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The Perfect Groom
Very little has gone right in Nithya’s young life. So, when a proposal from a young, handsome NRI comes along, her mother jumps at the opportunity and packs her daughter off to the US with her perfect groom.
Nithya seems to have settled in with Ashok, ostensibly happy, if as yet childless, in her new life. When an old flame comes back into her life, however, the cracks in her perfect marriage begin to show…
Nithya seems to have settled in with Ashok, ostensibly happy, if as yet childless, in her new life. When an old flame comes back into her life, however, the cracks in her perfect marriage begin to show…
140 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2013
31 people are currently reading
319 people want to read
About the author
Sumeetha Manikandan
16 books139 followersSumeetha Manikandan is a freelance writer and an author who loves to write and base her plots on the tambrahm community of Mylapore, Chennai. She is the author of ‘The Perfect Groom’ that has been a bestselling ebook on the top 50 charts of Amazon India ever since publication.
An avid reader, she loves to read across different genres – romance, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery, fantasy etc. A history buff to the core,
she is currently translating Ponniyin Selvan – the evergreen tamil classic epic history by Kalki Krishnamurthy into English.
Married to film maker K.S. Manikandan, Sumeetha lives in Chennai, along with her six year old daughter.
An avid reader, she loves to read across different genres – romance, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery, fantasy etc. A history buff to the core,
she is currently translating Ponniyin Selvan – the evergreen tamil classic epic history by Kalki Krishnamurthy into English.
Married to film maker K.S. Manikandan, Sumeetha lives in Chennai, along with her six year old daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 5, 2014
The Perfect Groom by Sumeetha Manikandan is yet another sweet love story and accounts of a young married woman who goes through the torments and pangs of her not-so-perfect marriage.
Thanks to Indireads for providing me with a copy of this book, in return for an honest review.
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, a German philosopher of the late 19th century, has once quoted:
“It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.”
Sumeetha Manikandan, is one such author, who has described and made us felt the gravity of Nietzsche's powerful quotation, in her book, The Perfect Groom. The protagonist, Nithya's loneliness and unhappiness are the cry to many such women who too are trapped, like Nithya, in their loveless marriage.
Nithya, her sister and her mother are spending their lives as being the servant of Nithya's uncle's household. In order to save her daughter's not so glorious fate under their uncle's so called care, Nithya's mother sets her marriage with a rich, handsome NRI, and luckily, NRI Ashok was on the lookout for an obedient and well-behaved Indian wife and Nithya happens to fit the bill. But soon after reaching U.S, Nithya realizes that she is trapped in a loveless marriage, although Ashok provided her with all the material needs but he couldn't be a friend to her and when Nithya remains childless after her marriage, she undergoes the torments and bickering of her rude mother-in-law. There she comes across her old flame, Vasu, and soon Nithya finds an inkling in her heart, but being a married woman, her brain stops her from getting weak towards Vasu, whereas it is becoming difficult to control her heart's desire.
Sumeetha Manikandan's style of weaving this enticing journey of a lonely woman is quite crisp and emphatic. From the very beginning of the book, Nithya has been portrayed as a lonely girl, living under her uncle's care and then suddenly being forced to get married to a man who couldn't extend his hand in being the perfect companion to her, thus implicating that Nithya has been a victim of misery and bad luck and unhappiness from a very tender age, and this captures every reader's soul towards her fate. I loved how the author had that control over all her characters, starting from Nithya's mom to her Uncle and Aunt to her mother-in-law. Each character is developed quite well and can be related to the mindsets of individuals who behave similarly in reality. Nithya's emotions are so raw and strikingly described that you can almost feel her pain and sadness from our very own hearts. The chemistry between Nithya and Vasu has also been handled very smoothly and is quite remarkably represented. Overall, the author might have written this novella based on a social issue, but she has crafted the tale very intriguingly and passionately.
Read this book for sure, to get enthralled by the author's use of simplistic words to create a remarkable journey of a young lonely married woman.
Thanks to Indireads for providing me with a copy of this book, in return for an honest review.
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, a German philosopher of the late 19th century, has once quoted:
“It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.”
Sumeetha Manikandan, is one such author, who has described and made us felt the gravity of Nietzsche's powerful quotation, in her book, The Perfect Groom. The protagonist, Nithya's loneliness and unhappiness are the cry to many such women who too are trapped, like Nithya, in their loveless marriage.
Nithya, her sister and her mother are spending their lives as being the servant of Nithya's uncle's household. In order to save her daughter's not so glorious fate under their uncle's so called care, Nithya's mother sets her marriage with a rich, handsome NRI, and luckily, NRI Ashok was on the lookout for an obedient and well-behaved Indian wife and Nithya happens to fit the bill. But soon after reaching U.S, Nithya realizes that she is trapped in a loveless marriage, although Ashok provided her with all the material needs but he couldn't be a friend to her and when Nithya remains childless after her marriage, she undergoes the torments and bickering of her rude mother-in-law. There she comes across her old flame, Vasu, and soon Nithya finds an inkling in her heart, but being a married woman, her brain stops her from getting weak towards Vasu, whereas it is becoming difficult to control her heart's desire.
Sumeetha Manikandan's style of weaving this enticing journey of a lonely woman is quite crisp and emphatic. From the very beginning of the book, Nithya has been portrayed as a lonely girl, living under her uncle's care and then suddenly being forced to get married to a man who couldn't extend his hand in being the perfect companion to her, thus implicating that Nithya has been a victim of misery and bad luck and unhappiness from a very tender age, and this captures every reader's soul towards her fate. I loved how the author had that control over all her characters, starting from Nithya's mom to her Uncle and Aunt to her mother-in-law. Each character is developed quite well and can be related to the mindsets of individuals who behave similarly in reality. Nithya's emotions are so raw and strikingly described that you can almost feel her pain and sadness from our very own hearts. The chemistry between Nithya and Vasu has also been handled very smoothly and is quite remarkably represented. Overall, the author might have written this novella based on a social issue, but she has crafted the tale very intriguingly and passionately.
Read this book for sure, to get enthralled by the author's use of simplistic words to create a remarkable journey of a young lonely married woman.
February 20, 2014
This was first my 'novella' and it was the perfect nightcap over two nights. Simple, succinct, fluent and flowing, Sumeetha's easy style smoothly pulled me into Nithya's life as she manoeuvred her way pre and post marriage to emerge a survivor. Neat plot and storyline. Topical concerns - gay man, straight woman trapped in a loveless marriage. I liked the author's handling of the wife's empathy and sympathy for her erring husband contrasted with the straightforward perception of sheer wrongdoing in Vasu's perspective. Character constructs were consistent, though personally speaking, I found the Chittappa's manipulations a little hard to digest, because it just seemed so cruel and heartless; similarly I found Nithya's lies a bit too uncomfortable, but they were all in keeping with the background story, the situations and the characterisation. I guess there must be people like this amongst us, and Sumeetha evoked that very well.
Look forward to more novellas and novels Sumeetha!
Look forward to more novellas and novels Sumeetha!
June 1, 2014
http://njkinny.blogspot.in/2014/06/bl...
What do you do when you are stuck in a loveless marriage?
Should you try and come out of this predicament knowing that it will most likely break your mother's heart and ruin your sister's future?
Or Should you just go on living and feigning happiness to everyone around?
Nithya is stuck in such a dark pit of a marriage where there is no way out for her. Ashok, her husband, is rich, handsome, lives in the U.S and provides Nithya with a comfortable existence except that all this is without any intimacy, love or support from him as her husband. There marriage is a sham. In the public eye, Nithya is so blessed to have snatched such a promising catch; what with her being a dependent raised on the charity of her Uncle and Aunt who leave no occasion without reminding her of their sacrifices to support her, her sister and her mother. Add an always demanding mother-in-law who is always making Nithya feel guilty of her inability to produce a child or blaming her for all of Ashok's vices; and a father-in-law who knows everything but has chosen to keep silent and harass his daughter-in-law into silence too, the mix is deadly and depressing for Nithya.
What will she do?
Will she fight against this injustice done to her or remain mute and let her Uncle, Ashok and her father-in-law threaten her with warnings of ruining her family's future if she tells anyone the truth?
The Perfect Groom is a difficult book to rate. While at first glance you think that this is a typical arranged marriage gone wrong story, once you start getting better acquainted to Nithya and the other characters, you start noticing the novelty of the book. While the plot is nothing new, the treatment and the narration make this book a memorable read.
I was hooked right from the start and felt totally invested right till the very end. A story that made me feel outraged, helpless, angry and then sad for Nithya, I just wanted to punish the people who thought they could easily sacrifice a person's life as if she was nothing. Making a person feel indebted to you is one thing but making him feel helpless, hopeless and ashamed is totally another and this is what Nithya had been made to feel all her life. While her mother had been made a servant, she and her sister had been a constant object of ridicule and made to feel worthless and indebted to her Uncle and Aunt's gesture of providing a roof over their heads.
Sumeetha makes her characters real and we can easily connect them with the many similar people we have met in our own lives. Taking a very common concept of arranged marriage in India, Sumeetha has brought to light the exploitation, unreasonable demands and the complaints a woman faces at the hands of her family or relatives for things that are not in her hands but apparently still her doing. Nithya is a strong woman who has endured the worst in her life but is still hopeful of one day leaving her depressing marriage behind and find a new life. I admired Nithya's strength and felt sorry for her. Her constant scrutiny by her mother-in-law and the other women in her family and their conscious ignorance of her feelings and self-respect made me feel very angry and frustrated. I wanted Nithya to say something to them, to give them a piece of her mind but still could understand her reasons for keeping silent. Ashok, is a foul mouthed, spoilt and a total pig, in my opinion. He is unconcerned of his wife's happiness and treats her badly. Had he wanted, he could have saved Nithya from this sham marriage but instead he married her under false pretenses and then told her the truth knowing fully that she could not do anything now. His mother and father are also the same or even an higher degree of hypocrites and signify the class of people who act all high and mighty with big principles but are in truth the lowest level of scum with their narrow thinking and obsolete ideals. Nithya's mother lacks the backbone to stand up to her step sister but still manages to shield her daughters on several occasions through pure diplomacy. The romance when it comes in Nithya's life is like a burst of fresh air. I loved the emotional and physical chemistry between Nithya and her love (I wont tell you his name. Read the book to find out.) and fervently hoped that she get her much deserved happily-ever-after.
The story is beautifully set in the beautiful Mylapore and Sumeetha gives us a glimpse into the life and aspirations of a bride and her sense of responsibility after marriage. The scenes are emotionally charged and take the reader on a roller coaster ride which is bound to leave you shaken and touched.
I immensely loved the book and congratulate the author on taking up such a serious topic and doing justice to it. The story of many women in India, I think everyone will relate to Nithya. Super shiny 5 on 5 to The Perfect Groom and a strong recommendation that you do read the book. I definitely look forward to read more from the author.
I received the book from the author and the tour organizers and I am very thankful to them. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
What do you do when you are stuck in a loveless marriage?
Should you try and come out of this predicament knowing that it will most likely break your mother's heart and ruin your sister's future?
Or Should you just go on living and feigning happiness to everyone around?
Nithya is stuck in such a dark pit of a marriage where there is no way out for her. Ashok, her husband, is rich, handsome, lives in the U.S and provides Nithya with a comfortable existence except that all this is without any intimacy, love or support from him as her husband. There marriage is a sham. In the public eye, Nithya is so blessed to have snatched such a promising catch; what with her being a dependent raised on the charity of her Uncle and Aunt who leave no occasion without reminding her of their sacrifices to support her, her sister and her mother. Add an always demanding mother-in-law who is always making Nithya feel guilty of her inability to produce a child or blaming her for all of Ashok's vices; and a father-in-law who knows everything but has chosen to keep silent and harass his daughter-in-law into silence too, the mix is deadly and depressing for Nithya.
What will she do?
Will she fight against this injustice done to her or remain mute and let her Uncle, Ashok and her father-in-law threaten her with warnings of ruining her family's future if she tells anyone the truth?
The Perfect Groom is a difficult book to rate. While at first glance you think that this is a typical arranged marriage gone wrong story, once you start getting better acquainted to Nithya and the other characters, you start noticing the novelty of the book. While the plot is nothing new, the treatment and the narration make this book a memorable read.
I was hooked right from the start and felt totally invested right till the very end. A story that made me feel outraged, helpless, angry and then sad for Nithya, I just wanted to punish the people who thought they could easily sacrifice a person's life as if she was nothing. Making a person feel indebted to you is one thing but making him feel helpless, hopeless and ashamed is totally another and this is what Nithya had been made to feel all her life. While her mother had been made a servant, she and her sister had been a constant object of ridicule and made to feel worthless and indebted to her Uncle and Aunt's gesture of providing a roof over their heads.
Sumeetha makes her characters real and we can easily connect them with the many similar people we have met in our own lives. Taking a very common concept of arranged marriage in India, Sumeetha has brought to light the exploitation, unreasonable demands and the complaints a woman faces at the hands of her family or relatives for things that are not in her hands but apparently still her doing. Nithya is a strong woman who has endured the worst in her life but is still hopeful of one day leaving her depressing marriage behind and find a new life. I admired Nithya's strength and felt sorry for her. Her constant scrutiny by her mother-in-law and the other women in her family and their conscious ignorance of her feelings and self-respect made me feel very angry and frustrated. I wanted Nithya to say something to them, to give them a piece of her mind but still could understand her reasons for keeping silent. Ashok, is a foul mouthed, spoilt and a total pig, in my opinion. He is unconcerned of his wife's happiness and treats her badly. Had he wanted, he could have saved Nithya from this sham marriage but instead he married her under false pretenses and then told her the truth knowing fully that she could not do anything now. His mother and father are also the same or even an higher degree of hypocrites and signify the class of people who act all high and mighty with big principles but are in truth the lowest level of scum with their narrow thinking and obsolete ideals. Nithya's mother lacks the backbone to stand up to her step sister but still manages to shield her daughters on several occasions through pure diplomacy. The romance when it comes in Nithya's life is like a burst of fresh air. I loved the emotional and physical chemistry between Nithya and her love (I wont tell you his name. Read the book to find out.) and fervently hoped that she get her much deserved happily-ever-after.
The story is beautifully set in the beautiful Mylapore and Sumeetha gives us a glimpse into the life and aspirations of a bride and her sense of responsibility after marriage. The scenes are emotionally charged and take the reader on a roller coaster ride which is bound to leave you shaken and touched.
I immensely loved the book and congratulate the author on taking up such a serious topic and doing justice to it. The story of many women in India, I think everyone will relate to Nithya. Super shiny 5 on 5 to The Perfect Groom and a strong recommendation that you do read the book. I definitely look forward to read more from the author.
I received the book from the author and the tour organizers and I am very thankful to them. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
April 9, 2018
4 Stars!
There's something to be said for nostalgia and how reading a book triggers memories in your head. This is my second book of the author, I cherished The Lines of Mehendi, I loved this one too but a little less than the other. But through a book she made me miss my hometown, the food and everything about it. I never fully understood when other people comment on how the author based this book on their hometown and how it was so relatable. Now I get it :)
The relatability ends there though , this book was a rollercoaster of emotions. Nithya feels indebted to her Uncle and agrees to a marriage with a guy whom she bearly knows and moves to the US. Little did she know what was in store..
The relationship with her sister and mother were shown beautifully and with care. I understood the situation but unlike protagonist in other book this circumstance is not as terrible. Nithya could have stood up for herself a lot earlier, but she puts herself behind and waits for the right time. A chance encounter with a person from her past sets events in motion in her life
I zipped through the book in a single day. The final chapters had me edges almost like a tele serial :) Vasu was well written and stands by Nithya and her family till the end. I found that honorable. The Uncle and the mother in law were typical characters shown as delusional and evil people, which added to the entertainment. Ashok did not have a backbone and was horrible to Nithya, so for most of the book, I was not happy with him. But most of all, this is a book about Nithya, she is shown as silent sufferer and slowly she learns to stand up for herself and wants to lead her life, become independent and be with her beloved in her own terms. I struggled to relate to her giving in to her feelings which led to a misunderstanding. But well, we get our HEA and strong-ish heroine in the bargain
This book was a little rough around the edges, the second one was clean and wonderful. I am not a fan of short forms for chat language and a few dialogues were stilted, maybe that's why :) and hence the 4 stars. It was brilliant, but not perfect
This book also made me feel like I didn't want it to end. This author has definitely become an auto-buy for me! Looking forward to more :)
There's something to be said for nostalgia and how reading a book triggers memories in your head. This is my second book of the author, I cherished The Lines of Mehendi, I loved this one too but a little less than the other. But through a book she made me miss my hometown, the food and everything about it. I never fully understood when other people comment on how the author based this book on their hometown and how it was so relatable. Now I get it :)
The relatability ends there though , this book was a rollercoaster of emotions. Nithya feels indebted to her Uncle and agrees to a marriage with a guy whom she bearly knows and moves to the US. Little did she know what was in store..
The relationship with her sister and mother were shown beautifully and with care. I understood the situation but unlike protagonist in other book this circumstance is not as terrible. Nithya could have stood up for herself a lot earlier, but she puts herself behind and waits for the right time. A chance encounter with a person from her past sets events in motion in her life
I zipped through the book in a single day. The final chapters had me edges almost like a tele serial :) Vasu was well written and stands by Nithya and her family till the end. I found that honorable. The Uncle and the mother in law were typical characters shown as delusional and evil people, which added to the entertainment. Ashok did not have a backbone and was horrible to Nithya, so for most of the book, I was not happy with him. But most of all, this is a book about Nithya, she is shown as silent sufferer and slowly she learns to stand up for herself and wants to lead her life, become independent and be with her beloved in her own terms. I struggled to relate to her giving in to her feelings which led to a misunderstanding. But well, we get our HEA and strong-ish heroine in the bargain
This book was a little rough around the edges, the second one was clean and wonderful. I am not a fan of short forms for chat language and a few dialogues were stilted, maybe that's why :) and hence the 4 stars. It was brilliant, but not perfect
This book also made me feel like I didn't want it to end. This author has definitely become an auto-buy for me! Looking forward to more :)
July 26, 2013
In The Perfect Groom, Sumeetha Manikandan explores the stereotypes and politics of finding ‘the perfect groom’ with effortless ease. Effectively using a string of characters with rigid and narrow mindset that lurks around in our society, she brings out the very Indian idea of marriage- that of one marrying the family along with one’s spouse- very well. The protagonist Nithya is the one to watch out for in this book- she is bold, caring, confident, independent with a strong voice and a mind of her own. She holds her own nicely. Sumeetha’s easy going and natural conversational writing style gives the story a wonderful flow making it a very interesting and enjoyable read.
August 22, 2013
Kudos to Sumeetha Manikandan for bringing out some culturally taboo subjects and then building a story around it. From describing how marriages are arranged by so called well meaning, 'charitable' relatives to spousal relationships within a marriage and a relationship outside it. She covers it all.
Circumstances have victimized Nithya but she rises above being a victim of her circumstances.
Her description and commentary on societal interactions are very tongue in cheek and hit the nail right on the head.
A thoroughly entertaining read.
Circumstances have victimized Nithya but she rises above being a victim of her circumstances.
Her description and commentary on societal interactions are very tongue in cheek and hit the nail right on the head.
A thoroughly entertaining read.
March 2, 2014
A week before I got this novella on my mail. And yesterday after my hectic week I held on to it to read. It was 3 hrs of suspense excitement that bound me with the book and I finished it by the end. Reader easily get connected with the central charachter Nithya very well charachterised by the Author. One feels the emotions of Nithya himself while reading.
The story is fast paced and only at a place u feel it jumped a bit between chapter 10 and 11. probably I was expecting some more of Nithya and Vasu in US.
Overall a great read. Go ahead and grab a copy. :)
The story is fast paced and only at a place u feel it jumped a bit between chapter 10 and 11. probably I was expecting some more of Nithya and Vasu in US.
Overall a great read. Go ahead and grab a copy. :)
October 16, 2015
Nithya, the protagonist of Sumeetha Manikandan's 'The Perfect Groom', doesn't seem like a stranger to me. I have known her all my life...
Full review here: https://worncorners.wordpress.com/201...
Full review here: https://worncorners.wordpress.com/201...
September 9, 2016
It's a 3.5 actually.
Sumeetha Manikandan's novella The Perfect Groom is an easy read. The language is easy and it is refreshing to see a novel that is targeted at the Indian reader and therefore, does not explain pakoras, samosas, appalam, amma, mama etc.,
The plotline is simple enough. Nithya is caught in an unhappy marriage in a distant country with herself for company. How she escapes from the unhappy marriage, a manipulative uncle, an abusive and domineering mother in law, in the process finding a knight in shining armour forms the rest of the story.
Though the storyline appears cliched when stated simply, the author brings in freshness in the manner of narration and in its simplicity. The story itself is narrated in the first person perspective, by the protagonist. The protagonist is pulled between the urge to leave the marriage and wait until her younger sister gets married is very well portrayed. Though this is a cliche, it is a reality. The conflict is very well portrayed.
There is consistency in the behaviour of various characters: Nithya the protagonist, Ashok the 'imperfect' husband, the mother in law, the uncle, Vasu the friend, to name a few.
The evolution of Nithya's character is interesting as well - how she refuses to act according to the dictates of another, though it would appear to be the best course, is the highlight of the book.
The heroine ends up riding into the sunset with the knight in shining armour and the book comes to a happy ending. I would have preferred it if she had set out into the sunset on her own, on a voyage of self discovery instead of riding away with the knight. That would have given the book the twist and the message that happiness lies in discovering oneself and it need not involve riding into the sunset with the handsome hulk.
In conculsion, very good piece of work for a debutante and certainly far more readable than many of the romance novels out there in the market. Hopefully, this book will come out in print and get its due. More importantly, I hope the author, who has shown excellent promise continues to write more.
Sumeetha Manikandan's novella The Perfect Groom is an easy read. The language is easy and it is refreshing to see a novel that is targeted at the Indian reader and therefore, does not explain pakoras, samosas, appalam, amma, mama etc.,
The plotline is simple enough. Nithya is caught in an unhappy marriage in a distant country with herself for company. How she escapes from the unhappy marriage, a manipulative uncle, an abusive and domineering mother in law, in the process finding a knight in shining armour forms the rest of the story.
Though the storyline appears cliched when stated simply, the author brings in freshness in the manner of narration and in its simplicity. The story itself is narrated in the first person perspective, by the protagonist. The protagonist is pulled between the urge to leave the marriage and wait until her younger sister gets married is very well portrayed. Though this is a cliche, it is a reality. The conflict is very well portrayed.
There is consistency in the behaviour of various characters: Nithya the protagonist, Ashok the 'imperfect' husband, the mother in law, the uncle, Vasu the friend, to name a few.
The evolution of Nithya's character is interesting as well - how she refuses to act according to the dictates of another, though it would appear to be the best course, is the highlight of the book.
The heroine ends up riding into the sunset with the knight in shining armour and the book comes to a happy ending. I would have preferred it if she had set out into the sunset on her own, on a voyage of self discovery instead of riding away with the knight. That would have given the book the twist and the message that happiness lies in discovering oneself and it need not involve riding into the sunset with the handsome hulk.
In conculsion, very good piece of work for a debutante and certainly far more readable than many of the romance novels out there in the market. Hopefully, this book will come out in print and get its due. More importantly, I hope the author, who has shown excellent promise continues to write more.
January 19, 2015
The Perfect Groom by Sumeetha Manikandan has everything I love in romance--Drama,passion,well developed characters and an enjoyable story line.I don't know how the author managed to pack so much in just 140 pages. I pretty much guessed the twist in the story early on because the cover and the starting pages do state the obvious but I enjoyed discovering how the author played the whole story and weaved so many interesting situations.
Nithya,the protagonist is a mature and beautiful woman who has her own reasons in tolerating her sham of a marriage.Some may find her weak but I thought she had strength and although I do wish she had done some things differently,I still managed to understand her.The other characters in the story were well developed no matter how small part they played in the story.The evil characters added a certain flair to the story and though I did not care for them,the story sure would have been dull without them. Ashok is an interesting character and I won't comment him as its best if the reader discovers his character while reading.reading. Vasu as the old flame was the best character I have read in a while.He was so perfect in every way possible.
This one is for everyone who loves passionate romances with an enjoyable story line.
Nithya,the protagonist is a mature and beautiful woman who has her own reasons in tolerating her sham of a marriage.Some may find her weak but I thought she had strength and although I do wish she had done some things differently,I still managed to understand her.The other characters in the story were well developed no matter how small part they played in the story.The evil characters added a certain flair to the story and though I did not care for them,the story sure would have been dull without them. Ashok is an interesting character and I won't comment him as its best if the reader discovers his character while reading.reading. Vasu as the old flame was the best character I have read in a while.He was so perfect in every way possible.
This one is for everyone who loves passionate romances with an enjoyable story line.
June 14, 2014
In short "The Perfect Groom" is a novelette about a young woman, trapped in a loveless marriage, awaiting a day when she can walk away from the relationship. Can she escape the fate that her Chitappa enforced on her? Can she be happy and live a life with the one she truly loves? That is for you to find out.
I finished the book in two hours. The story is short but it keeps you hooked. An overbearing mother-in-law forcing Nithya for a grandson, probing relatives and a shocking secret about her husband that she found only after the wedding, Nithya's life isn't an easy one. And at every insult targeted towards her, I felt a pinch in my heart. She is one of those self sacrificing souls who would do anything for their family, but what I love about her is she still dreams of being independent. Even in crisis, she has a goal and a plan. And she isn't gloating over her not-so-fairy-tale life.
More on my blog - http://destinychildosheen.blogspot.co...
I finished the book in two hours. The story is short but it keeps you hooked. An overbearing mother-in-law forcing Nithya for a grandson, probing relatives and a shocking secret about her husband that she found only after the wedding, Nithya's life isn't an easy one. And at every insult targeted towards her, I felt a pinch in my heart. She is one of those self sacrificing souls who would do anything for their family, but what I love about her is she still dreams of being independent. Even in crisis, she has a goal and a plan. And she isn't gloating over her not-so-fairy-tale life.
More on my blog - http://destinychildosheen.blogspot.co...
June 8, 2017
This is my first book as part of the Indireads Reviewer program.Need to mention the beautifully illustrated cover, by Shehna Khan. Beautiful bride with a masked groom... quite intriguing.
The story is a first person narrative by Nithya, a girl from Mylapore, Chennai, and starts with her troubled marriage to Ashok, an NRI. She recollects her past, the circumstances under which her marriage took place. Sumeetha has beautifully accounted these moments, just sufficient to keep it crisp. The narrative is to the point, nothing can be seen has a drag. It is a sad state of affairs to think that despite being a literate, and a working woman, she has to embrace the life thrust on her. The way she keeps things from others, brings out the beauty in her character. Though hurt to the core, worried about hurting others.
Some of the many issues faced by women are highlighted, and handled deftly. Sumeetha excels in the characterization of the novel. All the characters are portrayed, in varying tones of grey, rather than, just black or white. On the whole... Liked it.
The story is a first person narrative by Nithya, a girl from Mylapore, Chennai, and starts with her troubled marriage to Ashok, an NRI. She recollects her past, the circumstances under which her marriage took place. Sumeetha has beautifully accounted these moments, just sufficient to keep it crisp. The narrative is to the point, nothing can be seen has a drag. It is a sad state of affairs to think that despite being a literate, and a working woman, she has to embrace the life thrust on her. The way she keeps things from others, brings out the beauty in her character. Though hurt to the core, worried about hurting others.
Some of the many issues faced by women are highlighted, and handled deftly. Sumeetha excels in the characterization of the novel. All the characters are portrayed, in varying tones of grey, rather than, just black or white. On the whole... Liked it.
January 27, 2014
‘The Perfect Groom’ by Sumeetha Manikandan contains all the right ingredients that make for a gripping story (distant husband, familial obligations, imposing relatives, the complete DIL-MIL drama, a spunky heroine, twist, turns and of course, romance). When you start off with Nithya on her journey, you can’t help but feel sorry for her. But as she unravels the multiple layers in her personality, you feel confident that she is capable of tiding over her predicament – and she does, in her own time and in her own unique way. Even though her life is a complete mess, Nithya is grounded, responsible, self-assured and focused. She works her situation to her benefit and works tirelessly towards her dreams, not letting go of her sense of humor even in the stickiest of situations! Set in Mylapore, a town in Tamil Nadu, the book is replete with cultural flavor, especially descriptions of South Indian rituals and cuisine.
June 29, 2013
Sumeetha Manikandan’s ‘The Perfect Groom’, is a story of a brave and ambitious woman struggling to make the best of a sticky situation.
Pushed into a marriage that is far from ideal, Nithya is trying to do the right thing by staying in it for her mother and her younger sister.
Enter Vasu, an old childhood friend who kindles feelings that she had buried deep underneath.
The story explores how a woman brought up in a severe and traditional setting rises to meet the challenges that come her way in a new location and milieu.
My only pet peeve is the cover of the book- while wonderfully drawn, it does not reflect the strong South Indian flavour and spice of the story.
But otherwise, a lovely book with well-etched strong characters. I loved Nithya and also Vasu, who is perfect because of his imperfections.
A must-read.
Pushed into a marriage that is far from ideal, Nithya is trying to do the right thing by staying in it for her mother and her younger sister.
Enter Vasu, an old childhood friend who kindles feelings that she had buried deep underneath.
The story explores how a woman brought up in a severe and traditional setting rises to meet the challenges that come her way in a new location and milieu.
My only pet peeve is the cover of the book- while wonderfully drawn, it does not reflect the strong South Indian flavour and spice of the story.
But otherwise, a lovely book with well-etched strong characters. I loved Nithya and also Vasu, who is perfect because of his imperfections.
A must-read.
June 20, 2014
I liked the storyline, as it is slice of real life and can happen to anybody. The narrow-minded people, the wily relatives, the perceptions of a ‘perfect groom’, the effect on the marriage of a younger sibling if the elder one is divorced are some of the commonplace happenings and beliefs of our society, which has been explored well in this novella. The story also gives a sneak peak into the Tamilian lifestyle and culture. The characterization is good and one connects with the characters real soon.
I liked Sumeetha’s simple and conversational voice which is candid and honest. The story flows smoothly making it an interesting and enjoyable read.
More on the blog here : http://shilpaagarg.com/2014/06/perfec...
I liked Sumeetha’s simple and conversational voice which is candid and honest. The story flows smoothly making it an interesting and enjoyable read.
More on the blog here : http://shilpaagarg.com/2014/06/perfec...
June 18, 2014
I had never ever read a book on martial bliss or a similar topic so I quite had made my mind that I won't like this book much but soon my apprehensions got squandered. What I liked abt this book was how real the Characters were. The Cunning parents in law, the uncle-aunt which relished misery of their own clan, Nithya a quiet wife, ashok a troubled husband, all touched a raw nerve. Author Sumeetha in her way shackles the mediocracy of the ' Perfect groom' tag that society today accepts. This book reminds me of yet another critically acclaimed book I read ' Namesake ' yet I cant decide if this one is better than the latter.
December 31, 2017
Beautiful and touching
I'm beginning to admire the author's emphasis on women's independence-both in thoughts+ action and financially. The two books of this author that I've read have a melancholic backdrop, but what's admirable is the way the protagonist wades her way through.
This book may appear adulterous to a conservative mind, but is really a pure and sweet love story, completed by picking up the broken pieces of the heart. Yes, many people have suffered by having closeted homosexual married partners and carried on the pain silently. This story has pointed out the hardest things such a woman faces in a overly traditional and sexist community
I'm beginning to admire the author's emphasis on women's independence-both in thoughts+ action and financially. The two books of this author that I've read have a melancholic backdrop, but what's admirable is the way the protagonist wades her way through.
This book may appear adulterous to a conservative mind, but is really a pure and sweet love story, completed by picking up the broken pieces of the heart. Yes, many people have suffered by having closeted homosexual married partners and carried on the pain silently. This story has pointed out the hardest things such a woman faces in a overly traditional and sexist community
February 2, 2014
'The Perfect Groom' is a good assortment of different flavors (culture, family drama, self-quest, realisations)
The story unfolds gradually revealing the details that were hidden in a subtle manner giving readers a few hints here and there.
Initally you will have resentment for many characters including the protagonist for her quiescent nature but with the gradual pace of the story, you get to learn how strong-headed and determined her character have been and sudden spurt of confidence in her balances her character with her level-headed decisions.
The story unfolds gradually revealing the details that were hidden in a subtle manner giving readers a few hints here and there.
Initally you will have resentment for many characters including the protagonist for her quiescent nature but with the gradual pace of the story, you get to learn how strong-headed and determined her character have been and sudden spurt of confidence in her balances her character with her level-headed decisions.
February 26, 2014
Finally got around to finishing this lovely little novella by Sumeetha Manikandan and I must admit I quite enjoyed this unconventional love story. Although I was able to see the 'turning point' of the story well before the big reveal, the fact remained that the narrative was so good that it didn't take anything away from the fun of it all. What also worked beautifully well for me was the fact that the entire Tamil Brahmin milieu in which the story was set was something that I could completely relate to.
April 28, 2014
Quite an engaging read! I enjoyed the simplicity of the prose and the clever twists. Sumeetha Manikandan, the author, has portrayed an independent yet loyal female lead, one who deals well with all the wickedness of conniving relatives. She is so generous and forgiving, that I felt almost sorry when some of the evil characters got their comeuppance! Must read!
July 8, 2014
A nice read that leaves you sad for the most part of the Nithya's story but ends with a perfect happy ending.
Story of struggles of a woman to keep her family happy and how she forgoes her dreams and her happiness for the happiness of her family.
the whole review : http://jigar-doshi.com/2014/07/the-pe...
Story of struggles of a woman to keep her family happy and how she forgoes her dreams and her happiness for the happiness of her family.
the whole review : http://jigar-doshi.com/2014/07/the-pe...
January 10, 2015
I liked reading ‘The Perfect Groom’ for the underlying thread that ‘good people are the real winners’, for building the character of an independent heroine, for the simple story telling writing style and for the fast paced plot.
February 18, 2014
The Perfect Groom is not your typical airy romance. It is a story with substance, reality with elements of romance. A good plot and a story well told make it an enjoyable read.
December 16, 2017
I quite enjoyed this novella! It had an engaging plot and characters that I enjoyed. it certainly wasn't mind blowing but it certainly entertained me and I read it all in one sitting! I am really having a great time with these Own Voices Indian contemporaries that I have been reading. I think I've found a new genre to binge haha. That aside this was a solid story with a solid ending and some delightful writing.
July 12, 2015
Two important notes before I start this review.
1. As a prelude, read the ‘About the Author’ section of this review to know what this story is about.
2. Don’t read the summary and form a bad opinion about ‘Nithya’ and her ‘chastity’.
There, that done, let me start my review. As a chennaite by heart and having grown up in the Metropolis, any book about Chennai will surely pique both my curiosity and a certain amount of dread for the author to get the facts about the city right. No one can write a book based in the city without having experienced it firsthand. As an outsider, the city shows its most welcoming colors to you and makes you feel, if not ‘at home’, at least ‘most welcome’. But to really carry the essence of the city in your writing, you have to live here and enjoy the city at its best and worst. You have to walk its lanes, you have to savour its cuisine, you have to be comfortable with the buses as well as the high end cars that purr through the streets.
Thankfully, the author (who is from Mylapore, a major area of Chennai famous for its temples) manages to convince the Chennai-vasi (even though only a very few scenes are based in the city, getting one fact wrong would have irked someone like me). When I talk about Mylapore, how could the book not have at least one ‘Brahmin’ character in it? Yes, it has not one, but many characters of that caste, in fact, the story centres around ‘TamBrahms’.
Enough about the city. I might get carried away. The story starts in US, with Nithya, supposedly happily married to Ashok, organising her house in preparation for the imminent arrival of her mother in law. We are soon introduced to the rift in the married life of Nithya, who is gritting her teeth because she does not want to jeopardise the marriage of her sister and her husband’s sister by going for a divorce. (The reason for the rift, and the social stigma still associated with a divorcee in the family, especially the elder daughter are portrayed in a relatable fashion).
The apparent façade Nithya has built over her life in the US falls into pieces when she encounters Vasu, a childhood friend who, if destiny had chosen otherwise, she would now be married to. But the expected unrequited love angle does not arrive then, though there is considerable build up of romantic tension. The veneer breaks only when Vasu actually sees Ashok in a place that confirms the reason for the rift in the marriage.
Vasu confronts Nithya with the truth when she comes to India to attend her sister in law’s marriage and she breaks down with the truth. She endures the torture of her in laws over her apparent infertility and the scenes in the event of marriage. At one breaking point, Nithya opts for a divorce, with Ashok giving his mutual consent. What happens in her life after that and whether or not the divorce comes through forms the rest of the story.
The story and the plot is a typical Brahmin based plot, but addresses two major issues that are considered a taboo even in this century. Read the book to know more about this. But the author has managed to write about both the issues in a thoroughly acceptable fashion, that leaves the reader nodding their heads in agreement more often than not.
The book needs to have a few words in the Tamil Brahmin slang to maintain nativity. The author has included an index for reference, which most authors ignore to provide. The plot is unique and deals with some issues that are usually swept under the carpet. Kudos to the author for writing such a thoughtful book.
WHAT I LIKED:
The story and the scenes which are never over the top or larger than life.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
Though it is a small point not noticeable to anyone, there are a few glaring errors in the use of the slang words, that is, maybe noticeable to only a chennaite or a person belonging to the community portrayed. But these can be overlooked.
VERDICT:
Go for it. This book might well be a really reflective read, based on your perception.
RATING: 4.3/5
For full review, click on http://readmuse.blogspot.in/2014/08/t...
1. As a prelude, read the ‘About the Author’ section of this review to know what this story is about.
2. Don’t read the summary and form a bad opinion about ‘Nithya’ and her ‘chastity’.
There, that done, let me start my review. As a chennaite by heart and having grown up in the Metropolis, any book about Chennai will surely pique both my curiosity and a certain amount of dread for the author to get the facts about the city right. No one can write a book based in the city without having experienced it firsthand. As an outsider, the city shows its most welcoming colors to you and makes you feel, if not ‘at home’, at least ‘most welcome’. But to really carry the essence of the city in your writing, you have to live here and enjoy the city at its best and worst. You have to walk its lanes, you have to savour its cuisine, you have to be comfortable with the buses as well as the high end cars that purr through the streets.
Thankfully, the author (who is from Mylapore, a major area of Chennai famous for its temples) manages to convince the Chennai-vasi (even though only a very few scenes are based in the city, getting one fact wrong would have irked someone like me). When I talk about Mylapore, how could the book not have at least one ‘Brahmin’ character in it? Yes, it has not one, but many characters of that caste, in fact, the story centres around ‘TamBrahms’.
Enough about the city. I might get carried away. The story starts in US, with Nithya, supposedly happily married to Ashok, organising her house in preparation for the imminent arrival of her mother in law. We are soon introduced to the rift in the married life of Nithya, who is gritting her teeth because she does not want to jeopardise the marriage of her sister and her husband’s sister by going for a divorce. (The reason for the rift, and the social stigma still associated with a divorcee in the family, especially the elder daughter are portrayed in a relatable fashion).
The apparent façade Nithya has built over her life in the US falls into pieces when she encounters Vasu, a childhood friend who, if destiny had chosen otherwise, she would now be married to. But the expected unrequited love angle does not arrive then, though there is considerable build up of romantic tension. The veneer breaks only when Vasu actually sees Ashok in a place that confirms the reason for the rift in the marriage.
Vasu confronts Nithya with the truth when she comes to India to attend her sister in law’s marriage and she breaks down with the truth. She endures the torture of her in laws over her apparent infertility and the scenes in the event of marriage. At one breaking point, Nithya opts for a divorce, with Ashok giving his mutual consent. What happens in her life after that and whether or not the divorce comes through forms the rest of the story.
The story and the plot is a typical Brahmin based plot, but addresses two major issues that are considered a taboo even in this century. Read the book to know more about this. But the author has managed to write about both the issues in a thoroughly acceptable fashion, that leaves the reader nodding their heads in agreement more often than not.
The book needs to have a few words in the Tamil Brahmin slang to maintain nativity. The author has included an index for reference, which most authors ignore to provide. The plot is unique and deals with some issues that are usually swept under the carpet. Kudos to the author for writing such a thoughtful book.
WHAT I LIKED:
The story and the scenes which are never over the top or larger than life.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
Though it is a small point not noticeable to anyone, there are a few glaring errors in the use of the slang words, that is, maybe noticeable to only a chennaite or a person belonging to the community portrayed. But these can be overlooked.
VERDICT:
Go for it. This book might well be a really reflective read, based on your perception.
RATING: 4.3/5
For full review, click on http://readmuse.blogspot.in/2014/08/t...
June 5, 2014
The Perfect Groom is not just any romantic story but a story that is being played out in many Indian households. On one hand it talks about the agony of a widow, the pains of being raised by an uncle, the circumstances that doesn’t allow a woman to voice her opinions, the fear of ostracism even if you are stuck in a bad marriage, the inherent dilemma of falling in love despite having a husband and on the other it is a story about coming out of the closet. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Perfect Groom is all these realities, no matter how absurd they sound, and much more.
Nithya, her younger sister Manju and her mother start living with their uncle after the sad demise of her father. Well I don’t know if the demise could be called sad or not, because he brought in enough discomfort to the family with his drunken impropriety. But then again a loss of a father, no matter how irresponsible, is a loss of huge magnitude. And soon after the bereaved family, who probably, internally heaved a sigh of relief, moved on to stay with the uncle’s hand me down dilapidated abode.
Whereas the society would praise the uncle for taking in the family, yet we see the hypocrisy of the same. The uncle and aunt are no saints and they in the course of the story, do everything to make the three women’s lives miserable. So in short their move was from the frying pan to the fire.
This is exactly the reason why the reader’s suspicion’s are raised when the uncle or chittappa, as addressed by Nithya and Manju, find her a groom, Ashok, who is handsome and well settled in the US. Nithya’s mother thinks it’s a blessing to get daughter married to the perfect groom and neither can Nithya believe her lucky stars. So finally, their nightmare should end.
But fate has other plans for her. She soon realizes that her marriage is a sham yet she cannot break away from it for fear of her mother and sister being ostracized.
Nevertheless ‘life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow’ (Maya Angelou), so did life go on with Nithya and changed for the better. Her chance meeting with Vasu, who too was at the mercy of her chittappa, their instant chemistry, which she was blind to at chittappa’s place; changed her whole being, propelling her to take steps that she would not have otherwise.
The Perfect Groom brings out perfectly, the many flaws, pretentiousness and myths prevailing in our society under the veil of morals and culture. And it also underscores the fact that we are in the end, puppets on a chain to the circumstances around us yet it is we who have the power to change the circumstances and change our destiny.
The characters are well etched out and wholesome. They don’t remain stagnant until the end but show a kind of motility and change within them. Though I would have liked Ashok to be more kindly towards Nithya and not too brusque as is made out in the beginning. He too after all, was as big a victim of circumstances as was Nithya. The book ignores his trauma at submitting to meaningless rituals whereas his heart lay elsewhere.
The language of the book is easy flowing and lucid. Sumitha Manikandan has skillfully crafted this book with simple choice of words making it smooth read. Her book is not so much about romance as it is about the myths of our system and where we stand as a society. It is about coming out into the open and accepting each other as they are. It is a book about the quest for happiness.
Nithya, her younger sister Manju and her mother start living with their uncle after the sad demise of her father. Well I don’t know if the demise could be called sad or not, because he brought in enough discomfort to the family with his drunken impropriety. But then again a loss of a father, no matter how irresponsible, is a loss of huge magnitude. And soon after the bereaved family, who probably, internally heaved a sigh of relief, moved on to stay with the uncle’s hand me down dilapidated abode.
Whereas the society would praise the uncle for taking in the family, yet we see the hypocrisy of the same. The uncle and aunt are no saints and they in the course of the story, do everything to make the three women’s lives miserable. So in short their move was from the frying pan to the fire.
This is exactly the reason why the reader’s suspicion’s are raised when the uncle or chittappa, as addressed by Nithya and Manju, find her a groom, Ashok, who is handsome and well settled in the US. Nithya’s mother thinks it’s a blessing to get daughter married to the perfect groom and neither can Nithya believe her lucky stars. So finally, their nightmare should end.
But fate has other plans for her. She soon realizes that her marriage is a sham yet she cannot break away from it for fear of her mother and sister being ostracized.
Nevertheless ‘life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow’ (Maya Angelou), so did life go on with Nithya and changed for the better. Her chance meeting with Vasu, who too was at the mercy of her chittappa, their instant chemistry, which she was blind to at chittappa’s place; changed her whole being, propelling her to take steps that she would not have otherwise.
The Perfect Groom brings out perfectly, the many flaws, pretentiousness and myths prevailing in our society under the veil of morals and culture. And it also underscores the fact that we are in the end, puppets on a chain to the circumstances around us yet it is we who have the power to change the circumstances and change our destiny.
The characters are well etched out and wholesome. They don’t remain stagnant until the end but show a kind of motility and change within them. Though I would have liked Ashok to be more kindly towards Nithya and not too brusque as is made out in the beginning. He too after all, was as big a victim of circumstances as was Nithya. The book ignores his trauma at submitting to meaningless rituals whereas his heart lay elsewhere.
The language of the book is easy flowing and lucid. Sumitha Manikandan has skillfully crafted this book with simple choice of words making it smooth read. Her book is not so much about romance as it is about the myths of our system and where we stand as a society. It is about coming out into the open and accepting each other as they are. It is a book about the quest for happiness.
June 16, 2014
There are stories and then there are Stories. Every story should have a storyline which touches one's soul, a reader can resonate and end of the day does two things. Go to sleep with a smile and dreams of Salmaan Khan or contemplate about the biggest question in the universe. What if? What if I was Nithya? What if I was the NRI housewife who had to go through all that she is going through. What if my life is a series of unnatural events. I shiver to think what I will do under such circumstances.
Sumeetha Manikandan in her introduction to this short novella and in some of the interviews I have read about her has made it clear that this story is a take off from a real life incident. First of all Hats off to whoever Nithya is. She deserves the respect of every married woman.
Nithya belongs to a middle class family. She, along with her sister and mother, is under the ‘care’ of their Uncle. Her biggest bone of contention with her Uncle, is that they have kept her mom as a glorified servant of the house and both Nithya and her sis would have had to follow the same path had not a relative taken up the expenses of their education. But all her education is swept aside, when she is forced to marry an NRI who wanted a docile Indian wife.
Sumeetha weaves the story around the couple, giving her readers just the right amount of glimpses of what Nithya’s married life was like. We see her unhappiness, her loneliness and her desire for companionship. The question is why. Why was her husband Ashok an utter cad?
Then enters Vasu, Her childhood friend with whom her marriage was almost fixed. Vasu who had suffered the same way as she had under the ‘generous’ nature of their uncle. They had a common past that binds them together. What they had not expected was the smoldering passion, which was never there before, to suddenly erupt between them. On one hand Nithya is bound by tradition and marriage and on the other hand, her heart finally starts beating with the love she had for so long craved. Where will this journey of Nithya end?
What I liked ….
Such a short story packed with such a big social issue. Nithya’s journey to discover her own self is very beautifully etched. Sumeetha has done a wonderful job in introducing her readers to the beautiful Mylapore. She lets us peak into the Tamil Culture of India with such minute details that I really felt I was walking on the streets of Kumbokonam. From Mylapore to California, the journey we see through Nithya’eyes is commendable.
The strong female protagonist is another plus point of this story. Nithya is not a cry baby waiting for the hero to save her. She is not a paragon of virtue who faints every time her harmones remind her that she is also a woman with desires. Her being a strong woman, taking care of her mom and sis is both her strength and poison. Her reason to lead the life that Ashok forces her to lead.
Read the full review @
http://rubinaramesh.blogspot.com/2014...
Sumeetha Manikandan in her introduction to this short novella and in some of the interviews I have read about her has made it clear that this story is a take off from a real life incident. First of all Hats off to whoever Nithya is. She deserves the respect of every married woman.
Nithya belongs to a middle class family. She, along with her sister and mother, is under the ‘care’ of their Uncle. Her biggest bone of contention with her Uncle, is that they have kept her mom as a glorified servant of the house and both Nithya and her sis would have had to follow the same path had not a relative taken up the expenses of their education. But all her education is swept aside, when she is forced to marry an NRI who wanted a docile Indian wife.
Sumeetha weaves the story around the couple, giving her readers just the right amount of glimpses of what Nithya’s married life was like. We see her unhappiness, her loneliness and her desire for companionship. The question is why. Why was her husband Ashok an utter cad?
Then enters Vasu, Her childhood friend with whom her marriage was almost fixed. Vasu who had suffered the same way as she had under the ‘generous’ nature of their uncle. They had a common past that binds them together. What they had not expected was the smoldering passion, which was never there before, to suddenly erupt between them. On one hand Nithya is bound by tradition and marriage and on the other hand, her heart finally starts beating with the love she had for so long craved. Where will this journey of Nithya end?
What I liked ….
Such a short story packed with such a big social issue. Nithya’s journey to discover her own self is very beautifully etched. Sumeetha has done a wonderful job in introducing her readers to the beautiful Mylapore. She lets us peak into the Tamil Culture of India with such minute details that I really felt I was walking on the streets of Kumbokonam. From Mylapore to California, the journey we see through Nithya’eyes is commendable.
The strong female protagonist is another plus point of this story. Nithya is not a cry baby waiting for the hero to save her. She is not a paragon of virtue who faints every time her harmones remind her that she is also a woman with desires. Her being a strong woman, taking care of her mom and sis is both her strength and poison. Her reason to lead the life that Ashok forces her to lead.
Read the full review @
http://rubinaramesh.blogspot.com/2014...
January 15, 2015
Title: The Perfect Groom
Author: Sumeetha Manikandan
Publisher: Indireads Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-927826-14-0
Genre: Chick Lit
Pages: 122
Rating: 2/5
I am reviewing The Perfect Groom as part of the Indireads Reviewer Program. I feel this initiative is great as it encourages dialogue between writers and readers.
The Perfect Groom is the story of Nithya, a young Indian girl who comes from a poor family, and how she finds her perfect groom. In the first chapter itself, the reader learns that Nithya is stuck in a bad marriage, just like her mother was. Also, Nithya's marriage is arranged by her cunning uncle, just like her mother's was arranged by her cunning step-mother. For me, there is excess drama in this situation.
Nithya is any other girl who, despite her poor background, has somehow managed to finish her studies in the field she wanted to. Only, even after she gets married, she finds herself stuck in another situation and chooses to stay stuck in it for her mother and her sister's sake. But there is nothing else you know about Nithya the person. She's the heroine, that's it. Her mother's character is stereotypical, too: a poor and helpless woman who has a drunkard for a husband and two daughters. The younger daughter is better off since the mother and the elder daughter have protected and provided for her. The family is, therefore, constantly kept in a state where they are at the mercy of others and need rescuing.
Most characters in the book are flat: they're either black or white, good or evil. There are no grey shades or depth to them. Even Nithya, the protagonist, gets out of her situation, not because she does something but because the difficult situation gets resolved by itself.
Around 30 pages into the book and the reader, unfortunately, starts getting a hint of what the twist is going to be about. Still, one continues to read till the end to find out whether what they're thinking is right. The book is mostly well written and free of superfluous language, except for a few clumsy lines like:
“He turned around and took my hands in his. A jolt of pleasure went right to my breasts. I looked up and met his eyes. They were alight with remorse and a passion that touched the deep core of my soul.”
The only good thing, I think, about the story is Sumeetha's treatment of Nithya's relationship with the hero.
I would recommend this book to someone who is looking for a quick, easy read.
Author: Sumeetha Manikandan
Publisher: Indireads Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-927826-14-0
Genre: Chick Lit
Pages: 122
Rating: 2/5
I am reviewing The Perfect Groom as part of the Indireads Reviewer Program. I feel this initiative is great as it encourages dialogue between writers and readers.
The Perfect Groom is the story of Nithya, a young Indian girl who comes from a poor family, and how she finds her perfect groom. In the first chapter itself, the reader learns that Nithya is stuck in a bad marriage, just like her mother was. Also, Nithya's marriage is arranged by her cunning uncle, just like her mother's was arranged by her cunning step-mother. For me, there is excess drama in this situation.
Nithya is any other girl who, despite her poor background, has somehow managed to finish her studies in the field she wanted to. Only, even after she gets married, she finds herself stuck in another situation and chooses to stay stuck in it for her mother and her sister's sake. But there is nothing else you know about Nithya the person. She's the heroine, that's it. Her mother's character is stereotypical, too: a poor and helpless woman who has a drunkard for a husband and two daughters. The younger daughter is better off since the mother and the elder daughter have protected and provided for her. The family is, therefore, constantly kept in a state where they are at the mercy of others and need rescuing.
Most characters in the book are flat: they're either black or white, good or evil. There are no grey shades or depth to them. Even Nithya, the protagonist, gets out of her situation, not because she does something but because the difficult situation gets resolved by itself.
Around 30 pages into the book and the reader, unfortunately, starts getting a hint of what the twist is going to be about. Still, one continues to read till the end to find out whether what they're thinking is right. The book is mostly well written and free of superfluous language, except for a few clumsy lines like:
“He turned around and took my hands in his. A jolt of pleasure went right to my breasts. I looked up and met his eyes. They were alight with remorse and a passion that touched the deep core of my soul.”
The only good thing, I think, about the story is Sumeetha's treatment of Nithya's relationship with the hero.
I would recommend this book to someone who is looking for a quick, easy read.
December 1, 2014
This book came recommended by my Co-Blogger. I quite couldn't understand what she saw in the book for the summary didn't exactly jump out. Another story about "TamBrahms" and Chennai. Though as she rightly pointed out not many writers get either get the Chennai or the "TamBrahms" part of book right (Read CB's Two State!). One has to experience Chennai to write about the city which happens to be my hometown.
This writer managed to get the Chennai and the "TamBrahm" part right. Our protagonist Nithya is " happily-settled" ( The term commonly used to describe just married Tam-Brahm girl with a rich NRI husband!) in the US with her NRI husband Ashok. The marriage of convenience rips apart and the cracks begin to show when Ashok's Mother lands in US. Nithya reels under her Mother In Law's pressure to have kids but manages to escape unscathed.
The apparent illusion of a happy life which Nithya has built, vanishes went her long lost Friend/Cousin Vasu re-enters her life in the US. Interestingly the writer managed to avoid the typical romantic angle at this part of the story instead, she built up enough tension which breaks free at a later stage of the story. What was more surprising ( and refreshing) is that the writer didn't quite create a love triangle - ie. Vasu-Nithya-Ashok. Instead she choose an altogether different approach to Nithya-Vasu love story.
Buckling from her in laws pressure over her infertility Nithya finally divorces Ashok with his mutual consent. This comes as quite a shock to both Nithya's mother and Ashok's parents. Another important part of the story is Nithya's past - Her struggles growing up in with her uncle after her father passed away. So what happens to Nithya-Vasu thread of the story - Read the book to know that.
The story is realistically that of that any TamBrahm household. But the writer could have quite used some typical Tamil Brahmin slang which would have made the book a bit quirkier.
The writer has beautifully and boldly tackled two very important issues that are normally swept under the rug owing to the very explosive nature of the issue in the societal setup that we live in. These two issues aren't even considered an issue in western world. (Revealing the issue would giveaway a crucial part of the plot. This would deprive the reader of the biggest twist of the story!)
This writer managed to get the Chennai and the "TamBrahm" part right. Our protagonist Nithya is " happily-settled" ( The term commonly used to describe just married Tam-Brahm girl with a rich NRI husband!) in the US with her NRI husband Ashok. The marriage of convenience rips apart and the cracks begin to show when Ashok's Mother lands in US. Nithya reels under her Mother In Law's pressure to have kids but manages to escape unscathed.
The apparent illusion of a happy life which Nithya has built, vanishes went her long lost Friend/Cousin Vasu re-enters her life in the US. Interestingly the writer managed to avoid the typical romantic angle at this part of the story instead, she built up enough tension which breaks free at a later stage of the story. What was more surprising ( and refreshing) is that the writer didn't quite create a love triangle - ie. Vasu-Nithya-Ashok. Instead she choose an altogether different approach to Nithya-Vasu love story.
Buckling from her in laws pressure over her infertility Nithya finally divorces Ashok with his mutual consent. This comes as quite a shock to both Nithya's mother and Ashok's parents. Another important part of the story is Nithya's past - Her struggles growing up in with her uncle after her father passed away. So what happens to Nithya-Vasu thread of the story - Read the book to know that.
The story is realistically that of that any TamBrahm household. But the writer could have quite used some typical Tamil Brahmin slang which would have made the book a bit quirkier.
The writer has beautifully and boldly tackled two very important issues that are normally swept under the rug owing to the very explosive nature of the issue in the societal setup that we live in. These two issues aren't even considered an issue in western world. (Revealing the issue would giveaway a crucial part of the plot. This would deprive the reader of the biggest twist of the story!)
October 1, 2014
A book I got free from Indireads as a ‘joining offer’ on Goodreads. Never to say no to a free book, I downloaded the book that appealed the most to me.
Nithya has been married to Ashok for three years. Ashok is the perfect groom on paper. Successful, handsome, from a ‘good family’, things that Nithya’s family couldn’t even dream about. Nithya and her sister were brought up by their widowed mother, who survived on the scraps that her step-sister and brother-in-law handed out to them. When Nithya’s uncle brought the aliance from Ashok’s family, it was as if their luck had finally turned. Nithya’s mother could ask for nothing more, she just couldn’t believe her luck. Such a wonderful, son-in-law, and his family who didn’t even care that they had nothing to give as dowry. Nithya had other plans, she had wanted to work, but when things seemed so perfect, she didn’t have much to argue with. After all, she realized how much it would ease the pressure on her mother to see one of her daughters married and ‘settled’.
After the wedding Nithya flew to the US where the true story of her marriage unfolds. A story that is as sad as it could be true of so many brides in our midst. It is in many ways a true reflection of our society. The stigmas, the censure, the one-up-manship, the need to ‘marry off’ a daughter that could so easily ruin lives. It is an easy, quick read, but one that leaves you thinking. I loved the characters, especially Nithya. Her strength and her determination really came through. Her ability to make peace with what fate dealt her and make the most of her life..
I think I enjoyed the book far more than I thought I would. I had thought of it as just a filler book, just to read between two good books, but it turned out to be a surprisingly good read. A 4/5 book for me and I will be on the look out for more books from the author. This is the second interesting Indireads book I’ve read in the last few months. I’m definitely going to be browsing there more often.
Nithya has been married to Ashok for three years. Ashok is the perfect groom on paper. Successful, handsome, from a ‘good family’, things that Nithya’s family couldn’t even dream about. Nithya and her sister were brought up by their widowed mother, who survived on the scraps that her step-sister and brother-in-law handed out to them. When Nithya’s uncle brought the aliance from Ashok’s family, it was as if their luck had finally turned. Nithya’s mother could ask for nothing more, she just couldn’t believe her luck. Such a wonderful, son-in-law, and his family who didn’t even care that they had nothing to give as dowry. Nithya had other plans, she had wanted to work, but when things seemed so perfect, she didn’t have much to argue with. After all, she realized how much it would ease the pressure on her mother to see one of her daughters married and ‘settled’.
After the wedding Nithya flew to the US where the true story of her marriage unfolds. A story that is as sad as it could be true of so many brides in our midst. It is in many ways a true reflection of our society. The stigmas, the censure, the one-up-manship, the need to ‘marry off’ a daughter that could so easily ruin lives. It is an easy, quick read, but one that leaves you thinking. I loved the characters, especially Nithya. Her strength and her determination really came through. Her ability to make peace with what fate dealt her and make the most of her life..
I think I enjoyed the book far more than I thought I would. I had thought of it as just a filler book, just to read between two good books, but it turned out to be a surprisingly good read. A 4/5 book for me and I will be on the look out for more books from the author. This is the second interesting Indireads book I’ve read in the last few months. I’m definitely going to be browsing there more often.
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