, Ujjwala. Forlorn, her spirit remains on Earth as a powerless but constant companion to Ujjwala. Like the apsara Urvashi, she has the power to travel between worlds but no family, no one to love.Dulari has a she hopes to be reborn as Ujjwala's daughter and find a home for herself. Twenty-nine years have gone by, but her dream remains unfulfilled. There is hope, though, for Ujjwala has a son and now longs for a daughter. Then arrives a man from Ujjwala's past. His presence upsets her life and sets into motion a series of events that threaten to destroy her completely. Only Dulari can save her sister, but to do that, she must relinquish her dream. Sensitively written and evocative, A Home for Urvashi depicts the bond of sisterhood that goes beyond life and death.
390 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2017
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 20, 2017
Review by Sohinee Dey
“A Home For Urvashi” tells the story of twin sisters, Dulari and Ujjwala. The author has tried to broach the topic of sisterhood by writing this book. The bond between sisters doesn’t really make an appearance in any books, but this book have cast a spotlight on sisterhood.
While Dulari is a forlorn spirit who exists on Earth but is powerless, Ujjwala lives in the human world and can execute her humanly powers. The two sisters are shown to be from two different worlds. Dulari loves her sister too much that she follows her around, keeps an eye on her so that she doesn’t fall prey to any dangerous situations. On the other hand, Ujjwala has no sense of Dulari’s existence because when Dulari died, both of them were new born babies.
When you can actually visualise the scenes and you feel what the characters feel, know that it’s a book that you need to read. The plotline is absolutely original. The narration is savory. The length of the book though long, I didn’t find it to be boring but yes, it won’t be a good idea to complete it in one sitting. The emotions of the characters were well-balanced and has the power to evoke the same feelings in a reader. Everything about the story is well-developed.
Read the complete review on my blog: https://poesyinchrysalis.wordpress.co...
“A Home For Urvashi” tells the story of twin sisters, Dulari and Ujjwala. The author has tried to broach the topic of sisterhood by writing this book. The bond between sisters doesn’t really make an appearance in any books, but this book have cast a spotlight on sisterhood.
While Dulari is a forlorn spirit who exists on Earth but is powerless, Ujjwala lives in the human world and can execute her humanly powers. The two sisters are shown to be from two different worlds. Dulari loves her sister too much that she follows her around, keeps an eye on her so that she doesn’t fall prey to any dangerous situations. On the other hand, Ujjwala has no sense of Dulari’s existence because when Dulari died, both of them were new born babies.
When you can actually visualise the scenes and you feel what the characters feel, know that it’s a book that you need to read. The plotline is absolutely original. The narration is savory. The length of the book though long, I didn’t find it to be boring but yes, it won’t be a good idea to complete it in one sitting. The emotions of the characters were well-balanced and has the power to evoke the same feelings in a reader. Everything about the story is well-developed.
Read the complete review on my blog: https://poesyinchrysalis.wordpress.co...
December 19, 2017
Absolute Brilliant. I love everything about this book. The plot is unusual yet unique. The story has completely taken me by surprise. The characters are well sorted and the story flows like a river, smooth and serene. The story is full of unexpected turns and bumps and surprising revelations that lead to the end.
I love how the author draws her character. I am surprised by her powerful and artistic imagination. You won’t be disappointed investing your time in the book. The book is a good read for the readers looking for new plot and a fresh story. This is a perfect read for ardent readers who dive deep and savor the story. Will Dulari’s wait ever ends? Will her dream of life ever fulfill?
Breaking the barriers of all the biases and custom stories. I congratulate Sanchali for bringing such a beautiful and poignant tale. The story depicts bond of sisterhood, life struggles, the upheaval of emotions and a tale of life and death and a long wait of Dulari. Give it a go.
https://thereviewauthor.com/
I love how the author draws her character. I am surprised by her powerful and artistic imagination. You won’t be disappointed investing your time in the book. The book is a good read for the readers looking for new plot and a fresh story. This is a perfect read for ardent readers who dive deep and savor the story. Will Dulari’s wait ever ends? Will her dream of life ever fulfill?
Breaking the barriers of all the biases and custom stories. I congratulate Sanchali for bringing such a beautiful and poignant tale. The story depicts bond of sisterhood, life struggles, the upheaval of emotions and a tale of life and death and a long wait of Dulari. Give it a go.
https://thereviewauthor.com/
December 15, 2017
PLOT:
Death separates Dulari from her beloved twin sister, Ujjwala. Dulari falls in love with her sister the moment she sets her eyes on her. Determined to be united with her sister, Dulari’s spirit remains on Earth. She remains as a constant companion to Ujjwala and waits for the perfect opportunity to be with her again. She hopes to be reborn as Ujjwala’s sister once again. But when she learns that Ujjwala’s mother is happy with two kids and wishes to have no more, she is heart-broken. Now Dulari’s only hope is to be reborn as Ujjwala’s daughter. Twenty-nine years have gone by. Ujjwala has struggled a lot through out her life.
Happily married, a mother of a three-year-old, everything is finally perfect in her life. She works in a good company and has worked her way up the ladder. Her colleagues respect her. Her husband, Yash, works in a cruise-company. He is away from his home and works so hard to save some money to open his own restaurant in Calcutta. Ujjwala now longs for a daughter. Everything was going as per plan and Dulari was so happy about it.
Then arrives a man from Ujjwala’s past. He is someone who knows all her secrets. Dulari is the only one who can save her sister. But in order to protect her sister, she has to give up her only dream. Will she give up her longing for life in order to save her sister?
CHARACTERS & WRITING:
I fell in love with Dulari right from the first page. She is my precious, my moon, my sun. The love she has for her sister has left me longing for a sister like her. She never leaves Ujjwala’s side. She has been like a guiding star for her. And when Vir, Ujjwala’s son, is born, Dulari loves him the same way she loves her sister. She also has moments when she loses herself, when her desire seems to overpower her love for her sister. But EVERY TIME she tries to think what’s best for Ujjwala, and ultimately it’s the love for her sister that wins.
Another character is Beral, Dulari’s spiritual sister, the cat. Beral has lived eight of her nine lives and is ready for the last one. The way she helps Ujjwala is a noble act. I really enjoyed reading about such characters. There is real warmth in Dulari & Beral. All the other characters were also well developed. Overall the author has done a great job with all the characters.
The writing is so elegant and simple. The way the author has described Calcutta, Darjeeling and other places makes me want to go on a vacation. It is written so beautifully. I fell in love with the way the author has penned down Dulari’s thoughts. The way she longs for few things breaks your heart and at the same time makes you appreciate the things you have in your life.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I commend the author for choosing such a unique and great theme for the book. A book about sisterhood is not something I have come across that often. It is such a refreshing read. I highly, highly recommend this book.
Death separates Dulari from her beloved twin sister, Ujjwala. Dulari falls in love with her sister the moment she sets her eyes on her. Determined to be united with her sister, Dulari’s spirit remains on Earth. She remains as a constant companion to Ujjwala and waits for the perfect opportunity to be with her again. She hopes to be reborn as Ujjwala’s sister once again. But when she learns that Ujjwala’s mother is happy with two kids and wishes to have no more, she is heart-broken. Now Dulari’s only hope is to be reborn as Ujjwala’s daughter. Twenty-nine years have gone by. Ujjwala has struggled a lot through out her life.
Happily married, a mother of a three-year-old, everything is finally perfect in her life. She works in a good company and has worked her way up the ladder. Her colleagues respect her. Her husband, Yash, works in a cruise-company. He is away from his home and works so hard to save some money to open his own restaurant in Calcutta. Ujjwala now longs for a daughter. Everything was going as per plan and Dulari was so happy about it.
Then arrives a man from Ujjwala’s past. He is someone who knows all her secrets. Dulari is the only one who can save her sister. But in order to protect her sister, she has to give up her only dream. Will she give up her longing for life in order to save her sister?
CHARACTERS & WRITING:
I fell in love with Dulari right from the first page. She is my precious, my moon, my sun. The love she has for her sister has left me longing for a sister like her. She never leaves Ujjwala’s side. She has been like a guiding star for her. And when Vir, Ujjwala’s son, is born, Dulari loves him the same way she loves her sister. She also has moments when she loses herself, when her desire seems to overpower her love for her sister. But EVERY TIME she tries to think what’s best for Ujjwala, and ultimately it’s the love for her sister that wins.
