Book Review: Army Girl Steals Civilian’s Heart by Oswald Pereira

Army Girl Steals Civilian’s Heart
Author: Oswald Pereira
Publisher: Oswald Pereira
Rating: 3/5

“It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.”
― André Gide, Autumn Leaves

Love is outlandish, love is traditional; love is precious and love is imperfect. There are too many definitions of love, but we believe in the one that applies to our life. ‘Army Girl Steals Civilian’s Heart’ is a fictitious romance that revolves around Oscar and Amrita. With a predictable plot, the story can be classified as a mushy love tale with a happily-ever-after.

The problems faced in inter-faith marriages have been the talk of the town lately. People are opting their way out of the idea of arranged marriages as they have realized the importance of choosing a right partner with whom they are most compatible. Suave and affable, Oscar is a media person; he is a journalist in one of the leading newspaper. Proud of his personality and achievements, he seems less interested in finding the right girl for himself. Instead, he is an opportunist who burns the midnight oil to become successful. Cupid strikes his heart when he least expects it. The female protagonist, Amrita, a trainee, enters his life and love blossoms.

The plot seems simple till here. It is only after some time that we are made aware that Amrita hails from an Army Background. Not that she is an Army woman but her father and his brothers had the honour of wearing the prestigious uniform.

The title of the story is ambiguous; the word’ army’ in the title can mislead the readers as they might be forced to believe that Amrita is an Army woman. With lucid narration and exemplary vocabulary, the book will impress voracious readers. However, the clichéd plot, anticipated storyline and the humdrum climax fail to leave a lasting impact.

With well drawn-out emotions, the book offers many moments of genuine heartache but the meek development of characters nullifies it all. I did not like the underdevelopment of characters; it was difficult to associate and empathize with them.

The cover of the book is dull and the title is too long to be catchy. The blurb gives out too many details. The grammatically incorrect title with missing articles could have been made shorter and more precise. Overall, ‘Army Girl Steals Civilian’s Heart’ is a light read that portrays emotions but misses out the essence.

Best wishes to the author!

Buying Link: Amazon