Suspiciously Simian

by Rahul Shrivastava

The one thing he couldn’t figure out was - why he was abandoned...For the first time, Ramu’s monkey, friend and the only source of his income, Billu is not with him. Billu has gone missing at a railway station. Seems like Billu has boarded the Chitah Express, a special train that stops at few stations and has coaches that aren’t interconnected. Ramu boards this train hoping to find his lost simian.If Billu is on the train, Ramu has less than a day to find him. Notwithstanding the difficulties, Ramu carries on his search with one question running through his mind, “Why did he leave me?”An adventurous tale of a teenage boy in search of his lost companion. A tale filled with anticipation, risk, dangers, and comedy.Set in India, the story unravels the realities about the life of the underprivileged in a country of contrasts. The society would want them to be forgotten, knowing little that these are the ones that make India alive.

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 14, 2018

Reviews

[Skip · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ramu is indigent, living in an Indian city slum. His primary source of income is also his best friend, Billu, a trained monkey. Billu disappears after a performance at the train station, leaving his costume, apparently boarding the Chitah Express, a special limited stop train. Ramu is barely able to jump on the train, and then search cars only after each stop because they're not interconnected. Ramu meets people from all walks of life, and gaining friends and wisdom along the way" mystics, guards, army personnel, wealthy, rude, etc. Only at the end, do we learn what happened and why. Ramu was the highlight of the book, and especially some of the ways be helped others, without thought as to his own impoverished circumstances. All he wants/needs is Billu.

[Mererid Evanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a real gem, an engrossing tale of an Indian boy's search for the clever monkey who is his friend, his child and his sole means of income. Although quite a sensational side-story is embedded in the narrative, it is mainly a series of lively character-based episodes. The cover is somewhat misleading because the monkey is missing for most of the book and is not very animated when he does appear.

The theme is that of the innocent abroad. This is a boy who has never been out of his quiet home town, thrust into a microcosm of the whole Indian world on a superfast train. He learns a good deal about the world and is not enamored of it. In his search for his monkey, he meets soldiers, criminals, poor working boys, unruly families, a holy man, vendors of various kinds, greedy officials. He can be something of a monkey himself, teasing, tricking and flattering people. Also he has a good heart, showing courage, fierceness, generosity, common sense and a sound conscience. In the encounters he meets with kindness, selfishness, ingratitude, encouragement and good fortune.

Though presented as a young adult book, it has a universal quality. The writing style is slightly unusual but easy to understand and gives a sense, to me, of a different culture. Highly recommended.

[Mandy Walkden-Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a true gem of a story hidden amongst so much of the chaff of self-published books.

It's simply, but honestly written and it's appeal was the ability of the author to transport the reader to a very different place and culture, whose atmosphere was tangible.

The characters that young Ramu meets whilst trying to find his monkey Billu on the train were quite delightful, quirky, eclectic and the odd one realistically unpleasant. I relished the way in which this young boy dealt with each as he progressed in his search for his best friend.

This is a story appropriate for readers from middle grade to adult, all would enjoy this journey side-by-side with Ramu. I certainly did and will be re-reading it many times in the future.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyed this book

[Kathy Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this Kindle edition book in a GoodReads giveaway - thank you to everyone involved.
This is a really good book for everyone from young adult to adult.

[Kasam Pokhrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rahul Shrivastava is synonym to simplicity. This book tells the storyline with episodes which one can relate to, learn from, and revamp with.