I wont say that I m an avid book reader. In fact I started reading novels only an year back. But among whatever little no of novels I ve read, Chetan Bhagat’s ’Five point some one’ is certainly one that has left an impression on me. Many out there wont agree with me coz for the majority this would just be an OK sort of novel. But then I m not writing this revu for giving out the views of the majority. I m writing this to share my views on the novel. And the reason why it left an impression on me....... well becoz I could identify with it. That exactly is the strong point of the novel.
Chetan Bhagat’s second work ’A night at the call center’ starts off with a chance encounter with an unknown woman on the train who tells the author that five point ... is nt exactly a youth novel coz majority of the youth dont identify with the IITians.
Well here I beg to disagree. Now IIT Delhi where ’five....’ is set up could very easily have been any other college in India. The incidences mentioned in the book are not tailormade for the IITs. I myself am a Mechanical engineer. No not from the IIts. Not fortunate enough or perhaps just not good enough. But still I could identify with the charactors in the novel. U perhaps dont even have to be an engineer for this book to strike a chord with u. Characters like Surdy, Baku, Venkat etc are there in all colleges and so are the main protagonists Alok, Ryan and Hari. Incidents like smoking and drinking on the terrace of the institute at night, bunking classes to go out with ur girlfriend, copying assignments all will surely strike a chord with the youth. Or for that matter falling for the only daughter of your professor. It is exactly these sort of memories that the novel manages to churn in u and u are left with a feeling of nostalgia.
SO WHAT IS THE NOVEL ABOUT
Well its about three guys Hari, Alok and Ryan who from the first day of their lives at IIT strike the right frequency with each other and become best of friends. They have their own little fights and one of them suddenly splits the group. But then they come back together again.
The novel is all about how these friends go about their lives in the college. How their decision to throw caution to the air and enjoy a little bit messes up their grades. Then the different resolutions like the ’cooperate to dominate’ which instead of improving their situation puts them in deeper mess.
STRENGTHS
Chetan Bhagat manages to keep this novel interesting through out. This is the sort of novel which u can finish off in a day easily.
Definitely not the classy type of novel which has a hidden message some where and which prompts u to think. It just has a small message that how messed up ur life can become if u dont think straight.
And surely as I already mentioned it strikes the right chord with the youth.
WEAKNESSES
Well not much that I could identify. Yeah the novel starts off in an ambulance so perhaps a resemblance to dil chahta hai???? Or am I dreaming??
Three friends splitting because of a basic difference in the charactor again a semblance of Dil chahta hai. Well I may be going over board trying to draw similarities just for the sake of finding them.
Then the characterisation especially of Ryan who ressembles Vroom and Hari who resembles Shyam of ’One night.....’ Again Am I going a bit over board??? Perhaps
Anyway since this was written before one night at a call center we can let that one go
FINAL VERDICT
I would defenitely give this one four on the scale of five.
BUt caution dont go looking for any messages. U wont find them. Dont think the novel will make u think deeply into something or will address some issues. It simply wont.
It is a feel good novel that brings back the glorious memories of ur college life back.
So go ahead and enjoy