3 Review(s)

This book of poems has been written by the "different one", the "difficult one", the "black sheep"- branded as such since childhood, and now outcasted by conformist society. As such, the book talks about issues of identity, love, passion, heartache, fear, abuse and discrimination- all the things that make up the everyday life of a woman. But it also talks about resilience and strength, the reservoir of adamantine strength every woman has within herself which help her live through these daily experiences. Most of the content might be deemed unabashed and explicit, but that is because most of it is autobiographical- stories taken partly from the author's own life and partly from those of other women. The title of the book points towards the enforced silence most women have conditioned themselves into, not telling their parents, partners etc how they really feel; for fear that they will either be shamed, ridiculed or just plain misunderstood. A woman, after all, is 'needy' and/or 'clingy' if she first professes her love! The subtext of the poems themselves is the concept of Woman as the 'Other', the hierarchical differentiation between 'us' and them', which is just one of the ways in which our society is structured.But at the end of the day, this book is not a tragedy. It is a love story; myriad love stories woven together, because even amidst all defeat, they keep the hope of love alive.