I really like epistolary (diary-style) novels. One of my all-time fave such books are the Bridget Jones books by Helen Fielding. Another fave is the classic Lady Susan by Jane Austen. Would Secret Diary of an Incurable Romantic by Chitrangada Mukherjee live up to the high standards set by Austen and Fielding? Yes, it did. If you are a fan of Bridget Jones, then you definitely have to read this desi version.
Synopsis
Meet Madhubala Ray a thirty-year-old brand-spanking-new widow in Chennai.
~ Synopsis from goodreads
She lives with her seventy-year-old mostly-silent MIL-whose name she can't remember, teaches Social Science to bratty teenagers, and suddenly has a life filled with unpredictable men, catty colleagues, a bisexual best friend, and heart-wrenching memories of her late husband.
How does she deal with all of that?
By baring it all, in her diary. Join this oddball-widow who always keeps it real as she gives an honest account of a young North Indian working woman in Chennai, who tries to survive a tragedy through wine and vodka, her quirky sense of humour, and refuses to give up on love. Despite its oddities. The question is: does she survive and find love, again?
My Review
This was a fast and easy, breezy book for me. I loved the setting of a Bengali in Chennai. I also loved the protagonist - Madhubala. She is funny, and unexpected - surprising the reader at every turn.
She is Bridget Jones, but more deep and relatable. When she drinks and embarrasses herself, I didn't cringe (something I often do with chick-lit heroines). I found myself empathizing with her and feeling her pain. What is even more painful is her knowing she is doing something self-destructive, but unable to stop herself.
When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.
~ Secret Diary of an incurable Romantic
In her loneliness, she makes poor decisions when it comes to men. With each man, I felt a sense of fear, would she get badly hurt? Oh no, this doesn't look good, and so on. It's a tribute to the author's writing that she was able to get me so deeply sucked in to the story. Another tribute, for the longest time, I thought this book was non-fictional. It's only when I did a deeper read through of the blurb that I realized it was fiction.
In general, the writing is also good - a bit straightforward and blunt. I guess that is because it is in the diary style.
Overall, a good chick-lit book, fun and entertaining, with a vein of tragedy woven in. I liked it.
Huge thanks to Fingerprint Publishing for sending me this book for review consideration.