Marrying Anita - Anita Jain

No , this is not your run of the mill love story . Nor is this the story of an Indian living abroad finding her happy ending in India. This is the real life of Anita Jain , a woman in her thirties and her story of how she struggles to find a husband . It is not that she cannot find men , she does. Many. But none that will marry her or that she can marry. The story revolves basically around Anita's life in New York and New Delhi. Set in parts in the same book, both parts revolve around her thoughts , views , her parents , her background , friends . And mainly her many boyfriends  [ at different times ] , her sexual relations/encounters , her dates , friends and travel . 

Being thirty and still single is a situation that most people detest . Especially single women and Anita is one amongst those . What sets her story apart is her intelligence , open mindedness and frank opinions on everything in life. Oh and of course her aspirations of love and dating and quirky observations of new age India . 

Part one of the novel revolves around Anita's life in New York , her parents and their constant worry and nags to get her married .Her historical background of relationships , work and babbles with friends . Her struggles of finding a spouse on shaadi.com and the various situations she lives in the process , make for an interestingly funny read.

Then comes Anita's decision to travel to India in a desperate attempt to find a husband at least there after being unsuccessful in the US. New Delhi is her obvious destination since she lived there once before while on a work stint. Being a woman of the world [she's traveled to Mexico City , London , Singapore ,etc.] her experiences and expectations are sometimes deflated when she meets men. Her previous views of Delhi are completely overturned when she's introduced to the Bollyhood hating , Jimi Hendrix loving hash smokers. She relishes the friendship of gaymen in New Delhi much as she did in New York . Her notes on Indian men , work ethics , encounters with prospective grooms , Indian prices and pubs all give a familiar view to an urban Indian and a not-my-India view to most others. Surviving on her own in her apartment with the help of Amma [her cook] and Chandra [her maid] , Anita throws parties , brings home men and enjoys the Delhi views. 

Read on if you want to enjoy a quirky , funny and refreshingly intelligent views of a thirty-something born Indian-bred American woman who's real life is printed now for the world.

Marshmallows for Breakfast - Dorothy Koomson

This being the first ever book i read of Dorothy Koomson , I took it from the shelf solely due to the cover . A woman and child and marshmallows. Definitely interesting. And trust me , the story got more interesting and involving as i turned the pages . I expected the book to contain a simple story with a happy ending. I was not prepared for it to make me think or feel for the characters . It is truly a book of love , hurt , healing and moving on . But thankfully does not make for a soppy read , instead the simple writing and evolving characters leave a mark by the end.

As is the set background in most of her novels , Koomson writes about a British African. Returning to UK from Australia is Kendra Tamale. Living in hurt from her past , she rents an apartment from a family that is pretty messed up. Try as does , she cannot help but get involved . She only seeks to gain peace and closure and to be left alone . And that is the last thing that she gets , thanks to the six year twins Jason and Summer . Living with only their dad , the twins take to Kendra like moths to light. But the mystery of their mother's departure is not as simple as they try to put it . The Gadsborough family adopts Kendra as their own , even though she's 'black' ; as noticed by the kids . Her apartment is the kids sanctuary . The kids company is her balm . And then there are the kids parents ; a dad who's beginning to open upto Kendra and a struggling to deal with his wife and life.

Though the cover suggests a soft theme and a light chic lit , the book is definitely a higher dose of thought provoking read . It makes one think and not just about the simple things in life .It is a book that deals with confronting oneself , finding closure and basically healing from hurt and moving on. Definitely a book that one can enjoy but not a light read for sure.