Saturday, April 16, 2016

Review: Forget Me Not, Stranger by Novoneel Chakraborty

The final part was always crucial. The crux was to deliver what has been a constant phenomenon till now. Inner cores have screamed loud to let the hair down and finally establish what has been elusive for the longest time. Author Novoneel Chakraborty in his final part "Forget Me Not, Stranger" closes down the door on what can make and break the entire journey. So has the ends been tied up cleanly? Are all the questions answered? Let the book answer and settle all the replies. 


"I'm Rivanah Bannerjee, 23/F/Mumbai. Some of you might already know how my life is on a razor edge. Those of you who don't, just know this: I may be killed soon . . . by the Stranger. I don't know who or what he is: a ghost, a person or a figment of my imagination? All I know is he isn't just one thing: he is sexy and scary, terrific and terrifying. What I don't understand is why a young, harmless girl like me, who works in a big city, stays away from her parents and has a screwed-up love life, would be of any interest to him. Unless there is something about my own story that I do not know In the hotly anticipated final installment of the Stranger trilogy, Rivanah will learn the answers to her many questions. What is it that binds her to the dead Hiya? Who is the Stranger? Why has he been following her all this while leading to an intense, breathtaking climax.



The trilogy has already seen two parts. The cover is bland for the tastes and the way story has been belted out in the first two parts, the cover is a huge let down. The title carries the good old tradition from the previous installments rendering mystical and a dead end approach. The blurb carries the same old question. But the question has become larger than life and Rivanah dreads and fears about her life. The eerie intonation to the story continues to haunt and lure the readers. 

The story picks up from where it was left off in the second installment. Rivanah still pursues the stranger, there are questions to be answered, her past is a mystery, present is a mess and an uncertain future looms large. Fear is her best companion. As she oscillates between her past and present will there be an end to this never ending mystery? Who's the stranger? Why is he part of her life? The final part will answer it all. 

Consider this. Rivanah the soul of the story is struggling, And her struggles are far from over. What pleasure can you derive out of her misery? The only sadist pleasure a reader gains out the story is satiated answers to a lot of questions. The noose and the grip tightens around with every page as every word, every line adds to the irresistible yet insomniac amount of detailing involved in the story. There are places where a reader can feel Sherlock but the story always has a bit more to throw you off the radar. It is deep, dark, meaningful, engulfing and twisted at a balanced scale. Patience of a reader is tested throughout yet the journey is a slow death with a tinge of holy grail which is the key to the stranger and Rivanah's misery. The book can change the perception and challenge the inner sanctum of your existence. It is an unbelievable yet believing mystery. 

There are couple of parts which look little clumsy and scatter the immense attention in between the readings. Apart from that a naked eye is good for nothing to pick and point loop holes. 

All in all a befitting end to the trilogy. Expectations were at an all time high and the output is picture perfect. Perhaps there are too many knots to untie and too many scars to be healed. But the story holds true and has retained the essence right from its inception. The bar of the anticipation a lot of notches higher with a justified imprint on the minds forever. It is telltale which will be considered a perfect representation of a thriller. A ride into nothingness yet an urge and a wish to find out what lies in the end. Surreal and a rousing fantasy worth all the wait. 


RATING:

4 OUT OF 5  

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