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Paradise Tower
Dinesh opens the door to the Kapoor flat to find Lata, the enchantress who works at Mrs Aly Khan's, carrying a hot case with freshly made gaajar ka halwa. On the first floor, the inquisitive Mrs Mody wipes the dust off her precious binoculars to spy on the building's security guard. The Singhs open the doors of their SUV, their four boys creating a ruckus - they are the newcomers, the outsiders. Through the peephole, the ever-watchful Mrs Ranganekar observes their arrival. Welcome to Paradise Towers, an apartment building in central Mumbai. Everyone here has a story to tell. Or maybe they have stories to hide. Shweta Bachchan-Nanda's quirky, intimate debut explores the intertwined lives in this building - a forbidden romance, an elopement, the undercurrents of tension in corridor interactions and an explosive Diwali celebration. Bachchan-Nanda's is a dazzling voice that will draw you into the intoxicating, crazy world that is Paradise Towers.
- GenresIndia
184 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2018
36 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Shweta Bachchan-Nanda
2 books14 followersShweta Bachchan-Nanda is a columnist for DNA and Vogue. A well-known personality, she is the daughter of actors Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan. Shweta is married to Nikhil Nanda and is the mother of two children. She has her own clothing label, MxS, which launched in 2018. She lives in New Delhi. This is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
January 5, 2023
Week 42, Book 82
Paradise Towers by Shweta Bachchan Nanda.
Rating : 2/5
After a disappointing book by Twinkle Khanna, I don't know what made me think that Shweta Bachchan Nanda's debut novel would be any better.
It's a story about residents of Paradise Towers, a small apartment complex with 10 odd flats. Given the small size of the building, it's obvious everyone knows everyone, more than they should.
The residents are cherry picked to represent as many communities as possible, from sindhis to Gujaratis to marathis to parsis to bengalis to Punjabis, and a muslim family too. The families and backgrounds are also varied.. There are business families and service people, some unemployed, some homemakers. Some have no kids and some have 4-5 kids.
All is well in this little paradise until things start happening one by one. New tenants move in, there is a death, some marital discord and an elopement. The book revolves around the residents and their reactions to these incidents.
The characters are very stereotypical, and thus very one-dimensional. There is some insight into their background but not enough to develop a relationship. The events happen in fast succession and get sorted even faster. In the end, everything gets tied up in a perfect little bow. The storyline is predictable, but I still found it okay enough to wanna read and finish the book.
The book is a short, fast read, good as a palette cleanser between heavy books. It is a typical pop fiction book (I'm trying to avoid saying chick-lit). Don't expect brilliance in story line or writing style. The writing was ok, though it made me feel someone spent a lot of time with a thesaurus trying to insert fancy words. It has a few moments of humour or emotion... And a lot of description.
Which brings me to my biggest grouse against the author..
THERE IS LITERALLY NO DIALOGUE IN THE BOOK!
95% of the matter is just descriptions of people and houses and incidents.. no actual conversations. Which makes it a very dry read. Inclusion of dialogues would have given the book a more personal touch. Without it, this reads like a summary of events more than a story!
Given the quality of wannabe writers who have made it big without enough talent, I'd say this wasn't that bad a debut novel, but left much to be desired. Seems Ms Bachchan Nanda hasn't inherited literary genes from her forefathers!
Paradise Towers by Shweta Bachchan Nanda.
Rating : 2/5
After a disappointing book by Twinkle Khanna, I don't know what made me think that Shweta Bachchan Nanda's debut novel would be any better.
It's a story about residents of Paradise Towers, a small apartment complex with 10 odd flats. Given the small size of the building, it's obvious everyone knows everyone, more than they should.
The residents are cherry picked to represent as many communities as possible, from sindhis to Gujaratis to marathis to parsis to bengalis to Punjabis, and a muslim family too. The families and backgrounds are also varied.. There are business families and service people, some unemployed, some homemakers. Some have no kids and some have 4-5 kids.
All is well in this little paradise until things start happening one by one. New tenants move in, there is a death, some marital discord and an elopement. The book revolves around the residents and their reactions to these incidents.
The characters are very stereotypical, and thus very one-dimensional. There is some insight into their background but not enough to develop a relationship. The events happen in fast succession and get sorted even faster. In the end, everything gets tied up in a perfect little bow. The storyline is predictable, but I still found it okay enough to wanna read and finish the book.
The book is a short, fast read, good as a palette cleanser between heavy books. It is a typical pop fiction book (I'm trying to avoid saying chick-lit). Don't expect brilliance in story line or writing style. The writing was ok, though it made me feel someone spent a lot of time with a thesaurus trying to insert fancy words. It has a few moments of humour or emotion... And a lot of description.
Which brings me to my biggest grouse against the author..
THERE IS LITERALLY NO DIALOGUE IN THE BOOK!
95% of the matter is just descriptions of people and houses and incidents.. no actual conversations. Which makes it a very dry read. Inclusion of dialogues would have given the book a more personal touch. Without it, this reads like a summary of events more than a story!
Given the quality of wannabe writers who have made it big without enough talent, I'd say this wasn't that bad a debut novel, but left much to be desired. Seems Ms Bachchan Nanda hasn't inherited literary genes from her forefathers!
December 24, 2020
Surprisingly I enjoyed this read much more than I had anticipated!
Awesome debut I would say.
The many characters did play their parts in tune with the writing style.
As is expected from the title and the cover, this is the story about the many families residing at Paradise Towers.
But the irony lies in the fact that the many residents have their own troubles and many chaotic moments to be in their so called building of 'Paradise Towers'.
There are the Roys, the Modys, the Aly Khans, the Kapoors, the Patels, the Ranganekars, the Singhs, and the Sanghvis.
Main themes for the plot involves young adult romance, murder mystery & domestic violence.
I would have enjoyed the book much better if the story had picked up faster in the first few pages instead of having to grasp the main contents after almost 50% of the content.
Surprisingly (as been written earlier too!), I loved the writing style.
I was not bored and the characters got me going.
I would say I like the book but not enough to say I love it.
*Recommended for one time fun read👍
Awesome debut I would say.
The many characters did play their parts in tune with the writing style.
As is expected from the title and the cover, this is the story about the many families residing at Paradise Towers.
But the irony lies in the fact that the many residents have their own troubles and many chaotic moments to be in their so called building of 'Paradise Towers'.
There are the Roys, the Modys, the Aly Khans, the Kapoors, the Patels, the Ranganekars, the Singhs, and the Sanghvis.
Main themes for the plot involves young adult romance, murder mystery & domestic violence.
I would have enjoyed the book much better if the story had picked up faster in the first few pages instead of having to grasp the main contents after almost 50% of the content.
Surprisingly (as been written earlier too!), I loved the writing style.
I was not bored and the characters got me going.
I would say I like the book but not enough to say I love it.
*Recommended for one time fun read👍
April 18, 2022
2.5/5
Got really interesting but then it was as if the author decided she doesn't wish to continue writing anymore, got up and just slammed the writing pad shut.
Had a lot of potential, this book!
Got really interesting but then it was as if the author decided she doesn't wish to continue writing anymore, got up and just slammed the writing pad shut.
Had a lot of potential, this book!
June 19, 2019
Loved reading this book.
February 26, 2019
2.5 stars.
Started good .. I was always a keen voyuer when it came to other homes and families .. and enjoyed the initial descriptions. But halfway through the story took filmy bend with murders and elopements and whatnots and I couldn't relate to the people anymore
All in all, a 2.5 star read ..
Not highly recommended.
Started good .. I was always a keen voyuer when it came to other homes and families .. and enjoyed the initial descriptions. But halfway through the story took filmy bend with murders and elopements and whatnots and I couldn't relate to the people anymore
All in all, a 2.5 star read ..
Not highly recommended.
December 6, 2018
Look at the cover and you tend to assume that the book is about an apartment and its inhabitants. Well, yes it is. Paradise Towers is a building in the posh location that houses people of different communities. All of them vary in their religions, beliefs, and stories. There is a family which stays conservative and refrains from mingling with other occupants of the apartment. Then there is other with 5 children with the beautiful eldest daughter being asked to stop blossoming her love for a Hindu boy. There is Mrs. Mody, an old nosy lady, who dies under mysterious circumstances and then the whole turn of unexpected events take place. And those occurrences are quirky and somewhere, outright plain narratives. They have the essence of typical Bollywood masala movies.
Being a debut novel, it definitely has done a good job but not something outstandingly amazing. The plotline involved mundane happenings of a typical apartment life. There are gossips, a clandestine love affair, a tendency to peek into others' private life, etc. What might hook a reader would be its narration which is light and astute. The language is amazing to match the backdrop of high-class drama. The flow of the story is maintained properly. And the climax has been developed and presented wonderfully. Each character gets an ample space in the book and an equal voice to give a colorful vibe to the story.
In a nutshell, it is an entertaining book. One could go for this to have a light reading experience.
Being a debut novel, it definitely has done a good job but not something outstandingly amazing. The plotline involved mundane happenings of a typical apartment life. There are gossips, a clandestine love affair, a tendency to peek into others' private life, etc. What might hook a reader would be its narration which is light and astute. The language is amazing to match the backdrop of high-class drama. The flow of the story is maintained properly. And the climax has been developed and presented wonderfully. Each character gets an ample space in the book and an equal voice to give a colorful vibe to the story.
In a nutshell, it is an entertaining book. One could go for this to have a light reading experience.
December 31, 2018
Disappointment is the word i'd say for this book!
February 1, 2019
The book is a happy banter of friendship, love,neighborliness,intimate conversation with moments of tragedy,shocks, revelations, clandestine affair and indifference.A posh housing society with its residents belonging to different cultures, lifestyle and mindset form the family of Paradise Towers.The story of nosy neighbor,gossip queen,budding teenage love,furtive couple and many others dots the pages.
Narrated in a lucid manner,the tale moves at a fast pace.The detailed characters mirrored the habits and qualities easily identical to their ethnic background.Well described premise added to the beauty.The beautiful cover aptly matched the narration.
Though an easy read,it failed to conjure up enough attention and leave a lasting impression on my mind.I would recommend it to everyone who enjoys a light read.
Narrated in a lucid manner,the tale moves at a fast pace.The detailed characters mirrored the habits and qualities easily identical to their ethnic background.Well described premise added to the beauty.The beautiful cover aptly matched the narration.
Though an easy read,it failed to conjure up enough attention and leave a lasting impression on my mind.I would recommend it to everyone who enjoys a light read.
October 23, 2018
I have very mixed feelings about this book. It sounded like a very warm, simple, sweet read. And it does turn out to be that, but not in the way I expected it to. The story is written more in narrative than in dialogue. She also has a very typical way of framing sentences, long ones, and in that, loses the beat at times; some sentences will read incomplete, incoherent. That, now, was something that put me off too.
The story felt too straight in the beginning, like I was reading an essay about the tenants of this building. The writing style was pretty much uninspiring, and this one's not a page turner. I kind of oscillated between finding what happens next and just finishing this book that I'd started.
The characters aren't very explicitly described; the author talks about their traits, the little things they do that paint them for the reader. And I kind of liked that little exercise. Towards the end, I sort of knew what each character must look like without the author drilling them into my head with laborious descriptions. I think this is because the people, the traits she chooses are pretty commonplace. You've seen or met someone who is like these characters at some point in your life.
The end is a happily-ever-after, except for one open end. Just when I was thinking that the second half of the book is done better than the first, this one open end sort of left me disappointed. (Sort of, because my expectations didn't really go that up.)
Finally, I was surprised to find some really blatant editing errors in book that is as hyped as this one.
After I finished reading this, I thought that there was something lacking about the story. Maybe a little more depth. This obviously wasn't meant to be a literary masterpiece, I know. But even in becoming a comfort read, it lacks a wee bit.
The story felt too straight in the beginning, like I was reading an essay about the tenants of this building. The writing style was pretty much uninspiring, and this one's not a page turner. I kind of oscillated between finding what happens next and just finishing this book that I'd started.
The characters aren't very explicitly described; the author talks about their traits, the little things they do that paint them for the reader. And I kind of liked that little exercise. Towards the end, I sort of knew what each character must look like without the author drilling them into my head with laborious descriptions. I think this is because the people, the traits she chooses are pretty commonplace. You've seen or met someone who is like these characters at some point in your life.
The end is a happily-ever-after, except for one open end. Just when I was thinking that the second half of the book is done better than the first, this one open end sort of left me disappointed. (Sort of, because my expectations didn't really go that up.)
Finally, I was surprised to find some really blatant editing errors in book that is as hyped as this one.
After I finished reading this, I thought that there was something lacking about the story. Maybe a little more depth. This obviously wasn't meant to be a literary masterpiece, I know. But even in becoming a comfort read, it lacks a wee bit.
October 13, 2018
Check out the review on my Youtube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIU-O...
March 22, 2019
Paradise Towers is a fiction based work which revolves around the life of the residents of a residential building christened 'Paradise Towers',built in the late sixties.
The cover is really intriguing and beautifully curated. The plot is good and crisp. But the writing style is not very intricate and profound. Good for beginners. Also the storyline, as I felt it to be taken from a very famous comedy show. The problem is with organisation of stuff, characters and scenes. It has many many things simultaneously going on that one cannot settle with understanding the text. Also, the real story starts halfway! I mean, you get nothing out of the first half. The way I was excited for reading it after the prologue release, this book did not live upto those expectations!
The cover is really intriguing and beautifully curated. The plot is good and crisp. But the writing style is not very intricate and profound. Good for beginners. Also the storyline, as I felt it to be taken from a very famous comedy show. The problem is with organisation of stuff, characters and scenes. It has many many things simultaneously going on that one cannot settle with understanding the text. Also, the real story starts halfway! I mean, you get nothing out of the first half. The way I was excited for reading it after the prologue release, this book did not live upto those expectations!
November 11, 2018
Amazing debut novel
Beautiful Narration with author’s observant to even minute details and her sense of humor.
The book is different because unlike most other books, it doesn’t tell us the story of one or two protagonists but that of a society as a whole.
The characters are lively and the incidents are engrossing.
Life in the apartments is relatable and realistic.
I loved how she introduces the readers to the occupants of the apartments in each floor from the first tenant to the newest tenant and her talent of portraying what’s happening to the families on each floor. Not only the tenants but even those who work as helpers – gardener, dhobi, cook, liftman, watchman and servants including pet parrot are also given due importance.
The plot takes on a smooth pace in the beginning and gradually makes the readers engaging.
She has good command over the English language. Her wit in combining all the stories of the tenants. Chaos and get-togethers in the apartments are beautifully illustrated.
