4 Stars

Six - Strange Stories of Love is a collection of six stories dealing with different types of love. The blurb emphasizes that these are not romance-based and explore the various facets of the emotion called love. There’s also a list of trigger warnings in the blurb, so please check them out (I appreciate this inclusion). 

Each story is set in a different country and deals with one or more themes. I’ve read the author’s stories before I know she writes well. However, no collection will be perfect. I like some stories more than others. 

Here’s a brief review of each story in the book. 

Hair (India) – 3.5 Stars 

The story is set in Kerala (South India) and deals with how a family handles the unexpected changes that occur in their lives. The start and middle are solid. The narration suits the voice of a teenage girl from a town (possibly set in the late 1980s). The emotions are raw and relatable. However, the ending slides into a predictable trope I seem to find in short stories by Indian writers. 

Gyan Time: Many temples in India do allow entry to non-Hindus. That’s why you can find news about some of them being arrested or kicked out for sharing pamphlets about the benefits of converting to other religions. Some temples like Puri Jagannath don’t allow non-Hindus due to the violent history associated with them. Even Somnath temple was invaded and razed 17th times, and rebuilt 18th times. The current temple was built in 1951, ordered by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The story deals with a non-healthy kind of love and has a story within a story (interconnected to complete the picture). I’m placing it close to the late historical era. The concept and execution are very interesting. The reader has to use the story and observations to fill the gaps. I like how it ends (open-ended) as it suits the character perfectly. However, I find something missing here. I’m unable to pinpoint it, but there’s a nagging sensation of not finding a vital element. Sorry, I can’t be more specific here. 

What connects two people from different parts of society? This love is more along the lines of companionship, something essential for a human being. The plot is actually good, and the ending is just right. However, there’s too much philosophy and musing. The author seems to have this habit of going off tangent and asking philosophical questions (I remember the same happening in a couple of other stories). Since I tend to zone out, I had to speed-read here and there to stay with the core plot. 

This story falls into the supernatural category (horror) and combines a Mexican legend with the author’s plot. The main characters are etched and established very well. The supernatural scenes are also done well. Given my preferences, I’m a little (a lot) disappointed about the climax and the ending. This could be due to the choice of POV, which doesn’t allow the readers to ‘see’ what happens to the other character (something I wanted). Though I like the ending, I’m not fully satisfied either. 

I don’t give too many 5 stars, but this one made me teary-eyed, so I need to round it up. The story can be confusing in the beginning but go with the flow. Everything will be clear midway through. The ending is perfect! It’s a dark story with triggers but definitely worth reading. My favorite in the collection. 

I guess you can call this a ‘love story’ in many ways. It is as dramatic as the main character (a famous soprano) but without being OTT or overwhelming. The conversation in the climax hits the mark and brings together the different elements of the story. The best part is the ending, which allows the reader to close the book with a soft smile. 

To summarize, Six - Strange Stories of Love is a worthy collection of tales about love and its numerous forms. It blends an array of emotions and themes using varied characters. You might like the collection more if you read one story at a time. 

Thank you, NetGalley and BooksGoSoical, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #SixStrangeStoriesofLove 

***** 

TW: Mental health issues, suicide, death, mention of miscarriage. 

Marianne’s grandmother, Collie Keane, passed away three months ago. Marianne, living in New York (and struggling with her own things) couldn’t visit her grandmother during her last days. However, Marianne is invited to the reading of Collie’s will and is stunned to find that her grandmother left the Kilteelagh House to her, along with the responsibility of her orphaned nieces. 

Marianne’s aunt Katherine is furious. Marianne isn’t sure if she wants to uproot her life from the States and settle in rural Ireland (no matter how much she enjoyed her days with Collie). However, the now-abandoned Kilteelagh House and her grandmother’s letters nudge Marianne to give it a try. 

Life isn’t easy, but Marianne gets to know more about Collie and the house as she navigates her current situation and restarts her career. Things seem to be settling well until one letter threatens to tear it apart. Can Marianne find happiness and love with her new family? 

The story comes from Marianne’s third-person POV. 

The setting is beautiful. One of the main reasons I read books set in Ireland is the setting. While the countryside and small town aren’t fully detailed, we get a clear picture of the Kilteelagh House and the beauty around it. The story needed this atmosphere to create the mood. 

