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Last Bench
Sometimes, under the weight of other people's expectations from us, we forget who we truly are and what we want from our lives. Same was the case with this young boy, Vikki, who tries so hard to live up to his namesake. Vikki is a teenager with a brilliant mind and a kind heart. He is a foodie, a die-hard Bollywood fan and, most important of all, he is a great friend. So, what will he do when a friend in need comes to him foe help? To what extent will he go to save him? Read the debut novel of Ram Halady to find out, and be ready to be moved by this endearing, coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of Bangalore in the '70s.
- GenresFiction
252 pages, Paperback
Published February 27, 2025
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11657 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
May 18, 2025
Vikki is the main character and he displays a wonderful attitude towards life. He has great respect for adults and family members. He is kind to his mom and works at a store to help her with bills. He likes school too, and does his very best studying. He is kind and helpful to his friends. He goes out of his way to help them.
It’s interesting to read about the terms “First Bench” and “Last Bench” and how students try to achieve “First Bench.”
In all, it’s refreshing to know that many young people do care about people and their own education.
It’s interesting to read about the terms “First Bench” and “Last Bench” and how students try to achieve “First Bench.”
In all, it’s refreshing to know that many young people do care about people and their own education.
March 28, 2025
The Last Bench gleams with nostalgia for the Bengaluru of those days.
I was moved by the culture and a sense of community one strongly feels in India despite their own poverty; Vikki's actions as a young adolescent, prepared to spend his own savings in order to assist his friend in covering the costs of his sister's wedding struck home with me. All the other incidents in the book also reveal the value of people making connections and helping each other to solve problems for survival in their day-to-day lives.
These values seem to be rooted in the mysteries of Indian Culture and philosophy.
I was moved by the culture and a sense of community one strongly feels in India despite their own poverty; Vikki's actions as a young adolescent, prepared to spend his own savings in order to assist his friend in covering the costs of his sister's wedding struck home with me. All the other incidents in the book also reveal the value of people making connections and helping each other to solve problems for survival in their day-to-day lives.
These values seem to be rooted in the mysteries of Indian Culture and philosophy.
May 8, 2025
This is not my go to category of book, but it was recommended to me by a good friend, so I had a go. Surprisingly I found it very refreshing and intriguing. Told from the perspective of a young kid trying to find his way and figure out what he wants to be. I enjoyed the dive into a culture and upbringing that was not mine.
I was enjoying the pace and groove of Vikki's story telling until I threw my hands up in exasperation with him, "Nooo, what are you doing..." From there I pretty much raced to the finish to see how it all turned out.
All around great book, took me a few chapters to figure out the narrative, but definitely recommended.
I was enjoying the pace and groove of Vikki's story telling until I threw my hands up in exasperation with him, "Nooo, what are you doing..." From there I pretty much raced to the finish to see how it all turned out.
All around great book, took me a few chapters to figure out the narrative, but definitely recommended.
May 16, 2025
In "Last Bench," Ram masterfully crafts characters whose inner worlds burst from the page with startling clarity. As the protagonists navigate the treacherous waters between youth and adulthood, their anxieties, hopes, and evolving identities are rendered with rare precision.
The novel excels in revealing not just what its characters do, but why they do it—their fears of inadequacy, desperate yearnings for connection, and struggles to define themselves beyond others' expectations. Each emotional beat resonates with authenticity, creating a mirror in which readers will recognize their own coming-of-age turbulence. A wonderful portrait of adolescent metamorphosis that lingers long after the final page. I absolutely loved this read!!!
The novel excels in revealing not just what its characters do, but why they do it—their fears of inadequacy, desperate yearnings for connection, and struggles to define themselves beyond others' expectations. Each emotional beat resonates with authenticity, creating a mirror in which readers will recognize their own coming-of-age turbulence. A wonderful portrait of adolescent metamorphosis that lingers long after the final page. I absolutely loved this read!!!
February 25, 2025
A great read!
The narrative intricately explores the psyche of a teenager Vikki, capturing his thoughts, fears, and aspirations in a manner that feels both authentic and deeply moving. The vivid portrayal of Vikki's world, filled with the complexities and challenges of poverty, brings to life the temptations and moral conflicts that often accompany such hardships. The author skillfully weaves a story filled with twists and turns, ensuring that each sequence flows seamlessly into the next.
This book is a compelling read for anyone. I also believe that it should be added to the reading list of US public schools. Last Bench offers students a window into a different world and provides valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of a teenager growing up in a vastly different cultural and socio-economic environment. By exposing students to such diverse perspectives, the book fosters empathy, understanding, and a broader worldview.
I wholeheartedly recommend Last Bench to anyone seeking a compelling, enlightening, and emotionally resonant read.
The narrative intricately explores the psyche of a teenager Vikki, capturing his thoughts, fears, and aspirations in a manner that feels both authentic and deeply moving. The vivid portrayal of Vikki's world, filled with the complexities and challenges of poverty, brings to life the temptations and moral conflicts that often accompany such hardships. The author skillfully weaves a story filled with twists and turns, ensuring that each sequence flows seamlessly into the next.
This book is a compelling read for anyone. I also believe that it should be added to the reading list of US public schools. Last Bench offers students a window into a different world and provides valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of a teenager growing up in a vastly different cultural and socio-economic environment. By exposing students to such diverse perspectives, the book fosters empathy, understanding, and a broader worldview.
I wholeheartedly recommend Last Bench to anyone seeking a compelling, enlightening, and emotionally resonant read.
April 1, 2025
Last Bench drew me in from the first page with characters I wanted to keep learning about in a sustained drama that gave me a glimpse into Bangalore society from some 50 years ago, when it was a small, comfortable city, far removed from the bustling mega-city it is today. Life for the central character centered around the neighborhood and school, with strong friendships and loyalties, and high expectations from a supportive and dedicated group of teachers in a local school, with high aspirations. There are points of high drama that punctuate the novel; each of them cause significant ramifications in the flow of the story. The moral dilemmas faced by the mid-teen protagonist are just as profound as those faced by older adults everywhere and make for an absorbing story for people of all ages and cultures. And yes, I think it would make a great film.
April 4, 2025
Ram Halady’s debut novel is a nostalgic tale narrated through the voice and vision of a young boy, Vikki. A middle-class neighborhood in the bustling city of 1970s Bangalore, India, forms the backdrop for this uplifting story. The author has portrayed the adage “It takes a village to raise a child” very effectively.
Vikki is an endearing character who seems wise beyond his years and generous to a fault. In his efforts to help his struggling single mother and those he views as his unfortunate neighbors and friends, he puts his enterprising spirit and clever mind to devise some creative schemes.
Boisterous cricket games and interactions with other characters who play crucial roles in Vikki’s life, add to the authenticity of this story.
Overall, an engaging and satisfying read!
Vikki is an endearing character who seems wise beyond his years and generous to a fault. In his efforts to help his struggling single mother and those he views as his unfortunate neighbors and friends, he puts his enterprising spirit and clever mind to devise some creative schemes.
Boisterous cricket games and interactions with other characters who play crucial roles in Vikki’s life, add to the authenticity of this story.
Overall, an engaging and satisfying read!
March 7, 2025
Quick read. LAST BENCH is a great book for discussion groups and book clubs. This is a great find - a wonderful story of a 15-year-old boy, Vikki, growing up in 1970s India.
Vikki loves watching movies, playing cricket, and spending time with his friends - both first and last benchers in school. When his close friend Sekar asks Vikki for help, he promises Sekar without thinking of what it will take to keep his promise. This simple earnest promise leads to a lot of challenges and crisis for Vikki.
Last Bench is a good insight into daily life in 1970s India and Indian culture.
I highly recommend LAST BENCH for both adults and young adults.
Vikki loves watching movies, playing cricket, and spending time with his friends - both first and last benchers in school. When his close friend Sekar asks Vikki for help, he promises Sekar without thinking of what it will take to keep his promise. This simple earnest promise leads to a lot of challenges and crisis for Vikki.
Last Bench is a good insight into daily life in 1970s India and Indian culture.
I highly recommend LAST BENCH for both adults and young adults.
April 4, 2025
LAST BENCH by Ram Halady was a wonderful read.
I enjoyed the book from the first page to the last. It was a delightful insight into growing up in India, and I found myself smiling while I was reading. I felt like I got to know Vikki, his family, and his close circle of friends and mentors. It was great to learn more about the food and customs of India.
Reading the book made me want to ask Ram so many questions about his life when he grew up in India and even think about a trip there.
Thank you for writing the book!
I enjoyed the book from the first page to the last. It was a delightful insight into growing up in India, and I found myself smiling while I was reading. I felt like I got to know Vikki, his family, and his close circle of friends and mentors. It was great to learn more about the food and customs of India.
Reading the book made me want to ask Ram so many questions about his life when he grew up in India and even think about a trip there.
Thank you for writing the book!
March 31, 2025
Great Read!
A very nicely written book set in the 70's. Vintage Bangalore has been depicted well by the author Ram and the main character Vikki's coming of age with his escapades and travails succinctly captured! Thoroughly enjoyed reading it and some events could personally relate to my own childhood days growing up in Banagalore.
Looking forward to more such books from Ram!
Prakash
Katy, TX
A very nicely written book set in the 70's. Vintage Bangalore has been depicted well by the author Ram and the main character Vikki's coming of age with his escapades and travails succinctly captured! Thoroughly enjoyed reading it and some events could personally relate to my own childhood days growing up in Banagalore.
Looking forward to more such books from Ram!
Prakash
Katy, TX
February 8, 2026
Really enjoyed this book! It was a coming-of-age novel of a teenage boy living in Bangalore in the 70s. It was feel-good and a pretty quick read. I really enjoyed the different characters and how it touched on women’s right, typical Indian parents’ expectations and I loved the incorporation of Indian mythology. It gives a proper look into so many different aspects of living in an Indian society that still exist today.
June 4, 2025
The coming of age tale in the Bengaluru of the 70's was a very interesting read, since for me, it depicts such a foreign culture with its own customs and day-to-day lives that was so different from my own. It is written in a good pace building the storyline until the different threads are resolved at the end. The author nicely outlines the protagonist, Vikki, to highlight his internal and external struggles, while interspersing his adventures with facts of every day life of a teenager at that time but also doesn't dwell on the shortcomings of its characters.
Take a look at the glossary at the back of the book that defines some of the definitions of terms around food, plants, etc. that will further help to immerse oneself in the story.
I recommend it both for the Young adult readers, as well as readers looking for an entertaining and informative read.
Take a look at the glossary at the back of the book that defines some of the definitions of terms around food, plants, etc. that will further help to immerse oneself in the story.
I recommend it both for the Young adult readers, as well as readers looking for an entertaining and informative read.
October 12, 2025
Ram Halady's novel brought back nostalgic memories for me from my childhood days growing up in a small town in Bihar. The story which documents the experiences of a teenager, Vikki, growing up in Bangalore, India, in the seventies, is interesting and engaging and has a surprising ending. It describes the relationship between school buddies, with their teachers, parents, and neighbors in a delightful style that brings out the joys and sorrows of human relationships. Those were simpler days when there was no social media. Many of us have lost the richness of human interactions in the mad rush to let gadgets rule our lives! In times like this, reading a book such as The Last Bench, is a welcome relief and makes for a wonderful (and relaxing) reading experience.
November 26, 2025
This was an enjoyable read, I read it in two sittings, heartwarming, and not too complicated and I really appreciated the simplicity of the names and characters. I felt a fondness for several of the characters, and I really appreciated the glossary at the end. I’ve always been drawn to any books fiction or non-fiction that focus around other cultures, being an American having never visited India before, this was helpful to me! I may or may not have immediately ordered myself a delicious Indian dish from our local restaurant as a reward for finishing the book. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for something maybe a little more outside of the box, to familiarize yourself with other cultures and have a greater appreciation for other cultures and also what we have here in America, and while I did find it a bit slower paced, it was still quite enjoyable and I feel a good read for young adults as well.
September 10, 2025
This book is very relatable to anyone who has grown up in a lower middle class family. It beautifully potrays the part of world where close-knit neighborhoods, small economies, and childhood joys unburdened by modern distractions. Most of us who grew up in similar environments will recognize the warmth and struggles, while others will gain insight into a cultural moment that feels both distant and familiar.
Its an inspiring novel where readers who enjoy coming of age tales, indian setup, the culture, how a community worked together in the 1970 era, and most importanly the message to do the right thing and its never too late is what i found a rewarding read.
Its an inspiring novel where readers who enjoy coming of age tales, indian setup, the culture, how a community worked together in the 1970 era, and most importanly the message to do the right thing and its never too late is what i found a rewarding read.
June 24, 2025
My parents and grandparents are from Banglore, which is why I was drawn into reading this book as the author narrates this story about Vikki's life from his childhood to his adult life. Vikki comes across a lot of different people and gets influenced with both good and bad. I liked the way Vikki realizes his mistakes and trys to correct them at different stages of his life. Just like in real life there are events that made me sad, happy, cry, laugh when there were some incidents in Vikki's life. Its a feel good story and I recommend people to read it once!
October 28, 2025
I enjoyed reading " The Last Bench " by Ram Halady, which I found to be a very moving story set in the seventies Bangalore ( now known as Bengaluru ) India.
The novel brought back very pleasing nostalgic memories, as I grew up during the same era just north of where Vikram ( Vikki ) the main character of the novel lived.
It’s a very easy read and deals with the daily life of growing up then. It evokes that era with warmth, especially about the neighborhoods, the school culture, the friendships and challenges of daily lives.
The novel brought back very pleasing nostalgic memories, as I grew up during the same era just north of where Vikram ( Vikki ) the main character of the novel lived.
It’s a very easy read and deals with the daily life of growing up then. It evokes that era with warmth, especially about the neighborhoods, the school culture, the friendships and challenges of daily lives.
July 11, 2025
I really connected with The Last Bench. The story of a student who’s often ignored but slowly finds his confidence felt very real to me. I could picture the town and the school—it reminded me of places I’ve known. It’s a simple, honest story that made me think about how we see others and how people can surprise you. A simple but powerful story that stayed with me. Great book, well written, and a must-read!
July 20, 2025
This is a coming-of-age debut novel where the author draws from his experience of growing up in Bangalore in the 70's and 80's. The author expertly weaves multiple teenage characters into the story. The book ends as they graduate from high school which leaves you wanting to know more about how these characters fare in their adulthood. The last chapter provides some glimpses into their adult life, can't wait for a sequel...
May 2, 2025
The Last bench is a very soul touching story. Each character has a small but significant role. Inspectors like him are more in need in this generation. The community unity in 70s is very much lacking in this century. Overall very good moral story for coming and present generation.
July 11, 2025
The Last Bench is an absolutely delightful novel. It is transporting, atmospheric, and leaves the reader with a true sense of the culture of India in the 1970's. Ram Halady masterfully weaves the internal struggles of the main character, a young man named Vikki, with the expectations and mores of the time. You won't want to put it down.
October 3, 2025
Slice of life with a twist!
A must read & a must have, takes you back to the 70’s in India. A great twist at the end with a strong plot. Writers words truly immerse you in the book as though you were in each characters shoes.
A must read & a must have, takes you back to the 70’s in India. A great twist at the end with a strong plot. Writers words truly immerse you in the book as though you were in each characters shoes.
March 31, 2025
A nice quick read book following young Vikki as he navigates his growth into adulthood. His challenges and the dilemma's he faces are universal to all teenagers and easily relatable. The author did a wonderful job expressing what it is like to come of age in India
May 10, 2025
“Last Bench” is a very enjoyable and vivid narrative of a youth coming of age in 1970’s India. I could totally visualize and relate to the vibe, themes and cultural nuances that sprang out of the pages - excellent storytelling by Ram! Welcome and satisfying trip down nostalgia lane!
March 24, 2025
"The Last Bench" by Ram Halady is a heartfelt and engaging story about perseverance and self-discovery. With relatable characters and an easy flow, it makes for an uplifting read. As his twin, I’m especially proud to see his storytelling shine!
April 19, 2025
This is a thoroughly enjoyable transport in time and place, exploring the world of a teen boy. There's challenges, joys and discovery all wrapped up in this engrossing short novel.
April 14, 2025
Last Bench is an absolute gem of a debut novel that whisks you away to a schoolyard and suburb of 1970s Bangalore. With a naive protagonist who is equal parts heart, smarts, and adolescent mischief, this coming-of-age story is relatable and nostalgic. The author masterfully captures the joys and stumbles of youth, weaving in cultural references and gentle life lessons that linger long after the final page. Quick-paced, heartfelt, and evocative, Last Bench is a delightful journey back in time — and one you’ll be glad you took.
March 10, 2025
A nice, easy read book to read. Interesting to learn about a young boy's life in India in the 70's
May 18, 2025
The book surprised me with its tone, almost in the naïve category. You would find no negative heroes but rather some self-reflection from somebody very young and a little mysticism (maybe). There are also quite a few food references, which I found very endearing and educational.
It is a very nice debut novel, set in a time and location that might be exotic for many, but sharing the human sentiment of looking back at childhood and adolescence, emphasizing the good with a bit of whimsical longing.
It is a very nice debut novel, set in a time and location that might be exotic for many, but sharing the human sentiment of looking back at childhood and adolescence, emphasizing the good with a bit of whimsical longing.
February 23, 2025
This story gives you a chance to relive parts of your adolescence as you move with Vikki through his days in school. You will recall the innocence of youth, spontaneous adventure, the experiences that took you from your simple view of the world to one that is more serious and deep. You will remember elders and teachers that had an influence you, and you will relive the moments that made you stronger. Each character in the story is presented in a way that makes you feel you could know them beyond just the pages you read. Scenes are painted such that your imagination will easily take you there. Time will go fast and stand still as you make your way through this delightful book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews