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nickyskene's review
5.0
Set in India an Indian American mother - Anjali - a psychiatrist and mother to a sometimes violent autistic son tries to hold her life together raising her son, working and keeping up a perfect appearance. An affair with a married man - a police man who is attempting to solve some gruesome murder/rape/acid attack cases in the slums. Will he solve who is behind these crimes before more people suffer?
A well written story - written in English with some Hindi mixed in - gives a small glimpse of life in the slums.
A well written story - written in English with some Hindi mixed in - gives a small glimpse of life in the slums.
shinjinim's review
5.0
If you enjoy literary crime fiction, you will LOVE this book! Damyanti has tackled the sordid truth of the murkier aspects of power, poverty, and crime, and exposed the flaws that are inherent in all of us in a way that will keep you hooked from the first page till the last. The character building is excellent and I found myself wanting to reach out and hug Anjali as she tries to deal with everything that is thrown her way, or whack Jatin for being blind to what is happening around him. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
henrymarlene's review
4.0
"You Beneath Your Skin” brings so many issues and themes to the surface that it cannot only be considered as just a thriller or crime novel. Damyanti Biswas threads together crime in a big city, crimes against women including acid burning, police corruption, abuse of power, abuse of people who are disadvantaged, drugs, child trafficking, mental health issues, family histories, abuse, murder, and even a little bit of a love story. It sounds like too much at once, but amazingly, all these elements fit together and tell the story of Anjali, Jatin and the nexus between their families and their worlds. When it all starts to unravel, it is intense and much sadder to realise the intimate connections to Anjali and Jatin. I am still shellshocked by the nature of the crimes described in this book against women in India, and the fear that so many women are subject to walking the streets not only at night, but in broad daylight in their own neighbourhoods. The notes at the end of this novel describe the research undertaken to reflect the real-life atrocities, and they are not watered down. For Anjali, a major character, to be thrust in the middle of such horrific trauma brings to life the thinness of the fabric of society. As Anjali’s family history is brought to life, we also gain a glimpse into the internal struggles she was facing, the struggles of her son and her job, her relationship, her heritage. We also see the tenderness in her friendship with Maya, and also Maya’s relationship with Pawan. We see what lies beneath the surface of each of these characters, and we also catch a clear view of is hidden, and realise we cannot close our eyes to it once it is out in the open.
“Try as you might, love is a fire you may not wilfully light, nor snuff our at your will”.
“Try as you might, love is a fire you may not wilfully light, nor snuff our at your will”.
fiction_fuss's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
All I can say is that this is probably the best work that leaves me in such a void feeling. Title and cover of the book seems normal and somewhat intrigue but the work inside this book is really applaudable. Views of today's modern society where corruption, illegal works, abuse are the main elements nowadays, you can find these in every nook and corner of our country. This book shows us a really deep insights of these things along with the lives of some people whom we can compare ourselves at some point. It's much of a crime thriller which keeps me on the edge. There are some fabulous characters throughout the novel, some I loved, others I loathed. Some of these characters really shocked me and I loved how the Author could make me feel so many emotions when it comes to all these characters. The Authors writing skill will have you well and truly hooked while you get totally immersed in the events that takes place inside this book. The books is a must read for everyone. I believe that this book has done an excellent job of accomplishing major issues. A truly gripping brilliant story that made me want to devour the rest of the authors book.
tintin_loves_books's review
5.0
Rating: 4.5/5
What are you beneath the face you are known with? Who are you beneath your skin? Anjali Morgan, a psychiatrist, an Indian-American single mother of an autistic teenage son, finds herself in the distinct crowd of Delhi. Between caring for her son and a long-standing affair with the Police Commissioner Jatin Bhatt, she has a stressful past to survive. When her life and her very survival gets dragged into the horrifying crime spree in the slums of Delhi, some truths will spill. Who will survive the onslaught? Will she survive as a victim or rise up as a survivor?
