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Minor Disturbances at Grand Life Apartments: your perfect uplifting read for this summer
A warm-hearted debut novel set in the beautiful coastal city of Chennai, for fans of Alexander McCall Smith, Joanna Nell and Graeme Simsion.
Grand Life Apartments is a middle-class apartment block surrounded by lush gardens in the coastal city of Chennai, India. It is the home of Kamala, a pious, soon-to-be retired dentist who spends her days counting down to the annual visits from her daughter who is studying in the UK. Her neighbour, Revathi, is a thirty-two-year-old engineer who is frequently reminded by her mother that she has reached her expiry date in the arranged marriage market. Jason, a British chef, has impulsively moved to India to escape his recent heartbreak in London.
The residents have their own complicated lives to navigate, but what they all have in common is their love of where they live, so when a developer threatens to demolish the apartments and build over the gardens, the community of Grand Life Apartments are brought even closer together to fight for their beautiful home...
Grand Life Apartments is a middle-class apartment block surrounded by lush gardens in the coastal city of Chennai, India. It is the home of Kamala, a pious, soon-to-be retired dentist who spends her days counting down to the annual visits from her daughter who is studying in the UK. Her neighbour, Revathi, is a thirty-two-year-old engineer who is frequently reminded by her mother that she has reached her expiry date in the arranged marriage market. Jason, a British chef, has impulsively moved to India to escape his recent heartbreak in London.
The residents have their own complicated lives to navigate, but what they all have in common is their love of where they live, so when a developer threatens to demolish the apartments and build over the gardens, the community of Grand Life Apartments are brought even closer together to fight for their beautiful home...
304 pages, Paperback
Published February 11, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
February 12, 2024
This book doesn't tread any new ground, but it is as colourful, charming and easy to read as you would hope, and provides a very strong sense of the story's location (Chennai).
The sanctuary of a lowrise apartment block housing Mani (the owner), Kamala (a widow-dentist), Revathi (a single, young professional) and Jason (a British chef, recently arrived) comes under threat from developers. Together and separately the residents try to find the best way to confront the threat, all while dealing with their own life issues. Although to be fair, it's mainly focused on the three tenants, with Mani and his apartment mainly staying in the background. Reva is under attack on two fronts; her mother's constant nagging about finding a husband now that she is into her 30s, and at work where she is supremely capable but suffering the 'disability' of being a woman. Jason is a fish out of water, but doing his best to make the most of a rash decision to relocate to India following the collapse of a relationship he had thought was solid. Kamala has been knocked sideways by a revelation from her only daughter on her most recent visit from Oxford, where she has been studying for a few years. In alternating chapters we follow the progress of Reva, Kamala and Jason, while checking back in on the future of Grand Life Apartments from time to time.
I really enjoyed this gentle story, although I had expected the threat to the apartment block would have been a larger focus. Maybe it was actually better for being more about the people? Happy to recommend.
The sanctuary of a lowrise apartment block housing Mani (the owner), Kamala (a widow-dentist), Revathi (a single, young professional) and Jason (a British chef, recently arrived) comes under threat from developers. Together and separately the residents try to find the best way to confront the threat, all while dealing with their own life issues. Although to be fair, it's mainly focused on the three tenants, with Mani and his apartment mainly staying in the background. Reva is under attack on two fronts; her mother's constant nagging about finding a husband now that she is into her 30s, and at work where she is supremely capable but suffering the 'disability' of being a woman. Jason is a fish out of water, but doing his best to make the most of a rash decision to relocate to India following the collapse of a relationship he had thought was solid. Kamala has been knocked sideways by a revelation from her only daughter on her most recent visit from Oxford, where she has been studying for a few years. In alternating chapters we follow the progress of Reva, Kamala and Jason, while checking back in on the future of Grand Life Apartments from time to time.
I really enjoyed this gentle story, although I had expected the threat to the apartment block would have been a larger focus. Maybe it was actually better for being more about the people? Happy to recommend.
March 25, 2023
Hema Sukumar’s debut is an absolute joy. I loved being transported to the Grand Life Apartments and I was bewitched by the characters, colours and tastes of Chennai. Please can I move in forever?
March 27, 2026
2⭐️ = Below Average.
Audio.
Now, don’t get me wrong, this won’t be a below average book for everyone. I think I was just expecting so much more. The characters were okay but it just seemed to go nowhere and I wasn’t really invested in any of them!
As always, I liked learning about other cultures- but there just wasn’t enough of this for me.
Audio.
Now, don’t get me wrong, this won’t be a below average book for everyone. I think I was just expecting so much more. The characters were okay but it just seemed to go nowhere and I wasn’t really invested in any of them!
As always, I liked learning about other cultures- but there just wasn’t enough of this for me.
May 19, 2023
This was such a feel good, slice of life read with characters, locations and situations I related to so much!
I was drawn to it by the title which turned out to be totally apt!
Set in an apartment building in Chennai as the name suggests, this story is about the owner and three tenants of the building.
Mani, the owner is a gentle, friendly person with a passion for gardening. He has,for company, his tenants, Kamala, Reva and Jason.
