What do you think?
Rate this book
One Enduring Lesson
‘Give me your money, or I will kill you!’
‘Please…’ I gasped. ‘I’ve come from England to study!’
‘Well, let this be your first lesson, English boy…’
Eager to start a new phase in life, Rahul Saxena, 27, a half-Indian British citizen, recently out of job and rejected in love, lands in Mumbai from London to study filmmaking. But little does he know that Mumbai, the city of dreams, will turn his life inside out. From the dark corners of the streets as a professional rat killer to the vermin-infested confines of a jail, from shady dance clubs to the homes of Mumbai’s rich women where he is paid to provide pleasure—fate takes him on a roller-coaster ride that challenges his very will and determination to survive. When his secret life threatens to destroy even the love that he finds, Rahul seeks recourse in spirituality. Inspired by India’s synergetic religious traditions, Rahul fights back internal and external demons to write his own destiny.
One Enduring Lesson is a tale of the undying human spirit of survival against all odds.
‘Please…’ I gasped. ‘I’ve come from England to study!’
‘Well, let this be your first lesson, English boy…’
Eager to start a new phase in life, Rahul Saxena, 27, a half-Indian British citizen, recently out of job and rejected in love, lands in Mumbai from London to study filmmaking. But little does he know that Mumbai, the city of dreams, will turn his life inside out. From the dark corners of the streets as a professional rat killer to the vermin-infested confines of a jail, from shady dance clubs to the homes of Mumbai’s rich women where he is paid to provide pleasure—fate takes him on a roller-coaster ride that challenges his very will and determination to survive. When his secret life threatens to destroy even the love that he finds, Rahul seeks recourse in spirituality. Inspired by India’s synergetic religious traditions, Rahul fights back internal and external demons to write his own destiny.
One Enduring Lesson is a tale of the undying human spirit of survival against all odds.
- GenresFiction
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2017
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 2, 2017
One Enduring Lesson by Jamal Merchant is a tale of reclaiming lost love. It is a tale of 27-year-old Anglo-Indian boy, Rahul, who arrives in Mumbai from London dreaming to achieve his goal of studying filmmaking. The city of dreams, Mumbai, from the start of his journey turns out to be a series of setback for him. From dark corners of streets being a professional rat-killer, finding a 9 to 5 beggar, Rahul finally settles to provide pleasure for the city's rich women in exchange of money that is essential for his survival.
With this secret the protagonist finds love of his own and then comes the struggle of making his loved one understand the actions his life took course of. Inspired by India’s synergetic religious traditions, Rahul fights back internal and external demons to write his own destiny.
The storyline is captivating and with few pages in, will draw any reader's attention. It is not an ordinary romance fiction even though it might seem at points but the author has surprise for you. The way the plot forms without any exceptions is thought-provoking. The narrative voice is calm and constant. I am surprised to find myself enjoying the narrative voice.
The plot is in sync with theme of one's struggle in life, religious traditions and few norms of Indian society it touches. Even the portrayal of the protagonist's roller coaster ride after arriving and his determination to survive in India seems realistic enough for a reader to imagine. Many books in the same genre of romance fail to achieve the level of splendid and satisfactory story-telling as this one.
The characterisation is well developed and the growth of characters is observable as the plot moves forward. Even though the scope of the novel is 280 pages, the reader will enjoy it thoroughly as there is no flaw in that. The writing style is good and is exactly what I expect of Indian writers. Overall, the book is a page-turner and a reader will be able to finish this one in no time.
I will recommend you this book if you seek Indian flavour of writing and story-telling or are a part of romance fiction fandom.
With this secret the protagonist finds love of his own and then comes the struggle of making his loved one understand the actions his life took course of. Inspired by India’s synergetic religious traditions, Rahul fights back internal and external demons to write his own destiny.
The storyline is captivating and with few pages in, will draw any reader's attention. It is not an ordinary romance fiction even though it might seem at points but the author has surprise for you. The way the plot forms without any exceptions is thought-provoking. The narrative voice is calm and constant. I am surprised to find myself enjoying the narrative voice.
The plot is in sync with theme of one's struggle in life, religious traditions and few norms of Indian society it touches. Even the portrayal of the protagonist's roller coaster ride after arriving and his determination to survive in India seems realistic enough for a reader to imagine. Many books in the same genre of romance fail to achieve the level of splendid and satisfactory story-telling as this one.
The characterisation is well developed and the growth of characters is observable as the plot moves forward. Even though the scope of the novel is 280 pages, the reader will enjoy it thoroughly as there is no flaw in that. The writing style is good and is exactly what I expect of Indian writers. Overall, the book is a page-turner and a reader will be able to finish this one in no time.
I will recommend you this book if you seek Indian flavour of writing and story-telling or are a part of romance fiction fandom.
October 8, 2017
One Enduring Lesson is a tale of determination and dreams. It is a journey of a boy who has been recently redundant from his job and dumped by his girlfriend. Rejected in love and out of job, he decided to embark on a new journey to give a chance to his longtime dream to become a filmmaker and landed in Mumbai. He thought this could also give him a break from his messed up life in London and give him a new start. Less he knows his life is going to turn upside down and the journey will become a lesson for a lifetime.
The story is great. It’s a fascinating read. The story shows some of the dark truths of the big city hidden behind the closed doors and curtained windows. I loved the way the story runs and expose various aspects of Indian society and customs imprisoned someone in the name of culture. The author brings the truth naked without losing the sensitivity of the matter. This book could be yours that One Enduring Lesson which opens your eyes and makes you think. A thought-provoking, enthralling and captivating read.
https://thereviewauthor.com/
The story is great. It’s a fascinating read. The story shows some of the dark truths of the big city hidden behind the closed doors and curtained windows. I loved the way the story runs and expose various aspects of Indian society and customs imprisoned someone in the name of culture. The author brings the truth naked without losing the sensitivity of the matter. This book could be yours that One Enduring Lesson which opens your eyes and makes you think. A thought-provoking, enthralling and captivating read.
https://thereviewauthor.com/
March 5, 2018
DNFing. I can’t do this anymore.🙈🙈
This is my second DNF of the year and I am really embarrassed. I picked up this book the first time back in September, last year. As soon as I started the book I realised the narration was completely displeasing. It was way too descriptive without making any point.
