Writer’s Postcards by Dipika Mukherjee


Writer’s Postcards
Title : Writer’s Postcards
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 9815127330
ISBN-10 : 9789815127331
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 211
Publication : Published October 30, 2023

Essays on literature, language, and global communities, through the lens of a modern Asian nomadPart travelogue, part memoir, and part commentary, Writer’s Postcards is a collection of essays that examine imagination and culture through the lens of geography. A flaneuse andperson of the world, Dipika Mukherjee takes readers through various encounters from her highly mobile the lugubrious literature of Brazil; the linguistic diversity in China and Tibet; and meeting the Dalai Lama while travelling as a lone woman through New Delhi. She examines the political unrest in Myanmar after the brief international reach of Burmese books; weighs in on Chicago’s literary landmarks and famous writers; reminisces on the languid feasting of Diwali celebrations at Port Dickson by the Malaysian–Bengali community; and finds new notions of home, identity, and belonging in the Netherlands—among many others.Thought-provoking and unabashed in its entirety, this is a collection of essays that goes beyond the personal and communal to examine issues of international concern.

Writer’s Postcards Reviews

  • Justine

    An absolutely beautiful and soulful collection of short stories. Provided a wonderful escape through a spot of arm-chair travelling, and reminded me of why, in pre-Covid days, I loved seeking out in-person forays on off-beaten tracks.

    Stories of the author's family members were equal parts insightful - such as the cultural and language diversity we experience globally - and heart-wrenching. Throw in a no-apologies-necessary dose of questioning of often logic-free, patriarchal practices, what's not to love?

    Will definitely read more books by this author.

  • Liberty Lane

    Writer’s Postcards is an immersive and eye opening experience. Mukherjee tells snippets of her life experiences through a travel focused lens of everywhere she’s gone and the places that have shaped her.

    Through a series of powerful essays, she explores themes such as family, social and political issues, what it means to be a woman, and cultural diversity. From China to Chicago to India and beyond, this book will take you on a journey around the world and the lessons tucked in between.

    Raw and realistic, Mukherjee’s vivid prose proves her storytelling ability. Whether painting a scene of joy or tragedy, she is able to drop you into the emotional impact of the situation flawlessly.

    I did find the pacing and the order of the essays to be a bit erratic in terms of timeline and content, which didn’t affect me as much since I read an essay or two a day in a reflection-style format instead of reading through it all at once. I feel that if it was read in one or two sessions, it may be a bit harder to follow and so I’d recommend to read this one slowly, piece by piece to help digest all of the emotional content.

    Overall, this is a great book and perfect if you want to learn more about other cultures, or if you are a memoir lover but prefer bite sized life lessons and stories over a traditional biography format. As the title suggests, these are more of “postcard” stories from her life, and are perfect for reading in the morning with your daily coffee or tea.

    “…. finding God in the quiddity of daily life, holding grace in the bloom of flowers.”

    Thank you to the author for providing a copy to The Book Review Crew blog for honest review. All reflections are my own.