ALMOST SINGLE

Author: Advaita Kala
Publisher: Harper Collins
Genre: Isn’t the name a dead give away. Fluffy Female Fiction if you please.

You know when some one asks you how some new book/movie/show/restaurant and you don’t want to be mean and arrogant about it, you look away , crinkle your nose and open your mouth to say something but all that comes out is a sound faintly resembling “Eh”…well “Eh!”

This book is so new, so original, so out-of-the-box, so unique, so novel a novel that its not. The story line will give you an indication of what I’m talking about. Single chubby woman at thirty, two girl friends, the ever so present gay guy friend, the incorriglible-unreasonable-amma whose main ambition in life is to bully her daughter into getting married, sleazy boss, the suddenly tapkao-ed good looking- well settled- eligible guy, and the gorgeous competitor. You got it dude…it is a shameless copy of Bridget Jones Diary (Even if you have seen the movie several times, you should read that book…hilarious).

If the author expects us to be contemporary enough to sympathize with the characters, then she should have been smart enough to know that our stupid selves would accidentally be acquainted with the original. More irritating clichés- all gay guys are only in professions such as wedding planning, interior designing etc., women cannot hold their drink , the single aim of all single women is to be with someone…ok even if some of this may be true it has ceased to be interesting reading.

Not all is bad, the book is funny in parts (a ‘fairly’ frequently used Amz term), but what kept me going was how sensitive it was sometimes, touching even, like when she is alone in a bar waiting for someone and mentally categorises the people into different types, or the scene with her cousin on the train when she finds out that someone actually envies her singlehood. The reading is enjoyable when the reader is alone with the characters, but the scenes with friends – the chemistry is contrived, the humor is induced.

If you have not read in years and want to start again, you may consider this book. You will not be overwhelmed because it does not force you to think at all. Take me someplace new Advaita.

PS: Visit her website http://www.advaitakala.com/, I found it more interesting, especially tips on how to get your work published- here she is simple, clear and direct.