The red carpet by Lavanya Sankaran

"The red carpet" debut novel of Lavanya Sankaran. This book is published by  Headline in 2006 and has 215 pages. This book is a collection of eight stories.

'Bombay this' is the story of a shy person, his attractions, disappointments and fantasies. 'Closed curtains' is about an man who's wife had almost lost memory and son has left India forever and who tries to find pleasures of everyday life and parental love in neighbors. 'Two Four Six Eight' displays the emotional world of a young girl and her relationship with her maid servant. 'The Red carpet' is the story of a driver who is satisfied with what he has and whose joy knows no bound when he gets that little extra which he had not expected. 'Alphabet soup' is a story of Second generation Indian-American girl who travels back to Bangalore to trace her roots. 'Mysore coffee' is about the dilemma of suicide. 'Birdie num-num' is about return of a girl from America to India whose mother wants to marry her. 'Apple pie one by two' is about two friends who have studied, worked, founded a company and sold it together and who are now parting.

Lavanya has a unique writing style. She appears not to be trying to tell anything in the stories. All the stories end without any conclusion and readers are left to interpret the end of each. Based on the mood, intelligence and creativity of the readers,  end of each story can be interpreted in ten different ways. The stories make the readers work their imagination and think.

All the stories are situated in Bangalore. The IT and pub culture, the changing times and anticipation run through the stories as common themes. It appears that Ramu is Lavanya's favorite name. A character named Ramu appears in three out of eight stories.

All the stories are good stories. I liked 'Two Four Six Eight' and 'The Red carpet' the most and 'Alphabet soup', the least.

Although this is Lavanya's debut book, I have read her second book 'The hope factory' first. Somehow there was a break of more than one month while reading this book. Had I read it continuously, probably I would have enjoyed it more.

A good book. Recommend reading.

Delhi stopover by Tulika Mehrotra

Completed "Delhi stopover" debut novel of Tulika Mehrotra. This book is published by Penguin Metro Reads in 2012 and has 393 pages.

Lila, an American of Indian origin, is a struggling actress in USA playing inconsequential roles. She is frustrated because her career is going nowhere and because her fiancee does not respect her profession. She decides to break her engagement and heads for India for a much needed vacation.

She accompanies her cousin for assisting to dress up models for a fashion show and ends up being a last minute replacement model. Fate draws her in the Delhi fashion world although she is not thin or anorexic. In a matter of days she becomes a professional model doing advertisements.

Will she remain in India? Will she remain a model or become an actress? Will she reunite with her fiancé?

The artificial world of fashion. Free use of booze, drugs and sex. The dirty and cut throat competition. Uncertainties and insecurities. One sided contracts. Abilities to make or break careers. All these facts about fashion world make the book colorful.

Tulika has written OK for a first timer. She has used the backdrop of fashion industry for the story. However what has happened is that the fashion industry has taken over the story and the story has taken a back seat. It may be either because the story is weak or the author has not taken enough efforts to develop it.

After about half way mark, the story goes into tailspin. Author seems to have lost control. Many illogical things happen. Readers are confused as to what is author is trying to convey. Author has found it very difficult to try to converge and close the story.

Lila's character comes out as shallow girl who does not know what she wants. Even the readers are not sure what is happening between her and Arman. Romantic angle with Dev remains an open point. It remains unexplained why her cousin mourns death of her father so much?

I took me six months to complete reading this book and could complete it only through sheer determination, otherwise I would have abandoned it.

AVOID.

I too had a love story by Ravinder Singh

"I too had a love story"  debut novel by Ravinder Singh. This book is based on true story of authors life. The book is 213 pages long.

This is the love story of Ravin (narrated in first person) & Khushi. They meet online on a matrimonial website. Start talking to each other on phone as they stay in different cities. Strike a friendship, fall in love and decide to get married; without meeting even once in person.

Then they meet. There nervousness, anxiety, eagerness and even stupidity. There expectations and reassurances. Their  desperation when Ravin has to go out of the country. All the silly things the love struck couple does. All the minor things that suddenly become so important. The lies to others in order to be in each others company for a few minutes. The changes in them. All these things are captured very honestly and effectively without making them too complicated.

Then comes a major twist that shakes you completely. Reader starts thinking why did this happen? They don't deserve it. It's unfair.

Ravinder has kept it simple and straight. He has avoided the temptation to make it dramatic or melodramatic. That's why it connects as a true story. Author's narration is simple and realistic. Romantic moments are presented beautifully. The story loses the flow a little bit after the twist, but recovers later.

You like the book. You feel joy and sorrow with the characters. You connect with them. But you do not become a character in the story while reading. I agree with Mr. Narayanmurthy that it's a simple book. We should expect more from Ravinder Singh after this.

A very good book, though not a fabulous one. Recommend reading.