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Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree
Life is not about achieving perfection, it's about reconciling with your imperfections.
Poems are fragments of life. In Simi K. Rao’s unique poetry collection for women, there are blissful moments; deep, invisible wounds; cries for help; declarations of defiance and philosophical observations. The poems and prose pieces compiling the collection are fragments of life elucidating the different phases of the human condition. Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree will leave readers wanting for more and have a deep impact on women of all ages
Poems are fragments of life. In Simi K. Rao’s unique poetry collection for women, there are blissful moments; deep, invisible wounds; cries for help; declarations of defiance and philosophical observations. The poems and prose pieces compiling the collection are fragments of life elucidating the different phases of the human condition. Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree will leave readers wanting for more and have a deep impact on women of all ages
144 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2019
1 person is currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Simi K. Rao
6 books327 followersSimi K. Rao was born and grew up in India before relocating to the U.S., where she has lived for several years.
The inspiration for her books, and other projects, comes from her own experience with cross-cultural traditions, lifestyles and familial relationships, as well as stories and anecdotes collected from friends, family and acquaintances.
Rao enjoys exploring the dynamics of contemporary American culture blended with Indian customs and heritage to reflect the challenges and opportunities many Indian-American women face in real life.
Much of Rao's down time is devoted to creative pursuits, including writing fiction, poetry and photography. She is an avid traveler and has visited many locations around the world.
A practicing physician, Rao lives in Denver with her family.
You can connect with the author and read more of her work on her website at www.SimiKRao.com
Find her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SimiKRao and Twitter @SimiKRao
The inspiration for her books, and other projects, comes from her own experience with cross-cultural traditions, lifestyles and familial relationships, as well as stories and anecdotes collected from friends, family and acquaintances.
Rao enjoys exploring the dynamics of contemporary American culture blended with Indian customs and heritage to reflect the challenges and opportunities many Indian-American women face in real life.
Much of Rao's down time is devoted to creative pursuits, including writing fiction, poetry and photography. She is an avid traveler and has visited many locations around the world.
A practicing physician, Rao lives in Denver with her family.
You can connect with the author and read more of her work on her website at www.SimiKRao.com
Find her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SimiKRao and Twitter @SimiKRao
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 25, 2020
I went into this poetry collection expecting something similar to Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur but Under The Shade of the Banyan Tree absolutely carves its own distinct path. The topics of the poems vary greatly from feminism, mental health, addiction, illness, isolation, love, family, Rao's experiences working in the medical field, the list goes on. The emotions contain equal variance- anger, affection, despair, hope. Most of the poems are positive and uplifting in nature. I also really liked the poems that were inspired by books, complete with added notes for context. Some of the more puzzling poems also include notes for context. As I have felt with all the poetry collections I've read thus far, some of the poems are fantastic while others fall flat.
What really struck me though are the short stories. They're placed at random locations throughout the book and most of them are quite interesting. Some have a dream-like and random feel while others are more down-to-earth.
The last of the short stories is quite lengthy and takes up several pages toward the end. Written with the clarity and closeness of a journal entry, I really felt for the life experiences conveyed there and was enthralled. As the child of an immigrant, reading stories about the intersections of gender and the navigating of multiple cultures has immense personal significance. There have been a surge of such titles in recent years but when I was younger, they were few and far between. Stories like these are important. This particular one left an impression and elevates this collection.
Disclosure : I received this book for review purposes.
What really struck me though are the short stories. They're placed at random locations throughout the book and most of them are quite interesting. Some have a dream-like and random feel while others are more down-to-earth.
The last of the short stories is quite lengthy and takes up several pages toward the end. Written with the clarity and closeness of a journal entry, I really felt for the life experiences conveyed there and was enthralled. As the child of an immigrant, reading stories about the intersections of gender and the navigating of multiple cultures has immense personal significance. There have been a surge of such titles in recent years but when I was younger, they were few and far between. Stories like these are important. This particular one left an impression and elevates this collection.
Disclosure : I received this book for review purposes.
May 19, 2020
I was very pleasantly surprised with Simi K. Rao's book.
This is a beautiful collection of so many types of writing: from short stories to poems and reflections that bring important ideas onto the surface such as identity, gender studies, isolation, womanhood and self-worth.
It was such a light and enjoyable read despite treating certain "darker" issues. Rao's wording has such evocative power that all of these characters, scenes and feelings are perfectly displayed in your mind once you begin reading.
