Category Archives: BTB

Book Review – The Girl Who Lost Her Yes by Aarti Khatwani Bhatia

Book Name & Publisher: The Girl Who Lost Her YES published by Harper Collins Children’s Imprint
Author: Aarti Khatwani Bhatia
Illustrator: Priya Kurian
Book Reviewer: Navyaa Mathur

What if, one day, you suddenly start saying ‘no’ to everything – even to the things you like, like candies, toys, and ice cream? That’s exactly what happened to little Mia!

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The Healing Power of Words: How Literature Enhances Mental Well-Being by Bharathy Easwar

“A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a person’s mind can get both provocation and privacy.” – Edward P. Morgan

Introduction

The world today is a tough place to be in, with constant stress and anxiety leaving you on an emotional rollercoaster. This is where the simple act of reading a book can improve your mental health. Literature is not just about entertainment; it is also a form of therapy that can calm your frayed nerves, improve emotional resilience, and put you on the path to self-discovery.

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The Power In Voicing The Unvoiced

Since time immemorial, poetry has been regarded as one of the vital modes of communication. Its significance is unparalleled as it transcends time and culture, serving as a timeless testament to a plethora of emotions. As we navigate the vast and complex realities of life, poetry emerges as a steadfast mode of expression, offering solace, comfort, insight, and a profound yet subtle connection between poets and their readers.

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Butter and the Beast

I recently decided to make chocolate croissants at home. The previous day, I looked up the recipe and discovered that it takes 8 to 10 hours to complete. Many people had mentioned that baking croissants is a tiring and tedious task, and it’s better to just buy them from a bakery. But I wanted to prove myself as a baker, so I decided to go through with it.

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Is Eswaran an Angry Young Man?

Cover Image CreditBehind Talkies 

“Chittha” is a 2023 Tamil movie widely popular among South Indian audiences. Directed by S. U. Arun Kumar, the film stars Siddharth, Nimisha Vijayan, and others. In the movie, Eswaran’s life revolves around his niece until one day she goes missing. The film explores Eswaran’s emotional turmoil, following the loss of his niece, the physical abuse of young girls, and the need for support.

The movie begins with an enchanting song with beautiful picturization, “Unakku Thaan,” which showcases Chittha’s selflessness and dedication to Sundari. The film delves into Eswaran and Sakthi’s relationship, further highlighting the complexities of leaving for Sundari’s growth.

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For the Love of Verse

I was in the 7th grade when I had to recite a poem on stage. That was my first solo performance. My deep-rooted stage fear had always prevented me from volunteering for any events, except maybe a play where I could blend in with the crowd. But then, I selected Wordsworth’s Daffodils and stuttered my way through the entire recitation, despite days and hours of preparation. I don’t remember much except for the flush that enveloped my ears, making it feel as if I was reciting from the seabed. Yet, my love affair with poetry continued unabated despite this fiasco.

I cannot travel by train without recalling Stevenson’s From a Railway Carriage, nor can I let a brook pass by without remembering Tennyson’s “Men may come and men may go, but I go on forever.”

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The Rainfall After Murder

She sat there, blood dripping off her fingers, the blood-drenched knife tightly gripped in her hand. The thunder added an even more dramatic setting, followed by the soft water droplets. She looked down at the outcome of her actions: a boy lying in front of her, a clear stab mark on his chest. She was staring at her crime when everything suddenly went black. She fainted.

A month later…

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Two to Tango by Sangeetha & Mithila

At Beyond the Box, we are constantly thinking of ideas to give something unique, refreshing as well as challenging to our community of writers. Two to Tango is one such endeavour to encourage the participants to work along with another writer as a team and bring about a creative synergy. 40+ teams participated in Season 3 of this one-of-its-kind contest and the winners were chosen by prolific author Kanchana Banerjee. Below prompt was given to the writers and they were asked to narrate the same story from two different points of view. 

Prompt – Write a fictional story in which a book reveals a secret. Feel free to creatively interpret the prompt in any genre of your choice. 

The 2nd Runners-Up in the adults’ category were Sangeetha Kamath Prabhu & Mithila Peshwe (Team 13). Enjoy their story!

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