Warm though the morning was, he shivered, as only a confirmed bachelor gazing into the naked face of matrimony can shiver.

                                                                                                  –      P.G. Wodehouse

Dear Reader,

You simply demand too much! How can you expect a perfectly single, quite studious bachelor to pen down a review of a novel depicting and portraying quite succinctly the shady dealings of those ‘flying high in uplifted spirits, over the moon, comparing its spotted beauty with their beloved’ indulge in to make their tragedy queen, martinet mommas toe the line! Oh wretched reader, you like to have your way, don’t you?!

Well, ahem, if you want my professional opinion, ahem, bend a little, readers, prick your ears, I like happy endings. And by happy endings, I mean, the endings P.G. Wodehouse would have wanted for his characters, warm and fuzzy. While reading this book, I was strongly reminded of the ‘Jeeves’ and the ‘Blandings Castle’. Here is a book, written by a desi Wodehouse, with idyllic desi somethingshire, in this case Nawabi Hyderabad with idiosyncratic characters, weak-kneed lovelorn bachelors, damsels in distress, wily mothers/aunts charting/fixing/plotting/forcing a match between their reluctant kiddos who are already in love with someone else. What ensues is a love polygon resulting in utter chaos, with rambunctious high decibel family drama, mothers playing malingers, cousins courting your girlfriends (oops!) and all through this maelstrom, fathers simply and single-mindedly interested in food.

Boy, the advantages of being a critic! I might be many years younger than the author, but I do get to pass judgments.

Okay. Breathe in. Breathe out.

I liked ‘Marry Go Round’ by Sadiqa Peerbhoy.

This is a very well-written book indeed. I particularly liked the phrases adapted from Nehru’s ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech. There are some funny one-liners and I indeed felt that, consciously or sub-consciously the author imitating (for the want of proper word) the style of P.G. Wodehouse.

The author, as well as the book, has a potential to develop into something big. The present book, is a wee bit, stereotypical. If channeled in the right direction, the creative energies of the author could work wonders. Well, one can explore the rich possibilities that Nawabi Hyderabad teeming with young, tech-savvy individuals. I totally would love a desi Bertie Wooster.

Following Vismay’s thumb rule to the word, I won’t reveal the plot details. That’s for you reader, to find out. The ball is in your court now. 😀

Hope you like the book. Have a good day!

P.S.: I liked the jacket design too.