Bala Takes the Plunge by Melvin Durai

Bala Takes the Plunge is frankly hilarious.

I dont often read humor. Its not something I pick up normally from book stores, its not often stuff I find funny, and its often just stuff I find really silly. However, this book is definitely different. The humor stems from careful and highly well-portrayed observation of people - and so many of the incidents, people and and dialogues are so familiar - and make me feel like 'I've totally seen this' - that I really enjoyed this book. Its a pretty short book, and I devoured it in less than a day after I got it, and it was one of the few books that has actually made me laugh out so loudly that other people around me started giving me odd looks and asked me what the hell I was reading. 

The book chronicles the adventures of Bala, an NRI, who has come back to India to look for a wife. Its definitely a topic with oodles of potential humor, and the author uses this potential to the maximum. In a light, conversational style, the author writes about India, marriage and Indian marriages with a simplicity and beauty that is both refreshing and fun. And its not just in his search for his bride. Everything, from the Rajnikant dialogues (so well done) and his dog's name (America) is funny and deeper than it seems. The character Bala himself really holds this up, because he, as the author himself says (in his interview with me here) 'never gives up' and that really, really makes him a lot of fun to read about. Bala is the sort of character who hooks you on and doesn't let you go easily. 

The style of the book itself really works for it, including the fact that its so short. Its light, conversational, witty and makes you feel like you have really read something interesting - qualities that I dont think would have lasted if the book had dragged on for another two hundred pages, though I do feel like I would've liked to know how the book's story continued. The ending, though I liked it, was rather abrupt and left me craving for more. 

Final thoughts: Witty, subtle, very funny - read it if you're in the mood for a good laugh. 

Other thoughts: Click here for a review of this book by another blogger (Manjulika Pramod) whom I respect very much, on a book review blog that I love.

(Financial disclosure: Book source was the author.)