A young man who recently broke up with the love of his life decides to come back to India leaving his parents to realise his dream of becoming a film producer. He comes to India to study film making.
But as soon as he enters the city he finds it disappointing. He describes the rotten smell everywhere, the train rush, the overbearing weather and everything displeasing about the city. I did not like the descriptions very much but kept on reading because I knew it was true. But things got annoying when I kept waiting for the story to take shape but there were just events lined up one after the other. It was the first time I put the book down. I decided I needed a break.
Now, this is the second time I picked the book again and read till page number 104 when I realised I could no longer do it. I have read more than one third of the book. It has failed to incite any curiosity in me. I do not want to find out what happens next and the narration is crass to say the least. But what has annoyed me the most is the opposite of creativity that you see in the storytelling. The author tried to talk about all the religions, politics in the country and social problems without making any impact at all. I see the futility of reading the book further. It does not make me more empathetic. I have decided to DNF it.
This is my second DNF of the year and I am really embarrassed. I picked up this book the first time back in September, last year. As soon as I started the book I realised the narration was completely displeasing. It was way too descriptive without making any point.
A young man who recently broke up with the love of his life decides to come back to India leaving his parents to realise his dream of becoming a film producer. He comes to India to study film making.
But as soon as he enters the city he finds it disappointing. He describes the rotten smell everywhere, the train rush, the overbearing weather and everything displeasing about the city. I did not like the descriptions very much but kept on reading because I knew it was true. But things got annoying when I kept waiting for the story to take shape but there were just events lined up one after the other. It was the first time I put the book down. I decided I needed a break.
Now, this is the second time I picked the book again and read till page number 104 when I realised I could no longer do it. I have read more than one third of the book. It has failed to incite any curiosity in me. I do not want to find out what happens next and the narration is crass to say the least. But what has annoyed me the most is the opposite of creativity that you see in the storytelling. The author tried to talk about all the religions, politics in the country and social problems without making any impact at all. I see the futility of reading the book further. It does not make me more empathetic. I have decided to DNF it.
October 2, 2017
My rating: 2.5 stars.
When it comes to choosing a book, two things attract me - Book cover and blurb. One Enduring Lesson by Jamal Merchant (Rupa Publications) has a captivating cover that offers a glimpse of lovely love story. However, this book can not be categorized as a love story.
One Enduring Lesson tells a thoughtful story of Rahul Saxena, son of an Indian father and British mother, who aspires to be a successful film producer. Out of job and rejected in love, Rahul decides to move ahead and leaves London to live in Mumbai to study film making. But, his life and Mumbai have different - some shocking, some enlightening - plans for him. He meets different women and eventually falls in love with one.
This book talks about the culture, people, lifestyle and challenges of the city of dreams, Mumbai as Rahul (turned Radium) meets various people and bizarre situations.
How and why an aspiring film producer turns into 'Radium'? How he tackles the difficulties? Would he be able to complete his studies and become a successful film-maker? What about his love story? You will have to read One Enduring Lesson to find the answers.
Style/format-wise, One Enduring Lesson is a different book. It's somewhat a collection of inter-connected stories in the form of Rahul's different experiences in Mumbai. These stories or experiences cover almost every problem/issue of different parts of India. It reflects the social structure of our country.
Overall, it's a nice and thoughtful read, but the problem with this book is its writing style. The writing style overly follows the (reverse) rule, 'Tell, Don't Show'. The writing fails to build up the intrigue, which is sad because there are some intriguing elements in the story. Also, Rahul, the main protagonist seems to have instant and foolproof solutions to everybody's problems except his own problems. It was a tad annoying and impractical.
One Enduring Lesson is a tale of the undying human spirit of survival against all odds (Quoted from the blurb). If you are looking for a light yet thoughtful read, go for it.
When it comes to choosing a book, two things attract me - Book cover and blurb. One Enduring Lesson by Jamal Merchant (Rupa Publications) has a captivating cover that offers a glimpse of lovely love story. However, this book can not be categorized as a love story.
One Enduring Lesson tells a thoughtful story of Rahul Saxena, son of an Indian father and British mother, who aspires to be a successful film producer. Out of job and rejected in love, Rahul decides to move ahead and leaves London to live in Mumbai to study film making. But, his life and Mumbai have different - some shocking, some enlightening - plans for him. He meets different women and eventually falls in love with one.
This book talks about the culture, people, lifestyle and challenges of the city of dreams, Mumbai as Rahul (turned Radium) meets various people and bizarre situations.
How and why an aspiring film producer turns into 'Radium'? How he tackles the difficulties? Would he be able to complete his studies and become a successful film-maker? What about his love story? You will have to read One Enduring Lesson to find the answers.
Style/format-wise, One Enduring Lesson is a different book. It's somewhat a collection of inter-connected stories in the form of Rahul's different experiences in Mumbai. These stories or experiences cover almost every problem/issue of different parts of India. It reflects the social structure of our country.
Overall, it's a nice and thoughtful read, but the problem with this book is its writing style. The writing style overly follows the (reverse) rule, 'Tell, Don't Show'. The writing fails to build up the intrigue, which is sad because there are some intriguing elements in the story. Also, Rahul, the main protagonist seems to have instant and foolproof solutions to everybody's problems except his own problems. It was a tad annoying and impractical.
One Enduring Lesson is a tale of the undying human spirit of survival against all odds (Quoted from the blurb). If you are looking for a light yet thoughtful read, go for it.
May 29, 2018
#OneEnduringLesson is the story of Rahul who comes to India to explore his roots and learn filmmaking from the Film Institute in Mumbai. He leaves a comfortable life in London to find his true calling. His desire to follow his heart lands him into all sorts of troubles while opening his eyes to the ‘real India’ that is usually missed by the hurried tourists.
Rahul is half-Indian so he wants to see India as his father sees it. The trip he has planned for himself offers him easy access to Mumbai but when he actually starts living in the city he faces the dark, unforgiving underbelly and is robbed of all that he holds dear as well as his money.
The author has a peculiar way of narrating the story and he has included many of the iconic incidents and activities that make Mumbai the ‘dream city’. People keep struggling in spite of losses and setbacks and their tenacity keeps them going. Rahul is no exception. He finds money yet loses it. Love keeps a step ahead of him and his dreams seem too distant. I felt he would give up, head off to a different path but he didn’t let go.
This book #OneEnduringLesson makes for a champion for the underdog, the person who faces hardships but keeps on striving. Rahul is an NRI yet he makes himself home in Mumbai. The way the author has explored the various aspects of our life, the struggles and needs is the highlight of the book. Rahul is just the medium, I felt the book was more like a memoir with the kind of tales the author narrated. The Hawala transactions, the hunt for a job, the rat hunts in Mumbai and the ideas and advice by beggars, fakirs and even cheaters.
Love plays a major part in this story as does religion. I found the approach of the author quite interesting; he mixed religion, spirituality, and love for a unique reading experience. Many religions and cultures came together to ensure Rahul found his love and his dream. The faith he displays in his journey, the eventual seva brought forth a quiet humility that was endearing. Even his parents represent what love can do over religion, a British mother and a Gujarati Indian father.
The different jobs that he tried even while trying to find time for his love, trying to be the better man made for an interesting read. The supporting characters David and Irfan, who became not just friends but almost family made the stories about the underbelly of Mumbai more realistic. Rekha who gets him the financial stability he needs in spite of his own misgivings and PP Auntie who gave him a place to stay. Her son, Ratan and his girlfriend, Ruby were all people that helped him survive in the hostile times he faced in Mumbai. Keeping his faith in humanity alive, kept him going for his goal.
When Rahul took on the alter ego of Radium, it reminded us the advantage of fair skin, the sad reality of the needs of women in India. Women who are married or not, successful or just wealthy but so dissatisfied for want of attention and male company. The prejudice they face by just being women, those who have money can still buy the affections but what of those who are poor. The role of Dr Mittal who saved Rahul but lost himself, his plight reminds us of the progress our country still needs.
Finally, his love for Julie is what brings him out from the charade of being Radium. He gets the money and the trials of love start. I felt that Julie’s character in her present life could have been explored more. We know of her past but the present is unsure. Even her ‘well-wisher’ is not given due importance. I felt it odd that even though he appeared at various stages in the book but his end was too swift. A few lessons in the book felt a bit clichéd, almost expected. Like the money disappearing or the guy from the aeroplane turning out to be a crook. Overall, the various incidents made a very interesting read, a bit like a masala Bollywood movie.
#OneEnduringLesson delivers what it promises and more. It has a lot of fun anecdotes and incidents. The various women and their stories give it depth and the friends that become family adds a touch of realism to the book. A fast read that will make you believe in the power of faith, love and hard work. God helps those who help themselves – indeed!
Rahul is half-Indian so he wants to see India as his father sees it. The trip he has planned for himself offers him easy access to Mumbai but when he actually starts living in the city he faces the dark, unforgiving underbelly and is robbed of all that he holds dear as well as his money.
The author has a peculiar way of narrating the story and he has included many of the iconic incidents and activities that make Mumbai the ‘dream city’. People keep struggling in spite of losses and setbacks and their tenacity keeps them going. Rahul is no exception. He finds money yet loses it. Love keeps a step ahead of him and his dreams seem too distant. I felt he would give up, head off to a different path but he didn’t let go.
This book #OneEnduringLesson makes for a champion for the underdog, the person who faces hardships but keeps on striving. Rahul is an NRI yet he makes himself home in Mumbai. The way the author has explored the various aspects of our life, the struggles and needs is the highlight of the book. Rahul is just the medium, I felt the book was more like a memoir with the kind of tales the author narrated. The Hawala transactions, the hunt for a job, the rat hunts in Mumbai and the ideas and advice by beggars, fakirs and even cheaters.
Love plays a major part in this story as does religion. I found the approach of the author quite interesting; he mixed religion, spirituality, and love for a unique reading experience. Many religions and cultures came together to ensure Rahul found his love and his dream. The faith he displays in his journey, the eventual seva brought forth a quiet humility that was endearing. Even his parents represent what love can do over religion, a British mother and a Gujarati Indian father.
The different jobs that he tried even while trying to find time for his love, trying to be the better man made for an interesting read. The supporting characters David and Irfan, who became not just friends but almost family made the stories about the underbelly of Mumbai more realistic. Rekha who gets him the financial stability he needs in spite of his own misgivings and PP Auntie who gave him a place to stay. Her son, Ratan and his girlfriend, Ruby were all people that helped him survive in the hostile times he faced in Mumbai. Keeping his faith in humanity alive, kept him going for his goal.
When Rahul took on the alter ego of Radium, it reminded us the advantage of fair skin, the sad reality of the needs of women in India. Women who are married or not, successful or just wealthy but so dissatisfied for want of attention and male company. The prejudice they face by just being women, those who have money can still buy the affections but what of those who are poor. The role of Dr Mittal who saved Rahul but lost himself, his plight reminds us of the progress our country still needs.
Finally, his love for Julie is what brings him out from the charade of being Radium. He gets the money and the trials of love start. I felt that Julie’s character in her present life could have been explored more. We know of her past but the present is unsure. Even her ‘well-wisher’ is not given due importance. I felt it odd that even though he appeared at various stages in the book but his end was too swift. A few lessons in the book felt a bit clichéd, almost expected. Like the money disappearing or the guy from the aeroplane turning out to be a crook. Overall, the various incidents made a very interesting read, a bit like a masala Bollywood movie.
#OneEnduringLesson delivers what it promises and more. It has a lot of fun anecdotes and incidents. The various women and their stories give it depth and the friends that become family adds a touch of realism to the book. A fast read that will make you believe in the power of faith, love and hard work. God helps those who help themselves – indeed!
April 23, 2018
One Enduring Lesson by Jamal Merchant is a romantic cum realist cum inspirational story about a young NRI, who flies down to Mumbai in search of a more creative life than his present one in London. The story follows Rahul Saxena, a second generation British Indian trying to establish himself in the maximum city of India, while both the man and the city exploit each other.
Rahul, after losing his job and girlfriend of 2 years, decides to pursue a filmmaking course from a premier institute in Mumbai much to the dismay of his English mother. But with the support of his Bollywood loving, cricket crazy father, he manages to convince his her and lands in Mumbai after taking the first flight out. While at the airport, looking for options to travel, Rahul is approached by David and Irfan, who take him to a decently cheap hotel for accommodation. After settling in, Rahul decides to go and collect the money transferred by his father via hawala, from a local in a shady area. Needless to say, he is mugged as soon as he exits the building with his money. With little of his savings left and all his father’s money lost, Rahul turns to David and Irfan for help who then put him up as a paying guest at a Parsee lady’s place for a little amount. With accommodation sorted, Rahul now has to worry about a regular income to save for the now postponed film course. After a lot of debacles as a night rat killer and a manager at a fraud firm, Rahul finds himself taking up the identity of Radium, an escort, at the behest of Rekha madam and the lure of money.
Pleasuring the rich women of Mumbai and earning handsomely well, Radium aka Rahul has his life sorted financially. But what happens when he falls for Julie, a widow whose husband was shot right before his eyes? Will he be able to strike a chord with the recently widowed woman and hope for reciprocation? How will his life as Radium affect his personal relations with Julie in future?
Narrated in the present tense, the language is lucid, and one of the easiest works in the English language that I’ve come across. With no errors that could be pointed out, the flow is unhindered. The characters forming the central plot are limited, but there are others which have been added to the storyline for a short duration. The characterization of the protagonist is strong enough for the reader to understand yet not overdone. Rahul and Radium have been created as complete opposites of each other despite being the same person. The compassion with which Radium does his job seems a little cooked up, but then hey, it’s a fiction, right! It doe have its share of fictional coincidences. The remaining characters have been just touched and left as is. The story amalgamates the lives of people from various walks of life, men and women, rich and poor, and brings them together in an unconventional manner. What I liked most about this book is its speed in terms of narration, it literally flies, doesn’t bore and linger unnecessarily, but the complete story isn’t more than 2 years of time, which I consider decent enough for such genres.
Along with following Rahul’s life in Mumbai, the story also offers a realistic view of the city. All is not hunky dory, there are snippets where the characters discuss the problems that are prevalent, from poverty to extramarital affair to caste-based politics to the stigma of being gay to infertility to societal pressures to infrastructure to frauds to kidnappings to millennial problems of being lonely amongst the crowd to spirituality and such. The views about the above issues and a others felt like cliche and frankly, while reading I thought that it was odd to put these issues in a story which primarily is a tale of life and love, but then while writing this review, I suddenly felt that had these not been there, I probably wouldn’t have been able to finish off an all roses love story. I always want a share of realistic approach in a story that could go all mushy from the first line itself.
Pick this up if you want a light and fast read and need some instant inspiration with a dose of realism.
Rahul, after losing his job and girlfriend of 2 years, decides to pursue a filmmaking course from a premier institute in Mumbai much to the dismay of his English mother. But with the support of his Bollywood loving, cricket crazy father, he manages to convince his her and lands in Mumbai after taking the first flight out. While at the airport, looking for options to travel, Rahul is approached by David and Irfan, who take him to a decently cheap hotel for accommodation. After settling in, Rahul decides to go and collect the money transferred by his father via hawala, from a local in a shady area. Needless to say, he is mugged as soon as he exits the building with his money. With little of his savings left and all his father’s money lost, Rahul turns to David and Irfan for help who then put him up as a paying guest at a Parsee lady’s place for a little amount. With accommodation sorted, Rahul now has to worry about a regular income to save for the now postponed film course. After a lot of debacles as a night rat killer and a manager at a fraud firm, Rahul finds himself taking up the identity of Radium, an escort, at the behest of Rekha madam and the lure of money.
Pleasuring the rich women of Mumbai and earning handsomely well, Radium aka Rahul has his life sorted financially. But what happens when he falls for Julie, a widow whose husband was shot right before his eyes? Will he be able to strike a chord with the recently widowed woman and hope for reciprocation? How will his life as Radium affect his personal relations with Julie in future?
Narrated in the present tense, the language is lucid, and one of the easiest works in the English language that I’ve come across. With no errors that could be pointed out, the flow is unhindered. The characters forming the central plot are limited, but there are others which have been added to the storyline for a short duration. The characterization of the protagonist is strong enough for the reader to understand yet not overdone. Rahul and Radium have been created as complete opposites of each other despite being the same person. The compassion with which Radium does his job seems a little cooked up, but then hey, it’s a fiction, right! It doe have its share of fictional coincidences. The remaining characters have been just touched and left as is. The story amalgamates the lives of people from various walks of life, men and women, rich and poor, and brings them together in an unconventional manner. What I liked most about this book is its speed in terms of narration, it literally flies, doesn’t bore and linger unnecessarily, but the complete story isn’t more than 2 years of time, which I consider decent enough for such genres.
Along with following Rahul’s life in Mumbai, the story also offers a realistic view of the city. All is not hunky dory, there are snippets where the characters discuss the problems that are prevalent, from poverty to extramarital affair to caste-based politics to the stigma of being gay to infertility to societal pressures to infrastructure to frauds to kidnappings to millennial problems of being lonely amongst the crowd to spirituality and such. The views about the above issues and a others felt like cliche and frankly, while reading I thought that it was odd to put these issues in a story which primarily is a tale of life and love, but then while writing this review, I suddenly felt that had these not been there, I probably wouldn’t have been able to finish off an all roses love story. I always want a share of realistic approach in a story that could go all mushy from the first line itself.
Pick this up if you want a light and fast read and need some instant inspiration with a dose of realism.
March 29, 2018
http://pebbleinthestillwaters.com/one...
One Enduring Lesson by Jamal Merchant A Fascinating Love Story #BookReview
One Enduring Lesson by Jamal Merchant is an interesting story of mumbles, grumbles, and rumbles. It is a story of Raj Patel aka Raj Saxena, his English wife Patricia, and their son Rahul. Rahul is a graduate of London Business Management College. Last 12 months have been quite painful for Rahul in terms of his professional and personal life. He had to leave his well-running job at NR Bank for becoming redundant. And during the same period his long-term girlfriend Tasmin abandons him. Those two strong jerks in life compel Rahul to think something out of the box. And that is when he decides to go to Mumbai to study filmmaking. Though he gets a nod from his father for the same, his mother thinks otherwise. She feels filmmaking is a course for school dropouts. And Rahul is not in that category of dull students. Rather he is brilliant.
Rahul Saxena is just 27 and the only son of his Indian father and English Mother. He lands in Mumbai to pursue his course in filmmaking. The story of One Enduring Lesson by Jamal Merchant is quite engrossing and engaging. Rahul becomes part of all kind of divulgences of life that a simple person would call as demons. But at some juncture when it comes to putting his love at stake, he turns to spirituality. That is the only way he finds to get a proper direction and guidance. He undergoes a lot of changes after landing in Mumbai. Little does he know at that time that this is not his right destination. While craving to rise to the brighter side of his career, he indulges in almost all the darker sides of life in Mumbai. But that is not the end of the road. He realizes it.
You are lucky if you find the love of your life. Someone whose 5Ts become the most precious items in your life. His or her touch, trust, tenderness, time, and talk. That is what Julie finds in Robin. And when Robin is no more in her life, she is left with only 1T, the sixth one. Tears. That is when Rahul decides to convert those tears of Julie into a new love of her life. Sometimes few precious moments become moments of eternity when you are truly in love with each other. That is not all. There is a lot more in this calm and well-crafted story of One Enduring Lesson by Jamal Merchant.
One Enduring Lesson by Jamal Merchant A Fascinating Love Story #BookReview
One Enduring Lesson by Jamal Merchant is an interesting story of mumbles, grumbles, and rumbles. It is a story of Raj Patel aka Raj Saxena, his English wife Patricia, and their son Rahul. Rahul is a graduate of London Business Management College. Last 12 months have been quite painful for Rahul in terms of his professional and personal life. He had to leave his well-running job at NR Bank for becoming redundant. And during the same period his long-term girlfriend Tasmin abandons him. Those two strong jerks in life compel Rahul to think something out of the box. And that is when he decides to go to Mumbai to study filmmaking. Though he gets a nod from his father for the same, his mother thinks otherwise. She feels filmmaking is a course for school dropouts. And Rahul is not in that category of dull students. Rather he is brilliant.
Rahul Saxena is just 27 and the only son of his Indian father and English Mother. He lands in Mumbai to pursue his course in filmmaking. The story of One Enduring Lesson by Jamal Merchant is quite engrossing and engaging. Rahul becomes part of all kind of divulgences of life that a simple person would call as demons. But at some juncture when it comes to putting his love at stake, he turns to spirituality. That is the only way he finds to get a proper direction and guidance. He undergoes a lot of changes after landing in Mumbai. Little does he know at that time that this is not his right destination. While craving to rise to the brighter side of his career, he indulges in almost all the darker sides of life in Mumbai. But that is not the end of the road. He realizes it.
You are lucky if you find the love of your life. Someone whose 5Ts become the most precious items in your life. His or her touch, trust, tenderness, time, and talk. That is what Julie finds in Robin. And when Robin is no more in her life, she is left with only 1T, the sixth one. Tears. That is when Rahul decides to convert those tears of Julie into a new love of her life. Sometimes few precious moments become moments of eternity when you are truly in love with each other. That is not all. There is a lot more in this calm and well-crafted story of One Enduring Lesson by Jamal Merchant.
March 27, 2018
One Enduring Lesson
By Jamal Merchant
Review By Ila Garg
‘One Enduring Lesson’, a novel by Jamal Merchant is published by Rupa Publications. The cover at once makes it look like a book on positivity or life lessons. With a couple letting go a dupatta in air which forms a heart shape, the novel does hint on being a love story too.
The blurb reads as, “Give me your money, or I will kill you! Please... I gasped. I ve come from England to study! Well, let this be your first lesson, English boy... Eager to start a new phase in life, Rahul Saxena, 27, a half-Indian British citizen, recently out of job and rejected in love, lands in Mumbai from London to study filmmaking. But little does he know that Mumbai, the city of dreams, will turn his life inside out. From the dark corners of the streets as a professional rat killer to the vermin-infested confines of a jail, from shady dance clubs to the homes of Mumbai s rich women where he is paid to provide pleasure fate takes him on a roller-coaster ride that challenges his very will and determination to survive. When his secret life threatens to destroy even the love that he finds, Rahul seeks recourse in spirituality. Inspired by India s synergetic religious traditions, Rahul fights back internal and external demons to write his own destiny. One Enduring Lesson is a tale of the undying human spirit of survival against all odds. KEY SELLING POINTS Tracing the secret life and occupation of the protagonist as a gigolo, the book is a bold take on the society we live in. A compelling retelling of the ups and downs of a modern-day love story, the book also delves deep into the influence of spirituality in the face of present-day disillusionment. A tale of survival against all odds, the book is a good read for the younger generation, who are yet to face the world on their own.”
It is basically the story of Rahul Saxena. This 27-year-old Anglo-Indian boy, after being rejected in love and out of job, reaches Mumbai from London to study film making. However, the city of dreams has some other hardships planned for him. The story is about his struggles and journey.
Read the complete review here: http://www.ilagarg.com/2018/03/one-en...
By Jamal Merchant
Review By Ila Garg
‘One Enduring Lesson’, a novel by Jamal Merchant is published by Rupa Publications. The cover at once makes it look like a book on positivity or life lessons. With a couple letting go a dupatta in air which forms a heart shape, the novel does hint on being a love story too.
The blurb reads as, “Give me your money, or I will kill you! Please... I gasped. I ve come from England to study! Well, let this be your first lesson, English boy... Eager to start a new phase in life, Rahul Saxena, 27, a half-Indian British citizen, recently out of job and rejected in love, lands in Mumbai from London to study filmmaking. But little does he know that Mumbai, the city of dreams, will turn his life inside out. From the dark corners of the streets as a professional rat killer to the vermin-infested confines of a jail, from shady dance clubs to the homes of Mumbai s rich women where he is paid to provide pleasure fate takes him on a roller-coaster ride that challenges his very will and determination to survive. When his secret life threatens to destroy even the love that he finds, Rahul seeks recourse in spirituality. Inspired by India s synergetic religious traditions, Rahul fights back internal and external demons to write his own destiny. One Enduring Lesson is a tale of the undying human spirit of survival against all odds. KEY SELLING POINTS Tracing the secret life and occupation of the protagonist as a gigolo, the book is a bold take on the society we live in. A compelling retelling of the ups and downs of a modern-day love story, the book also delves deep into the influence of spirituality in the face of present-day disillusionment. A tale of survival against all odds, the book is a good read for the younger generation, who are yet to face the world on their own.”
It is basically the story of Rahul Saxena. This 27-year-old Anglo-Indian boy, after being rejected in love and out of job, reaches Mumbai from London to study film making. However, the city of dreams has some other hardships planned for him. The story is about his struggles and journey.
Read the complete review here: http://www.ilagarg.com/2018/03/one-en...
July 3, 2022
One Enduring Lesson by Jamal Merchant is a tale of reclaiming lost love. It is a tale of 27-year-old Anglo-Indian boy, Rahul, who arrives in Mumbai from London dreaming to achieve his goal of studying filmmaking. The city of dreams, Mumbai, from the start of his journey turns out to be a series of setback for him. From dark corners of streets being a professional rat-killer, finding a 9 to 5 beggar, Rahul finally settles to provide pleasure for the city's rich women in exchange of money that is essential for his survival.
With this secret the protagonist finds love of his own and then comes the struggle of making his loved one understand the actions his life took course of. Inspired by India’s synergetic religious traditions, Rahul fights back internal and external demons to write his own destiny.
The storyline is captivating and with few pages in, will draw any reader's attention. It is not an ordinary romance fiction even though it might seem at points but the author has surprise for you. The way the plot forms without any exceptions is thought-provoking. The narrative voice is calm and constant. I am surprised to find myself enjoying the narrative voice.
The plot is in sync with theme of one's struggle in life, religious traditions and few norms of Indian society it touches. Even the portrayal of the protagonist's roller coaster ride after arriving and his determination to survive in India seems realistic enough for a reader to imagine. Many books in the same genre of romance fail to achieve the level of splendid and satisfactory story-telling as this one.
The characterisation is well developed and the growth of characters is observable as the plot moves forward. Even though the scope of the novel is 280 pages, the reader will enjoy it thoroughly as there is no flaw in that. The writing style is good and is exactly what I expect of Indian writers. Overall, the book is a page-turner and a reader will be able to finish this one in no time.
I will recommend you this book if you seek Indian flavour of writing and story-telling or are a part of romance fiction fandom.
With this secret the protagonist finds love of his own and then comes the struggle of making his loved one understand the actions his life took course of. Inspired by India’s synergetic religious traditions, Rahul fights back internal and external demons to write his own destiny.
The storyline is captivating and with few pages in, will draw any reader's attention. It is not an ordinary romance fiction even though it might seem at points but the author has surprise for you. The way the plot forms without any exceptions is thought-provoking. The narrative voice is calm and constant. I am surprised to find myself enjoying the narrative voice.
The plot is in sync with theme of one's struggle in life, religious traditions and few norms of Indian society it touches. Even the portrayal of the protagonist's roller coaster ride after arriving and his determination to survive in India seems realistic enough for a reader to imagine. Many books in the same genre of romance fail to achieve the level of splendid and satisfactory story-telling as this one.
The characterisation is well developed and the growth of characters is observable as the plot moves forward. Even though the scope of the novel is 280 pages, the reader will enjoy it thoroughly as there is no flaw in that. The writing style is good and is exactly what I expect of Indian writers. Overall, the book is a page-turner and a reader will be able to finish this one in no time.
I will recommend you this book if you seek Indian flavour of writing and story-telling or are a part of romance fiction fandom.
April 2, 2018
One Enduring Lesson by Jamal Merchant is a book with various shades and flavours. From the glamorous life of London, Rahul comes to Mumbai to give a new direction to his life when he loses all control on his dreams in the dark streets of Mumbai, again to find new hopes and ray of light in the form of love. Every city has two sides, one is bright & glorious and the other is dark. The book has explored the dark side of Mumbai in a very well manner.
The plot is very good and fresh and describes the struggles of youngsters in a very effective way. It also incorporates various religious traditions and few norms of Indian society. All this is narrated via the roller coaster journey of Rahul, the protagonist.
The characters of the book are very well etched and developed. They have been created with a great finesse to suit to the mood of the book and story.
The narration is good. The author has touched many aspects of the society and has managed well to intertwine them together.
The language is simple and is easy to comprehend. The title and the cover are very attractive and add value to the book.
Overall, One Enduring Lesson is an intriguing book that is definitely a page turner. I enjoyed reading it and recommend to all who want to read a book with a difference.
The plot is very good and fresh and describes the struggles of youngsters in a very effective way. It also incorporates various religious traditions and few norms of Indian society. All this is narrated via the roller coaster journey of Rahul, the protagonist.
The characters of the book are very well etched and developed. They have been created with a great finesse to suit to the mood of the book and story.
The narration is good. The author has touched many aspects of the society and has managed well to intertwine them together.
The language is simple and is easy to comprehend. The title and the cover are very attractive and add value to the book.
Overall, One Enduring Lesson is an intriguing book that is definitely a page turner. I enjoyed reading it and recommend to all who want to read a book with a difference.
April 3, 2018
Rating – 4/5
The story unfolds with our male protagonist Rahul trying to convince his parents to let him pursue his dream of studying film making in India. The traits of Rahul’s mother who is a Tanzanian is more of how our Indian mothers are. No Offence! Let me assume all mothers are alike. So what is the story about? Is it just about living the dream? Chase? what is the story about?
Well, at the beginning of the story you can never guess. While reading, you will not be able to put the book down for sure. One after the other life throws ducks and white balls for Rahul and he does play. Whether he play well or not, I will not judge that. For sure, there are some rational solutions to his problems. But, if it becomes too rational it will not be fiction now?
The story-telling is the biggest point that keeps a reader interested here. You are bound to fall in love with the though process of the Character. I was in awe to see this could have been me at so many places.
Though, the ending could have been better. This ended up being a Love-story and I had high hopes.
The story unfolds with our male protagonist Rahul trying to convince his parents to let him pursue his dream of studying film making in India. The traits of Rahul’s mother who is a Tanzanian is more of how our Indian mothers are. No Offence! Let me assume all mothers are alike. So what is the story about? Is it just about living the dream? Chase? what is the story about?
Well, at the beginning of the story you can never guess. While reading, you will not be able to put the book down for sure. One after the other life throws ducks and white balls for Rahul and he does play. Whether he play well or not, I will not judge that. For sure, there are some rational solutions to his problems. But, if it becomes too rational it will not be fiction now?
The story-telling is the biggest point that keeps a reader interested here. You are bound to fall in love with the though process of the Character. I was in awe to see this could have been me at so many places.
Though, the ending could have been better. This ended up being a Love-story and I had high hopes.
May 6, 2018
The book, One Enduring Lesson, is too many things in one as it talks about a story of love, a story about trust, a story about the desires of different sections of the society, a story of redemption, a story of spiritual awakening and probably this things makes the book a bit longer than it should have been.
There are other good things about the book, all the characters that are introduced in the book are there for an actual reason and serve a larger purpose in the story. The narration of the story is simple and straightforward with detailed descriptions of the characters and their surroundings.
The story also takes a spiritual angle and leads up to All’s Well That Ends Well, but does the story have a happy ending? That is for you, as a reader to find out. I would recommend this 274 page long book to anyone interested in reading a simple fictional tale.
To read the complete review of the book, please visit Book Review : One Enduring Lesson - Jamal Merchant
There are other good things about the book, all the characters that are introduced in the book are there for an actual reason and serve a larger purpose in the story. The narration of the story is simple and straightforward with detailed descriptions of the characters and their surroundings.
The story also takes a spiritual angle and leads up to All’s Well That Ends Well, but does the story have a happy ending? That is for you, as a reader to find out. I would recommend this 274 page long book to anyone interested in reading a simple fictional tale.
To read the complete review of the book, please visit Book Review : One Enduring Lesson - Jamal Merchant
April 18, 2019
The male escorts are not a secret anymore. After a magazine article this is known to almost everyone.If could or could not be viewed with judgement. Author has brought forward a very tricky subject which if not handled properly will make the book lood like a sleazy erotica. Nonetheless the book is suprisingly as good as a classic. It could not be read as a mere romance book or the life of an escort. The lives of the clients that Rahul meets call for another book itself. To coin so many subplots is a commendable on the author's part. He has subtly brought forward several issues like changing religion to Muslimhood just to have Polygamy, threatened marriages, bias towards AIDS patients, Gay men etc. The book in itself is a social awareness lesson.
Rahul's love life is quite matured and how it affects him is portrayed beautifully and authentically. The style of narration is impeccable. The characters are crafted with utmost perfection. The plot is quite unique. Compared to how excellent the whole book ,is the climax seems dull but doesn't affect the overall mood of the book.
October 1, 2017
The author has cited various issues through these stories chained in the locks of culture and traditions like homosexuality, childless couples or a plight of a lady bearing with a rich husband who converted his religion to marry. Also, I applaud the author’s take on religion, the way he knits the best of every religion. The writing is simple and eloquent. The storyline can strike a chord with today’s youth. It was a fast-paced breezy read."
my link text
my link text
March 19, 2018
A book with muxture of love, Mystery, Action and faith in God. Very Boaring and repetitive in between and predictable. Sometime feels that story has been dragged unnecessarily without any concrete reason.
Clearly Avoidable!
Clearly Avoidable!
August 12, 2019
One Enduring Lesson is a masterstroke by the debut novelist Jamal Merchant. You can feel the spark in writing and the story keeps you hooked till the very end. One enduring lesson is an endearing tale of reclaiming lost love, and tells the story of a 27 year old protagonist Rahul who arrives in Mumbai to achieve his goals. What happens next will keep you hooked until the very end. The book touches on almost all aspects of one's struggles with life and takes the reader on a roller coaster journey of the character from being a professional rat killer to a 9-5 begger, and providing pleasure to the city's rich woman for his survival. The narrative is highly engaging and characters are very well developed. Overall, a must-read for this year!
January 5, 2018
I loved this book. I read it over one weekend from start to finish! I just could not put it down! I immensely enjoyed reading it and could not wait to read chapter after chapter to find out what the protagonist Rahul Saxena would be up to next. It made extremely enjoyable reading notwithstanding a bit of pornography! The author has cleverly and rightly brought out some of the social issues and taboos facing the Indian society. Chapter titles have been thoughtfully named after famous films like Sound of Music, Pretty Woman etc. Here's another chance for you to make a great film based in India Danny Boyle!.
January 10, 2018
Our life is full of stories and the lessons we learn out of them are plenty. The best advantage of reading novels is that we can come across of variety of stories which teach us myriad lessons and this book is no exemption. They help us to mould ourselves and lead a happy life.
The plot
Rahul Saxea an NRI from England aged 27, son of a Hindu father and a English Christian mother leaves London , for pursuing a course in Film International for a film career in Mumbai. Once he reaches Mumbai he comes upon David a private taxi driver and Irfan Dongriwalla a tourist guide. Irfan introduces him to Mrs. Perizaad Pestonji shortly known as PP Auntie who gives him accommodation and food as a paying guest in her house.
There starts his journey of life and he tries various odd jobs to earn his livelihood. At last he settles for a peculiar job as a male sex worker. In the meantime he meets Julie Singh in her mid –twenties and her husband Robin a young Sikh couple at Hills Road .All on a sudden two men come and shoot at Robin . Rahul helps Julie to get her husband admitted in the Bandstand General Hospital.
The middle part of the novel covers the meetings of Rahul with his clients and they share their life history with him. Here we come to know many a story and how affluent ladies are longing for just listen to their tales.The social drama takes so many twists and turns and ends with a fitting climax.
The pro
ONE ENDURING LESSON is a tale of the undying human spirit of survival against all odds.
So ends the blurb of the novel on the back cover of the book.
Both the title and cover are superb. This is the story of Rahul his personal experiences which include both painful ordeals, actions and adventures. It starts with a fast track and slows down in the middle when he meets his clients . The characters are realistic and we can easily relate to them. The strong plot gets all the support from many subplots .
The story has got all the advantage to include many facets of life and the author has utilized it successfully. The narrator , I e the protagonist, Rahul chronicles his story in his first person voice.
Both the concept and execution are excellent.
My favorite
I adore the hero of the novel i. e Rahul. He is wise, suave and intelligent. He handles every situation with maturity . He is reasonable and pragmatic.
Important gems of wisdom.
Experience, however is like a comb given to a man when he is bald.
Age gives us wisdom but the same age debilitates our faculties and prepares us for our death.
A life that is not lived passionately isn’t lived fully.
Chapter wise, I like the one captioned Ten Commandments.
I like the fresh and fantabulous language which is lyric and poetic making the book a literary read.
My verdict
Kudos to Jamal Merchant.The author has crafted a wonderful novel. We can’t say it is his debut novel.I have become his fan due to his writing style and story teller in him . I await his next book.
Readers would definitely find the book entertaining . Due to the adult content this book is not meant for children. I recommend this book for all fiction lovers. You can give a try this blockbuster and enjoy the roller coaster read .
For full review please visit
https://talesandreviews.blogspot.in/?m=1
The plot
Rahul Saxea an NRI from England aged 27, son of a Hindu father and a English Christian mother leaves London , for pursuing a course in Film International for a film career in Mumbai. Once he reaches Mumbai he comes upon David a private taxi driver and Irfan Dongriwalla a tourist guide. Irfan introduces him to Mrs. Perizaad Pestonji shortly known as PP Auntie who gives him accommodation and food as a paying guest in her house.
There starts his journey of life and he tries various odd jobs to earn his livelihood. At last he settles for a peculiar job as a male sex worker. In the meantime he meets Julie Singh in her mid –twenties and her husband Robin a young Sikh couple at Hills Road .All on a sudden two men come and shoot at Robin . Rahul helps Julie to get her husband admitted in the Bandstand General Hospital.
The middle part of the novel covers the meetings of Rahul with his clients and they share their life history with him. Here we come to know many a story and how affluent ladies are longing for just listen to their tales.The social drama takes so many twists and turns and ends with a fitting climax.
The pro
ONE ENDURING LESSON is a tale of the undying human spirit of survival against all odds.
So ends the blurb of the novel on the back cover of the book.
Both the title and cover are superb. This is the story of Rahul his personal experiences which include both painful ordeals, actions and adventures. It starts with a fast track and slows down in the middle when he meets his clients . The characters are realistic and we can easily relate to them. The strong plot gets all the support from many subplots .
The story has got all the advantage to include many facets of life and the author has utilized it successfully. The narrator , I e the protagonist, Rahul chronicles his story in his first person voice.
Both the concept and execution are excellent.
My favorite
I adore the hero of the novel i. e Rahul. He is wise, suave and intelligent. He handles every situation with maturity . He is reasonable and pragmatic.
Important gems of wisdom.
Experience, however is like a comb given to a man when he is bald.
Age gives us wisdom but the same age debilitates our faculties and prepares us for our death.
A life that is not lived passionately isn’t lived fully.
Chapter wise, I like the one captioned Ten Commandments.
I like the fresh and fantabulous language which is lyric and poetic making the book a literary read.
My verdict
Kudos to Jamal Merchant.The author has crafted a wonderful novel. We can’t say it is his debut novel.I have become his fan due to his writing style and story teller in him . I await his next book.
Readers would definitely find the book entertaining . Due to the adult content this book is not meant for children. I recommend this book for all fiction lovers. You can give a try this blockbuster and enjoy the roller coaster read .
For full review please visit
https://talesandreviews.blogspot.in/?m=1
April 2, 2018
One Enduring Lesson is a novel filled with friendship, love, anger, jealousy, helplessness and belief. It is a complete Bollywood movie package.
The story is about Rahul, a young man from London who dreams of making films. Film making is his passion and he wished to pursue it from a university in India. Initially, his parents do not approve Rahul’s intention of moving out of London. After numerous attempts of persuasion, they finally agree. Rahul lands up in Mumbai. Will Mumbai treat him good? Does Rahul succeed in following his passion? Who is Radium and how is he connected to Rahul?
The author has crafted this story perfectly well. Every single thing is paid attention to. The story turns a bit predictable towards the end. However, the curiosity about what would happen still exists. The book is a perfect page turner at the beginning. It is narrated in first person narrative and is just perfect. This realistic narration will make you feel like you have been conversing with the protagonist or like you have been watching a movie.
The characters aren’t many. It is Rahul’s parents, his friends and his love interest. I personally loved Rahul. The way he thinks and cares about his parents, his dedication towards his passion, the manner in which he faces the adversities…all are worth praising.
One Enduring Lesson is an all-in-one combo. It teaches you how to face adversities of life. It teaches you to follow your passion. Hard work, dedication and unshakeable faith in God certainly moves mountains. It proves that every cloud has a silver lining.
I rate:
Cover: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Story: 3/5
My overall rating for ‘One Enduring Lesson’ is 4/5 stars.
The story is about Rahul, a young man from London who dreams of making films. Film making is his passion and he wished to pursue it from a university in India. Initially, his parents do not approve Rahul’s intention of moving out of London. After numerous attempts of persuasion, they finally agree. Rahul lands up in Mumbai. Will Mumbai treat him good? Does Rahul succeed in following his passion? Who is Radium and how is he connected to Rahul?
The author has crafted this story perfectly well. Every single thing is paid attention to. The story turns a bit predictable towards the end. However, the curiosity about what would happen still exists. The book is a perfect page turner at the beginning. It is narrated in first person narrative and is just perfect. This realistic narration will make you feel like you have been conversing with the protagonist or like you have been watching a movie.
The characters aren’t many. It is Rahul’s parents, his friends and his love interest. I personally loved Rahul. The way he thinks and cares about his parents, his dedication towards his passion, the manner in which he faces the adversities…all are worth praising.
One Enduring Lesson is an all-in-one combo. It teaches you how to face adversities of life. It teaches you to follow your passion. Hard work, dedication and unshakeable faith in God certainly moves mountains. It proves that every cloud has a silver lining.
I rate:
Cover: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Story: 3/5
My overall rating for ‘One Enduring Lesson’ is 4/5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews