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The Anatomy of Choice
Is choice really a possibility for women?
Bhavya, the second daughter of the Sharma family, has made her life in Paris with Tenzin, her live-in partner. As the flame of their love starts to dwindle, they act on a fantasy only to realise that they are ill-equipped to handle the consequences of their choices.
Bhavya returns to her Haveli in Delhi unwilling to bend to Tenzin’s demand of letting the past remain where it belongs…in the past. As she navigates the intimate, familial and societal realms trying to find herself, her family supports her silently despite having their own misgivings on her return.
In the course of finding a solution to her turmoil, she discovers the journal of a 16th century courtesan Noorie, who struggled with her own destiny. As Bhavya delves deeper into Noorie’s world, she finds her own indecision juxtaposing with the angst of a woman born much before her time. She is forced to examine and finds parallels in the unconventional love and relationships that stretches across centuries and own up to the decisions that affect her life.
Will Bhavya be able to work out the snarls in her relationship or will the consequence of the taboo liaison mark her forever?
Bhavya, the second daughter of the Sharma family, has made her life in Paris with Tenzin, her live-in partner. As the flame of their love starts to dwindle, they act on a fantasy only to realise that they are ill-equipped to handle the consequences of their choices.
Bhavya returns to her Haveli in Delhi unwilling to bend to Tenzin’s demand of letting the past remain where it belongs…in the past. As she navigates the intimate, familial and societal realms trying to find herself, her family supports her silently despite having their own misgivings on her return.
In the course of finding a solution to her turmoil, she discovers the journal of a 16th century courtesan Noorie, who struggled with her own destiny. As Bhavya delves deeper into Noorie’s world, she finds her own indecision juxtaposing with the angst of a woman born much before her time. She is forced to examine and finds parallels in the unconventional love and relationships that stretches across centuries and own up to the decisions that affect her life.
Will Bhavya be able to work out the snarls in her relationship or will the consequence of the taboo liaison mark her forever?
288 pages, Paperback
Published December 25, 2018
45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 1, 2019
Rating:4.3/5
Choices made today entails our destiny.
An interesting concoction of love,friendship,blood ties,choices,lies and redemption that captures your attention till the end. Bhavya, the daughter of Sharma family returns home from Paris after the drastic turns of events leaves her life topsy-turvy. A headstrong girl,she bears many secrets in her heart.Eras apart Noorie, a teenage girl found her life at crossroads.Two stories set apart by centuries, bares the skirmishes of young hearts, trials and tribulations of their life and the destination defined by their choices.
The author with her strong plot-line, bold theme, engaging narration and colorful characters enraptures the readers.The interesting chapter names in different language add an edge.The story effortlessly sailed from one timeline to other without losing the grip.The multiple characters with their own distinct flavor brings alive the tale.The language used is impressive peppered with a lot of colloquial words.
The central protagonist Bhavya stood out in the crowd. Her personality, carefree attitude,the emotional tussle,the palpable tension in her familial ties is bound to strike a chord with the reader.The strange connection between Noorie and her makes one realize how love can transverse the distance of centuries in moments.
I would recommend the book to every reader who loves family drama with a touch of modern issues.
Choices made today entails our destiny.
An interesting concoction of love,friendship,blood ties,choices,lies and redemption that captures your attention till the end. Bhavya, the daughter of Sharma family returns home from Paris after the drastic turns of events leaves her life topsy-turvy. A headstrong girl,she bears many secrets in her heart.Eras apart Noorie, a teenage girl found her life at crossroads.Two stories set apart by centuries, bares the skirmishes of young hearts, trials and tribulations of their life and the destination defined by their choices.
The author with her strong plot-line, bold theme, engaging narration and colorful characters enraptures the readers.The interesting chapter names in different language add an edge.The story effortlessly sailed from one timeline to other without losing the grip.The multiple characters with their own distinct flavor brings alive the tale.The language used is impressive peppered with a lot of colloquial words.
The central protagonist Bhavya stood out in the crowd. Her personality, carefree attitude,the emotional tussle,the palpable tension in her familial ties is bound to strike a chord with the reader.The strange connection between Noorie and her makes one realize how love can transverse the distance of centuries in moments.
I would recommend the book to every reader who loves family drama with a touch of modern issues.
December 27, 2019
One of the most interesting concepts that I focus on during my workshops as a talk – therapist and psycho social trainer is that of “Choices and Consequences.”
Most of you will agree with me when I say that our choices guide our lives. All the decisions we make in life are based on certain choices we make. If you agree to the above, you’ll also accept that if we give attention to the consequences of a certain thought or action before arriving at a decision; perhaps we’ll make better choices and our lives will be more sorted.
Harshali Singh’s extremely engaging and poignant novel, The Anatomy of Choice (Book 2 of the Haveli Series) is woven around this important theme.
The story is an examination of the swiftly changing face of love and marriage (and the modern Indian woman’s need to shun stereotype and be her own person) through the prism of choices and consequences and how a bold choice made by the female protagonist impacts not only her but everyone else around her.
Firstly, I was totally enamored by the finely etched characters, each holding their ground despite their oddities and thus contributing their bit to pique a reader’s interest in the book and make it a page - turner. I could personally relate to the dilemmas of the lead female character Bhavya or Bee as she was fondly called by her family. A bold and outspoken person, who leads life on her terms, uncaring of consequences, is compelled to question the significance and justness of her actions when faced with a serious life - situation that may potentially alter her life forever. The intricately woven tale captures a modern Indian woman’s dilemma in trying to assert her independence while accepting and coping with her own vulnerabilities (and mistakes).
What also stood out in the book was the wonderful usage of certain words and phrases not commonly used as chapter - titles to give out the readers a quick glance of what is to follow. It seems Harshali has a great penchant for unusual words and has been collecting them for a long time. Moreover, these words not only belong to English but have been plucked from other world languages. She’s also used them liberally in the narrative. I’ve always been interested in words and their etymology and Harshali’s usage of these uncommon words got my attention. Of course, her effortless and elegant storytelling skill is apparent. Anatomy of Choice is not merely a love story. It’s more. Read it to find out!
Most of you will agree with me when I say that our choices guide our lives. All the decisions we make in life are based on certain choices we make. If you agree to the above, you’ll also accept that if we give attention to the consequences of a certain thought or action before arriving at a decision; perhaps we’ll make better choices and our lives will be more sorted.
Harshali Singh’s extremely engaging and poignant novel, The Anatomy of Choice (Book 2 of the Haveli Series) is woven around this important theme.
The story is an examination of the swiftly changing face of love and marriage (and the modern Indian woman’s need to shun stereotype and be her own person) through the prism of choices and consequences and how a bold choice made by the female protagonist impacts not only her but everyone else around her.
Firstly, I was totally enamored by the finely etched characters, each holding their ground despite their oddities and thus contributing their bit to pique a reader’s interest in the book and make it a page - turner. I could personally relate to the dilemmas of the lead female character Bhavya or Bee as she was fondly called by her family. A bold and outspoken person, who leads life on her terms, uncaring of consequences, is compelled to question the significance and justness of her actions when faced with a serious life - situation that may potentially alter her life forever. The intricately woven tale captures a modern Indian woman’s dilemma in trying to assert her independence while accepting and coping with her own vulnerabilities (and mistakes).
What also stood out in the book was the wonderful usage of certain words and phrases not commonly used as chapter - titles to give out the readers a quick glance of what is to follow. It seems Harshali has a great penchant for unusual words and has been collecting them for a long time. Moreover, these words not only belong to English but have been plucked from other world languages. She’s also used them liberally in the narrative. I’ve always been interested in words and their etymology and Harshali’s usage of these uncommon words got my attention. Of course, her effortless and elegant storytelling skill is apparent. Anatomy of Choice is not merely a love story. It’s more. Read it to find out!
August 17, 2020
3.5 stars
This is the second book of what is to be a seven book series set around the Sharma family living in a palatial old haveli in Old Delhi . I haven't read the first book so I felt just a little bit lost finding my way through the large cast of characters. The story centres around Bhavya or Bee, the second daughter of the family, and her estrangement from her live-in partner Tenzin after what was meant to be a casual one off experiment with a threesome gets emotionally complicated. The premise is unusual, as is Bee's character. However, I couldn't fully empathize with her temperamental nature or her refusal to talk things out with anyone.
Running parallel to the main story is another story of love and its disappointments emerging from the journal of Noorie, a 16th century courtesan whose mausoleum adjoins the Haveli. Bee finds resonance in Noorie's story - Noorie's path illuminating her own.
The Anatomy Of Choice is an engaging read on the whole. The author has also devoted a lot of attention to the chapter headings which when put together are a dictionary of unusual, emotionally descriptive words from different languages.
This is the second book of what is to be a seven book series set around the Sharma family living in a palatial old haveli in Old Delhi . I haven't read the first book so I felt just a little bit lost finding my way through the large cast of characters. The story centres around Bhavya or Bee, the second daughter of the family, and her estrangement from her live-in partner Tenzin after what was meant to be a casual one off experiment with a threesome gets emotionally complicated. The premise is unusual, as is Bee's character. However, I couldn't fully empathize with her temperamental nature or her refusal to talk things out with anyone.
Running parallel to the main story is another story of love and its disappointments emerging from the journal of Noorie, a 16th century courtesan whose mausoleum adjoins the Haveli. Bee finds resonance in Noorie's story - Noorie's path illuminating her own.
The Anatomy Of Choice is an engaging read on the whole. The author has also devoted a lot of attention to the chapter headings which when put together are a dictionary of unusual, emotionally descriptive words from different languages.
July 23, 2020
‘The story has a sudden beginning with rendering of a triangular relationship between Bhavya the protagonist, and Tenzin and Kabir her two male counterparts.’
