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aanchality's review against another edition
5.0
Waited a month for the book to launch, and it's over in a day. *sigh*
swatim's review
4.0
This book looks into the tumultuous future of the Thakur women with a kind, hilarious and dismissive gaze. You will get the classic Chauhan plot workings, hilarious observations of uncles and aunts, a fascinating and belligerently lead character and a charming oh-I-wish-I-knew-such-a-man dreamboat.
Anuja Chauhan has taken some risks in this second story of the Bougainvillea-clad house and most have them have worked. Reading this is nostalgia for those of us who suffered through the antics of men and women caught in a family dispute. I would recommend it if you're missing home and want to continue harbouring unrealistic expectations of future partners.
Anuja Chauhan has taken some risks in this second story of the Bougainvillea-clad house and most have them have worked. Reading this is nostalgia for those of us who suffered through the antics of men and women caught in a family dispute. I would recommend it if you're missing home and want to continue harbouring unrealistic expectations of future partners.
humanvee's review
4.0
*chef's kisses* such a real book with all the elements for a perfect family drama and romance
saumyareads's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
‘See, I’ve done a full analysis on this,’ he tells her. ‘And currently, there seem to be five kinds of item songs. A, based on names—like Sheila, Munni, Chameli, Jalebi, Billo-rani etc. B, based on items of clothing—like chunari, choli, ghoonghat, ghagra, ghughroo, etc. C, based on geographical locations—like UP-Bihar, Agra-Viagra or Dilli-ki-sardi. D, based on slyly horny metaphors. And finally, E, based on pretentious pseudo-Sufi, Urdu porn.’
We have a lot to unpack here.
I will begin by repeating what I said in my review of Those Pricey Thakur Girls: Anuja Chauhan doesn't write many likable male characters, does she?
I didn't really like Samar or even Satish.
Samar, as usual, was low-key misogynistic and even a bit creepy.
This book is also vastly different from the first one when it comes to it's characters, which makes sense I guess because we're catching up with them years later.
But I really liked Eshu in the first one whereas here I was just side-eying her the whole time.
On the other hand, Anjini was annoying in the first one whereas in this one she is basically the best of the bunch.
Also to bring back an old complaint: it's not very consistent. Some parts are gripping and entertaining and then suddenly there is nothing happening at all for three chapters straight.
Also, this was kinda cheesy and try-hard at points.
I know it seems like I hated this book, but I really didn't. This was also brilliantly funny but I will say, if you aren't Indian, you will probably not get a lot of the jokes and this book in general.
This book doesn't take itself seriously at all and neither should you in order to enjoy it. It jokes about some pretty serious topics which might offend some people, so beware.
But it managed to keep me interested in the story and was just the kind of book I needed.
jajwalya's review
2.0
The potential! The potential! Ah well.
Chemistry and Humour toned down, this girl is less annoyingly self absorbed phew (Debjani, okay, Debjani!) but the guy is such a... poofter? Eshwari first, then visionary Bollywood director, then Bam! crush on sorta cousin, goes pseudo Bollywood Action Hero-ish, can't do break up with current girlfriend because Feelings! drama.
Aiyiyiyyy. Probably didn't help that I read this immediately after Those Pricey Thakur Girls.
I reiterate though. Anuja Chauhan is fantastic at this. She really knows how to string together all the minutiae and tie them up, nice and neat.
Chemistry and Humour toned down, this girl is less annoyingly self absorbed phew (Debjani, okay, Debjani!) but the guy is such a... poofter? Eshwari first, then visionary Bollywood director, then Bam! crush on sorta cousin, goes pseudo Bollywood Action Hero-ish, can't do break up with current girlfriend because Feelings! drama.
Aiyiyiyyy. Probably didn't help that I read this immediately after Those Pricey Thakur Girls.
I reiterate though. Anuja Chauhan is fantastic at this. She really knows how to string together all the minutiae and tie them up, nice and neat.
noyonika's review
3.0
I thoroughly enjoy Anuja Chauhan's writing and had been looking forward to this one too, despite the fact that I'd not enjoyed Those Pricey Thakur Girls as much as her precious 2 books.
With The House That BJ Built, Chauhan once again manages to create enjoyable characters (except Chandu. She was definitely nasty. Could NOT stand her). And as usual, she absolutely wins to create lovable, sigh-worthy men.
It is the characters and some very good writing when it came to interesting moments between the protagonists that made up for the story that I believe stretches on for more than necessary. Maybe I was just impatient and needed to read more about Bonu Singh and Samar, who interacted way less than I would have liked. That chemistry needed more footage! The Eshu-Steesh story, although exciting, also took too long to tie the loose-ends.
There are a LOT more primary characters here than all of Chauhan's books put together and in order to give every character an appropriate ending somehow led to the book not having as strong an impact as I would have hoped.
I have definitely enjoyed living in the crazy world of the Thakurs for the last few days - I was reading at ungodly hours and every free moment during the day. The book has helped get me out of a reading slump that is been experiencing for a few months now. So Anuja Chauhan, thank you for that.
With The House That BJ Built, Chauhan once again manages to create enjoyable characters (except Chandu. She was definitely nasty. Could NOT stand her). And as usual, she absolutely wins to create lovable, sigh-worthy men.
It is the characters and some very good writing when it came to interesting moments between the protagonists that made up for the story that I believe stretches on for more than necessary. Maybe I was just impatient and needed to read more about Bonu Singh and Samar, who interacted way less than I would have liked. That chemistry needed more footage! The Eshu-Steesh story, although exciting, also took too long to tie the loose-ends.
There are a LOT more primary characters here than all of Chauhan's books put together and in order to give every character an appropriate ending somehow led to the book not having as strong an impact as I would have hoped.
I have definitely enjoyed living in the crazy world of the Thakurs for the last few days - I was reading at ungodly hours and every free moment during the day. The book has helped get me out of a reading slump that is been experiencing for a few months now. So Anuja Chauhan, thank you for that.
singlecrow's review
3.0
I had somehow not read this sequel to Those Pricey Thakur Girls? It's set twenty years later, so the five sisters have dispersed and are brought back together because their father the judge has died just before selling the house on Hailey Road. His awful younger brother is now claiming that Lakshmi Narayan Thakur was illegitimate, due to his mother the Pushkarni (famously the ghost that haunts the first book) having had an affair, and thus his daughters can't inherit. Hijinks ensue. The viewpoint character is Bonu, one of the grandchildren, who has grown up to be smart and practical and ruthless, except that she's sort of falling in love with her step cousin Samar (who is now a film director!). More hijinks ensue.
As a whole, though, I didn't like this book as much as its predecessor. It relies a little too heavily on its set pieces - which are, to be fair, great; there's one where Samar somehow ends up shooting an item number called "Aur Jee" (say it out loud) - and I'm also not convinced that the subplot romance is that great; Satish was a dick in the first book and is still one now. But it's still extremely readable and funny.
As a whole, though, I didn't like this book as much as its predecessor. It relies a little too heavily on its set pieces - which are, to be fair, great; there's one where Samar somehow ends up shooting an item number called "Aur Jee" (say it out loud) - and I'm also not convinced that the subplot romance is that great; Satish was a dick in the first book and is still one now. But it's still extremely readable and funny.
varunob's review
3.0
In most of Anuja Chauhan’s (Baaz, Battle for Bittora) work, you’ll find an antidote to the darkness that engulfs us in reality and in fiction. The House That BJ Built, a spiritual successor to Those Pricey Thakur Girls, fits that billing perfectly.
Gone are the times of the alphabetically-named sisters. The 80s are over and done with. Mamta-ji has passed on, though Judge sahib remains. Gone too are Debjani and Dylan, replaced by Bonu, the daughter of Sister 2 Binodini, and Samar, the step-son of Sister 1 Anjini.
We are now in the 2010s and Judge sahib’s health is declining rapidly. Chachiji, his sister-in-law, remains a pain in the backside, and he is happiest when visited by four of his five daughters. The daughter of the dead daughter – named Bonita aka Bonu – lives with him, operating out of his house a successful garment business and looking after the old man.
Trouble arrives in the form of numerous things – Samar, a successful filmmaker lying low after a drunken rant goes viral being the first of those. Then, when talk of selling the titular house comes up, Bonu refuses to comply with her aunts’ demand that she too sell her hissa.
Just as crackling as Chauhan’s other novels, the book is easily one of the breeziest novels you’ll come across, filled with Chauhan’s trademark wit, the Hinglish dialogue that is hers in a way it is nobody else’s.
There is maturity in how she depicts the inter-personal relationships between her characters, especially that of Anjini and Samar, who are never shown to be quibbling in the way stepparents and stepchildren do. There is also chaos, and the actual plot is not really something that would hold for four hundred pages were it not for the incidents that happen around it. Yes, at one point I did fear the novel was turning into a Priyadarshan movie, but that moment passed swiftly.
The House That BJ Built is “balls”-out entertainment (people who’ve read the book will get that joke), and a great choice for a quick, relaxing read if you are looking for one.
More at Varun Oak-Bhakay's Writer's Block
Gone are the times of the alphabetically-named sisters. The 80s are over and done with. Mamta-ji has passed on, though Judge sahib remains. Gone too are Debjani and Dylan, replaced by Bonu, the daughter of Sister 2 Binodini, and Samar, the step-son of Sister 1 Anjini.
We are now in the 2010s and Judge sahib’s health is declining rapidly. Chachiji, his sister-in-law, remains a pain in the backside, and he is happiest when visited by four of his five daughters. The daughter of the dead daughter – named Bonita aka Bonu – lives with him, operating out of his house a successful garment business and looking after the old man.
Trouble arrives in the form of numerous things – Samar, a successful filmmaker lying low after a drunken rant goes viral being the first of those. Then, when talk of selling the titular house comes up, Bonu refuses to comply with her aunts’ demand that she too sell her hissa.
Just as crackling as Chauhan’s other novels, the book is easily one of the breeziest novels you’ll come across, filled with Chauhan’s trademark wit, the Hinglish dialogue that is hers in a way it is nobody else’s.
There is maturity in how she depicts the inter-personal relationships between her characters, especially that of Anjini and Samar, who are never shown to be quibbling in the way stepparents and stepchildren do. There is also chaos, and the actual plot is not really something that would hold for four hundred pages were it not for the incidents that happen around it. Yes, at one point I did fear the novel was turning into a Priyadarshan movie, but that moment passed swiftly.
The House That BJ Built is “balls”-out entertainment (people who’ve read the book will get that joke), and a great choice for a quick, relaxing read if you are looking for one.
More at Varun Oak-Bhakay's Writer's Block
sathaz's review
4.0
I will always love Anuja Chauhan books even though this was not as good as her previous ones, lbr. The best part about her books is the main romance and this one just fell flat. Still funny, though. I had a good time reading it once. Hence, the four stars. If I may say so, it was as good as its prequel. I prefer her first two books.
P.S. I want a spin-off of Steesh and Eshu.
P.S. I want a spin-off of Steesh and Eshu.
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