Rain: A Survivor's Tale

by Sriram Subramanian

Architect Jai Dubey trusts in reason - not for him the faith and prayer so firmly ingrained in his fellow countrymen. When fortune deserts Jai and his carefully ordered life spins inexorably out of control, Jai stands on the brink of ruin. Only a delayed monsoon can save Jai’s biggest project from disaster, but there are millions across the land praying for the exact opposite.
Reason seems to have its limits - the weather defies all prediction, let alone control.
Will Jai relinquish the beliefs of a lifetime? Will he reconcile with the awful ambiguity about his past? Will he be able to save his crumbling marriage?

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 5, 2016

Reviews

[Preethi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As anticipated, this isn't a genre I generally read, nor do I read a lot of Indian authors. The only reason I picked up this book is because I've known the author on a social media group, though not personally. I was curious to see what he'd have written.

This is a simple story with well etched characters going through their lives. There is a great amount of detail annoy these lives narrated in simple yet beautiful literature.
The plot didn't agree with me in many many places, but I realized that, it was only coz somewhere in Jai's journey, I started caring for the characters and what happened to their storyline. And that, for me, is a mark of a good book and a well told story.

[Jhumki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a simple story with such lovely characters... the kinds you can relate with and fall in love with. From Jai & Sarika to Lakshmi and Raju...all of them believable and well developed personas. I loved Ganesh and Ram Prasad Dubey's characters. Reminded me so much of my father!

I have never been to Pune, the author has painted such a vivid picture of Pune :)

Story was nice and somewhat mainstream... but then, I love mainstream :)

The only thing I did not agree with in the book is Jai's way of dealing with things. I wish he was a little stronger ;)

I am looking forward to the next book!

[Rashmi P. Menon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rain is a story of a man’s inner conflict, his outwardly desire to succeed within his moral principles, his many relationships and the bonds that make them stronger or weaker.

If I were asked to choose one aspect of the novel that I liked best, I would say they were the realistic characters that were brought to life by the author. The conflicting emotions depicted by Jai touches you deep inside, while the quiet will and strength portrayed by Sarika in many scenarios have you rooting for her. Characters like Ravi and his wife, Sarika’s parents and even Lakshmi and Raju leave a mark in your mind. The ease with which the author brought the Pune metropolitan life of a couple to life through his words is but remarkable.

The writing is smooth yet powerful hitting you where it needs to while it mellowed down in certain areas. The author has used the local slangs minimally, which is helpful to readers like me who do not understand local Indian slangs and dialogues, which means I have to google to find what those slangs stand for, thereby breaking the flow!

While the author has portrayed the inner conflict of the protagonist brilliantly, the manner of its resolution seemed far-fetched to me, others may disagree! Similarly, I felt the climax was rushed as though the author did not want to exceed a certain number of chapters. This was something I felt for few other chapters too while reading this book. There were many aspects of the story that could have been expanded upon beautifully given the author’s writing prowess.

Overall, it is an engaging read that depicts the many twists, turns, and cliches in Jai’s life all the while dropping pearls of wisdom on many aspects of modern-day life, relationships, morals, and principles. It is a beautifully written story that unravels the challenges one faces in life and how each one chooses to face these challenges. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about inner conflicts and overcoming them.

[sandhya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came to know of this book on an online reading group. It intrigued me, and when I picked up the book and began to read, I was hooked. The narrative keeps the reader hooked, and one wants to know what happens next. The author succeeds in getting the reader to empathize with the characters, and their lives and actions. Toward the end, though, the narrative seemed to be wrapped up in a hurry - I was not quite convinced by the 'swamiji' bit. And what of Borkar's second prediction? The character I loved the most? Sarika's father.

I'd certainly recommend this for a good, short read.

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Rain" came highly recommended on a super-awesome book group that I'm part of and what more, the author is also on the group. So of course I had to pick it up (after suitably hounding Sriram Subramanian for a Kindle edition)!

When I started reading, esp the first 2 pages, I'll be honest, I felt a wee bit underwhelmed. See, I have a thing about books that throw too many character names and relationships at me in the first page - it needs me to focus from the first word on and that's an impossible thing for me because my reading is not very structured (or disciplined) so it takes me a couple of pages to 'settle in'. I let it go. And I picked up the book again later that night when I had no other distractions and well, what do you know, I was able to actually get started!

