Girl in a million

This book brought back memories of my school . The bond we girls shared and some secrets we kept as well . The book captured the emotions , sentiments and the bond school girls have when life was so much more simple those days . Makes me question , do teenage girls today have this experience ? Or is it muddled with technology and devoid of deep connections .

A light read, bringing back memories of school in India. Interestingly woven, bringing past and present lives of the 4 girls. Well written and thought provoking insights and thoughts, hidden all through the book.

It’s an interesting story about 4 friends who are absolutely nothing like each other but are bonded by the beautiful string of FriendshipIts captures and blends the past with the present. As the years go by even though they drift apart they still share that special bond that makes them lean on each otherOnce you get into the flow of the plot it is an entertaining read. Initially you might find it a bit difficult to understand the plot but as the story unfolds it all comes together beautifullyIt makes you think about your own friendships in your growing up years, brings back lot of memoriesWell written and a good read

I have to admit that it took me a while to actually start this book. Was waiting for the time I could indulge peacefully. But once I did make it through the fist chapter I could hardly put it down. Could strongly relate with this story of bonding. Actually anyone can relate to the story which brings back the memories of friendship .

Perfect copy received! A tale about four friends, their school memories, and reminiscence of a difficult memory. How do you deal with a tragic incident that you couldn’t prevent?This book is a gentle read that takes you through many lives, many thoughts and their bittersweet path to normalcy. For anyone looking for a read full of emotions with a good written word! I especially loved the idyllic description of Ootukudi, and how Sagu becomes #girlinamillion !Author has given a new light to a heart-touching story!

For me a good story is one, which let me move swiftly across its plots, which let me observe & understand its characters, which empowers me at the end, which live with me for the rest of my life. This book surely empowered me, but I had a hard time understanding this; it was not an easy or swift read, rather the writing style was so typical and complicated that I had to focus more on understanding lines instead of becoming a part of the story being told.This story is about the dark past of Dr.Sagarika Murthy Yadav, the protagonist; and how she conquered that darkness over time. Sagu (nickname for Sagarika) and her friends- Ratna, Malini, Shurthi, Marge; each girl is different from the other and yet they are best friends. Their friendship and adventures will surely make you nostalgic; and you will feel immense love towards your friend circle, but writing this story in form of present and then a flashback then again in present, made it all a bit confusing. Also, author used typical English, not only to emphasize at some moments, but also throughout the story.The book holds the power to empower & encourage you in the end, it will also in some sort teach you how to conquer your deep dark past; but for me this book didn’t work. I had hard time understanding it, it took a lot of effort from me to connect with the story.

Even though it is not one, ‘Girl in a Million’ reads like a well-written memoir. The book is set in Ooty or Ootacamund as the hill station was known at that time and explores the life of four friends who band together and choose to call themselves the Zenana. This is one part that I am sure most of us will identify with – friendships and coating ourselves in a faux sense of security by giving the relationship a name. Haven’t we all done that, at one time or the other, in our school lives? But, does that faux sense extend to envelop us in security, in reality? Well, that is what the book explores via tragedy and helplessness over that one tragic incident.Within the folds of the book is contained a story of the aforementioned friendships, relationships and also grit. The four girls are as different as chalk and cheese and yet they connect over their differences to form an everlasting bond. The book takes you through the past and present lives of the central protagonist Dr Sagarika (aka our Girl in a Million – Koteshwari) and focuses on the relationships in her life and the associations that she forms therein. But, sometimes the past shackles us so brutally that its echoes ricochet through periods of our present and even shadow our yet to be experienced future. That is the theme of the book. This is a book about overcoming the past, about triumphing over the incendiary incidents of the past that tend to leave an indelible mark both psychologically and emotionally.The language in the book is beautiful with POVs that shift between the main protagonist and also the supporting characters. That makes for a nice break from the monotony of uni-tone. The narrative is even-paced and equal space has been given to each individual character to etch their personality sketch. But, the back and forth between the POVs, and the past and the present, takes a concentrated effort to understand if one is not paying attention to the story line. If you miss the introductory parts or treat the book as a breezy read then you are likely to miss out on the intricate plot incorporated later on in the book.All in all, the book manages to capture the interest if you like story lines with suspense and a hint of thrill that are backed by good language.

There is something special about a bond forged during the carefree days of one’s school life. It starts off as unbreakable, with vociferous vows being taken, never ever to snap it off. Then it settles down somewhat into a domestic bliss, those occasional skirmishes notwithstanding. This bond is put to the most stringent of tests, when the time comes to fly the nest, and the big, bad, and real world lures us into its world of grandeur, deceit and practicality.‘Girl in a Million’ by Anitha Padanattil is much more than Sagarika’s journey as a koteeshwari. It is not a standalone dish like lemon rice with pickles thrown in for good measure. It is a full course meal, or as they say in Tamil – a saddi. A dish in itself is not complete; on the other hand, it is complemented by its other companions, including the ubiquitous banana leaf. Sagarika Murthy Yadav’s story derives its spices and flavours from other protagonists – Shruthi, Margie, and Ratna. Together, they form the Zenana – of the women, for the women, and by the women. For characters like Velan and Manaiya come and go, teaching us a lesson or two about thorns and roses in a flower garden, but the girls stick together through thick and thin.The story kicks off in the fictional town of Oothukudi in South India, but every reader gets a sense of déjà vu by the time they finish the book. Haven’t we come across girls who are happy in their own cocoon of Home Science and cooking, who wants to breach the male bastion of mean bikes, who are happy serving humanity, who face obstacles head-on, with or without the support of a Jaipur foot?This sense of familiarity is what makes the book appealing. Add to it – the simple, yet effective vocabulary which makes the reading such a pleasant experience. What’s the fun of curling up with a paperback if you need to consult a dictionary every now and then? The Tamil vocabulary might be off-putting to some readers, but a quick referral to the glossary helps. I am all for using vernacular words occasionally, for they add the local tadka to the flavour. If you get the hang of it, you will realise that Murugan admiring his Sagu papa is more endearing than Sagu baby!To me, what was a tad bothersome, was the frequent shift in PoV. It oscillated between the four girls, with Manaiya and Murugan making their cameos as well. It didn’t dilute the essence of the story, but I took time to acclimatize myself to the central characters, including the demons they fought, and won over ultimately. Having said that, I finally became comfortable with the girls, and I laughed and cried with them, and celebrated their milestones – minor or lifechanging.‘Girl in a Million’ is a book worth having in your mini-library. Buy it. Enjoy it. Who knows, while scrolling through your chats in the school WhatsApp group, you might just find the koteeshwari – within you or amongst you! Now, that’s something!

Girl in a Million is a book of childhood, friendships, bonds that break, bonds that stay, loss of innocence, loss of lives, and much more. It is a bittersweet story where the narration moves between the past and present to give readers a glimpse into the life of Sagarika and her gang of friends from school.What connects them? What binds them despite the differences? What makes them lean on each other even after drifting apart for years? You’ll find the answers to these questions and more.As the title highlights, the book primarily deals with the life of Sagarika and why she was christened girl in a million.The narrative shifts and alters between different POVs, with Sagarika’s being the primary voice. We see things from her perspective, in bits and pieces, as we continue to piece together the past and present.The narrative is mellow and takes time to establish itself. Once you get into the flow, the book becomes easier to read. The author’s vocab seems to be the highlight of the book, though readers like me don’t have to get annoyed by the extensive use of Tharoorish language. The author balances it well, making the narration appear seamless.As you would have guessed from the blurb, there is darkness surrounding our leading lady. What is it, and will she be able to come out from it? You’ll have to read the book to know.