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Alphabet Soup for Lovers
Please Read Brand New, International Softcover Edition, Printed in black and white pages, minor self wear on the cover or pages, Sale restriction may be printed on the book, but Book name, contents, and author are exactly same as Hardcover Edition. Fast delivery through DHL/FedEx express.
198 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2015
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About the author
Anita Nair
97 books473 followersAnita Nair is the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of the novels The Better Man, Ladies Coupé, Mistress, Lessons in Forgetting, Idris: Keeper of the Light and Alphabet Soup for Lovers. She has also authored a crime series featuring Inspector Gowda.
Anita Nair’s other books include a collection of poems titled Malabar Mind, a collection of essays titled Goodnight & God Bless and six books for children. Anita Nair has also written two plays and the screenplay for the movie adaptation of her novel Lessons in Forgetting which was part of the Indian Panorama at IFFI 2012 and won the National Film Award in 2013. Among other awards, she was also given the Central Sahitya Akademi award and the Crossword Prize. Her books have been translated into over thirty one languages around the world. She is also the founder of the creative writing and mentorship program Anita’s Attic.
Anita Nair’s other books include a collection of poems titled Malabar Mind, a collection of essays titled Goodnight & God Bless and six books for children. Anita Nair has also written two plays and the screenplay for the movie adaptation of her novel Lessons in Forgetting which was part of the Indian Panorama at IFFI 2012 and won the National Film Award in 2013. Among other awards, she was also given the Central Sahitya Akademi award and the Crossword Prize. Her books have been translated into over thirty one languages around the world. She is also the founder of the creative writing and mentorship program Anita’s Attic.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
July 26, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this short and quick book full of food and love and relationship.
Gist of the story is an illicit affair between an actor and a proprietor of a mountaintop resort. Her loyal old maid, who is ever watchful , and her unsuspecting and reticent husband are the other key characters.
Loved the relationship between food, emotions and circumstances.
Would recommend this to all foodies.
Gist of the story is an illicit affair between an actor and a proprietor of a mountaintop resort. Her loyal old maid, who is ever watchful , and her unsuspecting and reticent husband are the other key characters.
Loved the relationship between food, emotions and circumstances.
Would recommend this to all foodies.
September 12, 2016
The story of Alphabet Soup for Lovers is told through the eyes of Komathi, the maid at Lena's house. Lena is in a loveless marriage. She and her husband run a resort on the hills. A filmstar rents a room here and slowly a friendship blooms between him and Lena.
What I liked
1. I liked the chapters being named after South Indian foods. It kind of reminded me of The Bastard of Istanbul where each chapter is named after a food/spice. That was something refreshing and uncommon in Indian lit. The whole story is strung by a connection to each of the foods mentioned in the title.
2. The charcter development of Komathi is excellent. I felt connected to her as a reader and she successfully gave small thrills as her past unfolds as the story progresses.
What I disliked
1. Again, the character development. The main characters, Lena and her husband are under developed. They seemed very distant to me as a reader. I couldn't fathom what was wrong with the marriage or what they were feeling or why Lena develops a soft corner for a film star (again, under developed character). The friendship between Lena and the film star seemed instant, like an impulsive one. The impulsiveness doesn't go with her personality. Nor is the reason for it explained.
2. I would have liked the story a lot more if Komathi was the main character in it. However clearly she is not. She is only the narrator of the story. I felt the side characters are more developed than the main characters . At the end I was more concerned about Komathi than Lena
3. Some of the food references can be understood only by South Indians/Indians in general.
4. Most importantly, many times I felt the book is going along the exact same 'feel' of Mistress. There is definitely a lot of similarity.
Final verdict
If you are looking for a light fun read, go ahead, this would not disappoint you. It is a short read and you can easily get through the story.
What I liked
1. I liked the chapters being named after South Indian foods. It kind of reminded me of The Bastard of Istanbul where each chapter is named after a food/spice. That was something refreshing and uncommon in Indian lit. The whole story is strung by a connection to each of the foods mentioned in the title.
2. The charcter development of Komathi is excellent. I felt connected to her as a reader and she successfully gave small thrills as her past unfolds as the story progresses.
What I disliked
1. Again, the character development. The main characters, Lena and her husband are under developed. They seemed very distant to me as a reader. I couldn't fathom what was wrong with the marriage or what they were feeling or why Lena develops a soft corner for a film star (again, under developed character). The friendship between Lena and the film star seemed instant, like an impulsive one. The impulsiveness doesn't go with her personality. Nor is the reason for it explained.
2. I would have liked the story a lot more if Komathi was the main character in it. However clearly she is not. She is only the narrator of the story. I felt the side characters are more developed than the main characters . At the end I was more concerned about Komathi than Lena
3. Some of the food references can be understood only by South Indians/Indians in general.
4. Most importantly, many times I felt the book is going along the exact same 'feel' of Mistress. There is definitely a lot of similarity.
Final verdict
If you are looking for a light fun read, go ahead, this would not disappoint you. It is a short read and you can easily get through the story.
January 14, 2016
A warm and heartening story of Komathi who is learning the english alphabet with what she knows the best - food, of Leena who is in a marriage of comfort and convenience who feels love is a useless word until one day, love really happens. Of Shoola Pani, a famous tamil actor who is looking for solace.
A story of how everything is connected, a story of love, affairs and heartbreak.
I am leaving you with one line from the book that has stayed with me
"If a dish could make a woman strong enough to ignore the call of her heart, then the world would be ruled by woman. There would be no tears or shattered dreams."- Komathi, Alphabet Soup for Lover
A story of how everything is connected, a story of love, affairs and heartbreak.
I am leaving you with one line from the book that has stayed with me
"If a dish could make a woman strong enough to ignore the call of her heart, then the world would be ruled by woman. There would be no tears or shattered dreams."- Komathi, Alphabet Soup for Lover
March 27, 2020
I have this nasty habit of checking what others read. Quite irritating, I know. All the same, this is what brought this cute little story to my attention. The book was found on my colleague's table. Well, I am not a fan of 'Ladies Coupe' like many others, but Anita Nair's 'Mistress' is one of my all-time favourites. Understandably, I can't really pass this one, can I? Especially when it shares a remarkable likeness to 'Mistress'.
The novel has a unique structure. Each chapter begins with a first-person narrative by Komathi and is titled with the name of a food or ingredient to make up an alphabet list. So instead of "A for Apple" we get "A for Appalam", the Tamil food item Komathi is familiar with. I was not familiar with all of them, but the way the author linked the events in the story to the food was quite remarkable.
The story revolves around the adulterous relationship of Lena with Shoola Pani, a famous South Indian actor. Both of them lead 'perfect' unhappy marriages and now a choice is given which will surely have consequences. Not a morally driven story in that respect, but which is better, living a lie or confronting the reality? I will leave that to your discretion.
On the whole, this was a fast-paced, enjoyable read that had my brain wheels turning.