Damyanti Biswas, in her novel 'You Beneath Your Skin, presented a story that will make you think. It is all too real. Intense narration fueled by the thought that it is indeed happening in real-life. Acid-attack victims, drug abuse, the painful lives in slums, rape and murder- amidst all, merely being able to survive life is a boon. The characters were presented amazingly. They all had their flaws, their pains and each one of them had to learn to move on. I liked the ending the best; the story was kept real, not sugar-coated. The cover has my heart.
The only remote lag was probably the certain places where the narration appeared scattered, a bit distorted.
I can't recommend this book enough. If you want the thrill, an all too real experience, this is the book for you. There are a lot of things within, without your outer facade. This book will make you introspect life.
For more such reviews, check out my blog: https://mystictalestintin.wordpress.com/
What are you beneath the face you are known with? Who are you beneath your skin? Anjali Morgan, a psychiatrist, an Indian-American single mother of an autistic teenage son, finds herself in the distinct crowd of Delhi. Between caring for her son and a long-standing affair with the Police Commissioner Jatin Bhatt, she has a stressful past to survive. When her life and her very survival gets dragged into the horrifying crime spree in the slums of Delhi, some truths will spill. Who will survive the onslaught? Will she survive as a victim or rise up as a survivor?
Damyanti Biswas, in her novel 'You Beneath Your Skin, presented a story that will make you think. It is all too real. Intense narration fueled by the thought that it is indeed happening in real-life. Acid-attack victims, drug abuse, the painful lives in slums, rape and murder- amidst all, merely being able to survive life is a boon. The characters were presented amazingly. They all had their flaws, their pains and each one of them had to learn to move on. I liked the ending the best; the story was kept real, not sugar-coated. The cover has my heart.
The only remote lag was probably the certain places where the narration appeared scattered, a bit distorted.
I can't recommend this book enough. If you want the thrill, an all too real experience, this is the book for you. There are a lot of things within, without your outer facade. This book will make you introspect life.
For more such reviews, check out my blog: https://mystictalestintin.wordpress.com/
sparetimer866's review
5.0
This is a tale which touches our deep core and is very deeply gripping. A book which mainly shows us about the horrific act of acid attack and leaves everyone of us in shame and fear.
The book also throws light on the other trigger topics like drug abuse, rape, murder which goes unnoticed in our society in context with the lower social background.
The story is very mysterious and flows with the lives of many living in it.
A side shows Anjali and her son’s bond and struggles. With the other moving with Jatin and his son’s distance.
The author has done an incredible job in penning down such big topics in such an impactful manner. The narration is very amazing. Everything is related to one another, keeping on there own pace power with simplicity.
It is hard to come up with what can happen next in the story. And each line , each emotion can be directly felt deep within our heart. Everything felt just absolutely realistic that I almost cried at few places.
The language is very fluent and it is an good paced read, due to which even after looking like an big book, it keep you hooked till the end and does not allow you to move out from the setting even for a second.
The title is just perfect and the cover is relevant which is simple as well as deep.
The characters are very nice merged and have an very powerful plot. Along with Galib’s not to forget the bonus emotional add-on of shyaris.
There are many questions which triggers our deep soul from the story. It’s an book which will definitely make us question the society around us and show us a side of how cruel things could be.
The book also gives us a message of never-giving up on ourselves as well as on the ones who are with us with many others.
It is an absolute recommendation to every reader.
________________________________________________
P.S. : All the author proceeds will go to Project WHY and Stop Acid Attack.
The book also throws light on the other trigger topics like drug abuse, rape, murder which goes unnoticed in our society in context with the lower social background.
The story is very mysterious and flows with the lives of many living in it.
A side shows Anjali and her son’s bond and struggles. With the other moving with Jatin and his son’s distance.
The author has done an incredible job in penning down such big topics in such an impactful manner. The narration is very amazing. Everything is related to one another, keeping on there own pace power with simplicity.
It is hard to come up with what can happen next in the story. And each line , each emotion can be directly felt deep within our heart. Everything felt just absolutely realistic that I almost cried at few places.
The language is very fluent and it is an good paced read, due to which even after looking like an big book, it keep you hooked till the end and does not allow you to move out from the setting even for a second.
The title is just perfect and the cover is relevant which is simple as well as deep.
The characters are very nice merged and have an very powerful plot. Along with Galib’s not to forget the bonus emotional add-on of shyaris.
There are many questions which triggers our deep soul from the story. It’s an book which will definitely make us question the society around us and show us a side of how cruel things could be.
The book also gives us a message of never-giving up on ourselves as well as on the ones who are with us with many others.
It is an absolute recommendation to every reader.
________________________________________________
P.S. : All the author proceeds will go to Project WHY and Stop Acid Attack.
sk1920's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jlennidorner's review
5.0
This book is flawless. You should read it to open your eyes. (But you probably shouldn't read it before bed. Okay, I shouldn't have read it before bed - you do you.)
It's more than a crime novel, though there is a "whodunnit" mystery to be solved. You Beneath Your Skin is also about relationships, families, secrets we keep and the impact they have, how we see ourselves, and a lesson in knowing people as they are instead of who we think they are or should be. This story gives a lot.
It also takes a lot. Strong trigger warning for the first-hand account of violence suffered by the main character. The monsters in this book are terrifying because all of the horrible events on these pages actually happen in real life all the time. There is violence against women, mentions of abuse, investigations of rape and murder, sex-trafficking type forced prostitution, drugs, corruption, and even a dead puppy. This is not a relaxing read. If you're looking to escape, this book will give you no pardon. And just when you think the author has dropped as many horrors as one book can take, she throws you another curveball. There are some happy scenes, there is some romance, there's even a happily-ever-after of sorts-- but make no mistake, this is not a happy book. I daresay even Stephen King would have nightmares. It is that well-written.
The book also has some excellent feminism (or equalism). For example, a character points out that she pays taxes (which fund public services, such as the police), yet she is supposed to stay home every night, something men are not cautioned to do.
This book was added to my TBR after I interviewed the author for the Operation Awesome blog's Debut Author Spotlight. We have followed each other's blogs for years. I knew she was an activist who makes a positive difference in this world. My review is unrelated to this. I bought a copy in April. I hope there will be more novels by Damyanti Biswas for me to read someday.
The protagonist and (eventually revealed) antagonist both hold a parent responsible for a negative impact on their lives. That's how good writing works, the related inner conflict of the opposing characters. And, like any good HEA, the protagonist forgives and overcomes, but the antagonist is anchored down by it. The antagonist believes if a parent has done something wrong, it's a free pass to do wrong as well.
I do not read many crime, true crime, or mystery books. I also do not read many books where there is another language slipped in every so often. (My e-reader failed most of the translations. A lot of it was poetry. There was nearly always enough context to get the idea of the meaning.) The language inclusion made it feel more real, more like India (a country with amazing diversity). By chapter 24, 42% into the book, I had figured out who planned the crime against the protagonist, but I was wrong about who executed it, and was slightly wrong about the motive. (This is why I don't read a lot of mystery books - I've deconstructed so many of them that I tend to figure out the antagonist before the halfway mark.) The end of chapter 28 made me think I was wrong about who the main antagonist was, but really I was more wrong about the exact motive.
Picking my favorite excerpts without spoilers is difficult. There's part of a line from early in the book, a setting description, that I really enjoyed. A character wishes to update a place, "more software, fewer files lost or chewed up by termites." It's so much more descriptive than just calling the place old and run down. I love it.
Another part I love was the advice to be like a boat that cannot sink unless there is a leak.
Chapter 45 has an incredible twist and profound words. I cannot share that excerpt because it's packed with spoilers, but it's amazing. The title of the book makes perfect sense by that point. "One splash of acid had changed so many lives." That line from the book is a tagline for the whole story.
