Happy Thursday! Awhile back I said I was going to start doing book reviews on the blog and today marks the first post! And I couldn’t think of a better book to kick it off. Many of you might not be aware, but one of my most favorite bloggers is a published author! Seriously – how cool is that?! And she has given me the opportunity to share & review her book for you guys! Curious as to who it is yet?
The beautiful Shipra from Taneja’s Bride! Shipra started writing her book, Half-Full in 2007 and had it published in January of 2011.
The main character, Sonika, is an average Indian-American woman desperate to seek a new outlook on life , except like many of us.. she’s an over thinker. She learns to see her life and the world as half-full through a series of events and a life-changing trip to India. She’s very simple in her appearance, doesn’t wear makeup & is happy wearing her worn out flat shoes.
The book starts off with Sonika gazing over at her co-worker Tyresa. Tyresa is a leggy long-haired tan blonde with goddess like curves & red hot heels. She is always very well put together – hair & makeup done to the nines and perfectly manicured nails. Sonika tries to figure out exactly WHY women cake on their makeup every day and try to look like a perfect Barbie doll. Is it competition? she wonders… jealousy? She listens to a few men gawk about her outside of the bathroom. At that point forward, she began to idolize the dedication that Tyresa had. Primping in front of the mirror for as long as she can remember, she walked into work the following Monday with a new sense of confidence.
One morning, Sonika notices a new Indian male, Suraj, who has just began working with her. Giddy with excitement, she finds herself extremely attracted to him.
The story between these two is absolutely remarkable. The entire time I was reading this book, my heart would flutter. I don’t want to give away any spoilers or the ending so I won’t go into too much detail about them! You’ll have to read it for yourself 🙂
Shipra’s writing is absolutely outstanding. It is so professional and refined. I’m pretty sure I finished this book in less than 2 hours. It’s one of those quick, awesome reads that you will NOT want to put down! There is so much knowledge in this book as well – I learned SO much about the Indian culture!
I hope you guys will pick up a copy of Shipra’s book and experience it for yourself! I promise you, it is absolutely worth it!
FUN Trivia provided by Shipra ~
The character Sonika was loosely based on myself. Her personality is mostly mine, but her story is not – that is pure fiction. I did dwell into my childhood/school/college days, and get some scenarios from there, but those were also exaggerated or warped to fit her life.
Sonika’s mother is AS fashionable as mine. Her shoe collection truly is a miracle, and I also LOVE my flat shoes.
Tyresa, the vamp, is based on a person I know. Her qualities and demeanor totally reflect that person, but her appearance does not.
India is described in every bit as I remembered it as a 14 year old. While writing this book, I hadn’t visited India since the age of 14, and didn’t get to go back until I got married in 2009, but I had finished the India piece. I didn’t go back and change it because that piece was like looking back into my childhood.
My husband’s father is who encouraged me to finish the book. I had only reached the part where Sonika is jealous of Piya. He loved it so much, he sat me down to write right then. I did complete the book a month or two after that!
Where To Buy – Amazon.com
Price – $8.99 / Paperback
Page Count – 188
Follow Shipra’s Book Page on FB – Half-Full-by-Shipra-Taneja
And her Nail Blog – Tanejas Bride
*Book was provided for an hones review. All opinions are my own*
This sounds like a lovely read!! 😀
Thank you so much Jess! <3
Love this and its making go to kindle and look it up thank you and great job on the book Taneja how exciting and author with us .
Thank you!! It’s not on Kindle, at the moment. I’m trying to get it to be, though! <3
I am totally grabbing a copy. Way to go Shipra.
I have to read it! Thank you for the review!
i totally need to read this now!