Book Review: Brambles by Vee

“Brambles” by Vee is a short book of five vignettes. The book is expressive and evocative in its nature and depicts the scenarios and state of mind of the author for a specific epoch. Vignettes are neither short stories nor plot-oriented flash fiction. Over the years vignettes are used by prominent authors like Hemmingway, Sandra Cisneros, James Joyce, and many more to express the imagery and symbolism, exact point of time with character detailing in a particular situation.

Similarly, this book is highly evocative and expressive with its content to depict a certain mood and symbolism in our lives. The first vignette, ‘The Terrible Ordeal of Being’ looks into the emptiness of our heart and desires. Being alone doesn’t bring peace or prosperity; it rather gnaws one from within. The author explained the predicament of a lonely and aloof person brilliantly, in her own words ‘terrible emptiness – unyielding as smoke’.

Next vignette “Ad Idem” delineates futility of being puppet in life. Here, most probably one lady is speaking to herself, trying to understand the purpose of life. All vignettes differ from one another and are independent in their valuation and meaning.

Among all, ‘To Come Home’ is the one with perfect artistic effect. It explores the feeling of being at home with the loved one. However, as soothing as love, it was as fragile as a short dream. The author builds the tempo of love and cuddling and care but it breaks away like rays of dawn, with a dream coming to its culmination.

The book is a short read with deeper meaning for life and its allied perspectives. One needs to reread some parts of the book to grasp its essence fully. Those who are familiar with vignette literature will surely love this book.

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