This is one book where (for once) I wished I was also given in to the passion that so many of my XL friends swear on - Old Monk
It brings back the days of campus...the entire setting of college life, of placements, of the jitters, the joys, the sorrows...CB has a great style of writing...very easy going. He seems to be one of those who can choose the exact words for his thoughts and express them in the same way. It helps to put one in his shoes...and in my humble opinion, it's the best state a writer can put his readers in.
A great story (which, I read somewhere, is based closely on his real life) which portrays the change in the thoughts of the Indian youth while choosing his life partner - especially when both of them belong to different states. Kudos to CB for choosing such a topic and being able to portray it in such a truthful and lucid manner.
Krish is one of the most believable characters I have come across recently...coming from a dysfunctional family (and I believe most families in India are dysfunctional to varying degrees ;) )...especially those parts where he was putting questions to himself...
Just a few observations which I made while reading the book...(no offence to anyone)
1. To be able to go thru an "inter-caste" marriage, you need to be detached to quite a degree from your family, esp. in the case when parents are opposing the marriage
2. It's easier for a girl to say "We are through" than a boy, even though she might suffer as much the boy. I believe that girls are more practical than boys when it comes to these relationships, and this probably stems from that
3. There is nothing better than choosing your life partner and marrying her, if you are the one who can build and maintain such relationships. I feel this is great because I find all this too difficult. You know yaar, I am not the lovey-dovey types...
4. There are lots more, which I don't recall right now...and some that I cannot write...moreover, I haven't been able to complete the book to make more "striking" observations :P ...and I don't think I will be completing the book.
All in all, a great read for the youth. And a MUST READ for those narrow-minded parents of today's youth - this book is to show all you guys out there that your children are NOT the dim-wits they seem to you when it comes to choosing their life partners. True, at times they may make mistakes, but considering every case to be a mistake is simply naive and prejudiced. You don't even know how and how much you guys are changing his/her life. You don't know what you are bargaining for by doing all this. Appreciate the fact that today's youth is also as conscious about making a family as you are, and meaning of the word "family" is the same for both you and your children. So give them a chance.
