Don’t try to predict life, try to explore it instead. Even the roughest, most crooked trails can sometimes lead to magnificent places. After suffering public humiliation at the hands of her husband on what would have otherwise been a memorable evening, Tara Grewal, a homemaker and mother of two, finds herself thrust onto a crossroads. She cannot readily go back to the life she once knew, nor can she move forward without a career or life skills to sustain her. As she transitions from questioning her choices to surrendering to the flow of life, an unfamiliar journey leads her to her grandmother’s village in Punjab. Amid the simple joys of rural life, and heart-wrenching struggles of daily survival, Tara unknowingly kindles a spark of hope. A hope that eventually lights her own fire. As she casts off the reins of the predictable and embraces change, Tara unravels her fears and motivations, reaffirming her belief in what she knew to be true—about people, about life, about relationships, and most importantly, about love. In her challenges, she finds her strength. In her escape, she finds her home. Poignant, insightful, and deeply relatable, When the Wildflowers Bloom weaves together the complexities of human emotions and societal norms with beauty, sensitivity, and unfailing optimism.
When The Wildflowers Bloom by Rupa Bhullar is a very insightful and deeply relatable story of a woman named Tara Grewal, who has been publicly humiliated by her husband.
The story, the character of Tara and her daughter along with her friends weaves together the complexities of human emotions and societal norms with beauty, sensitivity, and unfailing optimism.
The ending was very satisfying. Tej and Tara are a very moving example of today's societal issues between a couple. Then we see Dev Beeja, who helps Tara get over her difficult times and bloom once again.
The book also captures some emotions through beautiful small verses and poetry along the way as the story progresses. Tara gets to follow her passion of writing once again after she moves to another city, Amritsar with her daughter.
This book is a definite must read if you are looking for a book which has a societal cause, a strong woman character, female oriented, a shining ending and much more. Finding your true self after 17 years of marriage is no small thing.
Very recently, I had heard this beautiful song Silent All These Years by Tori Amos and there are these lines that resonated with me that captured the sentiments of this book exactly.
My scream got lost in a paper cup You think there's a heaven where some screams have gone I got twenty-five bucks an' a cracker Do you think it's enough to get us there
It is incredible what women over the centuries endure to let things be and bear the shame and humiliation and years of abuse just coz, we are coached and conditioned to accept the status quo and move on. There could be a multitude of reasons why abused women remain to stay, it could be the welfare of the children, it could be the lack of funds and security, it could the lack of support in their own family, each of these reasons can cripple the very thought of trying to fight, to resist, to push back and say ‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’.
Tara Grewal is a reflection of many of us in the society who has no identity other than a mother and a wife, but 17 years of mental belittling and abuse has taken its toll and encouraged by her loving family of mom and sisters, Tara decides to step out of her husband’s shadow. Returning to her roots in the village, Tara struggles to find direction and objective. Helped by a multitude of people around her, she regains her sense of self-worth and reinvents her role in life from a ‘nobody’ to ‘somebody’, a person by her own right.
The author Rupa Bhullar captures the upheaval wonderfully, the sense of loss and decisions that just cannot be taken on a whim, the hopeful longing that somehow everything will work out even though her husband has crossed all barriers and pushed the final nail in the coffin. The effect of the beautiful panorama and the prayer chants adds a sense of tranquillity to the story after the turmoil of sudden changes. All the characters in the story especially Dev or ‘Beeja’ who helps Tara in seeking new heights are all endearing.
However, the colloquial use of language emphasizes the local setting but would be tougher for someone not really familiar with the same even with the glossary at the end. Irrespective of the fact this is a story of women’s triumph over all adversity, I would have loved to feel more emotionally invested in Tara’s growth. Tara is helped in every decision by several people around her which is all well and good as it shows the formidable power of love and support from family and friends but fails to convey her own strength and mettle. Also, there’s a lack of anticipation in the story as everything that happens after the initial tumult feels too easy and achieved without much struggle. The author also by way of Darshi’s and Seerat’s life shows us that abuse can be in any form and any strata of the society and a helping hand can be offered to a struggling person in simple easy ways.
Uplifting 4 stars 💦💦 💦 💦
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, and Twitter.
When The Wildflowers Bloom is the tale of a woman who rediscover herself despite various odds that spring up along her way.
