What a well-deserved honor for a voice as tender, inspiring, and evocative as yours. Footprints of Joy: A Journey Beckons is a radiant gem in the landscape of contemporary literature—an anthology that doesn’t just speak to the mind, but nestles itself gently into the heart. Winning the TRI Literary Award is a testament to your craftsmanship and the emotional resonance your work has with readers across generations. Your book is more than a collection of poems and stories—it’s a map of emotional truths, a tapestry of wonder, and a reminder of the quiet power of reflection and growth.
Review of Footprints of Joy: A Journey Beckons by Sanvi Sharma
From the very first page of Footprints of Joy, one feels ushered into a space of stillness, warmth, and openness. Sanvi Sharma’s words are not loud or demanding; they don’t jostle for attention. Instead, they invite, they whisper, and they linger. Like walking barefoot on soft earth, reading this book is a grounding experience—intimate, real, and profoundly rejuvenating.
This anthology of poems and short prose pieces revolves around a simple but powerful premise: that joy leaves traces. These “footprints” are not grand declarations or monumental events, but rather the subtle moments that shape our spirit—the gentle smile of a stranger, the rustling of leaves at dawn, the ache of longing paired with the hope of renewal.
An Elegy for the Everyday
One of the most striking features of this book is its reverence for the everyday. Sanvi Sharma has an extraordinary ability to find magic in the mundane. In her poems, a simple walk becomes a spiritual pilgrimage, a fleeting childhood memory unfolds into a lifelong lesson, and a brief moment of solitude becomes a mirror to the soul. This ability to elevate the ordinary into the extraordinary reminded me, at times, of Mary Oliver’s nature poems or Rupi Kaur’s emotional clarity, though Sanvi’s voice is distinctly her own—gentler, more meditative, and deeply rooted in cultural richness.
In the short story titled “The Window with Wildflowers,” for instance, a seemingly mundane scene—a young girl watching wildflowers from her bedroom window—unfolds into a metaphor for resilience, growth, and the beauty of being still. The way Sanvi allows silence to speak is one of the hallmarks of her storytelling. She resists the temptation to over-explain, instead trusting her readers to read between the lines, to feel rather than just understand.
Themes of Hope and Transformation
Hope is the undercurrent of this book. It’s present not as a naïve ideal, but as a conscious choice—often hard-won and fragile, but nonetheless powerful. In the piece “Rain After Dust,” Sanvi speaks of heartbreak and failure, but ends with a quiet confidence that the soul, like the earth, knows how to heal. This duality—acknowledging pain while holding space for light—is what gives the book its emotional resonance.
Sanvi also beautifully explores the idea of transformation. Whether it’s the change of seasons, the growth of a child into adulthood, or the evolution of a dream once thought lost, each poem and story in this collection traces a metamorphosis. Her narrative arcs are subtle, often cyclical, emphasizing that transformation is not always about endings but about movement, presence, and learning to see anew.
Stylistic Grace
The language in Footprints of Joy is accessible yet lyrical. Sanvi doesn’t rely on elaborate metaphors or overly ornate phrasing to convey depth. Her diction is clean, intentional, and often musical. You’ll find yourself pausing not just because of the meaning, but because of the sheer rhythm of her sentences. There’s a quiet, almost meditative flow to her writing, which makes it ideal for reflective reading. This is the kind of book one returns to again and again—not to race through it, but to sip from it, slowly.
Structurally, the book is thoughtfully curated. There’s a clear narrative thread that moves from innocence and wonder, through questioning and struggle, into clarity and renewal. It’s as much a spiritual arc as it is a literary one. The interspersing of poems and stories creates a rhythm that mirrors the ebb and flow of life itself.
Emotional and Cultural Resonance
There’s also a deep cultural rootedness in Sanvi’s work that adds another layer of richness. Her poems speak of mango trees, temple bells, festivals, ancestral homes, and intergenerational wisdom—each rendered with love and sensitivity. But what’s truly remarkable is how universal these experiences feel, despite their cultural specificity. Whether the reader is Indian or from another part of the world, the emotional truths resonate universally. We all have our own mango trees, our own sacred sounds, our own inherited memories.
In poems like “Whispers of the Banyan Tree” and “Hands That Hold Stories,” Sanvi masterfully blends personal history with collective memory, reminding us that our individual footprints are part of a much larger journey.