Kamala is instantly recognizable as the quintessential middle aged Chennai maami;traditional, strictly vegetarian, prays to a different God at home or in the temple based on the situation, loves to cook and feed and bemoans the loss of a simpler time. She is a soon to retire dentist who has been a single mom to her only child Lakshmi who is now studying at Oxford and whose arrival annually is a much awaited event in her life. She's simple and loving with a childhood best friend Sundu(Soundavalli), a busy lawyer who is independent and always encouraging her to step out of her comfort zone. When Lakshmi reveals a truth that she cannot comprehend at all, her dreams for the future seem to be crumbling.
Reva(Revati) is at 32, a software engineer who is being bombarded by her mother to choose a 'good boy' and get married. She struggles to assert herself in her work place and isn't sure she wants to commit to marriage. Her relationship with her mother, the frustration mingled with guilt that she isn't doing what her mom wants, the sudden burst of affection for the only parent she has, are all so familiar and will be to those who have been in her place.
Jason, the third tenant, is a chef from London who impulsively travelled to Chennai to get over a completely unexpected breakup. He absorbs and imbibes the atmosphere and culture of this place so far and different from home and is casually enclosed into the fold by the others. As he experiences power cuts and new scents and traffic, he tries out South Indian kootu and payasam from a cookbook and presents the dishes for Kamala's approval. The place and people soothe him and he feels a sense of belonging.
While the residents are grappling with their individual issues and finding moments of happiness and peace in the easy camaraderie and friendship that develops among those who live in close proximity, they become aware of a construction company threatening to take over their home and raze it and their shared fondness for the place and their lives sees them mount a counter attack.
The impromptu meetups that the four characters have, the delicious dosa, idly, ghee roast, mor kootan and other South Indian dishes they cook and share and enjoy, the way they are there for each other, are all very feel good. The setting and locations have been described authentically. The tone is light and fresh and has an underlying humour that comes through very well in the way daily routines unique to the place are described.
Uncles and aunties randomly advising Reva that 'only career is not enough', Kamala and Sundu sharing parenting woes, auto drivers demanding exorbitant fares.. all of this paints such well known scenes. Reading this made me appreciate the feeling of being seen and heard that seeing my own lived experiences within the pages of a book can only give.
I was smiling throughout my reading of this book and I really enjoyed it.
ETA : Special mention needs to be made of the apartment cat who is named... Poons! I found this and the cat's attitude hilarious!
I was drawn to it by the title which turned out to be totally apt!
Set in an apartment building in Chennai as the name suggests, this story is about the owner and three tenants of the building.
Mani, the owner is a gentle, friendly person with a passion for gardening. He has,for company, his tenants, Kamala, Reva and Jason.
Kamala is instantly recognizable as the quintessential middle aged Chennai maami;traditional, strictly vegetarian, prays to a different God at home or in the temple based on the situation, loves to cook and feed and bemoans the loss of a simpler time. She is a soon to retire dentist who has been a single mom to her only child Lakshmi who is now studying at Oxford and whose arrival annually is a much awaited event in her life. She's simple and loving with a childhood best friend Sundu(Soundavalli), a busy lawyer who is independent and always encouraging her to step out of her comfort zone. When Lakshmi reveals a truth that she cannot comprehend at all, her dreams for the future seem to be crumbling.
Reva(Revati) is at 32, a software engineer who is being bombarded by her mother to choose a 'good boy' and get married. She struggles to assert herself in her work place and isn't sure she wants to commit to marriage. Her relationship with her mother, the frustration mingled with guilt that she isn't doing what her mom wants, the sudden burst of affection for the only parent she has, are all so familiar and will be to those who have been in her place.
Jason, the third tenant, is a chef from London who impulsively travelled to Chennai to get over a completely unexpected breakup. He absorbs and imbibes the atmosphere and culture of this place so far and different from home and is casually enclosed into the fold by the others. As he experiences power cuts and new scents and traffic, he tries out South Indian kootu and payasam from a cookbook and presents the dishes for Kamala's approval. The place and people soothe him and he feels a sense of belonging.
While the residents are grappling with their individual issues and finding moments of happiness and peace in the easy camaraderie and friendship that develops among those who live in close proximity, they become aware of a construction company threatening to take over their home and raze it and their shared fondness for the place and their lives sees them mount a counter attack.
The impromptu meetups that the four characters have, the delicious dosa, idly, ghee roast, mor kootan and other South Indian dishes they cook and share and enjoy, the way they are there for each other, are all very feel good. The setting and locations have been described authentically. The tone is light and fresh and has an underlying humour that comes through very well in the way daily routines unique to the place are described.
Uncles and aunties randomly advising Reva that 'only career is not enough', Kamala and Sundu sharing parenting woes, auto drivers demanding exorbitant fares.. all of this paints such well known scenes. Reading this made me appreciate the feeling of being seen and heard that seeing my own lived experiences within the pages of a book can only give.
I was smiling throughout my reading of this book and I really enjoyed it.
ETA : Special mention needs to be made of the apartment cat who is named... Poons! I found this and the cat's attitude hilarious!
September 8, 2023
barely anything happened and I couldn't get into any of the povs, especially the homophobic mum
August 10, 2023
3.5 stars
This is a pretty charming slice-of-life book set in Chennai, India. It deals with the lives of four residents at Grand Life Apartments, a family-owned building set in a neighbourhood aggressively being preyed on by industrial developers.
Read this full review on my blog.
This is one of those books I couldn’t help but get sucked into, and I found myself actively reading a chapter or two when I had time to spare. The residents at the apartments it follows are Kamala, a middle aged lady with a daughter studying in London, Jason, a British cook working in a fancy hotel, Revathi, a millennial working a corporate job, and Mani, the owner of the building.
It flows without much of a plot and takes its own time to introduce these characters and their circumstances to the reader, and does a pretty good job introducing us to their daily routine and struggles. At the same time, it is so grounded in Chennai that I felt like I was back in the city. All the sights and smells described add to the atmosphere, and the characters are fantastically much more than stereotypical cardboard cutouts that I pessimistically expected. They all have their idiosyncrasies, but they display the kind of Indian sentiments that are very common in the subcontinent, and they all come across as distinct but relatable personalities. They’re regular people with regular person worries who are trying to navigate life in the best way they can.
I liked that the author spread her attention between characters of different ages, as this makes it so much easier to settle into their lives. There’s a glimpse of the pressures that today’s Indian millennials go through in Revathy’s experiences. She wants to climb the ladder at her career, and finds it incredibly hard to assert herself in some situations, and hence feel frustrated with that aspect of her life. At the same time, she is pushed to “settle down” with a nice man from a respectable family by her mother, and she envies the life her friends live abroad, and this overall situation is extremely relatable to anyone who grew up in the country. We also have an opposing viewpoint from Kamala’s perspective as she worries over her daughter’s future and yearns to have grandchildren, all the while trying to escape from related uncomfortable conversations about her daughter’s domestic plans in social settings. I don’t have as much to say about Jason and Mani’s perspectives, but I really appreciated that the former was a character who showed interest in the local culture, rather than showing any signs of activism to tell them how to improve their lives for the better. For the non-Indian readers, I am sure that his viewpoint would be instrumental in highlighting the quirks in urban Indian lifestyles. All of the characters come together organically, and there’s no forced connections or romances here.
Some of the scenes in this book made me want to visit certain establishments to eat all the food mentioned in the pages. I read it in two days, and all I wanted to eat then were dosas and thattu idlis and murukku and mor kozhumbu, and you bet I’m busy trying to figure out how to eat all of these things, and others that I frequently daydreamt at moments I couldn’t pick this book up.
But, this book is a far cry from perfect. The pacing can be improved. The first half takes its time to introduce characters and their lives, and not always do they get equal attention, making it a bit hard to connect to some until the midway point. The promised conflict with the construction giant that wants to bully the residents into moving is a bit too abruptly and easily resolved. In certain chapters, I liked that the author didn’t act the part of a tour guide for universal audiences, but there were others in which certain things were being described for the same. Now, this wouldn’t be an issue if different perspectives got different treatments, but this confused narration made me wonder who she was trying to make comfortable with the setting.
We all know how this story ends, and it ends well. Despite all the niggles, I enjoyed reading it, and commend the author for writing a book that proudly displays my cultural sensibilities, and doing a good job baking them into a cozy setting with characters of varying backgrounds.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
This is a pretty charming slice-of-life book set in Chennai, India. It deals with the lives of four residents at Grand Life Apartments, a family-owned building set in a neighbourhood aggressively being preyed on by industrial developers.
Read this full review on my blog.
This is one of those books I couldn’t help but get sucked into, and I found myself actively reading a chapter or two when I had time to spare. The residents at the apartments it follows are Kamala, a middle aged lady with a daughter studying in London, Jason, a British cook working in a fancy hotel, Revathi, a millennial working a corporate job, and Mani, the owner of the building.
It flows without much of a plot and takes its own time to introduce these characters and their circumstances to the reader, and does a pretty good job introducing us to their daily routine and struggles. At the same time, it is so grounded in Chennai that I felt like I was back in the city. All the sights and smells described add to the atmosphere, and the characters are fantastically much more than stereotypical cardboard cutouts that I pessimistically expected. They all have their idiosyncrasies, but they display the kind of Indian sentiments that are very common in the subcontinent, and they all come across as distinct but relatable personalities. They’re regular people with regular person worries who are trying to navigate life in the best way they can.
I liked that the author spread her attention between characters of different ages, as this makes it so much easier to settle into their lives. There’s a glimpse of the pressures that today’s Indian millennials go through in Revathy’s experiences. She wants to climb the ladder at her career, and finds it incredibly hard to assert herself in some situations, and hence feel frustrated with that aspect of her life. At the same time, she is pushed to “settle down” with a nice man from a respectable family by her mother, and she envies the life her friends live abroad, and this overall situation is extremely relatable to anyone who grew up in the country. We also have an opposing viewpoint from Kamala’s perspective as she worries over her daughter’s future and yearns to have grandchildren, all the while trying to escape from related uncomfortable conversations about her daughter’s domestic plans in social settings. I don’t have as much to say about Jason and Mani’s perspectives, but I really appreciated that the former was a character who showed interest in the local culture, rather than showing any signs of activism to tell them how to improve their lives for the better. For the non-Indian readers, I am sure that his viewpoint would be instrumental in highlighting the quirks in urban Indian lifestyles. All of the characters come together organically, and there’s no forced connections or romances here.