If you watched the movie 'Thappad' then let me tell you that this story begins on somewhat similar grounds. An overbearing husband whose misogynistic outlook ruins Tara's birthday evening as she's publicly humiliated.
I understand Tara's predicament at this point, and the feeling that she has been trapped in marriage that bounds her and strangulates her identity is very well described.
We see the birth of a new Tara, as she decides to pick up her pieces and works towards a different future, one where she's equally respected and independently secure. The rest of the novel trudges along this same ideology. While the concept and storyline is quite inspiring, I think the execution was a little amiss. The characters lacked animation and I would have loved a little more drama and ride that is bumpy. The language is quite lucid and easy to comprehend but I would have loved that extra pinch of subtlety to add to the brew.
The story is comfortably short and can be finished in one sitting. And there's also this cute glossary at the end of the book which one can refer to for native word meanings. I would rate it 3.5 Stars.
We follow Tara Grewal, her daughter and their friends throughout this story. A women-centric narrative of the societal norms and their implications on the other half of the population is explored in this book.
Tara has had her setbacks in life, which includes an abusive husband. Gone are the days when wives just sit back and “compromise” on their self-respect and worth. Tara is an example of how things can go right after 17 years of uncountable wrongs. This is her journey and we, the readers get to see what might very well be the plight of several other women in this country, whose voices are deliberately not heard.
Rupa Bhullar does a commendable job with tackling the issue in the narrative, but at the same time not over-powering it. There are several instances were colloquial language is used, however, that should pose no issues as there is a glossary explaining all the terms.
Stories of women trapped in abusive marriages is not an uncommon thing. It is systematic oppression of women that runs deep in the psyche of our society. There are countless women out there who chose to accept abuse as their fate. But for how long can this last? Is there even a way out?
When the Wildflowers Bloom by Rupa Bhullar is an interesting tale of Tara who has been pushed to the brink of surviving her marriage. After an unfortunate event, which possibly looks like the last nail in the coffin, she decides to step out of her 17 years of marriage. As she reconnects with her roots in Amritsar, she finds a renewed hope for her life forward. As she opens herself to opportunities of freedom, growth, and love, she finds one, unexpectedly. Tara's story might move you or jolt you out of your reveries, it will surely find a place in your heart.
The author has woven an engaging story with a praiseworthy ending. Truth be told, at one point, I felt like the book was reminding me of the movie Thappad. How much I loved it! And so I loved how the climax came up in Tara's story. With lucid writing and artistic usage of words, this book keeps one flipping the pages of the book. Although the story got predictable for me after a point, I'd commend how beautifully the author had built up the plot leading up to its end.
Tara displays immense courage in accepting her dignity over a loveless marriage. She might have taken a bit too long to realise it, but she did manage to take a bold step in her late thirties. Something which society might see as an immature act. But when life is ours to live, who the society is to decide for us? Let the wildflowers bloom for they are as beautiful and precious as anything else.
I had a blank slate in terms of expectations when I took "When the Wildflowers Bloom" by Rupa Bhullar. Though I found similar background like Thappad movie, I found the book better. Don't worry I am not saying the movie is an adaptation of this book, you will find few commonalities in terms of the wife was being an insult, ed my husband. But from there book takes a turn towards more meaningful problems of a woman who gets separation.
As mentioned in the blurb, the story is around a housewife Tara. Like any Indian girl, she sacrifices all her dreams and aspirations after marriage and gave her best. But lack of her husband's emotional support was always missing. She even adjusted to living without her husband's care & support, but things went out of hand when she was publically humiliated by Tej. She decided to take life into her own hands, the story doesn't end there, unlike the thappad movie main story starts there. The book shows Tara's initial struggle just like any compromised Indian wedding where either of the parties kept suffering. But her struggle after separation was inspirational.
Good points about the book 1) Easy language usage 2) Smooth storyline 3) Fewer characters and their deeper characterization 4) Motivational portion
My only complaint is the cover design, a better design might have captured more attraction.
Overall I feel I can give 3.25 out of 5 to this book.
The protagonist Tara Grewal is a talented housewife and mother-of-two. After being publically humiliated by her husband, she decides to leave her home and 17 years of marriage to make a living for herself. The story revolves around the hardships she faces and the peace that is the result of her patience.
The plot reflects the patriarchy deeply inbuilt in our society and that it is expected of women to ignore such incidents and move on.
