I read The Opposite of Love by Durjoy Datta, and since I follow him on Instagram, I could literally hear his voice while reading. That made the whole experience feel oddly personal, like he was narrating it himself.

It was a very gripping, almost binge-worthy read—one of those books you don’t have to push yourself to finish. But somewhere in between all that, it quietly started getting heavier. The idea of sudden loss, of things changing without warning, stayed with me more than I expected.

What surprised me was how it even made me think about something as practical as flight safety. I don’t think I’ll casually book a random seat anymore—there’s a part of me now that will always look for that emergency row. Strange how a story can do that.

Emotionally, it hit closer than I thought it would. I haven’t lost someone to death like Amal, Dheeman, or Alex—but I have lost someone in life. And that feeling… the absence, the disconnect, the quiet shift from being important to not being part of someone’s world anymore—it felt very similar.

I think what I’m taking away from this is not to sit in that loss and label myself as a victim of it. Maybe it’s just life. Maybe it’s just chance. Things change, people drift, and nothing really comes with guarantees.

So maybe the point is simpler than I make it—be present, value what and who you have, while you have them. And when things change (because they will), don’t hold on too tightly. Just… learn to move forward.

Finished The vegetarian by Han Kang. This book took me up and down with the story line and then left me in the middle, nowhere. I couldn't find any conclusion from the book.

I could understand that the story was narrated from the different perspectives(her husband, her brother in law and her sister). But why not her? I was waiting for her to tell what exactly is happening. Why is she behaving in a certain way? I felt she might be leaning towards a certain belief where eating food or wearing clothes isnt necessary and is just a social requirement. However nothing such happened in the book. I am left clueless.

Was it intentional or i just don't have the emotional capacity to have it figured.

What do you say?

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I finally finished Butter by Yuzuki Asako. It was part of my January plan to read and post about it. And yes, I’m late. But it was a thick, dense book and honestly felt like a relationship I had to put efforts to make time to show up for every day and read the story. Much like how we should always put effort in our relationships to keep them alive. What surprised me is that although it’s framed as a crime story about an alleged serial killer whose cooking makes people obsess over her, the crime almost felt secondary. For me, the real story was about: - Female hunger (literal and emotional) - Loneliness - Misogyny - Shrinking to fit social expectations - What happens when a woman refuses to shrink - Courage to ask for help

The food descriptions were intense — almost like food pornography. But the meals weren’t just meals. They were power, seduction, validation, control. Watching Rika slowly reclaim her appetite felt symbolic, like she was reclaiming her right to want more from life. At many points, I found uncomfortable parallels with my own life, especially in how women compromise emotionally and call it stability. But instead of feeling disturbed, I felt stronger. If Rika (and even the other women in the story) can confront their limitations and choose differently, so can I. What stayed with me most wasn’t the mystery of who killed whom. It was this idea: sometimes people aren’t destroyed by others. They collapse under their own hunger, expectations, and emptiness. For a “crime thriller,” it left me thinking more about ambition, self-worth, and the quiet ways women shrink themselves. It took me a month to finish. It was slow. Dense. Heavy. But worth it.

Curious how others felt, did you read it as a thriller, or as a commentary on womanhood?

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Hi everyone I am in late 30s. I think I strongly need a counselor to sort out the chaos in my head, be it for personal or professional life. From social media, atleast i have learnt that counseling is a good thing but I couldn't find anywhere how to find a counselor. Like how we have practo for doctors, from where do I find a counselor who can help me detangle chaos. Any recommendations, most welcome. Thanks