What to do if you don't find Mr.Right . Review on Imaginary Men - Anjali Banerjee

Having read a couple of serious books, I was looking for some 'light read'. The local library has a separate counter(for lazy ones like me), named'Quick Reads'. I picked this book, as the cover seemed to be attractive(though I've heard that we are not to judge a book by its cover) and the author is of Indian origin.

The story is about Lina, 29, a match-maker, born and brought up in California. She visits India to attend her sister's wedding and is frenzied by her relatives to get married to a guy whom they think is 'suitable' for her. She detests the idea, and feels that she has to wait for a 'Mr.Right'. To escape from the over-enthusiastic family circle, she cooks up a story and says that she's already engaged.(**and hence creates an imaginary man describing him with all the features that she's actually looking for, in the person that she would marry).

She does meet such a person, who fits all attributes that she has'made-up' the imaginary man with. Whether she gains his hand in marriage or not is the remaining part of the predictable story.

I read this book on our Independence Day, and was not very happy with the first line, which says 'I'm allergic to India'. What a way to start the day! However there are certain things that I liked about in this novel:

~ It is a fact that children born and brought up abroad, in a different culture, MAY find it really difficult to cope with the traditions, functions and rituals performed in the same way in India. Rather its difficult to please'elders' for anyone, at times. Just as how relatives in India expect their siblings and relations abroad, to appreciate the ceremonies in India, they should give them the required space and time for them to understand or appreciate the same. These complexities are brought out vividly in the book.

~ The protagonist in this story, Lina, is portrayed to be suffering from a kind of depression, following the death of her boyfriend, and this is the reason cited for her creating an'imaginary man' and not marrying the person of her family's choice; she even converses with him when alone. Though meant to be an entertaining novel, such subtle difficulties in facing realities are brought out in this book.

~  Though match-making is Lina's profession, she finds a tough time hunting for her soul-mate. Her condition no.1 is that she wouldn't cross the boundaries of the U.S. and get married to a person in India. **We do make some decisions and set standards in our minds and in our endeavour to stick to them, we compromise on what we actually need. Lina subsequently weighs her priorities and understands what she actually wants in life.

~ **The author Anjali Banerjee was born in Kolkata and grew up in Canada and California, and hence has been able to do justice in narrating the conflicting cultures

Coming to the drawbacks, I found the story to be very predictable, without much of twists and turns. None of the characters in the story are sketched with the required vigour. Little more homorous punch would have made a difference. Not even once did I laugh out loud, I did force myself for a smile a couple of times. The author has tried to concentrate more on the story, due to which none of the characters would stay in your mind after completing the book. Atleast Lina's character could have been done more justice.

*This book, as I have mentioned earlier, is for a quick read, after any serious or bulky  book. People settled abroad, (in similar situations) may be in a position to associate themselves with this one. I may sound very cynical, but this book is certainly not that very refreshing or entertaining. Certainly not as attractive, as the cover promises to be!