Hello Bookdragons!
Hope you all are doing great and reading all those unread books that you stuffed in your bookshelves 👀. My reading journey so far is going great, and I cannot believe I have already read 20 books so far this year! 🤩
My latest addition to my ‘books read this year’ pile is Chronicle of An Hour and A Half written by Sahara Nusaiba Kannanari and published by Westland Books. All thanks to @tandemcollectiveglobal for having me on the readalong and to @westland_books for the copy.
I have been super active on Instagram lately. If you haven’t followed me yet, come join me on my reading journey @bookarlo!
A COMPELLINGLY IMAGINED, TIGHT-PACED STORY OF SPIRALLING RUMOURS AND MASS HYSTERIA. In the foothills of the Western Ghats, the village of Vaiga is enduring the worst storm it has seen in ceaseless rain, fallen trees, flooded river, severe power cuts … But another, more insidious storm is brewing beneath the surface. It begins as a rumour of an illicit affair—a rumour that brings Saud and his sons to Vaiga in search of Burhan. The rumour soon takes on a life of its own, fuelled by feverish WhatsApp messages. In the ensuing chaos, as Vaiga erupts into violence and a mob takes to the street, baying for blood. Tautly written and vividly imagined, Chronicle of an Hour and a Half is an engrossing, unsettling read.
There are times when you read a book that so closely resembles the society you live in that it doesn’t even feel fictitious anymore but rather a reflection of the reality. And, that is exactly what Chronicle of An Hour and A Half penned by Saharu Nusaiba Kannanari serves the readers. It’s a story that will undeniably make you uncomfortable, will question your beliefs on morality, and your perception of the reality.
Set in the small village of Vaiga, located in the foothills of the Western Ghats, the people are witnessing one of the worst tempests since 1991. Set against this raging storm, a rumour spreads like a wildfire that turns the mass village folks into a vicious mob set on amending the “mistake”. Reyhana, the mother of two daughters and Burhan, who is 15 years younger than her is rumoured to be having an illicit affair. When this rumour reaches her brother-in-law’s ears, Saud and his sons reach Vaiga in search of Burhan. To fan the flames, WhatsApp videos start circulating and Reyhana has to bear the brunt. People start gossiping about her moral values leading up to scathing remarks and accusations.
None of the characters in this book are completely good or bad. I liked that the author never, for even an instance, tried to justify the characters’ actions as right or wrong. Instead it is up to the readers who get to judge these characters’ actions based on their perception. Kannanari was adept in highlighting the expectations that are put on women as to the roles they are to “serve” in a patriarchal society like ours.
The multiple points of view help to provide insights behind the characters’ actions and their prejudices. The story also reflects on being conscious about the information we share over the internet and how they can be used as a vice against us.
If you are a fan of literary fiction and love books with strong women representations, then you absolutely must read Chronicle of An Hour and A Half. Get yourself a copy from here!
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Signing off,
Sohinee aka bookarlo
Sohinee Reads & Reviews 
Interesting plot.
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Yes, the plot was indeed interesting!
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