Life Is What You Make It’ was Preeti Shenoy’s second book and was published in 2011. A love story and a mental health condition form the backdrop of the story in which the protagonist Ankita goes through an emotional roller coaster ride and takes us along.
It is one for the first and few books by an Indian author which illustrates how a mental health issue might feel like to someone who experiences it. We admire Ankita for her capabilities and intellect, hate her for her pragmatic attitude towards love, are moved by her emotional turmoil, and even try to find the reason for her illness. It stirs empathy in us as we go through Ankita’s ups and downs with her. Her helplessness is heart tugging; her struggles and slow road to recovery offer a realistic insight into bipolar disorder and those affected by it.
The writing is simple, restraint and the book winds up in close to 200 pages – probably a deliberate attempt to reach as many readers as possible. And because of this, at least India will be more open to talk about, get accustomed to and accept mental health issues as any other health concern.
The story felt suspended with a lot of unanswered questions which Preeti tries to answer in a short epilogue. Probably that didn’t satisfy the readers and hence the author is out with the book’s sequel ‘Wake Up, Life is Calling’ in April 2019.
Paperback: 224 pages | Publisher: Srishti Publishers. First edition 2011 | Language: English
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