The novel has a unique structure. Each chapter begins with a first-person narrative by Komathi and is titled with the name of a food or ingredient to make up an alphabet list. So instead of "A for Apple" we get "A for Appalam", the Tamil food item Komathi is familiar with. I was not familiar with all of them, but the way the author linked the events in the story to the food was quite remarkable.
The story revolves around the adulterous relationship of Lena with Shoola Pani, a famous South Indian actor. Both of them lead 'perfect' unhappy marriages and now a choice is given which will surely have consequences. Not a morally driven story in that respect, but which is better, living a lie or confronting the reality? I will leave that to your discretion.
On the whole, this was a fast-paced, enjoyable read that had my brain wheels turning.
February 18, 2016
Sweet, romantic and a delight to read.
The story is told through the eyes of Komathi, the cook of Lena Abraham, who lives a sheltered yet uneventful life with her husband KK in the Annamalai hills till the arrival of South Indian superstar Shoola Pani Dev at their homestay cottage.
As Komathi tackles the various letters of the alphabet with food or ingredients that catch her eye, the story attains the flavor of it and progresses smoothly.
The book made me crave for some of the foods mentioned, google some recipes and made me look at food with a different eye.
Recommended to all who love literary fiction that is a delight to read and tells a good story. Also for foodies.
The story is told through the eyes of Komathi, the cook of Lena Abraham, who lives a sheltered yet uneventful life with her husband KK in the Annamalai hills till the arrival of South Indian superstar Shoola Pani Dev at their homestay cottage.
As Komathi tackles the various letters of the alphabet with food or ingredients that catch her eye, the story attains the flavor of it and progresses smoothly.
The book made me crave for some of the foods mentioned, google some recipes and made me look at food with a different eye.
Recommended to all who love literary fiction that is a delight to read and tells a good story. Also for foodies.
July 9, 2021
Food as a metaphor for Love, life and heartbreak. The book with it's simple prose and a deep connection to food (especially South Indian) is an innovative affair.
Each alphabet has 3 parts - Introduction of the food item (in tamil) that stands for the alphabet, a narrative by the cook Komathi followed by the story of Lena Abraham and her tough choice.
38 year old Lena Abraham is comfortably numb in her marriage with KK, finding a rhythm in the boring routine in a tea estate. As observed by Komathi - the spark has been doused if it ever existed. Enter an arrogant film star seeking anonymity to their homestay and the chemistry is set off.
The best part of the book was the way that the story moves forward without too much drama or too much guilt. Komathi, the old cook who was in an affair once upon a time understands her Leenama's predicament.
Two things that kind of seemed forced into the narrative - sex and a puppy that needed saving. Food items were appropriate and the cooking instructions given by Komathi made you curious.
Anita Nair is surely an authoritative voice of Indian contemporary fiction.
Each alphabet has 3 parts - Introduction of the food item (in tamil) that stands for the alphabet, a narrative by the cook Komathi followed by the story of Lena Abraham and her tough choice.
38 year old Lena Abraham is comfortably numb in her marriage with KK, finding a rhythm in the boring routine in a tea estate. As observed by Komathi - the spark has been doused if it ever existed. Enter an arrogant film star seeking anonymity to their homestay and the chemistry is set off.
The best part of the book was the way that the story moves forward without too much drama or too much guilt. Komathi, the old cook who was in an affair once upon a time understands her Leenama's predicament.
Two things that kind of seemed forced into the narrative - sex and a puppy that needed saving. Food items were appropriate and the cooking instructions given by Komathi made you curious.
Anita Nair is surely an authoritative voice of Indian contemporary fiction.
August 4, 2021
A novel by Anita Nair themed around food? Why not!
Felt the plot was lame and stupid :(
Written for the sake of writing a book.
Fun factor was looking up on the traditional names of dishes/ingredients and figuring out whether or not it has been savored in some form :)
Couple of years back, had accidentally brought home a mango flavored ginger. Found out while reading this book, that it was Inji :)
Enjoyed exploring and guessing about Daangar Chutney, Zigarthanda, Hayagriva, Oorkai….
Added to bucket list --> must have Zigarthanda while in Madurai.
Overall: Not recommended.
Felt the plot was lame and stupid :(
Written for the sake of writing a book.
Fun factor was looking up on the traditional names of dishes/ingredients and figuring out whether or not it has been savored in some form :)
Couple of years back, had accidentally brought home a mango flavored ginger. Found out while reading this book, that it was Inji :)
Enjoyed exploring and guessing about Daangar Chutney, Zigarthanda, Hayagriva, Oorkai….
Added to bucket list --> must have Zigarthanda while in Madurai.
Overall: Not recommended.
August 23, 2016
Note: This review first appeared on The News Minute here: http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/...
“Masterchef Australia”—where amateurs battle against time for the love of food. The show charms me with its friendly contestants, kind judges and the perceived yumminess of its dishes. It also happens to be one of India’s favourite TV shows. When I picked up Anita Nair’s “Alphabet Soup for Lovers”, I was hoping to savour in food fiction format, the same delicious bisque of imagined tastes and romantic decadence.
I remember the first time I tasted buttered scones. It was in Liverpool in the winter of 2009. Growing up in the nineties, Enid Blyton had brought into my rice-and- sambhar world, the unattainably tasty buttered scone! For years, I had dreamt of their melt-in- the-mouth feel. I imagined they would smell like warm buttered toast on steroids. The actual tasting was of course underwhelming, but that’s not the point! It was the grand culmination of an unknown taste I had nursed for over a dozen years of my childhood.
Though my constitution is built on F for Filter Kapi, M for Murungakai and R for Rava, I live in a world made better by “Masterchef Australia’s” lobster crudo and pan-fried gnocchi. As one of the biggest voyeurs of food porn in the Deccan Plateau, I was hoping Anita Nair would recreate for me the magic of K for Karuveppilai (curry leaves) in an N for Nande (crab) curry. I was, however, left with a watered down soup coating my palate with few high notes.
Nair’s recent work sets out to reaffirm the power of love in all our lives. Lena Abraham believes that love can only end in disappointment. She lives with her husband KK in a perfectly loveless marriage set in their tea plantation in the Western Ghats. They don’t argue and their interactions are all matter-of- fact; just how they like it. But love does find Lena when Shoola Pani, a South Indian superstar rents out their homestay in an attempt to outrun his fame. Before they know it, Lena becomes his “Lee” and Shoola Pani her “Ship”. And the quiet of the hills will not be enough to calm the rising storm.
Komathi, the couple’s omniscient domestic help, is the real protagonist holding the novel together with her history lessons, life lessons and cooking lessons. We meet her as she is taking English lessons from Selvi, her granddaughter, by relating a kitchen staple to each alphabet. So it’s A for Arisi Appalam and B for Badam. This narrative style is the highlight of the novel. But some of the associations are rather a force fit like Z for Zigarthanda. The character (and perhaps the author through her) justifies, “I know the Zigarthanda should start with a J. But this is my alphabet book. What is right for the world may not be right for me. I have always called it Zigarthanda and this shall be my Z.” Things left out of this soup are questions like: What are Komathi’s motivations? What are KK’s impressions of his loveless marriage? Why is Lena’s the only perspective? We meet Muthu, the local drunk for no reason. We meet Selvi, her only purpose—to help her grandmother with the alphabets. The storyline is thin as a crisp and the characters are pale like undercooked prawns. This rather shaky skeleton of a book is propped up only by the author’s command over the language.
The way she weaves phrases to form her lines in the novel makes for delightful reading, making one forget momentarily all its pitfalls and shortcomings. I read recently that she writes her books using a fountain pen in a hardbound notebook. And the inherent romance and thoughtfulness of putting pen to paper does reveal itself in the carefully chosen use of words in the novel. There is, for sure, magic in her fingertips. However, coincidence or not, her debut novel “The Better Man” had similar problems. Set in the imaginary land of Kaikurussi, “The Better Man” reflected beautifully all the tropes of small-town Kerala, a universe I assume was Nair’s own, growing up in Shornur in Palakkad district of Kerala. However, its storyline and character development were its undoing just like the “Alphabet Soup”. Both leave an uneasy sense of longing for an opportunity lost; an almost-there piece of literature.
Like the damp that settles in homes in the monsoon months, there is an unshakable dampness that’s making the plot structure, the relationships and the characters in the novel mouldy. It’s all there, but in “Masterchef Australia” lingo, this soup fails to develop a beautiful depth of flavour! Read it only to learn a new desi ABC!
“Masterchef Australia”—where amateurs battle against time for the love of food. The show charms me with its friendly contestants, kind judges and the perceived yumminess of its dishes. It also happens to be one of India’s favourite TV shows. When I picked up Anita Nair’s “Alphabet Soup for Lovers”, I was hoping to savour in food fiction format, the same delicious bisque of imagined tastes and romantic decadence.
I remember the first time I tasted buttered scones. It was in Liverpool in the winter of 2009. Growing up in the nineties, Enid Blyton had brought into my rice-and- sambhar world, the unattainably tasty buttered scone! For years, I had dreamt of their melt-in- the-mouth feel. I imagined they would smell like warm buttered toast on steroids. The actual tasting was of course underwhelming, but that’s not the point! It was the grand culmination of an unknown taste I had nursed for over a dozen years of my childhood.
Though my constitution is built on F for Filter Kapi, M for Murungakai and R for Rava, I live in a world made better by “Masterchef Australia’s” lobster crudo and pan-fried gnocchi. As one of the biggest voyeurs of food porn in the Deccan Plateau, I was hoping Anita Nair would recreate for me the magic of K for Karuveppilai (curry leaves) in an N for Nande (crab) curry. I was, however, left with a watered down soup coating my palate with few high notes.
Nair’s recent work sets out to reaffirm the power of love in all our lives. Lena Abraham believes that love can only end in disappointment. She lives with her husband KK in a perfectly loveless marriage set in their tea plantation in the Western Ghats. They don’t argue and their interactions are all matter-of- fact; just how they like it. But love does find Lena when Shoola Pani, a South Indian superstar rents out their homestay in an attempt to outrun his fame. Before they know it, Lena becomes his “Lee” and Shoola Pani her “Ship”. And the quiet of the hills will not be enough to calm the rising storm.
Komathi, the couple’s omniscient domestic help, is the real protagonist holding the novel together with her history lessons, life lessons and cooking lessons. We meet her as she is taking English lessons from Selvi, her granddaughter, by relating a kitchen staple to each alphabet. So it’s A for Arisi Appalam and B for Badam. This narrative style is the highlight of the novel. But some of the associations are rather a force fit like Z for Zigarthanda. The character (and perhaps the author through her) justifies, “I know the Zigarthanda should start with a J. But this is my alphabet book. What is right for the world may not be right for me. I have always called it Zigarthanda and this shall be my Z.” Things left out of this soup are questions like: What are Komathi’s motivations? What are KK’s impressions of his loveless marriage? Why is Lena’s the only perspective? We meet Muthu, the local drunk for no reason. We meet Selvi, her only purpose—to help her grandmother with the alphabets. The storyline is thin as a crisp and the characters are pale like undercooked prawns. This rather shaky skeleton of a book is propped up only by the author’s command over the language.
The way she weaves phrases to form her lines in the novel makes for delightful reading, making one forget momentarily all its pitfalls and shortcomings. I read recently that she writes her books using a fountain pen in a hardbound notebook. And the inherent romance and thoughtfulness of putting pen to paper does reveal itself in the carefully chosen use of words in the novel. There is, for sure, magic in her fingertips. However, coincidence or not, her debut novel “The Better Man” had similar problems. Set in the imaginary land of Kaikurussi, “The Better Man” reflected beautifully all the tropes of small-town Kerala, a universe I assume was Nair’s own, growing up in Shornur in Palakkad district of Kerala. However, its storyline and character development were its undoing just like the “Alphabet Soup”. Both leave an uneasy sense of longing for an opportunity lost; an almost-there piece of literature.
Like the damp that settles in homes in the monsoon months, there is an unshakable dampness that’s making the plot structure, the relationships and the characters in the novel mouldy. It’s all there, but in “Masterchef Australia” lingo, this soup fails to develop a beautiful depth of flavour! Read it only to learn a new desi ABC!
February 16, 2017
Alphabet Soup for Lovers by Anita Nair is not a collection of recipes. Nor is it a riveting tale of two ill-fated lovers who get together after a long struggle, sacrifices or a display of strong character. For me, Alphabet Soup for Lovers felt like tucking into a bowl of warm, ghee laced khichdi, occasionally biting into a whole peppercorn or a piece of mango pickle accompanied by a rather limp, oil soaked papad which should have brought it some texture and flavours into the khichdi but ended up rather being a nuisance.
The story begins with the narrator and my favourite character in the book, Komathi, expressing her frustration at not being able to pick up the English Alphabet. Describing the difficulty she faces in grasping the English Alphabet as taught by her granddaughter, Selvi, she says,
She is an old retainer of the female protagonist, Lena, who lives in the idyllic Nilgiris and is described to be in a sort of an emotionless relationship with her husband KK. In contrast, the Komathi's character is very well etched. And the food metaphors that she uses are endearing. She decides to associate each letter with a fruit, vegetable or dish. That way she will never forget it. As she winds her way through alphabets, she is mostly an impassive witness to the illicit attraction that springs up between Lena and Shoola Pani.
Now, not going too much into who their love affair develops, let's get into what I liked about the book and what I didn't. I love love love Komathi and her back story. As she goes through this beautiful journey from A for Arisi Appalam, choosing the homemade Appalam over Selvi's A for Apple and makes her way to the calm and soothing end with Z for Zigarthanda ( I know, it starts with J but Komathi chooses Jigarthanda for Z and I will stick to her <3 ), her back story unravels revealing a surprise, an unrequited love, and explains why her thoughts are what they are. And what's more beautiful is, they don't invoke pity, instead they help you understand Komathi better. Around "I" for Inji, she makes impassioned arguments, albeit to herself, about what should Lena be doing to set her lacklustre life with KK in right order.
What I did not like was how hollow the rest of the characters and the stories sound in the book. I mean, I found them dull because nothing explains why a character behaves the way she/he behaves. Not their thoughts, not their words and neither a third person assessment of their behaviour, like Komathi's thoughts about them explains the story development.
Looks like the author didn't heed Komathi advice and fried the Arisi Appalams in smoking hot oil, leaving the Appalam uncooked on the inside and sticking to the reader's teeth.
The story begins with the narrator and my favourite character in the book, Komathi, expressing her frustration at not being able to pick up the English Alphabet. Describing the difficulty she faces in grasping the English Alphabet as taught by her granddaughter, Selvi, she says,
But, I am a numbskull. My head is like a dried up coconut... the brains have lost the ability to absorb.
She is an old retainer of the female protagonist, Lena, who lives in the idyllic Nilgiris and is described to be in a sort of an emotionless relationship with her husband KK. In contrast, the Komathi's character is very well etched. And the food metaphors that she uses are endearing. She decides to associate each letter with a fruit, vegetable or dish. That way she will never forget it. As she winds her way through alphabets, she is mostly an impassive witness to the illicit attraction that springs up between Lena and Shoola Pani.
Now, not going too much into who their love affair develops, let's get into what I liked about the book and what I didn't. I love love love Komathi and her back story. As she goes through this beautiful journey from A for Arisi Appalam, choosing the homemade Appalam over Selvi's A for Apple and makes her way to the calm and soothing end with Z for Zigarthanda ( I know, it starts with J but Komathi chooses Jigarthanda for Z and I will stick to her <3 ), her back story unravels revealing a surprise, an unrequited love, and explains why her thoughts are what they are. And what's more beautiful is, they don't invoke pity, instead they help you understand Komathi better. Around "I" for Inji, she makes impassioned arguments, albeit to herself, about what should Lena be doing to set her lacklustre life with KK in right order.
What I did not like was how hollow the rest of the characters and the stories sound in the book. I mean, I found them dull because nothing explains why a character behaves the way she/he behaves. Not their thoughts, not their words and neither a third person assessment of their behaviour, like Komathi's thoughts about them explains the story development.
Looks like the author didn't heed Komathi advice and fried the Arisi Appalams in smoking hot oil, leaving the Appalam uncooked on the inside and sticking to the reader's teeth.
August 15, 2019
This one started off weird and slow but the connotations it has and the way it built up won my heart! I knew there was a reason why I loved Anita Nair's writing, though I still can't put a finger on what exactly it is. It's simplicity woven with beauty, I guess, and the world is a slightly better place because her writing is in it! Enjoyed it to no end!
August 23, 2016
If love can be like this, then I wouldn't mind me an extra serving. What a delight this book is. Go read it, you won't be let down.
January 18, 2016
I relished this book. It brought together two things I love; food and romance. The manner in which Nair has merged the two is commendable. She leaves each alphabet at a juncture where you want more from it. In talking about a dish/ingredient Nair also leaves the reader with important life lessons.
Do pick this up. It is food for the soul.
Do pick this up. It is food for the soul.
April 13, 2020
Heartwarming tales of love and life told in the view of a maid - Gomathi.
Feels light and good to read as she learns the alphabet in her own sweet way - using food.
Feels light and good to read as she learns the alphabet in her own sweet way - using food.
January 26, 2025
Délicieux et troublant
February 8, 2016
I raced through this little book in a few hours. I was lucky enough to attend a reading by Ms. Nair at a close friend's house, which is where I bought it. Loved the cover - Green is a favourite colour and the font is lovely! Also - so wonderful to have a hardcover book in the PERFECT size! Fits beautiful in the hand :)
The book is an easy read in Anita's trademark style and about a subject close to her heart - relationships. I'm a big fan of Anita's writing - she's a wordsmith extraordinaire and I like her no-nonsense yet sensitive touch while handling prickly issues...mostly adultery...which is why I read her even though I'm not particularly drawn to love stories. She never comes across as judgmental which I think is hard to do. She understands that Life is at best - messy, at worst - tragic and every emotion in between! This book is no different...she handles her characters with grace and skill and Komathi's one-liners are in turn gut-wrenching, accurate and ironic. She's my favourite character :) Lena and Shoola, Lee & Ship...their romance to me was a little unconvincing and rather Mills & Boonish...but that may be because like I said I'm not into love stories. I do however understand the alchemy of Love and can see how one was the spark to the other's tinder!
What disappointed me was KK...I wanted more about him, about the marriage too, but mostly about him. Other than the fact that's he's lived in a boarding school, is a lawyer and an equable man, I don't learn a whole lot more about him. Whereas in my mind, I imagined him to be a man of many layers, he comes across as disappointingly flat. It's almost like he's of no consequence in the story, which bugged me. It would have been 3 stars if there had been more of him ;)
And now on to the one character that makes the book - the food! This book made me very hungry while reading which is a sure sign of success :) I'm not south indian, but for the most part, had no trouble recognising the ingredients! The idea of using food allegories isn't new but invariably interesting. In this setting...a remote village with few people and no significant forms of entertainment (although KK has no issues working on his laptop! I want his wi-fi connection ;)), it takes on a life of it's own and significantly enhances the flavours of this tale.
All in all a sweet book that I wish had more depth to it. What I did like were Komathi's thoughts in the end...such a wise soul! She is my K :)
The book is an easy read in Anita's trademark style and about a subject close to her heart - relationships. I'm a big fan of Anita's writing - she's a wordsmith extraordinaire and I like her no-nonsense yet sensitive touch while handling prickly issues...mostly adultery...which is why I read her even though I'm not particularly drawn to love stories. She never comes across as judgmental which I think is hard to do. She understands that Life is at best - messy, at worst - tragic and every emotion in between! This book is no different...she handles her characters with grace and skill and Komathi's one-liners are in turn gut-wrenching, accurate and ironic. She's my favourite character :) Lena and Shoola, Lee & Ship...their romance to me was a little unconvincing and rather Mills & Boonish...but that may be because like I said I'm not into love stories. I do however understand the alchemy of Love and can see how one was the spark to the other's tinder!
What disappointed me was KK...I wanted more about him, about the marriage too, but mostly about him. Other than the fact that's he's lived in a boarding school, is a lawyer and an equable man, I don't learn a whole lot more about him. Whereas in my mind, I imagined him to be a man of many layers, he comes across as disappointingly flat. It's almost like he's of no consequence in the story, which bugged me. It would have been 3 stars if there had been more of him ;)
And now on to the one character that makes the book - the food! This book made me very hungry while reading which is a sure sign of success :) I'm not south indian, but for the most part, had no trouble recognising the ingredients! The idea of using food allegories isn't new but invariably interesting. In this setting...a remote village with few people and no significant forms of entertainment (although KK has no issues working on his laptop! I want his wi-fi connection ;)), it takes on a life of it's own and significantly enhances the flavours of this tale.
All in all a sweet book that I wish had more depth to it. What I did like were Komathi's thoughts in the end...such a wise soul! She is my K :)
March 3, 2016
I was drawn to the Alphabet Soup for Lovers after reading some of the excerpts posted by two of my bibliophile friends. The food allegories were so simple that they were tempting. I've never read any whole novel of Anita Nair before, and having heard praise for her from many friends, the excerpts had an immediate effect. I ran to Amazon the moment the prices dropped and bought myself a copy.
Neither did I wait too long to start reading the Alphabet Soup for Lovers. I started reading it in train on the way to Kudla from Bangalore and unfortunately, also finished it in two days. I wish it would go on and on, I wish Anita Nair was tackling Malayalam alphabets - at least then we'd have had 52 chapters and not just 26.
Alphabet Soup for Lovers is a simple tale - of how Lena Abraham finds love. Lena and KK, her husband, run a tea plantation and a small homestay in the lap of the Annamalai hills. Their marriage is placid, free of passion or arguments. But when Shoola Pani, the Tamil superstar, comes to stay in the homestay, Lena's life takes a new course. Passion and love, which Lena carefully skirted around all these years, come bursting forth from her bosom.
But this tale is not just about Lena. It belongs as much to Komathi, the cook of Lena's household, as to her. The tale is partly narrated by Komathi, and this is where the food metaphors and the "palatable" descriptions come from. The story's poignancy, light-heartedness, philosophy and heart comes from Komathi's narrative. Here's an example:
"Arisi appalam doesn't puff up like a pappadum or a puri. Instead it turns a beautiful crisp white. It's full of flavour. Of green chillies and asafoetida, lime and the heat of the sun, and each bite is like a firecracker bursting in the mouth... Leema and her husband KK...are like store-bought appalam. Seemingly perfect but with neither flavour nor taste. Leema, you need an arisi appalam in your life, I want to tell her."
In other parts, it is narrated in third person, where we get glimpses into the head and heart of both Lena and Shoola Pani. They are battling their own demons as their friendship fast-paces itself into a relationship that takes everyone by a storm.
The narrative is like the flow of a river. It is heart-rending without being melodramatic, plaintive without howling. Though I would have liked an ending to Komathi's story just as Lena got hers, I have to admit this book plucked the chords of my heart like none other recently.
Neither did I wait too long to start reading the Alphabet Soup for Lovers. I started reading it in train on the way to Kudla from Bangalore and unfortunately, also finished it in two days. I wish it would go on and on, I wish Anita Nair was tackling Malayalam alphabets - at least then we'd have had 52 chapters and not just 26.
Alphabet Soup for Lovers is a simple tale - of how Lena Abraham finds love. Lena and KK, her husband, run a tea plantation and a small homestay in the lap of the Annamalai hills. Their marriage is placid, free of passion or arguments. But when Shoola Pani, the Tamil superstar, comes to stay in the homestay, Lena's life takes a new course. Passion and love, which Lena carefully skirted around all these years, come bursting forth from her bosom.
But this tale is not just about Lena. It belongs as much to Komathi, the cook of Lena's household, as to her. The tale is partly narrated by Komathi, and this is where the food metaphors and the "palatable" descriptions come from. The story's poignancy, light-heartedness, philosophy and heart comes from Komathi's narrative. Here's an example:
"Arisi appalam doesn't puff up like a pappadum or a puri. Instead it turns a beautiful crisp white. It's full of flavour. Of green chillies and asafoetida, lime and the heat of the sun, and each bite is like a firecracker bursting in the mouth... Leema and her husband KK...are like store-bought appalam. Seemingly perfect but with neither flavour nor taste. Leema, you need an arisi appalam in your life, I want to tell her."
In other parts, it is narrated in third person, where we get glimpses into the head and heart of both Lena and Shoola Pani. They are battling their own demons as their friendship fast-paces itself into a relationship that takes everyone by a storm.
The narrative is like the flow of a river. It is heart-rending without being melodramatic, plaintive without howling. Though I would have liked an ending to Komathi's story just as Lena got hers, I have to admit this book plucked the chords of my heart like none other recently.
February 27, 2016
Also published on Rain and a Book
In many ways – no, actually – in every way, Alphabet Soup For Lovers is an abridged copy of the far superior Mistress by the same author. Those who know me know that Mistress ranks high on my Top 10 list. ASFL disappointed me in more ways than one. Reading it felt like someone was trying to copy Nair’s style, and plagiarize her work. I know how bizarre that sounds, given that the book is published in her name! But I cannot help but compare:
Mistress is the story of a kathakali artist, Koman, who tells us his story while watching his niece get entangled in an extra marital affair with the man who has come to interview him. He uses the nine forms of expression used in the dance form to narrate the story.
ASFL is the story of a cook, Komathi, who tells us her story (much less fascinating than Koman’s) while watching the woman she brought up as her own daughter get entangled in an extra martial affair with a man who has come to live in the homestay run by her and her husband. The cook uses the 26 letters of the alphabet to narrate the story.
ASFL is the alternative ending of Mistress. With only half of its beauty.
While the nine forms blended in a seamless metaphor in Mistress, the letters do nothing at all for ASFL. And while Mistress had complex characters that developed throughout, ASFL has characters out of a mould. They’re shells. Empty shells. Forgettable. Crumbleable.
Nair has not explored her full potential as an author, and in fact has done injustice to herself. The book reads like something she wrote on a whim – like a filler.
Disappointing, coming from Anita Nair, and thoroughly ordinary.
In many ways – no, actually – in every way, Alphabet Soup For Lovers is an abridged copy of the far superior Mistress by the same author. Those who know me know that Mistress ranks high on my Top 10 list. ASFL disappointed me in more ways than one. Reading it felt like someone was trying to copy Nair’s style, and plagiarize her work. I know how bizarre that sounds, given that the book is published in her name! But I cannot help but compare:
Mistress is the story of a kathakali artist, Koman, who tells us his story while watching his niece get entangled in an extra marital affair with the man who has come to interview him. He uses the nine forms of expression used in the dance form to narrate the story.
ASFL is the story of a cook, Komathi, who tells us her story (much less fascinating than Koman’s) while watching the woman she brought up as her own daughter get entangled in an extra martial affair with a man who has come to live in the homestay run by her and her husband. The cook uses the 26 letters of the alphabet to narrate the story.
ASFL is the alternative ending of Mistress. With only half of its beauty.
While the nine forms blended in a seamless metaphor in Mistress, the letters do nothing at all for ASFL. And while Mistress had complex characters that developed throughout, ASFL has characters out of a mould. They’re shells. Empty shells. Forgettable. Crumbleable.
Nair has not explored her full potential as an author, and in fact has done injustice to herself. The book reads like something she wrote on a whim – like a filler.
Disappointing, coming from Anita Nair, and thoroughly ordinary.
September 19, 2017
Anita Nair's Alphabet Soup for lovers is a foodie's delight.
The author weaves in and out of the culinary world effortlessly. Most of the time, she seamlessly connects the name of dish/vegetable with the story; though it does feel a little forced at times.
The Book contains many interesting anecdotes and amusing stories about food and the many ingredients that go into it.
The book gives a strong call to follow one's heart..to go with the flow...So Komathi says: " I know the Zigarthanda should start with a 'J'. But this is my alphabet book. What is right for the world may not be right for me."
While reading the book, I had this overwhelming feeling that Ms. Nair, when writing the book, was in a terrible hurry to wind up the book, so that she could attend to some very important and pressing chore. May be she had a deadline to meet, a foreign trip to proceed to (incidentally, it was while reading the book, that I also happened to read in the Hindu, Ms. Nair's writings about her life in a far off village in a far off country). May be that's the reason why she left many of the characters unexplored and chose to just skim the surface. KK, for instance...why is he what he is? Similarly, Shoolapani's overwhelming need to run away from the incessant attention stardom begets, is sadly unexamined.
As usual, Ms. Nair's prose reads like poetry...there is a sublime old world charm to it.
Unfortunately, Ms. Nair's quintessential skills does not save the story from being nothing more than 'Mills & Boon'-ish. Though touted as a Love Story, the connection (the tug of their souls) between KK and Lena is far from convincing. If not for the author explaining in detail the way they feel for each other, there is nothing for the reader to read between the lines. Coming from a writer of Ms. Nair's stature, that was definitely a letdown.
The author weaves in and out of the culinary world effortlessly. Most of the time, she seamlessly connects the name of dish/vegetable with the story; though it does feel a little forced at times.
The Book contains many interesting anecdotes and amusing stories about food and the many ingredients that go into it.
The book gives a strong call to follow one's heart..to go with the flow...So Komathi says: " I know the Zigarthanda should start with a 'J'. But this is my alphabet book. What is right for the world may not be right for me."
While reading the book, I had this overwhelming feeling that Ms. Nair, when writing the book, was in a terrible hurry to wind up the book, so that she could attend to some very important and pressing chore. May be she had a deadline to meet, a foreign trip to proceed to (incidentally, it was while reading the book, that I also happened to read in the Hindu, Ms. Nair's writings about her life in a far off village in a far off country). May be that's the reason why she left many of the characters unexplored and chose to just skim the surface. KK, for instance...why is he what he is? Similarly, Shoolapani's overwhelming need to run away from the incessant attention stardom begets, is sadly unexamined.
As usual, Ms. Nair's prose reads like poetry...there is a sublime old world charm to it.
Unfortunately, Ms. Nair's quintessential skills does not save the story from being nothing more than 'Mills & Boon'-ish. Though touted as a Love Story, the connection (the tug of their souls) between KK and Lena is far from convincing. If not for the author explaining in detail the way they feel for each other, there is nothing for the reader to read between the lines. Coming from a writer of Ms. Nair's stature, that was definitely a letdown.
September 27, 2016
Alphabet Soup didn't work for me, it was a recipe gone wrong somewhere. I read Anita Nair's LESSONS IN FORGETTING in July, which left quite an impression on me with a moving, yet fascinating storyline and her meticulous writing. Thus, obviously, I had high hopes when I picked up an another novel by her. Sadly, it was not up to my taste.
The story is described through the eyes of Komathi, a cook working for KK and Lena. She is learning English alphabets with the aid of familiar items around her in the kitchen. Each chapter is titled under a food item and is related to her and Lena's life; through anecdotes or any myth/stories/facts about that particular item. I delight in reading food fiction, so I really enjoyed how each chapter was connected with an ingredient, learnt one or two things about a few items and also became impressed by the lessons which the author has derived from each item, in a way I have never thought before.
Each chapter gives an insight into Lena and Komathi's life. As stories unfold, we see a grieving lover in Komathi and a wife who becomes passionate for another man in Lena. Whilst the cause of Komathi's heartache was completely understandable, Lena's behaviour left me bewildered. I couldn't fathom her marriage to KK, their relationship and her sudden passion for the actor, staying in their cottage.
I ended up hating the protagonist towards the end of the story and thinking what the author wishes to convey through this novel. I don't understand how adultery reaffirms the power of love in our lives, should've read the blurb before buying the novel. Seems like the novel lacked the details to make the story actually enjoyable. Despite the familiarity of the backdrops and attractive prose - it failed to impress me. It was okay, not up to par. Couldn't even connect with any of the characters. Terribly disappointed!
The story is described through the eyes of Komathi, a cook working for KK and Lena. She is learning English alphabets with the aid of familiar items around her in the kitchen. Each chapter is titled under a food item and is related to her and Lena's life; through anecdotes or any myth/stories/facts about that particular item. I delight in reading food fiction, so I really enjoyed how each chapter was connected with an ingredient, learnt one or two things about a few items and also became impressed by the lessons which the author has derived from each item, in a way I have never thought before.
Each chapter gives an insight into Lena and Komathi's life. As stories unfold, we see a grieving lover in Komathi and a wife who becomes passionate for another man in Lena. Whilst the cause of Komathi's heartache was completely understandable, Lena's behaviour left me bewildered. I couldn't fathom her marriage to KK, their relationship and her sudden passion for the actor, staying in their cottage.
I ended up hating the protagonist towards the end of the story and thinking what the author wishes to convey through this novel. I don't understand how adultery reaffirms the power of love in our lives, should've read the blurb before buying the novel. Seems like the novel lacked the details to make the story actually enjoyable. Despite the familiarity of the backdrops and attractive prose - it failed to impress me. It was okay, not up to par. Couldn't even connect with any of the characters. Terribly disappointed!
April 3, 2020
രണ്ടു വർഷത്തിന് ശേഷം ആദ്യത്തെ വായന ഉള്ളിലവശേഷിപ്പിച്ചത് കുറച്ച് ഭക്ഷണവിഭവങ്ങളുടെ പേരുകളും പിന്നെ ഒരു കുന്നിന്റെ മുകളിൽ തേയിലത്തോട്ടത്തിന് നടുവിൽ നിൽക്കുന്ന കോട്ടേജും അതിന്റെ ഗസ്റ്റ് ഹൗസിൽ പാർക്കാൻ വന്നൊരാളുടെ ചിത്രവും മാത്രമാണ്. അതുകൊണ്ടാണ് ഒരു രണ്ടാം വായനയെ പറ്റി ചിന്തിച്ചപ്പോൾ ഒന്നും നോക്കാതെ വീണ്ടും ഇറങ്ങി തുനിഞ്ഞത്. ഒന്നൂടെ അനിതനായരുടെ ‘Alphabet Soup for Lovers’ (പ്രണയിതാക്കൾക്ക് അക്ഷരമാലാസൂപ്പ്: എന്റെ വിവർത്തനമാണ്)എന്ന പുസ്തകത്തിലൂടെ കേറിയിറങ്ങണമെന്നു തോന്നി.
ഇത്തവണത്തെ വായന വളരെ വ്യത്യസ്തമായ അനുഭവമാണ് തന്നത്. വീട്ടുവേലക്കാരി കോമതിയിലൂടെയാണ് ലീനയുടെ ജീവിതം വായനക്കാർ നോക്കികാണുന്നത്. എന്നാൽ എഴുത്തുകാരിയുടെ ബോധപൂർവമായ ഇടപെടലുകൾ കഥപറച്ചിലിന് ഒരു ബാലൻസ് കൊണ്ടുവരുന്നുണ്ട്.
വിദ്യാഭ്യാസമില്ലാത്ത കോമതി ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് അക്ഷരമാല പഠിക്കുന്നത് താൻ അടുക്കളയിൽ ദിവസവും പാകം ചെയ്യുന്ന ഭക്ഷണവിഭവങ്ങളുടെ പേരുകളിലൂടെയാണ്. ആ ഭക്ഷണവിഭവങ്ങൾ തന്നെയാണ് അവരുടെ ഉൾക്കാഴ്ചയും.
ലെനയുടേയും ഭർത്താവ് KK യുടേയും ഇടയിലേക്ക് അതിഥിയായി കേറിവരുന്ന ശൂലപാണി എന്ന സിനിമാനടൻ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്ന മാനസിക സംഘർഷങ്ങളും ശേഷം ഉരുത്തിരിയുന്ന ജീവിത കാഴ്ചപാടുമാണ് കഥയുടെ ഇതിവൃത്തം. ഇതിന് മധ്യസ്ഥത വഹിക്കുന്നത് കോമതിയും അവളുടെ പാചകവുമാണ്.
ഇന്ത്യൻ സ്ത്രീജിവിതമാണ് അനിതനായർ രേഖപ്പെടുത്താൻ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നത്. KK യിൽ തനിക്കുള്ള അസംതൃപ്തി എന്താണെന്ന് വ്യക്തമായി മനസിലാക്കാൻ കഴിയാത്ത ലെന ശൂലപാണിയിലാണ് ആശ്വാസം കണ്ടെത്തുന്നതെങ്കിൽ ഭർത്താവുമായി വേർപെട്ടു ജീവിക്കേണ്ടി വരുന്ന കോമതിയുടെ ജീവിതം കെട്ടിപ്പടുക്കുന്നത് അടുക്കളയിലെ ഭക്ഷണവിഭവങ്ങളോട് ചേർത്താണ്.
ഭക്ഷണം കഥാപാത്രമായി വരുന്ന അപൂർവ്വം ചില നോവലുകളിലൊന്നാണിത്. പുസ്തകത്തിന്റെ കെട്ടും മട്ടും വായനയെ കൂടുതൽ പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കുന്നതാണ്. വളരെ ഈസി റീഡിങ്ങുമാണ്.
ഇത്തവണത്തെ വായന വളരെ വ്യത്യസ്തമായ അനുഭവമാണ് തന്നത്. വീട്ടുവേലക്കാരി കോമതിയിലൂടെയാണ് ലീനയുടെ ജീവിതം വായനക്കാർ നോക്കികാണുന്നത്. എന്നാൽ എഴുത്തുകാരിയുടെ ബോധപൂർവമായ ഇടപെടലുകൾ കഥപറച്ചിലിന് ഒരു ബാലൻസ് കൊണ്ടുവരുന്നുണ്ട്.
വിദ്യാഭ്യാസമില്ലാത്ത കോമതി ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് അക്ഷരമാല പഠിക്കുന്നത് താൻ അടുക്കളയിൽ ദിവസവും പാകം ചെയ്യുന്ന ഭക്ഷണവിഭവങ്ങളുടെ പേരുകളിലൂടെയാണ്. ആ ഭക്ഷണവിഭവങ്ങൾ തന്നെയാണ് അവരുടെ ഉൾക്കാഴ്ചയും.
ലെനയുടേയും ഭർത്താവ് KK യുടേയും ഇടയിലേക്ക് അതിഥിയായി കേറിവരുന്ന ശൂലപാണി എന്ന സിനിമാനടൻ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്ന മാനസിക സംഘർഷങ്ങളും ശേഷം ഉരുത്തിരിയുന്ന ജീവിത കാഴ്ചപാടുമാണ് കഥയുടെ ഇതിവൃത്തം. ഇതിന് മധ്യസ്ഥത വഹിക്കുന്നത് കോമതിയും അവളുടെ പാചകവുമാണ്.
ഇന്ത്യൻ സ്ത്രീജിവിതമാണ് അനിതനായർ രേഖപ്പെടുത്താൻ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നത്. KK യിൽ തനിക്കുള്ള അസംതൃപ്തി എന്താണെന്ന് വ്യക്തമായി മനസിലാക്കാൻ കഴിയാത്ത ലെന ശൂലപാണിയിലാണ് ആശ്വാസം കണ്ടെത്തുന്നതെങ്കിൽ ഭർത്താവുമായി വേർപെട്ടു ജീവിക്കേണ്ടി വരുന്ന കോമതിയുടെ ജീവിതം കെട്ടിപ്പടുക്കുന്നത് അടുക്കളയിലെ ഭക്ഷണവിഭവങ്ങളോട് ചേർത്താണ്.
ഭക്ഷണം കഥാപാത്രമായി വരുന്ന അപൂർവ്വം ചില നോവലുകളിലൊന്നാണിത്. പുസ്തകത്തിന്റെ കെട്ടും മട്ടും വായനയെ കൂടുതൽ പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കുന്നതാണ്. വളരെ ഈസി റീഡിങ്ങുമാണ്.
August 16, 2017
Consider this book as a cup of coffee. Or tea, for that matter. What it is, is not the piping hot coffee that burns your tongue. It is but the warm ceramic mug that you cup with both your hands, as if it is something precious. There is adultery in it, but not the kind of steamy coffee I was talking about. It feels warm, like the shimmering sun on a cold winter morning.
Lena is married and happy as she would call it. She married KK for she believed that it was better to marry someone whom she didn't love as the probability of falling out of love with him would be least. The entry of Shoola Pani makes her world and beliefs upside down. She becomes his Lee and he, her Ship. Both are empty and hollow like a hollow brick but together they build their Arcadia. Throughout we can see why they fall for each other. Even the silence of the days and nights are broken as their eyes speak. She feels for him what she hasn't felt for anyone else, her husband included.
No, this is not something that I would approve otherwise. People have their beliefs and they try to stick to it until the last breath they let out, but a few exceptions can be made at times. This being one.
Partly told from the cook's perspective, Alphabet soup for lovers is a decently written novella and also a pleasurable read that can be completed in one-sitting. You would be surprised at the wisdom of the ingredients and how they get intertwined in the life of Lee, Ship, KK and of course, Komathi Akka.
Lena is married and happy as she would call it. She married KK for she believed that it was better to marry someone whom she didn't love as the probability of falling out of love with him would be least. The entry of Shoola Pani makes her world and beliefs upside down. She becomes his Lee and he, her Ship. Both are empty and hollow like a hollow brick but together they build their Arcadia. Throughout we can see why they fall for each other. Even the silence of the days and nights are broken as their eyes speak. She feels for him what she hasn't felt for anyone else, her husband included.
No, this is not something that I would approve otherwise. People have their beliefs and they try to stick to it until the last breath they let out, but a few exceptions can be made at times. This being one.
Partly told from the cook's perspective, Alphabet soup for lovers is a decently written novella and also a pleasurable read that can be completed in one-sitting. You would be surprised at the wisdom of the ingredients and how they get intertwined in the life of Lee, Ship, KK and of course, Komathi Akka.
January 19, 2019
This is a story told through Komathi, the cook at Lena's house. Lena and her husband KK runs a homestay resort at Anamalai hills amidst the tea plantation. Leena has a loveless marriage which looks more like a compromise from both her and her husband to have a smooth life. A superstar Shoola Pani Dev rents a room there and the friendship between Leena and the actor flourishes.
I didn't feel the story was great as it was predictable. The narration by Komathi was really good connecting every chapter with a south Indian food. The main characters in the book are not well developed, they remain backstage and Komathi and her life become the main focus of the story. Lena developing a soft corner for the actor does not go well with her character. The climax in the story about the hard feeling Komathi has for Leena is not a very strong one. Moreover, the food references mentioned in the book can only be understood by South Indians generally.
I guess this book is not the right choice to pick for the first-time read of Anita Nair book.
I didn't feel the story was great as it was predictable. The narration by Komathi was really good connecting every chapter with a south Indian food. The main characters in the book are not well developed, they remain backstage and Komathi and her life become the main focus of the story. Lena developing a soft corner for the actor does not go well with her character. The climax in the story about the hard feeling Komathi has for Leena is not a very strong one. Moreover, the food references mentioned in the book can only be understood by South Indians generally.
I guess this book is not the right choice to pick for the first-time read of Anita Nair book.
December 30, 2016
Alphabet Soup for lovers had potential to be a remarkable book but somewhere along the way it lost its way to become a predictable tale. Set in the idyllic Anamalai hills, the story is about Lena Abraham and her lusterless life with her unemotive husband KK. Lena believes her's is a happy life - one that is bereft of conflicts, emotions and love until she meets the churlish & reclusive Shoola Pani, an actor who has come to the hills to escape from his own superstardom. He takes residence in the home stay run by Lena. The story is narrated by Lena's cook Komathi who is trying to learn the English Alphabet. She finds it easier to remember the alphabet when she pegs it to a food item or an ingredient. The allegorical approach to life through food is what kept me interested throughout. The lovers tale is a wasted one, especially the way it ends.
I would recommend this book, if you enjoy reading food -centered books like I do. The writing is beautiful but the plot is lacking.
I would recommend this book, if you enjoy reading food -centered books like I do. The writing is beautiful but the plot is lacking.
May 6, 2016
It starts raining cats and dogs just as i finish the book and i wonder what am i so happy about? Is it because when we just about gave up our hopes on the rain gods with the hot summer and drought in the country, we get this sudden thirst-quenching heavy downpour? Or the fact that while i proclaim that romance is not my cup of tea, i just proved myself to be a hypocrite by discovering this beautiful book for my love-sick soul!
Whatever be the case, this book is such a marvelous read! On one side it is a foodie's or a cook's delight and on the other a perfect recipe for love, life, relationships and about things that really matter. This book is a perfect blend of lovely tales of cooking essentials with mouth watering recipes for the taste buds and comfort food oops story for the soul Anita Nair
Whatever be the case, this book is such a marvelous read! On one side it is a foodie's or a cook's delight and on the other a perfect recipe for love, life, relationships and about things that really matter. This book is a perfect blend of lovely tales of cooking essentials with mouth watering recipes for the taste buds and comfort food oops story for the soul Anita Nair
May 22, 2016
It is a very promising premise. Exploring love through food. And I was pretty excited about this story when I picked it up, being a great fan of both.
The story is nice. It is a quick read and has been constructed well. My problem is with the characters. None of the them, except for Komathi, is fleshed out enough to make you care about what happens to them. And this is where the flaw lies. Because there are moments of conflict, longing, crisis and you basically don't give a rat's ass about the two lovers or the husband. But that is not to call it a bad book. I just wish the characters were more well-rounded, more human, unlike the caricatures that run the plot on here.
The cover is stunning by the way!
The story is nice. It is a quick read and has been constructed well. My problem is with the characters. None of the them, except for Komathi, is fleshed out enough to make you care about what happens to them. And this is where the flaw lies. Because there are moments of conflict, longing, crisis and you basically don't give a rat's ass about the two lovers or the husband. But that is not to call it a bad book. I just wish the characters were more well-rounded, more human, unlike the caricatures that run the plot on here.
The cover is stunning by the way!
July 27, 2016
I loved this book because it is about something which I love- Food! The story is a simple one of a wealthy married woman falling in love with a man who is out of bounds for her. The way it is narrated is quite novel. Each chapter is named after a food item in alphabetical order- A for Arisi applam, B for Badam and so on. And each chapter talks about how each of these food items are evocative of memories and personalities of people and the take on life in general. The narrative is through the eyes of a cook named Komathi who works in the house of this wealthy woman. The narration is intense and at the same time simple. If u love food, simple plot stories and a novel way of narration- this book is for you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2016
The book, with its premise of food fiction, was very promising but alas, it did not live up to my expectations. I found the central cast of characters very poorly etched out and lacking in depth. The motivations of the Leena character were not explored adequately and came across as pretty random and irrational.
The food descriptions stopped just short of being mouth-watering. And the food and fiction were placed in a formulaic way in separate alphabetized chapters that made the plot feel jerky and did not blend the food into the story as seamlessly as I would have liked.
The food descriptions stopped just short of being mouth-watering. And the food and fiction were placed in a formulaic way in separate alphabetized chapters that made the plot feel jerky and did not blend the food into the story as seamlessly as I would have liked.
April 18, 2016
There was nothing striking about any of the characters except the cook who is the narrator of the story. The inspiration for each chapter is a South Indian dish. While i appreciate the creativity and the thought behind this, the plot of the story is a real let down. It begins like a schmaltzy romance and ends like one too. The narrative is biased towards the central character, a married woman. While, the author doesn't exactly demonize the husband, his point of view is certainly absent from the book. We never get to know him. All in all a bit of a let down.
May 5, 2016
Anita Nair's choice of binary, predictable characters leaves one bitter.Incomplete conceptualization, lax writing by adopting the most obvious and overdone premise for a pale and uninteresting love story.The only USP of the book is the underlying theme of food and the usage of the names of dishes and food items as a reference to the path traversed by the story itself made use of by Komathi the illiterate cook in her attempt to understand the alphabet.
For an otherwise wonderful writer, this book is an absolute let down.
For an otherwise wonderful writer, this book is an absolute let down.
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January 18, 2016A cynical romantic who is far from the seemingly rosy world of dreams finds love in the most unexpected way. Her aged nanny and cook learns the English Alphabet through what she understands best - kitchen ingredients. A man in search of solitude finds his soulmate in someone completely removed from his world; someone forbidden.
Lovely and engaging, it is a treat for someone who loves the heady aroma of love wafting from the oldest form of alchemy - cooking.
Lovely and engaging, it is a treat for someone who loves the heady aroma of love wafting from the oldest form of alchemy - cooking.
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