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Unsaid
Unsaid is about all those thoughts that are born inside of us, but are left abandoned, unclaimed, and unsaid.
As I crossed over to the other side of forty, I found myself constantly wondering, "Is this it? Is it all there is for me? All those sacrifices that I made as a woman, have they really been worth it?" I was constantly dealing with self-created issues of love, vulnerabilities, and self-worth.
On one such day, as I sat under a beautiful, half-naked maple tree, I found myself in the middle of a stark contradiction between the ethereal beauty of nature surrounding my body and the dark shadows of emotions surrounding my mind. As I tried to make peace between the two, my eyes fell on a fallen autumn leaf. There, it lay…
Quivering yet unafraid
completely devoid of any shame
It let the earth embrace its pain
‘cause in healing, there is no shame.
When I turned the leaf over
I found my face smiling back at me
And just like that on that autumn day
I found a piece of my broken me.
And from that day, I began collecting my broken pieces. ‘Unsaid’ is a collection of these broken pieces in the form of poetry & prose. I offer this book as a memoir of my learnings and realizations with the hope that these thoughts will speak to you in the same way they spoke to me. And however sketchy or incomplete these learnings may be, I offer them with complete humility and gratitude.
We live our lives thinking that all that we are doing will one day be worth it. Well, that one day is today. Has it been worth it?
As I crossed over to the other side of forty, I found myself constantly wondering, "Is this it? Is it all there is for me? All those sacrifices that I made as a woman, have they really been worth it?" I was constantly dealing with self-created issues of love, vulnerabilities, and self-worth.
On one such day, as I sat under a beautiful, half-naked maple tree, I found myself in the middle of a stark contradiction between the ethereal beauty of nature surrounding my body and the dark shadows of emotions surrounding my mind. As I tried to make peace between the two, my eyes fell on a fallen autumn leaf. There, it lay…
Quivering yet unafraid
completely devoid of any shame
It let the earth embrace its pain
‘cause in healing, there is no shame.
When I turned the leaf over
I found my face smiling back at me
And just like that on that autumn day
I found a piece of my broken me.
And from that day, I began collecting my broken pieces. ‘Unsaid’ is a collection of these broken pieces in the form of poetry & prose. I offer this book as a memoir of my learnings and realizations with the hope that these thoughts will speak to you in the same way they spoke to me. And however sketchy or incomplete these learnings may be, I offer them with complete humility and gratitude.
We live our lives thinking that all that we are doing will one day be worth it. Well, that one day is today. Has it been worth it?
- GenresPoetryNonfiction
193 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2020
About the author
Asmita Rajiv
1 book30 followersI am an international award-winning artist and poet. Unlike my formal qualifications in Physics and MBA, which are backed by formal degrees, my existence as an artist is purely backed by my passion. A passion so strong, that made me quit my corporate career, stopped me from playing hide and seek with my calling, and taught me the true meaning of the word gratitude. It is with this gratitude, that I paint each stroke and write each line.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
December 21, 2020
Take a deep breath and plunge into this as you are diving into an icy-cold body of water. There are only two types of readers after finishing this book. You would either read and it think it was passable poetry or be bewitched by the beautiful words of Asmita Rajiv. You will be given a brutal wake up call, is this the Asian mind-set we are on?
First of all I am thankful for the author for giving me a copy of this lovely book. It is an honor, that I was given a chance to read and review it. This is the sort of book that you should take time your with, slowly go through each piece and the sort of book that needs breaks in between just to bask in the meaning of each one of them. There are many points in the book that will touch you, especially if you are a South Asian. We have a certain method of traditional upbringing, much more conservative than other countries, which sometimes constraints us in a box. As a girl, it is worse. For me this book is something I would like to hold everyday and read at least one per day. Just from the first poem itself I knew I was falling irrevocably in love with this. The writing touched me in a profound manner and it felt as if Ms Rajiv reached deep into my heart and pulled my exact thoughts and threw them on paper. She talk about topics present in the world, motherhood, feminism, MeToo movement but in the context of Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, Bangladeshis etc. One part I loved more than the rest was Ms Rajiv's interpretation of feminism. She doesn't box feminism within the stereotypical boss-lady mentality but even opens it up to the strong mother showing and encouraging her daughter and showing the women around her strength. Each and every word of hers resonated with me.
"Accepting is to give power to oneself while resigning is to give power to the circumstances."
"We all may not find the courage to live life on our own terms all the time"
"Is it the sweetness of self-pity? The righteousness of a victim mentality? THe might of holding power over others?"
"Yet we focus all our energies on chasing the wrong variable of the equation"
"To feel the tragic scars of war, sitting right in our comfortable living rooms."
This is from one of my favorite pieces of the book, "Puzzle"
"What I yearn for is the emptiness of a vacuum
And with it, peaceful humming reverence"
She does not try to sugar-coat, neither does she only talk of the abuse women receive but give an insightful outlook of women in South Asia. She gives a small nudge to us, to look deep inside and reach that point that we keep suppressing.
My advice for you is to take your time with this book. Savor each word, you will not be disappointed at all. What a remarkable debut of Ms. Rajiv, one that should be praised for sure.
I would like to thank Ms Rajiv for sending a copy for an honest review.
First of all I am thankful for the author for giving me a copy of this lovely book. It is an honor, that I was given a chance to read and review it. This is the sort of book that you should take time your with, slowly go through each piece and the sort of book that needs breaks in between just to bask in the meaning of each one of them. There are many points in the book that will touch you, especially if you are a South Asian. We have a certain method of traditional upbringing, much more conservative than other countries, which sometimes constraints us in a box. As a girl, it is worse. For me this book is something I would like to hold everyday and read at least one per day. Just from the first poem itself I knew I was falling irrevocably in love with this. The writing touched me in a profound manner and it felt as if Ms Rajiv reached deep into my heart and pulled my exact thoughts and threw them on paper. She talk about topics present in the world, motherhood, feminism, MeToo movement but in the context of Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, Bangladeshis etc. One part I loved more than the rest was Ms Rajiv's interpretation of feminism. She doesn't box feminism within the stereotypical boss-lady mentality but even opens it up to the strong mother showing and encouraging her daughter and showing the women around her strength. Each and every word of hers resonated with me.
"Accepting is to give power to oneself while resigning is to give power to the circumstances."
"We all may not find the courage to live life on our own terms all the time"
"Is it the sweetness of self-pity? The righteousness of a victim mentality? THe might of holding power over others?"
"Yet we focus all our energies on chasing the wrong variable of the equation"
"To feel the tragic scars of war, sitting right in our comfortable living rooms."
This is from one of my favorite pieces of the book, "Puzzle"
"What I yearn for is the emptiness of a vacuum
And with it, peaceful humming reverence"
She does not try to sugar-coat, neither does she only talk of the abuse women receive but give an insightful outlook of women in South Asia. She gives a small nudge to us, to look deep inside and reach that point that we keep suppressing.
My advice for you is to take your time with this book. Savor each word, you will not be disappointed at all. What a remarkable debut of Ms. Rajiv, one that should be praised for sure.
I would like to thank Ms Rajiv for sending a copy for an honest review.
October 18, 2020
(3.5 ★’s)
A book is much akin to an author’s child—their heart and soul and very essence poured into a blank page, taking months to grow from a dot to stand on its own two feet. So I imagine putting a book out into the world is a terrifying process; letting it go to face critics and adorers alike, considerate people and inconsiderate ones, those who would treat it with care and those who would discard it without a second thought.
That is why, each time an author (specially an emerging one) approaches me with an offer to read and review their book, I am filled with awe at their bravery. Having read Asmita Rajiv’s debut of poetry, prose, and short essays born as a memoir of her unsaid thoughts, having witnessed her open mind, perceptive gaze, and courageous heart, I can say that the aforementioned awe was, indeed, well deserved.
Asmita is an Indian international award-winning artist and poet (and her art is breathtaking, just look at that cover) with degrees in Physics and MBA—I know your eyebrows are rising and yes, it’s not every day you meet someone who quit their corporate career for the unknown adventures, and also yes, that passionate dreamer soul shines through every line of Unsaid, every quietly loud thought she has caught and woven, and every exceptional piece of art adorning these pages.
Truth be told—as a Persian girl raised with works of Rumi, Sepehri, Hafez, Yooshij, and Moshiri—I’m not a fan of modern poetry because it’s too simple. But Unsaid surprised me with the honest rawness and observant wisdom of its words, standing apart from what I call “Tumblr cheaps.” So if you are a seeker of inspirational writing and memorable modern poetry and prose on a vast range of topics that urges you to think and question and, by all means, disagree with it, instead treating it as a spark for many ponderations, then pick this up and support a new POC author at the same time!
What Does Unsaid Have to Say?
In this rushing life filled with noise, drowning individuals, drowning out thoughts, in this judgemental world where opinions are attacked and their owners terrorised, it gets harder and harder to just pause for one moment, to think, and to speak, and easier to just sweep all the questions and emotions under the metaphorical rug of our inner selves. But then there are those who do the hard thing—who pause, who think, and proceed to speak up, because they realise that ignored thoughts gain power over you in their desperation, while acknowledged ones add to your comprehension of yourself, of people, of life.
Unsaid is Asmita’s recollection of how she paused, what she thought, and her moment to speak.
Reading this book is opening an aged trunk in a forgotten corner of a lost attic, picking up pieces of anything and everything. Unsaid speaks of a wide range of topics, from social conundrums to self discovery to love.
Of self conceived truths, comforting interpretation, and forgotten reality. Of considerate honesty with yourself and those around you. Of abandoning the practice of how, “to escape rejection, pain, and shame, we begin to dress ourselves in the gown of our dreams. We keep embellishing our garment by stitching satins of myths, sewing sequins of lies, and embroidering silks of pretence.” Of embracing our past and our errors, our vulnerabilities and our weaknesses, and yet not basing our identities on those shaky roots and instead on our strengths. Unsaid says of self worth and how, by learning self reliance, one builds themselves to withstand hardships when all one can do is look within. And it says of longing and bonds, broken or steady.
The most precious part of this collection, however, and the part I needed more of, was Asmita’s reflection on growing up as something, someone, stereotyped and other, and accepting and protecting that difference. But in the end, I loved these beautifully written thoughts that encourage you to want and want more, and perhaps think of your definition of happiness and whether it needs redefining.
You see, I am a strictly head over heart kind of person; my head is my logic, my logic is my control, my control is what keeps me sane—in the literal sense of the word. Whereas Unsaid is all about heart over head. Naturally, we should be at odds, and we are, yet Asmita Rajiv phrases her points, the value of desires in her eyes, the importance of dreams dismissed as baseless fantasies, in a way that I found myself in agreement with her much of the time—yes I, who spends every moment over thinking all and nothing and has an opinion on everything.
Why is that? Because you can follow your dreams with your head just as you can do so with your heart—being a realist does not mean one is hopeless. So while I say Love Is Blind, I do not deny that this book’s take is also true, and while I have knowingly chosen to have a Safe Exit always, Asmita describes that choice and opposes it perfectly. I relished reading of how Contentment and Striving For Excellence are not, in fact, mutually exclusive, or how we should be our own One and Only, and witness someone else sharing my unspoken thoughts. The Safety Net’s take on faith, Diving Deep, Steps in the Journey, and Web of Our Beliefs were all pieces I will hold close to both head and heart.
But I will have to voice one thing I strongly disagree with: We did not come into this world complete. As someone struggling with multiple mental health issues and whose closest friends all have experienced life’s unfairness, I know first hand that much of who you are and the life you will live is decided before you take your first breath. I am not saying that I or anyone with a genetic illness is incomplete, I am opposing the notion that all the holes carved in us are ones we can close and change by choice—because we can’t. Life just deals you a cruel hand, and who you are is not the choices you make to shape your life but how you react to the choices made for you. And those holes, those scars, are what make you unique and beautiful and you do not need to close them, erase them; because sometimes you can’t.
So dream, yes, and follow those dreams however much they resemble the wild fantasies invading a soul’s restless nights. Follow them with an open mind and an aware heart and not a restricted mind and a blind heart. Follow them and know that life will, inevitably, knock you down; but that does not mean you have to stay down. If the world is strong, so are you. And as the stars align and the cosmos schemes to push you back, do not let it drown you in defeat and push back—because to live is to fight, everyday, against the fault in our stars.
How Could Unsaid Have Said It Better?
Praise and discussion aside, no book is without its faults. And as Unsaid’s structureless design has its benefits (you can read any part of it at any time) and brilliance (thoughts do rather fly in odd patterns) it makes for disjointed read, incapable of building momentum. Whereas, when you look back on your thoughts through the years, you do see them developing and building momentum, following a path of gained insight and found peace. If that sense of gradual journey had been captured in the book, this collection could have been elevated to a higher level of poetry.
Alas, it is what is, and what it is was lovely and thought-provoking and absolutely worth it.
Sometimes,
I don’t want a calm and composed heart
For that is too predictable.
Sometimes,
All I want is turbulence.
A book is much akin to an author’s child—their heart and soul and very essence poured into a blank page, taking months to grow from a dot to stand on its own two feet. So I imagine putting a book out into the world is a terrifying process; letting it go to face critics and adorers alike, considerate people and inconsiderate ones, those who would treat it with care and those who would discard it without a second thought.
That is why, each time an author (specially an emerging one) approaches me with an offer to read and review their book, I am filled with awe at their bravery. Having read Asmita Rajiv’s debut of poetry, prose, and short essays born as a memoir of her unsaid thoughts, having witnessed her open mind, perceptive gaze, and courageous heart, I can say that the aforementioned awe was, indeed, well deserved.
To pull up my worth, even more higher
I have to be taller, than the tallest tree
And so I hunt for a vine to latch on
Or a ladder of souls, a little greyer than me
I know now my need for the crowd
Some for reassuring, I am okay in this birth
Others I need for my ego to build upon
Oh, all this drama, just for claiming my worth.
Asmita is an Indian international award-winning artist and poet (and her art is breathtaking, just look at that cover) with degrees in Physics and MBA—I know your eyebrows are rising and yes, it’s not every day you meet someone who quit their corporate career for the unknown adventures, and also yes, that passionate dreamer soul shines through every line of Unsaid, every quietly loud thought she has caught and woven, and every exceptional piece of art adorning these pages.
