Chitrangada Mukherjee's book has a soul

My first book by Chitrangada Mukherjee compels me to ask myself “Why hadn’t I picked up her books sooner?” Her latest release “Strange as it may seem” is an incredible work on love, relations and nostalgia. This book of Chitrangada is a book with a soul. A soul that is motherly and accommodative, and which touches a part of all of us.

Germinating from a very unique plot setting and revolving around contrasting characters, the story takes twists and turns to commemorate the surprises life has in store for us. Imperfect with relatable fallacies and immensely character-driven, this book makes the readers think. It makes them think and become a little more generous as a person.

Trishna is a naïve and simple girl living with her grandmother Binodini in a lush house in Bangalore, along with a solitary faithful servant Bhombol. Trishna is unaware of the rigidness of human ego and is inexperienced with the ways of the world. Binodini has been shielding her with all her might. Then one day they learn that Binodini’s brother has left them a huge fortune, but to obtain that heap of money, they will have to make a security deposit of another Five lakh rupees. They cautiously take help of a shrewd moneylender Darvesh. Surprisingly, Darvesh asks for Trishna’s hand in marriage as a prerequisite for his monetary aid. Disgusted and cynical, Binodini Chatterjee cancels the deal. Trishna realizes how important their inherited fortune could be for their lives, and decides to spend some time with Darvesh—getting to know him better and even think about agreeing to the marriage proposal. Thus, seeds of an optimistic relationship are sown between the two. Trishna is caring and unfaltering, but has Darvesh really fallen in love with her? Or does he have some profitable motive behind his intentions…..how will the relationship between the pair blossom to be?

 

Chitrangada’s writing is rooted deep into tradition, and her words convey soothingly the hint of homeliness and nostalgia. Through this book, she explores human dilemmas and dualities quite convincingly, and crafts a beautiful saga of platonic yet sensual romance. The evolving relationship between Trishna and Darvesh has been constructed with immaculate attention to its various shades and hues. It doesn’t appear to be hurried or forceful, rather it is its fluidity that makes way for a wonderful story to experience. The author’s understanding of human emotions and her ability to bring out the deepest and darkest traits of the characters through the storyline is so appealing, that the book falls nothing short of a cinematic plethora of events and collisions. Every aspect of the story was remarkably full of empathy and mutual compassion, which adds to its overall impact. The characters have distinct personalities, their decisions and discoveries glisten with humanity and in all, the book revitalizes our faith in destiny and forgiveness.   

➦What are you waiting for? Grab the book here.

Disclaimer: This book is in lieu of a review copy. 

 

 

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