Scan barcode
kfscully1995's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
thebobsphere's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to like Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line. It has a ton of elements that I like. Here’s a plot summary.
Jai is 9 years old and is obsessed with police dramas. When he finds out that a boy in his slum is missing, he and two other friends decide to set up an investigation. Soon other children go missing, including his sister. Will this trio catch the culprit?
Djinn Patrol starts off in a light way. It’s funny, there’s social commentary such as the inhabitants of the slum they live, the people selling goods in the marketplace, the gossiping, the fake soothsayer, the school Jai goes to and the hierarchy of bullies and there’s the mystery.
Then after a 100 pages or so it gets dark and a more sinister side of India is revealed, which is still a problem today – in fact in the afterward, the author said in order to research this topic she had to move abroad. Probably you can guess what I’m referring to but I would rather keep it a secret as the reveal did raise my eyebrows a bit.
So yes, the mystery is a macguffin and I liked that. Djinn patrol is quite a serious book and a political one in the process.
Yet I did not like the writing style – I found it too jagged and stilted at times and I could not really connect with the characters – I found them to be cartoon cutouts.
All I can say is that I am going through a bit of a slump so hopefully, I’ll return to this and my view will change. At this point in time I am disappointed by Djinn Patrol …
Jai is 9 years old and is obsessed with police dramas. When he finds out that a boy in his slum is missing, he and two other friends decide to set up an investigation. Soon other children go missing, including his sister. Will this trio catch the culprit?
Djinn Patrol starts off in a light way. It’s funny, there’s social commentary such as the inhabitants of the slum they live, the people selling goods in the marketplace, the gossiping, the fake soothsayer, the school Jai goes to and the hierarchy of bullies and there’s the mystery.
Then after a 100 pages or so it gets dark and a more sinister side of India is revealed, which is still a problem today – in fact in the afterward, the author said in order to research this topic she had to move abroad. Probably you can guess what I’m referring to but I would rather keep it a secret as the reveal did raise my eyebrows a bit.
So yes, the mystery is a macguffin and I liked that. Djinn patrol is quite a serious book and a political one in the process.
Yet I did not like the writing style – I found it too jagged and stilted at times and I could not really connect with the characters – I found them to be cartoon cutouts.
All I can say is that I am going through a bit of a slump so hopefully, I’ll return to this and my view will change. At this point in time I am disappointed by Djinn Patrol …
diogenix's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The cover leads you to think this is a fairly light-hearted children's mystery. It isn't. That, really, is my only grouse.
The narrative, told by an innocent 9-year-old, is written excellently, with no foreshadowing of the dark themes it eventually confronts. It is based on real incidents.
Evocative of Kazuo Ishiguro's poignant exploration of society and the humans that inhabit it, Djinn Patrol too begins by painting a relatively carefree picture of slum-life. The darker, uglier side of it starts leaking out soon enough, as the story becomes more and more sinister.
Deepa Anappara is a journalist and her depiction of the sections of society she comments on is incisive. The slums, hi-fi gentry, muslims vs the Hindutva brigade, the police, godmen, small-time goondas, thugs, and the flotsam & jetsam who live on the fringes of our big cities, all seen through the eyes of a child, come alives in these pages. It is written with warmth and empathy, loved her original turn of phrase.
All told, a thought-provoking, moving read which i would recommend to every Indian. It forces you to reflect on the price we are paying for our choices.
The narrative, told by an innocent 9-year-old, is written excellently, with no foreshadowing of the dark themes it eventually confronts. It is based on real incidents.
Evocative of Kazuo Ishiguro's poignant exploration of society and the humans that inhabit it, Djinn Patrol too begins by painting a relatively carefree picture of slum-life. The darker, uglier side of it starts leaking out soon enough, as the story becomes more and more sinister.
Deepa Anappara is a journalist and her depiction of the sections of society she comments on is incisive. The slums, hi-fi gentry, muslims vs the Hindutva brigade, the police, godmen, small-time goondas, thugs, and the flotsam & jetsam who live on the fringes of our big cities, all seen through the eyes of a child, come alives in these pages. It is written with warmth and empathy, loved her original turn of phrase.
All told, a thought-provoking, moving read which i would recommend to every Indian. It forces you to reflect on the price we are paying for our choices.
freddie's review against another edition
5.0
A truly splendid book. The book captures the naïve and occasionally trivial voice of a child. Plenty of things I love about this book but the best thing is how it embodies the essence of a coming-of-age story - the transformation and loss of innocence - not only through its protagonist Jai, but also through its gradually shifting tone. I was tricked into thinking the world was peachy in the beginning when things gradually escalated into darker territories. Masterfully written!
katie_esh's review against another edition
3.0
Inspired by the author’s time as a journalist in India, this fictional mystery addresses the real tragedy that approximately 180 children go missing in India EVERY DAY. I like that it was told from a local child’s perspective, but I don’t feel like it packed the punch I wanted.
spinstah's review against another edition
4.0
Ultimately a very sad story, lightened by being told through the eyes of a young boy. Even so, towards the end his hope starts to turn brittle and crack.
leslielu67's review against another edition
3.0
Started strong, went on too long, didn’t really come together well. Author jams a lot of themes into the narrative.
unemarguerite's review against another edition
3.0
I understand why the author chose to have a child as her main character, especially after reading the afterword, but it made me be less into the book personally. It also took me a loooong time to get into the story, but I read quickly the last 1/3. Even if it wasn't fully for me, this book is really important and sheds light on things we don't hear enough of!