The book ‘Heaven’s Above’ was sent across by the publishers in exchange for an honest review. This book is a debut novel for the Author: Michael Anderson.One look at the author’s picture and you will be filled with a sense of déjà vu! This because, Michael Anderson has been part of the Bollywood side-kicks for a very brief period of time.
The Black Enigma
The book cover has been designed well,keeping in mind the place and the city around which the story revolves. If not observed keenly, one might miss out the black crow hovering above on the cover which plays a major part in the book.
This book can be termed a compendium of happenings in a Mumbai apartment by name ‘Heaven’s Above’ and its mysterious link with a crow!Its interesting how , many of the lives in the apartment is changed for good- by the crow. How and why? Well,this forms the crux of the story.
The writer has dedicated each chapter to each of the flat numbers wherein the story is set. Every story brings with it a slice of Mumbai through the vivid descriptions of places, buildings, the housing societies and the people. It sort of brings out the loneliness, amusement, changing equations among people and complexities of living in a vibrant city like Mumbai. This gives the book a hint of a travelogue which is worth reading. The language used is simple, interspersed with Mumbai lingo.
I would have loved the book if only it had less number of chapters because after the 4th or 5th chapter, the tone of story telling becomes monotonous and very much predictable and this is when one starts losing interest.I sort of just strolled through the pages at some point because I felt the story was going nowhere!Also, some of the descriptions were a little cheesy. Every chapter ended with the crow being the matchmaker,the problem solver or the agency for a sea change in the characters living in the apartment which is more or less predictable as one flicks through the chapters. As a reader one gets a feeling as to why the occupants always end up keeping the door or window open ? So that the crow enters? I wish the ending was as exciting as some of the stories in the book. Go for the book if you want to get a slice of Mumbai life or looking out a book for a lighter read.
I give this book a rating of 2.5 / 5
Title : Heaven’s Above
Author. : Michael Anderson
Publishers : Jaico Publishing House
Total Pages. : 279
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Well that’s a pity isn’t it! It has such an interesting premise and the cover just adds to that appeal! I might grab this at the library nevertheless. But not going to buy it after this review.
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