Voices of the Silent Creek | Vikkas Arun Pareek | Book Review

Voices of The Silent Creek by Vikkas Arun PareekPLOT: 3.5/5
CHARACTERS: 4/5
WRITING STYLE: 3.5/5
CLIMAX: 3/5
ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 3.5/5

India today is a land of paradoxes. Indians call themselves modern yet it is we Indians who often resort to the most backward practises and traditions.

While urban India thrives on women empowerment, rural India still oppresses the fairer sex to no end.

It is in this India that we breathe today with most of us either being unaware about or turning a blind eye on what is happening in our own country.

In rural India, women still fall victim to tyranny and despotism.

It is in such a rural setting that Voices of the Silent Creek is based and I must say that the portrayal of rural life is so real that one can hardly help but be amazed at the beauty of it.

It is the story is of a girl Shanti who is born to a poor farmer. One day when her father is approached by the village head for her hand in marriage for his younger son, he can’t help but say yes.

Shanti and all her family members are happy for she is going to one of the richest families in the village but little does Shanti know that she will never know happiness again.

What she faces at her in-law’s house is unspeakable; the most atrocious and brutal of all evils. She quietly accepts her fate and faces all until she comes across another shocking fact.

Her sister Bhano is to be married to her husband’s younger brother. Knowing that once that happens her sister will too have the same fate like hers, Shanti grows restless.

What follows is a gruesome tale of cruelty and callousness which will stun you to no end.

Voices of the Silent Creek is a roller coaster ride which will showcase one of the worst nightmares that Indian women have to go through.

The barbarities will not fail to shock you. The idea that showcasing such a life will help create awareness about such conditions and thus in its own humble way will help the case of such women is definitely a noble one.

The author thus has done a wonderful job of showcasing what he wanted to and showcasing it really well. The plot and the story are also quite interesting.

The characters are amusing too and a have a decent depth about them. There are multiple characters which steal the show and are an integral part of the story and I must say that all of them are equally appealing in most aspects.

The best part of the book is undoubtedly the unique storyline and the rural setting. The climax too is enthralling and quite captivating. The language of the book is simple and provides for an easy and effortless read.

All in all, Voices of the Silent Creek is a very good effort on the part of this debut author and I rate it three and a half out of five stars while recommending it to all my readers.

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