"My mother used to weave aaydans, the Marathi generic term for all things made from bamboo. I find that her act of weaving and my act of writing are organically linked. The weave is similar. It is the weave of pain, suffering, and agony that links us." Activist and award-winning writer Urmila Pawar recounts three generations of Dalit women who struggled to overcome the burden of their caste. Dalits, or untouchables, make up India's poorest class. Forbidden from performing anything but the most undesirable and unsanitary duties, for years Dalits were believed to be racially inferior and polluted by nature and were therefore forced to live in isolated communities. Pawar grew up on the rugged Konkan coast, near Mumbai, where the Mahar Dalits were housed in the center of the village so the upper castes could summon them at any time. As Pawar writes, "the community grew up with a sense of perpetual insecurity, fearing that they could be attacked from all four sides in times of conflict. That is why there has always been a tendency in our people to shrink within ourselves like a tortoise and proceed at a snail's pace." Pawar eventually left Konkan for Mumbai, where she fought for Dalit rights and became a major figure in the Dalit literary movement. Though she writes in Marathi, she has found fame in all of India. In this frank and intimate memoir, Pawar not only shares her tireless effort to surmount hideous personal tragedy but also conveys the excitement of an awakening consciousness during a time of profound political and social change.

That is why there has always been a tendency in our people to shrink within ourselves like a tortoise and proceed at a snail's pace." Pawar eventually left Konkan for Mumbai, where she fought for Dalit rights and became a major figure in the Dalit literary movement. Though she writes in Marathi, she has found fame in all of India.".

Every one of us lives in a box. This box determines what we see and what we do not see. It tells us who to love and hate. What to fight for. How to live. Who we are. Our boxes -- the collection of stories we tell about ourselves and the world -- create the human drama. Whether you become a pawn in this drama or take control of your destiny depends on the ability to answer two questions: Why is my box the way it is? How can I transform it? By examining the forces that have shaped your most deeply held beliefs, this book challenges you to think outside the box that society has provided for you ... ... and begin writing your own story.

Mariah Stevens doesn't take no for an answer. Her take-charge, tough-as-nails exterior has helped her become Book Review Editor at Spirit Magazine - no small feat considering she's only 29. She lives in a stunning apartment in Manhattan, her clothes are ripped straight from the runways, and her manicured nails are never chipped. Life is good. Her secret weapon? Her long, glorious weave, which she's been wearing since she was 16. It's her power, her strength, and she's completely addicted to it. She can't even remember what her real hair looks like. In a sudden move, Spirit Magazine folds, and for the first time in her life Mariah is left asking, "What's next?" WIth her savings dwindling, she's forced to remove her weave and make the call that she hasn't made in years - the call home. Now Mariah is back home in Houston, living with her bi-racial sister and light-skinned mother, both of whom are blessed with hair long enough to sleep in. Mariah has always stuck out like a sore thumb, and is constantly reminded of such with her dark skin and short, kinky hair. Living in Houston has Mariah facing her old demons, and without the support of her weave she's losing her most important asset: her self-confidence. When she discovers a family secret, it opens doors to her past and threatens to break her already fragile world apart. With her sister by her side, Mariah is determined to learn the truth. Unbeweaveable is about Mariah's quest to confront questions of love, loyalty, and family to find her way back home.

I've long found writing scratches places just out of reach somewhere in my psyche. Amazingly, I often have friends, acquaintances, even total strangers tell me my words somehow scratch hard to reach places for them as well. Each of our lives is a wondrous tapestry in the making. The most satisfying experience I have is seeing people embrace God's plan for them, to begin to see something beautiful emerge from all the disjointed knots and loose end of their often severely troubled lives. I've collected a number of my own knots and threads here, often frayed ends becoming part of the tapestry of my life. Some dark. Some brilliant. Some fuzzy. Some gold. I trust all will become something beautiful in the end.

Meet Vanessa, an almost thirty-something New Yorker who thinks she's got it all: marriage-material boyfriend Ethan, her own bilingual preschool, a closet full of designer fashions, and daily diner dates with her best friend Emily. But when Ethan doesn't turn out to be all he's supposed to be, Vanessa's world instantly unravels. Suddenly single, she stumbles upon a wealthy man and moves to Palm Beach to marry him, only to find the shocking truth behind the source of his wealth. Is having everything worth sacrificing who you really are? But what about the Shoe Salon at Bergdorf's? The Louboutin collection? Vanessa finds herself at a crossroads, and the choices she makes might surprise everyone-even herself. Witty, insightful, and eminently relatable, Erica Negi's story is a modern twist on the Cinderella tale-albeit in designer shoes. Reminiscent of the works of Jennifer Weiner and Candace Bushnell, My Life in Loubies is one woman's uproarious journey to adulthood.

This book is a collection of short stories, from the peaceful courtside and from moments of triumph to the depths of despair, these narratives encapsulate the diverse spectrum of life's experiences. Each story is a unique exploration of universal themes, offering glimpses into the lives of characters from various walks of life. Dive into the complexities of human relationships, witness the resilience of the human spirit, and reflect on the profound impact of choices made in pivotal moments. As you turn the pages, may you find resonance, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of the shared tapestry of humanity that binds us all.