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The Eminently Forgettable Life of Mrs Pankajam
Fated to do and to die,
only to remember,
then forget -
why try?
Mrs S. Pankajam has always lived two one of ordinary fulfilment in her experiences as a wife to her husband and a mother to her two daughters, and the other a life of desires and sharp observations that only her mind is privy to.
When Mrs Pankajam starts losing her memory, her doctor recommends she keep a diary to maintain a semblance of continuity in life events. At first, she is reluctant. What is so spectacular about her life that warrants its story being recorded, she wonders. But as she sets pen to paper, meticulously documenting the revelations that her daughters (well past their teens now) continue to subject her to, the discovery of her husband's eccentricities and her own guilty admissions to indulgences that may have caused his cardiac arrest, she finds her childhood persistently wrestling with the present as a marked reminder of a past she cannot run away from.
A witty and touching tale about a declining mind trying to make sense of an ever-changing world, Meera Rajagopalan's finely crafted novel is one that challenges the reader to confront long-held beliefs and make amends while it is still possible.
only to remember,
then forget -
why try?
Mrs S. Pankajam has always lived two one of ordinary fulfilment in her experiences as a wife to her husband and a mother to her two daughters, and the other a life of desires and sharp observations that only her mind is privy to.
When Mrs Pankajam starts losing her memory, her doctor recommends she keep a diary to maintain a semblance of continuity in life events. At first, she is reluctant. What is so spectacular about her life that warrants its story being recorded, she wonders. But as she sets pen to paper, meticulously documenting the revelations that her daughters (well past their teens now) continue to subject her to, the discovery of her husband's eccentricities and her own guilty admissions to indulgences that may have caused his cardiac arrest, she finds her childhood persistently wrestling with the present as a marked reminder of a past she cannot run away from.
A witty and touching tale about a declining mind trying to make sense of an ever-changing world, Meera Rajagopalan's finely crafted novel is one that challenges the reader to confront long-held beliefs and make amends while it is still possible.
- GenresIndian Literature
186 pages, Paperback
Published April 30, 2021
8 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 30 reviews
June 15, 2022
Superb debut!
A small book power packed with multiple relational/emotional issues. Its narrated as a journal of a disturbed mother.
Offers laughter therapy in terms of apt punches.
Sample these footnotes:
1. vathakuzhambu
Tangy, slightly sweet liquid, literally, sambar that is dried. Likely invented when a lady found out that the sambar had boiled a bit too much, and also that she had forgotten to boil the lentils. Perhaps she was chatting with a neighbour. Perhaps she was simply too tired.
2. absagunam
Inauspicious. Mostly used for actions of girls and women: letting hair loose, combing hair after dark, sweeping the house after dark, and so on.
3. sammandhis
Parents of the son- or daughter-in-law; a relationship based on well-masked mutual contempt for each other.
The plot is overall on the grimmer side. I felt a little bored with the middle parts - in and around a marriage ceremony.
Towards the end it picked up pace again.
Recommended: For those who love Indian Literature.
A small book power packed with multiple relational/emotional issues. Its narrated as a journal of a disturbed mother.
Offers laughter therapy in terms of apt punches.
Sample these footnotes:
1. vathakuzhambu
Tangy, slightly sweet liquid, literally, sambar that is dried. Likely invented when a lady found out that the sambar had boiled a bit too much, and also that she had forgotten to boil the lentils. Perhaps she was chatting with a neighbour. Perhaps she was simply too tired.
2. absagunam
Inauspicious. Mostly used for actions of girls and women: letting hair loose, combing hair after dark, sweeping the house after dark, and so on.
3. sammandhis
Parents of the son- or daughter-in-law; a relationship based on well-masked mutual contempt for each other.
The plot is overall on the grimmer side. I felt a little bored with the middle parts - in and around a marriage ceremony.
Towards the end it picked up pace again.
Recommended: For those who love Indian Literature.
June 12, 2022
Started with a bit trepidation because i have come to view bright covered books with quirky titles with eyes more jaundiced than the covers.
This one was a pleasant exception. Delved into it right from page 1, to come up only towards the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, though it made me a bit sad towards the end.
A word of caution: the title is misleading ;)
This one was a pleasant exception. Delved into it right from page 1, to come up only towards the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, though it made me a bit sad towards the end.
A word of caution: the title is misleading ;)
June 21, 2021
The Eminently Forgettable Life of Mrs Pankajam by Meera Rajagopalan is anything but a book you will forget. It will stay with you: the self deprecating humour, the part subtle but partly sharp snides at patriarchy within the family and society and how women bear the weight of social practices and expectations.
Written in the form of a diary, this is a narrative that starts with deadpan humour that reads like the main protagonist Mrs Pankajam is having an easy conversation with the reader. You sense her flitting through the many roles she has been assigned: a demure and dutiful wife, a mother who has her own set of quirks but always, a woman who never could be in the space she wanted to be, free and uninhibited. You smile as you read her becoming slightly part of the socio moral brigade when her two daughters do not toe expected lines.
The writing starts with a certain playfulness extending to the footnotes where descriptions of certain Tamil words are given but as the pages turn, things emerge slowly. There is guilt, there are the what could have been moments but above all, there is the matter of memories; ones that stay with you even when it is nothing to you and the ones that sneak and hide from you because they present you a baggage of hurt you are unable to carry further.
The narrative changes tone in the later chapters capturing the way the mind loses its hold over what constitutes one's memory and the manner in which suppressed memories burst forth even as recent memories fade away is a brilliant examination of how we cope with an array of human emotions in life. This was a poignant read for me.
Full review here: https://bookandconversations.wordpres...
Written in the form of a diary, this is a narrative that starts with deadpan humour that reads like the main protagonist Mrs Pankajam is having an easy conversation with the reader. You sense her flitting through the many roles she has been assigned: a demure and dutiful wife, a mother who has her own set of quirks but always, a woman who never could be in the space she wanted to be, free and uninhibited. You smile as you read her becoming slightly part of the socio moral brigade when her two daughters do not toe expected lines.
The writing starts with a certain playfulness extending to the footnotes where descriptions of certain Tamil words are given but as the pages turn, things emerge slowly. There is guilt, there are the what could have been moments but above all, there is the matter of memories; ones that stay with you even when it is nothing to you and the ones that sneak and hide from you because they present you a baggage of hurt you are unable to carry further.
The narrative changes tone in the later chapters capturing the way the mind loses its hold over what constitutes one's memory and the manner in which suppressed memories burst forth even as recent memories fade away is a brilliant examination of how we cope with an array of human emotions in life. This was a poignant read for me.
Full review here: https://bookandconversations.wordpres...
Read
June 19, 2021First reviewed on: www.crumbledpages.com
If you are looking for a short, light-hearted read, look no further.
This is the story of Mrs. Pankajam who has been advised by her doctor to maintain a journal because she is starting to lose her memory. This book is narrated through her journal entries starting from the time when her husband had a heart attack. And so she pens down about her day to day life and hence follows this story of an aging woman.
She has two daughters, Pari and Viswa. Pari is married and settled with two kids in the US whereas they are having a hard time finding a suitor for Viswa. But something feels off with Pari. They doubt something is wrong between Pari and her husband. Soon, they go to US and find that Pari has separated from her husband and is with a woman now. They have a hard time accepting this new truth but they come around it.
The journal entries were witty, filled with humor and sarcasm. I was chuckling quite a bit while reading this book. I appreciated the simplicity of the story and yet there were so many layers to this story. In those entries, she was writing down her stream of consciousness about her daily life. Something about it was so mundane that it felt like I was really reading someone's real journal because it felt very realistic. For this reason, I ended by caring for the characters so much more than I expected.
This book is so much along the lines of A Man Called Over by Fredrick Backman. Witty, funny with an undertone of melancholy, this book will make you happy but also sad in some parts.
I liked Mrs. Pankajam as the main protagonist. With her condition of losing her memory, I already sympathized with her but she was also that kind of mother who didn't stop her daughters from doing what they wanted to do. She was on board when her eldest daughters said she was with another woman and that speaks volume about her.
The story also takes a more serious turn towards the end. You can see her deteriorating memory through her journal entries.
Overall, this was an incredibly delightful read, one that you shouldn't miss.
If you are looking for a short, light-hearted read, look no further.
This is the story of Mrs. Pankajam who has been advised by her doctor to maintain a journal because she is starting to lose her memory. This book is narrated through her journal entries starting from the time when her husband had a heart attack. And so she pens down about her day to day life and hence follows this story of an aging woman.
She has two daughters, Pari and Viswa. Pari is married and settled with two kids in the US whereas they are having a hard time finding a suitor for Viswa. But something feels off with Pari. They doubt something is wrong between Pari and her husband. Soon, they go to US and find that Pari has separated from her husband and is with a woman now. They have a hard time accepting this new truth but they come around it.
The journal entries were witty, filled with humor and sarcasm. I was chuckling quite a bit while reading this book. I appreciated the simplicity of the story and yet there were so many layers to this story. In those entries, she was writing down her stream of consciousness about her daily life. Something about it was so mundane that it felt like I was really reading someone's real journal because it felt very realistic. For this reason, I ended by caring for the characters so much more than I expected.
This book is so much along the lines of A Man Called Over by Fredrick Backman. Witty, funny with an undertone of melancholy, this book will make you happy but also sad in some parts.
I liked Mrs. Pankajam as the main protagonist. With her condition of losing her memory, I already sympathized with her but she was also that kind of mother who didn't stop her daughters from doing what they wanted to do. She was on board when her eldest daughters said she was with another woman and that speaks volume about her.
The story also takes a more serious turn towards the end. You can see her deteriorating memory through her journal entries.
Overall, this was an incredibly delightful read, one that you shouldn't miss.
June 22, 2021
Through the fracture of the sentences and the stalls in the feelings, Meera Rajagopalan sketches out a very accurate entity for Ms. Pankajam, her protagonist. She uses the mental fragility of Pankajam to her own rescue, allowing it to meander like a gushing river, taking along rivulets of forgotten memories. Through the diary entries of Pankajam and her daily catalogues, out jumps a much sensitive and thoughtful woman. A wife, a mother, a daughter-in-law, a friend.
"I closed my eyes, trying to remember, or forget, both of which seemed impossible now."
Rajagopalan's book is basically an impersonation of Pankajam, a quest to unearth her character in the shades that her own mind allows itself to be seen in. The author here is not only the generator of the writing, she is the facilitator of Pankajam's life...she is the lubricant that gets the emotions to be flowing, she is the craftswoman of Pankajam's emotional vulnerability. This quest isn't easy. The author firstly has to write in perspective of the narrator, and within those few pages, she has to give us a glimpse of what story is going on.
'The Eminently Forgotten Life of Ms. Pankajam' is a book with no beginnings or end. On one side, the stories keep piling up, one atop the other, in various concoctions. But for Pankajam, as she battles shock and disillusion and amnesia, memory vaporizes without warning too. They come and go, unwanted visitors in the middle of nowhere...at times taking her back to uncomfortable crevices of her past, and sometimes pushing her squarely to a timely, naked truth too harsh to face. Within a jugglery of happiness, grief and large amounts of directionless wandering....Pankajam evokes a vivid familial sympathy. We begin to see her everywhere, in broken shards of crytsal clear memories...in collected memorabilia of things gone by. She imbibes a lot within her, and as the author attempts to piece her presence together in a jumbled sequence (much in alignment to Pankajam's instability) she becomes surprisingly very wholesome as a woman. We, as readers fit in the remaining missing pieces, apply the last few strokes pf finishing touches...until we've crafted, in collaboration with the author, the woman called Pankajam in our own light.
⠀
As bizarre life is, this book not only simulates Pankajam's life in context of what is going on and what has already gone, it also instills the roots of several affectionate, distant, memorable bondage that ties our existence together. We get to see the intersectionality of lives crossing paths, of viewpoints and newer standpoints gaining momentum, while also keeping intact the invasive fragrance of the past. Tying up the present, past and everything in between...this book is as conveying as it can get.
⠀
Thanks Hachette India for the book.
"I closed my eyes, trying to remember, or forget, both of which seemed impossible now."
Rajagopalan's book is basically an impersonation of Pankajam, a quest to unearth her character in the shades that her own mind allows itself to be seen in. The author here is not only the generator of the writing, she is the facilitator of Pankajam's life...she is the lubricant that gets the emotions to be flowing, she is the craftswoman of Pankajam's emotional vulnerability. This quest isn't easy. The author firstly has to write in perspective of the narrator, and within those few pages, she has to give us a glimpse of what story is going on.
