“The book is divided into three Phases, the first depicting childhood and education, the second adulthood/education and lust, the third adulthood and romantic love, to say the least. If only life could be so straightforward. Life isn’t something mellow and forthcoming. Neeraj catches the fine and not-so-fine essence of life, stirs it, and serves, one at a time or a few.
There are clichés, there are insipidly put down jokes, the limitation of first-person narrative showing up a little, there are sentences that would be better served by better turn of phrase. There are elements that feels would be complete if only given little more space. (Speaking of which, I was glad to find a latter moment given only so much mention which I thought was its strength) Then, here’s a first-time author who is dealing with a narrative that spans a quarter century of his protagonist.
Russia, the book’s key/second setting, is treated fairly. Any culture/country has its downsides and upsides. It’s not fairness to look down with ingratitude. (I am, oddly enough, reminded to dust my copy of Crime and Punishment which I am in the three-fourth of) This setting gives the story a breath of fresh air.
There is so much to relate to in it. The high point to me was the protagonist, Pankaj, falling in love with the Russian woman. Though it lasts only so long, speaks volumes. I must say I am not a sucker for romantic moments in fiction and I tend to blame it on the monotony of Indian Cinema which is clichéd beyond belief beyond refutation.”
Ahimaaz wrote this review Wednesday, February 3, 2010.
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