Truth be told—as a Persian girl raised with works of Rumi, Sepehri, Hafez, Yooshij, and Moshiri—I’m not a fan of modern poetry because it’s too simple. But Unsaid surprised me with the honest rawness and observant wisdom of its words, standing apart from what I call “Tumblr cheaps.” So if you are a seeker of inspirational writing and memorable modern poetry and prose on a vast range of topics that urges you to think and question and, by all means, disagree with it, instead treating it as a spark for many ponderations, then pick this up and support a new POC author at the same time!
It requires a consistent and deliberate effort to open up our mental palette and dilute the blacks and stain the whites. It requires patience and courage to look at life in its myriad other hues.
In that sense, we all need to be artists.
What Does Unsaid Have to Say?
My thoughts were so loud
that I was afraid
everyone could hear them.
So I told them to whisper.
But now, even I can’t hear them.
In this rushing life filled with noise, drowning individuals, drowning out thoughts, in this judgemental world where opinions are attacked and their owners terrorised, it gets harder and harder to just pause for one moment, to think, and to speak, and easier to just sweep all the questions and emotions under the metaphorical rug of our inner selves. But then there are those who do the hard thing—who pause, who think, and proceed to speak up, because they realise that ignored thoughts gain power over you in their desperation, while acknowledged ones add to your comprehension of yourself, of people, of life.
Unsaid is Asmita’s recollection of how she paused, what she thought, and her moment to speak.
Feminism is to go after our truly cherished dreams without falling prey to any ideologies of feminism, sexism, racism, classism, or any other -isms. It is standing up for oneself against the bullies of society, be it a man or another woman.
Reading this book is opening an aged trunk in a forgotten corner of a lost attic, picking up pieces of anything and everything. Unsaid speaks of a wide range of topics, from social conundrums to self discovery to love.
Of self conceived truths, comforting interpretation, and forgotten reality. Of considerate honesty with yourself and those around you. Of abandoning the practice of how, “to escape rejection, pain, and shame, we begin to dress ourselves in the gown of our dreams. We keep embellishing our garment by stitching satins of myths, sewing sequins of lies, and embroidering silks of pretence.” Of embracing our past and our errors, our vulnerabilities and our weaknesses, and yet not basing our identities on those shaky roots and instead on our strengths. Unsaid says of self worth and how, by learning self reliance, one builds themselves to withstand hardships when all one can do is look within. And it says of longing and bonds, broken or steady.
Love can never be a game of ownership.
The most precious part of this collection, however, and the part I needed more of, was Asmita’s reflection on growing up as something, someone, stereotyped and other, and accepting and protecting that difference. But in the end, I loved these beautifully written thoughts that encourage you to want and want more, and perhaps think of your definition of happiness and whether it needs redefining.
And then it dawns upon us, with clarity
That there’s no evil outside, with wings
It is just us, the human puppets
We are the ones, pulling each other’s strings.
You see, I am a strictly head over heart kind of person; my head is my logic, my logic is my control, my control is what keeps me sane—in the literal sense of the word. Whereas Unsaid is all about heart over head. Naturally, we should be at odds, and we are, yet Asmita Rajiv phrases her points, the value of desires in her eyes, the importance of dreams dismissed as baseless fantasies, in a way that I found myself in agreement with her much of the time—yes I, who spends every moment over thinking all and nothing and has an opinion on everything.
Why is that? Because you can follow your dreams with your head just as you can do so with your heart—being a realist does not mean one is hopeless. So while I say Love Is Blind, I do not deny that this book’s take is also true, and while I have knowingly chosen to have a Safe Exit always, Asmita describes that choice and opposes it perfectly. I relished reading of how Contentment and Striving For Excellence are not, in fact, mutually exclusive, or how we should be our own One and Only, and witness someone else sharing my unspoken thoughts. The Safety Net’s take on faith, Diving Deep, Steps in the Journey, and Web of Our Beliefs were all pieces I will hold close to both head and heart.
We need to feel complete just on our own, just by ourselves, to offer companionship to others. Else, we will end up being a needy soul clinging onto others, expecting them to complete us.
And that is a fantasy doomed to shatter, for how can one empty soul complete another.
But I will have to voice one thing I strongly disagree with: We did not come into this world complete. As someone struggling with multiple mental health issues and whose closest friends all have experienced life’s unfairness, I know first hand that much of who you are and the life you will live is decided before you take your first breath. I am not saying that I or anyone with a genetic illness is incomplete, I am opposing the notion that all the holes carved in us are ones we can close and change by choice—because we can’t. Life just deals you a cruel hand, and who you are is not the choices you make to shape your life but how you react to the choices made for you. And those holes, those scars, are what make you unique and beautiful and you do not need to close them, erase them; because sometimes you can’t.
So dream, yes, and follow those dreams however much they resemble the wild fantasies invading a soul’s restless nights. Follow them with an open mind and an aware heart and not a restricted mind and a blind heart. Follow them and know that life will, inevitably, knock you down; but that does not mean you have to stay down. If the world is strong, so are you. And as the stars align and the cosmos schemes to push you back, do not let it drown you in defeat and push back—because to live is to fight, everyday, against the fault in our stars.
Let’s snowball our efforts and create an avalanche.
But before we begin, we must first decide what we want to ride on top of the avalanche and what are we prepared to bury underneath it. Because there will be casualties.
Everything comes at a price.
How Could Unsaid Have Said It Better?
Getting lost in the world of words
I let my heart to freely roam
Often then, through a different path
In so losing, I find my home.
Praise and discussion aside, no book is without its faults. And as Unsaid’s structureless design has its benefits (you can read any part of it at any time) and brilliance (thoughts do rather fly in odd patterns) it makes for disjointed read, incapable of building momentum. Whereas, when you look back on your thoughts through the years, you do see them developing and building momentum, following a path of gained insight and found peace. If that sense of gradual journey had been captured in the book, this collection could have been elevated to a higher level of poetry.
Alas, it is what is, and what it is was lovely and thought-provoking and absolutely worth it.
September 7, 2020
This Review ✍️ Blog 📖 Twitter 🐦 Instagram 📷
When Asmita contacted me to review an ARC of this book, I stopped to read the synopsis and I felt that it was different from all those Tumblr poetry books. The author is an international award-winning artist and she’s a POC so that was a plus. Unsaid is about all those thoughts that are born inside of us, but are left abandoned, unclaimed, and unsaid.
So the book is basically a collection of short poems and a few essays. It has some cute drawings throughout the book too. The book is fairly short, I read it in 2 hours. I honestly enjoyed most of the pages with some of the pages that I did not connect to. The author wrote that that was Okay in the acknowledgment section and I really felt that the acknowledgment section can work as a review because the author said what I wanted to say and more.
It is mentioned at the beginning of the book that you can pick any page and just read it. I felt that was both a good thing and bad. Good because it was just fast and more simple to read that way but the disadvantage was that it felt a bit disjointed at some points and jumping from one topic to a totally different topic in a sudden way.
Summary: Unsaid is a collection of poetry and essays that is really refreshing and deeper than most of the poetry books I read in the last couple of weeks. I have been in the mood to read a poetry book lately and the opportunity just presented itself and I am glad that it did. I liked the simple writing and the cute drawings. I do recommend this fast read for any fan of Poetry. I am leaving you with another page of the book.
Image
You can get more books from Book Depository
When Asmita contacted me to review an ARC of this book, I stopped to read the synopsis and I felt that it was different from all those Tumblr poetry books. The author is an international award-winning artist and she’s a POC so that was a plus. Unsaid is about all those thoughts that are born inside of us, but are left abandoned, unclaimed, and unsaid.
So the book is basically a collection of short poems and a few essays. It has some cute drawings throughout the book too. The book is fairly short, I read it in 2 hours. I honestly enjoyed most of the pages with some of the pages that I did not connect to. The author wrote that that was Okay in the acknowledgment section and I really felt that the acknowledgment section can work as a review because the author said what I wanted to say and more.
It is mentioned at the beginning of the book that you can pick any page and just read it. I felt that was both a good thing and bad. Good because it was just fast and more simple to read that way but the disadvantage was that it felt a bit disjointed at some points and jumping from one topic to a totally different topic in a sudden way.
Summary: Unsaid is a collection of poetry and essays that is really refreshing and deeper than most of the poetry books I read in the last couple of weeks. I have been in the mood to read a poetry book lately and the opportunity just presented itself and I am glad that it did. I liked the simple writing and the cute drawings. I do recommend this fast read for any fan of Poetry. I am leaving you with another page of the book.
Image
You can get more books from Book Depository
December 3, 2020
Unsaid is all about thoughts on your life and others. And all poems describe with pain and as well as joyful segments. That Unsaid things are now said to us. Amazing book!
January 15, 2022
I took three days to read this beautiful collection of musings, poetry, sketches; personal pages of self discovery and interpretation about life, but mostly on being us being human because it has impacted me on such a deep, personal level that I have to reflect on a lot of things while reading the book.
A collection of just 195 pages but it made me stop, read and reflect on so many things. I felt so connected with the writing enhanced by all those amazing charcoal, pencil sketches which totally complemented the words, my feelings and emotions while reading the book.
***"My company
My thoughts
My silences...
Sometimes
that's all I need"***
I read the book from cover to cover starting from the acknowledgements and introduction till the last page. And yes, I was disappointed like a kid who wanted more goodies when the book ended.
I love how the author also included how the book is structured. I mean I am thoroughly impressed. This doesn't give a false impression on what the book is all about.
I love the rhymes, the rhythm, the choice of words and the word sequence which I find so apt and playful.
Love, sadness, pain, poetry and emotions; relationships, desires, choices, decisions; but the best of all how the author described us women and our life in general is what touched me the most. I bookmarked so many pages that I had to simply reread the book all over again (do not underline the whole book when you love a book so much! Just reread it again!).
And whoa! I didn't expect that poetry on Autumn. It's so apt!
Apart from the general things about life, I just love how the author touched so many subjects and relevant topics which are presented quite clear yet in witty word plays. Love that!
I love the fact that you can just open up to any page and read. It feels like a journal that reminds you each day that whatever you're going through this book has something to offer and tells you that it's not only you and the rest of us understand and relate.
I love, love the sketches! Dear author, you are so damn talented! I hope to see another collection soon. A sequel or a new book. Anything!
*If you're looking for a poetry collection that would make you feel someone understands you and you're not alone anymore in your daily life struggles, grab this collection.
The sketches are so aesthetic and relevant that they will make you feel your feelings and emotions have been sketched so accurately.
***If you love poetry by Amanda Lovelace and Rupi Kaur (my favourites!), you are going to love this collection more!
The collection is genuine, deep and insightful, personal and liberating!
*The book just got published on 24th September. Worth the keep 💯
A collection of just 195 pages but it made me stop, read and reflect on so many things. I felt so connected with the writing enhanced by all those amazing charcoal, pencil sketches which totally complemented the words, my feelings and emotions while reading the book.
***"My company
My thoughts
My silences...
Sometimes
that's all I need"***
I read the book from cover to cover starting from the acknowledgements and introduction till the last page. And yes, I was disappointed like a kid who wanted more goodies when the book ended.
I love how the author also included how the book is structured. I mean I am thoroughly impressed. This doesn't give a false impression on what the book is all about.
I love the rhymes, the rhythm, the choice of words and the word sequence which I find so apt and playful.
Love, sadness, pain, poetry and emotions; relationships, desires, choices, decisions; but the best of all how the author described us women and our life in general is what touched me the most. I bookmarked so many pages that I had to simply reread the book all over again (do not underline the whole book when you love a book so much! Just reread it again!).
And whoa! I didn't expect that poetry on Autumn. It's so apt!
Apart from the general things about life, I just love how the author touched so many subjects and relevant topics which are presented quite clear yet in witty word plays. Love that!
I love the fact that you can just open up to any page and read. It feels like a journal that reminds you each day that whatever you're going through this book has something to offer and tells you that it's not only you and the rest of us understand and relate.
I love, love the sketches! Dear author, you are so damn talented! I hope to see another collection soon. A sequel or a new book. Anything!
*If you're looking for a poetry collection that would make you feel someone understands you and you're not alone anymore in your daily life struggles, grab this collection.
The sketches are so aesthetic and relevant that they will make you feel your feelings and emotions have been sketched so accurately.
***If you love poetry by Amanda Lovelace and Rupi Kaur (my favourites!), you are going to love this collection more!
The collection is genuine, deep and insightful, personal and liberating!
*The book just got published on 24th September. Worth the keep 💯
November 8, 2020
Dear fellow travellers,
As Maya Angelou said,
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Indeed. So beautifully and simply captured and yet so difficult to pursue. We are so pre-occupied by the monotony of our daily existence, that often the moments that take our breath away are perhaps the ones where we are actually holding our breath owing to some anxiety. Where then, is the time to pause and smell the proverbial roses?
As we live our lives in this rigmarole, the constant jolt of our thoughts and emotions to our senses leaves us even more overwhelmed. So much so that the only easy way out is to shove these thoughts and emotions under the carpet of our minds and to deal with them later or perhaps never.
Something that starts off like this can’t be bad, am I right?
And that, in author’s own words was her mission, to speak to us, to our hearts and souls at some level.
One of our biggest disservice we do to ourselves, is to continue cradling denial.
(…)
Sometimes being unreasonable is the only reasonable alternative left, to fight for something that’s worth fighting for.
(…)
The only thing that matters is how heartily we are living the only life that we have. Rest is nothing but filling gaps.
But, while some poems spoke to me, others did not and those others felt maybe a bit repetitive or forced, something that I recognize from somewhere else?
That’s why I decided to give it three stars, but do have in mind that I read it in one day (not one sitting, but I had a lot of work to do) and here I apologize to the author for not writing this review sooner for I have read this as soon as she was sweet and kind enough to send me her baby… I mean work.
If you are searching for something to inspire you, for a bit of fall and nice, modern, real-life-problems poetry in your life, I heartily recommend this book!
However, if you are at a really dark, bad place right now, I would suggest you to keep trying and fighting to get better before reading it because I found some of the poems here a bit problematic in terms of mental illness – there are parts where author implies that good and positive thoughts mean instantly being better and makes it sound so easy and like easily achievable (?) like she’s wondering why the rest of us haven’t figured out that yet. And I know, firsthand, how hard that can be sometimes, especially if you fall down that rabbit-hole of repetitive thought and self-deprecation and what not.
But again, this is my personal opinion and my personal view of some of the poems, I might not be right.
Happy reading,
and for the end
The thoughest battles are the ones that are fought in the labyrinth of our minds.
October 1, 2020
Thank you to Asmita Rajiv for contacting me, asking me to read this book.
I don't know why but I didn't enjoy this book. I wanted to DNF this book but I feel bad so I tried hard to finish i. So yeah I'm sorry for not liking this book and skipping some parts.
There are a few poems that I like so you guys should check this out! Maybe you guys going to like it because all of us have a different taste in book right?
I don't know why but I didn't enjoy this book. I wanted to DNF this book but I feel bad so I tried hard to finish i. So yeah I'm sorry for not liking this book and skipping some parts.
There are a few poems that I like so you guys should check this out! Maybe you guys going to like it because all of us have a different taste in book right?
September 27, 2020
Unsaid by Asmita Rajiv is a collection of raw thoughts – beautiful and relatable – of raw conversations she had inside her head. She lays them out without asserting any self-importance, without saying that she’d be right, without noting that she’s perfect. She just wrote what she felt, and I believe no gates must be put on anyone’s expression. Ever! She didn’t put it on herself, and I totally loved it.
There are poems, quotes, and short essays on ideas that we might have inside us, but we do not acknowledge them, let alone accept them. The self-righteous tendency comes crashing down as the author goes ahead, pouring her heart out on paper in the form of words and illustrations. As she says, ‘Unsaid’ is a memoir of her learnings and realizations. How much I adore this one line. It takes courage to accept yourself and even more guts to put out in front of this world. I am glad that the author brought out this book, and I got to read it.
When she says that our ‘humanness is gathering dust underneath our mundane chaos,’ I felt it. A line definitely worth contemplating. Then came another thought – sadness pulls us right from our core and throws us into their alchemy, alchemy of words. And then follows another – there is no reason to helplessly watch the past dig the abyss deeper. Now I don’t know how others would view this but for me, getting over things is more important than lying in shambles. Healing comes with confrontation, with acceptance and not avoidance. Agreed that everyone has a different side of their story, but this is mine. Should I alter it?
Unsaid has been a delightful journey, and I finished it multiple sittings. I had got my takeaways on days when I probably needed them the most. In this regard, poetic writing is my solace; the one thing that gives me utter peace and heals.
There are poems, quotes, and short essays on ideas that we might have inside us, but we do not acknowledge them, let alone accept them. The self-righteous tendency comes crashing down as the author goes ahead, pouring her heart out on paper in the form of words and illustrations. As she says, ‘Unsaid’ is a memoir of her learnings and realizations. How much I adore this one line. It takes courage to accept yourself and even more guts to put out in front of this world. I am glad that the author brought out this book, and I got to read it.
When she says that our ‘humanness is gathering dust underneath our mundane chaos,’ I felt it. A line definitely worth contemplating. Then came another thought – sadness pulls us right from our core and throws us into their alchemy, alchemy of words. And then follows another – there is no reason to helplessly watch the past dig the abyss deeper. Now I don’t know how others would view this but for me, getting over things is more important than lying in shambles. Healing comes with confrontation, with acceptance and not avoidance. Agreed that everyone has a different side of their story, but this is mine. Should I alter it?
Unsaid has been a delightful journey, and I finished it multiple sittings. I had got my takeaways on days when I probably needed them the most. In this regard, poetic writing is my solace; the one thing that gives me utter peace and heals.
December 18, 2020
I truly loved this collection. It spoke to me in so many ways and I found myself resonating greatly with many of the beautiful words in here. I often found myself nodding in agreement and taking all the words in so carefully. This is definitely a collection I will pick up again as the writing is so so beautiful and the words are powerful and meaningful. I cannot recommend this enough! I definitely want to get a physical copy to add to my poetry/prose shelf! It’s been a while since I’ve read poetry and prose that resonated and affected me and this was a great way to get back into it and an amazing read.
I did receive an ARC of this from the author but all opinions are my own.
I did receive an ARC of this from the author but all opinions are my own.
October 16, 2020
The author of unsaid reached out to me read this amazing book to review and I thought that unsaid was a good book of poems
August 5, 2020
What to say about this book!!
With all that's happening in life, I was finding it hard to have some time for myself, to sit down and grab a book.
In fact the few times I tried to find something to read, nothing seemed appealing enough.
Now this book is another story!! I am so happy I got this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
It was like a slap to my reading slump! It shook my heart and spoke to my soul.
It is full of life lessons, It made me pause and rethink about many things.
Simply yet beautifully written, this collection of prose and poems is definitely what I needed!
So many beautiful passages, I'd like to share a few ones:
"Courage is weak. It meekly resides inside all of us.
We just need a strong enough reason to look for it and bring it out in the open."
"There is a sense of comfort, assurance, and optimism in the simplicity of aggregating the countless trivia in order to build something signif i cant. It makes a laborious task of creating something meaningful appear less daunting."
"Accepting is to give power to oneself, while resigning is to give power to the circumstances."
And wait till you see the illustrations!!they are absolutely magnificient!!
I can't thank the author enough!!
With all that's happening in life, I was finding it hard to have some time for myself, to sit down and grab a book.
In fact the few times I tried to find something to read, nothing seemed appealing enough.
Now this book is another story!! I am so happy I got this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
It was like a slap to my reading slump! It shook my heart and spoke to my soul.
It is full of life lessons, It made me pause and rethink about many things.
Simply yet beautifully written, this collection of prose and poems is definitely what I needed!
So many beautiful passages, I'd like to share a few ones:
"Courage is weak. It meekly resides inside all of us.
We just need a strong enough reason to look for it and bring it out in the open."
"There is a sense of comfort, assurance, and optimism in the simplicity of aggregating the countless trivia in order to build something signif i cant. It makes a laborious task of creating something meaningful appear less daunting."
"Accepting is to give power to oneself, while resigning is to give power to the circumstances."
And wait till you see the illustrations!!they are absolutely magnificient!!
I can't thank the author enough!!
January 9, 2021
Dear Asmita, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reaching out to me, asking for my honest opinion, and sharing your thoughts and emotions with me; I am truly honoured to be a part of them.
This collection of poetry and short prose is a splendid artwork, full of the author's passionate realisations and deep thoughts and conclusions. It will move and give you a different perspective in ways that will leave you speechless, bound to seek for more.
Her opening pages were an honest introduction to a world hidden deep within each one of us. They did not feel like a pusher but a simple, yet exquisite, door opener to our passion, curiosity, and realisation of the world that surrounds us.
Furthermore, don't let the simplicity of the words disappoint or discourage you in enjoying this piece of art. The words may be simple, yet the message they send is powerful, clear, truthful, and universal. We may know this world, and we may realise this truth, but face the difficulties to express it in simple words; I feel this memoir hit the spot so uniquely, so gracefully.
