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Melancholic Delight
‘There’s no love like the first love. There’s no feeling like the desperation to attain true love. Love or lust matters not when two eyes meet, uniting the souls at once’
It’s this love which frees Sri from the reign of darkness and makes her heart rise to lofty heights of anticipated passion with no one to pull her back to reality. It’s Jishu, who appears as the first ray of hope in her overshadowed life and showers her with the ultimate sense of freedom, which she has been craving for. He fills her life with the long awaited perfection. To a flawed person he appears as the flawless. He becomes one among her most perfect acquaintances, but is he really as unblemished as he appears to be. If so, can a flawed person risk a life with the flawless? Do opposites really attract each other or it deviate them from their normal avenues of life?
It’s a deeply compelling love affair which takes the readers back to their childhood memories and brings back to them the essence of true love.
The changing relations of a man’s life add force to the much ordinary teenage passion. The book is not just about love. It’s about a journey called life which either ends in melancholy or in delight.
It’s this love which frees Sri from the reign of darkness and makes her heart rise to lofty heights of anticipated passion with no one to pull her back to reality. It’s Jishu, who appears as the first ray of hope in her overshadowed life and showers her with the ultimate sense of freedom, which she has been craving for. He fills her life with the long awaited perfection. To a flawed person he appears as the flawless. He becomes one among her most perfect acquaintances, but is he really as unblemished as he appears to be. If so, can a flawed person risk a life with the flawless? Do opposites really attract each other or it deviate them from their normal avenues of life?
It’s a deeply compelling love affair which takes the readers back to their childhood memories and brings back to them the essence of true love.
The changing relations of a man’s life add force to the much ordinary teenage passion. The book is not just about love. It’s about a journey called life which either ends in melancholy or in delight.
80 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2014
3 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 28, 2015
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
I thought the plot of this book was really strong; .
This lead me to believe that Melancholic Delight might have been best served as a full length novel in order to help it flow better. That would have also given the author time to tell us more about the characters and involve some of the minor characters like Trisha and Soumo, who we knew little about.
In the first half of the book, I struggled to like any of the characters. Yet, when the book reached the half-way mark, I thought it really improved. The story got better, it was written more clearly and I found myself connecting with Sri more.
It was fast-paced, and whilst I would have preferred a longer story, I thought the novella format added a bit more realism to how things change so quickly when you're at that age.
Her mum was a really interesting character to me and I would have loved to have seen more of her in the book because I really enjoyed their discussions.
On the whole, I liked this book and believe that the author will only get stronger and stronger.
3/5.
I thought the plot of this book was really strong; .
This lead me to believe that Melancholic Delight might have been best served as a full length novel in order to help it flow better. That would have also given the author time to tell us more about the characters and involve some of the minor characters like Trisha and Soumo, who we knew little about.
In the first half of the book, I struggled to like any of the characters. Yet, when the book reached the half-way mark, I thought it really improved. The story got better, it was written more clearly and I found myself connecting with Sri more.
It was fast-paced, and whilst I would have preferred a longer story, I thought the novella format added a bit more realism to how things change so quickly when you're at that age.
Her mum was a really interesting character to me and I would have loved to have seen more of her in the book because I really enjoyed their discussions.
On the whole, I liked this book and believe that the author will only get stronger and stronger.
3/5.
June 19, 2013
What do I think...
This story is so different; written different, narrated different and uses words that are maybe a little too descriptive.
This is about first loves and a little about reminded me of when I was at school. Some lovely quotes. It's an insightful read but I wouldn't call it a story.
It's hard to rate because it's very different.
The Indian family rituals were interesting.
I'm really not sure what to make of, confusing at times, rather insightful at times.
3 stars.
This story is so different; written different, narrated different and uses words that are maybe a little too descriptive.
This is about first loves and a little about reminded me of when I was at school. Some lovely quotes. It's an insightful read but I wouldn't call it a story.
It's hard to rate because it's very different.
The Indian family rituals were interesting.
I'm really not sure what to make of, confusing at times, rather insightful at times.
3 stars.