The story is quite relatable at times and stays with the reader for a while even after finishing the book. Bhullar is known for her strong female characters who do not abide by the patriarchal rules of society. The book indeed shows society a mirror.
The USP of this book is the nostalgia narration. It connects beautifully with the character of Tara.
When The Wildflowers Bloom is an emotional book which deserves to be read and discussed more and more.
Quote from the Book I Liked - 'Cheers, to lost love, new choices and unknown possibilities.'
Rating - 3 Stars
Plot Summary - Don’t try to predict life, try to explore it instead. Even the roughest, most crooked trails can sometimes lead to magnificent places. After suffering public humiliation at the hands of her husband on what would have otherwise been a memorable evening, Tara Grewal, a homemaker and mother of two, finds herself thrust onto a crossroads. She cannot readily go back to the life she once knew, nor can she move forward without a career or life skills to sustain her. As she transitions from questioning her choices to surrendering to the flow of life, an unfamiliar journey leads her to her grandmother’s village in Punjab. Amid the simple joys of rural life and heart-wrenching struggles of daily survival, Tara unknowingly kindles a spark of hope. A hope that eventually lights her own fire. As she casts off the reins of the predictable and embraces change, Tara unravels her fears and motivations, reaffirming her belief in what she knew to be true—about people, about life, about relationships, and most importantly, about love. In her challenges, she finds her strength. In her escape, she finds her home. Poignant, insightful, and deeply relatable, When the Wildflowers Bloom weaves together the complexities of human emotions and societal norms with beauty, sensitivity, and unfailing optimism.
My Review - The prologue tells much of the story that's to be coming in the later pages. The prologue starts with the birthday eve of our Poignant - 'Tara', where her family, along with a few school friends and (Toxic) husband gather together for the eve. The school friends and her sister teases her about how she used to be creative and could've done great in a creative field, just like how she planned and decorated the whole venue for her birthday. But in comes the toxic stink of an egoistic husband who claims that all she is and will be is all because of "HIS" money. (It all comes down to money later or sooner). And this and a little bit of jealousy causes the whole of a scene by Mister Ego (like the living planet Ego from Marvel Universe). And what happens next is a story of a much common theme among writers recently. Tara is paralleled with a common theme of Wildflower, who even in adverse conditions, Survive, Grow and Bloom. Similarly, Tara survives, grow and Bloom beautifully.
The topic of this book is Women in abusive relationships and many giving in to their fate as to like they deserve to be abused. But as the story and reality speak of today, awareness and confidence to change the way someone treats and gets treated are need to be focused on for a better world to be in. It is not uncommon in any given geographical area to see a case or two of Women facing and living in an adverse negative environment. But with the support of even one and sometimes your own self can take them out of it, giving them the morale boost to change the story they live in.
About the book, yes the topic it invokes and talks about is a must and more and more people must be made aware of it. Especially if one sees it in their own family or community. But the book around this topic in itself feels as if a very common read to find here and there. Topic great! But do I want to read more and more about the same genre? Probably not. As a reader (talking just for myself), I prefer a diverse range or at least a change in taste now and then. The problem of the society it envokes and uncovers is essential by all means and must be spread out and made aware to every single human. But to read or see every 1 in a 10 book about it, might not be my preference. Though the book is great for a one time read.
Conclusion - Alike Wildflowers, the poignant 'Survive, Thrive and Bloom'.
I was disappointed with this book. The theme was so promising, but the story progression and the writing falls flat. I felt that the characters needed much more character infused into them, the events in the story unfolded with robot-like precision, and the way things fell into place was too picture-perfect. The ending was very filmy too, and so predictable. Maybe it’s my personal preference, but I don’t like it when a story is saccharine sweet.
Earlier, I couldn't understand what the title of the book mean to say but after reading this story of Tara Grewal, I learnt and decoded the meaning of it.
The book is very nicely written and talks about how wives are treated in our society where they have to bear humiliation and domination regularly. Even their parents and own people support it hence they have nowhere to go.
The author goes ahead and talks about what happens with the character when she thinks of moving on after years of marriage. And then the story becomes about self-discovery and a mission which was never explored before this.
This is for everyone who thinks marriage is the final full stop to your life. This is an inspiration for all such ladies..
Is this what female living in abusive relations dream to avoid leaving their husband....