Katie is a cute girl (though sometimes she acts bigger than her age). She is struggling with the loss of her mother and grandmother (and the fear of not having an adult to call her own). Yet, she is quick to love, laugh, and forgive. A darling, for sure! 

Collie is such a personality! Though she isn’t alive or active throughout the book, she is the core of it. Her letters are timed to perfection and exactly match Marianne’s moods. She elevates the plot to the next level. 

Dolores is another wonderful character. As Collie’s friend, she readily becomes a supporter and guide to help Marianne throughout her struggle with the kids and the Kilteelagh House. Her no-nonsense approach cuts through the mess and makes Marianne more assertive. Fiknete enters in the second half and has a lovely role in the book. 

Jack is a good guy. There’s no romance as such in the book, but something that is supposed to be slow-moving (not burn, as there is little or no tension between the characters). Thankfully, I wasn’t looking for a strong romance, so it worked okay. 

One thing I agree with Marianne- you should never have to deal with guests and strangers on your doorstep at 6.30 AM! That is not the time to talk to people. Sigh! 

The pacing is sedate and cannot be rushed. While that’s still okay, the fact that most issues that arise are solved quickly means that my interest dipped in some places. Katherine and Rachel don’t have much depth and seem to have the task of creating tension for Marianne. 

A few time jumps were confusing. Some days are long and detailed, while others have just one scene before moving on to another. Not all time jumps had scene breaks (in this an ARC), though I hope they’ll be sorted in the final copy. 

The blurb says the kids are Marianne’s nieces, but they are her aunt’s daughters. Technically, Rachel and Katie should be her sisters. Katherine is an aunt to both parties. (I’m assuming that’s how relations work in Ireland too). Also, it’s a little hard to fit the characters in their respective slots based on their ages. It feels like watching a Hindi daily soap after the fourth leap and half a dozen character replacements (and reentries). 

Marianne is a little hard to deal with. I think this comes from trying to make her more realistic and relatable instead of being too goody-goody. However, this makes her appear unnecessarily rude in some scenes. It’s not an issue with her character arc but with the dialogue tags and writing. 

I’m not a fan of infidelity (in fiction or real life), no matter how romantic it appears and how many sacrifices the characters make. I’m not deducting points for this, as the whole element is handled quite well (and unrealistically), but I have to mention it here. 

To summarize, The Irish House is indeed a heartwarming novel about families, relationships, love, and choices. It’s a little slow and has a few issues, but leaves us with a satisfied feeling. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

 3.5 Stars

1900, London 

Alice Webster made a huge mistake. Her family is furious but also wants the best for her. When Aunt Agatha plans a Grand Tour, Alice joins her. They go from London to Paris to Crete, and Alice finds herself fascinated by the archeological digs at Knossos. Soon, her life is entwined with the past and others from the present. 

Present Day, London 

Eloise De’Ath is supposed to be a grieving widow, but only she knows the truth about her husband. She escapes to a house in Crete, inherited from her history-loving father-in-law, Quinn. Eloise begins to heal with the help of friends and discovers treasures in his study. She also finds Alice's diaries and feels like her life is linked with women from the past. 

What connects Ariadne, Alice, and Eloise? 

The story comes in the limited third-person POV of Alice and Eloise with a sprinkling of random diary snippets. 

There’s no denying the research that went into the book. The author’s note at the end is probably more interesting and explains what’s real and fiction. 

The beginning is solid for both tracks. The setting, especially Crete, is just how it needed to be, neither extensive nor vague. Aunt Agatha’s kids add good bits of humor to the plot. The side characters are well-established and handle their roles with great success. 

The book deals with domestic abuse and shows how even women with successful careers make mistakes and prefer to ignore abuse as they don’t want to acknowledge that they are victims. It shows how the need to be a ‘strong and efficient female’ overrides personal security and can lead to life-threatening situations. I like this observation. 

There are quite a few references to theology, especially Madam Blavatsky. As someone who grew up with bedtime stories about the Theosophical Society, this appealed to me in many ways. Also, the core concepts of life, birth, death, and reincarnation in theology are attributed to Hinduism and Buddhism as they should be. 

Another aspect I like is the observation about how even scholars are not without biases shaped by their culture and upbringing. During a discussion between two characters, one of them (a woman, unsurprisingly) points out how even a world-famous archeologist re-constructs older civilizations based on their knowledge of their culture. So, it’s not surprising that goddesses and priestesses with independent positions get pushed back and limited to their roles next to male Gods and kings. 

I’m not sure why this is advertised as a time-slip novel. It’s just a dual timeline book with a few bits and pieces of diary entries to make the plot seem intriguing. The connection between the timelines doesn’t make the impact it should. Furthermore, the personal lives of the characters take more space than the actual connection between them. 

There are several characters in the book. So many that I stopped noting down their names after a point. With as many characters in each timeline, tracking them got a little too much. 

I love history and mythology, but when I read fiction, I want a story that doesn’t rely on me remembering everything I read about Greek mythology, nor do I want a crash course on it. I don’t mind the story leaning on these aspects. I just don’t want so much of it in the book that it reads like a chapter from a textbook. Some readers will enjoy it. 

In dual timeline books, I’m prepared to like one track more than the other. Usually, it’s the historical track that fares better. Here, I wasn’t particularly fond of Alice (what she did was plain stupid for someone who claims to be logical and a scholar). Moreover, by trying to suppress information for a big reveal, Alice’s character ended up shallower and bratty. What little sympathy she had got diluted because of this. Eloise’s track was marginally better, though I couldn’t sympathize with her either. 

The writing is clunky and heavy in many places. This can be edited (maybe they did edit for the final copy; mine is an ARC). On the plus side, it’s easy to speed-read and not miss anything. 

To summarize, The Forgotten Palace has some good points to ponder and presents a tale of two women divided by more than a century. However, it also gets heavyhanded and tiring at times. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheForgottenPalace 

 3.2 Stars

Edinburgh, 1911 

Maud McIntyre and her lady’s maid, Daisy, start a detective agency. They are surprised and excited when the Duchess of Duddingston offers them their first case- to prevent a robbery at her house party or find the jewel thief looting the elite at parties. 

The duo attends the house party undercover to end up with a dead body. The case is now of a murder! Though Maud solves the case, she isn’t sure about the culprit. Back in town, Maud and Daisy take up other cases which may or may not be connected to the Duddingston mystery. But Maud gets another call from the Duchess and knows things are far from over. Can she and Daisy find the real culprit this time? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Maud. 

As a fan of historical cozy mysteries, I knew I had to read this book. The cover is cute too. The results are mixed, though. 

Since it is the first book in the series, it takes time to introduce the characters and set the stage. I went in prepared to handle this. 

The book is more of a three-in-one package as Maud and Daisy handle different cases one after another. The cases are connected in some way, so the common thread keeps things together (almost). I like this aspect as we get to see them try different methods to solve the cases. 

Maud is quite capable though prone to coming up with not-so-good ideas in her excitement. Daisy seems more balanced, and I’d have liked to read her POV as well. It would have been better than Daisy relaying her conversations with others by voice-acting them. It’s fun the first time, but not much afterward. Gets too clunky and long-winded. 

Lord Urquhart seems like a good guy (or as much good as he can be as a famous rake). His character arc is definitely better than the MC’s. There isn’t much about Daisy yet, so maybe that’s for the next books. 

While I expected the book to highlight the limitations on women in those days, I didn’t guess the extent of space the suffrage movement occupied as much space. I wouldn’t have minded if it played an integral part in the mystery (Example: Death at Crookham Hall), but here it seems more like a foundation for the coming book. However, it gets a little excessive and takes the focus away from the central plot. 

The book also has references to other novels and people, which at times, feel a little excessive. Let’s keep our focus on the characters instead. Trust me, you don’t want me to think of Sherlock (ahem) when reading another book. ;) 

The climax was decent, nothing spectacular, but I don’t think the author was aiming for it, either. It’s shorter than the multi-page reveal in most cozy mysteries, so that’s a definite plus. 

To summarize, The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency is a decent start to the series but could do better with some tightening and another round of editing. The extras weigh down the book and distract readers from the cases. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheScottishLadiesDetectiveAgency 

*** 

 4 Stars

Kevin Ashworth is a known name in Whitecliff. A teacher, he was arrested thirty years ago when two schoolboys disappeared during a trip with him. Their bodies haven’t been found yet, and Kevin is in prison. After all these years, Kevin wants to talk but only to Guy (and Millie goes along). 

What they find on the moor unleashes more questions, and Kevin decides not to talk. Millie feels the fear of losing her son to something similar and wants to uncover the truth of what happened in the past. The more she digs, the murkier it gets. What happens next? 

The story comes in Millie’s third-person POV. 

Book three is better than book two in terms of the mystery and Millie’s character arc. We have two cases in this one as well. Apart from Kevin’s track, Millie is helping Zoe, a small-time celeb, find an important missing item. The tracks are independent of each other. 

While there is hardly any danger in the book, there is a lot of fear and panic as Millie continues to think of Kevin’s story and worries about Eric. She almost edges on paranoia in this one. While that’s a little annoying I can see the reason for her fears. 

I like the contrast in both cases dealt with in the book. Without giving spoilers, I can say that it’s a poignant observation of interpersonal relationships between family members. There’s no preaching. It’s up to the readers to consider, analyze, compare, and draw conclusions. 

It’s good that Millie has something to do with her life instead of being a pushover with the bare minimum existence. I hope she learns to be proactive with her life rather than hide in the shadows. There’s only so much of a pity party I can read. 

The book ends on an intriguing cliffhanger (not related to the mystery), so I’m glad book four is available for request. I also hope the ex and his new wife get their due. Not sure how many books I’ll read if Millie continues to be a doormat in this issue (yeah, it’s a threat). 

Am I the only one worrying about Millie’s lack of appetite? She hardly seems to eat anything in most of the books. Maybe making her assertive about her life would bring back some love for food? 

There’s a bit of development in the mystery of Millie's parents' suicide. It does create some interest. Luke seems to be a decent guy, though I’ll wait to confirm it. 

Jack and Rishi seem to be dealing with a new set of issues. I like how Rishi’s rep is dealt with a light touch. Book two mentions he is a vegetarian and has a loving/ supporting family (a relief to read). The bit about Rishi’s parents not celebrating Christmas but his mom cooking Indian food to feed the entire street made me smile. This is so on point. 

 Guy is who he is, though there are some secrets he isn’t ready to share with Millie (just as she doesn’t want to tell him certain things). I’m curious to know more. Let’s dig into the past. 

To summarize, The Ones Who Are Buried is the best of the series until now. The writing is easy to read, and the character arcs are steady. Looking forward to reading the next book. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheOnesWhoAreBuried 

 4 Stars

Millie and Nicola were best friends at high school until something tore them apart. Fifteen years later, Nicola calls Millie, asking for help. Nicola’s purple shoes were strung up in the backyard. These were the same shoes she was wearing on a fateful night someone tied her to a tie and hacked her hair into random bits. 

The shoes could have been placed only by Nicola’s kidnapper. But neither she nor Millie knows who it is. They decided to forget the incident back then. But it looks like they have to get to the bottom of the issue. As Millie starts inquiring, she realizes that her memories and perspective of her school days are different from reality. 

What happened then? What happens now? How will Nicola and Millie continue to keep the secret and uncover the kidnapper? 

The story comes from Millie’s POV. 

The second book in the series begins a few months after the first one ends. This one is more compact and puts together as the primary characters are already introduced and established in the previous book. 

The book has two tracks apart from Millie’s personal life. That makes it three seemingly unrelated tracks, but there’s no confusion anywhere (even when the characters overlap. It’s a small town setting, after all). 

Millie and Guy’s friendship is steady in this one. I like how they work together and help each other. Guy is truly the godfather Millie needs and she is the daughter he never had. 

We get more than a glimpse into Millie’s childhood and teen life in the Whitecliff. More details are revealed and add depth to her character. Millie is very much a flawed character but with a good heart. She is trying, and we can’t help but root for her. 

The main mystery is intriguing, but I’m not too sure about how it concludes. As a series reader (I already started book three), I can understand the reasoning. However, some readers may not like it, considering they read 270+ pages hoping to solve the issue. 

I so wish Millie would stop letting her horrible ex-husband and his snooty fiancée treat her like this. Yeah, she was wrong, but he’s no saint, either. I hope there’s a book soon where they get their due. I don’t want to wait too long for this! 

The setting is just as atmospheric and brooding as in book one. Whitecliff is no happy place. Or maybe it highlights the darker side of small towns a lot more. 

I like the random one-star reviews Millie reads on the internet. They don’t make sense and drive the point about how stupid, prejudiced, and annoying people can be. 

