Family Planning Author: Karan Mahajan
Publisher: Rupa & Co
Price: Don’t even talk about it.
I was introduced to this book through an expansive book review in a newspaper; unfortunately I don’t remember which one. The book was praised for it’s portrayal of Delhi & reality. As per the review the ending was a let down but overall the book was very good.
The book was thus on radar and not even a minute was wasted to pick it up when I saw it on racks in Crossword.
Set in the Delhi household of Mr. Ahuja, a cabinet Minister in the Urban Development department. An engineer by profession and a father of 13 kids, his wife is now expecting another set of babies (yes they would be twins). His eldest wannabe-rock-star teenaged son is questioning him on the number of kids his parents keep having.
His plans for swanky flyovers in Delhi have gone for a toss with his political rivals jeopardizing the show. Add to this a wife that he was not really supposed to marry, a wife who is dead but is still a part of his life. It isn’t easy for Mr. Ahuja, his life is a mess and he has to get out of it.
This in very brief is the story of the book. Without mincing words I would like to state that this is one of the most disappointing books that I have read in recent times.
The story though on surface looks kind of ok but the execution is bad. I have finished the book (with great difficulty) but I still don’t know what it was all about.
It was about politics, family drama or was it about angst/ confusion of a teenager or was the book trying to tell us the pathetic political condition where CMs & PMs are decided on the basis of everything but qualification or capability. I don’t know what it was all about because it came out as a pathetic khicchdi which leaves a burnt taste in your mouth.
I had picked the book because
- It was supposedly a comedy based in Delhi. I have hardly lived in that city but the mere mention of the name makes me yearn to know more about it. The book however fails to depict even an iota of what Delhi is and I am still struggling hard to find the humor in the book.
- It came with glowing praises from many quarters. I really wonder are those lines & praises for real?
- The cover was attractive. Now I am a firm believer of the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover.”
To add to our woes was the usage of English. Sample this sentence
“He would feel the temptation to embezzle ministerial funds for a washing machine – temptation that flared upward from his groin & culminated in a facial grimace.”
I mean WTH!!! I can quote many more such sentences but that would mean leafing through the book & I don’t want to torture myself again.
I am someone who has no eye for grammatical errors and usually you will never find me complaining about the language/ phrases used in a book but in the case of this I felt that at places more than one that the language was more of a hindrance than a means of expression.
My verdict – Stay away!!!
P.S I feel I could have done with a better review but trust me this book as irritated me so much that I don't even want to re visit it in my thoughts!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On a slightly different & irrelevant note..
What happens when you are reading this very interesting book & somebody tries talking to you???
Well, this Saturday I finally managed to get Sophie Kinsella’s latest (I am not even telling how much I paid for it) and was dying to read it but before starting that I had to finish the book that I was reading then; so the wait to start Twenties Girl was killing me.
Now that I have started reading it I am loving it so much that I am in a tearing hurry to finish it. Suddenly I feel that I am not getting enough time to read. This morning after settling down in the bus I started reading the book when the girl next to me says
What’s the theme of the book?
Now, this girl is a friend of mine and I know that she doesn’t even have a slightest interest in reading & was just making small talks (few minutes back she had stopped talking to her fiance and needed someone to talk to). I was irritated (I know it is an extreme reactions) like hell. So, without even turning I said
Will tell you later!!!
I know I was slightly rude but I don't understand why can’t people let others read in peace? Why is it that you have to know what is in the book, as if they have to write a thesis on it. Huh!!! And why do people believe if you are keeping to yourself and reading then your mood is off???
Why can I not read my book in peace??? Why o' Why???
P.S. Coming up next, review of Mistress Of The Game, a bold sequel to Sidney Sheldon's Master of the Game
P.P.S. Am not apologetic for the rant in the end :P
P.P.P.S The title fooled you no?? :D
51 comments:
I wish I could write reviews like this.
i am making an excel sheet of which books i need to read once i come back to India :D
Haha! Yes, I can identify with the "shut up and let me read" intensity! I was like that before the kids entered my life and forced me to pay attention! haha! But, i still can't concentrate on reading anything and someone chattering away!! And we will stay away from the book if you say so! Sounds like a drag!!:)
talking abt let downs, one is Ice Station by matthew reilly. Bought it due to high recommendations. Turned out to be so bad!
lol, the passage you quoted was absolutely hilarious.
I would read the book just for the fun of it you know....to find more passages like that. Take it easy :)
Good, that is one book less. All this craze for indi-fiction is turning out some really weird books. Bombay has so many good novels dedicated to it, Delhi needs them too. For me, The Life and Times of Altu Faltu was so Delhi... and such a magnificent book.
Leave alone Delhi, you could write a book on Sarojini Nagar ! All those blocks and diff category of quarters, the Babu market, the fashion street, juice wallahs, sabzi mandis, its so rich on its own.
lol thanks, i will stay away from this book.
hehe i was like :O:O on first reading the title of the post :P
I hate it too, when im reading a book and someone makes an attempt to talk to me :P
Thanks for the warning...two days back only i almost zeroed down on that one..but already picking up three books, i kept this one for my next visit...
growing number of publication houses and indian authors getting more opportunities brings such distasteful products too..!! And then marketing makes us buy them..!!
mmmm...
Chalo you saved me from shelling out some hard earned money of mine! :) But earlier, due to your good reviews i have spent enough :) :)
And i too get bugged when some one tries to talk to me when i am reading the books :)
Family Planning is a good book :P :D
Lucky you!!!But I will wait for the paperback edition of ‘Twenties Girl’. I am already spending so much on books (bought 8-9 in last 2 weeks), so I try to steer clear of hardbounds or new launches.
Nevertheless, I think you had been too kind to ‘Marriage Bureau for Rich People’ by Farahad Zama. I kept waiting for the ‘story’ till almost the end. I will post my review today.
Lolz...i guess for the first time I'm reading a bad review from you... for a change you 'did not' like a book :P
I had heard a lot about 'the monk who sold his Ferrari' but when i tired to read the book...couldn't go beyond a couple of chapters.... wasn't my-type... as I don't like anyone telling me what to do or how to live my life... even if its a book.
Thats why I never go by the reviews of newspapers or magazines... they are mostly misleading
I prefer reviews of bloggers for both book and movies... and I am not mislead by the title as my dashboard has shown the glimpse of the post :)
LOL seriously the title fooled me.. i intended to peep in now and come back later..bt the title had my eyes popped out!! :P i literally left out a giggle when u said it ws th most disaointng one..coz teh prelude to th post also fooled me..and m happy tht i 'can stay away from this' :P if ever theres a book on a cuty..i guess its shantharam..n mumbai..its sooo BIG tht m finding it hard to finish it :(..
ROFL!!!!!!!!
yes, the title also fooled me :P
nice review of the book :P will stay away......
but one thing I cannot understand is that you buy all these books....... I mean how money would you have spent on books :P :P :P :P :P :P
btw, you seem to disabled the "identity" to post comments by just name and url......... so, have to post comments from blogger account......
Hi Smi,
"A stay away" from the book and that lenghty sentence?Goes straight into the avoid list :)
Hee hee small talks sometimes are irritating..
Hmmmm.. will never pick up that book (if at all i have to pick up any book :D)
lolz..at the quote of the book..I guess discovering the charm of old Delhi is now in vogue in films, fiction..you have to be here to experience it!!
Nahh, the title didnt fool me !! Im sure, of all the people, you wouldnt write anything on that :D :D :D :D :D
Thanks for the review !! I wouldve wasted my money on this book, phew !!! :P :P :P
and the rant at the end, thats the best part of the whole post for me :D :D :D Yes, you were very rude to that female ! But tell me, is she cute ???
ok am not buying it:))
nicely written review..doesnt give away much...
p.s-
i hardly read novels now:(....
Found your blog from indiblogger
Thanks for saving my time. Not that I was planning to read this book, but I'll make sure, I keep away.
I looooove twenties girl. I think Sophie Kinsella should write more often. The wait between her two books - kills me. And yes, glad to discover a co-fan!
Yes you really fooled me with the Topic..:)
well it does happen that once in a while you should come across such nonsense.. finally the good thing you got of reading this book is..don't go by Cover's.. which goes for books as well as for people :) Don't you agree...
keep the reviews coming..
I hate it when authors try to give a zillion messages in a book and then make a mess of the whole thing because you don't know what they want to say!
And you were very assertive with that girl! ;) Can totally understand how annoying it can be when people just want to make small talk even though it's so obvious you are trying to read!
Aw Shucks! I thought you were planning a family! :)
Aww poor you! First the torture of a book and then that girl! I can understand the pain of interference when you are like totally engrossed but you know I mastered the art of nodding even though my receiver is switched off ;) try it sometime
Thanks for warning about this book
I am currently reading 'Simple Things Make Luv' by Komal Thakur...racy stuff
Any thing goes for literature these days. Reading some Indian English books I have realised even I could write a masterpiece and get away with it. So Smita, what do you think? Shall we collaborate on one? I know many interesting places and anecdotes about Delhi since I grew up there.
