Let me start with, I was not prepared. I was not prepared for the emotions that will hit square in my face or the heaviness that will follow me after finishing the book.  The Sweetness of Water is a book that I'll be thinking about for a long time just because of Landry and Prentiss.


By now, everyone knows what this book is about and how beautiful this one is. So, this is going to be another my experience post starting with the characters. I just want to say that I am in absolute love with the characters. Such well rounded characters that were likeable after a long time. Phew! Thank God for that. My heart cried for Landry. Sweet Landry is used as a punching bag of sorts by his 'master' that resulted in a whole lot of physical disabilities and him going mute.

He is such a curious boy who likes to explore nature. I couldn't help but cry while reading his section. And I am angry, so angry at Harris for writing Landry in a way he did.


The other characters were equally captivating each with a quirk of their own. Apart from Landry, I liked Mildred. I think I needed some time to separate myself from the book to see things. There was the obvious issue of pacing where the first 100 pages were dragging. However, the second and third half went in a jiffy.


Also, the way Harris focused on his characters is interesting. I have to accept that this is a different account of the aftermath of the Civil War, where the people of both races have to accept and move on. Harris is skilful in capturing the pandemonium of the aftermath but the focus on the white characters does take out the focus from the black people. Yes, I do see the good whites and their benevolence and how it didn't sit well with the town that's harbouring the fantasy of enslaving people again.


But we are not shown the bigger picture. It's like watching a Marvel movie through a pinhole camera. A wonderful experience but not enough. If he had balanced between Prentiss and the Walkers equally, it would've been a different story. Anyhow, this book has ended on a positive note which I appreciate. There are so many metaphors here in the play but I don't feel like dissecting at the moment. I do have lukewarm feelings about this book, but Harris is a wonderful writer, one I'll follow in the future if he releases any more books. And debut under 30, that also has been longlisted for the booker, now that's a feat. Do read this book for Landry and Prentiss and the hope that blooms when you close the book. 

This book is... bizarre at its best and confusing at its worst. I love the idea of motherhood with the twist. Mainly because I think at its core, Motherhood is just accepting your kid for who they are. And Tiny did just that. Her love is fierce and what is wrong with a child that is different from the others? But anyway, I had to stop reading at one point because I had some similar experiences and it triggered the memories that I can't handle. A brilliant book that is too clever for me to understand but I ended up loving it.

I stumbled upon this book on a podcast and I had to read it. This book is so tender that I ended up crying after finishing it. I know it is not a biography but just a segment of Mary's life. But it is enough for me to fall in love with her. The love and passion Mary had for life is just so infectious that rubbed on me. It could've been so different if we didn't lose this woman so young. I mean, the government suppressed the circulation of her writing for nearly a century and despite their best efforts, her works still speak for her. Such a great loss of a talent. And this book is just what I needed to read at that time and for that I am grateful.

I am an empathetic reader. I cry when the character cries and I laugh when they laugh. And this year, almost all the books I read took such a toll on my emotional health which is why I had to stop reading anything that triggers me. But, I must say Butter Honey Pig Bread (BHPB) not only made me cry but also made me hopeful. Hopeful that the fractured relationships may not be fractured always. Hopeful that one day I might talk to my sister again. Hopeful that there is something out for me that is only for me.

BHPB is one book that is purely bookstagram made me do it. There are places where Taiye and Kehinde feel lonely and yearn for each other that felt it is written just for me. And the places where Kambirinachi just wants her mom that made me ugly cry. I saw a piece of myself in every character of the book and it spooked me. I mean, how dare the author can write such a profound book! 

If I don't mention the food, I won't be doing any justice to this skimpy review. Food has always been my comfort and I had a field day watching all the recipes on YouTube. It's as if I can smell and taste the food and I have never seen them before. It's so sensual that I ended up making a bowl of Maggi and devoured it.

What this book didn't have! There were pain, race, intersectionality, folklore, queer identity and of course love. Lots and lots of love. It also deals with the aftermath of sexual abuse that didn't go too graphical. And the aftermath of this incident is handled as it should be. Sensitive and meticulous. There is also this craving for the home that is carnal. I can live anywhere in the world but the moment that Idly and Sambar touch my tongue, I am home. And I can understand, you know, sometimes home is just what we want but can't get.

I also happened to listen to the author chat about her book with Amyn (lipglossmaffia on instagram) for Ake festival which made me pick this book. You must listen to Ekwuyasi talk about this book and fall in love with it more. I know this is not a review just my thoughts and that's okay. Maybe one day I'll write a stellar review or maybe not. But now, let me cry happy tears whenever I think about this book. And tell me again why I didn't write this book? 

Oh dear lord! What is this book even! I cried so hard after finishing it and it's so tender and lovely that made me all mushy. I am so happy for the representation and specifically non toxic romantic relationship. Thank goodness! Everything about this book is just perfect and a much needed read for the year end.

