A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry – Book Review

Source: http://j.mp/iOwUDo

I got ‘A Fine Balance’ at Dishoom (a London Indian restaurant) as part of the ‘World Book Night 2011’ which basically promotes writing and power of books by distributing near 1 million books for free.

A Fine Balance is definitely not a light read. The book is full of dark, depressing and disturbing scenes. Despite the bleak and stark reality of India during the Emergency in India in 1970s, the book inspires in its own way. It inspires in comparison to what Indians have achieved today, more so than India. The writing in the book is superb. Rohinton paints a vivid picture with his words and transports the reader into the world of his characters. It doesn’t matter how different the read is to the characters; the reader ends up connecting with and understanding the vastly different stories of each of the four protagonists of the book. The book is also an eye-opener to the realities of India during the Emergency rule and how the lay-man suffered to fulfill the political agenda of dirty politicians. This might still be the case in India today, but the sufferings during the Emergency were of another level.

I loved reading the book and felt enlightened about the India of the 1970s that I had not witnessed. The book is a great read but not for when you’re feeling down and depressed.

Tin Fish by Sudeep Chakravarti- Book review

Amazing book about the coming of age. A very frank narration in real language including a barrage of profanity in almost every sentence. What made reading the book really special for me was the setting of the story. The story is set in Mayo College in Ajmer. Ajmer is my birth town and I have always wanted to go to Mayo College's sister school, Mayo Girls. Reading about familiar places in Ajmer was like watching a film in my head with real places. A good read but you have to be ready to tune out the "language".

Love Story- Book review

Too short for me. I finished reading it in an hour. I preferred reading 'I too had a love story'. I felt the love story was not developed as well. The author could have set the story at a more settled pace.

A Girl Like Me- book review

A book that tackles the sacrifices made by a daughter in order to keep her promise made to her dying father. The story also explores how we cling onto the memories as we want them to be and not how they usually are. I personally felt the ending could have been better. A lot of loose ends were left..well loose.

For One More Day- Book review

Interesting story that takes time to hook you to the story. It is refreshing to read a book about the deep love shared between a mother and a son.

I too had a love story- Book review

Amazing book! The fact that it is a true tragic love story moved me to tears. The many similarities with my life also made me scared and forced me to think of situations I would never want anyone to face in life. Please read the book and get an inside look at what true love is.

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

Date Completed Reading: 28th February 2008
Book Gotten From: Birthday gift from Krishna
Rating: 5/6
My 2-Cents Worth: I loved reading the book though it had a sad ending. Similarities with my life saddened me when I was reading it. One complain was the weak reason offered to Savannah's decision to move on from John..