Scarred for Life, Healed Forever
By Ashwati Menon
Review By Ila Garg
“Let the power begin
from within!”
Scarred for Life,
Healed Forever, by Ashwati Menon is
published by Gargi Publishers, a fast progressing
self-publishing house. The book has an apt cover, something that rightly
depicts the plot. The colors and sequence is so perfectly chosen by Amol
Karambe. The quality is obviously one of the best in the recent book industry.
The title is well chosen and reflects the turmoil that awaits you! The book
jacket is thus, appropriate and hooks the readers instantly.
The author has a degree in Masters in Computer
Application and a bigger passion for writing. She has had the pleasure of
writing many books in different styles and has been a part of many anthologies.
Before Scarred for Life, Healed Forever,
one of her short stories has been a part of Drenched
Souls - Moonlit Matinee 2 (Read the review here). When she is not writing, she spends her time in either
reading or strumming on her guitar.
The blurb reads as, “Nishtha survived a terrible fate but
that didn’t let her live in peace. She ends up being a victim of her own powers
and there is very little she can do to get a normal balanced life.
What with strange visions
and a mind that seems to be always active, Nishtha finds that she is suddenly
very much able to sense when someone is going to get into accidents and
mishaps. And thereby, she runs to their rescue.
But how long is she going
to be the super-woman she did not expect she will be?
Is there a solution to
bring peace? Will science have answers to Nishtha’s problems?”
The protagonist, Nishtha Vaidya is a girl next door
and a simpleton. You can’t predict her inner personality just by looking at
her. She hides a tormenting past in her smile and everything about her seems
normal. A perfect family, a handsome brother, great educational qualifications
that lands her in a grand job - she appears to have it all.
The story begins interestingly and doesn’t let you
get bored. In fact, it grabs the reader’s attention from one page to the next. The story doesn’t go straight though, it rather
moves in zig-zag. The readers have to concentrate as it goes back and forth
between different time zones. It’s an unusual genre with an engrossing plot.
However, non-regular readers may find it difficult to comprehend and the pace
might not be comfortable to them. On the other hand, regular readers will enjoy
it and appreciate the writer’s efforts for traversing on a road less traveled. After
all, the author has shown the ability to think out of the box!
The author has indeed taken a bold step while
penning down something like this with a lot of grace. Author’s language is
really fresh and the language can be a little problem but the author has given
a glossary in the end for the readers to be able to understand the plot well.
The
126 page book comprises of an author’s note, 22 chapters, an epilogue, and a glossary
for scientific terms and references. It manages to be a wonderful read despite
the different genre. This book is definitely a page turner and a very quick
read. Ashwati Menon has used the right amount of words to grip her readers. The plot and thrill element
kept me glued to this book.
The downside of this
book is its climax that comes in too fast and makes the narrative lose its
impact. Though the theme is well chosen, the problem arises in its handling. It
could have been built more comprehensively to give a sense of completeness.
‘Yay’ Factors: The out of box thinking.
‘Nay’ Factors: The poor execution and the narration that keeps
lacking as we near the end.
My Verdict: To find out what
keeps tormenting Nishtha, how long will she be able to keep this past bundled
up and pretend as if nothing happened, how is her power of forecasting going to
affect her, will she find her solace, will she get what she is looking for; you
will have to read the novel, Scarred for Life, Healed Forever.
Ratings: 3/5
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