It's not everyday you read a book with a protagonist Rheumatoid Arthritis. As a physical therapist, I was thrilled that these characters are not some measly side chicks but it is their story. And I can't stop imagining how people with that particular condition will feel when they read this book. Everything about this book is perfect. And yet again I am proved that you show people that you love them by showing up and being there for them. Oh my heart! I am still hung over.

This is hands down one of the best books I have read this year. Mainly because it opened up so many questions on the practices I was conditioned throughout my life. And it's not a good look. I had to address my hypocrisy first inorder to remove myself from this book. Everything Dutt says here hits right at the mark. Especially people's expectation when it comes toward the dalit narratives. It always has to be the story of how they were denied of everything but somehow succeeded only with the help of some benevolent upper-class person.

When it is about how they succeeded despite of the unfair treatment, it is called as unauthentic or boasting. I mean the author was called all kind of names because she's a dalit woman who's comfortable with her identity and religion. I can't help but imagine had this book is written by an upper-caste man or a woman for that matter, it would've been all over the media. I really love the way Dutt has written this book. From her mother who tried very hard to provide education to her children to her detailed reports of ambedkarite philosophies, I love everything about this book. To see her book getting much needed recognition just warms my heart. This is definitely one book that I'll gift my kids in the future as soon as they hit their teens.

Reading this book is such a visceral experience. Every feeling, word and action felt so close to home. We follow Kiara Johnson who was a child thrown into the night world and left to fend for herself. Kiara was failed not only by the system but also by her family.

To support her family but also a 10-year-old, she resorts to sex work. I don't want to go into details about how she was rejected for any other jobs with her being black and underage. She thought of sex work as only a means to get by until she was caught by some police officers. You can already guess how that turned out.

One thing that strikes me while reading this book is how this is a world of men in power. How we are just following through the motions of life when those in power manipulate the law to their favour whenever they need it. We see plenty of news on how women and people from marginalized communities are exploited by those in uniforms who wield the power.

When all these kids want to just live their life, they are sexualized for their bodies. They are victimized for wanting to eat and the biggest joke is they are backed into the corner and told that they have a choice. While Kia did what she had to do, I keep asking myself what difference it makes to seek justice and hang on to morality as if she and people like her are what is wrong in this society.

I didn't like anyone in this book apart from Kiara, Trevor and Alé. Their bond is what kept the book wholesome. But then again, I read the author's note where Mottley ruminates about how black and brown girls are adultified soon in their lives to cater for men. If this is the case with girls, I don't even want to imagine what it is to be a queer person in a marginalized community.

Another thing I didn't like is while reading some reviews, people use the words 'powerful', 'resilient' and 'strong' to describe this book and Kiara. Nothing's wrong with those words but when you are reading a book that is as trauma heavy as Nightcrawling, I hesitate to use them. It feels as if glorifying the trauma she faced and I don't know, it doesn't feel right.

However, I do realize that I am speaking from a privileged place and I have no right to judge how people deal with their trauma. Reading this book just cemented the fact that this world is for men in power. You can ask what about women in power. Women are in power when they cater to the needs of what men decides her to do. She is offered an illusion of power that makes her think that she has a choice and power to execute that choice but that power will be ripped off from her the second she starts exercising her own values and defies men.

There are two things I sort of expected more from this book. One, I don't particularly like how Kiara's mom was dealt with. It felt incomplete and second, I expected a bit more trial situations and court proceedings but I do understand why the author chose the way she did to write that. With that all said, Mottley, has a great talent for words and how to use them. I will definitely not miss another book from her. 

Thank you for the author and publisher for providing me a free copy in exchange for honest review.

The titular story in this collection talks about the fate of 4 Belgian Malinois pups who face a different fate even though they are born to the same mother. Similar to the titular story, every story in this collection has a different outcome united only by the nefarious human emotions.


Almost all the stories have something dark and wicked lurking around the pages. Every story has some whimsical element that gave them a Gothic mood. But again, those elements vanished and we are left wondering about what we read. I particularly enjoyed Alone and Night Watch.


But I can't say the same for the other stories as they brought out uglier human faces other than feeling happy that your enemy died. I loathed Kavyamela and Maoist. The lust and the animalistic need to commit violence is not something that I enjoy but again, it is something that happens everywhere around us. Out of all 9, these two stood out being very male-centric and the most violent.


I also love how all these stories are unfiltered. For a moment, I was back in my class hearing my classmates talking in rapid-fire Malayalam. I didn't understand a word they said, but it was nice to hear them speak. And that is the success of this translation in my opinion. Jayasree Kalathil (see, our first names match) has done a wonderful job in translating without losing the essence of Malayalam.


With that all said, I think this is a collection that is not for the faint-hearted. It does come with a lot of sensitive content like animal abuse and sexual abuse but again, that is what the author is trying to achieve. It is unusual, grotesque but surprisingly well balanced.


Thank you Penguin India and Vivekisms for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.