Jun 09, 2006 12:36 PM
4210 Views
How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild And Got a Life may just be the most controversial book of the season. After enjoying phenomenal success, it tasted dirt when the author's credibility was called into qusetion. Why do we want to pull the young author down by blaming her for blatantly copying paragraphs from other books? Instead, her effort should be applauded and her honesty appreciated. I feel that the punishment was too strict- I had to buy a fake copy to get hold of the book as the originals have all been taken away from the market.
BRIEF SYNOPSIS
Opal Mehta is an Indian living in America. She is nerdy- the types who prefer to study rather than hang out or flirt. Therefore, she is at the top of her class and is on course to go to her desired college, Harvard. Her parents have chalked out a plan called HOWGIGH (How Opal Will Get Into Harvard) to ensure that she gains admission into the dream university. The only problem? She doesn't get admission because the dean says that Opal needs to "get a life" (not his words, but you get the picture) as Harvard does not need- or want- scholarly nerds who do not know how to have fun. That's when the problem begins when her parents chalk out the crazy brained program called HOWGAL (How Opal Will Get A Life).
This program includes getting Opal to the top of the status quo at school and climbing the social ladder and getting a boyfriend who will kiss her. Oh, the only problem is that she is currently at the bottom of the social ladder and never had a boy as a friend, let alone a boyfriend. How difficult is this task? Does Opal accomplish HOWGAL? Does she get admission into Harvard after months and months of acting like a person that she is not? Does she make any friends or do they all desert her? Read the book to find out...............
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is a great debut effort from Kaavya Vishwananthan. The heirarchy in high schools everywhere is clearly demonstrated and what it takes to be "cool" is shown. The book does tackle social issues in its own way. The questions raised are:
Is it better to be cool than have real, genuine friends?
Is getting into Harvard or any other such university worth destroying your actual personality?
Is the staus quo required in high schools?
WHAT DO THE ACTUAL CRITICS SAY?
"A treasure. Kaavya Vishwanathan's voice is fresh and funny......... you'll love this book." ------ Kavita Daswani
"A funny, fast paced, and utterly winning first novel........ an irresistible read." ------ Jennifer Weiner
A SHORT NOTE BY YOURS TRULY
My reviews at MS have taken on a pattern...... I read a book and the next day the review is ready.So, these reviews are written without much thought and so may appear crude. But trust me, they are written with an honest intention and with clarity of thought.
BRIEF CHARACTER SUMMARY
Opal Mehta- nerdy 17-year-old
Priscilla- coolest girl in high school
Natalie- science nerd and lab partner of Opal
Meena Mehta- Opal's mother
Amal Mehta- Opal's dad
Sean Whalen- a flippant fellow whom Opal counsells in peer counselling
Jeff Ackel- Opal's secret crush
Dean Anderson- Dean of Harvard who tells Opal to get a life
THANK YOU FOR READING. PLEASE RATE AND LEAVE COMMENTS.
