What do you think?
Rate this book
Red Card
One team. One year. Everything to lose. When Rishabh Bala reaches the tenth standard, life takes a turn for the complicated. The bewildered boy feels the pressure of the looming board exams and finds himself hopelessly-and hormonally-in love. But what he yearns for most is victory on the at least one trophy with his beloved school football team. Set in the suburban Thane of 2006, here is a coming-of-age story that runs unique as it does familiar. Hopscotching from distracted classrooms and tired tutorials to triumphs and tragedies on muddy grounds, this is the journey of Rishabh and his friends from peak puberty to the cusp of manhood.
- GenresFictionIndian Literature
304 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2018
19 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 23, 2019
In a long time, I read a book which is young adult fiction and still managed to convince my heart that Yay! I loved it. Red Card by Kautuk Srivastava is undoubtedly one of my best reads of this year and I am gonna recommend it to all.
Teenage is a delicate age when a child undergoes a wide array of changes - both physically and emotionally. There is a surge of passion coursing through young veins, aspirations high enough which sound lame to their parents, zeal for a thing they love, and a lot more which the book successfully explores. Through the characters which are in their teen years, the author attempts to bring out the beauty of being in an important phase of one's life.
Rishabh Bala is a formidable and dedicated player of the football team of his school. He is accompanied by his best friend Puro who is the captain of the team. The tenth graders are crazy for the sport which shows up when they tactfully convince their parents to send them for the practice. They have board exams to tackle and no coach to train them when by the grace of God, they get one - Noorani. The coach makes use of his abrasive tone to bring the best out of a team he wants. He symbolizes a teacher we need in our lives to guide us, reprimand us, punish us, and ultimately save us! While there are football tournaments to handle, Rishabh has her lady love Tamanna breaking his heart which affects his game. Additionally, there are parents setting high expectations from students which compels them to work harder and smarter!
With passion, love, lies, heartbreaks, friendships, Red Card is a coming of age story representing the true picture of a typical teenager. With a deft narrative woven with witty, sassy language and loads of humor and puns, I surely enjoyed the ride thoroughly. A very fine character sketch is being drawn for each individual. The qualities have been attributed to them intelligently. Moreover, the characters with their distinct set of problems felt so lively and relatable. All credits to the amazing narration.
Though Football is at its core, the book does deal with myriad issues of life. Though it is about children, the lesson of not giving up it teaches can be very well applied to everyone. The complete plot is well designed with a lucid writing style and smooth flow of the central theme. It is a telling account of kids who live with million dreams and find a way even in the dark to achieve the silver lining.
Teenage is a delicate age when a child undergoes a wide array of changes - both physically and emotionally. There is a surge of passion coursing through young veins, aspirations high enough which sound lame to their parents, zeal for a thing they love, and a lot more which the book successfully explores. Through the characters which are in their teen years, the author attempts to bring out the beauty of being in an important phase of one's life.
Rishabh Bala is a formidable and dedicated player of the football team of his school. He is accompanied by his best friend Puro who is the captain of the team. The tenth graders are crazy for the sport which shows up when they tactfully convince their parents to send them for the practice. They have board exams to tackle and no coach to train them when by the grace of God, they get one - Noorani. The coach makes use of his abrasive tone to bring the best out of a team he wants. He symbolizes a teacher we need in our lives to guide us, reprimand us, punish us, and ultimately save us! While there are football tournaments to handle, Rishabh has her lady love Tamanna breaking his heart which affects his game. Additionally, there are parents setting high expectations from students which compels them to work harder and smarter!
With passion, love, lies, heartbreaks, friendships, Red Card is a coming of age story representing the true picture of a typical teenager. With a deft narrative woven with witty, sassy language and loads of humor and puns, I surely enjoyed the ride thoroughly. A very fine character sketch is being drawn for each individual. The qualities have been attributed to them intelligently. Moreover, the characters with their distinct set of problems felt so lively and relatable. All credits to the amazing narration.
Though Football is at its core, the book does deal with myriad issues of life. Though it is about children, the lesson of not giving up it teaches can be very well applied to everyone. The complete plot is well designed with a lucid writing style and smooth flow of the central theme. It is a telling account of kids who live with million dreams and find a way even in the dark to achieve the silver lining.
September 8, 2020
Red card is a breath of fresh air. It transports you back to simpler times, and paints a vivid picture of school life through strokes of relatable events, leaving one reminiscing. Srivastava uses his comical talent to thoroughly lace his story with witty remarks. This makes the book a delightful, lucid read and manages to extract some giggles. It even piqued my interest in football (being a nonchalant viewer at best, prior to this).
I would tell you why I spared the last star, but we wouldn’t want to spoil things now, would we? ;)
I would tell you why I spared the last star, but we wouldn’t want to spoil things now, would we? ;)
June 2, 2019
A nostalgic read, Red Card is all about the woozy – dizzies of first love and whoopsie – daisies of unfiltered aggression, the constant parental pressure, the zeal towards a sport or hobby, the blind loyalty towards one’s team, the insights and outlooks and, confusions of a teen, in general.
All the plans that needed to be made, all the responsibilities required to be shouldered.
Along with that add in an ounce of humor, a pinch of mammoth stress and loads of passion, and you get a pleasant coming of age read from Kautuk Srivastava where the transition is portrayed strikingly.
It’s a light read and realistic as well. And, the ending is so beautiful and heart – touching, maybe because it reminded me of my last day of Board Exams, it felt like re – living a precious moment! A fantastic reading experience overall. And, if you are looking for a similar experience with a thrilling football drama in the background, go for it!