That initial hiccup apart, I liked the book! There are flashes of brilliance in the prose and I could see the work that must have gone into the background research. After the 40% mark, it got more interesting, with the protagonist Jai doing things that I wasn't expecting (yeah, another thing with me - involuntarily I keep trying to guess what the character will do next or what the next great reveal will be, etc!). As plot-based books go, "Rain" felt a little bit familiar to books I've read in the past - the memory lapse, a deceased sibling, the divorce-talk without involving the wife, suspicions of extra-marital affairs, etc - I know I've either read or seen these scenarios in books/movies. That's not a bad thing though because at some point it's bound to happen when one reads as much as I do and I've accepted it as a part of the process for me! :-)

So, there. A well-written book for a debut and I'm sure we'll have greater ones coming from the author if "Rain" is anything to go by.

[Pavithra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, amidst all these awesome reviews for this book, I would like to give a contrarian viewpoint. I am beginning to see a pattern in novels written by Indian authors. I think this is more of a rant, than just about 'Rain'. Full disclosure: I did like this book.

But:

#1 If the protagonist is an Atheist, let him be. Why these subtle hints to show that somehow if they don't follow a faith, they are missing out on something? Or the need for spirituality or some sort of spiritual advice that finally opens their eyes and they are 'finally' set on the 'right' path.

#2 Sadhus and Astrologers. Indian novels need to have that. Otherwise, it loses its 'Indian-ness' right.
Can we have something different please? :)

#3 Look I am not talking about equal representation and all. But it is so downright boring to see the same old surnames come up. If writing fiction is a way of looking at our own reality. And also a way of creating an alternate reality. (The way Science fiction books have made us to question and re-imagine our reality). Why can't we be a little bit, more inclusive? Why should most of the Protagonists in Indian novels, always come from an more privileged (cough upper-caste cough) background?

This is purely my subjective opinion!
And having said so, critiquing is the easiest thing to do.
But putting out your work of art, the most difficult!
Congratulations Sriram Subramanian, on your first novel! :)

[Percy Wadiwala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rain is told primarily from the point of view of Jai Dubey, an architect settled in Pune and married to Sarika Patwardhan, a research scientist. An encounter with a fortune-teller prompts Jai to make a rash declaration of intent to build a house for his family, and he finds himself increasingly conflicted between his intent to fulfil this ambition and stick to his principles. At the same time, Jai is disturbed by an apparent gap in his memory, a brief moment of his early life which he does not remember, no matter how hard he tries. As Rain takes us through the likely and unlikely turns in Jai’s life, we do find answers, even if they are not answers to the questions we started by asking.

Rain is about the conflict between principle, the competing hierarchy of need and desire, the strands that hold together a relationship. But it is also about the little things that affect our lives, a delayed monsoon, a nail that is an inch longer than it should be, a race against time and flailing against the Gods. And finally, it is about acceptance as well, about understanding limitations and questioning the unproven. - See more at: http://percytheslacker.blogspot.in/20...

[T.F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Around 12 years back, I read a book called Razor's Edge by Somerset Maugham that made me rethink my priorities in life and see the whole idea of the meaning of life from a new perspective. It is one of those rare books that I can claim influenced me deeply. Somehow reading Rain by Sriram Subramanium reminded me of that book. Of course the protagonist's character and circumstances that lead him on a unusual journey in the physical work are quite different in the two books. However both the journeys in the real world, lead to bigger journeys in the spiritual world for the respective protagonists. Here again there is a deviation in the final destination of the two. But parallels do exist.

Read the rest of the review on my blog.

http://luciferhouseinc.blogspot.in/20...

[Bhaswar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sriram's debut offering essays the journey of Jai, who we can easily identify with , whom life delivers a punch in the solar plexus. How he deals with it forms a compelling page turner of a novel. Sriram's style is inimitable, his similes and metaphors which he sprinkles liberally to flesh out his characters, unique. Though I would like my protagonist to show a greater degree of spine, Sriram's portrayal is an antithesis which perhaps makes the Jai so believable and perhaps endearing to the reader. Sriram also embellishes his work with a fair degree of fatalism and belief of an ephemeral power guiding our destinies, which could resonate with a large section of God fearing readers, though it robs the thrill of challenging fate and taking it by its horns.

