Table for Four

by K. Srilata

BOOKS

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Harini Gopalswami Srinivasan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to qualify that one-star rating. If I were to be objective, I'd probably give it a 3 or a 4. But this is a completely subjective rating. I liked the book right till the last few pages. It's very easy to read, really gripping, the characters are well drawn and plausible, and you really want to know what happens to them. The dialogue is sometimes a little stilted, and the author's aversion to apostrophes ('I will' is never shortened to 'I'll', 'it is' is never shortened to 'it's' and so on) is a little strange, but these are minor quibbles. It's actually unputdownable and very very cleverly constructed. I was so excited and impressed! But I absolutely HATED the end, which brought my rating down from a 3-or-4 stars to just 1.

[Monika Satote ( Monikareads_ on Instagram ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A house, three housemates or should I say four, since the landlord, Prithvi uncle, lives there too. Sandra, Derek, and Maya, the book's narrator, are university students in America who share the house. For three years, they lived together under Prithvi uncle's roof, knowing little about each other. As their time together comes to an end, they realize they have nothing to lose and decide to share their stories except for Maya, who struggles to open up, and Derek, who arrives very late. What secrets do they hold? What burdens are they carrying?

"Table for Four" by K. Srilata is a breezy read characterized by its fast-paced narrative, minimal cast of characters, and straightforward storyline. For the most part, the book delivers a light and engaging experience. However, the final three to four chapters diverge from the established tone, introducing elements that feel irrelevant and detract from the cohesive build-up of the story. The conclusion left me shocked, but it lacked the 'wow' factor that I had hoped for. My rating graph went down only because of the end.

What I loved about this book is it highlights how different the trauma is for each one of us. Some people have traumatic experience of their mother being mean to them a couple of times, but others have the lifetime trauma of such things that restricted them from developing. The difference is huge, and we don't realize this when we talk to each other. The secrets, the burdens people live with are very different from ours. That's the lesson.

Overall a breezy read, but did not like how the author chose to end this book.

#bookishlove #shortbooks #tableforfour #fastpaced

[Kerfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes lives are defined by their secrets, the actions that hide behind everyday activities, unrevealed. Is there a way to open and release the ways humans deceive and betray those closest to their hearts?

Srilata's book starts with the surface interactions of four housemates and then digs deeper to question how much anyone can actually know about those who inhabit the same time and space as we do. Do we ever, or are we even able to, wonder enough to ask, or trust enough to tell?

The act of living is a voyage of imperfection. Can we listen and forgive? Can we show ourselves mercy, even as we hear our own confessions and regret mirrored in the agonized voices of others? Or will our collective sorrows continue to be silenced and condemned?

[Pallavi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was happy to discover the layers of the characters but the last two chapters just didn't do enough justice. Another breezy read.

[Nandini Vishwanath · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy read. For me, it was a slightly predictable ending. Didn't come away wowed in any way though.

[Pankaj Mullick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sensitively done - layered, and smooth.