BOOK DETAILS :
- Publisher : Pan (21 August 2020)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 216 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9389109663
- ISBN-13 : 978-9389109665
ABOUT THE AUTHOR :
Koral Dasgupta is a Master Storyteller. Her stories appear randomly through her books, academic lectures, speeches, columns, social media posts and paintings.
A literary movement founded by her, www.tellmeyourstory.in, hosts short stories and poems written by people across age, professions and geographies. She teaches Marketing, Communications and Creative Writing at Mithibai College. Other than conducting workshops and sessions at colleges and schools, she delivers talks on branding and storytelling. She consults with the corporate in marketing communications and content space; Star India, Harlequin, John Wiley & Sons being few of her clients.
Also, she is an advisory member with CBFC Mumbai.
You will find more about her here : https://tellmeyourstory.in/mentors/koral-dasgupta/
Koral's first book explains Consumer Behaviour theories (an academic subject from Marketing Management studies) with Shah Rukh Khan as a case study. It is titled "Power of a Common Man : Connecting with Consumers the SRK Way." The book released in May 2014 and had garnered excellent responses from academic and media personalities across the world.
Her second book is an art fiction. Set amidst the art, music and poetry of Tagore's Santiniketan,”Fall Winter Collections" is the journey of an orthodox Indian sculptor, as he secretly works on an ambitious project with six mythological Women. The vastness of Santiniketan soon starts working on him, expanding his capacities to accommodate and appreciate the beauty that exists beyond his faith! His life changes in the process of sculpting the sixth Woman of his series. The plot, though a simple love story, is a throwback on the art, music and poetry of Santiniketan. The book is not only the author's way of reminiscing over the three years she spent at Viswa Bharati, Santiniketan, but is also a conscious attempt to write art fictions where she brings to the world some emotions - expressions - issues of art professionals. Koral writes columns covering artists from various disciplines of visual and performing
Review Copy Courtesy: Pan Macmillan India
BOOK REVIEW :
Okay! So as promised here is the review of the first book 📙Ahalya from “THE SATI SERIES ” where author Koral Dasgupta has reinterprets the lives of the Pancha Kanyas—Ahalya, Kunti, Draupadi, Mandodari, and Tara—through a modern feminist lens.
Ahalya, often remembered for her infidelity and subsequent curse, is depicted here not just as a victim of circumstances but as a woman of agency.The author delves deep into her psyche, exploring the nuanced emotions behind her actions, redemption, and transformation. The character of Ahalya is given new life, bringing complexity to her relationships with Gautam and Indra, and allowing me to reflect on the broader question of guilt, innocence, and societal judgment. The mist that surrounds her becomes symbolic of her mystery and allure, making her one of the most fascinating mythological figures.
The best part perhaps is the writing style of this book. The author is so poetic in each verse across all the pages that I have experienced from an Indian author perhaps for the first time till date ( no offense to other writers over here as my review goes with genre-specific). Every sentence feels like it’s carefully crafted, creating a tapestry of vivid imagery and emotion. If you pick this title you can’t put it down even if you may not aligned with the author’s point of view in many areas.
Being the first book in the series, Ahalya sets a strong foundation, weaving mythology with modern sensibilities. While there is a feminist viewpoint throughout, I believe that any retelling should offer multiple perspectives, and as readers, it’s essential to engage with various interpretations.
If you’re new to Indian mythology, this series is the perfect starting point. Don’t hesitate to pick it up—Ahalya is a compelling entry into a world that reimagines the age-old tales of the Pancha Kanyas. Stay tuned for my reviews of the other four books in the series!
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Paperback 📚
Total Pages: 204
Overall Ratings: 4.6/5 ⭐
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