May 19, 2013
Review : Melancholic Delight
Tista Ray
Melancholic Delight by Tista Ray
Genre: Romance or YA
Publisher: Smriti Publishers
Rating : 3.5 stars
Book blurb:
‘There’s no love like the first love. There’s no feeling like the desperation to attain true love. Love or lust matters not when two eyes meet, uniting the souls at once’
It’s this love which frees Sri from the reign of darkness and makes her heart rise to lofty heights of anticipated passion with no one to pull her back to reality. It’s Jishu, who appears as the first ray of hope in her overshadowed life and showers her with the ultimate sense of freedom, which she has been craving for. He fills her life with the long awaited perfection. To a flawed person he appears as the flawless. He becomes one among her most perfect acquaintances, but is he really as unblemished as he appears to be. If so, can a flawed person risk a life with the flawless? Do opposites really attract each other or it deviate them from their normal avenues of life?
It’s a deeply compelling love affair which takes the readers back to their childhood memories and brings back to them the essence of true love.
The changing relations of a man’s life add force to the much ordinary teenage passion. The book is not just about love. It’s about a journey called life which either ends in melancholy or in delight.
My thought
This copy of Melancholic Delight was given to me by Tista Ray the author in exchange for a honest review.In its present form, this book is a one time short novella to be enjoyed once over its short stay of 40 pages.The cover page is colorful and shades of nature are beautiful.Tista has played with words lovingly and interestingly and thus creates a treat for the readers. This novela tells love. Love has its effects on Sri and she gets blinded by it all. It’s a deeply compelling love affair which takes the readers back to their childhood memories and brings back to them the essence of true love.
There is talent in the writing, but it needs to be polished and groomed more in the future for better results.
About Tista Ray
Tista Ray, a near 18 years authoress penned her debut novella ‘Melancholic Delight’ and have got published in January 2013. She’s an Indian by birth. She’s actively involved in writing newspaper articles and is keen in making a difference to this world. She's also giving her book's 50% sale proceeds to charity( to an orphanage in India).
Tista Ray
Melancholic Delight by Tista Ray
Genre: Romance or YA
Publisher: Smriti Publishers
Rating : 3.5 stars
Book blurb:
‘There’s no love like the first love. There’s no feeling like the desperation to attain true love. Love or lust matters not when two eyes meet, uniting the souls at once’
It’s this love which frees Sri from the reign of darkness and makes her heart rise to lofty heights of anticipated passion with no one to pull her back to reality. It’s Jishu, who appears as the first ray of hope in her overshadowed life and showers her with the ultimate sense of freedom, which she has been craving for. He fills her life with the long awaited perfection. To a flawed person he appears as the flawless. He becomes one among her most perfect acquaintances, but is he really as unblemished as he appears to be. If so, can a flawed person risk a life with the flawless? Do opposites really attract each other or it deviate them from their normal avenues of life?
It’s a deeply compelling love affair which takes the readers back to their childhood memories and brings back to them the essence of true love.
The changing relations of a man’s life add force to the much ordinary teenage passion. The book is not just about love. It’s about a journey called life which either ends in melancholy or in delight.
My thought
This copy of Melancholic Delight was given to me by Tista Ray the author in exchange for a honest review.In its present form, this book is a one time short novella to be enjoyed once over its short stay of 40 pages.The cover page is colorful and shades of nature are beautiful.Tista has played with words lovingly and interestingly and thus creates a treat for the readers. This novela tells love. Love has its effects on Sri and she gets blinded by it all. It’s a deeply compelling love affair which takes the readers back to their childhood memories and brings back to them the essence of true love.
There is talent in the writing, but it needs to be polished and groomed more in the future for better results.
About Tista Ray
Tista Ray, a near 18 years authoress penned her debut novella ‘Melancholic Delight’ and have got published in January 2013. She’s an Indian by birth. She’s actively involved in writing newspaper articles and is keen in making a difference to this world. She's also giving her book's 50% sale proceeds to charity( to an orphanage in India).
June 15, 2013
A refreshing, unique novel about a young Indian woman's coming of age story. Sri falls in love with Jishu hard. Could that love she buries in her heart for him become any stronger? As you read, you wonder if it's possible, but it is. This is a story of a high school student's final years as she struggles to find a way to express her love for a boy in her class.
I was unsure of the book when I first starting reading. The language is different and the way of narration isn't your standard romance novel of third person point of view. It's very intimate and I soon became swept into the depths of Sri's feelings for Jishu, her frustration because of her shyness to show him, and her struggles with rejection and fickle behaviour from her love and the persecution of her insensitive classmates. Then I realised the wisdom and maturity of the writer's insight. She captures young, teenage first love like a master - the confusion, insecurity, intense emotion often changing from day to day, and the dynamics of teenage relationships and friendships.
The beauty in the story is not in the Happy-Ever-After. It's not that type of story, but in the growth of Sri as she becomes the adult she was meant to become. Although Jishu's final rejection is painful, Sri has changed as a person. The most touching line in the book is her mother's words to her: "I can see he had taught you a lot. Not just to talk freely and think gently but also to love sincerely." You're left with the almost certain feeling that Sri will find true love one day with a man who understands her shyness to express her feelings, a man who makes her feel comfortable enough to show them to him. She reminds me a lot of what I was like as a teenager and young adult.
The writer of this book is a teenager herself. The depth of point of view and analysis of teenage love goes beyond her years. She has a deep, literary almost poetic style. I love the way she gives a feel of her culture without going into any long descriptions but by merely taking the reader right into the mind of the person. Excellent deep point of view writing skills which many more mature writers struggle to grasp.
The reason I didn't give this book five stars is because I believe it should have been edited more thoroughly. There were grammatical problems and word choice errors that could cause confusion to the reader. At times I didn't understand what was being expressed.
I was unsure of the book when I first starting reading. The language is different and the way of narration isn't your standard romance novel of third person point of view. It's very intimate and I soon became swept into the depths of Sri's feelings for Jishu, her frustration because of her shyness to show him, and her struggles with rejection and fickle behaviour from her love and the persecution of her insensitive classmates. Then I realised the wisdom and maturity of the writer's insight. She captures young, teenage first love like a master - the confusion, insecurity, intense emotion often changing from day to day, and the dynamics of teenage relationships and friendships.
The beauty in the story is not in the Happy-Ever-After. It's not that type of story, but in the growth of Sri as she becomes the adult she was meant to become. Although Jishu's final rejection is painful, Sri has changed as a person. The most touching line in the book is her mother's words to her: "I can see he had taught you a lot. Not just to talk freely and think gently but also to love sincerely." You're left with the almost certain feeling that Sri will find true love one day with a man who understands her shyness to express her feelings, a man who makes her feel comfortable enough to show them to him. She reminds me a lot of what I was like as a teenager and young adult.
The writer of this book is a teenager herself. The depth of point of view and analysis of teenage love goes beyond her years. She has a deep, literary almost poetic style. I love the way she gives a feel of her culture without going into any long descriptions but by merely taking the reader right into the mind of the person. Excellent deep point of view writing skills which many more mature writers struggle to grasp.
The reason I didn't give this book five stars is because I believe it should have been edited more thoroughly. There were grammatical problems and word choice errors that could cause confusion to the reader. At times I didn't understand what was being expressed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2015
There’s no love like the first love. There’s no feeling like the desperation to attain true love. Love or lust matters not when two eyes meet, uniting the souls at once’
It’s this love which frees Sri from the reign of darkness and makes her heart rise to lofty heights of anticipated passion with no one to pull her back to reality. It’s Jishu, who appears as the first ray of hope in her overshadowed life and showers her with the ultimate sense of freedom, which she has been craving for. He fills her life with the long awaited perfection. To a flawed person he appears as the flawless. He becomes one among her most perfect acquaintances, but is he really as unblemished as he appears to be. If so, can a flawed person risk a life with the flawless? Do opposites really attract each other or it deviate them from their normal avenues of life?
The writing at times in the narrative, is deep yet distinguished and there are traces of brilliance during the musings of Sri. But as they say, teenagers should behave like teenagers and that's where you will feel let down. There are passages where they behave like adults and that's where you feel that the author has gone too far ahead of herself. Also, i felt the central protagonist came out to be too confused and deliberately trying to destroy her peace of mind. If you know that there is a communication gap and you are intended to deepen it rather than making efforts to bridge it in a relationship, then you can't blame destiny for bringing in the melancholy in your life. Isn't it? You can't have your cake and eat it too. Even though i must add that i enjoyed the regular conversations between Sri and Jishu and hide-and-seek games they play with each other which reminds you of your own school days.
I am going with generous 2/5 for debut novel of Tista Ray's 'Melancholic Delight'. There is talent in the writing, but it needs to be polished and groomed more in the future for better results. In its present form, this book is a one time short novella to be enjoyed once over its short stay of 80 pages.
It’s this love which frees Sri from the reign of darkness and makes her heart rise to lofty heights of anticipated passion with no one to pull her back to reality. It’s Jishu, who appears as the first ray of hope in her overshadowed life and showers her with the ultimate sense of freedom, which she has been craving for. He fills her life with the long awaited perfection. To a flawed person he appears as the flawless. He becomes one among her most perfect acquaintances, but is he really as unblemished as he appears to be. If so, can a flawed person risk a life with the flawless? Do opposites really attract each other or it deviate them from their normal avenues of life?
The writing at times in the narrative, is deep yet distinguished and there are traces of brilliance during the musings of Sri. But as they say, teenagers should behave like teenagers and that's where you will feel let down. There are passages where they behave like adults and that's where you feel that the author has gone too far ahead of herself. Also, i felt the central protagonist came out to be too confused and deliberately trying to destroy her peace of mind. If you know that there is a communication gap and you are intended to deepen it rather than making efforts to bridge it in a relationship, then you can't blame destiny for bringing in the melancholy in your life. Isn't it? You can't have your cake and eat it too. Even though i must add that i enjoyed the regular conversations between Sri and Jishu and hide-and-seek games they play with each other which reminds you of your own school days.
I am going with generous 2/5 for debut novel of Tista Ray's 'Melancholic Delight'. There is talent in the writing, but it needs to be polished and groomed more in the future for better results. In its present form, this book is a one time short novella to be enjoyed once over its short stay of 80 pages.
July 1, 2013
[Received an ARC for an honest review]
I was eager to start reading this book when I saw the title. I don't know why but the words "Melancholic Delight" quite caught my attention. In addition to this, the cover of the book looks mysterious, which I also liked.
The story is about a not-so-good mother-daughter relationship between Sri and her Mom. Maybe some readers will relate to this kind of situation... (Sometimes, I do. Hehe)
As the story went on, I felt like I am lost and no longer connected to the story. I can't bring myself into Sri's shoes and I suddenly don't understand the story. How can you consider someone to be your first love, and foresee him as your future partner just because you're mom asked him how you do in school? I can't really tell if the pacing is just too fast or some sentences doesn't make sense at all. There are times when I have to reread some lines (even a chapter) just to understand it all.
The lines in this book are too descriptive that they started to pour out of the box.
I was eager to start reading this book when I saw the title. I don't know why but the words "Melancholic Delight" quite caught my attention. In addition to this, the cover of the book looks mysterious, which I also liked.
The story is about a not-so-good mother-daughter relationship between Sri and her Mom. Maybe some readers will relate to this kind of situation... (Sometimes, I do. Hehe)
As the story went on, I felt like I am lost and no longer connected to the story. I can't bring myself into Sri's shoes and I suddenly don't understand the story. How can you consider someone to be your first love, and foresee him as your future partner just because you're mom asked him how you do in school? I can't really tell if the pacing is just too fast or some sentences doesn't make sense at all. There are times when I have to reread some lines (even a chapter) just to understand it all.
The lines in this book are too descriptive that they started to pour out of the box.
March 18, 2013
I did not like this book. The first person narration in this book is tiring and almost after 3 or 4 sentences all sentences starts with "It was", Which after some pages kept a buzzing in my ear and mind.
The story was stated in continuous time but as a reader i felt disconnected from the story. Complete writing was like an women is looking back into her own diary written when she was 13-14 years age. In every sentence it almost reflects how much she actually hated her own decisions in past. Though the author goes on about love. I doubt any reader will think this as a love story. As Shri's love is narrated it seems she has taken out the love from the description and then trying to write about it.
Well, Some of the things we think and do while in that age was little bit captured. That's what made me give it 2/5 star.
June 30, 2013
ARC received for honest review.
I'm really sorry to say that I just didnt like this story. I didn't like the main characters, I felt no connection to them nor did I really care for their story. How can you fall in love with someone because they said you were nice to your mum??? I didn't get this at all! The writing style is completely different to anything ive read before and whilst it was beautifully written at times it was too descriptive and I found myself having to re-read a number of lines over again to make sense of what I was reading. Maybe my first love was just too long ago for me to connect with this book! I love the title, I love the cover but unfortunately I didn't love the book. I'm sure I will be in the minority and I hope the author has huge success with this book, but in this case I wasn't hooked!
I'm really sorry to say that I just didnt like this story. I didn't like the main characters, I felt no connection to them nor did I really care for their story. How can you fall in love with someone because they said you were nice to your mum??? I didn't get this at all! The writing style is completely different to anything ive read before and whilst it was beautifully written at times it was too descriptive and I found myself having to re-read a number of lines over again to make sense of what I was reading. Maybe my first love was just too long ago for me to connect with this book! I love the title, I love the cover but unfortunately I didn't love the book. I'm sure I will be in the minority and I hope the author has huge success with this book, but in this case I wasn't hooked!
October 29, 2013
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
The cover is just awesome, just caught my attention.(and I think it's reflects to the story also)
"There’s no love like the first love. There’s no feeling like the desperation to attain true love. Love or lust matters not when two eyes meet, uniting the souls at once."
Two young in love, Sri and Jishu. In one hand Sri had not so good relationship with her mother, and mostly went to school and home.
It's about the way how they find each other, or how they become brave enough to express their feelings. (And if I am right, you also can notice some cultural moments)
After a while, I felt a bit lost. I couldn't find the connection with the story. They talked about a kind of huge love, what I can't feel... I think Sri lost in herself, and that's why she lost me.
The cover is just awesome, just caught my attention.(and I think it's reflects to the story also)
"There’s no love like the first love. There’s no feeling like the desperation to attain true love. Love or lust matters not when two eyes meet, uniting the souls at once."
Two young in love, Sri and Jishu. In one hand Sri had not so good relationship with her mother, and mostly went to school and home.
It's about the way how they find each other, or how they become brave enough to express their feelings. (And if I am right, you also can notice some cultural moments)
After a while, I felt a bit lost. I couldn't find the connection with the story. They talked about a kind of huge love, what I can't feel... I think Sri lost in herself, and that's why she lost me.
May 29, 2013
This is a story of first loves and first heartbreaks.
It's a story of the expectations that ride upon first loves and the naivety that comes with it.
Sri expects so much from her first love and in the end-after a serious wake up call-realizes that everyone has a different way of expressing their love.
Jishu may come off as a jerk in the beginning, but I gradually warmed up to him.
I liked the setting of this book and how there were glimpses of Indian and Bengali culture. It seemed realistic.
The ending was a bittersweet one, really. But believable nonetheless.
Want a copy of this book? Check out the giveaway+character sketch by the author herself!
It's a story of the expectations that ride upon first loves and the naivety that comes with it.
Sri expects so much from her first love and in the end-after a serious wake up call-realizes that everyone has a different way of expressing their love.
Jishu may come off as a jerk in the beginning, but I gradually warmed up to him.
I liked the setting of this book and how there were glimpses of Indian and Bengali culture. It seemed realistic.
The ending was a bittersweet one, really. But believable nonetheless.
Want a copy of this book? Check out the giveaway+character sketch by the author herself!
June 16, 2013
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I received a copy of this book free from the author in return for an honest review.
Now, I know this is Tista Rays first novel, and she is a young author which is fantastic!
But I must say, I didn't love this book, but... nor did I dislike it. Therefore I gave it 3 stars on Goodreads.
This is a love story between 2 teenagers Jishu and Sri.Tista was very good at describing how Sri was feeling, and it did give you some understanding of her situation with her mother too. But I just wasn't pulled in for some reason. The book was rather short too and I felt it could have done with being a bit longer.
A good book in its ways, and I think Tista, especially being only 18 years old, could go far with her writing career.
I received a copy of this book free from the author in return for an honest review.
Now, I know this is Tista Rays first novel, and she is a young author which is fantastic!
But I must say, I didn't love this book, but... nor did I dislike it. Therefore I gave it 3 stars on Goodreads.
This is a love story between 2 teenagers Jishu and Sri.Tista was very good at describing how Sri was feeling, and it did give you some understanding of her situation with her mother too. But I just wasn't pulled in for some reason. The book was rather short too and I felt it could have done with being a bit longer.
A good book in its ways, and I think Tista, especially being only 18 years old, could go far with her writing career.
October 18, 2013
i received ARC for my honest opinion, in the beginning it was a little hard to follow. but has you get deeper in the story you see a love story starting to form between sri and jishu. i would have like for the story to have a little more background in the beginning so that you would have the understanding of the dialogue that the characters have. but all in all it was a good love story and the struggles that many have when you love someone but that person won't give you the time of day or they don't show you how they feel. it was a short story and the tempo was a little rushed in the sense that you don't have a chance to really learn the characters in the story so that you have more of a background about them. if you give the story a chance you will enjoy.
October 18, 2013
I love the title of this book! It really snagged me when I started reading this short story. The author really stuck to the traditions of India and portrayed a realistic story. The imagery in this book is beautifully written and give the reader a clear view for what is being seen by the author. You feel like you are watching a movie, with how the author shares what her vision is of the environment the characters are seeing, as well how their feelings. Sri has such strong emotions and reader feels each one to the same intensity as she feels. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
June 10, 2013
A pleasant story; an attractive book cover. Sri's first love is Jishu, her classmate.
Sri said,'There's no feeling as like the desperation to attain true love.'
Sri said,' I long for freedom and Jishu alone can shower me with the ultimate sense of freedom.'
Sri said,' The more I was drawn to the negativity of life, the more I was realising the need of my lucky charm and was repenting for my failure to hold on to his love.'
Sri's mom said,' I would have never commented on your friendship if it would have been with a right person.'
I felt myself being drawn into the story.
Sri said,'There's no feeling as like the desperation to attain true love.'
Sri said,' I long for freedom and Jishu alone can shower me with the ultimate sense of freedom.'
Sri said,' The more I was drawn to the negativity of life, the more I was realising the need of my lucky charm and was repenting for my failure to hold on to his love.'
Sri's mom said,' I would have never commented on your friendship if it would have been with a right person.'
I felt myself being drawn into the story.
July 4, 2013
I received this book from the author in exchange for a honest review.
I must say that it is different from other book that i have read, by the way it is written very descriptive, it cost me a bit to understand was how Sri believed that Jishu loved her with only tell her mom that she behaved well in class, and near the end of the book I felt a longing for the way she behave with Jishu, I wanted to tell her what happened with you sorry that ended that way somehow I wish they had another chance
I must say that it is different from other book that i have read, by the way it is written very descriptive, it cost me a bit to understand was how Sri believed that Jishu loved her with only tell her mom that she behaved well in class, and near the end of the book I felt a longing for the way she behave with Jishu, I wanted to tell her what happened with you sorry that ended that way somehow I wish they had another chance
November 6, 2013
* i received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
Sorry but I didn't like this book, I didn't feel a connections with the characters. Sometimes I needed to read the lines again to get a beter meaning of it or was it the different writing style, I don't know. This was just not a book for me.
Sorry but I didn't like this book, I didn't feel a connections with the characters. Sometimes I needed to read the lines again to get a beter meaning of it or was it the different writing style, I don't know. This was just not a book for me.
May 20, 2013
Ingeniously put up, gifted and entrancing, you will get pleasure from how the writer covenant with the theme of the lone individual each one of us has to transact, with the aficionado possibly will at the moment identify himself on the distant sphere.
Want to read
June 18, 2013Friends, if u ever get a chance, plz read this book...
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