Book Review – Papa & I

Someone has said that only when you become a parent do you know what all it entails to become one. There’s so much we learn from our parents many of which a lot of us truly understand only when they are gone. But it doesn’t always have to be this way. When I saw Pooja’s book, I was quite keen to see what she has penned down.

The blurb goes like this:

“Sometimes I think my papa is an accordion. When he looks at me and smiles and breathes, I hear the notes.” – Markus Zusak

Papa & I is a collection of the author’s writings dedicated to her late father. In the middle of the COVID19 pandemic, many people are experiencing the grief of past losses and anticipatory grief of future fears. This compilation is for anyone who has lost a loved one to death, particularly a parent whom they deeply loved.

The title and the cover truly indicate that this book is an ode to her father and what all she has learnt from him over the years. I am sure so many of us can apply these learnings to our lives as well.

The book is divided into three sections – prose, poetry and random notes. Prose includes a letter and a few thoughts on how Pooja felt growing up around her parents and the way her father took care of her by instilling different values.

The poetry section is the best one of all as it takes us through the different moments of Pooja’s life with her father including life and death. I also quite like the fact of how she is instilling many of the values she learnt over the years from her dad into her daughter.

The random notes section has a few letters t0 her father. I truly feel that Pooja’s writing is heartfelt and each poem is full of so many emotions which she went through during every stage of her life with her father around. I am sure each of us will feel close to the book in our own way.

As far as negatives are concerned, I didn’t really find any. But the only suggestion I would have is for the random notes section and the prose section to be merged into one.

All in all, a really warm take on the father-child relationship.

You can download the book here.

Rating – 4.5/5

About the Author

Pooja Priyamvada is an author, columnist, professional translator and online content and Social Media consultant. She is also an awarded bi-lingual blogger who also offers psychological first aid in India, and has been associated with reputed national and international online addresses.

Her translation titled A Night in the Hills, a collection of short stories by Manav Kaul has been published by Westland Books in 2019. Her e-book Mental Health: A Primer is available on Amazon Kindle. She blogs at Second Thoughts First and पार्श्व स्वर.

My book

And just before you leave, I would like to let you all know that I have written an ebook too as part of the Blogchatter Ebook Carnival and is available for a limited time for FREE download here.