In addition to poems and short prose, this collection offers a unique insight into the author's artistic side. There is a number of art pieces, drawings, illustrations, and sketches, connected to the emotions lying between the lines, the verses, and the words that are present, unsaid, but felt.
Allow me to walk you through this poetic mind vibration with a few joyful segments, my personal favourites:
"To her baby she says,
In this journey of my existence
Whatever life brings to you
For the rest of my life, my love
I'll always be there for Only You."
"Diving deep doesn't always mean sinking, it just means we need to learn to swim better."
"If we are scared of ending up alone, then we have completely failed ourselves.
We have not built ourselves to be the kind of person we can be friends with."
"And when I turned the flower with my glance
I found my eyes smiling back at me
And just like that on that spring morning
I found a piece of my broken me."
"The mist appearing in our eyes tells us something profound about ourselves. These drops of water should not be scoffed at as a sign of weakness or fragility. They should be honoured to remind us that under our varied exteriors, we are all humans, that we are not just living but we are alive."
"We can force someone to do something for us.
We cannot force them [to] feel something for us."
This book is one of the books one would keep coming back to, one of the books that one would resonate with differently with each reading, one of the books that would show something new and perhaps missed when read the previous time. My only wish for it was to have had more poems, and some more illustrations, as I enjoy them to the fullest. I wholeheartedly recommend this collection. It is the art to have, to keep, to read, to explore, and to be mesmerised by it.
This collection of poetry and short prose is a splendid artwork, full of the author's passionate realisations and deep thoughts and conclusions. It will move and give you a different perspective in ways that will leave you speechless, bound to seek for more.
Her opening pages were an honest introduction to a world hidden deep within each one of us. They did not feel like a pusher but a simple, yet exquisite, door opener to our passion, curiosity, and realisation of the world that surrounds us.
Furthermore, don't let the simplicity of the words disappoint or discourage you in enjoying this piece of art. The words may be simple, yet the message they send is powerful, clear, truthful, and universal. We may know this world, and we may realise this truth, but face the difficulties to express it in simple words; I feel this memoir hit the spot so uniquely, so gracefully.
In addition to poems and short prose, this collection offers a unique insight into the author's artistic side. There is a number of art pieces, drawings, illustrations, and sketches, connected to the emotions lying between the lines, the verses, and the words that are present, unsaid, but felt.
Allow me to walk you through this poetic mind vibration with a few joyful segments, my personal favourites:
"To her baby she says,
In this journey of my existence
Whatever life brings to you
For the rest of my life, my love
I'll always be there for Only You."
"Diving deep doesn't always mean sinking, it just means we need to learn to swim better."
"If we are scared of ending up alone, then we have completely failed ourselves.
We have not built ourselves to be the kind of person we can be friends with."
"And when I turned the flower with my glance
I found my eyes smiling back at me
And just like that on that spring morning
I found a piece of my broken me."
"The mist appearing in our eyes tells us something profound about ourselves. These drops of water should not be scoffed at as a sign of weakness or fragility. They should be honoured to remind us that under our varied exteriors, we are all humans, that we are not just living but we are alive."
"We can force someone to do something for us.
We cannot force them [to] feel something for us."
This book is one of the books one would keep coming back to, one of the books that one would resonate with differently with each reading, one of the books that would show something new and perhaps missed when read the previous time. My only wish for it was to have had more poems, and some more illustrations, as I enjoy them to the fullest. I wholeheartedly recommend this collection. It is the art to have, to keep, to read, to explore, and to be mesmerised by it.
October 30, 2020
First I would like to kindly thank the author Asmita Rajiv for providing me with a copy of her book of poetry & prose Unsaid: A collection of poetry & prose about accepting our broken pieces to become complete in exchange for my honest review.
I have to say that I adore poetry and find comfort in reading and reflecting on what the poet is trying to convey. This is exactly how I felt while devouring this inspiring compilation of poems, quotes and short essays.
Unsaid compels you to explore your inner thoughts and brings about a peace within yourself. I found myself relating to the words that were being presented and resonated with the feelings they stirred up.
Such beauty and stillness is very much appreciated and always welcomed from a truly personal collection...thank you.
I have to say that I adore poetry and find comfort in reading and reflecting on what the poet is trying to convey. This is exactly how I felt while devouring this inspiring compilation of poems, quotes and short essays.
Unsaid compels you to explore your inner thoughts and brings about a peace within yourself. I found myself relating to the words that were being presented and resonated with the feelings they stirred up.
Such beauty and stillness is very much appreciated and always welcomed from a truly personal collection...thank you.
February 4, 2021
I found this best to be read in little bits at a time. Asmita's words are inspiring and philosophical and really make you think. You can tell that this woman is very educated. I'm not sure of her religion but I felt a bit of a Buddhist vibe, I have read a lot of Buddhist teachings and some of her content reminded me of such, but with a more modern take. Her intelligence and passion shine through on every page. My only constructive criticism I have about this book is that she writes "continued" at the end of every page that has a continuation on the next page but I feel that is unnecessary because it is already implied and unfortunately, I found it to be a bit of a distraction and annoyance. Also, of the ones that were "continued", they were very spaced out into multiple pages with too much space leftover in said pages. I feel this would have made for a much better and seamless read without these minor flaws. But overall, an empowering read.
Did Not Finish
September 2, 2023The author kindly sent me her book to check it out, but unfortunately it wasn't my thing at all so I dnf'd it after 25%. I just think I'm not the right audience for this book.
September 2, 2020
These were some of my thoughts
that I fi shed from the ocean.
Some are still fl oating
on the surface of the waves,
some are still dreaming
deep under it's belly.
Slowly, I will bring them out too,
with some new words
on some new pages
I tend to believe that a good book requires two essential elements the first one is its ability to cherish my soul while the second one is the benefits I get, the former is the core of any book and the latter is definitely the only purpose of writing a book.This book has them both ,
The writer has such an audacity to spread her beautiful words to the world; it is only her first book but she is literally highly skillful .
September 9, 2020
Poetry anthologies are difficult to get right, because readers are looking for different things from them. Some may appreciate clever word play where others seek an emotional outlet, but, what I liked so much about Unsaid was that it really just felt like sitting down for a cup of coffee with an old friend, sharing some inner musings and fleeting thoughts that pass between people after a long awaited reunion.
With that said, I didn't find this to be an ordinary approach. It felt thoughtful and cathartic; deliberate and unpretentious in a way which other poets won't always achieve. I often find poetry anthologies can be a little self indulgent of their creator, but Unsaid wasn't at all; I didn't feel I was being asked to feel a particular way at all, but rather was presented with various concepts or passing thoughts to ruminate over myself.
In truth, I finished this collection in one sitting (which actually isn't the best way to appreciate it, I don't think, because it is actually a generous length compared to others of its kind and can feel a little repetitive if you approach it this way) and then came back to it again in smaller chunks over the following few days to take some time to think about Asmita's ideas. I continued to come back to that specific feeling of sitting down and sharing thoughts with a friend over coffee, and it turns out that maybe that was exactly the type of poetry anthology that I was looking for.
ARC provided from the author in exchange for an honest review.