‘The Anatomy of Choice is the second book in the sequel of the Haveli Series and as the first one ‘The Window to her Dreams’ talks about Aruna, the tender, the fragile and the eldest sister, this book is all about Bhavya, her choices, her strong will power and her extreme ego. Yes, this is the first book I have come across in a long time where the female protagonist has been shown carrying such dignity and self respect for her that she has created a wall around her and she won’t let anybody come inside of it. Not even her family and neither her love interests. Bhavya is not at all the usual submissive heroine and she doesn’t fear to go ahead and experiment in relationships. Rather she is apprehensive to be committed in a monotonous liaison and this makes her walk out from her live- in relationship with Tenzin.
She is a hard headed and self dependent girl who wouldn’t sacrifice her freedom at any cost and after a slight commotion with Tenzin she decides to call it a quit, and leaving her life in Paris she returns to her home in Delhi. The Haveli or the old sentinel who is overjoyed to see Bhavya back also sees lines of dark clouds sitting over her youthful face. Why Bhavya takes the decision after an incident in Bali that brings her to a verge of leaving her lover Tenzin in Paris and come back to the house with 100 doors? As her big Sharma family welcomes her with warm hearts, they are skeptical too of her return. Slowly as time passes by Bhavya keeps on falling into an abyss of bewilderment and yet not to admit that she needs help from her family it soon becomes clear to them that she has many things hiding from them.
Bhavya who is seen as the rigid one in the family, whom no one can put any kind of boundation upon soon realizes that her short lived attraction Kabir too was in the city and she is not able to stop herself from meeting him. She reveals a big secret to him, yet, not the submissive kind she walks out of his face with a clear head that she doesn’t need any kind of sympathy towards her or for her situation that she was into.
On the other hand she has a conversation with her father Arun during his morning walks and realizes that inside the premises of the Haveli, there is a mausoleum of a courtesan Noori whose handwritten journal she receives from his study. With a difficult situation that she is in, where she is not able to judge her next step, Noori’s life story came as a great respite to her aching soul. She finds many truths about her that seem quite similar to what her life has become, she finds out about the twinge Noori had been through, the torment given to her by her family and her finally transforming into a royal courtesan by choice. This gives her some light, of following the heart and choosing whom one loves blindly and Bhavya knew who it was, yet her self esteem stops her from saying it aloud even though there were many instances when he was with her, who came to see her to seek her well being.
Thus, the story majorly revolves around the ego of Bhavya and her difficulty in being indecisive of what she truly wants and expects out of her relationship with both Tenzin and Kabir. She doesn’t want to be a burden on both, neither she is willing to compromise her freedom and also she doesn’t want to be taken care as one fragile woman. Her hard hardheadedness, her occasional fits and her grumpiness however come bowling over each and every one of the Sharma family except for her mother Uma who is all loving and most understanding woman taking care of the entire household of almost ten to twelve people. Bhavya finds solace in her mother’s arm yet she doesn’t have the heart to tell her what is bothering her.
Her family stands by her side despite of their huge mental differences, and in the end Bhavya is able to come out of the stigma that had been bothering her from the moment she left Paris. The end comes as a breather to see that Bhavya is able to find the solutions to her unasked questions that kept stirring inside of her but she never uttered them. In the end whether she chooses Tenzin or Kabir is for you to read and know, I shall not open the casket of revelations, it will spoil all the fun then.
Plethora’s Analysis & Verdict: ‘The Anatomy of Choice’ has the most inimitable beginning and then the story has its flow with a glance into Bhavya’s mind and heart both. The story moves in an organized pattern with each character portrayed in the right time. The author has great prowess and control over taking care of the emotions and feelings of all the characters involved in the story. She has bound the novel well by bringing together all the characters when they are needed and dealing with such a huge number of people in the book in one time, I would say that’s something truly commendable on her side. Going into the psyche of each character be it men or women she has displayed the pertinent emotions and their gestures and dialogues have been portrayed most precisely at the ideal time. A big family set up has been used which makes it all the more interesting to feel the glimpses of how despite of myriad differences in the thought process of each, a family can be caring and protective towards their blood. And the set of Sharma parents are also shown much linear for not intervening into the matters of their children’s lives until and unless they themselves choose to tell them.
Nonetheless, the most vital element that remains the major theme of the story is the freedom that a woman wants or seeks in a patriarchal society. And the author taking care of all the men’s mind sets, narrow somewhere and broad somewhere she has allowed the heroine of her story to achieve that freedom she desires for. But is woman ego really accepted by their counterparts, can it be healthy for a relationship to be sustained, how much freedom is good for a woman that will not make her sound a gregarious person and she would be not looked down upon by the society for not being able to take care of the relationship that she is surrounded with. These are the questions that you might have after reading this book, but surely you will find the answers in the most pragmatic manner. We all are different and so is Bhavya and her choices, but in the end you will like her for who she is and how she thinks. I would recommend it as a unique book that one must surely read and on the scale of 5 I would give this book a 4.5 stars rating.
My best wishes to the author and I am anxiously waiting for the third one in the series now.
Review by Monalisa Joshi
Founder & Chief Editor
Plethora Blogazine
‘The Anatomy of Choice is the second book in the sequel of the Haveli Series and as the first one ‘The Window to her Dreams’ talks about Aruna, the tender, the fragile and the eldest sister, this book is all about Bhavya, her choices, her strong will power and her extreme ego. Yes, this is the first book I have come across in a long time where the female protagonist has been shown carrying such dignity and self respect for her that she has created a wall around her and she won’t let anybody come inside of it. Not even her family and neither her love interests. Bhavya is not at all the usual submissive heroine and she doesn’t fear to go ahead and experiment in relationships. Rather she is apprehensive to be committed in a monotonous liaison and this makes her walk out from her live- in relationship with Tenzin.
She is a hard headed and self dependent girl who wouldn’t sacrifice her freedom at any cost and after a slight commotion with Tenzin she decides to call it a quit, and leaving her life in Paris she returns to her home in Delhi. The Haveli or the old sentinel who is overjoyed to see Bhavya back also sees lines of dark clouds sitting over her youthful face. Why Bhavya takes the decision after an incident in Bali that brings her to a verge of leaving her lover Tenzin in Paris and come back to the house with 100 doors? As her big Sharma family welcomes her with warm hearts, they are skeptical too of her return. Slowly as time passes by Bhavya keeps on falling into an abyss of bewilderment and yet not to admit that she needs help from her family it soon becomes clear to them that she has many things hiding from them.
Bhavya who is seen as the rigid one in the family, whom no one can put any kind of boundation upon soon realizes that her short lived attraction Kabir too was in the city and she is not able to stop herself from meeting him. She reveals a big secret to him, yet, not the submissive kind she walks out of his face with a clear head that she doesn’t need any kind of sympathy towards her or for her situation that she was into.
On the other hand she has a conversation with her father Arun during his morning walks and realizes that inside the premises of the Haveli, there is a mausoleum of a courtesan Noori whose handwritten journal she receives from his study. With a difficult situation that she is in, where she is not able to judge her next step, Noori’s life story came as a great respite to her aching soul. She finds many truths about her that seem quite similar to what her life has become, she finds out about the twinge Noori had been through, the torment given to her by her family and her finally transforming into a royal courtesan by choice. This gives her some light, of following the heart and choosing whom one loves blindly and Bhavya knew who it was, yet her self esteem stops her from saying it aloud even though there were many instances when he was with her, who came to see her to seek her well being.
Thus, the story majorly revolves around the ego of Bhavya and her difficulty in being indecisive of what she truly wants and expects out of her relationship with both Tenzin and Kabir. She doesn’t want to be a burden on both, neither she is willing to compromise her freedom and also she doesn’t want to be taken care as one fragile woman. Her hard hardheadedness, her occasional fits and her grumpiness however come bowling over each and every one of the Sharma family except for her mother Uma who is all loving and most understanding woman taking care of the entire household of almost ten to twelve people. Bhavya finds solace in her mother’s arm yet she doesn’t have the heart to tell her what is bothering her.
Her family stands by her side despite of their huge mental differences, and in the end Bhavya is able to come out of the stigma that had been bothering her from the moment she left Paris. The end comes as a breather to see that Bhavya is able to find the solutions to her unasked questions that kept stirring inside of her but she never uttered them. In the end whether she chooses Tenzin or Kabir is for you to read and know, I shall not open the casket of revelations, it will spoil all the fun then.
Plethora’s Analysis & Verdict: ‘The Anatomy of Choice’ has the most inimitable beginning and then the story has its flow with a glance into Bhavya’s mind and heart both. The story moves in an organized pattern with each character portrayed in the right time. The author has great prowess and control over taking care of the emotions and feelings of all the characters involved in the story. She has bound the novel well by bringing together all the characters when they are needed and dealing with such a huge number of people in the book in one time, I would say that’s something truly commendable on her side. Going into the psyche of each character be it men or women she has displayed the pertinent emotions and their gestures and dialogues have been portrayed most precisely at the ideal time. A big family set up has been used which makes it all the more interesting to feel the glimpses of how despite of myriad differences in the thought process of each, a family can be caring and protective towards their blood. And the set of Sharma parents are also shown much linear for not intervening into the matters of their children’s lives until and unless they themselves choose to tell them.
Nonetheless, the most vital element that remains the major theme of the story is the freedom that a woman wants or seeks in a patriarchal society. And the author taking care of all the men’s mind sets, narrow somewhere and broad somewhere she has allowed the heroine of her story to achieve that freedom she desires for. But is woman ego really accepted by their counterparts, can it be healthy for a relationship to be sustained, how much freedom is good for a woman that will not make her sound a gregarious person and she would be not looked down upon by the society for not being able to take care of the relationship that she is surrounded with. These are the questions that you might have after reading this book, but surely you will find the answers in the most pragmatic manner. We all are different and so is Bhavya and her choices, but in the end you will like her for who she is and how she thinks. I would recommend it as a unique book that one must surely read and on the scale of 5 I would give this book a 4.5 stars rating.
My best wishes to the author and I am anxiously waiting for the third one in the series now.
Review by Monalisa Joshi
Founder & Chief Editor
Plethora Blogazine
June 28, 2022
Book: The Anatomy of Choice
Author: Harshali Singh
Rating: 4.4/5
There are love stories. Then there are love stories with a difference. The Anatomy of Choice (TAoC) by Harshali Singh falls in the latter category.
TAoC is the second book in the Haveli series and the first of the series that I read. I found the plot strong enough to stand on its own and didn’t feel unfamiliar without reading the first part. TAoC leaves its readers with an effect that lingers long after reading it.
The complicated relationship between the headstrong and proud second daughter of the Sharma family – Bhavya – and her live-in partner Tenzin forms the core of the romantic story. And yet TAoC is a story of strong women. The sweet yet strong matriarch of the family, Uma, who is a loving mother to all her children, yet possesses a steel core beneath the veneer. Aruna, the eldest Sharma daughter, who is happily busy in her second marriage and yet does not hesitate to her parents and sisters’ side whenever they need support. Noorie, the courtesan from many centuries ago, who died pining for her so-near-yet-so-far love, but whose influence is pervasive in the life of Bhavya and her father, Arun. The magnificent Haveli at Chandni Chowk, the story’s narrator personified as a female, towers above all.
The bold and unconventional beginning that unfolds with a triangular relationship between Bhavya, her partner Tenzin and the other guy, Kabir, sets the tone for the rest of the story. The one-night fantastical relationship has far-reaching consequences in the lives of Bhavya and Tenzin in Paris. Circumstances lead Bhavya to leave Paris and return to her family in the Haveli. The catch? Bhavya is pregnant and doesn’t know who the father is. Will she go back to her life in Paris, and Tenzin, forms the crux of the story.
It would be simplistic to consider the story as one of ego and indecisiveness of the central female protagonist. At first glance, Bhavya comes across as a shallow, self-centred and proud girl who wants to live life on her own terms without considering the feelings of others. Scratch beneath the surface, and you will see a mask of bravado shielding all the hurt and insecurities. Bhavya is as complex as the rest of the humans; even though she is unique, there’s a bit of Bhavya in all of us. Though the centrepiece of the story, I wish the author could have devoted more pages to the vulnerable and insecure side of Bhavya; she could have come across as more relatable then.
Despite the powerful female characters, it is Tenzin – the male protagonist – who stands out in the story. From the mask of restraint and self-control that he puts on to cover his longing for Bhavya to the freedom that he gives his lady-love to pursue a friendship that gives him pain to the heartache he feels when his lover leaves him to the realisation that dawns on him that accepting Bhavya on her terms is better than having no Bhavya in his life – Tenzin makes readers root and feel for him. Halfway through the novel, you start to wish and pray that Bhavya and Tenzin unite, and you almost clap when it happens towards the end, albeit with a twist.
But the narration is the overall hero of the book. With the personifications of the inanimate and the dead, the present intermingled with the flashbacks, and the epistolary format enmeshed with the soliloquies, the book is a masterclass in all fiction writing formats. Love triumphs time, geographies, age, and even oneself is the motif of TAoC. That includes the love of and for the family.
Some of my favourite lines from the book include:
\\ Can a heart break again… and again and still be called a heart, an organ that gives life?
\\ What is right and what do you call wrong? What may be right for you may be wrong for
someone else. We make our own rights and wrongs… there is no line, no dayra.
\\ The feral beast roared at her words, snapping its sharp jaws at the freedom it could taste,
feeling the cracks in the impervious tower that caged it within.
\\ We are like any other married couple – bitter, unfortunate in our choice and yet unable or
unwilling to leave each other.
Taking care of all the male mindsets, narrow in some places and broad in others, the author has allowed the heroine of her story to achieve that freedom she desires. We all are different. So is Bhavya and her choices, but in the end, you will appreciate her for who she is and how she thinks. Yet it is her man who you will understand more and root for, and that is where I feel that Singh could have made Bhavya’s character more likeable and relatable.
The Anatomy of Choice is a unique book with strong female characters that one must surely read. I would rate this book a 4.4 out of 5 and am now reaching out for the other books in the series.
Author: Harshali Singh
Rating: 4.4/5
There are love stories. Then there are love stories with a difference. The Anatomy of Choice (TAoC) by Harshali Singh falls in the latter category.
TAoC is the second book in the Haveli series and the first of the series that I read. I found the plot strong enough to stand on its own and didn’t feel unfamiliar without reading the first part. TAoC leaves its readers with an effect that lingers long after reading it.
The complicated relationship between the headstrong and proud second daughter of the Sharma family – Bhavya – and her live-in partner Tenzin forms the core of the romantic story. And yet TAoC is a story of strong women. The sweet yet strong matriarch of the family, Uma, who is a loving mother to all her children, yet possesses a steel core beneath the veneer. Aruna, the eldest Sharma daughter, who is happily busy in her second marriage and yet does not hesitate to her parents and sisters’ side whenever they need support. Noorie, the courtesan from many centuries ago, who died pining for her so-near-yet-so-far love, but whose influence is pervasive in the life of Bhavya and her father, Arun. The magnificent Haveli at Chandni Chowk, the story’s narrator personified as a female, towers above all.
The bold and unconventional beginning that unfolds with a triangular relationship between Bhavya, her partner Tenzin and the other guy, Kabir, sets the tone for the rest of the story. The one-night fantastical relationship has far-reaching consequences in the lives of Bhavya and Tenzin in Paris. Circumstances lead Bhavya to leave Paris and return to her family in the Haveli. The catch? Bhavya is pregnant and doesn’t know who the father is. Will she go back to her life in Paris, and Tenzin, forms the crux of the story.
It would be simplistic to consider the story as one of ego and indecisiveness of the central female protagonist. At first glance, Bhavya comes across as a shallow, self-centred and proud girl who wants to live life on her own terms without considering the feelings of others. Scratch beneath the surface, and you will see a mask of bravado shielding all the hurt and insecurities. Bhavya is as complex as the rest of the humans; even though she is unique, there’s a bit of Bhavya in all of us. Though the centrepiece of the story, I wish the author could have devoted more pages to the vulnerable and insecure side of Bhavya; she could have come across as more relatable then.
Despite the powerful female characters, it is Tenzin – the male protagonist – who stands out in the story. From the mask of restraint and self-control that he puts on to cover his longing for Bhavya to the freedom that he gives his lady-love to pursue a friendship that gives him pain to the heartache he feels when his lover leaves him to the realisation that dawns on him that accepting Bhavya on her terms is better than having no Bhavya in his life – Tenzin makes readers root and feel for him. Halfway through the novel, you start to wish and pray that Bhavya and Tenzin unite, and you almost clap when it happens towards the end, albeit with a twist.
But the narration is the overall hero of the book. With the personifications of the inanimate and the dead, the present intermingled with the flashbacks, and the epistolary format enmeshed with the soliloquies, the book is a masterclass in all fiction writing formats. Love triumphs time, geographies, age, and even oneself is the motif of TAoC. That includes the love of and for the family.
Some of my favourite lines from the book include:
\\ Can a heart break again… and again and still be called a heart, an organ that gives life?
\\ What is right and what do you call wrong? What may be right for you may be wrong for
someone else. We make our own rights and wrongs… there is no line, no dayra.
\\ The feral beast roared at her words, snapping its sharp jaws at the freedom it could taste,
feeling the cracks in the impervious tower that caged it within.
\\ We are like any other married couple – bitter, unfortunate in our choice and yet unable or
unwilling to leave each other.
Taking care of all the male mindsets, narrow in some places and broad in others, the author has allowed the heroine of her story to achieve that freedom she desires. We all are different. So is Bhavya and her choices, but in the end, you will appreciate her for who she is and how she thinks. Yet it is her man who you will understand more and root for, and that is where I feel that Singh could have made Bhavya’s character more likeable and relatable.
The Anatomy of Choice is a unique book with strong female characters that one must surely read. I would rate this book a 4.4 out of 5 and am now reaching out for the other books in the series.
February 27, 2019
Bhavya. Bee. Strong headed, fiercely Independent and aggressive. On the outside. On the inside though, is another story. On the inside, is a girl struggling with dilemmas, fighting with the demons of the past which have crept up into her present and muddled it to the extent that she can no longer comprehend where her heart lies – in the familiar monotony of her life with her partner thus-far Tenzin, or the new, excitingly breezy and promising future that companionship with Kabir could usher in. Harshali Singh’s The Anatomy of Choice is a strong read, one that compels you to hate the protagonist for some of her choices, love her for her bold spirit and follow her through her journey as she uncovers the truth of what she truly wants.
The Anatomy of Choice is the second book in Harshali Singh’s 7-book Haveli Series. Bhavya, the second daughter of the Sharma family residing in the magnificently historic haveli Chaand has suddenly returned from Paris where she lives with her partner Tenzin. She bears some deep secrets, consequences of a fantasy in the past, that now threaten to shatter her present. These secrets she refuses to reveal to her large family even as they worryingly look on from a distance, their muted support conveyed in a multitude of concerning gestures. As Bhavya and the family tip toe around this secret and the delicate thread of Bhavya’s relationship with Tenzin, what beautifully emerges is the strong bond the family shares underneath all the anger and animosity on the surface. Misunderstandings from the past with Aruna dissipate, both Arun and his daughter increasingly realise how similar they are, Uma’s foresightedness and open thinking prove to be the pillars of strength for her daughter and siblings Dheeraj and Etti help her sail through her ordeal in their own ways. In a way, it’s not just a story of Bhavya rediscovering herself, but also her place in the family.
But what truly helps this modern day fiercely independent girl find her way is the story of Noorie, a courtesan from centuries ago, whose onyx mausoleum lies on the outskirts of the Haveli. The Chaand Raat to its Chaand. Skirting through Noorie’s journal, Bhavya begins to project herself into the life and struggles of this beautiful lady of the yore whose overpowering love for the man she gave her heart to consumed her. Drawing comparisons, Bhavya must now decide what she must take away from Noorie’s life and make her own choices.
Harshali Singh’s The Anatomy of Choice was a surprisingly wonderful read. Surprising because I had not read her first book A Window to Her Dreams, so wasn’t really sure of what to expect. The story is an incredible mix of a good strong plot even while beautifully showcasing the vulnerability of raw human emotions. But what truly impressed me was the author’s beautifully nuanced language across the pages. The writing is mature and engaging and the carefully chosen titles for the chapters, words from various languages symbolising complex emotions along with their meanings, speak ounces of the meticulousness the author has invested in the book. Finally, this book isn’t about a love affair, or a love triangle or even if whether or not women can really make choices. Nor does it boast of a heroic protagonist who has everything sorted in life. To me, this book is about a real modern woman of today, complete with all her shortcomings – flawed, confused, striving to live life on her terms, and sometimes being impossibly unreasonable in the process – yet stubbornly exercising her right to make her choices and owning them unapologetically. Do read.
The Anatomy of Choice is the second book in Harshali Singh’s 7-book Haveli Series. Bhavya, the second daughter of the Sharma family residing in the magnificently historic haveli Chaand has suddenly returned from Paris where she lives with her partner Tenzin. She bears some deep secrets, consequences of a fantasy in the past, that now threaten to shatter her present. These secrets she refuses to reveal to her large family even as they worryingly look on from a distance, their muted support conveyed in a multitude of concerning gestures. As Bhavya and the family tip toe around this secret and the delicate thread of Bhavya’s relationship with Tenzin, what beautifully emerges is the strong bond the family shares underneath all the anger and animosity on the surface. Misunderstandings from the past with Aruna dissipate, both Arun and his daughter increasingly realise how similar they are, Uma’s foresightedness and open thinking prove to be the pillars of strength for her daughter and siblings Dheeraj and Etti help her sail through her ordeal in their own ways. In a way, it’s not just a story of Bhavya rediscovering herself, but also her place in the family.
But what truly helps this modern day fiercely independent girl find her way is the story of Noorie, a courtesan from centuries ago, whose onyx mausoleum lies on the outskirts of the Haveli. The Chaand Raat to its Chaand. Skirting through Noorie’s journal, Bhavya begins to project herself into the life and struggles of this beautiful lady of the yore whose overpowering love for the man she gave her heart to consumed her. Drawing comparisons, Bhavya must now decide what she must take away from Noorie’s life and make her own choices.
Harshali Singh’s The Anatomy of Choice was a surprisingly wonderful read. Surprising because I had not read her first book A Window to Her Dreams, so wasn’t really sure of what to expect. The story is an incredible mix of a good strong plot even while beautifully showcasing the vulnerability of raw human emotions. But what truly impressed me was the author’s beautifully nuanced language across the pages. The writing is mature and engaging and the carefully chosen titles for the chapters, words from various languages symbolising complex emotions along with their meanings, speak ounces of the meticulousness the author has invested in the book. Finally, this book isn’t about a love affair, or a love triangle or even if whether or not women can really make choices. Nor does it boast of a heroic protagonist who has everything sorted in life. To me, this book is about a real modern woman of today, complete with all her shortcomings – flawed, confused, striving to live life on her terms, and sometimes being impossibly unreasonable in the process – yet stubbornly exercising her right to make her choices and owning them unapologetically. Do read.
February 20, 2019
‘The Anatomy of Choice’ is the second book in the Haveli series, narrating the tale of two women, Bhavya, the second daughter of the Sharma family, and Noorie, a courtesan who lived in the days of yore, and who now “rests close by, celebrated in death as she never was in life” singing “hauntingly sad ghazals.”
The ivory-hued Haveli with the hundred doors and the black domed mausoleum by its side are now known as Chaand and Chaand Raat, as the love story of Noorie and Hamad Bahadur are played out by a modern pair of lovers. There is a hint of romance that plays its way like a will-o-the wisp, intriguing the reader, tantalizing and mysterious, as Noorie endeavours to “remind him of our love through the music he loved so much”.
Transgressions are rarely forgiven, and Bhavya and Tenzin realize how far they have drifted as a consequence of their choices. Bhavya comes home to the Haveli, where she is welcomed back by her family. However, there is a feeling of disquiet, as they wait for her to make up her mind and get her life back on an even keel. Bhavya, on her part, values her independence too much to allow anyone to hurry her into making her choices.
Harshali Singh weaves magic with her words, as she tells a story that meshes together a family of characters, all of whom have secrets deep within their hearts, be it Arun, the taciturn head, Uma, the gentle matriarch with a spine of steel, Suresh, the faithful friend or the tempestuous Bhavya. These secrets waft about as the reader senses their presence throughout the book.
Uma comes across as the voice of reason, like when she tells her headstrong daughter, “Decisions are the hardest to make, Bee, especially when you have to choose between where you should be and where you want to be.” This is the dilemma that Bhavya finds herself in as she flounders between the hard decisions that she knows she needs to make, about staying in the past or leaving it behind.
Bhavya’s whimsicality keeps her unpredictable. The relationship between Bhavya and her siblings is often turbulent at many levels. While Aruna and she glide over memories that are hurtful, her brother, Dheeraj and she exchange angry words on many occasions. Etti, her younger sister is “a minefield of hints and expectations, soundless”, waiting for Bhavya to own up to her life choices.
The discovery of Noorie’s diary, “beaten leather-covered ivory sheets of heavy handmade pages filled with... Devanagari alphabets” imbues Bhavya with a curiosity about the erstwhile courtesan. She “finds solace within the fragile pages of the journal written with henna-dyed hands, centuries before her” as she spends time at the mausoleum, where she senses that both Noorie and she are prisoners of their own circumstances.
Apart from the cover that symbolizes the choices of the past and the present, Harshali Singh makes use of an unusual device to name her chapters, using words from different languages along with their orgins, which give the reader a hint of what nestles within the chapter. The language used throughout the book is rich and filled with imagery, especially when the tale harks back to the courtesan’s life.
A book that needs to be preserved as carefully as Noorie’s diary!
The ivory-hued Haveli with the hundred doors and the black domed mausoleum by its side are now known as Chaand and Chaand Raat, as the love story of Noorie and Hamad Bahadur are played out by a modern pair of lovers. There is a hint of romance that plays its way like a will-o-the wisp, intriguing the reader, tantalizing and mysterious, as Noorie endeavours to “remind him of our love through the music he loved so much”.
Transgressions are rarely forgiven, and Bhavya and Tenzin realize how far they have drifted as a consequence of their choices. Bhavya comes home to the Haveli, where she is welcomed back by her family. However, there is a feeling of disquiet, as they wait for her to make up her mind and get her life back on an even keel. Bhavya, on her part, values her independence too much to allow anyone to hurry her into making her choices.
Harshali Singh weaves magic with her words, as she tells a story that meshes together a family of characters, all of whom have secrets deep within their hearts, be it Arun, the taciturn head, Uma, the gentle matriarch with a spine of steel, Suresh, the faithful friend or the tempestuous Bhavya. These secrets waft about as the reader senses their presence throughout the book.
Uma comes across as the voice of reason, like when she tells her headstrong daughter, “Decisions are the hardest to make, Bee, especially when you have to choose between where you should be and where you want to be.” This is the dilemma that Bhavya finds herself in as she flounders between the hard decisions that she knows she needs to make, about staying in the past or leaving it behind.
Bhavya’s whimsicality keeps her unpredictable. The relationship between Bhavya and her siblings is often turbulent at many levels. While Aruna and she glide over memories that are hurtful, her brother, Dheeraj and she exchange angry words on many occasions. Etti, her younger sister is “a minefield of hints and expectations, soundless”, waiting for Bhavya to own up to her life choices.
The discovery of Noorie’s diary, “beaten leather-covered ivory sheets of heavy handmade pages filled with... Devanagari alphabets” imbues Bhavya with a curiosity about the erstwhile courtesan. She “finds solace within the fragile pages of the journal written with henna-dyed hands, centuries before her” as she spends time at the mausoleum, where she senses that both Noorie and she are prisoners of their own circumstances.
Apart from the cover that symbolizes the choices of the past and the present, Harshali Singh makes use of an unusual device to name her chapters, using words from different languages along with their orgins, which give the reader a hint of what nestles within the chapter. The language used throughout the book is rich and filled with imagery, especially when the tale harks back to the courtesan’s life.
A book that needs to be preserved as carefully as Noorie’s diary!
November 2, 2020
To everyone who chooses sanity instead of the chaos that their hearts crave.
I feel you. -- @harshalisingh
________
Book 2 of THE HAVELI SERIES.
Genre: Adult Fiction
📌THE ANATOMY OF CHOICE.
It asks the basic, quintessential question..
IS CHOICE REALLY A POSSIBILITY FOR WOMEN?
________
This series, is told from a 3rd person perspective, the narrator is "the haveli", which in itself is a unique idea for story telling.
Book 1 had major focus on ARUNA's life. Book 2 brings BHAVYA'S life into focus, the " Jhansi ki rani"- according to her father.
📌Her story tells us about the unpredictable nature of life, the challenges it throws towards our way, the life of a girl who wants to char out her own path with her fury, grit & determination.
It tells us, how indecisive people can be, when at the crossroads in life..
how insecure can people be, to own up the consequences of their choices although everyone is ready to take credit for the good ones..
how our family, irrespective of our choices, stands by us, in thick & thin although they themselves may be crumbling inside.
It talks about how Bhavya, chose to stay in a live- in relationship & how both of them chose a fantasy to add some spice into their love life..& but they were not prepared for the impact of such a choice...
The story also brings forth the story of a bygone era, of memories inscribed in the haveli & how it helped Bhavya clear out her mind & decide her course of action.
_________
📌In a nutshell, it reiterates the fact of, unconditional support of one's family & that we cannot blame anyone for the choices we make.
✨A medium-paced read, apt for the age group of 20+.
