1. Feminism:

We meet Noor and Reva and many other women in the course of this story who open our eyes and hearts to the real world. Songs of the Reed is a tribute to women who survive each day holding onto the frail hope to find justice and equality some day. Women who bear the brunt of social evils like casteism, and crimes, blamed and shamed by society, tabooed and called names. Women who, across the world, are either not given opportunities or work hard only to accept a slimmer paycheck owing to the deep-rooted misogyny that permeate the generations. 

Ladies, this book is definitely for you. 

2. Family-ties and History:

It is a story of shared history and separate faiths. Heirloom and heritage. Secrets and regrets. Guilts and redemptions. Written with multiple POVs, each character is given space, reasoning and representation. The story has done a brilliant work for diversity in its characters and disability inclusion. 

3. Kashmir and Refugees:

The novel walks us through the vale of Kashmir from the point of view of all Kashmiris. We are introduced to the beauty and struggles of both Kashmiri Hindus and Kashmiri Muslims. The historical facts and details are shared with painful intricacies capable of chilling one’s bones and warming their hearts at the same time. 

4. An ode to Rumi and unrequited love:

Aptly titled after a Rumi’s poem, the book explores not only the fairy-tale part of the love but all it’s nuances. It’s charm, passion, ache, longing and grief. It talks about how one is both powerful and helpless in the face of love. We are taken high in the thrill and passion one moment only to be plunged deep into the longing of unrequited love. The book is a metaphorical splendour ornated with poetry, both of Rumi and the author. 

5. Atmospheric blend of Spain and India:

The story covers exotic locations such as Seville, Granada, Delhi, Goa and Kashmir and is profoundly vivid. It is multi layered and while the beginning is crafted with clever foreshadowing, it soon unfolds its myriad mysteries along the way to keep one on the tenterhooks. Not to mention, the completely mind blowing revelations in the end.