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agirlwithalotofbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
amritesh's review against another edition
5.0
But I guess we are what our regrets make us. We take each of them, collect them piece by piece, and carry on forward like brave warriors must and should, but we can never decide for how long.
I'd come to know of the author through BooksonToast videos, and as someone who gets intimidated by people who seem to have read "every" book, I was floored.
So while checking the JLF speaker list this year, see-ing his name and coming to know about his book, I just went ahead and bought it.
Very wise of me. Very wise.
You don't turn gay. You just are. It is there inside you. Always there. Under your skin and inside your soul.
The writing is very candid and accessible, and it feels as if he's talking to you at every point. My favourite aspect of the book was the author's honesty, the ability to lay apart every aspect of his life, be it emotional, or physical, or mental, or sexual, everything.
And that's saying a lot. A lot. For a mere 144 paged book.
...when you grow up and see the world a little more, things change and so do perspectives. That's what living is all about, I suppose.
So, travel to an India of the 1990s, in one of the most bustling cities you can ever be in, and roam through the lanes of Bombay, as the narrator tells his tales of the sea, of Bollywood, of music, of finding respite amongst books, of love, of lust, of loneliness, and one of the most beautiful and universal themes, something we can all relate to...
Discovering our own true self.
Highly recommended.
I'd come to know of the author through BooksonToast videos, and as someone who gets intimidated by people who seem to have read "every" book, I was floored.
So while checking the JLF speaker list this year, see-ing his name and coming to know about his book, I just went ahead and bought it.
Very wise of me. Very wise.
You don't turn gay. You just are. It is there inside you. Always there. Under your skin and inside your soul.
The writing is very candid and accessible, and it feels as if he's talking to you at every point. My favourite aspect of the book was the author's honesty, the ability to lay apart every aspect of his life, be it emotional, or physical, or mental, or sexual, everything.
And that's saying a lot. A lot. For a mere 144 paged book.
...when you grow up and see the world a little more, things change and so do perspectives. That's what living is all about, I suppose.
So, travel to an India of the 1990s, in one of the most bustling cities you can ever be in, and roam through the lanes of Bombay, as the narrator tells his tales of the sea, of Bollywood, of music, of finding respite amongst books, of love, of lust, of loneliness, and one of the most beautiful and universal themes, something we can all relate to...
Discovering our own true self.
Highly recommended.
dancingbibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
Born in a Conservative Sindhi Family of Bombay, Vivek recalls the memories of his childhood and teenage years. He recounts that he was always close to the women of his family. He tells us how he had been scolded for dancing in a feminine way and the lasting impact it had on his conscience. During his growing years, he turned to reading books instead of playing outdoors.
His time in School wasn't pleasant either, where he had been bullied even by his close friends. But things seemed to get better once he joined college.
He mentions about his failed attempts at relationships with the help of a Dating Chat Rooms prevalent then!
✨
Once he came out, his dynamics with his friends and family changed alot! He, being very close to his mother, expected her to understand his identity, but even she couldn't acknowledge it.
✨
Though years have passed, many families in India still aren't ready to accept Homosexuality. There's a long way to go for Indians to come to terms with this phenomenon.
It's very brave of the Author to put forth his experiences in front of a society like India.
The writing is easy and it's a short and fast-paced book. I really loved the way Vivek has penned down his Journey with great flair. I felt like the book ended too soon!
Definitely, a Must Read!
His time in School wasn't pleasant either, where he had been bullied even by his close friends. But things seemed to get better once he joined college.
He mentions about his failed attempts at relationships with the help of a Dating Chat Rooms prevalent then!
✨
Once he came out, his dynamics with his friends and family changed alot! He, being very close to his mother, expected her to understand his identity, but even she couldn't acknowledge it.
✨
Though years have passed, many families in India still aren't ready to accept Homosexuality. There's a long way to go for Indians to come to terms with this phenomenon.
It's very brave of the Author to put forth his experiences in front of a society like India.
The writing is easy and it's a short and fast-paced book. I really loved the way Vivek has penned down his Journey with great flair. I felt like the book ended too soon!
Definitely, a Must Read!
nina_serrianne's review against another edition
2.0
This book desperately needed editing. The writing is all over the place and is incredibly repetitive (within sentences and throughout the book). Sometimes the author is talking to the reader, past lovers, or someone else and none of it really works. Maybe I just don’t get it but the humor wasn’t funny and the self depreciation only came off as intense self loathing and bitterness. Also the timeline skips around in nonsensical ways. The harmful queer stereotypes that the author says he stands by were problematic and placed without context. The internalized homophobia was a lot to read. Probably closer to 1 Star
_askthebookbug's review against another edition
4.0
| Book Review | So Now You Know.
•
I remember reading Cobalt Blue sometime last year and being deeply moved by the story. It portrayed a man who was head over heels in love with his tenant and all the dreams that he conjured up about their future. Though it was fictional, the plight of the gay character was nevertheless very real. Later when I read Mohanaswamy which created quite a bit of hullabaloo, I was shocked by all the atrocities that many people from the gay community had to go through. With each book that I read (pertaining to the LGBTQ community), there was a sense of uneasiness that blossomed in my chest. But keeping all the bitterness aside for a moment, there are also joyous things to focus on. Take the example of the removal of Section 377 and how many families are slowly accepting such changes.
•
So Now You Know is Tejuja's Memoir of barely 110 pages which I managed to finish in a single sitting. He takes us down the memory lane of early 90s and how things were difficult back then for a gay man. Having grown up in a conservative Sindhi family, Tejuja recalls how he was always close to the women in the family. At the very beginning he tells us about an incident which leaves a lasting impact on his young mind. When he was rebuked for dancing femininely or for reciting dialogues of heroines, he couldn't understand what went wrong. Because for him, dancing wasn't a wrong thing to do. As he grew up, he faced bullying from his schoolmates and it saddened him deeply that his crush and once best friend was the one calling him names. But things started to look up when he moved to college.
•
As he grew up, he shifts through relationships in search of true love and talks about few heartbreaks he experienced on the way. Growing up in the 90s didn't leave gay men with many options to find similar men and they had to rely on just one chatroom. His dynamics with the family and friends changed significantly after he came out and he recalls this almost painfully. His mother, whom he thought would understand and accept him wasn't willing to acknowledge his sexuality.
•
Unfortunately, this is still the case in many households. But there's also considerable change in people's behaviour when it comes to learning more about gender fluidity and gender roles. This memoir was brutally honest and included his intimate encounters, often baring it all to the readers. Although this was a short book, he did manage to paint a raw picture of the lives of gay men. The many wrong representations of gay men in Bollywood movies back in the 90s were shockingly wrong and he says this with conviction. And he also speaks of people who enjoy introducing men as 'gay friend' and not just as a friend. It's often these smaller things that affect them and rightfully so. We all know Vivek from the book community and his writing is fairly simple but very sassy, something that comes to him with ease. I'd recommend this book to everyone who are looking for a light yet invigorating read.
•
Rating - 3.7/5.
•
I remember reading Cobalt Blue sometime last year and being deeply moved by the story. It portrayed a man who was head over heels in love with his tenant and all the dreams that he conjured up about their future. Though it was fictional, the plight of the gay character was nevertheless very real. Later when I read Mohanaswamy which created quite a bit of hullabaloo, I was shocked by all the atrocities that many people from the gay community had to go through. With each book that I read (pertaining to the LGBTQ community), there was a sense of uneasiness that blossomed in my chest. But keeping all the bitterness aside for a moment, there are also joyous things to focus on. Take the example of the removal of Section 377 and how many families are slowly accepting such changes.
•
So Now You Know is Tejuja's Memoir of barely 110 pages which I managed to finish in a single sitting. He takes us down the memory lane of early 90s and how things were difficult back then for a gay man. Having grown up in a conservative Sindhi family, Tejuja recalls how he was always close to the women in the family. At the very beginning he tells us about an incident which leaves a lasting impact on his young mind. When he was rebuked for dancing femininely or for reciting dialogues of heroines, he couldn't understand what went wrong. Because for him, dancing wasn't a wrong thing to do. As he grew up, he faced bullying from his schoolmates and it saddened him deeply that his crush and once best friend was the one calling him names. But things started to look up when he moved to college.
