A Roller Coaster Corporate Ride

Review by Ronica Wahi

9 to 5 Cubicle Tales

By Harish C. Rijhwani

First published: November 24, 2022, Self-published.

Paperback Pages: 316.

ISBN: 9789357017589

This is the kind of novel that will remind a reader who’s experienced corporate life in any capacity, not just as an IT professional, of his/her own experiences, often bringing a smile to the lips or a wistful thought to the mind. It is the kind of book that speaks of the author’s lived experiences that are so similar to the lived experiences of countless people, and so becomes a winning piece of work in terms of how authentic and relatable it is on multiple levels.

9 to 5 Cubicle Tales is not just about the monotony and the confines of an assigned cubicle within a corporate office, but also about what happens beyond the space of that cubicle. The protagonist Hridaan Rajdev is on a journey of which the cubicle space is a big part but not its entirety. Hridaan’s journey starts from a brave promise, moves on to dedicated and focused efforts to get into and complete his engineering, and then progresses on to embracing corporate life with its challenges and moments of jubilation, its lessons and missed opportunities, its friendships and politics.

Hridaan, as a middle-class person who thinks well before spending money and would rather board a bus than take a taxi even on one of Mumbai’s bad weather days, seems more like a person the reader knows than a character in a fictional world. His attachment to his family, his commitment to giving his best at his workplace, his discoveries as he interacts with new people, his observations and learnings as he visits the US for the first time all serve to help the reader connect to him and his story.

The overall tone of the narrative reflects the everyday aspect of the story; as mentioned already, the reader will find many moments and spaces of overlap between Hridaan’s life and his/her own. Yasha Kothari’s cover design sure merits a mention, for it is well-thought out and effectively reflects the personal and the professional aspirations and dreams of Hridaan.

While 9 to 5 Cubicle Tales is relatable for those with similar experiences, it can be a means to providing a glimpse into office culture for those yet to start on that path and possibly, a couple of good lessons too.

Considering this is the first long piece of fiction that Rijhwani has published – his previous books have been non-fiction, this is a fine accomplishment. There are a few points though that could have added to the package. Some incidents with everyday kind of humour could have been fleshed out and the humour highlighted for a good, knowing laugh – for instance, the incident where Hridaan signs differently each time on some formal documents (p. 30). The novel has some avoidable errors – such as the wrong spelling of Sherlock Holmes (spelled “sherlock homes”, without capitalization and wrong spelling of surname) at a number of places. The novel has too many unnecessary – and therefore, incorrect – capitalization of words.

Overall, definitely a recommended read, likely to want the reader to know what unfolds in the next part of the Cubicle Tales series.

Make sure to read the first before the next comes out! Grab a copy of 9 to 5 Cubicle Tales through Amazon India:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/41zEPZs

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3IZgXat

 

To know more about Rijhwani’s previous book Master the Mystic Arts: The Journey Begins, his writing journey, and his tips for writers, do watch his interview:

Interview - Harish Rijhwani, Healthcare IT Professional and Writer of a Unique Book on Data Science

 

Do check out reviews on Rijhwani’s other works:

Master the Mystic Arts: The Journey Begins

Review

Amazon India link (Paperback): https://amzn.to/3qef52I

Amazon India link (Kindle): https://amzn.to/3qic69E

 

Technology to Business: The Invisible Gap

Review

Amazon India link (Paperback): https://amzn.to/3zKYcAY

Amazon India link (Kindle): https://amzn.to/2STTXCx

 

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.

 

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