Sita's Curse : The Language of Desire by Sreemoyee Piu Kundu

Somewhere, behind closed doors, in her solitary world; somewhere, under the sheets with an indifferent lover; Somewhere, is a woman who will not be denied. 

Trapped for fifteen years in the stranglehold of a dead marriage and soulless household domesticity, the beautiful, full-bodied and passionate Meera Patel depends on her memories and her flights of fancy to soothe the aches that wrack her body; to quieten an unquenchable need. Until one cataclysmic day in Mumbai, when she finally breaks free... Bold, brazen and defiant, Sitas Curse looks at the hypocrisy of Indian society and tells the compelling story of a middle-class Indian housewives urgent need for love, respect, acceptance and sexual fulfillment.




Some books you read with an expectation , some with doubts. I picked this book with both in equal measures.  I would like to call this book a mix of poetry and prose , the poetry erupting in flashes like Meera's strength to keep her marriage working. She wants to be loved and more than that perhaps she needs to be desired , its said. This made me wonder , is it not the feeling of being desired that binds one to his or her partner. Of course there is a lot of love but can it withstand the waves of unfulfilled desires ?

Some of the incidents in the book seem far fetched , but Sreemoyee keeps the flow of the events as reaction to Meera's life in her husband's home. Beautiful or not , every woman has wants , both physical and emotional. Every woman deserves respect and truth from her partner . Without all this , there are bound to be regrets and complaints. But inspite of all this , Meera doesn't loses herself , doesn't cries herself to misery but instead works to be independent and supports the house ably in best possible ways.

The first part of the book describes Meera's life in her father's home with her twin brother Kartik , and that bond somehow defines all her life. From surrendering to a life less wedding and then finally walking out of it , she never forgets her brother , her best friend and partner. 

This was a difficult book to read , specially the erotic parts of the book. They can be little uncomfortable at times but its liberating too. That is a feeling I can not express too well but I can still thank the author for this wonderful book.

Rating : 4/5

==

"This book review is a part of The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program" . To get free books log on tothereaderscosmos.blogspot.com.

Eighty Days Blue - Vina Jackson

Some ten days back, I reviewed Eighty Days Yellow here. It is the first book of the Eighty Days Trilogy by Vina Jackson and Eighty Days Blue is the second book of the trilogy. 

In the previous book, Dominik, for whom Summer has fallen for flies down to New York to meet her. Eighty Days Blue begins from here, Dominik and Summer meet and have a good time in New York. They get to know each other better, visit a strip club and try it all. Dominik also moves to New York in a couple of months so that he can spend more time with Summer and also work on his research. Summer, when Dominik wasn't in New York, falls in a trap, cunningly set up by Victor, who knew Dominik and Summer since the time they both knew each other. Summer, because of her exceptional talent as a violinist grows popular after her few solo concert. With the help of his conductor Simon and an agent Susan, she gets to travel the world and perform everywhere, leaving Dominik behind and a lot more happens in the book.

In my opinion, on the story part, Eighty Days Blue goes strong. Though at times, you would feel why the author is dragging it too much but all the twists and turns keep the fire alive and makes you want to have more and more of Summer and Dominik. As usual, its an Erotica that too focussed on BDSM, there are orgies, threesomes, and a lot of action that happens throughout the book. Vina Jackson, or should I say both the authors have ensured that they give it all what an erotica is all about and have successfully managed to do so. Now I have to see what is there in the third and final instalment of the trilogy which is Eighty Days Red.

Book Source : Hachette India
Genre : Fiction, Erotica
ISBN : 978-1-4091-2776-5 

Eighty Days Yellow - Vina Jackson

It feels like, this is an era of Erotica. With 50 shades trilogy still rocking the charts, many people have tried their hands on writing erotica, some went unnoticed and some still trying hard to make a mark. I have read the whole 50 shades trilogy, then another erotica Haven Of Obedience, which I didn't like and now this Eighty Days trilogy by Vina Jackson. The books of the trilogy are named as Eighty Days Yellow, Eighty Days Blue and Eighty Days Red.

Eighty Days Yellow, the first book of the Eighty Days Trilogy opens up with the introduction of Summer Zahova, the protagonist of the book. She is originally from New Zealand but now is residing in London. She is a violinist and that too an extremely talented one, but she is not happy with the relationships that she was in. Darren, her boyfriend is a cold man, too busy with his work and pays least attention to Summer, which forces her to walk out of their relationship. Charlotte, Summer's friend takes her to a fetish club, where she experienced how it feels like to be dominated and during all this, she meet Dominik, in an extremely strange way. Dominik is an english literature professor and a filthy rich man. He doesn't speak much and lives in his own fantasy world.

I must say, Eighty Days Yellow, has a better narration and writing style than the first book of the 50 shades trilogy, 50 shades of grey. There is more story, less sex and that too without lengthy descriptions. The book finishes on a note that would definitely force you to pick up the second book of the series Eighty Days Blue. ( I already have it :D ). Vina Jackson's writing has a style and she knows how to portray emotions and feelings in words. The dialogues and narration doesn't sound gross and when it comes to the erotic parts of the story, it just gets better. All and all, a good attempt and readable. I liked it.

Book Source : Hachette India

Genre : Erotic Fiction

ISBN : 978-1-4091-2774-1

Haven of Obedience - Marina Anderson

 Title : Haven of Obedience

 Author : Marina Anderson

 Pages : 327

 Genre : Erotic Fiction

 Publisher : Hachette India

 ISBN : 978-0-7515-5051

Ever since 50 shades trilogy has bombed the booming publishing industry, a lot of authors are coming up with their books dedicated to erotic fiction and comparing them with the 50 shades trilogy. Well, there is no harm in that. I have read the entire 50 shades trilogy and I quite liked it too, not because of the erotica that it endorses but because there was a nice story in it. Nice but simple. Haven of Obedience happened to me when I was surfing Hachette India's website and I when I saw "Devoured Fifty Shades?", I thought let's give it a try and I did. Got this book this morning and here I am with its review :)

If you ask me to be completely honest with what I felt about Haven of Obedience, you will get a one word answer - Disappointing. After reading this 327 page book, I couldn't figure out what the author was trying to do. This might be the first negative review that I am posting here but I really couldn't figure out what was happening in the book. I kept turning its pages  because I thought, at some point there would be some story that would pop up but alas! 

The book opens up with a speech by Rob Gill, the main guide/instructor/owner of The Haven, based in Sussex, London. The Haven is basically a resort or retreat zone for people who want to explore their dark sexual desires. Natalie Bowen, a successful editor who runs her own magazine is London is introduced to this place by her best friend Jan. Jan spent a weekend at The Haven and came out a completely changed person. Natalie wanted something fresh in her life and she decided to spend 2 consecutive weekends at The Haven where she meets Simon and explores her sexual desires and limits with him as a tutor there. 

I so wish Marina Anderson had worked a bit on the storyline of the book. If the erotica is concerned, there is too much of it in the book. I mean at times I felt like I am reading a porn story. The language is pretty simple and the expressions are repetitive.     Considering this is a trilogy too, I am expecting the next books in the series to be carrying some story. I am definitely going to read them because I want to understand the author's idea behind coming up with something like this. :)

(Review asked by Hachette India)

Book Source : Hachette India

Fifty Shades of Grey- E.L James

There are some books which become viral not because of their content but because of the sheer curosity attached with it. When I found more and more females in the ladies compartment with this book and more college buddies reading it on their smartphones, I decided to give this book a fair chance and look what the hoopla is about.

The book starts with a 22 year old, about to graduate, Anastasia Steele describing her life at college and her room mate Katherine. Katherine works with the campus magazine and due to her falling sick, Ana volunteers to help with the interview of the young, successful entrepreneur -Christian Grey.
Ana, as described by herself, is clumsy, not-so-good looking and ends up getting nervous in front of the very charismatic and jaw dropping handsome. She returns feeling that the interview didn't go well.
The next few days, Christian repeatedly meets her under some pretext or the other until finally revealing that he desires her. Only not as his girlfriend .. as his submissive.
Ana is so mesmerized with Christian that she is ready to give BDSM a try, which she learns is bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, and sadism/masochism .

The book from this part is erotica. Every two pages there will be sex between Ana and Grey and rest of the portion Christian will be darkening his eyes and Ana will feel her muscles below the waist tightening :P
Yes the book is full of such lines which get repetitive. Initially Ana is a novice with no idea what Christian's world consists of. Christian wants her to sign a three month contract whereby she will spend the weekends with him and will have to adhere to the terms of the contract (which is pages and pages of conducts :P) Ana, although still mad in love to think rationally, is confused about her feelings about the contract. A part of her likes the kinky world Christian introduced her to but is afraid to endure the pain that comes with the package or what Christian says is just her imagination. 
Christian Grey as he himself proclaims is "fifty shades fucked up". A complex character built by a disturbing past, adoption into a perfect family and being a submissive once himself! Although domineering in many cases, Ana strikes a chord with the lost boy who doesn't like to be touched at some places of his body. The contract gives way to "more" and it gets darker from there. 

The author is said to be inspired from Twilight and it is very evident from the book. Anastasia bears striking resemblance to Bella Swan. She has low self worth, clumsy, been a born adult, has a mother who has made mistakes in her 3 marriages, does not like to be given expensive gifts and many more. Christian  seems to read her mind ( Something which Edward couldn't do with Bella :D :D ) , is stinking rich,a personality which makes woman gape, with a supportive family and a very chirpy sister who reminds you of Alice from Twilight! 

Some of the original parts of the book like the smart talks between Ana and Christian and their email correspondences bring a smile on your face. Perhaps that's the only part you will forward to, once the novelty wears off! :D 

Give it a read if you can bear to read so much of kinky stuff ( I honestly rushed through the frequent ones which had  no link with the events happening :P ).
 I wonder if they said " Women are too classy to watch porn but will read the fuck out of it " after this book :P IT gets too much even for a patient reader like me :P 


Rating- 1.5 /5


P.S- Like I promised, 14th september :D The next 2 parts will be written about soon.. Yes, I m already done with them..