This book is a tragedy, realistic fiction, is probably controversial to some people. There are plot twists. It's absolutely chilling, scary, haunting, thrilling, action-packed, and fast-paced. The author comes off as an authority on the subject who has done intense research. You Beneath Your Skin is diverse in that it's set in India with characters of various backgrounds (including partially white-American) religions and economic status, and also has a character on the Autism spectrum. There is a lot of compassion written into the scenes that detail a level of poverty most people cannot imagine. It is listed in the genres of Asian American Literature and Asian Literature.
I learned some Indian culture from this book (and Google). I had never heard of a police Sumo (it's a type of vehicle), and I have never seen a tea stand (and they say the number of Starbucks in the United States is too high?!?). I had never heard of someone biting on tissues, putting a tissue into the mouth. (That seems like it would stick and breakdown.) Before reading this book, I never thought about who pays the bill in India for the medical cost of an acid attack. (So odd that criminals are rarely required to incur the medical costs of their crimes.)
I also learned that "azaan" is the Muslim call for prayer, a word I hadn't learned before. The end of chapter 36 used the term "beda garak," which I'm guessing is the name of a skin condition, but I couldn't find anything on Google.
Something that blew my mind was a character recalling giving a drop of honey to a newborn. Honey can cause infantile botulism and botulism toxicity, so it's amazing to me that such a practice would and could still go on today.
A rare line from the book that has a different meaning in an American dialect. "All but covered her eyes" would be sunglasses that are too small, "covered all but her eyes" would be the medical outfit worn in the scene.
The book opens with an action scene. It draws you in with questions about that scene, and then anchors you with characters to care about before the predominant crime takes place. The third paragraph of chapter 53 had a wonderful example of a secondary character changing, becoming enlightened, and getting on the path to becoming a better person. Well-done. A lot of this book was hard for me to read because it was so powerful, so impactful, so real and so reminiscent of bad memories; yet it was worth it and I'm glad I read it.
It's more than a crime novel, though there is a "whodunnit" mystery to be solved. You Beneath Your Skin is also about relationships, families, secrets we keep and the impact they have, how we see ourselves, and a lesson in knowing people as they are instead of who we think they are or should be. This story gives a lot.
It also takes a lot. Strong trigger warning for the first-hand account of violence suffered by the main character. The monsters in this book are terrifying because all of the horrible events on these pages actually happen in real life all the time. There is violence against women, mentions of abuse, investigations of rape and murder, sex-trafficking type forced prostitution, drugs, corruption, and even a dead puppy. This is not a relaxing read. If you're looking to escape, this book will give you no pardon. And just when you think the author has dropped as many horrors as one book can take, she throws you another curveball. There are some happy scenes, there is some romance, there's even a happily-ever-after of sorts-- but make no mistake, this is not a happy book. I daresay even Stephen King would have nightmares. It is that well-written.
The book also has some excellent feminism (or equalism). For example, a character points out that she pays taxes (which fund public services, such as the police), yet she is supposed to stay home every night, something men are not cautioned to do.
This book was added to my TBR after I interviewed the author for the Operation Awesome blog's Debut Author Spotlight. We have followed each other's blogs for years. I knew she was an activist who makes a positive difference in this world. My review is unrelated to this. I bought a copy in April. I hope there will be more novels by Damyanti Biswas for me to read someday.
The protagonist and (eventually revealed) antagonist both hold a parent responsible for a negative impact on their lives. That's how good writing works, the related inner conflict of the opposing characters. And, like any good HEA, the protagonist forgives and overcomes, but the antagonist is anchored down by it. The antagonist believes if a parent has done something wrong, it's a free pass to do wrong as well.
I do not read many crime, true crime, or mystery books. I also do not read many books where there is another language slipped in every so often. (My e-reader failed most of the translations. A lot of it was poetry. There was nearly always enough context to get the idea of the meaning.) The language inclusion made it feel more real, more like India (a country with amazing diversity). By chapter 24, 42% into the book, I had figured out who planned the crime against the protagonist, but I was wrong about who executed it, and was slightly wrong about the motive. (This is why I don't read a lot of mystery books - I've deconstructed so many of them that I tend to figure out the antagonist before the halfway mark.) The end of chapter 28 made me think I was wrong about who the main antagonist was, but really I was more wrong about the exact motive.
Picking my favorite excerpts without spoilers is difficult. There's part of a line from early in the book, a setting description, that I really enjoyed. A character wishes to update a place, "more software, fewer files lost or chewed up by termites." It's so much more descriptive than just calling the place old and run down. I love it.
Another part I love was the advice to be like a boat that cannot sink unless there is a leak.
Chapter 45 has an incredible twist and profound words. I cannot share that excerpt because it's packed with spoilers, but it's amazing. The title of the book makes perfect sense by that point. "One splash of acid had changed so many lives." That line from the book is a tagline for the whole story.
This book is a tragedy, realistic fiction, is probably controversial to some people. There are plot twists. It's absolutely chilling, scary, haunting, thrilling, action-packed, and fast-paced. The author comes off as an authority on the subject who has done intense research. You Beneath Your Skin is diverse in that it's set in India with characters of various backgrounds (including partially white-American) religions and economic status, and also has a character on the Autism spectrum. There is a lot of compassion written into the scenes that detail a level of poverty most people cannot imagine. It is listed in the genres of Asian American Literature and Asian Literature.
I learned some Indian culture from this book (and Google). I had never heard of a police Sumo (it's a type of vehicle), and I have never seen a tea stand (and they say the number of Starbucks in the United States is too high?!?). I had never heard of someone biting on tissues, putting a tissue into the mouth. (That seems like it would stick and breakdown.) Before reading this book, I never thought about who pays the bill in India for the medical cost of an acid attack. (So odd that criminals are rarely required to incur the medical costs of their crimes.)
I also learned that "azaan" is the Muslim call for prayer, a word I hadn't learned before. The end of chapter 36 used the term "beda garak," which I'm guessing is the name of a skin condition, but I couldn't find anything on Google.
Something that blew my mind was a character recalling giving a drop of honey to a newborn. Honey can cause infantile botulism and botulism toxicity, so it's amazing to me that such a practice would and could still go on today.
A rare line from the book that has a different meaning in an American dialect. "All but covered her eyes" would be sunglasses that are too small, "covered all but her eyes" would be the medical outfit worn in the scene.
The book opens with an action scene. It draws you in with questions about that scene, and then anchors you with characters to care about before the predominant crime takes place. The third paragraph of chapter 53 had a wonderful example of a secondary character changing, becoming enlightened, and getting on the path to becoming a better person. Well-done. A lot of this book was hard for me to read because it was so powerful, so impactful, so real and so reminiscent of bad memories; yet it was worth it and I'm glad I read it.
singh_reads_kanwar2's review
5.0
This story is complex dynamo of friends and family friends as story of officer who is in middle of a case that make a wild turn and storm lurking towards him slowly by the one whom he loved a lot, and story of family which have problem because of low communication in between due to priority or the relationship is strained because of past and now that past is there present and they can't do anything about it.
A several murder of women after getting raped and acid abuse to them by a gang and a duo of mother and son who is suffering from (autism) went through a series of events and mother have to face an acid attack and from there story take several turns and twists with a political angle and that makes things worst for people who are involved and the breaking of several important ties and found a new one .
This story is all about that.
A several murder of women after getting raped and acid abuse to them by a gang and a duo of mother and son who is suffering from (autism) went through a series of events and mother have to face an acid attack and from there story take several turns and twists with a political angle and that makes things worst for people who are involved and the breaking of several important ties and found a new one .
This story is all about that.