December 19, 2024 03:27 PM IST
Author Nayanthara Violet Alva has taken a page from the rom-com stories of her mother, writer Anuja Chauhan, to create her first romance novel, Liberal Hearts. read on
Author Nayanthara Violet Alva, an alumnus of a private university in Delhi-NCR, uses an imaginary academic campus as a critical construct for her latest book, Liberal Hearts. Alva, who has produced popular television shows like unique countryGrew up in Delhi and Bengaluru before settling in Mumbai. But, she takes inspiration from her college life in Delhi to explore some of the complex topics that teenagers experience on the brink of a new life. These include the pangs of first love to the excitement of the first drink.
The story comes with a dose of humor which makes it partly entertaining. But what hinders this effort is the overly-familiar plot: A privileged girl surrounded by cookie-cutter characters meets a non-privileged boy, beginning a sweet romance filled with predictable challenges. Taking a page from the rom-com plots often explored by her mother, popular writer Anjuna Chauhan, Alva follows the journey of its protagonist Naamya, a strong-willed young woman who navigates college life at the Maurya College of Liberal Arts. Deals with complexities. Rural Haryana. When she meets Veer, a quiet but unexpectedly charming man, Namya is forced to reconsider who she is and uncover the hidden layers of the rigid structures around her. Investigates.
As the story progresses, there is a lot in the book that stands out to a young reader – in between the accurate representation of college life, the disillusionment that comes with achieving higher education as well as the simple truths that life tells us. How can you not please everyone all the time!
Alva’s true intentions for the book are revealed in bits and pieces as it explores thoughtful conversations about female friendship, class hierarchy and queer relationships. Unfortunately, the choppy prose and bare setting are unable to establish it as a coming-of-age romance. So there are some thought-provoking moments in the story, but it feels like it’s more suitable for a light weekend read, rather than something that will provide a lasting perspective.
Topic: generous heart
Author: Nayanthara Violet Alva
Publisher: Ebury Press
price: 350
