Review of Three loves and other stories

[Jah Thomas]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Three loves and other stories" by Lata Gullapalli.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Three Loves and Other Stories, written by Lata Gullapalli, is a collection of several stories, just as the title may suggest. Each story takes the reader on a journey of sadness, happiness, gratitude, and self-respect within relationships, whether romantic, platonic, parent-child, or work.

Each story illustrated and addressed matters of modern-day relationships among family, friends, and lovers. They demonstrate the significance of mental health, self-esteem, and self-love; how we are affected from a young age, how we carry those behaviors into adulthood, and how to control those emotions. I liked that the author used fictional characters to bring her message across. The book was also easy to follow and concisely written, with a poem at the beginning of each chapter that captured the core of the story.

The story titled "Magic" stood out to me the most. I also enjoyed reading "Magic Again?", which was a continuation of Magic; a story of wholesome love and passion between a young Indian couple. I caught myself smiling at the love Shruti and Shekar had for each other, and I liked how they overcame each obstacle they faced and, at the end of the day, chose each other.

Though an enjoyable read, I was disappointed at the countless errors in the book since Lata Gullapalli is an author with published work. There was a title missing from one of the chapters, and certain verbiage wasn’t clear; it seemed like the book was translated into English, so words were lost in translation. In addition, the title of the book wasn’t appealing. Though it has nothing to do with the novel itself, I got the impression that the author didn't put much effort into the title, and this could cause the book to be easily overlooked.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Each story is interesting in its own way and will evoke some emotion in the reader. It covers a wide range of topics, including illness, bullying, parenting, career, and love; each of us may find one to which we can relate. One quote that stuck with me after reading was: "It has been by experience that one cannot, in any shape or form, depend on human relations for lasting reward. It is only work that truly satisfies". Though an amazing novel, a star was taken away for the lack of editing.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy short stories regardless of the genre. This book would appeal to readers of romantic novels as well.

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Three loves and other stories
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