Tag / bookreview

by whatsonsidsmind

Book Review – Pyre | Perumal Murugan

Written by: Siddhartha Krishnan . 3 Min Read

In Poonachi, it was a one-day old black goat, and in Pyre, it is the feeble and gullible Saroja. After I was done with it; I wondered why Perumal Murugan chooses such naïve and timid characters as his protagonist. Having read three of his novels, and upon some introspection, I found two reasons. One, that it helps him magnify the inequities and power imbalance, which is an underlying theme of most of his books. Two, and this is the more important reason, that this style of characterization serves him well, to ask questions to the reader, without really asking them. Like, what drives groups of men and women in positions of power to hurt such fragile creatures who cannot retaliate? Or, what is that animalistic trait within us that fuels this hate and drives us to madness?

That said, his novels aren’t just one thing. It is an emotional journey, always. At least that has been my experience so far. The people, cultures, places may not be familiar to me, and yet when I read about them, they seem miraculously tangible. He has this remarkable ability to help the reader inhabit the minds of these characters, and be one with the world they inhabit. Aniruddhan Vasudevan in his translator’s note writes – ‘His works invite vulnerability on the part of the readers and draw us into their rich details of life, landscape, ecology, and social life of a region.” I agree. In recent times, I can’t think of any other writer who has been able to do that to me. This process is meditative.

Pyre opens with Saroja and Kumaresen getting off a bus with the sun blazing on them. They are deeply in love. But they have a secret, that theirs is an inter-caste marriage. Trusting Kumaresen, the lighter-skinned Saroja has come along to his village, hoping that his mother and villagers would accept them, eventually. All she needed to do was to let him do the talking. His house is on a rock surrounded by barren land. The remoteness of the place is terrifying. She is from a busy town. The language of his people seems unfamiliar, as does their food. But it’s their gaze and constant mumble that alienates her. Kumaresan’s mother is scathing in her taunts. She sings a dirge now and then, lamenting the mistake her son has made. He is dead for her. It’s a crime that cannot be forgiven! Their hate is formidable against the love the couple holds for each other. Saroja gives into Kumaresan’s belief that he will turn things around one day. But is faith, love, and hope enough to survive?

The Pyre is tense. It’s simmering from the very beginning and rages on till it decimates everything. It offers respite only in places, and these moments felt like a traveller has found an oasis in the desert after days without water. The writing has cinematic power to keep you at the edge of your seat. But it is also lyrical, layered, and highly evocative. The title is apt, but you need to wait till the end to understand the meaning of it in totality.

There are three central characters. Saroja and Kumaresan, the lovers and Kumaresan’s mother, Marayi. Their backstories have been revealed in detail, but most of it happens when the characters go into a reverie. These episodes end with them harbouring several unanswered questions, which in turn are probing into the mind of the character. I found Marayi’s character the most interesting. You begin by hating her. But once her back story is revealed, you understand where her angst is coming from, although you do not agree with her actions.

Neil Gaiman, in his thought-provoking piece – “The Mushroom Hunters”, talks about the power of observation and how it is intrinsic to human nature to observe and find answers to our most important questions. It is the way of the seeker and the inventor. Murugan’s power of observation, for me, is his greatest strength as a writer. I remember reading a passage in Poonachi, where he describes how goats play and seduce a possible mate. I was stunned, because he wasn’t attributing any human-like qualities to these animals, and yet the details were mesmerizing, and I could fully understand what they were doing. You see this in Pyre as well when he describes the arid, rock-strewn landscapes, the rituals of the people, the contrast in cultures between communities, their language and mannerisms. The translator deserves all the accolades that have come his way for seamlessly incorporating these details into his translation.

Writers like Perumal Murugan are a rare species. Discovering his work has been an enriching experience for me, both as a reader and a writer. He has found ways to address the elephant in the room without the need to be scornful in his narrative. His deep understanding of the topics he chooses helps him tell his stories with empathy and grace. For that, he needs to be read.

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and, on his website, www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues and movie reviews.

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by whatsonsidsmind

Book Review | Sapiens: A Graphic History | Yuval Noah Harari

Written by: Siddhartha Krishnan : 3 Min Read

If we ask the right questions, the chances of getting the required answers go up significantly. This is true for all human endeavors, including tracing human history from its origins to the birth of civilization.

I had read Yuval Noah Harari’s international bestseller, Sapiens – A Brief History of Humankind two years ago, and the questions he asked in it piqued my interest right away. Also, the way he answered those questions in a language that was previously alien to historians was exemplary. This newness captured my imagination like no other reading of history had done before.

But with this graphic novel adaptation, Yuval and his team have gone a step further. They have presented history through colored illustrations, quirky fictional characters, and witty storytelling. And in doing so, attempted to reach out to all sapiens of today, to tell their story.

The graphic novel series is expected to be of five-volumes, of which two have been published so far. Volume 1 – Sapiens: The Birth of Humankind, focuses on the origins of humans, the rise of sapiens over other animals, the footprints they have left behind and the cognitive revolution. It reimagines human evolution as a TV reality show, through a globetrotting adventure where characters (some real and some imagined) are out to find answers to important questions regarding our evolution.

While Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, was all Yuval, this graphic novel, is a collaborative effort. Renowned comic artists, David Vandermeulen (co-writer) and Daniel Casanave (illustrator) are the key collaborators, along with colorist Claire Campion. They take us on a breathtaking adventure, through forests, deserts, grasslands and remote islands, switching often between the past and present.

The story is predominantly told through conversations, i.e. questions and answers with the right dose of humor. A good example of wit in this graphic novel is when Dr. Fiction (who wears a VR device, always) takes us to 1913 France, to meet Armand Peugeot, the founder of the automobile company, Peugeot. She explains the role that fiction has played in our evolution, using the growth story of Peugeot as an example. The conversation between the two was hilarious as well as enlightening.

However, despite taking creative liberties, in terms of its core messaging, the book mostly sails on the raft of scientific evidence instead of paying attention to the opinions of Dr. Fiction. This lends credibility to what the book finally says. By the end, I felt I had returned from a globetrotting adventure across the world. I got a glimpse of the places where our ancient ancestors lived, the food they ate, the language they spoke and the stories they told each other. This, for me, is the biggest triumph of this book.

There are, however, certain questions the book does not clearly answer because of a lack of conclusive scientific evidence. When tracing the 2-million-year evolutionary history of a species, you are bound to find such grey areas. Here, the writers have presented circumstantial evidence, and then tried to add things up. Just like in the original, here too, they have ensured that for these grey areas, both sides of the argument are provided to discerning readers, allowing them to decide which side they want to be on.

For me, this graphic novel is a winner, because it cuts through the information overload, and presents a complex evolutionary story in simple language, while also ensuring that the storytelling is entertaining enough to appeal to all. I have never read history in this way before, and for that, this collaborative effort deserves all the accolades that have come its way. Now, I can’t wait to get my hands on the second volume of this series – The Pillars of Civilization.

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and, on his website, www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues and movie reviews.

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by whatsonsidsmind

Book Review – The Nameless God | Savie Karnel

Written by: Siddhartha Krishnan | 3 Min Read

A lot can go wrong when writing a book that takes on a difficult subject like religious polarization and introduces the same to middle-graders. A certain kind of maturity is demanded from the writer to ensure that the story does not come across as being biased. It is here that I felt author Savie Karnel shined the most as a storyteller with her debut book “The Nameless God”.

The book takes you back to 90s India and into the lives of two children, Bachu and Noor who decide to create a God who listens only to them. It was this concept that grabbed my interest at first because I remember toying with this idea as a kid with a close friend. We eventually lost interest in that God, but these children were more resolute. Also, their God seemed more responsive than ours, when a miracle is performed the very next day—a holiday from school! However, what the kids do not know is that the holiday was declared due to the Babri Masjid demolition. Unaware that riots have broken out across the country, they go to thank their God for the miracle performed. What unfolds thereafter is what the book is all about.

