Padmajav’s Weblog

A few months ago, I received a forwarded message from a friend which contained the first chapter of this book.

And when I finished it, I wanted to read more. And by typing in email IDs 3 of my friends, I got to read the next chapter.

A very good marketing strategy, I must say. Because, when I saw the book on the shelf, I just grabbed a copy.

And I was not disappointed. The book is racy and totally un-put-downable. I finished it in 2 days, which is a record for me! (Of course, it’d have been faster if my son hadn’t been constantly trying to grab it from me!)

The language is simple. The narration is crisp and to the point. It’s like hearing a brother/cousin/male friend tell a story from his life. What I mean is there’s a quality of hearing a story from a very familiar person.

The story is poignant.

Chetan Baghat has dealt with sensitive issues like religion & politics, mixed a bit of a romance and cricket. And set it against the backdrop of the violent earth-quake and riots that shook up Gujarat a few years ago.

Given this mixture, the book does not disappoint one of promised drama and action.

In his blog, Chetan Baghat has said

“I do hear the term “Bollywoodish” associated with some of my stories. As long as that is an observation, it is fine. (Good) Bollywood is about drama, plot, message, fun, emotions, action and happy, hopeful endings. I like that about Bollywood.”

In a nutshell this is what the book is all about.

But strangely, the story did not linger in my mind after I closed it…

Really don’t know why. I’m still trying to figure it out…

But  it was definitely an enjoyable read.

This book is another classic Jhumpa Lahiri.

Simple stories that touch your heart. You get involved with the characters from page one.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. The stories capture the dilemmas and problems faced by people living in a foreign country, but who still long for their roots.

A poignant look at the clash of gen-next ABCDs and their nostalgic parents…

In one such story a daughter feels that her parents’ yearning for India is like a disease, which she has to ease! (I don’t remember the exact words, but this is the gist)

I can only add more accolades to this book. But whatever I say will only be variations of all that has already been said.

But why does Lahiri’s stories ooze sorrow? There’s no such thing as ‘feel-good’ read here.

Though I loved reading the book and flew from one story to another in record time, I closed the book with a heavy heart. The characters stayed with me for a very long time…

Hats off..

I just finished this book called The Tambrahm Bride by Kausalya Saptharishi.

The title promised a fun read, something like ‘No onions, no garlic’ by Srividya Natarajan. But I was disappointed with this one. One could have done so much more with this theme.

While its humorous in bits, poignant in places, it lacks an overall warmth. There’s nothing spontaneous in the writing. Each sentence seem to have been crafted with so much care, (I’m sure) re-written a hundred times, that it feels so false. Not a book from the heart, but feels like a carefully rehearsed and written essay.

Care has been taken not to hurt anybody’s sentiments, so everyone is sugar and honey to each other. All the characters feel like they’re straight out of a Karan Johar flick.

If only she’d used the same candidness to describe other characters as she had with the 25 grooms and their families! They were funny. Each of them a real character! But everybody else is just perfect.

Perfect mom. Perfect daughter. Perfect father. Perfect brother. Perfect grandmother. Perfect aunts and cousins. After 25 disasterous grooms, a perfect husband. Perfect children. Perfect ending. Yawn!

The sad thing is, this book with the storyline and circumstances captured could have been a laugh-riot and a profoundly poignant read at the same time.

And the graphic designer in me feels the cover could have been so much better!