It’s all about Mahi

I received this book as part of an online request to review book from the Author on “For Writers By Authors” Facebook Group (Amazing Group By the way!!).

Now to the review …

But …before we start – I am not a professional reviewer as of yet(at least!) and with one published book so far in my kitty still exploring Authoring and hence all the books I read now, I read it with an Author lens, to see what I can learn from it, so my analysis probably will be a bit different. Please don’t get offended if the review is not what you thought it would be.

Okay now to the review …

It’s a pocket book and hence review will have to be pocket too.

The book starts on a simple note and there were Cricket references more than recent Dhoni’s movie recently; which I liked. The more I read the more disappointed I was with the book and the reasons below –

-       The book is more like Cricket commentary of two matches and that is the only likable thing in the book that you can relive the moments.

-       It’s called Fan story – but there is little how that star influenced Gaurav / Fan? How is had learnt or followed his star examples in his real life.

-       A lot of places there were generalization done “at country level”, the POV is completely screwed up. Why talk about whole India when it’s about one fan

-       And then there is cheesy love story – two chapters; with cliché sentences and “Holier than thou” sentences; maybe the author did not want to upset anyone – maybe parents. It felt more like he is justifying having a girlfriend and it’s not such a bad thing.

-       Apart from running around; OR maybe some crying; it is not clear why Gaurav is so passionate about Dhoni. Nothing on his style of batting or management style for which he is known for

-       Again a cliché of politician son sequence.

-       There is a timeline issue as well (I could be wrong too!!)- Barkha called his after so many years when he was 19 in first year collage then again in chapter “The Fight”, he was told to be from first year; but by then they were in relationship for couple of years.

-       Cricket stars nick names and acronyms were used – what happens to an audience who do not know about these acronyms

-       Also the choices of words – probably Editor’s fault were not good.

At the end, I can say only one thing that I am surprised to see positive comments for the book towards the start. I am sure someone else in Jamshedpur have written good material. I almost stopped reading it.

But I do wish you meet him in real life – if not already.

Finally

Will I read the Author again – Probably Not

Will I read this book again – NO

Will I recommend the book to others – NO

Will I store the book in my “Library” – NO

Vikkas Arun Pareek
Author of - Voices of the Silent Creek