Title: Half Girlfriend
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| Source- Goodreads |
Author: Chetan Bhagat
About the story: Once upon a time, there was a
Bihari boy called Madhav. He fell in love with a rich girl from Delhi called
Riya. Madhav did not speak English well. Riya did. Madhav wanted a
relationship. Riya didn't. Riya just wanted friendship. Madhav didn't. Riya
suggested a compromise. She agreed to be his half-girlfriend.
Review: I know the first question that you would
have on your mind is ‘why did you pick this book’ for reading. And my reply
would be I surely don’t know except that I was curious. The only Chetan Bhagat books
that I really liked were Five Point Someone and 2 States. After 2 States I was
of the opinion that maybe this Bhagat fellow did not deserve the brickbats that
people blatantly threw at his face.
Then came Revolution 2020 and I ordered a copy of
the book and enthusiastically started reading it. But as I turned the pages of
the book, the realization dawned on me that 2 States from Chetan Bhagat might have
been a fluke, a stroke of luck. I don’t know what it was, but I struggled to
finish the book.
Then when I heard that CB’s new book was coming
out, curiosity got the better of me. Also I was baffled about what exactly a
Half Girlfriend is!
The story starts with Madhav, hailing from a rural
village in Bihar, trying to get an admission into a prestigious college, St.
Stephens in Delhi. There he meets a girl, Riya, from an affluent and rich
family. Though the two become friends, bonding over their love for basketball, Riya
and Madhav are as different as chalk and cheese in their lifestyle and their upbringing.
While Madhav is more rustic and crude in his nature and attitude, Riya is
refined and more practical in her approach to life.
But the unwavering truth between them is the love
that Madhav feels for Riya, though the way he confesses his love towards her
could have been defined as crass and indecent.
Frankly the book is not Bhagat’s worse, but it
lacks a strong plot. Madhav’s love seems to be lost in his lust and his
constant endeavors to get Riya into bed begins to annoy the reader after
sometime. And the mention of the author in his own book does hint a little bit
of self-absorption.
I wouldn’t deny the fact that Chetan Bhagat has
created many young readers in our country, who love such romantic theatrical
fiction, but he has to really stop writing books just so that they could be
produced into movies.
You could give this book a miss unless you are a
die-hard CB fan J
Rating: 2/5
I struggled to finish 2 States too and had leave it mid-way for it was that intolerable. Nice review. Reading this one is out of the question :P
ReplyDeleteHappy Diwali!
Nice review. Thank you for the valuable inputs about the book. Yes as said I started reading as a part time fun through Chetan Bhagat books. Apart from 5 point some one ,3 mistakes of my life and 2 states partially I didn't see much in the later versions esp 20-20 revolution. Chetan Bhagat should concentrate on other fiction and non fiction excluding romantic versions.
ReplyDeleteI was of the same opinion after reading this one. I picked it out of curiosity but then started wondering if he is specifically writing stories that could be turned into a bollywood movie. Or maybe he wanted to write a screenplay and then thought "Anyway I am gonna make this into a movie, why not make it a book too and earn some more?"
ReplyDeleteWanted to send across a book once for review. Do send your postal address at vibhort@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHi Prasanna,
ReplyDeleteMy book of short stories has been published by Rupa Publications. It is an assortment of genres - Love, Romance, Suspense, Humor, Drama and Philosophy.
It is a collection of 14 True and Near True stories and is titled, 'Breath Go Away & Other Stories'.
http://www.writerstory.com/sriman-narayanan-interview-breath-go-away-and-other-stories-book/
Wanted to enquire if you would be interested in doing a review of the book ?
Warm Regards,
Sriman Narayanan