Book Review November 2024
Regrets: Letting Go by V.A. Kalki
offers a poignant exploration of the tension between tradition, love, and personal fulfillment—universal themes that resonate deeply across cultures. At the heart of the story is Vish, a middle-aged man who seemingly has it all: a successful career in the U.S. a stable marriage, and fatherhood. Yet beneath this outward success lies a man haunted by unresolved regrets, particularly the painful decision to sacrifice a forbidden love in his youth to meet family expectations.
The novel’s emotional core unfolds when Vish’s visit to the UK for a family wedding rekindles memories of his lost love. Compelled to reconnect with his past, he embarks on a journey to find her, only to uncover the heart-wrenching truth about her fate after he had left her. What sets Regrets: Letting Go apart is Kalki’s nuanced portrayal of how deeply familial and cultural expectations can shape not only life choices but also one’s sense of self.
Kalki masterfully weaves together the past and present, illustrating how Vish’s youthful decisions reverberate through his current life, causing him to question whether he truly made the right choices. The novel delves into universal questions of identity, sacrifice, and the emotional cost of adhering to—or deviating from—cultural norms.
Through quiet but powerful prose, Kalki captures the inner turmoil of a man who, despite outward accomplishments, has never fully reconciled with the life he could have lived. The novel is a heartfelt reminder that it’s never too late to confront the past, seek understanding, and find closure. In Vish’s journey, we see that addressing the unresolved can be painful, but it is also necessary for true peace. The book reminds us that healing is possible at any stage in life—whether through reexamining old wounds, making amends, or simply coming to terms with choices that can’t be undone. Kalki’s story encourages readers to embrace the process of reflection and growth, showing that even the most deeply buried regrets can lead to moments of clarity, understanding, and redemption.
The book is available for purchase on Amazon in both Kindle and print formats: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPC6XDN4/
