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Remember, Mr Sharma
Delhi, 1997: It is India's fiftieth year of independence, the year of Hindu nationalists and atomic bombs. But twelve-year-old Adi has a bigger his Ma has gone missing - again. Left with an ailing grandmother, a raging father and no answers, he finds an unlikely a talking vulture who reveals itself to be a bureaucrat from the 'Department of Historical Adjustment'. The Department holds Adi's family files, which will take him on a journey through time and memory, through fifty years of India's history, uncovering the darkest secrets of his Ma's past. But first, he must unlock them by facing his greatest fears.
As bright and hopeful as it is devastating, Remember, Mr Sharma explores the ways in which we view the past, its inescapable hold over us and the stories we tell to set ourselves free.
As bright and hopeful as it is devastating, Remember, Mr Sharma explores the ways in which we view the past, its inescapable hold over us and the stories we tell to set ourselves free.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 6, 2023
28 people are currently reading
715 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 2, 2023
In a Nutshell: A look at how past trauma can affect present happiness – a lesson learnt by our twelve-year-old protagonist courtesy a bureaucratic vulture. Though this has a child protagonist, it’s definitely not for children. Covers some thought-provoking themes balanced with light moments.
Story Synopsis:
Bookish Yays:
🌹 Give me the name of one adult novel with a talking vulture! The minute I saw this reference in the blurb, I knew that I *had* to get my hands on this title. The vulture stays unnamed throughout the book, but makes sufficient use of his designation to boss over “Mr. Sharma”, whom we know as Adi. I enjoyed the vulture’s contrary portrayal. He insists on Adi’s speaking correct English while his own English is full of Indianisms. He also claims to be busy and yet he is always available whenever Adi seeks him. He claims that rules are important but he isn’t above bending the rules for his personal benefit. In other words, he was the quintessential governmental employee and a wonderful supporting character in this novel.
🌹 I loved the depiction of our past affecting our present. Though this is a common enough theme, the approach is unique. Nothing happens in our life in isolation, and the book offers a great insight of how everything is interconnected, and also how everything is salvageable, even if it doesn’t appear to be so.
🌹 Adi is a fascinating lead character in many ways. He is written exactly as per his age: mischievous, impetuous, and caring. Caught in that zone between adulthood and childhood, Adi gets the best and worst of both ends. His torn feelings come out well throughout the story.
🌹 Adi’s two best friends Omi and Noor ensure that we get to see the fun side of his tedious convent school. I enjoyed the trio and their atypical friendship.
🌹 The storyline is deceptively complicated. What begins as a simply journey into the past soon touches the darker and murkier side of Indian history. Thought these details are just touched upon in passing, they still pass a stark comment on the biased Indian mentality towards religion and gender. The author doesn’t hesitate in calling a spade a spade, and yet he doesn’t generalise his remarks. I liked his approach towards these tough topics as he calls out the political culprits who divide the nation in various ways for their selfish purposes.
🌹 There are plenty of humorous scenes in the book that serve well to counterbalance the more serious themes.
🌹 As the book is set in 1997, the 50th year of Indian independence, the setting gave me quite nostalgic vibes. From the culture to the dial-up internet to Chip magazine to the TV shows to the political events, 1997 came alive through the pages of this book.
Bookish Nays:
🌵 Because we see the adults in the story only through Adi’s eyes, their sketching isn’t as in-depth as should have been in a character-oriented novel. The representation of Adi’s school and the teachers also felt quite clichéd. As this was an adult novel and not middle-grade fiction, the teachers should have had more layered personalities rather than fitting into typical stereotypes.
🌵 When Adi explores the past with the help of the vulture, the immediate next scene almost always skips some time and goes at least a few days in the future. As such, we don’t get to see Adi’s immediate reaction on seeing the traumatic memory clip from his family’s past. I would have appreciate at least some lines on the immediate impact rather than seeing his feelings only through flashbacks.
🌵While the approach was unique, it automatically sprung up several questions in my mind, not all of which were answered in the plot.
🌵 I didn’t like the ending, though it was a happy one for our little hero. Why should a satisfactory solution involve going out of India? If the message of the book is to learn from the past, why should the resolution involve escaping that very past to find true self-development?
All in all, despite the slower pace and the somewhat-limited character depth, I liked this unusual debut work. Its characters lend it a novelty, and its theme allows it to be thought-provoking and impactful. Recommended to literary fiction lovers wanting to try an unusual Indian novel with themes as Indian as they are global.
Do note that despite the child protagonist, there are some cuss words and gory scenes in the novel. As such, this book is suitable only to an adult audience.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton, Sceptre, and NetGalley for the DRC of “Remember, Mr Sharma”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
Delhi, 1997. Twelve-year-old Adi’s mom has gone missing. Again. Adi is left alone with a hot-tempered and frustrated father and an ailing grandmother. No one tells him where his mother has gone. On his quest to find answers, Adi bumps into a talking vulture, who claims to be a top official from the “Department of Historical Adjustment”. The vulture informs Adi that there is some problem in his family’s memory files, and this can be sorted out only if Adi is willing to travel through the memory files with the vulture. But to do so, he must first face his biggest fears.
The story comes to us in the limited third person perspective of Adi.
Bookish Yays:
🌹 Give me the name of one adult novel with a talking vulture! The minute I saw this reference in the blurb, I knew that I *had* to get my hands on this title. The vulture stays unnamed throughout the book, but makes sufficient use of his designation to boss over “Mr. Sharma”, whom we know as Adi. I enjoyed the vulture’s contrary portrayal. He insists on Adi’s speaking correct English while his own English is full of Indianisms. He also claims to be busy and yet he is always available whenever Adi seeks him. He claims that rules are important but he isn’t above bending the rules for his personal benefit. In other words, he was the quintessential governmental employee and a wonderful supporting character in this novel.
🌹 I loved the depiction of our past affecting our present. Though this is a common enough theme, the approach is unique. Nothing happens in our life in isolation, and the book offers a great insight of how everything is interconnected, and also how everything is salvageable, even if it doesn’t appear to be so.
🌹 Adi is a fascinating lead character in many ways. He is written exactly as per his age: mischievous, impetuous, and caring. Caught in that zone between adulthood and childhood, Adi gets the best and worst of both ends. His torn feelings come out well throughout the story.
🌹 Adi’s two best friends Omi and Noor ensure that we get to see the fun side of his tedious convent school. I enjoyed the trio and their atypical friendship.
🌹 The storyline is deceptively complicated. What begins as a simply journey into the past soon touches the darker and murkier side of Indian history. Thought these details are just touched upon in passing, they still pass a stark comment on the biased Indian mentality towards religion and gender. The author doesn’t hesitate in calling a spade a spade, and yet he doesn’t generalise his remarks. I liked his approach towards these tough topics as he calls out the political culprits who divide the nation in various ways for their selfish purposes.
🌹 There are plenty of humorous scenes in the book that serve well to counterbalance the more serious themes.
🌹 As the book is set in 1997, the 50th year of Indian independence, the setting gave me quite nostalgic vibes. From the culture to the dial-up internet to Chip magazine to the TV shows to the political events, 1997 came alive through the pages of this book.
Bookish Nays:
🌵 Because we see the adults in the story only through Adi’s eyes, their sketching isn’t as in-depth as should have been in a character-oriented novel. The representation of Adi’s school and the teachers also felt quite clichéd. As this was an adult novel and not middle-grade fiction, the teachers should have had more layered personalities rather than fitting into typical stereotypes.
🌵 When Adi explores the past with the help of the vulture, the immediate next scene almost always skips some time and goes at least a few days in the future. As such, we don’t get to see Adi’s immediate reaction on seeing the traumatic memory clip from his family’s past. I would have appreciate at least some lines on the immediate impact rather than seeing his feelings only through flashbacks.
🌵While the approach was unique, it automatically sprung up several questions in my mind, not all of which were answered in the plot.
🌵 I didn’t like the ending, though it was a happy one for our little hero. Why should a satisfactory solution involve going out of India? If the message of the book is to learn from the past, why should the resolution involve escaping that very past to find true self-development?
All in all, despite the slower pace and the somewhat-limited character depth, I liked this unusual debut work. Its characters lend it a novelty, and its theme allows it to be thought-provoking and impactful. Recommended to literary fiction lovers wanting to try an unusual Indian novel with themes as Indian as they are global.
Do note that despite the child protagonist, there are some cuss words and gory scenes in the novel. As such, this book is suitable only to an adult audience.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton, Sceptre, and NetGalley for the DRC of “Remember, Mr Sharma”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Read
August 5, 2024A coming of age story flipping between Partition and the 1980s, dealing with religions, families, school, and misogynist abuses of all kinds. It's infused with a lot of whimsy in the 'talking vulture' part of the plot, which for me rather undermined the emotional heft. Good depiction of the 'walking on eggshells' style of emotional abuse created by living with an angry father, but in the end felt a tad glib.
September 7, 2025
A debut novel set in 1997 India (50 years after Independence). The story centres around a young boy trying to make sense of the present family dynamics through having the opportunity of dipping into the distant past, particularly around partition 50 years ago. I found the story very captivating and really liked how the flashbacks to the past started to explain the current family tensions. The writing style is well suited to this book - simple, easy English but allows the reader to really get to know the characters. My only gripe with the book is the talking vulture, which is seriously weird! However, the story line was so good that I can forgive that. 3.5 Stars.
November 6, 2024
I think I'd give it 3.5 as I found the amount of characters and the relationships between them, at times, very hard to follow.
This however was a very interesting book tackling so many subjects in an unorthodox way. I think I thought the book I was going to be reading was very different to what I actually read, due to the way it started and what I'd read about it.
While this didn't stop me enjoying it, I can't say I fully bought into it.
This however was a very interesting book tackling so many subjects in an unorthodox way. I think I thought the book I was going to be reading was very different to what I actually read, due to the way it started and what I'd read about it.
While this didn't stop me enjoying it, I can't say I fully bought into it.
May 21, 2023
‘Remember, Mr. Sharma’ is a unique bildungsroman set in Delhi, 1997. It follows Adi, a twelve-year-old boy, as he learns to navigate the complexity of his family life. With the help of a magical talking vulture (stay with me- this is magical realism done right!), Adi learns about his family’s traumatic past.
The setting of ‘Remember, Mr. Sharma’ in 1997 is by no means accidental. AP Firdaus shows us a portrait of India in the year of its 50th anniversary of independence. It is also the 50th anniversary of the Partition- an unprecedented event leading to the violent deaths of around 1 million people. Its legacy lives on in the dysfunctionality of Adi’s family, which he learns through a series of visions sent by the aforementioned vulture. Firdaus’ use of the vulture to add humour to his narrative is a stroke of genius, bridging the emotional gap between Adi’s harrowing family history and his relatively normal life as a schoolboy in Delhi.
Adi grows up immeasurably over the course of the book, from being a boy worried about turning up to school in the wrong uniform to a man who is finally able to transcend his family trauma. National trauma, however, is another matter. Characters are constantly chastised along national lines. Language proves to be a major source of often hypocritical conflict. Urdu is frowned upon as being the language of Muslims. English is the language of the colonisers, yet still taught in schools and used prolifically. Sanskrit, supposed by Adi’s teacher to be ‘his own language’ is only spoken on ceremonial occasions. Despite having lived his whole life in Delhi, Adi is too American, too English, too Pakistani, and never Indian enough. Yet the truth is that India is home to a plethora of languages, including Sanskrit, Marathi, Urdu, Punjabi, Malayalam, and even, rightly or wrongly, English.
Disguised by charismatic characters (especially the vulture!) and an engaging and humorous story, Firdaus asks some uncomfortable questions about Indian identity. It seems incongruous that most of the characters find peace only by leaving India. Whether that be for the States, Pakistan, or England, it is perhaps significant that Adi’s family can only come to terms with India’s violent past by leaving it behind them. Or else it is a comment on the chains that tie India’s culture indelibly to these other nations. Either way, Firdaus veils these complex and uncomfortable questions behind a thought-provoking and humorous narrative.
The setting of ‘Remember, Mr. Sharma’ in 1997 is by no means accidental. AP Firdaus shows us a portrait of India in the year of its 50th anniversary of independence. It is also the 50th anniversary of the Partition- an unprecedented event leading to the violent deaths of around 1 million people. Its legacy lives on in the dysfunctionality of Adi’s family, which he learns through a series of visions sent by the aforementioned vulture. Firdaus’ use of the vulture to add humour to his narrative is a stroke of genius, bridging the emotional gap between Adi’s harrowing family history and his relatively normal life as a schoolboy in Delhi.
Adi grows up immeasurably over the course of the book, from being a boy worried about turning up to school in the wrong uniform to a man who is finally able to transcend his family trauma. National trauma, however, is another matter. Characters are constantly chastised along national lines. Language proves to be a major source of often hypocritical conflict. Urdu is frowned upon as being the language of Muslims. English is the language of the colonisers, yet still taught in schools and used prolifically. Sanskrit, supposed by Adi’s teacher to be ‘his own language’ is only spoken on ceremonial occasions. Despite having lived his whole life in Delhi, Adi is too American, too English, too Pakistani, and never Indian enough. Yet the truth is that India is home to a plethora of languages, including Sanskrit, Marathi, Urdu, Punjabi, Malayalam, and even, rightly or wrongly, English.
Disguised by charismatic characters (especially the vulture!) and an engaging and humorous story, Firdaus asks some uncomfortable questions about Indian identity. It seems incongruous that most of the characters find peace only by leaving India. Whether that be for the States, Pakistan, or England, it is perhaps significant that Adi’s family can only come to terms with India’s violent past by leaving it behind them. Or else it is a comment on the chains that tie India’s culture indelibly to these other nations. Either way, Firdaus veils these complex and uncomfortable questions behind a thought-provoking and humorous narrative.
February 23, 2024
I learnt a lot about this period of history in India and Pakistan which I knew very little about. I felt I was learning along with the protagonist. I did feel the device of the vulture and the child narrator were a little a odds with some of the subject matter. By the end I did feel that Adi had mature enough to experience another culture. It makes me angry that in every conflict, girls and women are abused and maltreated raped and dehumanized. Women are not objects. I felt that obvious trauma was glossed over once the older sister was found thriving and well without much explanation of how she had overcome the dreadful things that had happened to her. If we do not face and discuss these things how will attitudes change?
February 22, 2025
Very almost 4 stars. This is a really good and interesting tale set in India and centred on Adri, a young boy trying to understand his family's history and why his mother keeps disappearing. It's a simple and fairly light story but with serious and disturbing issues at its heart. That sometimes worked and sometimes switched too quickly for me. I also struggled keeping track of the different versions of the characters names as they changed over time and depending on context. The vulture was a novel plot device and although a little contrived I liked it. The main improvement would have been 100 pages more to flesh out everything in a bit more detail. Highly recommended though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2025
When I first started this book, I struggled to get into it. Then, by some strange twist of fate, I ended up reading the life of Mahatma Gandhi by Louis Fischer which the lead me to watch Richard Attenborough’s 1982 movie Gandhi. After that, I returned to Remember Mr. Sharma and suddenly I was seeing it through a different lens.
I found myself more engaged, and on this second go, I pretty much devoured it. The characters, the historical layers, the way the story unfolds, it all felt much more vivid and meaningful.
Definitely one of those books that rewards a bit of patience and maybe even a revisit. Glad I returned to it!
I found myself more engaged, and on this second go, I pretty much devoured it. The characters, the historical layers, the way the story unfolds, it all felt much more vivid and meaningful.
Definitely one of those books that rewards a bit of patience and maybe even a revisit. Glad I returned to it!
July 5, 2023
It started as a sad story and it became a paradoxal, thought provoking, darkly humour story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I can say that this book had me at "a talking vulture who reveals itself to be a bureaucrat from the 'Department of Historical Adjustment" and I must read a book featuring a talking vulture.
That said it's a well written story with more than one layer and the author is a talented storyteller.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I can say that this book had me at "a talking vulture who reveals itself to be a bureaucrat from the 'Department of Historical Adjustment" and I must read a book featuring a talking vulture.
That said it's a well written story with more than one layer and the author is a talented storyteller.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
February 24, 2024
Remember, Mr. Sharma by A. P. Firdaus takes us on an adventure with a young boy named Adi, living in Delhi, India. When his mother disappears, Adi finds himself in a world bigger than he imagined. He meets a talking vulture. With the vulture's guidance, Adi travels through time, uncovering the past events that shaped his family, including the Partition of India.
This book not only provides information on India's recent past but also shows how the past can affect the present.
Overall, it's easy to read and takes the reader on an emotional journey.
This book not only provides information on India's recent past but also shows how the past can affect the present.
Overall, it's easy to read and takes the reader on an emotional journey.
November 26, 2023
A debut novel, set in 90s India.
It’s about a boy’s journey to uncover his family’s troubled hidden history.
He finds an unlikely ally in a talking vulture, who takes him on a journey, showing the lasting effects of partition , through time and memory.
Such a charming read, exploring the ways we view the past
Thanks @apfirdas @sceptrebooks & @netgalley for the eARC
It’s about a boy’s journey to uncover his family’s troubled hidden history.
He finds an unlikely ally in a talking vulture, who takes him on a journey, showing the lasting effects of partition , through time and memory.
Such a charming read, exploring the ways we view the past
Thanks @apfirdas @sceptrebooks & @netgalley for the eARC
November 28, 2023
A coming of age story. It didn't seem to flow to me and I found I was easily distracted and needed to flick back to understand what was going on. I liked the main character (as we're supposed to) but I wasn't really sure how the story fitted together. I listened to the audiobook which was really well read.
December 8, 2023
I really enjoyed this book for many reasons
It’s funny and lighthearted with a 12 year old boys take on life and his coming of age.
In contrast to this is his quest for the truth of his mother’s traumatic past and his fathers’ archaic attitudes and beliefs.
This felt like a special debut novel as it felt so much of the writer was emotionally invested in it and for that I thank him.
It’s funny and lighthearted with a 12 year old boys take on life and his coming of age.
In contrast to this is his quest for the truth of his mother’s traumatic past and his fathers’ archaic attitudes and beliefs.
This felt like a special debut novel as it felt so much of the writer was emotionally invested in it and for that I thank him.
July 17, 2025
This was an interesting read, and tackled the serious subjects of the caste system and the treatment of women in India. I really didn't see the point of the vulture though which was used as a way to see into the past. To me it seemed ridiculous and other books have tackled these subjects in a much better way, which is why this is only a 3 star for me.
April 17, 2024
A rewarding read
There were times when I thought about putting this book down. Maybe because I was not very knowledgeable about the history or the content. I am very glad I didn't because it's not really about history - it's about family...and vultures 😁
There were times when I thought about putting this book down. Maybe because I was not very knowledgeable about the history or the content. I am very glad I didn't because it's not really about history - it's about family...and vultures 😁
June 2, 2024
This is the first book that I have read as a recommendation from the programme 'Between the Covers'. Not my usual style of book but really enjoyed it.
Having been watching that programme it makes me consider books outside of my usual genre. 👌
Having been watching that programme it makes me consider books outside of my usual genre. 👌
September 22, 2024
Well another between the covers recommendation and can't fault it. I've really enjoyed reading this one. I found the story good and the pace isn't too slow either. It's also got a little bit about India's history too. Would recommend.
October 16, 2024
'This is the problem when you don't let go of the past, you see? You become a prisoner of your own memories. Sometimes you just have to accept what happened and move on. Life goes on, it doesn't stop for anyone.'
November 17, 2024
Once I adapted to the use of magic realism this was an absorbing and sometimes moving novel. It's set in the 90's but it also goes back further into India's past as a young boy tries to fix his problematic family.
March 23, 2025
Beautiful figurative language and descriptive writing. I felt at times that I was standing alongside Adi watching the memories unfold.
A wonderful story about the importance of understanding not just your past but the past of the people around you.
A wonderful story about the importance of understanding not just your past but the past of the people around you.
December 28, 2023
Okay but not gripping enough for me to want to finish it.
January 8, 2024
HOW HAS THIS GOT SO FEW REVIEWS????? this book was amazing, so beautifully written while walking the line between tragic and humorous perfectly. loved would recommend to everyone
February 23, 2024
An unusual story with the talking vulture. It was interesting reading about partition and Indian culture through the boy's eyes.
April 3, 2024
This had a tiny hint of life of pi about it. Good read.
June 8, 2024
I quite liked the Partition story, but the magic realism didn't really work for me.
June 14, 2024
What a lovely book, really enjoyed it.
July 8, 2024
Fantastic read, a riveting book about finding buried secrets and truths about ones family. Highly recommend.
August 26, 2024
A charming coming of age novel exploring the history and family impacts of partition on the Indian sub-continent assisted by a talking vulture.
Read
October 22, 2024This was a lovely book about an Indian lad whose parents are not exactly happy and explores issues around partition and religion in the sub continent through a family story. I liked the writing.
December 30, 2024
A well written book. After reading this book, you want to know more about the partition, and impact it had on the country.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews