Being Me: A brilliant balance between fiction and non-fiction!

Kshipra Bhandari Narain

One thing that strikes foremost after reading the blurb of the book ‘Being Me…A Woman in Progress 24X7' is the relatability of the topic. The story of most individuals in today's times - testing, trying, rewarding yet complicated.

A woman's dilemma as she grows up to being an independent entity, then a wife and mother. A journey that traverses day to day issues with emotionality and practicality - two parts of the same coin yet poles apart.

The book is about one such woman, in her late 30's-going on 40, who discovers an unharnessed passion, after eight years of last stepping into an office to work.

A woman who takes a sabbatical to nurture her kids and build a family. In the interim, she goes through a plethora of experiences. From feeling lost about her identity to despair and exasperation. From moving locations with a workaholic husband to rethreading her lost dreams.

The messaging of the book is clear - a woman makes tough choices, between family and career, routine and ambiguity. How she strikes the balance, with her chaos intact is the crux of the story.

This book is a candid narrative that travels through eight years in the life of the protagonist.

It seems a close spin-off from the author's own personal life and that makes the whole journey even more vulnerable because she has unfolded the chapters with purity and confidence. And that is what works in the debut author's favour. She spells her heart out with genuine truthfulness, which helps her strike the connect with her readers. No frills attached. No wordy Thesaurus thrown in to create complexities. It's got the heart and that matters.

The subject of sabbatical is delt with precision and practicality. She doesn't put it in the negative light, but harps on the basic morale of her story - every experience in life has a reason attached to it. Live through it.

Her journey from patience to impulse, from love to frustrations, from confidence to Undermining spills through the pages. In short her torn situation between the world she left behind and the one she created.

A special mention for the character of Mr. Macho, the husband. Empathising with the opposite gender, that too without any complexes or negative overtures, is a surprise change. There is no melodrama, but a beautiful love-hate relationship, full of understanding and support. A character worth reading about. Mr. Macho stands out!

As a debut author, Kshipra manages to hit home with the simplicity of the theme. The philosophical nuggets at the end of chapters gives it the gravitas of invoking thoughts that urge readers to introspect. Watch out for them.

Why should the book be read? To retrospect! Period.

The episodes, the experiences could be the protagonists, but the mental and physical identification will be common to most. For the reader, this book will present a large diaspora of emotions and the understanding that nothing is right or wrong in our journeys. The way we handle and perceive them is crucial.

The book is published under the banner of Vishwakarma Publications and has been represented by India's leading literary agency, The Book Bakers.

Kshipra Bhandari Narain: Author Bio

Journalist, author, poet by choice, management professional by education.

Kshipra has close to 20 years' experience in Corporate Human Resources, Media & Communications and Consulting that have been core aspects in her journey.

A change management specialist, she has worked with numerous corporate giants, such as General Electric, Wipro Technologies, ICICI Bank, post Masters' in Business Administration, with specialization in Human Resources. After this, she transitioned to consulting and headed the Leadership vertical for Time Managers' International, a global pioneer in leadership training.

A sabbatical and a geographical movement later, she published her debut book and followed her passion for journalism!

Currently, she is Executive Editor with NewsMobile, a digital news and media platform in India and South Asia Region. She is a Content Curator, Anchor, Talk Show Host and Editorial Opinion Maker.

Her book on returning mothers and career transition, released worldwide in September 2021. Within five days ‘Being Me... A Woman in Progress 24X7' made it to the Amazon top 30 hot new releases list.

At present, she is based out of Switzerland.

For her contribution to journalism and her journey of following her passion, she was conferred the ‘Professional Changemaker of the Year' by Womennovator, part of a global initiative by MSME and UN Women, in 2020.

Apart from this, she is also a Senior Council Member, Women's Indian Chamber of Commerce, and industry (WICCI).

A prolific speaker, Kshipra has spoken on various national and international forums on change management, career transition among others.

Today, she prides with the fact that she changed the course of her life, on her own terms! The confidence to make choices is what held her in good stead.