Skip to main content

Book Review: Kintsugi by Anukrti Upadhyay.

 


Book: Kintsugi 

Author: Anukrti Upadhyay 

Publisher: Harper Collins India 

Pages: 224

Read On: Hardback Edition 

How Long it Took Me To Read: 1 day 

Plot Summary: Kintsugi - named after the ancient Japanese art of mending broken objects with gold - is a novel about young women breaching boundaries, overcoming trauma, and challenging the social order. And about men surprised by women who are unconventional, unafraid and independent. It is the story of Meena, rebellious and unexamined, and Yuri, as complex as Meena is naive. Of Hajime, outsider to two cultures, and Prakash, unable to see beyond his limited horizons. It is also the story of Haruko who has dedicated herself to her art, and of Leela who is determined to break gender roles and learn the traditional gold-craft of her community. Set between Japan and Jaipur, Kintsugi follows the lives of these characters as they intersect and diverge, collide and break and join again in unexpected ways. The result is a brilliantly original novel as profound as it is playful, as emotionally moving as it is gripping.

Things I Liked: 

1. I read the Bhaunri by the same author last year and loved it's unique story telling style and the writing had me very, very impressed. I also own Daura, the author's last (before this) release and I am looking forward to reading it soon. The writing here, was just as wonderful as her previous work. 

2. The thing I loved about this book the most was perhaps this sense of quietness that pervades it's entire length. I felt oddly soothed and comforted by this book and it's people. 

3. The setting of this book, takes us from Jaipur to Japan, to Singapore and to Turtle Island. Each of these places and the their inherent character adds to narrative meaningfully. Especially, the Jaipur portion of the book felt rich and lived in and alive in ways that made the stories so much richer and layered. 

4. The characters in this book aren't particularly happy or thriving, they are incredibly real and their humanness and flaws leap off the pages of this book. And are one of the best things about this book. 

5.  I love interconnected short stories, it's one of my favourite things to read and the connections between the various characters in this book is quite surprising and very satisfying. 

6. The Jaipur bits were my favourite to read and immerse myself in. The city and its bylanes and it's old homes are atmospheric and come alive in the book. I also loved the people we meet in Jaipur, the kind folks to open their homes and hearts to a foreigner and look after her like one of their own. I found myself getting very fond of these people and wanting to spend more time with them. 

7. The Japan bits were my second favourite portion of the book. Meena's taste of independence and finding her own way in Japan and falling in love with a woman is handled so well and sensitively and her confusion, and her slight loneliness are relatable and heartbreaking. 

8. I found myself rooting for Leela so hard and was so happy when we caught up with her a few years later. Her breaking the chains of tradition and learning the trade of her ancestors and stepping into the world meant only for the menfolk of her family, was so inspiring. 

9. Even the less than perfect characters are written with such skill and life that you really get to know to them and at some level understand them. 

10. Overall, this was a book that was slow, smooth and deep and rich and layered. I enjoyed it immensely and was found myself moved by it's writing and it's people and it's underlying message of broken people and broken people still living good lives and I guess, finding meaning and beauty in their lives. 

Rating: 4/5 

Thank you, Harper Collins for the gifted copy. 

The views and opinions are all my own. 



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: The Magic of the Lost Temple by Sudha Murthy.

Book: The Magic of the Lost Temple Author: Sudha Murthy Pages: 163 Read On: Paperback How Long it took Me To Read: 1 day Plot Summary:   City girl Nooni is surprised at the pace of life in her grandparents' village in Karnataka. But she quickly gets used to the gentle routine there and involves herself in a flurry of activities, including papad making, organizing picnics and learning to ride a cycle, with her new-found friends. Things get exciting when Nooni stumbles upon an ancient fabled stepwell right in the middle of a forest.Join the intrepid Nooni on an adventure of a lifetime in this much-awaited book by Sudha Murty that is heart-warming, charming and absolutely unputdownable. General Thoughts: Ah! A happy little Children's Book! I wanted it the minute I spotted it in the bookshop. And I started reading it pretty much immediately. :)  I read it after reading a beyond dull and boring and soulless book. This book just cured my bookish blues. I l

Book Review: The Room on the Roof by Ruskin Bond.

Some snippets of the stunning art inside the book!  Book: The Room on the Roof Author: Ruskin Bond Illustrator: Ahlawat Gunjan Pages: 171 Read On: Hardback How Long It Took Me To Read: 3 days or so. Plot Summary:   Rusty, a sixteen-year-old Anglo-Indian boy, is orphaned and has to live with his English guardian in the claustrophobic European part in Dehra Dun. Unhappy with the strict ways of his guardian, Rusty runs away from home to live with his Indian friends. Plunging for the first time into the dream-bright world of the bazaar, Hindu festivals and other aspects of Indian life, Rusty is enchanted … and is lost forever to the prim proprieties of the European community.  General Thoughts: This book is super special. Not only this 60th anniversary edition an absolute beauty. This is also a signed copy I picked up from Mussoorie when I was in Landour earlier in the year. This is perhaps one of Ruskin Bond's most well kn

Review: Grandma's Bag of Stories by Sudha Murthy.

Book: Grandma's Bag of Stories Author: Sudha Murthy Pages: 176 Read On: Paperback How Long It Took Me Read: 2 hours Plot Summary:   When Grandma opens her bag of stories, everyone gathers Around. Who can resist a good story, especially when it’s being told by Grandma? From her bag emerges tales of kings and cheats, monkeys and mice, bears and gods. Here comes the bear who ate some really bad dessert and got very angry; a lazy man who would not put out a fire till it reached his beard; a princess who got turned into an onion; a queen who discovered silk, and many more weird and wonderful people and animals. Grandma tells the stories over long summer days and nights, as seven children enjoy life in her little town. The stories entertain, educate and provide hours of enjoyment to them. So come, why don’t you too join in the fun? General Thoughts: I've read quite a few Sudha Murthy books this year and really enjoyed them. I find them soothing, simple a