Skip to main content

Book Review : Life is perfect by Himani Dalmia

Introduction

ISBN: 978-81-291-1442-6
Category: Fiction
Publishers: Rupa Publications
Price: Rs. 195/-


Relationships are a beautiful aspect of our lives which bind us together. They bring us loads of reasons to smile but they also bring along equal reasons to be hurt and feel sad about. This books deals with the story of one such large joint family residing in Delhi which goes through its usual ups and downs in life to realize what is important at the end is being there for each other rather than anything else.



Behind the book

Source: Google Images

Life is perfect is the story of a journey described in a simple, evocative prose. Peopled with a cast of unforgettable characters and winding through colleges, cafes, parties and family dinners with great with and sensitivity, it is a stunning portrait of modern life in Delhi today.


 About the Author



Himani Dalmia is the author of Life is Perfect, a coming-of-age novel set in contemporary Delhi. Published by Rupa & Co., Life is Perfect was released nationwide in January 2009 to immediate popularity and critical acclaim. For more details please visit www.himanidalmia.com

‘Me’ Thinks



You can't stop the future , You can't rewind the past
The only way to learn the secret ...is to press play.


This quote describes this book perfectly. 'Life is perfect' - though seems like an oxymoron is a very catchy title to this book. Once you finish reading it you surely feel that nothing else but this suits the book. For despite all its ups and downs, life is beautiful and perfect.

In our lives we are surrounded by some wonderful people like our parents, friends, loved ones, colleagues, teachers etc etc. Each one of them has a role to play in our lives. Most of the times they teach us something but sometimes they also hurt us.  But do we stop loving them? Or do we extend all our broken pieces to them just to see what wins - our love or their hurt?

This story is about a girl Mitali Jatia who belongs to a very rich and influential family in Delhi. The book is about her journey in discovering life - the harsh realities that surround her family and learning how to cope with them. There are times when her sanity is challenged and her decision making ability hazy. But still Mitali with her sheer grit and firm determination manages to find a way out of all this chaos with her head held high and dignity intact. This book shows you what is coming of age after having witnessed unexpected disasters by none other than your immediate family members.

The cover page is very eye catching and it is this that made me pick up this book. And needless to say I was not disappointed. Jealousy, hatred, death,  extra marital affairs, fighting over inheritance and many other such aspects typical to a large Indian family have been very beautifully handled by the writer in this book. The narrative is a bit slow as it is family drama and there are no unexpected twists in it. Despite all this Himani Dalmia has managed to give this normal looking family saga a tinge of suspense. It is intriguing to read how the story unfolds and you cannot help but feel sad for the children trapped in such a family. They have to grow up early because of all these suprises that life throws their way. I like the grace with which Himani Dalmia has handled such delicate topics without making you cringe as you read it.

Over all an interesting one time read as it shows you the real face of our so called High class Indian families.

Foodie Verdict


Source: Google Images
This book is like Maggi - Instant, tasty, host, spicy, filling and an instant mood changer on a dull boring day too!

Popular posts from this blog

Movie Review: If by Tathagata Ghosh – A Tender Portrait of Love, Loss, and Possibility

If , a 26-minute short film by acclaimed Bengali filmmaker Tathagata Ghosh, is a sensitive, evocative piece of storytelling that lingers long after the credits roll. Set against the everyday rhythm of life in Kolkata, the film delicately unpacks the story of a lesbian couple torn apart by the weight of societal expectations and dares to imagine a different future, one where a mother's love might just change everything.  What struck me first was the film’s raw, grounded realism. The characters feel like people we know, middle-class families navigating a complex world with quiet resilience. The world of If is filled with silences, glances, and stills, rather than heavy dialogue. Ghosh masterfully uses these moments to speak volumes, allowing viewers to sit with discomfort, interpret the unspoken, and feel deeply.

Book Review: The Story of Eve: Selected Poems by Zehra Nigah

Few voices in Urdu poetry have carried the weight of history, resistance, and deep personal introspection quite like Zehra Nigah. One of the first women to break into the traditionally male-dominated world of Urdu poetry, Nigah’s work stands as a testament to the power of words to illuminate, question, and challenge. The Story of Eve: Selected Poems, translated by Rakshanda Jalil, brings together some of her most powerful nazms and ghazals, showcasing both her literary elegance and her unflinching gaze at the human condition, particularly through the lens of gender, social injustice, and political turmoil.

The Urban Gaze : Reimagining the Village in Contemporary Indian Cinema

Indian cinema has long been fascinated with the village. From the earthy, socialist realism of Do Bigha Zamin (1953) to the melodramatic lament of Mother India (1957), the village once stood as both heartland and hinterland — a space of moral clarity, rustic struggle, and often unyielding fate. But as the urban middle class began to dominate cinematic production and consumption, the depiction of the village increasingly came to reflect an urban gaze, that is, a perspective shaped by distance, nostalgia, condescension, or even outright fantasy.  In recent years, this urban gaze has taken on new shades, evident in the way mainstream and indie filmmakers alike have re-engaged with rural India. While some have tried to explore the village as a site of resistance, authenticity, or even horror, others continue to reproduce sanitized or exaggerated versions of village life that serve urban sensibilities more than rural realities.