I was provided this book gratis by Coriolis Company in exhange for a review. Here is my book review Unearthed: The Lies We Carry & The Truths They Bury by Chanchal Garg

Tradition

I’ve stumbled into a couple of memoirs lately. I’ve been asked in the past about writing my own memoir. It sounds exhausting. But when someone has a really strong and truthful message based on their own experience, I always am engaged. Unearthed looks deeply at a culture I am frankly unfamiliar with. Chanchal Garg explains in detail her upbringing in a traditional Indian home, by immigrant Indian parents and the traditions that were unquestioned in her upbringing. Traditions of female/male roles, marriage and childrearing, and most of all, religion. These unbending rules, almost cult like, are the basis of her personal story.

Question

I was intrigued from the very beginning with this open-

Dear Reader, May you question the narrative that no longer serves you. May you have the courage to trace what you carry – and choose what you keep. And may you reclaim your truth, in all it’s beauty and power.

This opening statement, spoke to me. I was struck by a great sense of power in this author with words like question, courage and truth. As women we all are faced with the biases against. Garg found her way out of a life defined by rules, traditions, cultural and gender expectations and spiritual abuse.

Culture-Clash

This story opened my eyes more widely to the difficulties of being raised “American” but with immigrant parents holding to cultural traditions. As a child, teenager and even later, searching for an identity can be fraught with confusion. Who are we when we are more than just American? This question caused the author to question her identity, turn to a religious leader, who ultimately abused her and caused her significantly more insecurity about herself. And the abuse continued for a decade as she tried to self-mitigate her personal feelings of a dutiful Indian women who should never question authority.

Lost

When the author finally is mature enough to realize she must make drastic changes in her life, the result is a new self-guided journey. A journey alone, without her community and faith but a journey to recovery. Her strength is inspiring and I think you will be inspired by book review Unearthed: The Lies We Carry & The Truths They Bury by Chanchal Garg.

Unearthed: The Lies We Carry & The Truths They Bury by Chanchal Garg

My only criticism of this memoir is it is a bit long-winded, and some readers might get lost in the minutia of details. But the outcome is positive and affirming and I enjoyed reading Unearthed:The Lies we Carry & The Truths They Bury by Chanchal Garg.

Four stars for Unearthed by Chanchal Garg ****

Thank you for reading my book review Unearthed: The Lies We Carry & The Truths They Bury by Chanchal Garg. See last week’s book review Cabin by Patrick Hutchison, another memoir from a PNW author.

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