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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Whilst this book made for a chill and easy read, it failed to make an impact on me. Fiza is a young bright woman who leads a cushy life in one of Bombay's elite suburbs. The turning point in her life occurs when the idea and capital for a bookstore is bequeathed to her by her late but estranged father. But from the get-go, Fiza's privilege not only helps her to smoothly transition from a fresh graduate to a bookshop owner but also navigate through her very "first-world" problems. The store itself serves as nothing but a prop to the plot as the latter progresses at a slow pace. Honestly, this book would have not worked for me had it not been for the author's breezy writing style. I have no problems with wealthy protagonists, but this story just seemed to be series of minor inconveniences strung together, failing to elicit any empathy from the reader.
Based on a real life story of the author, this is a story of Paper Moon, a bookstore in Bombay. Loved the references of early 2000 bombay, life as it was back then with cell phones and music. The mystery of Iqbal was beautiful and smelled like mogras
If I could, I would love to read more on Iqbal and Faiza’s story but I loved the classic mystery end :)
If I could, I would love to read more on Iqbal and Faiza’s story but I loved the classic mystery end :)
To own a Bookstore cum Cafe is a dream come true for most of us.
Well, this book gave me a tour into the life of a bookcafe owner.
I hesitated to pick it up at first but I am so so so glad I did.
This book is just so peaceful.
It's a romance but not the typical romance we read about.
I feel it is more of a romance with books than with a person here.
Well, this book gave me a tour into the life of a bookcafe owner.
I hesitated to pick it up at first but I am so so so glad I did.
This book is just so peaceful.
It's a romance but not the typical romance we read about.
I feel it is more of a romance with books than with a person here.
I picked up this book on a whim just by looking at the title and the blurb and I was not disappointed. This is a book about family,love,loss and books. The story follows Fiza, a young woman who is left a tiny fortune to open a bookshop when her father passes away. Opening a bookshop was her father's wish and Fiza sees it through as she encounters several life changing experiences along the way.
The story takes place in Bombay and we feel as though we are taken through the streets of Bombay as the author mentions several iconic places in Bombay. I am not a resident of Bombay and yet I enjoyed reading tiny tidbits and nuances about them. People who live in Bombay can relate on a much greater level.
The story flows smoothly and though the writing is effortless, it does not feel very simple and is a pleasure to read. The book is very atmospheric and I loved the various literary references and jokes sprinkled throughout the book. I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed though.
The author made me feel like having a "Paper Moon" of my own some day. A heart warming read!
The story takes place in Bombay and we feel as though we are taken through the streets of Bombay as the author mentions several iconic places in Bombay. I am not a resident of Bombay and yet I enjoyed reading tiny tidbits and nuances about them. People who live in Bombay can relate on a much greater level.
The story flows smoothly and though the writing is effortless, it does not feel very simple and is a pleasure to read. The book is very atmospheric and I loved the various literary references and jokes sprinkled throughout the book. I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed though.
The author made me feel like having a "Paper Moon" of my own some day. A heart warming read!
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5
The concept and the basic storyboard was really promising, and I was anticipating a nice comfy read. However, I did not like most (or any, perhaps?) of the other aspects of the novel apart from the concept. I did not find the execution to be particularly good, the book couldn't decide it's voice at places - the third person voice focused on Fiza and her thoughts and emotions were jarringly interspersed with direct observations on what the other characters were feeling.
It just read extremely blandly, the book didn't excite me the way I would've thought a book about a recently-graduated woman opening her own bookstore would. And I suspect there was a loose end about Armaan Khan that wasn't tied up?
All in all, I think if a good romcom director picks this for an adaptation, the movie will turn out infinitely better than the book is.
The cover art is amazing, though, and the ending was a pleasant surprise which I can totally get behind.
The concept and the basic storyboard was really promising, and I was anticipating a nice comfy read. However, I did not like most (or any, perhaps?) of the other aspects of the novel apart from the concept. I did not find the execution to be particularly good, the book couldn't decide it's voice at places - the third person voice focused on Fiza and her thoughts and emotions were jarringly interspersed with direct observations on what the other characters were feeling.
It just read extremely blandly, the book didn't excite me the way I would've thought a book about a recently-graduated woman opening her own bookstore would. And I suspect there was a loose end about Armaan Khan that wasn't tied up?
All in all, I think if a good romcom director picks this for an adaptation, the movie will turn out infinitely better than the book is.
The cover art is amazing, though, and the ending was a pleasant surprise which I can totally get behind.
Week 38 Book 60
Paper moon by Rehana Munir
Rating: 3/5
I have been reading Rehana Munir's column in the Brunch for a long time. I love her writing style and content. When I figured she wrote a book, I quickly picked it up.
PM is inspired by her own life. Fiza Khalid is a fresh English Literature graduate whose life change when she is left money by her estranged now dead father to setup a bookstore.
Fiza lives with her slightly eccentric but talented and loving mother, and has some close friends/family, and a boyfriend. She is shocked by the inheritance but with sheer grit and determination she sets up the bookstore in Bandra, Mumbai. She meets a myriad of people on her adventure, which is a roller coaster ride!
I loved the description of Mumbai, especially Bandra West where I've lived for 3 years. I loved reading about books and running a bookstore. Munir has a way with words, for sure.
However, the family relationship aspect wasn't dealt with properly. The first half of the book is very slow, the second half too fast. The ending isn't definitive.
It's a decent book for Mumbai and book lovers. One time read.
Paper moon by Rehana Munir
Rating: 3/5
I have been reading Rehana Munir's column in the Brunch for a long time. I love her writing style and content. When I figured she wrote a book, I quickly picked it up.
PM is inspired by her own life. Fiza Khalid is a fresh English Literature graduate whose life change when she is left money by her estranged now dead father to setup a bookstore.
Fiza lives with her slightly eccentric but talented and loving mother, and has some close friends/family, and a boyfriend. She is shocked by the inheritance but with sheer grit and determination she sets up the bookstore in Bandra, Mumbai. She meets a myriad of people on her adventure, which is a roller coaster ride!
I loved the description of Mumbai, especially Bandra West where I've lived for 3 years. I loved reading about books and running a bookstore. Munir has a way with words, for sure.
However, the family relationship aspect wasn't dealt with properly. The first half of the book is very slow, the second half too fast. The ending isn't definitive.
It's a decent book for Mumbai and book lovers. One time read.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A book that started off with a lot of promise, but fizzled out somewhere in the middle. Characters are meant to be complex, but if you just cannot figure out what makes a person tick, you start to lose interest in them. The details were also inconsistent- money seemed tight at the start of the novel, but Noor could afford to buy business class tickets to London on British Airways.
It was the end that disappointed the most. While one doesn't always want romantic closure, leaving everything dangling isn't fair on the reader, is it?
Read the book of you want a nostalgic romp through Bandra, or if you want to let placid waves of easy prose wash over you. Else, avoid- it doesn't get better.
It was the end that disappointed the most. While one doesn't always want romantic closure, leaving everything dangling isn't fair on the reader, is it?
Read the book of you want a nostalgic romp through Bandra, or if you want to let placid waves of easy prose wash over you. Else, avoid- it doesn't get better.