2 States--- Book Review!!

Though this book was released last month, I read it only yesterday. Obviously, it was not a book I was dying for. It jus accidentally fell to me courtesy "Dhagash" and then I had a read. "2 States-- The story of my Marriage" is the latest Chetan Bhagat book to hit the stands and I m not sure if it has rung the cash registers but as proclaimed by him as "India's most Loved Writer", I guess it would have done decently enough.


Published by Rupa Co(No, not the "undies" company) again, it is lowly priced at around 99 bucks without any concession and if you are a Chetan Bhagat die-hard fan, you would have already read it. So, here's the first of my book reviews, atleast its the first on FB, its not the ideal book to be reviewed specially if its your first review but since I ve not read any other book recently, I ll make do with this book!


The author, plays himself, and tells that it is a true story of his, with certain changes due to some unknown reasons.The story starts with a visit to a psychiatrist and then goes into flashback which is quite predictable. The protagonist, Krish, on his first day at IIM-A canteen, meets her batchmate Annanya, who is a Economics Gold Medalist while the former is an IIT-D graduate as read in "5 POINT SOMEONE"! The two meet, kiss, have fun and get placed into MNC's thanks to brand IIM-A. But, Krish has future plans about writin and wants to take up a job and save as much and as fast as he can so that he can devote time to his loved profession. Now, he is so much in love that he defies his mothers' wishes and takes his postin at Chennai, the same city where his girlfriend and her family live. Then he tries to woo his would be in-laws and no prizes for guessin that they do eventually accept him inspite of their cultural differences and he bein a hardcore Punjabi and they, Tamil Brahmins.


Now, the story repeats, but this time Annanya comes to Delhi and woos Krish's family. Meanwhile, Krish and his Dad are at loggerheads with each other and always tend to end up abusin, quarellin and sometimes even slappin each other. Now, its the time for both the families to accept each other's families. So, they arrange a get away at Goa but nothin works out and Annanya's parents feel insulted by Krish's mom. So, they separate. But, this isnt a HAPPY ENDING!! So, obviously, the most unexpected, (actually: the most expected) hero aka "Krish's Dad",who never had a sound relationship with his son, comes to the party and saves the marriage. He secretly visits Chennai and convinces Annanya's parents and finally both the families decide for the marriage. And thus, Annanya's dream of seein her parents and Krish's parents smiling at their weddin comes true!!


The story ends with Annanya deliverin twins.


Chetan Bhagat lives upto his "filmy" style in the book. No wonder all his former books are major films now. And I am pretty much sure this too may well be one. Infact, I bet Sooraj Barjatya would have already contacted the author for the script rights!!


But I would like to give credit to Bhagat for the mere fact that he somehow manages to retain interest in his book. Jus when you feel like closin the book and take a nap, either a funny one-liner or a sex scene comes up and you are compelled to read a bit more. He knows his audience well and that is his strength. He knows what turns on the Indian reader and what does not and probably thats why he is one of India's most undeservin(a bit too rude) yet India's most "loved" writer. As far as writin skills are concerned, he is good in pieces, but when compared to other Indian authors, he lacks that witty sarcasm which may be seen in Mistry's books.Though, it won't be fair to compare him with Mistry, as both of them write very differently and have a different audience to cater too, with Mistry bein famous among the more "educated" one, Bhagat,too, to some extent describes the "Madrasis" and the "Punjabis" with equal flair.



But it is the sudden abrupt endings of Mistry which are more charmin than Bhagat's more expected ones. Bhagat sets you up for the endin and you almost know it, Mistry makes you think, without you knowin it yourself!! Also, endings are rarely a happy one for Mistry, but since Bhagat, has to write in such a way that directors come to him for script rights, he keeps himself to the more "tried and tested" endings and does not tamper much with the endings.


Though Bhagat claims these are real events of his life, its hard to believe that everythin had a happy endin for him. Lucky Chap, I must say!!
But, after all, Bhagat is a "people's" writer and does manage to pull it thru with ease and this book too is all set to become a bestseller. Surely, his writin is nose-divin since he started with "5 Point Someone", which by far, is his best work till date, yet he is good enough!!


Rating-- ***



PS: Comparison with Mistry is because, I ve read all books of Mistry and Bhagat and want to popularise the former one and make him a household name as Bhagat is!!

And no Mistry aint my cousin by any chance, I simply LOVE his writing!!