31 by Upendra Namburi is a pulsating thriller. It has a new
twist on an old formula- here the action is in a business setting- a bank.
Political machinations here could give the Congress or Machiavelli a run for
their money.
Covering a span of 31 days in March, the hectic financial
year end, this novel does not dwell on mundane details. On paper, having 31
days described may seem yawn worthy, but the nail biting action keeps the pace
taut till the finish.
Professionals will know and identify with the lives
described here, the hectic nature of work, the uncertainty and the toll that it
takes on family life. There are hiccups- it seems strange that the top brass of
a company would not go after a Twitter bigmouth who keeps taking potshots at
the firm.
The overuse of exclamation marks, especially in the beginning,
before one gets engrossed in the story, is another sticking point. Sometime the
financial jargon can get wearing. There are many characters, so keeping track
of them is a challenge as well.
Since so much of the action happens on phone and over email,
many times the characters seem disembodied. Still, we live Ravi’s
life, holding our breath and exhaling a deep sigh of relief with him.
The constant twists and turns get a little repetitive by the
end. His efforts to save his position, learn why he is on the firing line and
his attempts to find an alternate job give an insight in corporate culture.
Just as Chetan Bhagat’s provided an insider’s view on IIT,
this novel gives the reader the flavour of corporate life. What happens after
an MBA is not necessarily the happily ever after parents and students imagine
it to be.
Savitha, Ravi’s wife is a
strong character in her own right. Maithili, Ravi’s
colleague, also comes across as dangerous, although in a slightly stereotypical
way. She stands out as the lone female representative, in the male world of
banking.
The Blackberry is the unsung hero and sometime villain of
modern life. Here, too, it plays a pivotal role. When it is switched off
important messages are missed, which sharply steer the plot.
The sometimes witty quotes which begin each chapter or day
will resonate with the target audience. “I get email, therefore I am.” Dilbert
modifies and makes Voltaire’s words contemporary.
Sometimes you wish
the pace would slacken, so that you can relax. Some descriptions, characters
chilling out would have helped. But then, is it possible for a corporate
soldier to relax these days?
If one wants to read this to escape from one’s life, it may
not be the right one if you are a wage slave. Still, the ambiguous but somewhat
happy ending will console professionals that there can be a rosy future at
least on paper if not in life.
Ironically, the ones who would most identify with this book
may not have the time to read it. Unless it was mailed to them, a page at a
time, on their Blackberrys…So that they can read it in meetings?
This review is a part of the http://blog.blogadda.at http://www.blogadda.com"com/2011/05/04/indian- bloggers-book-reviews" target="_blank">Book Reviews Program
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