Introduction :
To the extent I know, this is the first book from the desk of Kamal Paneru, published by Half Baked Beans.
The Title : I found the title quite unique arousing an intrigue in the reader - why someone is asking like 'Why Should I Love You ???' which is quite embarrassing to be asked and replied both?
The Cover: A good one. The silhouettes of the main characters against the backdrop of yellow speaks about the dark story contained inside the book.
Story : This is a story of a boy Raunak and two girls; Juhi and Megha. These three characters are the pillars of this story which is essentially a love story, still can not be placed in the category of a triangular love story. The journey of this tale starts with a phone call which, say per chance, connects Raunak and Juhi. Their conversation unravels some issues pertaining to Juhi and they fall in love eventually. Then something unexpected happens and changes the lives of all the three. to know more - read this novel which has high emotional ingredient.
Plot: The first part of the plot revolves around three subplots: the phone conversations between Raunak and Juhi, Juhi's conservative family background and the engineering college campus activities. However, the second part involves the happenings at the native place of the protagonists. The plots which involve tragic ends are supposed to be highly complex and need a gradual built-up justifying the incidents and convincing the reader about everything the story serves to them. Here in this book, the first part of the story is utterly slow, perhaps the author has thrown all his focus making the story a myriad of emotions. There're tears and tears scattered all over the pages which create a kind of loathing in the reader - replacing sympathy and disconnecting the thread, instead of identifying with the characters. The second part starts with the speed of jet and ends with a bang - terminating the story in quite haste.
Language : Quite fluidic and poetic at times supported by metaphors at right places. Trivial grammatical errors are there but can be overlooked.
Merits : The style of narration is definitely a very strong point of the writer for pulling this story till end. This novella may move the young readers to tears and they can identify with the story and the characters at times. It also warns the young ones not to fall for a person just because sympathy arising out of the pains and sufferings of the person at the other end of the phone call. There's a point and moral in this story - perhaps implicitly.
Demerits : The family background of the girl, her torture by them to extremes, not taking the help of law despite being a law student herself, almost negligible role of the brother of the girl to rescue her from that torture despite being a friend of the protagonist, the rape incident and arrest of the boy Rounak after almost two weeks of the unfortunate incident that too registering an FIR without a medical check up are a few areas which would have been properly addressed.
My Take : Definitely a compelling read for the young ones hovering around twenty. Grown ups will find it unconvincing and uninteresting, because only one or two factors cannot pull a story to its logical conclusions - to be called any write-up as nearly flawless. Kamal Paneru is a very nice person and a good friend but my honesty is restraining me giving him much favor, as far as this book is taken. Though, he's a big potential as a writer and since this is debut novel, my heart goes for him wishing him my all the best wishes I could have. Keep it up!
My advice: There's no need to get subdued getting not-so good or so-so reviews as there's nothing in this world which can be called as perfect. So keep going.
Ratings : Story ***, Plot **, Language *** Character Development *** Overall *** out of 5
Rajeev Pundir
01/ Sept/ 2017
To the extent I know, this is the first book from the desk of Kamal Paneru, published by Half Baked Beans.
The Title : I found the title quite unique arousing an intrigue in the reader - why someone is asking like 'Why Should I Love You ???' which is quite embarrassing to be asked and replied both?
The Cover: A good one. The silhouettes of the main characters against the backdrop of yellow speaks about the dark story contained inside the book.
Story : This is a story of a boy Raunak and two girls; Juhi and Megha. These three characters are the pillars of this story which is essentially a love story, still can not be placed in the category of a triangular love story. The journey of this tale starts with a phone call which, say per chance, connects Raunak and Juhi. Their conversation unravels some issues pertaining to Juhi and they fall in love eventually. Then something unexpected happens and changes the lives of all the three. to know more - read this novel which has high emotional ingredient.
Plot: The first part of the plot revolves around three subplots: the phone conversations between Raunak and Juhi, Juhi's conservative family background and the engineering college campus activities. However, the second part involves the happenings at the native place of the protagonists. The plots which involve tragic ends are supposed to be highly complex and need a gradual built-up justifying the incidents and convincing the reader about everything the story serves to them. Here in this book, the first part of the story is utterly slow, perhaps the author has thrown all his focus making the story a myriad of emotions. There're tears and tears scattered all over the pages which create a kind of loathing in the reader - replacing sympathy and disconnecting the thread, instead of identifying with the characters. The second part starts with the speed of jet and ends with a bang - terminating the story in quite haste.
Language : Quite fluidic and poetic at times supported by metaphors at right places. Trivial grammatical errors are there but can be overlooked.
Merits : The style of narration is definitely a very strong point of the writer for pulling this story till end. This novella may move the young readers to tears and they can identify with the story and the characters at times. It also warns the young ones not to fall for a person just because sympathy arising out of the pains and sufferings of the person at the other end of the phone call. There's a point and moral in this story - perhaps implicitly.
Demerits : The family background of the girl, her torture by them to extremes, not taking the help of law despite being a law student herself, almost negligible role of the brother of the girl to rescue her from that torture despite being a friend of the protagonist, the rape incident and arrest of the boy Rounak after almost two weeks of the unfortunate incident that too registering an FIR without a medical check up are a few areas which would have been properly addressed.
My Take : Definitely a compelling read for the young ones hovering around twenty. Grown ups will find it unconvincing and uninteresting, because only one or two factors cannot pull a story to its logical conclusions - to be called any write-up as nearly flawless. Kamal Paneru is a very nice person and a good friend but my honesty is restraining me giving him much favor, as far as this book is taken. Though, he's a big potential as a writer and since this is debut novel, my heart goes for him wishing him my all the best wishes I could have. Keep it up!
My advice: There's no need to get subdued getting not-so good or so-so reviews as there's nothing in this world which can be called as perfect. So keep going.
Ratings : Story ***, Plot **, Language *** Character Development *** Overall *** out of 5
Rajeev Pundir
01/ Sept/ 2017