•
As he grew up, he shifts through relationships in search of true love and talks about few heartbreaks he experienced on the way. Growing up in the 90s didn't leave gay men with many options to find similar men and they had to rely on just one chatroom. His dynamics with the family and friends changed significantly after he came out and he recalls this almost painfully. His mother, whom he thought would understand and accept him wasn't willing to acknowledge his sexuality.
•
Unfortunately, this is still the case in many households. But there's also considerable change in people's behaviour when it comes to learning more about gender fluidity and gender roles. This memoir was brutally honest and included his intimate encounters, often baring it all to the readers. Although this was a short book, he did manage to paint a raw picture of the lives of gay men. The many wrong representations of gay men in Bollywood movies back in the 90s were shockingly wrong and he says this with conviction. And he also speaks of people who enjoy introducing men as 'gay friend' and not just as a friend. It's often these smaller things that affect them and rightfully so. We all know Vivek from the book community and his writing is fairly simple but very sassy, something that comes to him with ease. I'd recommend this book to everyone who are looking for a light yet invigorating read.
•
Rating - 3.7/5.
anukritimalik_'s review against another edition
4.0
To so-called 'straight' folks, we are always 'that gay friend' or 'a gay friend', almost like an accessory. A proof of their liberalised thinking; a validation of their broad-mindedness or a need to impress other people.
Realisation hits eight-year-old Vivek that he is gay. He wants to spend more time with his friend, Deepak, loves dancing to Sridevi's famous song, 'Mere haathon mein nau nau choodiyan hain', and knows that he is different.
Living the Bombay life, Vivek's memoir is not only heartfelt but also eye-opening. I would hate to say that it is easier for a "straight" person to live in this society than someone from the LGBTQ community, and that's a fact. He takes you through his life where dressing up and dancing got him smacked, how he subtly flirted with his best friend Deepak, who ended up calling him a "faggot", how he hates cricket (which btw is considered one of the most sacred games by boys), and a hint of his relationship with his mother.
I loved the Bollywood references in this one. Even though I was born in the later '90s, I've seen these movies and could understand better. It's rather amusing how gay characters are always comical and how he universalise them.
The narration is candid, more like he is sitting right in front of you, and explaining what his life has been, what he felt in the early stage of his life, to whom he confided in, how hard it was to open up about his identity. The book felt very raw. When I say raw, I don't just mean the story being very personal, but also the fact that the editors didn't play much with this to retain the rawness.
That said, I wanted it to be a little more elaborate on how his life has been now, his work, peer behaviour at the workplace—just a peak in his 21st-century life. Also, at certain places, using an alphabet instead of a name confused me. I wish he could have either changed names or taken some other route. However, maybe he was trying to send them a message through this book.
Overall, I loved it, and this should be on your shelf.
Realisation hits eight-year-old Vivek that he is gay. He wants to spend more time with his friend, Deepak, loves dancing to Sridevi's famous song, 'Mere haathon mein nau nau choodiyan hain', and knows that he is different.
Living the Bombay life, Vivek's memoir is not only heartfelt but also eye-opening. I would hate to say that it is easier for a "straight" person to live in this society than someone from the LGBTQ community, and that's a fact. He takes you through his life where dressing up and dancing got him smacked, how he subtly flirted with his best friend Deepak, who ended up calling him a "faggot", how he hates cricket (which btw is considered one of the most sacred games by boys), and a hint of his relationship with his mother.
I loved the Bollywood references in this one. Even though I was born in the later '90s, I've seen these movies and could understand better. It's rather amusing how gay characters are always comical and how he universalise them.
The narration is candid, more like he is sitting right in front of you, and explaining what his life has been, what he felt in the early stage of his life, to whom he confided in, how hard it was to open up about his identity. The book felt very raw. When I say raw, I don't just mean the story being very personal, but also the fact that the editors didn't play much with this to retain the rawness.
That said, I wanted it to be a little more elaborate on how his life has been now, his work, peer behaviour at the workplace—just a peak in his 21st-century life. Also, at certain places, using an alphabet instead of a name confused me. I wish he could have either changed names or taken some other route. However, maybe he was trying to send them a message through this book.
Overall, I loved it, and this should be on your shelf.
kalpana_dastoor's review against another edition
4.0
What a heartwarming experience this book was! Apart from being the obvious - wonderfully written, witty, honest, moving and essential, what I found most interesting and loved about this book, is how much each and every one of us can relate to it. It does not matter if you're gay or straight, male, female, or whoever you identify as, this book is for everyone. This book is for the part of you that is a son or a daughter, the part of you that is a student (who at some point in life got bullied into doing or being something you didn't want; though we all know we don't only get bullied when we're children or in school), the part of you that is a friend, the part of you that is a lover. They're all parts and yet a whole somehow and to me, it felt like that is what this book is for; it is for YOU. Though it (obviously) is the story of growing up gay in India, it is so much more than that. It talks (and makes you think) about family, friendship, love, lust, peace, chaos (both inside and outside us), apprehensions, the longing to find that one person who will make you whole but also yearning to accept yourself wholly, loathing how different you are from the others and sometimes struggling to mix with the crowd, but also the part of you that desires to be different. It is about being the flawed but most beautifully human you.
Vivek is as candid as ever and does not demand the reader to be someone or some way. He simply puts forward his story in the simplest of ways to make you stop, think, re-assess yourself, re-evaluate your life, not necessarily change anything and everything, but to introspect, for just a moment, before you go about doing your business. Effortless, intriguing and delightful with just the right amount of poignance, So You Now Know (the first memoir I've ever read) is a book everyone must read.
Vivek is as candid as ever and does not demand the reader to be someone or some way. He simply puts forward his story in the simplest of ways to make you stop, think, re-assess yourself, re-evaluate your life, not necessarily change anything and everything, but to introspect, for just a moment, before you go about doing your business. Effortless, intriguing and delightful with just the right amount of poignance, So You Now Know (the first memoir I've ever read) is a book everyone must read.
santreads's review against another edition
5.0
I am so so proud of Vivek for writing this book and putting himself out there for people to consume. It's important because it's important to put yourself in other people's shoes - to see where they are coming from and what they went through.
This book is a memoir of Vivek's life growing up in Bombay being gay. He knew from a very young age that he felt something different - he felt an attraction towards his best friend in school when he was 8, he crushed on Paul Newman and felt a connection with the leading ladies of books rather than the men. He was bullied, he was ragged, he was confused, he was rejected, but in the end, he's persevered.
It's tough for me to write a review-review about this book because I think I'm too close to it - too close to him. But all I can say is that I felt Vivek in this book. The book is simple and yet poignant. It strikes a chord with you - you might see yourself in those pages.
I've known him for a while now but now I know him better and I feel like EVERYONE should know him and his story. So go out there and buy this book! Read it, revel in it, and hey, contribute to his book sales. He deserves every single one of them.
This book is a memoir of Vivek's life growing up in Bombay being gay. He knew from a very young age that he felt something different - he felt an attraction towards his best friend in school when he was 8, he crushed on Paul Newman and felt a connection with the leading ladies of books rather than the men. He was bullied, he was ragged, he was confused, he was rejected, but in the end, he's persevered.
It's tough for me to write a review-review about this book because I think I'm too close to it - too close to him. But all I can say is that I felt Vivek in this book. The book is simple and yet poignant. It strikes a chord with you - you might see yourself in those pages.
I've known him for a while now but now I know him better and I feel like EVERYONE should know him and his story. So go out there and buy this book! Read it, revel in it, and hey, contribute to his book sales. He deserves every single one of them.
aashima's review against another edition
3.0
Putting your story out there, bare and honest, is not easy. Because we have all done things we aren't proud of, not learnt lessons despite mistakes and a part of us that people neither understand nor accept.
While the memoir is about Vivek growing up as a gay kid in Bombay in the 90s, he also addresses the need to see a person beyond their sexual orientation. His take on relationships and assumed roles in it was refreshing.
I think what really makes you connect with the book is that at the end, it was all about love.
While the memoir is about Vivek growing up as a gay kid in Bombay in the 90s, he also addresses the need to see a person beyond their sexual orientation. His take on relationships and assumed roles in it was refreshing.
I think what really makes you connect with the book is that at the end, it was all about love.