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Book:
Bubble Wrap
Author:
Kalyani Rao
Publisher:
Harlequin
Genre:
Fiction
Number
of pages: 185
Cover
Price: Rs 250
Rating:
3 out of 5
Review:
The first thing that delights the mind is the cover pic which is eloquent,
powerful and picturesque, not to forget relevant and engaging. Second good
thing about the book is that its publisher is a more notable one in this world
teeming with a sudden mushrooming of publishers and self-publication firms. The
third good thing is that the story is not what the title suggests.
“Bubble Wrap”
may ostensibly appear like another bubble-gum college romance (a genre which
has become the favorites with readers and sadly with publishers too). But “Bubble
Wrap” is everything but a cheesy college romance.
It
is a touching and realistic story of a young girl (Krishna) who gets married
off even before she hits puberty. The setting of a small town, the plot
revolving around the theme of child marriage and the society’s hypocritical and
callous take on widows are the reasons why this book is worth a read.
Also,
the fact that the 12-year old Krishna (the girl who gets married off at such a
tender age) takes the role of the narrator and the readers see her world
through her eyes is a winner. Her cousin’s widow Gudiya (slightly older at 15)
assumes the role of her mentor and despite the mud which society flings at her
widowed status and despite getting raped by an old man, she shoulders the
courage of shielding the 12-year Krishna from similar torments. They escape!
The
second half goes slightly wayward as the plot thins though the reader does not
lose his grip over the book. One must not dissect ‘Bubble Wrap” from the
perspective of plot or of narration or of language which are simple and staid,
but rather from the perspective of the bold story-telling which is a brutal and
well-deserved assault on the society.
The
job done by author Kalyani Rao is a credible one because she maintains simplicity
and innocence in language which reflect the thought process of the juvenile
narrator. Perhaps, the second half could have been tauter but the shocking
climax more than makes up for the languidness. The book will not stay with you
till ‘forever’ but will stir a few emotions and make you sigh as you turn over
the last leaf.
-Ritesh
Agarwal
Email:
ritzy182000@gmail.com
The book is available at throwaway price at Flipkart. Kindly use the below link to check it out.
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