Timepass... Review on Sisters - Shobha De

This novel is supposed to be about the rivalry and at the same time emotional bond between two half sisters (Mallika and Alisha). They are the daughters, one legitimate and the other illegitimate, of big time business man Hiralal who dies at the beginning. The story revolves around the bad world of business in Bombay, the wheelings and dealings that are done to get ahead of each other.

Sadly, the novel does not live up to the expections. The author chooses instead to go into the seamier side of life that rich socialites supposedly live. The novel loses its bearings within about 30-40 pages, when Mallika who was introduced as a smart person looking to do well in her fathers industry is morphed into some kind of a tramp. I dont want to reveal more as the sole strength of this novel is moving from one suspense to another and there are a lot of them by the time you finish it. The story is similar to the many soap operas that run these days compressed into a book.

If you are looking for a mindless novel on a journey, which curiously makes you read the next chapter even though you can guess what will happen, then this is the one for you.

Maybe the true value of the novel is the vicarious pleasure one gets reading about the apparent lifestyle of the rich.

A strictly timepass novel.