Review:

I had that unreal storm in my mind after reading this book. Estuary by Perumal Murugan translated by Nandini Krishnan is a mind-blowing book. An unusual read that you are going to love.

It’s a story of Kumarasurar who wants the best for his child Meghas and wants him to choose the top college for himself, whereas Meghas wants to live the life he chooses for himself, the college he wants to go to. How will this gap between a father and son fill? Will Meghas choose the college Kumarasurar wants? Will Kumarasurar give the phone Meghas wants? It’s a journey of a father who wants to talk more with his son, who wants to share that friendly bond with him. Will, he able to do it?.

I had a smile on my face from the very first page. I liked how interestingly, the story is narrated. A story that each one of us can relate to. It’s a blend of fiction and a bit of Fantasy, it felt real. With a fabulous plot and a gripping writing style, it’s a fast-paced story that reveals reality. It is about the worries that parents have, the expectations they have and the thoughts they want to share with their children.

Also Read: Book Review of Once There Was Me by Bobby Sachdeva

I loved how the story picks up. How Kumarasurar felt when his son talks everything to his mom, how he can just ask his son only a few questions, and how friends play a huge role in our lives. How they let their son do whatever he chooses, how Kumarasurar tried getting out of his shell.

The characters developed by the author are strong and relatable. One could relate and will love each and every character here. Each one of them has that special aura. The author wonderfully explains the worries of parents, the hurt, the loneliness, the happiness and the anxieties.

With an excellent story-line and engaging narration, it’s a page-turner, filled with emotions.
You’ll hug your parents, once you finish reading this one.

About The Book:

Late at night, Kumarasurar’sphone rings shrilly. His teenage son is calling. What could he want?

A seemingly simple demand torments Kumarasurar, who fears it might put his finances—and perhaps his son’s life—in jeopardy. As a father’s anxieties unravel, his memories undermine his self-worth and imaginary scenes of damnation taunt him.

Estuary brings alive the different ways—absurd and endearing by turns—in which a man and his young son navigate the contemporary world. In the process, it peels back the layers of Kumarasurar’s loneliness: the hurt of a married man whose wife cares only for the happiness of their child, the endless monotony of an office job, and the struggle of the salaried middle-class to give their children the best chance of success.

Perumal Murugan’s latest novel, his first in an urban setting, is also a razor-sharp parody of everything from e-commerce to the fitness industry, art appreciation to political manipulation, cram schools to social networks. Through a meditative exploration of a father’s emotional landscape, Murugan tells of a world wrecked by unchecked consumerism and an obsession with growth, where technology overrides common sense and degrees don’t guarantee education. And, with characteristic tenderness, he also weaves in a way to redemption.