Especifically, for her stories, I was enthralled by this and caught myself wanting to find out their conclusion as soon as possible. If my reading was interrupted by something, I was annoyed to be torn away from the conclusion.
And as for her poetry, the subtle and elegant brush-stroking illustrations that were included in the edition, brought so much more to life the author's voice and attitude. Minimalist, clear and to the point. Rao doesn't beat around the bush much, but when she does it is all so wonderfully expressed.
I would definitely recommend this book to young people looking for some inner exploration, either because you need to get to know yourself better or even challenge some ideas you might have been fed before.
Lovely experience! (If you want to read more, there's a detailed review up on my website: http://www.lauraslibraryspace.com/202...
*Thank you very much to the publishers for trusting me with reading this piece and giving an honest review.
This is a beautiful collection of so many types of writing: from short stories to poems and reflections that bring important ideas onto the surface such as identity, gender studies, isolation, womanhood and self-worth.
It was such a light and enjoyable read despite treating certain "darker" issues. Rao's wording has such evocative power that all of these characters, scenes and feelings are perfectly displayed in your mind once you begin reading.
Especifically, for her stories, I was enthralled by this and caught myself wanting to find out their conclusion as soon as possible. If my reading was interrupted by something, I was annoyed to be torn away from the conclusion.
And as for her poetry, the subtle and elegant brush-stroking illustrations that were included in the edition, brought so much more to life the author's voice and attitude. Minimalist, clear and to the point. Rao doesn't beat around the bush much, but when she does it is all so wonderfully expressed.
I would definitely recommend this book to young people looking for some inner exploration, either because you need to get to know yourself better or even challenge some ideas you might have been fed before.
Lovely experience! (If you want to read more, there's a detailed review up on my website: http://www.lauraslibraryspace.com/202...
*Thank you very much to the publishers for trusting me with reading this piece and giving an honest review.
February 4, 2020
First of all a huge thanks to the author and the team for allowing me to experience a beautiful and unique piece of work. Under the shade of the Banyan tree was a mixed bag for me. You can't exactly call it a work of poetry or a collection of Short stories because it is both. This fact actually surprised me, Intrigued me and at the same time kind of irritated me. So I am going to deal with the review in two halves as to what worked and what didn't in the book for me. Let's begin with the negative aspects as I really want to end the review on a positive note, as overall the book is a surprise bag and nice too.
Under the shade of the banyan tree, as I said, is a mixed bag. It is like what Tom Hank's mother said to him in the Forrest Gump. Its a box of chocolate, where you never know what you will end up with. I kept bombarded with a poem then abruptly a short incident, and then out of nowhere a short story and almost half of what could have been a full-fledged novel in its own, hitting you when you least expected it. So perhaps I have given you somewhat an idea of what happened to me, while reading the book. So this up and down, left and right, kind of jostled me a bit to be able to keep track and understand how to take this book on.
What I wished was, for the book, was to have some kind of tangible or subtle pattern. If the book had it already, then it clearly missed its mark. In reality, you could see this book as somebody's travel notes. A literary and beautiful collection of words and emotions on everything the poetess/authoress saw in her journey, which in this case could very well be a journey of life. So like anybody's personal diary, it is spread all over yet has the finest and sharpest picture to what is being said and shown.
Ok now that I have ruined everybody's mood, let's perk up a bit. So while reading the book, I may have looked like somebody caught in a hurricane, Hair standing and pointing in all four directions, clothes strewn and screaming for rescue, the book is a gem in an individual capacity.
I would recommend this book for the sheer weave of words by the authoress/poetess. Out of her collection, Loneliness, Tyrant, woman, Red are some of the poems that were a lightning bolt for me. It zapped me and left me trembling because of its intensity. This intensity is two-fold. One for the theme and second for the words and how they were so powerfully put together. There was a couple of line like
"We must repent for the sins of our master" that was simply outstanding when you match it with the context in which it was said. The poem Loneliness scared me for being how true and apt it was. It was like a mirror for me ( shudder )
In conclusion, I would say that I have no idea how to conclude on how exactly the book was. On one end, I tried making sense of the pattern of the book, so that it could ease me in. So everything was coming at me like an express train and with powerful blows. Some of the poems, especially the tyrant, could not have been apter for our current times.
So many beautiful lines and words, that no doubt the authoress/poetess is a connoisseur with her words but at the same time, it definitely made me feel that something was lacking. Like eating french fries without sauce. Though you might love and enjoy french fries individually, with the sauce it would have been something else. So that is kind of how I am feeling about the book..... confused? well me too
But don't miss the book at all... Some of the poems are worth engraving and there was a story towards the end that I had wished would have been a full-fledged novel.
Under the shade of the banyan tree, as I said, is a mixed bag. It is like what Tom Hank's mother said to him in the Forrest Gump. Its a box of chocolate, where you never know what you will end up with. I kept bombarded with a poem then abruptly a short incident, and then out of nowhere a short story and almost half of what could have been a full-fledged novel in its own, hitting you when you least expected it. So perhaps I have given you somewhat an idea of what happened to me, while reading the book. So this up and down, left and right, kind of jostled me a bit to be able to keep track and understand how to take this book on.
What I wished was, for the book, was to have some kind of tangible or subtle pattern. If the book had it already, then it clearly missed its mark. In reality, you could see this book as somebody's travel notes. A literary and beautiful collection of words and emotions on everything the poetess/authoress saw in her journey, which in this case could very well be a journey of life. So like anybody's personal diary, it is spread all over yet has the finest and sharpest picture to what is being said and shown.
Ok now that I have ruined everybody's mood, let's perk up a bit. So while reading the book, I may have looked like somebody caught in a hurricane, Hair standing and pointing in all four directions, clothes strewn and screaming for rescue, the book is a gem in an individual capacity.
I would recommend this book for the sheer weave of words by the authoress/poetess. Out of her collection, Loneliness, Tyrant, woman, Red are some of the poems that were a lightning bolt for me. It zapped me and left me trembling because of its intensity. This intensity is two-fold. One for the theme and second for the words and how they were so powerfully put together. There was a couple of line like
"We must repent for the sins of our master" that was simply outstanding when you match it with the context in which it was said. The poem Loneliness scared me for being how true and apt it was. It was like a mirror for me ( shudder )
In conclusion, I would say that I have no idea how to conclude on how exactly the book was. On one end, I tried making sense of the pattern of the book, so that it could ease me in. So everything was coming at me like an express train and with powerful blows. Some of the poems, especially the tyrant, could not have been apter for our current times.
So many beautiful lines and words, that no doubt the authoress/poetess is a connoisseur with her words but at the same time, it definitely made me feel that something was lacking. Like eating french fries without sauce. Though you might love and enjoy french fries individually, with the sauce it would have been something else. So that is kind of how I am feeling about the book..... confused? well me too
But don't miss the book at all... Some of the poems are worth engraving and there was a story towards the end that I had wished would have been a full-fledged novel.
April 24, 2020
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a review. I appreciated the chance to read this collection and want to mention first of all that the cover is gorgeous.
This was pitched to me as appealing to fans of Rupi Kaur, although this collection was in no way like Rupi Kaur's. Other than both poets being Indian, there were no real similarities I could see.
The main issue I had with this book is that it over explains itself. There are several times when a block of text followed a poem to explain it and in each case it was unnecessary. It either ruined the poem for me, or else highlighted the fact that the poem was insufficient in explaining what the poet wanted to convey.
There was also a lot of telling throughout the book. Most of the poems were lists which were fine and some of them had really great lines, such as "Windmills of my Mind" which had a stretch of gorgeous stanzas at the end. However, most of them really lacked substance and I felt pretty neutral about most of them. They weren't bad poems, they just felt like perhaps they were written by someone quite young and just learning about poetry or else they were very removed from the poems as they were writing them. A lot of them relied heavily on tropes, and the observational poems which I initially thought were interesting were then explained in ways that ruined them for me.
The collection also has a lot of short stories interspersed. There wasn't a lot of connection between the order of the poems and the short stories, so they sort of felt out of place. The last two were pretty interesting, but many of the earlier ones fell into the issue of over explaining themselves probably by virtue of just being too short to let any story unfold for itself.
I really didn't hate the collection at all. It wasn't poorly written, I just wound up not really connecting to any of the poems or getting any sense of voice through them and the order of the poems and short stories left me with an unfinished feeling.
I was thinking of this as a 3.5 star read, but I had to admit to myself that the chunks of text with the explanations for the poems really put me off, so I'm going to settle on 3 stars.
This was pitched to me as appealing to fans of Rupi Kaur, although this collection was in no way like Rupi Kaur's. Other than both poets being Indian, there were no real similarities I could see.
The main issue I had with this book is that it over explains itself. There are several times when a block of text followed a poem to explain it and in each case it was unnecessary. It either ruined the poem for me, or else highlighted the fact that the poem was insufficient in explaining what the poet wanted to convey.
There was also a lot of telling throughout the book. Most of the poems were lists which were fine and some of them had really great lines, such as "Windmills of my Mind" which had a stretch of gorgeous stanzas at the end. However, most of them really lacked substance and I felt pretty neutral about most of them. They weren't bad poems, they just felt like perhaps they were written by someone quite young and just learning about poetry or else they were very removed from the poems as they were writing them. A lot of them relied heavily on tropes, and the observational poems which I initially thought were interesting were then explained in ways that ruined them for me.
The collection also has a lot of short stories interspersed. There wasn't a lot of connection between the order of the poems and the short stories, so they sort of felt out of place. The last two were pretty interesting, but many of the earlier ones fell into the issue of over explaining themselves probably by virtue of just being too short to let any story unfold for itself.
I really didn't hate the collection at all. It wasn't poorly written, I just wound up not really connecting to any of the poems or getting any sense of voice through them and the order of the poems and short stories left me with an unfinished feeling.
I was thinking of this as a 3.5 star read, but I had to admit to myself that the chunks of text with the explanations for the poems really put me off, so I'm going to settle on 3 stars.
January 16, 2023
*I received a free DRC of this book, with thanks to the author and Kelsey Butts of Book Publicity Services. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Poetry, perhaps more than any other form of writing, is a very subjective experience, and this short collection of poetry and prose really resonated with me on a personal level.
Each piece is beautifully written and laid out on the page in a way that is artistic and undulating – soothing to the eye as well as the mind.
Some of the experiences explored within are quite mundane or everyday, and some contain more deep and philosophical musings. Some felt as familiar to me as my own thoughts and feelings, yet breathtakingly fresh, like glimpsing your face in an unexpected mirror or hearing your voice played back to you. And some opened my mind to different experiences, different cultures, different ways of feeling.
I particularly enjoyed the following poems ‘Unbelievable’; ‘Windmills of my Mind’; ‘White Room’; ‘Liberty’; ‘Smile’; ‘Red’; ‘A Cup of Tea’, and the following short stories: ‘Changes’; ‘The Witching Hour’ and ‘A Cup of Chai’. I don’t want to say too much about any of them, as they are best experienced without preconceptions.
None of the stories or poems appear to be connected, and there is no overarching theme, so this is ideal for dipping in and out of at your leisure, just to enjoy a thoughtful moment with another’s words.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
Poetry, perhaps more than any other form of writing, is a very subjective experience, and this short collection of poetry and prose really resonated with me on a personal level.
Each piece is beautifully written and laid out on the page in a way that is artistic and undulating – soothing to the eye as well as the mind.
Some of the experiences explored within are quite mundane or everyday, and some contain more deep and philosophical musings. Some felt as familiar to me as my own thoughts and feelings, yet breathtakingly fresh, like glimpsing your face in an unexpected mirror or hearing your voice played back to you. And some opened my mind to different experiences, different cultures, different ways of feeling.
I particularly enjoyed the following poems ‘Unbelievable’; ‘Windmills of my Mind’; ‘White Room’; ‘Liberty’; ‘Smile’; ‘Red’; ‘A Cup of Tea’, and the following short stories: ‘Changes’; ‘The Witching Hour’ and ‘A Cup of Chai’. I don’t want to say too much about any of them, as they are best experienced without preconceptions.
None of the stories or poems appear to be connected, and there is no overarching theme, so this is ideal for dipping in and out of at your leisure, just to enjoy a thoughtful moment with another’s words.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
March 20, 2020
Me Is All I Can Be
I tried my best
to talk the talk, walk the walk
But fail miserably
Who am I trying to be?
I strive to be
the best of the best
I fall, lie bruised and battered
When will I be free?
I paint myself
like a rainbow
But end up
like a fool
I work hard
to be what I can never be
So, to save me some trouble
I better just be me.
Isn't it amazing how poems touch your very soul and just reflect in it?
That's how I felt on some of her writings and poems. Powerful. Deep.
I didn't even realize I was almost running out of pages to flip cause it was too interesting and I surprisingly finished it in one sitting.
The short stories were good. There was no pattern in this book, no chapters to divide it, no headlines, just titles from each and every poetry which I think isn't a bad thing.
