Book Review – The Princess of a Whore House by Mayank Sharma

An interesting cover, an even more interesting blurb – what’s not to entice you to grab a copy and read Mayank Sharma’s The Princess of a Whore House?

The Princess of a Whore House is the story of a girl. Loved by her parents, and encouraged to dream of an education, Aparajita is whom the story revolves around. The death of her father is a blow to both Aparajitha and her mother, Ramya. Thrown into a situation where they have no clue how to move on or make ends meet, they try to survive. But the going gets tough. Ramya then asks for help from her husband’s friend. He takes them to Delhi, promising a job for Ramya. Only later do they realise that they have been sold into flesh trade. Ramya’s life turns into hell, but she makes sure that Aparajitha is not subject to the same treatment.

That is when she meets a social worker and after a lot of trouble enrols Aparajitha in classes. This is where she meets Raj Kaul, Aparajitha’s teacher. After twists and turns, Ramya marries Raj and they become a family.

Raj encourages Aparajitha to dream and makes sure she has all that she needs to pursue a good education and fulfil her dreams. But as they move out into the society, Ramya’s past comes back as a looming shadow. Will this affect the dreams and hopes that Aparajitha has? Or will she overcome all this and achieve what she has always wanted? – That is what The Princess of a Whore House showcases.

In a way, Mayank Sharma has done well with the book. He focuses on the good and how one can overcome any situation in life if one strives hard for it; that no matter how troubling the times may be, we should always nurture our dreams and ambitions. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. These are showcased in Mayank Sharma’s The Princess of a Whore House. But sadly that is not the case for most women of the trade.

Mayank Sharma’s The Princess of a Whore House mildly touches upon the stigma and the conditions that exist for sex workers in our country. He also makes it a point to highlight the work that social workers do to help those in need.

Written in a manner that is light, yet able to portray emotions and take the reader into the lives of its characters Mayank Sharma’s The Princess of a Whore House is a great work.  Once you begin, you wouldn’t be putting down the book. It is a good thing that it is a quick read being less than a hundred pages.

I received a review copy of the book from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

The Princess of a Whorehouse: The Story of a Swamp Lotus by Mayank Sharma

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

 

Blurb

Aparajita is a tenacious go-getter. Her name means unconquerable in Sanskrit, and she lives up to its meaning.
Just like any other ambitious girl, she desires to fulfil her dreams and become an independent individual. Far and wide, the shadow of her melancholy past chases her passage. The fact that her widowed mother is a former sex worker irks the community. Nonetheless, she is not ashamed to reveal her mother’s past.
Will she lose hope, or will she defy an enigma that is centuries-old? Will she ever conquer the hearts of a prestige-obsessed community?
See the world through Aparajita’s prism in a tale stirred by some real life events.

About the Author

Mayank Sharma is a ‘left-brained’ professional with over twenty years of global experience in leading multinational companies. His interest in writing intensified when one of his articles was featured in the May 2014 edition of Better Software magazine published in Florida, USA. As Mayank travelled across continents and associated with people with diverse beliefs and values, he became more curious about the social riddles that curtailed liberties across civilizations. He is transforming into a ‘right-brained’ writer with his debut book, The Princess of a Whore House. Besides writing, he is passionate about painting and making sculptures. Mayank lives in the National Capital Region of Delhi with his wife, Sonali, daughter, Myra, and son, Aarav.