THE PRINCESS OF A WHOREHOUSE: THE STORY OF A
SWAMP LOTUS
by
Mayank Sharma
Blurb
Aparajita is a tenacious go-getter. Her name means unconquerable in Sanskrit, and she lives up to its meaning.
Just like any other ambitious girl, she desires to fulfil her dreams and become an independent individual. Far and wide, the shadow of her melancholy past chases her passage. The fact that her widowed mother is a former sex worker irks the community. Nonetheless, she is not ashamed to reveal her mother's past.
Will she lose hope, or will she defy an enigma that is centuries-old? Will she ever conquer the hearts of a prestige-obsessed community?
See the world through Aparajita's prism in a tale stirred by some real life events.
MY REVIEW
'The
Princess of a Whorehouse'. One look at the title, and I knew I HAD to
read the book. There are not very many books that deal with a
sensitive topic like this; and for a debut writer to chose a topic
like this as his launch-pad is commendable in itself. I congratulate
Mayank Sharma, for having made the brave decision.
However,
a topic like this warrants a lot of patience and sensitivity, failing
which, the whole thing is susceptible to fall flat. Unfortunately,
that is exactly what seems to have happened with 'TPOAW'.
I
wish: the writer had been more patient with the book and not rushed
it; the
writer had gone for experienced beta readers, before handing his baby over to the
publishers; the
publisher had the wisdom or brains to run it through editors and proofreaders; the
publisher had not only thought about minting money, but also giving
its worth somehow, to the writer!
The
entire narrative seems to be abrupt and full of potholes. The
characters needed far better development. While the characters have not been adequately developed; the locales have mostly been overtly described. I don't want to know about all the places in the entire route from Laxmi Nagar to the South-west of Delhi, or that India gate is a war memorial for soldiers who lost their lives in WW1 between 1914-21. My history teacher had already taught me all that. The dialogues could have
been crisper and more real. For example, how do you expect an
illiterate lady coming from a village in Jharkhand, to use words
like, '...victim of the repercussions of a repressed society'? These
are the words of the writer; while, as a reader, I want to hear what
that lady would say.
More
than the writer, I blame the publishers, Notion Press, for doing a
shoddy work...once again. A debut writer needs hand-holding, s/he
needs to be shown the difference between an OK and a good write; and
that is the job of the publisher. Be honest to your profession and refuse to take the book you don't like, up for publishing. But, once you do take it up, give it your best; spend time and
effort on it and make sure that what comes out is the best possible
version. Sadly, they have not done any of that; and the writer has
lost what could have been a great launch pad, while the readers have
lost the opportunity to read a good book on such a brilliant topic.
Mostly for the courage of the writer, I give 'TPOAW', a 3 out of 5 stars.
Disclaimer: I received a paperback copy of the book from the author via The Book Club, in return of my honest and unbiased review.
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About the author
Mayank Sharma is a computer engineering graduate with post-graduation in business management. He works with a leading technology multinational in Delhi. He has authored a number of articles and white papers on software technology and processes. For the first time in April 2014, his article was featured in Better Software magazine published in Florida, USA. Writing has become Mayank's greatest passion when he observed how it can trigger the winds of change. He is gradually transforming from a “left-brained” writer to a “right-brained” writer. Besides writing, he is passionate about sketching, painting, and making sculptures since childhood.
India is the fifth-largest economy in the world with the Gross Domestic Product growth at 7.1 percent. Contrary, India ranks 118 out of 157 countries in the happiness index. The fact seized Mayank’s attention towards social problems affecting social support, freedom of choices, and generosity, to name a few. Having travelled across continents and associated with people with diverse beliefs and values, he became more curious about the social riddles curtailing liberties across societies. He penned his debut novel, The Princess of a Whorehouse, when he came across some real life incidents that quivered his soul.
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