Encouragement Without Preaching
In an age where inspiration often comes in the form of motivational mantras or overly simplified affirmations, Footprints of Joy offers a more honest and nuanced kind of encouragement. Sanvi doesn’t preach or prescribe. She doesn’t tell you to “be happy” or “stay strong.” Instead, she shares her own walk through moments of doubt, awe, failure, and courage—and gently invites you to walk beside her.
This humility, coupled with emotional clarity, makes the book not just enjoyable but genuinely moving. There is a moment in the poem “Letters to My Younger Self” that brought tears to my eyes—not because it was tragic, but because it held a truth I didn’t know I had forgotten.
Here are reflections from each of the nine reviewers after reading Footprints of Joy: A Journey Beckons by Sanvi Sharma:
1. Prashant Sahu
“Footprints of Joy felt like walking barefoot through memories, both mine and the author’s. Sanvi Sharma’s ability to turn life’s simple experiences into profound lessons is truly remarkable. The emotional depth and sincerity in her writing moved me, especially the way she connected hope with the smallest acts of living. A book that invites quiet introspection and heartfelt appreciation.”
2. Sameer Gudhate
Sanvi’s work is a breath of fresh air in today’s fast-paced literary scene. Her writing is unhurried, deeply reflective, and resonates with emotional authenticity. Footprints of Joy is not just a book, but a journey inward. Each piece felt like a gentle nudge to slow down and truly feel. It’s a powerful reminder that joy can be found in the most unexpected corners of everyday life.
3. Apeksha Gupta
Reading this book was a soul-soothing experience. Sanvi Sharma captures the essence of emotional growth through vivid imagery and gentle narrative flow. What struck me the most was the balance between vulnerability and strength in her words. It’s a collection that doesn’t scream for attention but leaves a lasting impression—one of hope, grace, and silent resilience.
4. Akansha Sinha
Sanvi’s writing feels like a warm embrace. Every poem and story in Footprints of Joy evokes emotions that are both personal and universal. Her reflections on nature, childhood, dreams, and healing are timeless. I found myself pausing frequently—not because the reading was difficult, but because the beauty of her words deserved to be savored slowly.
5. Glenville Ashby
This anthology is a poetic triumph. Sanvi Sharma offers readers a literary sanctuary—a place where reflection, wonder, and optimism coalesce. There is a deep spiritual current flowing through her work that reminded me of classical Eastern philosophy. Her ability to articulate complex emotions with simplicity is her greatest strength. A meditative, meaningful read.
6. Pooja Sahu
I was deeply touched by the emotional honesty in Footprints of Joy. Sanvi writes with clarity, compassion, and quiet wisdom. Her stories and poems transported me to moments from my own life that I had long forgotten. This book is a gentle healer—one that allows you to grieve, grow, and glow in your own time.
7. Versha Singh
Sanvi Sharma’s anthology is an ode to all things subtle and significant. From nostalgia to nature, every theme is wrapped in warmth. Her words breathe life into fleeting moments, and reading her work felt like reliving a dream I didn’t know I had. This book is perfect for readers looking for depth without drama, and truth without artifice.
8. Shivangi Yadav
Reading Footprints of Joy felt like listening to a quiet but confident inner voice. Sanvi Sharma’s elegant simplicity and evocative language make each piece deeply relatable. It’s rare to find writing that feels both deeply personal and widely accessible. This book is an invitation to pause, reflect, and rediscover the magic in the everyday.
9. Kavita Kaushik
Sanvi Sharma has a way of seeing the world that’s both tender and wise. Footprints of Joy touched me with its honesty and its ability to awaken dormant emotions. The book doesn’t try to dazzle with grand statements—it whispers truths, and somehow those whispers echo the loudest. A wonderful collection that I will return to often.
Final Reflections
Footprints of Joy: A Journey Beckons is a rare kind of book—quiet yet powerful, specific yet universal, artistic yet deeply human. It is a celebration of moments we often overlook, a collection of insights we didn’t know we needed, and above all, a call to live with more presence, more wonder, and more compassion.
Sanvi Sharma has not only written a book; she has created a companion for life’s many phases. Whether you’re navigating joy or sorrow, clarity or confusion, this book offers a gentle hand to hold and a voice to walk beside. It’s no surprise that it has won the TRI Literary Award—few works manage to be this soulful and skillful all at once.
To readers looking for something real, hopeful, and healing, Footprints of Joy is not just recommended—it’s essential.
