Book Review - Half Girlfriend
Half Girlfriend is the latest presentation of India's blockbuster novelist Chetan Bhagat. He is the most famous Indian English writer in India,the reason being his most novels have turned into super hit Bollywood movies like 3 idiots which is inspired from his Five Point Someone, Hello screen adaptation of One Night @ The Call Center, Kai Po Che from Three Mistakes Of My Life and 2 States from the novel of the same name. His another book Revolution 2020 is also in discussions in Bollywood. You can also see him on news channels in various debates and in newspapers writing columns related to youth of India. Now lets come back to the Half Girlfriend. Half Girlfriend is released on 1st October and is published by Rupa Publications.
Cover: The cover didn't reveal much about the plot but still you get an idea that a boy wants a girl but girl was looking disinterested. We can also come on a conclusion that it will be a love story where a boy loves a girl but girl doesn't , Hindi alphabet's on cover are confusing but you will know while reading that they are important factor in the movement of story.
Plot : This is a story of a Bihari boy Madhav Jha who was a prince of Dumraon an erstwhile princely state of British India. He didn't have much money and property now and his mother took care of his expenses by running a school in Dumraon. He came to St. Stephens College in Delhi and get admission there through sports quota as he was a state level basketball champion. He met Riya Somani a high society Delhi girl on the basketball court during trials as she was also from sports quota. Their love of basketball brought them closer and they became good friends. Madhav wanted a relationship and not only friendship but Riya remained reserved and agreed to be his Half Girlfriend. Turn of events followed by Riya 's marriage with Rohan Chandok her family friend after which she moved to London leaving her studies in between. Madhav on the other hand was heart broken after completing his graduation he moved to Dumraon and started teaching in his mother's school . But fate has some other plans for him. He met divorcee Riya. Why she was divorced? Where and when they met again? Why Riya again leaved Madhav ? Will they become one again?All these questions ends in New York.
Boiler : The story deals with the characters we see in real lives. One can easily identify with Madhav Jha and Riya Somani's characters they are from us. Chetan Bhagat writes in a very simple language easily understandable by most people. Within the story line he has beautifully highlighted some of the social problems like the class disparity of Indian society, regional differences, false pride of high society by mentioning abusing husband and a child abuser father, a corrupt politician in MLA Ojha, etc. Inclusion of Gates foundation and Chetan Bhagat himself in the narrative made it closer to reality.
Spoiler : The bad thing about this book is that it is more of a film script than a novel. I found elements and inspirations from the movies like Rockstar, Highway, Anjana Anjaani and other such recent modern movies. I also think that the end is delayed even when the reader knew what's going to be its end yes it is predictable at every turning point.
Rating : Keeping in mind the good and the bad , my rating is 2.5/5 . You will know a story of soon to be made Bollywood movie by reading this.
