I had mentioned in my last blog that I had ordered three books ain't? They were
2 States - Chetan Bhagat
I too had a love story - Ravinder Singh
Paths of Glory - Jeffery Archer
I did complete 2 States and I too had a love story ;)
2 States was better among the two. (I wouldnt say that the other one was bad, because it was the author's first novel and he did write it well enough). But 2 states scored because of its story, flow, humor, execution. I read somewhere that this was sort of the autobiographical. If it was, this guy must have gone through such a exciting life during these times. It need not be two different states for such a story actually. These kind of inter-cultural problems do happen even between families if the guy and the girl are from different parts of the same states / community even. For e.g. let us assume a girl (caste x) from say, chennai and a boy (caste y) from say, tanjore. Why different caste, even the same caste/community, if they belong to different subcastes or regions, there are too many variations in the customs followed. This story being from 2 different states and community makes it much more complicated. Yes, there were times when I felt that some scenes were right out of a rom-com movie, but it did fit in well with the story. I was very impressed with the wedding sequence and its thoroughness. Nice to see my language(tamizh) in an albeit Indian Author's Indian Novel. It was cool.
But yes, the events in the campus, did evoke a different kind of response from the elders though. Actually my aunt, who read 2 states and which was her first english novel ever read, was telling me that she was a bit disturbed after reading that and may be the author had exaggerated them. Well I did my part by convincing her that they were really really true. These kind of things always happened in a college hostels. She looked flabbergasted :) (you know she has a kid who has just joined college). I was little surprised to see such events (true or untrue - does it really matter) narrated in an Indian English novel. Well times are really changing arent they?
The woman in the story did depict the modern day Indian women in every aspect I guess. (Dont even ask if they drink beer ? - Well yes, they do it and do it openly and not just only beer .... Is it right ? - Well I wouldnt want to start any argument in my blog.. so.. no comments :) ..but yes they do drink and they have been for quite a few years.. let us take this as a matter of fact and proceed)
Do these kind of stories really exist? Or is it always fictitious. I think they do. Because I know quite a few people (including the ones in my office), where the girls are from south india and the guy from north. And these kind of love stories do bridge the gap (with each state wanting only people from their own state of origin to be present in their state nowadays.. I guess.. for the sake of a better country... these kind of love should be encouraged.. what say ?, but yes it should be a culmination of both cultures and families in all possible ways)
Regarding humor, well it had loads of it. I liked a few of them very much :D
The writing was definitely interesting.. This was my first read of a novel by this author. Seems like the other ones are also as interesting as this. The main capture of the novel was that it was about the people like you and me , from India. This guy and this girl could be in your neighbourhood.. It gave this feeling that it can be anyone from your family even ...nice isnt?
And I know of a few stories similar to this which ended up sadly (even after marriage) because either/both the guy and the girl couldnt convince the parents well enough or they lost their love in their path of convincing or any other xyz reason. But yes, it had failed. But it is always nice to read a love story with a happy ending isnt? I always love happy endings.
Next rest, and then tomorrow I will tell you what I felt about "I too had a love story"
Hasta Pronto!!!