✨I am really enjoying this HAVELI SERIES, can't wait for the next one.
✨The highlight of the book is but obvious, the storyline but the narration from the haveli's perspective, also shares equal limelight.
The writing style is fabulous, adding to the reader's vocabulary.
All in all, a perfect recipe for a story that touches the heart & also teaches a few life lessons.
______
Synopsis:
Is choice really a possibility for women?
Bhavya, the second daughter of the Sharma family, has made her life in Paris with Tenzin, her live-in partner. As the flame of their love starts to dwindle, they act on a fantasy only to realise that they are ill-equipped to handle the consequences of their choices.
Bhavya returns to her Haveli in Delhi unwilling to bend to Tenzin’s demand of letting the past remain where it belongs…in the past. As she navigates the intimate, familial and societal realms trying to find herself, her family supports her silently despite having their own misgivings on her return.
In the course of finding a solution to her turmoil, she discovers the journal of a 16th century courtesan Noorie, who struggled with her own destiny. As Bhavya delves deeper into Noorie’s world, she finds her own indecision juxtaposing with the angst of a woman born much before her time. She is forced to examine and finds parallels in the unconventional love and relationships that stretches across centuries and own up to the decisions that affect her life.
Will Bhavya be able to work out the snarls in her relationship or will the consequence of the taboo liaison mark her forever?
I feel you. -- @harshalisingh
________
Book 2 of THE HAVELI SERIES.
Genre: Adult Fiction
📌THE ANATOMY OF CHOICE.
It asks the basic, quintessential question..
IS CHOICE REALLY A POSSIBILITY FOR WOMEN?
________
This series, is told from a 3rd person perspective, the narrator is "the haveli", which in itself is a unique idea for story telling.
Book 1 had major focus on ARUNA's life. Book 2 brings BHAVYA'S life into focus, the " Jhansi ki rani"- according to her father.
📌Her story tells us about the unpredictable nature of life, the challenges it throws towards our way, the life of a girl who wants to char out her own path with her fury, grit & determination.
It tells us, how indecisive people can be, when at the crossroads in life..
how insecure can people be, to own up the consequences of their choices although everyone is ready to take credit for the good ones..
how our family, irrespective of our choices, stands by us, in thick & thin although they themselves may be crumbling inside.
It talks about how Bhavya, chose to stay in a live- in relationship & how both of them chose a fantasy to add some spice into their love life..& but they were not prepared for the impact of such a choice...
The story also brings forth the story of a bygone era, of memories inscribed in the haveli & how it helped Bhavya clear out her mind & decide her course of action.
_________
📌In a nutshell, it reiterates the fact of, unconditional support of one's family & that we cannot blame anyone for the choices we make.
✨A medium-paced read, apt for the age group of 20+.
✨I am really enjoying this HAVELI SERIES, can't wait for the next one.
✨The highlight of the book is but obvious, the storyline but the narration from the haveli's perspective, also shares equal limelight.
The writing style is fabulous, adding to the reader's vocabulary.
All in all, a perfect recipe for a story that touches the heart & also teaches a few life lessons.
______
Synopsis:
Is choice really a possibility for women?
Bhavya, the second daughter of the Sharma family, has made her life in Paris with Tenzin, her live-in partner. As the flame of their love starts to dwindle, they act on a fantasy only to realise that they are ill-equipped to handle the consequences of their choices.
Bhavya returns to her Haveli in Delhi unwilling to bend to Tenzin’s demand of letting the past remain where it belongs…in the past. As she navigates the intimate, familial and societal realms trying to find herself, her family supports her silently despite having their own misgivings on her return.
In the course of finding a solution to her turmoil, she discovers the journal of a 16th century courtesan Noorie, who struggled with her own destiny. As Bhavya delves deeper into Noorie’s world, she finds her own indecision juxtaposing with the angst of a woman born much before her time. She is forced to examine and finds parallels in the unconventional love and relationships that stretches across centuries and own up to the decisions that affect her life.
Will Bhavya be able to work out the snarls in her relationship or will the consequence of the taboo liaison mark her forever?
March 5, 2021
The Haveli Series by Harshali Singh
I recently got to read two eminently readable books, both part of a series - The Haveli Series - from the first time author Harshali Singh.
The first one - “A Window To My Dreams” is the story of a young woman Aruna who has returned to her parents’ home after a bitter divorce. She is fighting real and imagined demons of her past, and while she is trying hard to piece together her life, she realises it is not easy finding some one to love and trust again. The family comes together for her, even though it is not always easy for each one of them too.
It is an ambitious first book, and Harshali tackles a multi-stranded story with great panache and skill, keeping the reader hooked till the last page with a surprise or two thrown in the end.
The second book “The Anatomy of Choice” is about Aruna’s sister Bhavya, and is a lot more layered in terms of mind space of the characters and their stories. Bhavya is an impulsive girl and is not afraid to make bold choices. One of her personal choices leads to a complicated never-before situation, and the family is yet again thrown in to a difficult situation.
The parents’ home to which each of the sisters return is an old, sprawling haveli, a mansion, (thereby the name The Haveli Series) which is located on the cusp of new and old Delhis, with a hint of a glamorous and glorious past. It is here that the Sharma parents and younger siblings live, along with an ambiguously related uncle and memories of a long-dead courtesan from centuries ago. The Haveli serves as a scene of action, if not physical then metaphorical and is almost a character in itself.
The language is crisp and treatment unpretentious, and each of the books manages to be a page turner, alright. I was reminded of famous Indian family drama potboilers of yore by Ranu and Gulshan Nanda and frankly, I won’t be surprised to see some sort of screen adaptation of these books too in future. The author promises further sequels which one could look forward to.
I recently got to read two eminently readable books, both part of a series - The Haveli Series - from the first time author Harshali Singh.
The first one - “A Window To My Dreams” is the story of a young woman Aruna who has returned to her parents’ home after a bitter divorce. She is fighting real and imagined demons of her past, and while she is trying hard to piece together her life, she realises it is not easy finding some one to love and trust again. The family comes together for her, even though it is not always easy for each one of them too.
It is an ambitious first book, and Harshali tackles a multi-stranded story with great panache and skill, keeping the reader hooked till the last page with a surprise or two thrown in the end.
The second book “The Anatomy of Choice” is about Aruna’s sister Bhavya, and is a lot more layered in terms of mind space of the characters and their stories. Bhavya is an impulsive girl and is not afraid to make bold choices. One of her personal choices leads to a complicated never-before situation, and the family is yet again thrown in to a difficult situation.
The parents’ home to which each of the sisters return is an old, sprawling haveli, a mansion, (thereby the name The Haveli Series) which is located on the cusp of new and old Delhis, with a hint of a glamorous and glorious past. It is here that the Sharma parents and younger siblings live, along with an ambiguously related uncle and memories of a long-dead courtesan from centuries ago. The Haveli serves as a scene of action, if not physical then metaphorical and is almost a character in itself.
The language is crisp and treatment unpretentious, and each of the books manages to be a page turner, alright. I was reminded of famous Indian family drama potboilers of yore by Ranu and Gulshan Nanda and frankly, I won’t be surprised to see some sort of screen adaptation of these books too in future. The author promises further sequels which one could look forward to.
November 13, 2020
Fear has made them blind to the power that all humans have to alter their circumstances. Failure seems achievable and success impossible.
(PG - 99).
The above line is so apt for today's world & especially to all humans.
✔️
It is said that the Choices which we make in our life leads to the way how we are going to live the rest of our life.
The Story Revolves Around Bhavya. Its About The Choice She Makes In Her Life & The outcome which comes out of Her Choice.
✌️
The story is the 2nd part on the Haveli series, it's a family drama, full of twists, turns & secrets. Also it reminds us of the fact that how our choices leads to consequences which we never thought of.
✌️
Bhavya, returns home from Paris after the drastic turns of events which leaves her life in jeopardy.
As she navigates the intimate, familial and societal realms trying to find herself, her family supports her silently despite having their own misgivings on her return.
✔️
In the course of finding a solution to her turmoil, she discovers the journal of a 16th century courtesan Noorie, who struggled with her own destiny. As Bhavya delves deeper into Noorie’s world, she finds her own indecision juxtaposing with the angst of a woman born much before her time. She is forced to examine and finds parallels in the unconventional love and relationships that stretches across centuries and own up to the decisions that affect her life.
✌️
The story effortlessly sailed from one timeline to other without losing the grip.
Few lines which I loved -
1) We would have been better as friends. No expectations, no complications, just too different to be married.
2) Some relationships do last, they may not be of a fiery passion but can glow softly with love, mutual respect & support for each other.
3) One has to be willing to put the other before their own self occasionally & then permanence can thrive.
✔️
(PG - 99).
The above line is so apt for today's world & especially to all humans.
✔️
It is said that the Choices which we make in our life leads to the way how we are going to live the rest of our life.
The Story Revolves Around Bhavya. Its About The Choice She Makes In Her Life & The outcome which comes out of Her Choice.
✌️
The story is the 2nd part on the Haveli series, it's a family drama, full of twists, turns & secrets. Also it reminds us of the fact that how our choices leads to consequences which we never thought of.
✌️
Bhavya, returns home from Paris after the drastic turns of events which leaves her life in jeopardy.
As she navigates the intimate, familial and societal realms trying to find herself, her family supports her silently despite having their own misgivings on her return.
✔️
In the course of finding a solution to her turmoil, she discovers the journal of a 16th century courtesan Noorie, who struggled with her own destiny. As Bhavya delves deeper into Noorie’s world, she finds her own indecision juxtaposing with the angst of a woman born much before her time. She is forced to examine and finds parallels in the unconventional love and relationships that stretches across centuries and own up to the decisions that affect her life.
✌️
The story effortlessly sailed from one timeline to other without losing the grip.
Few lines which I loved -
1) We would have been better as friends. No expectations, no complications, just too different to be married.
2) Some relationships do last, they may not be of a fiery passion but can glow softly with love, mutual respect & support for each other.
