Girl Alone

by Rupa Gulab

Cough-syrup junkie and emotionally insecure intellectual snob, Arti, believes that rock bands help her get centered better than shrinks. In Bombay now, on her domineering mother's orders to get a job or else marry a loser hand-picked from the matrimonial columns, Arti's one objective (apart from bombing her Super-Bitch Boss's office) is to keep alive her unrelenting search for the man with whom she can live happily ever after. But Arti has the unique talent of always falling for the wrong men. And as she stumbles from one disastrous relationship to the next, she realizes that men only want you when you don't want them any more.

Genres: Romance

204 pages, Paperback

First published December 28, 2005

About the author

Rupa Gulab is a columnist and the author of Girl Alone, Chip of the Old Blockhead, and The Great Depression of the 40s.

Reviews

[Gayatri Makhijani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here I am thinking back at all the books I've read, trying to pick them out by significance.

Funny how Girl Alone stands out.

It is a much lighter read than the ones I would normally pick out, and more importantly, mull over.

But, there's something about this book that stays.

You know how it feels when you walk into a new city- with no one for company- but warm tea- this is the book for that feeling.

And, you know how it is when you come back to your city- with no need for company- but many memories- this is the book for that feeling.

Like warm red socks, and comfy pajamas, and overused chappals-

Girl alone, this is your faithful companion...

Of hope, the good world, and a little bit of cough syrup.

[Parsa · Rating 2 out of 5]

What do I say about this book. I took it up for a fun chicklit but the main character is a bit displaced in her esteem. Her solution to life's questions is cough syrup. I still completed this book. Even when it shows struggle of modern desi women in desi-land, I still dont think it hits the mark.

[Soulful Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre : Humour, Fiction

This chic lit book is a fun read. Arti, a cough syrup junkie from Kolkata moves to Bombay. She becomes friends with hostel mates Monica & Jo. She has a terrible taste in boy friends and realizes that men only want you when you don't want them any more.

Arti's story is a blend of humour, sarcasm, Romance, friendship, in total its a small book humorous enough to read it but doesn't stay with you for a long time.

"Men may come and go but cough syrup is forever"

Follow me on instagram - @soulful_reader_

[Ashwini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also, he had me wondering whatever happened to the good old French-kiss-in-return-for-French-fries rule.

Girl alone

It's a story about an emotionally insecure intellectual snob, ARTI. And her not so spicy lovelife along with the sassy messed up friends - Jo and Monica . Not to ruin the fun, but if the starting of the story is “My mother made me do it” , you can't help but read.

[Jan Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty and a very real insight to dating and relationships in general - this book is one of my favourite re-reads with references to literature and rock music that one can appreciate

[Aishath Nadha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked it up because I liked the first line. “My mother made me do it” unfortunately while it’s easy enough to read, it’s not interesting enough to stick with you.

[Sharanya · Rating 2 out of 5]

This, my first read of the year, was just about average, but I'm not taking that as a sign of things to come. I'm sure I'll love many of the books I read this year. Girl Alone is worth reading if you're interested in so-called 'chick-lit'. It was one of the first, if I'm not wrong (I obviously need to investigate this genre more). Its narrator is a snob, unfortunately, and turned me off immediately. The book started life as a collection of columns for Cosmo, and it shows. Parts read like a story the author is telling the reader, not the reader discovering things for herself. And it jumps from vignette to vignette. I may have given it an extra star because the narrator lives in a women's hostel and has two best friends, but all they talk about, unfortunately, is men. Still, I don't regret reading this. Off to the next, then!

[Poonam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book that came by my book shelf from a flea market - turns out to be a chick lit. Damn, I am glad I got it from flea market (or was it Blossoms). I hate to buy chick lits, esp expensive ones unless they are gifts for those who appreciate it.

Main protagonist, Arti, as it is in every chick lit is bit crazy sort with some wit and spunk. She is a low-rung ad executive, btw, the ad office pic writer paints puts all that drinking in Mad Men to shame. But, personally she prefers cough syrup, she is addicted to it. And she begins with her relationship with Low Life (her epithet, not mine) and gets dumped.

Even though it is same tried and tested chick lit formula - bad job, dumping/cheating guys, new witty boy savior. It is fine, breezy read - our Indian MBs without soft porn and moralistic hangups. What is redeeming it is full of literature/movie/pop culture references - Pooh, Shakespeare - I suspect the ones writer loves.

Well, book is ready to be sent to flea market or anyone is free to borrow it. (btw, this author is there on Twitter.)

[Vikas · Rating 3 out of 5]

So Girl Alone .. hmm it chic lit so there that, but I like to read every kind of book so there goes. Our protagonist Arti is an English Lit. Graduate from Kolkata University and is a Snob and Cough Syrup Junkie. There are constant references and quotes to and from classic books and rock songs.

I liked the book maybe you should try it too.

People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.

[Kansie · Rating 4 out of 5]

simply a beautiful novel
A different perspective on Asian female struggle to express their core being!
I loved reading this book and it brought a different meaning to "cough syrup"

[Zoe]

nice book

[nOor · Rating 4 out of 5]

HILARIOUS!!!!

[Archana Vanam · Rating 4 out of 5]

great sense of humor, a book every girl in her early twenties should read:)

[Jaykumar B · Rating 5 out of 5]

reading Girl Alone made me laugh aloud a lot of times... simply hilarious...

[Paul Sebastian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fun at times but average otherwise, the book is a one time read Chick lit with added dose of cough syrup.

[Naheed Hassan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written with fun characters. A great read overall and recommended to all the women out there looking for love.

[Preetam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book , simple language ,Girls are reallly going to love this . guys can read it without getting getting bored.