[source: Amazon.com]
Continuing from my previous post, I finished reading How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life. :-D! The book was just another chick-flick. It didn’t cater to my taste or my expectation of the book. [Un]fortunately for the author, the book was taken off from the shelves of all bookstores, as a result of some plagiarism, accepted by the author. The media of course blew it up, the author got some flak and some notorious publicity. Anyway, D was carrying this book and saying it was an ok read, so I took it from her, and got myself some lovely Bhature, a pack of Lays and settled down to read….
So, whaddya find in this book, hmmm… Lemme “list” it out… ;-)!
- Two nerdy, obsessive compulsive parents whose sole objective in life was to get their daughter into Harvard
- Some crappy liners
- A teenage romantic flick theme
- No erotica whatsoever :-(!
In comes Opal Mehta, the central character of the book [Duh!!], and the explanation of a geeky, nerdy female who’s leading a sad life, according to the Dean of Admissions of Harvard. Oh did I forget to mention that it was her dream school, and her parents’. They even devised HOWGIH – How Opal Would Get Into Harvard, a “comprehensive” plan, filled with charts, and lists [her mom’s favorite], and what not! The book takes us through the implementation of the plan HOWGAL – How Opal Will Get a Life, as the Dean of Admissions suggested she should. ;-)!
The book, I figured was badly compiled! Yes, it had structure, it had some funny lines. The author can depict some vivid pictures with her usage of words :-D! The situation might arise, indeed, it’s actually even really possible. What could have been an awesome plot however, was thrown down on the floor, stamped, pissed upon, and allowed to mould…
Well, the parents were depicted as stupid nerds, which is something I don’t agree with. Most of the nerds, geeks etc aren’t all that impractical. Yes there are very, very rare cases. But, they definitely aren’t the norm. C’mon, suddenly conservative Indian parents, who considered getting their only child into Harvard decide to be oh-so-cool parents, who go to the extent of learning even the lingo of the day.
IOW, parents who would say “Hi Opal. How are you today?” started saying “Yo ‘sup Opal? Everything hanging well in the hood today?”
Hmmm, Nopes, it just can’t be… But then again, it’s a work of fiction :-D!! Hehehe!
The book would still have been nice to read, had it not been for the introduction of Sean, Opal’s to-be-boyfriend-whose-guts-she-doesn’t-like-initially. [That’s so passe a chick-flick yaar]. I mean, comon there should have been some originality in the writing. But, no, he’s this guitar god, an anti-establishment hero [hehe not our Aamir Khan types], who knows and judges people for who they are. Studies is not his way to live. Respect for his idol, Jim Morrison is the only way to go. Oh apart from his mother and guitar and prolly his boss at the coffee-shop he works… [Forgot, rather didn’t pay too much attention]
Verdict:
The book is ok to read, but then that’s about it. Nothing phenomenal. Reminds me of the classic teenage chick-lit movies.
What I thought was awesome was the fact that Kaavya Viswanathan got $500,000 from the publishers of the book. That really really motivates me to write about my own life. I am sure if compiled would amount to quite some pages and some funny incidents. :-D!!
Note to self: Have to, _HAVE TO_, start on that :-D!! Hehehe!!
@gurupanguji • Ramblings of an Eccentric Soul 
Hey!
Like the look….
Wanna read the book…donno why?! prolly to know how she cud get US publishers to pay her for smthg tat doesnt even sound interesting!:P!
Anyways….one of the prev posts…the pic n poem…nice! 🙂
TC n enjoy!
Divs
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@ Divya: Hey, you are back finally. :-)! Yeah, even I loved the look :-)!
I think you should read this book. I think everybody should read this book, especially, if it will make you read and ponder about writing a book yourself!
Hehe, actually the pic is old. The post was inspired by a sketch that I had started. But I didn’t wanna put up that sketch, coz I think it’s better off looking as is, with just the eyes!! :-D!!
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hmmm..even i wanna read dat book..even the street shops stopped sellin them or wat! can’t find it anywhere…when did these guys become “serious” book sellers!!!??
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LOL. :-D! They only buy those books, which are published cheaply in India. Anyhoo, two of my friends actually bought the book.
Yeah, all I can say is, read, weep, bitch, get on with life :-D!! Hehehe!
I have indeed come across people who have actually enjoyed the book. So, well, all I am left to do is wait.. watch… and learn [expression: copyright Decollapse Inc.] ;-)!
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Hey Pangs!
You are correct…After reading the book I wonder how publishers were ready 2 shell out a lumpsum for that piece of work…
This makes sure that anyone can write a book…
Start off Pangs..I am sure u’ll have better things to say about if ya come up with one…
The best would be if all of us come up with their own stories..V’ll hav different versions for the same stuff..it would be fun…
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@ Lax: Wow, that was your first ever comment :-D!! Thanks monks. :-D!! Hehehe. Yeah, I will start off lax. And yeah, waitin for “ur” versions of the stories as well..
Btw, I really wonder how you are gonna manage the “inside outside” thing in your stories/memoirs ;-)!!
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the book is an utter crap……. ur review was gr8. it was sumwat like an american teen movie. i mean if Opal mehta had such a perfect figure to wear minis why the hell would she be hiding it all her life? and if sean really liked her why did he bother to talk to her when she changed from an ugly duckling into a swan.
another thing i never understood tht if author kavya had to copy why did she copy such a crappy book. i mean if u hav to steal steal sumthng worthwhile.
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@ Sreya: LOL! Yeah… I agree.
ROFLMAO!!
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well I too personally liked the novel….except that it was a bit too ‘me’ types….I mean Opal, the girl, was too much highlighted in the first person…
If someone can give me the SOCIOLOGICAL VIEW of this book pls….i need it for a project hehe…
like theres so much cultural shock, so many croos-cultures, cultural comparisons, roles and status in the society,,,,
if anyone can pls find it and mail me to me…i’ll be really glad!
my mail ID is sapanv4u@gmail.com
thanx
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