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What is the story about?
It has been a long time since a book moved me to tears the way To My Dearest Self did. Spanning 241 pages, Nimna Vijay’s story traces 22-year-old Aditi Sreenivasan’s journey from loneliness, self-doubt, and fear of betrayal to embracing self-love.
Aditi’s world is at once deeply personal and universally relatable, with multiple subplots exploring the complexities of various relationships.
A young Malayali woman, Aditi, moves to Bengaluru in search of a better job and a fresh start. She has always been the one to advise others, to champion their causes, yet taking her own advice never comes easily.
When love and familial expectations upend her carefully constructed life, Aditi is confronted with a challenge she has avoided for years: standing up for herself.
The road to self-discovery is arduous, yet through the support of her close friends and her letters to 'Mahadev', she begins to face her fears, reflect on her identity, and heal from her past.
What makes To My Dearest Self so compelling is how Nimna Vijay interweaves Aditi’s story with the lives of those around her—Sakshi, Aunty, Shalu, Devika, Ashwini, and Kannan—each representing different facets of love, friendship, and family ties.
Through these interconnected narratives, the book explores themes of personal identity, emotional healing, and the radical act of choosing oneself in a world that often demands conformity.
To My Dearest Self engages honestly with despair. The book does not treat suicide as an act of cowardice but as a reflection of how utterly helpless and cornered people can feel when they see no way out. It approaches that darkness with empathy, urging readers to understand pain rather than judge it.
Haritha C.K.’s translation captures the delicate, poetic, and candid essence of the original Malayalam bestseller
Ettavum Priyapetta Ennodu, allowing English readers to fully appreciate the depth of Aditi’s journey.
The book’s exploration of self-love and healing is reminiscent of Sudha Murty’s Mahashweta, with its emphasis on understanding and nurturing oneself before opening up to love from others.
To My Dearest Self is a mirror for anyone who has struggled to prioritise themselves, a tender reminder that the journey to self-love is often the most courageous one.
Also Read: The Amberglow Candy Store review: Cosy, fable-like, and softly magical
Aditi’s world is at once deeply personal and universally relatable, with multiple subplots exploring the complexities of various relationships.
A young Malayali woman, Aditi, moves to Bengaluru in search of a better job and a fresh start. She has always been the one to advise others, to champion their causes, yet taking her own advice never comes easily.
When love and familial expectations upend her carefully constructed life, Aditi is confronted with a challenge she has avoided for years: standing up for herself.
The road to self-discovery is arduous, yet through the support of her close friends and her letters to 'Mahadev', she begins to face her fears, reflect on her identity, and heal from her past.
What makes To My Dearest Self so compelling is how Nimna Vijay interweaves Aditi’s story with the lives of those around her—Sakshi, Aunty, Shalu, Devika, Ashwini, and Kannan—each representing different facets of love, friendship, and family ties.
Through these interconnected narratives, the book explores themes of personal identity, emotional healing, and the radical act of choosing oneself in a world that often demands conformity.
To My Dearest Self engages honestly with despair. The book does not treat suicide as an act of cowardice but as a reflection of how utterly helpless and cornered people can feel when they see no way out. It approaches that darkness with empathy, urging readers to understand pain rather than judge it.
Haritha C.K.’s translation captures the delicate, poetic, and candid essence of the original Malayalam bestseller
The book’s exploration of self-love and healing is reminiscent of Sudha Murty’s Mahashweta, with its emphasis on understanding and nurturing oneself before opening up to love from others.
To My Dearest Self is a mirror for anyone who has struggled to prioritise themselves, a tender reminder that the journey to self-love is often the most courageous one.
Also Read: The Amberglow Candy Store review: Cosy, fable-like, and softly magical
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