The author invests sufficient time in the beginning, to set up the world, introduce the characters and gradually move to the point of conflict. When things turn for the worst, we as readers are fully invested in the lives of Bachu and Noor. This was well-crafted.

The language is lucid and consistent. There was nothing pretentious about it. Many times, especially debut authors get into the trap of making the prose beautiful and lyrical without a strong enough story to back the words. For me, as a reader that is deceiving. This is a book written for middle-graders with a clear purpose and the author achieves what she sets out for by the end of it. The use of humor to lighten the mood when things get murky was clever, especially considering the age group the book is primarily catering to.

There were some moments though where I felt that the author could have let certain scenes linger for just that minute extra to make them more impactful. To elaborate, several events unfold on one wretched night in the lives of the boys when they are caught in the crossfire, and each scene has a definite purpose and clear message. Several characters come and go, playing a small part in the larger scheme of things. Some readers may like this fast-paced writing while others may want certain powerful moments to linger more. This I don’t consider a flaw but more a matter of taste. Moreover, this could be an adult’s perspective.

From the beginning, we know that the book is going to end on a hopeful note. The progression to that ending did not feel abrupt, which means that the story is structured well. And I liked how that was achieved by the author.

I am a product of the 90s, and this story will connect with a lot of the 90s kids. Noor, Bachu, and the other characters of the book are people I know. There is a bit of me in these kids too and I felt that this is a book with a big heart, so it deserves to be read.

Link to purchase the book –

Amazon link

***

About the author –

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of ‘Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories’. A mad dog lover, tripaholic and a tale-weaver who shares his essays, travelogues, book and movie reviews on his blog (www.whatsonsidsmind.com).

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by whatsonsidsmind

Book Review – Poonachi Or The Story Of A Black Goat | Perumal Murugan

Written by Siddhartha Krishnan . 4 Min Read

Over the last ten days, every evening when I stared at the cover of this book, a feeble looking goat stared back at me with its innocent, marble eyes. It took me a while to understand the power of its gaze, but when that happened, I was shaken!

The story is set in a nondescript village in Tamil Nadu. One quiet evening as an old man watches the sun set over his village, a mysterious and unusually tall man, approaches him and gifts him a one-day old black goat. She is the seventh child of her mother, so delicate, that her fragility becomes a cause of wonderment for all in the village. The goat is therefore treated as a tiny miracle by the old man and his wife who do everything within their capacity to keep it alive. Thus begins the story of Poonachi, the black goat.

Poonachi, is a political novel that takes a look at society, it’s abuse of power, gender inequities, greed, surveillance and the resultant subjugation of the weak. But all of this from the perspective of a goat. As a result, comparison to Orwell’s Animal Farm or Kipling’s Jungle Book are obvious. But as testified by the scroll, in this story the animals are not sacrificed at the altar of allegory. This is what differentiates, Poonachi, from other famous works in this genre. The title therefore is conclusive – it is the story of a black goat, and all that we draw from the book as human beings is an accompaniment to that story. To understand this aspect better, it is best to quote an excerpt from N Kalyan Raman’s translator’s note – “As we track the destiny of this orphan goat, shaped by a force-field of humans and animals, we realise that the author’s real theme is our own fears and longings, primordial urges and survival tactics.”

However, the novel does resort to anthropomorphism (attribution of human traits, emotions, intentions on non-human beings) to make the animal characters relatable while also retaining their animal behaviour. This fine balance that has been struck in the narrative along with an eye for detail is an astonishing feature of the writing. Only a person who has a deep understanding of animal behaviour could have pulled this off. This, I am assuming has come from years of close observation.

