Virago — by Ritiqa Pachauri
Publisher: Paper Towns Publishers
Pages:142
Price: Rs. 199 INR(paperback), Rs. 49 INR(Kindle edition)
ISBN: 978–9387131057
Buy here: https://amzn.to/2NA7I5T
Radhika Mishra is successful Chartered Accountant. she has everything that one could ask for. Yet, her heart desires for something more. Something else. something that requires unsettling the settled. an urge so strong, it forces her to put everything on stake. An endeavour so bold, that would mould her into a new being. Will she be successful or regretful ? One needs to read to find out.
About the Author:
Ritiqa Pachauri is an English teacher who loves telling stories to children. Virago is her second novel after ‘The Affair’. She lives in Jaipur with her family.
My take on the book:
Radhika Mishra is settled in life as per society norms, a successful career as Chartered Accountant, husband Krishnav whom she married after a fairy tale love story and a dreamy wedding and a three year old loving son, supportive in-laws. However, her life is not how the world around her perceives as Radhika finds herself craving something else, away from her present. As she embarks on a life changing journey, an unconventional path, with almost no support and against all odds, Virago traces Radhika’s story.
The story starts on a different note as Radhika takes this strong decision to finally follow her dreams and not try to satisfy her family. Radhika’s characterization is a high point of the book along with her parents and the way their characters are portrayed supporting Radhika’s dreams is admirable. However, the story gets cliched as it progresses and what starts with a fresh premise, slowly gets very predictable.
Radhika’s struggle in her newly chosen field along with her internal turmoil and her strength and decisions at each point are portrayed well by the author. The short length of the book is also an advantage as the story stays relevant to its core without unwanted deviations. The story and the book standalone are good but the author should have chosen a different story idea as this is a done-to-death idea.
Pick Virago for good characters and for a light quick read which entertains in the first half. A more tauter and different second half could have done wonders.
My rating:
3/5.