Lean In... by Sheryl Sandberg

Rating - 5/5

One line for the book: A must-read for everyone, especially women

About the book: Sheryl Sandberg explains why there are very few women in leadership, and what we can do to change it.

What I love about the book: The book catches the pulse of all women. There were many instances where I felt ‘OMG! I thought I was the only one’. By making women be aware of the common fears and concerns they have, the author confronts women to fight against them.

What I did not like about the book: The last chapter was slightly boring.

What I learned from the book: Plenty of things. I hope I put down all of them.

• It’s never too late to find the right partner. Do not jump into a marriage because of peer pressure. Take your time to find the Mr.Right who meets all your expectations. “By that time, all the good ones will be taken” is a myth.
• Never shy away to express your queries or concerns even if you are not asked to. Make a place for yourself in the corporate world.
• Make your partner a true partner. Share your household work equally, or at least as much as is comfortable for you. What you practice in the initial days of your marriage becomes the norm. So, the sooner you set up the ‘who does what’ schedule, the better.
• When men are successful in their career, they are appreciated. When women are successful in their career, they are perceived as aggressive, not concerned about family, and so on. Women are expected to be nice.
• The myth of doing it all – This one struck me the hardest. Every woman wants to become a super woman. By realizing that it’s impossible, by letting go of the less important things, women can learn to appreciate themselves for the real hard work that they are doing. The problem is, we always focus on what we haven’t achieved that we forget to appreciate ourselves for what we have achieved. 

The One You Cannot Have... by Preeti Shenoy

Rating – 4/5

One line for the book: One more wonderful book with a strong message

The story: It is about how Aman and Shruthi, who were once in a thick relationship, battle through separation - how they try to forget each other and move on.  

What I loved about the book: The flow

What I did not like about the book:  Do men really feel that way when they see an attractive woman? I feel there’s a bit of exaggeration in portraying men’s feelings.

What I learned from the book: Never force anybody to plan for kids. I am going to stop asking newly-weds for “good news”. The book made me realize how a couple might be feeling when everybody talks only about kids and the couple is just not ready for it.

I have also realized that it’s impossible to forget the person who you love so much, no matter how much you force yourself to. Once they have made a place in your heart, they are going to stay there for a lifetime. Even the loveliest person on earth cannot replace the one you love. Well-meaning parents must understand this, and not mess up their child’s life.

Tea For Two And A Piece Of Cake, by Preeti Shenoy

Rating – 4/5

One line for the book: A true page-turner

The story: The story is about Nisha who, when abandoned by her husband of eight years, battles the emotional and financial glitches in her unexpected situation while raising her two little kids.  

What I love about the book: The flow, the way the bond between a mother and her kids has been portrayed.

What I did not like about the book:  Could do away with describing Nisha’s sex life.

What I learned from the book: After having kids, the life of a man/woman changes drastically, without even they realizing it. Unless the parents make an effort to spend more time with each other, unless they escape to their own world leaving everything and everyone away for a few minutes each day, the relationship between them is going to suffer.

The book made me wonder if I am doing justice to my partner. The first year of marriage was full of sweet memories. Gone are the days when we talked endlessly without having to look at the clock. Thanks to the book, I have learned to spend at least a few minutes with my beloved hubby every day. This small effort has paid off now. I feel closer to him than I did in the past three years.