The Adhikaris are a regular, happy family - or so they will have you believe. But at the dinner table, a silence hangs heavy over the three children, especially Arihant and Ishan.Twenty-two-year-old Arihant possesses a secret talent and a shattered heart. He yearns for his muse and ex-girlfriend, only to surprise himself when they finally meet after a long and difficult time apart. If only Ishan could share some brotherly advice rather than sneak about, aloof and increasingly suspicious.Ishan twenty-eight, seems to have the job of his dreams - or at least, his parents' dreams. But how long can he stay torn between two worlds? How long before someone finds out about his about the place he goes to and the woman he sees.Here is a story set in the calm before a storm - after which nothing will be the same for this seemingly happy household.
After getting her degree in literature, she worked for a publishing house and a magazine. She currently works at a media company while pursuing her first love of writing books on the side. She’s the author of three novels What if it's you, A Long Way Home (published by HarperCollins India) and The Guest (published by Black Ink Books) and the author of 'Coffee and Ordinary Life', a collection of poetry. She also has an audiobook on Storytel titled ‘And Then We Met Again’, voiced by best-selling author Ravinder Singh.
"A Long Way Home" was a challenge read given by my husband for me. He asked me to select my last read of 2018 just by the title & cover, which means no blurb, no reviews & no Googleing. I have been given 4 options. "A Long Way.." was one of them. A catchy title & an interesting cover picture of feet on the road helped me made my decision.
The story is based on a family drama. Adhikari family & its younger generation is portrayed in the book. So we have a Maharashtrian family where the father was working hard to provide his children with ways to get them settled in their life. Another hand mother was a perfect housewife, maintaining the family's need. Their children (main characters) were Ishaan (eldest son), Arihant & Saloni. The story covers how two brothers have completely different personality but similar inner goals & dreams. It shows how they are achieving them either by staying with or away from family.
Mitali has good control over words. Through the story, she will make you feel how each character is going through. This is a different kind of read for me. I have read romance, thriller, suspense & what not. But rarely I have read a book based on family bonding/relationship. Don't worry it is not another Ekta Kapoor SOP, you will have enough elements of a good read.
About the author Mitali Meelan is a dreamer , a Soul-searcher , a wayfarer ,an overthink er and a writer who collects silver of human madness to craft stories around them . She works for Shemaroo Entertainment. She's also the author of Coffee and Ordinary Life and The Guest.
The blurb The Adhikaris are a regular, happy family - or so they will have you believe. But at the dinner table, a silence hangs heavy over the three children, especially Arihant and Ishan. Twenty-two-year-old Arihant possesses a secret talent and a shattered heart. He yearns for his muse and ex-girlfriend, only to surprise himself when they finally meet after a long and difficult time apart. If only Ishan could share some brotherly advice rather than sneak about, aloof and increasingly suspicious. Ishan twenty-eight, seems to have the job of his dreams - or at least, his parents' dreams. But how long can he stay torn between two worlds? How long before someone finds out about his evenings: about the place he goes to and the woman he sees. Here is a story set in the calm before a storm - after which nothing will be the same for this seemingly happy household.
My views 1. First of all the cover ! The cover is really beautiful .
2. The language is very lucid and clear .
3. I really appreciate the story telling of the author . The narration of the Characters from both sides has made the story unputdownable .
4. The plot is a reflection of modern life . The readers can easily feel connected with this !
A Long Way Home by Mitali Meelan is a beautiful book with a different and interesting story. I was stunned by the story when I started reading as I thought it will be just like another love story but then it was completely different
Well well well, First of all, I liked the cover and the title of the book. It’s too interesting and eye catchy. The plot of the story is different and Interesting full of twists and turns. It’s like a typical Bollywood movie that keeps you hooked throughout.
The narration of the story is crisp and engaging making the reader curious to know what happens next. Themes like Love, passion, relationships, hate are used by the author making the story interesting. The author expressed each and every emotion beautifully. The dialogues and drama keep the reader invested in. The way the author sequenced each and every event is commendable.
The language used by the author is simple and easy. one can relate to the story from the very first page. The writing style of the author is Lucid and gripping. At some places, too many details make it a bit tedious. It’s a family drama story with the elements of love, passion, and more.
The characters that the author made are strong and amazing. I loved the character building done by the author. I liked each and every character as each of them had a vital role to play. Ishaan, Vartika and Arihant’s character are my favourite. The author not only showed the struggle but the passionate and witty side of each character which enhanced the characters.
This book has an important message. PASSION RULES US ALL is the message the author gave in a wonderful way.
There are some wonderful lines, quotes that you’ll love. Ignoring some typing errors.
Certainly, it’s a simple, light and a quick read with a strong message with fun and drama. Do not skip this read.
Name- A Long Way Home Written by- Mitali Meelan Published By- Black ink books, HarperCollins Pages- 312 Review- The word that means the world to every person is "family". A man can fight against all odds just with the support he receives from his family.
In this world where family plays an important role and in a country like India where family values are still upheld by every members, A long Way Home strikes all the right chords.
A heart warming story of The Adhikaris, who are a family of five including Mr. and Mrs. Adhikari and there three children. The story revolves particularly around the two Adhikari brothers- Ishaan, oldest of the siblings and Arihant, his younger brother. The readers are shown glimpses of the lives of The Adhikari's through Ishaan and Arihant's eyes. The characterization was perfect in this story. Each and every character was shown in detail and more importantly through the eyes of the two protagonists. Both of them sharing the same concerns for their family yet are poles apart in their approach. There are also instances of a communication gap, which plays an essential role in carrying the story forward to its climax. The descriptions of a love-hate relationship between the two brothers, their relationships with their family and most importantly their hidden dreams and desire all gives the story momentum and makes it different from the rest. The narration from the point of views of both Arihant and Ishaan turned out to be one of the best things about this book.
Lastly, the author wrote something so poignant and beautiful that the readers might be compelled to shed a few tears of despair, loss, hope, joy and also triumph at the end.
A long way home (4/5) It's not what you see in person, it's what you feel when they're around you. Sometimes person is umbrella shielding you from rainstorm, something person is rainstorm
. What a beautiful book this. A heart touching family drama and wonderful message. The cover is indeed beautiful. You cannot understand the situation if you unable to put yourself in other shoe. This is first and last book of 2018 which talk about family. The plot the concept everything is beautiful. In today's generation we need more book like this which talk about family issue, individual thinking of person. Kudos to author . The story revolves around the arihant and ishan. A Happy family mr. And mrs. Adhikaris and three children. 22 year old Arihant possesses a secret talent and a shattered heart. He yearns for his muse and ex-girlfriend. Ishana could share some brother advise to him.ishan is 28 years old with parents dream job. What real happened to both to them? Does this story has happy ending ? To know more read this book? . The characters are well developed and described. I loved the whole concept of family. Family attachments, heartbreaks, love, siblings relationship, responsibilities, courage, following your passion, overcoming your fears, how to be a person of dreams, hopes, finding the real strength in you so many good things in this book. . The narration is good and easy going. Arihant and ishan turn out to be one of the best character of it. Author did a great job my touching this topic. I Wish will write more of this topic. . You will find this book quiet relatable. The CLIMAX ia unlimite emotional and deep. Highly recommend.
I am completely in love with the distinctive and eloquent narrative style in which this novel was written. The book has been written from the point of view of two characters Arihant and Ishaan Adhikari. And the author has provided a different voice to the narrative of both the characters. You will actually feel hearing two different people telling their story.
The story of Adhikari brothers could be of anyone's real life and family struggle. The dilemma to follow heart and live your dream or walk on the conventional laid out path and secure the future. Innumerable people find themselves in this tight spot only a few manage to take that leap of faith.
The tussle between parents and children over the career issue is age old, especially among the middle class where scope for trail and error process, experiment and failure breaks the backbone of the family. Unconventional career choices are not acceptable and encouraged by the parents. The author has remarkably addressed the issue in the book.
The Book is essentially about two brothers as different as chalk and cheese. The older brooding Ishaan who seems to flit in and out of the house in a bid to spend as little time as possible with his family. Always preoccupied and weighed down by heavy thoughts and responsibilities, he tries to avoid any kind of interaction with his younger siblings.
Then there is Arihant, caught in the middle child syndrome(the feeling of exclusion by middle children). He has magic with words and seems to know just the right things to say and do as he plays the quintessential nice guy spreading lightness and humor all around be it at home or at his workplace. Staying away from home during the week, he enjoys his weekends at home when his mother lavishes attention on him.
The youngest Saloni is the apple of everyone’s eye. A bit headstrong and needy she has her share of troubles and issues making her way albeit a bit shakily through the final years of school.
The Adhikari household is like every other middle-class Maharashtrian family with the father working really hard in order to make ends meet ensuring he provides for his family to the best of his ability while the mother is a pro at managing the household taking care of everyone’s little needs.
Typically, all they want is that their kids’ study hard, gets good jobs and settle down comfortably. The usual rigmarole about studies, steady jobs, marriage, and kids is all that they wish for their children.
However, Ari and Ishu just may have more in common than they believe though. Yes, both are looking to pursue their respective dreams which seem to be very different from their parents’ hopes.
How do they go about it all stumbling on to achieve their respective goals? Do they manage to stay together by sacrificing their aspirations or will they find the desired support from each other and their family in pursuit of their dreams?
Leaving you with one of the statements by Dreamer Arihant
Does he truly find the courage to live by his very words or opts to take the easy way out is the question?
Read and find out all about their trials and tribulations, whether the brothers quit while still ahead or go all out after their goals.
Do I recommend it? The second book by Mitali Meehan, if I might take the liberty to say, is more a Bromance than a Romance though there are plenty of references to love, friendship and relationships.
I found the book had a nice flow and enjoyed getting to know the various characters. The author had me wondering about their respective backstories right from the get-go. Mitali definitely has a way with words as is obvious from Ari’s characterization. The fact that it left me with a smile says it all. This one is a nice enjoyable easy read.
A long walk Home rests on a story of a genuine working-class family where having a good Job and earning a decent salary stands above the passion and dreams. It spins around a family of five, a couple having three children, where two brothers had their tough time following their passions. This book reminded me of many families around where it is taught to be financially sound by pursuing what one ought to and not what one wants to. Ishaan, the elder brother, living his life according to what his parents’ wishes of him, getting an engineering degree and a good job, but of course he longs for something else. On the other side, the younger one, Arihant dared to chase his dreams, but only after lying to his parents. The book is narrated from both Ishaan and Arihant’s point of view. This assisted in knowing both the sides of the story and making a relatable connect with both the characters. The portrayal of other characters, Ishaan’s parents and a younger sister were also fair and could be correlated. The plot is fairly even and smooth, making the book quite absorbing. A Long way Home is recommended to readers who would love to read a genuine family tale that exhibits in working-class families. A family drama with candid emotions and the interesting account of episodes. I’m sure this book won’t disappoint.
A Long Way Home is story of a family which falls apart and finds its way back. It revolves around Adhikari family and their 3 children. The plot focusses on the age old topic of conventional Vs unconventional path for career and how Indian middle class parents are still not comfortable to let their children go for something unexplored. Arihant is 22 years old, talented and want to do something meaningful. Ishaan, 28 years old, has his parent’s dream job but doesn’t feel comfortable in that life. Both brothers want to chase their dreams but burdened with their parent’s expectations. I liked the concept of this book which talks in length about Indian family dynamics and values. Relationship of siblings has been portrayed very well. Author, Mitalli, has penned down a good plot which talks about pursuing your passion and have courage to overcome any huddle which blocks your path. The only thing which I didn’t like was that the narration was slow at times which makes the whole story a bit overstretched. Also, I would have loved to read a little more on brother sister dynamics. Otherwise, plot is on point and characters are relatable. It also has some truly inspirational and heart touching quotes.
