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The Casket and Besky
The Casket and Besky is a set of two novellas about women striving for their careers. The Casket, set in two eras, is a story of an archer and an author who find each other through a hidden casket, and their meeting brings forth a lost past and a blooming future.
On the other hand, Besky told from the perspective of a young boy, is a story of a tea plucker girl from Darjeeling for whom uplifting her society becomes the prime goal and love takes a back seat.
On the other hand, Besky told from the perspective of a young boy, is a story of a tea plucker girl from Darjeeling for whom uplifting her society becomes the prime goal and love takes a back seat.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 22, 2022
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Nita Bajoria
16 books18 followersNita may be best described as a lazy bookworm who utilizes her moments of feeling out of place in a social gathering by observing people around her and plotting short stories. Before she started writing fiction, she experimented with various occupations like computer teacher, computer programmer, kitchen designer, kitchen manufacturer, and office magazine editor. But her favourite job is the one she’s now doing full time — weaving stories. Mother of an adoring daughter she finds writing destressing. She loves reading on flights and she is at her best when left alone to scribble on her laptop in a library or a café. Knitting stories around relationships, emotional needs and various perceptions that build up the drama of life is her forte. She believes that travelling opens up her mind and helps her understand life better. Most of her short stories and travelogues have been featured in popular magazines such as Women’s Era, Alive and Airports India. “The Leap” is her debut novel. You can get to her blog by simply typing the word “nitatussiemussies”.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
July 4, 2022
The novella form allows for a condensed, sharp focus on one theme that comes to a point in the way a short story does, but with more room to dive deep and explore around than a short story allows, while the length makes it easier to sustain our interest than a 400-page novel might. The strength and perspective that the author Nita Bajoria brings to her writing, however, is what elevates the combination of these two novellas into a work of art. The Casket and Besky are two novellas that place a major focus on women's empowerment in a big way. It is a beautifully written, deep, heart-wrenching, believable and uplifting drama about two girls surviving and leading their lives.
The Casket is the story of Samyukta, a young girl who preferred archery over academics, and Ahana, a young and enthusiastic writer. Ahana discovers a concealed casket under a tree and tries to return it to its rightful owner. Her natural curiosity is what led us to Samyukta's tale. Ahana discovers the secrets hidden behind the casket, and she promptly begins writing about it, hoping that others will learn about Samyukta via the story that she writes. Samyukta pursued her interest with the guidance and encouragement from her father, who was always there to cheer her on. Samyukta's mother wasn't initially as supportive of her passion for archery as her father was, but through time, Samyukta managed to win over her mother. This narrative was masterful in its portrayal of a wide range of complex and nuanced emotions.
The second novella, "Besky" tells the tale of a tea plucker girl named Besky who comes from a poor family in Darjeeling. Besky is adamant about working for the betterment of her people and society, and the novella focuses on her journey to achieve these goals. Eventually, she met Karan, a handsome young man who came from a wealthy family. Karan fell in love with Besky the minute he saw her and desired to marry her with all of his heart. But Besky, who had more significant aims and desires to pursue, sacrificed her love for the sake of her ambitions and began working toward achieving her objectives.
It is hard to share too much of their story, of what happened to Samyukta and Besky to make them who they have been or will become, because that is the story. Both, Samyukta and Besky, are amazing, complex, and real-feeling characters, with a unique voice of broken bravado. And like the ocean, they are possessed of depths where silent storms continually rage beneath the surface. This is a compelling and satisfying read that will draw you into its world fast and make you want to stay there for a long time.
Nita Bajoria is an expert at examining the desires of women in life. She builds on this theme with a narrative that somehow enacts the limits of self-perception. This is an astounding piece of writing that presents female characters living a disciplined and carefully controlled life off the grid, who, in spite of their best efforts, are unable to avoid the unscripted aspects of life. The author's insight and compassion are what make this book such a fascinating read.
The Casket is the story of Samyukta, a young girl who preferred archery over academics, and Ahana, a young and enthusiastic writer. Ahana discovers a concealed casket under a tree and tries to return it to its rightful owner. Her natural curiosity is what led us to Samyukta's tale. Ahana discovers the secrets hidden behind the casket, and she promptly begins writing about it, hoping that others will learn about Samyukta via the story that she writes. Samyukta pursued her interest with the guidance and encouragement from her father, who was always there to cheer her on. Samyukta's mother wasn't initially as supportive of her passion for archery as her father was, but through time, Samyukta managed to win over her mother. This narrative was masterful in its portrayal of a wide range of complex and nuanced emotions.
The second novella, "Besky" tells the tale of a tea plucker girl named Besky who comes from a poor family in Darjeeling. Besky is adamant about working for the betterment of her people and society, and the novella focuses on her journey to achieve these goals. Eventually, she met Karan, a handsome young man who came from a wealthy family. Karan fell in love with Besky the minute he saw her and desired to marry her with all of his heart. But Besky, who had more significant aims and desires to pursue, sacrificed her love for the sake of her ambitions and began working toward achieving her objectives.
It is hard to share too much of their story, of what happened to Samyukta and Besky to make them who they have been or will become, because that is the story. Both, Samyukta and Besky, are amazing, complex, and real-feeling characters, with a unique voice of broken bravado. And like the ocean, they are possessed of depths where silent storms continually rage beneath the surface. This is a compelling and satisfying read that will draw you into its world fast and make you want to stay there for a long time.
Nita Bajoria is an expert at examining the desires of women in life. She builds on this theme with a narrative that somehow enacts the limits of self-perception. This is an astounding piece of writing that presents female characters living a disciplined and carefully controlled life off the grid, who, in spite of their best efforts, are unable to avoid the unscripted aspects of life. The author's insight and compassion are what make this book such a fascinating read.
June 23, 2022
This book is a collection of two beautiful and interesting novellas - The Casket and Besky with women centric stories. The author has dedicated The Casket 𝘛𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘰 and Besky 𝘛𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴’ 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘧, 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯.
These dedications are not only beautiful but also capture the essence of this book perfectly.
Ahana, who wants to be a writer is living with her cousins in Calcutta. One day after a thunderstorm, she finds a casket hidden in the garden below many branches. With her cousins' help, she takes it out and find numerous things inside it including an article about a female archer and a photograph. She decides to keep the Casket and find the owner. To whom these memories belong? Who is the female archer? Will Ahana be able to find her?
After Ahana falls terribly sick and fails to submit her writing assignment, her parents take her back to their home town and she joins the family business. Will Ahana give up on her dream of becoming a writer? On the other hand, Besky is a story of a tea plucker girl from Darjeeling told from a perspective of a young boy.
Both the novellas are very interesting and enjoyable. The author's writing style is very beautiful and it is captivating. The writing style is lucid and fluid, making the reader engrossed in the book. The stories not only show genuine emotions of characters but also have appropriate twists and turns making them interesting. These stories are not overly dramatic and feel close to reality/life. The struggles and various emotions that run in these stories can be felt easily by anyone who reads them. For me, reading this book was a very pleasant experience, I thoroughly enjoyed it and loved both the novellas.
These dedications are not only beautiful but also capture the essence of this book perfectly.
Ahana, who wants to be a writer is living with her cousins in Calcutta. One day after a thunderstorm, she finds a casket hidden in the garden below many branches. With her cousins' help, she takes it out and find numerous things inside it including an article about a female archer and a photograph. She decides to keep the Casket and find the owner. To whom these memories belong? Who is the female archer? Will Ahana be able to find her?
After Ahana falls terribly sick and fails to submit her writing assignment, her parents take her back to their home town and she joins the family business. Will Ahana give up on her dream of becoming a writer? On the other hand, Besky is a story of a tea plucker girl from Darjeeling told from a perspective of a young boy.
Both the novellas are very interesting and enjoyable. The author's writing style is very beautiful and it is captivating. The writing style is lucid and fluid, making the reader engrossed in the book. The stories not only show genuine emotions of characters but also have appropriate twists and turns making them interesting. These stories are not overly dramatic and feel close to reality/life. The struggles and various emotions that run in these stories can be felt easily by anyone who reads them. For me, reading this book was a very pleasant experience, I thoroughly enjoyed it and loved both the novellas.
June 29, 2022
It’s a short read that can be read in one or two days. It’s a collection of two novellas. It has a really beautiful cover. I will briefly summarise the blurb here. The main characters of the very first story are Ahana and Sanyukta. Ahana found a casket below an old tree that was buried. They found some papers, pictures and other memorable things in it. Probably last owner left the box there. Ahana read a newspaper article from it saying about a women’s archery tournament and the winner’s name, a Miss Sanyukta Nandi. She guessed that the box was probably hers. But back then it was tough for women to participate in such sports as their families didn’t like it. Now read the book to unfold further. What I liked most about this story is author covered two young woman’s dreams and ambitions in a single story and how their lives are woven around. The second story is also unique and beautiful. Besky- a girl from a regular, a tea plucker family is determined to do something and upliftment of her people. I liked the plot. They are very unique and interesting. The narration style of the author is captivating. I loved the way author presented these stories. They are too beautiful. The language of the book is lucid so that everyone can read it. Overall I loved it. Recommended from my side.
July 21, 2022
Whether we are on a soul searching journey or if we simply strive to improve our life every step of the way, books can prove to be a great tool to work through the adventure of us.
They say that women are the real architects of the society, yet when push comes to shove, often we see that their voice is shut down or they are told to keep their opinions to themselves.
Hence, it can be quite disheartening at times, however, then a book like, ‘The Casket and Besky’ by author Nita Bajoria comes along and we are shown just how strong women can actually be if they put their minds to it.
In Casket, we see how regardless of so many hurdles and obstacles that may come our way, if we have just one person who will support us, there is nothing that will have the power to stop us.
Besky depicts the tale of how there are still some individuals out there who will put their own happiness aside for the sake of betterment of others, all the while keeping a smile on their face and not thinking about what they might be missing out on.
This was a fairly quick read, but it was packed with so much emotion and inspiration that it just makes the readers keep coming for more, hence I am going to give this book FIVE STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
They say that women are the real architects of the society, yet when push comes to shove, often we see that their voice is shut down or they are told to keep their opinions to themselves.
Hence, it can be quite disheartening at times, however, then a book like, ‘The Casket and Besky’ by author Nita Bajoria comes along and we are shown just how strong women can actually be if they put their minds to it.
In Casket, we see how regardless of so many hurdles and obstacles that may come our way, if we have just one person who will support us, there is nothing that will have the power to stop us.
Besky depicts the tale of how there are still some individuals out there who will put their own happiness aside for the sake of betterment of others, all the while keeping a smile on their face and not thinking about what they might be missing out on.
This was a fairly quick read, but it was packed with so much emotion and inspiration that it just makes the readers keep coming for more, hence I am going to give this book FIVE STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 16, 2022
Let's start with the cover(s) It's attractive and is different on each side. I liked the innovative thinking where you flip the book to read the next story. This is a unique one for me.The book is a combo of 2 novellas based on ambitious young women who want to prioritize their passion and goal above all.
The first story is about Ahana a budding writer who lives in kolkata. She accidentally finds a casket hidden underneath the branches of a tree. Finding articles and photographs of a woman archer, Ahana sets on a quest to find the owner of the casket. Will she be successful?
The second one is about Besky a poor girl from Darjeeling and a tea plucker who's only goal is the upliftment of her people. Karan a rich guy, loves her promises her a luxurious life. Will she prioritize her goal above love or will she give into societal norms? Read the book to know more.
The author has planned the Concept well. The twists and turns included grips the readers to the book. The descriptive narration gives a glimpse of the places, and the lifestyle of the people there. Various aspects such as love, struggles, pain etc have been discussed. The message " Sheer determination and hardwork is the secret to success" has been conveyed well. The writing style is good with a pace that is medium. Overall an engaging read.
The first story is about Ahana a budding writer who lives in kolkata. She accidentally finds a casket hidden underneath the branches of a tree. Finding articles and photographs of a woman archer, Ahana sets on a quest to find the owner of the casket. Will she be successful?
The second one is about Besky a poor girl from Darjeeling and a tea plucker who's only goal is the upliftment of her people. Karan a rich guy, loves her promises her a luxurious life. Will she prioritize her goal above love or will she give into societal norms? Read the book to know more.
The author has planned the Concept well. The twists and turns included grips the readers to the book. The descriptive narration gives a glimpse of the places, and the lifestyle of the people there. Various aspects such as love, struggles, pain etc have been discussed. The message " Sheer determination and hardwork is the secret to success" has been conveyed well. The writing style is good with a pace that is medium. Overall an engaging read.
October 6, 2022
The Casket and Besky is a set of two novellas written by Nita Bajoria. The major theme of both novellas is women empowerment. One is a second-chance love story and the other of patience & devotion towards love. The cover is pretty but there’s very little that’s interesting and nothing new in both the stories.
The Casket 🏹
The author has used a frame-narrative for this story. Frame-narrative is a literary technique in which there’s a story within a story. A small town girl, Ahana, who aspires to be a writer comes to Kolkata for graduation against her father’s wishes. She is staying with her cousins when they find a hidden casket under an uprooted tree, the result of a stormy night. The contents of the casket elicit curiosity in Ahana and she determines to find its owner. Her search leads her to Sanyukta, a former archer.
Sanyukta’s story is that of a girl fighting for her place in a stereotypical world. In a time when a girl is expected to cook, clean, marry and manage her household, she not only finds her passion in archery, but also follows it at a great cost to herself. Decades later, her meeting with Ahana convinces her to bring her life-story forward to the world.
The book is written in third-person narrative. It switches between Ahana’s and Sanyukta’s pov. The author tried to enrich this story with local culture by mentioning Jagadhatri Puja that is celebrated in West Bengal, which could’ve been more descriptive. The romantic moments between Sanyukta and Uttam were cute. Sanyukta’s societal struggles seemed relatable but her emotional struggles appeared surface-level. The sibling bond between Ahana and Joy was distinctive and fun. All in all, this was an okay-ish read.
Besky 🌱🍃
Besky is written in first person narrative from the Male-Lead’s perspective. A group of friends travel to Darjeeling for a short vacation and Karan is amongst them. While touring a tea-estate, he hears a sweet voice, finds a beautiful girl(Besky) singing, and he falls for her. And thus starts a game of relentless pursuits. He proposes to her the next time they meet. Which of course alarms her and she runs away frightened. He then seeks her at her home, where her family is naturally defensive. She is sceptical of him and gives various reasons to reject his proposal. To show his sincerity, Karan resolves that he would stay with them in their house, work in fields with them and accept the hardships of their lifestyle for a week. His stay comes with a few challenges and it doesn’t work out. However, this was just one test with many more to come, before they are united.
It’s a story of a privileged boy who has no real idea or experience of the injustices of life and meeting Besky gives him a whole new perspective on the lives of the struggling poor. And how, despite a number of hurdles, their love wins. Besky is portrayed as a practical, hard-working and resilient girl. And Karan is the epitome of patience, support and love.
Besky’s story is poorly written. The author highlighted many issues like trafficking, health conditions in rural areas, domestic abuse and workplace bullying & harassment among other things. However she failed terribly; For example, she touched a topic and the character would rant a few emotional lines and then move on to the next thing. The storyline got worse as it progressed and it lacked research. The most disturbing part was how various characters behaved when the issue of workplace harassment arose. It has so many grammatical mistakes and needs extensive editing. It failed to evoke any emotions in me as a reader except anger as I reached the end.
Polite suggestion - Since this is a story from a guy’s perspective, I feel it should have been reviewed(ARC) and edited by a male, it would have provided a much needed reality-check. Also, a trigger warning would have been nice
The Casket 🏹
The author has used a frame-narrative for this story. Frame-narrative is a literary technique in which there’s a story within a story. A small town girl, Ahana, who aspires to be a writer comes to Kolkata for graduation against her father’s wishes. She is staying with her cousins when they find a hidden casket under an uprooted tree, the result of a stormy night. The contents of the casket elicit curiosity in Ahana and she determines to find its owner. Her search leads her to Sanyukta, a former archer.
Sanyukta’s story is that of a girl fighting for her place in a stereotypical world. In a time when a girl is expected to cook, clean, marry and manage her household, she not only finds her passion in archery, but also follows it at a great cost to herself. Decades later, her meeting with Ahana convinces her to bring her life-story forward to the world.
The book is written in third-person narrative. It switches between Ahana’s and Sanyukta’s pov. The author tried to enrich this story with local culture by mentioning Jagadhatri Puja that is celebrated in West Bengal, which could’ve been more descriptive. The romantic moments between Sanyukta and Uttam were cute. Sanyukta’s societal struggles seemed relatable but her emotional struggles appeared surface-level. The sibling bond between Ahana and Joy was distinctive and fun. All in all, this was an okay-ish read.
Besky 🌱🍃
Besky is written in first person narrative from the Male-Lead’s perspective. A group of friends travel to Darjeeling for a short vacation and Karan is amongst them. While touring a tea-estate, he hears a sweet voice, finds a beautiful girl(Besky) singing, and he falls for her. And thus starts a game of relentless pursuits. He proposes to her the next time they meet. Which of course alarms her and she runs away frightened. He then seeks her at her home, where her family is naturally defensive. She is sceptical of him and gives various reasons to reject his proposal. To show his sincerity, Karan resolves that he would stay with them in their house, work in fields with them and accept the hardships of their lifestyle for a week. His stay comes with a few challenges and it doesn’t work out. However, this was just one test with many more to come, before they are united.
It’s a story of a privileged boy who has no real idea or experience of the injustices of life and meeting Besky gives him a whole new perspective on the lives of the struggling poor. And how, despite a number of hurdles, their love wins. Besky is portrayed as a practical, hard-working and resilient girl. And Karan is the epitome of patience, support and love.
Besky’s story is poorly written. The author highlighted many issues like trafficking, health conditions in rural areas, domestic abuse and workplace bullying & harassment among other things. However she failed terribly; For example, she touched a topic and the character would rant a few emotional lines and then move on to the next thing. The storyline got worse as it progressed and it lacked research. The most disturbing part was how various characters behaved when the issue of workplace harassment arose. It has so many grammatical mistakes and needs extensive editing. It failed to evoke any emotions in me as a reader except anger as I reached the end.
Polite suggestion - Since this is a story from a guy’s perspective, I feel it should have been reviewed(ARC) and edited by a male, it would have provided a much needed reality-check. Also, a trigger warning would have been nice
June 22, 2022
Book 29 of 2022- The Casket and Besky
Author- Nita Bajoria
“There is no force equal to a woman determined to rise”
The Casket and Besky are two novellas which strongly emphasise about Women empowerment. Every women at some point was made to feel guilty for following her passion, for following her dream. Despite all the barriers from Family and Societal pressure, there are millions of women who came out with flying Colors in whatever field she is in. This book is a novel about two such Women.
