Genres: Fiction
Pages: 110, Paperback
Published: 2017 by Notion Press
Cover Rating: 5/5
Manoj Jain released his fourth book few weeks back. After his success of his third novel Balraj which made an honest effort to explore deeper psychological and spiritual self, somewhat a territory that not many contemporary Indian writers try to explore. His latest book Ramona, a novella, which originally is a sequel to Balraj but works well as a standalone novel explores psychology of an abandoned married woman.
The whole plot revolves around a mother of one Ramona after her husband one day disappeared out of the blue. He leaves her a note which to her expectation did not justify his runaway or disappearance completely. Her world turned upside down. Emotionally confuse, she try to move on but the events of past life that directly relates to her husband keeps coming back to her as a stream of thoughts. Soon, and with the help of her family, she begins to move on but stranger then completely changes the course of her life.
There is a real sense of mysteriousness in the storyline from page one. It is exciting and one of the major factors that hooks a reader. The book clearly tries to reflect the point of view of a woman who has to face the wrath society in terms of questions and accusations as well as her own emotions and fighting the feeling of abandonment. This book is a journey of a woman that deciphers her past in front of us, and as she makes an effort to come out of the shell she has been living in all these years.
The writing style is flawless. The narrative voice is steady, smooth and drives the plot forward. The characterisation is up to the mark. A reader does have a chance to seek beneath the skin of other characters as well. Overall, I think this book is for anyone who is interested in reading a great example of contemporary Indian Fiction.
Great review! might give the book a read 🙂
Thanks! If you do, let me know your views 🙂
There is a very famous American novel called “Ramona,” though totally different from this one, for sure.
I’ve never read contemporary Indian fiction yet. Your review is excellent so I think I’ll start with this one. Thanks.
Glad to hear that 😊