HOMELESS BIRD BY GLORIA WHELAN

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BOOK NAME: HOMELESS BIRD

AUTHOR NAME: GLORIA WHELAN

GENRE: CONTEMPORARY / WOMEN'S FICTION

PUBLISHER: HARPERCOLLINS INDIA

BOOK BUY LINK : https://www.amazon.in/Homeless-Bird-Gloria-Whelan/dp/0064408191




Some books are written for children but are meant for everyone to read, irrespective of age and gender. Homeless Bird is one such book that genuinely deserves the national book award. It's incredible how many lessons and values can be added to a book that is less than 100 pages.


Homeless Bird is the story of 13-year-old Koly, who is passionate about reading from a young age. But her parents get her married off to Hari, far away from their home. Koly is sent off to Hari's home with her self embroidered quilt and her mother's silver earring along with a heavy dowry. She tries to adjust to her new environment though she dreads her villainous mother-in-law. She finds a friend in her sister-in-law, Chandra, who is the only vent she finds in her new home, apart from her father-in-law, who helps her in reading and writing. 


She finally finds out that Hari is sick and dying because of his tuberculosis and that she was married to him in exchange for the dowry for his health expense. She becomes a widow at a young age and is left alone in the streets of Varanasi as a young widow. She finds her new home in Varanasi after a struggle and starts a new life, thereafter rediscovering her life. 


This book is one of the finest contemporary women's fiction I have read. This book revisits some of the customs that were mindlessly followed before the early 2000s in India. The plight of women and young girls in the name of culture and heritage was highlighted perfectly. Koly's grit and grace at a very young age, and her passion for reading and writing was very adorable and inspiring.


This is a must-read for everyone. If you are looking for a book to read along with your kids or teenagers, then you should definitely consider this one. 



MY REVIEW: 5/5

I am participating in Blogchatter's #TBRchallenge

#penbooksandscalpel


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