Jo
Written on Oct 25, 2020
*BRITISH BOOK OF THE YEAR* EasternEye
Picked as as one of STYLIST'S *BEST AUTUMN READS OF 2020*
'A much-needed escape into a lyrical world'
Let her be a little less human, a little more divine
Give her heart armour so it doesn't break as easily as mine
One girl's wild journey of strength, beauty and growth as she discovers who she really is.
Lyrical wonder, spiritual revelation and revolution meet with epic mythical landscapes in this deeply intimate coming-of-age story, one that teaches us all, no matter how small we feel, to become the masters of our own destiny.
Meet Paro. A girl with a strong will, a full heart and much to learn. Born into a family reeling from the ruptures of Partition, follow her as she crosses the precarious lines between childhood, teenage discovery and realising her adult self.
Nikita Gill's masterful poetry and beautiful illustrations conjure up jasmine-scented voices and smiles inhabited by ancestor's souls, rain dancing in a new city and the painful caverns in our hearts. We are taken on a journey of deity wisdom, fragmented family, and love lost and gained. We see power in belief, healing from trauma and hope after conflict. Undercurrents of the Trimurti - the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer - run deep, as Paro must confront fear, desire and the darkest parts of herself in the search for meaning and, ultimately, empowerment.
Navigating different cultures, religions and identities, The Girl and the Goddess is a mesmerising poetic tale of where we come from, how we grow and how we become who we are.
'A moving, layered story' The Irish Times
'One of the best books of the year ... a spiritually enriching experience' EasternEye
- ISBN10 1529104653
- ISBN13 9781529104653
- Publish Date 1 October 2020 (first published 29 September 2020)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Ebury Publishing
- Imprint Ebury Press
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 352
- Language English
Reviews
niamh
Written on Sep 18, 2020
"Survival is ugly. Healing is messy. Self-love is complicated."
I find it difficult just to put into words how brilliant Nikita Gills writing is, and how beautiful and powerful this book was. I had to sit and reflect for a good while after finishing this book.
Although slightly different to her previous works, The Girl and the Goddess is a more chronological story about the life of Paro, a young bisexual woman from Kashmir, told through poetry, Hindu mythology, and some illustrations.
The rich threads of Hindu Mythology that weave themselves into this book, and Paro's identity as she learns to navigate the world is some of the best storytelling I have seen.
Some of this poems felt extremely person to Gill, and some hit home very hard. There is a real sadness in some poems, but this whole book is bursting with love. I think this book will stay with me forever.