Home! Sweet home!
""Home is where the heart
is”” are the facts about home. Growing up in an environment of a sweet home, no
doubt the benefits, children reap are countless. ”Children require guidance and
sympathy far more than instruction”-Anne Sullivan.
When it comes to Children
careers, many parents impose a lot, they become extra cautious, more
surveillance & it creates a sudden burst of volcanoes. From there, their
difference of opinion starts and it takes many twist &turn to settle. Few get amicable and rest the worst.
One such is the cause of
separation of Adhikari’s family in the book A LONG WAY HOME BY Mitali
Meelan. A couple in the suburbs of
Mumbai with three children- two boys and a girl, were shocked to find their
children going in a different direction from the way they were directed or
expected to go. A major weapon used by children at this point is lie- a statement
the speaker knows to be untrue. I quote from page 222- “”I have been so
disappointed in my children, so much so that I’m starting to question myself
and your upbringing. First, my daughter, then both of you. Where did you three
learn to lie and fool people so much?”
The feelings, the mood
and the reactions of the parents are finely crafted and very lively arguments
and discussions at home has found place in the book. The author handles the
situation in an unbiased way, presenting the plus and minus of both the
children and parents. Even children long for appreciation, it is best described
in the page134 “”I had wanted nothing but my father to look at me with brimming
eyes, his wrinkled hand patting my back, telling me he was proud of me, of my
choice and of whatever I’ve chosen to do with my life,””
The author has given a
light description of Mumbai skyline, summer, traffic, way of life, restaurants,
colleges, student’s life, campus interviews,
relationship between the employer &employee, business tactics, shopping
centres, bloggers, impact of social media and the cost of living too. Three
children from a middle class family cross their childhood with lot of memories
right from sharing bed rooms, cycles, sibling-wars, jokes, drawings and many
more. The author clearly sent a message to all the children out there in page
82 of the book –‘’Trying to be someone you’re not and shredding pieces of
yourself-like principles and values – to fit in and please others is a one way
ticket to the land of misery.””
Mitali Meelan is
successful in bringing out the true pictures of a family with diverse interest
and ideas in about 312 pages. This is her second book. She is also the creator
of COFFEE AND ORDINARY LIFE AND THE GUEST.
To accomplish great
things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also
believe-Anatole France. In many cases children just dream, but they don’t put
the required effort, because only desire is not enough to make dreams come
true. The author puts forth before the readers the steps to climb to reach a
target, I quote from page 180 of the
book “”A dream like this…it had to be backed
by experience, research, knowledge, support and a generous investment. Knowing
where you wanted to be wasn’t enough while starting a business. You needed to
figure out exactly how you’d reach there, before you even began your journey.””
A sense of fulfilment is
achieved when we accomplish a goal, the author beautifully put it in these
words, I quote from page-174, A rush of cool relief calmed me. “”I promise I
won’t leave.’” Taking in the hustle, the heat and the rhythmic, chaotic noises
of steel against the steel, I got to preparing custard. That moment, a euphoric
sensation began to seep in and the contrast of how I felt in the concrete walls of confinement and in this
free-spirited frenzied workplace was astonishing.””
The children should speak
out their dreams and ambitions with their parents, and they should support
&encourage their true interest after thorough verifications. “”Teach your
children poetry; it opens the mind, lends grace to wisdom and makes the heroic
virtues hereditary””- Walter Scott
(Received a copy of the
book from WRITER’S MELON in return of a honest review)
Mitali Meelan Commented On Book Review: A Long Way Home By Mitali Meelan
Jan 18, 2019Thank you so much for reading and reviewing the book :) Such a detailed and literary-styled analysis of the book. I had a grin on my face while reading it. I'm sharing your review on my official Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts @mitalimeelan. :)
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