A Horror Story with Surprising Twists

 Review by Ronica Wahi

 

Angoothi ka Bhoot

By Manish Sharma

First published: Chapter-wise, starting March 20, 2019, Pratilipi app.

Edition reviewed: April 15, 2021, Ekatra – a joint imprint of Manjul and Pratilipi.

Pages: 128. 

ISBN: 9789390924417

This one is on a novel written in Hindi. The title – Angoothi ka Bhoot (loosely translated, “The Ghost of the Ring”), and the cover suggest that it’s a horror tale. Which it is. But it doesn’t confine itself to horror.

The protagonist here is a young working woman named Neha, who is planning on soon marrying her boyfriend Anil. Her life takes a sudden turn when the ghost Jai enters it through the new ring on her finger. Jai pulls her further and further into a world entirely different from the one she has always known and lived in.

As mentioned above, there is much more than horror and the fears that manifest itself into horror in Angoothi ka Bhoot. The pull away from the real world and deep into the dream world, such that reality and dreams are constantly juxtaposed and interacting with each other in a tangible sort of way, is surely a frightening matter. But the pull of the dreams is not simply Jai’s doing. Neha participates for the dreams enchant, surprise, and sometimes, scare her; these dreams also teach her lessons.

The story, as a whole, is a package of romance, relationships, desires, and hopes, besides the ghost factor. It contains lessons on what makes relationships worthwhile and even magical. Angoothi ka Bhoot also intermittently offers philosophical touches, perspectives on life and time, and meditations on human nature, without getting too didactic.

Manish Sharma, currently a Senior Producer with ABP News, has a long relationship with the world of written words. He has an MA in Hindi plus experience of writing poetry and short stories since he was a student, and in these last few years, he has ventured into producing lengthier works. He is a gifted writer, who has used throughout the work the technique of hinting at what’s to come, effectively keeping the reader curious and engrossed.

One particularly interesting portion of the novel is wherein different dimensions of the “reality” of Neha's dreams are explored, making the whole narrative layered, and taking the reader further into unravelling certain truths about life and relationships. Another winning factor is the crispness in description; the scenes are so crisply created that the reader can almost feel them playing out in front of his/her eyes. Discussions, explorations of perspectives, descriptions, dialogues, everything is written is simple, everyday Hindi, making the book a quick and easy read.

The main characters are etched out well too. Neha is relatable as a young woman working in Delhi; her expectations, thoughts, and emotions help the reader connect with her. Sharma has indeed created his female protagonist with much insight and care, making it possible for women readers to identify with her. Reena, Neha’s best friend, and Anil are well-sketched too and are certainly the kind of people often encountered in life. The reader might find Jai, the ghost, to be particularly interesting because of the qualities accorded to him.

The plot is refreshing, the characters – as mentioned – relatable, and the book engaging. Certainly recommended!


Do check out my interview with Manish Sharma here:

Interview - Manish Sharma, Writer and Senior Producer at ABP News

Amazon link for Angoothi ka Bhoot (paperback):

https://amzn.to/34QBJnW

Amazon link for Angoothi ka Bhoot (Kindle edition):

https://amzn.to/3fWjlQK



DISCLAIMER: Ronica Wahi is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. If you make a purchase through any of the Amazon links provided by Ronica here, she may receive a small commission, without any extra cost to you.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fifteen Stars Under the Sky!

Image
Review by Ronica Wahi We are the Champions By Rashmi Bansal and Devendra Tak First published: February 14, 2020, Bushfire. Pages: 206.  ISBN: 9788193182130 “It takes a child to raise a village.” This statement on the back cover is enough for the reader to know that encountered will be extraordinary tales. Yes, extraordinary indeed, for isn’t a child someone who needs to be raised? What the reader knows from the cover is proved as he/she moves through the pages of this interesting and inspiring chronicle of the achievements of fifteen children from across India whom the authors Rashmi Bansal and Devendra Tak rightly hail as the Champions of Change .  The book is inspiring because it shows how determination and the will to accomplish something can be truly rewarding. Raising a voice against established practices is hard enough and these children have not only raised their voices but also fought to bring real change, change that is not limited
Read more

Thorns and Roses

Image
  Review by Ronica Wahi   Melita By Gill D. Anderson First published: July 16, 2020, InHouse Publishing. Kindle Edition Pages: 165.  ASIN: B08D66WSBF While there is a plethora of written work being produced on the corona pandemic and the imagined post-COVID world, Gill D. Anderson has come up with a novel where this unprecedented challenge faced by the human race plays the role of a catalyst in resolving strained relationships by drilling home the uncertainty of life and the necessity of holding close the ones who matter the most. Melita is the story of Melita and her daughter, Emily, and as the dedication says, is written “For mothers and daughters everywhere.”. Melita and Emily have not shared a close bond and the ties have been weakened over the years, with the relationship having reached “an impossible stalemate” by February 2020. With the mounting fear and restrictions on movement, regrets over what was not done to bolster their relationship seep in. In playing an esse
Read more

An Engrossing Thriller!

Image
  Review by Ronica Wahi Shamus Dust: Hard Winter. Cold War. Cool Murder. By Janet Roger First published: October 28, 2019, Matador. Kindle Edition Pages: 295.  ASIN: B07VV4SLHP Set in London and spanning a few days during which 1947 drew to a close and 1948 just began, Shamus Dust , Janet Roger’s debut novel, is a memorable recreation of a suffering, post-war city. In the novel, the city of London is in the grips of a harsh winter, both literal and metaphorical. The war had destroyed a substantial part of the city, adversely impacted the economy, and led to shortages; such circumstances, in general, eventually lead to increased disparities and increased crimes. Additionally, this London is struggling to maintain the remnants of the crumbling Empire. The choice of such a time of turmoil, along with the dreariness and gloom of a biting winter, heightens the dark elements and deeds – for it is crime fiction – in the plot. Moreover, the fact that Roger has chosen Christmas and
Read more