'The Eminently Forgotten Life of Ms. Pankajam' is a book with no beginnings or end. On one side, the stories keep piling up, one atop the other, in various concoctions. But for Pankajam, as she battles shock and disillusion and amnesia, memory vaporizes without warning too. They come and go, unwanted visitors in the middle of nowhere...at times taking her back to uncomfortable crevices of her past, and sometimes pushing her squarely to a timely, naked truth too harsh to face. Within a jugglery of happiness, grief and large amounts of directionless wandering....Pankajam evokes a vivid familial sympathy. We begin to see her everywhere, in broken shards of crytsal clear memories...in collected memorabilia of things gone by. She imbibes a lot within her, and as the author attempts to piece her presence together in a jumbled sequence (much in alignment to Pankajam's instability) she becomes surprisingly very wholesome as a woman. We, as readers fit in the remaining missing pieces, apply the last few strokes pf finishing touches...until we've crafted, in collaboration with the author, the woman called Pankajam in our own light.
⠀
As bizarre life is, this book not only simulates Pankajam's life in context of what is going on and what has already gone, it also instills the roots of several affectionate, distant, memorable bondage that ties our existence together. We get to see the intersectionality of lives crossing paths, of viewpoints and newer standpoints gaining momentum, while also keeping intact the invasive fragrance of the past. Tying up the present, past and everything in between...this book is as conveying as it can get.
⠀
Thanks Hachette India for the book.
June 15, 2021
3.5/5
The Eminently Forgettable Life of Mrs Pankajam by Meera Rajagopalan is a book written in a diary format by our protagonist, Mrs Pankajam.
Mrs Pankajam is a middle aged married lady of Indian origin who has two daughters. She's a doting mother to Pari and Viswa and wife to Srini. She's been asked to keep a diary since her doctor says that she's begun to lose her memory. What lies in the diary is what's going to want you to read the book in one go!
Firstly, I like the idea of the book, for I've read a dairy of a kid, a teenager, a princess, a 'dork' per se but the age group of the protagonist aka the one who's writing the diary here in this book, is new to me. Along with the age group, the ethnicity makes the character even more interesting. The part about Mrs Pankajam's unproblematic acceptance about Pari's life choices is really heartwarming to read and it's an aspect that makes me like the character and storyline more. What I do wish is for the transition from the happy days to sad ones be smooth. Three fifth of the book is simple, witty and humourous with a very very mild tinge of sadness while the last two fifth of it gives the reader a very sharp turn emotionally. The absence of this smooth transition tends to break the book into two. The ending is unpredictable and quite interesting. Yet another thing I liked about the story line was that the author didn't give a particular diagnosis to the mental ailment because that ailment at times, tends to drift away the reader from the flow of the story and we readers simply end up labelling a person with that diagnosis. It made me happy to perceive that this way the sympathy or pity one feels towards the character or story was ruled out and that the reader could perceive the protagonist in the way the author wanted them to. Also, the words used in the protagonists native language have been translated for the readers in the footnotes and the author has done a brilliant job of doing it in a humorous and witty manner. It's a medium sized book that readers can consume in one go because of its buttery flow.
Lucid language, an unusual but interesting title and a wonderful cover art will lure you to this book!
The Eminently Forgettable Life of Mrs Pankajam by Meera Rajagopalan is a book written in a diary format by our protagonist, Mrs Pankajam.
Mrs Pankajam is a middle aged married lady of Indian origin who has two daughters. She's a doting mother to Pari and Viswa and wife to Srini. She's been asked to keep a diary since her doctor says that she's begun to lose her memory. What lies in the diary is what's going to want you to read the book in one go!
Firstly, I like the idea of the book, for I've read a dairy of a kid, a teenager, a princess, a 'dork' per se but the age group of the protagonist aka the one who's writing the diary here in this book, is new to me. Along with the age group, the ethnicity makes the character even more interesting. The part about Mrs Pankajam's unproblematic acceptance about Pari's life choices is really heartwarming to read and it's an aspect that makes me like the character and storyline more. What I do wish is for the transition from the happy days to sad ones be smooth. Three fifth of the book is simple, witty and humourous with a very very mild tinge of sadness while the last two fifth of it gives the reader a very sharp turn emotionally. The absence of this smooth transition tends to break the book into two. The ending is unpredictable and quite interesting. Yet another thing I liked about the story line was that the author didn't give a particular diagnosis to the mental ailment because that ailment at times, tends to drift away the reader from the flow of the story and we readers simply end up labelling a person with that diagnosis. It made me happy to perceive that this way the sympathy or pity one feels towards the character or story was ruled out and that the reader could perceive the protagonist in the way the author wanted them to. Also, the words used in the protagonists native language have been translated for the readers in the footnotes and the author has done a brilliant job of doing it in a humorous and witty manner. It's a medium sized book that readers can consume in one go because of its buttery flow.
Lucid language, an unusual but interesting title and a wonderful cover art will lure you to this book!
July 15, 2021
"I closed my eyes, trying to remember, or forget, both of which seemed impossible now."
Mrs Pankajam is losing her memory. The story starts with Pankajam's doctor recommending her to start journaling to help with her memory. As she writes the entries in her diary, we go on a tour of her phase of life, constantly changing, imperceptibly breaking. The Eminently Forgettable Life of Mrs Pankajam is a story to dwell upon and contemplate the layers of emotions tucked inside witty and humorous diary entries.
What I loved most is the diary acting as a keyhole to peep into the life of Mrs Pankajam as and when a memory fleets across her mind. It helped in understanding the character better as we walked along with her. As she tackles her present troubles, she is confronted with shards of conflicting memories from various corners of her past. Being a considerate mother she gives her children space to grow and evolve and accepts their decisions though with a bit of sarcasm. As we move towards the end, the story takes a tragic turn with the progression of Pankajam's dwindling memory, making her question her virtues and loyalty. We see her most dear memories floating to the top of her mind, her consciousness slipping under, and her mind slowly losing hold of near developments, setting a perfect semblance of life.
From her emotional dilemmas and baggage of hurtful past, the author eloquently traces an outline of a thoughtful and responsible woman with unquenchable curiosity, tied down in relationships. Debut author, Meera Rajagopalan, has sketched this real, relatable, thoughtful character in Pankajam, that we see only as much as she shows us which is only as much her mind allows. She will make you laugh, sympathise and melancholic all at the same time. Her satirical take on people around her and the world will leave you aching for more.
Overall, it was an amazing read. This is a kind of book that will sail you through waves of happiness and sadness hand in hand, just like life.
Mrs Pankajam is losing her memory. The story starts with Pankajam's doctor recommending her to start journaling to help with her memory. As she writes the entries in her diary, we go on a tour of her phase of life, constantly changing, imperceptibly breaking. The Eminently Forgettable Life of Mrs Pankajam is a story to dwell upon and contemplate the layers of emotions tucked inside witty and humorous diary entries.
What I loved most is the diary acting as a keyhole to peep into the life of Mrs Pankajam as and when a memory fleets across her mind. It helped in understanding the character better as we walked along with her. As she tackles her present troubles, she is confronted with shards of conflicting memories from various corners of her past. Being a considerate mother she gives her children space to grow and evolve and accepts their decisions though with a bit of sarcasm. As we move towards the end, the story takes a tragic turn with the progression of Pankajam's dwindling memory, making her question her virtues and loyalty. We see her most dear memories floating to the top of her mind, her consciousness slipping under, and her mind slowly losing hold of near developments, setting a perfect semblance of life.
From her emotional dilemmas and baggage of hurtful past, the author eloquently traces an outline of a thoughtful and responsible woman with unquenchable curiosity, tied down in relationships. Debut author, Meera Rajagopalan, has sketched this real, relatable, thoughtful character in Pankajam, that we see only as much as she shows us which is only as much her mind allows. She will make you laugh, sympathise and melancholic all at the same time. Her satirical take on people around her and the world will leave you aching for more.
Overall, it was an amazing read. This is a kind of book that will sail you through waves of happiness and sadness hand in hand, just like life.
August 16, 2021
The Eminently Forgettable Life of Mrs. PANKAJAM by Meera Rajagopalan
There are some stories that stay with you for a lifetime. There might not be anything fantastically unique in the story. But they have a certain raw sense of belongingness and purity that is bound to touch your heart. This book is one of that lot. This book carries a vibe of closeness that will wrap your heart with emotions.
@iammeerar has beautifully woven this story where she has incorporated mental health into the life of a next-door family and presented it to us in a wrapper of humor.
When Mrs. Pankajam starts losing her memory, her doctor recommends she keep a diary to maintain a semblance of continuity in life events. But as she sets pen to paper, meticulously documenting the revelations that her daughters continue to subject her to, the discovery of her husband’s eccentricities, her own guilty admissions to indulgences that may have caused his cardiac arrest, she finds her childhood persistently wrestling with the present as a marked reminder of a past she can’t run away from.
The South Indian culture was explained so beautifully here. The name of the dishes, several festivals were written in Tamil and the meaning was mentioned. It gave a natural vibe. The family that seems to be functional and yet there are some misunderstandings, longings which prevail is shown exactly the way it happens in our lives.
The heart of this story lies in Mrs. Pankajam. She is funny, witty and her sense of humor is next level. She is often misunderstood by her family members. However, she has always been unapologetic. She has tried to be there for her close ones in her own way. She is flawed at times but her flaws increase her beauty. I admire Mrs. Pankajam and there were times when my heart was aching for her. The ending came as a shocker but I somehow liked it.
There are some stories that stay with you for a lifetime. There might not be anything fantastically unique in the story. But they have a certain raw sense of belongingness and purity that is bound to touch your heart. This book is one of that lot. This book carries a vibe of closeness that will wrap your heart with emotions.
@iammeerar has beautifully woven this story where she has incorporated mental health into the life of a next-door family and presented it to us in a wrapper of humor.
When Mrs. Pankajam starts losing her memory, her doctor recommends she keep a diary to maintain a semblance of continuity in life events. But as she sets pen to paper, meticulously documenting the revelations that her daughters continue to subject her to, the discovery of her husband’s eccentricities, her own guilty admissions to indulgences that may have caused his cardiac arrest, she finds her childhood persistently wrestling with the present as a marked reminder of a past she can’t run away from.
The South Indian culture was explained so beautifully here. The name of the dishes, several festivals were written in Tamil and the meaning was mentioned. It gave a natural vibe. The family that seems to be functional and yet there are some misunderstandings, longings which prevail is shown exactly the way it happens in our lives.
The heart of this story lies in Mrs. Pankajam. She is funny, witty and her sense of humor is next level. She is often misunderstood by her family members. However, she has always been unapologetic. She has tried to be there for her close ones in her own way. She is flawed at times but her flaws increase her beauty. I admire Mrs. Pankajam and there were times when my heart was aching for her. The ending came as a shocker but I somehow liked it.
March 30, 2023
The second half of the book was just so moving.
October 9, 2023
"People think I don't notice things now that they feel my memory is peeling off, like the paint on this building. If anything, I think I notice better, because I have to. Like a half-blind person tends to peer longer at things."
Mrs S. Pankajam has always lived two lives: one of ordinary fulfilment as a wife and mother, and the other a life of desires and sharp observations that only her mind is privy to.
When she starts losing her memory, her doctor recommends she keep a diary to maintain a semblance of continuity in life events. At first, she is reluctant. But as she sets pen to paper, she finds her childhood persistently wrestling with the present as a marked reminder of a past she cannot run away from.
The book is in the form of journal entries where Mrs Pankajam is having a matter-of-fact conversation with her reader. She recounts the many roles she imbibes as a loyal wife and devoted mother. She finds humour in her exasperation with her husband or in her helplessness in getting her daughters to see things her way.
Meera Rajagopalan’s debut carries you over waves of calm and storm. Her nuanced approach to the subject of mental health with her character’s unapologetic humour and flaws leaves you with bittersweet emotions.
This poignantly humorous tale pushes you to question age-old beliefs and remedy them when still possible. A rare find, this book is nothing short of being a gem of Indian literature, the kind you wish for more to discover and read.
For complete review, visit https://aquamarineflavours.wordpress....
Find me on other platforms via https://linktr.ee/AshieJayn
Mrs S. Pankajam has always lived two lives: one of ordinary fulfilment as a wife and mother, and the other a life of desires and sharp observations that only her mind is privy to.
When she starts losing her memory, her doctor recommends she keep a diary to maintain a semblance of continuity in life events. At first, she is reluctant. But as she sets pen to paper, she finds her childhood persistently wrestling with the present as a marked reminder of a past she cannot run away from.
The book is in the form of journal entries where Mrs Pankajam is having a matter-of-fact conversation with her reader. She recounts the many roles she imbibes as a loyal wife and devoted mother. She finds humour in her exasperation with her husband or in her helplessness in getting her daughters to see things her way.
Meera Rajagopalan’s debut carries you over waves of calm and storm. Her nuanced approach to the subject of mental health with her character’s unapologetic humour and flaws leaves you with bittersweet emotions.
This poignantly humorous tale pushes you to question age-old beliefs and remedy them when still possible. A rare find, this book is nothing short of being a gem of Indian literature, the kind you wish for more to discover and read.
For complete review, visit https://aquamarineflavours.wordpress....
Find me on other platforms via https://linktr.ee/AshieJayn
May 7, 2021
Meera Rajagopalan’s The eminently forgettable life of Mrs. Pankajam is written in a ‘dear diary’ first person format by S. Pankajam, who lives in Chennai with her husband, and has two daughters, one who is married and ‘settled’ in the US, and the other, who is yet to marry, working in Bangalore.
Pankajam is tasked with keeping a diary because her memory isn’t what it used to be. As the diary progresses, we witness her gradual disconnection from the need to react or comment on everyday stimuli, and we see her develop a tendency to dwell on two specific memories.
Over the course of the book, the family itself undergoes many changes, and we witness them through Pankajam’s eyes, initially in her snarky observations of people, her progressive outlook that happily coexists with her traditional values, and later in her sharp focus on specific memories.
The writing captures Pankajam’s personality well, even as it reveals the continuing impact of some memories that she has suppressed under layers of socially-approved personality quirks in the familial roles she has taken up to play.
I could relate to so many of Pankajam’s observations of the Tamil Brahmin milieau and was thrilled to see it aired in Pankajam’s customary wry tone. I also craved for more fodder from the coven of Maamis on the Bella Bhajan group on Whatsapp that Pankajam is part of.
This is a slim book that can be read in one sitting.
Pankajam is tasked with keeping a diary because her memory isn’t what it used to be. As the diary progresses, we witness her gradual disconnection from the need to react or comment on everyday stimuli, and we see her develop a tendency to dwell on two specific memories.
Over the course of the book, the family itself undergoes many changes, and we witness them through Pankajam’s eyes, initially in her snarky observations of people, her progressive outlook that happily coexists with her traditional values, and later in her sharp focus on specific memories.
The writing captures Pankajam’s personality well, even as it reveals the continuing impact of some memories that she has suppressed under layers of socially-approved personality quirks in the familial roles she has taken up to play.
I could relate to so many of Pankajam’s observations of the Tamil Brahmin milieau and was thrilled to see it aired in Pankajam’s customary wry tone. I also craved for more fodder from the coven of Maamis on the Bella Bhajan group on Whatsapp that Pankajam is part of.
This is a slim book that can be read in one sitting.
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June 5, 2025A brilliant debut!
The book takes us through the lives of Pankajam and her family through her diary entries. She's been asked to maintain a diary to help with her memory issues and as a way of excercising her brain by training it to recollect the events of her daily life. What follows is a funny, entertaining, thought provoking and many a time heart breaking peek into their lives.
Pankajam has 2 grown up daughters and is living with her husband who is a heart patient. She is in for a rude shock from her elder daughter Pari and takes a bit of time to come to terms with it. She has always felt like and outsider in the relationship that her husband and elder daughter share, but is more accepting of the reality of the situation. She is blamed here for not asking more questions and seen as utterly selfish for the same. She comes off as apathetic for not being more curious.
Her younger daughter Viswa is of marriagable age and has a long list of requirements that needs to be filled for the prospective groom as well as her future mother-in-law. It is hilarious when she over hears Viswa interviewing her prospective mil and she thinks she doesn,t wish viswa on anybody.
In between we can see glimpses of her missing her childhood friend Ammini. It is not until the very end that we get to know what happened to her and it is truly sad to know this. Pankajam has been carrying the burden of the incident and it has been weighing heavily on her since then which is a very long time for anybody.
How she describes her relationship with sekhar her bil - he is the refrigerator in her life's kitchen. The beautiful screaming matches they had when she was a newly wedded wife reg books and their storylines, how her mil used to get exasperated on this and how she woulnt want anyone from pankajams family (one of her cousins had an eye on him during the wedding).And how truly heartbroken she was when she heard of his cancer diagnosis.
Things take a twist at the end I thought that was unexpected.
Beautiful read. Expecting more beautiful writing from Meera in the future.
The book takes us through the lives of Pankajam and her family through her diary entries. She's been asked to maintain a diary to help with her memory issues and as a way of excercising her brain by training it to recollect the events of her daily life. What follows is a funny, entertaining, thought provoking and many a time heart breaking peek into their lives.
Pankajam has 2 grown up daughters and is living with her husband who is a heart patient. She is in for a rude shock from her elder daughter Pari and takes a bit of time to come to terms with it. She has always felt like and outsider in the relationship that her husband and elder daughter share, but is more accepting of the reality of the situation. She is blamed here for not asking more questions and seen as utterly selfish for the same. She comes off as apathetic for not being more curious.
Her younger daughter Viswa is of marriagable age and has a long list of requirements that needs to be filled for the prospective groom as well as her future mother-in-law. It is hilarious when she over hears Viswa interviewing her prospective mil and she thinks she doesn,t wish viswa on anybody.
In between we can see glimpses of her missing her childhood friend Ammini. It is not until the very end that we get to know what happened to her and it is truly sad to know this. Pankajam has been carrying the burden of the incident and it has been weighing heavily on her since then which is a very long time for anybody.
How she describes her relationship with sekhar her bil - he is the refrigerator in her life's kitchen. The beautiful screaming matches they had when she was a newly wedded wife reg books and their storylines, how her mil used to get exasperated on this and how she woulnt want anyone from pankajams family (one of her cousins had an eye on him during the wedding).And how truly heartbroken she was when she heard of his cancer diagnosis.
Things take a twist at the end I thought that was unexpected.
Beautiful read. Expecting more beautiful writing from Meera in the future.
August 19, 2021
Pankajam is losing her memory, and her doctor advices her to write a diary as a counter to the decline. So slowly the story of her life unfolds as she tells us candidly of her daughters, her husband, her activities and her past. She questions her choices and her recollection/version of events. Aware of her increasingly slippery hold on memories, Pankajam writes in one of her entries, “I might not write on the road, so this might be it for a while. I’m sure I’ll have a lot of things to share once I’m back. At least whatever I do remember. Some stuff evaporates so fast, like water sprinkled on a hot dosaikkal. I think I should make short notes, so I can remember. I’m sure there will be tons of pictures that Srini will take. If not, there is always creativity. For if you can’t remember, what’s really the difference between fantasy and reality?” Her daughter divorces her husband to marry a woman, her husband dies, she gives up her house to live in an old age home - she stays a little distant from it all - always observing others and herself with an objective detachment.
She also has a wry sense of humour - “The girls are now calling me to shop for jeans. Me, who has only ever worn bottom-open clothes since forever?” or “‘Potpourri,’ Mrs Verma said, when I remarked on the fragrance in the house. ‘No, thanks. We had something on the flight,’ I said.”
And like many older women I know, she tells it like it is: “I’ll say it on behalf of all the grandmothers who never felt it: not all grandmothers can play with kids for hours. Some of us are different. While we’re at it, this too: not all of us are happy about being babysitters; your kids’ poop is not brown gold; and your life decisions should not automatically take precedence over mine.”
She also has a wry sense of humour - “The girls are now calling me to shop for jeans. Me, who has only ever worn bottom-open clothes since forever?” or “‘Potpourri,’ Mrs Verma said, when I remarked on the fragrance in the house. ‘No, thanks. We had something on the flight,’ I said.”
And like many older women I know, she tells it like it is: “I’ll say it on behalf of all the grandmothers who never felt it: not all grandmothers can play with kids for hours. Some of us are different. While we’re at it, this too: not all of us are happy about being babysitters; your kids’ poop is not brown gold; and your life decisions should not automatically take precedence over mine.”
June 27, 2021
The plot of the book seems quite simple and straightforward in the first glance, and one is tempted to take this book to be a narration of the diary entries of a senile old lady, but the actual plot is quite far from that. Meera has created a plot that is filled with multiple themes, and this is a story that will make you pause and think at various places and evaluate the way you conduct yourself with your family and friends. The plot spans almost 20 months and through that we are introduced to the world as Mrs. Pankajam sees it. Meera explores how the changing world affects people from an older generation and how societal constructs might actually stop people from being as progressive as they would want to be.. Another track that emerges is that of Mrs. Pankajam’s past and how it affects her life in the present. I loved the way it is teased bit-by-bit throughout the first half and how it emerges and blends into the main plot towards the end. The storytelling is fluid and keeps the reader engaged despite it being told from a first POV. The language is extremely familiar, and I would urge the readers to not ignore the footnotes wherever present because they form an interesting element of the story and should be read as an explanation from Mrs. Pankajam and not Meera. The key idea that impressed me was Meera’s attention to detail and how that flows out into the story. The elements of the scenes are described to the very last detail, and it was as if I was almost a part of the events. The climax has layers of complexity and not only addresses the primary plot, but answers a very crucial question that, frankly, was plaguing me subconsciously.
June 23, 2021
🆃🅷🅴 🅴🅼🅸🅽🅴🅽🆃🅻🆈 🅵🅾🆁🅶🅴🆃🆃🅰🅱🅻🅴 🅻🅸🅵🅴 🅾🅵 🅼🆁🆂 🅿🅰🅽🅺🅰🅹🅰🅼
The Eminently Forgettable Life of Mrs Pankajam, with it's self deprecating humour and flock of Maamis of the Bella Bhajan WhatsApp group, seems to be a sweet book on the surface but when you read in between the lines you can see the layers emerging. The invisible pricks of adhering to societal norms and being a demure, dutiful wife have taken their toll on Mrs Pankajam. She starts losing her memory, and, when her psychiatrist advices her to keep a diary, she is somewhat amused. What's so special or happening in her life that's worth noting down, that too daily.
Slowly she starts devoting a little time to the taks at hand. Initially she thought, in the disparaging life she has lead she got little to no attention and was neglected. However, as she writes the accounts of her life, we come to know more about her persona: the unassuming dutiful that she was; not the platitudinal mother, instead a mother who raised her daughters to make mistakes and learn from them. She is quite supportive when one of her daughters thinks of getting a divorce. But she hasn't always been a conscientious wife, it was because of her indulgences that lead to her husband's cardiac arrest.
The Eminently Forgettable Life of Mrs Pankajam is a poignant, flawed yet humourous story of a woman who could never be what she wanted, and is now confined with these thoughts revolving round her head. Witty with dark and melancholic undertones, this character will stay with you for a long long time.
The Eminently Forgettable Life of Mrs Pankajam, with it's self deprecating humour and flock of Maamis of the Bella Bhajan WhatsApp group, seems to be a sweet book on the surface but when you read in between the lines you can see the layers emerging. The invisible pricks of adhering to societal norms and being a demure, dutiful wife have taken their toll on Mrs Pankajam. She starts losing her memory, and, when her psychiatrist advices her to keep a diary, she is somewhat amused. What's so special or happening in her life that's worth noting down, that too daily.
Slowly she starts devoting a little time to the taks at hand. Initially she thought, in the disparaging life she has lead she got little to no attention and was neglected. However, as she writes the accounts of her life, we come to know more about her persona: the unassuming dutiful that she was; not the platitudinal mother, instead a mother who raised her daughters to make mistakes and learn from them. She is quite supportive when one of her daughters thinks of getting a divorce. But she hasn't always been a conscientious wife, it was because of her indulgences that lead to her husband's cardiac arrest.
The Eminently Forgettable Life of Mrs Pankajam is a poignant, flawed yet humourous story of a woman who could never be what she wanted, and is now confined with these thoughts revolving round her head. Witty with dark and melancholic undertones, this character will stay with you for a long long time.
June 17, 2021
“Fated to do and to die, only to remember, then forget – why try?”
Mrs Pankajam has always lived two lives: one of ordinary fulfilment and the other a life of desires and sharp observations that only her mind is privy to. When Mrs Pankajam starts losing her memory, her doctor recommends she keep a diary to maintain a semblance of continuity in life events.
This book is written in form of diary entries. Each diary entry added a new layer to not only the character but also the story and the relationships of Mrs Pankajam with her family and friends. While you are following a story from a single character view I was never bored for a second.
I had to finish a chapter whenever I opened this book so it was quick and fast read. It was hilarious at times and at the same moving too. I do think readers of all age might benefit reading a story from a perspective of a person who is forgetting what’s important to them which I think sometimes happen to all of us. We forget the sight of what is important and lose ourself.
It is described as Mathrubootham meets A Man Called Ove in this heartwarming story of a snarky grandmother who is faced with a life that is suddenly changing too much and too quickly and I have to agree with this description.
Hope all of you pick this book up
Mrs Pankajam has always lived two lives: one of ordinary fulfilment and the other a life of desires and sharp observations that only her mind is privy to. When Mrs Pankajam starts losing her memory, her doctor recommends she keep a diary to maintain a semblance of continuity in life events.
This book is written in form of diary entries. Each diary entry added a new layer to not only the character but also the story and the relationships of Mrs Pankajam with her family and friends. While you are following a story from a single character view I was never bored for a second.
I had to finish a chapter whenever I opened this book so it was quick and fast read. It was hilarious at times and at the same moving too. I do think readers of all age might benefit reading a story from a perspective of a person who is forgetting what’s important to them which I think sometimes happen to all of us. We forget the sight of what is important and lose ourself.
It is described as Mathrubootham meets A Man Called Ove in this heartwarming story of a snarky grandmother who is faced with a life that is suddenly changing too much and too quickly and I have to agree with this description.
Hope all of you pick this book up
June 21, 2021
The Eminently Forgettable Life of Mrs Pankajam traces the adventures of a 60 year woman, Mrs Pankajam. As she starts losing her memory, doctor recommends her to maintain a diary to keep track of day to day happenings. Initially she was reluctant considering her life not worthy of scribbling. But eventually this diary becomes a medium that keeps Mrs Pankajam sane admist all the chaos.
It was so refreshing for me to read a book written from the perspective of a 60 year old woman. I see my grandparents and wonder what would be going on in their mind at this stage of life when they have experienced almost everything. Mrs Pankajam 's story surely was a breadth of fresh air in this chaos of young adult romances. Her character is hilarious, witty and progressive in a way despite being this old.
I loved how author gave depth to Mrs. Pankajam and everyone surrounding her through humour and day-to-day routine activities. I also liked her thought process especially when she's put on pedestrial by her family with little to no fault of her own. My favorite part will always be qualification list given by her daughter Vishwa when Mrs Pankajam was searching a groom for her.
Read it for the witty one liners of the lead character!
It was so refreshing for me to read a book written from the perspective of a 60 year old woman. I see my grandparents and wonder what would be going on in their mind at this stage of life when they have experienced almost everything. Mrs Pankajam 's story surely was a breadth of fresh air in this chaos of young adult romances. Her character is hilarious, witty and progressive in a way despite being this old.
I loved how author gave depth to Mrs. Pankajam and everyone surrounding her through humour and day-to-day routine activities. I also liked her thought process especially when she's put on pedestrial by her family with little to no fault of her own. My favorite part will always be qualification list given by her daughter Vishwa when Mrs Pankajam was searching a groom for her.
Read it for the witty one liners of the lead character!
May 7, 2021
The calming grey of contrariety!
It starts as an innocuous, mirth filled take on the contrasting lives led by the daughters of a woman who appeared to have segued from her traditional values to embracing the new, challenging ideals of the modern day woman, almost with a sense of surrender stemming from the inevitability of change.
The emerging stream of consciousness from the jostling with each curve and dent in Mrs.Pankajam's life becomes the reader's own. The almost benign acceptance of her daughters' contrasting values with the ones she grew up with, creates multitudes of tumultuous palpable emotions with mere alluding to it. Yet, it leaves you wondering if it was all an act to protect her daughters from public ire, when she appears to embrace their shackle-breaking spree.
It will definitely leave you sad in a meloncholy way, with a gnawing at your heart, with the revelation of the wild, care free spirit of young Mrs.Pankajam who chose to hide it in layers and layers of deflections to protect her tender, innocent heart from any further incursions. Meera Rajagopal, you are a formidable witness to the hum of society. Kudos!
It starts as an innocuous, mirth filled take on the contrasting lives led by the daughters of a woman who appeared to have segued from her traditional values to embracing the new, challenging ideals of the modern day woman, almost with a sense of surrender stemming from the inevitability of change.
The emerging stream of consciousness from the jostling with each curve and dent in Mrs.Pankajam's life becomes the reader's own. The almost benign acceptance of her daughters' contrasting values with the ones she grew up with, creates multitudes of tumultuous palpable emotions with mere alluding to it. Yet, it leaves you wondering if it was all an act to protect her daughters from public ire, when she appears to embrace their shackle-breaking spree.
It will definitely leave you sad in a meloncholy way, with a gnawing at your heart, with the revelation of the wild, care free spirit of young Mrs.Pankajam who chose to hide it in layers and layers of deflections to protect her tender, innocent heart from any further incursions. Meera Rajagopal, you are a formidable witness to the hum of society. Kudos!
July 12, 2021
This Book Plesently Suprised me. It is written in a diary entry form by Mrs Pankajam , who is slowly loosing her memory. So when her doctor's suggest her to fill a journal with all her memories , she doesn't hold back a thing.
This books talks about a lot of stuff. and explore different topics , some incidents have shown some really naked emotions as it was Beautifully written. Pankajam is a really open minded person and has different approach towards life and situation ,She supported her daughter , when she took divorce without a second thought. She is not perfect either , she has a werid sense of humor , in short she is a really interesting characters ,you would love getting to know her and about her life.
"The Eminently Forgettable life of Mrs Pankajam" ,is a book that will stay with you forever ,I loved every bit of it. But the ending just shook me , I was anticipating something , but not as big as that!!! God I can't stop thinking about. I wish I could talk to you guys about some stuffs , but that will spoil the book. So please read it. Can't wait to read more of her books!
This books talks about a lot of stuff. and explore different topics , some incidents have shown some really naked emotions as it was Beautifully written. Pankajam is a really open minded person and has different approach towards life and situation ,She supported her daughter , when she took divorce without a second thought. She is not perfect either , she has a werid sense of humor , in short she is a really interesting characters ,you would love getting to know her and about her life.
"The Eminently Forgettable life of Mrs Pankajam" ,is a book that will stay with you forever ,I loved every bit of it. But the ending just shook me , I was anticipating something , but not as big as that!!! God I can't stop thinking about. I wish I could talk to you guys about some stuffs , but that will spoil the book. So please read it. Can't wait to read more of her books!
June 28, 2021
The book 'The eminently forgettable life of Mrs Pankajam' is a witty, interesting and emotional read.
The plot revolves around Mrs.Pankajam and her family. When Mrs Pankajam starts losing her memory, her doctor recommends her to keep a diary so that she could remember all the happenings in her life.Therefore, the story is written in the form of diary entries. It was interesting to read how a person like Mrs Pankajam was trying to deal and cope up with our present society. Even though the story portrays the struggles and hardships of a person who finds it difficult to remember things, the author has explained it in a different way by including family dramas and funny moments which has made the book even more interesting. There were a lot of funny situations in this book that really made me laugh. I must admit that this book has all the elements needed for a perfect refreshing read.
Overall it was an amazing read. I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a light and interesting read.
The plot revolves around Mrs.Pankajam and her family. When Mrs Pankajam starts losing her memory, her doctor recommends her to keep a diary so that she could remember all the happenings in her life.Therefore, the story is written in the form of diary entries. It was interesting to read how a person like Mrs Pankajam was trying to deal and cope up with our present society. Even though the story portrays the struggles and hardships of a person who finds it difficult to remember things, the author has explained it in a different way by including family dramas and funny moments which has made the book even more interesting. There were a lot of funny situations in this book that really made me laugh. I must admit that this book has all the elements needed for a perfect refreshing read.
Overall it was an amazing read. I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a light and interesting read.
December 12, 2021
The Eminently Forgettable Life of Mrs Pankajam is indeed a short yet this-will-not-leave-you-soon sort of read, to be honest!
The book is in the form of diary entries of Pankajam's life through her eyes that she has started as a new venture owing to the condition that is making her 'forget' stuff. Witty, humorous with intriguing anecdotes about her family, she evolving as her memory fades, and life in general topped up with Tamil vocabulary as footnotes, this book will definitely keep you glued till the very end. You get to wad through innumerable aspects of a woman's life which are profound, thought-provoking, and poignant all at the same time.
This book definitely tingled my reader (read: taste) buds just as vathakuzhambu would do to your taste buds!
The book is in the form of diary entries of Pankajam's life through her eyes that she has started as a new venture owing to the condition that is making her 'forget' stuff. Witty, humorous with intriguing anecdotes about her family, she evolving as her memory fades, and life in general topped up with Tamil vocabulary as footnotes, this book will definitely keep you glued till the very end. You get to wad through innumerable aspects of a woman's life which are profound, thought-provoking, and poignant all at the same time.
This book definitely tingled my reader (read: taste) buds just as vathakuzhambu would do to your taste buds!
May 6, 2021
Finished in one sitting. Pankajam's life is eminently unforgettable!
The book begins with a 'dear reader.' The diary of Mrs Pankajam, who you realise is an older, middle class, married lady from Chennai. She has been asked to write a diary by her doctors and you are intrigued. This is just the beginning. In between typical mentions of vathakuzhambu and mysore pak, the dear reader is introduced to a very atypical inner life that grabs your attention and doesn't let go much after the book is done and dusted.
How much did I love it?
I have been recommending this book to everyone I meet!
The book begins with a 'dear reader.' The diary of Mrs Pankajam, who you realise is an older, middle class, married lady from Chennai. She has been asked to write a diary by her doctors and you are intrigued. This is just the beginning. In between typical mentions of vathakuzhambu and mysore pak, the dear reader is introduced to a very atypical inner life that grabs your attention and doesn't let go much after the book is done and dusted.
How much did I love it?
I have been recommending this book to everyone I meet!
February 27, 2023
Loved reading it...again!*
Mrs Pankajam Srinivasan is the wittiest pacifist possible.
The humour of this sexagenarian through usage of vernacular gems in the narrative and observations of society's changes is delightful to read. At the same time, it was poignant in its brutally honest and sad rendering of losing a partner in the fag end of life. Of becoming illogical and stubborn, yet remaining understanding as one can only be for family.
*Reviewed it years ago in its manuscript avatar and loved it then too.
Mrs Pankajam Srinivasan is the wittiest pacifist possible.
The humour of this sexagenarian through usage of vernacular gems in the narrative and observations of society's changes is delightful to read. At the same time, it was poignant in its brutally honest and sad rendering of losing a partner in the fag end of life. Of becoming illogical and stubborn, yet remaining understanding as one can only be for family.
*Reviewed it years ago in its manuscript avatar and loved it then too.
February 24, 2023
I picked this book up on a whim during my travels to India. I am glad I did! The book is in the form of a diary of an elderly woman from South India. She is slowly losing her memory as the course of the book proceeds. I enjoyed the dry humor and honest portrayal of her inner thoughts as she deals with various challenges - her daughters’ choices, her own inability to get over a childhood experience and moving to a retirement home. A very quick and easy read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2025
Not quite what I was expecting so I was pleasantly surprised by many parts of the book.
I do believe that parts of it would be more relevant to a Tamil -speaking reader. There are other parts though that are universally appealing.
One blurb described it as Mathrubootham meets A Man Called Ove and I think that about sums it up nicely.
Pretty well done for a debut novel.
I do believe that parts of it would be more relevant to a Tamil -speaking reader. There are other parts though that are universally appealing.
One blurb described it as Mathrubootham meets A Man Called Ove and I think that about sums it up nicely.
Pretty well done for a debut novel.
December 20, 2021
Such a wonderful read!
The book started slowly, and I was wondering what it was about. The rantings of an old woman? But that’s it’s very beauty, as the story slowly unspools. An eminently unforgettable book.
The book started slowly, and I was wondering what it was about. The rantings of an old woman? But that’s it’s very beauty, as the story slowly unspools. An eminently unforgettable book.
November 11, 2021
Wit laced with emotions. Very fluid writing. Must Read.
December 27, 2021
A quiet little story that I felt every word of. The one line that stayed with me: "Nothing that’s artificial can touch your soul – be it mangoes, or relationships."
April 25, 2023
Don’t read a lot of contemporary Indian literature, but the concept and story was pretty good! Was humorous at time and heartfelt at others. Dragged a bit tho.
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