*Book Review : 31 Miles: Can We Ever Win Against Ourselves? by Vinita Bakshi

Name of the Book: 31 Miles: Can We Ever Win Against Ourselves?

Author: Vinita Bakshi

Publisher: Rupa Publications India

About the Author: Vinita Bakshi is an-award winning sociologist and social entrepreneur. She is an alumunus of prestigious Delhi School of Economics.
She has founded a non-profit organization-AAMBRA Foundation, with a vision towards women empowerment and skill development. She is the chief architect and brain behind, She Speaks, a triennial seminar series dealing with the issues faced by the contemporary South Asian women. She is also the founder of AMBROTSAVE, an annual cultural festival which brings to the fore not only Literature but also the visual and performing arts, crafts, cuisines, weaves and many waning traditions of India. She is currently serving as Director of National Institute of Jewelry (NIJ), Delhi.
Vinita has a passion for literature and writes fiction and non-fiction, bilingually in English and Hindi. She has also published papers on gender on feminism. (Via Amazon)

Blurb: Mansa has the perfect family life—a husband, two daughters and a big house. But she feels that something is missing. Her frustration with being just a homemaker intensifies. After shifting to a major city, she decides to take the reins of her life in her own hands, she decides to step out and seek a career. While enjoying the new-found freedom and confidence, she completely immerses herself in her work and her new life. Till one fateful day when she finds herself embroiled in a passionate affair—with an online lover. And then everything falls apart!
31 Miles is the story of a woman who finds her own worth after marriage and works towards self-emancipation. Will she give it all up for the elusive mirage created by the stranger? What turn will her life take next? (Via Amazon)

Verdict: As the blurb clearly states, the story is about Mansa who is happily settled in her life with a perfect family. She has everything that someone wants but still she misses something in her life. After taking hold of her life and career in her hands she is overwhelmed with the exposure of outside world and the pleasure of earning on her own, until the day she found herself passionately involved with an online lover. She is stuck between her perfect family and the passion she feels for a man she hasn’t met. What happens in her life? Will he give up her family, her perfect life and kids for an online lover? Or will she keep on suppressing her passion and live her life with her husband and daughters? Let’s find out.!

Positives:                                     

1) Good story line.

2) Amazing cover.

3) The characters have been described to their true self.

Negatives:

1)   There are some times where the discussions of life and relationships feel stretched and repeated.

2)   Once Madhulika’s name has been replaced by Malvika.

3)   Few editing mistakes which if corrected could make reading more interesting.

To sum up with the review the mid portion does seem to be repetitive with philosophies of love and life but once that is over the story will keep you hooked as it moves further into Mansa’s life. The end will shake off whatever the reader feels about the story and will wait to know more about Mansa and her life. The downsides of the story are the editing mistakes and the repetitive narration of life and love that Mansa has in her mind. It’s still worth reading for I am surely waiting for the next part to come.

Ratings: 3 OUT OF 5.

Book Details:

Title: 31 Miles: Can We Ever Win Against Ourselves?

Publisher: Rupa Publications India

Author: Vinita Bakshi

Edition: Paperback

Language: English

ISBN-13: 978-8129142290

No. of Pages: 234

Price:  207 Rs

Purchase Link:   Click Here

©Heena Ahuja

2^nd January, 2017


*This book has been provided to the reviewer by the author.