Book Details:
Title: Jamba, The Joint Family
Author: Sriram Balasubramanian
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Read out Loud publishing LLP
No of pages:208
Source: A free review copy from the author through book r3vi3w tours
In an age when families are becoming more nuclear, Karthik's family was an aberration: It was a large joint family with its own complications, contradictions and commonalities. Two love stories and a wedding get intertwined within the family at the same time. One of them could make or break the joint family, will the family survive? Will the love story succeed? Will the younger generation respond to the needs of the family? How will the older generation respond to the changing perceptions of the younger generation? Will the family eco-system survive?
In an India swamped by globalization, this racy and humorous story tries to dissect the generational changes in Indian society and how the Indian society is responding to the changes.
My Review:
Jamba is about a joint family in Chennai and the story covers the drama that unfolds during and the preparation of a marriage ceremony. The author walks us through the incidents and introduces us to different characters and their attitudes with a pinch of humor. This is an easy and quick read. If you already knew something about Tamil Brahmin community, their traditions, the food and Chennai city, you can relate to the story well and you will enjoy for sure. I did enjoy, as it brought back memories of my hostel days in Chennai and the marriages I attended in Tamil Nadu.
I like the cover photo, but I didn't find the title very apt. The narration is easy to follow as if you are talking to a friend. The plot is somewhat predictable but interesting. I felt bored at one point of time when there is no story going ahead and only marriage preparations are depicted. It was dragging a bit in the middle. The climax is great.
Loved these lines from the book and these sums up the actual message given by the author at the end.
Families are meant to be the core of our culture. They are the unifying point. They have strict rules and stereotypes but they will NEVER leave you alone
A joint family is an inclusive set-up, never exclusive, and that’s why our culture has survived for centuries.
My Rating:
4.5/5
PS: I have received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review and this is my unbiased opinion on the book.
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About the Author:
Sriram Balasubramanian is a Writer who has contributed extensively to international publications such as NYT, WSJ, Foreign Policy, Forbes India, and The Hindu among others. He has interacted with a variety of global business leaders and policy makers in his experience as a journalist and writer. His main area of focus has been on human development, education and socio-economic issues with a global context.
Besides this, he has a Master’sDegree from University of Southern California and is pursuing another degree at Columbia University in NYC. He is also authoring another book on the World Chess championship which was held recently.
He is very passionate about India, its cultural ethos & socio-economic evolution. He can be reached at @Sriram316or http://www.facebook.com/jambathenovel20orhttp://www.srirambala.in
Until next time,