To summarize, The One Who Was Taken provides more answers about Millie but raises as many questions too. This book will not work as a standalone mystery. It has to be read as a part of the series and in the order (this comes from someone who doesn’t bother following a series order). 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheOneWhoWasTaken 

 4 Stars

The Whimbrel House is no longer magical, but Merritt’s troubles are far from over. His magical capabilities are flourishing, and he has no idea how to control them (or minimize the side effects). Hulda is in a complicated position, with Myra missing and LIKER wanting to take over BIKER. 

Can the duo deal with the new developments and safeguard their blooming relationship? Why does it feel like the danger hasn’t yet passed? What do they have to deal with this time? 

The story comes in the limited-third person POV of Hulda, Merritt, and Owein. 

Owein is a darling. I love all scenes with him. His vulnerability and need for a family come across very clearly. Of course, his magic is powerful and a treat to read. 

Merritt’s character arc is better in this one as we already know the answers to who, what, and why. His fears, uncertainties, pain, and his struggle in handling his magic feel real and tangible. The family confrontation scene is just right, neither dramatic nor too light. 

Baptiste and Beth Taylor continue to do their job and more. It’s great to meet them again in this book. I hope they’ll have meaty roles in book three as well. 

There are a couple of new characters who may or may not be the good guys. We get the gist of their characters without going into a lot of detail. It keeps the pacing nice and steady. (Normally, I prefer more detailed arcs, but this works better here.) 

The magic and world-building are never OTT or overwhelming. It doesn’t go illogical or weird at any point. Those who read book one will know what to expect and won’t be disappointed with the elements in this book. 

The ending is, of course, intriguing, though a part of me is worried about Owein. Merritt and Hulda have an HFN, which will, hopefully, turn into HEA in book three. 

I wondered more than once if Hulda was this annoying in book one. Somehow, she just didn’t seem to be fully there in the first half. While things got better, Hulda feels more uncertain, tentative, and constantly on the back foot. 

Myra’s character, though a prominent role, doesn’t do anything to establish her as a person. What little we get of her is not enough to make me feel one way or another. In fact, I was annoyed with Myra and Hulda many times throughout the book.  

To summarize, Heir of Uncertain Magic is entertaining and fast-paced. It takes off where book one ends and is best enjoyed if you read in the series order. While it works as a standalone, it may not be a great read. 

Thank you, NetGalley and 47North, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #HeirofUncertainMagic 

 3.8 Stars

Dan Armstrong is now a private detective with an office in the Florence suburbs. He has cases, too, except that most of them deal with suspicious spouses, annoyed neighbors, etc. However, his friend and Chief of Police Virgilio sends a Hollywood case to Dan. 

A film crew with the famous heroine Selena Gardner is filming in Florence, and someone doesn’t like it. The team has been getting threats with messages wrapped around arrows. Dan takes the case and finds that there seems to be a lot of scandals and gossip than danger. But when one of the prominent team members gets killed, Dan realizes he needs to step up the game. 

Soon, Dan finds out there’s much he doesn’t know about the case, and this could put him and Oscar, his trusty black lab, in danger. Can Dan solve the case in time? 

The story comes in Dan’s first-person POV. 

This is the third book in the series and works as a standalone. There are necessary references to the past to keep the reader up to date about Dan’s personal life. 

The chapters are shorter (thankfully), though the pacing is slow to medium. This is the kind of book you cannot rush through. With such a beautiful setting and enough mentions of food, there’s no point in rushing, either. 

The book also gives insights into the lives of celebrities and the complexities involved in making a film. Since we see things from Dan’s perspective, there’s no overload of information. 

The mystery takes time to unravel, and we have scenes where Dan and Virgilio discuss the same information multiple times. It can get a bit boring, especially in the middle, but things start to come together rather well. 

I like how seemingly unrelated bits tie up to take the story to the conclusion. The pages allocated to ‘other things’ aren’t fillers but have a role in the overall plot. Oh, there’s a short explanation of the various types of law force departments in Italy. 

I don’t like the repeated mention of Dizzy’s clumsiness. I get that she is klutzy (some of us are), and it’s okay to use it in a few scenes to advance the plot. However, repeated references make it a little too excessive. 

I don’t have to separately mention Oscar, should I? He is a darling, always ready to be cuddled by ladies and fed by anyone. The book would be boring without him. 

To summarize, Murder in Florence is a good continuation of the series, with a great setting, yummy food, an adorable doggy, and a few dead bodies. Looking forward to the fourth installment (and I’m so happy for Dan!). 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #MurderinFlorence 

 4.5 Stars

Aww… cutest bug ever! 

Ronald, the snug bug, is napping when the doorbell rings. He opens the door to find a snake saying, 'hello, and be my snack'. There begin his adventures. The poor little bug has to escape caves with spiders, birds, frogs, and so many dangers to get back home safe and sound. He even faces the mighty crocodile! 

This is an adorable little book about how dangerous situations can come anytime, and you have to do your best to be brave and escape, no matter your size. Those who fight to survive have high chances of succeeding, just like our little Ronald, who goes back home and continues his nap. 

The illustrations are wow. Colorful, vibrant, and exactly how kids would like them to be. From the color scheme to the expressions on the predators’ faces, everything is perfect. The text is easy to read, with a few words on each page. The words tumble and swirl to suit the narration. This adds extra zing and humor to the story. I like how the bug has a natural humorous tone that makes him endearing. 

To summarize, Snug as a Bug? is indeed a hilarious picture book with fab illustrations. It is much more than a funny story, though. The hidden moral is something adults can discuss with little ones during playtime. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and Happy Yak and am voluntarily leaving a review. 

#SnugasaBug #NetGalley 

As the title suggests, the book is about celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu festival) with eco-friendly Ganesha idols instead of buying the ones made with Plaster of Paris. 

Prema is a little girl (possibly around 8 or 9) living in a small village in Tamil Nadu. She worries about the pollution caused by chemically made Ganesha idols immersed in rivers and lakes. The book shows how Prema learns to make clay statues and creates awareness in her village with the help of her friends. 

The story is written for the young audience, possibly first, second, and third-gen immigrants and Western readers. However, it retains the earthy flavor of indigenous celebrations mixed with modern culture. The writing is easy to read and understand. The language is simple for young kids to follow. The correct pronunciation for words like Ganesha, payasam, prasadam, etc., are also provided (a good idea). 

The illustrations are beautiful and as rustic as they should be. The skin tones are perfect. Girls have thick kajal around their eyes, hair plaited into braids or buns, and flowers adorning them. Except for Prema (with a unibrow, a great touch), other girls and women have bindis (pottu) too. The thin green bangles on the hands and those chappals (footwear) are also very natural. 

I love the seamless inclusivity and diversity. In Andhra too, it’s common to see some Muslim families take part in Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. They visit pandals and accept prasadam, just as we reciprocate for Eid. 

The background, too, feels like a real village with a scooter, auto-rickshaw, hand-painted banners, temple gorupams, garlands, etc. Even a cute kitty makes a guest appearance. 

And I love the bushy eyebrows women have. No salon-style arches here! The first pages have kolam (rangoli/ muggu), a must in our homes. Simply put, I love the illustrations and the detailing in them. Ganesha idols are so, so cute! 

One thing missing in the book (a vital point, IMO) is an acknowledgment of our ancestors who used eco-friendly clay and dough idols for centuries. We didn’t always use PoP and chemical paints for our idols. Our grandparents’ generation and the previous ones weren’t into fake flowers, gaudy decorations, and excessive drama. They believed in prayer and rituals instead of hype. 

Some families (yours truly included) have bought only clay idols every year. We still find a few sellers who bring clay and molds and make the idols right in front of your eyes. They press the wet clay into the molds and flip them onto old newspapers. The idol is then gently wrapped in a large lily leaf. We have never purchased a colored idol made from PoP and other items. I intend to continue the tradition and pass it on to my children. It’s my ancestors’ gift to me. 

As a person from an indigenous land, it is very important to acknowledge the ancient practices where people were one with nature. Plates made of leaves and eco-friendly cups aren’t modern inventions. These were a part of the land before everyone went modern and disregarded ancient practices by calling them backward and undeveloped. Now some groups patenting indigenous practices doesn’t make them new or unique. It has been a way of life before modernity took over. 

We have to honor our ancestors. It is our responsibility. 

To summarize, Ganesha Goes Green presents the topic in a neat and sweet format for kids to understand the importance of eco-friendly practices. It also has a recipe to make dough-based Ganesha at home. 

I received an ARC from Edelweiss+ and Barefoot Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.