Book Review: Who Wants to Marry a Mamma’s Boy & Other Stories by Manjula Pal

Who Wants to Marry a Mamma’s Boy and Other Stories
Author: Majula Pal
Publisher: Rupa Publishers
Rating: 3/5

Women are like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Manjula Pal pens down a few short stories that showcase the journey of women in different phases of life. Each time making a different circumstance as a pivot, Pal weaves a tale that doesn’t fail to leave you marked for life. These stories are the stories of first love, betrayal, the resurrection of a stronger self, selfish and selfless love and sacrifice. Even though some stories have men as the protagonists, the central part played by the woman/ women in their life cannot be ignored.

Even though the author uses simple language, the stories touch the heart because of the relatability factor. Each character, whether it is Venu who falls victim to betrayal or Priya who is a good judge of character and can sense a honey trap from a distance, surprises the readers with their inner strengths and encourages us to be ourselves and not be afraid to call a spade a spade. Even though there are some grammatical errors, they are not that prominent. After long, I came across a book that wins owing to its simplicity and genuity.

There are a total of eight stories and each of them offers a different flavour. While one story sends us down the memory lane to search for that first love, the other explores the complexities of a contemporary relationship. While one story traces the struggle- filled path of a career-oriented woman, the other exposes us to the harsh reality of the society- how the deep-rooted beliefs and illogical dogmas decide the right age for a woman to get married or to bear children. Touching upon all these issues in a very subtle way, the author uses her exemplary observation skills and her experience to bring forth the facade put up by the people around us. Right from the unfulfilled desire of a young girl to the caged desires of an older woman- the stories have multifarious aspects.

Overall, this book is sure to leave you wanting for more. It is a breezy read and urges the reader to introspect about life.

Best wishes to the author!

Buying link: Amazon