Author- Pranay Sahu
Publishers- HALF
BAKED BEANS; First edition (2016)
Pages- 210 pages
Genre- Literature
and fiction
Blurb- His life
was his dream. From being a Wall Street Investment Banker to being a jobless
put under spiritual arrest, to being hopelessly in love with a hippie ten years
elder to becoming an entrepreneur , he lived his dreams throughout his life.
Cut to 2012, destiny's favourite child is now controversy's favourite child.
Come success, come controversy. Controversies are inevitable, one's reaction to
them, is optional. Roshan should not have reacted. Four years since he lost his
job, Roshan is now battling his life after multiple gun shots; defending his
actions before a spiritual guru whom he does not like at all. But life is not
always your choice. The difference between dreaming and making dreams come true
is what life is all about.
Book Review- ‘The
American Indian Dream’ is less of a novel belonging to the genre of fiction and
more of an autobiographical narration by the author. It is a bit of a letdown,
considering the backdrop chosen by the writer- America reeling under the
attacks of 9/11. The book flatters to deceive.
As is evident from the blurb, the story follows the
tumultuous life of Roshan. The narrative oscillates between two time zones;
2008-referred to as Dark India and 2013 which depicts the present day scenario
as far as the protagonist is concerned.
Roshan is recovering from a near fatal gunshot injury and
his past is revealed as you flip the pages, waiting for some drama to unfold.
Sadly, it does not.
There are a variety of characters but they have been etched
half-halfheartedly. Apart from Roshan, there are Jagat, Ira, Hirenbhai, Silvio, Ariella
aka Lakshmi, Maera, Gurudev and his henchman Farhaan. The reader cannot empathise
with any of these. The love affair between Roshan and Ariella seems convoluted.
The pace of the novel is languid and one tends to lose interest
pretty early.
‘Why was Roshan shot at?’ remains a mystery till the end.
The motive of the one pulling the trigger is not clearly explained.
The proof reading too, could have been better.
On the brighter side, the novel explores the mindset of
Indian youth who are trapped by the lure of the ‘American dream’. At a time when the anthem of the nation is
‘Make in India’, this story serves as an eye-opener.
Verdict- Un-tapped
potential.
About the Author – Pranay Sahu is the classic
case of an engineer turned MBA turned banker turned novelist. He is also an
avid marathon runner, a stand-up comedian and a lonely traveler. Yes, he is
either settling business for Corporations or travelling into his own world of
stories or is out travelling alone talking to strangers at places like
Pondicherry, Cochin or Diu. Having lived in places like Kota, Bhopal, Indore
and Bangalore, Pranay now lives in Vadodara and divides his time between three
cities, other two being Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
