Plentiful Springs

Plentiful Springs is the bittersweet, growing-up story of Siana, a stubborn, intelligent, creative and articulate girl born to a Keralite-Uttar Pradesh couple and brought up in villages, estates and boarding schools in and around Mangalore and Wayanad. Siana’s best friend is her diary to whom she confides everything. Much later, after law school and a career in journalism that takes her to Dubai and various trouble-torn parts of the globe, Siana is left wondering if the bad things actually happened or if she had imagined them. She reads her diary again and re-traces her steps before she can be sure of what had actually transpired.Anjaly Thomas is a excellent writer who does not let fine language come in the way of a riveting story, one that will make you root for Siana, hate her abusers and make you want Siana to get her life back. Thomas keeps her prose simple and straight-forward and gets on with her story. Siana’s diary entries are interspersed with narrations in third person and Siana’s extensive correspondence with her various friends. Since we are talking of the 1980s and 1990, we are talking of correspondence through inland letter cards. Travel is usually through public transport or auto-rickshaws. Money is tight and tempers run high everywhere. Corporal punishment is par for the course for Siana as is domestic violence for her mother. Many of those in power, teachers, wardens and fathers abuse their power and strength freely, but amidst all that, occasional kindness and humanity shines through. There are springs aplenty throughout the dreary landscape. Siana’s indomitable will and her never-say-die spirit pull her through, despite her occasional moroseness and bad temper. Siana isn’t your pink dress wearing sensitive princess, rather she’s a warrior woman who will kick you in your balls if you harm her.I really enjoyed reading Plentiful Springs, though at times in the early stages of the 348-page tome, I did wonder where the story is headed to. Thomas, however, has an excellent instinct for timing and she gathers the various loose ends and brings the story to a gentle climax at the end.Thomas’s characters are all real and three-dimensional folks, especially Siana. They smile, laugh, cry, make mistakes and fix things. Thomas makes you know Siana so well that I could sense how Siana would behave, when towards the end, Siana has to make certain crucial decisions.One of the best things about Plentiful Springs is the manner in which Thomas has captured the 1980s, the 1990s and early 2000, when India was so very different from what it’s now. Life in various estates of Managalore and Wayanad are also detailed with precision. Thomas has time stamped the story throughout and that helps the reader so much to place the story in its context. For example, Thomas would have her reader know that in April 1981, Siana’s father left Uganda for good, in June 1982, at the age of six, Siana started boarding school, in 1993, Siana starts a five year course at the Mangalore Law School, so on and so forth.Highly recommended!

The book takes you back to those Inland Letter days when all emotions were exchanged through your own handwriting which itself made it warm and closer to the person who is sending it to you. Felt very nostalgic as I used to write a lot using it and brought back alive my friendship during the school and college days.That for the generation of mine. For the new generation, she paints the vivid picture of how Siana the girl, from a village in Wayanad Kerala gets blossomed into the woman whom she wanted to be, making her dreams come true. Facing everything with grit but never failing to fulfill her dream of travelling and reaching all the countries she wanted to be. And all by herself. We are able to feel the pain and pleasure of Siana through her straight intense words.

Reading Plentiful Springs is like re-living a life we are all familiar with. A life that we used to love. It is a book filled with nostalgia and hope, pain and triumph. It delves into the human psyche and makes us think. It makes us observe and understand. It helps us identify what is important and what is not. Plentiful Springs brings hope into our lives through the world of Siana, the protagonist. She is like some we know – in our town or city, who emerges through the heap of adversities with determination.It is a very relatable book and easy to read. In fact, it is, simply said, a beautiful book – even more beautiful than its cover. Its simplicity is heartwarming.I personally recommend this book because through this book I have lived a full life. Who knew that a book could be, so beautiful.

Every word, every page in this book takes you into the surreal world of Siana. One cannot help but wish this book never ended. Journeying through the life of the protagonist takes you through a range of emotions and in the end you come out feeling a different person. The simplicity of narration is heartwarming and compelling. A must read book for all age groups.

"Plentiful Springs" gets praised for showing home as more than just a building, but a place of comfort and love that makes you think. Anjaly Thomas writes about life in a beautiful way, using personal stories and old-fashioned writing like letters and journals. The story of Siana's struggle with sadness feels real and relatable. The book keeps you interested with its mix of reality and imagination. Anjaly Thomas's writing is smart and enjoyable, making "Plentiful Springs" a must-read.

I loved the book. "Plentiful Springs" keeps flowing. Keeps giving. I feel that I have known and grown with Siana. And travelled with her. And she's still here.

This book makes for a very compelling read, delving deep into the mind of youth and young adults and children and their ability to adapt to situation and excel despite inner trauma. It speaks of forgiveness in very innocent ways. I loved the format of the book - it’s new and unique in way a life is pictured through letters, postcards and diaries. It’s the simplicity that is gripping and making it a book never written before.