2110th BLOG POST
15th Book of 2024
Fiction is my
favorite yet somehow; I always get into non-fiction but I regularly miss it
even when non-fiction provides me the comfort it does when the days aren’t
going well. Luckily, I got my hands upon a wonderful fiction this time named “Aunties
of Vasant Kunj” written by Anuradha Marwah. This 300-pages book published by
Rupa Publications is author’s 4th release and her experience is
evident in every paragraph. Talking about the cover page first, the way the
designer has captured the essence of all the characters in the book by
embedding related accessories is a witty work indeed.
Author has very
nicely crafted the book which is based in a six-months’ time-frame describing
the lives of three different female energies where each of them are different
from the other two. Keeping Shailaja as the main protagonist, Anuradha ensures
that she still gives equal importance to Nilima and Dini. Writing a book on 3
characters where each one of them have their own space is something which has
been nicely handled. The way their background is provided through story-telling
makes the reader understand and visualize each one of them quite clearly.
Anuradha has also
based the characters in similar conditions but deriving from different types of
situations. At one point, authoress makes it clear to us that all three have
been derived out of her own life experiences which makes it even more
interesting in terms on how she has broken down her tale in three different
parallel stories. I enjoyed reading their individual lives in the beginning and
the process in which all three of them meet each other.
The arc through
which all the characters travel engages us throughout the story and we want to
see how they move further. Definitely, most of the turns that comes in the
story are predictable and old but yet the narration keeps you hooked. Not only
the main characters but authoress tries to keep even the other supporting
characters say something important. They are not there just to fill the spot.
Either the maid, mother-in-law or daughter – everyone has something particular
to say through their conversations with the main characters.
Written by a female
based on all the female characters gives an impression that the book shall be
pro-woke-feminism but thankfully, it is not so. The characters are flawed and
even if their ego doesn’t let them believe it, authoress speaks it boldly to
the reader. Even when Dini’s character is itself one of women activist’s yet
you won’t get uncomfortable reading it because other characters around her
makes her realize that this is not how it works in practical life. Sections of
the book speaks on the role of father in children life, proper closure in relationship
from both the ends, not going ahead with court cases against men just for the
sake of it etc. I am glad authoress chose this path rather than making the book
impressionable only to the woke generation.
We are generally
habitual of reading books based on girls who are in their 20s or early 30s but here,
we get an insight on how the lifestyle of women in their 40s must be. It is wonderful
reading the way they have to deal with relationships, job, divorces, marriage,
in-laws, kids, neighborhood, societies, judgment etc. There’s a section where
two characters lose their job at the same time and the way the same scenario is
treated differently and the different lessons provided with the respective
cases is phenomenal. Similarly, the challenges faced by a homemaker is also
given deserving prominence in the book.
There’s a large
part of the book where Buddhism is discussed and even when it consists of
humorous sections, Anuradha has ensured that she doesn’t end up disrespecting
the religion in any manner. She has handled it with maturity. Similarly, she
ensures that if she has mentioned a locale in the title of the book- Vasant Kunj,
she makes it informative for the readers to understand how is the life in such
areas where people fight for water issues and electricity usage every morning and
night. Anuradha has used her wit and sense of humor to make it a funny and
engaging read throughout. The only issue I have is with the length of the book.
It could have been down by 50 pages easily.
Overall, this is an
interesting read which you’ll enjoy with smile and laughs in between. I give
the book 4 stars out of 5.
Thanks!
WRITING BUDDHA
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