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Elephants in the Room
A perfect meal with all the right ingredients mixed in perfect proportion...a masterpiece!
- New Asian Writing
A ragtag group of friends are planning a bank heist to end their cash crunch. Novices to crime, they are driven more by emotions than skill - their plan seems foolproof, or so they think.
In another part of the city, a gang of seasoned dacoits has botched up a job and now owes money to the local crime lord. They have to either pay up or pay for it with their lives - and time is running out...
In a bizarre twist of fate, both these groups are brought face to face. Trapped in a situation beyond the realm of their planning and experience, they must think on their feet, form quick alliances and rally behind an unlikely leader. Set against the backdrop of Chennai, where men sing gaana songs in kuppams (fishing hamlets) nestled against swanky glass-fronted buildings and life-size cutouts of film stars and politicians, a story of love, greed, friendship, fate and the absurdity of the human condition unfolds.
- New Asian Writing
A ragtag group of friends are planning a bank heist to end their cash crunch. Novices to crime, they are driven more by emotions than skill - their plan seems foolproof, or so they think.
In another part of the city, a gang of seasoned dacoits has botched up a job and now owes money to the local crime lord. They have to either pay up or pay for it with their lives - and time is running out...
In a bizarre twist of fate, both these groups are brought face to face. Trapped in a situation beyond the realm of their planning and experience, they must think on their feet, form quick alliances and rally behind an unlikely leader. Set against the backdrop of Chennai, where men sing gaana songs in kuppams (fishing hamlets) nestled against swanky glass-fronted buildings and life-size cutouts of film stars and politicians, a story of love, greed, friendship, fate and the absurdity of the human condition unfolds.
600 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2018
4 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Suraj Laxminarayanan
1 book47 followersSuraj is a big fan of crime and mystery thrillers. Movies in the genre of crime and suspense inspired him to take up writing on similar subjects. He started by writing movie reviews.
He lives in Bangalore and is a software engineer by profession. His hobbies include reading and playing tennis.
He lives in Bangalore and is a software engineer by profession. His hobbies include reading and playing tennis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
August 1, 2018
Let me tell the readers that the book is fantastic, thrilling and will be a fresh experience for the readers of crime and thriller fiction. Though a little lengthy, you won't feel burdened at any place in the book. Suraj has come up with an idea that is new and with a plot that is compelling. It will take you to the end of the book smoothly and you will shut it down with a feeling of satisfaction; be sure about it!
It's about an uncalled leader who leads a pack of untrained robbers to a bank heist and things get complicated when the newcomers meet the professional dacoits inside the bank. So, what will happen next? Who will win the heist and who will win the prison?
Elephants in the Room is surely going to be the next big hit in Indian fiction... all the best to the readers and all the best to the author!
It's about an uncalled leader who leads a pack of untrained robbers to a bank heist and things get complicated when the newcomers meet the professional dacoits inside the bank. So, what will happen next? Who will win the heist and who will win the prison?
Elephants in the Room is surely going to be the next big hit in Indian fiction... all the best to the readers and all the best to the author!
November 27, 2018
I just finished this book and thought why not share my thoughts with the readers.
Story: The story of the book is simple. There are mainly two groups one is suffering from the cash crunch and another group is a group of robbers who finds himself in a harder position due to some money issue with a local crime lord. The first group tries to rob the bank but did not happen the same according to their plan. And after that, they find themselves in a hard position. The two groups come together and the story goes on.
The theme of the novel is based on a crime thriller. Language is simple and good. Handling of the plot is good as well. Only thing, in my opinion, is not good is the vastness. More than 500 pages.
Overall, the novel is a good one and must read for everyone who enjoys crime novels.
Story: The story of the book is simple. There are mainly two groups one is suffering from the cash crunch and another group is a group of robbers who finds himself in a harder position due to some money issue with a local crime lord. The first group tries to rob the bank but did not happen the same according to their plan. And after that, they find themselves in a hard position. The two groups come together and the story goes on.
The theme of the novel is based on a crime thriller. Language is simple and good. Handling of the plot is good as well. Only thing, in my opinion, is not good is the vastness. More than 500 pages.
Overall, the novel is a good one and must read for everyone who enjoys crime novels.
November 22, 2018
The novel is not a simple crime thriller... it has different dimensions attached to the plot as well as to the narrative. The novelist has offered a deep fiction - psychological perspectives and various emotional perspectives that saves the fiction from being a stamp-approved thriller. Even in his very debut, the novelist has done the best. A must-read and a lengthy novel which will keep the readers hooked for a longer period of time.
December 12, 2018
Overall Verdict:- Good concept, but too much detailing
The first thing that hit me when I took this book was its sheer volume. Three elephants surrounding a crate of (former) 500 Rs notes in the cover and the descriptive chaos of the plot involving a bank robbery and more than one team of robbers piqued my interest and I started this crime thriller, curious to what twists and turns awaited inside.
“Elephants In The Room” involves around a group of petty thieves who plan to rob a bank and the utter mayhem that ensures when they come to face with two more groups during robbery each of them who try to get one over the others, all of whom have a plan of their own.
The novel is written in third person narrative and in switching perspective of the characters inside the bank and the cops outside handling the situation. The mutual distrust, temporary alliances, frequent disharmony, sudden deaths justify the cover of the book where each elephant is one group and every movement taken creates a tremor throughout the story and pushes the plot in a different direction.
Of all the characters, I felt Neog’s character was most well written and depicted. He thinks rationally, doesn’t lose his head and tries to look for a good opportunity to strike. Of all the robbers, I felt it was Bada and Chota who leave a certain impact. Nari, Vel and Dhanta feel more like quick thinking go-with-the-flow support cast. Others characters like Sid come and go but again feel as a support cast. The book ensures there is no main protagonist and most of the characters role remain situational.
Personally, I felt the story line has a lot of potential but could had even been better with a good editing. Too much time is take to set the plot and the end lacks a proper closure. The love story/fantasy of Sid many a times feels out of place and too much detailing drag an otherwise well set pace of the story. The book is a treat for heavy readers as one can easily put down the book and resume it at their own pace.
For Suraj Laxminarayanan’s ruckus criminal thriller, my overall rating would be 3/5.
Detailed Review Link - https://chevusread.blogspot.com/2018/...
The first thing that hit me when I took this book was its sheer volume. Three elephants surrounding a crate of (former) 500 Rs notes in the cover and the descriptive chaos of the plot involving a bank robbery and more than one team of robbers piqued my interest and I started this crime thriller, curious to what twists and turns awaited inside.
“Elephants In The Room” involves around a group of petty thieves who plan to rob a bank and the utter mayhem that ensures when they come to face with two more groups during robbery each of them who try to get one over the others, all of whom have a plan of their own.
The novel is written in third person narrative and in switching perspective of the characters inside the bank and the cops outside handling the situation. The mutual distrust, temporary alliances, frequent disharmony, sudden deaths justify the cover of the book where each elephant is one group and every movement taken creates a tremor throughout the story and pushes the plot in a different direction.
Of all the characters, I felt Neog’s character was most well written and depicted. He thinks rationally, doesn’t lose his head and tries to look for a good opportunity to strike. Of all the robbers, I felt it was Bada and Chota who leave a certain impact. Nari, Vel and Dhanta feel more like quick thinking go-with-the-flow support cast. Others characters like Sid come and go but again feel as a support cast. The book ensures there is no main protagonist and most of the characters role remain situational.
Personally, I felt the story line has a lot of potential but could had even been better with a good editing. Too much time is take to set the plot and the end lacks a proper closure. The love story/fantasy of Sid many a times feels out of place and too much detailing drag an otherwise well set pace of the story. The book is a treat for heavy readers as one can easily put down the book and resume it at their own pace.
For Suraj Laxminarayanan’s ruckus criminal thriller, my overall rating would be 3/5.
Detailed Review Link - https://chevusread.blogspot.com/2018/...
November 30, 2018
Originally reviewed on www.themusingquill.com
.
.
Perfect plot for a cinematic adaptation
.
.
Outline:
A gang of amateur hoodlums plan a bank robbery as an escape to their larger-than-life miseries. What they failed to plan however is - what if a seasoned gang walks in the same day for a loot in the same bank? Set against the backdrop of Chennai, a weird dilemma unfolds where three gangs have nothing but to deal with the situation at hand based on intuition and inept experiences.
The Review:
The start of the book gives you a glimpse into the lives of a fake gang that attempts petty thefts for routine survival. They are glued together, not by fate, but by one common motive and that is ending their monetary plights. Plan: Looting a local bank.
Another gang of seasoned dacoits has fouled a set task and now owe a certain sum to the local crime lord. Plan: Looting the same bank.
The actual twist however, is cleverly concealed from the reader's eyes.
The cover:
The title of the book is pretty intriguing and if you are someone who likes to play detective, you'd learn from it, even before opening the first page that the story is about elephantine motives running into one another, consciously or otherwise. The cover is a quite literal depiction of the plot.
The Plot:
The plot has many subplots. And what happens when a story has many subplots? It tends to fall between the gaps. That's what happens. But not once do you lose sight of the action because that's how smartly it's weaved together. What's worth a mention though is how all the loose ends of the subplots connect toward the end thus forming a clear picture in the reader's mind. The pace of the plot is slow at times, at times the action wins over. But despite it all, I can easily say that the author had an eye for a future cinematic adaptation of the book.
The Setting:
The descriptions of settings take the reader through a tour of the city and you will not fail to notice that the places are so clearly etched in your mind as though you had just visited the place. The author has dissected and explored his locales with queer curiosity and that is evident from the building up of scenes, whether that's a market alleyway or a local city bank.
The Characters:
The characters are far too many and although the author doesn't spare more than a day's light on their backgrounds, it is not difficult to catch up with them. It's the characters who hold the story together helping it not fall apart in the scenario of the commonly known multiple-subplot failure. You do feel a pang of pity for the members of the fake gang but it's gone within the blink of an eye. You do however, keep rooting for their success in the looting compared to the rest of the gangs.
Finally:
What unfolds thus, is a pure work of genius blended with desperate desires, risky attempts, a pinch of revenge with a dash of greed. This work doesn't seem fit to be called a debutant's work. The magnanimous research done and the titanic amount of writing employed in the making of this book surpasses all expectations a reader may hold from a debut work. I'm sighing with relief at the end of this tedious reading experience because:
1. The end was worth it 2. Verbose descriptions
This could easily be wrapped up in about 400 pages, had the author had a mind for innocuous editing. That said, there is nothing that would stop the book from being a stellar attempt at crime fiction.
If you happen to read ‘Elephants in the Room’ or have already read it, do share your thoughts below.
P.S: I received a review copy from the author but the review remains unbiased.
.
.
Perfect plot for a cinematic adaptation
.
.
Outline:
A gang of amateur hoodlums plan a bank robbery as an escape to their larger-than-life miseries. What they failed to plan however is - what if a seasoned gang walks in the same day for a loot in the same bank? Set against the backdrop of Chennai, a weird dilemma unfolds where three gangs have nothing but to deal with the situation at hand based on intuition and inept experiences.
The Review:
The start of the book gives you a glimpse into the lives of a fake gang that attempts petty thefts for routine survival. They are glued together, not by fate, but by one common motive and that is ending their monetary plights. Plan: Looting a local bank.
Another gang of seasoned dacoits has fouled a set task and now owe a certain sum to the local crime lord. Plan: Looting the same bank.
The actual twist however, is cleverly concealed from the reader's eyes.
The cover:
The title of the book is pretty intriguing and if you are someone who likes to play detective, you'd learn from it, even before opening the first page that the story is about elephantine motives running into one another, consciously or otherwise. The cover is a quite literal depiction of the plot.
The Plot:
The plot has many subplots. And what happens when a story has many subplots? It tends to fall between the gaps. That's what happens. But not once do you lose sight of the action because that's how smartly it's weaved together. What's worth a mention though is how all the loose ends of the subplots connect toward the end thus forming a clear picture in the reader's mind. The pace of the plot is slow at times, at times the action wins over. But despite it all, I can easily say that the author had an eye for a future cinematic adaptation of the book.
The Setting:
The descriptions of settings take the reader through a tour of the city and you will not fail to notice that the places are so clearly etched in your mind as though you had just visited the place. The author has dissected and explored his locales with queer curiosity and that is evident from the building up of scenes, whether that's a market alleyway or a local city bank.
The Characters:
The characters are far too many and although the author doesn't spare more than a day's light on their backgrounds, it is not difficult to catch up with them. It's the characters who hold the story together helping it not fall apart in the scenario of the commonly known multiple-subplot failure. You do feel a pang of pity for the members of the fake gang but it's gone within the blink of an eye. You do however, keep rooting for their success in the looting compared to the rest of the gangs.
Finally:
What unfolds thus, is a pure work of genius blended with desperate desires, risky attempts, a pinch of revenge with a dash of greed. This work doesn't seem fit to be called a debutant's work. The magnanimous research done and the titanic amount of writing employed in the making of this book surpasses all expectations a reader may hold from a debut work. I'm sighing with relief at the end of this tedious reading experience because:
1. The end was worth it 2. Verbose descriptions
This could easily be wrapped up in about 400 pages, had the author had a mind for innocuous editing. That said, there is nothing that would stop the book from being a stellar attempt at crime fiction.
If you happen to read ‘Elephants in the Room’ or have already read it, do share your thoughts below.
P.S: I received a review copy from the author but the review remains unbiased.
December 14, 2018
'Elephants in the room' primarily deals with the absurdities of the human condition. It has several themes ranging from love, greed, friendship, and humanity running through it. It also highlights the outcomes of extreme poverty one faces. This generally results in one becoming a criminal.
The book has been given an appropriate title in order to explain the series of baffling events that eventually make two different groups, who were meant to be rivals, friends. Elephants in the room suggest different problems present on the same occasion. The similar thing happens during the course of the narrative. The cover is also fine and lightens the tone of the book. At the first instinct, you might assume that the story would be a plain robbery case but no! it is way too different from what you would assume it to be. However, the other part where the third group comes into play seemed to be repetitive for me since this particular scene of terrorists holding civilians hostage has appeared several times in movies. In fact, I feel that the book could be shortened for a few details could be omitted. This would make the content crisp and interesting.
What I loved the most about the book was its flawless narration. It is actually perfect - in defining and developing the characters, in setting and describing the Chennai where the story is actually based, in portraying different shades of a human character, in building up the storyline and taking it forward. I would appreciate the author for putting up with such a nice debut work. All the characters had something unique in them which has been carved out well. All the sequences have been described in great detail. This is another reason why I liked the book. The author captured minute details of the characters and brought them up amazingly.
In all, the book is a pretty thick & gripping treat for you. Go and grab it this winter to indulge in some gaana and kuppams along with absurd characters.
The book has been given an appropriate title in order to explain the series of baffling events that eventually make two different groups, who were meant to be rivals, friends. Elephants in the room suggest different problems present on the same occasion. The similar thing happens during the course of the narrative. The cover is also fine and lightens the tone of the book. At the first instinct, you might assume that the story would be a plain robbery case but no! it is way too different from what you would assume it to be. However, the other part where the third group comes into play seemed to be repetitive for me since this particular scene of terrorists holding civilians hostage has appeared several times in movies. In fact, I feel that the book could be shortened for a few details could be omitted. This would make the content crisp and interesting.
What I loved the most about the book was its flawless narration. It is actually perfect - in defining and developing the characters, in setting and describing the Chennai where the story is actually based, in portraying different shades of a human character, in building up the storyline and taking it forward. I would appreciate the author for putting up with such a nice debut work. All the characters had something unique in them which has been carved out well. All the sequences have been described in great detail. This is another reason why I liked the book. The author captured minute details of the characters and brought them up amazingly.
In all, the book is a pretty thick & gripping treat for you. Go and grab it this winter to indulge in some gaana and kuppams along with absurd characters.
