Hello Readers. Todays guest on my blog is Tarang Sinha who is a freelance writer and author of We Will Meet Again, a mature love story. Her writing has appeared in magazines like Good Housekeeping India, Child India, Woman’s Era, New Woman and Alive, and in an anthology titled ‘Uff Ye Emotions 2. She has written short stories for Juggernaut Writing Platform.

A science graduate, she holds a Diploma in Creative Writing in English from IGNOU. She is an avid reader and blogs @tarangsinha.blogspot.in

When I was younger, I could read anything. ‘Give her a piece of advertisement, and she would even read that,’ one of my uncles had said once. But, in the last 6-7 years, I have changed as a reader. But, one thing that remained the same is my interest in women centric stories.

We may like a certain book for various reasons, but it’s the characters that connect you with the story. I feel a sense of familiarity and comfort when reading women centric stories, by women authors.

I have realized that if the book has women protagonists, genre does not matter. I think, I’ve noticed this when I was reading ‘Legacy’ — a historical fiction — by Danielle Steel some 7-8 years ago. Loved the character of Wachiwi, a warrior woman! And, guess what? I was not a fan of Historical fiction. I don’t really like  Danielle Steel’s writing style.

2018 is not a very good year as a reader even though I have read 40 books so far. However, I have loved some books this year. All by women authors! All with women protagonists! Here is my top 5.

The Secret of the Red Crystals by Dr. Sujata Sharma

‘In science and anything else in life, if we leave something unfinished, it comes back and keeps coming back till we resolve it. If a question has arisen, then you need to answer it now.’

Well, I was skeptical about reading this book because it’s an autobiography with medical background, and I’m not fond of this genre. ‘Though it is a story of a scientist, it can be the story of anyone who dares to dream, and makes up one’s mind to achieve the dream “at any cost”,’ the author had messaged and I was convinced. Dr. Sujata Sharma is a professor in the Department of Biophysics at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the story is about a medico’s journey of passionate research about Lactoferrin {Without being boring or preachy}

This book was a pleasant surprise! The moment I read the first page, I knew I was going to like it as I loved the pleasant writing style.

Ð Freefall – This sci-fi book is all about a strong woman and how she copes up on a lonely planet

Doodler of Dimashq by Kirthi Jayakumar

‘Wounds have a way of settling. Even if only enough to let you function and move on with life.’

This story is, somewhat, a true account {As the author says} of a Syrian girl’s life. It’s a poignant tale of family, war, love and loss. What I loved about this book is author’s beautiful writing – the narration has certain coziness and seems like a personal conversation.

Can You Keep a Secret?

‘Carried away. He got a little carried away. This is like saying Hitler was a tad aggressive.’

Now, Sophie Kinsella is a writer who never fails to entertain me. There’s certain warmth in her writing. The effortless humour and wit. Most importantly, her quirky heroines. If I happen to read some not-so-interesting books, I would pick any Kinsella book to get refreshed.

Can You Keep a Secret was the first read of 2018, and it was a lovely start. Emma tells all her secrets to a stranger, thinking that she is not going to meet him again. But obviously, he is there to stay, in the most unexpected way, and now she wants him to keep all her secrets. Interestingly, even the man has a big secret that he wants Emma to keep safely.

The book is funny. I really liked the characters, Emma and jack, and their chemistry. The end is beautiful.

Undomestic Goddess

‘Sometimes you don’t need a goal in life, you don’t need to know the big picture. you just need to know what you’re going to do next!’

Such an enjoyable read it was!

A celebrity lawyer Samantha made a terrible mistake that can ruin her career. She walks out and boards a train that takes her to an unknown country side. She finds herself in a beautiful house and is mistaken as a housekeeper. And she doesn’t know a thing about housekeeping.

It was an engaging, funny read. And the romance was so endearing!

Ð This domestic Goddess by Shuchi Singh Kalra was worth a read – A cage of Desires

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Last but definitely not the least! In fact this one is the most favourite read!

“You must never behave as if your life belongs to a man. Do you hear me?” Aunty Ifeka said. “Your life belongs to you and you alone.”

Half of a Yellow Sun is a love story set against the backdrop of Biafra-Nigeria war in 1960s. It is told from three points of view — Ugwu, a loyal, curious house-boy; Olanna, a kind, beautiful, educated woman who leaves everything to live with the love of her life, a revolutionary (as Kainene, Olanna’s not so beautiful twin sister, calls him) professor; and Richard, a struggling writer, an English man who is in love with Kianene.

I must tell you that I love Adichie’s writing! Her writing is lyrical and it transported me to the world of these characters, their struggles and perseverance. It’s beautiful, poignant, authentic, shocking, enlightening… Sometimes, just sometimes, say a couple of pages, the descriptions of war/people’s lives seemed a little stretched.

Even if you don’t like love stories, even if you don’t like war stories, read this book for sheer beauty of Adichie’s prose. For the vivid imagery her writing creates. When it comes to using metaphors, Adichie is brilliant!

‘Sometimes he felt as if he knew nothing about her, as if he would never quite reach her. And yet, other times, lying next to her, he would feel a wholeness, a certainty that he would never need anything else.’

Ð Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is a must read in this category

So, what’s your favourite book with women protagonists? Please share with me too.

Leaving you one of my favourite book by a woman author and about a woman protagonist – Heidi