Spicy Bites of Biryani by Ashwina Garg!!!

            Third book of this year is also been read. This book was a short read because of its simple language and narration. I am talking about newly released book “Spicy Bites of Biryani” which also has the tagline “because life needs a little masala”. This 225-pages book is published by Srishti Publications.[And Yes, this is the first review of this book on InternetThe cover page is beautifully done. The title of the book is too creative to go with the content of the book. It has been for the first time when I have seen that Srishti hasn’t given the biography of an author on the other side of front cover but it is scribbled at the back cover just like Rupa publications does. Suddenly, I am seeing a good change in Srishti through this book but I am too disappointed to see the price of the book rising from 100 to 150 Rs. While the books of Srishti are available at 60 to 70 rs on E-commerce websites, this one is available for more than 100 rs. When the number of pages is the same that the Publication has been publishing since years, why this hike in price? Isn’t it injustice to this debutant author? This is my serious request to the Publisher to please not to hike the price of your books because readers have been attached to Srishti because of its reasonable pricing in market when compared to books by other Publications. 

            Spicy Bites of Biryani is written by the debutant authoress- Mrs. Ashwina Garg- who lives in Hyderabad with her husband and two kids. She studied accountancy and has worked as an entrepreneur, a German translator and a technical writer. Coming to her writing style, I would say that she has handled her first book with utmost care and concern which readers will surely love to read. The successful female authors in our country who writes in this genre are famous because of the way they have been writing by portraying what a female thinks about men- married and unmarried. Ashwina Garg has just categorized her in this classic group which includes great names like Preeti Shenoy, Varsha Dixit, Komal Mehta etc. She has kept the book funny at times while too thoughtful in some other parts of it. She has given a perfect shape to each character that made me imagine all of them as someone whom I know from a long time. In short, I would say that she has excelled in her first book and I would love to read more books from her which is women-centric. 

              

               The book is about four characters. The synopsis of the book is perfectly done hence I would not try to define the story in my language. It’s here- “Sanjay is a US- returned software millionaire determined to have an arranged marriage after selling his company and breaking up with his two-timing girlfriend. Aditi is a commitment-phobic writer who can’t figure out what her next book is about but has perfected the art of break-ups. Mayank and Jayshree are the perfect couple. If only they weren’t dealing with rude relatives, killing deadlines, procreation pressures and those ultimate romance-killers..Monotony and boredom! This light-hearted story traces the lives of these four successful, thirty-something friends who all come to the same conclusion… The hardest thing about having the perfect life is keeping it that way!” 

                Coming to the review- It’s a typical stuff that one would expect from a married female author. And that’s the good part about it. Mayank and Jayshree’s relationship makes us think about how we would be after our marriage. Sometimes, it makes us feel good about it while sometimes, it scares. She has portrayed their married relationship very well. The complications that they meet when it comes to giving birth to baby is also handled respectfully. Author has made it sure that she is not letting anyone’s sentiments towards marriage and having baby hurt. The confusion that is shown in the relationship of unmarried Sanjay and Aditi is the USP of this book. I just loved reading their parts. And wonderfully, they are given the whole coverage in the book. Aditi has turned out to be my favorite character. Beautifully portrayed! Even when the authoress is the first time author, she has managed to narrate Aditi’s writing journey perfectly. I related with her Writer’s character very easily. Even Sanjay’s character is given full justice. 

                 I loved the scene when Aditi goes to Sanjay’s new flat and the scene of both of them sitting together with both their knees touching each other with scraps all around. Then, the marriage proposal is also another beautiful scenario. Also, all the reasons why Aditi does not want to get married are also done perfectly. Sanjay’s rich life and middle-class relatives scenario is something I would say I loved authoress for. The flat thing between Sanjay and Sheetal is too cheap to be discussed and I seriously enjoyed and laughed like anything in all those parts. Also, the climax of the book isn’t ended with marrying of the couples but by something unpredictable that I didn’t think book would end like. In all, everything that the author wanted to put into the book has been done without stretching the story for a single page. Yes!

                 Coming to the drawbacks, initially the book does not pick up nicely nor does it make you confident that you might like it in future. The sub-plots in the first half does irritates as the story does not move forward. It seems to be boring. Though the book had one-liners, it would have been better with more humor. Mayank and Jayshree ‘s part should have been little more in the book, at least by 10 pages. And I didn’t like Aditi’s character’s assassination by mentioning again and again about her innumerable ex-boyfriends. Yes, I am little emotional and sentimental when it comes to this.  In all, I would rate the first attempt of the debut authoress- 3.75/5. If you have loved reading any of the top 3 authoresses I have mentioned, you can definitely pick up Mrs Ashwina Garg. 

                

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU