Book Review: The Girl and the Goddess: Stories and Poems of Divine Wisdom by Nikita Gill

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 352 pages

Published: September 29, 2020

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Genre: Poetry, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, LGBT

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Have you ever encountered a book that fills you up with so much beauty and empowerment? And left you with inspirational words that will stay with you always and return? When I first read Nikita Gill’s other books, I never could believe that somebody could write poetry so freely and be so beautiful and inspirational at the same time. Poetry was not always my favorite genre. Reading Gill’s works has made me appreciate it more. That’s why I was so excited to discover that she was coming out with a new book, The Girl and the Goddess and I’m happy to say that this book exceeded all expectations. This exceptional book was a terrific exploration of growing up and becoming who we choose to be. 

We meet Paro, a young girl who has a determined heart, strong will and the fight to learn. Born amidst the ruptures of Partition, we readers go along a lifelong journey through her childhood, teenage discovery and finding herself when she becomes an adult. The beauty of this story is that Paro is not alone in this adventure. Hindu gods join Paro, making this a spiritual journey and a more personal experience. Paro’s belief in this power allows her to heal from her trauma and find hope and peace after it. Paro’s story is full of empowerment and inspiration that is encouraging to all readers.

I don’t think there could have been a better way to tell this story. Through a mixture of poems and stories, Gill has created a captivating and magical tale of female perseverance and empowerment. What more can we say about such a fantastic book? Paro is such a relatable and personal character, with her robust belief system and determined spirit. This novel is one raw and emotional book that will leave the reader breathless at the very last page. Paro’s conversations with the goddesses were enlightening and reminiscent of similar discussions I would have with God when I was younger—seeing a young character using her spirituality to get through the obstacles thrown at her. It was just so refreshing to see Hindu mythology intertwine in the story just made it more memorable and more of a learning experience. The spin on the myths that Gill wrote was so refreshing to read, making me want to learn more about Hindu mythology. 

I’ve found myself rereading and marking some of my favorite poems, have some words to look back on whenever I need a pick me up. The stories reflect what women endure and go through in their journey from girlhood to womanhood. You always knew how complex and descriptive that travel could be until you see such a talented writer like Gill put it in such eloquent words. This mesmerizing tale that will make them fuel with power to accept themselves.

Not only is Nikita Gill, a talented and fantastic writer, but she is also a fantastic artist. Gill has created great artwork that correlates perfectly with the poems and stories. The same way the poetry and stories leave the readers breathless, readers will feel the same when viewing the illustrations. It adds to the realistic nature of the story and also considering real artistic talent along the way.

Empowering, creative and insightful, The Girl and the Goddess is a remarkable book that is a true reflection of a spiritual and intellectual journey of self-discovery. If you are looking for that inspiring read of 2020, then look no further than this fantastic read. Nobody should miss Gill’s artistic talent. 

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