The Girl and the Goddess: Stories and Poems of Divine Wisdom

by Nikita Gill Narrated by Nikita Gill

Overview

Bestselling poet, writer, and Instagram sensation Nikita Gill returns with an innovative novel in verse, exploring Hindu mythology and legend.

Let her be a little less human, a little more divine
Give her heart armor so it doesn't break as easily as mine

Meet Paro. A girl with a strong will, a full heart, and much to learn. Born into a family reeling from the ruptures of Partition in India, we follow her as she crosses the precarious lines between childhood, teenage discovery, and realizing her adult self. In the process, Paro must confront fear, desire and the darkest parts of herself in the search for meaning and, ultimately, empowerment.

Nikita Gill's vivid poetry and beautiful illustrations have captured hearts and imaginations--but in The Girl and the Goddess, she offers us her most personal and deeply felt writing to date: an intimate coming-of-age story told in linked poems that offers a look into the Hindu mythology and rich cultural influences that helped her become the woman she is today.

Editorial Reviews

JANUARY 2021 - AudioFile

Author and narrator Nikita Gill eloquently unfolds the story of Paro, a young woman from India who is navigating various hardships that shape her journey to womanhood. There is a poetic quality in the content of this story and in its narration. Gill’s voice is airy and soft yet commanding. It is not difficult to imagine Paro as a divine being, given the combination of Gill’s imagery and vocal intonations. Gill connects the stories of gods and goddesses to Paro's human experiences, and, indeed, she embodies these deities. The narration is ethereal yet concrete. As Gill brings the story to a close, there is a feeling of resilience, strength, and love. T.E.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

From the Publisher

One of PopSugar's Best Books of Fall 2020

Praise for The Girl and the Goddess
"If you're not already familiar with Gill, you should be. The British-Indian writer has been called 'the voice of the generation'—and with 441,000-and-counting followers on Instagram alone, she just might be." —Bustle

"Strikingly relatable... [Nikita Gill is] one of the most celebrated poets of this generation." —Marie Claire

"Fans of Rupi Kaur will almost definitely love Nikita Gill's empowering poems. Gill is especially interested in exploring emotions, and the beautiful but sometimes painful marks that important people leave on your life." —Refinery29

“The Girl and The Goddess is a magical and mythical story that reminds us to awaken and reclaim the goddess within ourselves.” —readpoetry.com

JANUARY 2021 - AudioFile

Author and narrator Nikita Gill eloquently unfolds the story of Paro, a young woman from India who is navigating various hardships that shape her journey to womanhood. There is a poetic quality in the content of this story and in its narration. Gill’s voice is airy and soft yet commanding. It is not difficult to imagine Paro as a divine being, given the combination of Gill’s imagery and vocal intonations. Gill connects the stories of gods and goddesses to Paro's human experiences, and, indeed, she embodies these deities. The narration is ethereal yet concrete. As Gill brings the story to a close, there is a feeling of resilience, strength, and love. T.E.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940177501697
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	09/29/2020
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

In This Story:

There is a girl who is stubborn and strong willed and who makes a lot of mistakes.

A family that is trying to navigate its way through the aftermath of war and partition.

Parents who have the best intentions.
Gods and Goddesses who appear seemingly at random.

So when magic comes to stay it brings with it a firestorm of emotions.




A Secret From Me To You

There is something you should know before reading this tale.

Despite my best efforts,
I still do not know how to love myself.

But here is the secret that no one told me.

It’s okay.

It’s okay to feel like you’re drowning inside your own bones sometimes.

It’s okay to weep like a sky devoured by a storm.

It’s okay to be aware that there are wounds in you still that you aren’t letting heal.

Survival is ugly.
Healing is messy.
Self love is complicated.

It is the days you feel like this as much as your best days that help you grow.

All of this is part of being human.

You and I, we do not need to be perfect at one more thing no one has taught us how to do.

We can learn together.
How to be gentle with ourselves.
How to be kinder to ourselves

when life feels like it is more endings than beginnings.

Here is another secret no one will tell you:
No one has mastered the art of self love,
not even the Gods and Goddesses themselves.

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