[Aashisha Chakraborty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel revolves around the life and times of a man who is in conflict with his past and his present. He challenges the forces of nature and long-standing conventions, loses badly, learns his lessons and starts over. As the subtitle suggests appropriately, the story is about a survivor, a person who goes through all the trials of fire and emerges purified. It touches upon a number of issues, starting with the problems of a northerner marrying a Marathi girl as the protagonist does. It beautifully captures the way a language can alter the status of a person. The protagonist despite his love of all things Maharashtrian is not able to express his fidelity and loyalty to the community due to the fact that he does not know the language. It expresses aptly how language barriers create family rifts. The book starts with the relationship dynamics in Jai’s family and highlights the entrenched blind faith in certain traditions and personalities like the great astrologer Pandit Borkar whose prediction sets the wheels of events turning and effectively begins the novel plot in earnest. What follows is a story of a man walking on a tightrope of his dreams and others’ expectations, trying desperately to establish himself, walking in his virtuous father’s footsteps and keeping everyone happy. An atheist, he tempts fate by openly declaring his intentions to thwart the great Borkar’s predictions of hard times in the near future and swears to build a bungalow for his wife, Sarika. He ignores her intuitive feelings when she tells him to pause and warns him repeatedly regarding opportunistic friends. But inebriated with the will to succeed at any cost and heady with the lucrative big business deal he lands up, Jai ignores Sarika’s misgivings.
What results is his complete collapse when not just his client breaks the deal, but he has to file for bankruptcy when his business partner and long-time friend turns into a venomous foe. All these difficult times are worsened by his father’s death leaving behind three thick diaries that take Jai on a soul-searching journey back to his past. His demons start resurfacing and skeletons begin crawling out of his past closet turning his mind around and creating a miasma of guilt around him, a whirlpool which he is not able to escape and eventually gets sucked into.
The adventures of Jai when his business crumbles and he takes to the streets takes the reader to the grimy underbelly of the city of Pune and unveils the tragic fates of those who make their living on the streets. It also exposes the political drama that goes behind the scenes of an election.
Various themes sprout up in the novel at different times, for instance, the Marathi pride and fierce sense of belonging towards their own community, the ambition of politicians, a mother’s blind love, misplaced anger, infidelity and so on. Jai’s father-in-law is the father figure in this book, the man who is able to view everything with an unbiased perspective and provides sane advice to anyone who needs it.
Jai’s past deals with a crucial social matter of how rumors can ruin a person’s life. The reception of a sibling by a child has been sensitively portrayed in the novel. In fact, Jai’s story of Sunny is the crux of the plot and a prime mover in his upbringing, his relations with his father and the major cause of his leaving his hometown. The author has carefully threaded this delicate issue into the book, taking into account honest, unbarred feelings and giving them voice in an effort to understand and learn the nuances of such a touchy matter.
The thing about the characters was that they were predictable. The good thing was that they could be easily identified with. A bit of unreality crept into the story at times, when the protagonist takes to the street and farm life easily, giving it a very movie-ish feel. But there is an element of unconventionality in the plot when Jai’s difficult decision with Ashok bears no fruit and he is relegated to unknown parts of the country because of his own decision never to meet Sarika. The reader is kept wanting for the two star-crossed lovers to meet but is tormented for quite sometime. The jewel on the crown is the worldview of the holy man who wanders into the village where Jai has settled and shakes him out of his torpor, giving him the peace of mind he had been seeking so long.
False friends, hypocritical relations, critical naysayers, hurt beloved, tormented protagonist- all the major elements of a potboiler combine in this book with the burning concerns of the age what with corruption, domination of females, plight of the slum-dwellers, the dirt of politics, and the state that the country is in to give it a contemporary fast-paced feel.
The novel moves through the political centres of the city of Pune to the smelly dilapidated hovels beneath the flyovers to tranquil farmlands seamlessly telling many tales in a natural voice of a common man who abides by the rules, is moderately ambitious, dogged by guilt due to his past and wants to transform his life.
Some incredible life lessons emerge suitably in the final chapter where Jai finally gets his salvation from the honeyed words of a great man, who in some beautiful and powerful lines, explains accurately what life is all about. It is beautiful to note the role of rain in this novel. At the outset of the novel, Jai prayed for the rains to be delayed as opposed to the majority of the population for whom rain was a blessing in disguise. As rotten luck would have it, it rained cats and dogs soon after and life took a severe downturn for him. However, the end of the novel shows how Jai reconciled with his lot, forgave himself, reconciled himself to the harsh realities of life and ultimately came to love the rains.

