Acid

by Sangeetha Sreenivasan

388 pages, Hardcover

About the author

Sangeetha Sreenivasan is a novelist, script writer, who writes both in Malayalam and English.She is the daughter of Malayalam writer and social activist Sarah Joseph.

Sangeetha's first Malayalam novel- Aparakanthi is to be made as a feature film by Malayalam director Madhupal. Sangeetha herself is writing the script for the film.

Reviews

[Dr. Charu Panicker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kamala and Shaly were a lesbian couple. Kamala is living apart from her husband Madhavan. They had two twin boys. Aadi and shiva. Shiva was destined to be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Kamala was addicted to LSD, which led to her depression. Kamala's marriage was against her own interests. It describes how love, lust, money and intoxication have changed everyone. Towards the end you will feel a lag. This is a translation of a Malayalam novel of the same name.

[Davina Bisaria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was deadass an acid trip. There is something really beautiful about translated books for me idk. I love this style of writing that’s just such an art form like really. Shockingly I think this is my first lesbian love story? Hmm. The love of a mother and the love for a mother is beautifully depicted. I wish I could feel this many sensations with every book I read.

[Abhirami S.s · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling read filled with many issues ranging from drug addition to homosexuality. The story navigates through the lives of Kamala, Shaly, Aadi, Shiva and Madhavan making each of these characters merge into the other. The style is fluid as it switches from past to present, from one pov to another without any distinction in between. Each of the characters have their own traumas, dilemmas and emotional turmoils that they have to face alone. Many parts of the story is filled with philosophical thoughts and the severity of addiction which is explained through images and dreams from the pov of an addict. The acid here is the metaphor for drugs which is to simplify it as something that erode us from within. The guilt and remorse experienced by one, the pain and regret experienced by the other, the inability to move forward in life weighs down by one's own guilt are the factors that being discussed in the novel. The desire of Aadi to leave from the familiarity to experience life on his own and the fear of Shiva being forever confined to his room runs parallel to the story of Kamal and Shaly whose relationship is not so easy to define. It is not a feel good read but instead speaks about many complex issues that people face in the society. It was an interesting read.

[Hari Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

an underrated gem.

[Nanditha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I love reading about fucked up lesbians