What I loved about the characters of this book is their diversity. They come from different parts of India and even the world. They reflect different cultures, different ideologies, and customs. Despite diversities, they all accept each other and learn to live in harmony and spread happiness.
You can find so much drama, hidden truths, inter-caste love, apartment friends discussing domestic issues and gossips, unfortunate events, investigations, mystery, trust, confessions, responsibilities, violence, women protection, support and assistance during hard times, new beginnings, and heartbreaks.
To an outsider, life always takes a smooth and mundane path in the Paradise Towers. But only an insider knows what lurks behind its tough and commanding exteriors
Everyone has a story to tell or a story to hide.
Beautiful Narration with author’s observant to even minute details and her sense of humor.
The book is different because unlike most other books, it doesn’t tell us the story of one or two protagonists but that of a society as a whole.
The characters are lively and the incidents are engrossing.
Life in the apartments is relatable and realistic.
I loved how she introduces the readers to the occupants of the apartments in each floor from the first tenant to the newest tenant and her talent of portraying what’s happening to the families on each floor. Not only the tenants but even those who work as helpers – gardener, dhobi, cook, liftman, watchman and servants including pet parrot are also given due importance.
The plot takes on a smooth pace in the beginning and gradually makes the readers engaging.
She has good command over the English language. Her wit in combining all the stories of the tenants. Chaos and get-togethers in the apartments are beautifully illustrated.
What I loved about the characters of this book is their diversity. They come from different parts of India and even the world. They reflect different cultures, different ideologies, and customs. Despite diversities, they all accept each other and learn to live in harmony and spread happiness.
You can find so much drama, hidden truths, inter-caste love, apartment friends discussing domestic issues and gossips, unfortunate events, investigations, mystery, trust, confessions, responsibilities, violence, women protection, support and assistance during hard times, new beginnings, and heartbreaks.
To an outsider, life always takes a smooth and mundane path in the Paradise Towers. But only an insider knows what lurks behind its tough and commanding exteriors
Everyone has a story to tell or a story to hide.
December 29, 2018
I think I didn't like too many things happening altogether- there was a murder in the middle of the book which got solved immediately. Then, the gangster case came upon towards the end followed by the elopement which I think was hurried off.
May 28, 2019
It is a very simply written, funny and interesting book with different shades of society and religion shown very well. I enjoyed reading it.
October 29, 2018
My eyes, my eyes...what did I just read! And why! Ok, if truth be told I needed a lighter in-between read after my last two books and there was a toss up between this and Chetan Bhagat's latest- no prizes for winning who won.
I don't even know where to start. This short book is an amalgamation of atleast 6 different Bollywood flicks and nothing seems to make sense. It's like Shweta Bachchan thought there may not be a next time and tried to put all the plots in her mind in the one book that she managed to get a deal for. Badly written and every more badly imagined.
DON't READ
I don't even know where to start. This short book is an amalgamation of atleast 6 different Bollywood flicks and nothing seems to make sense. It's like Shweta Bachchan thought there may not be a next time and tried to put all the plots in her mind in the one book that she managed to get a deal for. Badly written and every more badly imagined.
DON't READ
October 23, 2018
The book is a slice of life of those who reside in society apartments in a city like Mumbai.
The plot is partly quirky, partly realistic and partly reel. The story is set in a quaint apartment called 'Paradise Towers' in central Mumbai, where we are introduced to characters all belonging to different cultures and backgrounds. Life in Paradise Towers is no different from how life in an society building is, It includes a mix of friendly banters, elderly spying, gossip tale, a hint of daily dramas, and occasional gatherings which includes lots of food and tete-a- tete.
Any onlooker may feel everything is normal in this quaint looking apartment, however only the ones residing in Paradise Towers are aware of the stories behind every floor.
Maybe you can find out more about the tale if you grab a copy of Paradise Towers, in the meantime, you can read my take on the book. Read more: https://bit.ly/2D0z13h
The plot is partly quirky, partly realistic and partly reel. The story is set in a quaint apartment called 'Paradise Towers' in central Mumbai, where we are introduced to characters all belonging to different cultures and backgrounds. Life in Paradise Towers is no different from how life in an society building is, It includes a mix of friendly banters, elderly spying, gossip tale, a hint of daily dramas, and occasional gatherings which includes lots of food and tete-a- tete.
Any onlooker may feel everything is normal in this quaint looking apartment, however only the ones residing in Paradise Towers are aware of the stories behind every floor.
Maybe you can find out more about the tale if you grab a copy of Paradise Towers, in the meantime, you can read my take on the book. Read more: https://bit.ly/2D0z13h
October 12, 2018
It's all about the lives of residents in Paradise Towers, an apartment complex in Mumbai. As a reader, you'll not get attached to even a single character per se but together, these lives make the book an okay-read! The apartment/society is the protagonist of the book and while I enjoyed it for the first few chapters, the lack of dialogues was a complete no-no for me. The ridiculous climax was another put-off. The author's writing is great and hence I give a 3.5 stars. Detailed review coming up soon!
March 24, 2020
Paradise Towers (Paperback) by Shweta Bachchan Nanda- novel- English- in India, as well as the world, high rise buildings consisting of multistory apartments are common. Reasons are safety, daily needs items grocery, food items available, water, electricity, swimming pool, gym available. Now life of residents has been studied by the author and webbed in an interesting story. Four families- Benglai, Gujarati, NRI, muslim have prominently found mention. Dinesh opens the door to the Kapoor flat to find Lata, the enchantress who works at Mrs Aly Khan's, carrying a hot case with freshly made gaajar ka halwa. On the first floor, the inquisitive Mrs Mody wipes the dust off her precious binoculars to spy on the building's security guard. The Singhs open the doors of their SUV, their four boys creating a ruckus - they are the newcomers, the outsiders. Through the peephole, the ever-watchful Mrs Ranganekar observes their arrival. Welcome to Paradise Towers, an apartment building in central Mumbai. Everyone here has a story to tell. Or maybe they have stories to hide. A forbidden romance, an elopement, the undercurrents of tension in corridor interactions and an explosive Diwali celebration. The books draws the reader into the intoxicating, crazy world that is Paradise Towers. For popularity, the book should be translated in Marathi and other Indian languages. The publishers must ensure that the copies of the book are available on net. I praise the publisher for encouraging new authors. The cover of the book catches the eye of the reader and encourages him to purchase the book. It is quite a good read novel.
Suggestion- In Delhi, books are launched at Constitution Club of India where Press, Print and TV media and reading Public are present. There a question answer session after the reading session. A Marathi translation edition of this book can be brought out. After every chapter, there should be illustrated with the caricature of the characters in the chapter. This will make the book more interesting to the reader and a larger reader of Marathi can be covered.
Suggestion- In Delhi, books are launched at Constitution Club of India where Press, Print and TV media and reading Public are present. There a question answer session after the reading session. A Marathi translation edition of this book can be brought out. After every chapter, there should be illustrated with the caricature of the characters in the chapter. This will make the book more interesting to the reader and a larger reader of Marathi can be covered.
February 28, 2019
In a Mumbai suburb stands Paradise Towers - a 50 year old residential building housing ten odd families. Built as the last word in modern convenience for its time, it is now dwarfed by far more modern and loftier structures. Even so, Paradise Towers boasts of an aesthetic appeal unmatched by its competition.
Shweta Bachchan-Nanda's debut is a peek into the lives of the diverse residents of Paradise Towers. From the nosy Mrs. Mody to the quiet Ranganekars, the large family of the AlyKhans to the boisterous Singhs, the gossip hungry Mrs. Kapoor to the warring wives of Roy and Patel - she brings together an eclectic mix of characters.
What begins as a seemingly interesting story, taking the reader through the lives of the residents, soon loses its charm. The characters, though with much potential, lead mundane lives. You expect something mysterious to happen at every turn but it is smooth sailing for the longest time.
Then, out of nowhere, appears a conflict which is thrust upon you and is resolved almost immediately. The reveal, too, is more a flat narration with absolutely no thrill. There is no element of mystery or build up to the events with little clues, leaving much to be desired.
The same with the writing - sentences are long and winding, often almost half a page in length. Tenses are all over the place and ruin the flow.
For a novel where simplicity of story and a clean writing style would have complemented each other beautifully, Paradise Towers is trying too hard.
Shweta Bachchan-Nanda's debut is a peek into the lives of the diverse residents of Paradise Towers. From the nosy Mrs. Mody to the quiet Ranganekars, the large family of the AlyKhans to the boisterous Singhs, the gossip hungry Mrs. Kapoor to the warring wives of Roy and Patel - she brings together an eclectic mix of characters.
What begins as a seemingly interesting story, taking the reader through the lives of the residents, soon loses its charm. The characters, though with much potential, lead mundane lives. You expect something mysterious to happen at every turn but it is smooth sailing for the longest time.
Then, out of nowhere, appears a conflict which is thrust upon you and is resolved almost immediately. The reveal, too, is more a flat narration with absolutely no thrill. There is no element of mystery or build up to the events with little clues, leaving much to be desired.
The same with the writing - sentences are long and winding, often almost half a page in length. Tenses are all over the place and ruin the flow.
For a novel where simplicity of story and a clean writing style would have complemented each other beautifully, Paradise Towers is trying too hard.
October 27, 2018
Really funny and truly intimate in its writing, Paradise Towers proved to be a quite good debut novel.
The author has done a really good job with the character development in the book. The plot, I found, though quite extensive was a bit lacking – the story seemed like a telling of the everyday lives of the people except at the major climax I found. this climax started the unravelling of the threads thus letting a number of dominoes fall down, one after the other, until we reach a catastrophic end (not really).
The characters are really the major focus in this very much of a character-driven novel whose developments are really interesting to note as one progresses throughout the story. The theme of conflict was a major one running throughout – as people living in such close proximity are bound to indulge in, whether intentionally or not. The others – forbidden love, distrust, gossips etc. are also commonplace in everyday life. The author has really mixed these all up in creating this hilarious story.
I truly enjoyed reading this novel – it sure is an entertaining and fun read.
I found the depth lacking in the story. Nonetheless, it was not lacking in the entertainment aspect. I rate it a 3.5/5 stars!
The author has done a really good job with the character development in the book. The plot, I found, though quite extensive was a bit lacking – the story seemed like a telling of the everyday lives of the people except at the major climax I found. this climax started the unravelling of the threads thus letting a number of dominoes fall down, one after the other, until we reach a catastrophic end (not really).
The characters are really the major focus in this very much of a character-driven novel whose developments are really interesting to note as one progresses throughout the story. The theme of conflict was a major one running throughout – as people living in such close proximity are bound to indulge in, whether intentionally or not. The others – forbidden love, distrust, gossips etc. are also commonplace in everyday life. The author has really mixed these all up in creating this hilarious story.
I truly enjoyed reading this novel – it sure is an entertaining and fun read.
I found the depth lacking in the story. Nonetheless, it was not lacking in the entertainment aspect. I rate it a 3.5/5 stars!
January 18, 2019
How to be a writer? By collecting bits and pieces of many Bollywood movies and giving birth to a million characters who adhere to societal stereotypes. NO.
Paradise Towers, the debut novel of Shweta Bachchan Nanda is a story of a fancy apartment in #mumbai where people of all communities live. They all are there, needed for the spice - Punjabis, Bengalis, Muslims, Gujaratis, Maharashtrians and obviously, you don't need to read the novel to know that Bengalis love books and Gujaratis love food and cooking and Punjabis are party people. .
In spite of this eclectic mix, and a generous garnishing of cliched masala, the book miserably fails to engage readers and seems like a drag. Like a typical 90s Hindi movie a lot of things are added in the hope of at least one of them working - interreligious affair, domestic violence, crime, gossip monger aunty, a murder. Unfortunately, nothing does.
The novel seems like bits and pieces of sticky notes clubbed together for the novel, rather than a complete novel itself.
All we can say is that there are better books by first-time authors this year which you can try instead of this one.
Paradise Towers, the debut novel of Shweta Bachchan Nanda is a story of a fancy apartment in #mumbai where people of all communities live. They all are there, needed for the spice - Punjabis, Bengalis, Muslims, Gujaratis, Maharashtrians and obviously, you don't need to read the novel to know that Bengalis love books and Gujaratis love food and cooking and Punjabis are party people. .
In spite of this eclectic mix, and a generous garnishing of cliched masala, the book miserably fails to engage readers and seems like a drag. Like a typical 90s Hindi movie a lot of things are added in the hope of at least one of them working - interreligious affair, domestic violence, crime, gossip monger aunty, a murder. Unfortunately, nothing does.
The novel seems like bits and pieces of sticky notes clubbed together for the novel, rather than a complete novel itself.
All we can say is that there are better books by first-time authors this year which you can try instead of this one.
June 30, 2019
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
Paradise Towers is a book about the upper middle class residents of a building in Mumbai. Shweta Bacchan Nanda attempts a kaleidoscopic experience for her readers by introducing them to people of all states, religions, ages and personalities. She has also included an NRI. I think, though this is the beginning, this is where the book begins to lose touch with reality.
Her narrative seems forced; repetitive even. One gets the feeling that she was on a deadline and just had to complete the book at any costs.
The parts about Mrs. Kapoor's mother or Mrs. Aly Khan's relationship with her in-laws are repeated.
The parts about Shaana's romance with Sam Singh are rushed. One moment, Shaana is a shy bookish girl, the other she is kissing Sam at a party. Similarly, the story about Patrick's arrest and the Bookie's role in it is poorly explained.
Yet, one cannot deny that she keeps her reader hooked till the end, wondering how the story of each character will play out. It's as if Shweta Bachchan had a bunch of storylines, decided to string them together and did not bother to check if they were coherent or complete.
Paradise Towers is a book about the upper middle class residents of a building in Mumbai. Shweta Bacchan Nanda attempts a kaleidoscopic experience for her readers by introducing them to people of all states, religions, ages and personalities. She has also included an NRI. I think, though this is the beginning, this is where the book begins to lose touch with reality.
Her narrative seems forced; repetitive even. One gets the feeling that she was on a deadline and just had to complete the book at any costs.
The parts about Mrs. Kapoor's mother or Mrs. Aly Khan's relationship with her in-laws are repeated.
The parts about Shaana's romance with Sam Singh are rushed. One moment, Shaana is a shy bookish girl, the other she is kissing Sam at a party. Similarly, the story about Patrick's arrest and the Bookie's role in it is poorly explained.
Yet, one cannot deny that she keeps her reader hooked till the end, wondering how the story of each character will play out. It's as if Shweta Bachchan had a bunch of storylines, decided to string them together and did not bother to check if they were coherent or complete.
March 28, 2022
This book simultaneously exceeded yet still fell below my expectations. The concept is great- an apartment building in Mumbai with all it’s secrecy and gossip. For the first several chapters, it was a little predictable/boring and I wasn’t sure where the story was going. Lots of characters to set up and introduce, it was sometimes difficult to keep track of everyone. About halfway through, the book gets interesting (unexpectedly!) and stays interesting enough to keep reading.
Overall, the writing style was difficult to read. Maybe it’s the Indian British-English, but even with that the flow of the book didn’t feel smooth. The ending was also a bit underwhelming, but at the same time I felt the book was a perfect length. The situations described in the book are spot-on, though. Down to the Gujarati snacks and Ponds cold cream.
Overall, a perfect book to read while at the beach or traveling (as I did!) or if you’re wanting something fun and light and ~masala~ without having to dig too deep.
Overall, the writing style was difficult to read. Maybe it’s the Indian British-English, but even with that the flow of the book didn’t feel smooth. The ending was also a bit underwhelming, but at the same time I felt the book was a perfect length. The situations described in the book are spot-on, though. Down to the Gujarati snacks and Ponds cold cream.
Overall, a perfect book to read while at the beach or traveling (as I did!) or if you’re wanting something fun and light and ~masala~ without having to dig too deep.
April 4, 2019
Paradise Towers
Author: Shweta Bachchan Nanda
Genre: Fiction
If you are intrigued by new authors then do give this book a try. It’s a short read, I read it on a 2-hour flight journey; the book is gripping and a perfect commute read for sure.
Paradise Towers is the Shweta Bachchan Nanda's debut novel. Unlike, most Indian novels having one or two protagonists, this book like its vibrant cover showcases different characters and variegated families.
Being from Mumbai myself, I can completely relate to this, a story around a posh apartment complex with characters from different cultures and many interconnected lives. The best part of this book was attention to detail.
Though the narration hardly includes any dialogues which make it a bit monotonous, the story is relevant, hilarious, shocking, delightful and at times predictable :p
If you are looking out for some fresh and light read for the week, then Paradise Towers won't disappoint you.
Author: Shweta Bachchan Nanda
Genre: Fiction
If you are intrigued by new authors then do give this book a try. It’s a short read, I read it on a 2-hour flight journey; the book is gripping and a perfect commute read for sure.
Paradise Towers is the Shweta Bachchan Nanda's debut novel. Unlike, most Indian novels having one or two protagonists, this book like its vibrant cover showcases different characters and variegated families.
Being from Mumbai myself, I can completely relate to this, a story around a posh apartment complex with characters from different cultures and many interconnected lives. The best part of this book was attention to detail.
Though the narration hardly includes any dialogues which make it a bit monotonous, the story is relevant, hilarious, shocking, delightful and at times predictable :p
If you are looking out for some fresh and light read for the week, then Paradise Towers won't disappoint you.
February 5, 2019
This was a book about....well not 100% what it was about, "life in Paradise Towers" I guessed by the end.
The start of the book was VERY descriptive, but again not sure what was being described so much, there were random "big" (thesaurus) words used to try and sound well versed in English, however they just didn't fit in. The change over from talking about one character to the next was not clear.
This went on for more than the half way point, at which time a story line started to peak out, however suddenly became a little less descriptive and felt it was rushed.
Because the story was rushed i was happy it had an epilogue.
I am going to put this book down as not well written for my liking, but since it was Shweta Bachchan-Nanda's first book, i would be happy to try one of her books again once she has a few under her belt.
The start of the book was VERY descriptive, but again not sure what was being described so much, there were random "big" (thesaurus) words used to try and sound well versed in English, however they just didn't fit in. The change over from talking about one character to the next was not clear.
This went on for more than the half way point, at which time a story line started to peak out, however suddenly became a little less descriptive and felt it was rushed.
Because the story was rushed i was happy it had an epilogue.
I am going to put this book down as not well written for my liking, but since it was Shweta Bachchan-Nanda's first book, i would be happy to try one of her books again once she has a few under her belt.
May 19, 2019
I picked up Paradise Towers really, with a critical eye and with I read it too, with the same. It's quite a short book; one can finish it even in a single sitting. Yet the strikingly luxurious writing catches the eye.
Shweta Bachchan Nanda really takes her time with her descriptions and gives the entire book a very summery feel. But, this does not hide the fact that the book barely does anything. The story is flailing, the characters are decent but not strong enough. We get the idea of a place where drama doesn't stop, but it's almost a clichéd attempt.
So, all in all, I wasn't happy with the book at all, but if you were to ask me if I'd read her next book, I'd reply in the affirmative. I think Nanda's writing can thrive with a stronger plot, and if she does, I wouldn't mind reading her. Though, if I were to rate this book, I'd give it a 2/5.
