What do you think?
Rate this book
The Endgame
‘A bold and haunting novel’ ANITA NAIR ‘[A] compelling story that reflects upon the human spirit’ RAJDEEP SARDESAI Saddam Hussein is dead, but there’s no end to war in Iraq. Armed with a reputation for daredevilry, reporter Tejaswini Ray arrives from New York to cover the conflict and is immediately enmeshed in a skirmish with Commander Luke of the US Marine Corps. Bound by Luke’s strict censorship rules, Tejaswini – Tejo – revolts, her coverage of the death of American soldiers killed by landmines draws the world’s attention to a futile war and invites the commander’s ire. Tejo’s uneasy mission is further troubled by her chance encounter with Shabnam – a young woman trafficked from India and sold into slavery at the Marine camp. Drawn together by an unlikely bond, the two find solace amidst the carnage, but their friendship reveals a secret that links them back to the very beginning of their lives. When the war threatens their camp, Tejo and Shabnam abandon the Marines and embark on an audacious journey. But will they escape the dangers, or will their past invade the present, reversing the wheel of time to hasten the end?
126 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 23, 2020
14 people want to read
About the author
Kunal Basu
21 books57 followersKunal basu was born in Calcutta. Raised by unorthodox parents, both litterateurs and political activists, he developed an early love for the arts: painting, acting and writing.
Since 2001, he has published four novels, a collection of short stories, written a few screen plays and (mostly unpublished) poetry.
Since 2001, he has published four novels, a collection of short stories, written a few screen plays and (mostly unpublished) poetry.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 27, 2020
A novella that has all the elements of a compelling and gut wrenching tale but lacks the necessary punch.
Tejaswini Ray, a journalist, is set to Iraq to relay the state of affairs there and work with the US Marine Corps. Opinionated, fearless and dominating, Tejo has countless clashes with everyone she meets along the way. But her demeanor changes slightly when she stumbles upon Shabnam, a young woman stuck in the loop of human trafficking. But Shabnam isn't just another girl, but a strong link to Tejo's past, a part of her life she is yet to come in terms with.
.
'The Endgame' feels like a story that ended to quickly. It lacks depth and for a plot, they can found in bits and pieces in other stories, the reader is forced to feel detached. Tejo poses some incredible questions, comes across a few barbaric acts and takes extremely rash actions. She is the narrator of the story but is often lost inside her own head. As i mentioned, the story has a lot of potential but fails to deliver.
.
That said, it is still worth a read because the prose flows beautifully. The faults blur as the writing engulfs you and the characterization is faultless. There is also a sense of mystery throughout as we know more about the workings of the Marine Corps and the locals.
Tejaswini Ray, a journalist, is set to Iraq to relay the state of affairs there and work with the US Marine Corps. Opinionated, fearless and dominating, Tejo has countless clashes with everyone she meets along the way. But her demeanor changes slightly when she stumbles upon Shabnam, a young woman stuck in the loop of human trafficking. But Shabnam isn't just another girl, but a strong link to Tejo's past, a part of her life she is yet to come in terms with.
.
'The Endgame' feels like a story that ended to quickly. It lacks depth and for a plot, they can found in bits and pieces in other stories, the reader is forced to feel detached. Tejo poses some incredible questions, comes across a few barbaric acts and takes extremely rash actions. She is the narrator of the story but is often lost inside her own head. As i mentioned, the story has a lot of potential but fails to deliver.
.
That said, it is still worth a read because the prose flows beautifully. The faults blur as the writing engulfs you and the characterization is faultless. There is also a sense of mystery throughout as we know more about the workings of the Marine Corps and the locals.
February 16, 2020
It's a 3.50/5 rating.
The Endgame plunges readers into the world of embedded journalism with the main protagonist Tejaswini,an Indian American hot on the heels of breaking stories while wrestling with male egos,fierce competitions and strict guidelines imposed by the military with regard to what can be reported, how and when.
Set against the backdrop of American forces occupying Baghdad seven years after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, the narrative of The Endgame holds readers with the thrills of being in a war zone but ties it up with morality and human connections. Tejaswini's back story is as fascinating as her job and when she comes face to face with Shabnam, who she realises is tied to her own roots.Overall,the book reads like you are watching it on screen: there are layers being revealed with situations unraveling. Read this if you like fast reads with a mix of emotions.
Interestingly enough, Kunal Basu writes in English and this is his first Bengali novel that is being translated into English. Arunava Sinha’s deft hand ensures that the reader can easily forget that it is a translated work.
The Endgame plunges readers into the world of embedded journalism with the main protagonist Tejaswini,an Indian American hot on the heels of breaking stories while wrestling with male egos,fierce competitions and strict guidelines imposed by the military with regard to what can be reported, how and when.
Set against the backdrop of American forces occupying Baghdad seven years after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, the narrative of The Endgame holds readers with the thrills of being in a war zone but ties it up with morality and human connections. Tejaswini's back story is as fascinating as her job and when she comes face to face with Shabnam, who she realises is tied to her own roots.Overall,the book reads like you are watching it on screen: there are layers being revealed with situations unraveling. Read this if you like fast reads with a mix of emotions.
Interestingly enough, Kunal Basu writes in English and this is his first Bengali novel that is being translated into English. Arunava Sinha’s deft hand ensures that the reader can easily forget that it is a translated work.
July 29, 2024
I don't know if the finer details were lost in translation or if the writing was actually like that, but the English version felt like an abridged novel, and a badly abridged one at that.
The plot was terrible. It follows an Indian origin American reporter who is shocked and outraged that humans could hurt each other, coz she was born yesterday, i presume. A journalist who regularly covers war but still becomes overly shocked and distracted by human suffering and, omg, she is hella shocked by the idea that there's prostitution and sex trafficking in war zones. She walks around the campsites and war torn villages with no reason or logic, fixates on a random suffering person and broods over them until the next suffering person (S.P) comes along, after which she forgets about S.P.#1. And the protagonist cannot do a thing without it being attributed to her being a reporter. She listens coz she's a reporter, she drinks coz she's a reporter, she converses with people coz... you'll never guess why.
The narration felt like a list of unconnected sentences and barely connected events. For some reason, the protagonist gave off such an annoying vibe that if I met her, I was reasonably sure I'd be irritated by her , mainly coz i suspect she'd interrupt everyone's work to exclaim about how we're not helping the poor people on the street. She seemed keen on villifying everyone around her , if they weren't reporters she'd be antagonizing them and then sighing about how as a reporter she had to fight with others. If they were reporters she'd antagonize them by accusing them of not caring about the people/ places they reported about.
And the end was frustrating, in that there was none.
The plot was terrible. It follows an Indian origin American reporter who is shocked and outraged that humans could hurt each other, coz she was born yesterday, i presume. A journalist who regularly covers war but still becomes overly shocked and distracted by human suffering and, omg, she is hella shocked by the idea that there's prostitution and sex trafficking in war zones. She walks around the campsites and war torn villages with no reason or logic, fixates on a random suffering person and broods over them until the next suffering person (S.P) comes along, after which she forgets about S.P.#1. And the protagonist cannot do a thing without it being attributed to her being a reporter. She listens coz she's a reporter, she drinks coz she's a reporter, she converses with people coz... you'll never guess why.
The narration felt like a list of unconnected sentences and barely connected events. For some reason, the protagonist gave off such an annoying vibe that if I met her, I was reasonably sure I'd be irritated by her , mainly coz i suspect she'd interrupt everyone's work to exclaim about how we're not helping the poor people on the street. She seemed keen on villifying everyone around her , if they weren't reporters she'd be antagonizing them and then sighing about how as a reporter she had to fight with others. If they were reporters she'd antagonize them by accusing them of not caring about the people/ places they reported about.
And the end was frustrating, in that there was none.
March 10, 2026
In this intense and thought-provoking thriller, a professional assassin finds himself caught in a dangerous game where the stakes are life and death. The story moves across different countries, blending high-stakes action with a deep look into the mind of a man living on the edge. It is a fast-paced read that keeps you guessing about who is really pulling the strings until the very end. If you enjoy a mystery that feels like a global chess match, this gripping novel is a great choice.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews