The 90s was an era of M's - Mandir, Masjid, Mandal, Market, Murders, and Music. While there are many authors who have explored the other M's, Author Rimple has explored the Music part of the 90s - writing INDIA's First ever MUSICAL NOVEL.
It not just speaks about the emerging POP-music culture of the 90s but also how music affects our brain. Taking 90s pop music as the base to connect readers to NEUROSCIENCE BEHIND MUSIC. We all listen to music, but we have under-estimated the power of music. The author brings out LISTENING TO MUSIC as an art.
While there are books that deal with the darkness of the 90s, the author of this book deals with the innocence of 90s. When the basis of the book is musical, one definitely cannot think of darkness. Hence the story deals with beauty and simplicity of life - just like music that is soulful and beautiful. More than that you will never listen to music just as a time pass or background activity. The book shall clear a lot of misconceptions about music and provide a new way of brain spa to people.
With Rajvir and the letter-writer author takes up music while with Rajvir and Taashvi, author takes up a social cause and never-die spirit of Mumbai which are real. Book is a combination of fiction and non-fiction, presented in an experimentative manner. It highlights the daily routine of every individual, unlike other books. On a daily basis a normal human day will include office work, some gossip, sometimes he will read an article, sometimes chat, sometimes read, sometimes we talk about old times - memories, then we talk about work, then something else, whatever comes in naturally based on mood, atmosphere, person we are talking to etc., we never plan what we talk. Sometimes listen to music, travelling to and fro between home and office, etc. And the conversations take place in the routine life.
About the Book
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The concept is experimental, unique and full of surprises.
How often have you encountered simplicity drawing inspiration from the flowing melodies of reminiscence?
Those songs you’ve grown up with.. those melodies that reminds you of your childhood days. When those memories are served to you in a book, that’s flawlessly reserved only for appreciation. You’re up for a beautiful journey.
As every journey is incomplete without music, so is this book.
The story of Rajvir and his uneventful life, and how a letter he finds in a book while visiting a bookstore changes everything. From a single letter, to a series of them. From just reading these letters, to writing replies to them and eventually getting attached to the person who’s writing them.
The author’s take on decorating the conversations between Rajvir and the mysterious writer can’t get any better. How Rajvir’s monotonous life gets sparks of self-discovery, how he’s creating his own chords of happiness in his life.
The concept is experimental, unique and full of suprises. But the research, dedication that’s behind the concept gets it appreciated from all literary dimensions.
An ode to Mumbai through Bollywood music
As I started reading the book; I had the feeling that this book is literally a mini thesis on the music of the 90s. In spite of this the author has most humbly stated that she could not include the more technical stuff about music as it may make the book less interesting and in her own words….“The best analogy I can give for this is, food versus food supplements. Food is anytime better than vitamin tablets because it comes with taste, smell, visual appeal, sizzle & temperature….”
Nevertheless, the author has include some refreshing theories about music some of which we may subconsciously know, but it feels good to be validated with lines from the book like “Sometimes Imagining visuals from the song video…..This kind of listening is very effective in reducing stress levels & easing depression.” Particularly interesting were the conversations where the discussion was the difference between how music is listened to by musicians & non-musicians; in addition to the “Mondegreen effect”.
The book is actually a blend of many other things too: like the name suggests hand written letters, books in general & yes also poetry especially Arabic & Urdu which we do not get to hear much and so reading the lyrical lines itself will make you nostalgic about the lost era.
This is the first book which I’ve come across which deals solely with the concept of music in a fictional form & the serendipitous story that unfolds with its twists and turns makes up for a good rainy afternoon cutting chai read.
The book is also an ode to Mumbai. Taashvi is truly a Mumbaikar as people from Mumbai like to call themselves. It also talks about among other things of social causes. Though the social causes are interwoven into the storyline of the book; the issues are real.
The conversations between friends is very easy to relate to in the story. Lines like suicidal heels to indicate the discomfort of the heels is refreshing and yet is very free flowing conversation which you will enjoy on a rainy day.
The only thing which I would say about the book which has prevented me from giving a 5 star rating; is that some portions of the conversation seem more like playwright conversations wherein every detail of the scene with expressions are explained. I would have liked them better if I was able to imagine the scene rather than the author dictating it in the book.
A unique and refreshing read!
Handwritten Letters in the Bookstore is a treat for all 90's kids. Written by Rimple, the book is a musical fiction which takes you back to the 90's- the music, the games, the hobbies.
The story begins when a rich business tycoon, Rajvir finds an anonymous letter in a book that he purchases from a bookstore. From one letter to a series of them, what starts with letters providing him solace, turns into an attachment with the writer. A little research leads him to talking with the writer through emails and chat-apps. They don't ask about each other's personal life, they don't even know the names, they just talk. Things taking a turn for the better personally, his professional life takes a turn when he collaborates with Taashvi, who works for the betterment of eunuchs. Spending meeting hours to lunch hours with her, she becomes an important part of his life. The book further explores his relationship with the letter writer and Taashvi.
The entire storyline is coupled with music. The conversations of Rajvir and the letter writer revolve around music and everything about the 90's. It literally took me back to those days. The professional conversations between Taashvi and Rajvir bring sensible and mature conversations into scene. The perfect balance of conversations left me thinking at times. The characters have a rich story and are built to relate. The narration includes events of both Rajvir and the letter writer's lives telling us about both. I loved how the lost art of letters is shown in the book. An email can never match the affection of a handwritten letter. Rimple has made a wonderful attempt at this unique theme of a musical saga and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Read this book to fall in a beautiful nostalgia.
Harbinger of happiness, solace and ultimate self-discovery!
There are some books with which you fall in love at first sight. You feel warmth and fuzzy feelings spread through your heart whenever you see that book. This book by Rimple Sanchla has the capability to be that kind of book on your shelves.
Filled with the reminiscing memories of the very classic 90s and the conversations via the forgotten art of letters makes it the perfect book which can be read when your head is like a Pandora’s box full of thoughts.
Handwritten Letters in the bookstore is a story about the changes brought out in the monotonous life of one of the most celebrated entrepreneur Rajvir by a simple letter he found in one of the books of a bookstore. But who knew that such a simple discovery would be the harbinger of happiness, solace and ultimate self- discovery. The letters changed into emails and chat apps and the relationship between Rajvir and the mystery letter writer grew over time, decorating both of their lives while they relive their childhood memories conversing about music, books, psychology and what not. All these changes, make Rajvir break the walls around him and be vulnerable, to tie new threads of friendship with people and to embark on a journey of exploration, helped all along by his new business partner cum friend, Taashvi. The book digs deeper into the developing of beautiful relationships of Rajvir with both the letter writer and Taashvi.
The cover and the title are super beautiful and appropriate for the lovely plot. The vibrant color scheme of the cover really brings out the pure and raw emotions of the story. I really loved the unique and innovative theme of the book. The mentions of old classic songs and movies also made this book a beautiful journey one would never want to finish. The connection of functioning of brain and the neuroscience behind music was perfectly brought out by the author. The book did felt like a drag with a bit predictability at some places but overall it was one worthy read that I would recommend to every 90s era kid or anyone who relates to the generation. It is indeed a treat to music lovers!
– Manvi
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