Prisoner,Jailor,Prime Minister

Title:Prisoner,Jailor,Prime Minister
Author:Tabrik C
Publishers:Hachette India
Price:350/-
Pages:300+
Year:2014
Source:Blogadda

         I owe a lot to blogadda.It was through this wonderful platform that I had got the chance to read some really cool works like ,'The Devotion of Suspect X' and 'The Salvation Of a Saint'.So naturally,when this new political-thriller by Tabrik C came up for review through blogadda,my expectations were sky-high.I was almost certain that what I had got was nothing but a chance to read the next desi best-seller before the whole world would start talking about it.
         'PJP' is the story of Sidharth Tagore,the 'Harvard educated',newly elected Prime Minister of the World's largest democracy.He has his arch-rival in Rukmani Devi,who is constantly trying to tarnish his new found image among the Urban educated youth.'Prisoner Jailor,Prime Minister' traces the journey of the musician- turned- politician Siddharth from Harvard to 7,Race Course road.
          The book has got quite a number of characters(Rukmani Devi,Rubaya,Gregor,Thor-to name a few) besides Tagore but none of them except him really manage to leave an impression.Blame it on half-baked characterisation or lousy plot twists that the book becomes  boring and brutally predictable after a point.Though Tabrik's language is fine,the gaping plot holes and serious lack of editing makes the novel a tedious read.Another issue I have is with the debutant author's style of writing. Infact the non-linear type of story telling didn't work for me,at all.          
          The author tries to pack in a lot of things and as a result he totally loses the plot mid-way.There is a nuclear blast in the beginning and a murder happening somewhere towards the middle but they remain neglected till the fag end of the story.To be very frank,I think the author himself had no clear idea about what to do with the rather promising story line of this book.Instead of rushing through and getting the book released(by early 2014) to cash-in on the pre-election euphoria,he should have worked more on the story line and developed it into a more interesting work of fiction,I feel.Moreover at 325+ pages,the book is tad too long.The writer's dislike for the Bharathiya Janatha Party,Hinduism and the Vedas is pretty evident though he desperately tries to mask it using irrevelant metaphors and weird reasoning.The writer tries to take pot shots at pseudoliberals and arm-chair activists but as the plot progresses the reader keeps wondering whether the author himself is one among those 'Aam-Admi' type seculars who keep talking about their 'idea of India' on one hand and doesn't mind visiting radical clerics to safe guard their vote-banks on the other.

Verdict-Tabrik C's debut work is a mediocre affair.It could have been a lot better.I'm giving it a generous Two out of five. 

This review is a part of the biggest Book Reviews Program atBlogAdda.com . Participate now to get free books!

 -nikhimenon

Read More

Book Review:Neil Must die by Kaberi Chatterjee

Title:Neil Must Die
Author:Kaberi Chatterjee
Publisher:BlackBuck Publishers
Source:review copy via thetalespensieve.com
Pages:252
Price:INR 190/-

                      My expectations were quite low when I picked up this book.To be very frank,I didn't know what to expect out of this work.The cover was not very appealing,neither did the title.The blurb given on the jacket made me feel that I was going to read a book version of one of those Ekta Kapoor sagas which they air every other day on television.
                      Debutant Kaberi Chatterjee's 'Neil Must Die' is the (love life) story of Neil,a twenty something  lad from a conservative Bengali family.He falls in love with his bhabhi(Tuli) which sends shockwaves through the Roy household.Perhaps to get out of this mess,Neil escapes to Bombay and befriends Remo-the trusted aide of a dreaded Mafia don(-Hassan).But little did Neil know that circumstances would force him to work for the Mafia one day.'NMD' is also the tragic tale of Tuli,the eighteen year old girl who is married to the wrong guy.The other characters in the story are Juhi,the high-end call girl who develops an instant liking for Neil,Soumen-Neil's brother and Tuli's 'lawfully wedded husband',Mahamaya,Vikram Bhatt and Cathy-Neil's foreigner friend who almost convinces him to start his life afresh in Stockholm. 
                       Coming to the positives of the book,author has tried to tell a bold tale in a neat manner without resorting to much gimmicks or word play.The book uses it's 'Bengali connection' quite well,I must say.Kaberi plays tribute to the beautiful city of Kolkatta without relying much on the in-your-face cultural stereotypes to prove her point.The book is decently edited and also modestly priced.
                        On the downside,the basic problem with this book is poor characterisation.Barring the title character(that too only to an extent),none of the characters are well etched out which is a pity since this is one work which relies heaviy on it's characters to strike a chord with the readers.The reader never gets to know the real 'Tuli' and most of the time we get the feeling that she is one of those hyper-active adolescent girl who takes impulsive decisions.Kaberi might have a good command over the language but what is the point if the reader is not able to empathise or relate to the characters which she had written?Likewise,Neil is one guy who is loved by each and every other girl whom he meets in his life.Be it Juhi,Tuli or even Cathy,every XY is ready to share bed with him and he quite seems to be "living the dream",then why on earth should he die?Honestly speaking,not even once did I feel like sympathising with him.I wish the author had spent more pages trying to emphasise the intensity of the bonding or love between Tuli and Neil rather than filling page after page with Neil's sexual escapades with the different women in his life!The parallel track involving Hassan bhai,Vikram Bhatt and Remo evoked a sense of dejavu and the twists and turns seemed rather predictable.

Verdict- I am giving a 2.5/5 for this work.

-nikhimenon

The book was received as part of Reviewers Programme on http://thetalespensieve.com/reviewers-sign-up/">The Tales Pensieve

Read More

On the ISRO spy Case,Nambi Narayan and Narendra Modi...

Scientist Nambi Narayan

Sharing a couple of links from rediff.com,request the readers to go through this tale of political conspiracy which shook the nation a good twenty years ago..

-nikhimenon

Read More

Miss Moorthy Investigates- an ultra-short book review

Title-Miss Moorthy Investigates
Author-Ovidia Yu
Publisher-Westland(India)
Year- 2012
First Published in Singapore(1989)
Pages-215
Price-INR 195 /-
    When I picked up this work,little did I know that it was first published in 1989 because had i known that before,I would have definitely kept my expectations very low(many of the plot twists had a 'dated feel' to them).Set in the Singapore of the 70's,'Miss Moorthy investigates' traces the life of Savitri Moorthy,a Singapore settled Indian teacher.Her life takes a turn when she finds out that her favourite student's dad might be responsible for the death of her colleague,Evelyn.As the title suggests,'MMI' is all about Savi Moorthy's attempts to nab the killer of her acquaintance.
             The book is an easy read but I must also admit that the investigation part and the climactic twist didn't really work for me(may be it would have worked in the early ninetees,when the book was first published!).Besides,there were far too many things which were left un-explained at the end.(like,how did the killer manage to carry out the two murders,despite his/her victims being quite healthy and well-built?)

Verdict- Not a very thrilling read.I am giving it a generous two out of five.

-nikhimenon

Read More