Review of False Ceilings by Amit Sharma

Book Name         - False Ceilings

Author                  - Amit Sharma

Publisher              - Lifi Publications

Number of Pages - 256

Publishing Year   - 2016

Edition                  - Paperback

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Rating : 4.0

Blurb

 Born in the lush mountains of Dalhousie in 1930, Shakuntala is a pampered child of a wealthy builder. On her wedding night she is gifted a secret to use wisely when the time comes. 

From the green valleys of Dalhousie to a village in Punjab reeling under the communal violence of 1947; from the Delhi of 1950s with its intoxicating smell of freedom to the Delhi of 1970s soaked in the hippie culture; from the Delhi of 1984 smelling of burnt tyres to the Delhi of 90s raising its Frankenstein of urbanization, the cancerous secret breathes with her, infects her. It is accidentally passed down, hidden under insecurities and jealousies, locked in its meaninglessness and leaving a trail of ruin.
When her great- grandson accidentally discovers the secret in 2065, he is perplexed by the malice that flowed in his family's blood. Was it just the secret or his family would have destroyed itself even in its absence? Why was their love never greater than their unsaid expectations from each other? 

My Review

 Books from Indian authors are puppy romance. Is that the preset notion? Well, if that's the case, false ceilings will force us to stash our prejudices. A highly emotional, tragic drama in a family through generations will quench the thirst for something different and deep by the readers. For a first time author, Amit Sharma is quite matured, developed and well-read.

The storyline goes through several generations- from pre-independence era to the future. Multiplicity of genres without giving any feeling of loss. The narration exemplarily matches the level classics or the several award winning books. Though the readers will be at loss trying to join the dots initially, last two chapters wraps up well and the pieces fall in place perfectly. The historical events are linked seamlessly.

The readers might get confused at some areas, which in turn cause a drop in pace of the story. Author succeeded in maintaining the inquisitiveness in the reader, which is maintained throughout the story. Nevertheless, when the secret unravels, it doesn't keep up with how the whole build up is constructed.

Overall the book is highly recommended to the serious readers, who want something different yet enchanting. With a little more homework, it could have been one among the classics.

Reviewed for the book club

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

About the author

Amit Sharma's first fiction book titled False Ceilings has been published by Lifi Publications. The book launch happened on 12 Jan 2016 in the World Book Fair in Delhi. 

Amit has been working in a Software Firm since the last ten years. He lives with his family in NCR. His wife is a teacher and they are blessed with a daughter who is in her terrible twos. 

Amit always keeps a book and a portable reading light in his bag (much to the amusement of his fellow travelers). His other hobbies include watching world cinema, travelling, digging into various cuisines, cooking, listening to music, painting, blogging, making his daughter laugh and helping his wife with her unnecessary and prolonged shopping.