Book: A Hundred Little Flames
Author: Preeti Shenoy
Genre: Fiction
Price: Rs. 150
Synopsis:
Ayan, 26 year old Mechanical Engineer, is at his wit's end when he loses his job overnight and has to face the wrath of his condescending father. He has been asked to pack his bags and shift to his paternal home in a village in Kerala to look after his ailing Grandfather. Gopal Shankar, in his eighties and suffering from a fractured leg, is very much pleased to have his grandson for company.
Much to his surprise, Ayan finds the quaint yet under-developed village; Poongavanam, interesting and he bonds with his grandfather effortlessly. However, Ayan's Dad has some other plans in mind when he gives them an unannounced visit. Long lost secrets and desires are revealed when Ayan reads his Grandfather's personal diary entries and goes on a mission to reunite something that was meant to be together.
What I liked:
I have read Preeti Shenoy's blog posts long back and wanted to read her since then. But her non-fiction was not my interest and when I got a copy of her first fiction attempt, I grabbed it.
The best part of the novel is the storyline and characterization. Ayan is a typical millennial, born and brought up in Bahrain - with a very patronizing dad. Gopal Shankar is nothing like his son Jairaj and hence the Grandson-Grandfather duo hit it off quickly. At many instances, Ayan and Gopal Shankar think alike and their wavelength remains the same. It is this instant chemistry and the non-judgmental views that helps Ayan to understand the pain and helplessness his Grandfather had to face.
The novel celebrates unadulterated love that remains unaffected with situations, age, and miseries. While reading the dairy entries made by Gopal Shankar almost three decades back, Ayan and the readers are transported to another era. The pace of the novel suddenly increases with each entry and so does our heart rate. Ayan thinks that such love is surreal for he has only experienced what we know as a 'friendship-with-benefits'.
What I didn't like:
There are some trivial things that didn't appease the reader in me. Though many cities are mentioned, Kerala forms the backdrop of the entire novel. Preeti Shenoy has mentioned her love for Kerala and Malayalam in the epilogue and justifies the presence of the Malluland in the pages. However being a Malayali and having read Arundathi Roy and Jaishree Misra, I feel it was badly presented. For instance, names like Gopal Shankar, Ghanshyam, Kamakshi etc. could have been more Malayali-fied.
Also, Velu (caretaker) addressing 'Gopal Sir' and 'Ayan Sir' is quite superficial. How much ever Poongavanam or Erunjipally is presented as a fictional land, I couldn't digest the fact that place was devoid of Cable TV and Internet in this time and age. Even though it summarizes the plot of the novel, the front cover illustration looks like straight out of a Class 2 text book.
My rating: 4 out of 5
This review was submitted by Guest Blogger Anju S. Kumar. Read more of her at Kshanã-Prabha-Chañchalam.
Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the Publisher.
Author: Preeti Shenoy
Genre: Fiction
Price: Rs. 150
Ayan, 26 year old Mechanical Engineer, is at his wit's end when he loses his job overnight and has to face the wrath of his condescending father. He has been asked to pack his bags and shift to his paternal home in a village in Kerala to look after his ailing Grandfather. Gopal Shankar, in his eighties and suffering from a fractured leg, is very much pleased to have his grandson for company.
Much to his surprise, Ayan finds the quaint yet under-developed village; Poongavanam, interesting and he bonds with his grandfather effortlessly. However, Ayan's Dad has some other plans in mind when he gives them an unannounced visit. Long lost secrets and desires are revealed when Ayan reads his Grandfather's personal diary entries and goes on a mission to reunite something that was meant to be together.
What I liked:
I have read Preeti Shenoy's blog posts long back and wanted to read her since then. But her non-fiction was not my interest and when I got a copy of her first fiction attempt, I grabbed it.
The best part of the novel is the storyline and characterization. Ayan is a typical millennial, born and brought up in Bahrain - with a very patronizing dad. Gopal Shankar is nothing like his son Jairaj and hence the Grandson-Grandfather duo hit it off quickly. At many instances, Ayan and Gopal Shankar think alike and their wavelength remains the same. It is this instant chemistry and the non-judgmental views that helps Ayan to understand the pain and helplessness his Grandfather had to face.
The novel celebrates unadulterated love that remains unaffected with situations, age, and miseries. While reading the dairy entries made by Gopal Shankar almost three decades back, Ayan and the readers are transported to another era. The pace of the novel suddenly increases with each entry and so does our heart rate. Ayan thinks that such love is surreal for he has only experienced what we know as a 'friendship-with-benefits'.
In an instance when Gopal Shankar says "Everyone thinks they know what is best for everyone else", it pretty much sums up the whole essence of the novel. Gopal Shankar's father decided his fate and so does Ayan's. But how Ayan takes charge of his life and eventually liberates his Muttacha from a materialistic penance forms the climax of the novel.
What I didn't like:
There are some trivial things that didn't appease the reader in me. Though many cities are mentioned, Kerala forms the backdrop of the entire novel. Preeti Shenoy has mentioned her love for Kerala and Malayalam in the epilogue and justifies the presence of the Malluland in the pages. However being a Malayali and having read Arundathi Roy and Jaishree Misra, I feel it was badly presented. For instance, names like Gopal Shankar, Ghanshyam, Kamakshi etc. could have been more Malayali-fied.
Also, Velu (caretaker) addressing 'Gopal Sir' and 'Ayan Sir' is quite superficial. How much ever Poongavanam or Erunjipally is presented as a fictional land, I couldn't digest the fact that place was devoid of Cable TV and Internet in this time and age. Even though it summarizes the plot of the novel, the front cover illustration looks like straight out of a Class 2 text book.
My rating: 4 out of 5
This review was submitted by Guest Blogger Anju S. Kumar. Read more of her at Kshanã-Prabha-Chañchalam.
Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the Publisher.
No comments:
Post a Comment