This is what story sounds to me tbh:
If I leave him, I will be sad for few days.. but a single and handsome hudge fund manager who use to live in New York but now working in India will see my worth.. I will go to my grandparents house, where I gre up... I will help the poor girls to study, impress the big minister and ias offiser with my ppt talent and convinced them to help local school.. I will become celebrity, newspaper will be taking my interviews.. I will be writing books, columns, helping girls to achive their dreams.. Sure, I don't hace money to fight the case but there will be a fantastic lawyer who will be so motivated to help me (because as you know my life is not some basic woman life of nearly 60% of married Indian women, I have endured pain that no one heard of before).. we will win the case, get the money.. Meanwhile I will not be needing that money because I will be earning my own money because I will be bestseller author.. I will use that money for women betterment because I have experienced it and I know to help now .. The smart hedge fund manager I will refuse.. but I will soon realise I lover him . I will run like bollywood to him and he will be doing the gardening.. wearing an expensive watch.. and we will go into the big warm house . . And the camera will focus on flowers.. 🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️
I mean this is the type of stories people fantasises when they can't sleep after 11..
I don't want to talk about writing.. just use 'said' dude.. what even is grimaced, blurted, offered, passed, -- said is enough ...
There is not showing .. just go and read it ends with us..
This is a terrible issue.. people does not become violent in one sentences.. but the writer does not tell you anything .
In one line 17 years of marriage and the long process of love to hate were summaries..
Writing from mobile and battery down.. may do the detailed review on my book blog..
The book is about a woman who runs away from an abusive marriage and the difficult decisions in front of her. The story runs similar to that of the movie Thappad, and when I started the book, I was worried that this book would be repetitive. However, the writing was interesting enough to keep me hooked till the end, even though the story was sort of predictable. The book has tried to capture the beauty of life in a village in North India perfectly. As the story progresses, we can see the protagonist Tara come out of her shell and discover herself. The journey has been well written. It is also refreshing to see the family and friends of the woman support her throughout this journey. Usually, that is not the case. The author did not explore Tara’s sisters’ characters as I would have liked. Two interesting characters that I loved was Dev’s grandmother and Varsha, the lawyer. But Varsha was merely mentioned in passing and did not get the space she deserved. The part about the school was exciting but dramatized the story a lot. Dev’s character had nothing new to offer. The character of Ashok uncle promised a lot, but it fizzled out towards the end of the book. Overall, the book is an interesting read that throws light on the importance of equality among partners in a marriage.
The book revolves around the protagonist Tara Grewal who restarts her life after getting publicly humiliated by her husband. The story of the woman who restarts her new life after 17 years of marriage is a really inspiring to read. The plot of the book is well written and very impactful. Language is easy. The writing style of the author is very good. The books makes you pause and reflect on the society around you. The book is medium paced and I finished it in one go. Overall, the book is well written with an inspiring story. I will definitely recommend it.
I wanna start of saying the cover is so beautiful 😻. The story follows Tara who is mother of 2 kids, she leaves her house after being insulted by her husband in her birthday party. This new life was not easy , specially when kids are involved , there is lot to consider.This book talks about highs and lows if relationship , how you need to take cre and let it grow with time and love. This book so sweet and was lovely to read. The writing style was ohkish , characters and plot were well penned . If you wanna read a book on women empowerment . This is for you!!
When the Wildflowers Bloom is Rupa Bhullar's second novel, one that speaks of courage and trust. Her debut book Indigo Sun which was published in 2017 received high praise and although I haven't read it, the good buzz surrounding it intruiged me to read her latest novel. Written in a simple yet effective manner, When the Wildflowers Bloom is primarily the story of Tara Grewal but addresses the unfortunate situation of countless women who are trapped in abusive marriages. Through Tara, Bhullar narrates the resilience and strength it takes to walk out of toxic relationships. The first few pages reminded me of the movie Thappad, the one in which the wife is publicly humiliated by her husband. When Tara finally realises the extent of emotional and physical trauma that she has been enduring for the past 17 years, she considers her options. At almost 40, she carves out a new life for her.