Another character is Beral, Dulari’s spiritual sister, the cat. Beral has lived eight of her nine lives and is ready for the last one. The way she helps Ujjwala is a noble act. I really enjoyed reading about such characters. There is real warmth in Dulari & Beral. All the other characters were also well developed. Overall the author has done a great job with all the characters.
The writing is so elegant and simple. The way the author has described Calcutta, Darjeeling and other places makes me want to go on a vacation. It is written so beautifully. I fell in love with the way the author has penned down Dulari’s thoughts. The way she longs for few things breaks your heart and at the same time makes you appreciate the things you have in your life.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I commend the author for choosing such a unique and great theme for the book. A book about sisterhood is not something I have come across that often. It is such a refreshing read. I highly, highly recommend this book.
February 2, 2018
My rating is 3.5
I enjoyed the novel. I was flying through it after I managed to read the first fifty or so pages. The writing style was good, very fluent and was easily connecting with my taste. If and only if there could have been a grand wrap up to this unique story, the book could have done wonders. Still it is a very enjoyable read. I think it is a genre free book and any sort of reader can pick it up.
You can read the complete review here:
http://thesubtlebraiding.blogspot.com...
I enjoyed the novel. I was flying through it after I managed to read the first fifty or so pages. The writing style was good, very fluent and was easily connecting with my taste. If and only if there could have been a grand wrap up to this unique story, the book could have done wonders. Still it is a very enjoyable read. I think it is a genre free book and any sort of reader can pick it up.
You can read the complete review here:
http://thesubtlebraiding.blogspot.com...
December 21, 2017
The synoposis rose the expectations high, and I must say, the book didn't disappoint me as well.
Written from a very unique P.O.V, this book itself is one of the very unique books I've ever read. We all might have read books from the points of view of very different people, but it must be very rare when the point of view of a spirit is laid down. This very different insight was so much vast and interesting!
When I first started reading the book, I was drawn into it instantly. The pace is more on the faster side and things keep happening. But once in a while, there are also some mundane descriptions, which feel refreshing. I felt like I was visiting Kolkata myself. Never did I realise that such a crowded metropolitan city could interest me. But the writer succeeded in drawing my interest here.
I think this clarifies enough that I loved the writing style of the writer. The pace, the descriptions and the ability of the writer to get the reader's interest: I loved it all. The storyline is pretty good, but the writing made it so much more vivid.
The characters!! I loved them so much. They are all very sorted and strong. I was interested to read about them all and looked forward to their actions and what would happen of them. So, the writer didn't fail to amaze me here as well.
For more than first half of the book, I felt that I would give it 5 stars, as the premise was very strong and great things could be expected out of it. I won't say that I was totally disappointed, but there was something more I was expecting in the climax that didn't happen. Not that I am complaining, as I feel that reading this book is a treat in itself. This is one of those books you could read an enjoy to the fullest.
I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a great work of fiction.
Written from a very unique P.O.V, this book itself is one of the very unique books I've ever read. We all might have read books from the points of view of very different people, but it must be very rare when the point of view of a spirit is laid down. This very different insight was so much vast and interesting!
When I first started reading the book, I was drawn into it instantly. The pace is more on the faster side and things keep happening. But once in a while, there are also some mundane descriptions, which feel refreshing. I felt like I was visiting Kolkata myself. Never did I realise that such a crowded metropolitan city could interest me. But the writer succeeded in drawing my interest here.
I think this clarifies enough that I loved the writing style of the writer. The pace, the descriptions and the ability of the writer to get the reader's interest: I loved it all. The storyline is pretty good, but the writing made it so much more vivid.
The characters!! I loved them so much. They are all very sorted and strong. I was interested to read about them all and looked forward to their actions and what would happen of them. So, the writer didn't fail to amaze me here as well.
For more than first half of the book, I felt that I would give it 5 stars, as the premise was very strong and great things could be expected out of it. I won't say that I was totally disappointed, but there was something more I was expecting in the climax that didn't happen. Not that I am complaining, as I feel that reading this book is a treat in itself. This is one of those books you could read an enjoy to the fullest.
I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a great work of fiction.
December 21, 2017
3.5 stars
Dulari and Ujjwala are twins and orphans who get separated at birth. Dulari dies while Ujjwala is adopted. Ever since then, Dulari has constantly remained by Ujjwala’s side even though Ujjwala isn’t aware of her sister’s existence. Dulari’s greatest wish has always been to be reborn and join her sister’s side. When Ujjwala is faced with a difficult situation, Dulari has to make a decision- be reborn as Ujjwala’s daughter or help her sister by remaining a spirit?
When I read the synopsis of this book, I was instantly interested. I knew that it would be fascinating to read a book from a spirit’s perspective and I also wanted to read a book that focused on a strong sisterhood.
The book shifts between the spirit world and the mortal world. We read the story through Dulari’s eyes who tells us about her own and her sister’s journey. The book has a strong theme of magical realism. I’ll be upfront and say that I’ve always been wary of this genre and never been a fan. However, I was very interested to see how it plays out in this book.
I highly enjoyed the author’s writing. The descriptions were very well done. The only downside was that they were too long. The cities of Calcutta, Darjeeling, and Bombay were beautifully portrayed. It was fascinating to read about the cities and the protagonist’s life through a ghost’s eyes. As Dulari was a spirit, she had a habit of describing everything she saw in detail and that got a bit tiresome to read.
The most complex character was Dulari herself. Her devotion to Ujjwala was angelic. She becomes infatuated with Sooraj, her sister’s colleague. Her desperation to be with a mortal being makes us sympathize with her. However, her constant indecision and how her mood would change again and again became annoying.
I really liked the plot and it was what kept me reading. However, it went too far with the fantastical elements and became too dramatic.
For the most part, I liked how the book ended. It was surprising but appropriate.
This is an emotional and heart-warming read. It is sweet and sad and the same time. I enjoyed it and will recommend it if you want to read something different. It was something new and refreshing.
“I received a copy of this book from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.”
Dulari and Ujjwala are twins and orphans who get separated at birth. Dulari dies while Ujjwala is adopted. Ever since then, Dulari has constantly remained by Ujjwala’s side even though Ujjwala isn’t aware of her sister’s existence. Dulari’s greatest wish has always been to be reborn and join her sister’s side. When Ujjwala is faced with a difficult situation, Dulari has to make a decision- be reborn as Ujjwala’s daughter or help her sister by remaining a spirit?
When I read the synopsis of this book, I was instantly interested. I knew that it would be fascinating to read a book from a spirit’s perspective and I also wanted to read a book that focused on a strong sisterhood.
The book shifts between the spirit world and the mortal world. We read the story through Dulari’s eyes who tells us about her own and her sister’s journey. The book has a strong theme of magical realism. I’ll be upfront and say that I’ve always been wary of this genre and never been a fan. However, I was very interested to see how it plays out in this book.
I highly enjoyed the author’s writing. The descriptions were very well done. The only downside was that they were too long. The cities of Calcutta, Darjeeling, and Bombay were beautifully portrayed. It was fascinating to read about the cities and the protagonist’s life through a ghost’s eyes. As Dulari was a spirit, she had a habit of describing everything she saw in detail and that got a bit tiresome to read.
The most complex character was Dulari herself. Her devotion to Ujjwala was angelic. She becomes infatuated with Sooraj, her sister’s colleague. Her desperation to be with a mortal being makes us sympathize with her. However, her constant indecision and how her mood would change again and again became annoying.
I really liked the plot and it was what kept me reading. However, it went too far with the fantastical elements and became too dramatic.
For the most part, I liked how the book ended. It was surprising but appropriate.
This is an emotional and heart-warming read. It is sweet and sad and the same time. I enjoyed it and will recommend it if you want to read something different. It was something new and refreshing.
“I received a copy of this book from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.”
December 24, 2017
The Book Cover is so Serene and pleasant. I expected the book would be more of emotional bonafides but it was not that. Actually this novel has every kind of mood to sink in. I simply loved that.
Ujjwala and Dulari are twins and they were abandoned in a garbage bin. Dulari died while Ujjwala survived. Dulari enters the spirit world and opts for a rebirth to be Ujjwala sister. But fate plays its trick and Dulari is waiting for rebirth to be born as Ujjwala daughter. Will Dulari get her chance to live a mortal life to be with Ujjwala? Does God has other plan? Well you have to read the book to know it.
Dulari character was gracefully embedded around Ujjwala. We might fall for Ujjwala easily but author kept the thin but strong thread for us to hold on to Dulari. The writing was so good that I could feel all the emotions of Dulari hitting through my heart.
Author emphasised few social issues and it purely went through the eyes of characters.Author didn’t keep Dulari character as a pure selfless soul, she had all emotions but chose her sister wellness rather than her state of mind.
I loved the outer space characters thoroughly. Mother, Beral ( She is indeed an heavenly soul) , Daree everyone. I didn’t expect the plot to jump over to a crime thriller. That was tricky one. But then too author brilliantly solved the crime only through the world of Dulari. This book is totally a treat for the people who love imaginary tale.The only thing i felt low in the book is the length of the story. At few pages I felt it was more dragging.
Author has splendidly written the tale of sisterhood, a selfless love and sacrifice. The end was unpredicted. It is a win-win happy end for author and me as well.
Ujjwala and Dulari are twins and they were abandoned in a garbage bin. Dulari died while Ujjwala survived. Dulari enters the spirit world and opts for a rebirth to be Ujjwala sister. But fate plays its trick and Dulari is waiting for rebirth to be born as Ujjwala daughter. Will Dulari get her chance to live a mortal life to be with Ujjwala? Does God has other plan? Well you have to read the book to know it.
Dulari character was gracefully embedded around Ujjwala. We might fall for Ujjwala easily but author kept the thin but strong thread for us to hold on to Dulari. The writing was so good that I could feel all the emotions of Dulari hitting through my heart.
Author emphasised few social issues and it purely went through the eyes of characters.Author didn’t keep Dulari character as a pure selfless soul, she had all emotions but chose her sister wellness rather than her state of mind.
I loved the outer space characters thoroughly. Mother, Beral ( She is indeed an heavenly soul) , Daree everyone. I didn’t expect the plot to jump over to a crime thriller. That was tricky one. But then too author brilliantly solved the crime only through the world of Dulari. This book is totally a treat for the people who love imaginary tale.The only thing i felt low in the book is the length of the story. At few pages I felt it was more dragging.
Author has splendidly written the tale of sisterhood, a selfless love and sacrifice. The end was unpredicted. It is a win-win happy end for author and me as well.
January 8, 2018
Title: A Home For Urvashi
Author: Sanchali Bhattacharya
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Published On: 15th October 2017
Pages: 352
Binding: Paperback
ISBN: 978-9352773541
" I died the day I was born."
BLURB
Death separates Dulari from her beloved twin sister, Ujjwala. Forlorn, her spirit remains on Earth as a powerless but constant companion to Ujjwala. Like the apsara Urvashi, she has the power to travel between worlds but no family, no one to love.
Dulari has a dream: she hopes to be reborn as Ujjwala s daughter and find a home for herself. Twenty-nine years have gone by, but her dream remains unfulfilled. There is hope, though, for Ujjwala has a son and now longs for a daughter.
Then arrives a man from Ujjwala s past. His presence upsets her life and sets into motion a series of events that threaten to destroy her completely. Only Dulari can save her sister, but to do that, she must relinquish her dream. Will Dulari intervene and protect Ujjwala, or will she wait and watch? Will her endless longing for life and belonging overpower the love she has for her sister?
Sensitively written and evocative, A Home for Urvashi depicts the bond of sisterhood that goes beyond life and death.
COVER PAGE
The cover page of the book is very simple and is one of the best ones that I have seen. It is very nicely designed in black and grey colours. I really loved the flying black birds. It portrays the emotions of the spirit involved in the story really well. Overall, a beautiful and a serene cover page.
REVIEW
Reading some books give you satisfaction which make you feel warm as if giving a closure and A Home For Urvashi is one such heartwarming read. It has made me realize that sisterhood is very special and a sister can go to any extent for her own sister. The bond which sisters share is very unique and is very well described in this poignant story of Dulari,the beloved twin sister of Ujjwala.
A Home For Urvashi is set on the banks of river Hoogli, in the capital city Kolkata is one of the read which made me cry, smile and satisfied. I felt as if I was myself travelling with the protagonist of the story. It is written in first person from the point of view of Dulari and one can easily fall in love with her character and I just loved her. Her character is very beautifully developed penned down displaying all her qualities in a very simple manner. The other characters such as that of Ujjwala, Sooraj, Beral etc are also very well described in the story and they are written in such a way that reader develops so much interest in reading about them in a detail.I loved the character of mother saturn, the way she taught the various aspects of human life was amazing.
Coming to the plot, which is marvelously written in a simple and an easy language. It is flowing like a fluid, one event after another and very surprising ones at times. the events are very well described and the descriptions get the reader's overall interest. The story line is very different, enjoyable and unique. The author has put down the various problems faced in today's world from a mother who is busy with her job and craves to spend time with her son to the red light area. The story has its own pace, unwrapping each and every very timely and the length is quite long but it is very engrossing. The plot is very intriguing and can be visualized a lot which made me live the story.
The difference between the spirit world and the mortal world is very well maintained and is not at all confusing and the switch between the two worlds is crafted beautifully and both the worlds has its own characteristics which were quite evident through this fiction read. This novel filled with emotions of sadness, wittiness, humor is worth reading.
Overall, a very well written book having a very unique and a tight plot in which a reader can dive. I enjoyed reading it a lot. I would recommend this book to everyone.
* I received a free copy of the book from Writersmelon in exchange of an honest and an unbiased review.
Check out https://taanyaahuja.blogspot.in/
Author: Sanchali Bhattacharya
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Published On: 15th October 2017
Pages: 352
Binding: Paperback
ISBN: 978-9352773541
" I died the day I was born."
BLURB
Death separates Dulari from her beloved twin sister, Ujjwala. Forlorn, her spirit remains on Earth as a powerless but constant companion to Ujjwala. Like the apsara Urvashi, she has the power to travel between worlds but no family, no one to love.
Dulari has a dream: she hopes to be reborn as Ujjwala s daughter and find a home for herself. Twenty-nine years have gone by, but her dream remains unfulfilled. There is hope, though, for Ujjwala has a son and now longs for a daughter.
Then arrives a man from Ujjwala s past. His presence upsets her life and sets into motion a series of events that threaten to destroy her completely. Only Dulari can save her sister, but to do that, she must relinquish her dream. Will Dulari intervene and protect Ujjwala, or will she wait and watch? Will her endless longing for life and belonging overpower the love she has for her sister?
Sensitively written and evocative, A Home for Urvashi depicts the bond of sisterhood that goes beyond life and death.
COVER PAGE
The cover page of the book is very simple and is one of the best ones that I have seen. It is very nicely designed in black and grey colours. I really loved the flying black birds. It portrays the emotions of the spirit involved in the story really well. Overall, a beautiful and a serene cover page.
REVIEW
Reading some books give you satisfaction which make you feel warm as if giving a closure and A Home For Urvashi is one such heartwarming read. It has made me realize that sisterhood is very special and a sister can go to any extent for her own sister. The bond which sisters share is very unique and is very well described in this poignant story of Dulari,the beloved twin sister of Ujjwala.
A Home For Urvashi is set on the banks of river Hoogli, in the capital city Kolkata is one of the read which made me cry, smile and satisfied. I felt as if I was myself travelling with the protagonist of the story. It is written in first person from the point of view of Dulari and one can easily fall in love with her character and I just loved her. Her character is very beautifully developed penned down displaying all her qualities in a very simple manner. The other characters such as that of Ujjwala, Sooraj, Beral etc are also very well described in the story and they are written in such a way that reader develops so much interest in reading about them in a detail.I loved the character of mother saturn, the way she taught the various aspects of human life was amazing.
Coming to the plot, which is marvelously written in a simple and an easy language. It is flowing like a fluid, one event after another and very surprising ones at times. the events are very well described and the descriptions get the reader's overall interest. The story line is very different, enjoyable and unique. The author has put down the various problems faced in today's world from a mother who is busy with her job and craves to spend time with her son to the red light area. The story has its own pace, unwrapping each and every very timely and the length is quite long but it is very engrossing. The plot is very intriguing and can be visualized a lot which made me live the story.
