It’s a story. Often books seem to be throwing ideas or opinions at you. Those ideas seem to snowball into 500 page books. However, this book is just a story. A beautiful one at that.
About
This is not the book for you if you’re looking for fanciful prose or three page descriptions of ambience. This is a book written very simply, in everyday language and that is wherein lies its charm. The narrator, in the prologue, says ’First you will smile, and then you will cry. Don’t say you haven’t been warned’.
Call it ego, but I seldom do the things that are expected of me... and so I decided no neither smile nor cry. Yea, I know, reading a book like a tin man (or woman) defeats the purpose. Anyhow, I did start to read and the simply narrative, extremely conversational, had me hooked. I didn’t wish to put the book down for even a second.
Humour
The book has amazingly funny and heart-warming moments. Though in the first half, it’s the humour that really makes you want to read more. Rarely does one come across a book that makes us laugh out loud. Sarcasm gets a smirk; jokes get a giggle... but laugh? This one does. It gets you to laugh every now and then. I just loved the writing style. I’m not so much of a fan of stylish prose. But I am a fan of author’s who are able to get the readers to truly connect and feel the story as if it is their life and not the narrator’s.
Story
The story is about a young man of 17 who for some unavoidable reasons ends up spending a lot of time helping out a classmate, who to his embarrassment, isn’t one of the popular girls in class. Add to this, the girl’s quirks and extreme faith in God. She’s the kind who helps just about everyone, yet is disliked for being ’too good’ and ’too plain’. Of course the elders completely adore her. She uses phrases like it’s all in the lord’s plan and I’ll pray for you. Not exactly heroine material you see. During the course of the year, the narrator finds himself falling in love with the young lady and soon discovers that they are not meant to be. You see, she has leukaemia and has not long to live. The novel describes that one year of forced companionship, friendship then love and finally the realisation of the unfairness of life as he struggles to give the woman in his life, the best moments that time permits.
Reasons to skip
The novel is pretty predictable, but then again it never was meant to be a thriller.
You don’t want mush (it isn’t mushy you know. Just nice)
You might want to give this one a miss if you read the cover. It’s much too dull a description for this enchanting story.
The constant use of phrases like ’it’s all int he lord’s plan’ by the girl. However the narrator does confess he finds it just as irritating.
Reasons to read
The novel does not preach, no matter how much it may want to.
A novel that will not present the lead characters as the most exciting, handsome people in the world.
Wonderful humour.
Simple narrative that never gets too tedious to read.
In spite of the events being unsurprising, the author is still able to evoke feelings of awe by the sheer brilliance of his words. He evokes feelings like none other. (but of course, this may be true for just the women :) )
Very real characters. Each irriating, harsh, rude, lovable.. and a whole lot more.
Why it’s not mush
Many will not believe me when I say that it’s mushy. Yes, I realise that my penchant for mush doesn’t help my credibility.. but really! And here’s why; There are no big moments wherein the love suddenly comes into existence, it’s a little by little page-by-page moment of people falling in love and learning the lessons that accompany it. Sigh. The simple things in life :)
Verdict
Enchanting.