With that said, I didn't find this to be an ordinary approach. It felt thoughtful and cathartic; deliberate and unpretentious in a way which other poets won't always achieve. I often find poetry anthologies can be a little self indulgent of their creator, but Unsaid wasn't at all; I didn't feel I was being asked to feel a particular way at all, but rather was presented with various concepts or passing thoughts to ruminate over myself.
In truth, I finished this collection in one sitting (which actually isn't the best way to appreciate it, I don't think, because it is actually a generous length compared to others of its kind and can feel a little repetitive if you approach it this way) and then came back to it again in smaller chunks over the following few days to take some time to think about Asmita's ideas. I continued to come back to that specific feeling of sitting down and sharing thoughts with a friend over coffee, and it turns out that maybe that was exactly the type of poetry anthology that I was looking for.
ARC provided from the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2020
What a lovely collection of heart-felt poems and writings!
I truly enjoyed reading this book, especially because the author touched on various topics, like love and relationships, women and life experiences.
Asmita's words touched my soul! Her writing was thought provoking and gripping. And she did stick a finger in an old wound here and there, but that's what good poetry does. It nudges you in places you've forgotten about.
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone in the mood for soul searching and heart-breaking writing. A must read for all poetry lovers!
I truly enjoyed reading this book, especially because the author touched on various topics, like love and relationships, women and life experiences.
Asmita's words touched my soul! Her writing was thought provoking and gripping. And she did stick a finger in an old wound here and there, but that's what good poetry does. It nudges you in places you've forgotten about.
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone in the mood for soul searching and heart-breaking writing. A must read for all poetry lovers!
November 22, 2020
To discover the beauty that lies in the ocean's depth, we have to let go of the safety of staying afloat.
Diving deep doesn't always mean sinking, it just means we need to learn to swim better.
4/5.
Honestamente, una colección de poemas muy honesta e íntima. Personalmente me ha encantado y hay muchas partes con las que me puedo sentir identificada, que creo que es la base de una buena poesía: la que puede influir al lector de alguna manera. Como le dije a Asmita cuando me envió la copia para reseña, también se la hice llegar a mi pareja y a ella también le gustó bastante. Yo de poesía no puedo hablar demasiado, he leído poca a lo largo de mi vida, pero puedo ver algo bueno si lo tengo en las manos y personalmente, el trabajo que ha hecho es excelente.
Espero que podamos ver más cosas de ella en un futuro. Fighting!
Diving deep doesn't always mean sinking, it just means we need to learn to swim better.
4/5.
Honestamente, una colección de poemas muy honesta e íntima. Personalmente me ha encantado y hay muchas partes con las que me puedo sentir identificada, que creo que es la base de una buena poesía: la que puede influir al lector de alguna manera. Como le dije a Asmita cuando me envió la copia para reseña, también se la hice llegar a mi pareja y a ella también le gustó bastante. Yo de poesía no puedo hablar demasiado, he leído poca a lo largo de mi vida, pero puedo ver algo bueno si lo tengo en las manos y personalmente, el trabajo que ha hecho es excelente.
Espero que podamos ver más cosas de ella en un futuro. Fighting!
October 21, 2020
" Toughest battles are the ones that are fought in the labyrinth of our minds. " -
This is a collection of some really beautiful poems and proses by the author
There are plethora of such artistic pieces directly inked on pages from the heart decorated with abstract illustrations .
They flaunt the hues of various aspects of our emotional affairs in our mind that arise in different facets of our lives .
These are memories and again desires and wishes for the future. These are nostalgic in vibes and melancholy dances through them.
Pain, courage , love and all such strong emotions are woven together to create this beautiful creation.
This is a collection of some really beautiful poems and proses by the author
There are plethora of such artistic pieces directly inked on pages from the heart decorated with abstract illustrations .
They flaunt the hues of various aspects of our emotional affairs in our mind that arise in different facets of our lives .
These are memories and again desires and wishes for the future. These are nostalgic in vibes and melancholy dances through them.
Pain, courage , love and all such strong emotions are woven together to create this beautiful creation.
January 10, 2021
First and foremost I want to thank Asmita Rajiv for sending me a copy of her work for an honest review. I felt completely honored to be given this privilege and began reading with excitement and an open heart...and I was not disappointed
Unsaid begins with a disclaimer that you can open this book to any page and begin. Which is absolutely true! I decided to read this book page by page, but found myself bouncing back and forth to pieces that grabbed me and made me want to dig deeper.
The author has a beautiful way of opening your heart to feelings and thoughts we’re quick to shy away from. She takes unapproachable moments and feelings and allows us to feel comfortable embracing them. I found myself looking deep inside to confront suppressed emotions with each turn of a page.
I encourage everyone to grab themselves a copy of this book of poems and essays. You’ll be challenged, you’ll feel seen, and you’ll enjoy the journey.
(And if you’re looking for something quick, this is for you! But if you’re wanting to dig deeper, this also serves as a collection that you can sit with.)
Thank you again, Asmita, for sharing this collection with me for an honest review!
Unsaid begins with a disclaimer that you can open this book to any page and begin. Which is absolutely true! I decided to read this book page by page, but found myself bouncing back and forth to pieces that grabbed me and made me want to dig deeper.
The author has a beautiful way of opening your heart to feelings and thoughts we’re quick to shy away from. She takes unapproachable moments and feelings and allows us to feel comfortable embracing them. I found myself looking deep inside to confront suppressed emotions with each turn of a page.
I encourage everyone to grab themselves a copy of this book of poems and essays. You’ll be challenged, you’ll feel seen, and you’ll enjoy the journey.
(And if you’re looking for something quick, this is for you! But if you’re wanting to dig deeper, this also serves as a collection that you can sit with.)
Thank you again, Asmita, for sharing this collection with me for an honest review!
January 20, 2021
I recieved the ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
When I was younger I hated poetry. I couldn't understand it's point and I did not care to. As I grew up, school taught me to love it and now I reach for books like this pretty willingly.
"Unsaid" fits into the modern "tumblr"-ish poetry trend but also does it very differently. The format is similar to it sometimes, but it's vastely different during a lot of the collection.
While I appreaciate the original format, it ended up being one of this book's downfall. It's long sentences made it seem more like a novel than I was ready for and made me not be able to focus as hard as I would've liked.
Some poems did it well though, and even felt musical at their best. Some of my favorites are: "Divign Deep", "Too Honest", "The Canvas of Life", "We the pinocchios", "The Sound of Silence", "No one is Ever Gone", "Having it all", "Moving on" and "What I know".
I really enjoyed most of the themes delt with in these poems, though I do wish there was more of a structure to them
Once again thank you so much to Asmita for the review copy.
When I was younger I hated poetry. I couldn't understand it's point and I did not care to. As I grew up, school taught me to love it and now I reach for books like this pretty willingly.
"Unsaid" fits into the modern "tumblr"-ish poetry trend but also does it very differently. The format is similar to it sometimes, but it's vastely different during a lot of the collection.
While I appreaciate the original format, it ended up being one of this book's downfall. It's long sentences made it seem more like a novel than I was ready for and made me not be able to focus as hard as I would've liked.
Some poems did it well though, and even felt musical at their best. Some of my favorites are: "Divign Deep", "Too Honest", "The Canvas of Life", "We the pinocchios", "The Sound of Silence", "No one is Ever Gone", "Having it all", "Moving on" and "What I know".
I really enjoyed most of the themes delt with in these poems, though I do wish there was more of a structure to them
Once again thank you so much to Asmita for the review copy.
November 21, 2020
ARC for honest review:
What an incredible book of poetry and art. Where has this author been hiding all my life? Either she or I have been hiding a rock, or both!
My favourite poem is “Of all the times” as it resonated with me at this time and moment where, the way I read it, it would be nice to be seen, heard and have someone there for you without any pre conceptions and assumptions; to be present and on a similar wavelength. To me, this poem reads as a poem of longing, wanting and needing in which the turmoil that I’m going through is something I require. Whether it is someone else or to be more self reliant. Take your pick!
This book of poetry is candy for the soul. Sweetly and soothing and you will never know what flavour of emotions it will bring out in you.
In saying that, whilst poetry is not for everyone, nor will everyone will connect to the words, please remember, right place, right time in when the lessons have been brought forth by the universe.
Will have to order a hard copy for the artwork and the words. ❤️
What an incredible book of poetry and art. Where has this author been hiding all my life? Either she or I have been hiding a rock, or both!
My favourite poem is “Of all the times” as it resonated with me at this time and moment where, the way I read it, it would be nice to be seen, heard and have someone there for you without any pre conceptions and assumptions; to be present and on a similar wavelength. To me, this poem reads as a poem of longing, wanting and needing in which the turmoil that I’m going through is something I require. Whether it is someone else or to be more self reliant. Take your pick!
This book of poetry is candy for the soul. Sweetly and soothing and you will never know what flavour of emotions it will bring out in you.
In saying that, whilst poetry is not for everyone, nor will everyone will connect to the words, please remember, right place, right time in when the lessons have been brought forth by the universe.
Will have to order a hard copy for the artwork and the words. ❤️
December 31, 2020
I Wanna Kindly Thank The Author Asmita For Reaching Out To Me And Asking Me For A Honest Review Of Unsaid Her Debut Poetry Novel I Was So Grateful To Have Read It And Review It For You Guys
This Book Was A Very Poetic Lyrical Well Written Piece Of Poetry Asmita Can Write A Beautiful Poem And Have Me Amazed Or In Awe Because This Book Blew Me Away With The Writing And The Illustrations And Just The Words On Paper, In General, I Felt Like I Could Relate To Some Of These Poems Because I Also Am Going Through Alot Right Now And I Felt Like These Poems Spoke To Me In A Very Lyrical And Poetic Way Which I Enjoyed But TBH It Was Not My Favorite Poetry Book Ever Because Milk And Honey By Rupi Kaur Took That Spot But I Do Love Some Diverse Authors And I Feel We Need Different Diverse Authors From Different Backgrounds Or Countries And Asmita Is One Of The Most Kindest People To Give Me A Chance To Read Her Beautifully Written Poetry Book And I Would Love To Read Your Next One
This Book Was A Very Poetic Lyrical Well Written Piece Of Poetry Asmita Can Write A Beautiful Poem And Have Me Amazed Or In Awe Because This Book Blew Me Away With The Writing And The Illustrations And Just The Words On Paper, In General, I Felt Like I Could Relate To Some Of These Poems Because I Also Am Going Through Alot Right Now And I Felt Like These Poems Spoke To Me In A Very Lyrical And Poetic Way Which I Enjoyed But TBH It Was Not My Favorite Poetry Book Ever Because Milk And Honey By Rupi Kaur Took That Spot But I Do Love Some Diverse Authors And I Feel We Need Different Diverse Authors From Different Backgrounds Or Countries And Asmita Is One Of The Most Kindest People To Give Me A Chance To Read Her Beautifully Written Poetry Book And I Would Love To Read Your Next One
August 25, 2020
Okay, so I received an arc (a big one) for this book, in exchange for my honest opinion (the author said she liked my raw honesty).
So here it goes. I FUCKIN LOVED THIS.
I felt almost every piece in that book. I don't really know what else to say, except go ahead and read yourself how magnificent this book is. The only ''flaw'' that I found is the language. Sometimes, the language became too formal and too extra, let's say, which made the writing feel a bit cold and distant, but overall the book is amazing and full of emotions. That's it.
Oh, gotta say that I read this after midnight, on a shitty day, with some super sad songs, smoking, so if you will be doing it like me, then prepare for some tears (especially when you read fact or fiction).
So here it goes. I FUCKIN LOVED THIS.
I felt almost every piece in that book. I don't really know what else to say, except go ahead and read yourself how magnificent this book is. The only ''flaw'' that I found is the language. Sometimes, the language became too formal and too extra, let's say, which made the writing feel a bit cold and distant, but overall the book is amazing and full of emotions. That's it.
Oh, gotta say that I read this after midnight, on a shitty day, with some super sad songs, smoking, so if you will be doing it like me, then prepare for some tears (especially when you read fact or fiction).
November 4, 2020
I have actually finished reading this book a long time ago, after 3 days I started reading. But before I get to the review, I received the free-ebook arc from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much, Asmita for giving me a chance to review your poetry book. I really appreciated it.
To watch my review, please click on the link below. It will take you to my vlog and review of the book on my bookstagram channel. I hope you enjoy it.
Link: Unsaid Vlog text
By the way, it is a five-star read!
To watch my review, please click on the link below. It will take you to my vlog and review of the book on my bookstagram channel. I hope you enjoy it.
Link: Unsaid Vlog text
By the way, it is a five-star read!
September 19, 2020
I believe there's a bit of something inside this book for everybody. At first, I did a rapid read. I was eager to devour the words that also resonated my sentiments. Then, I switched to reading a page a day, mull it over, write my own thoughts in a journal. I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. This would make for a thoughtful gift!
Many thanks to the author, Asmita Rajiv, for reaching out and providing me with a free ARC. I am very much honored to have read this in advance!
Many thanks to the author, Asmita Rajiv, for reaching out and providing me with a free ARC. I am very much honored to have read this in advance!
December 25, 2020
Thank you Asmita for giving me a chance to read and review this collection of poems, writings, and illustrations. It contains thoughts on relationships, love, family, and more. This collection was filled with raw thoughts, some parts felt like an open diary with powerful messages whereas some fell a bit flat for me. I was caught between loving it and then just plainly absorbing some, which is why I have given this a 3.5/5.
December 17, 2020
First of all, huge thanks to the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I've been trying to write this review for a while, but I just continue failing because I don't really have any thoughts about this book except "it was okay". There was nothing bad about it, it was beautifully written, deep and influential... yet I couldn't connect to it. I couldn't really get myself to care or to feel what was written, but it was nice and easy to read.
I do recommend it to poetry lovers though!
I've been trying to write this review for a while, but I just continue failing because I don't really have any thoughts about this book except "it was okay". There was nothing bad about it, it was beautifully written, deep and influential... yet I couldn't connect to it. I couldn't really get myself to care or to feel what was written, but it was nice and easy to read.
I do recommend it to poetry lovers though!
January 18, 2021
"Don't stay where you aren't wanted, be it home or heart."
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