The Tales Pensieve

“It’s not right, but it’s okay. I’m gonna make it anyway… Don’t you dare come running back to me… I’d rather be alone than unhappy.”

This number by Whitney Houston has been playing on my music system ever since I accidentally discovered it while looking for Anuj Tiwari’s novel of the same name. The song examines a woman confronting her lover about his infidelity. She is telling her abusive, less-than-faithful lover off in a rather melodious way. Released in 1999, this famous R&B song won the singer Grammy’s best vocal performance too. I wonder why I didn’t come across this song sooner. A pity, I must confess. To make up all the lost years, I’ve put it on loop now.

No, this is not a review for the song. I am getting a little side-tracked I know but what can I say – I am simply in love with the music. I am not sure if the writer was inspired to choose his title off this song but even if he didn’t, his selection needs to be applauded. The writer has definitely scored some huge points with this alone.

While the song focuses only on the cheating and the moving on part, Anuj’s book focuses on a new relationship post the bad fling. The catchphrase of the novel clarifies this in “…if we have a past that we aren’t particularly proud of, it doesn’t mean that we can’t have a promising future.” Well said Mr. Writer. You have definitely scored some points with this as well.

This story revolves around the relationship shared by Angira, a happy-go-lucky girl who has recently overcome an ugly heartbreak and Ved, a strikingly handsome footballer, the heart-throb of the college. The two are clearly poles apart but by the time the story ends they come to share an unexpected bond. There is some misunderstanding in between but nothing out of proportion that can’t be handled by today’s generation.

The language is easy to follow. The situations are mostly reported, as in, the book is dialogue dominant. The exchanges and banters are kept simple, almost like two individuals conversing in general. It’s a good thing. There are quite a few characters. Each has been given proper space to grow. In fact the book opens with Arjun and Anushka, whom I mistook for the protagonists at first. The male protagonist doesn’t make an appearance until page fifty but once he does, it’s mostly about him. The book has a slow tempo but then it’s true for almost all romance novels. The good news is the book isn’t a bore. The teens will definitely relate to the situations in the story.

Just like a good title, the book has a good cover too. The sunset, the beach and the couple behind the umbrella—it sets the tone of the novel right from the beginning. A bollywood-style romance of girl meets boy is nothing unique but what makes each story different is the execution.

The author has done a good retelling of a formula.

Title: It’s not right… But it’s okay
Authors: Anuj Tiwari
Publisher/ Imprint: Rupa Publications
Genre/ Sub Genre: Fiction/ Romance
Rating: 3.00 of 5.00
Reviewed for: Author

Read the reviews of other books rated 3 stars by Team TP HERE