SHE

by Purva Grover

"Often, I get asked how it feels to be a woman. I stay bemused for I don't know how to be anything else, except being one. She chose me. I simply caved in. Being a woman is like running on a treadmill, you don’t “quite” get anywhere. You pick up each day from where you left the previous day. In these pages, we celebrate waxing woes and bad hair days, we tick the boxes and break the rules, and we apologise for getting old and feel guilty when promoted at work. We speak of unwanted advice, as we offer some too. We sigh, smile and scorn. We observe, absorb, judge and compare. We own our space. The subjects of the book are women I know. It’s not a case of pure coincidence but pure intention. No research has gone into the book unless you consider banter over drinks, on long distance phone calls or by water coolers, so. Allow me, I want to talk for a few (more) minutes about being a woman, just before I sign off. I am in love with my existence, and I will not trade my position with anyone, a fellow girlfriend, or a fellow male friend. Am I grateful? Oh, yes. Am I exhausted? Yes. Am I wiser? No. I don’t know what to say to women who walk up to me under the impression that I know better. Am I ready to give up? No. To love, to us. To all the women I knew, know and will know."

212 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Rashmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently concluded reading She by Purva Grover.

So here are my thoughts on the book.
First of all its not a thriller or an MB type of book nor is a male basher, there is infact no sensationalism at all. Therefore its definitely not a page turner. It's not a book that you should finish from cover to cover in one sitting.
It will be a shame if you did that. This book gives perspectives. A different standpoint and does so without judgement but just comes to say
that there are more than one way to see existing situations.
It questions the age old beliefs and deeply embedded thought processes. It questions judgement, it questions a linear thought
process. It shares the deepest and darkest things associated with being a woman that are usually never spoken about.
This book should be a coffee time companion for 6 months where you open any page and just read small parts and mull over the thought it provokes.
It gave me some profound perspectives. Thanks Purva

[Joaquim Gonsalves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest, fun, emotional and 100% relatable.
This book is probably even more important for men than for women. Having said that, I'm not here to draw bifurcations, there's too much of that going around like crazy in this world anyway. Rather, it's yet another brilliant book by Purva Grover which warrants a read for both men and women alike, be it to relive memories or to build new perspectives. Totally worth the read!

[Fatema · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot put in words the inspiration this book gave me. In most ways, most She’s will connect with it. There are chapters, I’ve re-read several times as they felt like mine. There are chapters which inspired me to create artworks based on them! Yes, I made art inspired on the book. It’s rather funny how easily I felt a connecting to all women in understanding ourselves better.

[Nadia Kanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny but true ! It’s something like a rant, with empty pages for you to add you own rant 😂
It’s mind blowing to see that the hardships of being a woman are almost the same regardless of your culture or background 😅