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A review by chrysalis11
Leila by Prayaag Akbar
4.0
Gripping from the very start, this novel is immensely readable. No frills or clunkiness to distract or annoy, Akbar has a wonderful style of writing.
A word for the production quality: this book is beautiful---to read and to hold. The jacket illustration by Harshad Marathe is stunning! If you even read just the first chapter, the illustration will blow your mind with how apt and lovely it is.
As for the story itself, many have called it 'dystopian'. How I wish I could call it a dystopian novel. The walls, the repeaters are our reality today, only the walls are not a physical manifestation yet.
Perhaps a better defining genre might be horror. Because it is the horror of our times.
My only grouse was regarding the discussion about the world abroad (a small part where it talks about the US, etc.). It is an unnecessary interval that opens up questions without answering any. And leads to nothing either. It could have been cropped out to make the novel flow better and tighter.
'Leila' is both terrifying and terrific. One of the best debut novels I have read in recent times.
A word for the production quality: this book is beautiful---to read and to hold. The jacket illustration by Harshad Marathe is stunning! If you even read just the first chapter, the illustration will blow your mind with how apt and lovely it is.
As for the story itself, many have called it 'dystopian'. How I wish I could call it a dystopian novel. The walls, the repeaters are our reality today, only the walls are not a physical manifestation yet.
Perhaps a better defining genre might be horror. Because it is the horror of our times.
My only grouse was regarding the discussion about the world abroad (a small part where it talks about the US, etc.). It is an unnecessary interval that opens up questions without answering any. And leads to nothing either. It could have been cropped out to make the novel flow better and tighter.
'Leila' is both terrifying and terrific. One of the best debut novels I have read in recent times.