Introduction
Enrolled in an Army hostel to study Law, Saba is torn between her duty towards her parents and her newfound freedom. To complicate matters, she has more suitors than she can handle. Who will she choose? The old crush? The college hotshot? Or the mysterious Lieutenant?
The best thing about reading a well written romantic comedy is that it not only entertains you, it also makes sure you have a companion on all the boring trips you need to make. Combat Skirts by Sahana Ahmed promised to be the perfect companion for me and it surely did live up to its promise!
Written in her inimitable witty style, author Sahana Ahmed makes sure the book is un-put-down-able for the reader. One of the biggest complaints I have always had with romance novels is that the characters look like mere caricatures and their professions don't have any value add. They are merely added for the heck of it. However I would give brownie points to the author for she has not only created completely believable characters, their professions look real and plausible. They could easily be one of us and that is what makes this story a heartwarming read. There is a certain honesty in her writing, one that doesn't mask the real feelings and expresses everything eloquently.
With an engaging narrative the story took me back to my college days when I used to live in a hostel, sharing my room with 4 other girls. Standing on the periphery of adulthood life looks so different, everything is beautiful and yet it all seems confusing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading how the author managed to capture this confusion so well in her words. I adored Saba, she made me laugh, cry and think. Not to forget, the lieutenant. Sahana Ahmed just managed to give me a new crush! I was totally over the moon reading about him with a silly grin on my face. (Note to Author : Thanks for making me feel like a teenager again with this book!)
Vivid descriptions of various places make them come alive, as the author teleports you with the characters. While the story looks like a romance novel from the blurb, it talks about many other things as well. For starters it gives you a glimpse into the army life, it shows the mind of a college going youth, their confusions about everything ranging from career to relationships, it talks about friendships and displays the real strength of family. The author has narrated the whole story in a peppy tone, sprinkled with liberal doses of humour which ensures some really good laugh out loud moments. Over all it is a stellar debut, one that makes you sit up and take notice of the author. She is here to stay and am already looking forward to read more of her work.
Strongly recommended to all romance lovers and otherwise, this is one read that will surely brighten up a dull day for you!
Genre: Fiction/ Romance
Publishers: Juggernaut
Price: Rs. 50/- ( I got the book for review from the publisher)
Behind the Book
Enrolled in an Army hostel to study Law, Saba is torn between her duty towards her parents and her newfound freedom. To complicate matters, she has more suitors than she can handle. Who will she choose? The old crush? The college hotshot? Or the mysterious Lieutenant?
About the Author
Sahana Ahmed is a fiction writer from Gurugram. Her short story 'Zeenat Aman is not a Soldier' was a finalist of the inaugural Juggernaut Love Story Contest. She is an alumna of University of East Anglia’s Creative Writing India Workshop and ‘Combat Skirts’ is her debut novel.
Sahana Ahmed is a fiction writer from Gurugram. Her short story 'Zeenat Aman is not a Soldier' was a finalist of the inaugural Juggernaut Love Story Contest. She is an alumna of University of East Anglia’s Creative Writing India Workshop and ‘Combat Skirts’ is her debut novel.
The best thing about reading a well written romantic comedy is that it not only entertains you, it also makes sure you have a companion on all the boring trips you need to make. Combat Skirts by Sahana Ahmed promised to be the perfect companion for me and it surely did live up to its promise!
Written in her inimitable witty style, author Sahana Ahmed makes sure the book is un-put-down-able for the reader. One of the biggest complaints I have always had with romance novels is that the characters look like mere caricatures and their professions don't have any value add. They are merely added for the heck of it. However I would give brownie points to the author for she has not only created completely believable characters, their professions look real and plausible. They could easily be one of us and that is what makes this story a heartwarming read. There is a certain honesty in her writing, one that doesn't mask the real feelings and expresses everything eloquently.
With an engaging narrative the story took me back to my college days when I used to live in a hostel, sharing my room with 4 other girls. Standing on the periphery of adulthood life looks so different, everything is beautiful and yet it all seems confusing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading how the author managed to capture this confusion so well in her words. I adored Saba, she made me laugh, cry and think. Not to forget, the lieutenant. Sahana Ahmed just managed to give me a new crush! I was totally over the moon reading about him with a silly grin on my face. (Note to Author : Thanks for making me feel like a teenager again with this book!)
Vivid descriptions of various places make them come alive, as the author teleports you with the characters. While the story looks like a romance novel from the blurb, it talks about many other things as well. For starters it gives you a glimpse into the army life, it shows the mind of a college going youth, their confusions about everything ranging from career to relationships, it talks about friendships and displays the real strength of family. The author has narrated the whole story in a peppy tone, sprinkled with liberal doses of humour which ensures some really good laugh out loud moments. Over all it is a stellar debut, one that makes you sit up and take notice of the author. She is here to stay and am already looking forward to read more of her work.
Strongly recommended to all romance lovers and otherwise, this is one read that will surely brighten up a dull day for you!
Foodie Verdict