And the title totally fooled me. Thought you would write on one of those i-pill 72 ads.
Okay. Staying away. :)
i did a double take on the title... but nah not u smita.. was my first thot :D :D
ugh! stay away! big time! and yes NEVER judge a book by its cover... applies to all aspects of life! :P
oh u got ur hands on the latest sophie kiensella??? awesome!!! waiting for the review!! :D
omg i didnt even know mistress of the game is being released. definitely wanna get my hands on this one. Master of the Game was mind blowing!
The portrayal of Delhi let you down as you hardly know the place yet at the same breath you say it hardly depicts an iota of Delhi. Contradictory. Isn't it? HeeHaw HeHaw.
Jokes apart, why were you trying to find the humor in the book? Was it supposed to mean a humorous book? If so, Big Deal. Not every humour touches chord. Ke nahi?
an award from me to you on my rotteneggs wala blog
Great review. But I wish I had the patience to finish reading at least one book - I guess so far, the few books I completed reading where 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' and 'Count your chicken before they hatch'. :(
nice review.. will pick up Sophie's book the next time I go to the book store! :)
I wish people would leave me to read peacefully too!
I don't like being disturbed at all when I'm doing some serious reading! :D
oh yes, the reviews are good :)
Thought the post would be about something else!
Cheers,
Quirky Indian
i had read a review of the book on The Hindu newspaper.. and yes i thought the bk is a must read. Thanks to ur revu now!
Your post was really snappy, saucy and fun to read. I think we should get talking abt books that are total let downs so that the quality of writers who are published goes up higher than it is now. Some of these books are so costly and when you start reading it, you feel like never walking into a bookshop ever again.
About recommendations, this is my policy: I never ever buy one that's got it. Having been in the publishing industry, I've seen how below average writers use the gimmick of recommendations to sell theirs. It's a cheap trick but its done all the time and we, readers, end up wasting hard earned money on trash.
Delhi has a lot of very well written novels dedicated to it, by writers like Anita Desai, Kaveri Nambisan, Jaishree Mishra, and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.
In fact, the book that I'm reading of Jaishree Mishra's latest one, "Secrets and Lies" which is a fantastic read on a bunch of girls who studied in Delhi and their memories once they are all settled elsewhere and married to NRIs.
Another must read book I would reccommend is Manju Kapur's latest novel, The Immigrant. This novel too has Delhi and Canada as its main themes. Awesome books, both.
Coming back to your post, keep writing more. It's been a great treat to visit your blog and read your post.
Funnily - the title did not confuse me - I was kind of sure it was a book review :)
Will keep away from it :)
As for Twenties girl - please do review it - waiting to know what you think. Am sure it will be a fun read. I am still on the waiting list in library for it :(
You finished that book? I write reviews only for those books I like :P
I have very little time to read now days..*sigh still 150 pages of argumentative India to go :P
Naughty girl Smita....lolz
BTW if you want to have an insight on Delhi family living etc, I have a cost free suggestion for you...Every night around 9:30 pm tune in to Zee tv and watch the newly started serial- 12/24 Karol bag.
It is refreshingly fresh, with fresh and more real to life characters. Very middle class approach to Delhi living, it is so real that you can actually start feeling it.
http://ektakhetan.blogspot.com
Hi Sands :-)
Welcome to my space and so sweet of you to say that.
Thanks :)
Hi Amit :-)
hehehe hope the list doesn't disappoint you!!!
Hi Indy :-)
Oh it is indeed a drag...And glad to know that am not alone in 'let me read in peace' category :)
Hi Reema :-)
Hmm there are many such books in my list!!! It is usually a recco of fellow blogger or frenz which is bang on!
Hi Rahul :-)
You will still read it?? Don't blame me later!!! :P
Hi Ava :-)
Did I tell you?? I have bought Altu Faltu and will be reading it soon.
And yes you are right, if portrayed properly Delhi has so much to give. For that matter "The Case of The Missing servant' portrayed it well so did Above Average, Home to name few.
Hi Praddy :-)
hehe I knew that. Had I written 'Family Planning - A book Review' most of my readers would have shied away :P
Ah so u too like me :)
Hi Vinz :-)
That is exactly the case. You should see the number of low cost books that have come into the market. There is this book called "'Oh Shit Not Again" published by some publisher in Pune. Bought it for some measly amount and the book is just like its name. but I can see it displayed proudly in all major book stores.
I blame Chetan Bhagat for this trend of low cost book & soooper hype funda.
Hi Sakhi :-)
And I hope u liked my recco's :)
Hi Tarun :-)
How do you know??? :P
Hi penandpaper :-)
I know I have spent a lot on that book. In fact I was in 2 thoughts but I guess Becky leaped out of Sophie Kinsella's name and I grabbed the book...hehehehe :D
Too kind to '‘Marriage Bureau for Rich People"?? Hmmm I had loved the book for its simple portrayal of a sleepy town and a retired couple. Will check out ur review soon :)
Hi minticetea :-)
lol!!! There few more books which I didn't like but didn't make an effort to review them. Guess I hated it too much ;-)
Ah!! Even I can not stand those kinds of book and I have the same approach. I don't need a book to tell me what to do, if u can give me entertainment am all for a book but for preaching? Nah!!! Not me!!!
Hi Kanagu :-)
Intelligent you ;-)
And I agree with ur principle of not going by newspaper reviews. Mostly those reviews don’t even give a clear yes or no.
Hi Verbi :-)
That was the purpose of the title ;-)
Shantaram is resting in my shelf waiting to be read!! Sigh!! One day. one day!!!
Hi OG :-)
One more fooled :D yay!!!
How much money do I spend on books? Hmmm nice question but I don't know the answer because the day I do I will die of shock :D
Enabled the option again. Had disabled it because there is some spamming that is happening!!! My Japanese frenz u see!!!
Hi Shay :-)
Ya they are specially when once has better things to do.
Hi Mystery :-)
lol!!! Good!!!
Hi Rahul :-)
Well said. Delhi is in vogue these days!!!
Hi Vimmuuu :-)
You know me well ;-)
lol!!! You are most welcome buddy :P so what do I get????
*gawd* she is cute, she is plump (using a soft word) and she engaged just like you!!! :D :D :D :D
Hi Brocs :-)
Good!!!
Thanks!!!
Why not? Lack of time??? Sad!!!
Hi DS :-)
Welcome to my space :)
U have read 20s girl?? cool. AM about to finish it & loved it. A typical SK book it is.
And I agree with u she shud write more often w/o doubt!!
Thanks!!!
Hi Amol :-)
hahaha one more :P
Oh I completely agree with you. A good learning for me indeed.
I guess when we come across such books we realise the value of good books ;-)
Hi Babs :-)
I knew u wud agree with me. It was darn irritating to be disturbed. Ppl think reading is a TP which is not the case for people like us for whom it is a passion.
Hi grasshopper :-)
lol!!! ;-)
Hi WIAN :-)
LOL!!! I hope u don't do that to me...But wait!! I know u do it sometimes...sometimes u r in some other planet and I can get a yes out of u for anything ;-)
Hi Pesto :-)
Oh, never heard of that book. Hope u r planning to review it :)
Hi Aparna :-)
lol for collaboration. AM game for it and see we have so many ready readers here am sure our book will be a sure shot hit :D
And glad I fooled one more :D
Hi Sols :-)
good!! :D
Hi Ash :-)
hehe I wanted to shock my readers with the Title and I am successful :D
Review will come up soon as I am about to finish the book on my way back :D
And yes that book has released though written by someone else. Though the book is good but it isn't even a patch on the original!!! So read with zero expectations!!!
Hi Vee :-)
Who says I hardly know anything about the place?? huh!! (lemme check the review if I have written that)
I was not trying to fin humor in the book but if a book is touted as a witty book u expect something out of it and it is a big deal because it come with such glowing recco's ki I can't tell you.
Humph!!!
Hi Ava :-)
Thanku :D
Hi Sujee :-)
Errr!!! If I start reading those kind of books I think I will quit reading :D
Hi Pixie :-)
I know it is strange na ki people can't see that we are reading!!! They take reading as a TP jabki for us it is much much more!!!
Thanks!!!
Hi QI :-)
LOL!!! I know the title was written to dupe people into reading the post ;-)
Hi Bubs :-)
There are so many good reviews ki I can't tell u. I somehow couldn't stand the book...finished it with great difficulty.
Hi Swapna :-)
Welcome to my space :)
I totally agree with you on bad books. I have already written this at so many places and will repeat, Indian AUthors come with a premium price and half the time the cost is not justified. If the author is known the book is not less than 399/- which is a way too high!!!
I usually buy books on instinct and somehow this one had an interesting premises also but it turned out to be a mess. And yes u r absolutely right these so called reco's are a facewash!!!
of the books u have recommeneded I have read all books of Chitra Banerjee (one of my fav author), Manju Kapur (her Home remains my all time fav and I had liked Immigrant). Jaishree Mishra's I have read one book & am reading another found her interesting. 'Secret & Lies" too has been hyped a lot, in fact I even saw a contest in Hindustan Times and it is because of hype that I have stayed away from it. But as u reco lemme see I might pick it :)
I haven't read nay book ANita Desai & Kaveri Nambisan, lemme search for them. BTW one book that I loved for it's portrayal for delhi was "Marrying ANita" by Anita Jain. A differnet book but I loved it for its simple statement on the Indian Mrrg market.
And am glad u liked my blog :) thanks for the lovely comment :)
Hi Smitha :-)
hehe Vaise in one of my last few posts I have even written that I wud be reviewing a book with this name and still people were duped ;)
So u haven't read 20s girl haan? Remember what u had said few months back? :D :D That u might read it before me :D tad da da...so happy I am :D hehehe kiddish no?? :P
Hi Vishesh :-)
lol!!! The kind of recco's the book was getting I was sure there wud be ppl who wud want to buy it, that's why reviewed it.
Argumentative Indian?? *gulp*
Hi Ekta :-)
I have seen few episodes of it and liked it...it is a real portrayal !!!
Do u watch Ladies Special? That too is good.
i'm probably the only one who wasnt fooled. i saw ur goodreads update so when i saw the title for some reason i immediately connected with the book. thanks for striking one book off the list :) as for the shut up and let me read, i cant tell u how many times i got into trouble with my mom because of that when i was a kid, or how many fights hubs and i have over the same :(
Hi Smita
I do use to watch ladies special earlier esp at the time of its launch but these days could hardly watch it...I must say it was a great concept and good.
Hey you planning to do a "tele review or kind of a sitcom review". I am sure that would be fun!
BTW You have a nice list of blogs list here... I sadly wonder where do I figure:)
lols
Thanks for the review.
lolz keep reviewing & posting
this way for your readers.
---
The Fun place.
LOL!! SMita in your own unique style you have packed in a hell of a lot of info in one post! :D:D:D
yeah like QI I too thought the post was about something else :D
note to self- pick up Sophie's latest book:D:D
Poonam got me hooked on to them :D:D
((((Hugs)))))))))am glad to be abck:D:D
PPS:- what did you do baba!? gift a book to Vimmuuu?
if murder is your intention then think of other better ways to kill him :D:D:D
There's something for you on my blog...
geeee.... so bad eh? i agree wid u, that cover is most alluring!!! i mite have picked it up...to add to it the promise of humour..
don't u just hate it, all this deceptive praise / lines of reviews??!
grrrrrrrrrr
and the cost is unmentionable, is it?
*consolation hugs to smita from fellow money-waster on sad books*
applause on ur conversation with ur friend!!!! tho u do pretty well by urself... call me when needed.... to punch ppl when u read in silence!!! i can't tolerate....
*crafty standing like gadhadhaari bheem while smita is reading comfortably in solitude*
tho am peace-loving most of the times, a sure shot way to lose me as a friend is to attempt small talk when i read! grrrr growl!!!
btw, i noticed the touble ur "japanese friends" are giving u. u can enable "word verification", Ashwathy's blog has it...
most these spam comments are automated, so cannot pass word-verification!
Hey P :)
lol!!! Vaise I had even said in one of my post that i will be reviewing this book guess no body noticed that :D
I guess ppl do not understand that reading is something more than a plain hobby for us :(
Hey Ekta :)
Tele review??? hmm though I nice idea but I don't think I am watching enuff TV to post something on that lines :)
Where do u figure?? lol!!! I hardly use that blog list and I blog hop thru google reader and thats where u feature my dear :)
Hey sFunn :)
Welcome to my space :)
Thanks :)
Hey Indyeah :)
I hope u love her book!! It is without doubt a must read for all SK lovers :)
Seriously glad to see u back :)
lol!!! Well that was my style of murder u see :P
Hey Babs :)
Thanks dear :)
Hey Crafty :)
For the quality of book it is...395 if am not wrong!!!
Thanks for ur support girl but u know what? I have managed to shut that girl quite well. Now she doesn't even whimper when am with her hehehe :) and am busy finishing off books after books :D
I thought of enabling Word verification but it is an unnecessary troubles for others as well!!!
Thanks girl!!
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