Book Review: You Beneath Your Skin by Damyanti Biswas

Title- You Beneath Your Skin

Author- Damyanti Biswas

Publisher- Simon & Schuster India

Genre-Fiction

Length-390 pages

Year-2019

Rating-4/5 stars

Damyanti Biswas' maiden work "You Beneath Your Skin" is undoubtedly one of those rare narratives that shakes one to the core and impel them to ponder over the current situation of the Indian society. The story revolves around Anjali Morgan, a brave psychiatrist and mother of an autistic teenage son, Nikhil. Her life shatteres when she becomes a victim of acid attack.It is a story of Anjali's survival, her battle for identity. 

Even in a modern Indian society Anjali is doubly marginalized, first for being a woman and secondly for having an autistic son.Now with the acid attack she becomes a member of that section of the society who are looked with disgust,  the people who are considered "Walking Dead". In a society like India where rape is considered as a heinous crime but the acid attackers often get away easily, the book raises some serious questions.

I believe this book is a result of deep observation. The long 12 years the author spent in writing as well as her association with the organization Project Why who works for the underprivileged children, results in this amazing work. Though it is her first work I am very surprised to observe the maturity in her writing style. Through her amazing narrative style coupled with exact words and metaphors makes the story alive. 

The use of colloquial words and phrases helps the reader to feel connected with the narrative. I absolutely loved the way she has introduced the characters and decribes the condition of the people at slums, especially the girls who becomes the innocent victim of child-trafficking.The innocence of Sakhi made me cry.

The book gives us an inside view into the life of an acid attack survivor and perfectly portrays the treatment of society towards them. I believe through reading this book the readers will seriously think about the issue.

Overall, it was an eye-opening read.I highly recommend this book to read. This is a book about the very society we live in and the condition will change when we will raise our voice against the injustice.

I give this book 4 stars for the powerful writing and excellent narration.

Happy Reading