Author : Kiran Khalap
“Halfway up the mountain” by Kiran Khalap,is a story of Maya,a poetry lover and rather understanding and calm lady who lives every odd of her life with a constant flow.A different story with a unique taste,and for sure, makes it own place amongst the crowd of classical literature piece.
As the back cover says-‘ Kiran Khalap’s first novel is a poetic work, in which prayer, spirituality and reality are interwoven, a village girl, Maya, fights her fate in a traditional Indian family. She makes steamed pancakes and turmeric leaf fragrance and skips school. Her fate is tied to Ravindra, in an arranged marriage that falls apart when Maya meets the poet, Krishnarao, and is forced to spend the night in his house marooned by a torrential storm. Ravindra refuses to believe that their son Sharan is his own, and leaves her. The young girl is undone by men closest to her, abandoned in an Indian society that places no value on woman on her own. A tale of snakebites, separation and liberation.’
Title is odd enough to guess that what the story would be about.On the other hand,an enchanting and attracting cover gives tinge of idea that story would be focussing on a woman’s life.Title and cover both are well suited for the story.
Author has a unique writing fashion ,which seemed a bit old in the initial few chapters ,as the narration goes in a different fashion,where the protagonist has been referred as ‘you’, but later it found its space and then the story paces up smoothly,and at the end,I felt that this unique writing fashion made me more involved in the story, and it was way easy to relate with all the incidents that laid down so artistically.I was feeling as if ,it was mine whose story has been narrated and was completely engrossed in the story.
When Maya’s story was getting narrated,I felt nothing so sharp and unique,I found it just another sad story of a woman ,from her childhood to when she adopted womanness. At first,I couldn’t understand the depth of the story, and so it was for me a usual story,but the way emotions and feelings expressed in a really appreciative way ,and the message this simple yet strong story tells,drenched my heart with the rain of emotions.
Author has the prowess to present feelings and emotions in poetic form, which added a star quality to this book. End was wonderful,exactly what this story would require. The thing I like most about this book is,author’s way of presenting someone’s feeling in an effective rather poetic manner ,and all the poems touched my heart.
For me,this is a pure classical literature piece interwoven with plethora of emotions of a lady,which also gives message to the society through a universal truth.A must read and a highly recommended book,which will for sure clutch your hand ,till you discover the end ,and believe me,there is so much to learn from this book.
Rating: 4.8/5
Reviewer : Shweta Kesari