Anukrti Upadhyay’s previous works Daura and Bhaunri were critically acclaimed. Taking readers to the rustic never before seen Rajasthan. Her third book titled, Kintsugi, takes us from Jaipur to Japan and back.
You’re likely wondering, what is Kintsugi?
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold; built on the idea of embracing flaws and imperfections, one can create an even stronger, more beautiful piece of art.
Title: Kintsugi
Author: Anukrti Upadhyay
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Fiction
The novel Kintsugi takes us to the alleys of jeweler’s market in the old city of Jaipur. Haruko, the American woman of Korean and Japanese linage was introduced to cousins Munnaji and Madanji by her advisor to learn Indian enamel art and craftwork. In the biradari of goldsmiths and artisans. Haruko is an exception as women are not allowed to learn the craft. A street accident breaks her leg and leads her to move to her mentor Munnaji’s house. Leela, the teenage daughter befriends and looks after the recuperating Haruko. Soon, the younger one starts learning the art from the other, which was forbidden, not even taught by her father, a master kundansaaz. While it was looked out as a hobby by all, with the curve of time shaped Leela as an artisan.
The intertwined story of Meena kicks off with the beautiful mountains of Japan as she introspects the relations of her life. Meena lives the life far away from the expectations set for her, right from childhood. With a fiancée waiting back home, Meena a rebel and literature researcher arrives in Tokyo. The demure Yuri has a profound role, her presence and absence molded Meena’s life.
Leela’s story starts years after Haruko left. Now unavoidable circumstances turned her into the breadwinner of the family. She stood determined for her dreams and fought hard for it. Finally finding her own footing. She faced discrimination in her trade. Despite being skilled she receives work on poorly set pieces. Often remarked of having housewife’s skill to fix and mend. Exploring the dynamics of the human psyche and the vast gap of gender discrimination is aptly investigated.
The plot’s protagonists Haruko, Leela, and Meena along with the characters of Prakash and Hajime, and Yuri puzzle over the cracked lines of love, expectations, desire, freedom, and bonds.
Leela and Haruko are the faces of women who are successful in their professional life, not to forget the struggles. Especially Leela with her social-economical background and passion make readers cheer for her. Haruko is a globetrotter, she leads a disciplined life. Readers might like to correlate her self disciple with success. Both are hurt, broken yet both choose to focus on embracing the imperfections and engraving a path to happiness and success.
Other characters like Prakash, Yuri, Hajime, and Meena are broken as well, the cracks are of varying depth. Readers might disregard the character progression of Prakash. A successful doctor bounded by engagement with neighbor’s free-willed fierce daughter. Upon facing rejection, he felt dejected yet he never rose to accept the budding love. The soft-spoken poetic Yuri found beauty in mountains, unable to bear the loss of love she stumbled. Hajime always struggled to get acceptance and carved for belongingness. Meena, the rebel writhed in her path to self-discovery and questions her life choices.
Readers find ways each character are inter linked.
Anukrti is a gifted writer. She beautifully paints the picture with her soothing yet powerful words. Her writings would remind readers of the air of Akutagawa and Murakami. Both Japanese writers’ masters of their art and craft. The story develops in Jaipur, gorgeous locations of the modern – ancient city of Borneo and Tokyo, both in Japan. Two characters, Haruko and Hajime are Japanese Americans. Meena travels to Japan for research purposes and falls in love. The philosophy and art of Kintsugi origins from Japan. Though Kintsugi happens to appear in words in few lines and cover pictures, the essence is dripping on each page.
That night, Leela lingered in Haruko’s room, leafing through her books as Haruko sat in silence, her eyes abstracted. ‘Jiji, what is this?’ She asked pointing at the picture of a terracotta-colored bowl, deep and shaped like a cupped palm. The bowl had uneven golden lines running all over it.
Haruko glanced at the picture. ‘That’s a broken clay bowl mended with gold.’ Leela’s eyes widened. ‘Isn’t it beautiful? I had tried my hand at the art of Kintsugi in a ceramic class one semester.’
‘Not all vessels are meant to hold water, some are for allowing water to seep away.’ Haruko trailed a finger over the photograph. ‘Broken things are precious too’.
While as a reader I enjoyed reading the book thoroughly, I wonder what’s the name of Leela’s mother and Munnaji’s wife.
Rating: 4 stars upon 5
Get your copy: Hardcover | Kindle
This review has been written as a part of Blogchatter Book Review. I received the book in exchange of an honest review.
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Beautiful review and a very interesting book. I love the idea of mending broken things with gold and making them even more stronger and valuable.
The philosophy of kintsugi is quite a celebration of life. Thanks for stopping by, Sakshi.
This book looks different and makes us ponder of our life too. You have reviewed the book in detail manner. Will check this book.
Happy reading!
This is such a nice review of the book. I haven’t read anything by this author yet, but the book sounds like an interesting read.
Enjoy the book, if you pick a copy. 🙂
Great review dear. I quite like the book’s story line . Your detailed review is making me to get this for me also.
Thanks for visiting.
Wow, this looks a wonderful book to read. I have never heard about this technique Kintsugi, but now reading your review I am more tempted to read it and understand the fictional and non-fictional aspect of the book.
Thanks for reading, Amritha!
Superbly done Pragnya. Very well explained about the plots and the characters of the novel. I will try to find some time to read this novel. It looks interesting.
Thanks, Deepika.
OMG this beautiful book by Harper Collins feels like a perfect fall/winter read. Awesome review and I’m so glad to meet someone who reads as much as I do x
Cheers to that, Vaishali!
Your review is so in detail and the whole scenario of the book is so beautiful. Mountains of Japan to gold artisans. Next on my reading list.
HAppy reading!
That’s a very nice and detailed review and I’ve never read any books by this author, how I’m intrigued to pick up her books and start reading them.
Upadhyay’s works are tough to miss.
I’ve read Kintsugi too and agree with your review. It’s written beautifully and the relationships between the characters keep the story interesting.
🙂 Ditto thoughts, Varsha!
First the name of this book sounds so interesting. And I m hearing a lot about about this book nowdays all across the web. Loved your review dear Pragnya. It is really great to see your blog post after a long time.
Thank you Surbhi!
I loved the way you have reviewed the book.. This looks like an interesting read and would love to give it a try.
Enjoy it, Swati!
An honest review of ‘Kintsugai’ pushing me to grab the book at the soonest, certainly have a very strong message of woman empowerment despite the several barriers of orthodox mindset.
Women’s empowerment was the shining star, Archana!
Wow this is indeed a beautiful story about how Haruko taught the well known artisan despite her accident. Sometimes people just sit with their pain and make others have a terrible life too! Hats off to her, this book seems like an inspiring one. No more can we say, once friendships are broken, it can never be mended.
Thanks for visiting,Cindy.
This author is new to me. But I liked the storyline. Adding it to my bucket list. I am currently reading another book, once that get over..will take a look into this one.
Happy reading, Alpana!
I really loved the plot…and this looks an interesting read. I Will sure grab a copy to read it!! Thanks for sharing honest review
🙂 Happy reading
Interesting review. I will be surely picking up this book. Thank you for writing this review. Special mention for the cover – it’s very intriguing.
Indeed, the cover is intriguing.
Excellent review of the book Pragnya thought I haven’t read any by this author , but now keen to read your description, in detail , in her words. Even the background history of the art provided here is a cherry on the cake. …
Going by your taste. I am sure you would devour the book, Shivangi. Happy reading.