When Tara wakes up dazed, she sees the friendly faces of her family nursing her back to health. After the previous night's humiliation, she has a decision to make but is it easy to walk out on a marriage of 17 years that gave her two wonderful children? She visits her grandparent's house in rural Punjab and it instantly brings back good memories. It is here that she discovers her dimmed spark and with the help of a friend, she throws herself into the betterment of a school that has been neglected for decades. Tara's journey is not easy as she's constantly reminded of her past but with the help of her family and friends, she walks confidently with time. The simple love that the villagers bestow upon her, the idle rural life with nothing to disrupt her thoughts and new unexpected friendships ultimately convinces her that life need not be complicated and that she always has a choice.
Bhullar writes effortlessly, her description of places and it's beauty seemingly vivid. Tara's story, although inspiring was predictable making the reading process a monotonous one. I do however, recommend this to those who are trying to seek strength to take that leap of faith.
We all have plans about how we want our life to be, but life always has surprises and challenges in store for us. This book follows the story of Tara Grewal who is a housewife and mother of two. Her goal in life had always been to have a happy family and be a loving wife and doting mother.
Her dream shatters when her husband publicly humiliates her on her own birthday party. After 17 years of marriage and putting up with all her husband's tantrums Tara finally had to take some time off and assess her marriage and her bond with her husband.
Tara's sisters and mother try to support her all through this and she decides to take some time off and stay at her maternal Grandmother's house in Chandigarh, this visit helps her find a new perspective on life and her marriage. Tara not only changed her life by walking out of her marriage and respecting herself but she also helps lot of people around her.
The story is inspiring and very relatable. I personally know a lot of women who put up with their husbands only because they have children and because they want to avoid uncomfortable conversations and they fear about the unknown in the world. It was so good to read about how Tara's one decision changed her future and her children's too. I also loved all the characters from the book, specially Dev and his biji.
A poignant and realistic story which is beautifully written.
"To those who hold a mirror And point towards the sky The ones who offer wings Who remind us to try, To those who let go, yet never ever leave Becoming as we soar… …the wind beneath"
When I have read those lines at the beginning of the book, it had already impressed my heart. It's completely visible that the author has the power to play with words. Let's see what is this book about.
Life is all about the challenge, and we fight every single day to bit them. "When the wildflowers bloom" by Rupa Bhullar is all about the challenging journey of protagonist Tara. After getting insulted by his husband 'Tej' on her birthday, tara left that home and had decided to live like her own. The struggle starts from that day and Tara has found her passion for being a teacher. Now, all she needs is a clean-cut breakup with Tej.
I love the way story has started and actually I have expected a more emotional ride with Tara. But somehow in middle, it was not up to that mark, it felt so simple yet fast, and the story was running predictably.
The author's writing style is very intriguing and engaging that makes the level of this book standard. It will be a great read for beginners as the language is very simple and lucid. Not so long sentences are involved that made this book very fast-paced. Character development was good but sudden changes were not so expected. Overall it was a good and refreshing read. The type of story is unique and I like it
Tara Grewal plays the role of the protagonist of the story. After suffering from trauma caused by her misbehaving husband, she looks at her life from a different perspective.
She is a homemaker and has two kids, Sid and Seher. Tara has few friends Balvinder- Mala, Meeta. They support her very much. I liked the flashback or memories part. When Tara was consulting a doctor, her friends supported her. It is pitiable that her little children were unable to get the situation of her sorrow.
The story of Tara finding herself in her true identity after 17 years of being lost in her own family is a very interesting plot as a storyline. The novel shows how she was dependent on her husband and had no identity of her own despite her numerous talents. After alienating herself from the shackle, she finds true love and a goal for herself.
Two of my favourite lines:
For love, I guess, is neither a conviction nor an assurance. It is an unquestionable knowledge. No one needs to tell you they love you. You just know it—their love is experienced within you.
‘Poor wife of a rich man, admirable indeed!’ Mala remarked in a light-hearted vein.
Though the storyline is quite flat and has lesser charm than other such books, I liked the in-depth portrayed characters.
Patriarchy is an evil that runs in the society so innately that anyone barely notices it, let alone question it. Women are treated like property. Free will for them is a myth. A husband passing a random derogatory remark to his wife is normalized. Its all clearly a result of the the patriarchal values that forced their way into the society, and going deeper each generation. This story is a clear representation of that patriarchy.
When a wife decides not to tolerate her husband's insult towards here, this story begins. She leaves and starts her life anew. This new life to her is a boon. Although it is not very realistic and not as serious in it's execution of its tone and subject matter, this book is quite intriguing in the sense it still manages to convey what it means to. It gives one hope that these chains that bind our women can be broken. The chains will eventually weaken as you decide to become the one to give direction to your life.
Overall, it is a feel good read with a message subtly conveyed. It's just like a wildflower that blooms unknown, lives a good life and yhen fades out of existence. I really enjoyed reading it!
The book has a catchy cover that made me pick it up. I will briefly summarise the blurb trying to avoid spoilers. Tara Grewal is the protagonist of the story. Tara is a homemaker and have two kids. The book starts with a nostalgia and a party. A sweet sixteen. She can’t believe it’s been twenty two years. Tara have few friends Balvinder- Mala, Meeta. Her friends always supported her. She had a routine regular life but after suffering from a public humiliation from her husband, she started questioning her life choices. I feel Tara’s story is interesting but we can see such incidents around us all the time. Most of women in India might have faced it in her life. But it’s woven around our culture to let it go. So this will make people question their beliefs. I liked the flashback or memories part, especially when Tara was consulting a doctor, her friend supported her and her children concerned for her health seeing her bruise but they are little to get the situation. I liked Meher. She is innocent. That was nicely written. I could imagine the entire scenario in my head. Tara had courage to look at life differently and start seeing and leading the life differently at this age is quite fascinated and impressive for me. I liked the Seerat’s character introduction too. The book has some local language tinge. The language of the book is lucid so that everyone can pick it up. Overall quite good read.
'When the wildflowers bloom' is about getting weighed down by the adversities of life, looking in a different direction and then finding new hope, a new perspective to set on with life once again. It's based on the theme of life's cruel interplay and how it also unexpectedly makes us land up in places where we find explicit joy and solace. This is all about unpredictability, taking the reigns of life in your own hands and emerging victorious.
Rupa Bhullar writes with astonishing simplicity. She has the capability to convey complex ideas through the most poignant of stories, through characters as sympathetic as ever. She scoops her themes of the plight of women in India, what it means for a woman to take up life in her own hands: this is why this book also transcends to be a feminist narrative. On a larger front, 'When the wildflowers bloom' is about hope and perseverance, and how we can always defeat the adversities of life and look beyond.
When The Wildflowers Bloom by Rupa Bhullar is a heartwarming story of Tara, who reinvents her life her own. Like a bright star, Tara is someone who fills everyone's heart with joy and happiness with her selfless soul. But she was tamed and forced to bury her dreams. A heart-wrenching humiliation takes her back into her senses. What follows is unpredictable and unexpected for her. Following dreams is hard, particularly if so many factors compete to weigh you down. But she rises above all of them. It is not an easy journey but it is worthy.
Often a beautiful view comes after the hardest climb. Tara's story is an inspiration to all. Once we trust our instincts and starts to work hard, everything else will fall in eventually. Kindness will come from the strangest and unexpected places. With a narrow vision, we wi think that the world is full of unworthy people. But if broaden our vision, we can see that they are only a small number. We can find our peace and love very easily. Tara and Dev's story is a reminder for all of us.
The author has maintained a uniform pace throughout the story. It makes the story believable and realistic.
Overall, this is a beautiful inspirational story that could spark a ray of hope in our hearts.
This is a tale of Tara, who leaves home after being deliberately insulted at her own birthday party, leaving behind her two children. She is unable to make a choice as she finds herself in a pool of unknown chances of life, and is unable to figure out her own set of skills or talents. She doesn't want to go back to her old life nor can she gather herself to think everything will be alright. Gradually, she transitions and blossoms into this young, beautiful woman with her very own undiscovered talents as she goes down the path. This story is about strength, moving on and discovering oneself even if it means that one has to do something out of the box. When the flowers that have been kept disguised into the dark realms of the forest bloom extravagantly, they even surpass the beauty of the roses with their rough and rural fierceness. With lucid grammar and a warm narrative, this story feels like home to all those who are yet to take a chance at life. Grab this book to know what happened to Tara, further in life and her journey towards being nothing but HERSELF.
This book proved to be a very insightful read. Tara Grewal has been publicly humilated by her husband Tej. She decided to spend sometime in her Grandparents' house. This space gave her chance to introspect and realise her worth. She decided to put an end to her marriage. . Somewhere the story reminds you of the movie Thappad! The climax of this story is just perfect. The author has a way of using artistic words and while sometimes it gets predictable, the plot building is commendable. The story narrated surely showcases the reality of our society and it gives a strong message that every individual needs to take matters in their own hand. . Tara is affected by the sorry state of affairs in her village and she is determined to make things better. She meets Dev who helps her to work towards her dreams. Her life is changing for the better. . Overall a good read! I am sure many would relate to this story in one way or other.
Tara Grewal world came crashing down when the strife bound to household got revealed in front of her loved ones,all thanks to her brute husband Tej.All her years of efforts and dedication became futile.Against the background of rural Punjab in her ancestral home she tried to collect bit and pieces of her life, heal her wounded heart and mind.Slowly moving on from despair to empowerment, she ignited hope in hundred others. : The story will clench at your heart, moves unrestrained till the end.Language flows freely as if sourced from the very womb of circumstances and life of characters.One could hardly help not to fall in love with the selfless Dev, brave Beeba, romantic Ashok Uncle and dreamy Seerat. : The author meticulously captured the journey of Tara from the dark cave of compromise, humiliation and betrayal to the light of hope achievements and new beginnings.The best part new beginning not only for herself but for a whole community.
"Views have changed tremendously, yet the golden reflection remains the same. Perhaps because it isn’t a ‘thing’ that can be modified or improved and maybe progress isn’t always about creating a lot of new, sometimes it is about preserving a lot of old"
Moving forward gets tougher as we grow, change becomes more painful than routine, we tend to be sceptical about the future beyond the horizon though change is inevitable. As adults there's a greater chance we give up on dreams in the name of responsibilities and try sticking to the routine, irony is that as a child growing up we fought routine and embraced change in a warm hug.
Sometimes we feel everything is falling apart then all we could do is 'hang in there' and let the moment pass be it days, weeks or months. Once the coast is clear, the sun shines brighter than ever with rejuvenation of new hopes and dreams.
Another beautiful thing growth makes us realise is how naive we were, Tara grewal a happily married house wife in her late 30's come to terms with her abusive husband after a public incident. Taking time-off she moves to her ancestral village to organise her thoughts and her future. This visit helps her see through her marriage, rich emotions and relations of village bring back her childhood memories.
Tara finds her peace and purpose in rebuliding the village school. Down the lane she meets dev, a family friend and sees a mentor in beeja (dev's grandmother). It's not an easy road for her but she weaves her path through her marriage and life along with her two beuatiful children mehar and sidak.
Marital abuse doesn’t always come in physical form – it can also take a psychological form, breaking the person from the very core. And this is the very subject that this book deals with.
Tara has been a victim of abuse in the form of humiliation, degradation, manipulation and in the process has lost a very important aspect of her life i.e., self-confidence. This story basically takes the reader through Tara’s journey of finally putting her foot down and for once taking a stand for herself.
Written in a simple style with lucid language, this book evokes apt emotions and an easy understanding of the characters and their feelings. There are some very deep and meaningful bonds described in the story that helps to realize the significance of relationships in one’s life. I liked the fact how the supporting characters are subtly given pivotal roles so as not to divert the attention from the main character much.
All in all, it’s an inspiring story of letting go and finding oneself in the process.
"There are days we remember and days we can’t forget. This happened to be both… "
Tara, a house-wife and a mother to two when humiliated by her husband Tej publicly in a family gathering, she started to question her choices in life and eventually stepped out of her 17- year long marriage. Returning to her home in Amritsar, Tara struggles to search for meaning in her life. The book narrates her journey from a housewife to being her own person.
Oppression and humiliation of women isn't something new to us. We have seen women who continued to stay toxic marriages and toxic relationships due to some misplaced sense of loyalty or duty. This book is about one such woman who finally picked herself and walked out of her marriage with her head held high to find her self-worth.
I really liked reading this book. It is a simple story but one that stays with you for a while even after the book has ended. Tara is a homemaker, a mother of two.
Suddenly life introduces her to an issue many face in their lives that brings it to crossroads.
She gets humiliated publicly by her life partner and now she has nothing left to stay there.
When life seemed bland grandma's home at punjab with its simple yet struggleful rural life brings light to her otherwise sunsetting world. There it all changes. It is a story of hope, resilience and courage to look forward.
Life is never meaningless if one can have the strength and urge to live again. The storytelling is beautiful. It is heart warming at every stage.