[Bhavna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rain is a beautifully written story of a slice of a modern day, upwardly mobile, steadfast couple's life. While one unravels when faced with challenges, the other prospers when opportunity shows up. While one takes off from the confines of home to search for himself, the other stays on with a determined conviction and faith in their relationship.
Read it if you enjoy family fiction, a glance of modern india, or simply love well written, thoughtful books.

[Isha Bali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the book - Page-turning fiction with depth and insights into life

I am so excited. I have discovered an exciting, new Indian author. I hardly write book reviews, but specially wanted to for this book. Long post but Sriram and the book deserves it. I used to be an avid reader but I read a book after ages - have almost shifted to blogs and articles and internet and movies and shows and music. Sriram Subramanian, take a bow, you got me reading again !

I loved the book. It is so exciting to find a good, new Indian author. Rain has a very good central dilemma and story-line, and it has depth. It is about the life-journey -- the physical and the metaphorical -- and the growth of Jai, an architect. This book is a beautiful meditation on the right way to live and the meaning of life itself. Through the life and musings of the protagonist, Rain gives us thoughts and resolutions on many questions like ethics, values and morality, career and life goals, materialism, corruption, moh-maya, motivations, science vs. faith, the scientific method, relationship with parents and spouse, poverty, education, city vs. rural life, the return to basics and innocence, introverts vs. extroverts and Indian vs Western societies.

The last few pages of Rain elevated the book from mere fiction to a philosophical / spiritual text, a book on the meaning of life itself – I am still thinking about the path it showed me. I am still thinking – Which circle am I in, and where do I want to remain? Everyone will enjoy this book, but an older reader may get more from it than a 20 year old.

But don’t for a moment think that Rain is a boring, preachy book. All this depth is there in a well-crafted book in a very engrossing, story-driven, well-paced narrative. Rain is a page-turner even though it is not a mystery or crime novel – you can’t wait to discover what happens next in the protagonist’s life. This is why I like to read good fiction, it keeps me entertained and keeps me reading (while I might have left the non-fictional counter-part mid-way) – even while it illuminates or resonates with or resolves some aspect of my life.

Rain hooked me right from the first chapter. I loved the warmth and relatability of the Indian characters and setting – one of the reasons I love reading Indian authors. The real-world references gave a sense of place and time (like Stephen King’s books). The homely, opening scene reminded me of Vikram Seth’s – A Suitable boy. The chapter ended on the perfect hook – the challenge and the wager – it kept me reading. I also liked hearing from a male protagonist in the Indian domestic scene, the male view-point on marital squabbles and fights and relationships and problems. The book had female voices and view-points too, and it helped that Jai respected and empathised with women. The central dilemma reminded me of V. S. Naipaul’s House of Biswas – the male challenges of life, the male drive and fight for self-worth and achievement and dignity- before the in-laws and society in general.

I liked the characters and their characterisations, All of them were believable and relatable, and I cared for them, their struggles and their relationships. The characters grew through the course of the book.

SPOILER :
Jai’s life’s big issue reminded me of Manchester by the Sea, the question of intent made it even more emotionally shattering.
SPOILER ENDS

Liked the sub-text about elusive memories – like Julian Barne’s Sense of an Ending – memories can be so elusive and even manipulated.

Roger Ebert (my favourite movie reviewer) said that people like movies about jobs or work – I believe it is true. I definitely enjoyed reading about an architect, the pressures and problems of this profession, and of entrepreneurships in general. One sentence reminded me of Fountainhead’s Howard Roark’s architectural philosophy.

The language was mostly very good. Liked the dialogues and the general language. There were many nice turns-of-phrase and metaphors – highlighted so much on my kindle. Minor quibble: Rain is written in accessible, readable language – not too simple but not too literary. Though this is a good thing for the Indian market, sometimes it made some advanced word jarring or stand out – I think as Jai’s spoken vocabulary is much simpler than his thinking one. But perhaps it is the same for most of us non-native English speakers, so I am conflicted on this point. There were also a few awkward sentences and some typos.

There are tons of lines I would like to share (3 pages), maybe in a separate post. Just sharing some here, at random :

"That was the problem with words. You said something, and they hung suspended in the air forever like the whiff of mildew and mothballs in a long unoccupied house, well after the windows were opened and the carpets dusted."

“‘When you stay silent, your work speaks. Under the weight of your own words, it is stilled into silence.’"

“A chess grandmaster evaluating the complexities of the middle-game might have looked the same—gears churning, lights popping on and off inside his brain.”

“Twice a day she went on her social rounds, trading recipes and bartering scandal.”

’‘…..when you can’t understand the method to someone’s madness, and yet the results look all right, maybe it isn't madness at all”.

"Mallika had enough ability and energy for two, but the tragedy was that she was born a woman— in an age when that made all the difference….. her abilities were totally wasted in the Patwardhan confines."

“But wasn’t a certain degree of dissatisfaction essential for forward movement?”

The book also has a lovely dedication in verse – like Vikram Seth’s Golden Gate. Not quoting that – go and buy the book to read it !

Rain was big in it’s theme and ambition. The next book can be even more in-depth, detailed, and literary. Waiting for your next book, Sriram. I, for one, would love to read it.

[Siddharth Mahadevan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A debut work will reflect the reading tastes and the honed craft of the writer. After reading 'Rain: A Survivor's Tale', I can, as a reader, vouch that; Mr Sriram Subramanian is by no means an upstart; his writing shows the polish and strength gained from the practice days of yore. The flourishing language and the minute details from the work(For instance there is a mention of a person getting migraine regularly, and in a casual conversation, it is revealed through an expository that it could be an indication of the coming monsoon, as some people develop heavy migraines, before the onset of a monsoon.), make it so pleasurable.

Having heard of his novel, from writing and reading groups, I was quite late to get my hands on this paperback, as my reading lists were quite long, but a drastic announcement by Mr Subramanian made me abandon my lists and pick up this one, as I heard that Mr Sriram Subramanian had hung up his writing boots, forever. For some unknown reason it affected me, and it hurt that I had not read his work yet. Getting the copy, reading it and acquainting with him, happened, in not quite the way that I had wanted it to. Nevertheless, by then he had written another too - Centre Court: An Indian Summer at Wimbledon, which too was subsequently bought and read.

Reading 'Rain' was a pleasure, but just like the title, it can mislead the reader too. It promised to be a sort of a never ending journey of a dervish, which ended not so convincingly, to me, that is. Not wanting to reveal any specifics, as it would affect the plot for any future reader, all I can say is that is probably the only complaint that I could carry from this body of fiction.

If such novels by Indian authors in English, do not gather enough word of mouth, then it is a sin we commit as readers by not buying, not reading, not letting others know of what they are missing by not reading such a promising writer.

[Anirban · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rain, but maybe on a parade

Why? This was the enduring thought swirling in my head everytime I came back to read a couple more of chapters of this unending narrative. Why had the writer written this story? To what end? Bcoz if his goal was to reveal the meaning of life, which judging by the second last chapter, it was, then I'm sure the writer himself must be painfully aware just how far from the goalpost his shot had gone.

I was lured into this story by the reviews it had accumulated from its veritable clutch of admirers. But I failed to find a coherent plotline that adequately stringed its resolution to its inception. The character were good and yet somehow I couldn't care for them, their motives were sketchy and their words to each other, few and superfluous. Also, the device of leaving things unsaid seems to have been used in every part and paragraph, leaving the reader (i.e. me) high and dry on several occasions.

All in all, I couldn't say what I was able to take away from the book. I hope you (the would be reader) aren't as unlucky.

Chiao...

[Rishi Budhadev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rain by Sriram Subramaniam is powerful story of resilience and hope in unimaginable tregady.
Subramaniam’s writing skills are Raw, Honest & Compassionate.
Rain is a synonym to the human spirit & possibility of healing

[Anushka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally started and finished the long TBR book and all in one sitting! This is the little great Indian novel; each turn of phrase, each stroke of character portrayal written with the stylus dipped in authenticity. In the fluid prose, in the engaging and identifiable characters, in the ‘everyman’ and ‘everywoman’ that take you to the road much travelled, yet new; familiar, yet mysterious, lies the beauty and greatness of this ‘good read’.

[Ushasi Basu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written debut novel. I was very happy to read a story that had in-depth characters with meaning to their actions. A book that makes you identify deeply and also think.

[Niranjan Navalgund · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my time with this one. I read and reread a few chapters. Jai is easy to relate with. He is authentic and so is the story. I will remember Rain for the technique of cut, usually associated with screenplays, poems or haiku. The story doesn't preach or tell you. But, the cuts make it clear.
The language is close to the heart of the setting. Use of words like Tchalel, Adjust madi - made me smile! The images brim with resonance. This is one story that I wished never ended. I got addicted to it after some point. After a certain point, I wanted to know what is happening in his life - like you normally wait for the next episode of a TV soap. The four circle theory knots the whole plot well.
So, I read it slowly and loved it. This is not a review, but my feelings about the book. I loved it and I am glad I picked this book. Because, never before a four lettered title has touched me so much. Rain is a beautiful metaphor, one I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Great job Sriram Subramanian and Arpita. Kudos Readomania

[Dr. Priti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay read

Good debut. Overall nice read. Too detailed civil work with which common man can't relate.
Stretched at times. Okay read.

[Ravishankar Iyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll start with a confession - I don't read much fiction. I overdosed on thriller-fiction novels (Sheldon, Hailey, Ludlum, Maclean et al) in my 10th vacation, and kinda closed my mind to it afterward.

Meanwhile, a growing interest in history and geopolitics made me a fan of authors like Ram Guha, John Keay, Jared Diamond, Robert Kaplan, Sanjeev Sanyal etc. In addition, I loved business books that incorporate good storytelling (guys like Atul Gawande, Chip & Dan Heath, Jim Collins, Malcolm Gladwell, Charles Duhigg). In short, I'm a non-fiction guy. My reasoning being - when there's so much interesting stuff happening in real life, why bother reading a made-up story. The occasional historical-fiction does happen, but it's rare.

So when Sriram wrote a fiction tale, I was returning to the genre after ages. And instead of reading about grand narratives of important people impacting millions of lives, I was reading a saga of a small-time Pune-based architect and his professional and domestic troubles.

And yet, I was hooked.

The story takes its time building up. The characters are introduced, they seem to fit pre-conceived moulds. And then they start surprising you. 'Why did you do that, Jai?' you feel as the protagonist takes a series of missteps initially (or does fate deal him a rough hand?).

Things go from bad to worse and get extremely dire, even dystopian. But throughout, the narrative engages you - because it makes you invested in the protagonist. You keep thinking, "No don't do that!" Or "Man I hope it all works out for him" and "But how will it all work out for him?".

The other characters too show unexpected layers and nuances. Nothing is one-dimensional here.

A particular sequence that stayed with me is the one where he's living on the streets of Pune. Raw, intense and disturbing, it feels chillingly authentic.

Other parts that are rewarding are the moments where dollops of insight are used to move the story forward. For e.g. the waiting-for-rain sentiment that's unchanged since millennia; the four-circles theory and how it differs across societies.

In the second half, the storytelling pace is brisk and keeps you hooked (without using the standard tropes that thriller-fiction writers rely on). You just want to know what happens to this good man and his good wife.

But beware - even after you've consumed the brief but oh-so-satisfactory ending, the novel won't end for you. Jai and Sarika (and the others) will stay in your thoughts for weeks to come.

I think it's time I lifted that fiction embargo.

[Rashmi P. Menon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of A Man's Inner Conflict!

Rain is a story of a man’s inner conflict, his outwardly desire to succeed within his moral principles, his many relationships and the bonds that make them stronger or weaker.

If I were asked to choose one aspect of the novel that I liked best, I would say they were the realistic characters that were brought to life by the author. The conflicting emotions depicted by Jai touches you deep inside, while the quiet will and strength portrayed by Sarika in many scenarios have you rooting for her. Characters like Ravi and his wife, Sarika’s parents and even Lakshmi and Raju leave a mark in your mind. The ease with which the author brought the Pune metropolitan life of a couple to life through his words is but remarkable.

The writing is smooth yet powerful hitting you where it needs to while it mellowed down in certain areas. The author has used the local slangs minimally, which is helpful to readers like me who do not understand local Indian slangs and dialogues, which means I have to google to find what those slangs stand for, thereby breaking the flow!

While the author has portrayed the inner conflict of the protagonist brilliantly, the manner of its resolution seemed far-fetched to me, others may disagree! Similarly, I felt the climax was rushed as though the author did not want to exceed a certain number of chapters. This was something I felt for few other chapters too while reading this book. There were many aspects of the story that could have been expanded upon beautifully given the author’s writing prowess.

Overall, it is an engaging read that depicts the many twists, turns, and cliches in Jai’s life all the while dropping pearls of wisdom on many aspects of modern-day life, relationships, morals, and principles. It is a beautifully written story that unravels the challenges one faces in life and how each one chooses to face these challenges. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about inner conflicts and overcoming them.

[Aparna Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been seeing high praise of Sriram Subramanian's Rain, and was curious to read it. Did.

I wondered if it would be one of those cases where the hype about a book made the actual reading less enjoyable, and I am happy to report that it absolutely did not. Rain lived up to all praise of it and more.

I don't want to give away any major plot points here, so let me just say that Sriram Subramanian does impending doom very well. I kept wanting to keep the book down and stop reading, simply because I began caring about the characters almost from the very beginning and didn't want to read whatever ghastly fate the author had planned for them. At the same time, I couldn't stop reading!

Well-paced plot, evocative language, memorable characters, a sense of place...pretty much everything you would like a novel. If I have a grouse it is only that the small font was a little hard on my eyes.
Rain is one of those books that I have placed on my 'to-read-again' list - I enjoyed it the first time around and now want to get a little more into the crafty way the author has brought it all to life, and I mean 'crafty' in the best sense of the word.

[Ranjini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally had my date with Jai!
I won't review this as it has been reviewed many-a-times in the recent past.
I had a whole load of expectations from this book - and it didn't disappoint at all!

What I really liked:
-the prose is articulate and the writing passionate.
-there is an easy flow to it and the pace made me finish it in one sitting.
-the setting being Pune, brought back nostalgic memories of our 3 years there
-use of the word "sanguine": made me laugh out loud, since that's one word Bongs typically use colloquially!
(Is that where you picked this up from Sriram, during your days in Calcutta?)

Ok - J may not be "droolworthy" but somehow he still appealed to me in his dark broody way.

What I wished was different:
-why didn't J reach out to S?
-why did J suddenly become a vagabond and not think of the consequences?
-the ending shouldn't have been so abrupt.
I guess I cared for Jai and the characters too much and that surely is the mark of a good plot and writing!

PS - what happened to Borkar's second prediction?

I've dreamt about Jai and reading this book for a long long time... so I got lost in the beautifully vivid characters.
I've been so engrossed in the book - the characters played out live in my mind and I figured if CBag's books are made into a movie, why not this?

If I was a Bollywood director, here would be my cast list (I know, I know, I went totally overboard with my daydreaming this time; but couldn't help it!) - and yes I envisioned it.

Jai Dubey: Arjun Rampal
Sarika: Shruti Hassan
Ganesh Patwardhan: Anupam Kher
Mallika Patwardhan: Rohini Hattangadi
Ashok Patwardhan: Mukesh Tiwary
Ravi Jetley: Arjun Bajwa
Lakshmi: Lara Dutta
Borkar: Shiney Ahuja
Mrs Dange: Reema Lagoo

[Luvena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a bit of a novice as far as Indian writing is concerned - my own experiences often not being very encouraging to try more Indian work. However, Rain surprised me. The words, the setting, the expression and the plot, all resonated. I enjoyed the fact that the premise was contemporary enough for me to accept. Better still, I appreciated my many moments of insight into the emotions, or even perspective, of an urban Indian man.

I liked the book very much - it was a more real representation of contemporary Indian fiction - some experiences were new to me and it opened up a broader horizon. I often wondered why Jai was doing the things he was and what our relationships are like - the social representation was personal and I could both relate & accept it. The spiritual awakening bit, although very tiny, was a neat add-on to give us our touch the way we like it. I particularly liked how our systemic acceptance of ourselves v/s others' acceptance of ourselves was portrayed - how we compared ourselves to the West in terms of what we held dearest.. and things often tied up and into each other.

Brilliant read.... Simple language that captures complex emotions and a journey of finding oneself. A really refreshing and genuine attempt at expressing the conundrum of the modern, urban Indian man - the depth of tradition, traumatized history and a reconciliation of the spirit. Very well written and nicely balanced. I truly enjoyed it...made me feel like I must've known a Jai Dubey all along..

[Leena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rain is written with a delicate sensitivity. Subtly written, it delivers a melodious, graceful tale about contemporary adult concerns. Rain explores many different themes, but central to it is the ambition of its protagonist, Jai Dubey who fluctuates between his ideals, his need to prove himself and his need for control. Sriram takes us on a journey through a particular wave of troubled times in Jai’s life and carries us with his flair for sketching characters, their elemental essences and inner aspirations. Jai’s lessons are learned hard and as he learns them, so does the reader – success and failure are only somewhat within one’s control, the mind creates its own predicaments and happiness is found in delivering oneself from one’s own expectations. The book is an enjoyable read, delivering comical insights into characters and harsh assessments of their motivations with equal ease. The Pune milieu and middle-class ambience distinguish the book, making it stand out for the Indian audience.
The only minor complaint I had was about the book being a little too true to the casual language used in conversation - an urban Indian audience will effortlessly relate to it, but non-Indians would find it too much to imbibe.
However, this is a quibble. Join Jai's journey, the warmth of the characters that surround him, the compassion of the people he learns from will draw you in and keep you in thrall.

[Rajesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought Sriram's first, upon a friend's suggestion. I didn't sit down to read it for another two weeks, when another friend (whose judgment I trust) mentioned that Sriram's book is a must-read. And I wasn't disappointed (big cynic that I am)... on the contrary, I am pleasantly surprised that someone like Sriram might actually convert a certified non-book-reader like myself. While most of the reading I have managed thus far have been driven by the need to have "bought that; read it; can talk about it", books like Rain: A Survivor's Tale might get me back to reading as an effortless activity.

The things I liked and related to the most were, in no particular order, the Indian, middle-class setting...and the easy conversation style...and the things that are left unsaid... and the level of detail. Most Indian authors I have read are either first or second generation immigrants in the West, or those that appeal to the Greatest Common Denominator (you know the genre I am referring to!)

I do think the transition from the "daily/ mundane" to the spiritual highs, and back, were a bit too abrupt... this just means that your next book can have 400 pages Sriram!

Prospective readers - Buy the book! And (don't wait for someone to tell you to) read it!

[Saurabh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rain is a beautiful story, brilliantly written. The story takes turns which are unpredictable and come with amazing smoothness. It delves into relationships hitherto not explored much, with conviction and compassion.

And the story climbs multiple notches in a very short span of pages. Towards the end, it leaves you longing for more, and you wish you could spend more time with the characters, especially the protagonist.

Sriram Subramanian is a terrific writer, who shows his promise in his debut novel and clearly has a lot of stories tucked in him.

[Vaishali Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Words that weave a scene in front of your eyes as if you weren't a reader but a part of the scene sitting right there - next to the character himself.
A story that seems complicated but then isn't that's how our lives are- intertwined with very many characters - each bringing out a different trait of our individual self?!
Characters are so real that you inevitably start relating to them with a real person you have encountered somewhere.
Very strong plot delivered so crisply... Calling me back to the book each time I put it down to attend to the mundanes of my life.

The only thing that I could probably point out amiss in the book was a seamless flow - The very long description of the setting each time including the steel rods and the dirty cob web or the aroma lingering in the place seemed to break the emotion built up so far, for the character. But then that's exactly what makes Sriram a perfect playwright too!!
Must not miss is the lovely book cover by Indrajit Nandy- it does full justice to the book.
All in all - a good book and clearly relates to my age and times.

[Harini Sudersan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read!

Reading this book made me smell the damp earth in the rain. Memories of home, of India. The characters are so real, so Indian without being caricatures (one way or another). The tale itself was refreshingly new - again anchored in Indian culture and thought. One of the things I loved about this book was that it was quite unpredictable, much like the rain!

I also enjoyed the writing in the book. It was neither dull nor overly flowery. It was relatable without being clumsy, and touching - just the right amount.

Also - I liked that there were some loose ends, everything wasn't sewn together too neatly. That made the book more realistic, more believable.

In all, a fantastic read!

[Sanhita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been hearing about this book for quite some time and when I looked up, it was available in Kindle, so I picked it up immediately and started reading very soon, which I do not do most of the times.
It's a story about a middle class family from Pune and it's about their life, work, love....each of which one can relate too. The story revolves around Jai Dubey, an architect and about his family and the people around him whom he meets during his inner turmoil. As the book begins we see a Jai Dubey whose life changes altogether during the course of the book and he sets out to know the truth about a gap in his own life, a "hole" that he can't remember anything about. The story ends with a total 360 degree turn around in his life.
Sriram is a good story teller, there was no stumble or hiccup as the story flowed. The characters are strongly etched and can be related to. The places, the circumstances, the incidents also seem familiar and not unknown to us and this is what makes the reading a pleasure. Despite being a simple story, it holds one's attention throughout. Though I could not identify totally with the reason for the final turnaround and found it to be a bit stretched, but it's a story that can happen to anyone and may be happening at this moment to someone.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. The fact that I finished reading it in one day (aided by a two and half hour long flight of course) is just goes to show how well the book could hold my interest. Happy that I picked up this book.