Author: Shefali Tripathi Mehta
Publisher: Niyogi Books (Olive Turtle)
Genre: Fiction
Format: Paperback
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Shefali Tripathi Mehta's latest work 'People on Our Roof' deals with the issues of meaninglessness and existential crisis in general and mental health in particular. Through the passionate story of a family's struggle for existence and their personal search for meaning amidst utter chaos, the work shows how the female who is already marginalised in a patriarchal setting due to her gender and who is supposed to follow a particular lifestyle can be doubly marginalised, firstly due to her gender and secondly due to her mental illness. The story revolves around Naina who lives in a colony in south Delhi with her mother,sister and the stigma that mental health 'runs in the family'. But as the story unfolds we discover Naina in a different light with her determination to discover the truth behind her father's disappearance.
What I personally loved the most about this phenomenal work is the way it expresses the truth without any judgment and with an authenticity which makes it worth reading. Rather than a disorder to be ashamed of, author Shefali encourages the readers to look at their anxiety as an intimate aspect of who they are. It is heartbreaking to read at times but also leaves you in awe of the way the family deals with every situation.
The book is a fantastic read, especially for anyone who ever wondered what dealing with mental health illnesses is like. I sincerely hope this groundbreaking work will help break the stigmas that so easily surround the mental health space.
The cover design by Misha Oberoi perfectly portrays the theme of loss and trauma.
I give this work 4.5 stars and encourage everyone to go through it.
Happy Reading
No comments:
Post a Comment
If you have any doubts, let me know