Book Review : Becoming Her

Book Name: Becoming Her
Author: Tushar Chatterji
Publication: Indie Press

Genre: Fiction

“Stories about and around women are the ones that can be introspective and reflective of our own actions as a society.”

Becoming Her by Tushar Chatterji is a collection of six thought-provoking, non-linear narratives, written from the perspective of a woman navigating different relationships and roles, including those of a mother, a wife, a sister, a lover, and a girl.

The stories in this book explore the lives of women navigating complex relationships, identity crises, heartbreak, longing, sacrifice, and loss. The different versions of women portrayed in these stories will make readers question women's conditioning and whether the choices women make are truly their own or whether they are obligated to make them. Though written by a man, the stories do not shy away from putting readers in a difficult spot by showing how enduring and patient a woman can be in keeping her surroundings peaceful, even at the cost of her own pain and wounds.

Each story explores a woman in a different role. In one, she is a mother who, after losing her husband, gives everything she has for her son, only to be left with loneliness in the end. In another, she is a wife who loses her child, leaving her relationship with her husband devastated, and so on. Each story reflects incidents that readers might have come across in their own lives at some point. The raw and unfiltered take on how women are conditioned to take everything upon themselves makes even the unnamed characters feel like real women.

The author's writing style is raw and unfiltered. However, while reading the stories, readers might feel a lack of connectedness, as there are no names or specific places involved. Instead, there is only a setting and a first-person narrator talking about the woman in each story.

The overall impression of this book is that different readers will take away different things from it. For some, it may feel too personal, and they might even find themselves crossing paths with the women in these stories. For others, the stories might lack emotional depth, as they majorly explore women as victims rather than presenting a more balanced picture of the different dimensions of womanhood, as the title Becoming Her might suggest.

Who is this book for?

- Readers interested in books that portray the realities of society, with patriarchy being the central theme here.

- Readers who love exploring stories about women's conditioning and experiences.

- Readers interested in exploring women's perspectives as portrayed by male authors.

One thing that stayed with me, and might impact many readers after reading this book, is how the idea of a woman being an epitome of sacrifice is still normalised. This expectation has been ingrained in society for generations and continues even today, when we are progressing and women are learning to celebrate themselves.

So, if you are someone who is ready to confront some serious questions about society, patriarchy, relationships, and the expectations placed on women, you should check out this book.

Buy From Here: Becoming Her