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Cherished-by Lakshmi

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Dec 13, 2015
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Latest Review - Cherished
by: Lakshmi

This is the latest review received for Cherished by Rakhi Jayashankar.

The book mirrors a grave reality that persists in the society these days. Both girls and boys end up their marital relations for silly misunderstanding, without thinking about the children who are sandwiched between. Read more about this review here.

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Mar 10, 2014
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Latest Review
by: Lakshmi

This is the most recent review for CHERISHED from moutshut.com, a popular site with reviews of several things.

Be it an illusion, love is yet a necessity to live for.

Of all types of love, it is parental love that we take for granted the most. Parents are always there for us, is a feeling which gives us the greatest sense of security and support. Yet, how much do we invest to perfect our relationship with our parents? Not much. It is the sub-continental psyche which makes us complacent about the rapport we have with our parents. Isn’t it parents’ duty to love their children and fulfill their dreams? Who are they going to live for If not their children? Likewise, who are the children going to look after if not their parents?

Read the full review by clicking here

Jan 05, 2014
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Review by Deccan Herald
by: Lakshmi

This is a review which appeared in Sunday Herald on 5th January 2014.

An emotional family roller coaster

Jan 5, 2014, DHNS:

“Fathers, like mothers, are not born; Men grow into fathers and fathering is a very important stage in their development.” How true! Lakshmi Menon has aptly brought out this famous saying of David Gottesman to strengthen her novel Cherished. The story revolves around a family of two — husband and wife, but it is the daughter Jyoti who adds colour to this novel presented to the readers in fluent expressive language and unambiguous relevant conversations.

Though Jyoti is introduced in the beginning itself, flashback technique is used to unfold the significant events bringing in Grishma and Praveen — the main characters of the novel. Grishma, a fiery independent woman, defies her family to marry the man of her choice. All goes well till an unexpected suspicion crops up turning the tide. Forgetting the principle that mutual trust is the basic ingredient of marriage, Grishma gives vent to emotion.

The inevitable follows — clash of egos, acid words, bitterness in the wake of emotional conflicts. Here, not only the lives of two persons get affected beyond repair, but an innocent baby is also deprived of its father.

The elders too have their responsibility, what with their maturity and experience. As such, Grishma’s father could have asserted himself and stopped her from returning with him. What a gross mistake.

Reactions of her brother and the sister-in-law are typical. Who would like to be saddled with the sister of the husband and her children after she has been given away in marriage? “She has to change her decision and go back to her husband atleast for the sake of her daughter.” She takes her husband to task — “Bringing up a girl child is not an easy jog; how long can we fend for her?”

Long afterwards, when her mother is no more, her words come back to Grishma’s mind — “Girls shouldn’t act so stubborn... It is the question of your life. You won’t realise it now, but by the time you come to realise its effects, it will be too late.”

Unknowingly victimised by all these, the forlorn figure of the teenaged Jyoti pervades through the future chapters fumbling for security, which only a solid family can give, protection from the hazards of life, which only a father’s strong arm can offer.

The way Grishma begins to fill the void in her life, the grit and determination shown in delving the truth, and setting things in the proper perspective, have been etched deftly. The author has shown creditable finesse in dealineating each character, and building up the plot dexterously. Will the estranged couple unite?

Cherished
Lakshmi Menon
Cyberwit.net
2013,
pp 146
250

By Nuggehalli Pankaja

Please check out the link -
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/378499/an-emotional-family-roller-coaster.html

Dec 05, 2013
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Comments from flipkart
by: Lakshmi

This is a review from flipkart.com.
Showing 1-1 of 1 review Sort by:
Kiran Jhamb
29 November 13
CHERISHED

Foregoing the facile feminism and its usual sob stories, Laxmi Menon has tried to show how a scorned woman’s fury creates a hell for her daughter.
Grishma is no wishy-washy wall flower. She is very decisive. She is not ready to go for an arranged marriage with ‘some unknown person.' She falls in love, marries Praveen against the wishes of her parents. She feels she has been cheated, leaves Praveen. She takes up a course in Medical Laboratory Technology, picks up a job, brings Jyoti up as best as a single mom can. All very admirable if she had not hastily misconstrued the situation and realized that her husband was indeed with his cousin. She is stubborn and head strong. She refuses to listen to her husband, parents and brother.
As a result Jyoti has a discontented childhood and she is angry and rebellious. There is no love lost between the mother and daughter. Jyoti is brought up as an unwanted child among the maternal cousins. Jyoti hungers for a proper family and a father’s love.
Laxmi Menon has truly captured how one event can shape a person's life but the choices a person makes finally decide the fate. Lucid language, good narration - she lets the characters speak and they are very believable, consistent characters - one is bound to enjoy young Jyoti’s quest for her father.
Kiran Jhamb

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From b00kr3vi3ws (Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay ) and also in Goodreads and amazon.com. on 20 Nov 2013.

When Grishma, with her four month old daughter Jyothi, arrives back at her home at Delhi to surprise her husband Praveen, she is the one who is left shocked and surprise. Grishma then goes on to raise her daughter alone after what she deemed as her husband’s betrayal. But a nineteen year old Jyothi wants to know her dad and while moving into a new college she takes the initiative to contact her father. This starts a whole new journey for all three parties involved – Grishma, Jyothi and Praveen...... To read more about this review click the above link.
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Jatin Garg from Goodreads.com on Dec 2, 2013.

I won Cherished in a giveaway.
What I most like about Cherished is the raw emotion that Menon projects from every page. The prose isn't all that ornamental, but the story blows you away with its simplicity and honesty. All in all, a refreshing read.

Nov 06, 2013
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Reviews from Amazon.com
by: Lakshmi

These reviews are from amazon.com

Ref: http://www.amazon.com/dp/8182534410

Most Helpful Customer Reviews at amazon.com

Lakshmi Menon' s novel CHERISHED
By Suresh Ellickan, NY on November 5, 2013
Format: Paperback Amazon Verified Purchase

Lakshmi Menon' s novel CHERISHED

A simple story well told. A young enthusiastic collage girl's search and struggles to reach her unknown father. Her loving mother's sufferings from the separation. A possessive mothers over protection of her daughter, fears of loosing her. Illogical doubt turning into uncontrolled anger, lack of patient listening, spontaneous decisions, all well scripted. With out big surprises and twists an awesome story well tolled. And reading and finishing the story in one stretch I felt cherished.

Abraham Suresh Ellickan, NY
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The novel CHERISHED by Lakshmi Menon is marvellously successful, in giving us a vivid sense of parental love.
By Dr. Karunesh Kumar Agrawal on October 5, 2013
Format: Paperback

The novel CHERISHED by Lakshmi Menon is marvellously successful, in giving us a vivid sense of parental love. The plot construction of the novel reveals consummate skill. A great variety of characters in the novel is astonishing. Jane Austen aptly remarked: "Proper words in proper places make the true definition of a style." These words are fully applicable to Lakshmi's style in her novel CHERISHED.

Nov 05, 2013
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Cherished true meaning unfolds as u read
by: Sandhya P J

This captivating story 'Cherished' is of a young teenager Jyothi growing up without the love of her father and a secure family in her early childhood.

The author has truly understood the intricate understanding of the human mind and has dealt the story line very delicately yet forcefully. As u read on... it like the story is unfolding on a screen as the fine details, colour, emotions, moods etc are so well portrayed that it reaches one on a deeper level which is the gift the author truly has.

Meaningful that a simple moment perceived negatively or positively with wisdom or with unknown facts of the happening can produce such disastrous situation in the family tie and each individual can be deeply hurt. Cherished is beautifully crafted and shows the ability of a mature and gifted writer. All the best and eagerly waiting for more...

Sandhya P J
TRIVANDRUM
kERALA

Oct 26, 2013
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A daughter's quest for her father
by: Suresh

'Cherished' is primarily a story about a daughter's search for her father who, due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, couldn't be with her right from childhood. The search that begins with a tentative letter takes an unexpected path and tensions rise as old and new relationships clash.

The author displays an excellent understanding of mature human relationships in all its aspects but mainly in the less explored father daughter relationship. We root for the daughter who missed a father's love and who is initially portrayed as a selfish father. As the truth is slowly revealed, we marvel at the way destiny can change the orbit of relationships in spite of the good intentions of individuals.

An excellent read for any book lover.

Oct 01, 2013
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Another review from Goodreads (Swaminathan)
by: Lakshmi

Cherished - A Captivating Story

Good human relationship is a blessing of life, that every one craves for, but not everyone is lucky to get at all times.

Children growing up under the loving care of both the parents are the beneficiaries of such good human relationship, but they take such human relationship for granted during their growing up years.
Continue reading the review here by Swaminathan Balaraman .
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Thank you for your wonderful review.

Oct 01, 2013
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Thanks
by: Lakshmi

Thank you Sangeetha for your feed back after reading the book. It is a pleasure to know that as a teenager you liked the story.

Thank you once again for taking time to write the feed back.

Sep 27, 2013
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STAY CHERISHED!!!
by: Sangeetha Nandan

Woven with the threads of reality "Cherished" gives you a beautiful insight into a teenager's mind and how she fulfills her desperate need of receiving her father's love. As a teenager, reading the last pages of the book, brought me both satisfaction and lots of joy for embarking this emotional yet a worthy journey with Jyothi. The book will definitely make you think the next time you take a quick, but an important decision of your life!

Going by the name, this book will with no doubt stay cherished!!

Sep 17, 2013
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A review from GR
by: Lakshmi

This is the first review of the book from a Goodreads Reader

Review from Debasish Mohapatra

Sep 09, 2013
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Thanks
by: Lakshmi

Thank you Pankaja, Eva and Pushpa for your best wishes and support. It can be pre-ordered at the publisher's site at www.cyberwit.net and at amazon.com . More options will be coming soon.

Sep 09, 2013
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Cherished
by: Pushpa Raghuram

Dear Lakshmi,

Waiting for the book to be released. I am sure it will be interesting.

Congratulations.

Sep 09, 2013
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Cherished.
by: Eva Bell

Very Attractive cover design.
Looking forward to reading the book.

Sep 09, 2013
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Cherished.
by: Eva bell

Looking forward to the release of your book. Congratulations.

Sep 08, 2013
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Best wishes
by: nuggehallipankajas

Congratulations Lakshmi,you really are a marvel!

Sep 07, 2013
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Cherished - release
by:

Cherished - will be released this month (Sept 2013).

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