I know I am super late with this book review but better late than never. I love the author’s writing and read almost everything she has written in books or media prints. I liked her write-ups and after Mrs. Funnybones I became a fan of her writing. Mrs. Funnybones was Twinkle Khanna’s debut as an author. It is based upon her immensely popular and delightfully irreverent column of the same name published in Mumbai newspaper, DNA.
About the author: Twinkle Khanna
Twinkle Khanna is a famous newspaper columnist, film producer, former film actress, and interior designer. Her write-ups are witty, entertaining and effective. Her first book was Mrs. Funnybones and it sold over one hundred thousand copies, making her India’s highest-selling female writer of 2015.
Genre: Fiction
Book Review:
Pyjamas are Forgiving (Juggernaut Books, 2018) was released on September 2018 and debuted at number 1 on the Nielsen Bookscan All-India Bestseller List. (Source-Wikipedia).
Anshu, the protagonist of the book is a woman with whom you would feel a special connect with because she goes through the similar emotions many of us go through often. A wry, plump divorcee in her 40s, but for different reasons or at least that’s what book portrays. We meet her at Shanthamaaya Sthalam in Kerala, this place is an Ayurvedic spa which is over-expensive but does offer good results. She has been coming to biennially for years.
A spa where people are supposed to exercise restraint, consume copious amount of ghee and in turn get treated for their ailments, a middle-aged woman, Anshu, our protagonist – finds it hard to sleep. The book touches bits about her days spent in the spa, her rude shock on meeting her ex-husband, and her final realization that it is a pair of jeans that hold grudges while pajamas (pyjamas) are forgiving.
Anshu’s character in the book is surrounded by many side-artists who are co-habitants of the Shanthamaaya sanctuary. The description of the routine, right from the ghee drinking spree to banter between the patients can draw chuckles or shudders, depending on your perspective and belief in alternative remedies. The author doesn’t impose or endorse views where this is concerned, she simply states it like it is, but with much fun.
Well, to say the least, You don’t reach your forties without feeling grief, loneliness and moments of absolute joy.
Buy or Not to Buy:
If you like the writing style of this author then you should give this a try though for me this was not as good as I was hoping for this book to be. A light read it is. I was hoping to see more of her magic of witty writing and was a bit disappointed, however, This is written for all those women who, own the scars, the cellulite, as well as the beauty spots. There are cameos that will make you laugh out loud, and also recognize people from your own life.
The vocabulary is simple and narration is well written, even when the story seems to be losing plot you want to read just a bit more hoping it will get better. The narration has both humor and empathy which is a trademark of the author’s storytelling. Talking about the cover it totally depicts a story of the inside and I genuinely liked it, quite eye-catchy.
Sometimes the book may seem like a drag and a plot a bit boring, but the good narration and the emotional connection to the protagonist seem to overcome the drag beautifully.
For me, it is an average read.
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This post has been written as part of the #BlognBookswithus Blog Train hosted by Kapila from Every Little Thing: Happiness and Kavita from the Momtastic World. You can read my previous blog on this blog train here. We are posting about books on our blogs. So hop on and enjoy reading these wonderful posts.
I like writings of Mrs. Funnybones aka Twinkle Khanna. I did not read this book being reviewed. May be I should. Thank you for writing a nice review.
Great to read an honest review of the book. The book was wrong at so many places, right from justifying cheating. I liked her previous book though.
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Thanks for the review! So while I do find Twinkle’s writing very witty and funny, I feel some times it’s a tad slow and drags on too. However, overall I am fond of her as an author so will add this to my reading. 🙂
This was really earnest buddy and I felt the same about the book after reading it
I agree with your review. I have read her Mr. Funnybones and it was fine but I didn’t like the second one.
Even I am a big fan of Twinkle Khanna’s writings, I loved her book Mrs. Funnybones. And, I was about to pick up this one but after reading your review I am contemplating whether to go for it or not. I really liked the way you reviewed this book.
I like Twinkle Khanna’s column better than her books. I found her first one quite average and gave this one a miss. Liked your honest review.
Thanks for the totally candid review of the book. I have not read anything by Twinkle Khanna but I will avoid beginning with this one.
Haven’t read any of the books by Twinkle Khanna till date. This one seems like a time-pass read.
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Haven’t read any of the books by Twinkle Khanna till date. This one seems like a time-pass read.
I found Mrs. Funnybones was okay, I didn’t like the second one. I haven’t read the latest one though. Thanks for the review, i’ll probably give it a pass.
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I am a huge fan of Mrs. Funnybones writing style, her satire is funny but very realistic too. I have not read this book, but would love to pick and give it a shot.
I haven’t heard or read this one yet. Your review was helpful! I will skip it.
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I have heard a lot about this book and of course, we all know the author so well but..I really loved the honest review you have shared here..
Interesting blogpost dear. Twinkle Khanna is very witty indeed, wonder how she missed to hit it well in this book.
I didn’t read this book. But As you mentioned in your review, similar feedbacks I received for this book.
Agree with you. The author has come across someone who speaks sense and wit weaved in her words. Both went missing in this case.
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Oh i have always found her writing much better than her acting though, will go as per your recommendation
Im quite interested to read more about the book, i like the fact that it portrays this lady coming to the expensive spa for years, though its service is not that great and how she gets a realisation – how a pair of jeans made her hold grudges while pajamas were forgiving.
Agree with your review. I didn’t like this one much either, though I loved her first one. It desperately lacked the wit I have come to associate with her and the plot was so nonsensical.
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