Book Review: Life is What You Make it by Preeti Shenoy

You have your whole life mapped out in front of you but are you ever a cent percent sure of it charting out the exact way as you think?

Ankita had the world at her feet.
She was young, beautiful, multi talented, a meritorious student with loads of friends and boys in love with her. This was the up in her life. Then came the down which left her with two attempted suicides, a severe depression, heavy medication from scores of “Highly acclaimed” doctors and finally when nothing worked, getting admitted in a mental institution. But the question remained.


Was Ankita strong enough to overcome this down time in her life?
How did she get here when everything that she was doing was sure to take her to the stars?
Is this the end?
Is it true what they say “Life is What You Make it“
?


A poignant tale of hardships, love, failures, a depression so deep that you just want to die and a final victory of the “never-say-die” attitude. I was deeply touched and moved by Preeti Shenoy’s attempt at giving a voice to people with mental disorders like the bipolar disorder who often are not understood and don’t get the support they need from their near and dear ones.


A well researched book and very sensitively handled, I was impressed by the author who has gone under the skin of the character to bring to the surface the many facets of their behavior and emotions. The characterization is so pure and practical that everyone will feel a connection to them. 
Ankita’s character symbolizes the modern woman of today who is smart, intelligent, confident and sure of her future plans.


Abhi’s character left me wiping tears and with pain in my heart. He was so deeply in love!! A good friend, an understanding and caring person he gave Ankita a direction, lend her support and most importantly guided her. His grandfather’s words to Ankita after Abhi’s death “Never belittle love” is still echoing in my heart and my mind.


Preeti has succeeded in making her point and conveyed her message beautifully to the reader. We often ignore and depreciate love whether it be that of our parents, friends, partner, or anyone else taking it for granted but the true value is only understood when one looses that love like it happened with Ankita when she lost Abhi. The regret of not promising to stay in touch, not soothing him when he was disturbed, not professing her love also played a part in pushing her over the edge.


Like Ankita regretted all the things she had taken for granted in her life like reading, writing, being loved, being normal. I wish no one ever has those regrets and after reading this book I am now a new person with a new perspective to all the blessings I have in my life.