Character-driven novel set in 1970s New Delhi

10th February 2023

Fear and Lovely by Anjana Appachana, a character-driven novel set in 1970s New Delhi.

I have been to India a couple of times and I have often longed to know what goes on beyond the tourist scene. And this novel – although set several decades ago – offers an insight into family life, essentially through the eyes of one young woman, Mallika, a shy and bookish person. She has 2 mothers who are keeping secrets, but she is happy enough despite persistent migraines, She also has some close female friends and two male friends, Arnav and Rhandir whom she cares for deeply but is unclear whether her feelings are in any way at reciprocated.

Then a traumatic event occurs and she loses three days of memory. The novel is very much a depiction of mental health in a society that is ill-at-ease acknowledging the impact and complications of such conditions. It also delves into the lives of women, casting a pall over some of the ingrained issues facing females. The aunties chatter away and  gossip, as they try to keep the younger generations in order. The novel is very much a character driven story, which brings in family and friends and the dynamics between them. There are quite a few people to get to know but they all morph into individual entities as the book progresses.

In essence this feels like a real peek behind the scenes of colony life, a story written with confidence and panache, sprinkled with humour. The reader will also discover how the title came about – it really is a novel title, isn’t it?

This would certainly be a good novel to pick up if you are heading to Delhi as I think would offer a deeper appreciation of the city and the ways of the people who live there.

Tina for the TripFiction Team

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