Book Review: ‘The Sensual Self’ by Shobhaa Dé

Book Title: The Sensual Self
Author: Shobhaa Dé
Publisher: Aleph Book Company
Number of Pages: 232
ISBN: 978-9365234541
Date Published: Oct. 7, 2025
Price: INR 445

Book Review

“The Sensual Self” by Shobhaa Dé is a deeply introspective and nuanced exploration of love, sex, and romance spanning a wide range of human experiences and emotions. Dé’s writing is richly evocative and interspersed with poetic reflections, cultural insights, and personal anecdotes that animate topics often considered taboo in Indian society. The book’s structure—dividing themes from the language of love to modern mating habits and intimate relationships in old age—allows for a comprehensive treatment of sensuality that is both candid and compassionate. Her nostalgic yet critical lens on evolving societal attitudes towards sexuality, especially regarding body image, intimacy, and fidelity, provides a refreshing counter-narrative to contemporary digital-age cynicism.

While the book excels in weaving together the personal with the universal, a critical eye notes its reliance at times on anecdotal evidence and an occasionally nostalgic attachment to traditional romantic ideals that may not resonate with all readers, particularly younger or more progressive audiences. Dé’s candid reflections on her own life, including her relationship with her husband, sometimes verge on the confessional, adding warmth but risking a narrower perspective. Moreover, the extensive focus on heterosexual norms and conventional marriage models might feel limiting to those seeking a more inclusive or diverse discussion around sexuality and relationships in contemporary Indian society. Nonetheless, her eloquence and literary talent shine through, making even critical observations feel intimate and thought-provoking.

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To sum up, the book is a vital contribution to new-age literature on intimate relationships, blending cultural specificity with universal truths. Dé’s work challenges readers to embrace their sensuality with honesty and grace, while simultaneously critiquing the societal pressures that inhibit genuine connection and pleasure. Its blend of memoir, cultural critique, and erotica enriches discourse on a topic that remains underexplored in mainstream Indian writing. The book’s strength lies in its fearless embrace of complexity—acknowledging that love and sex are not straightforward, but layered with contradictions, memories, traditions, and evolving desires. It encourages readers to celebrate sensuality as a lifelong journey rather than a fleeting phase.

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