‘Purple Moor!’ The art teacher’s livid voice resonates. Rushali watches her mother cringe, called into the principal's office again; but thankfully, her father, Dev Pillay chooses to see her painting as eclectic and a reflection of the caring person she is.

When Rushali is just seventeen, her father, the one person who understood her, suddenly passes away. Now Rushali must find her path from the chaos of nonconformity she built for herself. A semblance of calm pervades in her relationship with her mother until Mohan arrives on the scene.

At forty-seven, the shackles are unbearable, judged repeatedly in parameters that do not fit her persona. Then, so unexpectedly, Rushali is free! But is this the freedom she sought? What tryst of fate made her paint the moor purple? Do such moors exist?

Q. Which idea inspired you to write this book?

Ans. I have seen extraordinary circumstances being thrust upon women, yet they play pivotal roles and steer through situational barricades, and keep the family together.

Q. Which of the characters do you relate to the most and why?

Ans. In this novel I relate to Rushali, her strife for individuality is fierce. She is caring, and strong-willed even if the tide is up against her. Maya also, because women like her are the actual winners, their passivity is their strength. Characters like Maya fascinate me, they influence the destiny of others.

Q. How long did it take you to write this book?

Ans. This book took me a year to write, but I had it in mind for some years. Rushali, I find, is a voice deep within me, which prompted me to create her.

Q. What do you think is the best part of this book which readers may like?

Ans. Readers like books to which they can relate to, and this book is one such. Across the Purple Moor is about the daily normal, the actualness of what life is. Realistic people and surprising narratives of their life.

Q. What was the hardest scene to write in this book?

Ans. Willfulness and compassion are contrary attributes. But they do exist together in people. To show that in this book was challenging and enjoyable, the protagonist began shaping beautifully.

Q. What has helped or hindered you most when writing a book?

Ans. My own experience and the people around me inspired the characters. But as I work on each character they morph into unique entities. I keenly look to infuse necessary qualities in the characters.

Q. Which scene of the book is the closest to your heart and why?

Ans. I like chapter 6, when Rushali is upside down in the car, her eyes shut riding through Coles Road, feeling the cool shadows of the trees cast upon her face and the streaming warmth of the sun through the branches. I like her free spirit, her love for nature, and her father, Dev Pillay. He is an indulgent father giving in to Rushali whims, so she can enjoy the drive in her own way. The relationship of a daughter and father is most beautiful, especially since I had a lovely relationship with my own.

Q. What do you hope readers will take away from the book?

Ans. I want readers to realize that chaos and conflict are the beginning of stories, as they are in real life. The day-to-day life challenges make up for the majority of what is experienced. So, what are those? Feelings, struggles, and passions are all important, they must be understood, overcome, and experienced. Every reader is a protagonist, she lives in a book with a relatable recount of her own. Rushali is so driven by her views, as opposed to her mother, Maya. Yet the vociferous Rushali finds life arduous. The takeaway is how you handle the voices in your head.

Q. Tell us more about your journey as an author?

Ans. My journey as an author started way before I realized I was embarking upon it. I liked to contribute to Deccan Herald’s ‘Right in the Middle’ column, and magazines such as Femina, Woman’s Era, and Alive. This led me down the path of authorship and penning my observations which shaped up as short stories and novels. I was inspired to write more as my work and my style of writing was appreciated. I write to be read; I see no other gain more pleasurable.

Q. What does literary success look like to you?

Ans. Literary success to me is when people enjoy my books and articles and tell me so. Also, when literary websites compile my work as potential good reads or refer to examples of sentence construct and adage usage. When a line or a phrase is quoted from my books or articles, to know my work has added value to the language.

Q. What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?

Ans. My advice to young writers is - write to make good reason with words. A compelling story which you are certain is important to tell. There must be a uniqueness to the protagonist and force that defines the narrative. You must write with conviction and dwell on each word, and the book will be read with the same keenness.

Q. If you could tell your younger writing self, anything, what would it be?

Ans. Writing is a compulsion, recognize it as a most desirable pursuit, make it your central point of focus.

Book review

Title:- Across the purple moor

Author:- @kalpana_naghnoor

Genre:- contemporary fiction

Rating:- 5/5

#qoute life would cast the moor puple, but how you deal with it is important

An engaging storyline, with compelling narratives. The twist plots in the story and will develop characters that kept me very hooked until the very end. Unique and innovative concepts make this a memorable read. The power of this book lies in its ability to stir my emotions with rushali. This novel spreads as an evoque range of feelings of laughter, sadness and joyness

Interestingly, this awesome book begins with a heartfelt prose, describing human emotions, endurance and perseverance. This is about a free-spirited rushali and the dreadful obstacles she passed by.

