Published in September, 2018, ‘Skeins’, a novel by Richa Gupta, has had a consistent audience. It is a notable feminist work that narrates the lives of 16 women who meet during a trip to the Iberian peninsula for 13 days.
In the novel, Richa’s characters are educated and well-read intellectuals, who are passionate about the life they intend to live. The novel stretches a little over 300 pages and describes multiple personalities and viewpoints. The trip to Spain and Portugal acts as a respite for the women from their social, professional and personal lives. As women grouped together, it triggers their deep desire to express themselves to each other and they feel comfortable to share stories of love, hope, loss, acceptance, society, and much more.
Their stories are everything but common. The women in the novel are natural and intellectual equals to men and deserving of equal treatment and opportunities. Their stories are inspiring and brimming with the zeal to live. A close look at their lives indicates that their stories can set an example for millions of women on how to live life with full control and unbridled optimism.
The story emphasizes a social message: if women take command of their lives, they can achieve success in family relations, business and career. In the novel, Richa explains and examines inclusive feminism and its practical application in a way that is both entertaining and informative.
About the Author:
After an academic and professional career, Richa Gupta has devoted herself to creative writing since 2017 and has published three novels.
She has been a senior teacher of English in reputed schools for 19 years and an Instructional Designer for training and e-learning in the corporate sector for nine years. Through the years, she has also executed a large volume of technical editing and curriculum development assignments and conducted training workshops in technical writing.
In September, 2017, Richa Gupta published her first novel titled ‘Phoenix’, inspired by the plight of women in India who face discrimination after a failed marriage. In September, 2018, she published her second novel titled ‘Skeins,’ a light-hearted novel in a travel environment that explores serious issues. Recently, in June 2020, she published her third book, ‘Slices of Life’ that is a compendium of fascinating short stories of various genres.