The other commendable aspect of the storytelling is, how deeply layered it is? Every sentence carries weight, no word is wasted, and paragraphs often end with some message conveyed. The translation is brilliant, and despite the absence of Tamil words in the narrative, I felt that I was a part of that village. I may have missed some hidden references intrinsic to the culture but that does not rob me of understanding the perspective. Yes, it might take time for one to fully relate to the story, since it is written from the perspective of a goat, but that investment is surely worth it.

But the standout feature of the book, for me, is the tenderness of the storytelling. Despite being a political novel with a powerful message, the empathy displayed even while describing the most macabre moments mesmerized me as a reader. It helped me connect deeply with the characters and their journeys. Only a truly gifted writer can pull this off with such finesse. Through, Poonachi, I am now introduced to the genius of Perumal Murugan, and I am kicking myself as to why I had not read any of his books up until now?

Well, I guess there is a time for everything.

The book was shortlisted for the 2018 JCB Literature Prize, and I think it is best to end with the jury’s comments –

“Funny and warm, Poonachi is a book that forces us gently to look at ourselves and our contribution to an unequal world. Perumal Murugan is a master storyteller who reflects profoundly on our transactional society and its inequities and struggles. Through the character of the lonely goat, he has written a powerful modern fable.”

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and, on his website, www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues and movie reviews.

All rights reserved by whatsonsidsmind.com

by whatsonsidsmind

The Metamorphosis | Franz Kafka | Book Review

Written by Siddhartha Krishnan | 5 Min Read

Book – The Metamorphosis
Author – Franz Kafka (Translated from German by David Wyllie)
Originally published in 1915
Genre – Absurdist Fiction
Franz Kafka’s seminal work of fiction “The Metamorphosis” has been on my “TBR” list for well over a year. I was hesitant to read it because I was sure that it would be too dark for my liking. However, I took the plunge a fortnight ago, and the book was all that it had promised to be. Despite being just 80 pages long, this novella is a difficult read because within all its surrealism is something very real and scary.
The story is about a travelling salesman, Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one morning to find that he has turned into an insect. What follows thereafter is an allegorical narrative steeped in dark humour and surrealism. There are four aspects to the story; the transformation (dehumanization) of Gregor into an insect, the reaction of other central characters (father, mother, sister who are dependent on him) to this transformation, the gradual alienation of Gregor by his loved ones, finally Gregor’s lonely death and how things quickly get back to normal for his folks. What is fascinating, is that, despite the physical transformation there is very little transformation in Gregor’s character. He patiently accepts the hardships and surrenders to authority.
Now, the last thing that I want to do is to explain the allegories (and there are many) hidden in the narrative — for e.g what did the picture that Gregor was hiding from his mother signify or why did Gregor’s father hurl “apples” at him, one of which, gets stuck on his back and decays? I think enough is available on the internet on this, explained by experts who have studied Kafka’s work more than I. Moreover, all these allegories are open to multiple interpretations and beyond a certain point everything seems allegorical in the narrative. Instead, I would like to explore why someone like Kafka, would write something as bizarre as this? That is far more interesting to me as a reader and writer.
So, I began to wonder –
Do such authors think a lot before writing such pieces?
Just because these works are considered ground-breaking, does that automatically mean that it is a result of years of deep thinking?
My gut tells me, “No”.
Kafka is believed to have asked his friend Max Brod to burn all his unpublished manuscripts because he saw no value in it. But here we are, 100 years later, discussing one of the seminal works of literature of the 20th century. To quote George Steiner, “What Dante and Shakespeare were for their ages, Kafka is for ours”. Thankfully, Mr Brod saw value in those discarded pieces of paper, a century ago, else we would have lost a treasure trove of literature forever!
The overpowering emotion that I felt while reading the story was anguish, but the narrative comes with no filters—no flowery language, no melodrama, and even the longish sentences have clear purpose, often leading to something conclusive. I did not ever feel that Kafka was writing this story to please anybody. Perhaps he was just writing what he was feeling—stifled by authority he was feeling like an insect. And that is exactly what he wrote.
If you do a bit of research, you will find out that most of what Kafka wrote did not take him much time. Sometimes a single sitting was enough. He was just writing what he wanted to say, as he wanted to say it. This may also explain why Kafka never saw value in his writings. He may have thought that conventional wisdom will not agree with what he wrote. But today all of it is literature and he is as original as original can be!
My takeaway therefore is, that there is no single ordained way to the truth, there are multiple ways to it. For me, this diversity is what makes reading fiction so fascinating. When an author brings his/her unique voice or should we say language to his/her stories it makes for great reading, and that is what I liked the most about “The Metamorphosis”.

About the author –

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and on his website www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues and film reviews.

All rights reserved by whatsonsidsmind.com

 

by whatsonsidsmind

Review Promo – Two and a Half Rainbows

Hi All,

This is a promotional video encapsulating the reviews that my book has received so far, as well as a sneak peek into the content. Hope you like it!

Thanks for all the support!

Regards,

Sid

“Two and a Half Rainbows” is available on Amazon (Paperback and Kindle):

https://amzn.to/3drLLzB

Also available on Flipkart, Notion Press Store, Google books and kobo.com

 

by whatsonsidsmind

Prisoners of Secrets | Lata Gwalani | Book Review

Written by Siddhartha Krishnan . 5 Min Read

“Confessing is a weakness. Living with secrets and bearing the punishment of silence is strength.” “Prisoners of Secrets” by Lata Gwalani begins with this opening line, and in it lies the premise of this unusual love story. At 170 pages, this book may seem like a quick read, but it is not. And that is because the storytelling is vivid, the characters are well-sketched, and the attention to detail is immaculate. So, you must spend some time with it to fully savour what it has to offer.
Once you get past the attractive cover and intriguing title of the book, and you plunge into the story, the first thing that grabs your attention is the languid flow of the prose. Nothing seems too laboured in this sprawling narrative. To add to that, Gibran, Fitzgerald, Rumi, Atwood, Longfellow and their likes, find a place in the story, as the author sprinkles their quotes into the narrative at key moments. Her love for literature is clearly evident.
However, it was the stellar use of visual imagery that stood out for me, and through it the author weaves several beautiful moments in the story which is bound to linger in your mind. So, whether it is Parthasarathy Lane in Pollachi, the crowded fishing village of Vizhinjam or the jackfruit tree under which two lovers meet, the author expertly transports you to these places with vivid descriptions of colour, texture, smell, sight and touch. All of it becomes magically tangible!
As I moved further into the story, around the half-way mark something unexpected happened—a change in perspective from 3rd person to 1st person. It made the storytelling even more immersive than it was because the shift comes at a crucial juncture in the story. The surprise value is also considerably enhanced by the author’s choice of character for this shift in perspective. This was quite clever.
But techniques can only work if the story itself is compelling. And “Prisoners of Secrets” delivers with a well thought out storyline. It is the story of three very different people—Meera, Manuel and Shankar who are guarding secrets that can destroy their lives and their relationships. Through several impactful moments, the author endeavours to capture the complexities of the human mind and its motivations. She does that by expertly crafting the character arc of its lead characters and you are invested in their journeys, even if you don’t agree with them.
The only criticism I could think of was an overdose of quotes which at places felt unnecessary because the narrative itself was doing a fine job of driving the story forward. And perhaps certain instances where I felt that the author could have left things to the reader’s imagination. But different readers will perceive these aspects differently. Also, in a sprawling narrative, as this one, a few excesses are bound to happen.
Under the contemporary fiction genre books like the “Prisoners of Secrets” are rare. It is also difficult to cut through the clutter and find these books. If it weren’t for reading groups like this one and for like-minded friends, I wouldn’t have discovered this book. I will recommend it to anyone who loves literature, is an eternal romantic and wants to read a story which portrays human frailties and motivations vividly. It deserves to be read.
“Prisoners of Secrets” is available on Amazon (link below) in Paperback and Kindle formats:

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and on his website www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues and film reviews.

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by whatsonsidsmind

A River on the Wall | Stormy Hazarika | Book Review

Written by: Siddhartha Krishnan . 5 Min Read

Imagine that you are at your favorite hill station. A place, you think you know all too well. But on that day, you are approached by a tourist guide, who tells you about a breath-taking view, you may have missed. You are apprehensive, but decide to give in to his persuasive nature. Elated, he grabs your hand, but walks you through those same roads you’ve been before! The shops, restaurants, and marketplaces you pass by are all familiar. “What is the catch?”, you wonder, and just as you begin to protest, he pulls you into a dark alley. You feel jittery and decide to bring the cheeky little guy to a halt. “What are you up to?” you ask. He stops, grins and vehemently kicks open a door. What you see, thereafter, leaves you breathless!

One-third into “A River on the Wall”, that is exactly how I felt. It was, as if, a forgotten bulb in the room had suddenly got switched on, after which everything became clearer. It was then that I realized, that here is an author, who is both brave and crafty, and that the title she has chosen is perfect for the book.

I was introduced to this book by an author friend who had written a detailed review of it in a reader’s group on Facebook. I was intrigued and had included it into my “TBR list” immediately. But I must admit, that I began reading it with some pre-conceived notions. I had thought of it to be a “lingering melancholy” with realistic, empathetic characters. It’s a genre that I do read but this book wasn’t just that, despite the underlying pathos, which was unmistakable. It is an epic tale of love, loss, betrayal, despair, guilt and guarded secrets. But there is more to this book than what meets the eye.

The author is a Professor of English, so my expectation with language and grammar were high. But what caught my eye was her choice of words—poetic and appropriate. Authenticity wasn’t sacrificed at the altar of demonstration, thankfully! The other commendable aspect of the writing was the use of allegories, metaphors and idioms which lent symmetry to the writing, thereby helping the reader visualize the scenes better. In fact, there were many instances where I felt that this book has the potential to be converted into a screenplay. Here are a few noteworthy quotes from the book:

“Sometimes, life is like an autumn wood, golden leaves and amber paths, dappled with sunshine.”

“Human emotion is such a complex thing. At times it is right there for the world to see. At others, no matter how deep one dives, an endless void meets the eye, an abyss of nothingness”

“And though Ryeed was relatively young, he felt old and tired, like Lear on the heath, alone in the storm.”

However, more than language, it is the intelligence with which the story has been crafted that deserves praise. The author weaves several impactful moments by treading through what may seem like the mundane. Hence, when these moments arrive, they do pack a punch. The generous use of soliloquies and one-to-one conversations is also interesting and they manage to take you into the mind of the characters.

The most impressive aspect of the storytelling though was the use of wit. Subtle humor to be precise. When you make bold decisions with your plot you can easily tilt to extremes with your storytelling and make it overdramatic or outlandish. But this is where the author shines. She uses humor and pathos intelligently, and by doing so keeps the story and its characters real and believable. In other words, she takes a big risk by being deceptively outlandish but comes out keeping all the traits of good literature intact, and that’s the newness that Stormy Hazarika brings to the table.

This is not to say that the book is without any flaws. The story covers several years in the life of its lead character (Ryeed), often jumping timelines, and there were moments where I felt that the author could have invested a little more to let the emotions linger. Also, I felt that the protagonist’s (Ryeed) character could have had a few more layers. However, different readers will perceive these aspects differently. Personally, if a book keeps me emotionally engaged from start to finish, it has served its purpose. And “A River on the Wall” does that without a shadow of doubt!

Hence, I strongly recommend this book to all who like reading good contemporary fiction. It deserves to be read because it is witty, clever, brave and skillfully crafted. I will give Stormy Hazarika’s “A River on the Wall” – 4.5/5. She is a remarkable storyteller, and I am looking forward to her next.

The book is available in both paperback and kindle formats. You can grab a copy of it from the Amazon link below:

https://amzn.to/3l2WXWV

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and on his website www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues and film reviews.

All rights reserved by whatsonsidsmind.com

 

by whatsonsidsmind

Book Review – The Fragile Thread of Hope | Pankaj Giri | An Ode to Melancholia

Book Cover – The Fragile Thread of Hope

By Siddhartha Krishnan . 3 Min Read

There goes a saying, “Our pleasures are shallow, our sorrows are deep”. The undeniable attribute of melancholia, is that, it is slow and lingering. Unlike happiness it is never in a hurry to leave. Pankaj Giri’s novel, therefore, is a slow burn and deliberately so, which makes it feel like an ode to melancholia. It’s the story of Fiona and Soham and their traumatic past that is unwilling to give in to their resilient present, which hangs by “The Fragile Thread of Hope”. It’s a tale of love, loss, loneliness, regret and the power of hope. Loss is imminent but the baggage that it ensues often leads to regret and ruthless melancholy. The story moves at its own pace but cleverly leads to gut-wrenching moments of loss, which leaves the reader in a daze.

The first thing that strikes you about the book is the investment into its characters and that each chapter is dedicated to a specific character testifies the effort that has gone in. The characters are well-sketched, especially the leads, Fiona and Soham, and the author jumps timelines to unravel their arc. Another unique aspect of the storytelling is the use of delusions and dreams in vivid prose with the atmospherics playing an important role in them. Like this other-worldly experience that Soham goes through in a hospital in Bangalore after a ghastly accident, “A cool breeze caresses his cheeks, Soham finds himself on a chair in front of a wooden study table. Bright light streams in through the transparent panes of the window in front of him, blurring his vision. Observing the balustrade of the balcony beyond the window, he recognizes the place—it is his room in Gangtok”.

The writing has a rich poetic vein about it, which shows in the author’s choice of words and formation of sentences. There is a languid flow to it all. The other commendable aspect of the writing is its symmetry displayed through some clever use of analogies. As a writer I can vouch that this is not an easy task but they are critical to help the reader visualize a scene in their mind. Only skilled writers can pull this off with aplomb. The following is a good example—“She walked past a streetlight, a swarm of moths hovering around it like a gang of flirts”.

In May, 1886, Anton Chekhov once famously wrote to his brother Alexander, who was harbouring literary ambitions, “In descriptions of nature one must seize on small details, grouping them so that when the reader closes his eyes, he gets a picture. This is where the author excels the most as he expertly transports you to places. The following description of a bike ride in Gangtok is a good example, “The farther away the mountains were, the more their colour seemed to drop from green to blue and then lighter shades of blue. Dark clouds looming above the hilly horizon were on the verge of swallowing the setting sun”. 

Melancholy, undoubtedly has its own charm. It is strangely seducing and entertaining in its own way and this book is proof of that. After reading it, I was reminded of lines from a favourite Hindi song,

“Jashn ye raas na aaye,

Maza tho bas gam mein aaya hai.

Maine dil se kahan, dhoond lana khushi,

Na samajh laya gam, tho gam hi sahi!”

(Celebrations are deceiving,

Pain is more honest.

I asked my heart to go find happiness,

But the fool brought back sorrow)

I will recommend the book to all dreamers, brooders, wanderers and eternal romantics. For its well-sketched characters, poetic prose and attention to detail, I think the book is a must read. I will give Pankaj Giri’s masterfully written “The Fragile Thread of Hope” a 4.5/5.

Note – “The Fragile Thread of Hope” has been selected among “Amazon Best Reads” and the author is a finalist of the Amazon Pen to Publish contest (2017). The book has also received accolades from award-winning bestselling authors like Chitra Divakaruni (The Palace of illusions) and Renita D’Silva (The Forgotten Daughter).

The book has been published by Fingerprint publishing and is available at the below places:

India:

Amazon.in

International customers:

Amazon.com

 

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of “Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories“. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and on his website www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues and film reviews.

 

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