Milky Tea & Vodka by Rhea Sharma Book Review

Genre: Fiction
Pages: 55
Publisher:  TTT Books
Published: June 2020
Rating: 4.5/5
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Summary:

After losing her father in a drunk-driving accident, a devastated Vanya has managed to shut the world out. But when Mrs. Deewaker, an elegant wheelchair-bound woman moves back to the neighbourhood – with an unlikely favour to ask of Vanya – secrets begin to unfold from decades ago. How far will Vanya go to help Mrs. Deewaker before she discovers some terrible truths?

From the Internet’s most loved storytelling platform, Terribly Tiny Tales, comes the first-ever novella under its publishing imprint, TTT Books.

Review:

Terribly Tiny Tales is my favorite micro-fiction platform. It has always been my daily go-to. When I read about its foray into publishing with Milky Tea & Vodka by Rhea Sharma, I was really excited to pick up the book.

A broken family, some well-kept secrets, a lifetime of guilt (or not). The book follows the story of Vanya, a devastated teenager trying to come to terms with her father’s death. When an old neighbor returns and asks a young girl to write out her letters to her son, you do expect some secrets to be spilled.

The gripping tale just draws you in. The narration is crisp. It is mostly linear with a few flashbacks that reveal Vanya and her mother’s past. The writing is lyrical and descriptive (a rarity in a novella). And yet, keeping up with Terribly Tiny Tales tradition, it is to the point.

But storms aren’t always commotion and the ferocity of floods. Sometimes they are sickening heat and heartburn, and the dry, still air, pregnant with everything you are not saying.

Perfect is boring. I enjoy reading books where the characters have shades of gray. The three primary characters – Vanya, her mother Esme, and Mrs. Deewaker are well-etched. As the history unfolds, you cannot help but question your own judgments. The book is dark at times but not macabre. Plus, there is that twist in the end that makes you do a double-take.

I enjoyed reading the book and highly recommend it. It adds to my list of tiny books that pack a punch. If you are looking for a short but intriguing read, this is the book for you.

If you are looking for a short but intriguing read, this is the book for you. Milky Tea & Vodka by Rhea Sharma #BookReview @ttt_books #BohoPonderings Share on X

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About the author

Rhea Sharma is a student, pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature with a minor in Mild Semi-Regular Existentialism. Though her family is from all over, she spent the greater part of her life in the cozy city of Dehradun. Always an avid reader, she starts writing in fifth grade, and fell unequivocally in love with poetry. She turned her attention towards function in her late teens. When she’s not working with words, Rhea spends her time singing (and is attempting to learn the ukulele). She likes indie-folk music, eucalyptus trees, and light, frothy coffee. This is her first book.

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Image by Barbara A Lane from Pixabay