Can death solve it all? Can it be the answer to all the problems we face?
What I like about the story: Heart wrenching… It is impressionable. And leaves a heavy feeling, and heavier heart at the end. And yes, it shows the silliness of teenage life, the ready attraction, crush and twisted mind of today’s generation — the book is filled with flighty characters who flits through life as it happens, who is crude, chaotic and full of messy problems that leaves a deep scar.
The misery, the anguish, the constant self-pity, self doubt, betrayal, love, hate, lust… The book has enough drama –more than enough drama– and a good load of dirty laundry.
Not like a lecture of good and bad and right and wrong, but there is a subtle way in telling to reach to good. Very nicely done, around such heavily social theme. Dealing with so many problems, if you ask me, can put the weight on readers, and it did. One or two would have made the book more impressionable.
When you read through, you can connect with at least one person in the story, and that is something I liked.
Alright. Could life also be a pursuit to improve the quality of life for ourselves and the community at large?” Mani wondered.
Just love this.
The characters are so filled with so many difficulties, sometimes it all feels so dramatic, but since I think it is a social effort to educate, help and understand victims, bullies, problems and abusers, this must be the way the author wants it to be.
The book is good.
What could have been improved: The story is very choppily edited. It jumps from one end to other, without a connection or a smooth transfer. The transition from one character to another is also done so poorly, that while I was reading Sam, and suddenly someone else jumps out of the page and I was confused.
The book is good, as I said earlier. But it could have been much, very much, better.
The language is kind of off-putting. I love my books with good, capturing prose and subtle, but strong narrative.
Maybe it is because the author concentrated on heavy social issues and coined the book, the plot around it –which is appreciable –but still
… I needed, wanted more as I read. There is a very big black hole in terms of connectivity, narration, characters and language. Just put you off, even when you are interested to know what goes on in the next page.
One moment they are here and happy and the next moment they are somewhere else and raging — it didn’t sit so well. Well, teenagers are not that flighty, do not have that many mood swings if you ask me.
And sometimes they are in a place that seemed no sense for them to be. Like why was Charu in Alex’s house at that particular night?
The issues stand on its own and you want to despair for the abuse, for the sexual harassment — but I grieved in general, and not for the individual character in the book and that is something I don’t like… the book speaks, to heart… but the characters all fall short and they don’t do judgement to such a strong theme.
Hari and his low self-esteem and sad past, Sam and his predator mind fed by Aaditya, Charu, the sometimes wise, sometimes moody, irritating girl, and Mani – the characters are good, but the writer could have put more effort to make it all stand. They seems so replaceable, so insubstantial.
If you let them out and still the story would have stood for itself and that is good and bad.
And the characters are very vague, very under developed. Especially Charu makes me think of a ticking bomb. She is…. How do I put it… She is flighty, edgy and confrontational, and sometimes she is very different person all together. It is as if she has multiple personality disorder or something (most of the characters do feel like this). And yes, don’t forget hypocritical.
And Sam… Ugh. Just about my quota of him. Sick. He makes me think of a sulky, I’ll mannered child, with evil mind.
The character I am so Fond of: This may not be Priya’s story, but she stuck a cord on me. I see the world through her eyes — only in one chapter — and that world is pretty and poetic. The children in the road playing in rain water, the love for rain… she reminded me how I loved rain and how life is all about the way we see it.
The scene I Loved the most: is when Draupadi meets Caesar. It is intense and so beautifully written. At that one part, the narrative is stronger, better, and captivating. Could have made such effort through out the book, as I can see such a big possibility in this particular stage scene. And the auto driver scene, where Love between appa (dad) and mahan (son) is beautifully portrayed.
The scene that touched me: Is when Mani confessed to Charu that he heard his mom’s cry when he tied the noose around.
And stupid, he was going to give it all up. How could he have regretted it if he was dead, if he wasn’t saved. Was he impulsive, or just weak? How could he have done it, even after her cries? Gosh. English is nothing. His mother is all. This is the scene that makes me feel sad, and at the same time I want to pound on Mani’s head with a brick. Idiot! *sorry, I tend to become so involved in the book that sometimes I rant mean things*
The Character I detest Hari’s amma. Even if she is depressed, she has to make sure her son is okay. But she is simply a weak spined, worthless human. She is not worth the title of mom. Enough said.
And okay, Sam. Ugh ugh ugh.
The How Do I’s at the end of chapters are more informative and useful.
Hari’s end leave a bitter taste, but the end seems kind of unfinished and unsatisfactory.
Overall, the book could have been better.
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THE STORY OF A SUICIDE
©Ada
Stardust Diaries 