Stars from the Borderless Sea, by Dr. Shalini Mullick, is a collection of three non-linked novella length stories, each of which has a strong, mature woman protagonist at its centre. Through their journeys, the book explores different nuances of love-and the layers of relationships.
Even though it is essentially a romance read, the book moves away from cliched portrays. The love stories of these women, are also their life stories- and of finding their true selves. Geetika, Rachna and Mahima, the protagonists of the book, and their struggle with the roles and constructs that the world defines for them, will resonate with the contemporary Indian woman. So will their journey of self-empowerment. They are women who have matured through their life experiences, and have found the courage to live life on their own terms. At the same time, Shalini etches out the male characters with sensitivity. This balanced portrayal adds to the depth of the book. Each story is different, yet relatable. The length of individual stories make for a short, satisfying and very refreshing read.
Shalini began her writing journey with flash fiction, micro-tales and short stories-many of which become prize winners. She has published 2 short stories each in the anthologies “Sharing Lipstick” and “Women.Mutiny”. One of her short stories was selected for publication in the anthology “Everything Changed After That”, which was unveiled at the Ananke Women in Literature Festival in 2021. The Orange Flower Award in 2021 and 2002 and winning the eShe short story contest in 2021 are among her notable achievements. Shalini empathizes with the challenges and unique situations that women are often confronted with and weaves this understanding in her writing.
Her nonfiction and poetry have been published in magazines and reputed journals. She is a practising doctor, based in Gurugram. Stars from the Borderless Sea is her first book. The book is available at bookstores and on Amazon ( link this with https://www.amazon.in/Stars-Borderless-Sea-Shalini-Mullick-ebook/dp/B09SZ5LS5K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15ZWVJH3YRJNV&keywords=stars+from+the+borderless+sea&qid=1645752493&sprefix=stars+from+,aps,239&sr=8-1
This is an enjoyable and thought provoking read for readers of romance and general fiction alike, who enjoy reading about true to life, relatable protagonists.
Shared by Dr. Shalini Mullick
