Mishka’s Book Reviews

with Mishka Campbell

This novel is a thriller, a gangster laden saga reminiscent of “The Godfather”, replete with complicated family dynamics, brutal violence and political power plays. Primarily taking place in the early 2000s in New Delhi, this is an epic story of the elite and the corruption they wield like a weapon over the have-nots. It almost reads more like a movie than a book; the descriptions are staccato bursts of information that keep the pace on the frenetic side. I hear a series from FX is in the works so clearly it’s obvious, this story was meant for the screen.

The first part of this book tells the backstory of Ajay, who is one of three central characters. I was riveted through this section, hearing about the poverty and painful circumstances that Ajay endures, only to one day find himself the personal assistant to Sunny Wadia, the son and heir to a powerful crime family. Not your typical rags to riches story arc, Ajay worships Sunny but is also clearly shocked and overwhelmed by some of the things he witnesses. He’s loyal but seems to retain a sense of humanity. Sunny on the other hand, was not someone I found likeable. He’s not really the villain of the story, that role is reserved for other members of his family, but he also doesn’t have many compelling qualities. He’s spoiled, disaffected, and moody, and although he attempts to use his wealth to bring some artistic or humanitarian projects to his community, as a reader I did not feel his sincerity. When he meets Neda, a journalist who is (inexplicably) drawn to him, their affair creates a ripple effect amongst their respective circles, which results in an explosively destructive situation, that tragically, Ajay bears the brunt of. I loved the first third of this story. Unfortunately, that’s where it lost momentum for me, and as I had little to no empathy for Sunny, every time a chapter focussed on him, my attention drifted. At over 500 pages, this book requires you to be somewhat invested or you’ll never make it through to the end. So, did I like it? Short answer is yes; long answer, see above. The knowledge that this is the first part of a planned trilogy, made me realize that the unsatisfying ending will have every opportunity to redeem itself in the future.

A Spring Cleanse!

Spring is traditionally the season for cleansing the body after the hibernation of winter. This is the case across a variety of wisdom traditions. For example, in Traditional Chinese Medicine spring is the season of the liver, the most important detoxification organ of the body.

There is synergy between the natural cycle of the earth and our body systems. Early in the spring season wild bitter greens start to sprout, and the bitter flavour of these greens stimulates the liver. Because many bitter plant constituents found in nature are poisonous the body recognizes bitter taste as a potential poison or toxin. It upregulates the detoxification processes of the liver. It also upregulates bile production and other digestive processes to reinvigorate the system after a winter of traditionally heavier, preserved foods such as stews, fats and meats.

The body has 5 organs of elimination. For proper detoxification and elimination all these systems must be functioning optimally. I learned this from my elders in the naturopathic medical community who refer to these organs as “emunctories,” and emphasize the importance of these systems to ensure a healthy body.

The number one detoxification organ is the liver, whose job it is to filter the blood and deactivate toxins. This can include pesticides and other chemicals, alcohol, excess estrogens, and pharmaceutical medications. The end products from the liver then travel to the kidneys and bowels. The kidneys filter the blood and eliminate any watersoluble waste products. The bowels facilitate excretion of solid waste.

The skin is also an important organ of elimination – sweating helps eliminate heavy metals and other toxins from the body. The lungs too, excrete some toxins via gas exchange processes as you breathe.

But, do we need to detox? Is detox just an unnecessary wellness trend? I advise caution here, absolutely. Words like “clean lifestyle” and “clean eating” can all too easily imply that we are somehow dirty, unclean, un-whole. The wellness industry (perhaps inspired by the profit motive) often subtly equates health issues and morality, sending the message that if you eat well/exercise well you are a good or superior person. Which is simply untrue. Health does not equate to worth. And. We live in a world with many toxins: industrial chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, and the list goes on. Our bodies have fantastic detoxification systems, but, our collective toxic burden is high, and these substances do affect our health especially over the long term. So yes, it is important to detoxify.

That being said, detoxification is not prudent for all bodies in all circumstances. It is not appropriate for those in a depleted state (i.e. infections, cancer) where your body’s resources need to be focussed on healing and repair. Also, detoxing is often not appropriate for those with orthorexia or other eating disorder. I advise working with a practitioner during this process because often “detox kits” or other products are not evidence-based and can even be dangerous. Use your judgement and seek support as needed!