The Casket: Samyukta-a young girl who was more interested in Archery than Academics, followed her passion with the help and warm support of her Father. It was the time where women hadn’t been part of Archery team. Even though Samyukta’s mother wasn’t as supportive as her father, because of his constant support and his towards their daughter’s dream slowly changed her mom’s mind too. The readers are getting to know Samyukta’s story through Ahana-a young passionate writer who happened to find a casket under a tree. That Casket is what leaded Ahana and the readers to Samyukta’s story. I love how this story covered so many deep and sensitive emotions beautifully. Everyone deserve a husband and lover like Samyukta’s who not only supported her dreams but also made her realise she is capable of doing even more greater things. What was in the casket for her! Did the casket opened a door of her past which she didn’t want to visit ever again? Read the book to know the answers♥️
Besky- A Tea plucker girl hailing from a Poor family in Darjeeling, who was so determined to work for her people and uplifting her society. She happened to meet Karan-a dashing man from a rich family who fell in love with Besky the moment he saw her and wanted to marry her so badly. But, Besky who had bigger goals and dreams to pursue..she took a back seat for her love and started striving towards her goal. Did she achieve her goal? Did Karan and Besky got married? That’s all this story is about.
Samyukta and Besky’s story will motivate every one who reads this book. “A woman is like a tea bag, you never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water”. The writing is so beautiful and it kept me hooked till the very end. I finished this book in one go and started browsing other books from the author already.
Remember Emma Watson’s line from “Little Women”- “I don’t want other people to decide what I’m, I want to decide it for myself”.
This book is a story of two such strong and dignified women!
A must read for everyone♥️
Author- Nita Bajoria
“There is no force equal to a woman determined to rise”
The Casket and Besky are two novellas which strongly emphasise about Women empowerment. Every women at some point was made to feel guilty for following her passion, for following her dream. Despite all the barriers from Family and Societal pressure, there are millions of women who came out with flying Colors in whatever field she is in. This book is a novel about two such Women.
The Casket: Samyukta-a young girl who was more interested in Archery than Academics, followed her passion with the help and warm support of her Father. It was the time where women hadn’t been part of Archery team. Even though Samyukta’s mother wasn’t as supportive as her father, because of his constant support and his towards their daughter’s dream slowly changed her mom’s mind too. The readers are getting to know Samyukta’s story through Ahana-a young passionate writer who happened to find a casket under a tree. That Casket is what leaded Ahana and the readers to Samyukta’s story. I love how this story covered so many deep and sensitive emotions beautifully. Everyone deserve a husband and lover like Samyukta’s who not only supported her dreams but also made her realise she is capable of doing even more greater things. What was in the casket for her! Did the casket opened a door of her past which she didn’t want to visit ever again? Read the book to know the answers♥️
Besky- A Tea plucker girl hailing from a Poor family in Darjeeling, who was so determined to work for her people and uplifting her society. She happened to meet Karan-a dashing man from a rich family who fell in love with Besky the moment he saw her and wanted to marry her so badly. But, Besky who had bigger goals and dreams to pursue..she took a back seat for her love and started striving towards her goal. Did she achieve her goal? Did Karan and Besky got married? That’s all this story is about.
Samyukta and Besky’s story will motivate every one who reads this book. “A woman is like a tea bag, you never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water”. The writing is so beautiful and it kept me hooked till the very end. I finished this book in one go and started browsing other books from the author already.
Remember Emma Watson’s line from “Little Women”- “I don’t want other people to decide what I’m, I want to decide it for myself”.
This book is a story of two such strong and dignified women!
A must read for everyone♥️
July 10, 2022
The Casket and Besky by Nita Bajoria is an absolute new kind of approach to printing books. It consists of two stories. Both ends of the book are the start of each of these stories. As a result, to read the other story one has to flip the book. It might give you a wrong impression at first, but trust me it might just intrigue you more. The covers are stunning. It's colorful and beautifully justifies the stories. Overall one look at the book will instantly make you pick it up.
Coming to the plots, both stories talk about two strong women and their determination to achieve their goals in life. The Casket starts off with Ahana, a passionate writer who faces misbehavior from her cousins. But with a smiling face she keeps on doing all chores and nurtures her dream inside. But one day they find a silver box, more like a casket buried under their lawn. When Ahana found what's inside the box, she was determined to dig out the story from the past. But little did she know that her curiosity dug out a story of love and sacrifice that wrote history. On the other hand the story of Besky is about a woman from the hills who fell in love with a city guy. Read how two people with lots of difference in their community and status, cross all hurdles to become one.
Now what I liked about the book was the language. The stories were simple without too many twists and hence it was written in an easy, simple manner. It's definitely beginner friendly. It shows beautiful details of Darjeeling and its people as well as the dark sides. On the other hand, in the Casket the author glorifies the female archers of our nation and how marriage isn't the ultimate destination of life for women. We see strong characters in both stories and also some strong supporting characters, be it a lover or a father.
In Besky, the subtle touch of romance was very cute. And in the casket, the teenage love and actions will definitely take the readers to their own teenage. The emails as love letters and the knitted sweater as the welcome gift to the family- both gave some major relationship goals.
Now coming to the cons, the narration was very slow paced. It took me some major time to finish the Casket part. It didn't give me the instant kick to devour the story at once. Also I found a few mistakes and most importantly one page was completely mis-printed.
So overall it was a good enough book and I will recommend it to the 13+ age group of readers.
Coming to the plots, both stories talk about two strong women and their determination to achieve their goals in life. The Casket starts off with Ahana, a passionate writer who faces misbehavior from her cousins. But with a smiling face she keeps on doing all chores and nurtures her dream inside. But one day they find a silver box, more like a casket buried under their lawn. When Ahana found what's inside the box, she was determined to dig out the story from the past. But little did she know that her curiosity dug out a story of love and sacrifice that wrote history. On the other hand the story of Besky is about a woman from the hills who fell in love with a city guy. Read how two people with lots of difference in their community and status, cross all hurdles to become one.
Now what I liked about the book was the language. The stories were simple without too many twists and hence it was written in an easy, simple manner. It's definitely beginner friendly. It shows beautiful details of Darjeeling and its people as well as the dark sides. On the other hand, in the Casket the author glorifies the female archers of our nation and how marriage isn't the ultimate destination of life for women. We see strong characters in both stories and also some strong supporting characters, be it a lover or a father.
In Besky, the subtle touch of romance was very cute. And in the casket, the teenage love and actions will definitely take the readers to their own teenage. The emails as love letters and the knitted sweater as the welcome gift to the family- both gave some major relationship goals.
Now coming to the cons, the narration was very slow paced. It took me some major time to finish the Casket part. It didn't give me the instant kick to devour the story at once. Also I found a few mistakes and most importantly one page was completely mis-printed.
So overall it was a good enough book and I will recommend it to the 13+ age group of readers.
September 8, 2022
Nita Bajoria's
THE CASKET AND BESKY
📖The Casket and Besky is a set of two novellas about women striving for their career. The Casket, set in two eras, is a story of an archer and an author who find each other through a hidden casket, and their meeting brings forth a lost past and a blooming future.
On the other hand, Besky, told from the perspective of a young boy, is a story of a tea plucker girl from Darjeeling for whom uplifting her society becomes the prime goal and love takes a back-seat.
___
🙋🏻This is a unique book in many respects. To begin with, this book has two uplifting, inspiring stories of women who broke the norms & stood up to achieve their dreams. The book can be read from both the sides. It has one story & the corresponding cover on one side while the other story is printed the other way round, for which you have to turn the book upside down & it has a separate cover. Interesting concept, it reminded me of ulta- pulta from my childhood days. And yes it does have a leaf if a page printed in mirror image but that does negligible harm to the story & i can ignore it for the rest of the pages that were perfect. To err is human.
When ahana found the casket under an uprooted tree, it took me back to stories my mom told me when i was a child that in earlier days people used to bury their precious belongings under the ground. I used to wonder what if someday i found one.
I rooted for Sanjukta & applauded her efforts at bringing laurels for a sport not known for women & for his husband who was a good man. Also i agreed with Umesh that whatever happens happens for good, they were not destined to be together. Also Clara, what a lady with a beautiful heart, how she helped Sanjukta anonymously & in bringing them together, Ahana found her purpose. Beautiful. This story with its emotional bearings reminded me of Undertow which was longlisted i think last year. It also shows how one lives ones entire live in misunderstandings, blaming the other.. but never bothering to clarify. Easier said than done but that's how most relationships are..
The story of Besky is a bit filmy wherein a boy who falls in love with her at first sight puts in time, effort & waits for her to flourish & bloom to her heart's wish before she's prepared to take the plunge. Fairytale rom. I wish more men were there who were secure enough to wait & let their loved ones dream for the stars!
THE CASKET AND BESKY
📖The Casket and Besky is a set of two novellas about women striving for their career. The Casket, set in two eras, is a story of an archer and an author who find each other through a hidden casket, and their meeting brings forth a lost past and a blooming future.
On the other hand, Besky, told from the perspective of a young boy, is a story of a tea plucker girl from Darjeeling for whom uplifting her society becomes the prime goal and love takes a back-seat.
___
🙋🏻This is a unique book in many respects. To begin with, this book has two uplifting, inspiring stories of women who broke the norms & stood up to achieve their dreams. The book can be read from both the sides. It has one story & the corresponding cover on one side while the other story is printed the other way round, for which you have to turn the book upside down & it has a separate cover. Interesting concept, it reminded me of ulta- pulta from my childhood days. And yes it does have a leaf if a page printed in mirror image but that does negligible harm to the story & i can ignore it for the rest of the pages that were perfect. To err is human.
When ahana found the casket under an uprooted tree, it took me back to stories my mom told me when i was a child that in earlier days people used to bury their precious belongings under the ground. I used to wonder what if someday i found one.
I rooted for Sanjukta & applauded her efforts at bringing laurels for a sport not known for women & for his husband who was a good man. Also i agreed with Umesh that whatever happens happens for good, they were not destined to be together. Also Clara, what a lady with a beautiful heart, how she helped Sanjukta anonymously & in bringing them together, Ahana found her purpose. Beautiful. This story with its emotional bearings reminded me of Undertow which was longlisted i think last year. It also shows how one lives ones entire live in misunderstandings, blaming the other.. but never bothering to clarify. Easier said than done but that's how most relationships are..
The story of Besky is a bit filmy wherein a boy who falls in love with her at first sight puts in time, effort & waits for her to flourish & bloom to her heart's wish before she's prepared to take the plunge. Fairytale rom. I wish more men were there who were secure enough to wait & let their loved ones dream for the stars!
July 17, 2022
"The most alluring thing a woman can have is confidence"
We know that the only thing which is constant in a woman's life is struggle. And I think every woman atleast once in her lifetime passes through a period of misery, may be in education, family, carrier, health, passion, marriage or anything else. Although things are progressing gradually but still there's huge number of women who are struggling immensely with their life. But there are some women who fight with the situation every day, make their own path & achieve the ultimate goal of their life. Thanks to the author for raising such a topic & doing complete justice with it. Accepting rational viewpoint of women, educate them on various scales for uplifting etc are the needs of the hour & via such small steps we can bring bigger change in our entire society.
This beautifully written book "Casket & Besky" by Nita Bajoria talks about two seperate stories of women struggles & problems in life & especially how they fight with the situation and overcome it. The story Casket is written on a beautiful plot based on thr the city of joy Kolkata, apart from the main storyline, I must admit the author has amazingly described the city it's vibe & cultural aspects & what not,as a person from West Bengal I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story of Sanyukta, her passion for archery & her obstacles makes that story really unique & inspiring. I'll not write long synopsis to spoil the story at all, as it's a story worth reading.
Talking about the second story, it shows the life of a tea-plucker & her ambitions in life who belongs to a poor family in the beautiful district of Darjeeling. Again here also I was impressed by her quality writing and her ability to play with our emotion through her words. The side characters are placed perfectly to support the protagonists.
The author tries to teach us various timeless lessons of life through her story like love, support, sacrifice, ambition, dedication etc. I really enjoyed the stories not only for it's plot but also for it's beautiful writing style & descriptions.In a nutshell this book is a masterpiece filled with creativity, oh you have to turn the book upside down to read the second one. It's an interesting page turner which will definitely satisfy your reading buds.One can easily understand the importance of women empowerment, would definitely recommend it to others.
We know that the only thing which is constant in a woman's life is struggle. And I think every woman atleast once in her lifetime passes through a period of misery, may be in education, family, carrier, health, passion, marriage or anything else. Although things are progressing gradually but still there's huge number of women who are struggling immensely with their life. But there are some women who fight with the situation every day, make their own path & achieve the ultimate goal of their life. Thanks to the author for raising such a topic & doing complete justice with it. Accepting rational viewpoint of women, educate them on various scales for uplifting etc are the needs of the hour & via such small steps we can bring bigger change in our entire society.
This beautifully written book "Casket & Besky" by Nita Bajoria talks about two seperate stories of women struggles & problems in life & especially how they fight with the situation and overcome it. The story Casket is written on a beautiful plot based on thr the city of joy Kolkata, apart from the main storyline, I must admit the author has amazingly described the city it's vibe & cultural aspects & what not,as a person from West Bengal I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story of Sanyukta, her passion for archery & her obstacles makes that story really unique & inspiring. I'll not write long synopsis to spoil the story at all, as it's a story worth reading.
Talking about the second story, it shows the life of a tea-plucker & her ambitions in life who belongs to a poor family in the beautiful district of Darjeeling. Again here also I was impressed by her quality writing and her ability to play with our emotion through her words. The side characters are placed perfectly to support the protagonists.
The author tries to teach us various timeless lessons of life through her story like love, support, sacrifice, ambition, dedication etc. I really enjoyed the stories not only for it's plot but also for it's beautiful writing style & descriptions.In a nutshell this book is a masterpiece filled with creativity, oh you have to turn the book upside down to read the second one. It's an interesting page turner which will definitely satisfy your reading buds.One can easily understand the importance of women empowerment, would definitely recommend it to others.
June 29, 2022
🔸 The casket and Besky are two novellas about two women who achieve after so many struggles because of their family and society respectively.
🔹The casket is a story of an archer Sanyuktha and an author Ahana who discovers a hidden casket and tries to hand over it to its owner. She unfolds the hidden truth behind that. She starts writing a story about that so we readers get to know about Sanyuktha through her.
🔸Sanyuktha, is a young girl who dreams big to achieve something in archery. It was a time when women were not part of an archery team. So she didn't get much support from her mother, unlike her father who supports and encourages her a lot. I love the story which has so many elements like first love, emotion, heartbreak, affection, caring, father's love, etc. Their face-to-face encounter sparks an unforgettable past and some hidden true emotions.
🔹Besky the other story printed on the other side of the book is a story of a Darjeeling tea plucker girl from poor family background, For whom her society and people's improvement are the main goal and starts working hard for that ignoring the pure love which she got from a rich guy called Karan. Did she achieve her goal? Did they get married? is the remaining story for you to catch up on.
🔹 The author has written these two different stories to its perfection. The book cover attracts me to pick this book in the first place and it didn't disappoint me. The writing is so beautiful and the narration is so good that hooked me till the end. I finished this book in single sitting and planning to get another illustrated book from the author. The only concern is page number 52 is printed reverse in the Besky story, otherwise, a highly recommended book which is an inspirational one for all the women who are eager to achieve.
🔹The casket is a story of an archer Sanyuktha and an author Ahana who discovers a hidden casket and tries to hand over it to its owner. She unfolds the hidden truth behind that. She starts writing a story about that so we readers get to know about Sanyuktha through her.
🔸Sanyuktha, is a young girl who dreams big to achieve something in archery. It was a time when women were not part of an archery team. So she didn't get much support from her mother, unlike her father who supports and encourages her a lot. I love the story which has so many elements like first love, emotion, heartbreak, affection, caring, father's love, etc. Their face-to-face encounter sparks an unforgettable past and some hidden true emotions.
🔹Besky the other story printed on the other side of the book is a story of a Darjeeling tea plucker girl from poor family background, For whom her society and people's improvement are the main goal and starts working hard for that ignoring the pure love which she got from a rich guy called Karan. Did she achieve her goal? Did they get married? is the remaining story for you to catch up on.
🔹 The author has written these two different stories to its perfection. The book cover attracts me to pick this book in the first place and it didn't disappoint me. The writing is so beautiful and the narration is so good that hooked me till the end. I finished this book in single sitting and planning to get another illustrated book from the author. The only concern is page number 52 is printed reverse in the Besky story, otherwise, a highly recommended book which is an inspirational one for all the women who are eager to achieve.
July 12, 2022
The book is about two strong and determined women who are on a path to finding their identity. Every woman has to go through that path where she has to choose between social expectations or passion. This book throws light on the life of two ladies who are managing both their personal and professional life.
The first part of the story, The casket, is about a girl named Samyukta who is interested in archery more than books. At that time when girls never use to be the part of Archery team, Samyukta's father always supported her and helped her in achieving her dream. On the other hand, her mother wasn't that supportive and motivating.
The story about Samyukta's life is told to the readers through Ahana, a young passionate writer.
The second part of the story is about a girl named Besky, from Darjeeling. She is a beautiful, passionate, and hardworking girl with a lot of dreams. She meets a boy named Rahul, a charming boy coming from an extremely rich family. He fall in love with Besky at the time he saw her. And now he wants to marry Besky. While she is not ready for marriage because of her dreams
To know what has happened next with Samyukta and Besky, grab the copy
The author has portrayed the story so well. It's my third book by Nita Bajoria and I cannot describe the way I connect with her books. She writes everything in such a simple manner that even a beginner can understand. You gonna enjoy this book as it is filled with so many lessons. There was no point where I felt bored. There are two stories in the book written in a manner that you have to flip the book and you will have the cover of one story and on the back of it, you will find the cover of the story. So basically both the front and the back of the book are the starts of each story. I just felt that the narration was a bit slow rest everything was quite impressive!
The first part of the story, The casket, is about a girl named Samyukta who is interested in archery more than books. At that time when girls never use to be the part of Archery team, Samyukta's father always supported her and helped her in achieving her dream. On the other hand, her mother wasn't that supportive and motivating.
The story about Samyukta's life is told to the readers through Ahana, a young passionate writer.
The second part of the story is about a girl named Besky, from Darjeeling. She is a beautiful, passionate, and hardworking girl with a lot of dreams. She meets a boy named Rahul, a charming boy coming from an extremely rich family. He fall in love with Besky at the time he saw her. And now he wants to marry Besky. While she is not ready for marriage because of her dreams
To know what has happened next with Samyukta and Besky, grab the copy
The author has portrayed the story so well. It's my third book by Nita Bajoria and I cannot describe the way I connect with her books. She writes everything in such a simple manner that even a beginner can understand. You gonna enjoy this book as it is filled with so many lessons. There was no point where I felt bored. There are two stories in the book written in a manner that you have to flip the book and you will have the cover of one story and on the back of it, you will find the cover of the story. So basically both the front and the back of the book are the starts of each story. I just felt that the narration was a bit slow rest everything was quite impressive!
June 16, 2025
The Casket
'The Casket' is a story of first love for archery and person entwined so intimately that one felt incomplete without the other.
You never know how a stranger can play vital role in your life connecting your last, present and future.
Ahana, with her incomplete dream of writing and Sanyukta, with her unresolved unforgiven past connects over The Casket found deeply burried in the soil of unsaid words, love for passion, broken heart and unresolved emotions.
Besky
'Besky' is not just a story but a fight of a woman through male dominant society, stereotypes and chaos. It is the story of observing it all, learning silently and then acting powerfully.
Though it also shows the unbound faith, love and support that one right person can give you to achieve it all.
Besky, a poor but determined daughter of a tea leaves picker and Karan, a good looking guy who visited the Tea estate.
One beautiful song entwined their lives creating a sweet symphony to be heard through the echoes of mountain valleys.
But no love is complete before the chaos, fights and testing times.
.
.
'The Casket & Besky' are the two beautiful stories of women who stood for their beliefs, dreams, aspirations and self-respect. They carved out their own path, made sacrifices for it and came out victorious that inspired a lot others to believe in their own power despite the crude judgements from the society.
The book also discussed the importance of love and support of those few right people in your life who stand beside you not holding you back but providing a silent strength to your feet to keep going.
The idea of presenting two complete books in one has been amazing on author's part and I feel honoured to read this book. The day I knew about this book, I had been waiting to read it and this book didn't disappoint.
A light yet inspiring read!
'The Casket' is a story of first love for archery and person entwined so intimately that one felt incomplete without the other.
You never know how a stranger can play vital role in your life connecting your last, present and future.
Ahana, with her incomplete dream of writing and Sanyukta, with her unresolved unforgiven past connects over The Casket found deeply burried in the soil of unsaid words, love for passion, broken heart and unresolved emotions.
Besky
'Besky' is not just a story but a fight of a woman through male dominant society, stereotypes and chaos. It is the story of observing it all, learning silently and then acting powerfully.
Though it also shows the unbound faith, love and support that one right person can give you to achieve it all.
Besky, a poor but determined daughter of a tea leaves picker and Karan, a good looking guy who visited the Tea estate.
One beautiful song entwined their lives creating a sweet symphony to be heard through the echoes of mountain valleys.
But no love is complete before the chaos, fights and testing times.
.
.
'The Casket & Besky' are the two beautiful stories of women who stood for their beliefs, dreams, aspirations and self-respect. They carved out their own path, made sacrifices for it and came out victorious that inspired a lot others to believe in their own power despite the crude judgements from the society.
The book also discussed the importance of love and support of those few right people in your life who stand beside you not holding you back but providing a silent strength to your feet to keep going.
The idea of presenting two complete books in one has been amazing on author's part and I feel honoured to read this book. The day I knew about this book, I had been waiting to read it and this book didn't disappoint.
A light yet inspiring read!
June 24, 2022
BEAUTIFULLY PENNED
"The Casket and Besky" by Nita Bajoria is a combination of two novellas about two great women. Both of them trying to get their lives sorted and follow thier dreams. The first novella is titled "The Casket," based on the story of Samanthya, who wants to be an archer and gets the support of her dad and gradually her mom. Her journey inspires all the women out here to follow one's aspirations. The story of Samanthya tells the readers not only about the passion of a woman but also about how her surroundings, how people around you effect your life, positively and negatively. The second story titles "Besky" is the story of Besky herself who is a tea plucker in Darjelling. She is a beautiful young woman who falls in love with a handsome boy. Though the boy wants to marry her, she had other plans. She wants that her society should be improved and made a better place to live and for this goal she puts aside her love.
The best part about this story is that it doesn't just include the one (negative) side of the coin (situation of women). The other side of the coin (positive) is also very beautifully shown, infact, the main focus is on how supportive men these both women have in their lives and how easy this made for them to achieve their goals. I like the way the stories are written, simple yet imapctful. There are several reasons why this book can be a good read for you and several types of readers. It is a happy book allover, the characters have a radiant energy, inculdes bits of feminism, and the plot is easy to follow. This piece of writing is indeed very beautiful and any reader would enjoy it. Happy reading!
"The Casket and Besky" by Nita Bajoria is a combination of two novellas about two great women. Both of them trying to get their lives sorted and follow thier dreams. The first novella is titled "The Casket," based on the story of Samanthya, who wants to be an archer and gets the support of her dad and gradually her mom. Her journey inspires all the women out here to follow one's aspirations. The story of Samanthya tells the readers not only about the passion of a woman but also about how her surroundings, how people around you effect your life, positively and negatively. The second story titles "Besky" is the story of Besky herself who is a tea plucker in Darjelling. She is a beautiful young woman who falls in love with a handsome boy. Though the boy wants to marry her, she had other plans. She wants that her society should be improved and made a better place to live and for this goal she puts aside her love.
The best part about this story is that it doesn't just include the one (negative) side of the coin (situation of women). The other side of the coin (positive) is also very beautifully shown, infact, the main focus is on how supportive men these both women have in their lives and how easy this made for them to achieve their goals. I like the way the stories are written, simple yet imapctful. There are several reasons why this book can be a good read for you and several types of readers. It is a happy book allover, the characters have a radiant energy, inculdes bits of feminism, and the plot is easy to follow. This piece of writing is indeed very beautiful and any reader would enjoy it. Happy reading!
June 25, 2022
The casket and Besky ❣️
Woah😍😍 this book was such an amazing read to me that I can't explain ❣️
The book contains two novellas which are written as a genre of women Fiction.
The main protagonist of first story is samyukta. The story started with Ananya who was living with her 2 cousin sister at the rental house. She wanted to became a writer and was studying in there. A day after the heavy rains Ananya founds a casket in outside of the house which was buried in the ground. There was no treasure in there but someone's memories. Ananya was curious to know about the person whom the memories belong. She wanted to find out the person and give the box back. Just Ananya and her brother joy curiosity bring us the story of Samyukta. The Story started with Ananya dream of becoming a writer and by her we got know about samyukta success and life story. This was so good😍😍. I am telling you the tale of Samyukta life was written really good.
Second story revolves around a village girl Besky who wanted to bring changes in the society and help the people's of her village. A rich guy Karan fell in love with her she too loved him but Karan have to wait for her till she achieve her goal. What do you think ? Will she achieve her goal? Do Karan and Besky get married?
Both the stories took my heart. I don't know how to explain how much I love this?
Author writing, the story plotline everything was so perfect. I am so impressed by the author.
My fav character is from the book is Animesh from 1st story and Karan dad from 2nd❣️
I am totally recommending this book to everyone ❣️ Guys please send read this book. It's amazing 😍
Woah😍😍 this book was such an amazing read to me that I can't explain ❣️
The book contains two novellas which are written as a genre of women Fiction.
The main protagonist of first story is samyukta. The story started with Ananya who was living with her 2 cousin sister at the rental house. She wanted to became a writer and was studying in there. A day after the heavy rains Ananya founds a casket in outside of the house which was buried in the ground. There was no treasure in there but someone's memories. Ananya was curious to know about the person whom the memories belong. She wanted to find out the person and give the box back. Just Ananya and her brother joy curiosity bring us the story of Samyukta. The Story started with Ananya dream of becoming a writer and by her we got know about samyukta success and life story. This was so good😍😍. I am telling you the tale of Samyukta life was written really good.
Second story revolves around a village girl Besky who wanted to bring changes in the society and help the people's of her village. A rich guy Karan fell in love with her she too loved him but Karan have to wait for her till she achieve her goal. What do you think ? Will she achieve her goal? Do Karan and Besky get married?
Both the stories took my heart. I don't know how to explain how much I love this?
Author writing, the story plotline everything was so perfect. I am so impressed by the author.
My fav character is from the book is Animesh from 1st story and Karan dad from 2nd❣️
I am totally recommending this book to everyone ❣️ Guys please send read this book. It's amazing 😍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2022
First I would thank the author for giving such a wonderful book. which has a story on both sides. one side The Casket and another side Besky.which brings me nostalgia for my school social note.where we read our History and Civics subject same as this.
The casket and Besky are both the story revolves around the two ladies who want to come bright in their future but with a lot of the struggles in their path.
Sanyukta who want to become a great archer in Indian sports where at that time ladies are not allowed for sports itself and archery is new to India. so she went through so many hurdles and finally her biography was written by Ahana and published to the world the as an inspiring storey for all women.
Coming to Besky, who works in a tea estate where they fought for their survival of life.for food, shelter, and harassment with men around. how she turns out well?? how did she become a twinkling star in her passion and her life??
Even though the story is based on the two women who struggle a lot to follow their passion...the strong characters are there behind them who make them strong enough to face society and always make them motivational, boosting their decisions.
Yes for Sanyukta Animesh was there in all the phases of her life. same way for Besky Karan was there in her up and downs.
Everyone needs moral support in their life to come up just to say words like "we are with you, go ahead".this book gives great love and inspiration to all who read this.
The casket and Besky are both the story revolves around the two ladies who want to come bright in their future but with a lot of the struggles in their path.
Sanyukta who want to become a great archer in Indian sports where at that time ladies are not allowed for sports itself and archery is new to India. so she went through so many hurdles and finally her biography was written by Ahana and published to the world the as an inspiring storey for all women.
Coming to Besky, who works in a tea estate where they fought for their survival of life.for food, shelter, and harassment with men around. how she turns out well?? how did she become a twinkling star in her passion and her life??
Even though the story is based on the two women who struggle a lot to follow their passion...the strong characters are there behind them who make them strong enough to face society and always make them motivational, boosting their decisions.
Yes for Sanyukta Animesh was there in all the phases of her life. same way for Besky Karan was there in her up and downs.
Everyone needs moral support in their life to come up just to say words like "we are with you, go ahead".this book gives great love and inspiration to all who read this.
July 5, 2022
The casket and besky is a really beautiful, inspiring story. It really touched my heart and inspired me deeply.
It consist of two novellas 'The Casket' and 'Besky'.
The Casket is the story of Samyukta.
Ahana comes across a casket and is bent on finding the owner of the casket. Throught the search of the owner she comes to know of Samyukta, a strong willed woman who wanted to be an Archer in a time when no girls went into this profession. The story tells how she makes everything take a step back and focuses on her one and only goal in life.
Besky is the story of a poor tea plucker girl names Besky.
The story explores the life of Besky as she doesnot let her social status and economic conditions hinder her and moves despite all odds to help uplift her people. She is even willing to sacrifice a life of roses to achieve her dream for her and her people.
The strong headedness of both the female protagonists is admirable. It teaches a lot on what should be our priority in life and if we want something we should work for it despite all odds and not stop until we have achieved it.
What I liked was the way in which this story filled a sense of 'anything is possible if we work hard' in me. The way the protagonists were supported by their dear ones and how it added to their strength was inspiring to read.
The cover of the book is beautiful and the inverted manner is really unique and interesting. It makes the book fun to read. The language is told in an easy to understand manner. A very good read.
It consist of two novellas 'The Casket' and 'Besky'.
The Casket is the story of Samyukta.
Ahana comes across a casket and is bent on finding the owner of the casket. Throught the search of the owner she comes to know of Samyukta, a strong willed woman who wanted to be an Archer in a time when no girls went into this profession. The story tells how she makes everything take a step back and focuses on her one and only goal in life.
Besky is the story of a poor tea plucker girl names Besky.
The story explores the life of Besky as she doesnot let her social status and economic conditions hinder her and moves despite all odds to help uplift her people. She is even willing to sacrifice a life of roses to achieve her dream for her and her people.
The strong headedness of both the female protagonists is admirable. It teaches a lot on what should be our priority in life and if we want something we should work for it despite all odds and not stop until we have achieved it.
What I liked was the way in which this story filled a sense of 'anything is possible if we work hard' in me. The way the protagonists were supported by their dear ones and how it added to their strength was inspiring to read.
The cover of the book is beautiful and the inverted manner is really unique and interesting. It makes the book fun to read. The language is told in an easy to understand manner. A very good read.
July 7, 2022
The Casket and Besky were beautifully written by Nita Bajoria.
Pages- 240
Genre- Fiction
Language - English and reasonable to comprehend.
This book is halved into two parts. The title of the first part is The Casket and the title of the second part is Besky. There are 17 chapters in the first part and 12 chapters in the second part.
This book tells the story of two girls who are very serious about their dreams and want to fulfill them. The saga of Sanyukta Nandi is illustrated in the first part. The saga of Besky is illustrated in the second part. Sanyukta was more enthusiastic about Archery than studies. Her father was very supportive of her to fulfill her dreams. Those were the times when there were no girls on the Archery team. We get to know about Sanyukta through Ahana, an enthusiastic author. They find a casket under a tree.
The next part roams around Besky. She is a tea plucker girl residing from a poor family in Darjeeling, who was so enthusiastic to serve her people and uplift her society. She meets Karan, a good-looking man from a prosperous family who fell in love with Besky and liked to marry her. But more than love in her life, her ambitions were valuable which she wanted to fulfill.
The sagas of both have been composed very beautifully by the author, which will motivate you a lot. The cover of this book is also very impressive.
Overall, an inspiring novel.
Pages- 240
Genre- Fiction
Language - English and reasonable to comprehend.
This book is halved into two parts. The title of the first part is The Casket and the title of the second part is Besky. There are 17 chapters in the first part and 12 chapters in the second part.
This book tells the story of two girls who are very serious about their dreams and want to fulfill them. The saga of Sanyukta Nandi is illustrated in the first part. The saga of Besky is illustrated in the second part. Sanyukta was more enthusiastic about Archery than studies. Her father was very supportive of her to fulfill her dreams. Those were the times when there were no girls on the Archery team. We get to know about Sanyukta through Ahana, an enthusiastic author. They find a casket under a tree.
The next part roams around Besky. She is a tea plucker girl residing from a poor family in Darjeeling, who was so enthusiastic to serve her people and uplift her society. She meets Karan, a good-looking man from a prosperous family who fell in love with Besky and liked to marry her. But more than love in her life, her ambitions were valuable which she wanted to fulfill.
The sagas of both have been composed very beautifully by the author, which will motivate you a lot. The cover of this book is also very impressive.
Overall, an inspiring novel.
July 9, 2022
There are two reasons I choose this book: Take a moment to appreciate the lovely book cover. The second is the author's earlier work. Urban Chronicles, which I've already read, influenced my decision to pick this book.
Two distinct stories of women who were starving for their careers are included in this book. The first tale, "The casket," begins in Kolkata in 2015. when Ahana, one of the story's protagonists, first met Sanyukta, another protagonist. She began reminiscing the story of how her life changed and how she met Sanyukta while she was waiting for her. The tale will flawlessly transport you to 2010. The way Kolkata was depicted, including the weather, the streets, and the culture, was the best aspect of the narrative that I enjoyed.
The second tale, "The Besky," tells the tale of a teapicker. She aspired to improve her people despite obstacles. To make it even more captivating, the author also added a dash of romance in the shape of a love story, and, that too love at first sight, oh, sorry, love at first tune, to make it even more intriguing..
I really enjoyed the idea of turning the book upside down to read a new story within the same book because I had never seen it before. I read through both stories in one sitting because they were so captivating. Both the title and the cover have great appeal. You should definitely read this book, in my opinion. You will adore it.
Two distinct stories of women who were starving for their careers are included in this book. The first tale, "The casket," begins in Kolkata in 2015. when Ahana, one of the story's protagonists, first met Sanyukta, another protagonist. She began reminiscing the story of how her life changed and how she met Sanyukta while she was waiting for her. The tale will flawlessly transport you to 2010. The way Kolkata was depicted, including the weather, the streets, and the culture, was the best aspect of the narrative that I enjoyed.
The second tale, "The Besky," tells the tale of a teapicker. She aspired to improve her people despite obstacles. To make it even more captivating, the author also added a dash of romance in the shape of a love story, and, that too love at first sight, oh, sorry, love at first tune, to make it even more intriguing..
I really enjoyed the idea of turning the book upside down to read a new story within the same book because I had never seen it before. I read through both stories in one sitting because they were so captivating. Both the title and the cover have great appeal. You should definitely read this book, in my opinion. You will adore it.
July 24, 2022
This book is a compilation of two novellas:
▪︎ The Casket (dedicated to all the women who dare to carve their place in the society and help each other)
It's a story of two strong women from two different era's, Sanyukta and Ahana. Ahana is a young girl, a passionate writer. She found a Casket under a tree when she was sweeping and cleaning her muddy garden. The box took her to Sanyukta, who was enthusiastic about archery a lot. Read the book to find out what was there in that Casket?
▪︎Besky (dedicated to all the men who supported their partners, without expecting anything in return)
It's a story of a woman from Darjeeling. She is a poor tea plucker, quite a simple woman who falls in love with a rich guy and wanted to marry him. Will the rich guy be ready to marry a poor girl?
She also had a lot of powerful dreams. Will she be able to fulfill those dreams?
How will be her future ahead?
All together both the novellas are about women empowerment. The author has very beautifully narrated the strong and dignified protagonists.
I really loved the unique concept of presenting two novellas together in a book. When I received the book, I thought there's something wrong with the printing. Later, while reading I found a page in the book asking the readers to turn the book upside down to read further. The photos I shared in the post must have given a little idea about how the book looks like. Do grab a copy of this unique masterpiece.
▪︎ The Casket (dedicated to all the women who dare to carve their place in the society and help each other)
It's a story of two strong women from two different era's, Sanyukta and Ahana. Ahana is a young girl, a passionate writer. She found a Casket under a tree when she was sweeping and cleaning her muddy garden. The box took her to Sanyukta, who was enthusiastic about archery a lot. Read the book to find out what was there in that Casket?
▪︎Besky (dedicated to all the men who supported their partners, without expecting anything in return)
It's a story of a woman from Darjeeling. She is a poor tea plucker, quite a simple woman who falls in love with a rich guy and wanted to marry him. Will the rich guy be ready to marry a poor girl?
She also had a lot of powerful dreams. Will she be able to fulfill those dreams?
How will be her future ahead?
All together both the novellas are about women empowerment. The author has very beautifully narrated the strong and dignified protagonists.
I really loved the unique concept of presenting two novellas together in a book. When I received the book, I thought there's something wrong with the printing. Later, while reading I found a page in the book asking the readers to turn the book upside down to read further. The photos I shared in the post must have given a little idea about how the book looks like. Do grab a copy of this unique masterpiece.
August 6, 2022
Rating- 4 stars
The Casket and Besky by Nita Bajoria is set of two novellas with the main focus being empowerment of women. The plot opens up with a the novella Casket and tells the story of establishment of the very first archery club in Calcutta and further proceeds to Sanyukta meeting Ahana, and from there it proceeds into the tale Casket and later proceeds to Besky, a girl who works in the tea gardens of Darjeeling.
Coming to what I really really loved about the book, I mean really everything. The fact that both of these stories are novellas allows its reader to not get bored and read it without breaks. This book had my heart with its dedications at the beginning of both the novellas. Women fictions out there are sort of a rarity, and among that rarity this book is one gem that everyone should read. While writing characters, it is important that the readers feel connected to the person who is written on the papers, and I am sure every girl out there would connect to the titular characters of this book, it will make you feel seen and heard, that is a definite.
Coming to what did not work for me, that these were novellas, I mean I just wanted to read more about the women in this story, and that is just me. I personally feel the novella was a sweet fruit which ended very soon and I definitely want more.
Really looking forward to reading more from the author. Will recommend it to those who want to feel seen, and just want to enjoy a good women's fiction.
The Casket and Besky by Nita Bajoria is set of two novellas with the main focus being empowerment of women. The plot opens up with a the novella Casket and tells the story of establishment of the very first archery club in Calcutta and further proceeds to Sanyukta meeting Ahana, and from there it proceeds into the tale Casket and later proceeds to Besky, a girl who works in the tea gardens of Darjeeling.
Coming to what I really really loved about the book, I mean really everything. The fact that both of these stories are novellas allows its reader to not get bored and read it without breaks. This book had my heart with its dedications at the beginning of both the novellas. Women fictions out there are sort of a rarity, and among that rarity this book is one gem that everyone should read. While writing characters, it is important that the readers feel connected to the person who is written on the papers, and I am sure every girl out there would connect to the titular characters of this book, it will make you feel seen and heard, that is a definite.
Coming to what did not work for me, that these were novellas, I mean I just wanted to read more about the women in this story, and that is just me. I personally feel the novella was a sweet fruit which ended very soon and I definitely want more.
Really looking forward to reading more from the author. Will recommend it to those who want to feel seen, and just want to enjoy a good women's fiction.
August 27, 2022
The book " The Casket And Besky " is Written by Nita Bajoria . The book is very elegantly composed and the writer has attempted to concoct an altogether different idea . The book is a bunch of two novellas . The two novellas is about ladies who misunderstand really buckled down and demonstrated the general public . We have seen howthe society shames ladies who needs to follow their fantasies and enthusiasm . The main story is about a little kid named Samyukta who needs to be an Archer and around then there were not really any ladies addressing this game . She got an extremely steady dad who was with her against all the chances . The subsequent story is about a very unprivileged young lady having a place from an unfortunate family in Darjeeling . She used to cull tea leaves in the tea gardens and backing her family . In spite of this , all she at any point needed was to work for the general public and serve individuals . She was delightful and youthful when she was moved toward by a rich person for marriage . Both the tales have been described in a very well way . To find out about what befell the young ladies . Did they had the option to accomplish their objectives or not ? If it's not too much trouble
proceed to peruse the book . Discussing the title of the book it is proper and infectious . The front of the book is exceptionally energetic and imaginative and both the sides have been utilized innovatively . The book is prescribed to everybody .
proceed to peruse the book . Discussing the title of the book it is proper and infectious . The front of the book is exceptionally energetic and imaginative and both the sides have been utilized innovatively . The book is prescribed to everybody .
January 9, 2026
This book has now made it to my list of comfort books that I turn to whenever I feel overwhelmed.
"The Casket" and "Besky" are two lovely stories which are easy to read and teach valuable life lessons through the characters. Even though the stories were intense in many parts, the smooth flow of the book made it feel so cosy.
The first story, The Casket, begins with an aspiring writer Ahana who, along with her cousins, finds a casket buried under the ground. Inside it, they find trinkets of the past and a newspaper with the name Sanyukta Nandi. Then the story follows the life of Sanyukta and I have hardly ever loved a character so much. What a brave and amazing person she is!
I won't be able to write much without spoiling, but just want to mention how much I loved the romance in the novella. It is so pure and innocent, it covers the essence of old school love in such a nice way. I was smiling and giggling throughout those scenes.
And the support that Sanyukta's dad showed her was also my favourite part of the book. In middle class households, it's usually (not generalizing, there are exceptions) the fathers who want their daughters to break free from traditions and live their dreams. Most media fail to showcase that, it was lovely to see such a supportive father.
The second story, Besky, also has my heart. It's about a strong girl struggling her way out of poverty and making an identity for herself in a male dominated field, narrated by a man who is head over heels in love with her.
Their love story felt a bit forced though. It had no time to grow like it did in the Casket. But here the main focus was Besky's resilience so the origin of their love story can be overlooked.
I really enjoyed the book and how can I not mention the upside down mechanism? That was what made me pick the book at the book fair. First you read "The Casket" then turn it upside down, turn over and you get to read "Besky".
"The Casket" and "Besky" are two lovely stories which are easy to read and teach valuable life lessons through the characters. Even though the stories were intense in many parts, the smooth flow of the book made it feel so cosy.
The first story, The Casket, begins with an aspiring writer Ahana who, along with her cousins, finds a casket buried under the ground. Inside it, they find trinkets of the past and a newspaper with the name Sanyukta Nandi. Then the story follows the life of Sanyukta and I have hardly ever loved a character so much. What a brave and amazing person she is!
I won't be able to write much without spoiling, but just want to mention how much I loved the romance in the novella. It is so pure and innocent, it covers the essence of old school love in such a nice way. I was smiling and giggling throughout those scenes.
And the support that Sanyukta's dad showed her was also my favourite part of the book. In middle class households, it's usually (not generalizing, there are exceptions) the fathers who want their daughters to break free from traditions and live their dreams. Most media fail to showcase that, it was lovely to see such a supportive father.
The second story, Besky, also has my heart. It's about a strong girl struggling her way out of poverty and making an identity for herself in a male dominated field, narrated by a man who is head over heels in love with her.
Their love story felt a bit forced though. It had no time to grow like it did in the Casket. But here the main focus was Besky's resilience so the origin of their love story can be overlooked.
I really enjoyed the book and how can I not mention the upside down mechanism? That was what made me pick the book at the book fair. First you read "The Casket" then turn it upside down, turn over and you get to read "Besky".
July 3, 2022
📚 Rating: 4.4/5️⃣
| BOOK REVIEW | - 🍁 The Book, The Casket and Besky by Nita Bajoria, is a Collection of Two Fictional Stories.
🍂
🍁 The stories are about two women who are managing their professional and personal lives. Both of them graciously lead their lives without giving up during tough times.
🍂
🍁 Ahana, a young passionate writer is telling the story of samyukta in the book. Samyukta is interested in archery more than academics. She follows her passion with the support of her father.
🍂
🍁 The another story is of a girl who is from darjeeling. She has big dreams and meets a guy named karan. Karan is excited to marry her. Read this amazing book and get to know what happens in the life of these two ambitious girls.
🍂
🍁 The Plots of both the stories are An Intriguing. The Author has Narrated Scenes in a Well - Paced Manner. The Storyline of both the stories move Forward with a Fast - Paced Style. The Imagination of the Author Behind the Story is An Impeccable. The Execution of that Imagination is Done by the Author in An Amazing Manner.
🍂
🍁 The Language of the Book is Rich. The Writing Style of the Book is Fast - Paced and Gripping. The Cover of the Book is Captivating. The Title of the Book is Well - Chosen.
🍂
| PERSONAL INSIGHT | - 🌸 I Enjoyed Reading the Book. The Stories have many Twists and Turns. The Stories are An Engaging and Refreshing to be Read.
| BOOK REVIEW | - 🍁 The Book, The Casket and Besky by Nita Bajoria, is a Collection of Two Fictional Stories.
🍂
🍁 The stories are about two women who are managing their professional and personal lives. Both of them graciously lead their lives without giving up during tough times.
🍂
🍁 Ahana, a young passionate writer is telling the story of samyukta in the book. Samyukta is interested in archery more than academics. She follows her passion with the support of her father.
🍂
🍁 The another story is of a girl who is from darjeeling. She has big dreams and meets a guy named karan. Karan is excited to marry her. Read this amazing book and get to know what happens in the life of these two ambitious girls.
🍂
🍁 The Plots of both the stories are An Intriguing. The Author has Narrated Scenes in a Well - Paced Manner. The Storyline of both the stories move Forward with a Fast - Paced Style. The Imagination of the Author Behind the Story is An Impeccable. The Execution of that Imagination is Done by the Author in An Amazing Manner.
🍂
🍁 The Language of the Book is Rich. The Writing Style of the Book is Fast - Paced and Gripping. The Cover of the Book is Captivating. The Title of the Book is Well - Chosen.
🍂
| PERSONAL INSIGHT | - 🌸 I Enjoyed Reading the Book. The Stories have many Twists and Turns. The Stories are An Engaging and Refreshing to be Read.
July 10, 2022
The book " The Casket And Besky " is Written by Nita Bajoria . The book is very well written and the author has tried to come up with a very different concept . The book is a set of two novellas . The two novellas is about women who have worked very hard and proved the society wrong . We have seen howthe society disgraces women who wants to follow their dreams and passion . The first story is about a young girl named Samyukta who wants to be an Archer and at that time there were hardly any women representing this sport . She got a very supportive father who was with her against all the odds . The second story is about a very unprivileged girl belonging from a poor family in Darjeeling . She used to pluck tea leaves in the tea gardens and support her family . Despite this , all she ever wanted was to work for the society and serve people . She was beautiful and young when she was approached by a rich guy for marriage . Both the stories have been narrated in a very well manner . To know more about what happened to the girls . Did they were able to achieve their goals or not ? Please
go and read the book . Talking about the title of the book it is appropriate and catchy . The cover of the book is very vibrant and creative and both the sides have been used very creatively . The book is recommended to everyone .
July 16, 2022
No matter what anyone says, it is a known fact that books are not just for entertainment. And if done rightly, they can be prove to be a great source for reflection, perspective, and learning, as well.
When it comes to women authors writing about contemporary fiction that has strong and inspirational female leads, there is a wealth of unexplored treasures out there.
And one book amongst them is, ‘The Casket and Besky’ by author Nita Bajoria that depicts the tale of not just one singular, but rather multiple women who show us what all we can achieve if we are determined and put our minds to it.
Divided into two separate novellas, the first story, Casket is about a girl who aspired to become a writer, but as so many other women, her dreams are squashed and not given much importance.
Next is Besky, the story of a woman, who, if we look from the society’s perspective, had managed to get everything that she might want when a rich and well settled boy falls in love with her. But she wanted to do something more for the greater good and thus, we see her struggle towards the attainment of her goals.
I loved the way author has portrayed two stories about such different women who have one thing in common, which is their sheer will power to achieve their objectives. Hence I am going to give this book FIVE STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
When it comes to women authors writing about contemporary fiction that has strong and inspirational female leads, there is a wealth of unexplored treasures out there.
And one book amongst them is, ‘The Casket and Besky’ by author Nita Bajoria that depicts the tale of not just one singular, but rather multiple women who show us what all we can achieve if we are determined and put our minds to it.
Divided into two separate novellas, the first story, Casket is about a girl who aspired to become a writer, but as so many other women, her dreams are squashed and not given much importance.
Next is Besky, the story of a woman, who, if we look from the society’s perspective, had managed to get everything that she might want when a rich and well settled boy falls in love with her. But she wanted to do something more for the greater good and thus, we see her struggle towards the attainment of her goals.
I loved the way author has portrayed two stories about such different women who have one thing in common, which is their sheer will power to achieve their objectives. Hence I am going to give this book FIVE STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 5, 2022
Title: The Casket and Besky
Author: Nita Bajoria
Review:
“The Casket and Besky” by Nita Bajoria is a fascinating compilation of two novellas that keep women at the forefront of its story and theme like Nita’s other works.
These stories portray the struggle that women have to go through to achieve simple dreams and how they have to fight battles at multiple fronts, often balancing their own set of choices and emotions while not feeling guilty about them. On one hand is the casket that leads Ahana to the story of a woman named Samyukta who chooses archery as the target of her life on the other hand is Besky who blossoms in the tea gardens of Darjeeling where she aspires to bring change with her fragrance. The book beautifully presents the story of these strong and determined women who refuse to bog down and write their own stories, what makes this book more unique is the portrayal of men who are supportive yet substantial in their role to push these women ahead.
Overall, written in a simple and lucid language with strong characters and engrossing plot, “The Casket and Besky” is absolutely interesting and fast paced read that keeps readers hooked . The prose is well drawn with coherency and consistency. A perfect treat for bibliophiles.
Would recommend it to everyone!
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Author: Nita Bajoria
Review:
“The Casket and Besky” by Nita Bajoria is a fascinating compilation of two novellas that keep women at the forefront of its story and theme like Nita’s other works.
These stories portray the struggle that women have to go through to achieve simple dreams and how they have to fight battles at multiple fronts, often balancing their own set of choices and emotions while not feeling guilty about them. On one hand is the casket that leads Ahana to the story of a woman named Samyukta who chooses archery as the target of her life on the other hand is Besky who blossoms in the tea gardens of Darjeeling where she aspires to bring change with her fragrance. The book beautifully presents the story of these strong and determined women who refuse to bog down and write their own stories, what makes this book more unique is the portrayal of men who are supportive yet substantial in their role to push these women ahead.
Overall, written in a simple and lucid language with strong characters and engrossing plot, “The Casket and Besky” is absolutely interesting and fast paced read that keeps readers hooked . The prose is well drawn with coherency and consistency. A perfect treat for bibliophiles.
Would recommend it to everyone!
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 6, 2022
Title - The Casket and Besky
Author - Nita Bajoria
Genre - fiction
'The Casket and Besky' by Nita Bajoria is a fictional read with important life lessons based on women empowerment. The book revolves around two different novellas that are women centric. One story is of a girl Samyukta who wants to be an archer and is least interested in academics and has a full support of her father when no one in the society support this. On the other hand there is another story of a young, beautiful and a poor hardworking girl, Besky from Darjeeling who is a tea plucker and has a dream of uplifitng her society when a rich guy Karan falls in love with her and wants to marry her.
Will Casket and Besky choose their passion over society? To know you have to read the book.
The author has done an amazing job narrating these stories with important life lessons. Places and scenes described by the author makes me feel like travelling to these places. Her writing style is smooth and flowing which makes it an engaging read. Language used is simple and easy to understand. The cover concept is really unique and pretty. The title is totally apt to the content. The flow of the book is well paced. I recommend this book to all specially women.
In nutshell , an inspiring read.
Rating - 5/5
Recommendation - yes
Author - Nita Bajoria
Genre - fiction
'The Casket and Besky' by Nita Bajoria is a fictional read with important life lessons based on women empowerment. The book revolves around two different novellas that are women centric. One story is of a girl Samyukta who wants to be an archer and is least interested in academics and has a full support of her father when no one in the society support this. On the other hand there is another story of a young, beautiful and a poor hardworking girl, Besky from Darjeeling who is a tea plucker and has a dream of uplifitng her society when a rich guy Karan falls in love with her and wants to marry her.
Will Casket and Besky choose their passion over society? To know you have to read the book.
The author has done an amazing job narrating these stories with important life lessons. Places and scenes described by the author makes me feel like travelling to these places. Her writing style is smooth and flowing which makes it an engaging read. Language used is simple and easy to understand. The cover concept is really unique and pretty. The title is totally apt to the content. The flow of the book is well paced. I recommend this book to all specially women.
In nutshell , an inspiring read.
Rating - 5/5
Recommendation - yes
April 16, 2025
A Dual Delight: A Must-Read for Empowerment and Inspiration
"The Casket and Besky" is a captivating collection of two novellas that celebrate women's ambitions and determination. In "The Casket," Ahana, a budding writer, discovers a hidden casket that connects her to Sanyukta, a pioneering archer, weaving together past and present. In "Besky," a young tea plucker from Darjeeling prioritizes uplifting her society over personal desires, showcasing her strength and resilience.
This book is a must-read for anyone seeking stories of women's empowerment, triumph, and self-discovery. With its unique format, engaging storytelling, and strong female protagonists, it inspires readers to pursue their passions and overcome challenges. The author's vivid descriptions of Kolkata and Darjeeling add a rich cultural context, while the exploration of themes like identity, love, and societal expectations adds depth to the narrative.
The literary elements of symbolism (the casket), foreshadowing, and character development are skillfully woven throughout the stories, making this book a compelling read. The author's lucid language and captivating narration make it a delightful page-turner that will leave you feeling motivated and uplifted. Don't miss out on this dual delight – read it today and be inspired by the power of women's determination!
"The Casket and Besky" is a captivating collection of two novellas that celebrate women's ambitions and determination. In "The Casket," Ahana, a budding writer, discovers a hidden casket that connects her to Sanyukta, a pioneering archer, weaving together past and present. In "Besky," a young tea plucker from Darjeeling prioritizes uplifting her society over personal desires, showcasing her strength and resilience.
This book is a must-read for anyone seeking stories of women's empowerment, triumph, and self-discovery. With its unique format, engaging storytelling, and strong female protagonists, it inspires readers to pursue their passions and overcome challenges. The author's vivid descriptions of Kolkata and Darjeeling add a rich cultural context, while the exploration of themes like identity, love, and societal expectations adds depth to the narrative.
The literary elements of symbolism (the casket), foreshadowing, and character development are skillfully woven throughout the stories, making this book a compelling read. The author's lucid language and captivating narration make it a delightful page-turner that will leave you feeling motivated and uplifted. Don't miss out on this dual delight – read it today and be inspired by the power of women's determination!
June 26, 2022
It's one book with two stories , two covers and the moment you turn the book you have a a different story and a different front to discover ,quite an innovative way to present a book and mine first.
The very first thing anyone would notice is the cover I opened and I saw there were covers unique on both sides and that a story started from each side .For me this was the first time I saw a book like this and it in the first instance by this only not only got brownie points from my side but also boosted up my expectations .
Both the stories are beautifully written have there own elements and that is what made reading more and more fun .My best part of reading was when a tussle to choose between whether to think for future and changing societal norms that she had dreamt of since childhood or to go for love .
Also one of the story being based in Darjeeling made me want to visit that place even more , although a lot of nearby areas are suffering from flood I hope everything settles soon .
Don't you feel sometimes books are a doorway in telling you or making you remember the places you wanted to visit or the things you wanted to do or sometimes the food that you have missed since very long .
The very first thing anyone would notice is the cover I opened and I saw there were covers unique on both sides and that a story started from each side .For me this was the first time I saw a book like this and it in the first instance by this only not only got brownie points from my side but also boosted up my expectations .
Both the stories are beautifully written have there own elements and that is what made reading more and more fun .My best part of reading was when a tussle to choose between whether to think for future and changing societal norms that she had dreamt of since childhood or to go for love .
Also one of the story being based in Darjeeling made me want to visit that place even more , although a lot of nearby areas are suffering from flood I hope everything settles soon .
Don't you feel sometimes books are a doorway in telling you or making you remember the places you wanted to visit or the things you wanted to do or sometimes the food that you have missed since very long .
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews