29 June, 2017

#BookReview :: Breathing Two Worlds by Ruchira Khanna

Neena Arya, a Delhi-born goes abroad for further studies and decides to settle down there. Determined to be a 'somebody' from a 'nobody' she blends with the Americans via the accent and their mannerisms while having a live-in relationship with her European boyfriend, Adan Somoza. 

When illness hits home, Neena rushes to meet her ailing dad. Tragedy strikes and amidst the mingling with relatives and friends, she finds herself suffocated with the two different cultures that she has been breathing since she moved to the United States. How will she strike a balance between both the cultures as she continues to support her widowed mother? Will she be able to do justice to her personal and professional life after the loss? 

Amidst the adjusting she bonds with an ally and learns about ties beyond blood. On what grounds will she be able to form an invisible thread that she has longed for since childhood?

Breathing Two Worlds ventures into cultures and ethnicity allowing Neena to ponder upon her foundation and priorities.


Breathing Two Worlds is a straightforward story of Neena, a Delhi girl. She ventures out into the world by going abroad for her higher studies and then decides to settle down there. When her father’s health deteriorates, she comes back to India. 

Neena is a modern age girl with values. As she sees the more and more of the world around her, she adjusts accordingly. She is a strong girl with mostly a pragmatic approach to life. As we see her in different settings, we see her struggling to maintain a balance on all aspects of her life. I know that it is difficult to go to a foreign country and to accept and settle in to their ways of life. Then to come back after a while to the culture that she was born to but something so different from what she was trying to settle in… It is a huge step. From balancing out the different cultures to balancing her personal and professional life – one needs a great amount of strength and will power for it. The question is whether Neena will manage it or not. Well you will have to read the book to find out.

It is noticeable that I am only talking about Neena and not any other character from the book. It is because thought there are quite a few characters in the book, none of them are in the spotlight. They are there to provide some depth to Neena’s life and that is all. This book is essentially about Neena alone. The book is well narrated and properly paced. The ending seemed slightly rushed. 

Over all, it is an interesting read for contemporary lovers.


Review Copy received from the Author



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