Skip to main content

Book Review: Asylum and other Poems & I want a poem and other Poems by Jerry Pinto

Namrata reviews Jerry Pinto’s poetry collections – Asylum & Other Poems (Speaking Tiger, 2021) and I want a poem & Other poems (Speaking Tiger,2021) and shares how she discovered a newfound love for the poet Jerry Pinto. 



I want a poem like thick tropical rain Jerry Pinto 

These words by Jerry Pinto from the blurb of ‘I want a poem and other poems’ hang heavily in the air as I let my thoughts wander with the clouds floating away above my head. It is peak July and Mumbai looks like a million shades of grey at the moment. 

Recreating the cover images of both these poetry collections by Jerry Pinto on my desk, nudging me to finally give words to the wandering thoughts long after I have finished reading both the books. Jerry Pinto is a writer who needs no introduction. He is an award-winning poet, writer, and translator based in Mumbai. 

Having read his work across genres, I still cannot pick which side of his do I enjoy reading the most. Though this is the first time I picked up his poetry largely out of curiosity, I have discovered a newfound love for the poet Jerry Pinto after admiring his story-telling skills till now. His writing in these collections sounds more conversational, in the sense that he is speaking to you – the reader. 

Moreover, with the pandemic, my ability to read and process long hand fiction and non-fiction was badly impacted. At a time like this, these poems came around as a huge relief. For the word-lover in me, there was enough magic to continue basking in, without being exhausted.

To read the full review, please visit Kitaab

Popular posts from this blog

Movie Review: If by Tathagata Ghosh – A Tender Portrait of Love, Loss, and Possibility

If , a 26-minute short film by acclaimed Bengali filmmaker Tathagata Ghosh, is a sensitive, evocative piece of storytelling that lingers long after the credits roll. Set against the everyday rhythm of life in Kolkata, the film delicately unpacks the story of a lesbian couple torn apart by the weight of societal expectations and dares to imagine a different future, one where a mother's love might just change everything.  What struck me first was the film’s raw, grounded realism. The characters feel like people we know, middle-class families navigating a complex world with quiet resilience. The world of If is filled with silences, glances, and stills, rather than heavy dialogue. Ghosh masterfully uses these moments to speak volumes, allowing viewers to sit with discomfort, interpret the unspoken, and feel deeply.

Book Review: The Story of Eve: Selected Poems by Zehra Nigah

Few voices in Urdu poetry have carried the weight of history, resistance, and deep personal introspection quite like Zehra Nigah. One of the first women to break into the traditionally male-dominated world of Urdu poetry, Nigah’s work stands as a testament to the power of words to illuminate, question, and challenge. The Story of Eve: Selected Poems, translated by Rakshanda Jalil, brings together some of her most powerful nazms and ghazals, showcasing both her literary elegance and her unflinching gaze at the human condition, particularly through the lens of gender, social injustice, and political turmoil.

Book Review: Butterflies of Success by Ranga Iyer

ISBN: ‎ 978-8196920951 Genre: Personal Transformation Publisher: Highbrow Scribes Year of Publishing: 2024 About the Book "Poverty is relative term" Lack of money alone cannot stop someone from succeeding in life. The social evil of poverty can be defeated with a determined mind, courage, mental strength, and education. Butterflies of Success follows the compelling journey of Mukta and Prem, a couple with four daughters who leave their village in search of a better life in Thakurli, near Bombay. Facing numerous challenges, including living in a small, unsanitary dwelling, financial struggles, and health issues, Mukta leads her family of six in a fight to improve their situation. She starts by selling boiled chickpeas and gradually expands to open a diner and a tailoring unit with Prem's help. As the business progresses, the family strives to educate and marry off their daughters, which brings new challenges, including mounting debts. Not oblivious to her parents' da...