Almost Single

Quick Data

Author: Advaita Kala

ISBN: 978-81-7223-655-7

Price: 195 INR

Excerpt from the the back of the book as it is:

‘My name is Aisha Bhatia; I am twenty-nine years old and single. I work as a Guest Relations Manager at the Grand Orchid Hotel. I dine at luxury hotels and stay in five-stars during my travels; I can name old and new wines with great élan, and can tell my cheeses apart. I tolerate my job, hate my boss, and bond big-time with my friends, while routinely suffering from umbilical cord whiplash. I don’t really care for my vital stat at the moment, and I don’t have a cute/funny nickname either. Hence this introduction: it stinks, but it sticks. In fact, sometimes I think there should be support groups like the AA out there for people like me….’

Ironically this book didn’t reach my heart…may be because this was a wrong pick for me since I don’t usually read chick lit..or may be the book is not that great..whatever that is my rating for this book is not more than 2

Though the story goes quiet straight without much frills and zig-zags…which is a plus point I guess…the author writes well only if she could attempt writing some other stuff may be !

Two in one

I am trying to cover two books in one go.

Who’s that Girl – By Alexandra Potter

Rumour has it  – By Jill Mansell

What’s Common -

• Light fun read. Most suitable for travel
• Chick Lit
• Predictable Endings

Who’s That Girl – It is story of Charolett Merryweather 31 year old girl who is successfully running her own PR firm. She thinks she has most hectic life and does not have time to take off and relax. She has forgotten to enjoy small pleasures of life. She is in a relationship which she thinks can be worked out. One fine day she meets her old self aged at 21 and she hates her own choices then. She makes a list of advices she would pass to “Lottie” as she was own then. In the process she learns what she has lost in all these years. Speaking up her mind; doing something that she loves ( like writing novel than running a PR firm) she gets all this back from meeting her own self. Not to forget Oliver. Olly the barman from young age who she never noticed then.

In the end everything falls in place with a sweet and happy ending.

Rumour Has it – Tilly Cole who just broke with her boy friend moves from London to Roxborough where her best friend is located. After moving she just realizes the small town Roxborough is hub of rumours. Tilly is much happy with her new Friday Girl job. She almost falls for Jack Lucas when she meets him. She find him irresistible but his rumoured reputation about women stops her. She never believes his genuine feelings towards her. Just before she thinks she is gonna lose him.

The other side of the story

By Marian Keyes.

My first read of Marian Keyes Books. I loved this book from start to finish. In fact it kept me hooked. I feel she is powerful writer and has way with words. She makes these characters alive and almost you can see them. Above all the way she engages the reader in the flow of the story and leaves you with one big happy feeling. Something I adore. Writing a 600+ paged story that can keep readers engaged through out ; without making it dramatically and ridiculously romantic is a skill IMO.

The Plot -

It is story of Jojo; Lily and Gemma and their entangled lives. Books connect three of them. Jojo is highly successful literary agent and at that point she falls in love with her immediate Boss.

Lilly and Gemma were best friends until Lilly snatched Anton from Gemma; as Gemma believes so. Jojo helps Lily and Gemma to get their first books published.

Three of them connected at some point yet having their individual voices and existences through out the book; all neatly woven together. Gemma’s fantasies based upon her dad walking out of her house and her mom going through the set back; eventually Gemma’s upside down life. Lilly in the success of her first book followed by the writers block; her amazing boyfriend and underlying guilt. Jojo the glamorous yet very approachable; struggling with her career ladder and love life. Finally everything falls and place and we have a happy ending.

I think the writer has been sucessful to challenge the prejudiced opinion about Chick lit. I am looking forward to read more of her work.