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An Autograph For Anjali
Is it possible for a woman to find love at 39 years?
Multi-millionaire businessman Jayant Mathur is found murdered brutally in his bed.
Everyone’s first suspect is none other than Mr. Mathur’s beautiful wife Anjali. Quiet and detached, she does not seem to care much about her husband.
To add to the suspicion is the presence of Parth Bharadwaj, a close friend of the Mathurs. Not Jayant’s, but his wife Anjali’s and son Arjun’s who lives and studies in the UK.
All investigations seem to point a finger at Jayant’s widow, confirmed by gossiping relatives. Jayant’s brother-in-law Rana accuses Anjali and Parth but the police isn’t able to ignore Rana’s interest in this whole affair. Will Private Detective Samrat be able to trace the murderer?
And what is the true equation between Anjali and Parth? Is it possible for romance to bloom amidst the mess?
Multi-millionaire businessman Jayant Mathur is found murdered brutally in his bed.
Everyone’s first suspect is none other than Mr. Mathur’s beautiful wife Anjali. Quiet and detached, she does not seem to care much about her husband.
To add to the suspicion is the presence of Parth Bharadwaj, a close friend of the Mathurs. Not Jayant’s, but his wife Anjali’s and son Arjun’s who lives and studies in the UK.
All investigations seem to point a finger at Jayant’s widow, confirmed by gossiping relatives. Jayant’s brother-in-law Rana accuses Anjali and Parth but the police isn’t able to ignore Rana’s interest in this whole affair. Will Private Detective Samrat be able to trace the murderer?
And what is the true equation between Anjali and Parth? Is it possible for romance to bloom amidst the mess?
- GenresRomance
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2016
16 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Sundari Venkatraman
99 books231 followersSundari Venkatraman is an Indie Author who has 76 self-published books to her credit. These books have consistently featured in the Top 100 Bestseller Lists on Amazon India, Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada and Amazon Australia in both romance as well as Asian Drama categories. Her latest hot romances have all been on #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.
These days, the author is independently publishing her novels in paperback format under her banner Flaming Sun, printed and distributed by Notion Press.
Even as a child, Sundari absolutely loved the ‘lived happily ever after’ syndrome and she grew up on a steady diet of fairy tales, Phantom comics and Mandrake comics. It was always about good triumphing over evil and a happy ending after the protagonists surmounted all unexpected obstacles.
Once she entered her teens, Sundari switched her loyalties from fairy tales to Mills & Boon. While she loved reading both of these, she kept visualising what would have happened if there were similar situations happening in India; to local heroes and heroines. And of course, the joy of vanquishing the ubiquitous evil villains! Her imagination soared and she happily ensconced herself in a rosy romantic cocoon for many years.
Then came the writing—a true bolt from the blue! And Sundari Venkatraman has never looked back.
Use hashtag #60at60
You can connect with the author here: https://linktr.ee/sundarivenkatraman
These days, the author is independently publishing her novels in paperback format under her banner Flaming Sun, printed and distributed by Notion Press.
Even as a child, Sundari absolutely loved the ‘lived happily ever after’ syndrome and she grew up on a steady diet of fairy tales, Phantom comics and Mandrake comics. It was always about good triumphing over evil and a happy ending after the protagonists surmounted all unexpected obstacles.
Once she entered her teens, Sundari switched her loyalties from fairy tales to Mills & Boon. While she loved reading both of these, she kept visualising what would have happened if there were similar situations happening in India; to local heroes and heroines. And of course, the joy of vanquishing the ubiquitous evil villains! Her imagination soared and she happily ensconced herself in a rosy romantic cocoon for many years.
Then came the writing—a true bolt from the blue! And Sundari Venkatraman has never looked back.
Use hashtag #60at60
You can connect with the author here: https://linktr.ee/sundarivenkatraman
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 6, 2016
The author offered me an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and am I ever glad that I got this chance! This is another winner from Sundari Venkatraman, though I have to admit I still consider her previous book “The Madras Affair” my favourite.
The story starts with a bang – almost literally, as there’s a murder to be discovered and discussed. What follows didn’t read at all like the romance novels I was used to by the author for a while, but it did capture my attention and hooked me. Keeping in mind that this is a stab at romantic suspense, I found the beginning almost perfect in hindsight (yes, I read it again after I had finished the book, just to see it all in a different light). The author set up the stage, introduced the main characters and threw in the tiniest inkling of the romance to come, like a bee buzzing against a window. And that window was thrown wide open when I entered a sort of flashback and finally found out more about Anjali and Parth.
Speaking of the main characters – the couple and another ‘couple’ – I am full of praise. Being an author myself, I love reading about authors, and Parth was no disappointment. His mix of intelligence, insistence, to-die-for looks and calm confidence really drew me in. As for Anjali, she reminded me a little of the heroine of “The Madras Affair”, Sangeeta, like a duckling (not ugly) just waiting to burst forth into a glorious swan. Her strength, intelligence and determination were always palpable, yet in a more subdued way. And I loved her attitude and behaviour towards her son Arjun and her husband Jayant.
As for Arjun, he was like a refreshing breeze throughout the book. Fanning the flames when needed, becoming a whirlwind at some times, cooling down and soothing at other times. I’d love to learn more about him and his Jane, hinted at in the story. Jayant, his father by blood but by not much else, was just the right antagonist. I loved hating him, though at times I have to say I couldn’t even hate him. He struck me as a cliché personified, as a canvas for portraying all that’s wrong with society.
The story was fast-paced, brisk and to the point, lingering just at the right moments while only scratching the surface at other moments. I’d have loved to learn more about the Anjali of the past and about the marriage leading to this ‘culmination’, and I’d have loved it even more to learn more about Parth because he’s so full of potential. As for the murderer… I guessed correctly. I dare you to do so too!
The story starts with a bang – almost literally, as there’s a murder to be discovered and discussed. What follows didn’t read at all like the romance novels I was used to by the author for a while, but it did capture my attention and hooked me. Keeping in mind that this is a stab at romantic suspense, I found the beginning almost perfect in hindsight (yes, I read it again after I had finished the book, just to see it all in a different light). The author set up the stage, introduced the main characters and threw in the tiniest inkling of the romance to come, like a bee buzzing against a window. And that window was thrown wide open when I entered a sort of flashback and finally found out more about Anjali and Parth.
Speaking of the main characters – the couple and another ‘couple’ – I am full of praise. Being an author myself, I love reading about authors, and Parth was no disappointment. His mix of intelligence, insistence, to-die-for looks and calm confidence really drew me in. As for Anjali, she reminded me a little of the heroine of “The Madras Affair”, Sangeeta, like a duckling (not ugly) just waiting to burst forth into a glorious swan. Her strength, intelligence and determination were always palpable, yet in a more subdued way. And I loved her attitude and behaviour towards her son Arjun and her husband Jayant.
As for Arjun, he was like a refreshing breeze throughout the book. Fanning the flames when needed, becoming a whirlwind at some times, cooling down and soothing at other times. I’d love to learn more about him and his Jane, hinted at in the story. Jayant, his father by blood but by not much else, was just the right antagonist. I loved hating him, though at times I have to say I couldn’t even hate him. He struck me as a cliché personified, as a canvas for portraying all that’s wrong with society.
The story was fast-paced, brisk and to the point, lingering just at the right moments while only scratching the surface at other moments. I’d have loved to learn more about the Anjali of the past and about the marriage leading to this ‘culmination’, and I’d have loved it even more to learn more about Parth because he’s so full of potential. As for the murderer… I guessed correctly. I dare you to do so too!
May 16, 2016
Another first-time author read for me. I was expecting a mystery kind of a read from the blurb. The story was more of a romance read and less of a mystery. But the author really did justice to the story and the characters. The story didn't disappoint me at all with the complex characters. It has certainly whetted my appetite for the author's other books.
The story was written in episode-like chapters which hooked me and reeled me in with its steady pace. The book had a movie like feel to it with the starting being in the present and then the middle being a flashback style story followed by the unveiling of the murderer in the present again. It was easy to follow and the story had me engrossed with the complexity of the plot. The only complaint I had was that the flashback ended up taking more than 60% of the story. I know that it played a major role in understanding the characters but I felt that more stage could have been to the solving of the crime.
The characters felt real with their emotions and their troubles. They perfectly reflected the society. Anjali was a strong heroine with a steel backbone and determination to get out of her hell of a life. Parth was charismatic, bold and confident. But I felt a mild distaste when he kind of overwhelmed Anjali with his affections in certain scenes. I felt he was a bit forceful and wasn't mindful of her situation. Jayant was the right villain and I think he was more of an embodiment of the mind-set of males in the society. I so hated him because of his so called superiority. Arjun was a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect him to be so understanding of his mother and at the same time, he kind of turned me off with his emotional outbursts.
The story was well written and I didn't feel the time pass and I was at the end quickly. I can see myself reading more of the author's tales.
My rating : 4/5
The story was written in episode-like chapters which hooked me and reeled me in with its steady pace. The book had a movie like feel to it with the starting being in the present and then the middle being a flashback style story followed by the unveiling of the murderer in the present again. It was easy to follow and the story had me engrossed with the complexity of the plot. The only complaint I had was that the flashback ended up taking more than 60% of the story. I know that it played a major role in understanding the characters but I felt that more stage could have been to the solving of the crime.
The characters felt real with their emotions and their troubles. They perfectly reflected the society. Anjali was a strong heroine with a steel backbone and determination to get out of her hell of a life. Parth was charismatic, bold and confident. But I felt a mild distaste when he kind of overwhelmed Anjali with his affections in certain scenes. I felt he was a bit forceful and wasn't mindful of her situation. Jayant was the right villain and I think he was more of an embodiment of the mind-set of males in the society. I so hated him because of his so called superiority. Arjun was a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect him to be so understanding of his mother and at the same time, he kind of turned me off with his emotional outbursts.
The story was well written and I didn't feel the time pass and I was at the end quickly. I can see myself reading more of the author's tales.
My rating : 4/5
May 23, 2016
The novel opens with 47 year old multi-millionaire Jayant Mathur getting shot at point blank range with his own pistol. Radha, the daily help, finds the body, soaked in blood, much to her consternation, and Inspector Phadke comes into the scene. He finds the widow, Anjali Mathur, who “appeared beautiful, though she was as still as a statue” in a state of shock, along with Parth Bhardawaj who claims to be a family friend.
The plot thickens as Phadke asks all the right questions. Was Jayant the suicidal sort? Why did he and his wife, Anjali, sleep in separate bedrooms? Was this the act of a burglar? If so, why did the alarm not go off? Who would benefit at Jayant’s death?
Soon a plethora of characters appear – Jayant’s old parents, Makarand and Chaya, anguished at their son’s untimely death, his older sisters, Smita and Nandita, and their husbands. Smita’s husband, Rana, is introduced as a blusterer and trouble-maker. He “talked big and helped none”, misleading the police and the press through his wild allegations.
It is clear that Parth is in charge here, a fact that Rana disapproves of. The former handles the police and the forensic people, keeps the press at bay, and holds the situation together. Arjun, Jayant’s and Anjali’s son, who is studying at Kingston University, is grief-stricken as, to him, Jayant was a larger than life figure, a hero and a successful businessman whom he idolized. Arjun adores his lion-hearted mother as well, and at the moment his entire life has fallen apart. One cannot help liking the young boy who veers between moments of bewilderment and maturity.
Samrat, who runs a one man show detective agency, is brought in by Parth to investigate the case, and to find the murderer before the police and the media bungle things up.
While the story starts off as a thriller, there is an intense interplay of emotions, as various relationships get thrown into focus; those between Anjali and Jayant, Anjali and Parth, and Jayant and Seema, his executive assistant. As various startling facts are unearthed during the investigation, Parth’s character comes into prominent focus, as a man ten times as wealthy as Jayant, and an internationally acclaimed writer of thrillers and travelogues. His piercing silver eyes on a tanned face are the icing on the cake.
Anjali, who has her own demons to deal with, goes through the throes of stoicism and despair, and even falls into the slough of depression, as she goes through life like “a bird with clipped wings”. However, a chance to redeem her life comes when she meets Parth, who urges her to work for him as a researcher for his next novel. She opens up her heart to him, as he looms “like a rock in the midst of a stormy sea”. As she trembles on the threshold of finding happiness again, Jayant gets killed.
The questions continue, unabated. Why was Jayant murdered? Who was the murderer and what was the motive behind the murder? Did Jayant have enemies or was it a business rival who knocked him off?
‘An Autograph for Anjali’ begins with a murder, but even as the investigation gets underway, it is the romantic angle that is more explored. Sundari Venkatraman’s expertise at weaving romance comes across effectively, as her characters come to life, breathe and love fiercely. The novel glides smoothly as the readers grapple with emotions of sorrow, anticipation, suspense and joy, with no false notes that derail their concentration. The words are simple, but effective, the emotions carefully woven for maximum effect, as the story winds its way to a satisfying denouement.
If one has to look for a flaw, it is in the characterization of Jayant, who comes across as a spoilt and pampered brat, the youngest of three siblings, and a man who, despite being a contemporary businessman, has still a core of conservatism and patriarchy in his soul. However, this is not a flaw to be attributed to the pen of the author, but to the existence of such men even today, who appear worldly-wise and modern, but are just the opposite in real life!
Sundari has a penchant for bringing forth social issues in her novels. Here she deals with the problems that married couples could go through if they are incompatible. The issue of severe depression is also touched upon, and dealt with. However, it is apparent that Sundari is a fan of the ‘happily ever after’ theme, which recurs in her books, and leaves the reader in a happy place.
Verdict: Highly readable!
The plot thickens as Phadke asks all the right questions. Was Jayant the suicidal sort? Why did he and his wife, Anjali, sleep in separate bedrooms? Was this the act of a burglar? If so, why did the alarm not go off? Who would benefit at Jayant’s death?
Soon a plethora of characters appear – Jayant’s old parents, Makarand and Chaya, anguished at their son’s untimely death, his older sisters, Smita and Nandita, and their husbands. Smita’s husband, Rana, is introduced as a blusterer and trouble-maker. He “talked big and helped none”, misleading the police and the press through his wild allegations.
It is clear that Parth is in charge here, a fact that Rana disapproves of. The former handles the police and the forensic people, keeps the press at bay, and holds the situation together. Arjun, Jayant’s and Anjali’s son, who is studying at Kingston University, is grief-stricken as, to him, Jayant was a larger than life figure, a hero and a successful businessman whom he idolized. Arjun adores his lion-hearted mother as well, and at the moment his entire life has fallen apart. One cannot help liking the young boy who veers between moments of bewilderment and maturity.
Samrat, who runs a one man show detective agency, is brought in by Parth to investigate the case, and to find the murderer before the police and the media bungle things up.
While the story starts off as a thriller, there is an intense interplay of emotions, as various relationships get thrown into focus; those between Anjali and Jayant, Anjali and Parth, and Jayant and Seema, his executive assistant. As various startling facts are unearthed during the investigation, Parth’s character comes into prominent focus, as a man ten times as wealthy as Jayant, and an internationally acclaimed writer of thrillers and travelogues. His piercing silver eyes on a tanned face are the icing on the cake.
Anjali, who has her own demons to deal with, goes through the throes of stoicism and despair, and even falls into the slough of depression, as she goes through life like “a bird with clipped wings”. However, a chance to redeem her life comes when she meets Parth, who urges her to work for him as a researcher for his next novel. She opens up her heart to him, as he looms “like a rock in the midst of a stormy sea”. As she trembles on the threshold of finding happiness again, Jayant gets killed.
The questions continue, unabated. Why was Jayant murdered? Who was the murderer and what was the motive behind the murder? Did Jayant have enemies or was it a business rival who knocked him off?
‘An Autograph for Anjali’ begins with a murder, but even as the investigation gets underway, it is the romantic angle that is more explored. Sundari Venkatraman’s expertise at weaving romance comes across effectively, as her characters come to life, breathe and love fiercely. The novel glides smoothly as the readers grapple with emotions of sorrow, anticipation, suspense and joy, with no false notes that derail their concentration. The words are simple, but effective, the emotions carefully woven for maximum effect, as the story winds its way to a satisfying denouement.
If one has to look for a flaw, it is in the characterization of Jayant, who comes across as a spoilt and pampered brat, the youngest of three siblings, and a man who, despite being a contemporary businessman, has still a core of conservatism and patriarchy in his soul. However, this is not a flaw to be attributed to the pen of the author, but to the existence of such men even today, who appear worldly-wise and modern, but are just the opposite in real life!
Sundari has a penchant for bringing forth social issues in her novels. Here she deals with the problems that married couples could go through if they are incompatible. The issue of severe depression is also touched upon, and dealt with. However, it is apparent that Sundari is a fan of the ‘happily ever after’ theme, which recurs in her books, and leaves the reader in a happy place.
Verdict: Highly readable!
April 4, 2016
This is the third book that I have read by the author, and I have liked the earlier two better than this one; The Madras Affair being the clear favorite.
In each and every one of her books, the author addresses a social issue (though they are primarily romances), and this one is no different. While the other two books dealt with more obvious social evils, like child marriage (The Runaway Bridegroom) and marital abuse/rape (The Madras Affair) - in this one the author has addressed a seemingly perfect, yet unhappy marriage (which isn’t so much of a social evil, but social pressures are a big reason why people continue to live in such marriages). The author also deals with mental health, which very few talk about. And this one has a (small) mystery angle to it too.
I really liked the premise; even more, the author’s choice of social issue. The thing I did not connect with was the romance. It was too direct at times, there was a lot of telling over showing, and felt very awkward (to me) at places. It is possible that I had higher expectations after The Madras Affair, and that is why I found this disappointing, but the romance did not work for me at all.
The other thing is that while I loved the fact that the author chose to address the issue of mental illness, I have mixed feelings about the treatment of the subject. Here too, the expectations have possibly played spoilsport, because I had loved how the author had handled child marriage and marital abuse/ rape, but in this case, the portrayal and the treatment of depression did not sit well with me.
The element of suspense was executed well. Sure it was not a big mystery, because there was a limited cast of characters, and hence an easy guess, but I don’t think the author ever intended it to be primarily a tale of whodunit. It was an interesting way of diversifying a romance, and it worked.
Overall - The premise was good; the potential was there, but I found the execution lacking a little. Having said that, it is still a decent read - pretty fast paced, which keeps you turning pages, and makes you think.
Note: If this is the first and/or only book you have read by this author - I strongly urge you to read The Madras Affair. Check out my full review here
Disclaimer: I had beta read this book, and downloaded a free copy of the published version when there was a Kindle offer.
Find more book reviews @ www.shanayatales.com
In each and every one of her books, the author addresses a social issue (though they are primarily romances), and this one is no different. While the other two books dealt with more obvious social evils, like child marriage (The Runaway Bridegroom) and marital abuse/rape (The Madras Affair) - in this one the author has addressed a seemingly perfect, yet unhappy marriage (which isn’t so much of a social evil, but social pressures are a big reason why people continue to live in such marriages). The author also deals with mental health, which very few talk about. And this one has a (small) mystery angle to it too.
I really liked the premise; even more, the author’s choice of social issue. The thing I did not connect with was the romance. It was too direct at times, there was a lot of telling over showing, and felt very awkward (to me) at places. It is possible that I had higher expectations after The Madras Affair, and that is why I found this disappointing, but the romance did not work for me at all.
The other thing is that while I loved the fact that the author chose to address the issue of mental illness, I have mixed feelings about the treatment of the subject. Here too, the expectations have possibly played spoilsport, because I had loved how the author had handled child marriage and marital abuse/ rape, but in this case, the portrayal and the treatment of depression did not sit well with me.
The element of suspense was executed well. Sure it was not a big mystery, because there was a limited cast of characters, and hence an easy guess, but I don’t think the author ever intended it to be primarily a tale of whodunit. It was an interesting way of diversifying a romance, and it worked.
Overall - The premise was good; the potential was there, but I found the execution lacking a little. Having said that, it is still a decent read - pretty fast paced, which keeps you turning pages, and makes you think.
Note: If this is the first and/or only book you have read by this author - I strongly urge you to read The Madras Affair. Check out my full review here
Disclaimer: I had beta read this book, and downloaded a free copy of the published version when there was a Kindle offer.
Find more book reviews @ www.shanayatales.com
March 17, 2016
An Autograph for Anjali is a treat for people who love that right mix of suspense and romance. Jayanth Mathur, our protagonist – Anjali’s husband is found murdered – shot at point blank range with his own revolver. Anjali isn’t really shaken up but is quite perplexed as to who stands to gain from Jayanth’s death. Parth – the handsome writer handles the whole ‘situation’ and stands as pillar of support for Anjali and her son – Arjun during this difficult time. Who is Parth? What does he mean to Anjali and Arjun?
Having read most of this writer – Sundari’s works, I’m quite comfortable with her style of writing which is actually perfect and filled with warmth. Murders described in graphic details almost always end up being puke worthy. Seasoned writers of course, handle murders in a far better way – they ensure the readers experience that chillness of the gory act. With Jayanth’s murder, it was almost the same. It wasn’t puke worthy but it wasn’t chilling either. It was simply saddening. For someone who has written a lot of romance, this diversification was a great attempt by the writer.
The characterization aided the authenticity of the story line. With almost realistic characters and an equally realistic story line with right amount of fiction infused, the book was that perfect read. However, one character slightly disappointed me - Arjun. He seemed too good to be real. Men are almost always supportive when it comes to their mum, but certain ‘acts’ of Arjun were too supportive which sort of crossed that line of idealism. However, tweaking Arjun’s character to a large extent would have resulted in the story becoming nothing short of a Bollywood drama, which the writer probably intended to avoid. Also, guessing the killer was pretty easy making the story a wee bit predictable. In short, no story can be too perfect, this story wasn’t either. That doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be good enough!
MY SAY: A balanced and well written story with right amount of romance and suspense.
RATING: 4/5
Having read most of this writer – Sundari’s works, I’m quite comfortable with her style of writing which is actually perfect and filled with warmth. Murders described in graphic details almost always end up being puke worthy. Seasoned writers of course, handle murders in a far better way – they ensure the readers experience that chillness of the gory act. With Jayanth’s murder, it was almost the same. It wasn’t puke worthy but it wasn’t chilling either. It was simply saddening. For someone who has written a lot of romance, this diversification was a great attempt by the writer.
The characterization aided the authenticity of the story line. With almost realistic characters and an equally realistic story line with right amount of fiction infused, the book was that perfect read. However, one character slightly disappointed me - Arjun. He seemed too good to be real. Men are almost always supportive when it comes to their mum, but certain ‘acts’ of Arjun were too supportive which sort of crossed that line of idealism. However, tweaking Arjun’s character to a large extent would have resulted in the story becoming nothing short of a Bollywood drama, which the writer probably intended to avoid. Also, guessing the killer was pretty easy making the story a wee bit predictable. In short, no story can be too perfect, this story wasn’t either. That doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be good enough!
MY SAY: A balanced and well written story with right amount of romance and suspense.
RATING: 4/5
March 18, 2016
This is Sundari's first murder-mystery-romance novel and there are many nice things in "An Autograph for Anjali"
I liked the multiple points of view - it gave every character a chance to develop.
I liked that each chapter was one POV and reasonably short so that you felt that the story moved at a smart clip.
The conflict felt real; the romance built up well - in fact, it went from 'nay' to 'yay' before I knew it and soon was scorching the pages!
Tender yet hot, the love scenes in this book show that Sundari is ready to up the ante. If you've read her previously published romances, you'll know what I mean!
I liked the multiple points of view - it gave every character a chance to develop.
I liked that each chapter was one POV and reasonably short so that you felt that the story moved at a smart clip.
The conflict felt real; the romance built up well - in fact, it went from 'nay' to 'yay' before I knew it and soon was scorching the pages!
Tender yet hot, the love scenes in this book show that Sundari is ready to up the ante. If you've read her previously published romances, you'll know what I mean!
April 14, 2020
I really enjoyed re-reading this book by Sundari Venkatraman which I first read when it came out in 2016. At that time I did't write any review because I was still unaware of their importance. But better later than never. The author introduced a touch of mistery into this romance and suddenly we have a page turner just as Sundari has got us used to. A page turner therefore a must read.
April 30, 2016
Having already read two of Sundari Venkatraman’s best-selling novels - The Madras Affair and Matches Made In Heaven, the excitement as I started with An Autograph for Anjali was palpable. The author managed to keep that excitement bubbling throughout - so much, that I was compelled to read the whole book in one go. If I had to describe it in one word – it was unputdownable!
Coming to the story, it started off as a murder mystery, a whodunit kind of beginning. Just when I was beginning to think that if the author had suddenly decided to switch from writing romance novels to scripting thrillers, the love angle gradually crept in. And how!
I would call this a coming of age novel. Perhaps, a voice to the lakhs of women stuck between the devil and the deep sea, confined to the orthodox way of life, masking their emotions for fear of being judged and afraid to give expression to their needs.
The story explores the loneliness and suffocation of the protagonist Anjali, stuck in a loveless marriage, her struggle with her conscience as she hopelessly falls in love with someone she shouldn’t, and her attempt to break free. The novel also explores how Anjali discovers her needs for intimacy, the need to be valued and cherished as a partner, and her dilemma when she actually finds someone who gives her both of these.
The story is progressive and moves with the times. It is Anjali’s grown up son who first nudges her into thinking why she is still putting up with a loveless marriage and supports her when she tells him she’s contemplating separation. While the mother-son chemistry is endearing, there’s no attempt to demonize the father. The son is mature enough to understand that if couples have nothing in common, they do lose interest in each other’s life and gradually drift away and hence does not end up hating his father though he sympathizes with his mother. The author has responsibly refrained from making the husband the evil one, in order to justify the wife falling in love with another though the husband does have his dalliances which act as a trigger for Anjali to contemplate about her own life. Clearly mature writing.
I also loved the character Anjali falls in love with- Parth, the author. I mean, who wouldn’t find the appeal of falling in love with a writer exciting! Writers, I personally think, are the best people to fall in love with - they connect to emotions better, express themselves better and have all the right things to say. And true to that, Parth turns out to be all that and more! The romantic and intimate scenes between Anjali and Parth are delicately yet sensuously handled. They make you want to immediately cuddle up with your loved one!
The only part that was unconvincing in the story was Anjali recovering too soon from her depression. But again, stretching her scenes of depression wouldn’t have really added much value to the story so that can be overlooked.
I’d say it’s a very well researched and well-written novel. The story is fast-paced and fun to read. If romance is what you love to read, you would definitely enjoy this one.
Coming to the story, it started off as a murder mystery, a whodunit kind of beginning. Just when I was beginning to think that if the author had suddenly decided to switch from writing romance novels to scripting thrillers, the love angle gradually crept in. And how!
I would call this a coming of age novel. Perhaps, a voice to the lakhs of women stuck between the devil and the deep sea, confined to the orthodox way of life, masking their emotions for fear of being judged and afraid to give expression to their needs.
The story explores the loneliness and suffocation of the protagonist Anjali, stuck in a loveless marriage, her struggle with her conscience as she hopelessly falls in love with someone she shouldn’t, and her attempt to break free. The novel also explores how Anjali discovers her needs for intimacy, the need to be valued and cherished as a partner, and her dilemma when she actually finds someone who gives her both of these.
The story is progressive and moves with the times. It is Anjali’s grown up son who first nudges her into thinking why she is still putting up with a loveless marriage and supports her when she tells him she’s contemplating separation. While the mother-son chemistry is endearing, there’s no attempt to demonize the father. The son is mature enough to understand that if couples have nothing in common, they do lose interest in each other’s life and gradually drift away and hence does not end up hating his father though he sympathizes with his mother. The author has responsibly refrained from making the husband the evil one, in order to justify the wife falling in love with another though the husband does have his dalliances which act as a trigger for Anjali to contemplate about her own life. Clearly mature writing.
I also loved the character Anjali falls in love with- Parth, the author. I mean, who wouldn’t find the appeal of falling in love with a writer exciting! Writers, I personally think, are the best people to fall in love with - they connect to emotions better, express themselves better and have all the right things to say. And true to that, Parth turns out to be all that and more! The romantic and intimate scenes between Anjali and Parth are delicately yet sensuously handled. They make you want to immediately cuddle up with your loved one!
The only part that was unconvincing in the story was Anjali recovering too soon from her depression. But again, stretching her scenes of depression wouldn’t have really added much value to the story so that can be overlooked.
I’d say it’s a very well researched and well-written novel. The story is fast-paced and fun to read. If romance is what you love to read, you would definitely enjoy this one.
April 24, 2016
It was in November of 2014 when I was struggling to release my first fiction novel, ‘The Love is dead; long live the Lust’. On one of the promo posts I had put up on FB, I remember Sundari Venkatraman telling me that the protagonist’s name in one of her WIPs is the same as that of the one in my book, Anjali. Little did I know that not only the name but the broad theme is the same too, though treated in a completely different way.
The patriarchal society we live in, unfortunately, has got two different set of rules for men and women. While we chose to turn a blind eye to a man who cheats or a philanderer husband, all hell breaks loose when a woman does the same, for whatever reasons. The author, through ‘AAfA’ has tried to highlight and in a way, challenge this ‘he-does-it-he’s-a-Stud; she-does-it-she’s-a-Slut’ mentality. The fact that the author had chosen to promote this one as a ‘romantic suspense’, had kind of prepared me for something different from the out-n-out romance in her earlier books. I did not, however, expect to read a murder in the very first chapter. That was when I prodded my pillow and sat up.
‘An Autograph for Anjali’ revolves around relationship and love- or the lack thereof- from a women’s perspective, and her suffering of being in a bland, suffocating, virtually non-existent marriage for two decades.
Jayant, a successful businessman, who ignores his wife and engages in illicit affairs outside of marriage; Anjali, the stifled wife who’s been living through it all and chooses to turn a blind eye, in spite of being well aware of her husband’s philandering ways; and Arjun, the grown up son who lends a calming, cooling effect to the whole scenario. Enter Parth, a writer/ author (Gee!), and you can already feel a faint hint of romance in the air. He ends up disturbing the status quo, only for the better, because Anjali, now has a shoulder to cry on and rest her tired head on.
Sundari Venkatraman having proved her mettle at being the master of desi romance time and again, ventured into a relatively new genre of suspense and crime, with AAfA. I’m sure it was purely for the sake of a certain comfort level that she weaved it so cleverly into romance, which is undoubtedly, her forte. Where the first half of the book revolves around Jayant’s murder, it’s evidently in the second half that the author truly came into her elements and gave us a treat of bold, expressive, smooth, uninhibited romance, like few besides SV can.
Overall, a feel-good read for a relaxed evening.
The patriarchal society we live in, unfortunately, has got two different set of rules for men and women. While we chose to turn a blind eye to a man who cheats or a philanderer husband, all hell breaks loose when a woman does the same, for whatever reasons. The author, through ‘AAfA’ has tried to highlight and in a way, challenge this ‘he-does-it-he’s-a-Stud; she-does-it-she’s-a-Slut’ mentality. The fact that the author had chosen to promote this one as a ‘romantic suspense’, had kind of prepared me for something different from the out-n-out romance in her earlier books. I did not, however, expect to read a murder in the very first chapter. That was when I prodded my pillow and sat up.
‘An Autograph for Anjali’ revolves around relationship and love- or the lack thereof- from a women’s perspective, and her suffering of being in a bland, suffocating, virtually non-existent marriage for two decades.
Jayant, a successful businessman, who ignores his wife and engages in illicit affairs outside of marriage; Anjali, the stifled wife who’s been living through it all and chooses to turn a blind eye, in spite of being well aware of her husband’s philandering ways; and Arjun, the grown up son who lends a calming, cooling effect to the whole scenario. Enter Parth, a writer/ author (Gee!), and you can already feel a faint hint of romance in the air. He ends up disturbing the status quo, only for the better, because Anjali, now has a shoulder to cry on and rest her tired head on.
Sundari Venkatraman having proved her mettle at being the master of desi romance time and again, ventured into a relatively new genre of suspense and crime, with AAfA. I’m sure it was purely for the sake of a certain comfort level that she weaved it so cleverly into romance, which is undoubtedly, her forte. Where the first half of the book revolves around Jayant’s murder, it’s evidently in the second half that the author truly came into her elements and gave us a treat of bold, expressive, smooth, uninhibited romance, like few besides SV can.
Overall, a feel-good read for a relaxed evening.
May 10, 2016
My Review -
An Autograph for Anjali is a nice deviation from the ‘usual’ Sundari’s novels. Sundari is exploring different storyline for her novels these days, which is commendable. Her previous book was about widow remarriage and this is a thriller…but of course with romance as its main ingredient.
The story starts off with a murder and the first few chapters keep you really hooked with suspense and tension building up. The chapters following are about the life of Anjali who is trapped in a loveless marriage to a well-to-do businessman Jayanth who is selfish to the core. Anjali has an ally in her son Arjun and then she finds love in Parth, a well-known author.
It is about Anjali’s journey fighting inner turmoil of staying loyal to her otherwise disloyal husband, of being a perfect rich wife and daughter-in-law, a good mother who otherwise has no life to call her own.
Then enters Parth and her world turns upside down. She falls in love and then realizes the importance of living life for her own self.
The characters are relatable, especially Anjali…as the story progressed I felt I knew Anjali all my life. Jayanth is the typical snobbish businessman who can think only of himself. And Parth…I have been dreaming about him.
What I did not like –
Though Jayanth is a typical misogynist, he should at least have an idea about why a person needs to see a psychiatrist or a counselor. He is a very successful businessman who was working with women in high position, he may not think very high of them but I would have liked if he displayed some emotion of understanding his women. He had used women to fulfill his needs but would have credited a bit more intelligence to him. It is typical of the way he handled his affair with Seema…he is ruthless that way.
Arjun, Anjali and Jayanth’s 19-year-old son is Anjali’s ally and confidant. More than sharing a mother and son relationship, they were friends. He is aware of the loveless marriage between their parents and he completely supports his mother when he comes to know about her feelings for Parth. What I did not like was, whatever his level of maturity but as long as his parents were living in the same house and not divorced, how could he agree to allow Parth to travel with his mother. He did share a good relationship with his dad after all. This was a bit difficult to digest.
Verdict –
A good, racy read. I would have liked if the ending was a bit more complex as gripping as the start.
An Autograph for Anjali is a nice deviation from the ‘usual’ Sundari’s novels. Sundari is exploring different storyline for her novels these days, which is commendable. Her previous book was about widow remarriage and this is a thriller…but of course with romance as its main ingredient.
The story starts off with a murder and the first few chapters keep you really hooked with suspense and tension building up. The chapters following are about the life of Anjali who is trapped in a loveless marriage to a well-to-do businessman Jayanth who is selfish to the core. Anjali has an ally in her son Arjun and then she finds love in Parth, a well-known author.
It is about Anjali’s journey fighting inner turmoil of staying loyal to her otherwise disloyal husband, of being a perfect rich wife and daughter-in-law, a good mother who otherwise has no life to call her own.
Then enters Parth and her world turns upside down. She falls in love and then realizes the importance of living life for her own self.
The characters are relatable, especially Anjali…as the story progressed I felt I knew Anjali all my life. Jayanth is the typical snobbish businessman who can think only of himself. And Parth…I have been dreaming about him.
What I did not like –
Though Jayanth is a typical misogynist, he should at least have an idea about why a person needs to see a psychiatrist or a counselor. He is a very successful businessman who was working with women in high position, he may not think very high of them but I would have liked if he displayed some emotion of understanding his women. He had used women to fulfill his needs but would have credited a bit more intelligence to him. It is typical of the way he handled his affair with Seema…he is ruthless that way.
Arjun, Anjali and Jayanth’s 19-year-old son is Anjali’s ally and confidant. More than sharing a mother and son relationship, they were friends. He is aware of the loveless marriage between their parents and he completely supports his mother when he comes to know about her feelings for Parth. What I did not like was, whatever his level of maturity but as long as his parents were living in the same house and not divorced, how could he agree to allow Parth to travel with his mother. He did share a good relationship with his dad after all. This was a bit difficult to digest.
Verdict –
A good, racy read. I would have liked if the ending was a bit more complex as gripping as the start.
July 7, 2016
My favorite author is back with a bang! Just after I finished reading the book, I knew I had to congratulate the author for such a delightful read.
The story starts with the murder of Anjali's husband- Jayant, a multi millionaire who is selfish and unloving. As the past unveils, I got hooked into the story. Anjali's only solace is Arjun who is more like a friend and companion to her. He is loving and caring and is a dutiful son- a perfect son every mother would want. An intelligent woman that she is, Anjali is bored having spent years of her life being a housewife with no rights or voice of her own. She is lonely and is treated like doormat by Jayant. Parth Bharadwaj, an author seems to have a very positive effect on Anjali but his love makes her feel guilty and she goes into depression. Things go haywire and Jayant is found murdered in cold blood in his own bedroom. Who killed Jayant? What could be the motive of the murder? What would happen to Anjali and Parth?
An Autograph for Anjali is a complex and sensitive story. As always, Sundari has done a brilliant job with intense depiction of female protagonist. She has proved her mettle with a beautiful romance and a murder mystery to spice up the story. My heart went for Anjali and I felt equally sad when she went into depression. But her inner strength and power helped her cope up and traverse through whatever life had to throw her way. The love scenes were hot and steamy and the romance was beautiful. The story had a smooth flow and not even once I felt that some chapters were added just for the sake of moving things. It was an emotional roller-coaster ride with a fair amount of mystery, love, affection, grief, longing and strong portrayal of relations. And Arjun? I wouldn't be surprised if Sundari decides to write a book with Arjun as the protagonist. He is awesome.
Verdict: Brilliant! The best from the author... yet :)
Rating: 5 on 5
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the author via The Book Club in return for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for the same. Thanks for the opportunity.
The story starts with the murder of Anjali's husband- Jayant, a multi millionaire who is selfish and unloving. As the past unveils, I got hooked into the story. Anjali's only solace is Arjun who is more like a friend and companion to her. He is loving and caring and is a dutiful son- a perfect son every mother would want. An intelligent woman that she is, Anjali is bored having spent years of her life being a housewife with no rights or voice of her own. She is lonely and is treated like doormat by Jayant. Parth Bharadwaj, an author seems to have a very positive effect on Anjali but his love makes her feel guilty and she goes into depression. Things go haywire and Jayant is found murdered in cold blood in his own bedroom. Who killed Jayant? What could be the motive of the murder? What would happen to Anjali and Parth?
An Autograph for Anjali is a complex and sensitive story. As always, Sundari has done a brilliant job with intense depiction of female protagonist. She has proved her mettle with a beautiful romance and a murder mystery to spice up the story. My heart went for Anjali and I felt equally sad when she went into depression. But her inner strength and power helped her cope up and traverse through whatever life had to throw her way. The love scenes were hot and steamy and the romance was beautiful. The story had a smooth flow and not even once I felt that some chapters were added just for the sake of moving things. It was an emotional roller-coaster ride with a fair amount of mystery, love, affection, grief, longing and strong portrayal of relations. And Arjun? I wouldn't be surprised if Sundari decides to write a book with Arjun as the protagonist. He is awesome.
Verdict: Brilliant! The best from the author... yet :)
Rating: 5 on 5
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the author via The Book Club in return for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for the same. Thanks for the opportunity.
March 14, 2016
And my favorite romance author is back with her another gripping story of romance, second chances, and murder. And I am super-glad that she gave me an opportunity to be a beta-reader for this one, after The Madras Affair.
All of Sundari's stories are not just great romances but also conveyors of strong social messages. This one has the usual elements, no doubt about it, but this time Sundari has peppered her romance with a little bit of mystery, thus ensuring that an already irresistible book becomes all the more tempting.
Sundari knows her stuff. As a beta-reader for two of her books, and a reader even otherwise, I've seen the attention Sundari pays to every single detail. She knows her language, she knows her story, and she knows her characters. She shies away from unnecessarily complicating the story or the language she uses.
Sundari, in AAFA, brings to light the old phrase that all that shines is not gold. Anjali Mathur's life is the perfect example of it. Like all her heroines, Anjali is real and could've have been someone that quite a few of us would know. Like all her heroes, Parth is the man who makes you go weak in your knees. And the whodunnit angle is a perfect addition to an already sizzling combination. Arjun's character is a little too sweet, but then his and Anjali's relationship is comforting to the reader’s mind, looking at everything else that Anjali has to deal with.
A decent comfort read, this is another one of those books that can give you good company while you try to kill time during travel or laze around on a warm afternoon, taking a break from life!
All of Sundari's stories are not just great romances but also conveyors of strong social messages. This one has the usual elements, no doubt about it, but this time Sundari has peppered her romance with a little bit of mystery, thus ensuring that an already irresistible book becomes all the more tempting.
Sundari knows her stuff. As a beta-reader for two of her books, and a reader even otherwise, I've seen the attention Sundari pays to every single detail. She knows her language, she knows her story, and she knows her characters. She shies away from unnecessarily complicating the story or the language she uses.
Sundari, in AAFA, brings to light the old phrase that all that shines is not gold. Anjali Mathur's life is the perfect example of it. Like all her heroines, Anjali is real and could've have been someone that quite a few of us would know. Like all her heroes, Parth is the man who makes you go weak in your knees. And the whodunnit angle is a perfect addition to an already sizzling combination. Arjun's character is a little too sweet, but then his and Anjali's relationship is comforting to the reader’s mind, looking at everything else that Anjali has to deal with.
A decent comfort read, this is another one of those books that can give you good company while you try to kill time during travel or laze around on a warm afternoon, taking a break from life!
April 27, 2016
The book starts with a dead body and a stoic woman who is seemingly unaffected by the death of her husband. As we come to know of who the murdered man - Jayant was, how selfish and unloving a husband he was, we feel for Anjali. The only respite in her life comes from her son Arjun, who is almost the exact opposite of his father. Loving, caring and concernced, Arjun is the perfect son every mother would want.
Anjali is who she is because of what Jayant has made of her - merely a wife with no rights or voice of her own. It is when she sees Jayant with his mistress that the sky falls down for Anjali and she falls into depression. With treatment and love, Anjali gets better and becomes confident of who she is. Parth seems to have a very positive effect on Anjali. Jayant finds out everything about the romance of Anjali and Parth and in a few days, he is found murdered in his own bedroom.
Who killed Jayant? What would happen to Anjali and Parth? How would Arjun react to all this? Answers to all these form the story.
Though the book has some elements of mystery in it, it is mostly about love and second chances in life. In the second part of the book, the issue of depression is addressed and that too very gently, deftly woven into the story.
As always, the pages describing love and romance shine best and the author has yet again proven that she can churn out romances at the snap of her fingers.
The writing is clear and simple, all the characters are very well developed, be it Anjali, Jayant, Arjun or even Parth. The book makes for a relaxed reading session that can be spent on your favorite couch nursing a cup of coffee.
Anjali is who she is because of what Jayant has made of her - merely a wife with no rights or voice of her own. It is when she sees Jayant with his mistress that the sky falls down for Anjali and she falls into depression. With treatment and love, Anjali gets better and becomes confident of who she is. Parth seems to have a very positive effect on Anjali. Jayant finds out everything about the romance of Anjali and Parth and in a few days, he is found murdered in his own bedroom.
Who killed Jayant? What would happen to Anjali and Parth? How would Arjun react to all this? Answers to all these form the story.
Though the book has some elements of mystery in it, it is mostly about love and second chances in life. In the second part of the book, the issue of depression is addressed and that too very gently, deftly woven into the story.
As always, the pages describing love and romance shine best and the author has yet again proven that she can churn out romances at the snap of her fingers.
The writing is clear and simple, all the characters are very well developed, be it Anjali, Jayant, Arjun or even Parth. The book makes for a relaxed reading session that can be spent on your favorite couch nursing a cup of coffee.
July 29, 2016
Another wonderful masterpiece by Sundari Venkatraman…
Sundari is famous for penning romantic novels, and now-a-days she is trying her hands in different genre. An Autograph for Anjali is one such experiment of hers, which has thriller, suspense at beginning with romance as backdrop.
Jayant, a typical Indian male who is pampered by his mother and two sisters before marriage, and expects his wife to do the same and be at his beck and call all the time. Though he keeps himself updated with recent technologies and happenings in business, he, never in 20 years of marriage updated his ideas about domesticity. In this matter his thinking still belonged to 18th century. According to him, his wife should not have any life beyond him. He treats his wife and mistress as doormats under his feet. Though a top rung businessman, he was a failure as a husband.
Anjali, wife of Jayant Mathur, pretty, fierce, but oppressed by her husband, has her head above her shoulders inspite of being a rich businessman’s wife. She instills good values in her only son Arjun, whom she doesn’t want to become like his father, callous, dominating and calculative. Inspite of being under Jayant’s dominance and influence, Anjali tries to keep herself sane. But her patience wears off when she sees him crossing his limits and openly flaunts his mistress Seema at a party where she is invited. What happens next is worth a read.
to read more about my review click on my blog
http://prernanayak.blogspot.in/2016/0...
Sundari is famous for penning romantic novels, and now-a-days she is trying her hands in different genre. An Autograph for Anjali is one such experiment of hers, which has thriller, suspense at beginning with romance as backdrop.
Jayant, a typical Indian male who is pampered by his mother and two sisters before marriage, and expects his wife to do the same and be at his beck and call all the time. Though he keeps himself updated with recent technologies and happenings in business, he, never in 20 years of marriage updated his ideas about domesticity. In this matter his thinking still belonged to 18th century. According to him, his wife should not have any life beyond him. He treats his wife and mistress as doormats under his feet. Though a top rung businessman, he was a failure as a husband.
Anjali, wife of Jayant Mathur, pretty, fierce, but oppressed by her husband, has her head above her shoulders inspite of being a rich businessman’s wife. She instills good values in her only son Arjun, whom she doesn’t want to become like his father, callous, dominating and calculative. Inspite of being under Jayant’s dominance and influence, Anjali tries to keep herself sane. But her patience wears off when she sees him crossing his limits and openly flaunts his mistress Seema at a party where she is invited. What happens next is worth a read.
to read more about my review click on my blog
http://prernanayak.blogspot.in/2016/0...
April 22, 2016
An Autograph for Anjali is the kind of book that wears no cloak of pretension yet it’s unique, delicious, bold and expresses human emotions in a sensitive manner. The author raises the bar a notch higher and sets a standard in story writing. It’s not uncool to experiment and drifting away from teenage love for tick tock of the heart has no age and can happen anytime to anyone and anywhere. Brace yourself for this magnificent trip to heavenly bliss. The book is a journey onto life that squeezes your lemons but makes roses with them.
An autograph for Anjali is a thrilling mature romance that gently taps on sexism, patriarchy and exploring characters distinct from each other. The way Sundari Venkatraman has built the suspense and sketching nuances depicting the world of Parth, Anjali and Arjun makes it a killer story. She nails the story at every end and gives a new edge and twist to showcase her mark of kick ass writing.
In An Autograph for Anjali, Sundari Venkatraman gets naughtier and takes boldness to the next level towards the climax. Her latest offering is not only entertaining and engrossing but weaves something completely unique from her earlier books. The sky is the limit in terms of content and this time it gets more exciting on a grand scale.
Full review on:https://vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com/2...
An autograph for Anjali is a thrilling mature romance that gently taps on sexism, patriarchy and exploring characters distinct from each other. The way Sundari Venkatraman has built the suspense and sketching nuances depicting the world of Parth, Anjali and Arjun makes it a killer story. She nails the story at every end and gives a new edge and twist to showcase her mark of kick ass writing.
In An Autograph for Anjali, Sundari Venkatraman gets naughtier and takes boldness to the next level towards the climax. Her latest offering is not only entertaining and engrossing but weaves something completely unique from her earlier books. The sky is the limit in terms of content and this time it gets more exciting on a grand scale.
Full review on:https://vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com/2...
April 3, 2016
Sundari Venkatraman is a profilic author who sprinkles her heartwarming romances with nuances of Indian lifestyles and social issues. Her newest book, An Autograph for Anjali, focuses on relationships within and outside the institution of marriage. Even though there is a mystery angle to the story, the main story is about Anjali whose twenty year marriage with businessman Jayant has reached breaking point. While she has ignored her husband's philandering for the sake of giving their son Arjun a stable home, she can no longer turn a blind eye. What's more she develops an instant attraction for the sensitive author Parth Bharadwaj.
The story kicks off literally with a smoking gun when Jayant is found murdered in his own bedroom. There are no fingerprints on the murder weapon and no signs of a break in. The story is told in flashback and the author presents the points of view of the possible suspects in the chapters that follow including Parth, Anjali and Anjali's son Arjun. While the story is engaging and kept me flipping the pages, I was a little disappointed at the laid back pace of the story. Kudos to the author, though, for exploring a new sub-genre in romantic fiction.
The story kicks off literally with a smoking gun when Jayant is found murdered in his own bedroom. There are no fingerprints on the murder weapon and no signs of a break in. The story is told in flashback and the author presents the points of view of the possible suspects in the chapters that follow including Parth, Anjali and Anjali's son Arjun. While the story is engaging and kept me flipping the pages, I was a little disappointed at the laid back pace of the story. Kudos to the author, though, for exploring a new sub-genre in romantic fiction.
May 11, 2016
A murder is what we witness at the beginning of the story and what follows is the actual story in flashback. I liked the way the author has narrated the story and this actually made me think and rethink as to how to present the story in the review.
The language is simple and the story moves very fast with scenes changing with each short chapter (91 in all). The characters have been developed beautifully. The author has described their feelings in details.
Anjali is not the doormat we assume she is and the relationship she shares with her son is very open and sweet. Arjun is an ideal son concerned about his mother and discussing things frankly with her. Jayant was one person that I did not like much, I even felt sorry for him because maybe that was the way he was brought up. I hated his brother in law, who did more harm than good. And Parth was what kept the family sane.
I cannot divulge more because I am scared of letting the cat out of the bag. Go ahead, read the book, I am sure you will not get disappointed.
The language is simple and the story moves very fast with scenes changing with each short chapter (91 in all). The characters have been developed beautifully. The author has described their feelings in details.
Anjali is not the doormat we assume she is and the relationship she shares with her son is very open and sweet. Arjun is an ideal son concerned about his mother and discussing things frankly with her. Jayant was one person that I did not like much, I even felt sorry for him because maybe that was the way he was brought up. I hated his brother in law, who did more harm than good. And Parth was what kept the family sane.
I cannot divulge more because I am scared of letting the cat out of the bag. Go ahead, read the book, I am sure you will not get disappointed.
May 12, 2016
An Autograph for Anjali starts off on such a note that it kept me hooked. The author penned a fragile yet strong woman who was moaning her husband, Jayant's death. The contrast in these adjectives made me flip the pages and wanted to know more about this lady who was sad yet exhibited a strange freedom that made me want to know more about her.
Anjali, the character blossomed gradually to the reader as the novel progressed. Her struggle in her marriage and within made me ponder on many issues that the women in society are till date juggling. The freedom to explore when the husband is at work, yet the inability to do so since she has been chained down by many restrictions by her better half made me suffocate thus, the feeling of empathy and compassion grew for this character. Also, the author kept the reader's attention by keeping the chapters small and precise. That was a blessing especially since suffering was in plenty and for a woman to see another woman go through it was torture!
Read more @ http://abracabadra.blogspot.com/2016/...
Anjali, the character blossomed gradually to the reader as the novel progressed. Her struggle in her marriage and within made me ponder on many issues that the women in society are till date juggling. The freedom to explore when the husband is at work, yet the inability to do so since she has been chained down by many restrictions by her better half made me suffocate thus, the feeling of empathy and compassion grew for this character. Also, the author kept the reader's attention by keeping the chapters small and precise. That was a blessing especially since suffering was in plenty and for a woman to see another woman go through it was torture!
Read more @ http://abracabadra.blogspot.com/2016/...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2016
The book succeeded in attaining a perfect equilibrium. There were equal proportions of everything in the book. Nothing left behind and nothing won the race, no one was over powered and no one was forgotten, nothing was exaggerated and nothing was pressed beyond its need.
You can read the complete review here -
thesubtlebraiding.blogspot.in/2016/06...
You can read the complete review here -
thesubtlebraiding.blogspot.in/2016/06...
August 14, 2021
Romantic Thriller
Jayant Mathur is a wealthy businessman married to Anjali. Out of the blue, Jayant is found dead in his bedroom with his gun beside him. It certainly looks like murder as per the police. Parth is a writer and a close friend of Anjali. Family members of Jayant feel there's something fishy and try to instigate Jayant's son Arjun against his Mother.
How will Arjun respond? Who murdered Jayant? What's it between Anjali & Parth?
Read this romantic thriller to know the answers.
Jayant Mathur is a wealthy businessman married to Anjali. Out of the blue, Jayant is found dead in his bedroom with his gun beside him. It certainly looks like murder as per the police. Parth is a writer and a close friend of Anjali. Family members of Jayant feel there's something fishy and try to instigate Jayant's son Arjun against his Mother.
How will Arjun respond? Who murdered Jayant? What's it between Anjali & Parth?
Read this romantic thriller to know the answers.
May 15, 2016
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
The action of Jayant Mathur reminds me of the lines from Davies's Leisure. I won't call Jayant an antagonist in this novel. He is just a mere man with all the human faults. Since life has changed drastically from the 60s, his actions came across as abuse and he is etched in our mind as an invader of our feminist space.
“…she was fascinated by the way he snored away just a couple of minutes after the event…as if ... as if he was absolutely satisfied with a duty well done. She wrinkled her nose in distaste.”
He wanted his wife to be at his beck and call...
Nothing new. Right? Knock on the doors of your neighborhood and twenty such cases will rise up. And Anjali has taken this abuse for the past 20 years. What makes her rise up suddenly?
Change.
Change in the level of a woman’s tolerance. Change in the level of a woman’s acceptance and definitely a change in the submissive nature of a woman. Anjali, the protagonist of this novel, represents this change.
Ms. Venkatraman is very skilled in depicting women in our everyday life. Anjali can be any one of us. This high society housewife who rises above the status of a glorified housewife, the moment self-realization dawns upon her in the form of the blatant display of her husband's infidelity.
Women are not supposed to work but take care of the house?
Such a mindset does exist. However we insist that the world is progressing, even a CEO of a company has to fight against this mentality. The trend is changing. But right now it is a transition period. Anjali represents this transition.
When Jayant 'allowed' Anjali to work his 'holier than thou' attitude was getting on my nerves. But men like Jayant are scattered in every part of the world.
Strange it might seem, but this is one romance where the negative character has touched me more than the two protagonists. It might be because it is not the regular boy meets the girl story. It is that of a woman who had lost everything during her years of her marriage, even her self-confidence and now she is gathering the lost pieces, to build a life she has always dreamed about.
The story starts with a dead body and ends with a resolution. But the thread of mystery is just that - a thread. Woven into the lives of the characters, pulling them to the scene where it all starts. Nicely done. But again, for those who are expecting a lot of clues to be left around like a treasure hunt, don't. This is an out and out romance where a woman stands up and proclaims to the world, 'it is not only the men who are privy to an extramarital affair.' I am not advertising extra-marital affairs here, but yes if a man can do it, then why are women supposed to justify their actions?
“But why? How could she feel attracted to another man? She was married to Jayant and she needed to remain loyal to him, didn’t she?”
Did she?
And then there were moments when I almost felt sorry for Jayant. Almost.
“He noticed his wife’s face was animated, as she listened to him. Maybe, just maybe, there was something that was worth all the changes they were making in their lives.”
Jayant’s ones soft moment makes him very relatable.
Few of the characters made me wonder what they were doing there. Rana, Phadke and the sisters. They were like fillers in between scenes but did not do anything to make the scenes move forward. Planting a doubt here and there, maybe. But nothing that threw light on the relationship between Anjali and Jayant or Anjali and Parth. Or to the reasons behind the murder. Rana could have been a suspect. He had all the ingredients.
Ms. Venkatraman has proven yet again that while her heroes are delicious, she is out and out, a women's writer. In her every story the women are given center stage and the men are used to bring the women to the forefront.
Here too, both Arjun and Parth are exactly that. Her charioteers. Steering her out of her mundane life to a life full of promise and ambition. But in that process, they came across as too noble. While Parth gave a few toe-curling performances in the bedroom scenes, he failed to be the force behind Anjali's growth. Not because he was not well-etched. But Anjali in her journey becomes so powerful, that every woman reading this novel, will feel the stirring of feminism in them. Men will be obliterated and women will become the only characters you will be cheering for. For both Anjali and Seema.
Not once in the story did I feel that Parth has swept Anjali off her feet. It was actually the other way round. He was bowled over by her. Moreover, when Anjali answered his 'will you marry me” question, I cheered. An answer which proved that Anjali has grown as a character.
Check out the complete review @
http://bit.ly/1R0zcGL
We have no time to stand and stare.
The action of Jayant Mathur reminds me of the lines from Davies's Leisure. I won't call Jayant an antagonist in this novel. He is just a mere man with all the human faults. Since life has changed drastically from the 60s, his actions came across as abuse and he is etched in our mind as an invader of our feminist space.
“…she was fascinated by the way he snored away just a couple of minutes after the event…as if ... as if he was absolutely satisfied with a duty well done. She wrinkled her nose in distaste.”
He wanted his wife to be at his beck and call...
Nothing new. Right? Knock on the doors of your neighborhood and twenty such cases will rise up. And Anjali has taken this abuse for the past 20 years. What makes her rise up suddenly?
Change.
Change in the level of a woman’s tolerance. Change in the level of a woman’s acceptance and definitely a change in the submissive nature of a woman. Anjali, the protagonist of this novel, represents this change.
Ms. Venkatraman is very skilled in depicting women in our everyday life. Anjali can be any one of us. This high society housewife who rises above the status of a glorified housewife, the moment self-realization dawns upon her in the form of the blatant display of her husband's infidelity.
Women are not supposed to work but take care of the house?
Such a mindset does exist. However we insist that the world is progressing, even a CEO of a company has to fight against this mentality. The trend is changing. But right now it is a transition period. Anjali represents this transition.
When Jayant 'allowed' Anjali to work his 'holier than thou' attitude was getting on my nerves. But men like Jayant are scattered in every part of the world.
Strange it might seem, but this is one romance where the negative character has touched me more than the two protagonists. It might be because it is not the regular boy meets the girl story. It is that of a woman who had lost everything during her years of her marriage, even her self-confidence and now she is gathering the lost pieces, to build a life she has always dreamed about.
The story starts with a dead body and ends with a resolution. But the thread of mystery is just that - a thread. Woven into the lives of the characters, pulling them to the scene where it all starts. Nicely done. But again, for those who are expecting a lot of clues to be left around like a treasure hunt, don't. This is an out and out romance where a woman stands up and proclaims to the world, 'it is not only the men who are privy to an extramarital affair.' I am not advertising extra-marital affairs here, but yes if a man can do it, then why are women supposed to justify their actions?
“But why? How could she feel attracted to another man? She was married to Jayant and she needed to remain loyal to him, didn’t she?”
Did she?
And then there were moments when I almost felt sorry for Jayant. Almost.
“He noticed his wife’s face was animated, as she listened to him. Maybe, just maybe, there was something that was worth all the changes they were making in their lives.”
Jayant’s ones soft moment makes him very relatable.
Few of the characters made me wonder what they were doing there. Rana, Phadke and the sisters. They were like fillers in between scenes but did not do anything to make the scenes move forward. Planting a doubt here and there, maybe. But nothing that threw light on the relationship between Anjali and Jayant or Anjali and Parth. Or to the reasons behind the murder. Rana could have been a suspect. He had all the ingredients.
Ms. Venkatraman has proven yet again that while her heroes are delicious, she is out and out, a women's writer. In her every story the women are given center stage and the men are used to bring the women to the forefront.
Here too, both Arjun and Parth are exactly that. Her charioteers. Steering her out of her mundane life to a life full of promise and ambition. But in that process, they came across as too noble. While Parth gave a few toe-curling performances in the bedroom scenes, he failed to be the force behind Anjali's growth. Not because he was not well-etched. But Anjali in her journey becomes so powerful, that every woman reading this novel, will feel the stirring of feminism in them. Men will be obliterated and women will become the only characters you will be cheering for. For both Anjali and Seema.
Not once in the story did I feel that Parth has swept Anjali off her feet. It was actually the other way round. He was bowled over by her. Moreover, when Anjali answered his 'will you marry me” question, I cheered. An answer which proved that Anjali has grown as a character.
Check out the complete review @
http://bit.ly/1R0zcGL
July 22, 2016
An Autograph For Anjali follows the journey of Anjali a stay at home lady who also happens to be a wife of a very rich guy. She wants for nothing but still searches to fill her emptiness. The book is a commentary on the ‘empty- nest syndrome’ parents especially mothers face when grown up kids leave the home for education or jobs. This is more acutely felt by Anjali since she is emotionally alone. Her husband openly cheats on her and has no emotional connect.
I found Parth to be the most well-etched character as if he were the author’s favorite from all the characters – he could say no wrong, do no wrong and the journey he had to reach where he is added depth and integrity to his character. I was impressed with him as well. However, given his life, I felt he needed a bit more grey in him – a tiny bit of grey. ;)
Arjun the son was a bit incomplete persona for me since I found him to be very mature at times but his interaction with Parth made me cringe. A grown man would not be so open to another guy who is just a friend or whom he just met. He is a young man still getting the hang of life and loses his father so I suppose it is possible but he should have some friends he could count on? However, I would love to read his story where he comes in as his own man. Here he was just a bit aimless, kind of a simpleton and docile.
The catalyst to the change Anjali heralds is her life is her husband’s apathy and the other woman as well as her own attraction to Parth. That she is afraid of her emotions and fears the turn her life is taking is written so realistically by Sundari. If we just read the confusion and dilemma Anjali faces it reminds us of the sad fate of many ladies who happen to get divorced in the mid-30s or 40s since their husband found a new squeeze. She may be a rich man’s wife but this ails all levels of our society, kudos to Sundari as she yet again pens a love story with a social message of the ills of our society.
This is a romance with a murder and the wife seems to be the most likely suspect. The murderer was clear to me by the time I had read 60% of the story but the thrill of the book was in finding how and why (though I suspected it) it was done and how the killer escaped from the home. The story moves between the murder and the lives of the protagonists as we learn of the possible motives and the emotions of the characters in the backdrop of the murder. Also, I felt that the other characters or rivals could have added to the mystery of who could be the murderer and keep the reader guessing.
I have always believed that it is not the wife who is at fault if her husband cheats on her. It is the man’s weakness and in real life as well as in this book it is confirmed as Anjali is a beautiful, cultured, educated woman but her husband still ignores her. The story is well written, flows and the flashback were very interesting. I liked how the story of Parth and Anjali unfolded. She really did deserve a second chance and I loved how she bloomed and all the spice made me smile. Thankfully I was reading alone so no strange looks from strangers :D
Murder or not this is basically a love story and goes to the heart of a middle-aged woman, her struggle, her dilemma and her self-discovery. She has all the money but no appreciation or love or companionship. There are sadly scores of women like Anjali - rich or poor who continue to work, take care and toil for their families – unappreciated and unloved. Anjali was able to break the mould that many do not even recognize they are stuck in.
I root for Anjali and am glad she got the autograph! ;)
( I got the copy of the book from Amazon.com and this is my honest opinion.)
I found Parth to be the most well-etched character as if he were the author’s favorite from all the characters – he could say no wrong, do no wrong and the journey he had to reach where he is added depth and integrity to his character. I was impressed with him as well. However, given his life, I felt he needed a bit more grey in him – a tiny bit of grey. ;)
Arjun the son was a bit incomplete persona for me since I found him to be very mature at times but his interaction with Parth made me cringe. A grown man would not be so open to another guy who is just a friend or whom he just met. He is a young man still getting the hang of life and loses his father so I suppose it is possible but he should have some friends he could count on? However, I would love to read his story where he comes in as his own man. Here he was just a bit aimless, kind of a simpleton and docile.
The catalyst to the change Anjali heralds is her life is her husband’s apathy and the other woman as well as her own attraction to Parth. That she is afraid of her emotions and fears the turn her life is taking is written so realistically by Sundari. If we just read the confusion and dilemma Anjali faces it reminds us of the sad fate of many ladies who happen to get divorced in the mid-30s or 40s since their husband found a new squeeze. She may be a rich man’s wife but this ails all levels of our society, kudos to Sundari as she yet again pens a love story with a social message of the ills of our society.
This is a romance with a murder and the wife seems to be the most likely suspect. The murderer was clear to me by the time I had read 60% of the story but the thrill of the book was in finding how and why (though I suspected it) it was done and how the killer escaped from the home. The story moves between the murder and the lives of the protagonists as we learn of the possible motives and the emotions of the characters in the backdrop of the murder. Also, I felt that the other characters or rivals could have added to the mystery of who could be the murderer and keep the reader guessing.
I have always believed that it is not the wife who is at fault if her husband cheats on her. It is the man’s weakness and in real life as well as in this book it is confirmed as Anjali is a beautiful, cultured, educated woman but her husband still ignores her. The story is well written, flows and the flashback were very interesting. I liked how the story of Parth and Anjali unfolded. She really did deserve a second chance and I loved how she bloomed and all the spice made me smile. Thankfully I was reading alone so no strange looks from strangers :D
Murder or not this is basically a love story and goes to the heart of a middle-aged woman, her struggle, her dilemma and her self-discovery. She has all the money but no appreciation or love or companionship. There are sadly scores of women like Anjali - rich or poor who continue to work, take care and toil for their families – unappreciated and unloved. Anjali was able to break the mould that many do not even recognize they are stuck in.
I root for Anjali and am glad she got the autograph! ;)
( I got the copy of the book from Amazon.com and this is my honest opinion.)
April 16, 2016
Review Source
https://debrajdpaideia.wordpress.com/...
N.B : Recieved a kindle version from the author
Book Review
An Autograph For Anjali comes with a gory murder narrative wrapped up by a bold love story. Venkatraman provides great characters and a smart plot for her latest venture.
First of all the novel boasts some well built characters like Parth Bharadwaj,Anjali,Jayant and Arjun.Even minor characters like Nalini and Seema stands out. Venkatraman’s character build up has been very strong in An Autograph For Anjali.To create an impact over the readers with the action of the fictitious character is not a easy job,but the author passes with flying colours.
The author has been very tactful to keep a simple plotline.Few months ago I was having a gala time at Meluha in Hiranandani Powai…when I recieved three sample chapters of An Autograph For Anjali from the author itself,since she has been a very encouraging blogger(she always takes the trouble to visit my blog)and a smart storyteller..I read the three chapters at a go.I thought this was going to be another lovestory only to discover that it dealt with a high society murder in Hiranandani itself.
Now the novel presents a plotline dealing with marital dicord and extramarital affairs in an affluent Mumbai society.
The murder mystery fades after few pages and a love lorn housewife takes over the narrative.It narrates the story of those (not everyone) married couples in India,where the husband takes the wife for granted and consider them to be just a serving hand in the domestic affairs of the house.While some of the wives consider this phenomenon to be quite natural,some of them try to break out of the cage called Sansaar and establish them in different world.The story of Anjali is about those Great Indian Women who can create a niche for themselves and who deserves to be loved.
You have to check out this novel to find out whether she is successful is setting her spirit free from the claustrophic paws of her husband.
Nonetheless we have a saying that behind successful man there is an woman,here you come across such a situation where the man brings out the best from the woman(brownie point for that).
The concept of legal separation and divorce have been handled with utmost care by the author.While you will enjoy the extramarital affair on one hand ,you will also hate another illicit affair to the core.
The relationship between son and mother is one of the highlight of the book but the highlight of this text is the platonic friendship between Parth and Anjali and how this friendship slowly turns into a reverential darling affair sways over everything in the book.So there is a highly demanding husband (businessman)who is more sensitive towards business policy than the feelings of his wife,and lovelorn but dutiful wife,a cheerful son , a highly efficacious author(a gentleman in every sense) and yes a murder mystery.Do you need more ?
https://debrajdpaideia.wordpress.com/...
N.B : Recieved a kindle version from the author
Book Review
An Autograph For Anjali comes with a gory murder narrative wrapped up by a bold love story. Venkatraman provides great characters and a smart plot for her latest venture.
First of all the novel boasts some well built characters like Parth Bharadwaj,Anjali,Jayant and Arjun.Even minor characters like Nalini and Seema stands out. Venkatraman’s character build up has been very strong in An Autograph For Anjali.To create an impact over the readers with the action of the fictitious character is not a easy job,but the author passes with flying colours.
The author has been very tactful to keep a simple plotline.Few months ago I was having a gala time at Meluha in Hiranandani Powai…when I recieved three sample chapters of An Autograph For Anjali from the author itself,since she has been a very encouraging blogger(she always takes the trouble to visit my blog)and a smart storyteller..I read the three chapters at a go.I thought this was going to be another lovestory only to discover that it dealt with a high society murder in Hiranandani itself.
Now the novel presents a plotline dealing with marital dicord and extramarital affairs in an affluent Mumbai society.
The murder mystery fades after few pages and a love lorn housewife takes over the narrative.It narrates the story of those (not everyone) married couples in India,where the husband takes the wife for granted and consider them to be just a serving hand in the domestic affairs of the house.While some of the wives consider this phenomenon to be quite natural,some of them try to break out of the cage called Sansaar and establish them in different world.The story of Anjali is about those Great Indian Women who can create a niche for themselves and who deserves to be loved.
You have to check out this novel to find out whether she is successful is setting her spirit free from the claustrophic paws of her husband.
Nonetheless we have a saying that behind successful man there is an woman,here you come across such a situation where the man brings out the best from the woman(brownie point for that).
The concept of legal separation and divorce have been handled with utmost care by the author.While you will enjoy the extramarital affair on one hand ,you will also hate another illicit affair to the core.
The relationship between son and mother is one of the highlight of the book but the highlight of this text is the platonic friendship between Parth and Anjali and how this friendship slowly turns into a reverential darling affair sways over everything in the book.So there is a highly demanding husband (businessman)who is more sensitive towards business policy than the feelings of his wife,and lovelorn but dutiful wife,a cheerful son , a highly efficacious author(a gentleman in every sense) and yes a murder mystery.Do you need more ?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2016
Anjali, Jayant and Parth, you would think it is the same old love triangle but it isn’t. I am prone to think of them as three separate personalities within their own little orbits.
Jayant is the very self-centered, business-man husband and Anjali is the wife, who starts off as a dominated, dutiful wife and gradually comes into her own. Parth is the dashing, worldly author who retains his gentle core; even though life has thrown him some hard knocks. Then there is Arjun; Anjali and Jayant’s son, who brings calmness and serves as a bridge among all these diverse personalities.
The book starts with the discovery of the murdered body of Jayant and then the rest of it is about how matters got to that point.
The first thing that struck me about this story is its realism. Even though Jayant is painted as a completely selfish character, (I do not go with the traditional Indian male bit as I feel an Indian male can have traditional values but that does not necessarily mean they have to be as selfish as Jayant was) yet Sundari tries to bring in a sense of balance in his portrayal through the eyes of Arjun, who understand where he comes from. Anjali has lived vicariously throughout her life through the life of her husband and son and yearns for change. However, when she reaches tipping point, she prefers to make her journey to the light at her pace. Sundari has not allowed the story to slip into totally clichéd territory of an abusive relationship or a love triangle. Despite everything, even Jayant has his boundaries and he knows it.
The second part is how Ms Venkatraman has dealt with the mental health issue of depression. She has aptly brought out the causes and effects of such an issue and how it tends to be viewed unfortunately in a negative light by the general public and deftly woven it into the story.
The strong part of this plot is the romantic parts. Romance is Sundari Venkatraman’s forte and she has proven that yet again. Those parts are soft, sensual, poignant and exciting. Anjali and Jayant are two very strong characters in the book and if anything Parth seems to suffer in comparison, which is rather odd as there, is a lot of word space devoted to him as well. However his character somehow doesn’t quite jump off the pages the way the other two do.
At the end I would like to borrow the words of Arjun, ‘it’s just two people who are very different from each other’.
A nice story to savor over the weekend.
June 14, 2016
I have read all books written by Sundari Venkatraman and let me tell you that she has written quite a lot! After every book, I told her that the new book was better than her earlier books. And did I have the same opinion after I read An Autograph for Anjali? Well… Yessss!! Sundari has outdone herself and it is amazing to see her grow as an author with each book.
While her earlier books featured in the romance genre, with An Autograph for Anjali , Sundari stepped out of her comfort zone and explored murder and crime along with romance. Like her earlier books, An Autograph for Anjali is a woman centric story. It is actually a coming of age story of Anjali who has it all in life but the things that would make her really happy. It’s her journey of drawing on her inner strength and power and finding her self despite the challenges that life throws her way.
The story starts with the murder of Jayant, Anjali’s boorish and philandering husband. As the investigations progress, the story pulled me in and there was no stopping till the very end. During the course of time, we get to know about Anjali who is intelligent and strong but is bored and lonely and is treated like a dumb and a doormat by her multi-millionaire husband. When love from Parth, the oh so wonderful writer, comes knocking on her door, her conscience pricks her and she struggles with the emotional impact of her act. And then there’s Arjun. Oh, I simply loved the relationship Anjali shared with her son, Arjun. I certainly aspire to share that honest, open, fun and mature relationship with my son too.
The romance has been woven in this whodunnit so cleverly and beautifully. The love scenes were not just steamy but were simply scorching. I could feel the heat between Anjali and Parth flowing out from the pages!!
An Autograph for Anjali is an excellent page turner as a mystery laced with romance. Though the murder and the suspense behind it kept me engaged and guessing for a long time, it was the romance that shined through though in the end. The mystery actually fizzled out in the climax and became secondary to romance. But as a reader, An Autograph for Anjali worked for me.
An Autograph for Anjali is a fast paced, breezy and fun read. Go for it, you will enjoy it!
http://shilpaagarg.com/2016/06/an-aut...
While her earlier books featured in the romance genre, with An Autograph for Anjali , Sundari stepped out of her comfort zone and explored murder and crime along with romance. Like her earlier books, An Autograph for Anjali is a woman centric story. It is actually a coming of age story of Anjali who has it all in life but the things that would make her really happy. It’s her journey of drawing on her inner strength and power and finding her self despite the challenges that life throws her way.
The story starts with the murder of Jayant, Anjali’s boorish and philandering husband. As the investigations progress, the story pulled me in and there was no stopping till the very end. During the course of time, we get to know about Anjali who is intelligent and strong but is bored and lonely and is treated like a dumb and a doormat by her multi-millionaire husband. When love from Parth, the oh so wonderful writer, comes knocking on her door, her conscience pricks her and she struggles with the emotional impact of her act. And then there’s Arjun. Oh, I simply loved the relationship Anjali shared with her son, Arjun. I certainly aspire to share that honest, open, fun and mature relationship with my son too.
The romance has been woven in this whodunnit so cleverly and beautifully. The love scenes were not just steamy but were simply scorching. I could feel the heat between Anjali and Parth flowing out from the pages!!
An Autograph for Anjali is an excellent page turner as a mystery laced with romance. Though the murder and the suspense behind it kept me engaged and guessing for a long time, it was the romance that shined through though in the end. The mystery actually fizzled out in the climax and became secondary to romance. But as a reader, An Autograph for Anjali worked for me.
An Autograph for Anjali is a fast paced, breezy and fun read. Go for it, you will enjoy it!
http://shilpaagarg.com/2016/06/an-aut...
April 25, 2016
The new offering from the romance author Sundari Venkatraman’s desk goes a little into the ‘suspense’ category with the murder of a character in the opening chapter. Though it creates intrigue and thrill, it is more of a romance; my favorite genre.
I have read most of Sundari’s books and unlike others this one deals with romance in the second innings of the protagonist’s life. The story forces us to think about patriarchal attitude of our society towards homemakers and encourages to break free of the imaginary chains.
The industrialist Jayant Mathur is murdered in his bed with his own gun. No fingerprints or clues are left behind. Anjali, his wife, doesn’t shed a single tear and sits stoically waiting for their nineteen year old son to arrive. Meanwhile her friend Parth Bharadwaj handles the police, media and relatives. Police and relatives suspect Anjali and Parth. The story goes into flashback from here onwards.
Anjali is searching for her identity after her teenage son goes abroad for higher studies. She completely breaks down when her husband openly flaunts his affairs. During this period she meets Parth and her life begins to come on track. The romance between the two sizzles with the right chemistry. Very few stories explore the love and passion between forty+ protagonists, so AAFA comes as a refreshing tale.
Anjali’s characterization is near perfect as a wife of a rich businessman and one who suffers due to empty nest syndrome. I loved Parth’s don’t-give-a-damn attitude too. He is a true hero who holds Anjali’s hand and brings out the best in her. Arjun is a little unbelievable for a nineteen year old with respect to the maturity he had shown and easy acceptance of her mother’s relationship with Parth. But I accept him as an exception.
The murder suspense is secondary to the romance, and as the story elements are revealed the readers can easily guess the perpetrator of the crime. We also meet another of Sundari’s character from her novel ‘The Runaway Bridegroom’, the investigator Samrat. It is always very reassuring to read about a known character.
All in all ‘An Autograph For Anjali’ is a nice, breezy read and makes one think about fighting for one's rights.
I have read most of Sundari’s books and unlike others this one deals with romance in the second innings of the protagonist’s life. The story forces us to think about patriarchal attitude of our society towards homemakers and encourages to break free of the imaginary chains.
The industrialist Jayant Mathur is murdered in his bed with his own gun. No fingerprints or clues are left behind. Anjali, his wife, doesn’t shed a single tear and sits stoically waiting for their nineteen year old son to arrive. Meanwhile her friend Parth Bharadwaj handles the police, media and relatives. Police and relatives suspect Anjali and Parth. The story goes into flashback from here onwards.
Anjali is searching for her identity after her teenage son goes abroad for higher studies. She completely breaks down when her husband openly flaunts his affairs. During this period she meets Parth and her life begins to come on track. The romance between the two sizzles with the right chemistry. Very few stories explore the love and passion between forty+ protagonists, so AAFA comes as a refreshing tale.
Anjali’s characterization is near perfect as a wife of a rich businessman and one who suffers due to empty nest syndrome. I loved Parth’s don’t-give-a-damn attitude too. He is a true hero who holds Anjali’s hand and brings out the best in her. Arjun is a little unbelievable for a nineteen year old with respect to the maturity he had shown and easy acceptance of her mother’s relationship with Parth. But I accept him as an exception.
The murder suspense is secondary to the romance, and as the story elements are revealed the readers can easily guess the perpetrator of the crime. We also meet another of Sundari’s character from her novel ‘The Runaway Bridegroom’, the investigator Samrat. It is always very reassuring to read about a known character.
All in all ‘An Autograph For Anjali’ is a nice, breezy read and makes one think about fighting for one's rights.
April 4, 2016
https://kavipriyamoorthy.wordpress.co...
First Impression – Out of all her books, the cover of AAFA is the best. Loved it the very instant and the blurb so intriguing – can one miss this book?
Overall Impression – Am an ardent fan of Mystery and crime thrillers, so it was a bit disappointing to learn that the book falls more on the romance side with a bit touch of suspense in it. For those who have read her previous works will find her magic yet again in this book. It does remind The Madras Affair with the family not doing so well and the sparkling romance.
What I love about this book? – Loved the language, diction, sparkling romance, spine – chilling conversations when Anjali takes her stand. What would a woman do to hear about the multiple-affairs of her husband? – The way she turns her heart to a stone. When she wants to prove a point for her existence with a work that would give life to her ambition, and makes her feel lived than just survive was extremely well put. The son-mother relationship was good where they even discuss about not-so-discussing types
Frown factors: 1) More of investigation would have added more fuel to the mystery 2) As the number of characters are limited – guessing game takes a back seat where the murderer is identified by the reader yet reads through to know the reason 3) Anjali falls sick with depression after 20 odd years of a marital life that’s not so good – this makes room to ponder why did it take so long? Was she happy in the beginning? Etc.. 4) I would have loved the character Arjun even more if he had been in India and still support his mom rather than being exposed to UK lifestyle, sounds a bit clichéd
First Impression – Out of all her books, the cover of AAFA is the best. Loved it the very instant and the blurb so intriguing – can one miss this book?
Overall Impression – Am an ardent fan of Mystery and crime thrillers, so it was a bit disappointing to learn that the book falls more on the romance side with a bit touch of suspense in it. For those who have read her previous works will find her magic yet again in this book. It does remind The Madras Affair with the family not doing so well and the sparkling romance.
What I love about this book? – Loved the language, diction, sparkling romance, spine – chilling conversations when Anjali takes her stand. What would a woman do to hear about the multiple-affairs of her husband? – The way she turns her heart to a stone. When she wants to prove a point for her existence with a work that would give life to her ambition, and makes her feel lived than just survive was extremely well put. The son-mother relationship was good where they even discuss about not-so-discussing types
Frown factors: 1) More of investigation would have added more fuel to the mystery 2) As the number of characters are limited – guessing game takes a back seat where the murderer is identified by the reader yet reads through to know the reason 3) Anjali falls sick with depression after 20 odd years of a marital life that’s not so good – this makes room to ponder why did it take so long? Was she happy in the beginning? Etc.. 4) I would have loved the character Arjun even more if he had been in India and still support his mom rather than being exposed to UK lifestyle, sounds a bit clichéd
April 18, 2016
This is a romantic thriller by Sundari. Anjali is the lovely wife of millionaire Jayant Mathur.She is always at his beck & call.Twenty years roll on .Their son Arjun has left for higher studies abroad. And Anjali has no clue what to do .She goes into depression as Jayant flaunts his mistress at a party. Anjali is advised to look up Nalini ,a shrink.Jayant is angry & yet goes along with his son's advice. Anjali needs a break is the doctor's advice. She starts part time job with Parth, a self made man & a novelist.Arjun, her son books a Greece trip for parents. And Jayant has no time for that trip.Anjali feels rejuvenated by the trip. She is getting close to Parth or is it Parth getting closer ? Anjali has no idea & yet she feels positive.
She is glowing as a result of her positivity or Parth or the trip or her new found confidence ? .And as she emerges from her depression ,she confronts Jayant. Some days later, Jayant is found murdered.Police start suspecting Parth & Anjali .Parth hires a detective to set things right. is the detective able to solve the murder mystery ? Who has murdered Jayant ? Is it Anjali or Parth or a conspiracy by both of them ? And yet, would they both go the extent of killing somebody ? And why ? Or maybe there is another angle to this killing ? Who killed Jayant ? What happens to Anjali & Parth ? Are they able to keep away from the mutual attraction they feel for each other & go their separate ways ? Do they get hooked ? All this & more forms the rest of the story.
Sundari writes effortlessly.And the reader just flows with her narration. She describes the anguish , the dilemma of the homemaker so empathetically.Needless to add, I am waiting for Sundari's next book !
She is glowing as a result of her positivity or Parth or the trip or her new found confidence ? .And as she emerges from her depression ,she confronts Jayant. Some days later, Jayant is found murdered.Police start suspecting Parth & Anjali .Parth hires a detective to set things right. is the detective able to solve the murder mystery ? Who has murdered Jayant ? Is it Anjali or Parth or a conspiracy by both of them ? And yet, would they both go the extent of killing somebody ? And why ? Or maybe there is another angle to this killing ? Who killed Jayant ? What happens to Anjali & Parth ? Are they able to keep away from the mutual attraction they feel for each other & go their separate ways ? Do they get hooked ? All this & more forms the rest of the story.
Sundari writes effortlessly.And the reader just flows with her narration. She describes the anguish , the dilemma of the homemaker so empathetically.Needless to add, I am waiting for Sundari's next book !
May 21, 2016
Somewhere down the line Author Sundari Venkatraman is making her female protagonist look so week in her initally days of her life which is quiet annoying according to me as women are most powerful species of all . AAFA is good book to read . Parth′s character had no major role to play but it was quiet interesting to read .With all the aspects Sundari has infused murder mystery which made me laugh...because I never expected a vague ending 9which you will get to know after reading AAFA) for a mysterious murder case .An Autograph for Anjali is her 7 Th book but it is not like her other books which are ‘unique’ .The story is good .
The situations are penned in an articulate manner .I could feel Arjun′s heart been tore apart despite his loyal support
Recommended read for all .
I thank Rubina and Sundari for sending me The ARC of An Autograph for Anjali .
5 stars
The situations are penned in an articulate manner .I could feel Arjun′s heart been tore apart despite his loyal support
Recommended read for all .
I thank Rubina and Sundari for sending me The ARC of An Autograph for Anjali .
5 stars
June 6, 2016
Book Review: An Autograph for Anjali by Sundari Venkatraman : http://grabthebook.blogspot.in/2016/0...
An Autograph for Anjali, you will have no idea how this romantic, thriller, full of suspense and love story unfolds. I whooped with joy (silently coz it was 1 am) when I got to know how Autograph figures in the Title and what P B stand for.Whooho. High five to those who read the book and know the reason for the Title (evil grin) :D
Helping others who haven't.Read the review NOW.
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