Thursday, December 22, 2016
Thursday, December 8, 2016
The Corporate Slacker: Book Review: Lovers' Rock, by Ravi Bedi
The Corporate Slacker: Book Review: Lovers' Rock, by Ravi Bedi: Book Review: Lover’s Rock, by Ravi Bedi Publisher: Rupa Pages : 353 Buying Link: Amazon The Indian literary scene has go...
Thursday, October 13, 2016
The Corporate Slacker: Book Review: Perfect | Imperfect, by Ravi Bedi
The Corporate Slacker: Book Review: Perfect | Imperfect, by Ravi Bedi: Book Review: Perfect | Imperfect, by Ravi Bedi Pages: 171 Buying Link: Amazon A ‘caper’ novel is a rarity these days, though ...
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Review of "Lovers' Rock" By Percy Wadiwala
Tuesday, 11 October 2016
Book Review: Lovers' Rock, by Ravi Bedi
Book Review: Lover’s Rock, by Ravi Bedi
Publisher: Rupa
Pages: 353
Buying Link: Amazon
The Indian
literary scene has gone through several changes, from being virtually
non-existent to high international visibility to what is threatening to become
a deluge of surprisingly-similar books focussed around romance and historical
re-tellings.
It is easy
for a book to get lost in this deluge, and that is precisely what I hope Lovers’ Rock by Ravi Bedi does not become, for it is definitely different from its
peers, not just in plotting but also in functioning in a genre that is not easy
to slot.
Plot
Lovers’ Rock is the story of Mani Shankar Varadharajan, a Flight Lieutenant with the Indian Air
Force, and his wife, Grace Wilson,
Anglo-Indian daughter of a Railway signalman. When the modest Mani marries the
flamboyant Grace, it sets into motion a series of events that takes the reader
on a journey from the Air Force base in Kalaikunda to the virgin beaches of
Digha, to Mumbai and Goa. But it also takes us on a journey into the minds of
the two protagonists, one a fundamentally good person drawn into evil, and the
other a reckless, petty one who suffers its consequences.
From the
society of the Air Force Base to the seedy hotels of Kolkata, from the
high-octane party scene in Goa to Mumbai’s art scene, Mr. Bedi depicts the
vicissitudes in the lives of both his characters quite well. [Spoiler Alert] Both are flawed people,
but perhaps what makes the difference in their lives is that while Mani finds
good people to stand by him at his lowest point in the kindly Aunt Jane, her sweet-tempered daughter Tanya and the canny art promoter Pestonjee, Grace pushes aside the
helping hand offered by the Gomez
family and hitches her wagon to the rascally Mark Braganza.
Characters
I spoke
earlier about Lovers’ Rock being
difficult to easily classify into genre. If I had to, I would say it is a form
of revenge fiction in the mould of the better genre fic writers of the last
century. This does mean that the characters in the story are driven by the
plot, rather than the other way around.
Mani and
Grace are undoubtedly complex and realistic characters, both flawed in their
own ways. By refraining from white-washing Mani and giving even Grace a moment
or two of good sense, Mr. Bedi does make them believable. Yet, as a reader I
felt their internal struggles and dilemmas could have been brought out more
strongly and would have given the story a layer of depth.
As it
stands, Grace in particular, felt a little too predictable in her ways, though
I wonder if this is a fair criticism, after all real people often have fewer
dimensions to their character than what we expect from those in fiction.
The other
characters in the story like Mark, Pestonjee, Aunt Jane and Tanya, as well as
minor characters like Fernandez the
moneylender and Patel the real
estate broker are definitely plot driven and adequate to their function within
the story without coming across as being well-fleshed-out.
The other things
Of books I
have had the opportunity to review lately, the cover of Lovers’ Rock stands out, bringing out just the right poignancy that
the story deserves. The editing is good as well, and Mr. Bedi’s writing is
smooth and after a slow start, the story picks up pace very well.
Fairly
fast-paced once it gets past the major plot point, Lovers’ Rock
was an easy read, the language good without being
obscure and simple without pandering. In some places there was ‘tell’
which was
perhaps not necessary, and as I’ve said before, certain aspects like
Grace’s
motivations at various stages could have made for a more
emotionally-layered
story. Also, in some places the dialogue can be somewhat more formal
than you would expect, which comes across as not quite natural.
Yet, this
is not a simple narrative, and by the ending it is apparent that this is not a
mere revenge fantasy or faux-literary posturing, but a fully-realised plot
written with an excellent understanding of its settings and subject.
Conclusion
Lovers’ Rock
takes the readers on a journey through the
art scene of Mumbai, military society and Goa’s high-flying party scene,
all
the while painting an interesting story of passion and revenge. Though
there is room to be even better, the book remains a definite
page-turner,
and the ending serves a form of poetic injustice that brings in just the
right
tinge of realism.
Note
This will be among my last Book Reviews. I
have felt for a while that I need to take a break from it, and am inclined to
make it a long one. There should be two more before that happens, though.
It’s been fun.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Gail M Baugniet - Author : FAST FORWARD Interview with Author Ravi Bedi
Gail M Baugniet - Author : FAST FORWARD Interview with Author Ravi Bedi: Please join me in welcoming today’s guest, author Ravi Bedi. Ravi and I met on the Internet site, Critique Circle, and critiqued each ot...
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Perfect Imperfect - Review by Aditi Bose
Perfect Imperfect, Ravi Bedi
Book: Perfect Imperfect
Author: Ravi Bedi
Publisher: Authors Ink Publications
Genre: Crime thriller with a few intimate goosebumps
In One Line: Money talks and makes the simplest
want to do the wishful thinking of wanting to commit the
‘still-elusive-and-yet-to-be-discovered-by-the-finest-thugs’ crime.
Characterisation: Jimmy Bhasin, the floor manager
at a jewellery shop; Samarth Jain, the handsome son of the owner of this
shop who is a compulsive flirt; Farah Batliwala, the demure girlfriend
of Jimmy who wishes to turn into a desirable siren – all three develop
well as one progresses into the story. They are believable and mundane –
that’s what makes these characters real. Even the side characters like
the ex-army man who is introduced much later into the story, does make
his presence be felt. Seemed like the author imagined himself for this
role! One comment here though – the writer has written a first person
account for both Jimmy and Farah. But Farah’s first person account
begins much later in the tale. I would have personally liked some more
spotlight on her version for sure.
Language: The author’s command over the language is
a fine one. Usually when I’m reading a book, invariably I spot
grammatical and spelling errors. I couldn’t catch one this time. Added
to this, the flow of the story is a smooth one. Unnecessary superfluous
words and jargons don’t mar the flow. But yes, some phrases like ‘two
legs’ and ‘Central Jail’ is mentioned a tad too many times. I feel, that
once a writer has driven home a point he need not harp about it over
and over again. And if he still wishes to, then maybe new phrases can be
used.
Plot Setting: Sometimes you don’t really need to
get into a vivid description of a place but rather mention some spots
that one identifies with that place. Amer Fort and Zaveri Bazar bring
out the areas where the story unfolds pretty nicely. Yes, otherwise, the
story is more ‘indoor’ other than an occasional picnic in the forest
area or a jog at garden. Would have liked to know which these places
are.
Book Cover Art: I’m usually never in favour of a
black and white cover, but this time, it suited the theme. I liked it.
And the woman there with the diamonds was also apt – after all, Farah is
the real ‘antihero-hero’ of the plot all the way.
How’s the Title: The title of the book was fine. No
complaints! But, then, why do I feel that naming it ‘Perfectly
Imperfect’ would have made it a little more appealing?
Is The Blurb Catchy: An interesting quote from the
book to start a blurb is nice. But if that’s all that’s there then I
doubt how many would pick it off the shelf. A reader would definitely
want to know a bit more of the story. Instead of pictures of the
author’s other published books, the blurb should have definitely
been made a more appealing one.
Learning From The Story: “…when his basement
started filling up with all the trash (read paintings), he decided to
become a writer” – this is the line from the ‘About the Author’ section
of the book. When I read it I flinched a bit. Maybe the author wanted
the reader to smile, but self deprecating humour right at the onset when
I’m reading him (maybe) for the first time doesn’t work. There are
plenty of other ways to be humorous. This is one thing that I would
never try.
Areas Of Improvement: Just some loopholes that I thought existed. Those who read the book, can get back to me on these.
- What ultimately happened to the jewellery? Why wasn’t this answered? Is this a gaping gap that the author missed filling up or has the ambiguity been deliberately left? I wish it had been answered.
- I leafed through the pages quickly because it captured my attention. But a part of me felt a little let down with the meek way that the ‘impostors’ were caught. I wish the ex-army man had been given a greater role to play. A more nail biting finish would have given this interesting story a few extra brownie points.
- OK, why is it alright to mention about Wasim Akram coming to a shop but only imaginary Bollywood star names given? Is there something that I’m not aware of?
- How can the lady be three months pregnant? I don’t think that much time had elapsed. Or am I missing some time calculation here?
What Is ‘Said By Not Saying’: The mind of a
scheming person will never change. It might remain dormant for a while,
but it will raise it’s ugly head ultimately. Deception is a habit that’s
harder than smoking to give up on.
My Reaction When I Finally Closed The Book: 
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Friday, April 15, 2016
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Author Reet Singh's review of my book - "Lovers' Rock"
on 20 September 2015
Are
you looking for a spirited, crisp read - one that fuses suspense,
romance, intrigue, and adventure? And employs an engaging narrative?
Then pick up this book - Lovers' rock.
The story has an old-world charm, and no wonder since it is based in the 1960s. The author displays a fine ability to 'show - and - not - tell' - it made the characters come alive for me - their flaws and strengths, their beauty and ugliness, all were exposed.
The narrative is brisk - no long, never-ending sentences; the author moves quickly from scene to scene, and the plot develops at a nice clip. From the clever hook at the very beginning, to the twist at the end, the story is entertaining and gives us a glimpse into the world of glamorous women, gallant officers, rapacious gold-diggers, benevolent strangers, and trustworthy friends.
I thoroughly enjoyed this bracing book and recommend it for your bookshelf.
The story has an old-world charm, and no wonder since it is based in the 1960s. The author displays a fine ability to 'show - and - not - tell' - it made the characters come alive for me - their flaws and strengths, their beauty and ugliness, all were exposed.
The narrative is brisk - no long, never-ending sentences; the author moves quickly from scene to scene, and the plot develops at a nice clip. From the clever hook at the very beginning, to the twist at the end, the story is entertaining and gives us a glimpse into the world of glamorous women, gallant officers, rapacious gold-diggers, benevolent strangers, and trustworthy friends.
I thoroughly enjoyed this bracing book and recommend it for your bookshelf.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Monday, January 25, 2016
Excerpts from "Lovers' Rock"
Grace was a blazing fire, and he
was ready to burn in it. Mani soon realized that Grace’s slender legs had walked into his life
with a whole lot of unpaid bills.
Despite his success, Mani’s work did not garner much respect from the
established masters of the time. Gradually, however, the sheer strength of his
mounting sales, the single most important factor that separated the successful
from the gifted, won them over. That talent alone did not guarantee success,
was demonstrated by the genius of Pestonji, time and again.
I do not wish to feel like
a dumb ass among the bulls and the holy cows of the art fraternity. I don’t
understand their language.
He knew he had married a live bomb,
ready to explode at the slightest provocation. It wasn’t easy to defuse her.
Despite his success, Mani’s work did not garner
much respect from the established masters of the time. Gradually, however, the
sheer strength of his mounting sales, the single most important factor that
separated the successful from the gifted, won them over. That talent alone did
not guarantee success, was demonstrated by the genius of Pestonji, time and
again.
Mr Habib took a round of the exhibits, as if
looking for his mother-in-law arriving in a train from Timbuktu. He didn’t seem
to have an eye for art—not a single work on the wall captured his interest—but
anything beautiful draped in a sari engaged his attention. There were plenty of
saris to keep him enthralled.
‘You amaze me, dear girl,’ he said at length. ‘But then, lotus blooms
best in marshlands.’
‘And so does cactus in the desert,’ she said.
‘You’re gifted with noble thoughts,’ Pestonji remarked. ‘I’m enchanted.’
‘Humble would be more appropriate to describe my thoughts,’ she said.
‘Nobility mainly resides in higher places.
‘I’m just an ordinary shell John picked up from the shores of Daman.’
‘Perhaps a shell that houses a pearl in its core,’ Pestonji retorted.
‘You’re a prisoner of your pride, consumed by a
passion of revenge that could ruin everything you’ve achieved in your life.’
Tanya was like the rocks he
painted—strong, solid and at eternal peace. Grace, on the other hand, was more
like the fierce waves of the ocean—eternally restless, full of fury and ready
to destroy anything that came in the way.
She could not face the past without remorse,
the present with dignity or handle the future without fear.
Kaveri wasn’t one to give up so easily. ‘By the way, where has this
ravishing bird come from? I hope she is of the migratory type.
‘I can’t figure out why a flower must blossom, if
it must wither before its time?’
‘Sealing the wound now would be better than concealing it with the
bandage of untruth.
Excerpts from "Lovers' Rock" :
Grace was a
blazing fire, and he was ready to burn in it. Mani soon realized that Grace’s
slender legs had walked into his life with a whole lot of unpaid bills.
Despite his success,
Mani’s work did not garner much respect from the established masters of the
time. Gradually, however, the sheer strength of his mounting sales, the single
most important factor that separated the successful from the gifted, won them
over. That talent alone did not guarantee success, was demonstrated by the
genius of Pestonji, time and again.
I do not wish to feel like a
dumb ass among the bulls and the holy cows of the art fraternity. I don’t
understand their language.
He knew he
had married a live bomb, ready to explode at the slightest provocation. It
wasn’t easy to defuse her.
Despite his success,
Mani’s work did not garner much respect from the established masters of the
time. Gradually, however, the sheer strength of his mounting sales, the single
most important factor that separated the successful from the gifted, won them
over. That talent alone did not guarantee success, was demonstrated by the
genius of Pestonji, time and again.
Mr Habib took a round of the
exhibits, as if looking for his mother-in-law arriving in a train from
Timbuktu. He didn’t seem to have an eye for art—not a single work on the wall
captured his interest—but anything beautiful draped in a sari engaged his
attention. There were plenty of saris to keep him enthralled.
‘You amaze me, dear girl,’ he said at length. ‘But
then, lotus blooms best in marshlands.’
‘And so does cactus
in the desert,’ she said.
‘You’re gifted with noble thoughts,’ Pestonji
remarked. ‘I’m enchanted.’
‘Humble would be
more appropriate to describe my thoughts,’ she said. ‘Nobility mainly resides
in higher places.
‘I’m just an ordinary shell John picked up from the
shores of Daman.’‘Perhaps a shell that houses a pearl in its core,’ Pestonji retorted.
‘You’re a prisoner
of your pride, consumed by a passion of revenge that could ruin everything
you’ve achieved in your life.’
Tanya was
like the rocks he painted—strong, solid and at eternal peace. Grace, on the
other hand, was more like the fierce waves of the ocean—eternally restless,
full of fury and ready to destroy anything that came in the way.
She could not face the past
without remorse, the present with dignity or handle the future without fear.
Kaveri wasn’t one to
give up so easily. ‘By the way, where has this ravishing bird come from? I hope
she is of the migratory type.
‘Sealing the wound now would
be better than concealing it with the bandage of untruth.
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