"Payjamas are forgiving" by Twinkle Khanna - Its different!
This book is published by Juggernaut in 2018 and has 221 pages. This is Twinkle's third book.
Anshu, a middle aged divorcee, checks-in in an ayurveda clinic (Shanthaamaya) in Kerala to cure her sleep disorder. In the strict, pure and serene atmosphere she gets a jolt when her ex-husband and his current wife check-in.
What will Anshu do? Fight or flight? What will the sojourn in clinic do to her? Why are payjamas forgiving?
This book is subtle. Some readers may lose interest because nothing dramatic happens. The story is slow. But there is a gradual build up. The characters are there to support the main character Anshu (who was broken after divorce, who runs a school and who still can't completely forget her ex-husband) and her ex-husband (an ambitious man, married to a younger wife, a man who is not sure if he is better off now, who wants to start his business).
The book is a journey of self discovery or rather rediscovery. It's all about human relations, choices you make and how much you can let go. This book shows a different side of author. We have known her as light, hilarious and witty author. Here she proves that she is not just that but can peel the layers and display nuances of human nature too.
So, what about title? It's an allegory. Payjama, in this story, alludes to many things like simplicity, desires, notions. Forgiving is accommodating, letting go. She says payjamas are forgiving (because of adjustability accorded by draw strings), it's jeans that hold grudge. I liked this allegory.
End of the book is a bit tentative. Had it been firmer, it would have made more impact. Or was Twinkle afraid of making heroine look biased?
The book has no foreword and no author's note. I would have liked to read why Twinkle thought this subject and story.
Why did I read this book? Author.
What I didn't like? The pregnancy. It was unnecessary
What did I like? Diversification by author.
Read if you like this review.
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