Author: Pankaj Giri
Publisher: Bee Books
I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
How would you react if a long-time secret came to light?
Abandoned by his wife and daughter and living with his cousin’s son,
senior doctor Adarsh leads a lonely life . . . until he begins glimpsing
someone in the streets of his hometown, Ilathang—a woman he knew once, a woman
who had long disappeared. As Smriti starts working as a teacher at Ilathang
Government School, she develops an affectionate bond with her PG owner’s
teenage son—who is suffering from drug addiction—which fulfils her childhood
craving for a brother. But one day in the summer of 2007, a dramatic turn of
events unveils a devastating secret, a secret that turns her life upside down. Will
Adarsh be able to discover the mystery behind the curious glimpses of the
woman? Will Smriti be able to recover from the trauma of the shattering secret?
Set in fictional towns in the beautiful state of Sikkim, The Unforgettable
Woman is an inspirational, heart-touching story that explores the themes of
regret, love, and forgiveness and shows how a single secret can influence
several lives.
The book is wonderfully written and the plot is so engaging that you keep turning the pages. As the story progresses, you are pulled into the plot and it keeps you hooked. The writing is quite impressive and the plot threads are extremely well connected and the idea of how relationships can stand the test of time. Pankaj explores the idea of love and how the different aspects of love manifest in the relationships we have with people around us. The book also explores the idea of fate in a beautiful manner and how interconnectedness of life binds us all. The writing in the book is quite powerful and makes you think of how one impacts the people around us as well. What I loved about the book was that the author has left crumbs to the climax all through the book but only when you reach the end do the bits make sense and you get to see the whole picture. Pankaj’s mix of love, regret and forgiveness in this story make the entire reading experience a delight. Another aspect of his writing that shines through is the simplicity and honesty. As a writer, he stays true to the core storyline and slowly lets the story unfold as you live and breathe with his characters. The climax has been given its due and the author takes his time revealing the thread connecting his characters and the core idea of the story. The way he reveals how Smriti, Dr. Adarsh, Shobha, Savitri, and Mr. Sharma were connected is quite magical.
Coming to the characters, each of the primary character in the story has
been written in painstaking detail. There are no loose ends that seem frivolous
or unnecessary at any point. Each character that has been introduced is
integral to the story. The author also does not waste time in describing our
protagonists, but lets the scenes take over and you have a picture of them. The
book is driven primarily through the interactions between the characters and
each of the interaction gives you something to think about as you keep turning
the pages.
This is a book I would highly recommend to anyone looking to read a story
of love, regret and forgiveness, and one that is heartwarming, perfect for a
winter evening to pair with a cup of hot chocolate. The book scores a perfect 5
from me.
Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India.
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