The difference between the spirit world and the mortal world is very well maintained and is not at all confusing and the switch between the two worlds is crafted beautifully and both the worlds has its own characteristics which were quite evident through this fiction read. This novel filled with emotions of sadness, wittiness, humor is worth reading.
Overall, a very well written book having a very unique and a tight plot in which a reader can dive. I enjoyed reading it a lot. I would recommend this book to everyone.
* I received a free copy of the book from Writersmelon in exchange of an honest and an unbiased review.
Check out https://taanyaahuja.blogspot.in/
January 5, 2018
So to check my entire review with few extra added details, you can visit my blog page:
https://bewitchinglyparanoid.wordpres...
I have been waiting for this book and trust me, entire social media was filled with its posts and pictures. When I finally got my hand on it I instantly started reading it. When I read the description, I found it very fascinating, I shall say it was rather hypnotizing. The cover of the book was really apt as per the description, I really liked the birds flowing around as a silhouette as it depicted the free-flowing of Dulari across the cosmos. The title I shall denotes the entire storyline. I really liked the writing style since it is very smooth and simple making the entire journey of the book very easy.
Although, I shall say that I didn’t really enjoy the book as much as I assumed I would. The cover, writing style, title, everything was really well done but the storyline wasn’t really realistic as per me. I have read about the “afterlife” or the “spirit world” as you say, but the depiction done by the author was childlike. If this book is meant for the common mass, I don’t think this type of depiction is required. If the start and the entire scenario of Dulari were depicted in a much subtle manner, then I suppose I would have enjoyed this book in a better way.
So basically Dulari is in dilemma and has to choose between her dream of rebirth or to save her sister Ujjwala living on Earth from the approaching danger. This entire concept is rather a very genius and highly unusual one but since the entire storyline has not been depicted in such a way, I didn’t really enjoy it as much. The entire book is based on the beautiful city of Kolkata, Darjeeling and the hustling and bustling of Mumbai. But yes, the twists and turns which came up all of a sudden was rather a surprise. I kinda started liking the story after the entire crime story popped up.
The most important and a beautiful aspect of the entire book was the social topic taken on by the author between the lines. Abandoning of a girl child after birth and how parents themselves push their daughters in flesh trade was a social cause depicted beautifully by the author and I really liked the subtle message given. In short, the entire book was “fine” rather than “wow”. If the description of the “afterlife” was depicted more realistically, I would have surely loved the book even more. For one time read, yes I will surely recommend especially for the twists and turns of the criminal side.
https://bewitchinglyparanoid.wordpres...
I have been waiting for this book and trust me, entire social media was filled with its posts and pictures. When I finally got my hand on it I instantly started reading it. When I read the description, I found it very fascinating, I shall say it was rather hypnotizing. The cover of the book was really apt as per the description, I really liked the birds flowing around as a silhouette as it depicted the free-flowing of Dulari across the cosmos. The title I shall denotes the entire storyline. I really liked the writing style since it is very smooth and simple making the entire journey of the book very easy.
Although, I shall say that I didn’t really enjoy the book as much as I assumed I would. The cover, writing style, title, everything was really well done but the storyline wasn’t really realistic as per me. I have read about the “afterlife” or the “spirit world” as you say, but the depiction done by the author was childlike. If this book is meant for the common mass, I don’t think this type of depiction is required. If the start and the entire scenario of Dulari were depicted in a much subtle manner, then I suppose I would have enjoyed this book in a better way.
So basically Dulari is in dilemma and has to choose between her dream of rebirth or to save her sister Ujjwala living on Earth from the approaching danger. This entire concept is rather a very genius and highly unusual one but since the entire storyline has not been depicted in such a way, I didn’t really enjoy it as much. The entire book is based on the beautiful city of Kolkata, Darjeeling and the hustling and bustling of Mumbai. But yes, the twists and turns which came up all of a sudden was rather a surprise. I kinda started liking the story after the entire crime story popped up.
The most important and a beautiful aspect of the entire book was the social topic taken on by the author between the lines. Abandoning of a girl child after birth and how parents themselves push their daughters in flesh trade was a social cause depicted beautifully by the author and I really liked the subtle message given. In short, the entire book was “fine” rather than “wow”. If the description of the “afterlife” was depicted more realistically, I would have surely loved the book even more. For one time read, yes I will surely recommend especially for the twists and turns of the criminal side.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2017
This book finds more readers in metro and urban women since the female characters they can relate easily .It is slow paced in the middle, but fast afterwards. It serves as a big insight on urban relationships. Also it talks about the gender discrimination and the struggles of balancing work life of working women are beautifully given.
Sanchali Bhattacharya the authoress has brought complex characters to life which touch our heart to the core as well crafted , entertaining with all the emotions . The sceneries are realistic which have made me swept away with excitement .With candor and humour, she has penned the story which explores the intricacies of sisterhood , friendship ,romance and secrets .
The favorite
There are so many references to the ancient Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata . The title itself refers to the character in the epic.
Ujjwala and her team mate visited Darjeeling , Mirik, Bhubaneswar and Puri. There are so many things described for the benefit of the travelers. It serves as a mini travelogue within the novel.
I like the way Ujjwala deals with the poor minor girls who are begging and how she helps them to rehabilitate , is given nicely She is a fitting lady for evidence of woman's empowerment.
I like the way Dulari , the ghost character is well formed to run the story in a smooth and exiting way.
My verdict
This book has enthralled me and I like the concept and its execution. It carries lots of messages for the society.
Authoress Sanchali Bhattacharya has woven riveting tale with the imaginative prose .The fresh writing style is one of the striking aspect .They keep the tempo and lend authenticity to the happenings . She has done a nice job of teasing the readers conveying the dark secrets of MCs. The sub plots connect in the end as a cohesive whole and lends more credibility to the story.
It is a light but hearty read for all. Especially the metro and urban women find it interesting and for them it is very much relatable. Whoever interested in ghost stories with Mythological backdrop would read it with interest.
Grab the Blockbuster copy and pamper yourself with fun and amusement.
For full review please refer https://talesandreviews.blogspot.in/?m=1
Sanchali Bhattacharya the authoress has brought complex characters to life which touch our heart to the core as well crafted , entertaining with all the emotions . The sceneries are realistic which have made me swept away with excitement .With candor and humour, she has penned the story which explores the intricacies of sisterhood , friendship ,romance and secrets .
The favorite
There are so many references to the ancient Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata . The title itself refers to the character in the epic.
Ujjwala and her team mate visited Darjeeling , Mirik, Bhubaneswar and Puri. There are so many things described for the benefit of the travelers. It serves as a mini travelogue within the novel.
I like the way Ujjwala deals with the poor minor girls who are begging and how she helps them to rehabilitate , is given nicely She is a fitting lady for evidence of woman's empowerment.
I like the way Dulari , the ghost character is well formed to run the story in a smooth and exiting way.
My verdict
This book has enthralled me and I like the concept and its execution. It carries lots of messages for the society.
Authoress Sanchali Bhattacharya has woven riveting tale with the imaginative prose .The fresh writing style is one of the striking aspect .They keep the tempo and lend authenticity to the happenings . She has done a nice job of teasing the readers conveying the dark secrets of MCs. The sub plots connect in the end as a cohesive whole and lends more credibility to the story.
It is a light but hearty read for all. Especially the metro and urban women find it interesting and for them it is very much relatable. Whoever interested in ghost stories with Mythological backdrop would read it with interest.
Grab the Blockbuster copy and pamper yourself with fun and amusement.
For full review please refer https://talesandreviews.blogspot.in/?m=1
January 7, 2018
A Home for Urvashi is a delicately woven novel which revolves around various relationships in a lifetime and the afterlife. Sanchali Bhattacharya has come up with strong protagonists and passionate antagonists who are ready to take the extra leap to satisfy their emotions and live up to their relations. Ujjwala, the protagonist is an ambitious lady with a bugging past trying to balance motherhood and climb up the corporate ladder. Her husband Yash is a chef at a cruise liner and stays away most of the time. Trouble begins when Rituraj, a haunting from Ujjwala’s mysterious past takes over as her boss. Unrequited love in the heart of a new recruit Sooraj also creates enough trouble for the two. To top it all, is Dulari, Ujjwala’s twin sister who is a silent observer of her life for the past twenty-nine years, as a not-so-earthly being.
Bhattacharya, in A Home for Urvashi, deals with numerous valuable themes. Ujjwala’s undying love towards her husband broke all barriers of societal norms and led to an unusual union. Sooraj being well aware of her marital status falls for her knowing that these are dangerous paths he was treading on. Dulari’s love for her sister is seen as the sacred bond of sisterhood which remains intact even in the afterworld while Rituraj could never distinguish between true love and lust for his beloved.
The author has hinted on loneliness being a major reason for driving people in taking questionable actions. Yash due to his job lived on the seas for months and years, and this made Ujjwala lonely. For a long time, the readers would be speculating whether her loneliness would drive her to start off an extramarital affair due to her unfulfilled desires; or her love for Yash would defeat all negative feelings. With love, hatred, sarcasm, and jealousy are bound to follow. These are traits that are expressed without hesitation by Rituraj. His kind of love can be best described as a stage of lust driven madness which portrays itself through the most horrific acts of all times.
A Home for Urvashi has a social cause to the story. Ujjwala, apart from work and home front also cared a lot for social causes. She makes donations towards children homes and centers. This shows that she has a very pure soul who could feel ones emptiness and needs without one having to narrate it to her. Her own traumatic childhood had led her to become a compassionate young woman.
Bhattacharya deeply deals in relationship throughout the book. The bonds between a mother and a daughter, or between two sisters, or between a husband and a wife have been beautifully portrayed through practical situations and effective imagery. Nothing has been exaggerated and real life incidents and relations have been reflected in the novel. In fact, the life of many women who work in the corporate field would find resemblance with Ujjwala’s lifestyle. It becomes very difficult for a mother to balance both her child’s upbringing and the work front. This, at times leads a woman to choose one over the other or arrange for alternatives. Ujjwala, hires a trusted nanny for her son but she could still feel the desire that a son would have for a mother, given that his father too was absent for long intervals of time.
If the description of my city from this book had to be presented in the form of a documentary film, it would have scored really high on my mark scale. The vivid descriptions of Kolkata, Darjeeling and Puri , with the right choice of words and imageries appeal to the readers senses. From tourist spots, to market places; from flyovers to traffic congestions; from serene sunrises to the romantic seaside’s, the author is bound to unleash the traveller in you when you read about the places.
Dulari, the friendly ghost and Ujjwala’s twin sister lives on in the ghost world with one unfulfilled desire- to be reborn again and stay close to Ujjwala. But this is not an easy decision. Keeping in mind the advances in Ujjwala’s life, Dulari must make a decision that would reflect her relation towards her sister to the audience. One just need to wait and read on to find out what would be her ultimate decision- Giving up her dream forever to save her sister or to proceed with her dreams of being reborn.
And last but not the least, the name of the novel itself. It is a symbolic summation of Urvashi’s story. Urvashi was one of the most beautiful apsara’s in the court of Lord Indra. But her desire was to live among the mortals and to find a home for herself on Earth. Urvashi’s desires can be reflected through both Ujjwala and Dulari. Dulari because she wanted to break free from the ghost world and reside beside her sister in the mortal world. Ujjwala, because she wanted to find herself a home in the mortal world where no one would chase her and question her of her past decisions. She wanted to be left at peace with her husband and family for the rest of her life.
A thorough read of the book took me around four days and it is a book that I would recommend all my friends to read. However, I would point out that the last hundred or so pages were very quick. A lot of actions took place too quickly in those pages which could have been evenly spaced out throughout the book .Apart from one or two editing glitches, the book is written with complete simplicity and is very easy to comprehend. The concept of it being narrated by a ghost is very unique. But on second thoughts, it might also be a little creepy if I had a ghost spy around me all the time. Nevertheless, it is a brilliant read and reflects how complicated human relations and life can be and how emotions, at the end, make or mar a person.
Bhattacharya, in A Home for Urvashi, deals with numerous valuable themes. Ujjwala’s undying love towards her husband broke all barriers of societal norms and led to an unusual union. Sooraj being well aware of her marital status falls for her knowing that these are dangerous paths he was treading on. Dulari’s love for her sister is seen as the sacred bond of sisterhood which remains intact even in the afterworld while Rituraj could never distinguish between true love and lust for his beloved.
The author has hinted on loneliness being a major reason for driving people in taking questionable actions. Yash due to his job lived on the seas for months and years, and this made Ujjwala lonely. For a long time, the readers would be speculating whether her loneliness would drive her to start off an extramarital affair due to her unfulfilled desires; or her love for Yash would defeat all negative feelings. With love, hatred, sarcasm, and jealousy are bound to follow. These are traits that are expressed without hesitation by Rituraj. His kind of love can be best described as a stage of lust driven madness which portrays itself through the most horrific acts of all times.
A Home for Urvashi has a social cause to the story. Ujjwala, apart from work and home front also cared a lot for social causes. She makes donations towards children homes and centers. This shows that she has a very pure soul who could feel ones emptiness and needs without one having to narrate it to her. Her own traumatic childhood had led her to become a compassionate young woman.
Bhattacharya deeply deals in relationship throughout the book. The bonds between a mother and a daughter, or between two sisters, or between a husband and a wife have been beautifully portrayed through practical situations and effective imagery. Nothing has been exaggerated and real life incidents and relations have been reflected in the novel. In fact, the life of many women who work in the corporate field would find resemblance with Ujjwala’s lifestyle. It becomes very difficult for a mother to balance both her child’s upbringing and the work front. This, at times leads a woman to choose one over the other or arrange for alternatives. Ujjwala, hires a trusted nanny for her son but she could still feel the desire that a son would have for a mother, given that his father too was absent for long intervals of time.
If the description of my city from this book had to be presented in the form of a documentary film, it would have scored really high on my mark scale. The vivid descriptions of Kolkata, Darjeeling and Puri , with the right choice of words and imageries appeal to the readers senses. From tourist spots, to market places; from flyovers to traffic congestions; from serene sunrises to the romantic seaside’s, the author is bound to unleash the traveller in you when you read about the places.
Dulari, the friendly ghost and Ujjwala’s twin sister lives on in the ghost world with one unfulfilled desire- to be reborn again and stay close to Ujjwala. But this is not an easy decision. Keeping in mind the advances in Ujjwala’s life, Dulari must make a decision that would reflect her relation towards her sister to the audience. One just need to wait and read on to find out what would be her ultimate decision- Giving up her dream forever to save her sister or to proceed with her dreams of being reborn.
And last but not the least, the name of the novel itself. It is a symbolic summation of Urvashi’s story. Urvashi was one of the most beautiful apsara’s in the court of Lord Indra. But her desire was to live among the mortals and to find a home for herself on Earth. Urvashi’s desires can be reflected through both Ujjwala and Dulari. Dulari because she wanted to break free from the ghost world and reside beside her sister in the mortal world. Ujjwala, because she wanted to find herself a home in the mortal world where no one would chase her and question her of her past decisions. She wanted to be left at peace with her husband and family for the rest of her life.
A thorough read of the book took me around four days and it is a book that I would recommend all my friends to read. However, I would point out that the last hundred or so pages were very quick. A lot of actions took place too quickly in those pages which could have been evenly spaced out throughout the book .Apart from one or two editing glitches, the book is written with complete simplicity and is very easy to comprehend. The concept of it being narrated by a ghost is very unique. But on second thoughts, it might also be a little creepy if I had a ghost spy around me all the time. Nevertheless, it is a brilliant read and reflects how complicated human relations and life can be and how emotions, at the end, make or mar a person.
December 31, 2017
The story revolves around twin sisters Dulari & Ujjwala, where Ujjwala has taken birth on the humane world Dulari keeps an eye on her sister through the spirit world. Dulari follows her sister & worries for her all the time, on the other hand Ujjwala has no idea of her sister’s existence. Dulari dreams to be together with Ujjwala by being born as her daughter & she patiently waits for the opportunity. After going through some hardships in her life Ujjwala finally has a loving family including a 3 year old child & plans to have another child. Dulari gets excited as this is her moment to be born as her sister’s daughter but then a man from Ujjwala’s past comes back into her life who knows a bit too much. Only Dulari can save her sister but that would mean she would’ve to sacrifice her dream. Will Dulari make the sacrifice? Will she be able to save her sister?
Read the full review on Just Another Bookaholic
Read the full review on Just Another Bookaholic
December 20, 2017
Death separates two sisters from each other - Dulari and Ujjawala. Dulari , who is now a ghost loves her sister Ujjawala and always watches her. She has just one wish - to be born again as Ujjawala's sister. But their mother is content with two chiildren which leaves Dulari heartbroken.
Ujjawala is a married woman now blessed with a three year old kid and now longs for a daughter. Dulari now wants to be reborn as Ujjawala's daughter. Her husbands stays away for work and strives hard to save every penny to open up a restaurant. But her life takes a grave turn when a man from her past returns.
Dulari wants to save her sister from the danger ahead but for that she will have to give up her only dream. What will Dulari do now?
I loved the plot. The writing is elegantly beautiful and you fall in love from the very first line. The characters are perfect and I loved how the relationship of two sisters is described. The places and the scenario is described to perfection and you'll never want the story to end. Sanchali has done an absolutely amazing job and kudos to her for thinking of such a unique and captivating story. Perfectly penned. Loved it.
Highly Recommended.
Ujjawala is a married woman now blessed with a three year old kid and now longs for a daughter. Dulari now wants to be reborn as Ujjawala's daughter. Her husbands stays away for work and strives hard to save every penny to open up a restaurant. But her life takes a grave turn when a man from her past returns.
Dulari wants to save her sister from the danger ahead but for that she will have to give up her only dream. What will Dulari do now?
I loved the plot. The writing is elegantly beautiful and you fall in love from the very first line. The characters are perfect and I loved how the relationship of two sisters is described. The places and the scenario is described to perfection and you'll never want the story to end. Sanchali has done an absolutely amazing job and kudos to her for thinking of such a unique and captivating story. Perfectly penned. Loved it.
Highly Recommended.
February 13, 2018
A Home For Urvashi tells a story of twin sisters, Ujjwala and Dulari. They both were abandoned by their parents at the time of their birth. Ujjwala is lucky as she was the survivor but Dulari becomes a ghost after her death. She longs to reborn as Ujjwala's daughter so that she can be with her sister. She loves her sister very much and she keeps a close watch on her. Ujjwala works in a company and her husband Yash works as a chef on a luxury cruise line and his duties kept him away from his family, Ujjwala and their three year old son, Vir. Dulari realises that her sister's life is in danger when Rituraj, a guy from Ujjwala's past returns to her office. He is Ujjwala's boss and was depriving a child of his mother's love by making Ujjwala work for extra hours. ari has two options either to wait and reborn as Ujjwala's daughter or to quit her dream to protect her sister. Which option will Dulari choose? To know about this, you'll have to read the book.
WHAT I LOVED THE MOST IN THIS STORY:
-I loved how Dulari could understand her pained look on her sister's face without having her to speak anything. She could feel her loneliness.
-I loved the character of Ujjwala a lot. She was kind-hearted woman who always thought of other people. I liked how she often urged Nimola, Vir's nanny to take a nap along with Vir in the afternoon, so that Nanny too could get some rest. Her generous contribution of the Organisation working for welfare of children also impressed me.
-Yash stayed away for work for so many months but Ujjwala never complained about the long intervals of silence.
- Dulari was a regular formless and weightless ghost but she yearned for finer aspects of living. I loved her imagination where she longed to be reborn so that she could create a host of drawings and paintings. She even want to taste so many things which Ujjwala liked. She imagines "If ever I am born as Ujjwala's daughter, I will definitely taste paan-without Zarda, of course.
-The bond of friendship which Dulari and Beral, a Cat shares is lovely. Beral's caressing voice and her gentle touch is what keeps Dulari happy.
I loved the plot, a unique plot I would say. The writing style of the Author left me impressed. The descriptions of beautiful city Kolkata made me fell like visiting it. The storyline is good too.I would recommend it to everyone as its a great work of fiction. The story is narrated by Dulari to Beral, a Cat and I think this was the beautiful way of narrating a story. The book cover is attractive and the title is apt too.
January 22, 2018
Plot/ Storyline: Unique and fresh, the novel takes us on the wings of fantasy to a whole new world, the world of spirits, Satatma and Duratma. Narrated by Dulari the one who wilts even before she can bloom, the story takes us on a journey of the life of a spirit who expresses all those emotions that the living soul express. She laughs, she loves, she cries, she cares, she rebels, and she regrets. At times she feels a tinge of jealousy coursing through her invisible form. While she worries for her living twin and yearns to be with her, she cannot help but peep into her life. What she encounters there worries her no end. But then what can she a spirit, do? Does she sit back and see her twin suffer or does she find a way out to help her? ………..No spoilers here. So the only way out is to read ‘A Home for Urvashi.’ And when you read it you are sure to come across a number of hairpin bends (twists and turns) that make the journey not only interesting and thrilling, but tickle your senses and make you empathize with the unfortunate.
The book brings out sibling love at its best and also addresses certain social issues in subtle yet powerful strokes.
Characterization: The characters be they the protagonists or the supporting souls, are well articulated, thus making it easy for the reader to relate to them, their views, their actions and reactions. In fact one can easily don their shoes and live the story without feeling ill at ease/ appearing odd. Each one of them contributes to taking the story forward without a hitch, without a hurdle.
Language: Simple, crisp and lucid making the read easy, enjoyable and smooth. One can actually visualize the various places mentioned in the book.
VERDICT
A warm read, ‘A Home for Urvashi’ is in fact a virtual tour of the world of spirits and that of the earthlings peppered with the elements of emotions, expectations, suspense and surprise in the right measure.
The book brings out sibling love at its best and also addresses certain social issues in subtle yet powerful strokes.
Characterization: The characters be they the protagonists or the supporting souls, are well articulated, thus making it easy for the reader to relate to them, their views, their actions and reactions. In fact one can easily don their shoes and live the story without feeling ill at ease/ appearing odd. Each one of them contributes to taking the story forward without a hitch, without a hurdle.
Language: Simple, crisp and lucid making the read easy, enjoyable and smooth. One can actually visualize the various places mentioned in the book.
VERDICT
A warm read, ‘A Home for Urvashi’ is in fact a virtual tour of the world of spirits and that of the earthlings peppered with the elements of emotions, expectations, suspense and surprise in the right measure.
April 25, 2021
A lot of stories have been told where an unrequited lover from the past comes into someone’s life to disrupt it, however Sanchali has taken it to an interesting arc. Choosing a ghost as a narrator is the first off-beat thing that greets the reader. The plot is well crafted and covers a lot of aspects from love to relationships. She has explored a world that exists beyond life and used that as an interesting premise to explore the events of the past. The language is quite interesting that it is simple, yet very relevant to the location and the characters. My favorite aspect of the story is how there are parallel story tracks that are in play at a certain point. Another aspect that stands out is how the concept of the planets is used to explore the netherworld. Sanchali has used the myth of Urvashi as a foundation to tell the story of Dulari and Ujjwala. She has also used the story to comment on social evils in the society. The imagery is vivid and helps the reader connect to the plot. The climax is interesting and innovative.
Coming to the characters, Sanchali has told the story with some very wonderful characters. While the character arc of Ujjwala doesn’t change much, Dulari comes a long way from the character we come across on the first page. Rituraj is another character that is very well crafted and the message that the author wants to project comes across very well. Other characters in the plot such as Rhea, Yash etc. are given due time to develop and become a cohesive part of the narrative.
One thing that stands out from the story is the detailed descriptions of Kolkata, its taxis, food, and the life that makes the story come alive.
Coming to the characters, Sanchali has told the story with some very wonderful characters. While the character arc of Ujjwala doesn’t change much, Dulari comes a long way from the character we come across on the first page. Rituraj is another character that is very well crafted and the message that the author wants to project comes across very well. Other characters in the plot such as Rhea, Yash etc. are given due time to develop and become a cohesive part of the narrative.
One thing that stands out from the story is the detailed descriptions of Kolkata, its taxis, food, and the life that makes the story come alive.
June 5, 2021
Love makes me spin. Love makes me revolve. Love brings seasons, Love brings warmth, Love brings the rain and the storms.
You have to treat love with maturity, not selfishness, whoever it is that you love, if he or she cannot be yours, then let them go.
A home for Urvashi by Author Sanchali Bhattacharya was a very unique story. We have all wondered about the after life and rebirth concept but what if some spirits take time before they are reborn. What if your beloved one who passed away is still with you, taking care of you unknowingly and saves you from any harm that comes your way? Two twin sisters who were separated by birth, one who was dead on the verge of being born and the other who got a chance to live the life and become the person she wanted to become.
The start phase of the story was very interesting when the life of Ujjwala from the dumps to the luxurious flats was being narrated by the spirit of her dead sister Dulari. I felt the pace started to slow down eventually and I even felt that the story was lengthened by the trips that the two protagonists Ujjwala and Sooraj took for their office conference. There was a twist in the end which was definitely unexpected. The writing style of the Author is commendable however the plot needs to be worked on.
I even liked how the Author included about the realities of life like drug trafficking and child prostitution. I was surprise to see the connection between Yash and Ujjwala but ultimately I settled down with it.
You have to treat love with maturity, not selfishness, whoever it is that you love, if he or she cannot be yours, then let them go.
A home for Urvashi by Author Sanchali Bhattacharya was a very unique story. We have all wondered about the after life and rebirth concept but what if some spirits take time before they are reborn. What if your beloved one who passed away is still with you, taking care of you unknowingly and saves you from any harm that comes your way? Two twin sisters who were separated by birth, one who was dead on the verge of being born and the other who got a chance to live the life and become the person she wanted to become.
The start phase of the story was very interesting when the life of Ujjwala from the dumps to the luxurious flats was being narrated by the spirit of her dead sister Dulari. I felt the pace started to slow down eventually and I even felt that the story was lengthened by the trips that the two protagonists Ujjwala and Sooraj took for their office conference. There was a twist in the end which was definitely unexpected. The writing style of the Author is commendable however the plot needs to be worked on.
I even liked how the Author included about the realities of life like drug trafficking and child prostitution. I was surprise to see the connection between Yash and Ujjwala but ultimately I settled down with it.
May 18, 2021
Death separates Dulari from her beloved twin sister, Ujjwala. Forlorn, her spirit remains on Earth as a powerless but constant companion to Ujjwala. Like the apsara Urvashi, she has the power to travel between worlds but no family, no one to love.Dulari has a dream: she hopes to be reborn as Ujjwala's daughter and find a home for herself. Twenty-nine years have gone by, but her dream remains unfulfilled. There is hope, though, for Ujjwala has a son and now longs for a daughter. Then arrives a man from Ujjwala's past. His presence upsets her life and sets into motion a series of events that threaten to destroy her completely. Only Dulari can save her sister, but to do that, she must relinquish her dream. Sensitively written and evocative, A Home for Urvashi depicts the bond of sisterhood that goes beyond life and death.
A beautiful story on the bond of two sisters. A gripping and an emotional story. I was actually into this book, the bond of two sisters is beyond everything. Characters are living and beautiful. Lived through them. Ujjwala and Dulari, what an inspiring bond for many.
This book is recommended to the ones who value and love reading on family bond. The storyline is captivating. The language is simple and easy to understand. The cover is marvellous with a beautiful title. She will be one of the best authors around India.
A beautiful story on the bond of two sisters. A gripping and an emotional story. I was actually into this book, the bond of two sisters is beyond everything. Characters are living and beautiful. Lived through them. Ujjwala and Dulari, what an inspiring bond for many.
This book is recommended to the ones who value and love reading on family bond. The storyline is captivating. The language is simple and easy to understand. The cover is marvellous with a beautiful title. She will be one of the best authors around India.
December 26, 2017
Afterlife, what happens after death is still a mystery and is the most intriguing topic to human mind. Since not much is known, the author Sanchali Bhattacharaya let her imaginations go wild and has created the most convincing spirit world in her novel.
The author tells the story from ghost, Dulari's point of view. Now her character was most interesting. She was not the purest soul, but was like any of the human being with mortal traits like falling in love, being possessive, committing mistake, etc.
The author Sanchali's take on after life is marvelous. The spirit world was fascinating to read. After death, souls could choose between rebirth or become a trained powerful spirit who could vest their influence on the mortal world. Do's and don't of the spirit world. Her explanation was simple and logical, easy to understand. But there was nothing about hell or paradise.
The book would have been a great read, had author curtail the minutest description of the city Calcutta later Darjeeling and Bombay. They were boring to read and seems like unnecessary. Overall, it was a decent read.
The author tells the story from ghost, Dulari's point of view. Now her character was most interesting. She was not the purest soul, but was like any of the human being with mortal traits like falling in love, being possessive, committing mistake, etc.
The author Sanchali's take on after life is marvelous. The spirit world was fascinating to read. After death, souls could choose between rebirth or become a trained powerful spirit who could vest their influence on the mortal world. Do's and don't of the spirit world. Her explanation was simple and logical, easy to understand. But there was nothing about hell or paradise.
The book would have been a great read, had author curtail the minutest description of the city Calcutta later Darjeeling and Bombay. They were boring to read and seems like unnecessary. Overall, it was a decent read.
December 25, 2017
Excellent, this is totally out of the box experience, wow nice to read on new concept like spirit following her twin sister and helping her in difficult times. I highly appreciate the work of author, especially bonding between the sisterhoods.
Narrating the story and writing style of author is excellent also language is simple and easy to understand, character build up is perfect, but only thing is length of the novel is unusually stretched. The scenic beauty of Darjeeling, the temple city called Bhubaneswar, description of hogly river and surrounding of Calcutta is mesmerizing, one feels to visit this place.
The first half of the book is perfect, I thought I will complete this novel in one sitting, but I missed the charm in middle of the book and somewhat disappointed while reading the climax. But I loved to read about Saturn, beral (the cat soul), a stone talking with Dulari, visiting other planets and visualizing of satatma, duratma etc.
A unique plot makes this book perfect read for the weekend. I highly recommend this novel to those who love’s to read on family and their bonding.
June 3, 2021
A home for Urvashi by @author_sanchali_b is the life of two sisters, one in the everyday world and the other in the spirit world ,both of them enduring struggles and challenges which is presented with expert narration.
I say expert narration because the concept has high probability of turning clichéd but the author has handled it so well to deliver a highly imaginative ( spirit authorities, university and many more elements) and engaging fiction.
You also find an out-of-the-box sensitive and convincing love trope which as a reader, opens you to new levels of acceptance and belonging. The sisterly bond between Dulari & Ujjwala and the way it grows by the ending is so emotional ,touching and rich.
The author has also subtely covered almost every single issue a female has to go through today and Dulari is empowering! Just when the story seems to dip , there’s a twist and a thriller cum detective portion that pops up . The title has a great significance which is revealed at the end.
Definitely recommending.
I say expert narration because the concept has high probability of turning clichéd but the author has handled it so well to deliver a highly imaginative ( spirit authorities, university and many more elements) and engaging fiction.
You also find an out-of-the-box sensitive and convincing love trope which as a reader, opens you to new levels of acceptance and belonging. The sisterly bond between Dulari & Ujjwala and the way it grows by the ending is so emotional ,touching and rich.
The author has also subtely covered almost every single issue a female has to go through today and Dulari is empowering! Just when the story seems to dip , there’s a twist and a thriller cum detective portion that pops up . The title has a great significance which is revealed at the end.
Definitely recommending.
January 20, 2018
You may read the full review here: http://liveityoung.com/home-urvashi-b...
A Home For Urvashi brings to us an extremely gripping story, you would want to finish in one sitting. Packed with love, suspense, thrill, and even a taboo, the reader is sure to be engrossed completely in the plot. The USP for me, however, is the narration which is done by a spirit. The story is about twin sisters where one gets death just after a few hours of birth and the other gets to live. The dead sister, now a spirit, stays with her sister and has a dream for which she has been waiting for twenty-nine years. You cannot tag the story as horror because there's nothing scary and spooky about it, yet, the description of the spirit world and spirit life is so splendid that it will keep you on the edge throughout.
A Home For Urvashi brings to us an extremely gripping story, you would want to finish in one sitting. Packed with love, suspense, thrill, and even a taboo, the reader is sure to be engrossed completely in the plot. The USP for me, however, is the narration which is done by a spirit. The story is about twin sisters where one gets death just after a few hours of birth and the other gets to live. The dead sister, now a spirit, stays with her sister and has a dream for which she has been waiting for twenty-nine years. You cannot tag the story as horror because there's nothing scary and spooky about it, yet, the description of the spirit world and spirit life is so splendid that it will keep you on the edge throughout.
December 18, 2017
In this sensitive and gripping novel, the author tells the tale of twin sisters in two parallel dimensions. I was enthralled by the opening sentence itself. The story is amazing. I liked both the sisters. While Ujjwala is very responsible, Dulari is a sweet ghost. All the characters are well developed. I loved the way the author has focused on working mothers within an interesting and bold story. I liked the daring romantic angles in the book. The virtual world of spirits is well depicted. Author has shown a high level of inventiveness. The book compels one to think about the various possibilities after death. The writing is beautiful and engaging, with exceptional descriptions of places, romance, suspense and action. On the whole an irresistible novel.
January 14, 2018
Read the full review at- https://www.banajaprakashini.in/revie...
The concept of the book was absolutely beautiful , considering the fact that there must not be too many books that write about emotions of a spirit. It’s a book on sisterhood, or more of one sided emotions of a free spirit.
The first half of the book that focuses on the emotions of Dulari, are rather beautifully depicted.
Cover- 3.5 star
Title- 3.5 star
Blurb- 2 star
Plot- 2 star
Writing and Presentation- 3 star
Overall- 2.8 stars out of 5
The concept of the book was absolutely beautiful , considering the fact that there must not be too many books that write about emotions of a spirit. It’s a book on sisterhood, or more of one sided emotions of a free spirit.
The first half of the book that focuses on the emotions of Dulari, are rather beautifully depicted.
Cover- 3.5 star
Title- 3.5 star
Blurb- 2 star
Plot- 2 star
Writing and Presentation- 3 star
Overall- 2.8 stars out of 5
June 13, 2021
About a book :
Story starts with Dulari (a ghost) and Beral (a cat ghost) telling a story of Ujjwala (alive human and sister of Dulari).
.
Ujjwala even after being a strong human, she went through lots of unsolvable troubles with her professional and personal life and Dulari wanted to help her.
.
Dulari had confusion of whether to take reborn as Ujjwala's daughter and live forever with her sister or be capable and help her problems by being a ghost.
👻
Check @reading_ravaiya for detailed review
Story starts with Dulari (a ghost) and Beral (a cat ghost) telling a story of Ujjwala (alive human and sister of Dulari).
.
Ujjwala even after being a strong human, she went through lots of unsolvable troubles with her professional and personal life and Dulari wanted to help her.
.
Dulari had confusion of whether to take reborn as Ujjwala's daughter and live forever with her sister or be capable and help her problems by being a ghost.
👻
Check @reading_ravaiya for detailed review
January 19, 2018
My first read of the year 2018 has been a unique one, A home for Urvashi by Sanchali Bhattacharya. On the first weekend of this year when I finished the book, I realized that there is still so much untapped talent in this country when it comes to writers. And there are so many books that I still need to read but not enough time. This was my first book by Sanchali Bhattacharya and I must say that she is a gifted writer!
Now, coming back to the book, the story of A Home for Urvashi revolves around Dulari and Ujjwala, twin sisters. While Dulari died as soon she was born, her spirit remained on earth with Ujjwala like a constant companion. Like Apsara Urvashi, she has the power to travel between worlds but no family and no one to love. She wants to be reborn as Ujjwala’s daughter so that she can live with her and make a home on earth. But even after 29 years, she is alone. There is still some hope since Ujjwala has a son but now longs for a daughter.
But then a man from Ujjwala’s past comes back to haunt her, someone who burned pining for her love every day for his life. Only Dulari can help her sister, but for that, she has to relinquish her dream of rebirth. What will Dulari do? Save her sister or live her dream?
Overall, I really enjoyed reading A Home for Urvashi. Why I call this book unique is because of Dulari, a character so innocent and original that I enjoyed spending time with after a really long time. I also liked the overall storyline, about how a spirit is connected to its human twin, going through all barriers just to see her happy. The only weird part of the story was the marriage between Ujjwala and Yash for me. But then googling some facts saved the day for me. 😉
Speaking of technicalities, the language is easy to understand and dialogues are engaging. A Home for Urvashi has the power to grab your mind and thoughts, leaving less chance to falter or give up on the book. My favorite character would be Dulari, but then the only complaint I have for her would be that she turned into a crybaby at the midpoint of the book, something that started to bother me and made me impatient.
Apart from that, Dulari’s narration of the past and present was a bit slow for me. The twists and turns, however, saved the story to a huge extent. All in all, A Home for Urvashi is a pretty nice read, so make sure you pick your copy soon.
Now, coming back to the book, the story of A Home for Urvashi revolves around Dulari and Ujjwala, twin sisters. While Dulari died as soon she was born, her spirit remained on earth with Ujjwala like a constant companion. Like Apsara Urvashi, she has the power to travel between worlds but no family and no one to love. She wants to be reborn as Ujjwala’s daughter so that she can live with her and make a home on earth. But even after 29 years, she is alone. There is still some hope since Ujjwala has a son but now longs for a daughter.
But then a man from Ujjwala’s past comes back to haunt her, someone who burned pining for her love every day for his life. Only Dulari can help her sister, but for that, she has to relinquish her dream of rebirth. What will Dulari do? Save her sister or live her dream?
Overall, I really enjoyed reading A Home for Urvashi. Why I call this book unique is because of Dulari, a character so innocent and original that I enjoyed spending time with after a really long time. I also liked the overall storyline, about how a spirit is connected to its human twin, going through all barriers just to see her happy. The only weird part of the story was the marriage between Ujjwala and Yash for me. But then googling some facts saved the day for me. 😉
Speaking of technicalities, the language is easy to understand and dialogues are engaging. A Home for Urvashi has the power to grab your mind and thoughts, leaving less chance to falter or give up on the book. My favorite character would be Dulari, but then the only complaint I have for her would be that she turned into a crybaby at the midpoint of the book, something that started to bother me and made me impatient.
Apart from that, Dulari’s narration of the past and present was a bit slow for me. The twists and turns, however, saved the story to a huge extent. All in all, A Home for Urvashi is a pretty nice read, so make sure you pick your copy soon.
November 29, 2017
The story of twin sisters, one dead and one living is absolutely original and striking. The tone of narration is consistent and the writing crisp. This book is a beautiful tribute to sisterhood. I read it in one sitting. Simply superb. If you enjoy quality fiction, then read A Home for Urvashi
July 8, 2018
I am impressed by Sanchali's book, her clarity of thought and her ability to write to well. A nice read. Yeh dil maange more.
December 19, 2017
I had never read any stories about sisters and must say that this is a brilliant novel. It has a unique plot and writing style is excellent. The characters are well fleshed out. The story develops at a steady pace and the narration never drags. The author reveals many surprises in sudden twists...took me completely by surprise. Very enjoyable read. Wonderful book. I recommend.
December 11, 2017
"A Home for Urvashi" A book focusing on sisterhood touched my heart. I Loved reading the extraordinary talent of Author. The Imagination power, full of creativity and connecting with the reader. Written in simple words, it's easy to connect with the book. we can literally visualize the story. The tone of the story is simple, crisp and clear. The Characters and the backdrop loved it. The author has described every scene, every character, every environment very beautifully. The author described Calcutta, Darjeeling, and Mumbai with awesome beauty with her words. The story, Narrated by a Ghost living in the universe waiting for her rebirth. The plot that the author has set is incredible. each and everything was just like watching a fiction movie. where the ghost comes and help. This story can never go out of readers mind. we can easily connect with it. The pace of the story is lil slow as but it helps in understanding each and every environment. The story switches from present to past and again brings to present. There can be a confusion in readers mind but the author maintained it very well that reader doesn't get confused. The story is all about Love, Romance, Fantasy, Humour, Revenge and yes, Sisterhood. It is very difficult to write on topic apart from a love story.The tempo of the story is also well maintained. The Narrating style of the author is one of the best. The Writing style is refreshing so is the story. The cover of the book is also attractive which adds charm to the story.
This story truly is an exceptional one. Looking forward to some more books by this author.
If you enjoy reading fiction, This is it!!
This story truly is an exceptional one. Looking forward to some more books by this author.
If you enjoy reading fiction, This is it!!
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