Shweta Bachchan Nanda really takes her time with her descriptions and gives the entire book a very summery feel. But, this does not hide the fact that the book barely does anything. The story is flailing, the characters are decent but not strong enough. We get the idea of a place where drama doesn't stop, but it's almost a clichéd attempt.
So, all in all, I wasn't happy with the book at all, but if you were to ask me if I'd read her next book, I'd reply in the affirmative. I think Nanda's writing can thrive with a stronger plot, and if she does, I wouldn't mind reading her. Though, if I were to rate this book, I'd give it a 2/5.
June 18, 2019
This book, is set in a posh housing society, as the title suggests: Paradise Towers. It’s one of the first and oldest housing societies in Mumbai.
We get a sneak peek into the lives of the families living there, and what there interpersonal relationships are like. The society has all kinds of families, representing by-and-large, all major communities.
It is a happy banter of friendship, neighbourly gossip, intimate moments, dark secrets, budding love, new tenants moving in, along with a few very tragic incidents - which brings the entire building together in solidarity.
Narrated in an relatively easy-to-read manner, the story is well-paced and has all the makings of being converted into a KJo movie.
The writing is more like a script and isn’t a literally masterpiece - but it’s a quick, short and light read.
A good holiday or beach read.
We get a sneak peek into the lives of the families living there, and what there interpersonal relationships are like. The society has all kinds of families, representing by-and-large, all major communities.
It is a happy banter of friendship, neighbourly gossip, intimate moments, dark secrets, budding love, new tenants moving in, along with a few very tragic incidents - which brings the entire building together in solidarity.
Narrated in an relatively easy-to-read manner, the story is well-paced and has all the makings of being converted into a KJo movie.
The writing is more like a script and isn’t a literally masterpiece - but it’s a quick, short and light read.
A good holiday or beach read.
July 6, 2019
Paradise towers by Shweta bachchan-nanda.
.
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Foreword :This author being under constant public scrutiny for being from an illustrious lineage, there a curiousity to pick up this book
.
.
About the book: .This is the first book by shwetabachchan.
It is about the going ons in an regular apartment complex, how neighbours interact , gossip, party or simply live. The protagonists are Mrs Aly khan, Mrs modi, Mrs ragnekar.. While some neighbors are veterans who spy on others, some just moved in and are flamboyant to throw a party, yet others are elusive and mysterious. Read to find how different characters unfold. .
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Takeaway : for someone who has stayed in apartment complexes, this is completely relatable and evokes nostalgia. .
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FOR SIMILAR BOOK REVIEWS do follow me on instagram @rushme_reviews.
Rating :⭐⭐ average .
.
.
Foreword :This author being under constant public scrutiny for being from an illustrious lineage, there a curiousity to pick up this book
.
.
About the book: .This is the first book by shwetabachchan.
It is about the going ons in an regular apartment complex, how neighbours interact , gossip, party or simply live. The protagonists are Mrs Aly khan, Mrs modi, Mrs ragnekar.. While some neighbors are veterans who spy on others, some just moved in and are flamboyant to throw a party, yet others are elusive and mysterious. Read to find how different characters unfold. .
.
Takeaway : for someone who has stayed in apartment complexes, this is completely relatable and evokes nostalgia. .
.
FOR SIMILAR BOOK REVIEWS do follow me on instagram @rushme_reviews.
Rating :⭐⭐ average .
February 11, 2024
The first half of the book is just the set up of the world and you get to meet all the different characters and their quirks. They instantly become relatable and remind you of the good old times when the doors were always open and the entire building celebrated things together.
After the halfway point is when the plot actually begins and then moves quite quickly. The plot itself had SO much unexplored potential! Not going into specifics but so many plot points were brought up and then immediately resolved. You don't get enough time to savour it before the next story takes off and the previous plotline is almost forgotten. I feel if the individual stories were woven in with one another, leading to one big reveal. It could have been an "only murders in the building" before it's times!
A Little slow to get into but all in all a light reading experience.
After the halfway point is when the plot actually begins and then moves quite quickly. The plot itself had SO much unexplored potential! Not going into specifics but so many plot points were brought up and then immediately resolved. You don't get enough time to savour it before the next story takes off and the previous plotline is almost forgotten. I feel if the individual stories were woven in with one another, leading to one big reveal. It could have been an "only murders in the building" before it's times!
A Little slow to get into but all in all a light reading experience.
December 16, 2018
For a debutante novelist, I honestly had not set any high expectations from the book... The title and the gist did suggest that it was a quick metro read, and intact it turned out just the same... Set in a typical high-rise apartment with 10 flats each having residents from a different ethnicity in India (Southern states were copious in their absence), and some typical behavioural traits of them formed the majority of the storyline... I honestly did find the plot very flat, lacking in any conversations among the several characters... A couple of characters were well defined, whereas a majority of them were mere fillers ...Don't have too high expectations of a pot boilers or an intriguing work of fiction when you approach this one... Set your expectations basic and enjoy it as it is...
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