Review:

“Lighting a diya felt like pure joy. It always felt like the beginning of something.”

Some books make us pause and sit with our thoughts a little longer. Parts of Living by Sindhura Chamala was one such book for me. It made me wonder, perhaps I’ll be a little like Meera when I turn fifty. At its heart, this is a novel about choices and how the decisions we make quietly shape the course of our lives. As I kept reading, I realised why the book is called Parts of Living. It isn’t about one life-changing event. It’s about all the little moments, conversations, routines, relationships, and choices that together make up a life.

The story follows Meera, a fifty-year-old woman who has built a life that works. She lives alone, has a stable job, follows a disciplined routine, and moves through her days with quiet predictability. Yet beneath that routine lies an unspoken longing and a growing exhaustion with life itself. An unexpected medical diagnosis forces her to confront questions she has long been avoiding, threatening the fragile balance she has carefully maintained for years. Instead of immediately beginning treatment, Meera procrastinates. She fills her days with work, movies, little routines, reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and talking to strangers on Sambhasha, simply trying to keep herself occupied. Over the course of twenty-two days, we witness her life unfold, her loneliness, her fears, her longing, and ultimately, her slow journey towards choosing herself.

The narrative feels almost slice-of-life, allowing ordinary moments to carry extraordinary emotional weight. It invites readers to live alongside Meera, sit with her emotions, take one day at a time. Every day unfolds differently, bringing new conversations, new emotions, and new perspectives. Sindhura beautifully weaves together themes of loneliness, friendship, love, family, relationships, longing, and the quiet journey of returning home to oneself. Sindhura’s writing is simple, honest, and deeply captivating. It quietly pulls you into Meera’s world, making it easy to relate not just to her but to almost every character she meets. The book reminds us that no two people carry loneliness, grief, or hope in the same way, and that each of us finds our own way to keep moving forward.

One of my favourite aspects of the novel was Sambhasha. While Meera listens to strangers opening up about their fears, struggles, and hopes, those conversations quietly become mirrors reflecting her own life. Sometimes, helping someone else helps us understand ourselves a little better. The tone remains gentle, contemplative, and quietly hopeful throughout. What I loved was Meera’s ability to listen. People naturally open up to her, sharing their struggles, fears, and life stories, while Meera, in helping others, slowly begins finding clarity within herself. I loved the little routines she creates to stay occupied, the way she procrastinates despite knowing what lies ahead, and how she gradually understands both what she wants and what she no longer wants from life.

With every chapter, small dramas unfold. Meera steps out of her comfort zone, embarks on little adventures, rekindles old friendships, and allows herself to experience life in ways she had quietly stopped expecting. These moments make her journey feel incredibly real and relatable. The novel is slow-paced, and at times it can feel emotionally overwhelming. But that slowness also gives the story its depth. It allows readers to sit with Meera’s emotions instead of rushing through them, making every little change in her life feel significant. It’s a character-driven and introspective story that finds beauty in life’s quieter moments.

The characters are beautifully written. Meera is undoubtedly my favourite. I loved watching her slowly open up and embrace the unexpected journey life places before her. There is a quiet strength in the way she carries herself that stayed with me throughout the book. I also loved Krishna’s quiet presence in Meera’s life. Their bond brings warmth to the story and reminds us how even the simplest companionship can make difficult days feel lighter. Neelima’s dilemma and the friendship she shares with Meera add another emotional layer to the narrative, making their conversations feel genuine and heartfelt. Even Miriam, with her own journey and perspective, is an interesting character to read. Every character adds something meaningful to Meera’s life, making the novel feel rich with different experiences, emotions, and perspectives.

There were moments when I felt fatigued by Meera’s situation. I found myself wishing she had explored other possibilities or made different choices. But then I realised that is exactly how life is. We don’t always make the choices others expect us to make, and that’s what makes Meera feel so authentic. The open-ended climax was another pleasant surprise. Usually, I prefer stories with clear endings, but here it felt just right. It leaves enough space for hope while allowing readers to imagine what comes next.

Reading this book felt like sitting quietly beside someone who slowly tells you their story. A story about the choices she made, the life she built, and the parts of herself she was still trying to discover. Overall, Parts of Living is a thoughtful, emotional, and deeply introspective novel. It is about loneliness without being lonely, about healing without offering easy answers, and about slowly choosing yourself even when life feels uncertain. If you enjoy introspective, character-driven fiction that lingers long after the final page, Parts of Living is a book worth slowing down for. 

Perhaps that’s what this book reminded me the most—that living isn’t always about chasing extraordinary moments. Sometimes, it’s simply about finding enough reasons to light a diya, begin again, and choose yourself, one ordinary day at a time and maybe that’s enough. 

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Parts of Living by Sindhura Chamala about?

Parts of Living follows Meera, a fifty-year-old woman navigating loneliness, unexpected health challenges, friendships, and self-discovery over twenty-two days. It’s a quiet, introspective novel about choices, healing, and finding meaning in everyday life.

2. Is Parts of Living a fast-paced novel?

No. It is a deliberately slow-paced, character-driven novel. Rather than relying on plot twists, it focuses on emotions, relationships, and the small moments that shape a person’s life.

3. Who should read Parts of Living?

This book is ideal for readers who enjoy literary fiction, slice-of-life stories, character-driven novels, and reflective reads that explore human emotions with honesty and depth.

4. What are the major themes in Parts of Living?

The novel explores choices, loneliness, friendship, healing, relationships, self-discovery, hope, resilience, and the courage to choose yourself despite life’s uncertainties.

5. Is Parts of Living worth reading?

If you appreciate thoughtful, introspective fiction that lingers long after the final page, Parts of Living is definitely worth reading. Its strength lies in its relatable characters, emotional depth, and gentle storytelling.

Reader_viddh Take

Not every story is meant to entertain; some stories are meant to accompany you. Parts of Living is one of them. It doesn’t offer dramatic twists or easy answers. Instead, it quietly reminds us that life is made up of ordinary moments, difficult choices, meaningful conversations, and the courage to begin again. If you’re willing to slow down and sit with Meera’s journey, you’ll discover that sometimes the smallest parts of living leave the deepest impact.

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