3) One has to be willing to put the other before their own self occasionally & then permanence can thrive.
✔️
February 25, 2019
A Rewarding Read
The Anatomy Of Choice authored by Harshali Singh and published by Readomania is a rewarding read. One of the rare pieces when I begin my review with my verdict. It’s been ages since I have read something as captivating as this.
The plot revolves around Bhavya (Bee) and her perturbation and huff. It is about the choices she makes and how difficult she finds it difficult to accept the resultant consequences. In the process, she ends up ruffling her family members, her live-in partner and her ownself. The story also touches upon the goods and evils that resides parallelly within us; it reflects how sometimes we win over our demons while other times the evil gets better of us.
Not everyone would be able to relate with the protagonist, (I didn’t) but the smooth narration makes it easier to understand why is she doing what she is.
The book narrates not one but two stories one that of Bee and the other of Noorie – a courtesan of 16th century. Noorie’s journal talks about her longing for love and the sacrifices she made to be with her love. It helps Bee understand another perspective and thereby realize what path she should take.
The Anatomy Of Choice is one of the best writings I have come across in a long time. Read this book to know how simple as well as sensitive matters can be narrated fluidly. Also, special mention to the titles of every chapter, which is well researched; it gives you a sneak-peak of what you can expect in the chapter ahead.
This is second of the Haveli series and I have already bought the first book and look forward to reading soon.
My ratings: 4.5 out of 5.
I received a review copy of the book from Writers Melon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
The Anatomy Of Choice authored by Harshali Singh and published by Readomania is a rewarding read. One of the rare pieces when I begin my review with my verdict. It’s been ages since I have read something as captivating as this.
The plot revolves around Bhavya (Bee) and her perturbation and huff. It is about the choices she makes and how difficult she finds it difficult to accept the resultant consequences. In the process, she ends up ruffling her family members, her live-in partner and her ownself. The story also touches upon the goods and evils that resides parallelly within us; it reflects how sometimes we win over our demons while other times the evil gets better of us.
Not everyone would be able to relate with the protagonist, (I didn’t) but the smooth narration makes it easier to understand why is she doing what she is.
The book narrates not one but two stories one that of Bee and the other of Noorie – a courtesan of 16th century. Noorie’s journal talks about her longing for love and the sacrifices she made to be with her love. It helps Bee understand another perspective and thereby realize what path she should take.
The Anatomy Of Choice is one of the best writings I have come across in a long time. Read this book to know how simple as well as sensitive matters can be narrated fluidly. Also, special mention to the titles of every chapter, which is well researched; it gives you a sneak-peak of what you can expect in the chapter ahead.
This is second of the Haveli series and I have already bought the first book and look forward to reading soon.
My ratings: 4.5 out of 5.
I received a review copy of the book from Writers Melon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
October 23, 2020
I’ve read Harshali Singh’s debut novel, the first in a series of seven books under the Haveli series, which it presents as a character in itself - regal, full of mystery and numerous possibilities.
This is book two in the series and follows Bhavya, the second daughter of the Sharma family who has made her life in Paris with her live-in partner, Tenzin. As the flame of their love starts to dwindle, they act on a fantasy only to realise they are ill-equipped to handle the consequences.
Bhavya, unwilling to bend to Tenzin’s demand of letting the past remain where it belongs, returns to her family’s Haveli in Delhi. In the course of finding a solution to her turmoil, she discovers the journal of Noorie, a16th century courtesan who struggled with her destiny. As Bhavya delves deeper into Noorie’s world, she finds her indecision juxtaposing with the angst of a woman born much before her time. She is forced to examine the unconventional relationships of love that stretch across centuries and finds parallels with the choices that affect her life.
It took me a while to get absorbed into the plot and characters. The hook, I found, was in peeling away the complex layers of Noorie’s life as Bhavya seeks to find her answers in them. Also, the uniquely named chapter using words from foreign languages was intriguing.
With the 16th century backdrop, the writing calls for a solemn but lyrical pace which the author delivers. She keeps the narrative crisp, switching smoothly between the historical and contemporary. The subject of taboo relationships is explored well, questioning why women alone must bear consequences.
A modern take on relationships with a bold and historical twist, Bhavya’s story spotlights a woman’s right to choose, to make decisions about her life.
This is book two in the series and follows Bhavya, the second daughter of the Sharma family who has made her life in Paris with her live-in partner, Tenzin. As the flame of their love starts to dwindle, they act on a fantasy only to realise they are ill-equipped to handle the consequences.
Bhavya, unwilling to bend to Tenzin’s demand of letting the past remain where it belongs, returns to her family’s Haveli in Delhi. In the course of finding a solution to her turmoil, she discovers the journal of Noorie, a16th century courtesan who struggled with her destiny. As Bhavya delves deeper into Noorie’s world, she finds her indecision juxtaposing with the angst of a woman born much before her time. She is forced to examine the unconventional relationships of love that stretch across centuries and finds parallels with the choices that affect her life.
It took me a while to get absorbed into the plot and characters. The hook, I found, was in peeling away the complex layers of Noorie’s life as Bhavya seeks to find her answers in them. Also, the uniquely named chapter using words from foreign languages was intriguing.
With the 16th century backdrop, the writing calls for a solemn but lyrical pace which the author delivers. She keeps the narrative crisp, switching smoothly between the historical and contemporary. The subject of taboo relationships is explored well, questioning why women alone must bear consequences.
A modern take on relationships with a bold and historical twist, Bhavya’s story spotlights a woman’s right to choose, to make decisions about her life.
February 25, 2019
The anatomy of choice is the second of the Haveli series, by Harshali Singh. Though I haven’t read the first book, I am tempted to read it now. This is the story of Bhavya who comes home to the Haveli after moving away from Tenzin, her live-in partner. Though her family welcomes her back they want her to move on and take a decision for her life. As for Bhavya, she is too headstrong and independent to let anyone cloud her judgement and influence her life decisions.
On one hand it’s a family drama, full of characters with secrets. On the other hand, it’s a story of choices one has to make and consequences of those choices. Uma is a practical mother who wants her daughter to decide for her life. Bhavya’s relationship with her siblings is also not that pleasant. In the meantime she finds Norrie’s diary. Noorie was a courtesan in the same haveli, long time ago. This old diary gives Bhavya a sense of relief and solace. Though centuries apart, both of these women were going through the same turmoil in life and struggling to come out of the past.
I loved reading this book. Language is rich and impressive with engrossing narration and storytelling. As compared to major part of the book, first few chapters looked too ordinary and considerable racy content. The author managed to balance two storylines from different eras really well. Also, title of each chapter, is derived from different languages which makes it interesting and also gives you a hint of what you might find in each chapter.
A good and interesting light read! Go for it!
On one hand it’s a family drama, full of characters with secrets. On the other hand, it’s a story of choices one has to make and consequences of those choices. Uma is a practical mother who wants her daughter to decide for her life. Bhavya’s relationship with her siblings is also not that pleasant. In the meantime she finds Norrie’s diary. Noorie was a courtesan in the same haveli, long time ago. This old diary gives Bhavya a sense of relief and solace. Though centuries apart, both of these women were going through the same turmoil in life and struggling to come out of the past.
I loved reading this book. Language is rich and impressive with engrossing narration and storytelling. As compared to major part of the book, first few chapters looked too ordinary and considerable racy content. The author managed to balance two storylines from different eras really well. Also, title of each chapter, is derived from different languages which makes it interesting and also gives you a hint of what you might find in each chapter.
A good and interesting light read! Go for it!
December 21, 2020
"To everyone who chooses sanity instead of
the chaos that their hearts crave. I feel you."
The epigraph sets the tone for this intricate
tale of one woman's internal struggle as she tries to determine the trajectory of her life, faced with the consequences of a choice she made in a fleeting instant of fantasy. The story takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride as it explores the various facets of the lives of not one, but two women -- two women who lived centuries apart but their stories strangely similar, brimming with love, lust, loss, loneliness and sacrifice.
Bhavya, the second daughter of the Sharma
family has made her life in Paris with her
live-in partner, Tenzin. As the flame of their
love dwindle, they act on a fantasy, only to
realise that they are ill-equipped to handle
the consequences of their choices. Bhavya
returns to her Haveli in Delhi, and as she
navigates the intimate familial and societal
realms trying to find herself, she finds solace and strength in the story of another woman -- Noorie, who has lived eons ago and has left a journal -- as the past and the present seamlessly interwine.
With eloquent prose and velvety flow, the
story is narrated from different points of
view and makes for a soothing read. The
vivid characters of the Sharma family come
alive -- some endearing and some not so --
and leaves the reader wanting to know more about them. In the end, it leaves a lingering question in the reader's mind; Is choice really a possibility for women?
the chaos that their hearts crave. I feel you."
The epigraph sets the tone for this intricate
tale of one woman's internal struggle as she tries to determine the trajectory of her life, faced with the consequences of a choice she made in a fleeting instant of fantasy. The story takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride as it explores the various facets of the lives of not one, but two women -- two women who lived centuries apart but their stories strangely similar, brimming with love, lust, loss, loneliness and sacrifice.
Bhavya, the second daughter of the Sharma
family has made her life in Paris with her
live-in partner, Tenzin. As the flame of their
love dwindle, they act on a fantasy, only to
realise that they are ill-equipped to handle
the consequences of their choices. Bhavya
returns to her Haveli in Delhi, and as she
navigates the intimate familial and societal
realms trying to find herself, she finds solace and strength in the story of another woman -- Noorie, who has lived eons ago and has left a journal -- as the past and the present seamlessly interwine.
With eloquent prose and velvety flow, the
story is narrated from different points of
view and makes for a soothing read. The
vivid characters of the Sharma family come
alive -- some endearing and some not so --
and leaves the reader wanting to know more about them. In the end, it leaves a lingering question in the reader's mind; Is choice really a possibility for women?
