Janani Srikanth has released another book, and I am all for
it!
Like a consistent empirical truth, I have a baseline for
what to expect from this stalwart of the Kindle Book Space. This is her eighth
offering, a work of fiction this time, evening out her genre preferences. Since
the time of her first book, A Balance Called Life, I have been following this
journey of brilliant, concise, clear words. Be it fiction or non-fiction, her
books are worth every minute (and the money) you spend on them.
The I in Me is a work of fiction. Note to self. It IS
fiction.
But boy, does it flow like a philosophical exploration!
The
lead characters jaunt into the mind and leave an indelible mark. The narrative
voice reaches out from the pages and embraces you in a way that is both
encouraging and understanding. It gently nudges your thoughts into the right
direction.
Nishanth and Anjali might be the people you see around you,
friends long-lost who have come to share a part of their story with you, so you
could find your answers in their quest for self-realisation.
It is only with Janani’s works do I see that philosophy need not be an endless series of what-ifs and ‘this-or-that’ questions.
It could be
wrapped in fiction, made appealing through scenic unfurling, and settle in your
thoughts as a story, only for you to realise that you have been exposed to life
lessons along the way. Easy ticket, for you do not have to live through the
experiences yourself to learn the lessons.
Nishanth’s divorce may have been sudden (he did NOT see that
one coming), but the rest of his journey is not jarring or unbelievably abrupt.
He walks the path himself, meets Anjali along the way, and sees so many things
fall into place by his active choice to work them out.
Anjali’s background (no spoilers) and her current position
in life are every girl’s mystical dream. A bookshop owner who conducts book
club meetings and influences people with smashing book recommendations? Every
reader has at least once chased that whimsical fancy.
Kithara stands so prominently, the kind of backdrop that you
cannot ignore, a juncture or crossroad in your life that you will have to pause
at so you can reclaim what you have lost along the way. For an inanimate
presence as a bookstore, Kithara thrives with a life force. It is a hotchpotch
of memories, will, positive thoughts, influences, and some unburdening
alongside.
It is more a checkpoint than a mere resting space, and
Nishanth’s equivalent of Harry Potter’s King’s Cross. It is the beginning of a
new lease of life, a point of realisation when an entirely new world opens up
to him.
At different parts in the book, I wanted to be both the
bookshop owner (thereby fulfilling my lifelong dream) and the reader who
stumbles upon it on their journey to seek answers. The characters are so
multi-dimensional and curated with such in-depth characteristics that I could
find something to relate to both of them.
The uniquely named chapters, the major part segregations
(and the quotes in between) stand in your mind with ease. Each chapter has that
soft landing and moves the story forward with determination. If you have read
the author’s earlier works, you will learn to look at each and every word,
including these titles, and try to decipher the meaning behind them, so you
will not have your ‘Eureka!’ moment many months later.
Janani Srikanth’s lilting prose is a joy to behold. Be it
the sunset over the Rocky Mountains or the mist hanging over the Western Ghats,
her words capture the visualisation so perfectly that the story unfolds like a
movie with its own background music.
Smooth tones, warm hues, a pleasing setting. What more could
a reader ask for?
Oh, yes, a story that flows from A to B and then some more.
While the prologue sets the tone and exposes the core conflict in a subtle and
classy way, the epilogue (now I did NOT see that one coming) ends the book with
a high note. The adventure, all along, was what we had read through so far.
It is only after you scroll over the last page do you
realise that the book is over. A considerable pang of emotion then takes hold.
What will happen to Nishanth? Anjali? Where will their lives take them?
A few hours of maudlin reflection will follow, and suddenly,
you will end up taking that decision you have been putting on hold for a long
time. Or probably take a bold leap into something you have been shying away
from. Somehow, your thoughts will turn into actions, and you will kickstart
your own journey. That is perhaps the biggest ode to the evocative writing.
The book is a must-read for those who like good plots and brilliant writing. If you sit with it, the story is sure to enrich your life.
The words are moving and cathartic. First, you’d read the book. The next time,
you’ll read the subtext, and the time after that, you’ll read the story flowing
between the lines… But every time, you’ll see it in a fresh light.
Like a clear brook running over multi-hued pebbles,
Nishanth’s and Anjali’s journeys touch your soul. Janani Srikanth translates
their emotion so gently that you are spared from the confusion they face, but
are benefited from the clarity they reach.