Overall, it’s a good light read and author has done a good job in portraying Indian family drama.
My Review : Every person has there own desires and dreams and unless you put yourself in their shoes, you would probably never be able to understand what pushes him/her to act like he does in his path of achieving his goal.
Arihant and Ishan, although very different individuals bonded by blood share a common trait. Passion.
A very well potrayed and well written family drama that touches various aspects of the Indian society including the stereotype of a guy being an engineer or a corporate along with the various shades of sibling relationships and family responsibilities.
The author has a beautiful attribute of engaging the readers through her brilliant writing and her sense of humor is a standout in this aspect.
The book is written through the point of view of the two male protagonist so wonderfully that you would be definitely be able to mirror their emotions and feelings.
A heart-touching family drama with a beautiful message.
Well narrated and wonderfully written by engaging the readers to feel the right essence of emotions attached which helps us to know the story from each characters perspectives.
Family attachments, heartbreaks, love, siblings relationship, responsibilities, courage, following your passion, overcoming your fears, how to be a person of dreams, hopes, finding the real strength in you and discovering your true potential are beautifully portrayed.
Readers will know in-depth about the characters and their aspirations. The climax will make you feel emotionally touched.
The mesmerizing quote which I loved the most from the book – “A dream as strong as yours has the power to see it through because if you’re madly passionate about something that you’re ready to give up your soul to the devil for it, nothing can stop you from reaching the heights.”
Nice Gripping Story! Loved the story of 2 young protagonist who fight against all odds to do what they love in life even if it means they have to leave their home to achieve it. Both Ishaan & Arihant are caught in the wrong field and hate their work/ study. How they get out of the rut & chase their dream is what this book is all about.
nice simple read about individuals, relationship, ambitions. Though its a predicable story with happy ending but what I liked about the book is that characters and story is kept real and not over-dramatized or complicated.
Home! Sweet home! Home is where the heart is”” are the facts about home. Growing up in an environment of a sweet home, no doubt the benefits, children reap are countless. ”Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction”-Anne Sullivan. When it comes to Children careers, many parents impose a lot, they become extra cautious, more surveillance & it creates a sudden burst of volcanoes. From there, their difference of opinion starts and it takes many twist &turn to settle. Few get amicable and rest the worst. One such is the cause of separation of Adhikari’s family in the book A LONG WAY HOME BY Mitali Meelan. A couple in the suburbs of Mumbai with three children- two boys and a girl, were shocked to find their children going in a different direction from the way they were directed or expected to go. A major weapon used by children at this point is lie- a statement the speaker knows to be untrue. I quote from page 222- “”I have been so disappointed in my children, so much so that I’m starting to question myself and your upbringing. First, my daughter, then both of you. Where did you three learn to lie and fool people so much?” The feelings, the mood and the reactions of the parents are finely crafted and very lively arguments and discussions at home has found place in the book. The author handles the situation in an unbiased way, presenting the plus and minus of both the children and parents. Even children long for appreciation, it is best described in the page134 “”I had wanted nothing but my father to look at me with brimming eyes, his wrinkled hand patting my back, telling me he was proud of me, of my choice and of whatever I’ve chosen to do with my life,”” The author has given a light description of Mumbai skyline, summer, traffic, way of life, restaurants, colleges, student’s life, campus interviews, relationship between the employer &employee, business tactics, shopping centres, bloggers, impact of social media and the cost of living too. Three children from a middle class family cross their childhood with lot of memories right from sharing bed rooms, cycles, sibling-wars, jokes, drawings and many more. The author clearly sent a message to all the children out there in page 82 of the book –‘’Trying to be someone you’re not and shredding pieces of yourself-like principles and