October 29, 2018
Nari, a pickpocketer and his five other friends planned to rob a bank in their vicinity owing to the cash crisis. Though highly inexperienced and being newbies in a bank robbery, they presumed themselves to be fully prepared. Dhantha, an experienced mugger, with his team of three others happened to choose the same bank on the same day after they had failed to arrange money being owed to the goon Ranga. On the day of the robbery, both the gangs encountered an absurd surprise which left them with only choice to fight for their survival.
Elephants in the room is a story of one such ridicule situation faced by the gangs trapped under one roof and what happens next is just similar to the metaphoric meaning of the title.
The book progresses at a moderate speed, it’s after two fifty pages that the suspense started to build up and I was fully occupied by the story. Earlier I was unsure of the volume of the book but later felt that it was somehow required in order to get the correct picture of the story.
The book has an ordinary theme of combative antagonists which is refashioned into arresting plot packed up with fresh turns. It’s a usual tale that you may have heard of but probably never thought of.
What was Good
Unlike few stories where more characters mean more muddle, but here in the book I was able to acknowledge each and every character with ease and could make note of their distinct personalities.
Descriptive writing of the author is imposing and has the ability to arrest the reader in the plot. I was hooked into the story even where such stories are rarely picked up to write on.
Nonetheless, the work is notable but I’m surprised why the author has picked up this topic as his debut work.
What wasn’t Good
I felt that the dialogues exchanged among the third gang members (Bambharis) discussing the intentions of the other two gangs were overemphasized and slightly overdramatic. Their brief reasoning was little annoying too. Moreover, the size of the book could have been cut short by the withdrawal of this avoidable reasoning.
Why to read this book
This book is creative in terms of recounting absurd life situations and how one’s fate leads to contrary state altogether. The story is experimental and the author did his fair job.
I had a good time reading this book and would recommend it to the ones who are looking out for the usual yet different book to grab. Besides, yes, if you could manage to read six hundred pages book.
Elephants in the room is a story of one such ridicule situation faced by the gangs trapped under one roof and what happens next is just similar to the metaphoric meaning of the title.
The book progresses at a moderate speed, it’s after two fifty pages that the suspense started to build up and I was fully occupied by the story. Earlier I was unsure of the volume of the book but later felt that it was somehow required in order to get the correct picture of the story.
The book has an ordinary theme of combative antagonists which is refashioned into arresting plot packed up with fresh turns. It’s a usual tale that you may have heard of but probably never thought of.
What was Good
Unlike few stories where more characters mean more muddle, but here in the book I was able to acknowledge each and every character with ease and could make note of their distinct personalities.
Descriptive writing of the author is imposing and has the ability to arrest the reader in the plot. I was hooked into the story even where such stories are rarely picked up to write on.
Nonetheless, the work is notable but I’m surprised why the author has picked up this topic as his debut work.
What wasn’t Good
I felt that the dialogues exchanged among the third gang members (Bambharis) discussing the intentions of the other two gangs were overemphasized and slightly overdramatic. Their brief reasoning was little annoying too. Moreover, the size of the book could have been cut short by the withdrawal of this avoidable reasoning.
Why to read this book
This book is creative in terms of recounting absurd life situations and how one’s fate leads to contrary state altogether. The story is experimental and the author did his fair job.
I had a good time reading this book and would recommend it to the ones who are looking out for the usual yet different book to grab. Besides, yes, if you could manage to read six hundred pages book.
December 14, 2018
This book is a break from the usual Indian contemporary fiction books. It is so great to see Indian authors write something new, something different from the usual that contemporary Indian authors think is the key to a good successful book.
This book is mainly about how three set of robbers break in into a bank exactly at the time time. The thought may look ridiculous at first. But the way the whole story has been weaved out of it took me by a really pleasant surprise.
The book started off at a good note. Set up in Chennai, and showing the life of petty thieves, I was engrossed in the book from the beginning. But then came the robbery. Which felt like a really long episode in the beginning. As the book is quite big, existing of 600 pages, you could certainly expect that. And so I started to lose interest in the book.
And then came twist. And more twists. And it all started to make sense. And I was again very much interested in the book. Things sped up a little, and that was more than enough to catch my attention. It ended on a satisfactory not.
The writing style was different. It wasn't exactly the strength of the book, but it wasn't the weakness either. The characters were okayish. But somehow it all balanced to create a story which I definitely enjoyed. A lot.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend anyone to read this book. This book is an example of the great literature Indians are capable of creating.
This book is mainly about how three set of robbers break in into a bank exactly at the time time. The thought may look ridiculous at first. But the way the whole story has been weaved out of it took me by a really pleasant surprise.
The book started off at a good note. Set up in Chennai, and showing the life of petty thieves, I was engrossed in the book from the beginning. But then came the robbery. Which felt like a really long episode in the beginning. As the book is quite big, existing of 600 pages, you could certainly expect that. And so I started to lose interest in the book.
And then came twist. And more twists. And it all started to make sense. And I was again very much interested in the book. Things sped up a little, and that was more than enough to catch my attention. It ended on a satisfactory not.
The writing style was different. It wasn't exactly the strength of the book, but it wasn't the weakness either. The characters were okayish. But somehow it all balanced to create a story which I definitely enjoyed. A lot.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend anyone to read this book. This book is an example of the great literature Indians are capable of creating.
December 5, 2018
Original Rating : 3.5/5
It is very unlikely that a debut novel is excellent in every sphere , be it writing , story line , editing and cover. Elephants in the room is the debut novel of Suraj Laxminarayanan .
The story takes place in Chennai where a group of petty thieves plan to rob a bank. Nari , Vel , Assam , Ashok and Shankar carefully plot the robbery keeping in mind the small intrinsic details on how to execute the whole thing without any scope of failure. But robbing a bank isn’t as easy as they thought. Little did they know , someone somewhere was also plotting a similar crime.
On the d day , their plan goes all wrong when a similar group reaches to rob the bank.
But what happens when elephants are in the similar room?
If we look at the plot , the author has penned a 600 page book , which honestly is a little too much to read. It felt as if I was reading the script of a movie. The author has tried to describe each and every scene which felt quite unnecessary at some points. Too much detailing often diverted my attention from the book and I felt like skipping some sections (which I didn’t ofcourse) but that could have been avoided.
The story line however is quite intriguing and I enjoyed reading the whole book. The touch of Chennai , where the story is placed can be seen and it really enhanced the experience. The witty liners in the book and the comic touch made the whole reading journey fairly bearable.
The writing style is lucid and flowy. The book did get boring because of the length but nowhere can I blame the writing style.
The cover is a let down. I really hope the author/publisher works on the cover in the next edition.
A witty and comical read , you can pick this up if you are ready to invest in a 600 pages book.
It is very unlikely that a debut novel is excellent in every sphere , be it writing , story line , editing and cover. Elephants in the room is the debut novel of Suraj Laxminarayanan .
The story takes place in Chennai where a group of petty thieves plan to rob a bank. Nari , Vel , Assam , Ashok and Shankar carefully plot the robbery keeping in mind the small intrinsic details on how to execute the whole thing without any scope of failure. But robbing a bank isn’t as easy as they thought. Little did they know , someone somewhere was also plotting a similar crime.
On the d day , their plan goes all wrong when a similar group reaches to rob the bank.
But what happens when elephants are in the similar room?
If we look at the plot , the author has penned a 600 page book , which honestly is a little too much to read. It felt as if I was reading the script of a movie. The author has tried to describe each and every scene which felt quite unnecessary at some points. Too much detailing often diverted my attention from the book and I felt like skipping some sections (which I didn’t ofcourse) but that could have been avoided.
The story line however is quite intriguing and I enjoyed reading the whole book. The touch of Chennai , where the story is placed can be seen and it really enhanced the experience. The witty liners in the book and the comic touch made the whole reading journey fairly bearable.
The writing style is lucid and flowy. The book did get boring because of the length but nowhere can I blame the writing style.
The cover is a let down. I really hope the author/publisher works on the cover in the next edition.
A witty and comical read , you can pick this up if you are ready to invest in a 600 pages book.
July 28, 2018
A very good novel! Though the very debut book by Suraj but he has been able to manage the things which make a novel readable, appreciable and critical. Elephants in the Room is not only amusing and comic but also thrilling, exciting and enticing. Plot is based on a bank robbery which has been dramatised very well by the author. I think his own habit of reading thrillers and crime novels must have helped him creating the scenes inside the bank room... you will certainly like the conclusion as well. A must-read book after all! Read it as soon as the book is released!
December 17, 2018
I can quiet much say that i went in knowing pretty much nothing about the story whatsoever and while this wasn’t something I expected but then this book was indeed a bunch of surprises.
If you haven’t already judged from the quite revealing cover, and the blurb, the story unfolds in a bank. It revolves around a bunch of thieves who plan to rob it and the chaos that breaks out when their paths intervene.
Throughout the excessively long book, there are so many subplots, which ultimately meet at the end, for me at least, it became tedious to follow all of them. The author has tried to include so much that you can’t help but not care for half of it.
While it’s delightful nevertheless, I felt that huge chunks of it were unneeded and it could have been a fun, little story that was easy to get through.
But I felt that Suraj gets too obsessed with the little world that he has created, and the characters, he’s forged. To me, it was an Anurag Kashyap movie, with a unique concept and potential but the one which doesn’t work solely because of the length and the unnecessary subplots.
The pace of the plot is slow at times, at times the action wins over. But despite it all, I can easily say that the author had an eye for a future cinematic adaptation of the book.
While too much time is spent on making the base and setting up the story, the end is pretty abrupt and needed more effort than was put in. However, one thing that I found amusing was the use of all the elements and resources made available to Suraj. He uses the background setting of Chennai and makes it nearly a character in itself, and the same is with the use of the bank location where most of the story unfolds.
There are numerous characters and each of them is given a different shade and equal importance and while that is to some extent, applaudable, it still gets very tedious to follow.
The story is not plot driven and to our surprise (as if we weren’t getting enough), it’s character driven, but in a good light. Of course, the storyline would have gone much better with a plot driven story, by this time, I’m sure that all of us know that Suraj is a risk taking author. And even though all the odds are against him here, he effortlessly pulls it off.
Suraj, if anything, has the kind of writing style that I love. And even if it has the kind which is overly and unecessarily descriptive, it was the sole thing that kept me from not finishing the book.
Every scene is described with vividity and is given time and effort to settle down gracefully. He wants to give us a cinematic experience and is quite successful in doing so.
I couldn’t make an opinion about how much I liked it in the end, but that’s just the kind of book it is: it leaves you wondering. A lot.
I would recommend it if you want to read something crazy, is the word for it.
It is unnecessarily long and could have been finished in 300 pages max. to max., and yet I appreciate the author’s creativity and descriptive skills on how he still doesn’t let me give up on it nevertheless. It’s not like anything that you might have read before and that is the promise of The Elephants In The Room.
If you haven’t already judged from the quite revealing cover, and the blurb, the story unfolds in a bank. It revolves around a bunch of thieves who plan to rob it and the chaos that breaks out when their paths intervene.
Throughout the excessively long book, there are so many subplots, which ultimately meet at the end, for me at least, it became tedious to follow all of them. The author has tried to include so much that you can’t help but not care for half of it.
While it’s delightful nevertheless, I felt that huge chunks of it were unneeded and it could have been a fun, little story that was easy to get through.
But I felt that Suraj gets too obsessed with the little world that he has created, and the characters, he’s forged. To me, it was an Anurag Kashyap movie, with a unique concept and potential but the one which doesn’t work solely because of the length and the unnecessary subplots.
The pace of the plot is slow at times, at times the action wins over. But despite it all, I can easily say that the author had an eye for a future cinematic adaptation of the book.
While too much time is spent on making the base and setting up the story, the end is pretty abrupt and needed more effort than was put in. However, one thing that I found amusing was the use of all the elements and resources made available to Suraj. He uses the background setting of Chennai and makes it nearly a character in itself, and the same is with the use of the bank location where most of the story unfolds.
There are numerous characters and each of them is given a different shade and equal importance and while that is to some extent, applaudable, it still gets very tedious to follow.
The story is not plot driven and to our surprise (as if we weren’t getting enough), it’s character driven, but in a good light. Of course, the storyline would have gone much better with a plot driven story, by this time, I’m sure that all of us know that Suraj is a risk taking author. And even though all the odds are against him here, he effortlessly pulls it off.
Suraj, if anything, has the kind of writing style that I love. And even if it has the kind which is overly and unecessarily descriptive, it was the sole thing that kept me from not finishing the book.
Every scene is described with vividity and is given time and effort to settle down gracefully. He wants to give us a cinematic experience and is quite successful in doing so.
I couldn’t make an opinion about how much I liked it in the end, but that’s just the kind of book it is: it leaves you wondering. A lot.
I would recommend it if you want to read something crazy, is the word for it.
It is unnecessarily long and could have been finished in 300 pages max. to max., and yet I appreciate the author’s creativity and descriptive skills on how he still doesn’t let me give up on it nevertheless. It’s not like anything that you might have read before and that is the promise of The Elephants In The Room.
December 4, 2018
Review:
Elephants in the Room is the debut novel by Suraj Laxminarayan, he has been researching and perfecting his book for quite some time. This book is the latest in edition to crime thriller with an outline of humour and subtle emotional turmoil that each individual goes through. Elephants in the Room was already the talk of town with several book clubs talking about it before it's release.
The book is long (almost 600 pages) but the author has carefully fabricated the world and it's characters in complete light. First few chapters are dedicated solely in weaving the background of the story. While, the author could have written a shorter version as most of the readers prefer shorter formats and quick reading; Laxminarayan has announced his entry into the market of books as a serious and risk taking author.
Let's put it this way, it is complex novel; but that being said, it has some serious writing which holds the reader for most of the part. Every character is distinct and consistent and the situations are absolutely absurd in an extremely comical way. There are a variety of underlined layers to this story; teamwork, impromptu thinking and of course, handling complex relationship issues.
Elephants in the Room, unlike other books, is not a plot driven story; it is an emotion and situation driven story. Whether it's the police, robbers or the hostages; author has perfectly captured the emotions and reactions without any failure.
It is a good read for people who can read at length and not easily lose concentration. It's not a traditional crime thriller, it has layers and scenes which almost feel movie like. The slangs and local language used in the book, makes it all the more authentic and wonderful at the same time.
I totally recommend this book as it is different yet sticks to the genre, routine plot yet sub layered writing and lastly a fantastic debut novel. I enjoyed the book thoroughly and out rightly. Go, grab a copy; you won't be disappointed.
Book Information:
Pages: 600
Language: English
Genre: Crime Thriller Fiction
My Rating: 4/5
Elephants in the Room is the debut novel by Suraj Laxminarayan, he has been researching and perfecting his book for quite some time. This book is the latest in edition to crime thriller with an outline of humour and subtle emotional turmoil that each individual goes through. Elephants in the Room was already the talk of town with several book clubs talking about it before it's release.
The book is long (almost 600 pages) but the author has carefully fabricated the world and it's characters in complete light. First few chapters are dedicated solely in weaving the background of the story. While, the author could have written a shorter version as most of the readers prefer shorter formats and quick reading; Laxminarayan has announced his entry into the market of books as a serious and risk taking author.
Let's put it this way, it is complex novel; but that being said, it has some serious writing which holds the reader for most of the part. Every character is distinct and consistent and the situations are absolutely absurd in an extremely comical way. There are a variety of underlined layers to this story; teamwork, impromptu thinking and of course, handling complex relationship issues.
Elephants in the Room, unlike other books, is not a plot driven story; it is an emotion and situation driven story. Whether it's the police, robbers or the hostages; author has perfectly captured the emotions and reactions without any failure.
It is a good read for people who can read at length and not easily lose concentration. It's not a traditional crime thriller, it has layers and scenes which almost feel movie like. The slangs and local language used in the book, makes it all the more authentic and wonderful at the same time.
I totally recommend this book as it is different yet sticks to the genre, routine plot yet sub layered writing and lastly a fantastic debut novel. I enjoyed the book thoroughly and out rightly. Go, grab a copy; you won't be disappointed.
Book Information:
Pages: 600
Language: English
Genre: Crime Thriller Fiction
My Rating: 4/5
July 29, 2018
Only four days of events have been discussed in this book but the book is a little lengthy and it took me about 5 days to finish it. Yes, I did have many breaks during the read because I was having a busy week. Suraj's debut book deals with the amusing case of realism which has a lot of thrilling experience as the readers or audience because I read somewhere that the author wants to give cinematic experience to his readers. He has been extensively successful in doing so, I must say... I can see that one reviewer has already shared a glimpse of the plot and so, I will say only this that you SHOULD NOT MISS this great fiction by a debutant author... book your copies now!
July 28, 2018
Pure thrill and excitement! Elephants in the Room is going to be one of the most entertaining books of the year... Suraj has done an exceptional job with his debut fiction and we can only expect to see better ones from him in the coming future. I will not reveal the exact details because that might let you feel taken with your share of thrill... just be happy with this that it's gonna be a fight between phoney and the real ones and then vice-versa.
July 28, 2018
Fantastic book! A must read for the lovers of thrillers and crime fiction. Suraj Laxminarayanan has done a great job in building up the fiction and then taking it ahead in his very debut book... wish him the best for his writing career ahead.
November 22, 2018
What is a better crime fiction novel where a crime revolves around not the detective who tries to fit pieces in a puzzle? A book that focuses on the crime, it’s after effects and the turmoil every individual involved goes through. Such is a book written by Suraj Laxminarayanan called Elephants in the Room.
Set in Chennai this book is the debut of Suraj Laxminarayanan in the world of crime fiction. The plot revolves around a bank heist that leads to the story of three gangs coming face to face as the events in this book unfold. A group of friends plans a bank robbery which they think to be foolproof. They get into every detail and leave nothing out of their blueprint. It is kind of an Oceans’ 11 but here only 5 members are the mastermind behind it. They try to start their careers as robbers by mugging pedestrians to get hands-on experience.
Things get interesting when another gang of robbers who have already established roots in the crime decides to rob the same bank on the same day with heavy weaponry. Bonds are developed among criminals but as they say, there is no honor among thieves, things get ugly.
The storyline is a long one, written in more 590 pages, it intelligently unfolds every event and the reason behind the action taken which helps a reader like me to develop perspective. This also keeps it interesting until the end. The theme does not only revolves around the crime that is committed but every emotion exposure each character go through which leads to a thrilling drama that is lightened by occasional comic moments.
I never expected this novel to be a thrilling one. The plot did sound interesting at the start and looking at the length of the book, I did wonder how the author will reach the conclusion of this tale which is full of twists and turns. He is imagination and construction of plot did exceed my expectations and so did his writing style. Written from a third person’s narrative there is not a single element I could find the can be said as a dragging one. He even provides insight into Chennai’s culture and its geography which I am nothing but unfamiliar. The characterization could have been better but I do not solely blame the author since there is a huge cast to manage.
This book is an attraction for crime readers as it does not follow a traditional path of the subgenre but tries to redefine the perspective both of the reader and the writer because of its highly appreciable and well-organized plot.
Set in Chennai this book is the debut of Suraj Laxminarayanan in the world of crime fiction. The plot revolves around a bank heist that leads to the story of three gangs coming face to face as the events in this book unfold. A group of friends plans a bank robbery which they think to be foolproof. They get into every detail and leave nothing out of their blueprint. It is kind of an Oceans’ 11 but here only 5 members are the mastermind behind it. They try to start their careers as robbers by mugging pedestrians to get hands-on experience.
Things get interesting when another gang of robbers who have already established roots in the crime decides to rob the same bank on the same day with heavy weaponry. Bonds are developed among criminals but as they say, there is no honor among thieves, things get ugly.
The storyline is a long one, written in more 590 pages, it intelligently unfolds every event and the reason behind the action taken which helps a reader like me to develop perspective. This also keeps it interesting until the end. The theme does not only revolves around the crime that is committed but every emotion exposure each character go through which leads to a thrilling drama that is lightened by occasional comic moments.
I never expected this novel to be a thrilling one. The plot did sound interesting at the start and looking at the length of the book, I did wonder how the author will reach the conclusion of this tale which is full of twists and turns. He is imagination and construction of plot did exceed my expectations and so did his writing style. Written from a third person’s narrative there is not a single element I could find the can be said as a dragging one. He even provides insight into Chennai’s culture and its geography which I am nothing but unfamiliar. The characterization could have been better but I do not solely blame the author since there is a huge cast to manage.
This book is an attraction for crime readers as it does not follow a traditional path of the subgenre but tries to redefine the perspective both of the reader and the writer because of its highly appreciable and well-organized plot.
April 12, 2019
Elephants in the room.
~
Thank you for the review copy @surajlaxminarayanan.
~
Elephants in the room is about a heist gone wrong. It somehow reminded me of Al Pacino's movie, Dog day afternoon. The book is humungous with a total of close to 600 pages so I would suggest you to pick it up only if you're patient enough to finish it. Inspite of being largely intimidating, this book flows with ease, partly because of the wonderful narration and also because of the use of simple English.
~
A group of petty theives decide to rob a bank without thinking much about the consequences. They procure cheap weapons, a barely alive car and amateur masks and head out to the bank on a busy afternoon. Little did they know that their plan would go terribly wrong when two other groups decide to rob the bank on the very same day. What transpires next is utter chaos when all the three groups realise that their mission isn't going to be easy. The group members struggle as they try to keep their emotions in check. They are suspicious, angry, flustered, scared and desperate to get the money and flee from the scene but with the Police surrounding them, they don't have an option but to stay.
~
It's an unusual tale, something that I haven't read before. The entire concept is slightly unique but what makes it even better is the crisp description of Chennai and I could almost visualise few scenes without even being there. The characters are mostly confused as they run around like headless chicken with their plans going all upside down. My problem was with the length of this book which could have been kept short and to the point. Few chapters and characters could have been excluded like the one with Sid. His romantic relationship didn't add much value to the book. I also felt that at one point, there was too much happening and it ended up leaving me dazed. The chaos in the bank, the characters running around - it was a bit too much.
A good novel nevertheless. Lengthy but interesting enough to finish it within a week.
~
Rating - 3.3/5.
~
Thank you for the review copy @surajlaxminarayanan.
~
Elephants in the room is about a heist gone wrong. It somehow reminded me of Al Pacino's movie, Dog day afternoon. The book is humungous with a total of close to 600 pages so I would suggest you to pick it up only if you're patient enough to finish it. Inspite of being largely intimidating, this book flows with ease, partly because of the wonderful narration and also because of the use of simple English.
~
A group of petty theives decide to rob a bank without thinking much about the consequences. They procure cheap weapons, a barely alive car and amateur masks and head out to the bank on a busy afternoon. Little did they know that their plan would go terribly wrong when two other groups decide to rob the bank on the very same day. What transpires next is utter chaos when all the three groups realise that their mission isn't going to be easy. The group members struggle as they try to keep their emotions in check. They are suspicious, angry, flustered, scared and desperate to get the money and flee from the scene but with the Police surrounding them, they don't have an option but to stay.
~
It's an unusual tale, something that I haven't read before. The entire concept is slightly unique but what makes it even better is the crisp description of Chennai and I could almost visualise few scenes without even being there. The characters are mostly confused as they run around like headless chicken with their plans going all upside down. My problem was with the length of this book which could have been kept short and to the point. Few chapters and characters could have been excluded like the one with Sid. His romantic relationship didn't add much value to the book. I also felt that at one point, there was too much happening and it ended up leaving me dazed. The chaos in the bank, the characters running around - it was a bit too much.
A good novel nevertheless. Lengthy but interesting enough to finish it within a week.
~
Rating - 3.3/5.
January 23, 2019
Two rival Gangs have hatched a perfect plan (or so they think) to rob a bank. But what happens when these two rival gangs decide to rob the same bank and that also on the same day?
All hell breaks loose!!!
‘Elephants in the room‘ is a story of such absurd situation the two gangs land up in.
Most of the first half of the book ‘Elephants in the room’ focuses on the preparation of the Bank Heist, the members of the gangs are going to do. And then starts the chaos as each of the rival gang members tries to outsmart the other.
Review
Reading big books can be very taxing sometimes. But there comes a book which looks daunting at first, but once you start reading, the story grows on you. Suraj Laxminarayanan’s ‘Elephants in the Room‘ is one such book.
First of all, I really loved the unusual concept of the story. Author Suraj’s narrative style is very captivating. The book had both great action and character development. I loved the way how each character was introduced, gradually. Also how each character has its own different personality.
The story of ‘Elephants in the room’ is very engaging. The many twists and turns leave you guessing how this book is going to end. It has all the elements you expect to find in this extremely well written and fun novel.
I applaud the author Suraj for picking up such a complex topic of Bank Heist for his debut Novel and implementing it so well. The author has great potential and I hope that very soon I will get to read his next book.
What I did not like was the overstretched dialogues in the second half of the book. The size of the book could have been a lot less if not for these dialogues.
Do I recommend the Book?
If you love to read about a great Bank Heist, this is a MUST read!!! I loved this story and strongly recommend it to all!
All hell breaks loose!!!
‘Elephants in the room‘ is a story of such absurd situation the two gangs land up in.
Most of the first half of the book ‘Elephants in the room’ focuses on the preparation of the Bank Heist, the members of the gangs are going to do. And then starts the chaos as each of the rival gang members tries to outsmart the other.
Review
Reading big books can be very taxing sometimes. But there comes a book which looks daunting at first, but once you start reading, the story grows on you. Suraj Laxminarayanan’s ‘Elephants in the Room‘ is one such book.
First of all, I really loved the unusual concept of the story. Author Suraj’s narrative style is very captivating. The book had both great action and character development. I loved the way how each character was introduced, gradually. Also how each character has its own different personality.
The story of ‘Elephants in the room’ is very engaging. The many twists and turns leave you guessing how this book is going to end. It has all the elements you expect to find in this extremely well written and fun novel.
I applaud the author Suraj for picking up such a complex topic of Bank Heist for his debut Novel and implementing it so well. The author has great potential and I hope that very soon I will get to read his next book.
What I did not like was the overstretched dialogues in the second half of the book. The size of the book could have been a lot less if not for these dialogues.
Do I recommend the Book?
If you love to read about a great Bank Heist, this is a MUST read!!! I loved this story and strongly recommend it to all!
December 24, 2018
The book opens with Nari, trying to pick the pockets of people in a crowded place and then running away after being discovered by the police. The way that the author described him and his crimes was very thrilling. We then come to know that Nari and his friends are planning to rob a bank. They all had some problems that they needed the money for. However, when they try to rob the bank, they discover that two other groups had also come to rob it.
The writing is quite good. It is also fast-paced, so one doesn’t need a lot of breaks in between reading it.
The plot is very thrilling and interesting. There are a lot of crime scenes so the reader is always curious to know what will happen. Things go wrong again and again. We read about both robberies and also the involvement of the police in detail. Some scenes and descriptions were too long.
The book gets very intense at times, but it also maintains a sense of humor. There is a wide range of characters, and I appreciate the author for providing a list of characters at the end. The story is set in Chennai, and I really enjoyed the effect that brought with it. The editing of the book is very well done. However, I do think the book could have been shorter.
It was also very interesting to read about a robbery through all perspectives involved- the thieves, the police, and the innocent people caught in the middle. The book also shows us what causes a lot of people to resort to crimes. The ending was unexpected and lived up to what I was expecting.
Elephants In The Room is a highly enjoyable thriller. It is a fast read and keeps you on your toes. If you’re looking for a contemporary read by an Indian author, I highly recommend it.
The writing is quite good. It is also fast-paced, so one doesn’t need a lot of breaks in between reading it.
The plot is very thrilling and interesting. There are a lot of crime scenes so the reader is always curious to know what will happen. Things go wrong again and again. We read about both robberies and also the involvement of the police in detail. Some scenes and descriptions were too long.
The book gets very intense at times, but it also maintains a sense of humor. There is a wide range of characters, and I appreciate the author for providing a list of characters at the end. The story is set in Chennai, and I really enjoyed the effect that brought with it. The editing of the book is very well done. However, I do think the book could have been shorter.
It was also very interesting to read about a robbery through all perspectives involved- the thieves, the police, and the innocent people caught in the middle. The book also shows us what causes a lot of people to resort to crimes. The ending was unexpected and lived up to what I was expecting.
Elephants In The Room is a highly enjoyable thriller. It is a fast read and keeps you on your toes. If you’re looking for a contemporary read by an Indian author, I highly recommend it.
March 19, 2019
You say, a bunch of ragtag group planning a heist? well, that is all I want in my life and this book certainly does not disappoint in that aspect. Elephants in the Room is a story with a lot of heart and follows a bunch of culturally diverse characters as they plan a Bank robbery in order to overcome their money troubles. Little do they know that their problems are only beginning because what's the worse thing that can happen when you plan a heist like a Bank Robbery?
try, saying everything?
I really enjoyed the author's writing style and his ability to relate the events in an engaging and thrilling way. The characters are all very interesting and I really loved learning about their own personal stories and struggles. Plus, I think that the relationship dynamic between characters are established really well, which, makes this book all too enthralling and captivating. In fact, I think the characters somewhat made up for a plot which, sometimes took a slower turn despite the various twists and turns.
Honestly, there's still a lot of scope for improvement and even editing because I truly believe that, this book could have been so much better without some unnecessary details. However, overall, I felt it to be entertaining, amusing and even hilarious at times. Pick this up if you are looking for a good reading time and if you don't mind reading long books.
P.S- Review copy provided by Publishers, in exchange for my honest opinion!
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try, saying everything?
I really enjoyed the author's writing style and his ability to relate the events in an engaging and thrilling way. The characters are all very interesting and I really loved learning about their own personal stories and struggles. Plus, I think that the relationship dynamic between characters are established really well, which, makes this book all too enthralling and captivating. In fact, I think the characters somewhat made up for a plot which, sometimes took a slower turn despite the various twists and turns.
Honestly, there's still a lot of scope for improvement and even editing because I truly believe that, this book could have been so much better without some unnecessary details. However, overall, I felt it to be entertaining, amusing and even hilarious at times. Pick this up if you are looking for a good reading time and if you don't mind reading long books.
P.S- Review copy provided by Publishers, in exchange for my honest opinion!
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November 25, 2018
Two gangs of robbers, one amateur another professional, coincidentally decides to rob the same bank on the same day and same time. What follows is utter chaos and mayhem and admit of all these the author drops a mind blowing twist into the story line which completely changes the entire scenario.
Then began a series of mind games between the gangs which will keep you engrossed all the time. There was always a possibility of treachery and everyone was trying to outsmart other. The characterization was superb and you will remember all of them despite the large number. The author's writing style was good. Thrilling scenes were well written.
But what will concern you time and again were over stretched and over dramatized scenes, sub stories which doesn't contribute to the main story really hampers the pace of the story and narrative drags. A crisp read would have made this book a great read.
In spite of this it is a thrilling read and the timely twist will make your jaw drop.
Then began a series of mind games between the gangs which will keep you engrossed all the time. There was always a possibility of treachery and everyone was trying to outsmart other. The characterization was superb and you will remember all of them despite the large number. The author's writing style was good. Thrilling scenes were well written.
But what will concern you time and again were over stretched and over dramatized scenes, sub stories which doesn't contribute to the main story really hampers the pace of the story and narrative drags. A crisp read would have made this book a great read.
In spite of this it is a thrilling read and the timely twist will make your jaw drop.
July 29, 2018
The story of the book revolves around real-life robbers and make-shift robbers who plan to loot a bank but find themselves trapped in a do or die situation. Nari is a small-time thug who pick-pockets for his life. He creates a gang of people and plans to rob a bank while the gang members have the least experience of doing something as big as a bank heist. When they meet real robbers inside the bank, the situation becomes amusing and also thrilling... awesome book, a little longer but awesome.. the story that this book covers only extends hardly to four days and you will love it!
January 20, 2019
Read The Full Review on My Blog: https://poesyinchrysalis.wordpress.co...
‘Elephants in The Room’ is a big book to be consumed (of course I didn’t mean that literally). But now that I have swallowed it’s contents, or so I like to think, I shall discuss it with you all. The novel appertains diverse and an assorted number of topics out of which friendship and integrity are the most foregrounded ones.
Laxminarayanan’s ‘Elephants in The Room’ can certainly be considered as a tour de force. For, he has handled the text adroitly despite the many underlying subjects operating alongside the main plot.
At the crux of the story is a destitute, impoverished young man, Nari, a petty thief who preys on people’s wallets and purses. Fast forward to the main event; pertaining to the money problems, Nari and his friends plots a bank robbery. These juvenile people considers themselves infallible and their plan to be efficacious while in reality it is an asinine scheme to follow through. On the other hand, another group of bandits plans to rob the same bank on the same day. Now I shall leave it up to you to cerebrate all the conceivable situations that can happen when two groups of robbers are in close proximity to one another.
Even though the text promises a thrilling and action-packed ride, I must intrude here and let you all know that the story accommodates a lot of comic elements to tickle the readers. From whatever I have discussed so far, you would have conjured this image of a thriller/mystery plotline (which it is in a way) but considering the elusive nature of the text, the intention of the author, the intention of the interpreter and the intention of the text are not quite in sync. Hence, there are plenty of chances to read between the lines.
Even though ‘Elephants in The Room’ is a very lengthy novel, Suraj manipulated the story to his benefit. The novel’s appealing prospects perpetuated throughout the novel. I found the author’s diction very compelling and his narrative style stimulating and thought-provoking. The descriptive style of writing provided enough time for the characters to develop, a seemingly viable way to distinguish between their outward appearances and inner personalities.
The only let down was the length of the book. There were instances when I felt that certain parts were exaggerated and unnecessary which neither enhanced nor helped in the development of the story. That being said, it could have been a possibility for the story to end a few pages earlier than later.
The title of this novel was one of the main reasons that attracted my attention towards the book. The themes that Suraj was dealing with in the novel; he effectively addressed all the “Elephants in the room”, and by room, I mean in the story.
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone but readers need to keep in mind that they have to invest a lot of time in completing the book.
For more reviews and bookish posts, follow my blog at www.poesyinchrysalis.wordpress.com. For review enquiries and collaborations, write to me at query.sohinee@gmail.com
‘Elephants in The Room’ is a big book to be consumed (of course I didn’t mean that literally). But now that I have swallowed it’s contents, or so I like to think, I shall discuss it with you all. The novel appertains diverse and an assorted number of topics out of which friendship and integrity are the most foregrounded ones.
Laxminarayanan’s ‘Elephants in The Room’ can certainly be considered as a tour de force. For, he has handled the text adroitly despite the many underlying subjects operating alongside the main plot.
At the crux of the story is a destitute, impoverished young man, Nari, a petty thief who preys on people’s wallets and purses. Fast forward to the main event; pertaining to the money problems, Nari and his friends plots a bank robbery. These juvenile people considers themselves infallible and their plan to be efficacious while in reality it is an asinine scheme to follow through. On the other hand, another group of bandits plans to rob the same bank on the same day. Now I shall leave it up to you to cerebrate all the conceivable situations that can happen when two groups of robbers are in close proximity to one another.
Even though the text promises a thrilling and action-packed ride, I must intrude here and let you all know that the story accommodates a lot of comic elements to tickle the readers. From whatever I have discussed so far, you would have conjured this image of a thriller/mystery plotline (which it is in a way) but considering the elusive nature of the text, the intention of the author, the intention of the interpreter and the intention of the text are not quite in sync. Hence, there are plenty of chances to read between the lines.
Even though ‘Elephants in The Room’ is a very lengthy novel, Suraj manipulated the story to his benefit. The novel’s appealing prospects perpetuated throughout the novel. I found the author’s diction very compelling and his narrative style stimulating and thought-provoking. The descriptive style of writing provided enough time for the characters to develop, a seemingly viable way to distinguish between their outward appearances and inner personalities.
The only let down was the length of the book. There were instances when I felt that certain parts were exaggerated and unnecessary which neither enhanced nor helped in the development of the story. That being said, it could have been a possibility for the story to end a few pages earlier than later.
The title of this novel was one of the main reasons that attracted my attention towards the book. The themes that Suraj was dealing with in the novel; he effectively addressed all the “Elephants in the room”, and by room, I mean in the story.
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone but readers need to keep in mind that they have to invest a lot of time in completing the book.
For more reviews and bookish posts, follow my blog at www.poesyinchrysalis.wordpress.com. For review enquiries and collaborations, write to me at query.sohinee@gmail.com
July 28, 2018
An absolute thriller!
You should not miss this book at any cost. I got the early review copy and I can only say this to all the readers. Do read Suraj's debut book because he has got a lot to offer...
You should not miss this book at any cost. I got the early review copy and I can only say this to all the readers. Do read Suraj's debut book because he has got a lot to offer...
December 7, 2018
"Elephants in a room"
according to me title of this book is inspired by the
"Elephant in the room" is an English-language metaphorical idiom for an obvious problem or risk that no one wants to discuss.
Illustration of the cover can give you an Idea about there's something realted the money in this book.
Story of crime and not about the dramatic manner but in a very sophisticated and detailed analytical manner , a complete novel as we can say written by Suraj Laxminarayanan called Elephants in the Room.
A lot of twists , turns , suspense , thrills and fun because storyline runs for around 600 pages. Everything us well elaborated with the appropriate additional informations and hints which make this long read so glamourous and easy.
Story revolves around the gangs , one of them plan a bank robbery , thieves of this gang are common friends.
Very interesting thrills is described on the day of execution of this robbery when they all the three gangs meet at the same spot , while they were unaware about this.
Pace is very well balanced and easy flowing. Somewhere I found the scenario is dragged , may be that was not my type of reading , overall narration is very good. No doubt the storyline and plot is huge but the way of telling story make this easy and you can recognise each and every character very well , all the characters are engaging and interesting.
If you're a book lover and you like to read a long story with amazing dialogues this one is written for you only , you can take this for your long vacations.
according to me title of this book is inspired by the
"Elephant in the room" is an English-language metaphorical idiom for an obvious problem or risk that no one wants to discuss.
Illustration of the cover can give you an Idea about there's something realted the money in this book.
Story of crime and not about the dramatic manner but in a very sophisticated and detailed analytical manner , a complete novel as we can say written by Suraj Laxminarayanan called Elephants in the Room.
A lot of twists , turns , suspense , thrills and fun because storyline runs for around 600 pages. Everything us well elaborated with the appropriate additional informations and hints which make this long read so glamourous and easy.
Story revolves around the gangs , one of them plan a bank robbery , thieves of this gang are common friends.
Very interesting thrills is described on the day of execution of this robbery when they all the three gangs meet at the same spot , while they were unaware about this.
Pace is very well balanced and easy flowing. Somewhere I found the scenario is dragged , may be that was not my type of reading , overall narration is very good. No doubt the storyline and plot is huge but the way of telling story make this easy and you can recognise each and every character very well , all the characters are engaging and interesting.
If you're a book lover and you like to read a long story with amazing dialogues this one is written for you only , you can take this for your long vacations.
November 26, 2018
A modern-day crime thriller that explores all the dimension of the crime novel. Basically, there are two gangs in the novel. One is suffering from the cash crunch and another one in the hands of a crime lord. Both are in the different situation but their motive is the same to come out from their problems.
Very good novel Indeed.
Very good novel Indeed.
December 25, 2018
Read the detailed review on India's most popular book blog - https://www.bookgeeks.in/elephants-in...
December 17, 2018
Book Title: Elephants in a room
Author: Suraj Laxminarayanan
Format: Kindle
Book Title:
The title of the book ' Elephants in a room ' is a very unique, abstract and interesting one.
Book Cover:
The cover image of the book is of three' elephants ' trying to use their long trunks to get hold of some cash bundles, Yes you read it right, cash bundles inside the strong room of a bank. Did the elephants come to rob the bank? Well, the book likes like a definite read.
Plot:
Three groups of men, each having a different agenda and claiming themselves a crime groups plan to attack and rob the same bank on the same day which seems completely fictional and coincidental with absurdity. One group starts mob robbing to gain experience and then plan to rob the bank, while other groups are masters in robbing and the last group with other agenda. What is the other motive is a surprise?
As the book is a long story, I started at a good speed but had to slow down after 60 pages which felt boring and as I was losing interest and then encountered the first twist. It got me hooked back to the book. The book is an unusual story which is almost impossible to think about.
What I like:
1. The mood and tone of the story
2. The many surprising elements in every chapter
3. The beautiful narration of the city, Chennai.
4. The ridicule moments getting interested in every detail.
What I didn't like:
1. After a long time, I have read a long book. At times I felt exhausted, but the plot always rekindled my interest.
2. Though I liked every character in the story, they could have been given much more depth. The author might have taken ample pains in establishing many characters with perfect weight but somewhere due to many in number, it seemed there was a difficulty to give more space.
Characters:
There are many characters in the book that are scripted very nicely. Each of it is a surprise as each twist comes to the end. In particular, I liked the character of Ashok and he resembles a perfect cinema actor's shades. Even the supporting characters have been scripted very nicely scripted. It felt as if I was watching a nice movie plot with all the characters coming alive.
Narration:
Set in the heritage city of Chennai, the narration that goes in a third person often shocks the reader with a new twist unfolding in every chapter of the book. Few regional words/phrases in Tamil with meaning has added flavor to the story.
Language & Grammar:
A fantastic language with very good vocabulary can be observed in the story.
My Final Verdict:
Wowsome thriller book with a nice taste of awesome twists n turns!
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Language & Grammar: 3/5
Final Rating: 3/5
Author: Suraj Laxminarayanan
Format: Kindle
Book Title:
The title of the book ' Elephants in a room ' is a very unique, abstract and interesting one.
Book Cover:
The cover image of the book is of three' elephants ' trying to use their long trunks to get hold of some cash bundles, Yes you read it right, cash bundles inside the strong room of a bank. Did the elephants come to rob the bank? Well, the book likes like a definite read.
Plot:
Three groups of men, each having a different agenda and claiming themselves a crime groups plan to attack and rob the same bank on the same day which seems completely fictional and coincidental with absurdity. One group starts mob robbing to gain experience and then plan to rob the bank, while other groups are masters in robbing and the last group with other agenda. What is the other motive is a surprise?
As the book is a long story, I started at a good speed but had to slow down after 60 pages which felt boring and as I was losing interest and then encountered the first twist. It got me hooked back to the book. The book is an unusual story which is almost impossible to think about.
What I like:
1. The mood and tone of the story
2. The many surprising elements in every chapter
3. The beautiful narration of the city, Chennai.
4. The ridicule moments getting interested in every detail.
What I didn't like:
1. After a long time, I have read a long book. At times I felt exhausted, but the plot always rekindled my interest.
2. Though I liked every character in the story, they could have been given much more depth. The author might have taken ample pains in establishing many characters with perfect weight but somewhere due to many in number, it seemed there was a difficulty to give more space.
Characters:
There are many characters in the book that are scripted very nicely. Each of it is a surprise as each twist comes to the end. In particular, I liked the character of Ashok and he resembles a perfect cinema actor's shades. Even the supporting characters have been scripted very nicely scripted. It felt as if I was watching a nice movie plot with all the characters coming alive.
Narration:
Set in the heritage city of Chennai, the narration that goes in a third person often shocks the reader with a new twist unfolding in every chapter of the book. Few regional words/phrases in Tamil with meaning has added flavor to the story.
Language & Grammar:
A fantastic language with very good vocabulary can be observed in the story.
My Final Verdict:
Wowsome thriller book with a nice taste of awesome twists n turns!
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Language & Grammar: 3/5
Final Rating: 3/5
July 3, 2022
What is a better crime fiction novel where a crime revolves around not the detective who tries to fit pieces in a puzzle? A book that focuses on the crime, it’s after effects and the turmoil every individual involved goes through. Such is a book written by Suraj Laxminarayanan called Elephants in the Room.
Set in Chennai this book is the debut of Suraj Laxminarayanan in the world of crime fiction. The plot revolves around a bank heist that leads to the story of three gangs coming face to face as the events in this book unfold. A group of friends plans a bank robbery which they think to be foolproof. They get into every detail and leave nothing out of their blueprint. It is kind of an Oceans’ 11 but here only 5 members are the mastermind behind it. They try to start their careers as robbers by mugging pedestrians to get hands-on experience.
Things get interesting when another gang of robbers who have already established roots in the crime decides to rob the same bank on the same day with heavy weaponry. Bonds are developed among criminals but as they say, there is no honor among thieves, things get ugly.
The storyline is a long one, written in more 590 pages, it intelligently unfolds every event and the reason behind the action taken which helps a reader like me to develop perspective. This also keeps it interesting until the end. The theme does not only revolves around the crime that is committed but every emotion exposure each character go through which leads to a thrilling drama that is lightened by occasional comic moments.
I never expected this novel to be a thrilling one. The plot did sound interesting at the start and looking at the length of the book, I did wonder how the author will reach the conclusion of this tale which is full of twists and turns. He is imagination and construction of plot did exceed my expectations and so did his writing style. Written from a third person’s narrative there is not a single element I could find the can be said as a dragging one. He even provides insight into Chennai’s culture and its geography which I am nothing but unfamiliar. The characterization could have been better but I do not solely blame the author since there is a huge cast to manage.
This book is an attraction for crime readers as it does not follow a traditional path of the subgenre but tries to redefine the perspective both of the reader and the writer because of its highly appreciable and well-organized plot.
Set in Chennai this book is the debut of Suraj Laxminarayanan in the world of crime fiction. The plot revolves around a bank heist that leads to the story of three gangs coming face to face as the events in this book unfold. A group of friends plans a bank robbery which they think to be foolproof. They get into every detail and leave nothing out of their blueprint. It is kind of an Oceans’ 11 but here only 5 members are the mastermind behind it. They try to start their careers as robbers by mugging pedestrians to get hands-on experience.
Things get interesting when another gang of robbers who have already established roots in the crime decides to rob the same bank on the same day with heavy weaponry. Bonds are developed among criminals but as they say, there is no honor among thieves, things get ugly.
The storyline is a long one, written in more 590 pages, it intelligently unfolds every event and the reason behind the action taken which helps a reader like me to develop perspective. This also keeps it interesting until the end. The theme does not only revolves around the crime that is committed but every emotion exposure each character go through which leads to a thrilling drama that is lightened by occasional comic moments.
I never expected this novel to be a thrilling one. The plot did sound interesting at the start and looking at the length of the book, I did wonder how the author will reach the conclusion of this tale which is full of twists and turns. He is imagination and construction of plot did exceed my expectations and so did his writing style. Written from a third person’s narrative there is not a single element I could find the can be said as a dragging one. He even provides insight into Chennai’s culture and its geography which I am nothing but unfamiliar. The characterization could have been better but I do not solely blame the author since there is a huge cast to manage.
This book is an attraction for crime readers as it does not follow a traditional path of the subgenre but tries to redefine the perspective both of the reader and the writer because of its highly appreciable and well-organized plot.
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