Jul 25, 2008 01:43 PM
2623 Views
(Updated Jul 25, 2008 01:58 PM)
It was my first read of Chetan Bhagat... I had heard a lot about him and the hype surrounding his latest book - The 3 mistakes of my life... Sorry to say, but I do feel it was a mistake to read this book. Not to sound rude, but the book has a very negative and disappointing effect on you.
To start with, I found the author boisterous at times repeatedly trying to convey how intelligent he had been and his IIM degrees and stuff. Leaving that apart, the style of writing doesnt appeal to me. The author tries to be funny at numerous places, but in my opinion, humor has to be situational not imposing. He makes it very apparent that you are supposed to laugh at this sentence! *
Lets get to the plot now... The biggest flaw in the book is that **the protagonist is shown to be in grey shades - bordering at being negative. That just doesnt get along. The book has such weird episodes - totally going over the top. Can you imagine a tutor oiling the hair of his female student?? That too of his best friend's sister!!Totally pathetic. The explicit descriptions of their intimate moments is even more repulsive. The author must have had something in mind when spelling out slang so freely throughout the book, maybe its his idea of being cool or representing the youth. Sorry boss, but you have failed to produce a decent read. Certain parts of the book including the ones just mentioned almost make you feel nauseated...
The Gujrat riots have been highlighted- maybe as an attempt to gain some credibility and touch the local reader's chord... But all in all - the book has a very dulling effect... Misery, deceit, sex - and add to it cricket - just a poor mix of all potentially winning ingredients...
The only saving soul of the book is the little kid Ali whose character has been brought up quite well... You start to love the kid and his innocence... Besides that, nothing much to remain in your memories...
Lastly, I still do not understand why the protagonist chose to write to Chetan Bhagat when he was dying, of all people! The book shows the love for cricket of the protagonist, his business instincts and "what not"... But nowhere did it ever mention that Govind read any books except Maths! Maybe they could have shown him as a fan of Bhagat thus justifying the plot... But here sadly, out of no where you find a dying Govind writing to a strange choice of person!
Hoping for a better book from the author next time...
Sachin
