Before reading this book ‘Beyond Secrets’, you would look at everything around you in a very normal way. Maybe not even notice some things which you are so lucky to have: a family, loving parents and siblings, a happy childhood and so on… And then when you read chapter after chapter of this book, you start looking at the smallest things with an entire new value. It suddenly makes you realize that you could easily be among the many unfortunate ones in the world.
The author has set such an unpredictable flow to this deep story that you smile, cry, gasp or sigh at any page of the book without expecting it. The tag line which explains it all…All that is required to change life is sometimes just a truth. Just..one..truth.
The author the ‘Beyond Secrets’, Alka Dimri Saklan, holds a MBA degree in HR and worked with a leading MNC before turning to a full-time writer. Born and brought up in Vadodara, a city in Gujarat, her roots hail from Uttarakhand. She is the author of “45 Days in a Cancer Hospital” and “Beyond Secrets”. Her debut novel “45 Days in a Cancer Hospital” was longlisted for the prestigious Crossword Books award 2013.
Noel, the protagonist of the story, is a young counsellor against the wishes of his father, who wants him to help in the business, just like his twin brother Sam. Sam’s characteristics always made Noel wonder, how could he be so different despite being his twin brother? Sam was sophisticated, well-mannered and slim, while Noel considered himself aggressive and bulky and had an ugly scar on his face. These differences and issues with the family made him an aloof and mysterious person. To continue his interest in counselling, he decided to join an orphanage called Aashiyana as a counsellor to the kids.
Nidhi has almost completed her graduation. Well she is an epitome of a mystery lady too! She is very tough from outside but from inside she is broken and in so much pain. She is constantly running away from the dark side of her past and joins Aashiyana to get some time away from her family. But she has another motive of being here. She is here to find answers to a lot of questions she has about her life. Answers that only this orphanage could give her.
The dark and interesting side of the book starts when Noel begins to get a feeling of déjà vu in the orphanage. He remembers minute details about the orphanage but doesn’t know why he knows that as he had visited this place for the first time. Well that’s what he believed! This mystery keeps the reader hooked to the story till the end. It turns out that Noel has a shocking past himself. A past about his family that he had never imagined and which makes him question his own identity…
The story is dark and very emotional, but the parts about the lives of orphanage kids and their hopes; and the budding love and companionship between Noel and Nidhi makes the story light when needed. The author has dealt the sensitive topic of orphanage and the life of kids there in a very matured manner. I felt that some parts in the story were redundant. They could probably be rewritten or avoided. Also at some point, I felt that absolutely everything was going wrong with the characters’ lives. There could be some positive twists added which could give hope to the readers.
Overall, I enjoyed reading ‘Beyond Secrets’. My favorite character is Noel, who has such a dark and sad past but struggles through it all and comes out as a strong, forgiving person and a life-saver. This isn’t a weekend-chill book. It is a story to be read with patience and with a pace you are comfortable in. I was constantly in tears and was so thankful for having a great life, starting with the Kindle in hand! This unpredictable book is totally a must read.
‘I received a copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.’
My rating – 3.5/5
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