Friday 4 March 2016

Unladylike by Radhika Vaz




Radhika Vaz dedicates her memoir Unladylike to 'All the unladies out there who refuse to be bound by the rules of femininity.' A new category of women has been announced; one which is unconventional, honest and thus powerful. The book becomes not just an exercise in retrospection for the author but an invitation extended to the female readers to re-examine all expectations laid on women.

Calling this a coming-of-age story would be forcing it to wear such a serious robe as would suit neither the book’s effortless humour nor its author. But, if it wasn’t that where from stem the bouquet of lessons, learnt and unlearnt, which fill the book to the brim? Echoing right after the comedian’s sassy voice is a 40-year-old woman’s voice, mapping her journey of not just growing up but also growing towards freedom of self. From a schoolgirl trying to belong to a woman struggling to “un-belong”, the story follows a neat chronology of “becoming”...

It is noticeable how Radhika Vaz doesn’t come from a typical Indian family. With parents who were much ahead of their times letting her hold her reins most of her life, Radhika’s brand of feminism had few battles of deprivation or denial to fight. Her memoir makes no attempt to colour that, and she makes no attempt to not reject conventions which she believes in, even. Thus, ultimately, she finds a balance in her life by making conscious choices at every phase.


With this honesty and balance, she invites you to view your own life as you view hers; an exchange of perspectives on having to adapt to changing context—emotionally, physically and socially. Lessons on relationships emerge as Radhika wonders ...

Click here to read the full review


[First printed in Complete Wellbeing magazine, March 2016.] 

13 comments:

  1. Recently Radhika gave a signed copy of this book to my hubby..Must she she is awesome in her work. I completed whole book in 3 days :)

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    Replies
    1. How lovely you have her autograph!
      Thanks for stopping by, Anjali!

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  2. I have watched many of her stand up comedies. Some I liked and some well umm.. I think her comedy becomes very unidirectional. I do wonder why women comedians have mostly one subject - getting one-up against a man. It kind of becomes self-defeating that way. Book sounds interesting.

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    Replies
    1. Hm. I think she does have her favourite themes, and ghoom-phir key likes to make socio-satirical comments around those. I would agree!
      About the self-defeating bit, I can't say. At least her memoir didn't seem to be written with 'getting one-up against a man' intention.
      Book is fun!

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  3. I love reading your reviews... It's not just because they are in-depth but also because you take the effort to describe your perspective. The book seems to be breaking a lot of stereotypes and raising questions that most of us have been asking... will add it to this year's reading list.

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    Replies
    1. Made my day, lovely! Thank you! :)
      It's good comedy - easy, breezy wit.

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  4. The book seems good and your review stirs my interest to pick it sooner. Well reviewed, Sakshi :)

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