The story revolves around a girl named rushali, A seventeen year old girl…greatly influenced by her father, who passed away. Then she tries to find her path from the chaos of non conformity, she built for herself.

I loved the smoothness of @kalpana_naghnoor writing and strength to be able to complete this heart wrenching novel. The strong bold plot is narrated with impressive ease and shared strength of womanhood. I liked the way, twist came. This development shows the power of matriarch and positive possibilities in sociology. It was a splendid heartwarming moment of this book. It is a very nice novel with a moving plot.

The writing style of the author had a great impact on my reading experience as the author has a captivating and fluid writing style that transforms you to some other world effortlessly.

Author's storytelling is both vivid and emotional, giving readers a deep understanding of womanhood and writing style that is both evocative and intriguing.

The plot is engaging and suspenseful. Overall it is a thought provoking and insightful novel that provides an unique prospects and at the end,i would be glad to recommend all of you to read this incredible book by @kalpana_naghnoor

A beautiful novel of heartfelt emotions

Reviewed in India on 30 August 2023

Across the purple moor

By Kalpana Naghnoor

Rating - 4/5

The intriguing book Across the Purple Moor explores the challenges of self-expression and social expectations. Rushali, the protagonist, is followed throughout the book as she deals with the difficulties of being misunderstood and scrutinized for her nonconformity.

Rushali's art teacher criticizes her original paintings at the start of the narrative. Rushali's father, Dev Pillay, encourages and values her artistic expression while her mother recoils in embarrassment at the teacher's condemnation. But tragedy hits when her father passes away suddenly, leaving Rushali to navigate the pandemonium on her own.

Initially cordial, Rushali's mother and her relationship soured when Mohan entered the picture. Rushali's mother, who is now 47, feels constrained by conventional norms and is criticized for not conforming to them. Rushali is suddenly released from the constraints of criticism, but she wonders if this newfound freedom is really what she wanted.

The reasons behind Rushali's choice to paint the moor purple are discussed in the novel, which raises intriguing issues regarding fate. The question of whether such moors actually exist or whether Rushali's drive for individualism and disobedience of social conventions is left up to the readers.

Readers are drawn into Rushali's universe by the author's descriptive and thought-provoking writing style. Readers will surely create a connection with Rushali as they experience her progress and difficulties because of the great character development.

The themes covered in the book are also current and relatable. Because so many people struggle with the conflict between conformity and self-expression, the story has a deeper emotional resonance.

Overall, ‘Across the Purple Moor’ is a compelling and introspective novel that explores the complexities of identity, societal expectations, and the pursuit of individuality. It is a book that will leave readers contemplating their own desires for freedom and self-expression. 

Reviewed in India on 22 August 2023

✏️✏️Book Review✒️✒️

📚Across the Purple Moor📚

Author : Kalpana M Naghnoor

Publisher : Aakar Publications

Publication Date : 30 April 2023

No. of Pages : 266

Format : DRC

Ratings ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ ♥️

Across the Purple Moor by Kalpana M Naghnoor is a coming of age story of Rushali who is fighting societal norms. She is being judged in every way by all the people. I liked Rushali's character as it has depth and you will feel connected with her. Be it her school or family life, she feels the discrimination. The story is full of challenges and brave decisions. The language is very simple and easy to understand. In the end, the author justifies with the climax. If you love to read women fiction, then grab the book now.

Reviewed in India on 13 August 2023

Across the purple moor

By Kalpana Naghnoor

Genre - Domestic Novel

Rating - 4.8/5

In the jargon of the high-tech city life of Bangalore, the story of a woman and her life is portrayed in such an empathetic and interesting way that you will find it relatable to most of the women in this country. It's a gripping and thought-provoking, brutally honest powerfully manifolds Indian women's life and exposes questions.

A first-person narrative elaborated stories of women's lives together from various perspectives. Narrator Rushali started the story at a point when she is a mother of a young working girl who is a lawyer and working on a rape victim's case. Rushali's life is entangled with a lot of other stories, throughout all the stories she is constantly showing raw, rebellious nature and a lot of women's issues, and lives from different perspectives of society.

Rushali's husband is a narcissistic person, a raucous personality shadowing her life.

