Did You Ever Love Me? by Rithvik Singh is a tender contemporary poetry collection about love, heartbreak, longing, self worth and learning to let go. Its greatest strength is emotional accessibility: Singh writes directly to readers who feel intensely and care deeply. The collection offers comfort without pretending heartbreak is simple, though its simplicity may occasionally feel familiar to seasoned poetry readers. Did you Ever Love Me? Have you ever loved someone so completely that, after they left, you were left wondering whether they had ever understood what they had been given? Not merely whether they loved you, but whether they ever noticed how much you loved them, how much patience you offered, how many small things you remembered, or how often you chose to stay when leaving might have been easier. There is a particular loneliness in that question because it rarely arrives at a dramatic moment. More often, it finds you while you are doing something completely ordinary. Yo...
This is my first time contributing here and I thank Tushar for the invite. I read a lot of books when I have the time and I've reviewed a few on my own blog. I decided as my very first post, to review a book that I already have on my blog. So here goes.
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult has got to be one of the most powerful books I've ever read.
No other book has made me sob like this one.
No other book has made me smile like this one.
No other book has felt so real (in spite of it being fiction)
No other book has made me experience the wide gamut of emotions that I did whilst reading the book.
So what is it about the book that makes it so special?
Well, for me personally, the style of the book was awesome to start of with. Almost every character is presented in first person. How does Picoult do that? She lets each character have a say and have their voice heard in each chapter. Then of course, the story itself is a heart-wrenching one.
The book is about a family...a family with 3 children and one of whom (the middle child) has cancer. The third child was conceived to be a donor for the girl with cancer. She doesn't have a say in the matter until 12 years on, she is frustrated. She has had to forego more things than just donate a bone marrow or blood. She has had to put her life on hold for her sister. And she has had enough. She goes to see a lawyer to get the rights to her own body. And all hell breaks loose when the family finds out. Is there a right answer? I don't know. The mother is livid; the father torn. The daughter that has cancer does not have an opinion in the book i.e. she is the only character whose point of view is not presented to us. The older brother could not care less. The book takes us through all of their thoughts, their feelings, their emotions. The reader manages to empathise with each and every character (which is saying something...) I don't want to give away the ending in case you haven't read the book...but it is possibly one of the most unexpected endings.
The book makes you ask the biggest question: Would I do this for someone I loved?
The answer: I don't know.
I would donate if I had a choice.
But would I like to if I wasn't given one? If I was forced to without being asked? If I were made to feel guilty for not wanting to?
Like I said, if I were in Annie's place, I don't know what I'd do.
What would you do?
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