Wednesday 28 February 2018

Book Review- Men and Dreams In The Dhauladhar by Kochery Shibu

Book Details-
Book Name- Men and Dreams In The Dhauladhar
Author- Kochery C. Shibu
Genre- Fiction
Publisher- Niyogi Books
Pages- 284 pages

Blurb- A hydelpower project in the remote Himalayas. Three people brought together by fate. Nanda, an engineer from Kerala at the dam construction site hiding from his past, from the law, torn between the love of his dear ones and the traditional kalari code of revenge. Khusru, a boy displaced from his native village in Kashmir, a gambit in the terror plot threatening to blow up the dam, working as a labourer at the site. Rekha, a Kathak dancer in heart, a doctor by profession, arrives at the campsite as the consort of Khusru. A village that accepts the dictates of modernity with a heavy heart, its population steeped in superstitions and religious beliefs.

All throng the campsite like moths to a flame, some escape untouched, successful; some, miss a step, and perish. Each has a story to tell and a dream to realise. Men and Dreams in the Dhauladhar is about the aspirations of these people with their cares and worries woven into the site life. The fury of nature and the hardships of project life have no mercy for the weak and no time for the dead. Like an eternal spectator the Dhauladhar watches as men risk life and limb in a quest to fulfill their dreams.

Review- Men and Dreams in the Dhauladhar is a book with unique plot and story. It attracts your attention from the start but gets monotonous after 100 pages and becomes an average read.

Book Cover and Title- From the cover, book seems to be historical/scientific fiction but this is purely modern age book. Blurb is short, crisp and it creates curiosity about the book. Title is appropriate.

Language and Narration- Language of the book is lucid and easy to comprehend. Writing style of author is simple and easy to follow.  Book is written in third person narrative. 
Though there are no grammatical errors in the book.

Characterization- I absolutely loved how author portrayed his characters. Characterization is one of the reason why I completed this book even with too derailed technicality, monotonous story and show paced narration.

Another thing which I liked about this book is all the characters are justified properly with their own story and set of emotions.

Storyline and Plot- Story revolves around Dhauladhar Dam, and characters revolving around Dam, Dhauladhar and construction of Damn. Author has beautifully placed scenes in various places to bind characters with main story.

However, too detailed technicality about various stages of Dam Construction is what bugged me the book. Author could have cut-shorted the book by skipping detailed technicality which adds nothing to the main plot.

Likes- 1. Characterization.
2. Language and Narration
3. Subplots revolving around main central plot.

Dislikes- 1. Story seems monotonous and boring in the middle.

Rating-
Book Cover and Title- 4/5
Language and Narration- 3.5/5
Characterization- 4/5
Storyline and Plot- 2./5

Final Rating- 3/5

I received a free copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

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