The other part of the plot, held a parallel timeline that constantly reveals Rushali's past life, and eventually, it reaches when Rushali meets her husband Mohan in college and she uncovers a feeling of fear that Mohan might have manipulated her, he must have fed her fanciful dreams, Mohan crafted her future just to get her as a trophy? She realized how her mother's ignorance and self-centered lifestyle made the route for her husband Mohan to achieve her in his life. Mohan started to ridicule her immediately as she fell under his spell.

While Rushali's married life is choking her throat but constantly she thinks about her childhood memories that give us a breezy effect alluring with a light smile.

As the other story gradually developed it also explored another shed of women's life.

Kalpana is not biased, while the dedicated plot continues to peel layers of the hard complexities of women living and Indian social norms it also tells us that everyone is not the same. It's suggested that inhouse verbal abuse or dishonoring on the road is quite the same, women's life is always at stake. In the other part of the plot, she tells us how some people really respect women which is concerningly short in numbers. While making a character like Mohan, Kalpana Naghnoor didn't forget to give credit to those men who possess high virtue, revealing stark contrast and making us hopeful.

She constantly tells us various perspectives of women's life throughout the book where she introduced us to a lot of characters and the subplots intertwined with the main plotline to create an extended picture of womanhood. That picture is poignant yet to ascending hope, hopeful because there are a lot of people. The world is not a small space.

Narrator's psychological aspects are portrayed so well that it nearly makes it a masterpiece.

Kalpana focuses on women's life that revolves around Rushali's married life creating arrays of Indian social norms that provide us with a lot of issues to think about.

A well-executed clever plot that tears the veil making exposure to the reality of womanhood in India but never being accused male role, she skillfully created a paradoxical character in the story that really makes sense and I highly appreciate it.

A conceptualized plot that deeply explores the poignant posture of women's life, self-realization and experience that express their succumbed life. Must read this book.

Reviewed in India on 9 August 2023

Across the Purple Moor by Kalpana M. Naghnoor

Discovering new authors from my homeland, India, is always a pleasure and this book did not disappoint. In fact, it pleasantly surprised me.

The book is a beautiful story around self reflection, love and emotional responses with a hint of crime added to it. Revolving around three generations of strong, beautiful and brave women, this was an entertaining read.

I, for one, absolutely love jumping between timelines and so this was a super entertaining treat for me. The reader witnesses Rushali's childhood as a rebellious girl and her present unhappy dormant state in parallels. It forces one to think where it all went wrong ? And if this is just fiction or the reality of millions of married women in our country.

The nice thriller like touch in part 2 of the book wrapped up a lot of loose ends and gave the story a neat little ending.

If you're looking at discovering new Indian authors, definitely give Across the Purple Moor a try.

Reviewed in India on 28 July 2023

In 'Across the Purple Moor,' the author weaves a captivating tapestry of emotions, relationships, and self-discovery, creating a touching narrative that lingers in the heart long after the last page is turned.

The story revolves around Rushali, her mother, and Mohan, three beautifully crafted characters who feel like genuine individuals grappling with the complexities of life. As the reader delves into their world, it's hard not to see reflections of our own experiences, making the story all the more relatable.

The author's writing style is a masterful stroke, effortlessly drawing readers into the depths of the characters' emotions and struggles. Each page unravels another layer, adding to the depth of the story. The themes of love, family, and betrayal are explored with a delicate touch, creating an emotional resonance that tugs at the heartstrings.

Overall, 'Across the Purple Moor' is an enchanting journey through life's ups and downs, showcasing the beauty of human relationships and the profound impact they have on one another. If you're looking for a touching tale of love, loss, and self-discovery, this book is a wonderful choice.

The narrative is bold, uninhibited, full of warmth and unspoken sadness. The novel is also delightfully funny. But that doesn’t make the book any less poignant. This book has sentences that read like poetry and paints stunning vivid imagery. But that’s something which I have come to expect knowing Mrs. Kalpana Naghnoor’ s writing style very well. It transports the reader back in time when Bangalore was a garden city taking you back to all the popular spots in the city (being a NRI from Bangalore, it was akin to visiting home for me).  The characters are etched beautifully and come to life.

This book raises many important, uncomfortable issues. The author does a commendable job of questioning societal values, the broken culture that pervades today and an almost ineradicable inequality towards women. In the author- Mrs. Kalpana Naghnoor’ s own words, ‘It talks about women, their struggles, and suppressions. And surprisingly in the urban elite too. It talks about glossed-over violations which are not written in the annals of law as punishable’. But indictable and traumatic, nevertheless.

I loved,loved, loved it!!! 

Ps- keep a dictionary handy!! 

 A Captivating Tale Of The Lives Of Three Women

Reviewed in India on 29 June 2023

Across the Purple Moor is an endearing story of three women delving into themes of love, family, and betrayal. The characters are crafted beautifully, reflecting parts of ourselves in them. Each character is drawn from people you encounter in real life, making them relatable and authentic. The storytelling style of the author creates a connection between the reader and the characters. It is through their journey, we get glimpses of our own lives, our desires, goals and fears.

The ending is somewhat unconventional, making it a bit unpredictable. Though slightly unforeseen, the climax could have been more connected to the plot and woven deeper into the overall narrative. Despite this minor flaw, the book is an engaging read, exploring complex human relationships and the unexpected ways our lives are linked.

Reviewed in India on 25 June 2023

5.0 out of 5 stars 

A captivating book for all age groups

Across The Purple Moor is a thought-provoking book. The story describes the challenges women face and the resilience they build to overcome them. The book describes the power of women, and how they can adapt to various difficult situations and emerge stronger. The protagonist goes through different phases of life and her relationship with family and friends is etched very well. 

It is an intriguing book for people who are interested in family life, and the struggles women go through. The book contains fun and mysterious elements as well.

Reviewed in India on June 14, 2023

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing read!!

Review: With heartfelt prose and well-developed characters, Naghnoor delivers a thought-provoking narrative that delves into themes of identity, grief, and the pursuit of authenticity. "Across the Purple Moor" invites readers to reflect on their own lives and societal constraints, urging them to embrace individuality and seek personal liberation. Kalpana Naghnoor's storytelling prowess shines through in this beautifully crafted novel, offering a compelling exploration of self-discovery that will resonate with readers seeking a thought-provoking and immersive reading experience.

Reviewed in India on June 03, 2023

Reviewed in India on May 23, 2023

Across the Purple Moor by Kalpana M. Naghnoor

I found the story poignant and heart wrenching. We follow the life of Rushali and her family, their ups and downs in life, the strengths and weaknesses of three generations of women in the household, especially that of her mother, Maya and herself. I got pulled into the story only after some chapters. Rushali tries to keep her married life intact though her relationship with her husband is a challenging one.

I rate this story as a 5 Star read.

The story begins with a soul stirring sexual assault with Ramola who calls Trisha for help as she had dealt with enough criminal cases, and she knew well how to get the commissioner’s attention on this immediately. This event all sets the enquiry into the lives of a whole lot of women further in the story.

The storyline deviates between different time frame yet you will be hooked to this story as the narrator and the central figure of the story, Trisha's mother Rushali is there to make you feel every hues and cries in the life of a woman. From childhood till early old age, Rushali finds it difficult to find her path from the chaos of nonconformity she built for herself.

From her upbringing to married life with Mohan, everything has been full of intriguing experiences which questions her very own place in the extant rabble. Every bit of her character presents an apt depiction of an extraordinary woman who is treated ordinarily in every way.

The descriptive prowess of the writer is brilliant to say the least and, her word power can put one in awe. The narration is comprehensive, and the language is easy to understand. The book is character-driven, and the plot of the story is mended in such a way that will merge in your mind. The characters are indestructible and volatile in their own way.

The author has beautifully rhapsodized about the characters as if putting herself in those places which is a rare art which she has mastered, no doubt. It is a great work and I would absolutely recommend it to everyone out there. Go ahead and read it to find out more. 

Reviewed in India on May 8, 2023

The story of Rushali is gripping right from the start. She’s enthusiastic, warm, ambitious and lovely. 

At some point in the book, I related hard with her. 

Loved her and the story so much and have already recommended this book to my all reader friends.

Reviewed in India on May 5, 2023

A good attempt by the author to bring to the fore the innate, close relationships we as human beings share with other individuals. 

The book is an honest try on the writer's side to explore the unexplored and give it an interesting appeal, so that it touches the heart and soul of all persons in different age groups. 

The author has done a tremendous job by pleasing the masses and classes. I firmly believe this book will acquire a place of pride with passage of time. Good luck to the writer and also to the reader!

5 out of 5 stars 

Reviewed in India on May 1, 2023

The flow of the narration is smooth and interesting as one chapter leads to another. 

The story eloquently portrays human emotions, struggles, and endurance in daily life. 

The takeaway for me was the message that every human is unique and special.

4.0 out of 5 stars 

It's a great read!

Reviewed in India on 30 April 2023

The book is a great read that beautifully describes human emotions, endurance and perseverance. 

The story unfolded into versatile dimensions and keeps the reader hooked till the end!

Tell me what you think after reading the book.

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