Am i the only one who appreciates some of the notes about the poems right after?
It helps a lot. Trust me. It helped me understood the entries more.
I applaud Simi for appreciating the people and the book/novel that has inspired her writing some of her poems. She literally put it in the book. A humble spirit.
You should give this book a try.
It's a gem.
4.5 stars
I tried my best
to talk the talk, walk the walk
But fail miserably
Who am I trying to be?
I strive to be
the best of the best
I fall, lie bruised and battered
When will I be free?
I paint myself
like a rainbow
But end up
like a fool
I work hard
to be what I can never be
So, to save me some trouble
I better just be me.
Isn't it amazing how poems touch your very soul and just reflect in it?
That's how I felt on some of her writings and poems. Powerful. Deep.
I didn't even realize I was almost running out of pages to flip cause it was too interesting and I surprisingly finished it in one sitting.
The short stories were good. There was no pattern in this book, no chapters to divide it, no headlines, just titles from each and every poetry which I think isn't a bad thing.
Am i the only one who appreciates some of the notes about the poems right after?
It helps a lot. Trust me. It helped me understood the entries more.
I applaud Simi for appreciating the people and the book/novel that has inspired her writing some of her poems. She literally put it in the book. A humble spirit.
You should give this book a try.
It's a gem.
4.5 stars
April 22, 2020
I was asked to read this book of poetry and some prose for an honest review. Once received, i was unsure of what i would find under this tree of metaphorical significance but i am happy to share that not only did i find myself lost in the midst of some of these poems...that share bits of truth about self-esteem, self-confidence, and one that cleverly tells the story of a seed of doubt.
My favorite of all Rao's words shared within the pages of this collection is called Love is.
I also enjoyed the excerpt from Inconvenient Relations
My favorite of all Rao's words shared within the pages of this collection is called Love is.
I also enjoyed the excerpt from Inconvenient Relations
March 7, 2020
There are some who await
the call of the moon
Who stalk amongst us
reckless and brazen
Beware of the beast.
🦄🦄🦄
Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree is a collection of poems and prose by Simi K. Rao.
While reading the book I was trying to figureout what direction this book was trying to take, but everything seems random.
The poems are a mix of various topics with the short stories thrown in.
Lone Cloud was definitely one of my favourite poems, just because I could relate to it.
I preferred reading the stories more than the poetry (but that's just my personal opinion) because they were more interesting.
There was one short story taken from her book 'Inconvinient Relations' about a really intelligent girl who meets a quiz master. Is it supposed to be from a full fledged novel because I hope the ending is better.
From a woman's point of view, that was a let down.
🦄🦄🦄
If you're someone interested in reading prose and poetry, I would recommend it.
Rated 8/10
Melina L.
the call of the moon
Who stalk amongst us
reckless and brazen
Beware of the beast.
🦄🦄🦄
Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree is a collection of poems and prose by Simi K. Rao.
While reading the book I was trying to figureout what direction this book was trying to take, but everything seems random.
The poems are a mix of various topics with the short stories thrown in.
Lone Cloud was definitely one of my favourite poems, just because I could relate to it.
I preferred reading the stories more than the poetry (but that's just my personal opinion) because they were more interesting.
There was one short story taken from her book 'Inconvinient Relations' about a really intelligent girl who meets a quiz master. Is it supposed to be from a full fledged novel because I hope the ending is better.
From a woman's point of view, that was a let down.
🦄🦄🦄
If you're someone interested in reading prose and poetry, I would recommend it.
Rated 8/10
Melina L.
March 21, 2020
I really enjoyed Rao's style and flow and how she put together her collection. The assortment is a mix of her own life experiences and of those of her friends and family which makes it far more realistic and enjoyable. Life isn't always easy to write about and even harder to share with others. For Rao, the emotion comes out in each poem clearly. You can tell she took her time in writing and arranging the poems and short stories to best convey certain emotions.
Read my entire review here: https://kelseyfaganblog.com/2020/03/2...
Read my entire review here: https://kelseyfaganblog.com/2020/03/2...
October 20, 2019
I have read all the novels/books by Simi K Rao. This collection of poems and short stories is different from her previous books but it is yet another a marvellous work by her.
Let me begin with the cover of the book first, which deserves to be mentioned. The cover consisting the picture of banyan tree, is nostalgia to me, it takes me back to my childhood days. I have fallen in love with it.
Now coming to the poems, they are simple yet have a profound meaning. Each of the poems tells a story of their own, they make you ponder over them, cherish them. Very very touching. The short stories are beautiful too. I love the fact that this book is a complete collection of poems and short stories about different kinds of subjects altogether.
I could resonate with them. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone. It's a must read and an amazing reading experience.
Kudos and many many thanks to the author. Looking forward to reading more such collections from you.
Let me begin with the cover of the book first, which deserves to be mentioned. The cover consisting the picture of banyan tree, is nostalgia to me, it takes me back to my childhood days. I have fallen in love with it.
Now coming to the poems, they are simple yet have a profound meaning. Each of the poems tells a story of their own, they make you ponder over them, cherish them. Very very touching. The short stories are beautiful too. I love the fact that this book is a complete collection of poems and short stories about different kinds of subjects altogether.
I could resonate with them. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone. It's a must read and an amazing reading experience.
Kudos and many many thanks to the author. Looking forward to reading more such collections from you.
Read
October 31, 2019Simi K Rao has the gift. She is on familiar grounds, while spinning a yarn or while giving a poetic touch. I can relate to the nosegay of experiences. She just needs to describe and the story evolves. Never once does she sink into the pedantic. Awaiting her next release.
October 6, 2019
Another masterpiece by Simi k Rao ! You can’t help but see the world in a different light
July 10, 2020
I felt as if after reading Simi K. Roa’s, Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree, I was able to take a glance into her soul. This eloquent morsel was released in August of last year and is less than 150 pages in length. Rao was born in India, but she has been living in the United States for several years now. She has also published a few other works within the last few years, such as Inconvenient Relations and the Accidental Wife. Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree was the first work of hers that I have read, but it is definitely now a favorite that I highly recommend.
What attracted me first was the title. I had never heard of a Banyan tree, so I searched it.
Originally, they are from the writer’s home country, where underneath the tree is often a center of activity in many of their communities. Magnificently, Banyans can grow up to be 80 feet tall, cover about 14,500 square feet of space, and live to be over two and a half centuries of age. Often, the tree symbolizes fertility, life, and even resurrection. Hindu texts dating back over 2,500 years reference the Banyan tree as a “world tree,” it’s roots reaching the heaves and delivering blessings to earth.
Significantly, the concept of the vastness of this tree, with it’s sturdy roots consuming all in its path, is more than appropriate metaphor in my opinion. It would be difficult to use one word to encumber all that is contained in Rao’s, Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree. However, if I did, I would choose a word that a Banyan tree itself represents. Life.
Life penned by Simi Rao, as I read, had been written through the many lenses that she wore in her time. A Mother. A Physician. An Innocent Child. A Mischievous Teen. A Lover. An Immigrant. A Dreamer. Every poem and short story is coated with her observations of human nature, her experiences a cross-cultured woman, her internal struggles, her perceptions of love, and her emancipation from the darkness that can tend to follow us in life.
The poems were written in a variety of different styles, which I find is important in books such as these. It is more engaging when authors change the rhythm, rhyme patterns (or not rhyme at all), and the topics as well. She accomplished that skillfully, and she also included some excepts from her other books and a few short stories. The poem “Windows” was my favorite poem style wise, and I thought it was very deep. Rao gave us a peek through her window. Through it, the inner workings of her humanity was laid bare, which made almost everything she wrote easy to relate to. I felt as if I could almost feel her soul in some of the poems. Her affection for others and nature was plain to me. Her love of her culture was also evident. In the vivid short story “Mr. Tim“, a little girl befriends a squirrel in a tree. At the end, I almost shed tears just as the character did. The poem “Phobia” cleverly explained how tragic it is that fear can imprison us, even when freeing ourselves from it’s control is more possible than it seems. Simi shared her experiences as a physician with writing of a cancer patient, an addict, and an elderly woman with dementia. And of course, the love stories “Crush” and “A Cup of Chai” were heartwarming.
All that is included in Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree was touching in it own right. As Simi describes it, we must all ride “the carnival of life,” and it is bumpy ride. With all the unrest occurring in the world at present, the burden of simply existing is not foreign to anyone. Nonetheless, Roa reassures in this composition that there is light awaiting after the dark, somewhere a hand is always out-stretched, the beauty of love flows in unlikely places, and that rain will always fall to spread the roots of the Banyan tree.
What attracted me first was the title. I had never heard of a Banyan tree, so I searched it.
Originally, they are from the writer’s home country, where underneath the tree is often a center of activity in many of their communities. Magnificently, Banyans can grow up to be 80 feet tall, cover about 14,500 square feet of space, and live to be over two and a half centuries of age. Often, the tree symbolizes fertility, life, and even resurrection. Hindu texts dating back over 2,500 years reference the Banyan tree as a “world tree,” it’s roots reaching the heaves and delivering blessings to earth.
Significantly, the concept of the vastness of this tree, with it’s sturdy roots consuming all in its path, is more than appropriate metaphor in my opinion. It would be difficult to use one word to encumber all that is contained in Rao’s, Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree. However, if I did, I would choose a word that a Banyan tree itself represents. Life.
Life penned by Simi Rao, as I read, had been written through the many lenses that she wore in her time. A Mother. A Physician. An Innocent Child. A Mischievous Teen. A Lover. An Immigrant. A Dreamer. Every poem and short story is coated with her observations of human nature, her experiences a cross-cultured woman, her internal struggles, her perceptions of love, and her emancipation from the darkness that can tend to follow us in life.
The poems were written in a variety of different styles, which I find is important in books such as these. It is more engaging when authors change the rhythm, rhyme patterns (or not rhyme at all), and the topics as well. She accomplished that skillfully, and she also included some excepts from her other books and a few short stories. The poem “Windows” was my favorite poem style wise, and I thought it was very deep. Rao gave us a peek through her window. Through it, the inner workings of her humanity was laid bare, which made almost everything she wrote easy to relate to. I felt as if I could almost feel her soul in some of the poems. Her affection for others and nature was plain to me. Her love of her culture was also evident. In the vivid short story “Mr. Tim“, a little girl befriends a squirrel in a tree. At the end, I almost shed tears just as the character did. The poem “Phobia” cleverly explained how tragic it is that fear can imprison us, even when freeing ourselves from it’s control is more possible than it seems. Simi shared her experiences as a physician with writing of a cancer patient, an addict, and an elderly woman with dementia. And of course, the love stories “Crush” and “A Cup of Chai” were heartwarming.
All that is included in Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree was touching in it own right. As Simi describes it, we must all ride “the carnival of life,” and it is bumpy ride. With all the unrest occurring in the world at present, the burden of simply existing is not foreign to anyone. Nonetheless, Roa reassures in this composition that there is light awaiting after the dark, somewhere a hand is always out-stretched, the beauty of love flows in unlikely places, and that rain will always fall to spread the roots of the Banyan tree.
April 19, 2020
First of all, I want to say thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book for review. I always appreciate the opportunity to read new works.
Second, I would like to say, even though I only rated this collection 2 stars, there ARE some wonderful moments. I think Simi K. Rao is a lovely writer with a lot of potential, and I certainly wouldn't want anyone to write her off because of this review.
Things I liked:
The short stories. Every single one of the short stories was lovely! They were all very different in tone and genre, and each one caught my attention with a fascinating premise and held my attention with engaging writing.
Things I didn't like:
The poetry, for the most part, was not my cup of tea. It felt pretty basic, generally speaking. There was also no connecting thought or theme through the collection, which bothered me quite a bit. I like poetry books to be thoughtfully arranged to create a journey through a specific event or thought process. That might just be a personal preference of mine, but I couldn't get into the poetry because there was no connective tissue.
Overall, this collection felt like a bunch of pieces the author wrote and threw on the ground where her editor picked them up and arranged them in no particular order and published them.
I would recommend this collection to readers who are passionate about discovering emerging writers/poets. I would be excited to see what Simi K. Rao writes next. I just hope it's intentionally collected.
Second, I would like to say, even though I only rated this collection 2 stars, there ARE some wonderful moments. I think Simi K. Rao is a lovely writer with a lot of potential, and I certainly wouldn't want anyone to write her off because of this review.
Things I liked:
The short stories. Every single one of the short stories was lovely! They were all very different in tone and genre, and each one caught my attention with a fascinating premise and held my attention with engaging writing.
Things I didn't like:
The poetry, for the most part, was not my cup of tea. It felt pretty basic, generally speaking. There was also no connecting thought or theme through the collection, which bothered me quite a bit. I like poetry books to be thoughtfully arranged to create a journey through a specific event or thought process. That might just be a personal preference of mine, but I couldn't get into the poetry because there was no connective tissue.
Overall, this collection felt like a bunch of pieces the author wrote and threw on the ground where her editor picked them up and arranged them in no particular order and published them.
I would recommend this collection to readers who are passionate about discovering emerging writers/poets. I would be excited to see what Simi K. Rao writes next. I just hope it's intentionally collected.
July 23, 2022
Simi K. Rao, in her book Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree, proves that life, indeed, is a dichotomy of hope and fear, laughter and tears, and an avalanche of ups and downs. Both her short stories and her poems reflect a keen awareness that we are all connected by one common thread: And that thread is our humanity. This little gem is a quick read that leaves us wanting more.
July 29, 2022
A very inciteful book of poetry intermingled with bits of observation.
Interesting play on words with the Cadence of "Windmills" the wonder of "Windows" and an amazing observation in "Words". Very good read
Interesting play on words with the Cadence of "Windmills" the wonder of "Windows" and an amazing observation in "Words". Very good read
January 1, 2020
This collection of short and sweet poems featured by Simi is like the mirror of life's moments. These poems are some subtle moments expressing the feelings or reminiscing some lovely memories.
I usually don't enjoy poetry, so I don't pick poetry books to read. But, this poetry is simple to understand and clearly written from the heart.
I loved some poems like - War, Me is all I can be, Life an ugly cousin.
The Stranger really reminded me of someone that I know. The poem 'Woman' is heart touching. I can relate to it being an Indian Woman.
White Room is a good poem about Dementia patients. I loved the poems - Butterfly, Addiction, A seed of doubt, and Words.
The short stories are great too. But, I felt, the way the short stories and poems are organized might have been better. I couldn't see any flow while reading and so, it is like reading some random collection of different emotions. They might have been categorized by something.
I would recommend this book to beginner readers. This book is great as a travel read.
My Rating : 4/5
I usually don't enjoy poetry, so I don't pick poetry books to read. But, this poetry is simple to understand and clearly written from the heart.
I loved some poems like - War, Me is all I can be, Life an ugly cousin.
The Stranger really reminded me of someone that I know. The poem 'Woman' is heart touching. I can relate to it being an Indian Woman.
White Room is a good poem about Dementia patients. I loved the poems - Butterfly, Addiction, A seed of doubt, and Words.
The short stories are great too. But, I felt, the way the short stories and poems are organized might have been better. I couldn't see any flow while reading and so, it is like reading some random collection of different emotions. They might have been categorized by something.
I would recommend this book to beginner readers. This book is great as a travel read.
My Rating : 4/5
April 18, 2020
Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree is a collection of both short poems and short stories. If I'm being honest, I was much more taken by the short stories. Ranging from heartwarming to spooky they didn't really follow a particular genre but were so very enjoyable. This is not to say I didn't enjoy the poems- as I did. One in particular resonated with me, Growing Pains, as it so movingly described parenthood and how our children grow up in the blink of an eye. As a mom to a 9 year old and a 13 year old- I really connected with this one.
This one is a short read- I was able to finish in one sitting within an hour. The poetry hits on many various topics, most of which are relevant (at least to me in my life). Self esteem, loss, motherhood- things that I have felt and struggled with myself.
Fans of poetry and short stories will enjoy this one!
This one is a short read- I was able to finish in one sitting within an hour. The poetry hits on many various topics, most of which are relevant (at least to me in my life). Self esteem, loss, motherhood- things that I have felt and struggled with myself.
Fans of poetry and short stories will enjoy this one!
December 11, 2019
I enjoyed reading this collection of poems by Simi. Her work in this book seems deeply personal.
Some of her poems like Silent Scream, On Edge, Windmills of my mind and many others made me feel like I am reading parts of her secret journal.
I loved the imagery and quiet observations in ordinary things, giving more power to her expression.
I like how she has weaved in nostalgia, culture and empathy into her poems connecting the personal with the universal.
The poems that spoke about her bond with her patients gave me a peek into a world that I know less about.
My personal favorite poem is the one titled “Words”.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2019
Wonderful poems on wonder women, author. You have penned down their 'Silent screams' with empathy and emphatically too in this book. I could truly connect with the genuine emotions.
Interesting short stories.
I am not fond of Chai but your 'A Cup of Chai' is my favorite, author. Loved it.
Thanks for writing this awe-inspiring masterpiece.
Interesting short stories.
I am not fond of Chai but your 'A Cup of Chai' is my favorite, author. Loved it.
Thanks for writing this awe-inspiring masterpiece.
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