All the plans that needed to be made, all the responsibilities required to be shouldered.
Along with that add in an ounce of humor, a pinch of mammoth stress and loads of passion, and you get a pleasant coming of age read from Kautuk Srivastava where the transition is portrayed strikingly.
It’s a light read and realistic as well. And, the ending is so beautiful and heart – touching, maybe because it reminded me of my last day of Board Exams, it felt like re – living a precious moment! A fantastic reading experience overall. And, if you are looking for a similar experience with a thrilling football drama in the background, go for it!
June 10, 2019
RED CARD by Kautuk Srivastava is a coming of age story that brings back all your teenage memories. First off, football fan or not, you need to pick this book up.
The story begins with the nail-biting FIFA WORLD final between France and Italy and the infamous Zidane headbutt incident. As all the French fans are enraged by the heat exchange between the two players, three teenagers in Thane, India scream at the French midfielder, whereas Rishabh our protagonist is overjoyed with Italy scoring the final goal.
The passion for football among this group of friends, seeps out from the very first page of the book and it makes you nostalgic of your adolescence. RED CARD is narrated through four football tournaments that RIshabh and his friends/classmates play throughout the year. After the sudden resignation of their football coach , Rishabh and his team are left distraught with only two weeks remaining for a football match to be held with one of their rival schools.
However football is not the only thing that the boys need to worry about, with the tenth boards just around the corner, it is nearly impossible for them to balance both academics and sports at the same time.
RED CARD isn't merely about football but is rather a sum total of all the major events and emotions that one stumbles in their teenage years. With the pressure of studies building up, his heightened feelings of infatuation for Tamanna, struggling with peer pressure and his parents constant comments on his bad grades Rishabh is just the most ideal and relatable protagonist one could ever ask for.
Srivastava has written a book full of drama, witty humor, puns and everything spicy that keeps you hooked until the very last page. I have never said this about any Indian author but this is definitely one book I'm going to re-read just to relive the experience one more time.
The story begins with the nail-biting FIFA WORLD final between France and Italy and the infamous Zidane headbutt incident. As all the French fans are enraged by the heat exchange between the two players, three teenagers in Thane, India scream at the French midfielder, whereas Rishabh our protagonist is overjoyed with Italy scoring the final goal.
The passion for football among this group of friends, seeps out from the very first page of the book and it makes you nostalgic of your adolescence. RED CARD is narrated through four football tournaments that RIshabh and his friends/classmates play throughout the year. After the sudden resignation of their football coach , Rishabh and his team are left distraught with only two weeks remaining for a football match to be held with one of their rival schools.
However football is not the only thing that the boys need to worry about, with the tenth boards just around the corner, it is nearly impossible for them to balance both academics and sports at the same time.
RED CARD isn't merely about football but is rather a sum total of all the major events and emotions that one stumbles in their teenage years. With the pressure of studies building up, his heightened feelings of infatuation for Tamanna, struggling with peer pressure and his parents constant comments on his bad grades Rishabh is just the most ideal and relatable protagonist one could ever ask for.
Srivastava has written a book full of drama, witty humor, puns and everything spicy that keeps you hooked until the very last page. I have never said this about any Indian author but this is definitely one book I'm going to re-read just to relive the experience one more time.
June 15, 2019
One team. One year. Everything to lose.
Blurb (From Amazon) :
When Rishabh Bala reaches the tenth standard, life takes a turn for the complicated. The bewildered boy feels the pressure of the looming board exams and finds himself hopelessly-and hormonally-in love. But what he yearns for most is victory on the field: at least one trophy with his beloved school football team.
Set in the suburban Thane of 2006, here is a coming-of-age story that runs unique as it does familiar. Hopscotching from distracted classrooms and tired tutorials to triumphs and tragedies on muddy grounds, this is the journey of Rishabh and his friends from peak puberty to the cusp of manhood.
My Take on The Book :
When I heard that Kautuk Srivastava had come up with this book, I had pretty high hopes since I had seen a few of his shows on YouTube. I must say I wasn't disappointed. The best book of the lot, this one is pretty much closer to reality than the movies that have been churned out this year on student life. The characters are pretty much nostalgic and it did bring back my memories of my school days (though I wasn't much into sports). With right element of humor and excitement along the way, this one is a must read for anyone looking for coming of age book. For someone debuting with this book, this one is a must read.
My Ratings : 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5 out of 5)
Blurb (From Amazon) :
When Rishabh Bala reaches the tenth standard, life takes a turn for the complicated. The bewildered boy feels the pressure of the looming board exams and finds himself hopelessly-and hormonally-in love. But what he yearns for most is victory on the field: at least one trophy with his beloved school football team.
Set in the suburban Thane of 2006, here is a coming-of-age story that runs unique as it does familiar. Hopscotching from distracted classrooms and tired tutorials to triumphs and tragedies on muddy grounds, this is the journey of Rishabh and his friends from peak puberty to the cusp of manhood.
My Take on The Book :
When I heard that Kautuk Srivastava had come up with this book, I had pretty high hopes since I had seen a few of his shows on YouTube. I must say I wasn't disappointed. The best book of the lot, this one is pretty much closer to reality than the movies that have been churned out this year on student life. The characters are pretty much nostalgic and it did bring back my memories of my school days (though I wasn't much into sports). With right element of humor and excitement along the way, this one is a must read for anyone looking for coming of age book. For someone debuting with this book, this one is a must read.
My Ratings : 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5 out of 5)
June 25, 2019
If you are a graduate or are in college, done with your 10th standard, this book is going to make you very nostalgic.
The story starts with 3 friends spending their night watching an epic football match. The storytelling skills and narrations are brilliant and the language/vocabulary is easy to understand.
The book is parted through four football tournaments where Rishab and his teammates have to face challenges to win the cup along with the most stressful boards exam.
If you were one of those students who balanced academics along with sports in your final school year, you know how clumsy and stressful it can get.
The first few pages took it's time to get me interested in the book but as the story progressed with it's wittyness and humour, it kept me going. The secound half of the book kept me hooked until the last page with puns, nostalgia and a good story amd good character development.
Give the book few pages in the start to be interested in the story.
The story starts with 3 friends spending their night watching an epic football match. The storytelling skills and narrations are brilliant and the language/vocabulary is easy to understand.
The book is parted through four football tournaments where Rishab and his teammates have to face challenges to win the cup along with the most stressful boards exam.
If you were one of those students who balanced academics along with sports in your final school year, you know how clumsy and stressful it can get.
The first few pages took it's time to get me interested in the book but as the story progressed with it's wittyness and humour, it kept me going. The secound half of the book kept me hooked until the last page with puns, nostalgia and a good story amd good character development.
Give the book few pages in the start to be interested in the story.
July 9, 2021
Way back in 2010, I was gifted the book Potato Chips by Anshuman Mohan, the story of a teenager going through the paces of a school year in Calcutta. In many ways, it was typical young adult/teen fiction, but I found it difficult to relate to the characters or even make sense of things because I was younger than the folks I was reading about. I enjoyed the book as a book, nothing more.
Over the years, I developed a dismissive attitude towards YA books. Far too many of them were set in fantasy universes, and I had a hard time understanding why I’d want to read nostalgia-filled pieces about a time of life that was my then-self’s present.
Now, at the cusp of graduation (thanks a fuck ton, PRC, Coronavirus, and those of my fellow citizens who were irresponsible), I often take a mental walk to my life around 2012. It has a lot to do, I guess, with the fact that I have a grand total of one friend left from 2012-14, and maybe a couple from 2014-15. It’s good, then, to think of times when I got along with more people, however useless they turned out to be in the end.
Writer and stand-up comic Kautuk Srivastava’s debut novel Red Card traces that big bad year of school – the tenth standard, a year I have mixed memories of myself. The protagonist of Red Card is fifteen-year-old bespectacled footballer Rishabh Bala, a student in Thane, a young man trying to straddle his career as one of the school’s brightest prospects on the field with the rigour of academics while trying to somehow work up the courage to ask out a girl he likes.
Red Card consistently brings a smile to the face. The number of times I went “Oh, this is so similar to that incident…” would be enough to fill a book itself. Srivastava writes well, and the humour running through the book is consistent. He also has the knack for not making a mockery out of a fifteen-year-old kid’s problems, something society does quite happily.
A lot of the book hinges on Srivastava’s ability to empathise with the kids in his story, and to somewhat understand the adults in it (not all of them, though; he takes care to include teachers who were assholes for no reason), which he does rather well and without getting wound up in a sermon of some sort.
I hadn’t thought I would, but I quite enjoyed Red Card for its perfectly balanced blend of nostalgia, humour and warmth.
Over the years, I developed a dismissive attitude towards YA books. Far too many of them were set in fantasy universes, and I had a hard time understanding why I’d want to read nostalgia-filled pieces about a time of life that was my then-self’s present.
Now, at the cusp of graduation (thanks a fuck ton, PRC, Coronavirus, and those of my fellow citizens who were irresponsible), I often take a mental walk to my life around 2012. It has a lot to do, I guess, with the fact that I have a grand total of one friend left from 2012-14, and maybe a couple from 2014-15. It’s good, then, to think of times when I got along with more people, however useless they turned out to be in the end.
Writer and stand-up comic Kautuk Srivastava’s debut novel Red Card traces that big bad year of school – the tenth standard, a year I have mixed memories of myself. The protagonist of Red Card is fifteen-year-old bespectacled footballer Rishabh Bala, a student in Thane, a young man trying to straddle his career as one of the school’s brightest prospects on the field with the rigour of academics while trying to somehow work up the courage to ask out a girl he likes.
Red Card consistently brings a smile to the face. The number of times I went “Oh, this is so similar to that incident…” would be enough to fill a book itself. Srivastava writes well, and the humour running through the book is consistent. He also has the knack for not making a mockery out of a fifteen-year-old kid’s problems, something society does quite happily.
A lot of the book hinges on Srivastava’s ability to empathise with the kids in his story, and to somewhat understand the adults in it (not all of them, though; he takes care to include teachers who were assholes for no reason), which he does rather well and without getting wound up in a sermon of some sort.
I hadn’t thought I would, but I quite enjoyed Red Card for its perfectly balanced blend of nostalgia, humour and warmth.
June 16, 2019
First of all, a genuine confession -
When I read the blurb I was pretty sure that I was going to scream "it's me, it's me..." A thousand times or more!
Lol, exaggerated response but football is something which lets my senses go out of my reach!
So coming to the book review- The first thing that had caught my attention was the cover and the title. Yes, both the cover and title go hand in hand with each other and hence we can say that the cover is designed accurately for the content of the book
Storyline -
It's a coming of age story of Rishabh who's crazy after football and his ultimate goal is to win the final tournament. But,but but, everything doesn't sail smoothly for the young lad, he is in his 10th grade and pressure of boards is Killing him to the core, he is struggling with his hormonal changes making him fall in love along with a burning desire to win at least one trophy for his school football team
I myself was a football player, so I definitely turned nostalgic while reading this book and I never felt as if it wasn't relatable a bit! It talks about almost everything related to a teenager, from peer pressure to hormonal advances, it successfully turns a reader on!
It's so relatable yet heart warming, amazing yet heart - touching, at times witty yet smartly written and a story full of emotions and nostalgia
The book also gives us some very valuable lessons about teamwork, dedication, love and studies. If you have a teenage daughter or son, do make them read this book. It's highly recommended
Narration is apt and lucid. It's really well-penned, I was not disappointed at all, my expectations were higher but this book was a package full of perfection
No flaws determined because I am a football fan, but for non- footballers too this book is recommended because of its backrop and moral lessons. It would take back to your school days and makes you feel good and refreshed
It literally reminds its reader of his/her school life
It was a nostalgic read for me. Kudos to the Author for writing such a wonderful book
Recommended?
Definitely yes, for anyone and everyone
Ratings -🌟🌟🌟🌟.5/5🌟
When I read the blurb I was pretty sure that I was going to scream "it's me, it's me..." A thousand times or more!
Lol, exaggerated response but football is something which lets my senses go out of my reach!
So coming to the book review- The first thing that had caught my attention was the cover and the title. Yes, both the cover and title go hand in hand with each other and hence we can say that the cover is designed accurately for the content of the book
Storyline -
It's a coming of age story of Rishabh who's crazy after football and his ultimate goal is to win the final tournament. But,but but, everything doesn't sail smoothly for the young lad, he is in his 10th grade and pressure of boards is Killing him to the core, he is struggling with his hormonal changes making him fall in love along with a burning desire to win at least one trophy for his school football team
I myself was a football player, so I definitely turned nostalgic while reading this book and I never felt as if it wasn't relatable a bit! It talks about almost everything related to a teenager, from peer pressure to hormonal advances, it successfully turns a reader on!
It's so relatable yet heart warming, amazing yet heart - touching, at times witty yet smartly written and a story full of emotions and nostalgia
The book also gives us some very valuable lessons about teamwork, dedication, love and studies. If you have a teenage daughter or son, do make them read this book. It's highly recommended
Narration is apt and lucid. It's really well-penned, I was not disappointed at all, my expectations were higher but this book was a package full of perfection
No flaws determined because I am a football fan, but for non- footballers too this book is recommended because of its backrop and moral lessons. It would take back to your school days and makes you feel good and refreshed
It literally reminds its reader of his/her school life
It was a nostalgic read for me. Kudos to the Author for writing such a wonderful book
Recommended?
Definitely yes, for anyone and everyone
Ratings -🌟🌟🌟🌟.5/5🌟
June 6, 2019
Four teenage boys sits glued to the TV, watching the last match of Zinedine Zidane’s career. As the referee raises a flashing red card in the air, the four boys drops their jaw in utter bewilderment. Among the four boys was Rishabh Bala, the protagonist of the story, and whose life is soon taking an upturn in the wake of a similar ‘Red Card’.
Kautuk Srivastava’s ‘Red Card’ is a coming of age story, set in the suburban Thane dating back to the year 2006. Rishabh Bala reached the tenth standard, which means he will soon face the terror of Board exams. But, because of the crazy hormonal changes acting on his body, Rishab finds himself hopelessly in love with his classmate. He is also in the school football team, thus adding more distraction to his studies. He is consumed so much in football tournaments that his books lie on his shelves catching dust. And just one such tournaments was the reason why he was doomed. Read the book to find out what caused Rishabh Bala’s misfortune.
My views- How relatable! You know how once in a while a book comes along that stays with you for a little longer? This was one of those. Throughout the book, not an instance did I feel disconnected. A commendable work by the author with the narration. A book based on football might turn boring for someone who doesn’t understand the game. But, the author made it so simple with his story telling. I am one of those who only knows who Messi and Ronaldo are. When I read the blurb, I knew this story was not for me. But I am so glad that I was so wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and every single thing was relatable. The pressure of Board exams, teenage love, parental pressure, peer pressure, juggling with course books, every damn thing was so relatable. I could connect to the characters instantly. This book is a roller coaster ride. Anger, jealousy, romance, every emotion is felt throughout the book. Not to forget about the wittiness and humour with which the story was narrated. Oh! I had a good laugh reading this book, after a long, long time. There was not a single thing that I disliked about the book. This book restored my faith upon Indian authors. Trust me, you gotta pick this up ASAP. A football fan or not, but this book will make its way to your heart.
Kautuk Srivastava’s ‘Red Card’ is a coming of age story, set in the suburban Thane dating back to the year 2006. Rishabh Bala reached the tenth standard, which means he will soon face the terror of Board exams. But, because of the crazy hormonal changes acting on his body, Rishab finds himself hopelessly in love with his classmate. He is also in the school football team, thus adding more distraction to his studies. He is consumed so much in football tournaments that his books lie on his shelves catching dust. And just one such tournaments was the reason why he was doomed. Read the book to find out what caused Rishabh Bala’s misfortune.
