Book Title: Written on the wind
Author: Anuradha Kumar Jain
Format: Paperback

My Thoughts:
Anuradha Kumar Jain's story represents the women who belonged to the times when the country was ruled by the British. This creates a gloomy atmosphere because there was no freedom. Apart from individual liberty as a human in physical form, there is no much difference in women's mental lives till today. This is one of the impactful observation I could see in the book. If only the font size were one point larger, I could have read the book faster.

Nevertheless, this book happens to be one of the intense and thought-provoking books I read in 2021. I recommend this to all the readers who look for serious fiction story with desirable literary values.

What to expect from the story?
Expect a story set-up in an era that has a different geography of India as a country.
Expect a story that is cross-cultural.
Expect a story of unconditional love.

Who can read?
Every fiction lover can read the story. With an exciting narration and plotline that runs between different lives, the story is a recommended read. Though there are certain places where unconventional relationships are mentioned and explained, as there is no vulgarity scope, the book can be read by youngsters also.

How good are the characters?
Every character in the story, be it the central characters of Harjeet and Amiya or other characters like Haider, Gautam, Kamla, Ishwar, the priest, Lalaji, and many more, are well written. Each character has ample depth, grace, elegance and space in the story. Each of the characters thoroughly represents Yester year's people and their lifestyles.

How good is the narration?
For a story to remain in the readers' minds for some time, the narration plays an important role. This abstract statement can be further derived into many sub-branches. A few of them are, for example, in this story, there are certain descriptions of emotions and expressions that make a reader see and feel. There lies the power of narration. The most appearing word in the story is the name of Lahore city. The beautiful explanation of small nuances about the story is alluring.

Apart from the physical entities, the emotions of the two female protagonists, Harjeet and Amiya, are well explained. With such a description, a reader can believe himself or herself being present with the characters in the scenes explained. The reader can feel the pain or happiness or any other emotions. This is possible only when the narrative in which they are explained are surreal and strong.

How good are the language and grammar?
Simple and easily accessible English language with adequate grammar is used in the book. Because of the simplicity in the language, the flow of the story was stable and neat.

How good is the Author's writing style?
Author Anuradha with a great amount of exciting story-line and sub-plots, with generous usage of colloquial and easily understandable English language, created a good story. The then era's difficulties, unsaid troubles, and unacknowledged woes are well presented. The pre-partition areal explanations and descriptions are very well described. The traces of patriarchy at various levels and the absence of women empowerment are illustrated brilliantly. Of course, the story is set up in such a generation, but it is appalling to see how women were looked down on. Everywhere there is reality reflecting.

How entertaining is the book?
This story set up in the era of India-Pakistan when united, before the partition period. It is always an interesting aspect to think back that the famous cities in Pakistan now are once a part of India. This thought itself gives the human mind many attached thoughts. In this book author, Anuradha has weaved a tale that has stories from the women perspective who have seen the rift and wrath during the pre-partition times. With the emotions pertaining to love, wedding, responsibilities, adultery, sadness and unhappy alliances, this book of 250 pages is an absolute entertainer.

Final Verdict
A touching story that is spread across the borders!

Rating:
4/5










( )