The Year of Less

Author: Cait Flanders
Genre: Nonfiction
Rating: 1 out of 5
Pages: 189
Date Started: 13 February 2024
Date Finished: 27 February 2024

"The Year of Less" by Cait Flanders promises a journey into minimalism and intentional living, but for some readers, it fails to deliver on its premise. The book chronicles Flanders' year-long challenge to abstain from non-essential purchases, focusing instead on consumables like groceries and toiletries. However, rather than a thoughtful exploration of living with less, I found the narrative dominated by the author's personal struggles and unrelated anecdotes.

One of the primary criticisms of the book is its heavy emphasis on Flanders' personal issues, including her struggles with addiction, relationships, and family dynamics. Instead of offering practical guidance on decluttering and simplifying one's life, I found myself inundated with stories of Flanders' romantic breakups, binge eating, alcoholism, and parental divorce. This focus on personal drama leaves little room for meaningful discussions on consumerism and intentional consumption.

Moreover, I was disappointed with the lack of substantive content related to minimalism and mindful consumption. While they expected insights into the psychology of purchasing decisions and reflections on the value of possessions, they instead encountered repetitive anecdotes about buying expensive coffee and candles. The book's failure to delve into broader discussions about consumer culture and the environmental impact of overconsumption left me unsatisfied and disconnected from the central theme.

Overall, "The Year of Less" may appeal to readers interested in personal memoirs and stories of overcoming adversity. However, for those seeking practical advice on minimalism and intentional living, the book falls short, offering more self-indulgent storytelling than substantive insights into living with less.

The Curse Of Gandhari

Author: Aditi Banerjee
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 1 out of 5
Pages: 336
Date Started: 28 January 2024
Date Finished: 11 February 2024

Aditi Banerjee's "The Curse of Gandhari" presents an intriguing premise: Gandhari, with only one day left to live, reflects on her life, filled with unfairness and the burden of her choices. However, my reading experience left me feeling disappointed and somewhat misled by the title and synopsis.

The narrative predominantly revolves around Gandhari's life journey, delving into her experiences as a fiercely intelligent princess who voluntarily blindfolded herself for her visually impaired husband, Dhritarashtra. Banerjee explores Gandhari's painful pregnancy and her role as the mother of one hundred unworthy sons, each seemingly indistinguishable from the other. The story also highlights Gandhari's tapasya (ascetic practices), which failed to earn her the same respect and admiration as Draupadi and Kunti, further adding to her sense of isolation and unfairness.

Despite the promise of a focus on Gandhari's curse, the book primarily serves as a summarized retelling of the Mahabharata, with Gandhari's perspective as the central thread. The narrative tends to repeat situations and reactions, resulting in a monotonous reading experience devoid of surprises. This repetition further detracts from the exploration of Gandhari's curse and its significance, leaving the reader questioning the purpose of the book.

The lack of depth in exploring Gandhari's curse is a notable flaw. While the title suggests a deeper examination of the curse and its origins, the narrative falls short of delivering on this premise. Instead, it offers a surface-level exploration of Gandhari's struggles and sacrifices without delving into the intricacies of her curse and its implications.

Overall, "The Curse of Gandhari" feels more like a summarized version of the Mahabharata rather than a focused exploration of Gandhari's curse. The title and synopsis may lead readers to expect a deeper dive into Gandhari's character and the curse that defines her, but the book ultimately fails to deliver on this promise. As a result, readers seeking a nuanced exploration of Gandhari's curse may find themselves disappointed by the lack of depth and focus in Banerjee's narrative.

Favorite lines from the book:

• That is a hard price of breaking a vow. Sometimes you cannot understand what you have entered into, what you have cost yourself by a sacrifice, a view. And you break it,  you cannot know how everything may be lost. Everything.
• There is a word for orphan, but no word for a mother who has lost all her children.