Circa by Devi S. Laskar: A Book Recommendation
Circa by Devi S. Laskar
As Heera approaches her eighteenth birthday, she is desperate to live the life of an American teen. Her Indian parents have other ideas, though. Heera is expected to wear what they feel is culturally appropriate clothing and eat traditional food. Thankfully, her best friend Marie and her brother Marco do what they can to help her fit in.
Fitting in also means breaking the rules. They’re out there painting anarchy symbols on water towers and loitering around the local bus station to pickpocket cash for their getaway to New York. Despite Heera’s strict upbringing, she’s always managed to steer clear of any real danger—until one fateful night changes everything.
Forever changed by their shared trauma, Marco transforms into Crash and Heera into Dia.
Meanwhile, Heera’s dream to attend college in New York is suddenly shattered as she gives in to her parents’ expectations.
Over the years, Heera and Crash keep running into each other, constantly caught up in a whirlwind of hopes, desires, envy, and deceit.
Heartbreaking and amusing, this is a captivating coming-of-age story about a young woman caught between her responsibilities and the desire to live life on her terms.
A beautiful story is told in lyrical prose, with the skillful use of the 2nd person “you” point of view – no easy accomplishment.
Barbara Ridley
If you’re giving Circa as a gift, here are a few things to consider:
The vibes are emotional, reflective, darkly tense, and hopeful with a fairly fast pace.
It’s the perfect book for anyone who can relate to cultural pressures from family, who was a rebellious teenager, or who has wanted to reinvent themselves.
Permission to judge a book by its cover!
Circa has two gorgeous, colorful covers. @aimeedarsreads pairs their blue, purple, and pink cover with a bouquet of bright tulips. Whereas @tarheelreader sets the scene for their pink and yellow edition with a matching breakfast-in-bed arrangement.
*Circa fulfilled my POPSUGAR Reading Challenge prompt for a book written during NaNoWriMo.