My views- How relatable! You know how once in a while a book comes along that stays with you for a little longer? This was one of those. Throughout the book, not an instance did I feel disconnected. A commendable work by the author with the narration. A book based on football might turn boring for someone who doesn’t understand the game. But, the author made it so simple with his story telling. I am one of those who only knows who Messi and Ronaldo are. When I read the blurb, I knew this story was not for me. But I am so glad that I was so wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and every single thing was relatable. The pressure of Board exams, teenage love, parental pressure, peer pressure, juggling with course books, every damn thing was so relatable. I could connect to the characters instantly. This book is a roller coaster ride. Anger, jealousy, romance, every emotion is felt throughout the book. Not to forget about the wittiness and humour with which the story was narrated. Oh! I had a good laugh reading this book, after a long, long time. There was not a single thing that I disliked about the book. This book restored my faith upon Indian authors. Trust me, you gotta pick this up ASAP. A football fan or not, but this book will make its way to your heart.
June 17, 2021
There comes a point in each and every one of our lives, where we get to make amends.
Amends to our parents, friends, team-mates.
It is a term popularly called as Redemption.
Red Card by Kautuk Srivastava is a coming of age story with redemption at its core!
Rishabh Bala is your regular teenager from Thane, whose life goes through the roller-coaster that each and every kid in India goes through or has gone through, due to the tenth standard board exams that tend to “define” one’s life.
Balancing that pressure, Rishabh has to also deal with the unavoidable crush that each one of us invariably tends to harbor around this time in their lives.
The only thing that doesn’t seem like pressure, is his school football team where lifelong friendships have been forged amidst the heat of the competition, where one is free from the stress and pressure of parents, teachers and coaching centers.
They say, life is the greatest teacher of them all and this story proves exactly that.
Yes studies and making a career are important, but passion, following your heart and risking it all on a limb is the reason we are alive.
Rishabh experiences all of these things in the space of one year.
From heartbreaking rejections, to soul sapping losses, to his pride being shot to hell, life in the tenth grade teaches our protagonist so much.
It teaches him that life isn’t fair, most of the times and winning at all costs isn’t everything, because at the end of the day, all you need is are a few people who believe in you and are there for you and one will eventually find their way in life, via the same good old traits, hard work & discipline.
Red card is story one should read, because nostalgia is a powerful emotion and it takes one back to their school life and all the trifles that seemed like mountains to overcome back then.
It also shows why sport, in this case, football, always helps provide some life-lessons that stay with us long after the teachings of textbooks and classrooms leave us, football fan or not.
Amends to our parents, friends, team-mates.
It is a term popularly called as Redemption.
Red Card by Kautuk Srivastava is a coming of age story with redemption at its core!
Rishabh Bala is your regular teenager from Thane, whose life goes through the roller-coaster that each and every kid in India goes through or has gone through, due to the tenth standard board exams that tend to “define” one’s life.
Balancing that pressure, Rishabh has to also deal with the unavoidable crush that each one of us invariably tends to harbor around this time in their lives.
The only thing that doesn’t seem like pressure, is his school football team where lifelong friendships have been forged amidst the heat of the competition, where one is free from the stress and pressure of parents, teachers and coaching centers.
They say, life is the greatest teacher of them all and this story proves exactly that.
Yes studies and making a career are important, but passion, following your heart and risking it all on a limb is the reason we are alive.
Rishabh experiences all of these things in the space of one year.
From heartbreaking rejections, to soul sapping losses, to his pride being shot to hell, life in the tenth grade teaches our protagonist so much.
It teaches him that life isn’t fair, most of the times and winning at all costs isn’t everything, because at the end of the day, all you need is are a few people who believe in you and are there for you and one will eventually find their way in life, via the same good old traits, hard work & discipline.
Red card is story one should read, because nostalgia is a powerful emotion and it takes one back to their school life and all the trifles that seemed like mountains to overcome back then.
It also shows why sport, in this case, football, always helps provide some life-lessons that stay with us long after the teachings of textbooks and classrooms leave us, football fan or not.
April 7, 2020
Red card is such a appropriate title for this book.
This book reminded me of my school my crushes and teachers and ofcourse the hype of class 10 boards. Though I am a occasional football spectator during the world cup and can't say when a goal becomes offside yet I enjoyed this book.
The book begins with 2006 world cup final. I was in school back then in class 6 to be precise and I slept during the match with my parents watched. Italy won. I didn't even knew France lost until I read this book. Also funny story, a clip from the 2006 final is in the 2010 Shakira "waka waka" where Italy' Jersey no. 3 (just found out Fabio Grasso) scores the goal, until I read this book i thought Italy won in penalty shootout.
Back to the book
I knew many Floyd and Krupa from my school
Knew Rishab, Barkha ,Tammana and Ekalavya.
Also knew Abhay. So as I was reading I was thinking about those old days and which sometimes so peaceful and forgotten.
I wish to go back and re-live those days how they were.
Mention of Threptin was something from my long forgotten life when I had issue with food and my father cake up with idea to make me eat one stack of butter paper wrapped biscuit as meal and everything turned out okay and how I am overweight .
Ichhadhari subject was something that happened once in every student's life. Lmao😁😁😁😁
What with linking park , numb and class 10 I dont know. Is that a coincidence or ritual I don't know.
Can't think of a better ending. It seems like a Bollywood movie ending but it's even better.
Zidane's red card in final of 2006 is the perfect premise for the book.
About the book the author of this book is married to the cover designer and illustrator of this book.
😍😍😍
This book reminded me of my school my crushes and teachers and ofcourse the hype of class 10 boards. Though I am a occasional football spectator during the world cup and can't say when a goal becomes offside yet I enjoyed this book.
The book begins with 2006 world cup final. I was in school back then in class 6 to be precise and I slept during the match with my parents watched. Italy won. I didn't even knew France lost until I read this book. Also funny story, a clip from the 2006 final is in the 2010 Shakira "waka waka" where Italy' Jersey no. 3 (just found out Fabio Grasso) scores the goal, until I read this book i thought Italy won in penalty shootout.
Back to the book
I knew many Floyd and Krupa from my school
Knew Rishab, Barkha ,Tammana and Ekalavya.
Also knew Abhay. So as I was reading I was thinking about those old days and which sometimes so peaceful and forgotten.
I wish to go back and re-live those days how they were.
Mention of Threptin was something from my long forgotten life when I had issue with food and my father cake up with idea to make me eat one stack of butter paper wrapped biscuit as meal and everything turned out okay and how I am overweight .
Ichhadhari subject was something that happened once in every student's life. Lmao😁😁😁😁
What with linking park , numb and class 10 I dont know. Is that a coincidence or ritual I don't know.
Can't think of a better ending. It seems like a Bollywood movie ending but it's even better.
Zidane's red card in final of 2006 is the perfect premise for the book.
About the book the author of this book is married to the cover designer and illustrator of this book.
😍😍😍
April 24, 2023
READ IT !!! Just read it. If you’re not in the school anymore then read it and relive the best part of your life. This book might look like about a Football but it is much much more than that. It is your entire school life summed up and presented in the best possible way.
Directly going to my favorite which are also the best things about the book:
- It’s completely in English, not English English but rather Indian English. The way we use Indian words even when we speak proper English.
- PE teacher’s broken English is a cliché but does not feel forced at all, rather look perfectly accurate.
- Also the so called “efficient” administration of school, all the different types of teacher are also portrayed perfectly.
- Best part is nostalgia, in just first 30 pages Kautuk takes us back to our school days and remind us of every single thing. The innocent puppy love and things that we used to do for it, which now in retrospect feels cringey AF.
- Kautuk is an amazing storyteller, he makes you feel the nervousness that you felt while talking to your crush. He makes you celebrate sitting next to your crush like the biggest achievement of your life.
- The depiction of Male Friendships is also on point, how they are not based on the emotional stuff but when truly needed one brother can open his heart out to another and they will support no matter what.
- Also perfectly shown how boys develops new crush every other day.
- Last but not the least the narration of matches keeps you on the edge of your seat. I don’t even watch Football or any other sports for that matter but it kept me hooked.
All in all, it’s a great ready for everyone irrespective of your love for football. In fact, if you play/watch football or any other team sport then you’ll enjoy even more.
Directly going to my favorite which are also the best things about the book:
- It’s completely in English, not English English but rather Indian English. The way we use Indian words even when we speak proper English.
- PE teacher’s broken English is a cliché but does not feel forced at all, rather look perfectly accurate.
- Also the so called “efficient” administration of school, all the different types of teacher are also portrayed perfectly.
- Best part is nostalgia, in just first 30 pages Kautuk takes us back to our school days and remind us of every single thing. The innocent puppy love and things that we used to do for it, which now in retrospect feels cringey AF.
- Kautuk is an amazing storyteller, he makes you feel the nervousness that you felt while talking to your crush. He makes you celebrate sitting next to your crush like the biggest achievement of your life.
- The depiction of Male Friendships is also on point, how they are not based on the emotional stuff but when truly needed one brother can open his heart out to another and they will support no matter what.
- Also perfectly shown how boys develops new crush every other day.
- Last but not the least the narration of matches keeps you on the edge of your seat. I don’t even watch Football or any other sports for that matter but it kept me hooked.
All in all, it’s a great ready for everyone irrespective of your love for football. In fact, if you play/watch football or any other team sport then you’ll enjoy even more.
June 10, 2019
Kautuk Srivastava's debut novel 'Red Card' is a wonderful coming-of-age story. Set in the suburban Thane of 2006, this book tells us the story of a young boy named Rishabh Bala, a student of the tenth standard. But his life takes a turn and all of a sudden things become complicated.
The story begins with four boys watching French Football player, Zinedine Zidane's career's final match. All of them are equally shocked when he gets a Red Card. Rishabh Bala, the protagonist of this story, is one of the boys watching the match. He is completely unaware of the fact that a similar 'Red Card' change his life.
Rishabh finds himself in a lot of pressure as his upcoming board exams are knocking at the door. Also, he falls hopelessly in love with one of his classmates. Although his father refuses, he still plays football for his beloved school football team. Amidst all these distractions, how will Rishabh manage to succeed in the journey of life? You'll have to read the book to know more!
'Red Card' was quite an interesting novel which made me nostalgic. It reminded me of my school days. The story is beautifully narrated with hints of humour. I totally enjoyed reading this book and found it so relatable.
A great read!
Absolutely recommending this amazing book to all my fellow bibliophiles.
The story begins with four boys watching French Football player, Zinedine Zidane's career's final match. All of them are equally shocked when he gets a Red Card. Rishabh Bala, the protagonist of this story, is one of the boys watching the match. He is completely unaware of the fact that a similar 'Red Card' change his life.
Rishabh finds himself in a lot of pressure as his upcoming board exams are knocking at the door. Also, he falls hopelessly in love with one of his classmates. Although his father refuses, he still plays football for his beloved school football team. Amidst all these distractions, how will Rishabh manage to succeed in the journey of life? You'll have to read the book to know more!
'Red Card' was quite an interesting novel which made me nostalgic. It reminded me of my school days. The story is beautifully narrated with hints of humour. I totally enjoyed reading this book and found it so relatable.
A great read!
Absolutely recommending this amazing book to all my fellow bibliophiles.
June 19, 2019
It makes sense to read a book related to football that Sunil Chettri himself calls a ” must-read for everyone who has grown up playing football”. Honestly, I am not a huge fan of football. Sure, I appreciate a good game or stay up once every 4 years to watch the World Cup final- but there is as far as I would go. So obviously I was a bit apprehensive before beginning this book.
But reading it was sheer delight. Narrating the story of some odd teenagers, Red Card is a story of love, friendship, heartbreak and of course, football. Kautuk keeps his writing crisp and engaging. Further, the football lingo is easy for a novice to understand and exciting to read.
However, beneath all the layers the story is about every young adult who is fighting to pursue his passion in the face of board exams, raging hormones and what not. You get the drift, right? The story will tug at your heart- whether you are a teenager or an adult. For teenagers, it is a reflection of what they are going through and for adults, it is a reminder of days gone by.
So you can say it a light read that you can flip through in a couple of days’ time.
Rating: 4/5
But reading it was sheer delight. Narrating the story of some odd teenagers, Red Card is a story of love, friendship, heartbreak and of course, football. Kautuk keeps his writing crisp and engaging. Further, the football lingo is easy for a novice to understand and exciting to read.
However, beneath all the layers the story is about every young adult who is fighting to pursue his passion in the face of board exams, raging hormones and what not. You get the drift, right? The story will tug at your heart- whether you are a teenager or an adult. For teenagers, it is a reflection of what they are going through and for adults, it is a reminder of days gone by.
So you can say it a light read that you can flip through in a couple of days’ time.
Rating: 4/5
June 25, 2019
When I first read the name and saw the cover, I instantly thought it has to do something with football. However, 100 pages in and the story shifted it's phase.
Red Card is not only about football but, is a compilation of all the hardships, happiness and scenarios one goes through in the teenage years. The story picks up from the nail biting FIFA World Cup and the Zidane Headbutt Incident. While everyone is screaming and shouting, our protagonist Rishabh displays a sense of happiness with Italy scoring a goal.
Narrated through 4 football matches and how the whole team is left distraught after their coach suddenly resigns, right before an important football match. With the match in 2 weeks and tenth boards on their head, the journey follows of how they picked up their spirits and excelled.
The book is full of witty moments that not only make you smile but also, a sudden feeling of nostalgia hits you. The writing is lucid as the TGA is 14-16 year old kids.
If you're someone who has passed this age and want a quick revisit, pick this up.
Red Card is not only about football but, is a compilation of all the hardships, happiness and scenarios one goes through in the teenage years. The story picks up from the nail biting FIFA World Cup and the Zidane Headbutt Incident. While everyone is screaming and shouting, our protagonist Rishabh displays a sense of happiness with Italy scoring a goal.
Narrated through 4 football matches and how the whole team is left distraught after their coach suddenly resigns, right before an important football match. With the match in 2 weeks and tenth boards on their head, the journey follows of how they picked up their spirits and excelled.
The book is full of witty moments that not only make you smile but also, a sudden feeling of nostalgia hits you. The writing is lucid as the TGA is 14-16 year old kids.
If you're someone who has passed this age and want a quick revisit, pick this up.
June 13, 2019
Red card, a word which is synonyms to the football game and surely something which is clearly a familiar term to every football enthusiast. Written by Kautuk and published by Penguin publisher, Red Card took me down the memory lane to the times when I was in high school. The book is a coming-of-age tale of a boy named Rishabh Bala who is bewildered and is going through all round of peer and social pressure like every 10th std student are likely to undergo. He is serious and a little eccentric, however, apart from finding himself hopelessly and hormonally in love, he is on his quest to bring fame and glory by winning a football tournament and bring a trophy for the school. From distracted classrooms to tired tutorials of tragedies on muddy grounds, the book is about Rishabh and his companions on their journey to achieve greater heights despite the many obstacles which comes their way. Read the complete book review on my blog post: https://bit.ly/31zZL3V
June 6, 2019
This story isn't only about football and Rishabh's love for the game. It is more about friendship and the teenage years. Coming from a school like that depicted in the novel, I came across many incidents that were similar to those that happened in my school. Be it the Sanskrit teacher beating up students or English teacher keeping a grudge against a particular student. What I loved the most was how teenage crushes have been brought forth in this novel and also the determination of Rishabh to play the sport he loves despite persistent refusal from his father. We all have been through such phases and this book brought back all those memories for me. I found myself chatting with my crushes and talking about school days albeit on a friendly note.
Read the entire book review
https://ofbookbabiesandmore.wordpress...
Read the entire book review
https://ofbookbabiesandmore.wordpress...
June 13, 2019
The red card is a book that every teenager can relate to because the protagonist, Rishabh is in his 10th and is infatuated with a girl named Tamanna. This is a scenario that most of us have faced. Tragedy falls upon Rishabh who is a part of the school football team as their coach leaves them in the last moment. How they manage, what's sports is about, his decisions regarding study and football, and his love is what the book is all about.
The book certainly made me nostalgic. The cover of the book is beautiful and the title is also apt. The narration has a lot of puns and is full of wit and humour. At no point did u feel that I was bored in the book. The plot kept me hooked to the book and the theme of the book I fresh, keeping the reader even more engaged. It's a light, funny and realistic read.
The book certainly made me nostalgic. The cover of the book is beautiful and the title is also apt. The narration has a lot of puns and is full of wit and humour. At no point did u feel that I was bored in the book. The plot kept me hooked to the book and the theme of the book I fresh, keeping the reader even more engaged. It's a light, funny and realistic read.
November 19, 2022
A friend gifted me this book, knowing how much admire the comedic talent and the wit of the author. With immaculate pacing, endearingly-perhaps even irritatingly (gosh the number of second-hand embarrassments triggering my first-hand embarrassing experiences)- local and desi nostalgia, it was such a wholesome read. There are incidents you relate to, there are localized landscapes woven so hilariously in the narrative, making you snort every once in a while, and there are characters who are impressions of your halcyon school days. But most importantly, there is bubbling passion and intense love for a game, for friends, for life (all things swirling in the board year, the 10th standard of an Indian school), which one can only muster with such sublime subtlety and pandemonium during their teenage. To summarize in perhaps the author's affectionate dialect, mast!
February 9, 2019
The story begins with Zinedine Zidane (France’s captain) getting a Red card in the last match of his career. In a parallel timeline, four young football enthusiasts are taken aback by Zidane’s bummer. Amongst them is Rishabh, who is mildly eccentric and takes things seriously. The story is Rishabh’s quest to find name and fame and bring back glory to their school by winning the Football tournament. Some of the things are quite relatable- like the determination of the boys to practice on their own because they did not have a proper coach, Mehfouz Noorani’s training and harsh words and the first crush in school.
Read the complete review here: http://aliveshadow.com/category-bookr...
Read the complete review here: http://aliveshadow.com/category-bookr...
June 9, 2019
⚽ The cover is so so beautiful ,
I loved the theme on it . The blurb is interesting as much as cover . The book is football .
.
⚽ This book is really interesting and funny . This made me nostalgic and think about school days . I really loved the Rishab and his team . A fast faced book and with wonderful story plot .
The characters are well described as per story .
.
⚽ Should appreciate the author . The writing and the story made me very interesting and funny ... This was a book to be read .. I can't tell you about story .. check and grab a copy to read .
.
⚽ Over all a beautiful book to be read .
The thoroughly enjoyed . This reminded me my school days . I loved reading it .
The life is working between nostalgic and destinations that happens sometimes . .
I loved the theme on it . The blurb is interesting as much as cover . The book is football .
.
⚽ This book is really interesting and funny . This made me nostalgic and think about school days . I really loved the Rishab and his team . A fast faced book and with wonderful story plot .
The characters are well described as per story .
.
⚽ Should appreciate the author . The writing and the story made me very interesting and funny ... This was a book to be read .. I can't tell you about story .. check and grab a copy to read .
.
⚽ Over all a beautiful book to be read .
The thoroughly enjoyed . This reminded me my school days . I loved reading it .
The life is working between nostalgic and destinations that happens sometimes . .
July 25, 2022
4.5/5
This book is SO GOOD. It's wholesome, its funny and it's so easy to read. It's an instantly gripping page turner that never lets up. All the characters are so well written and relatable. My minor gripe is just that the trophy is dangled in front of the readers all throughout but they don't end up getting is which was a disappointing choice for me. I get that the team played only for their passion and love and beauty of the sport but a trophy win would just have been a cherry on top and a signal that playing dirty is not gonna get you wins.
P.s:- Barkha is the MVP of the book
This book is SO GOOD. It's wholesome, its funny and it's so easy to read. It's an instantly gripping page turner that never lets up. All the characters are so well written and relatable. My minor gripe is just that the trophy is dangled in front of the readers all throughout but they don't end up getting is which was a disappointing choice for me. I get that the team played only for their passion and love and beauty of the sport but a trophy win would just have been a cherry on top and a signal that playing dirty is not gonna get you wins.
P.s:- Barkha is the MVP of the book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2024
Boy o boy , what a nostalgic ride it was. From school crushes to playing football with your friends to depressing board times of class 10th and fight between being a boy and man , between right or wrong. Everything was there. Loved it so much. Smiled a lot reading it. Even stopped reading to appreciate reliability and how beautifully the writer had found words for the exact emotions.
Nostalgia indeed is the weakest human emotion.
Nostalgia indeed is the weakest human emotion.
November 23, 2018
A must read for anyone who has at any point in their lives, played football. The book took me back to my childhood. It’s very well written, with a great sense of humour. I had just finished reading Fever Pitch when I finished this book, and surprisingly I liked Red Card way more!
December 1, 2018
Absolutely excellent young adult fiction. The take on football is quite refreshing, especially for someone like me who doesn't really follow the game. A perfect gift for amateur readers and experienced bibliophiles alike!
June 15, 2019
A light coming of age story blending in the woes of adolescence with the love of foosball. Though the idea is nothing original the story is successful in bringing back the bittersweet nostalgia.
A pretty good read both for lovers of football and anyone interested in a quick light read.
A pretty good read both for lovers of football and anyone interested in a quick light read.
May 2, 2021
The beauty the writer has written, I am in currently in 10th std, and I will feel sad for the life we could have had if there was no pandemic, but here am I reading this wonderful book and thinking of playing football and prepare for my gseb boards.
November 29, 2024
Takes one back to their school days and specially to the one's who were part of their school sports team at some point. The feelings a teenager experiences at that age and the dynamics of relations with parents, teachers and peers certainly makes the book a great nostalgic trip.
November 18, 2018
Absolutely fantastic and absorbing!
October 28, 2019
Never been a big fan of young adult fiction . Picked this up because I grew up playing football ( though never very good at it) . Thank you Kautuk for bringing back all the wonderful memmories.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews