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Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree

Simi K. Rao (Goodreads Author)

4.14 · Rating details · 22 ratings · 18 reviews

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 elucida ...more

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Paperback, 144 pages

Published September 30th 2019 by Written Dreams Publishing

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May 24, 2020 Kitty Marie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020-books, authors-to-watch, books-finished, own

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 th ...more

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May 19, 2020 Laura's Library Space rated it really liked it

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 rea ...more

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Feb 03, 2020 Merril Anil rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle-purchase, author-s-handdown, book-tour, e-book

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 negativ 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.

...more

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Feb 21, 2020 Pamela Scott rated it really liked it

Shelves: simi-k-rao, review-copy, first-read, poetry

https://thebookloversboudoir.wordpres...

I’d never heard of the author before so had zero expectations for this collection of poetry and short stories, though mostly poetry with less than half a dozen pieces of prose. Sometimes it’s better that way and you can be pleasantly surprised as I was reading this. What threw me a little is there seems no real link between the pieces. I’d be enjoying some beautifully crafted poems then out of nowhere would appear a story several pages long which was unexp ...more

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Apr 23, 2020 Kaye rated it liked it

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 expl 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.

...more

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Mar 19, 2020 Krisha Bayer rated it really liked it

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 almos ...more

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Apr 22, 2020 Chelsea DeVries rated it liked it

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 e ...more

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Mar 07, 2020 Melina Lobo rated it really liked it

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 stori ...more

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Mar 01, 2020 Kelsey Fagan rated it really liked it

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:// ...more

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Oct 20, 2019 Priyasree rated it it was amazing

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 the ...more

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Oct 31, 2019 Sudha Mahadevan added it

Simi 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.

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Oct 06, 2019 Sonali rated it it was amazing

Another masterpiece by Simi k Rao ! You can’t help but see the world in a different light

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Jul 10, 2020 Dejah rated it it was amazing

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 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. ...more

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Apr 19, 2020 Emma Rund rated it it was ok

Shelves: by-women, non-american-uk-canadian-authors, poetry, short-stories, authors-of-color

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 ...more

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Dec 31, 2019 Mahathi Ramya rated it really liked it

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. ...more

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Feb 25, 2020 Courtney Giraldo rated it liked it

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 yea ...more

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Dec 11, 2019 Surabhi Kaushik rated it really liked it

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Oct 14, 2019 Sudha rated it it was amazing

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. ...more

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Apr 24, 2020 Simi Rao rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

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About Simi K. Rao

Simi K. Rao

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Simi 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 Ame ...more