During a coffee break, I picked up this book and it instantly drew me in. From the very first poem, Dear Husband, I was hooked. There’s something about the way words are etched here: they slice through the surface, reflect back your own unspoken emotions, and leave behind expressions that stay with you long after.
Manali Desai proves herself to be a protean poet, one who writes directly from the soul. Her verses are not weighed down by mediocrity; instead, they illuminate everyday life through a refreshing, almost reverse prism, simple yet piercing.
I particularly enjoyed the tone of her writing, which feels candid, almost like scrolling through Facebook’s “What’s on your mind?” but with far more depth and tenderness. Poems like Home and Sorry Not Sorry set the pace beautifully, giving the collection a natural flow that makes it hard to put down.
What stands out is the diversity, different themes, varying styles, yet all tied together with honesty and clarity. The book also comes with a clean, captivating cover that mirrors the poetry inside.
Overall, Mindful Musings & Peaceful Ponderings is a collection that deserves to be read and cherished. It is heartfelt, relatable, and quietly powerful, a must-read for poetry lovers.
I did a small talk on her Author collaborative show. Check it here