March 6, 2019
'Choice' is a powerful word with several connotations and each choice with its own repercussions. Harshali Singh's The Anatomy of Choice looks at the decisions we make and the factors that lead us to those decisions through the protagonist Bhavya - the fiery one of the Sharma clan. While the choices that Bhavya is faced with may not be what all readers have experienced, the challenges and consequences that come forth when one is forced to make difficult choices will relatable to all.
Bhavya's story makes one ponder whether the choices we make are always ours, and if not, do we get a free pass when the choices turn out to be wrong. How different is the life of today's so-called modern woman with all the luxuries and freedom of contemporary society as compared to a suppressed woman of the past? Were the choices any different then? Do the choices that women make really belong to them?
The writing is, of course, engaging and keeps one hooked, but what pulls one in, even more, to keep flipping the pages is the story itself. How will Bhavya extricate herself out of her predicament?
Anatomy of Choice makes you think again about several words like compromise, love, and of course, choice.
While this is the second in the Haveli series, the story itself isn't a sequel and it can be read on its own. (Best if you read both, though. Also, helps one know what happened with Aruna after Book 1!)
I found the read to be quite enjoyable and urge everyone to pick this book.
Bhavya's story makes one ponder whether the choices we make are always ours, and if not, do we get a free pass when the choices turn out to be wrong. How different is the life of today's so-called modern woman with all the luxuries and freedom of contemporary society as compared to a suppressed woman of the past? Were the choices any different then? Do the choices that women make really belong to them?
The writing is, of course, engaging and keeps one hooked, but what pulls one in, even more, to keep flipping the pages is the story itself. How will Bhavya extricate herself out of her predicament?
Anatomy of Choice makes you think again about several words like compromise, love, and of course, choice.
While this is the second in the Haveli series, the story itself isn't a sequel and it can be read on its own. (Best if you read both, though. Also, helps one know what happened with Aruna after Book 1!)
I found the read to be quite enjoyable and urge everyone to pick this book.
January 29, 2023
As Malala Yousafzai once said: 'I raise my voice – not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard . . . We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.'
Literature – novels and non-fiction alike – remains one of the most powerful means of ensuring that our voices are heard. Engrossing, enraging, and enlightening (often all in the same paragraph), feminist reads are here to fuel the fight for gender equality.
So whether you're searching for solace, knowledge, inspiration, or all of the above, The Anatomy of Choice can be your next read!
One cannot put a price on freedom and a person who has tasted freedom will never give it up in his right mind.
Bhavya was going through the same dilemma when she decides to put herself first. She returns back to her roots and finds that ages ago, some women, Noori, went through the same boundation. This raises a lot of questions and ideas in her mind.
The story began with a somewhat common setting and it made us guess what will happen next. The Noori part of the story was striking and it made a huge impact on the story and the readers,
The author has done a great job with this never-ending topic. Beautifully written and especially the writing of the voice of the mind and heart at different instances. It gives us a peep into the character's state and makes up think largely.
It is definitely a recommendation.
Literature – novels and non-fiction alike – remains one of the most powerful means of ensuring that our voices are heard. Engrossing, enraging, and enlightening (often all in the same paragraph), feminist reads are here to fuel the fight for gender equality.
So whether you're searching for solace, knowledge, inspiration, or all of the above, The Anatomy of Choice can be your next read!
One cannot put a price on freedom and a person who has tasted freedom will never give it up in his right mind.
Bhavya was going through the same dilemma when she decides to put herself first. She returns back to her roots and finds that ages ago, some women, Noori, went through the same boundation. This raises a lot of questions and ideas in her mind.
The story began with a somewhat common setting and it made us guess what will happen next. The Noori part of the story was striking and it made a huge impact on the story and the readers,
The author has done a great job with this never-ending topic. Beautifully written and especially the writing of the voice of the mind and heart at different instances. It gives us a peep into the character's state and makes up think largely.
It is definitely a recommendation.
February 7, 2023
'The Anatomy of Choice' is a book by author Harshali Singh. It's the second book in the sequel of the Haveli Series and the first one is ‘The Window to her Dreams. The story revolves around a strong protagonist Bhavya. she is the second daughter of the big Sharma family, and stays with her live-in partner Tenzin in Paris after the flame of their love starts to dwindle. Bhavya returns to her Haveli in Delhi unwilling to bend to Tenzin’s demand of letting the past remain where it belongs in the past. She finds the journal of a 16th-century courtesan Noorie, who struggled with her own destiny, who lived ages ago and has left a journal. when Bhavya goes deep inside the life of Noorie gets the reflections of her decisions that affect her life.
The story is about the struggle, decisions, choices, freedom, ego, and sacrifice of women, etc. I like the way the author developed the character of Bhavya with emotions with a strong independent woman who is searching for answers in her life. . The storyline of the book is perfect. The cover was found very attractive and relates to the story and the writing is unique with simple langauge. great work by the author. Enjoyable read!
The story is about the struggle, decisions, choices, freedom, ego, and sacrifice of women, etc. I like the way the author developed the character of Bhavya with emotions with a strong independent woman who is searching for answers in her life. . The storyline of the book is perfect. The cover was found very attractive and relates to the story and the writing is unique with simple langauge. great work by the author. Enjoyable read!
February 19, 2023
"The Anatomy of Choice" by Harshali Singh.
The book cover was too good.The titles she used which were from different languages(she also mentioned that) was unique and I felt that interesting personally.
The story is about Bhavya who was in a live-in relationship with his partner, Tenzin in Paris. The author expressed the women's struggle,decision making and her choices which made her face life's consequences..
Bhavya returns to Delhi to her parents home, and she finds comfort and strength in the story of another woman.,Noorie who lived many years ago
has left a journal. The story is all about these two women whose choice becomes a challenge to make..The sacrifice,loss,loneliness was well expressed.
The character sketching was amazing and the narration was beautiful..
Obviously a page turner and even after reading I still have the impact...
The story went smoothly and I learned new words....
Some lines were like"Wow" and relatable as well.
The way the author explained was awesome and I love to read her upcoming books!!
The author has penned beautifully and I loved reading the whole book..
I recommend it to anyone who loves reading novels!!!
The book cover was too good.The titles she used which were from different languages(she also mentioned that) was unique and I felt that interesting personally.
The story is about Bhavya who was in a live-in relationship with his partner, Tenzin in Paris. The author expressed the women's struggle,decision making and her choices which made her face life's consequences..
Bhavya returns to Delhi to her parents home, and she finds comfort and strength in the story of another woman.,Noorie who lived many years ago
has left a journal. The story is all about these two women whose choice becomes a challenge to make..The sacrifice,loss,loneliness was well expressed.
The character sketching was amazing and the narration was beautiful..
Obviously a page turner and even after reading I still have the impact...
The story went smoothly and I learned new words....
Some lines were like"Wow" and relatable as well.
The way the author explained was awesome and I love to read her upcoming books!!
The author has penned beautifully and I loved reading the whole book..
I recommend it to anyone who loves reading novels!!!
February 25, 2019
Bhavya, the second daughter of the Sharma family, has made her life with Tenzin. As the flame of their love starts to dwindle they act on a fantasy that rises the consequences they aren't ready to handle. Bhavya returns to her Haveli in Delhi unwilling to Tenzin's demand of letting go the past where it belongs. As she navigates through the phase of her life, her parents support her silently.
.
Will Bhavya be able to work out her relationship? Is choice really a possibility for women?
.
.
The story is quite interesting. The characters and the concept are very strong, especially the character of Bhavya or Bee as she is called is very inspiring.
She teaches us to take the stand for the decisions we make.
.
Using words and the meaning from different languages is quite inspiring and I really loved the idea. The cover is just beautiful and justifies the story completely.
.
.
If you want to read a modern and inspiring story, this book is your next pick.
.
Will Bhavya be able to work out her relationship? Is choice really a possibility for women?
.
.
The story is quite interesting. The characters and the concept are very strong, especially the character of Bhavya or Bee as she is called is very inspiring.
She teaches us to take the stand for the decisions we make.
.
Using words and the meaning from different languages is quite inspiring and I really loved the idea. The cover is just beautiful and justifies the story completely.
.
.
If you want to read a modern and inspiring story, this book is your next pick.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2020
Reading this book was akin to ordering a new and exotic dish in a restaurant. Once you dig through the fancy dressing of language and sides of other storylines, you find it's your comfort food after all.
This book took a fair bit of time for me to finish, navigating through complicated language and many characters in its initial pages caused me to almost give up, yet the curiosity created by the main storyline kept me coming back to it. The dogged perseverance earned me a reward of a beautiful story. The movement of times between the present protagonist and her counterpart in the 16th century was flawless.
Pros: A interesting storyline, creates an amazing picture of Delhi both present and past. Relatable characters
Cons: More my discomfort than the book, complicated language! Also sometimes the side stories confused me.
It might seem a bit daunting, but keep at it and you'd be wonderfully surprised :-)
This book took a fair bit of time for me to finish, navigating through complicated language and many characters in its initial pages caused me to almost give up, yet the curiosity created by the main storyline kept me coming back to it. The dogged perseverance earned me a reward of a beautiful story. The movement of times between the present protagonist and her counterpart in the 16th century was flawless.
Pros: A interesting storyline, creates an amazing picture of Delhi both present and past. Relatable characters
Cons: More my discomfort than the book, complicated language! Also sometimes the side stories confused me.
It might seem a bit daunting, but keep at it and you'd be wonderfully surprised :-)
February 18, 2019
2019: 24
.
🍁
.
The Anatomy of Choice
Book 2 of the Haveli series.
Harshali Singh
Readomania
2018
.
This is a story of choices and it's consequences, of haunting pasts and uncertain futures, and of families as essential support systems.
The storyline is engrossing, mostly because twists and surprises are well planned, and uncovered with skill.
Language is easy, and yet the word use is impactful.
Overall, the narration has a pretty good flow.
Won't take long for you to finish.
A 3 on 5.
.
🍁
.
#bookstagramindia #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #review #bookreview #readdreamrepeat #blogger #bookblogger #delhibookstagrammer #indianblogger #igreads #delhiblogger #unitedbookstagram #indianauthor #february #februaryreads #slaythattbr #bookseries
24 down @htbrunch #htbrunchbookchallenge #BrunchBookChallenge #htbrunch
.
🍁
.
The Anatomy of Choice
Book 2 of the Haveli series.
Harshali Singh
Readomania
2018
.
This is a story of choices and it's consequences, of haunting pasts and uncertain futures, and of families as essential support systems.
The storyline is engrossing, mostly because twists and surprises are well planned, and uncovered with skill.
Language is easy, and yet the word use is impactful.
Overall, the narration has a pretty good flow.
Won't take long for you to finish.
A 3 on 5.
.
🍁
.
#bookstagramindia #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #review #bookreview #readdreamrepeat #blogger #bookblogger #delhibookstagrammer #indianblogger #igreads #delhiblogger #unitedbookstagram #indianauthor #february #februaryreads #slaythattbr #bookseries
24 down @htbrunch #htbrunchbookchallenge #BrunchBookChallenge #htbrunch
February 28, 2019
The Anatomy of Choice is the second book of haveli series. Although I haven’t read first part yet. The blurb was so fascinating that I couldn’t stop reading this book. The cover of the book is so beautiful and gives justice to the story.
The story was totally different from the stories which I have read till now. The story was very interesting and gripping. The story gives bold message to the readers. It is very different and fresh story. The protagonist Bhavya is indeed strong, bold and inspiring character.
The narration is good. The characters and supporting characters are interesting and gives proper justice to the story. The language used is simple and lucid. The story was fast paced. It has perfect blend of emotions. This book will definitely keep you hooked till the last page.
The story was totally different from the stories which I have read till now. The story was very interesting and gripping. The story gives bold message to the readers. It is very different and fresh story. The protagonist Bhavya is indeed strong, bold and inspiring character.
The narration is good. The characters and supporting characters are interesting and gives proper justice to the story. The language used is simple and lucid. The story was fast paced. It has perfect blend of emotions. This book will definitely keep you hooked till the last page.
February 1, 2020
The 'Anatomy of Choice' by Harshali Singh is an interesting read. Singh poses a question at the back of the book's cover "Is Choice Really a Possibility for women?" Her narrative in the book as she weaves the life of the main protagonist - Bhavya, shows that choice indeed is a possibility for women, but every choice we make comes with a price to be paid. Harhsali does a good job of building up the characters of the Sharma family and also making alive the ambience of the Haveli which is located in old Delhi. The plot is engaging and it is hard to put the book down till one has read till the end. I like how the titles of the chapters are words taken from different languages across the world along with their meanings.
February 12, 2019
After the first book by the author, A window to her dreams, I couldn't wait to read the next one. The author's unique story telling ability is not only refreshing but also a welcome change from other fictions I have read.
Following the journey of not only Bhavya, the 2nd daughter but also Noorie from the past, was thrilling and captivating. A thought-provoking read I would recommend to men as much as to women.
Now I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Following the journey of not only Bhavya, the 2nd daughter but also Noorie from the past, was thrilling and captivating. A thought-provoking read I would recommend to men as much as to women.
Now I can't wait for the next book in the series!
August 8, 2019
'If you can't handle me at your worst, then you don't deserve me at my best.'
This quote attributed to Marilyn Monroe applies to this novel's pivotal character Bhavya equally if not more. She is at once bold and confused, smart and moody, vulnerable and independent. A scandalous and thrilling event in the beginning launches a heavy payload of uncertainty and dilemma into the character's lives that they have to grapple with for the rest of the story.
Interlaced into all this is the tale of Noorie, a courtesan from an yester era, whose diary is discovered now, and who could easily be an avatar of Bhavya. Her struggle against odds and choices are things that act as food for Bhavya's soul. How this influences her and leads to her growth is the crux of this book.
The variables in the lives of Noorie and Bhavya are so different and yet so same. Sometimes it makes you feel though humanity has been through so much, some things never change. But Bhavya clearly has a few advantages over Noorie not the least of which is the hope for a happy ending.
I applaud Harshali Sigh for this bold, yet intricately crafted work.
This quote attributed to Marilyn Monroe applies to this novel's pivotal character Bhavya equally if not more. She is at once bold and confused, smart and moody, vulnerable and independent. A scandalous and thrilling event in the beginning launches a heavy payload of uncertainty and dilemma into the character's lives that they have to grapple with for the rest of the story.
Interlaced into all this is the tale of Noorie, a courtesan from an yester era, whose diary is discovered now, and who could easily be an avatar of Bhavya. Her struggle against odds and choices are things that act as food for Bhavya's soul. How this influences her and leads to her growth is the crux of this book.
The variables in the lives of Noorie and Bhavya are so different and yet so same. Sometimes it makes you feel though humanity has been through so much, some things never change. But Bhavya clearly has a few advantages over Noorie not the least of which is the hope for a happy ending.
I applaud Harshali Sigh for this bold, yet intricately crafted work.
February 1, 2023
#haveliseries #theanatomyofchoice #BookTwo
‘The Anatomy Of Choice’ (what a magnificent title) is the second book in the Haveli Series by author Harshali Singh. Where the first book in the series narrated the firstborn Aruna’s story, this one deals with the Sharma daughter number two, Bhavya.
Bhavya, always the unpredictable, always the untameable is in a live-in relationship with her boss, Tenzin, in Paris. After four years of an explosive affair, their relationship enters the doldrums of ennui, and to spice things up, during a vacation in Bali, they indulge in a ménage à trois with another Indian, Kabir. Kabir is also on vacation in Bali at the same time as Tenzin and Bhavya, who continues her friendship with Kabir, angering Tenzin.
Miffed at Tenzin with her short fuse blown, Bhavya returns to the comfort of the Haveli (nicknamed Anwar by the third Sharma daughter, Charu). The Haveli, happy to have his rebellious daughter back, detects an imminent cloud in her future.
Surrounded by her mother Uma, her cantankerous father, Arun, and siblings and friends, Bhavya tries to make sense of the predicament she finds herself in. Even though her relationship with her elder- and about-to-deliver sister, Aruna, has been repaired, she finds herself unable to confide in her and dips within to find a solution.
On a walk with her father, she realises the black structure next to the white marbled Haveli is the mausoleum of the 16th-century courtesan, Noori, whose diary is in possession of Arun. Noori’s story draws some parallels between her life and Bhavya begins to introspect about her life, and her decisions.
The whole set of characters of the first book, including the alphabetized kids, Aruna, Bhavya, Charu, Dheeraj, Eti, Fanny, and Ginny along with Suresh Uncle and Gaurav make their presence felt and help in propelling the story forward just like in the first book. Each of them has been given space to grow and their character arc is admirable. The restrain Uma, the matriarch, or even the father, shows when it comes to her non-interference in her children’s lives is a welcome sight.
Harshali Singh has proved her prowess in the first book of the series, and here she continues to wow you with her deep understanding of familial relationships and how they affect our lives. I couldn’t relate to Bhavya as a character, not because she is not drawn well but because I am not that indecisive or capricious, but I empathize with her situation. Tenzin and Kabir are the new entrants in this book and are probably here to stay, true for at least one of them. The book explains the choices Bhavya makes and how she arrives at those decisions.
My verdict? Pick up the book, now. Even though it can be read as a standalone to derive its real pleasure, pick up the #1, ‘A Window To Her Dreams’ to set the right context.
‘The Anatomy Of Choice’ (what a magnificent title) is the second book in the Haveli Series by author Harshali Singh. Where the first book in the series narrated the firstborn Aruna’s story, this one deals with the Sharma daughter number two, Bhavya.
Bhavya, always the unpredictable, always the untameable is in a live-in relationship with her boss, Tenzin, in Paris. After four years of an explosive affair, their relationship enters the doldrums of ennui, and to spice things up, during a vacation in Bali, they indulge in a ménage à trois with another Indian, Kabir. Kabir is also on vacation in Bali at the same time as Tenzin and Bhavya, who continues her friendship with Kabir, angering Tenzin.
Miffed at Tenzin with her short fuse blown, Bhavya returns to the comfort of the Haveli (nicknamed Anwar by the third Sharma daughter, Charu). The Haveli, happy to have his rebellious daughter back, detects an imminent cloud in her future.
Surrounded by her mother Uma, her cantankerous father, Arun, and siblings and friends, Bhavya tries to make sense of the predicament she finds herself in. Even though her relationship with her elder- and about-to-deliver sister, Aruna, has been repaired, she finds herself unable to confide in her and dips within to find a solution.
On a walk with her father, she realises the black structure next to the white marbled Haveli is the mausoleum of the 16th-century courtesan, Noori, whose diary is in possession of Arun. Noori’s story draws some parallels between her life and Bhavya begins to introspect about her life, and her decisions.
The whole set of characters of the first book, including the alphabetized kids, Aruna, Bhavya, Charu, Dheeraj, Eti, Fanny, and Ginny along with Suresh Uncle and Gaurav make their presence felt and help in propelling the story forward just like in the first book. Each of them has been given space to grow and their character arc is admirable. The restrain Uma, the matriarch, or even the father, shows when it comes to her non-interference in her children’s lives is a welcome sight.
Harshali Singh has proved her prowess in the first book of the series, and here she continues to wow you with her deep understanding of familial relationships and how they affect our lives. I couldn’t relate to Bhavya as a character, not because she is not drawn well but because I am not that indecisive or capricious, but I empathize with her situation. Tenzin and Kabir are the new entrants in this book and are probably here to stay, true for at least one of them. The book explains the choices Bhavya makes and how she arrives at those decisions.
My verdict? Pick up the book, now. Even though it can be read as a standalone to derive its real pleasure, pick up the #1, ‘A Window To Her Dreams’ to set the right context.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews