All Those Who Wander-Kiran Manral

Book: All Those Who Wander
Author: Kiran Manral
Publisher: Amaryllis

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

What if the past, present and future exist at once? What if you could rewrite your past? What if you could protect the child you were from the trauma you know she will have to live through? What if you were living infinite versions of the same life simultaneously? This is the story of Ana, who is at a different age each time we meet her. But who is Ana—is she really who she says she is? Through the multiple lives Ana used to be and will be, she grapples with the question of whether the past and the future can ever be changed? ‘All Those Who Wander’ turns the classic time-travel genre into a spine-tingling gorgeousness of who, what, when, where. Wouldn’t you take that one chance to heal your inner child? Kiran Manral's taut, gripping novel of looped time and non-sequential lives, of guilt and repercussions is for everyone who wishes they could rewrite their childhood, or have that one chance to heal their inner child.

The concept of the book is quite interesting and the plot keeps you hooked as we take the journey through space and time along with the characters. The story moves forth between years and we see how the time travel affects both the characters and the life they are living. The idea of multiple versions of oneself living in multiple times has been explored quite well. The idea of the protagonist trying to ensure that the pain she has lived through is not present in the lives of her alternate versions is quite noble, even though the price she pays for it is high. The book starts on a good note where we see that the Nayna from two different times face each other. As she tries to help her younger self, the complexity of the plot increases. What didn’t work for me in the book was the fact that the timelines become confusing and as the plot moves forward, the story starts getting muddled up and as a reader, it becomes quite a challenge to keep track of what is happening, in which timeline and to which version of Nayna. It would have helped if the concept that Kiran is using in the book would have been explored in a bit detail so that the connect with the story could have been better. The climax of the story is well executed and brings to the story to a close with an interesting finality.

The book primarily focuses on Nayna and her versions from different points in time and space as she attempts to move back and forth in time. The journey of self-discovery as she learns from her mistakes is told in a wonderful manner. Sukanya’s character was a good addition to the plot, and running her story in parallel with Nayna adds another level of detail to this story.

Overall, this is a book that deserves its own dedicated reading space, and as a recommendation, do take time while reading the book so as to appreciate the nuances. The book scores a 4/5 for me.

This review is powered by Blogchatter Book Review Program.

Get a copy of the book from your nearest bookstore or Amazon India.

One Night Only-Saumyaa Vohra

Book: One Night Only
Author: Saumyaa Vohra
Publisher: Pan Macmillan India

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Do you believe that one night can change the course of your life?

In a snap, Natasha, Saira and Faiza revive a languishing plan to take a trip to Goa. Over the course of their holiday, the four girls drink, dance and karaoke, even as they nurse old wounds, kindle new romances and discover metamorphic truths about each other – and themselves. It’s a vacation with all the fixings of a quintessential girls’ trip – emotional drama, secrets unveiled, bonds strengthened – as each friend recounts the one-night stand that changed her life. Amidst swapping stories, Natasha has a mysterious midnight tryst, Saira meets a man who makes her question her disdain for commitment, and Faiza discovers that her ex still gives her butterflies. Rubani, with a mission yet to be accomplished, finds her interest piqued by a girl who’s exactly her type – and a man who isn’t. Now the holiday is drawing to a close and she must make her choice: to be or not to be wild as the Goan winds. Zany, pacy, soulful and fun, One Night Only is as much an ode to desire and sexuality as it is a celebration of female friendship in all its turbulence and splendor.

Saumyaa’s debut novel explores an interesting plot that keeps you hooked till the last page. Every group we have known has planned a Goa trip atleast once, and whether the same materializes or not, might sometimes be another story. The central idea of the book is how decisions taken by each of the characters one night changed their outlook towards life, relationships and friendship. I loved the fact that the book stays in the present while we go back in time as each of the characters-Natasha, Saira, Faiza & Ahana narrate stories of one night which changed their perspective towards relationships and one-night stands. A wonderful aspect of the book is that while the book celebrates relationships and sexuality, the intimate scenes are crafted with detail and are quite crucial to the plot. Another aspect of the story I really loved was that Saumyaa doesn’t craft the story of four friends who are perfect, if love has been explored, then so is the idea of jealousy, competition and resentment which can affect people as much as love does. I really enjoyed reading each of the back stories, however Faiza’s story was something that would stay with me, just for the complex emotions that particular part of the book brings out in the story. The climax is interesting in the way it has been put, and while not revealing anything, I really love the fact that she has not let go of the complexity of Rubani’s character.

The book’s strength are its characters and they are the four pillars that hold the book in its place. The characters in the book are powerful and their beliefs and ideas really make the reader think about the pre-conceived notions that each of us have. What I loved about the characters was the depth she imparts to them and how she uses their traits to deliver the message she intends. Another good aspect of the characters is the fact that none of them sounds holier-than-thou or the messages sermon-like. The conversations are quite natural, and you would feel that you are sitting with them, on the beach and having a casual conversation with one of your friends.

Overall, One Night Only is a gripping read that explores the concepts of relationships, friendships, sexuality and the idea of choices impacting one’s life. The book scores a 4.88/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore!