Balloonists

by Rajorshi Chakraborti

Dev, a young British-Asian writer in London, is suddenly informed by his live-in girlfriend, Jo, that she's pregnant. His reaction is to take off for Munich, leaving a note for Jo on the telephone table. What he tells her is that he urgently needs to recover a couple of old manuscripts from his ex-girlfriend, Heidi. What he doesn't say is that although Heidi left him years ago, he has never stopped hoping for a second chance with her. This is Dev's now-or-never opportunity to bare his heart, and get a definite answer. But shortly after their meeting, Heidi disappears without a trace, and her furious mother places the blame entirely on Dev. It now falls on him to try and find her. Unfortunately, the only man who can help him is the one person he would never wish to see again, the infuriating Rodrigo, the man Heidi left him for! Two men thrown together, who could not be more different, but want the same woman equally badly. They will risk everything to reach her. This is their story.

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Ramya · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was putting this book in my "read" list, I had difficulty pinning down the category. It's partly humorous - not the laugh out loud funny kind of humour but a more dry wit. It's mostly a not - coming - of - age novel, about a not very young protagonist who goes off on what seems to be a wild goose chase in order to escape his "responsibilities", in order to avoid getting tied down. Maybe that's why the title, and that's why the cover.

It's also a slightly idiosyncratic novel, and while it has a seemingly linear plot, it keeps veering off until I eventually realised that this isn't so much a plot driven book as it is a situation driven book (if that classification makes any sense). And the situations that our protagonist finds himself in are absurd and surreal. So much so that by the end of it, you're wondering how much of it happened and how much is the protagonist imagining in his head. Again, maybe this is why the title and the cover.

While this was a very well written book, sometimes making me chuckle and laugh (especially the parts set in the aeroplane and in the uncle's house), and often making me ponder, it's also a frustrating book at times. The narrator is hard to like, and I personally found the loose and dreamlike narrative and sudden shifts in mood a little distracting, though that may have even been intended. Despite this, quite enjoyed the book, and would definitely be interested in reading more by Raajorshi Chakraborti.

[Sneh Pradhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I first came across Rajorshi Chakraborti in that aeons-ago literary magazine by Tehelka .....but okay , not gonna get to savor such rare-and-cheap ( Is that even possible ?? yup , that actually was) little packets again !!! Good things last rarely , umpteenth Sigh !!! So , I quite liked his little story about a teenage boy in India and how his coming out of the closet destroys his life and the lives of those around him . Judging by its evocativeness and depth , I picked up this book only to be less than pleased .... Well , the book , a quirky bittersweet story of a man and his reaction/s after his girlfriend tells him of her pregnancy , is mildly funny around its edges , but lacks the requisite punch , as a whole ........ As the protagonist in one particular line says , "Had the two of us photo-shopped one another out of our stream of imaginings during this interval ? " Seriously , "Photoshopped !!!"...........Well , maybe a good one-time read if you love your humor in depths and are willing to jump potholes for it !!!