Fiction
Verdict: Read it just because it's weird.
I'm not sure if I'm reaching the end of the non-weird Indian contemporary literature, but a lot of what I've been reading recently is just odd. Not in a bad way necessarily, but either the author is quirky or he's excellent at making his main character quirky. I picked it up because I kept finding it on Pinterest, and the cover is eye catching in an ironic, irreverent way. Much like the writing.
There's no one main protagonist in this book, it's a collection of motley characters, though that doesn't become apparent until much later, and they're a seem to be related to each other. Maybe not, but it seemed so to me.
The writing style is definitely different from the mainstream Indian writing in the same way that Tamil movies have their own flavor when compared to Bollywood movies. (Don't come for me, I really enjoy Tamil movies!)
Because it's a collection of vignettes, there isn't really a story line, just snippets here and there. I enjoyed it much more after I stopped trying to piece it together and make sense. Upon further consideration, what an Indian way of looking at it.
I guess this novel wouldn't be for everyone, but it is well written and would probably tickle anyone who lives outside of the norm in Chennai where the norm is the only acceptable place to be. I enjoyed it a lot, though it took me a while to read and digest - not a long book, I just struggled to move at the pace the author set.
Worth the effort.
~Becky~
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