RAMONA BY MANOJ V JAIN

TITLE- RAMONA
AUTHOR- MANOJ V JAIN
GENRE- FICTION
NUMBER OF PAGES- 101
PUBLISHERS- NOTION PRESS
FORMAT- PAPERBACK

About the book-

Sitting on an armchair near the window, Ramona- sperated, mother of a son and a cookery teacher- muses on the events that have happened in her life in the recent past. A letter from her husband, not even nearly justifying his mysterious disappearance, shocks her and topples her world upside down. Bombarded by a thousand questions, accusations, a tumult of emotions and confusion, she begins to untie the knots one at a time with help from her family. But what she wasn't able to do over months, a stranger does within a matter of minutes.

My rating- ★★★★☆

My review-

This the sequel to Balraj by Manoj V Jani and this explores the experiences Inder's wife Ramona faces after he disappeared on her unexpectedly. 

Her story explores the experiences she has had right from their high school days- Inder and she were high school sweethearts- how they got married, the problems that she faced with the in laws and their eventual drifting apart. When Inder left she was crestfallen and was in denial. How was life after Inder left? How did she manage to make ends meet? Does she reunite with Inder once again? 

This story explores the hardships of being left behind without any closure, the emotional torment that one undergoes and the eventual process of moving on. The author explores several aspects of human mind- from grief, to blaming oneself for the consequences, to accepting the reality- he talks about the massive strength of the human mind to put behind adversities and look forward. He also emphasises on the need for an external source to help people realize and accept the reality which in Ramona's case was her cousin sister Aditi- who not only helped her understand where she was at fault but also gave her a new direction to life.

The character of Ramona is very relatable- very realistic- the problems and experiences she faces are the things that actually happen in the real world. The author has done a brilliant job in portraying the emotions as they are- the narration is quite fast paced but keeps the readers hooked on. The story not only emphasises on the necessity to invest time and understanding in a relationship but also shows the way to overcome the grief if things don't work out.

A very well written, emotionally engrossing and realistic book which ends on a note you need to find out after reading it.

Characters-

Ramona- a headstrong, emotionally independent lady, who runs her own cookery classes. She is a symbol of strength and composure that one should have to look forward in life. Her character is very well developed through the story. Her transformation from a simple, timid lady- to the one who had complaints in her conjugal life and was not afraid to voice her opinions - to a woman who became self sufficient and emotionally stable after being deserted by her husband.

Shourya- he is Inder and Ramona's son and he plays a greater part in this story. Initially he is a guy living away from his parents but upon Inder's disappearance he takes up the responsibility of not only standing by his mother but also searching for his father. He takes up the role of the "man" of the house, the search for his father- all the while battling his own feeling of alienation and array of questions.

Aditi- she is Ramona's cousin whom she meets after a long time. It is she plays a crucial role is helping Ramona understand the reality, accept it and move on- instead of clinging on to an uncertainty.

Other characters include Ameeta- Inder's sister who helps Ramona cope with her sorrow, Inder's mother and a few other characters who play their respective roles to expose Ramona to the reality. 

All the characters are very life- like and well developed which makes this a very realistic read.

Writing style-

The story is fast paced, written in a simple language. The emotions are very well portrayed and the readers can feel the exact emotions that the characters are going through. A very important aspect written in the most simple way- the author really does know the way to unravel the human mind.

Overall an indulging read, can be read in a single sitting and a number of lessons can be learnt from this particularly short book.

Thanks to Naman Pandey for sending a copy of this wonderful book.

Purchase link-

https://www.amazon.in/Ramona-Manoj-V-Jain/dp/1947949071/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550131429&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX118_SY170_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=ramona+by+manoj+v+jain&dpPl=1&dpID=41Jrxaa1bnL&ref=plSrch

About the author-

Manoj V Jain has always been interested in human relationships and how they are affected by circumstances. He is an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad and student of psychology. Balraj is his third book, while the BNO, Sex life and hookah and THE THC, Under a gibbous moon where his first two. He runs his own garment export business. He travels over the globe, meets new people, hears interesting stories and these give him a deeper understanding of the way people think.