Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Sethji by Shobha De, Review


I am not a big fan of Shobha De. My wife has read few of her books and recommended me to read her once. This novel is typical political masala novel. It is not very big and language is simple hence it took just 4 days of travelling in local train for me to complete it.
Sethji is a story of a politician from Mirpur, Uttar Pradesh who is leader of ABSP, Azad Bharat Socialist Party. Story revolves around Sethji, his two sons Srichand and Suraj and daughter-in-law Amrita. Also there are stories in novel about two business-man fighting for a highway contract and a politician and goon from Maharashtra named Bhau. 
The novel is in good readable English and is a bit slow paced in beginning. There are ample of incidents where Shobha gives good description of sexual acts between different characters of novel. The conversation comprises of ample amount of crude foul language and bad words. This may not go well with most of the readers. May be this happens in reality and Shobha wanted to do justice with the characters and hence presented them with all their foul language and lecherous behavior. 
 Half way through the novel the plot takes very filmy turn. The events described seem too fictional (even though this is a fictional novel). Initially the novel starts as if there is great plot involved in it which will be a page turner later. But in the end the plot turns out to be dud. 
There are many stories in between which are not very interesting. The people involved in business and politics seem too lecherous, especially the women. 
The part in which Sethji and Amrita are stuck in Mumbai is stretched too much. There is not much stress on central plot which involves contract of highway. Power struggle between Sethji and another female party leader, which I expected to be interesting, is hardly taken ahead. 
The book is interesting enough to read but not very great piece of fiction.