Not one of my favs, but every now &then , the story keeps you involved!! A good movie can made ! What I liked was how this single guy is blessed with so many good friends and advisors in his life !! It’s like one time watch movies category.
Abbey, after graduating from the Management Institute of Jamshedpur walks straight into a job at Balwanpur Industries in northern India. As the first MBA from a premier institute to be hired by the family-owned business, he knows that every step of his attracts undue attention. It doesn't help that he's an HR man whose business it is to meet and get to know people across the ranks, which means there's hardly anyone in the company who doesn't have a view of who Abbey is and what Abbey does or should do.
Add to this the complications of being newly married to a women whose looks and personal wealth make him the envy of most others, a crusty golf-playing boss who believes in straight talk, and a sudden turn in the company's fortunes that catches Abbey unawares. It's up to him now, to apply all that HR wisdom learnt at business school to the dilemmas confronting him at work and in love. Can he hold down his job and keep his friends, despite the mounting pressures, or will his first job end the way his marriage threatens to - rapidly and without too many regrets?
Sequel to the sleeper hit of 2005 - Mediocre but Arrogant, this novel starts exactly where the last one ended. The author looks for inspiration within his workings in the corporate sector and draw some well-sketched characters, with punches of drama and action thrown in. The best character is still Rascal Rusty. His idea of selling condoms in a telephonic conversation is mind-blowing. Even Father Hathaway advice how an organisation in India employs just not the person but his entire family is deep and distinguished. The final learning makes you feel touched - how Abbey realised that a visiting card and a designation in the corporate world doesn't bring any fulfillment in life; only self-actualization does, realising one's true self does. The narrative, for most parts, in first person, flows unhindered without too many glitches.
I was quite critical about the attitude of Abbey in the first book. Well, things have got better but still not perfect. His relationship with women is still hazy, though this time there is more meat to most of the women characters....something which i thought was missing before in the prequel. Overall, he is nicer and calmer but still confused which i believe make the main lead more enigmatic and interesting to read.
The book is finally let down by some clunky dialogues (Abbey's father says: I am not sure you are ready to move on to grahastha ashram just yet!!) which makes you cringe no end. Even the twist about Abbey's marital life in the end seem forced and is deliberately intended to create a third installment of the series. There are periods of self-introspection which lingers on for too long and that sucks out a bit of fun from this life ride of the main protagonist.
I am going with 3/5 for Abhijit Bhaduri's, Married but Available. It is less humorous, but a better, more compact book than its prequel. It is an easy, breezy read and one can look forward to third installment of this series. Hopefully, it can deliver again.
This is the second book by the author Abhijit Bhaduri. His first book was “Mediocre But Arrogant” and it was about the life of MBA student. Now the same student is entering corporate life and this book “Married But Available” is about his first few years of life in job. He has kept the acronym same as MBA for this book as well. The title of the book is very interesting and showcases the growing infidelity in marriage life in modern society.
The story starts with our hero getting a job in a family run industry. As a first MBA in the company, his visibility is high and he finds himself in a very unique position. As he learns about industry his personal life also moves through marriage and then tough times in personal and professional life. There are many stereotypes in the book and there are places where you end up with a smile on your face. At the same time, the book does not have enough substance to take it to completion or make it a memorable read.
Based on the title, I was expecting much more depth at marriage and relationships but looks like title was decided more from the idea of maintaining the acronym and less to portray the storyline of the book. I liked the part where he is adopted by the neighbors as their own when he first goes to join the company. His fights and eventual reconciliation with the trade union leaders is also portrayed well. Actually the idea of this book is really great but I think the execution could have been much better.
Second part of the series, in the continuing story of Abby the MBA from an institute in Jamshedpur. The first book was titled Mediocre but Arrogant (MBA) This story is about the first 10 years of Abby's work life after passing out from this MBA institute.Check it out at - http://www.harpercollins.co.in/BookDe... Outstanding read if you want to pick up some wonderful insights on HR from one of the leading HR thinkers in the country. The story is one that a lot of people will identify with - the insecurities, competitiveness with batch mates, failed/failing marriages, demanding bosses, neglected families etc. It is a story about the 'corporate types' from corporate India and wrapped within these threads are Abhijit's take on HR - the protagonist Abby is an HR practitioner. He works through positions in the factory, to the Chairman's strategy unit and an M&A situation where he has to handle a large restructuring. Read it, if you like HR or if you need to understand it OR if you just like a good yarn about somebody who could be you.
"Mediocre but Arrogant" seems to have preceded this, but its a read in itself. As the author says, this is not a sequel. I'm not sure whether Five Point Someone came before this, but its difficult to miss the similarity in the context and the writing style - racy, with a bit of 'philosophy' thrown in. It had been quite a while since I finished a book in one go - and this one almost succeeded, so, to me, there is no question on entertainment value. The premise of an MBA in his first job, and the ups and downs he faces, the things he has to learn - not just about his career but also about life in general, from people and his own experiences, as he moves ahead in different stages of life, is something I could identify with, at least in patches. A reasonably good snacky read with no pretensions.
This is second in MBA series, by Abhijit Bhaduri, who is also Humour blogger in India.This follows life of Middle Class Abbey, his journey to corporate world as Hr, it covers ten years of his corporate and personal life.How he learns on the job, how he rediscover love outside his marriage, how he finally stands up for the people, when he is given job of axing people.
I excepted this to be a light read, but the author wonderfully put across many points ,especially in times of recession how the corporate should deal fairly with employees
A good read, I really liked the phrase " THE FIRST TEN YEARS ARE THE MOST EVENTFUL, THEY SAY, IN ANYBODY'S WORKING LIFE ", these lines are so true and very aptly demonstrated in this novel. The insecurities, hasty decisions, social responsibilities and problems are so relatable, looking forward to read its prequel...