Some of the scenes in this book made me want to visit certain establishments to eat all the food mentioned in the pages. I read it in two days, and all I wanted to eat then were dosas and thattu idlis and murukku and mor kozhumbu, and you bet I’m busy trying to figure out how to eat all of these things, and others that I frequently daydreamt at moments I couldn’t pick this book up.
But, this book is a far cry from perfect. The pacing can be improved. The first half takes its time to introduce characters and their lives, and not always do they get equal attention, making it a bit hard to connect to some until the midway point. The promised conflict with the construction giant that wants to bully the residents into moving is a bit too abruptly and easily resolved. In certain chapters, I liked that the author didn’t act the part of a tour guide for universal audiences, but there were others in which certain things were being described for the same. Now, this wouldn’t be an issue if different perspectives got different treatments, but this confused narration made me wonder who she was trying to make comfortable with the setting.
We all know how this story ends, and it ends well. Despite all the niggles, I enjoyed reading it, and commend the author for writing a book that proudly displays my cultural sensibilities, and doing a good job baking them into a cozy setting with characters of varying backgrounds.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
March 5, 2023
This is a brilliantly evocative book. It follows four people who live in the Grand Life Apartments. Kamala (whose daughter has gone off to university, leaving Kamala feeling a bit lost), Revathi (whose job is treating her apallingly and whose mother is nagging her to get married), Jason (who is running away from his heartbreak) and Mani (who owns the building and is fighting a battle of his own).
We get to meet each of them and see the ups and downs of their lives.
It's a quiet book - nothing overly dramatic, but it vividly describes every day life in modern Chennai.
I really enjoyed reading and the food description meant I was craving a decent curry by the end.
We get to meet each of them and see the ups and downs of their lives.
It's a quiet book - nothing overly dramatic, but it vividly describes every day life in modern Chennai.
I really enjoyed reading and the food description meant I was craving a decent curry by the end.
May 15, 2024
Minor Disturbances at Grand Life Apartments by Hema Sukumar is a book about well, home.
The Grand Life Apartments is a middle class apartment block in Chennai. Its diverse set of residents lead a complex life with minor disturbances. Throughout all the disturbances, the one thing that is constant is home i.e. Grand Life Apartments but what if their constant is on the verge of demolition? What would their lives be like? Read the book to find out.
This breezy book reminded me about the importance and comfort a home brings. The writing yearned me to go for a stroll along the coasts of Chennai and experience the authentic life of South. I could feel the love for Idli Dosa along with coconut chutney and the damp air of the coast.
However, the pace of this book is quite slow as compared to my taste. Moreover, I found the plot not standing up with the synopsis of the book. The content in the synopsis seem to have been a bit exaggerated as compared to the plot. If you wish to read this title for a slow Sunday, you can pick it up but unfortunately, if you are expecting a fast paced book, then this isn’t for you.
The Grand Life Apartments is a middle class apartment block in Chennai. Its diverse set of residents lead a complex life with minor disturbances. Throughout all the disturbances, the one thing that is constant is home i.e. Grand Life Apartments but what if their constant is on the verge of demolition? What would their lives be like? Read the book to find out.
This breezy book reminded me about the importance and comfort a home brings. The writing yearned me to go for a stroll along the coasts of Chennai and experience the authentic life of South. I could feel the love for Idli Dosa along with coconut chutney and the damp air of the coast.
However, the pace of this book is quite slow as compared to my taste. Moreover, I found the plot not standing up with the synopsis of the book. The content in the synopsis seem to have been a bit exaggerated as compared to the plot. If you wish to read this title for a slow Sunday, you can pick it up but unfortunately, if you are expecting a fast paced book, then this isn’t for you.
April 14, 2023
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The book tells the story of a small building in Chennai and its four tenants. Mani, the genial and kind landlord, who is struggling against a construction company using aggressive practices to take over his land. Kamala, a middle aged single mother whose daughter, the centre of her existence, studies in the UK and puts Kamala's traditional values and aspirations under pressure. Reva, an early 30s successful professional, who is stuck between filial obligations (and the meekness expected of her) and her natural instincts to want something new and different for herself. Finally, Jason, a British expat, who left the UK on a whim to try and mend his broken heart, and is now working as a chef in a local Western hotel, getting to know Chennai through its food and its people.
In essence, this is a story of simple struggles by average people, reminding us all that is unique in every single one of us. In the background, there is also a love story between Chennai (and its food) and its residents. There is really no broader or more complex agenda here. In some ways, I see this as the antithesis to Last Man in Tower.
I really liked the book. It was well written and well paced. The characters made you fall in love with them from the minute you met them, despite their idiosyncratic behaviours and frustrating decisions (or because of?). Chennai is described with such warmth and affection that its hard to not want to visit it (or at least go out for a dosa).
It's also essentially a feel good kind of book. Nothing really bad happens, and it's refreshing to read something like this once in a while, especially about India, books about which are often grim, sad, and depressing. This is a celebration of life and the humans inhabiting it, and it's just lovely.
My one (minor) frustration is the huge potential the story had beyond what it delivered. I finished it with a distinct sense of a meal unfinished.
Can't wait to read more of the author's work.
The book tells the story of a small building in Chennai and its four tenants. Mani, the genial and kind landlord, who is struggling against a construction company using aggressive practices to take over his land. Kamala, a middle aged single mother whose daughter, the centre of her existence, studies in the UK and puts Kamala's traditional values and aspirations under pressure. Reva, an early 30s successful professional, who is stuck between filial obligations (and the meekness expected of her) and her natural instincts to want something new and different for herself. Finally, Jason, a British expat, who left the UK on a whim to try and mend his broken heart, and is now working as a chef in a local Western hotel, getting to know Chennai through its food and its people.
In essence, this is a story of simple struggles by average people, reminding us all that is unique in every single one of us. In the background, there is also a love story between Chennai (and its food) and its residents. There is really no broader or more complex agenda here. In some ways, I see this as the antithesis to Last Man in Tower.
I really liked the book. It was well written and well paced. The characters made you fall in love with them from the minute you met them, despite their idiosyncratic behaviours and frustrating decisions (or because of?). Chennai is described with such warmth and affection that its hard to not want to visit it (or at least go out for a dosa).
It's also essentially a feel good kind of book. Nothing really bad happens, and it's refreshing to read something like this once in a while, especially about India, books about which are often grim, sad, and depressing. This is a celebration of life and the humans inhabiting it, and it's just lovely.
My one (minor) frustration is the huge potential the story had beyond what it delivered. I finished it with a distinct sense of a meal unfinished.
Can't wait to read more of the author's work.
April 16, 2026
A slice of Chennai served up over 300 pages. I enjoyed this immensely!!!
For anyone not from the South of India, the book might be tricky in parts as the text contains a sprinkle of Tamil words and phrases, that are appropriate and enrich the storytelling.
For anyone not from the South of India, the book might be tricky in parts as the text contains a sprinkle of Tamil words and phrases, that are appropriate and enrich the storytelling.
February 8, 2024
3.5 stars. I think I would have enjoyed this more if the synopsis better fit the actual story, because I’m always down for gentle, slice of life stories, but I was mentally prepared for a much more wacky and fun book.
April 9, 2024
3.5 stars
While the book didn't really make for an "exciting" new read, I found myself constantly reaching for it. Perhaps it was the simple comfort and warmth exuded by the characters and Hema Sukumar's descriptions of their lives and surroundings. There is something to be said for books that allow you to put up your feet and read, where nothing exciting seems to be happening and yet so much is taking place - almost like our daily lives. This was certainly a book that left me smiling and contented.
While the book didn't really make for an "exciting" new read, I found myself constantly reaching for it. Perhaps it was the simple comfort and warmth exuded by the characters and Hema Sukumar's descriptions of their lives and surroundings. There is something to be said for books that allow you to put up your feet and read, where nothing exciting seems to be happening and yet so much is taking place - almost like our daily lives. This was certainly a book that left me smiling and contented.
May 7, 2026
The characters were endearing and the novel was sort of ‘slice of life’ but would have liked more from the central conflict of the threat of losing their home. I think I liked Jason’s and Kamala’s stories the most but all 3 had satisfying conclusions.
May 3, 2026
I really enjoyed this light read about the lives of residents in an apartment block. It follows their separate and very different lives, along with the shared interactions as they face the potential demolition of their home.
A great read through Shelterbox Book Club.
A great read through Shelterbox Book Club.
May 9, 2023
Hema Sukumar paints a vivid and beautiful setting of Chennai, South India and introduces a diverse set of developed characters whose individual and group struggles, and daily lives are highlighted throughout the novel. Sukumar touches on various themes such as unconditional and familial love, generational differences, but sometimes the exploration of these themes felt slightly underdeveloped and superficial.
Whilst I enjoyed the overall writing style for the most part, and loved the vivid setting (and descriptions of food), the actual story felt rather slow paced and mundane, to the point that the overarching conflict with the construction company was lost and almost pointless, which would be fine if it weren't highlighted as the main conflict in the synopsis.
Thanks NetGelley for the eARC
Whilst I enjoyed the overall writing style for the most part, and loved the vivid setting (and descriptions of food), the actual story felt rather slow paced and mundane, to the point that the overarching conflict with the construction company was lost and almost pointless, which would be fine if it weren't highlighted as the main conflict in the synopsis.
Thanks NetGelley for the eARC
February 4, 2024
Beautiful descriptions of India but no real story, nothing really happened - very disappointing.
December 30, 2024
Such a vibrant and cosy read. I loved following the life and troubles of the residents of the grand life apartments. The setting and descriptions were vivid and colourful. A story full of life :D
May 12, 2026
Disturbances at Grand Apartments follows three Chennai apartment residents navigating life’s challenges and a threat to their home. The book explores relationships, the concept of home, and unexpected connections.
Characters:
This is definitely a character driven novel. The strength of the novel lies in its trio of protagonists. The inclusion of Jason made the story more relatable for me, his journey of adjusting to Chennai from London added a nice layer of cultural contrast to Kamala and Revathi’s more traditional struggles. The author has clearly put a lot of effort into building her characters who are well-developed and rounded. The residents of the apartment complex feel like real people with authentic, everyday struggles. However, despite their realism, I found it difficult to engage with their journeys at times. I felt more like a distant observer, except as regards the threats faced by the owner Mani. While Kamala stood out, some of the others felt less memorable:
* Mani, the apartment owner, elderly and reflective
* Sundu , Kamala’s outspoken best friend and a counterpoint to Kamala’s conservatism.
* Lakshmi, Kamala’s daughter, whose life choices force her mother to confront uncomfortable truths.
* Salim, a delivery boy.
The apartment cat, Poons, has some walk on parts!
Plot
There is beauty in the everyday, Sukumar captures this in "Grand Life Apartments" with sensory detail that the building almost becoming a character in its own right. The threat of redevelopment hanging over the residents adds a bittersweet layer of urgency to their everyday interactions, though this was slightly underplayed until the end. I found the pacing a bit too leisurely. While I appreciate a "slice-of-life" approach, the plot struggled to hold my interest throughout the middle sections.
Food
Food plays a big part in the story. The book features South Indian cuisine, particularly dishes from the cookbook “Samaithu Paar” (Cook and See). Jason, a British chef, learns to cook local flavours like Ghee Roast Dosa, Filter Coffee, Lemon Rice, Sambar, and Rasam, often clashing with Kamala’s traditional methods. You can taste the food from the descriptions!
Writing style: The style is clear and use of vivid imagery to paint a beautiful picture of Chennai was good, but I felt the portrayal was a tad too rosy, having visited the city myself admittedly a few years ago, the poverty, piles of rubbish, locals sleeping on station platforms, etc. wasn’t really mentioned much. Perhaps nostalgia for a place the author used to live has given her rose tinted spectacles? There were moments where the prose felt a bit too descriptive at the expense of the story's momentum. The tone was warm and observant, but the engagement factor wasn't quite high enough to make the book a "page-turner" .
The themes of community, aging, and urban change are the backbone of this novel. They are explored effectively without the inclusion of cliches and certainly resonate, especially the idea of how modern life can isolate us even when we live in close proximity to others. That said, I felt the exploration stayed in a "safe" zone; I would have loved to see these themes pushed a bit deeper.
Overall, having said all that, it’s a lovely debut, a quiet triumph , that proves Sukumar has a keen eye for human nature. No it doesn't rely on grand gestures or explosive plot twists; instead, it finds its strength in the small, intimate moments that define our lives. It’s a reminder that even "minor" lives are full of depth.
Another excellent choice from #shelterboxbookclub for this month.
(3.75 stars)
Characters:
This is definitely a character driven novel. The strength of the novel lies in its trio of protagonists. The inclusion of Jason made the story more relatable for me, his journey of adjusting to Chennai from London added a nice layer of cultural contrast to Kamala and Revathi’s more traditional struggles. The author has clearly put a lot of effort into building her characters who are well-developed and rounded. The residents of the apartment complex feel like real people with authentic, everyday struggles. However, despite their realism, I found it difficult to engage with their journeys at times. I felt more like a distant observer, except as regards the threats faced by the owner Mani. While Kamala stood out, some of the others felt less memorable:
* Mani, the apartment owner, elderly and reflective
* Sundu , Kamala’s outspoken best friend and a counterpoint to Kamala’s conservatism.
* Lakshmi, Kamala’s daughter, whose life choices force her mother to confront uncomfortable truths.
* Salim, a delivery boy.
The apartment cat, Poons, has some walk on parts!
Plot
There is beauty in the everyday, Sukumar captures this in "Grand Life Apartments" with sensory detail that the building almost becoming a character in its own right. The threat of redevelopment hanging over the residents adds a bittersweet layer of urgency to their everyday interactions, though this was slightly underplayed until the end. I found the pacing a bit too leisurely. While I appreciate a "slice-of-life" approach, the plot struggled to hold my interest throughout the middle sections.
Food
Food plays a big part in the story. The book features South Indian cuisine, particularly dishes from the cookbook “Samaithu Paar” (Cook and See). Jason, a British chef, learns to cook local flavours like Ghee Roast Dosa, Filter Coffee, Lemon Rice, Sambar, and Rasam, often clashing with Kamala’s traditional methods. You can taste the food from the descriptions!
Writing style: The style is clear and use of vivid imagery to paint a beautiful picture of Chennai was good, but I felt the portrayal was a tad too rosy, having visited the city myself admittedly a few years ago, the poverty, piles of rubbish, locals sleeping on station platforms, etc. wasn’t really mentioned much. Perhaps nostalgia for a place the author used to live has given her rose tinted spectacles? There were moments where the prose felt a bit too descriptive at the expense of the story's momentum. The tone was warm and observant, but the engagement factor wasn't quite high enough to make the book a "page-turner" .
The themes of community, aging, and urban change are the backbone of this novel. They are explored effectively without the inclusion of cliches and certainly resonate, especially the idea of how modern life can isolate us even when we live in close proximity to others. That said, I felt the exploration stayed in a "safe" zone; I would have loved to see these themes pushed a bit deeper.
Overall, having said all that, it’s a lovely debut, a quiet triumph , that proves Sukumar has a keen eye for human nature. No it doesn't rely on grand gestures or explosive plot twists; instead, it finds its strength in the small, intimate moments that define our lives. It’s a reminder that even "minor" lives are full of depth.
Another excellent choice from #shelterboxbookclub for this month.
(3.75 stars)
February 9, 2024
The blurbs were glowing , it promised to be a good story and I'm always happy to discover and push an Indian author for my book club read. Sadly, however, it felt like all those gushing blurbs were by and for a Western reading audience, for whom the exoticised Indian setting and characters were enough to hold the interest. I was delighted initially by the descriptions. For example, of another American tourist that Jason bumps into and shares a ghee roast dosa meal with, he observed she thanked the waiter 'more profusely than was necessary.' So accurate and true of the passing firangi traveller in India. But I just wish the editor had been a lot more critical and done away with so much superfluous detailing that had no bearing on anything; neither character development nor making the plot richer. In the same paragraph the author goes on to have Jason observing the woman's eyes. 'One greenish blue, the other bluish green.' So? You wonder if this is something you need to make note of, is this character going to reappear? No. Of course not. It's sadly self indulgent writing that the editor too seems to have fallen in love with. The premise had a lot of potential , to take the hiccups in individual lives, link them up with the major hiccup of them losing the place they love. That major conflict of losing the apartment building just slid in somewhere without explanation or any developments that involved me as a reader. At one stage I literally sat up and thought, huh, when did it get to a court stage. Everything was glossed over wrt the major conflict and that's not really justifiable given that so much else that was superfluous and could have been sacrificed, wasn't. This could have been such a charming and taut book if if only...
One last thing. I usually love character driven books. I have absolutely no issue with there being no plot per se in a novel. That is the pleasure of reading. To enter other minds, other worlds. But to be promised some conflicts, in the title itself : 'Minor disturbances' at Grand life apartments' and then have these disturbances come and go so gently, they barely even register.
Sneeze and you'd miss them!
One last thing. I usually love character driven books. I have absolutely no issue with there being no plot per se in a novel. That is the pleasure of reading. To enter other minds, other worlds. But to be promised some conflicts, in the title itself : 'Minor disturbances' at Grand life apartments' and then have these disturbances come and go so gently, they barely even register.
Sneeze and you'd miss them!
December 14, 2023
5 stars just for the Chennai nostalgia.
This book didn't have a very strong plot, and the writing style was a little too on the nose (a lot of "telling" vs. "showing"). That said, the beauty of the book is in its small moments. The details with which each character's day-to-day life is depicted, peppered with extremely relatable anecdotes about life in Chennai as seen from 3 very different perspectives - a middle-aged single mother who's close to retirement, a tech worker in her early 30s trying to figure out what she wants both in her career and her personal life, and an English chef who moved to the city impulsively to get a change of pace after a breakup. Having grown up in Chennai, I could hear the sounds and visualize every part of this book as it was happening, and it made reading the book such a joyous experience.
I both read and listened to this book, and I would avoid the audiobook, especially if you're a native Tamil-speaker. The narrator butchers the few Tamil words that are in the book, which really messed with my immersion and flow.
This book didn't have a very strong plot, and the writing style was a little too on the nose (a lot of "telling" vs. "showing"). That said, the beauty of the book is in its small moments. The details with which each character's day-to-day life is depicted, peppered with extremely relatable anecdotes about life in Chennai as seen from 3 very different perspectives - a middle-aged single mother who's close to retirement, a tech worker in her early 30s trying to figure out what she wants both in her career and her personal life, and an English chef who moved to the city impulsively to get a change of pace after a breakup. Having grown up in Chennai, I could hear the sounds and visualize every part of this book as it was happening, and it made reading the book such a joyous experience.
I both read and listened to this book, and I would avoid the audiobook, especially if you're a native Tamil-speaker. The narrator butchers the few Tamil words that are in the book, which really messed with my immersion and flow.
June 2, 2024
A book full of endearing characters. A narrative that engulfs the reader in its absolute warmth. How does one create conflict that will also make the story engrossing? Hema hits it out of the park with her brilliant magic by creating a Wodehousian plot, where nothing bad ever happens to all the gentle characters that live in Grand Life Apartments, despite some minor disturbances. And her evocative descriptions will make the heart of any Chennai-ite beat faster with nostalgia. Not to forget the deliciously detailed coverage of certain recipes that are truly appetising.
October 2, 2024
Set in Chennai, India, this novel explores the intersecting lives of several individuals with diverse life paths who live in the same apartment building. Everything about this plot description and the first quarter of the novel made me think I'd love this book.
However, the payoff just wasn't there. The characters had desires, but those desires fizzled out. They had conflicts, but those conflicts just kind of happened, and then everyone went on with their lives.
Overall, I felt an overall lack of emotive reality, along with a lack of agency. For the most part, the characters living in the apartment building were fine with letting their lives continue as they had before, with only minimal changes.
However, the payoff just wasn't there. The characters had desires, but those desires fizzled out. They had conflicts, but those conflicts just kind of happened, and then everyone went on with their lives.
Overall, I felt an overall lack of emotive reality, along with a lack of agency. For the most part, the characters living in the apartment building were fine with letting their lives continue as they had before, with only minimal changes.
Read
January 6, 2025A very, very low-plot slice of life type book about four people living in a Chennai apartment block. Vivid setting but I wanted a lot more development in the characters if we weren't getting it in the plot. Then again I am not very good at low plot reads, what can you do.
May 3, 2026
This was a gentle and uplifting read with loads of mouth watering food references and descriptive writing that really gave a sense of the sights, sounds and smells of southern India. Really enjoyed it.
Read
January 21, 2024So warm, so familiar, so comforting.
July 25, 2023
A sweet book set in bustling Chennai, a place I used to travel to often. I enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery, but found the story itself a little slow,
April 29, 2026
A wonderfully charming and balmy read that soothes the soul with it's undramatic unspooling of the lives of three residents in the eponymous apartments. As the title indicates the storylines for each character are not earth shattering but they are opportunities for character development, for them each to learn a little more about themselves.
Contrary to what the synopsis of the book may suggest, the storyline about facing possible eviction is a very minor background affair that perhaps if we're being picky could have been developed a little more, but if it hard perhaps it would have spoiled the enjoyable mood of the rest of the novel - spending time with these people, their friends and relatives, as they talk - the residents get to know one another, along with Mani the owner and the other pleasant supporting cast of characters, and we can salivate perhaps at the near constant presence of food throughout the novel, partly driven on by Jason, the Englishman abroad working as a chef.
It's a delightful book, that I cherished for being one of those comfort reads, where you just want to spend more time with the characters ( and arguably, perhaps in some cases perhaps we could have had another 50 pages or so, I'm sure no one would have quibbled ), no one significant is a bastard, the conversations feel genuine, the relationships are authentic and fundamentally decent, even where there are potential tensions as in the case of Kamala and her daughter.
Books like these can be welcome tonics to stresses and strains of life, and the simplicity is very much in its favour.
Contrary to what the synopsis of the book may suggest, the storyline about facing possible eviction is a very minor background affair that perhaps if we're being picky could have been developed a little more, but if it hard perhaps it would have spoiled the enjoyable mood of the rest of the novel - spending time with these people, their friends and relatives, as they talk - the residents get to know one another, along with Mani the owner and the other pleasant supporting cast of characters, and we can salivate perhaps at the near constant presence of food throughout the novel, partly driven on by Jason, the Englishman abroad working as a chef.
It's a delightful book, that I cherished for being one of those comfort reads, where you just want to spend more time with the characters ( and arguably, perhaps in some cases perhaps we could have had another 50 pages or so, I'm sure no one would have quibbled ), no one significant is a bastard, the conversations feel genuine, the relationships are authentic and fundamentally decent, even where there are potential tensions as in the case of Kamala and her daughter.
Books like these can be welcome tonics to stresses and strains of life, and the simplicity is very much in its favour.
April 18, 2026
There are other books and movies about buildings and their inhabitants, the Yacoubian building and Marigold hotel spring to mind. Grand Life Apartments are distinctively South Indian, the building, the characters and above all the lovingly described South Indian food. Indeed food and matrimony for daughters are the drivers for the Indian mothers in the story. The residents are reasonably well off, status is measured by the English or American degrees of children sent abroad for university education.
I stayed in a colonial bungalow turned hotel in Madras, as it then was, half a century ago. It’s far bigger now, with modern malls, but it seems the atmosphere and climate haven’t changed much. I recall the fishermen casting their nets off the beach . Jason and Reva’s evening walk along the beach is so evocative for me.
The description of awkward conversations, at a wedding and meeting a marriage prospect, feel very real. There are laugh out loud moments, and gentle teasing. It is laced through with humour, she views her characters’ foibles with a sceptical but sympathetic eye. It makes it a joy to read.
Jason’s meetings with the other residents opens up their feelings and anxieties, he is almost like the chorus in a classical play. Kamala and Reva’s village mother are the older generation, finding changing India and more Western ideas hard to accept.
The characters in the apartments are all sympathetic, lightly sketched at the beginning then fleshed out as the story progresses. Kamala is well portrayed as a pious widow, but there is nothing on her professional life as a dentist, whereas we have detail on Jason’s cooking and Reva’s management job. A pivotal moment is when she says to daughter Lakshmi “ you are perfect as you are”
The threat to the apartment from the developer is perhaps a bit of a plot cliche, but wraps up the story neatly. A really enjoyable relaxed read.
I had this from the Shelterbox book group, a UK disaster relief charity.
I stayed in a colonial bungalow turned hotel in Madras, as it then was, half a century ago. It’s far bigger now, with modern malls, but it seems the atmosphere and climate haven’t changed much. I recall the fishermen casting their nets off the beach . Jason and Reva’s evening walk along the beach is so evocative for me.
The description of awkward conversations, at a wedding and meeting a marriage prospect, feel very real. There are laugh out loud moments, and gentle teasing. It is laced through with humour, she views her characters’ foibles with a sceptical but sympathetic eye. It makes it a joy to read.
Jason’s meetings with the other residents opens up their feelings and anxieties, he is almost like the chorus in a classical play. Kamala and Reva’s village mother are the older generation, finding changing India and more Western ideas hard to accept.
The characters in the apartments are all sympathetic, lightly sketched at the beginning then fleshed out as the story progresses. Kamala is well portrayed as a pious widow, but there is nothing on her professional life as a dentist, whereas we have detail on Jason’s cooking and Reva’s management job. A pivotal moment is when she says to daughter Lakshmi “ you are perfect as you are”
The threat to the apartment from the developer is perhaps a bit of a plot cliche, but wraps up the story neatly. A really enjoyable relaxed read.
I had this from the Shelterbox book group, a UK disaster relief charity.
April 30, 2026
This was a very gentle and slow read. I could have spent ages looking up all the regional food items mentioned but resisted, or never would have finished the book. Good descriptions as I have pictures in my head of the area.
May 1, 2026
A fun and comforting read
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