values – to fit in and please others is a one way ticket to the land of misery.”” Mitali Meelan is successful in bringing out the true pictures of a family with diverse interest and ideas in about 312 pages. This is her second book. She is also the creator of COFFEE AND ORDINARY LIFE AND THE GUEST. To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe-Anatole France. In many cases children just dream, but they don’t put the required effort, because only desire is not enough to make dreams come true. The author puts forth before the readers the steps to climb to reach a target, I quote from page 180 of the book “”A dream like this…it had to be backed by experience, research, knowledge, support and a generous investment. Knowing where you wanted to be wasn’t enough while starting a business. You needed to figure out exactly how you’d reach there, before you even began your journey.”” A sense of fulfilment is achieved when we accomplish a goal, the author beautifully put it in these words, I quote from page-174, A rush of cool relief calmed me. “”I promise I won’t leave.’” Taking in the hustle, the heat and the rhythmic, chaotic noises of steel against the steel, I got to preparing custard. That moment, a euphoric sensation began to seep in and the contrast of how I felt in the concrete walls of confinement and in this free-spirited frenzied workplace was astonishing.”” The children should speak out their dreams and ambitions with their parents, and they should support &encourage their true interest after thorough verifications. “”Teach your children poetry; it opens the mind, lends grace to wisdom and makes the heroic virtues hereditary””- Walter Scott (Received a copy of the book from WRITER’S MELON in return of a honest review)
Penned by Mitali Meelan, a long way home is the story of the Adhikari brothers. Ishaan and arihant, the brothers, are as different as chalk and cheese. Ishaan, stuck between his passion for cooking and responsibility of the family on his shoulders, feels like an outcast in his own family. Arihant, working in a weekly, stays away from home so that he can concentrate on his book; but unable to say the truth the his family, lies on the context that he is working in an IT company. While faced with a choice to choose between family and passion, what they will choose, is the major plot of the book.
The book is comprised of three parts. The first part, told from arihant's perspective has a gripping narration. The author never leaves a stone unturned to convince the readers that arihant is a writer. The plots takes its own sweet time to develop, but the voice and tone of the book holds you. The realistic approach of the book is the highlight of the book. You will see yourself in atleast one of the characters. It lays in the borderline between melodrama and useless conflict. The interaction between the brothers were my personal favorites. They kept me on the hook, and I was hanging on their every word, craving for more.
The language is easy and fresh. The author has expressed each emotion beautifully. Compared to her previous book, this one is a different story altogether. Elements of love, passion, sibling bonding and conflicts are sprinkled all through the book. There are very few female authors who can write effectively from a male point of view, and mitali meelan is definitely one.
In the first part, the author portrayes ishaan as brash and irresponsible through arihant's eyes. But as we read from ishaan's perspective, we see him as kind and thoughtful, the exact opposite of what was captured through arihant's point — the author is successful in telling what other ignore about ishaan. The author convinces the readers that there are two sides of a coin, and to each his own. She has magnificently captured how perspectives can differ between individuals. While I liked the way of writing in Arihant's perspective, it's Ishaan that my heart broke for. His matured attitude and protective outlook for his family makes him an instant favourite.
The third part is where the book gets a little boring. It is fast paced compared to the former parts, and hence doesn't let the background develop efficiently. It is also a little inconsistent compared to the former parts. But the epilogue makes up for it. It is well written and, makes you want to know more.
Through capturing verses and simple yet heart touching conversations, the book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. Overall a great read.
Plot : 4.75/5 Title : 4.5/5 Language : 4.5/5 Cover : 5/5 Overall : 4.75/5
“Coffee teaches us life lessons, like the importance of taking one sip at a time and pausing every now and then to reflect on life” – Mitali Meelan
Mitali Meelan’s book has worked its charm very well on her readers.
Earlier in the beginning of the book, I wasn’t able to make out the genre by the name of the book and also what the story is all about. But as I dived deeper into the story, then I wasn’t able to keep this book aside as it kept me hooked throughout.
The Adhikari’s is a normal Indian family or they pretend to be one. The story revolves around two brothers Ishaan who finds his passion in cooking by becoming a chef and Arihant who aspires to be a writer, and delves into their life. The story is a family drama and after such a long time, I have read such a book focusing on something different from the regular Indian mentality of choosing career paths that doesn’t involve any risk and their life is only limited to, getting an engineering degree, finding a corporate job, earning money and get married.
The protagonist focuses more on their career path and works hard to achieve it rather than going for what their father want them to be, as they weren’t able to gain support from the family. The book talks about individual’s preferences and their interactions with family, society and life. I totally loved the book’s concept and how the characters were built up and are growing as the story moves forward, the storyline is very relatable and people will be able to connect to it on mental as well as emotional level.
Now talking about the English part which is very fluent and lucid and one can easily understand the plot as it is interesting and gripping. Also, I never thought that I will be able to finish this book in one go.
Title is amazing, and the cover has a hidden meaning in it. And it tells us that, the two brothers by blood but poles apart by mindset, still connected by a string and that string is their hunger for striving towards their passion. The book is little bulky also if I have a look at the cover then it is not much eye catching, but as the famous saying goes by, “Never judge a book by its cover”, same is the case with this one as well.
Book Name: A Long Way Home Author: Mitali Meelan Genre: Fiction, drama Publisher: Harper Collins . Plot: The Adhikaris are a regular, happy family - or so they will have you believe. But at the dinner table, a silence hangs heavy over the three children, especially Arihant and Ishan. Twenty-two-year-old Arihant possesses a secret talent and a shattered heart. He yearns for his muse and ex-girlfriend, only to surprise himself when they finally meet after a long and difficult time apart. If only Ishan could share some brotherly advice rather than sneak about, aloof and increasingly suspicious. Ishan twenty-eight, seems to have the job of his dreams - or at least, his parents' dreams. . My Opinion: After a long time I read this kind of book which talks about family, drama and family problems! I loved the concept the author used and it's important to know what she is trying to bring in focus because in today's society least importance is given to family and it's values. This book not only talks about family but also talks about individual's life and interaction with family, society as well as life. Individual life of each protagonist was portrayed very well. The title is amazing & does go with the storyline. Taking about the cover it's goof but not much eye catching. I highly recommend it to everyone. . Pros: The language was easy & lucid. Plot was interesting & gripping. Characters were well developed and narration was fine. The book is not bulky, though it's bit fat. When I was reading I felt happy at times & felt sad at times because overall the book focuses on drama. Well, I enjoyed it much. Cons: Expected more as a reader. . Rating: 4.15🌟
📖BOOK REVIEW 📖 TITLE: A long way home AUTHOR : @mitalimeelan Pgs. 314 Publisher: @harpercollinsin @blackink_books GENRE: Fiction/ Contemporary/ family drama.
overview : I had a pretty good experience reading this book. Firstly the concept around which it revolves is very unique, deep & much needed in todays time. I absolutely loved the way the author talks about family ties in this book, the relationship between them & the hurdles that each one of them face.
The writing style was good and engaging. The language used was easy going and lucid. The storyline was beautiful and unique. The character backgrounds and development was done really very well. I could connect with the characters well. The narration too was done quite well and it keeps the reader engaged in reading it.
The cover is designed sceptically keeping in mind the interest of a reader and the title is chosen appropriately keeping in mind the curiosity of a reader. They both speak a lot about the content inside. There were many scenes throughout the book that made me smile & cry as well. After a fairly long time I've read a book with such a fresh & intriguing plot! The only drawback of it is that the story takes a slow pace in the between and at times a scene or two from the book felt a bit overstretched, alongside it takes time for a reader to get into it completely. Overall, this was a very interesting and a fantastic read. Definitely recommended! MY RATING: 4/5 🌸
A LONG WAY HOME Author- Mitali Meelan Ratings- 5 ❤
This book is basically a Family Drama.
The Story is about two Brothers Arihant and Ishaan, who had a very Conflicting nature and that also had reasons which unfold soon.
The Story is written from two perspectives, one from Arihant's and another from Ishan's perspective.
Arihant had a secret talent, he also pursues it anonymously while working and aiming to make it big someday in that field but the parental pressure keeps him from doing it.
Ishaan on the other end is doing a job for long hours, getting frustrated and turning away from something he also wants to pursue.
Ishaan appears very cold natured as depicted in the first part that was narrated by Arihant but as soon as his part comes the reasons for him being different are described.
The main emphasis is on the Two characters only and their life and family but the cherry on the cake is their chirpy and bubbly sister's character. Her part is well executed.
The book is divided into three parts. I liked the first part , it was brilliantly written. Second and third parts were okay-ish.
I like the book overall , it's a light and heart warming read. And definitely evokes emotions of readers
It's a long book of more than 300 plus pages but reading it won't exhaust you, trust me :)!
At some point if life, dont we all just want to exist without expectations, burdens, without the fear of failure, losing, of not seeming strong enough. A long way Home by Mitali Meelan is a perfect blend of emotions that are related to dreams, family, love and most important belief. Isnt it tragic, knowing what you want to do for the rest of your life and not getting supported for the same by the only people you need beside you? A long way home is a story of two brothers Ishaan Adhikari and Arihant Adhikari and how one wants to aspire to become a writer while one finds his success in becoming a chef. However, they both have to stay away from home to achieve what brings them peace since the people who brought them up would never approve of their dreams. Yearning for the love from their home yet not giving up on their dreams, the story leads us to the success ladder of both Ishaan and Arihant in the most charming way. When all seems to crumble, the light seeps in. Compilation of 318 pages that will make you want to read till you reach its happy ending. Enjoyable read. A family drama in its most relatable suit.
A Long Way Home by Mitali Meelan A beautifully portrayed family drama, A Long Way Home by Mitali Meelan paints a perfect picture about the clichéd Indian family. The story is a perfect marriage between joy and sorrow. The main characters of this story are Arihant and Ishan Adhikari who, though share the same genes, are poles apart. One living in the silo of his own emotions and the other living the perfect-successful-son yet a very secretive life. The book highlights the traits of a typical Indian society which has chalked out the right career path for youngsters of today – engineering, corporate life, marriage, children…. The characters have their own identity and I love the way the author has made the narrative simple yet engaging. It is sure to stir up your emotions and some might find it relatable too. This realistic touch is the hallmark of a successful book. It is very engaging from the start, but has a tinge of Bollywood drama and maybe that’s the reason it reminded me somehow about the movie – Kapoor & Sons. But that’s just my personal opinion.
After I read “The Guest” by Mitali which was an exceptional book my expectation for “A Long Way Home” was very much high. To be honest, I’m not disappointed at all. The light-hearted theme and the plot of the book caught my attention in the first place. A simple plot coupled with multi-dimensional narration makes this book a must read for all. The characterisations of both Arihant & Ishaan was perfect. The emotions were always in check with the family around but it’s not overdone anywhere. That’s where Mitali stands out. The lives of Arihant and Ishaan are jotted down to the minute detail. Overall, a light-hearted story that will keep you engaged throughout. I couldn’t end a single day without reading “A Long Way Home” however busy I am. Way to go Mitali!! Looking forward to read your next book.. Finally, if you are reader then I would say, “Go for This!!”... You won’t be disappointed at all!! 😊😊
My views about the book is overall good , lucid language , the cover page is also catchy and tells many things . The whole story was quite relatable . Author ( @mitalimeelan ) has very beautifully plotted the relation between the siblings . Also she has described the charecters with whole heartedly . Every character seems to be alive and perform there prescribed job . There was a point , when the author said this line , " You can do this, Ishu. Prove to everyone who has questioned you that you can. " it made me think of my parents telling me . The book is written in first person narrative. The pace of the book was constant , that made me read the book fast as comparative to other books of this length . Overall this book was a very read . The book is highly recommended as you can also relate the whole with our general lives. . .
A family drama based story, highlights how the indian society has generalized a good living as - selecting engineering as the ONLY career path, a 9-6 corporate job, marriage and children.
But in this story, the two main characters - Ishaan and Arihant, are not happy with their current situation. Ishaan, though being the successful and responsible child of the family, leads a secretive life of his own and wants to pursue it as his career but is afraid of his family's response. Arihant, however, has moved out of his family citing a different reason and visits only in weekends, and is working hard on making his dreams a reality.
The narration is crisp and engaging. It has surprising changes which keeps the reader hooked on. I love the way varied themes are discussed - love, passion, relationship, family, caring. The flow of the story or sequence of the events is commendable.
I loved how the author has portrayed the characters - strong, will powered, after their passion.
It's a simple, easy and a quick read. Recommended to people who wouldn't mind investing some time in reading a short family drama.
I wanted to write a review for the book, since a month, but I couldn't get over the feeling of looking at the same situation with different perspectives. It was so overwhelming that, I read the book thrice. It is so realistic and relative, that you can actually feel every emotion the characters feel, in the book. The writer has done a great job with the way the situations are handled, with different views, which makes you glued to the Book.
A story of passion and dreams of youth and their journey to achieve them. A story of a blogger-writer, his past and present love life. A story of youth trying to find his voice and establish himself. A story of turmoil in family and every member of the family. A story told in most picturesque style. A must read.
When I started I felt boring to read this further but I was very much interested in reading the small emotional attachment between the family and saloni the sister charected made me to go further...ishaan story is very well narrated when the knots of story is revealed it was an surprise too...love the author
3.5 stars This is the story of the Adhikari family. Ishaan the eldest son is the main breadwinner. Arihant, the middle one who dreams to be a writer. Saloni the youngest child, who is cute and sweet.
The story starts from Arihant's perspective, when he had come home for his brother's birthday . Ishaan seems to have a problem with Arihant. He is rude and shuts him off. The brothers have a serious communication problem. Arihant works at a magazine and also has an anonymous blog. I loved poems and blog posts.Ishaan who has the perfect job according to his parents seem to hiding something.
The narrative was engaging and the characters were relatable. It was fast paced and I finished it in a day. The characters and the plot did feel clichéd to me. The story is of a typical Indian family, where only engineers and doctors have the perfect job. It talks about the expectations parents burden their children with. They don't understand that we have to love the job we do, or it suffocates us. As long we have the passion to do what we love, we will excel, but they just don't find it respectable.
This family drama did remind me of a Bollywood movie. It was good to read the story from the POVs of both Ishaan and Arihant. The problem with first person POVs is that we don't know what the other character was thinking at that time, so I liked reading through the same situation from multiple POVs.
Book Title: A Journey Homeward Author: Mitali Meelan
"In the grand tapestry of life, you either toil as if there's no tomorrow, or revel as if there's no tomorrow; after all, in the end, we all meet the same fate."
The narrative weaves a poignant tale of two brothers, each harboring dreams of self-fulfillment, while their father urges them toward the security of traditional employment. One aspires to wield a pen as a writer, while the other seeks to master the culinary arts as a chef. The crux lies in the belief that, with self-confidence, we can excel in the paths we choose. Ishaan embraces the culinary world as his career, while Arihant pursues writing as a fervent passion. Mitali commends the book, urging the authors to keep crafting their tales.