Man Hunt-Priya Kumar

Book: Man Hunt
Author: Priya Kumar
Publisher: BooksThatInspire

Do you believe that we are responsible for anything that happens in our lives?

Manhunt by Priya Kumar is set in the wildlife of Nagarjuna Tiger Reserve and the story is filled with emotions like suspense, drama and divinity. The book addresses issues such as deforestation, genetic manipulation of fauna, corruption in the echelons of powers and media, and a message on the environmental impact of the actions of the humans. The book explores the idea of freedom and to fee alive, one has to embrace the version of yourself that is true. Life cannot be felt in the four walls of your house, and you need to step out to be alive.

The book is written in an interesting manner that tells a fictional tale taking place in the Nagarjuna Tiger Reserve where we meet a mysterious white tiger, a monk and an assortment of people who are lost and might just find themselves in the wild. The storytelling is extremely engaging that will captivate you and keep you hooked till the last page is turned. Priya has also taken up the idea of man-wildlife conflict and how it affects both negatively. She has also highlighted the point that corruption has become a disease that is eating the system from inside. The emotions in the story are quite raw and one would truly feel them as you read the story and journey through the world created by her. Apart from the story, the book also has subtle messages for the reader which can be imbibed in one’s life and the one which I found inspiring was that we need to live in the present and be focused on our own actions, rather than influencing others.

Coming to the characters in the book, I specially adored the characters of Bhikku and the White Tiger and the message they brought to fore. Bhikku’s journey and the way in which he influences the other characters as well as the reader is exemplary. For the Tiger, it symbolized the human-animal balance and that was a message that we need to portray to the entire world. Neil as a character impressed me in the manner in which he dealt with situations and the transformational journey he undertakes. Ram as a character was one of the surprises I did not expect and frankly that was a complete turnaround for me. Sakshi was a character with grit and determination, and Naseer embodied a person who had everything, yet was not ready to let go. Each of the characters, be it Rahul, Jay, Naina, were a specific feeling that we have inside us and Priya showed how each part of us reacts to situations.

Overall, the book was a great and transformative journey that would surely be memorable.

The book scores a 4.5/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.