What do you think?
Rate this book
The Other End of the Corridor
When your dreams are tainted with lies and deceit, you have no other choice but to walk to the other end of the corridor. Leela has nothing extraordinary about her except the dream to become famous. Her desires take wings when she gets married to a handsome boy from a respectable family in Delhi. But her dreams are shattered even before they have a chance to take flight. She happens to meet two friends from a long forgotten past, which infuses hope and opens new avenues to realize her dormant aspirations. Leela delves into previously unexplored paths of deception and forbidden passions that only make her stronger. In an attempt to rediscover herself, she falls in love with life and with herself but her life takes a sudden turn again… No matter what, Leela will continue to chase her dreams. Where does this journey take her?
- GenresFiction
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
1 person is currently reading
45 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 41 reviews
March 24, 2015
“I am living in hell from one day to the next. But there is nothing I can do to escape. I don't know where I would go if I did. I feel utterly powerless, and that feeling is my prison. I entered of my own free will, I locked the door, and I threw away the key.”
----Haruki Murakami
Sujata Rajpal, an Indian author, pens an unexceptionally heart-touching and gripping story called, The Other End of the Corridor that reflects light upon the effects of marital violence in an Indian society. It is the journey of one young woman and her mistakes of getting married to a good prospect.
Synopsis:
When your dreams are tainted with lies and deceit, you have no other choice but to walk to the other end of the corridor
Leela has nothing extraordinary about her except the dream to become famous. Her desires take wings when she gets married to a handsome boy from a respectable family in Delhi. But her dreams are shattered even before they have a chance to take flight.
She happens to meet two friends from a long forgotten past, which infuses hope and opens new avenues to realize her dormant aspirations.
Leela delves into previously unexplored paths of deception and forbidden passions that only make her stronger.
In an attempt to rediscover herself, she falls in love with life and with herself but her life takes a sudden turn again…
No matter what, Leela will continue to chase her dreams.
Where does this journey take her?
Leela happens to be the voice and epitome of many Indian women, who silently accepts her horrifying fate of her marital life. Just like any other girl, Leela had her dreams to achieve something bigger and leading a simple life. What was her fault? a) She was born as a girl in India, b) She was a manglik (which means inauspicious for wedding, something with astrology and stars since in India before fixing a marriage people check the groom and bride's stars alignment, if they are okay, then they are good match, and manglik people must marry a manglik only!) c) She was dark-skinned/ olive-skinned. Leela's life revolves around her husband and her in-laws after her marriage, her dreams take a side-step from her life. But her moody husband had his ways to cool down his anger, and despite of the beatings and everything, Leela kept quiet about the beatings and the torture. But a bird can't be caged forever, at some point, it'll break-free, but will Leela break-free? Will she learn to love herself first?
Rajpal voiced the sounds and cries and pain of all those Indian women who go through domestic violence every single day. This book not only teaches us how to take a stand for oneself, but it also enlightens us with the horrifying details of a happy married life from the inside. The writing is fresh and captivating with the right amount of emotions poured in the right places. The plot progresses in a fast pace, and with Leela's life, we see her evolve in her own skin. The plot is layered with intricate details of every moment, thus letting us contemplate with every situation.
The characters crafted in this book are strong, striking and are believable. Leela is a small town Indian girl with dreams of becoming a radio jockey, and being born in a middle class family, her parents had only one worry- "who will marry Leela? Will she get married to a decent guy?" instead of worrying about her education or dreams. The supporting cast brings out the vivid portrayal of any typical Indian men/women. For a first time author, I believe the book is really engrossing with a coming-of-age social trauma that has shaken up the whole nation. Although, at times, I felt, there was strong emotional shift or at times, the emotional content is not that deep enough to contemplate with the primary character's feelings.
Verdict: A must read for all Indian women!
Courtesy: I received a copy of this book, in return for an honest review.
----Haruki Murakami
Sujata Rajpal, an Indian author, pens an unexceptionally heart-touching and gripping story called, The Other End of the Corridor that reflects light upon the effects of marital violence in an Indian society. It is the journey of one young woman and her mistakes of getting married to a good prospect.
Synopsis:
When your dreams are tainted with lies and deceit, you have no other choice but to walk to the other end of the corridor
Leela has nothing extraordinary about her except the dream to become famous. Her desires take wings when she gets married to a handsome boy from a respectable family in Delhi. But her dreams are shattered even before they have a chance to take flight.
She happens to meet two friends from a long forgotten past, which infuses hope and opens new avenues to realize her dormant aspirations.
Leela delves into previously unexplored paths of deception and forbidden passions that only make her stronger.
In an attempt to rediscover herself, she falls in love with life and with herself but her life takes a sudden turn again…
No matter what, Leela will continue to chase her dreams.
Where does this journey take her?
Leela happens to be the voice and epitome of many Indian women, who silently accepts her horrifying fate of her marital life. Just like any other girl, Leela had her dreams to achieve something bigger and leading a simple life. What was her fault? a) She was born as a girl in India, b) She was a manglik (which means inauspicious for wedding, something with astrology and stars since in India before fixing a marriage people check the groom and bride's stars alignment, if they are okay, then they are good match, and manglik people must marry a manglik only!) c) She was dark-skinned/ olive-skinned. Leela's life revolves around her husband and her in-laws after her marriage, her dreams take a side-step from her life. But her moody husband had his ways to cool down his anger, and despite of the beatings and everything, Leela kept quiet about the beatings and the torture. But a bird can't be caged forever, at some point, it'll break-free, but will Leela break-free? Will she learn to love herself first?
Rajpal voiced the sounds and cries and pain of all those Indian women who go through domestic violence every single day. This book not only teaches us how to take a stand for oneself, but it also enlightens us with the horrifying details of a happy married life from the inside. The writing is fresh and captivating with the right amount of emotions poured in the right places. The plot progresses in a fast pace, and with Leela's life, we see her evolve in her own skin. The plot is layered with intricate details of every moment, thus letting us contemplate with every situation.
The characters crafted in this book are strong, striking and are believable. Leela is a small town Indian girl with dreams of becoming a radio jockey, and being born in a middle class family, her parents had only one worry- "who will marry Leela? Will she get married to a decent guy?" instead of worrying about her education or dreams. The supporting cast brings out the vivid portrayal of any typical Indian men/women. For a first time author, I believe the book is really engrossing with a coming-of-age social trauma that has shaken up the whole nation. Although, at times, I felt, there was strong emotional shift or at times, the emotional content is not that deep enough to contemplate with the primary character's feelings.
Verdict: A must read for all Indian women!
Courtesy: I received a copy of this book, in return for an honest review.
June 12, 2015
Detailed review uploaded at http://thetalespensieve.com/2015/06/b...
March 20, 2016
A story set against the backdrop of a typical Indian household where the woman is expected to “obey” the man of the house – should make an interesting reading. This story was of course interesting enough albeit minor clinches which sort of reduced the levels of enthusiasm that I would normally have while reading such a book.
The protagonist, Leela, a dark skinned average girl is labeled unlucky thanks to “manglik” planetary alignment in her horoscope. Her parents favor her brother over and she fights for the recognition that she deserves. She dreams of being an RJ but parents force her to get married. When a handsome boy from a wealthy family comes knocking in the form of a proposal, Leela envisages her dreams taking flight. Sadly life has other plans for her, her dreams are shattered even before they actually take flight. Delving into previously traversed path, Leela embarks on a journey to discover herself, this journey is all what the story is about.
I bet that for any seasoned Indian reader, the above paragraph would have probably contained about a handful of clichés and stereotypes. Yes, this story had a lot of that – dark skinned and meek girl, abusive relationships, parents who believe the husband is the god. These very stereotypes are what made this book fast paced and kept me hooked. I was waiting for a point where all that changed and that didn’t exactly happen the way I expected, so score one for the writer for putting a good twist! The characterization was pretty much above level for what is expected from a rookie writer. Nevertheless, I felt there was an overdose of the protagonist. With a bit of fleshing for other characters, like her parents or her maid who was also played a vital part in the story could have certainly helped. I also felt the writer ended up modifying the core traits of a couple of characters to suit the ending that she wrote. May be she intended for those characters to actually repent for their acts, but it wasn’t really convincing.
The writer, however, must be lauded for taking on the serious issue of domestic violence and tackling it in an almost appealing manner. Not every new writer takes on such a complicated subject!
MY SAY: A story that touches upon a sensitive subject in a sensible direction.
RATING:
PLOT: 3/5
CHARACTERISATION: 3/5
NARRATION:3/5
BOREDOM QUOTIENT: 1/5 (Lower the better)
OVERALL RATING: 3/5
The protagonist, Leela, a dark skinned average girl is labeled unlucky thanks to “manglik” planetary alignment in her horoscope. Her parents favor her brother over and she fights for the recognition that she deserves. She dreams of being an RJ but parents force her to get married. When a handsome boy from a wealthy family comes knocking in the form of a proposal, Leela envisages her dreams taking flight. Sadly life has other plans for her, her dreams are shattered even before they actually take flight. Delving into previously traversed path, Leela embarks on a journey to discover herself, this journey is all what the story is about.
I bet that for any seasoned Indian reader, the above paragraph would have probably contained about a handful of clichés and stereotypes. Yes, this story had a lot of that – dark skinned and meek girl, abusive relationships, parents who believe the husband is the god. These very stereotypes are what made this book fast paced and kept me hooked. I was waiting for a point where all that changed and that didn’t exactly happen the way I expected, so score one for the writer for putting a good twist! The characterization was pretty much above level for what is expected from a rookie writer. Nevertheless, I felt there was an overdose of the protagonist. With a bit of fleshing for other characters, like her parents or her maid who was also played a vital part in the story could have certainly helped. I also felt the writer ended up modifying the core traits of a couple of characters to suit the ending that she wrote. May be she intended for those characters to actually repent for their acts, but it wasn’t really convincing.
The writer, however, must be lauded for taking on the serious issue of domestic violence and tackling it in an almost appealing manner. Not every new writer takes on such a complicated subject!
MY SAY: A story that touches upon a sensitive subject in a sensible direction.
RATING:
PLOT: 3/5
CHARACTERISATION: 3/5
NARRATION:3/5
BOREDOM QUOTIENT: 1/5 (Lower the better)
OVERALL RATING: 3/5
March 4, 2015
Leela’s story contains threads that you too would have heard of, in real life. Leela’s journey towards freedom wrought with equal amounts of conviction and misgiving might sound familiar. You would understand it. The walk in the ‘The Other End of the Corridor’ is a painfully slow one for Leela, but in the end she finds what she was looking for – her distinct voice, spoken aloud and not just to us.
Sujata has dedicated this book to all ‘those Leelas, they are suffering, they are suffocating, they are shrieking in infinite silence, waiting for someone to come and free them from the invisible shackles.’ This one being the book about Sujata’s Leela.
And like I began, there are many such books being written. Each such endeavor to give them space on the part of the writers is special because each carries a unique perspective. Every such book is a voice in itself and a part of a larger chorus. You can’t help but wonder - If so many women have such stories inside them, waiting to be written and read, what does that say about our society? Something to think about.
A sensitive and thought-provoking read.
[Please read the full review here - http://www.sakshinanda.com/2015/03/bo...
Sujata has dedicated this book to all ‘those Leelas, they are suffering, they are suffocating, they are shrieking in infinite silence, waiting for someone to come and free them from the invisible shackles.’ This one being the book about Sujata’s Leela.
And like I began, there are many such books being written. Each such endeavor to give them space on the part of the writers is special because each carries a unique perspective. Every such book is a voice in itself and a part of a larger chorus. You can’t help but wonder - If so many women have such stories inside them, waiting to be written and read, what does that say about our society? Something to think about.
A sensitive and thought-provoking read.
[Please read the full review here - http://www.sakshinanda.com/2015/03/bo...
January 12, 2016
I picked up The Other End of The Corridor for two reasons. One, the title that inspires intrigue and two, the cover. The colorful cover with a woman in a bright colored Patiala and colorful jootis gave me the thought that this was the story of woman who rebelled. Although, i had my apprehensions, I wanted to read this one because of its title.
To say that I was in for a complete surprise wouldn’t be true, but yes I had a smile at the end of the story.
The story starts of on a quick pace; the first fifty pages just flew by. And I couldn’t stop myself from reading that one more page. Subsequently though, the pace slows down, very little short of making me want to out the book aside for a breather. I liked the simple language that the author has used. The grammar is also well taken care of.
My favorite part in the story was, from a writer’s perspective, was the scene where Lakshmi comes to ask for Leela’s help and what follows. I half expected that this would be the turning point in the story, very much like a clichéd. But it was not, and I thought that the treatment of this particular scene was very realistic.
Yes, this book definitely deserves one chance for the way it blends a fresh and a known perspective.
To say that I was in for a complete surprise wouldn’t be true, but yes I had a smile at the end of the story.
The story starts of on a quick pace; the first fifty pages just flew by. And I couldn’t stop myself from reading that one more page. Subsequently though, the pace slows down, very little short of making me want to out the book aside for a breather. I liked the simple language that the author has used. The grammar is also well taken care of.
My favorite part in the story was, from a writer’s perspective, was the scene where Lakshmi comes to ask for Leela’s help and what follows. I half expected that this would be the turning point in the story, very much like a clichéd. But it was not, and I thought that the treatment of this particular scene was very realistic.
Yes, this book definitely deserves one chance for the way it blends a fresh and a known perspective.
March 7, 2016
The Other End of the Corridor by Sujata Rajpal talks about the journey of a woman, Leela in a middle-class society who dared to dream amidst the 'mis-fortune' of being born as a female, having a dark complexion and having a horoscope that spells only doom (Manglik).
This woman went through all the unfair treatment with the hope to see the light at the other end of the tunnel. She endured the beating of her husband, her mother-in-law's (MIL) venomous words, parents alienation and brother's apathy. There was negativity all around her. In spite of her life being shallow and in murky waters, she allowed the lotus to bloom by daring to peep outside her four walls.
Read more @ http://abracabadra.blogspot.com/2016/...
This woman went through all the unfair treatment with the hope to see the light at the other end of the tunnel. She endured the beating of her husband, her mother-in-law's (MIL) venomous words, parents alienation and brother's apathy. There was negativity all around her. In spite of her life being shallow and in murky waters, she allowed the lotus to bloom by daring to peep outside her four walls.
Read more @ http://abracabadra.blogspot.com/2016/...
September 28, 2020
Good story
A lot happens to Leela. She is a manglik, married off to another manglik boy before she completes her B.A.. On the surface, she has made a good match. The boy has a good job, he looks good and his parents are educators. For Leela this marriage is a chance to step out from the narrow confines of her house and expand her horizons. Her dreams are soon to be shattered.
It is a fast paced read. A lot of bad things happen to Leela, we have heard such stories often and know them to be true. I could relate to the events in the story. It was built up very well by the author.
The language could have been better, do we not have good editors? Is it too much to ask? The book would have been much much enhanced if the language had been better.
A lot happens to Leela. She is a manglik, married off to another manglik boy before she completes her B.A.. On the surface, she has made a good match. The boy has a good job, he looks good and his parents are educators. For Leela this marriage is a chance to step out from the narrow confines of her house and expand her horizons. Her dreams are soon to be shattered.
It is a fast paced read. A lot of bad things happen to Leela, we have heard such stories often and know them to be true. I could relate to the events in the story. It was built up very well by the author.
The language could have been better, do we not have good editors? Is it too much to ask? The book would have been much much enhanced if the language had been better.
January 8, 2016
The Other End Of The Corridor is different yet similar, while reading the book time and again I felt that I have seen this, I have heard this, and I have read this! Yet, I read on because Leela compelled me, she urged me, she cried to me and she ordered me. This book is all about Leela Chopra; a nineteen year old who grows up without even knowing what it is that she is doing. A woman forced into marriage, abused, beaten and suppressed – little better than a slave.
The book had been applauded for its offbeat and different approach to the same old ills that plague our society. Sujata Rajpal’s voice is what makes all the difference to Leela’s story. No doubt the story has been told a hundred time and silenced a hundred times over as the author herself tells us. Her approach to the story breathes fresh life to the story. The voice of Leela shines through.
The biggest and most absorbing part of the book is the writing, sentences that shout the helplessness and apathy Leela faces. The book starts with the arranging of her wedding and the introduction to Leela being an unlucky one. From then on the course of the book is set, we know that the match is too good to be true and things will go downhill and they do.
"Julie barked outside as if she saw my virginity walking out of the door. It was over. Without a word, without sweet nothings whispered in my ears, under the gloomy dim yellow light, the act was accomplished for me as well as for my brand new husband."
The typical tendency of parents to marry off their daughters at 19 or 20 years is what happens with Leela and she is not one of the rare lucky ones whose husbands actually groom them and nurture them but the exact opposite. The book follows what she goes through as a demure wife right from the time she steps into her husband’s house and is told by her sister-in-law that she must not move and she sits like a statue to the time her husband is asking her to help him and in spite of everything she is compelled to move. She is but a puppet just one with feelings which are trampled upon by everyone.
This is the sad reality is that women suffer because they have no education, no family support, and no job to fall back upon if things go bad. The girl is not welcome in her family, has an unrelenting Mother-in-law and a depressed, manic husband. Between the deep sea and the devil she yet again chooses the devil.
"For Ma, her house was like her school and its inhabitants like unruly schoolchildren who always needed a whip to discipline them."
What I liked was the grit of the girl, she is no pushover even at a diminutive 5’3” she stands tall. Whether it was her rich, well settled friends Harleen and Priya or the dream she never gives up on. She did sway from her path but given what she undergoes each day she still held her pride intact. The need to find love, recognition and acceptance is the basic urge of each human and Leela is no different.
The saving grace was the frequent trips her husband eventually took as if it was the only concession fate lend to her in the bad hand it dealt her. Slowly she discovers herself and the world around her in Banalore. A new city where she is reborn, she finds herself to be afraid, lazy, scared but still she hopes and strives to find her dream.
"The phrase 'your choice' always meant 'no' in the dictionary of our marriage."
Apart from her husband the other guy Jai was one who I felt was in a way worse than her husband, befriending and forgetting. I found him to be typical of men, never standing up to adversities, in that sense both Jai and Vishal reinforced the stereotypes of Indian men that are in urgent need of thorough brainwashing. The silver lining were her faithful friends who helped her out and her Mother-in-law who supported her in the end; better late than never!
What saves this story from being a typical sob story about the suffering of a woman is total honesty with which the author writes about Leela’s life. How she never gets a break, a respite or a positive word – just like real life. Scores of women undergo this every single day yet Leela was lucky indeed to get a break- most of them don’t.
Her crazy husband finally succumbs to his madness and yet she is accused, typical of our society. No one sees the bruises, no hears the beating and screams; a woman is no better than an object to be used when desired and then discarded. Easily replaceable.
"“I will not kill you. I will torture you so much that you will beg for death,” he shouted giving me another kick in my stomach."
This is a thought provoking read; it stands out with its perseverance and is written with a fresh, crisp style. The Other End of the Corridor treads the beaten path but forges a new road. Yes, there is a whole new, better world ahead.
(I received a copy of the book from the Author Sujata Rapal via The Book Club. The review is my honest opinion. © )
The book had been applauded for its offbeat and different approach to the same old ills that plague our society. Sujata Rajpal’s voice is what makes all the difference to Leela’s story. No doubt the story has been told a hundred time and silenced a hundred times over as the author herself tells us. Her approach to the story breathes fresh life to the story. The voice of Leela shines through.
The biggest and most absorbing part of the book is the writing, sentences that shout the helplessness and apathy Leela faces. The book starts with the arranging of her wedding and the introduction to Leela being an unlucky one. From then on the course of the book is set, we know that the match is too good to be true and things will go downhill and they do.
"Julie barked outside as if she saw my virginity walking out of the door. It was over. Without a word, without sweet nothings whispered in my ears, under the gloomy dim yellow light, the act was accomplished for me as well as for my brand new husband."
The typical tendency of parents to marry off their daughters at 19 or 20 years is what happens with Leela and she is not one of the rare lucky ones whose husbands actually groom them and nurture them but the exact opposite. The book follows what she goes through as a demure wife right from the time she steps into her husband’s house and is told by her sister-in-law that she must not move and she sits like a statue to the time her husband is asking her to help him and in spite of everything she is compelled to move. She is but a puppet just one with feelings which are trampled upon by everyone.
This is the sad reality is that women suffer because they have no education, no family support, and no job to fall back upon if things go bad. The girl is not welcome in her family, has an unrelenting Mother-in-law and a depressed, manic husband. Between the deep sea and the devil she yet again chooses the devil.
"For Ma, her house was like her school and its inhabitants like unruly schoolchildren who always needed a whip to discipline them."
What I liked was the grit of the girl, she is no pushover even at a diminutive 5’3” she stands tall. Whether it was her rich, well settled friends Harleen and Priya or the dream she never gives up on. She did sway from her path but given what she undergoes each day she still held her pride intact. The need to find love, recognition and acceptance is the basic urge of each human and Leela is no different.
The saving grace was the frequent trips her husband eventually took as if it was the only concession fate lend to her in the bad hand it dealt her. Slowly she discovers herself and the world around her in Banalore. A new city where she is reborn, she finds herself to be afraid, lazy, scared but still she hopes and strives to find her dream.
"The phrase 'your choice' always meant 'no' in the dictionary of our marriage."
Apart from her husband the other guy Jai was one who I felt was in a way worse than her husband, befriending and forgetting. I found him to be typical of men, never standing up to adversities, in that sense both Jai and Vishal reinforced the stereotypes of Indian men that are in urgent need of thorough brainwashing. The silver lining were her faithful friends who helped her out and her Mother-in-law who supported her in the end; better late than never!
What saves this story from being a typical sob story about the suffering of a woman is total honesty with which the author writes about Leela’s life. How she never gets a break, a respite or a positive word – just like real life. Scores of women undergo this every single day yet Leela was lucky indeed to get a break- most of them don’t.
Her crazy husband finally succumbs to his madness and yet she is accused, typical of our society. No one sees the bruises, no hears the beating and screams; a woman is no better than an object to be used when desired and then discarded. Easily replaceable.
"“I will not kill you. I will torture you so much that you will beg for death,” he shouted giving me another kick in my stomach."
This is a thought provoking read; it stands out with its perseverance and is written with a fresh, crisp style. The Other End of the Corridor treads the beaten path but forges a new road. Yes, there is a whole new, better world ahead.
(I received a copy of the book from the Author Sujata Rapal via The Book Club. The review is my honest opinion. © )
April 20, 2015
Title of the book – The Other End of the Corridor
Author – Sujata Rajpal
Review by – Nehali Lalwani
Blurb of the book:
When your dreams are tainted with lies and deceit, you have no other choice but to walk to the other end of the corridor.
Leela has nothing extraordinary about her except the dream to become famous. Her desires take wings when she gets married to a handsome boy from a respectable family in Delhi. But her dreams are shattered even before they have a chance to take flight.
She happens to meet two friends from a long forgotten past, which infuses hope and opens new avenues to realize her dormant aspirations. Leela delves into previously unexplored paths of deception and forbidden passions that only make her stronger.
In an attempt to rediscover herself, she falls in love with life and with herself but her life takes a sudden turn again… No matter what, Leela will continue to chase her dreams. Where does this journey take her?
Cover and Title of the book:
The cover image has been kept realistic and makes it worthwhile for a reader. The title adds up to the curiosity as what to expect from the book.
My view on THE OTHER END OF THE CORRIDOR:
Leela Chopra is the lead character of the story. This story is all about how she juggles between being a dreamer, aspirant RJ, a middle class girl and overall an ambitious lady. She shares her journey from being a girl to a lady; a journey from being a wife to a responsible mom and a voyage from claiming respect to snatching respect.
Leela will never leave you alone throughout the story. Sujata’s awe-inspiring writing style keeps you glued to her. I would like to congratulate and appreciate Authroess for penning down such a sensitive issue with this simplicity. In simple words THE OTHER END OF CORRIDOR can be described as – Simplicity at it’s best.
Sujata discusses the plight of an adjusting wife who loves her husband and leaves no stone unturned to make him happy. How she struggles hard to save her married life and her self respect. How her thrust for, being independent and rich demands her to be fake in front of the whole world. How social media play a vital role in making her realize her own value. How dreams of her decides to be her strength and As a result, she carves her own niche that is loveable but at the same time is vulnerable.
With every page there is a new challenge and with every word there is a feeling which lives in front of the reader. Right from the pleasure to the obscurity, it traverses a path which many have tread upon and faltered. It rolls out the finest and the nastiest out of the human psyche. The character’s contribution fills up all the necessary spaces to bind the story together. The bold approach and the complete idea work and makes it useful for the readers too.
Conclusion:
The book has utter practicality which is certainly the USP of this wonderful tale. The description in the book by the of the author is undeniably admirable. The language, rapidity and simplicity will be surely admired and appreciated by the masses.
All in all the story out of the blue comes hard and fast and hit at the right places. The 238 page book is undoubtedly appealing. The pace varies, but the lingering effect makes it a gem of a story. It is an absolutely enthralling roller coaster of sentiments. There are no flaws and negative points are hard to point out. It inspires and coalesces, the realism and the fake version the love and the anger, the innocence and the savagery it has all and evermore to it. The book has utter practicality which is certainly the USP of this wonderful tale. The description in the book by the of the author is undeniably admirable. The language and rapidity and simplicity will be surely admired and appreciated by the masses.
The book renders the best of what one expects in a story line.
I repeat, It’s a masses story.
RATINGS:
5 OUT OF 5
You can buy this book from: http://www.amazon.in/The-Other-Corrid...
Author – Sujata Rajpal
Review by – Nehali Lalwani
Blurb of the book:
When your dreams are tainted with lies and deceit, you have no other choice but to walk to the other end of the corridor.
Leela has nothing extraordinary about her except the dream to become famous. Her desires take wings when she gets married to a handsome boy from a respectable family in Delhi. But her dreams are shattered even before they have a chance to take flight.
She happens to meet two friends from a long forgotten past, which infuses hope and opens new avenues to realize her dormant aspirations. Leela delves into previously unexplored paths of deception and forbidden passions that only make her stronger.
In an attempt to rediscover herself, she falls in love with life and with herself but her life takes a sudden turn again… No matter what, Leela will continue to chase her dreams. Where does this journey take her?
Cover and Title of the book:
The cover image has been kept realistic and makes it worthwhile for a reader. The title adds up to the curiosity as what to expect from the book.
My view on THE OTHER END OF THE CORRIDOR:
Leela Chopra is the lead character of the story. This story is all about how she juggles between being a dreamer, aspirant RJ, a middle class girl and overall an ambitious lady. She shares her journey from being a girl to a lady; a journey from being a wife to a responsible mom and a voyage from claiming respect to snatching respect.
Leela will never leave you alone throughout the story. Sujata’s awe-inspiring writing style keeps you glued to her. I would like to congratulate and appreciate Authroess for penning down such a sensitive issue with this simplicity. In simple words THE OTHER END OF CORRIDOR can be described as – Simplicity at it’s best.
Sujata discusses the plight of an adjusting wife who loves her husband and leaves no stone unturned to make him happy. How she struggles hard to save her married life and her self respect. How her thrust for, being independent and rich demands her to be fake in front of the whole world. How social media play a vital role in making her realize her own value. How dreams of her decides to be her strength and As a result, she carves her own niche that is loveable but at the same time is vulnerable.
With every page there is a new challenge and with every word there is a feeling which lives in front of the reader. Right from the pleasure to the obscurity, it traverses a path which many have tread upon and faltered. It rolls out the finest and the nastiest out of the human psyche. The character’s contribution fills up all the necessary spaces to bind the story together. The bold approach and the complete idea work and makes it useful for the readers too.
Conclusion:
The book has utter practicality which is certainly the USP of this wonderful tale. The description in the book by the of the author is undeniably admirable. The language, rapidity and simplicity will be surely admired and appreciated by the masses.
All in all the story out of the blue comes hard and fast and hit at the right places. The 238 page book is undoubtedly appealing. The pace varies, but the lingering effect makes it a gem of a story. It is an absolutely enthralling roller coaster of sentiments. There are no flaws and negative points are hard to point out. It inspires and coalesces, the realism and the fake version the love and the anger, the innocence and the savagery it has all and evermore to it. The book has utter practicality which is certainly the USP of this wonderful tale. The description in the book by the of the author is undeniably admirable. The language and rapidity and simplicity will be surely admired and appreciated by the masses.
The book renders the best of what one expects in a story line.
I repeat, It’s a masses story.
RATINGS:
5 OUT OF 5
You can buy this book from: http://www.amazon.in/The-Other-Corrid...
December 30, 2016
FIRST IMPRESSION:
The cover image was an immediate attraction. The image of a woman standing with her legs poised for walking across was brilliance in its simplicity. The summary promised a good read, and the moment I opened the epub file given to me, it was quite hard to put down.
REVIEW:
Every woman, no matter what her family backgroud, has hopes and dreams of a fairytale marriage. Irrespective of the age and class differences, each woman has expectations about how her married life would be. But the sad reality in this nation is that most of these dreams are crushed as mere infatuations and daydreams. Most of these dreams are shushed as forbidden pleasures. And the woman in question ends up being disappointed and severely uncertain. While some women chose to live with the life that was thrust upon them, some women struggle against the bonds and stretch their wings, setting themselves free.
Leela is a simple woman, and like every other woman of her age, is a really happy woman to be married to a handsome boy from a good family. What follows next is just a mirage. Perfect marriages exist only in dreams. And for a manglik girl, the fact that there was a boy to marry her is by itself a great feat. In a nation where horoscopes and dowry payments take more priority in deciding the marriage than the bride's wishes, Leela's marriage was no different. Reality strikes hard and she realises that her life was not what she expected. But having grown accustomed to being born as a girl and therefore being ignored and downtrodden, Leela takes it all until the dam breaks. What follows next is the rest of the story.
Special mention to the author for dealing with issues such as domestic abuse and how women try very hard to keep the marriage intact facing backlash from the society. It is a very prevalent shocking practice that many parents still assume that the responsibility they have towards a girl child is over once 'she becomes someone's wife'. Further stories of the hardships the girl might face at her new home are, at best, listened to with a sympathetic and helpless ear, with hopes that, one day, it will all be alright. Leela captures the reader's heart by being a very simple, unassuming girl who dreams wildly, but also tries her best to make do with what she was dealt with.
While other supporting characters are strong, it is the narration that holds the reader's interest. While stories like this are abundant, especially recently, very few manage to capture the thoughts of a woman who was always second to her good for nothing brother and abused at the hands of a man who should be her prince charming. Stories of marital abuse, consent, forbidden passions and coming of age rarely make such an impression as this. Leela shows that one's family background is not an issue to achieving dreams. Ending this book on a positive note (though expected) was the best thing that the author could have done to send the right message across.
VERDICT:
A book that set out with a message - and successfully conveyed it.
RATING: 3.8/5
The cover image was an immediate attraction. The image of a woman standing with her legs poised for walking across was brilliance in its simplicity. The summary promised a good read, and the moment I opened the epub file given to me, it was quite hard to put down.
REVIEW:
Every woman, no matter what her family backgroud, has hopes and dreams of a fairytale marriage. Irrespective of the age and class differences, each woman has expectations about how her married life would be. But the sad reality in this nation is that most of these dreams are crushed as mere infatuations and daydreams. Most of these dreams are shushed as forbidden pleasures. And the woman in question ends up being disappointed and severely uncertain. While some women chose to live with the life that was thrust upon them, some women struggle against the bonds and stretch their wings, setting themselves free.
Leela is a simple woman, and like every other woman of her age, is a really happy woman to be married to a handsome boy from a good family. What follows next is just a mirage. Perfect marriages exist only in dreams. And for a manglik girl, the fact that there was a boy to marry her is by itself a great feat. In a nation where horoscopes and dowry payments take more priority in deciding the marriage than the bride's wishes, Leela's marriage was no different. Reality strikes hard and she realises that her life was not what she expected. But having grown accustomed to being born as a girl and therefore being ignored and downtrodden, Leela takes it all until the dam breaks. What follows next is the rest of the story.
Special mention to the author for dealing with issues such as domestic abuse and how women try very hard to keep the marriage intact facing backlash from the society. It is a very prevalent shocking practice that many parents still assume that the responsibility they have towards a girl child is over once 'she becomes someone's wife'. Further stories of the hardships the girl might face at her new home are, at best, listened to with a sympathetic and helpless ear, with hopes that, one day, it will all be alright. Leela captures the reader's heart by being a very simple, unassuming girl who dreams wildly, but also tries her best to make do with what she was dealt with.
While other supporting characters are strong, it is the narration that holds the reader's interest. While stories like this are abundant, especially recently, very few manage to capture the thoughts of a woman who was always second to her good for nothing brother and abused at the hands of a man who should be her prince charming. Stories of marital abuse, consent, forbidden passions and coming of age rarely make such an impression as this. Leela shows that one's family background is not an issue to achieving dreams. Ending this book on a positive note (though expected) was the best thing that the author could have done to send the right message across.
VERDICT:
A book that set out with a message - and successfully conveyed it.
RATING: 3.8/5
December 19, 2015
“The other End of the Corridor” by Sujata Rajpal is an
interesting read.
It shall surely leave you with awe and astonishment.
The story plot is really intriguing and keeps you engaged
till the end as the story moves very fast with lots of twists
and turns.
The author has reflected the plight of women and the
challenges faced by them very aptly.
Domestic Violence, molestation and preference given to
boys as compared to girls is reflected in the story through
the lead character Leela.
The best thing about “The Other End of the Corridor” is
that the protagonist Leela DAYDREAMS though she is
under constant sufferings and ordeals.
The story revolves around Leela, who dreams of
becoming a Radio Jockey.
She is manglik and has dark-complexion.
She gets married to Vishal who is also manglik.
She believes her marriage to be a gateway to her dreams
as Vishal is educated and is from a very cultured family.
Her hopes die and she feels cheated when she gets to
know that her husband is not an MBA but is B.Sc holder
and unemployed.
Morever, the jewelry given to her as a gift was
counterfeit.
Her hopes rekindle when her husband gets a job in
Banglore.
Will Banglore change the course of her life?
How shall she react when she discovers her husband to
be of suicidal tendencies?
Will she be able to withstand the domestic violence by her
husband?
What lead to her miscarriage?
Would he be able to survive after being molested by
Navin?
Will her village and college friends at Banglore be able to
help her out from strangling situations?
Why Leela starts using facebook?
Why Leela makes a new fake account on facebook by the
name Elaa?
Who was Jai and what role shall he play in her life?
Leela gets infatuated by Jai. Shall Leela marry Jai and
leave Vishal?
Why Leela adopts a child?
Why Leela ends up in jail?
Above all, will she be able to materialize her dream of
becoming a RJ?
Best moments@ “The Other End of the Corridor”
-“I walked some distance, only to realize that I was
walking in the opposite direction. I stopped, giggled, and
said to myself, it wasn’t me who was walking in the
wrong direction, it was life.”
-“Love could wait, life couldn’t.”
-“The most desired gift of love is not diamonds, it is
undivided attention”.
-When real life is as strange as fiction, who needs stories?
The Other End of the Corridor leaves you with an
inspiration message:
“They say you can always see a faint light at the end of
the tunnel. All you need to do is follow the light and you
will be out of darkness. The corridor, I was walking down
didn’t have a trace of illumination. I couldn’t see the other
end. But I kept moving and now, when I have reached the
other end, I realize that more than the light, you need the
determination to keep moving, keep struggling for your
dreams, for your existence, for your survival.”
I rate it as 5/5
interesting read.
It shall surely leave you with awe and astonishment.
The story plot is really intriguing and keeps you engaged
till the end as the story moves very fast with lots of twists
and turns.
The author has reflected the plight of women and the
challenges faced by them very aptly.
Domestic Violence, molestation and preference given to
boys as compared to girls is reflected in the story through
the lead character Leela.
The best thing about “The Other End of the Corridor” is
that the protagonist Leela DAYDREAMS though she is
under constant sufferings and ordeals.
The story revolves around Leela, who dreams of
becoming a Radio Jockey.
She is manglik and has dark-complexion.
She gets married to Vishal who is also manglik.
She believes her marriage to be a gateway to her dreams
as Vishal is educated and is from a very cultured family.
Her hopes die and she feels cheated when she gets to
know that her husband is not an MBA but is B.Sc holder
and unemployed.
Morever, the jewelry given to her as a gift was
counterfeit.
Her hopes rekindle when her husband gets a job in
Banglore.
Will Banglore change the course of her life?
How shall she react when she discovers her husband to
be of suicidal tendencies?
Will she be able to withstand the domestic violence by her
husband?
What lead to her miscarriage?
Would he be able to survive after being molested by
Navin?
Will her village and college friends at Banglore be able to
help her out from strangling situations?
Why Leela starts using facebook?
Why Leela makes a new fake account on facebook by the
name Elaa?
Who was Jai and what role shall he play in her life?
Leela gets infatuated by Jai. Shall Leela marry Jai and
leave Vishal?
Why Leela adopts a child?
Why Leela ends up in jail?
Above all, will she be able to materialize her dream of
becoming a RJ?
Best moments@ “The Other End of the Corridor”
-“I walked some distance, only to realize that I was
walking in the opposite direction. I stopped, giggled, and
said to myself, it wasn’t me who was walking in the
wrong direction, it was life.”
-“Love could wait, life couldn’t.”
-“The most desired gift of love is not diamonds, it is
undivided attention”.
-When real life is as strange as fiction, who needs stories?
The Other End of the Corridor leaves you with an
inspiration message:
“They say you can always see a faint light at the end of
the tunnel. All you need to do is follow the light and you
will be out of darkness. The corridor, I was walking down
didn’t have a trace of illumination. I couldn’t see the other
end. But I kept moving and now, when I have reached the
other end, I realize that more than the light, you need the
determination to keep moving, keep struggling for your
dreams, for your existence, for your survival.”
I rate it as 5/5
January 5, 2016
The Other End of the Corridor’ raises an issue which is a huge problem in the society; one we keep hearing in hushed tones around us and keep reading through newspapers, TV and movies. The acquiescence to remain in an abusive relationship when a woman is not empowered or, is emotionally attached to their partner, can be witnessed all around.
Leela was branded ‘unlucky’ right from her birth when her astrological chart indicates her to be a ‘manglik’. Worried about her future after various rejections, her parents agree to Vishal’s marriage proposal, without investigating properly about his background and family. They even sacrifice her education at the alter of the marriage.
As the rosy picture of a grand marriage peels off with time, Leela finds her mother-in-law being a control freak and her husband who would never think twice to raise his hand on her. The social stigma attached to a divorced woman, and the affect of her actions on her parents, makes her silently suffer hostile, abusive and sociopathic criminal behavior of the man.
The novel is a journey of a simple, uneducated girl who rises in life in spite of all the odds stacked against her. Sujata Rajpal has successfully portrayed the reality called life, where the protagonist had no clue and no support from any quarters to stand up against the injustice being done. The language is simple and breezy. The various sub-plots are in line with today’s time, making the novel an interesting read.
While Leela’s characterization is near perfect as a small time girl who had no clue how to handle her situation and goes with the flow of life. I couldn’t understand the motivation of a certain character, who kept popping in and out of her life. Their behavior to each other is confusing and doesn’t gel with the conclusion given to their relationship. Same was the case with Leela’s friend and mother-in-law. Their characters traits seemed a little contrived and changed to suit the end.
That said, I enjoyed the story, which touches a very sensitive subject and provides some direction to society at large. We need to actively ponder, discuss and break these kind of regressive social behavior in today’s society. A recommended read.
Leela was branded ‘unlucky’ right from her birth when her astrological chart indicates her to be a ‘manglik’. Worried about her future after various rejections, her parents agree to Vishal’s marriage proposal, without investigating properly about his background and family. They even sacrifice her education at the alter of the marriage.
As the rosy picture of a grand marriage peels off with time, Leela finds her mother-in-law being a control freak and her husband who would never think twice to raise his hand on her. The social stigma attached to a divorced woman, and the affect of her actions on her parents, makes her silently suffer hostile, abusive and sociopathic criminal behavior of the man.
The novel is a journey of a simple, uneducated girl who rises in life in spite of all the odds stacked against her. Sujata Rajpal has successfully portrayed the reality called life, where the protagonist had no clue and no support from any quarters to stand up against the injustice being done. The language is simple and breezy. The various sub-plots are in line with today’s time, making the novel an interesting read.
While Leela’s characterization is near perfect as a small time girl who had no clue how to handle her situation and goes with the flow of life. I couldn’t understand the motivation of a certain character, who kept popping in and out of her life. Their behavior to each other is confusing and doesn’t gel with the conclusion given to their relationship. Same was the case with Leela’s friend and mother-in-law. Their characters traits seemed a little contrived and changed to suit the end.
That said, I enjoyed the story, which touches a very sensitive subject and provides some direction to society at large. We need to actively ponder, discuss and break these kind of regressive social behavior in today’s society. A recommended read.
March 30, 2016
The Other End of the Corridor is coming of age story of a young girl, Leela who has had it tough right from her birth. She is condemned as an inauspicious child, the one who’d bring misery and doom to those around her. Unloved by her own family, she is married at 19. She dreams of leaving all that behind and thinks of starting a happy and a meaningful life ahead. But reality strikes and she finds herself abused physically and mentally by her depressive and manic husband and control freak mother-in-law. And her dream to make it big in life vanishes into thin air.
Leela’s story is the one that we read and see commonly around us. Her struggles and challenges highlights the existence that a large number of women go through in our society. Leela’s story is one of survival, despite the odds being heavily stacked against her. The author has captured Leela’s pains and woes with such honesty and emotion that I could feel for her.
The characters are real and have their failings and shortcomings, which makes the story all the more believable. The language used is simple and the story flows effortlessly thereby engaging the reader in you completely. The book title and cover are appealing and truly reflect the content and mood of the story.
The Other End of the Corridor is Leela’s redeeming and journey of self discovery, her development from a naive girl to a woman who goes on to live her dream, is well crafted. As I said earlier, Leela’s story is something that we all are familiar with and actually there is no newness in the book. But such stories need to be read and encouraged because these bring to the fore the oppression of the women and their sufferings while being subjected to domestic violence. Such books may help to change the prevailing mind sets and break the social stigma attached to these abusive relationships.
So go on and check out Leela’s journey as she moves to The Other End of the Corridor.
http://shilpaagarg.com/2016/01/the-ot...
Leela’s story is the one that we read and see commonly around us. Her struggles and challenges highlights the existence that a large number of women go through in our society. Leela’s story is one of survival, despite the odds being heavily stacked against her. The author has captured Leela’s pains and woes with such honesty and emotion that I could feel for her.
The characters are real and have their failings and shortcomings, which makes the story all the more believable. The language used is simple and the story flows effortlessly thereby engaging the reader in you completely. The book title and cover are appealing and truly reflect the content and mood of the story.
The Other End of the Corridor is Leela’s redeeming and journey of self discovery, her development from a naive girl to a woman who goes on to live her dream, is well crafted. As I said earlier, Leela’s story is something that we all are familiar with and actually there is no newness in the book. But such stories need to be read and encouraged because these bring to the fore the oppression of the women and their sufferings while being subjected to domestic violence. Such books may help to change the prevailing mind sets and break the social stigma attached to these abusive relationships.
So go on and check out Leela’s journey as she moves to The Other End of the Corridor.
http://shilpaagarg.com/2016/01/the-ot...
January 7, 2016
Story-line: Interesting and different from the usual books belonging to the romance genre/ books on societal realties, ‘The Other End of the Corridor’ is not all about chasing one’s dreams. It is also not all about lies and deceit. Instead the author has cleverly woven the life of the hapless girl child forced into marriage at a young age, the crushing of her dreams and the apathy towards her state both at home and outside. There is all that’s anti-girl, anti- woman portrayed here like gender bias, domestic violence and the blame- game inflicted by society on the victim of rape and molestation.
The protagonist, a simple and dreamy girl wishes to soar high and make a career, a life of her own but that’s not to be. Her wings are clipped even before she can prepare to take-off. She finds herself tied down by a loveless marriage that offers her nothing but pain. But even in the face of adversity her eyes search for a glimmer of hope at the end of the dark tunnel only to be disappointed. She lives each day believing that tomorrow will spell a change only to be disappointed.
Her patience tested to breaking point, she finally decides to walk to the other end of the corridor though it’s fraught with obstacles. Does she make it or does she stumble and fall down? To know that one must read the book.
The story has its fair measure of twists and turns but there are also several such instances that one can foresee much before they unfold.
All-in-all, there was times I felt let down, especially when the protagonist kept on pinning for the man of her dreams not only to be let down once but again and again. It felt demeaning and I couldn’t help feel angry with her. I wished she knew how to keep her spine erect. In fact that’s where the author wins. She is able to involve the reader totally. To read the full review do visit https://geetaavij.wordpress.com/2016/...
The protagonist, a simple and dreamy girl wishes to soar high and make a career, a life of her own but that’s not to be. Her wings are clipped even before she can prepare to take-off. She finds herself tied down by a loveless marriage that offers her nothing but pain. But even in the face of adversity her eyes search for a glimmer of hope at the end of the dark tunnel only to be disappointed. She lives each day believing that tomorrow will spell a change only to be disappointed.
Her patience tested to breaking point, she finally decides to walk to the other end of the corridor though it’s fraught with obstacles. Does she make it or does she stumble and fall down? To know that one must read the book.
The story has its fair measure of twists and turns but there are also several such instances that one can foresee much before they unfold.
All-in-all, there was times I felt let down, especially when the protagonist kept on pinning for the man of her dreams not only to be let down once but again and again. It felt demeaning and I couldn’t help feel angry with her. I wished she knew how to keep her spine erect. In fact that’s where the author wins. She is able to involve the reader totally. To read the full review do visit https://geetaavij.wordpress.com/2016/...
March 20, 2016
My rating is 3.5
There are three types of book.1- With a unique story line but poorly written. 2- With an ordinary heard about story written with finesse 3- both
The other end of the corridor comes under the second classification. We have read many stories about an ordinary looking girl plunged into an arranged marriage, an abusive relationship, her struggle, rejuvenation, friends, flings etc. But authoress pulled off the ordinary story with an extra ordinary writing style. Every event that happens in Leela's (protagonist) life is connected and rendered coherently. Authoress tells us the importance of education, empowerment, and recognition of women.
The book is the first person narration of Leela, more of a monologue. Leela's dreams and whims are in tune with many girls of the same mould. The reader would say, I know her.
The story is not a fast moving one but not dull. It has the potential to grab the attention of the readers. Nevertheless, I could predict what will happen next, since I have read similar stories. There are a lot of characters moving in and out of the storyline. Each character is crafted well, with the glimpses of people whom we see around.
Another unique quality which I liked is that Leela is not portrayed as a perfect, poor, cold soul, like many female oriented books. Leela too has many flaws and authoress pulled out the cliche by portraying her as a true human being, rather than like a daily soap heroine who could never be wrong.
Leela's daydreaming is an interesting part of the story. It reminded me of how I daydreamed of becoming a famous author, being interviewed by media for grabbing an award. Yes, we all do that.
Highlights
Sincerity
Character craft
Social responsibility
Exceptional writing style
Drawbacks
Cliche theme
Predictability
Appealing book cover
There are three types of book.1- With a unique story line but poorly written. 2- With an ordinary heard about story written with finesse 3- both
The other end of the corridor comes under the second classification. We have read many stories about an ordinary looking girl plunged into an arranged marriage, an abusive relationship, her struggle, rejuvenation, friends, flings etc. But authoress pulled off the ordinary story with an extra ordinary writing style. Every event that happens in Leela's (protagonist) life is connected and rendered coherently. Authoress tells us the importance of education, empowerment, and recognition of women.
The book is the first person narration of Leela, more of a monologue. Leela's dreams and whims are in tune with many girls of the same mould. The reader would say, I know her.
The story is not a fast moving one but not dull. It has the potential to grab the attention of the readers. Nevertheless, I could predict what will happen next, since I have read similar stories. There are a lot of characters moving in and out of the storyline. Each character is crafted well, with the glimpses of people whom we see around.
Another unique quality which I liked is that Leela is not portrayed as a perfect, poor, cold soul, like many female oriented books. Leela too has many flaws and authoress pulled out the cliche by portraying her as a true human being, rather than like a daily soap heroine who could never be wrong.
Leela's daydreaming is an interesting part of the story. It reminded me of how I daydreamed of becoming a famous author, being interviewed by media for grabbing an award. Yes, we all do that.
Highlights
Sincerity
Character craft
Social responsibility
Exceptional writing style
Drawbacks
Cliche theme
Predictability
Appealing book cover
March 22, 2016
The 1st thing which caught my attention was the title of the book; The Other End of the Corridor. What does it mean? Why is the book named so? It created the curiosity and curiosity killed the cat … So I started reading this book, which highlights the suffering of Leela Chopra.
We are used to reading boy-meets- girl, falls in love, face opposition or any other problems but finally end up living happily ever-after. Or a girl is married young, she faces harassment and torture from in-laws or husband, her knight in shiny armor comes to rescue her, they fall in love and have a happy ending to their story. But one thing I can tell you this is not that type of book which has a happy ending.
The author has taken care of minute details while describing the life of Leela and her middle class life style. But I found the story bit repetitive (as now-a-days most of authors are writing about women and their suffering). Only change I liked is the climax of the story, which was bit different and was not expected. But otherwise the story is bit predictable.
But it’s a must read as it highlights the people’s perspective regarding arranged marriage and women. It’s also an inspiration to girls who subject to domestic violence considering it as their fate. Debutant Author Sujata Rajpal has done a nice job of writing and bringing out feelings of a middle class innocent girl Leela; those feelings which at some moment every girl must have felt when she is forced to give up her dreams and pushed in matrimony just because she is a girl. And when she tries to complain she is hushed up saying its part of life, learn to bear it.
Witten in simple language, awesome writing… great work Sujata Rajpal.
We are used to reading boy-meets- girl, falls in love, face opposition or any other problems but finally end up living happily ever-after. Or a girl is married young, she faces harassment and torture from in-laws or husband, her knight in shiny armor comes to rescue her, they fall in love and have a happy ending to their story. But one thing I can tell you this is not that type of book which has a happy ending.
The author has taken care of minute details while describing the life of Leela and her middle class life style. But I found the story bit repetitive (as now-a-days most of authors are writing about women and their suffering). Only change I liked is the climax of the story, which was bit different and was not expected. But otherwise the story is bit predictable.
But it’s a must read as it highlights the people’s perspective regarding arranged marriage and women. It’s also an inspiration to girls who subject to domestic violence considering it as their fate. Debutant Author Sujata Rajpal has done a nice job of writing and bringing out feelings of a middle class innocent girl Leela; those feelings which at some moment every girl must have felt when she is forced to give up her dreams and pushed in matrimony just because she is a girl. And when she tries to complain she is hushed up saying its part of life, learn to bear it.
Witten in simple language, awesome writing… great work Sujata Rajpal.
May 13, 2016
“I found myself at crossroads in life, and unfortunately, all the roads led to dead ends.”
Leela a carefree nineteen year old gets married to a maniac. Leela, carrying her dreams of becoming a RJ moves to Bangalore city only to realize that her dreams cannot be fulfilled with her jobless lunatic husband. She makes sincere attempts to make her marriage work but all in vain. On knowing the fact that she will never be loved and she will never be a RJ. Leela succumbs to the circumstances; she gets swooned by the luxuries that she has not imagined in her lifetime through her childhood friend and lets herself drifted to a fake world where she thought she was happy. Sooner she becomes aware that her fake world is just a fantasy. She finally reaches the other end of the corridor with her past grievances and perseverance in showing her identity to the outside world.
“The corridor, was walking down didn’t have a trace of illumination. I couldn’t see the other end.But I kept moving and now, when I have reached the other end,I realize that more than the light ,you need the determination to keep moving, keep struggling for your dreams, for your existence, for your survival”
The author has detailed the mentality of people in Indian society. There are many Leelas still living who are still stumbling to make decisions for their lives.This book also speaks about different women Leela’s mother who is enslaved unknowingly by her husband, Leela’s rich friends who are so engrossed in appreciating the value of money, Priya an ideal, independent, strong-minded woman. And the author has shown the transformation of Leela an immature girl to a successful woman who pursues her dreams.
Leela a carefree nineteen year old gets married to a maniac. Leela, carrying her dreams of becoming a RJ moves to Bangalore city only to realize that her dreams cannot be fulfilled with her jobless lunatic husband. She makes sincere attempts to make her marriage work but all in vain. On knowing the fact that she will never be loved and she will never be a RJ. Leela succumbs to the circumstances; she gets swooned by the luxuries that she has not imagined in her lifetime through her childhood friend and lets herself drifted to a fake world where she thought she was happy. Sooner she becomes aware that her fake world is just a fantasy. She finally reaches the other end of the corridor with her past grievances and perseverance in showing her identity to the outside world.
“The corridor, was walking down didn’t have a trace of illumination. I couldn’t see the other end.But I kept moving and now, when I have reached the other end,I realize that more than the light ,you need the determination to keep moving, keep struggling for your dreams, for your existence, for your survival”
The author has detailed the mentality of people in Indian society. There are many Leelas still living who are still stumbling to make decisions for their lives.This book also speaks about different women Leela’s mother who is enslaved unknowingly by her husband, Leela’s rich friends who are so engrossed in appreciating the value of money, Priya an ideal, independent, strong-minded woman. And the author has shown the transformation of Leela an immature girl to a successful woman who pursues her dreams.
January 6, 2016
Leela, the protagonist is a simple girl from a middle class family who wants to make it big someday. She dreams of becoming an RJ even when things are not in her favour. She is born a ‘manglik’ and dark which needless to say is considered as a bad omen even by her family. Her family finds a perfect suitor for her at the young age of nineteen, a well-educated handsome young man from an upper middle class family and her desires take wings. However, what life had in store for her was not anywhere beautiful. The castles she built in the air comes down crashing at her feet no sooner. She is faced by a pompous, ‘educated’ mother-in-law who is an absolute control freak. Her husband never misses to whack her. She is a victim of domestic violence and molestation. She meets two long lost friends which brings a ray of hope in her life. As she tries to hide behind her fake identity and marvel in its prospect, she also realizes the repercussion.
Will she rediscover herself again? Will she be able to chase her dreams again?
The author has portrayed strongly the struggles of a typical middle class family in India. The thoughts and actions of most of the characters are justified. There are several aspects discussed in the story making it a lil’ too melodramatic. May be the sequence? Or the significance of a certain character? I somehow felt that the characters were transformed or tweaked to give the story a certain end which wasn’t necessary. Having said that, it is commendable to have discussed such mental agony and trauma of the protagonist which for sure dwells within the lives of many women in India.
Will she rediscover herself again? Will she be able to chase her dreams again?
The author has portrayed strongly the struggles of a typical middle class family in India. The thoughts and actions of most of the characters are justified. There are several aspects discussed in the story making it a lil’ too melodramatic. May be the sequence? Or the significance of a certain character? I somehow felt that the characters were transformed or tweaked to give the story a certain end which wasn’t necessary. Having said that, it is commendable to have discussed such mental agony and trauma of the protagonist which for sure dwells within the lives of many women in India.
March 19, 2016
The book is a light and easy read. Written in first person, it seems like the reader is listening the protagonist, Leela, tell her story throughout the book. Broken in short chapters, the book can be easily read in one go. The story follows a girl who is married off young, killing her dreams. The book offers nothing different from what we all know or have already heard of. But the pain of Leela brings the reader back to hear out her story.
There are not many strong characters in the book but the way some characters turn out to be a ray of hope in Leela’s life is a surprise. The series of her daydreams, her undwindling hope, her faltering courage, her reluctant acceptance of her fate, her ambitions, her resolution to change her destiny, in and all what seems to be a regular story becomes an inspiring one. The reader relates to the parts of her life somewhere or the other. The male protagonist, Vishal, brings out that part of the society which still don’t accept mental imbalances as it should. His suicidal tendencies which should have been dealt with at the onset of his life, are hidden like a dark secret.
The book also brings out the dilemma a woman as to why she doesn’t easily break free from the shackles of domestic violence. It highlights the need of education and independence of women from illiteracy and rebukes early marriage. There were some parts of the story that weren’t actually needed and just lengthened the story. Though book is slow paced and repetitive at times, it does bring out the hidden social message which is need of the hour.
On last note, a breezy read dismantling the societal truths even in 21st century.
There are not many strong characters in the book but the way some characters turn out to be a ray of hope in Leela’s life is a surprise. The series of her daydreams, her undwindling hope, her faltering courage, her reluctant acceptance of her fate, her ambitions, her resolution to change her destiny, in and all what seems to be a regular story becomes an inspiring one. The reader relates to the parts of her life somewhere or the other. The male protagonist, Vishal, brings out that part of the society which still don’t accept mental imbalances as it should. His suicidal tendencies which should have been dealt with at the onset of his life, are hidden like a dark secret.
The book also brings out the dilemma a woman as to why she doesn’t easily break free from the shackles of domestic violence. It highlights the need of education and independence of women from illiteracy and rebukes early marriage. There were some parts of the story that weren’t actually needed and just lengthened the story. Though book is slow paced and repetitive at times, it does bring out the hidden social message which is need of the hour.
On last note, a breezy read dismantling the societal truths even in 21st century.
August 9, 2015
Book Review: The End of the Corridor by Sujata Rajpal
https://vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com/2...
Excerpt:
n society, women has been relegated most of the times as lesser human being, restricted as a mute entity that has no voice and if ever is heard, it’s the biggest crime for which she has to atone for. Author Sujata Rajpal in The Other End of the Corridor’ addresses the role and position of women in society, tribulations faced, in search of identity and how she is not only fettered in social roles but crushed to death.
The author explores several aspects in depicting Leela who is married to the useless and spineless Vishal, supported by his mother. Leela never had it easy in life where her brother was the preferred child at home and is slapped by the ‘educated’ mother in law. A social critique where Sujata explores the world of Leela, her identity as a human being and the clash in emotions. Deep inside, Leela, the middle class woman with aspirations like any human being is pushed into the life of a married woman, whose transition from a young girl is obliterated. She lies to hide her true identity as human being in the company of the super rich woman, discovers and falls in love online where the personality clash with her modern class mate, Priya, is explored in depicting two contrasting lives. Sujata explores the place of a women in society, what it means to be an underdog suffering every bit versus an independent woman who has a child without being married. What it means to be a woman in society.
https://vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com/2...
Excerpt:
n society, women has been relegated most of the times as lesser human being, restricted as a mute entity that has no voice and if ever is heard, it’s the biggest crime for which she has to atone for. Author Sujata Rajpal in The Other End of the Corridor’ addresses the role and position of women in society, tribulations faced, in search of identity and how she is not only fettered in social roles but crushed to death.
The author explores several aspects in depicting Leela who is married to the useless and spineless Vishal, supported by his mother. Leela never had it easy in life where her brother was the preferred child at home and is slapped by the ‘educated’ mother in law. A social critique where Sujata explores the world of Leela, her identity as a human being and the clash in emotions. Deep inside, Leela, the middle class woman with aspirations like any human being is pushed into the life of a married woman, whose transition from a young girl is obliterated. She lies to hide her true identity as human being in the company of the super rich woman, discovers and falls in love online where the personality clash with her modern class mate, Priya, is explored in depicting two contrasting lives. Sujata explores the place of a women in society, what it means to be an underdog suffering every bit versus an independent woman who has a child without being married. What it means to be a woman in society.
January 8, 2016
The protagonist is a woman; no she is too young and naive to be called a woman. She is a girl all of nineteen years, who having led a life of being an unwanted child, thinks that Fate is giving her a ticket to life in the form of an educated 30 year old husband. Her parents are happy that they could find a husband for their manglik daugther so soon.
From Patiala to Delhi, as Leela moves cities after her marriage, she dreams of leaving her bad days behind and seek bliss in her marital home. Alas, the reality that awaits her is different. Having been told numerous lies, she struggles to come to terms with the truth when it surfaces and shows its ugly face to her.
Like all lies, this too comes to an end. Reality and fiction come face to face. Her life comes to a standstill and she is left with nowhere to go and nobody to turn to. What will Leela do? Will she ever be able to confront her tormentors? Will she fulfill her dream of being an RJ and being famous?
This is a recommended read for all women and men alike who have no clue what it is like to be a dark skinned, manglik woman in India.
Detailed review here.
From Patiala to Delhi, as Leela moves cities after her marriage, she dreams of leaving her bad days behind and seek bliss in her marital home. Alas, the reality that awaits her is different. Having been told numerous lies, she struggles to come to terms with the truth when it surfaces and shows its ugly face to her.
Like all lies, this too comes to an end. Reality and fiction come face to face. Her life comes to a standstill and she is left with nowhere to go and nobody to turn to. What will Leela do? Will she ever be able to confront her tormentors? Will she fulfill her dream of being an RJ and being famous?
This is a recommended read for all women and men alike who have no clue what it is like to be a dark skinned, manglik woman in India.
Detailed review here.
April 2, 2015
It was an engrossing novel, quite well written. I picked it up around evening and finished it at 8 p.m. (which speaks a volume of the interest part).
The story revolves around Leela, who is not so sure about what she wants from life, except for her dream of getting famous one day as an RJ. The fact that she is no where near to it makes the novel all the more interesting.
Branded as unlucky due to her Mangli (Oh! God!) and the black colour (Why does colour matter so much?) of her skin by her parents, she is married off at a young age of nineteen. Since her husband is from a well - to do family and is educated, she hopes of a wonderful life after marriage. However, her dreams are shattered when one after other the frauds are laid bare in front of her eyes. She is still ready to bear everything - including the domestic violence and yet, her husband is unsatisfied.
In the middle of everything, she makes way slowly moving towards her dreams, till one major incident changes her life completely.
Though a few incidents, such as her mother-in-law supporting her after her husband's death seem unlikely, overall the novel is quite well-written and I loved it.
The story revolves around Leela, who is not so sure about what she wants from life, except for her dream of getting famous one day as an RJ. The fact that she is no where near to it makes the novel all the more interesting.
Branded as unlucky due to her Mangli (Oh! God!) and the black colour (Why does colour matter so much?) of her skin by her parents, she is married off at a young age of nineteen. Since her husband is from a well - to do family and is educated, she hopes of a wonderful life after marriage. However, her dreams are shattered when one after other the frauds are laid bare in front of her eyes. She is still ready to bear everything - including the domestic violence and yet, her husband is unsatisfied.
In the middle of everything, she makes way slowly moving towards her dreams, till one major incident changes her life completely.
Though a few incidents, such as her mother-in-law supporting her after her husband's death seem unlikely, overall the novel is quite well-written and I loved it.
January 20, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a MOBI version of this book from the author via The Book Club in return for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for the same.
I wanted to read this book from the moment my eyes fell on the cover. It’s simply gorgeous. Yeah, I am like that. I so fall for an eye-catching cover. I filled the form with alacrity when the book came up for blog tour via The Book Club, without even checking out the blurb or genre.
When I started reading the book, I couldn’t understand the first page at all. After finishing the book, I feel it’s been placed wrongly, not giving the right impression of the book. It’s important that the book begins in an interesting way.
The moment I started reading the second page I was hooked. But...
Spoilers galore from here on... STOP READING if you haven’t read the book yet
Read the rest of the review here: http://sundarivenkatraman.blogspot.in...
I wanted to read this book from the moment my eyes fell on the cover. It’s simply gorgeous. Yeah, I am like that. I so fall for an eye-catching cover. I filled the form with alacrity when the book came up for blog tour via The Book Club, without even checking out the blurb or genre.
When I started reading the book, I couldn’t understand the first page at all. After finishing the book, I feel it’s been placed wrongly, not giving the right impression of the book. It’s important that the book begins in an interesting way.
The moment I started reading the second page I was hooked. But...
Spoilers galore from here on... STOP READING if you haven’t read the book yet
Read the rest of the review here: http://sundarivenkatraman.blogspot.in...
November 27, 2015
The exemplar of the story,Leela, poses as the sturdy character throughout the story,being the target of the people's actions.Her story inspires at many points,the curves and the zig-zag in the life she has discovered, and her actions on the reactions,made her stand among many other,many has gone through the same reactions, but her actions made her different , and that's why her story needs to be heard.
Her writing style has the quality of delighting reader's mind,no matter the amount of simplicity she has stirred in her words,her narration soothes the reading journey to a great extent.Simple yet well-articulated,she creates a comfortable ambiance for the readers belonging from any background.Novice or ardent ,be it anyone, the grace in her work is made to reach everyone's heart.
Read full review here : http://madhyapradesh.johntext.de/revi...
Her writing style has the quality of delighting reader's mind,no matter the amount of simplicity she has stirred in her words,her narration soothes the reading journey to a great extent.Simple yet well-articulated,she creates a comfortable ambiance for the readers belonging from any background.Novice or ardent ,be it anyone, the grace in her work is made to reach everyone's heart.
Read full review here : http://madhyapradesh.johntext.de/revi...
April 19, 2015
Full review @ bit.ly/1IYyxqy
Leela is a bored, frustrated, humiliated and childless housewife. She did have romantic dreams about her marital life and an ardent aspiration to become a RJ. However, with time, her dreams and aspirations get diluted by the constant pressures of her suffocating marriage.
At a point when her days move without anything to look forward to, she lets her heart and mind waver in the direction of shallow gratifications until something happens that changes her life forever.
The dormant warrior in her gets revived and she is no more the woman who worships her husband's feet.
Leela is a bored, frustrated, humiliated and childless housewife. She did have romantic dreams about her marital life and an ardent aspiration to become a RJ. However, with time, her dreams and aspirations get diluted by the constant pressures of her suffocating marriage.
At a point when her days move without anything to look forward to, she lets her heart and mind waver in the direction of shallow gratifications until something happens that changes her life forever.
The dormant warrior in her gets revived and she is no more the woman who worships her husband's feet.
March 8, 2016
The cover is beautiful and the book seems to have been written keeping in mind many Indian women who go through all this and much more without uttering a single word. The language is simple and the pace is good and the story has been narrated in such a way that it was difficult for me to put the book down. The character of Leela has been developed well but I felt that Vishal was spineless. She is strong facing everything while he is still tied to his Ma’s apron strings.
I loved it when Leela escapes it into a world of dreams where everything is perfect.
The book has been written so well that it was hard for me to believe that it is the debut work of the author.
I loved it when Leela escapes it into a world of dreams where everything is perfect.
The book has been written so well that it was hard for me to believe that it is the debut work of the author.
March 20, 2016
The story is about unfortunate girl forced into marriage while at young age, the devastating her dreams and hopes towards life. There are hints of gender prejudice, marital brutality and blames of society on the rape victim. I loved the share of twists the story has offered. The dilemmas faced by a common woman in day to day life’s situations has been written well by author in very easy read language. This is my first read of author Sujata and I really look forward for her next book which I am sure will be better than this one.
February 25, 2015
It was indeed a great experience to read the novel, which is thoroughly gripping, with an element element of suspense throughout, along with a message for the society. The style of writing, is predominantly 'Kāruṇya Rasa' - Emotion of compassion as per Bharata Muni's Nātyasāstra, an ancient work of dramatic theory. This enables everyone to connect to the novel and evokes emotion in the reader. A must read !
April 21, 2015
A tale where the protagonist overcoming challenges to reach her dream - seems quite common . A girl, her parents, her spouse, her mother in law, friends, a maid...characters we see everyday. What makes Sujata Rajpal's novel extraordinary is the way she exposes problems regularly glossed over by our society in order to be normal. Simply written, it is a very quick and intriguing read.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 41 reviews