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One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat

One Indian Girl | Chetan Bhagat | Book Review

One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat

Chetan Bhagat narrates One Indian Girl from a woman’s PoV

PLOT: 4/5 CHARACTERS: 3.5/5 WRITING STYLE: 4/5 CLIMAX: 4/5 ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 4.5/5

Why it is that Indians enjoy a love-hate relationship with Chetan Bhagat? And very frankly I don’t see the point why Chetan Bhagat is always trolled.

He writes well and there must be some reason why his books always hit the bestseller charts despite the many criticisms thrown his way.

What his critics often forget is the fact that Chetan is the only guy who popularised Indian fiction amongst Indians.

In fact, “One Indian Girl” has been credited with breaking the pre-order sales record on Amazon.in ever since the site first launched in 2013.

So why is it that when I post a Facebook post declaring that I am excited to read his new novel, the majority of the responses I get are “Haha”? Well, I’ll never get it, I guess!

Moving to the book then, One Indian Girl  is a story of a girl called Radhika Mehta who is a hot-shot banker working in the prestigious Investment Bank, Goldman Sachs.

Radhika, who once was as nerdy as one can be, is now arranged to get married to Brijesh Gulati and has just arrived for her destination wedding in Goa.

But what Radhika does not know is the fact that marrying Brijesh will not be as easy as she had thought. Things happen and everything goes haywire (I am refraining from disclosing more for the sake of spoilers), but will Radhika be able to manoeuvre her way out of this mess?

Read the book today to know more and discover the fun-filled journey that Radhika will love to take you on.

One Indian Girl , to me, felt like a chick-lit though it can also be placed in the general fiction category by many.

The best part of the book is the fact that Radhika’s journey is as funny and entertaining as a wedding can be. Chetan has done a commendable job of writing in a girl’s voice.

The story is told from Radhika’s point and it is really hard to believe that a man could have written so realistically about a woman and her feelings (I read that he interviewed a lot of women for this).

Though the book is said to be on feminism, in the end, it adheres to the norms of general chick lit.

So, for me, it didn’t come out as a strongly feminist book. There are a few feminist things here and there, but mostly in the form of rants.

The plot is really interesting. Though there are many elements, they all connect beautifully in the end. The characters are also fun. I am sure every girl would love to read about Radhika and her misadventures in the Loveland.

I also liked the characters of Debu and Neel but the character of Brijesh though failed to impress. The narration switches rapidly from the present to the past to the present and that adds to the pace of the book.

The book in its entirety of 272 pages did not appear dull even at a single point. The best part of the book, though, was its climax – it was completely unpredictable and managed to completely surprise me.

I hence recommend One Indian Girl  to one and all. It is a pleasurable read. My rating for the book is four and a half out of five stars and that says it all.

If you are looking for a service to get original reviews, feel free to buy book reviews from SmartWritingService online .

Check out my YouTube Video Review below.

Book Review - One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat (Genre: Chicklit/Romance)

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About the Author

Sankalpita singh.

Meet Sankalpita, the bookworm extraordinaire! 📚 With an insatiable appetite for reading (over 100 books annually!), she embarked on her book blogging journey in 2013 to share her boundless love for books. What started as a quirky hobby has blossomed into India's top-tier book blog, bookGeeks – the reigning champion for five consecutive years! 🏆 With a whopping 7,00,000 loyal readers monthly, Sankalpita's blog is like a literary wonderland. 📖✨ But that's not all – she's not just conquering the written word but also ruling the YouTube realm with her channel, bookGeeks India, dedicated solely to the art of book adoration, and boasting a fan base of over 24,000 subscribers! 🎥📚 Her ultimate goal? "To serve a nation through literature." 🇮🇳 With a passion for Indian literature, she's on a mission to ignite the reading spark in both kids and grown-ups alike. 🔥 When she's not nose-deep in a book or typing away, you'll find her brainstorming with her hubby or captivating her 8-year-old daughter with enchanting tales. And every now and then, she indulges her creative spirit through painting and nurturing her garden. 🌻🎨 Join Sankalpita on her bookish adventure as she brings the world of literature to life, one page at a time!

Check latest articles from this author:

Author sunil joshi talks about his book ‘kachche pakke rang zindagi ke’ (कहानी संकलन) | hindi interview, wildhood awakened: stories of a childhood near chilika lake | amruta kaustubh | book review, a man eater in kasan kadu | balamurugan k a | book review, related articles, सुनो माँ (suno maa) | संदीप भूतोड़िया (sundeep bhutoria) | पुस्तक समीक्षा, all the love you deserve | preeti shenoy | book review.

book review on one indian girl

One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat – Book Review

One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat book review summary critical observation

It is beyond the nests of doubt that Chetan Bhagat is one of the most popular authors in India today. Even if one claims that he is the most popular author in contemporary India, that might not be an incorrect assessment on many grounds. However, a bigger and more sensible question that arises is whether popularity is directly proportional to the respect that an author commands in the literary community. What do you think? Another question to extend this debate might be whether writing craft and an understanding of literature are taken for granted if the author of concern is widely popular. These questions often arise because in the case of Chetan Bhagat, the literary community is apparently divided into two sections – one for and another against. And in today’s article, I will try to critically examine, review, and analyse Chetan’s popular novel One Indian Girl. Received by readers either as all good or all bad, what lies in between? What are the elements that make One Indian Girl a quality read? On the other hand, what are the things that fall short to make things look awry? Let’s discuss this.

Let’s begin with the basics. What does the novel pose as? Chetan Bhagat’s One Indian Girl presents itself as a contemporary novel addressing gender dynamics and women’s empowerment. At least, the author claims the same and a few critics, who have found literary nectar in the works of Durjoy Datta and Nikita Singh as well, countersign those claims. However, upon reading the novel, unfortunately, one can easily gauge that it falls significantly short of its intended purpose. It is a contemporary novel, no doubt. However, the parts where the author claims that he addresses issues of women, gender dynamics and social expectations based on gender binaries are totally bogus, unaddressed and rather ridiculed. First and foremost, Chetan Bhagat’s writing style is annoyingly simplistic and lacks the depth and nuance expected from literary fiction. Though the author does not assert he is writing for readers with lofty literary standards, there should be a limit to an author’s cringe. Isn’t it? I don’t even find it worth commenting on the prose style or the diction of the author. However, just for the sake of a valid and just critical assessment of the novel, let’s do it. The prose in One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat is riddled with clichéd phrases, repetitive dialogues, and an overreliance on colloquial language. Thus, if it was there to some extent, this style totally undoes the novel’s literary merit. Though readers who are fans of Chetan Bhagat, might not notice anything. It is usual with his novels. A ritualistic absence of literary techniques and artistic craftsmanship often undermines the impact (if there is any) of the narratives in his novels, leaving readers longing for more substance and sophistication. Readers who may have read a few other novelists, some classics and authors like Ghosh and Narayan, may just bin the book by Bhagat as soon as they cross 10 pages. Conversations, conversations without merit, language that cannot harbour depth of emotions and thoughts, and predictable sequence of events define One Indian Girl in terms of the narrative style.

On the flip side, if I play the devil’s advocate, I can say – who cares? Chetan Bhagat knows his audience. He knows who are readers interested in his novels. And, eventually and logically, he writes for the same audience. So, if he indulges in intellectual arm-twisting in terms of language, narrative, prose style, and literary merits (with sugarcoated compliments from those who have been controlling the narrative for decades), his readers will turn their backs on his works. And it might just overshadow all the fame and money. A class 10 student or a call-centre employee does not care about literary merits. All he or she cares about is a good story that entertains, keeps one forgetting real-world problems and helps pass the time we call leisure. In those circumstances and putting it contextually, Chetan’s tactics work and he knows how to win over his audience. What do you think about this aspect? Well, even though putting these things in mind, there cannot be any explanations or excuses for Bhagat’s mockery of women’s issues by limiting everything to a condom in the wallet and sex on the beach. That is beyond redemption!

Entering the role of critic once more, the character development classes may be something this author did never attend. Barring the good work in One Night at Call Centre, Bhagat seldom exhibited any understanding of the character beyond the mental simulator he might deploy. In One Indian Girl, characters seldom show any real-world qualities. They are shallow and unconvincing. The protagonist, Radhika Mehta, is an investment banker attempting to navigate the complexities of love, career, and expectations of the family (and society in extension). However, one does not need a degree in nuclear physics to understand that Bhagat’s portrayal of Radhika fails to create a truly relatable and authentic female character. Instead, and indeed, she becomes a mere caricature, embodying stereotypes and embodying a superficial feminist discourse. Many feminists in the true sense would agree if they read the novel with close attention and critical observation. It is ironic to witness Radhika’s internal struggles and choices reduced to predictable patterns… Her character seldom veers through the complexities of women’s experiences in a meaningful way.

It would be debated if I say that the character of Radhika is made a vessel for taking Chetan’s puzzling thoughts on feminism and ‘serious’ feminist issues to a distance. However, if you look closely, the corporate lady does not make herself relatable, likeable or even meaningful through her conduct, choices, actions and decisions. Coloured by a series of monotonous and lengthy email exchanges between Radhika and her ex-boyfriends. This format, as expected, quickly becomes monotonous and fails to engage readers on an emotional or intellectual level (or even at a basic narrative level that entices readers to know what happened next). What the novelist could have done with such a character, logically and sensibly, was to explore the depths of Radhika’s character through introspection and introspective prose, understand the dynamics of interpersonal relationships, emotional and sexual dimensions, identity in personal and social contexts, and ambitions as a person seeking stability in a male-dominated corporate space. However, on the contrary, and as expected from him, Bhagat resorts to a disjointed and repetitive storytelling device that ultimately distracts from any meaningful exploration of the central themes.

Moreover, the novel’s ‘treatment’ of gender dynamics and feminism is superficial and lacks critical analysis. Bhagat’s portrayal of feminism is reductive, reducing it to a mere checklist of accomplishments and achievements (in some wayward manner). Radhika is an investment banker, good. Radhika has boyfriends. Good. Radhika enjoys sex. Good. Radhika runs away when faced with dilemmas. Good. The novelist has made her a punching bag for his own assertions and weird notions about feminism. By the way, what’s the need to depict sexual encounters in 2-3 pages every now and then? Instead of presenting a nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by women in Indian society, the narrative often devolves into didactic and preachy dialogues that oversimplify complex social issues. And needless to state, this oversimplification does a disservice to the feminist movement and undermines the significance of genuine feminist literature. One of the most glaring shortcomings of One Indian Girl is its failure to address the intersectionality of women’s experiences. The novel confines itself within a narrow and privileged narrative, failing to acknowledge the diverse voices and struggles of women from different socio-economic backgrounds and religions. It is apt to say that Bhagat’s depiction of women is limited to a homogenous perspective, negating the potential for a more inclusive and comprehensive exploration of feminism.

At last, Chetan Bhagat’s One Indian Girl falls short of delivering a meaningful and intellectually stimulating narrative on gender dynamics and women’s empowerment. And it is only a test of merits based on what the novelist asserted before the public launch of the novel. The over-simplistic writing style, shallow character development, and superficial treatment of feminist themes undermine the novel’s potential for critical engagement. It is evident that this work perpetuates stereotypes and fails to contribute meaningfully to the rich literary discourse on gender and feminism. One Indian Girl, another commercial success and literary failure of Bhagat, ultimately disappoints, leaving readers yearning for a more insightful and nuanced exploration of women’s experiences in contemporary Indian society. Even the story leaves the readers in a conundrum – what does Radhika do?

Get a copy of this novel from Amazon India – click here.

Review by Ashish for ReadByCritics

  • ReadByCritics Rating

Feminism is not Chetan’s forte. He makes a mockery of real issues faced by women on the ground in many places. Everything can’t (and should not) be joked about. Chetan makes fun of feminism.

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Book Review

One indian girl (book review).

one Indian girl book review

Title – One Indian Girl

Author  – Chetan Bhagat

Published on  – 1 st October 2016

Publisher – Rupa Publications

Genre  – Fiction, Romance, Narrative

Rating – 4.5 out of 5

About the Author:

Chetan Prakash Bhagat is one of the most popular writers and columnists in India. You must have heard about various movies whose plots are inculpated from his books: Five points someone (2004), The 3 mistakes of my life (2008), Half girlfriend (2014) are few of them.

Coming back to the novel One Indian Girl, it narrates the story of Radhika Mehta who is an investment banker at the Distressed debt group of Goldman Sachs. Moreover, she is judged by society as has slept around, makes tons of money, and had weed with her fiancee a night before her wedding. Radhika is an introvert, studious, and unfashionable girl.

The story of One Indian Girl starts with the description of Radhika doing arrangements for her marriage with Brijesh Gulati. At last, the novel ends with the slight charming attraction between Radhika and Brijesh. She takes a step forward after having a drama on her wedding day to have the guts to live her life on her own terms. She is having a typical Punjabi destination wedding in Goa.

One indian girl book review

Minimal Spoiler

On the first page of One Indian Girl, she said bold statement as: “Let me warn you. You may not like me too much. One, I make a lot of money. Two, I have an opinion on everything. Three if I was a guy, you would be okay with all of this. But since I am a girl, these three things don’t really make me likable, do they? There are 2 other characters Debashish Sen (Bengali boy) and Neel (her boss), both are ex-boyfriend of Radhika. They both showed up in Goa to propose her in Goa. She got her heart broke by Debashish (Debu) and the second time she was in love with a married man Neel who has 2 kids.

The whole book revolves around her personal and professional life and balance in between. On the other hand, it also depicts the Indian mindset about a women’s salary, restrictions on her on every step of life from the society.

Why this book One Indian Girl?

I picked this book because it attracted me by its title “One Indian Girl”. It’s also different in the way that it narrates the story from a woman’s point of view. This tale strongly points to the fact that men are sacred to practical and ambitious women.

The lines from the book which I found fascinating:

  • “If it is too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.
  • “Some problems in the world seem to exist solely for women. Like not having anything to wear.”

I recommend the book One Indian Girl to those who want to know about a girl’s perception, emotions in the Indian context, and even to those who ruthlessly question females based on how much they earn. Why only women have to choose between home and career?

Read other book reviews:

  • Shiva Sutras
  • The Great Gatsby
  • To Kill A Mockingbird
  • Think and Grow Rich
  • Start with Why

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One Indian Girl book review: Chetan Bhagat’s novel fizzles out

The new chetan bhagat novel has a female narrator but despite its bold variations, one indian girl largely sticks to the script..

Author: Chetan Bhagat

The new Chetan Bhagat novel has a female narrator but despite its bold variations, One Indian Girl largely sticks to the script(Picture courtesy: Twitter)

Price: Rs 176

One Indian Girl begins with a Punjabi family. Check. Obviously, there is a wedding. Check. You can’t possibly forget a dramatic mother coupled with a relatively sober father and a troupe of aunties. Check. Chetan Bhagat could probably come up with a code for what entertains the Indian masses, for Punjabis plus a wedding seems to be his favourite algorithm. And One Indian Girl is not too different.

In a first, a Chetan Bhagat novel has a female narrator but despite its bold variations, it largely sticks to the script. That doesn’t mean it has to be admonished because, after all, there is comfort in pattern and traditions.

book review on one indian girl

One Indian Girl’s only motif, apart from putting up a spectacle loved by readers, is an inquiry into the mind of an Indian woman -- not a girl, but a woman. It delves into the wonderfully weird narrator, Radhika, whose internal monologue is as comical as it is relatable. Through conversations with herself, she tells the story of being born in a family that always wanted a boy but settled for an overachieving, nerdy career woman who can’t find a groom for herself because she isn’t a “girl anymore”.

Through the narrator, One Indian Girl explains why patriarchy thrives in India; not just because it is imposed by the men, but because these societal rules and restrictions are internalised by women. It is when Radhika seeks validation from her insecure boyfriend, who earns less than her, that the ugly scars of gender discrimination are visible. The realisation strikes again when the Goldman Sachs vice-president is told by her lover/married boss he did not see her as a “maternal” figure. Eventually, her past asks her to make a choice a lot of women would be familiar with: Pursuing a glittering career or living a fulfilling, homely life. Neither of her lovers recognize that a woman could want, and have, both.

But there are bigger chinks in the protagonist that stream in darker shadows of the society. In the opening chapters, the narrator thinks to herself, “This is how we girls are. At times, we want to be wanted even when we deny it.” Although the statement merely refers to the popular belief that women seek attention, it is a far cry from the lesson taught by Amitabh Bachchan’s resounding “She said No” in the movie Pink. It serves to tell us that stereotypes are dangerous, that all women may not enjoy shopping and not everyone wants a man to fawn over as she spurns him. To categorise a woman as attention-seeking is a lot like claiming all men are sexual predators. It is as nearly as ridiculous as Chetan Bhagat attempting to understand women’s psyche by getting himself waxed...

Like the indication that the society needs to change, Radhika too evolves from an under-confident geek to a decisive character living on her own terms. Her metamorphosis throws in another emerging pattern. Like Kangana Ranaut-starrer Queen, the woman has to move out of the confines of her country and out of the watchful gaze of the Indian society to discover herself. On the contrary, Radhika’s mother and sister -- who remain in India -- are deeply rooted to tradition, often justifying the system’s claustrophobic walls and following its rules mechanically.

There are, however, glaring misses in the story. While Radhika’s love life soars and topples, her professional growth only sees a straight upward trend without any blips. By zooming in on just one element of the character’s life, the author inadvertently simplifies her and relegates her issues to merely her personal life.

Read | Daddy’s Girl review: Swati Chaturvedi’s novel is the quintessential metro read

Alas! All good things must come to an end. After an intelligent first half, One Indian Girl turns into a standard Chetan Bhagat bestseller (or a future box office hit?). The plot comes to a full circle as the scene once again turns to the Goan wedding and melodrama ensues as the oblivious family dances to ‘chittiya kaliya’.

The larger question is: Is it worth spending time over? The novel can be best described as a slight anomaly from the ordinary. By the end, it’s like an advertisement theme song you don’t care about, but one that you can’t stop humming. But Bhagat’s status as a bestselling author may compel his huge readership base to spark a dialogue on feminism and equal rights. Even though it falls short of making real impact, it may just be a beginning.

Click here to read more book reviews

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Prerna Madan is a multimedia content curator with HT Online. She thrives on the adrenalin rush in the newsroom, loves everything from football to books, and in her spare time, binges on F.R.I.E.N.D.S and Harry Potter. ...view detail

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The Literature Times

“One Indian Girl” by Chetan Bhagat – Book Review

“One Indian Girl” by Chetan Bhagat – Book Review

“One Indian Girl” by Chetan Bhagat is a novel that narrates the story of Radhika Mehta, a highly successful banker who is on the brink of getting married. The book follows Radhika’s journey as she embarks on a trip to Goa to attend her friend’s wedding, where she reflects on her past relationships and personal struggles.

Throughout the book, Radhika’s voice is the dominant one, as she shares her experiences and thoughts with the reader. The author does a good job of capturing the complexities of Radhika’s character, as she struggles to balance her personal and professional life. The book is also a commentary on the societal pressures that women face, particularly in India, and the challenges that come with being a successful and independent woman.

The book is written in a conversational style, making it an easy and enjoyable read. The author does a good job of interweaving humor and satire into the narrative, which adds to the overall appeal of the book. The author also touches upon themes of love, heartbreak, and relationships, making the book relatable to a wide audience.

One of the strengths of the book is the portrayal of Radhika’s relationships with the men in her life. The author has done a good job of showing the different sides of each character, and how they influence Radhika’s decisions and life choices. The book also highlights the difficulties that women face when trying to reconcile their personal and professional lives, and how societal expectations can sometimes be overwhelming.

Overall, “One Indian Girl” is a well-written, thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of modern relationships and the challenges that women face in India. The book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in understanding the complexities of contemporary relationships and the societal pressures that women face in India. The author’s use of humor and satire, along with his ability to capture the complexities of modern relationships, make this a highly recommended book for anyone looking for a light and engaging read.

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‘One Indian Girl’ By Chetan Bhagat | Book Review – A Congratulatory Feat

Chetan Bhagat is at it again. With ‘One Indian Girl’ all the classic hallmarks of a Chetan Bhagat novel are in place-a Punjabi middle class family, love (gained and lost), a wedding, an effort to break the stereotypes and witty sarcasm; albeit with one difference- the narrator is an independent, intelligent, prototypical female voice- Radhika Mehta, VP, Goldman Sachs.

As the excerpt and prologue give you a glimpse of what to expect of the protagonist, the very first chapter makes it clear as daylight that she thinks and has opinions of her own. While Radhika expresses them freely to her parents, it is difficult for her to act on them in front of her would-be in-laws and to-be husband, given all the conditionalities of ‘good bahu ’ society heaps on her. Take, for instance, the way she is expected to be all dolled up in a silk salwar kameez (and not in comfortable jeans-t-shirt) after a tiring flight, to greet her in-laws. All the notions of logic are a foregone conclusion about equal sharing of rooms since it is always the ‘girls’ side’ which is expected to adjust – a girl has to dive in to touch as many pairs of feet as possible in the first meeting to fulfil the criteria of a well-bred-/homely (read docile and submissive) girl/ bahu . These and all such teeny-weenie instances of gender discrimination that are made known subtly yet effectively throughout the novel.

So just when you begin to think Radhika’s story is that of another nerdy, weird narrator with an internal monologue, bent on waving the flag of feminism, confused with what to do of her life, the author surprises you with a twist – a twist enough to keep your antennae up, hear her out and most importantly keep guessing. Mr. Bhagat sure knows his craft well and plans out introduction of all the characters in perfect sync. So we are taken back in time as Radhika’s dark forgotten past creeps into her future threatening to make her already unsorted life more miserable.

Everything is not unveiled all at once, but the beauty of the book precisely lies here- the author has taken enough care to capture the reader’s attention and make them see the transformation of a highly intelligent-yet-insecure ‘girl’ into a self-assured-self-valuing ‘individual’ without being judgmental anywhere. Meanwhile the hypocrisy of the society in general and men in particular is laid out bare, making no bones. For instance, her first boyfriend Debashish Sen, who quotes feminist texts and advocates ‘women should fly’, cannot handle her bonus (her flying above him), which is almost triple the amount of his salary. Neel Gupta, Partner, Goldman Sachs, who while appreciated her flying and even encouraged it at times, could not see how a career-oriented ambitious girl like her could also aspire to be a mother, even look forward to changing diapers or to quote the author, ‘have a nest’.

In a different scenario, it also drives home the saying of ‘never judge a book by its cover’ as the Bollywood-cricket-loving honest ‘typical’ (read conventional IT guy) Brijesh provides some of the most profound insights of life, and logicality of feminism – just another name for ‘humanism’ according to the author, who ‘acts’ on the lines of concept without knowing its definition. The book effectively shows Radhika’s vulnerabilities too, as she fails to take right decisions at right times. But we are after all human and nobody is supposed to be perfect.

Some of the best lines and insights in the book come in the closing chapters, where finally our caterpillar finds her wings, her logic, her voice and her act to become a beautiful butterfly (or should I say an soaring eagle) that she was always meant to be. A worthy victory for a girl in our times, if you ask me. The novel combines all the elements of a worthy read – fun, wit, reflections on love, success, equality, rights etc. as the author boldly dives into a woman-psyche giving it a voice. A congratulatory feat in itself.

Go for it regardless of your stand on Chetan Bhagat. This journey won’t disappoint.

Overall Rating- 4.5/5

book review on one indian girl

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October 15, 2016 at 2:32 pm

The author has found his next heroine even before this new novel hit the stores. After turning the last page, Kangana immediately called him up to offer playing for the lead role. Needless to add, Chetan Bhagat obliged.

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The Last Critic - Book Reviews

One Indian Girl: Chetan Bhagat

  • December 13, 2019
  • The Last Critic

Honestly, for the introduction, I would say that I might have expected more from Chetan Bhagat. His novel, One Indian Girl, became popular among the youths (for reasons very obvious). In this novel, the author claims to have taken the flag of feminism and, he says, tried to explore the female psyche in the matters of work, marriage and sex. However, unfortunately, the author’s good intentions could not meet likewise support by the technical aspects of One Indian Girl as a novel and it miserably failed to impress serious readers. Here is the review of this novel for The Last Critic by me, Nishant Sinha. 

In the Sphere:  

There are 42 chapters in the book that spreads almost 300 pages and, to be precise, 280 pages in paperback format. The ‘action’ or the novel takes place in three major places – New York, London and Hong Kong. It begins at a wedding and ends at a no-wedding or a hint of a wedding. However, what has captured the attention of the readers is not how it begins or ends but how it develops. 

The Book:  

Radhika is the ‘One Indian Girl’ of concern here. Chetan Bhagat says that he wished to write a woman’s perspective of life in the strict contexts (and I don’t know why and how did he manage to shrink the context only to having sex on the boat or on the cruise). It begins with a marriage hunt and eventually transforms into sexual pleasure hunting. 

“That was her prime concern. Her twenty-three-year-old daughter, who grew up in middle-class West Delhi, had cracked a job at one of the biggest investment banks in the world and all she cared about was its impact on her groom-hunt.”

And this is also a matter of concerning limitation that most of the characters in the novels by Chetan Bhagat are familiar. Investment bankers or students – and young. However, Radhika’s marriage is a sure concern and it could have been a great novel had it focused on the social and psychological issues rather physical spectacle. 

“He placed his hand on my breast, over my dress. He wanted to slide his hand in but couldn’t. I would have had to remove the entire fitted dress to give him access.”

And then it happens, eventually… all the guns of Chetan Bhagat’s sex on the beach fantasies… 

And all this concludes at nothing! Debu comes and fucks and goes away. Neel does the same and Brijesh comes as a solace. So, Mr Bhagat, where did all the feminism go away? 

Conclusion:  

The novel One Indian Girl is certainly about ‘one’ Indian girl who Chetan Bhagat has created in his fancy. However, this girl’s narrative is not hers at all; it is all about Chetan Bhagat’s own narrowed interpretation of the situations and scenarios. Radhika is there in the novel and that’s it – she is there in the novel only. 

Good for entertainment purposes, One Indian Girl can be read by the youths who want to read casual fiction and enjoy it. You can get a copy of the novel from Amazon India by clicking the link below: 

Buy the novel now: Amazon India  

review by Nishant Sinha for The Last Critic  

One Indian Girl

Content & story, plot & theme, tlc literary quotient, tlc literary contribution, tlc reading interest, tlc approves.

  • Interesting Story
  • Entertaining Plot

TLC Disapproves

  • Purely Casual Fiction
  • Obscene and Excessive Sexual Content
  • Useless Analgies
  • 1. One Indian Girl: Chetan Bhagat
  • 2. Half Girlfriend by Chetan Bhagat – Book Review
  • 3. Five Points Someone – Book Review – Chetan Bhagat

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One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat book review active reader

One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat – Book Review

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I am late to the party! I know already. One Indian Girl has been one of the most discussed novels in the 21st-century Indian history of English literature, there should be no doubts about this truth which cannot be impugned by any scholar or critic. However, there have been many issues related to the novel that can be (and should be, rather must be) debated vehemently because Chetan Bhagat is one of the most influential novelists in India right now, in terms of his impact upon the young readers of the country and not critically. So, today I will take my chance and offer my two cents about One Indian Girl, the novel by a contemporary writer who has marginalised all other contemporary novelists in India in the romantic fiction genre.

Radhika Mehta, the central character in the novel, is a girl of her own ways, rules and choices. She chose to build herself in terms of her likening and she does it successfully as the novel progresses and finished. She is equally free and enjoys freedom in terms of basking on the sky of her sexual preferences and desires and there comes the grand mistake that our leading novelist has committed. Chetan, in an utterly unexpected turn, has converted his feminist narrative into a sexual freedom debate within the central character’s thought and the readers can find her comparing size, duration and pleasure metrics when she has sex with different partners. Why did the novelist make such confusing, childish and shameful mistake?

The novel’s narrative is highly confusing and we can seldom find a viewpoint, the vantage ground in the storyline from where we can evaluate the novel’s objectives, the purpose of its theme or the key points in its plot that raise questions concerning with feminism or elicits the points we can associate with the idea of feminism. The male characters are mostly morally bankrupt and they have been shown in a light that better be dark. Radhika does not impress because the novelist did not let him.

I am not all impressed with the quality of writing by Chetan in this novel. One Indian Girl has failed in terms of language. It has not been emphatic in terms of communicating with the readers as it should have been in order to make the desired impact. I won’t say that I am disappointed because I am not. It was expected of Chetan to do it because, for him, it doesn’t matter what literature is, what literary theory critics might refer to critique his novels or what the readers’ sentiment might be in terms of reception, he just writes and he writes what he thinks he should write. He has his own literary theories and his own definitions of ideas like feminism and modernism. He can establish his own quick rules and work upon them in his works. I am very sure that he INTENDED all that he has written in his novels and it can be termed as a deliberate mistake that he has made knowingly to attract the readers. Otherwise, no novelist could see his or her idea of feminism limiting itself on the bed in a sizzling bedroom or on the beach!

I seriously don’t think any other critical reader would have liked the novel. Still, you can let me know your thoughts.

Review by a contributor for Active Reader

One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat | Book Review

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One Indian Girl limits itself to the lucrative idea of sexual pleasure and hides behind the veils of USA glimmers and shies away from the subject of feminism in actual terms.

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Book Review of Chetan Bhagat’s One Indian Girl: An Answer to What Women Want by Dr. Richa Tripathi

Book: one indian girl author: chetan bhagat publisher: rupa & co. pages: 280 reviewed by: dr. richa tripathi, this novel of chetan bhagat deals with the most cliché question, ‘what women really want’  unlike his previous novels, this time writer pens a female as his protagonist, to raise bigger issues such as gender equality, society verses individualism, feminism, liberalism and humanism.  writer tries to target modern, liberated and independent youngsters who believe in ‘live and let others live’ as they have the capacity to handle the so-called pressure of ‘being indian’. bhagat wants to draw attention to this issue that if it is a female, challenges and pressure of ‘being indian girl’ is even harder.  her protagonist radhika mehta like every other independent indian girl comes out as a fighter who knows how to learn from her own experiences and how to live life on her own terms. somewhat, chetan bhagat is succeeded in setting the example with the help of the climax of the novel which is uncommon and rebellious., the lady in the cover is suitable to catch the attention of the audience as every man wants to know what women want.  her ethnic look in sari, chain, nose pin and hair bun indicates her consistent struggle to meet all the social expectation beyond her personal aspiration. her bent head and leaning stare give readers the deeper insight of her urge for equal human rights and equal human freedom. ‘why only me, every time’ is a question present in her gaze which is frequently argued by radhika with her mother and her lovers. actually, it’s a setup to raise a query among readers with the help of her thought provoking heated conversations.  this red chunari around her seems like a marriage trap to cage an independent bird with wings. the statue of liberty in the new york city, a memorial made to celebrate independence, democracy and liberty after the abolition of slavery of any kind that represents the true inner self of protagonist. readers can easily connect themselves with this one indian girl who is the symbol of independence and freedom in abroad but fighting hard with this repressive monarchy of male dominating society in her motherland. entire plot moves around radhika’s journey to search her true inner self while she was trying hard to satisfy everyone’s expectations around her. after cover page, next page is totally dedicated to the appraisal, accomplishments, awards, achievements done by chetan bhagat which seems like a smart and strategic move to enlarge the circle of the audiences., with the use of first person narration, radhika’s notions clearly offer reader to read her mind and to give them a chance to empathise with her. the combo of her tempered outer replies and the brutal callings of her inner voice ‘mini me’ is the main centre of attraction for the reader to feel captive with the plot and characters and to develop better understanding for radhika, who sometimes unable to discern herself because of the mess present in her life. entire story revolves around the pursuit of her aspirations and her fortitude to overcome limitations against all odds., on indian girl talks about the story of twenty-seven-year-old radhika mehta, daughter of sbi branch manage sudarshan mehta and homemaker aparna mehta who is a vice president in the firm of an investment bank in which she earns in millions. she is all set to have an arrange marriage in goa with brijesh gulati who works in facebook. surprisingly, her two exes, debu and neel gupta show up there to marry her. like anshuman’s character in the movie ‘jab we met’, debu wants to marry radhika and forces her to alter the groom from her wedding from brijesh to debu because now he is regretting his act of rejecting radhika in the beginning. on the other side neel gupta is all set to elope with the ‘bride to be’ in her charted plane. sudden change in their perspectives shocks her because both thought of her not ‘a marriage material type’.  story revolves around in new york, hong kong, london and goa. in goa, where she is trying to make up her mind for arrange marriage. she is making her mind for being naked in front of a perfect stranger after marriage.  all the relatives of girl-side and boy side have come to attend the ceremony. with the progression of the story, reader will come to know the two versions of radhika, the perfect daughter, sister, lover, bride to be and dedicated professional with sweet lies and on the other side her eternal critic the mini me, her real self with bitter truths. reader can easily bond themselves with the mini me as everyone has a voice of an inner consciences and only few dare to live by that., interestingly enough, this is a novel defines feminism from different angles where protagonist’s anti-feminist mother plays a very interesting role to highlight this big issue with the help of her humorous and witty comments in every possible manner.  reader will definitely enjoy reading her remarks and can easily match them with their own personal experiences of being the part of indian family. writer certainly wants to unleash all the sealed stereotypes of ‘being indian’ such as prejudgemental tendencies, wrong assumptions, deceptive tactics and all the emotional blackmailing done by indians for the name of ‘customary protocols’., in this novel, bhagat seems to be inspired by e. l. james’s fifty shades of grey as his bold narration of the intercourse between debu and radhika is making it not only romantic but also erotic and sensuous at some extent. it looks like an anatomy class for the readers also as they will read the phrases like ‘grabbed my breasts’, ‘kissed my nipples’, ‘pulled down my panties’, ‘entered me gently’ and ‘tongue had felt better’. and the closing lines after sex is very challenging to declare but bhagat’s radhika does it by saying, “i would be rather a spent and finished slut than a good but frustrated indian girl”., once again, chetan bhagat is unable to come out from her liner creativity as reader will again experience a typical mom with her sexist remarks, an investment banker story, love traps and the two states differences and now this time it is punjabi and bengali community. the title, ‘one indian girl’ is capable to mystify the readers as it is expected from the writer to be more realistic in approach because indian society is harsher in reality and mostly escape and denial are not that simple where burning brides, female feticides, acid attack victims and honour killing victims are in the news all the time., by reading this novel, reader will get the clarity about the real meaning of true independence is that one is not answerable to anyone but oneself and one should not go by the society’s versions of what is moral, ethical or right. individual has a thought process and they should not only think for themselves but also question everything. individual should be answerable to his/her consciousness without justifying things unnecessarily to anyone. don’t suppress your uniqueness to maintain normalcy. this is the moral of the story and massage of chetan bhaget to every indian girl so that they can feel proud on themselves.  at last, as a reader loves to find the answer of that so called cliché question by replying that ‘what women really want is the option not to choose between what they actually want because they deserve all’., the reviewer: dr. richa tripathi, dr. richa tripathi is assistant professor, humanities department at galgotia college of engineering and technology, gr. noida, uttar pradesh. she teaches graduate and post graduate students english and professional communication. her uncomplicated poetic lines are filled with humanistic approach towards life. her multiple research paper, articles and poems have been published in various national and international journals i.e. ‘an indian bride’, ‘romio & juliut in verse’ in galaxy: international multidisciplinary research journal, ‘on the judgement day’ in the criterion: an international journal in english, ‘once upon a night’, ‘tandav for love’, ‘still cry’ and ‘pray for the dead’ in modern research studies, ‘let me express’ and ‘love: an eternal flow’ in the book “the melodies of immortality”..

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Chetan Bhagat's One Indian Girl: Half woman | Book review

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Chetan Bhagat's One Indian Girl: Half woman

Chetan Bhagat is trying to see the world from the other side of the spectrum. And that brings us to the One Indian Girl - Radhika Mehta, a young and successful banker, who tells us why her life is going down the hill.

It is Radhika’s destination wedding at Goa Marriott and we are introduced to her overbearing mother, nosy aunts and glam doll sister.

And just when she is out on a stroll with her husband-to-be, she gets a text message from who else, but her ex-boyfriend who has suddenly re-discovered his lost love for her.

And the lover from four years ago in New York pops up in Goa in less than 24 hours.

That prompts Radhika to take a flashback to New York, where we see her visiting tony restaurants, shunning her middle-class, studious Dili girl moorings.

Cut to the present, will she break off her impending wedding with her fiancé and run away with her ex-boyfriend just before taking the final vow? Trailer of a Karan Johar movie, anyone?

Some of the crucial scenes in the book could easily make the transition on to the silver screen. After 3 idiots and 2 states, Ek Desi girl, may be.

Chetan Bhagat's One Indian Girl: Half woman

Back to our book, the first half labors alongside Radhika as she tries to fit into the clout of a modern woman. The author does make a point on the invisible pressure on woman to look good, especially, when she is out with a man.

But it is still too much to bear when our heroine wearing a Prada outfit is called as boring by her sister.

Or when the 27-year-old woman, who is single-handedly spending a near-fortune to conduct her own destination wedding, is asked by her mother to 'stop waving her feminism flag' for her all-too-important week.

Get branded

Objects in this book come heavily tagged with adjectives that cry out the wealth and so-called status of its owners. For there is no bag in this book, it’s a Louis Vuitton or Tumi.

Major IT and global companies are not passing mentions, but stamp their importance in the digital era. The fiance - who works in Facebook, IIMA, IIMC and Harvard graduates, employees of JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley - all jostle for space in the book.

The author’s own experience as a banker at Goldman Sachs drags us to the intricate alleys of the financial domain, a not so exciting prospect.

Waxing scene

For anyone who would be more than interested, the waxing scene comes early on in the book. The chapter in itself does not in any way justify the now infamous video of Bhagat, wherein he said that the experience helped him figure out girls.

Chetan Bhagat wants to 'figure out' girls, goes for waxing There are moments of humor in the book, but the said chapter doesn't make it to that list.

Bhagat sticks to his usual breezy narrative style and quickly takes us through the series of events and gives a nice little twist towards the interval. (Can't shrug off the idea that a filmmaker is already outside the author's door with an offer)

The girl's conscious referred to as mini-me is a nice addition.

Giving credit to the author, the book gains in depth and meaning as our heroine finds more foot in her life.

We are thankfully left out of the inane details in the latter half as the author chooses more to focus on the problem at hand - a woman asked to pick between career and family?

The author goes thus far when it comes to progressive thoughts and then kind of takes a U-turn.

Chetan Bhagat's One Indian Girl: Half woman

The idea of a woman struggling to break free from the stereotypes is there somewhere between all the feminism chatter, but doesn't really take off – probably blinded by the pomp and show of the high-earning, top-class world she inhabits.

And the mini-me inside just woke up to ask - Bhagat could be pardoned for missing out on some points about woman, but what is he conveying through the stereotypical men in the book who all let down the woman in their lives?

One Indian Girl does asks some poignant questions but Chetan Bhagat doesn't fully crack them.

The book is an easy and to some extent fun read but in no way can it be brought anywhere near the sections of woman empowerment or feminism.

Grab it, while you wait at the airport lounge.

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One indian girl novel.

One Indian Girl  is the seventh fictional novel and the ninth overall book written by the Indian author Chetan Bhagat.

It is the story of Radhika Mehta, a worker at the Distressed Debt group of Goldman Sachs, an investment bank.

It is a story of a girl who is average looking, not fair, ambitious, well-educated and very successful in her career and she just doesn’t like that conservative and typical thinking of Indian society about girls and women.

She is quite feminist and has an opinion on everything. She makes it sure that she does things which she feels is right without worrying about her family or anyone else.

Well the story starts from the scene of destination wedding of a girl named Radhika and Brijesh at Goa.

It is an arranged marriage.

He has a kind soul. Radhika doesn’t want to get married with Brijesh but she has to because her mother wants her to get married soon.

There was a guy Brijesh Gulati with whom she was getting married and two of her exes Debu and Neel both asked her to elope with them respectively when she is finally getting married.

Radhika works at Goldman Sachs New York office. She has a live-in boyfriend there, named Debashish Sen aka Debu. He is smart and intelligent.

But, Debu earns much less than Radhika, so he feels insecure and this ultimately creates problems in their relationship and of course they broke up.  It all happens in the flashback of One Indian Girl. The story has technically 3 flashbacks.

Radhika decides to resign from the job but her boss offer to transfer her to Hong Kong Office. She agrees as that gives her an opportunity to go away from New York where everything reminds her of Debu. In Hong Kong Office she meets Neel Gupta. Neel Gupta is smart, handsome, fair and attractive.

He is married and has 2 kids. He is 20 year older to Radhika. Neel and Radhika are the partners at the Special Situations Group in the Hong Kong office.

They get attracted to each other and have an affair. Very soon Radhika realized that this relationship has no future so they split up.

Again history repeats, Radhika resigns and again she is offered a transfer instead of resignation. She happily accepts it and goes to London. This also happens in the flashback, by the wayJ.

Although both of her exes shares a common point of view that a girl who earns a big fat amount can never be a family type girl.

She is way too ambitious in their mind for making families and having kids.

But at last she needs to decide between the three of these people Debu, Neel and Brijesh.  Radhika must choose between the three of them and must come to terms with her past in New York and Hong Kong, while also maintaining her good, nerdy girl personality for her family’s image.

And made a right decision and chooses none of them to spend her rest of life with instead she has given time to herself to understand better and to make nice decisions further.

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Chetan Bhagat’s ‘One Indian Girl’ is a handbook for likeable feminists

Chetan bhagat writes a strong female protagonist, but does she need to be nice.

book review on one indian girl

Book Name- One Indian Girl Author- Chetan Bhagat Publisher- Rupa Pages- 280 Price-  176

A few chapters into One Indian Girl, I couldn’t help but wonder if one should see Chetan Bhagat’s new novel as an apology. After all, he did inflict Half Girlfriend, with its undeniable sexism and half-baked female lead, on us. Would we be willing to forgive and forget, because, instead of a hero looking for professional and romantic fulfillment, Bhagat’s new novel has a heroine who is looking for the same?

book review on one indian girl

WATCH VIDEO |  Chetan Bhagat Chats About His New Book One Indian Girl

The protagonist of this book is Radhika Mehta. She is a high-earning, successful investment banker who is opinionated, independent and not a virgin. She is also a feminist, who is quick to tell her mother off for looking at her professional success as a hindrance on the road to marital bliss. She is unafraid to ask for what she wants in bed and, when the time comes, is able to pay for her own fancy destination wedding in Goa . Clearly, Bhagat’s first ever female narrator is a strong, female character that one can root for.

But you can’t help spot the problems. Why are all the women in the book set up in opposition to each other? Her mother nags her to get married, her sister is obsessed with appearances, but Radhika never rises above her contempt for them.

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Bhagat gets some things right. He captures perfectly the discomfort a modern woman might feel when she’s expected to act like a shy, obedient dulhan. When relatives flock to see the bride-to-be, she wryly remarks: “The monkey was out of the cage and there was a free sighting in the lobby.” She says all the right things about how giving women the right to choose is not enough — they need to have the right to choose the things they want, not what men want.

WATCH VIDEO: Being Chetan Bhagat

But those looking to award Bhagat the feminist brownie points he is angling for will have to wait a while. He may have interviewed over a hundred girls and women, read Naomi Wolf’s The Beauty Myth (he tosses a mention into a scene), and even got his body hair waxed in an effort to unravel the mysteries of the female mind, but all that is undone by this little exchange: “‘If their son can do this, why can’t the bahu?’ he said. ‘Now that is feminism,’ I said and high-fived him. ‘Everything doesn’t need hi-fi labels like feminism. Just logic.’”

Radhika not just suffers foolish logic but also simpers when her husband-to-be says: “I don’t think anyone has to specifically call himself or herself a feminist. If you are a fair person and want equal opportunities for all, that’s a start.” Why would an intelligent feminist swallow such nonsense?

WATCH VIDEO |  Chetan Bhagat On Surgical Strikes & Pakistani Artistes Ban Controversy

The answer to that, dear reader, lies in the Likeable Feminist persona that Radhika is meant to represent. If Radhika had launched into an explanation of why the label “feminist” is so important, she would have come across as a scold launching an attack on a nice man who is simply being reasonable. She can be opinionated and sexually active, but a feminist still needs to be nice and that is something Bhagat won’t let us forget.

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One Indian Girl (Bhagat)

book review on one indian girl

One Indian Girl   Chetan Bhagat, 2016 Rupa Publications 280 pp. ISBN-13: 9788129142146 Summary Hi, I'm Radhika Mehta and I'm getting married this week. I work at Goldman Sachs, an investment bank. Thank you for reading my story. However, let me warn you. You may not like me too much. One, I make a lot of money. Two, I have an opinion on everything. Three, I have had a boyfriend before. Ok, maybe two. Now if all this was the case with a guy, one might be cool with it. But since I am a girl these three things I mentioned don't really make me too likeable, do they? Bestselling author Chetan Bhagat, writing for the first time in a female voice, brings to you One Indian Girl , the heart-warming story of a modern Indian girl. ( From the publisher .)

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book review on one indian girl

One Indian Girl – review

One Indian Girl review

Chetan Bhagat’s last novel (perhaps) One Indian Girl has been peddled as ‘a handbook for feminists’ and ‘an improvement over Half-girlfriend’ and so on and so forth. Real readers, however, had different reviews for the book. The ones who have seriousness in their reading style have caught the loopholes in the book and the ones who are ‘just excited’ to read Chetan Bhagat have praised the book without even caring for what they are praising after all! So, One Indian Girl has brought Chetan Bhagat a mixed response and he has been there as a bestselling author as ever. What’s the deal? What really is this One Indian Girl? Finally, I decided to read the book so that I could have it reviewed on Indian Book Critics platform because several readers have written for this. Here you go.

“The editors at Rupa, for their relentless attempts to make the book better.”

Chetan Bhagat acknowledges this fact at the very beginning. However, even the ‘relentless attempts’ could not make the book any better as the editors cannot, unfortunately, fathom the psyche of the author who writes the book. They can, at the best, improve the silly mistakes and some stylistic improvements only. Well, leaving the sarcasm behind, let’s get into the depth of his novel.

Radhika, the protagonist of the novel, boldly announces at the beginning that she has had sex as if that adds weight to Chetan’s feministic ism. Radhika is designed in a way that she seems to the readers a girl who has her say on all the occasions which go on building her life in several blocks. She earns good; she lives in a foreign country; she is a free thinker; she decides what happens to her. Very brave and very bold, indeed!

She has two lovers in different slices of time – Neel is the later one and Debashish or Debu is the former one and she ends up marrying the third one called Brijesh. The predictable storyline of Chetan Bhagat can seldom get out of the IIM-A and Facebook and Goldman Sachs. His idle woman explores ‘a lot’ giving him the chances to write the exciting ‘on-screen’ romance which could bag his bags later. The corporate fiction that Chetan ji tried to build in One Indian Girl falls flat – this is common!

Indians too know what you are trying to mention, Chetan! And as his characters are from the highest possible point on the middle-class hierarchy, does he expect them to care whether a girl had sex or not? Brijesh, who works in Facebook on a reputed position, does he not know that a girl or Radhika’s status could have had boyfriends in the past? So, what’s the fuss about? That’s a simple boring story we get to read every next day on Amazon by many authors who try to imitate Chetan…

The hit & miss: What Chetan was trying to do is indeed a noble job. He was trying to enter inside a woman’s head and see what’s happening but merely by interviewing people and them opening up in front of him, it could never be done. I am reminded of Jane Eyre once again. What a beautiful search for self-conscious that was and through a route much larger, wider and relatable. The route which somehow comes to a point where a body could be piled up over or under another body is certainly not the way to do it! Writing a novel and writing a novel for the screen are two different things and I am happy that Chetan perhaps realised it lastly!

If you really want to read the novel, you can get it from the link below (Amazon):

One Indian Girl on Amazon India

review by Cynic Reader for Indian Book Critics

One Indian Girl - reviewed

  • Theme & Plot
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  • Reading Pleasure

One Indian Girl is a novel which could be a benchmark in Indian fiction but Chetan Bhagat reduced it to a mere bookmark!

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For the love of reading & writing

One Indian Girl – Book review and critical comments

February 14, 2019 By Sachin Leave a Comment

One Indian Girl is a novel by the Indian writer Chetan Bhagat published in 2016. This 272 paged book is classified under Young Adult Fiction and Romance Fiction. This book is Chetan’s 9th book and 7th novel. The story, as the title implies, is about an Indian girl, Radhika Mehta, an investment banker who works at Goldman Sachs. A nerd who makes a lot of money eventually made a couple of boyfriends whom she ditched later or got ditched. Lastly, She decides to go for an arranged marriage. During the events of her wedding, her ex-boyfriends come back to her and she struggles to make a decision to choose a perfect life partner.

One Indian Girl Book Cover

The author wrote this book to show the concept of women empowerment and feminism. Was he able to do that successfully or this book just a story of pseudo-feminism revolving around the scenes of women trashing men? Let’s see

Check out my blogs on How I rate a book to see my book rating system and How to write a book review – A step by step guide to see how I review the books.

What made me pick “One Indian Girl” By Chetan Bhagat

I was traveling in December last year and about to complete my 2018 yearly reading challenge on Goodreads. Looking for something quick and light to read for my journey, I found One Indian Girl available as the part of Amazon Prime reading . So I borrowed it on my kindle and started reading it. The book wasn’t even in my to-read list. I didn’t set any expectations from the book. Just started it for the sake of quick entertainment and wasn’t expecting any lessons from it. One additional point for choosing One Indian Girl was, I was already familiar with the writing style of Chetan Bhagat as I’ve read some of his earlier works. That doesn’t mean I have rated the previous works to 5 stars. But a familiar writing style can help you get into the book in no time.

How did I find the book – My Experience

It was an easy read because of simple and plain writing style. Someone without a broad vocabulary can read this book without even touching the dictionary. As I expected, the book was a quick and easy read. But the book disappointed me by its story. In fact, there wasn’t even much story.

My main reason for disappointment was “too much drama” without a strong base. It appeared like I was reading another Bollywood masala story which is more irritating than entertainment. The book is nowhere near to realism. If I’d want a Bollywood story, I’d go watch a movie instead of reading its book. Personally, I read books to find out something more meaningful than videos and movies. The book is filled with cliche dramatic scenes. Think about a scene where there is a wedding going on and someone comes to ruin it. Now imagine such a thing happening repeatedly. See what I mean?

Critical Comments

Some previous books of the author were adapted into movies soon after they were published. One of them(if not all) was a blockbuster in 2009. Now it looks like Chetan tweaks its books with extra drama to make them appropriate for movie adaptations. The story is full of drama and even after this, it wasn’t a strong & meaningful story. That eventually made it into a nonsense drama. The story was too predictable, so you’ll know what is coming in the next pages. In some places, you find some twists but they are pretty ridiculous.

The story is nowhere relatable to real life. The author presented a Punjabi family mixed with conservative and progressive ideas. A confused family who educate her daughter for higher studies, send her to London and Hongkong for work and then they say “We are not proud of you because you earn so much, and because of that, nobody would like to marry you?” Does that even make sense? At least I didn’t see something even near to it. He tried to show a girl who is independent and making her own decisions but ended up in showing a confused character jumping back and forth in different relationships and trashing men and even her own parents.

Final notes and Recommendations

I won’t recommend this book. I won’t say this was a total waste of time for me. I give it 2 stars just because of the laughter it gave me because of its ridiculousness. That kept me going to finish this book and I didn’t have a hard time to finish it. Usually, I give 1 star to those which I just want to leave in the middle and don’t want even to finish. This book is good for someone who is not into reading much or have a tough time to finish a book or someone who is trying to build a reading habit. But again, there are other books better fit for that purpose.

My Rating on “One Indian Girl”: 2/5 Stars

Have you read One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat. Share your views with us in the comments section below and please leave feedback and share if you like this post. Additionally, you can visit our Book Reviews section for more reviews and follow us on Goodreads . You can contact us if you have any questions or requests.

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One Indian Girl Book Review

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“One Indian Girl” is a contemporary fiction novel written by Chetan Bhagat, a prominent Indian author known for his simple yet engaging storytelling.

The book, published in 2016, revolves around the life of its protagonist, Radhika Mehta, providing a glimpse into her complex world, relationships, and struggles.

The narrative unfolds through Radhika’s perspective, a strong-willed and successful investment banker in her late twenties.

What sets her apart is not just her professional success but her outspoken nature, a characteristic that often challenges societal norms and expectations.

The story is set against the backdrop of Radhika’s impending marriage, a union arranged by her parents, which serves as a springboard for exploring various themes like love, ambition, and societal expectations.

Narrative in Detail

The plot kicks off with Radhika’s reunion with her ex-boyfriends, sparking introspection about her past relationships and life choices.

This unique storytelling approach, interspersed with flashbacks and the present, adds depth to Radhika’s character and keeps the reader hooked.

Bhagat skillfully weaves together the threads of romance, career aspirations, and societal pressures, creating a compelling narrative that mirrors the complexities of modern Indian women.

One of the strengths of the book lies in Bhagat’s ability to address pertinent social issues through the lens of his protagonist.

Radhika grapples with the inherent sexism ingrained in society, particularly in the corporate world.

Her struggles with the glass ceiling, double standards, and the constant scrutiny she faces for being a successful woman in a male-dominated field resonate with many readers.

Bhagat’s portrayal of these challenges is both realistic and thought-provoking, sparking important conversations about gender dynamics in contemporary India.

Character Development

The character development in “One Indian Girl” is commendable. Radhika is portrayed as a multi-faceted individual with strengths and flaws, making her relatable to a diverse audience.

The author delves into Radhika’s psyche, unraveling her insecurities and vulnerabilities beneath the façade of confidence.

This depth adds a layer of authenticity to the character, making her journey one that readers can empathize with.

The romantic elements in the novel are both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Radhika’s relationships with her ex-boyfriends are explored in detail, each contributing to her growth and self-discovery.

The emotional rollercoaster of love and heartbreak is portrayed realistically, without the sugarcoating often found in mainstream romance novels.

Bhagat’s portrayal of love as a complex, evolving entity is a departure from conventional romantic narratives, injecting a refreshing realism into the storyline.

While the novel is successful in addressing societal issues and portraying a strong, independent female protagonist, it does have its shortcomings.

Some critics argue that the plot leans towards predictability, with certain twists and turns being foreseeable.

Additionally, Bhagat’s writing style, though accessible, may be considered too simplistic by readers seeking more nuanced prose.

Why This Book is Special?

The book’s treatment of feminism has also sparked debates. While Bhagat’s attempt to shed light on gender disparities is commendable, some argue that his portrayal of feminism lacks depth and nuance.

Radhika’s character, while challenging societal norms, at times comes across as a stereotype of the “modern Indian woman,” and the narrative could have delved deeper into the complexities of feminism in the Indian context.

Despite these critiques, “One Indian Girl” undeniably succeeds in its objective of entertaining and engaging readers.

The novel’s exploration of love, ambition, and societal expectations strikes a chord with a broad audience, making it a relatable and enjoyable read.

Bhagat’s decision to tackle important social issues adds a layer of substance to the narrative, elevating it beyond a mere romantic drama.

Final Conclusion on One Indian Girl Book Review

In conclusion, “One Indian Girl” is a compelling addition to Chetan Bhagat’s body of work.

While it may not be a groundbreaking piece of literature, it succeeds in capturing the zeitgeist of contemporary India and addressing relevant social issues.

The relatable protagonist, realistic portrayal of relationships, and exploration of societal expectations make it a worthwhile read for those interested in a contemporary take on love and feminism.

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The IndiaBookStore blog

One Indian Girl Review

★

We all know this book's going to be a bestseller – no One Indian Girl review, however good or bad, can change that. One Indian Girl is the first time Chetan Bhagat tells a story from a woman's point of view. Does it live up to the hype? Let's see.

Radhika Mehta is a good little Indian girl who studied hard, got into IIM Ahmedabad and then landed her dream job at the New York office of Goldman Sachs. But she's insecure about her looks. She has a couple of failed relationships. Finally, to please her nagging mother, she agrees to have an arranged marriage.

The story begins with Radhika and her family at the Marriott in Goa, preparing for her wedding to Brijesh. As the bride tries to focus on her bachelorette party, mehendi and sangeet, both her ex-lovers land at her wedding. Each of them is determined to make her elope with him.

What I liked

The story is a breeze, a typical Bollywood masala entertainer. While reading it I was already imagining the 'scenes' on screen. (For the record, Kangana Ranaut has already said she'd love to play the heroine , and I'm sure it's just a matter of time.) Chetan Bhagat knows what his audience wants and delivers it. There is never a dull moment. I read the whole thing in one sitting.

The Punjabi 'destination wedding' provides for several instances of harmless humour. The chuckle-worthy bits of social commentary hidden in there are certainly worth a read. Descriptions of the sangeet practice and the hapless dance instructor, the bhajan session etc. will make you smile. And Radhika's shaadi.com profile, written by her mother, is all too recognisable.

one indian girl review

Radhika's mother creates a shaadi.com profile for her, aimed at eliciting responses from 'good boys'. Radhika is horrified!

So, is this a story about feminism?

The buzzword used to promote One Indian Girl was FEMINISM. Check out the video trailer used to promote it:

Bhagat ticks all the boxes: Strong female protagonist. Independent woman with a mind of her own who lives alone and makes her own decisions. A woman who wants to have sex, and to some extent, takes the initiative in seeking sex. However, that doesn't make this a story about 'feminism'. If at all there is a message in this story, it is not "A woman can do anything she wants" but rather, " Once she has enough money a woman can do anything she wants."

However, given the enormous influence that the author has on his large readership, I am glad that this book tries so hard. And in several places, it hits all the right notes. Chetan Bhagat gets it chillingly right when he makes both her ex-lovers question Radhika's maternal instincts simply because of her professional success. "Would you even be affectionate towards (y)our kids?" asks Debashish. Neel simply assumes that a woman who could scale great heights of professional success isn't the "maternal type." The scenario is all too common, unfortunately.

So what's missing?

so says Debu before he starts dating Radhika...

…so says Debu when Radhika asks him about marriage!

I can readily believe in a woman who is so insecure about her attractions that she clings to the first man who shows her any attention. But Radhika does not come across as that woman at all. What she says and does shows her to be a woman who isn't afraid to say what she thinks. So what kept their relationship going for as long as it did? It's unclear what Radhika saw in him, other than that he was her 'first love'. If he's meant to be a hypocrite who pays lip service to the idea of feminism, it should have been portrayed a little better.

Then again, the dialogues are terrible. Characters who have spent most of their lives in the UK or US use Hinglish-isms such as "Don't get high hopes" and "Tell me your gut feeling." Some conversations sound like emails: "Hong Kong office is visiting the factory. Will ask them to talk to a few developers too." The conversations on feminism between characters – especially between Radhika and Brijesh – seem forced and unrealistic.

The only character whose dialogues fit her was Radhika's mother. When Radhika insists on her mom looking for 'men with some class' as potential grooms for her, she retorts, "What is this class business when you yourself are eating peanuts on the road?"

one indian girl

The sharpest, ugliest bit of reality in One Indian Girl

The Verdict

One Indian Girl isn't bad, as popular light Indian reading goes. Good storyline, intriguing characters. Keeps the reader interested. It provides quite enough food for thought if you're looking for something light to read. With better character development and a tighter plot for the affair that Radhika has with a married man, One Indian Girl could have been much better. Buy One Indian Girl Online. Did you like the One Indian Girl review? Leave us a comment!

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This cover image released by Flatiron shows "The Black Girl Survives in This One" horror stories edited by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell. (Flatiron via AP)

This cover image released by Flatiron shows “The Black Girl Survives in This One” horror stories edited by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell. (Flatiron via AP)

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book review on one indian girl

Ahh, the Final Girl — a point of pride, a point of contention. Too often, the white, virginal, Western ideal. But not this time.

“The Black Girl Survives in This One,” a short story anthology edited by Saraciea J. Fennell and Desiree S. Evans, is changing the literary horror canon. As self-proclaimed fans of “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” and “Goosebumps,” the editors have upped the ante with a new collection spotlighting Black women and girls, defying the old tropes that would box Black people in as support characters or victims.

The 15 stories are introduced with an excellent forward by Tananarive Due laying out the groundwork with a brief history of Black women in horror films and literature, and of her own experiences. She argues with an infallible persuasiveness that survival is the thread that connects Black women and the genre that has largely shunned them for so long.

These are the kind of stories that stick with you long after you’ve read them.

“Queeniums for Greenium!” by Brittney Morris features a cult-ish smoothie MLM with a deadly level of blind faith that had my heart pounding and my eyes watering with laughter at intervals. And “The Skittering Thing” by Monica Brashears captures the sheer panic of being hunted in the dark, with some quirky twists.

This image released by William Morrow shows "City in Ruins" by Don Winslow. (William Morrow via AP)

Many of the stories are set in the most terrifying real-life place there is: high school. As such, there are teen crushes and romance aplenty, as well as timely slang that’s probably already outdated.

Honestly, this was one of the best parts: seeing 15 different authors’ takes on a late-teens Black girl. How does she wear her hair, who are her friends, is she religious, where does she live, does she like boys or girls or no one at all? Is she a bratty teen or a goody-two-shoes or a bookworm or just doing her best to get through it? Each protagonist is totally unique and the overall cast of both characters and writers diverse.

And even though we know the Black girl survives, the end is still a shock, because the real question is how.

The anthology has something for everyone, from a classic zombie horror in “Cemetery Dance Party” by Saraciea J. Fennell to a spooky twist on Afrofuturism in “Welcome Back to The Cosmos” by Kortney Nash. Two of the stories have major “Get Out” vibes that fans of Jordan Peele will appreciate (“Black Girl Nature Group” by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite and “Foxhunt” by Charlotte Nicole Davies). If your flavor is throwbacks and cryptids, Justina Ireland’s “Black Pride” has you covered. Or if you like slow-burn psychological thrillers and smart protagonists, “TMI” by Zakiya Delila Harris.

Overall, it’s a bit long and the anthology could stand to drop a couple of the weaker stories. But it’s well worth adding to any scary book collection, and horror fans are sure to find some new favorites.

AP book reviews: https://apnews.com/hub/book-reviews

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Short Story Anthology ‘The Black Girl Survives in This One’ Challenges the Horror Canon

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A book cover featuring an illustration of a young Black woman with long braids holding her manicured hands up to her mouth in horror.

Ahh, the Final Girl — a point of pride, a point of contention. Too often, the white, virginal, Western ideal. But not this time.

The Black Girl Survives in This One , a short story anthology edited by Saraciea J. Fennell and Desiree S. Evans, is changing the literary horror canon. As self-proclaimed fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Goosebumps , the editors have upped the ante with a new collection spotlighting Black women and girls, defying the old tropes that would box Black people in as support characters or victims.

The 15 stories are introduced with an excellent forward by Tananarive Due laying out the groundwork with a brief history of Black women in horror films and literature, and of her own experiences. She argues with an infallible persuasiveness that survival is the thread that connects Black women and the genre that has largely shunned them for so long.

These are the kind of stories that stick with you long after you’ve read them.

“Queeniums for Greenium!” by Brittney Morris features a cult-ish smoothie MLM with a deadly level of blind faith that had my heart pounding and my eyes watering with laughter at intervals. And “The Skittering Thing” by Monica Brashears captures the sheer panic of being hunted in the dark, with some quirky twists.

Many of the stories are set in the most terrifying real-life place there is: high school. As such, there are teen crushes and romance aplenty, as well as timely slang that’s probably already outdated.

Honestly, this was one of the best parts: seeing 15 different authors’ takes on a late-teens Black girl. How does she wear her hair, who are her friends, is she religious, where does she live, does she like boys or girls or no one at all? Is she a bratty teen or a goody-two-shoes or a bookworm or just doing her best to get through it? Each protagonist is totally unique and the overall cast of both characters and writers diverse.

And even though we know the Black girl survives, the end is still a shock, because the real question is how.

The anthology has something for everyone, from a classic zombie horror in “Cemetery Dance Party” by Saraciea J. Fennell to a spooky twist on Afrofuturism in “Welcome Back to The Cosmos” by Kortney Nash. Two of the stories have major Get Out vibes that fans of Jordan Peele will appreciate (“Black Girl Nature Group” by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite and “Foxhunt” by Charlotte Nicole Davies). If your flavor is throwbacks and cryptids, Justina Ireland’s “Black Pride” has you covered. Or if you like slow-burn psychological thrillers and smart protagonists, “TMI” by Zakiya Delila Harris.

Overall, it’s a bit long and the anthology could stand to drop a couple of the weaker stories. But it’s well worth adding to any scary book collection, and horror fans are sure to find some new favorites.

book review on one indian girl

‘The Black Girl Survives in This One’ is released on April 2, 2024, via Flatiron Books.

book review on one indian girl

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book review on one indian girl

Book Review: Short story anthology 'The Black Girl Survives in This One' challenges the horror canon

“The Black Girl Survives in This One,” a short story anthology edited by Saraciea J

Ahh, the Final Girl — a point of pride, a point of contention. Too often, the white, virginal, Western ideal. But not this time.

“The Black Girl Survives in This One,” a short story anthology edited by Saraciea J. Fennell and Desiree S. Evans, is changing the literary horror canon. As self-proclaimed fans of “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” and “Goosebumps,” the editors have upped the ante with a new collection spotlighting Black women and girls, defying the old tropes that would box Black people in as support characters or victims.

The 15 stories are introduced with an excellent forward by Tananarive Due laying out the groundwork with a brief history of Black women in horror films and literature, and of her own experiences. She argues with an infallible persuasiveness that survival is the thread that connects Black women and the genre that has largely shunned them for so long.

These are the kind of stories that stick with you long after you’ve read them.

“Queeniums for Greenium!” by Brittney Morris features a cult-ish smoothie MLM with a deadly level of blind faith that had my heart pounding and my eyes watering with laughter at intervals. And “The Skittering Thing” by Monica Brashears captures the sheer panic of being hunted in the dark, with some quirky twists.

Many of the stories are set in the most terrifying real-life place there is: high school. As such, there are teen crushes and romance aplenty, as well as timely slang that’s probably already outdated.

Honestly, this was one of the best parts: seeing 15 different authors’ takes on a late-teens Black girl. How does she wear her hair, who are her friends, is she religious, where does she live, does she like boys or girls or no one at all? Is she a bratty teen or a goody-two-shoes or a bookworm or just doing her best to get through it? Each protagonist is totally unique and the overall cast of both characters and writers diverse.

And even though we know the Black girl survives, the end is still a shock, because the real question is how.

The anthology has something for everyone, from a classic zombie horror in “Cemetery Dance Party” by Saraciea J. Fennell to a spooky twist on Afrofuturism in “Welcome Back to The Cosmos” by Kortney Nash. Two of the stories have major “Get Out” vibes that fans of Jordan Peele will appreciate ("Black Girl Nature Group" by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite and “Foxhunt” by Charlotte Nicole Davies). If your flavor is throwbacks and cryptids, Justina Ireland’s “Black Pride” has you covered. Or if you like slow-burn psychological thrillers and smart protagonists, “TMI” by Zakiya Delila Harris.

Overall, it’s a bit long and the anthology could stand to drop a couple of the weaker stories. But it’s well worth adding to any scary book collection, and horror fans are sure to find some new favorites.

AP book reviews: https://apnews.com/hub/book-reviews

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Lynne Reid Banks

Lynne Reid Banks, author of The Indian in the Cupboard, dies aged 94

Writer was also one of first female news reporters on British TV, interviewing stars such as Charlie Chaplin

The author Lynne Reid Banks, known for her novel The L-Shaped Room and her children’s book series The Indian in the Cupboard, has died at the age of 94.

She died of cancer “peacefully with her family around her” on Thursday afternoon, her agent, James Wills, said. Her son Gillon Stephenson said she “leaves a massive legacy of wonderful work”, adding that every day he “receives messages from people saying what a difference she has made”.

Reid Banks was born in Barnes, south-west London, in 1929. In 1940, during the second world war, she was evacuated with her mother and cousin Christopher to Saskatoon in the Canadian prairies for five years.

After returning to England , Reid Banks attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) before becoming a secretary and a freelance journalist. In 1955, she became one of the first female news reporters on British television, appearing on ITN for six years and interviewing stars including Charlie Chaplin, Audrey Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Louis Armstrong and Agatha Christie.

During her downtime from journalism she wrote a novel, The L-Shaped Room, about an unmarried woman who is kicked out of her family home when she becomes pregnant and moves into a run-down boarding house in London. The 1960 publication was an unexpected hit and was later turned into a film, landing Leslie Caron an Oscar nomination for best actress, as well as a Bafta and Golden Globe award.

“Banks’s compassionate first novel examines the stigma of unmarried motherhood in pre-pill, pre-Abortion Act Britain”, wrote Victoria Segal in her description of the book for the Guardian’s 1,000 novels everyone must read series. “While the social climate has changed drastically since publication, a transgressive frisson still crackles from the pages.”

After the film of The L-Shaped Room, Reid Banks had plays on TV and radio, and published a second novel, An End to Running. Just as her career was taking off in 1962, she moved to Israel, having fallen in love with the Anglo-Israeli sculptor Chaim Stephenson.

The author taught for eight years on a kibbutz, and she and Stephenson married in 1965. In her Guardian obituary of her husband, the novelist wrote: “To have lived for 55 years with a man of such courage and sweetness, and watched his gift evolve to produce such powerful and beautiful works, has been the greatest happiness and privilege of my life.”

By the time Reid Banks and Stephenson returned to Britain in 1971, they had three sons, including Gillon, with whom Reid Banks lived in her later years, in Shepperton, Surrey. The influence of the writer’s time in Israel can be seen in her books One More River, Broken Bridge and Children at the Gate, which are set partly or mainly on kibbutzim.

Once back in the UK, Reid Banks said she “stumbled upon the idea of bringing a toy plastic American Indian to life in a magic cupboard” for a children’s book. The first book from the series, The Indian in the Cupboard, was published in 1980. The fantasy story was turned into a film in 1995 starring Steve Coogan and Richard Jenkins.

She wrote many more children’s stories during her career, including The Red Red Dragon, Angela and Diabola, The Spice Rack and Tiger Tiger, which Michael Morpurgo said “burns brightly to the very last page”.

Interviewed by the author Rob Kent for his blog in 2013, Reid Banks said her favourite thing about writing was “when it’s really flowing, so you can escape your everyday life into somebody else’s world”, as well as “when you’ve just finished, and know what you’ve written is incredibly, world-beatingly brilliant. Before the editor gets her hands on it and tells you to re-write it or cut it by half. This last has happened to me. (I turned it into two books and got paid twice.)”

In 2017, Reid Banks wrote in the Guardian about her mother , who killed herself in 1982, and had been disapproving of her daughter’s decision to marry a Jew and live on a kibbutz. “Antisemitism is a disease. That’s what I think,” Reid Banks wrote. “It’s like a virus that can infect an otherwise healthy psyche. It’s also a curse that can mar what could have been healthy, happy relationships.”

Writing about old age in the Guardian in 2017, Reid Banks said: “We’re the luckiest generation that’s ever lived. We can look back and remember events that to younger people are only dry lines in history books and images on screens. To us they were real. We’ve had the best of this world.”

The “ About me ” section of her website finished with a limerick:

There was an old lady called Lynne Who should have been shoved In the bin. But she keeps on going, Shows no signs of slowing - And – no. It’s not down to the gin.
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  4. One Indian Girl

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COMMENTS

  1. One Indian Girl

    The book in its entirety of 272 pages did not appear dull even at a single point. The best part of the book, though, was its climax - it was completely unpredictable and managed to completely surprise me. I hence recommend One Indian Girl to one and all. It is a pleasurable read. My rating for the book is four and a half out of five stars and ...

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    Chetan Bhagat. 28 books5,260 followers. Chetan Bhagat writes op-ed columns for English and Hindi newspapers, including Times of India and Dainik Bhaskar, focusing on youth and issues based on national development. Bhagat is also a motivational speaker and has given talks in leading MNCs and other institutions.

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    Chetan Bhagat's One Indian Girl presents itself as a contemporary novel addressing gender dynamics and women's empowerment. At least, the author claims the same and a few critics, who have found literary nectar in the works of Durjoy Datta and Nikita Singh as well, countersign those claims. However, upon reading the novel, unfortunately ...

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    February 4, 2023 The Literature Times. "One Indian Girl" by Chetan Bhagat is a novel that narrates the story of Radhika Mehta, a highly successful banker who is on the brink of getting married. The book follows Radhika's journey as she embarks on a trip to Goa to attend her friend's wedding, where she reflects on her past relationships ...

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    Chetan Bhagat is at it again. With 'One Indian Girl' all the classic hallmarks of a Chetan Bhagat novel are in place-a Punjabi middle class family, love (gained and lost), a wedding, an effort to break the stereotypes and witty sarcasm; albeit with one difference- the narrator is an independent, intelligent, prototypical female voice- Radhika Mehta, VP, Goldman Sachs. As the excerpt and ...

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    Conclusion: The novel One Indian Girl is certainly about 'one' Indian girl who Chetan Bhagat has created in his fancy. However, this girl's narrative is not hers at all; it is all about Chetan Bhagat's own narrowed interpretation of the situations and scenarios. Radhika is there in the novel and that's it - she is there in the novel ...

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    Book Review: One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat. April 05, 2017. Radhika Mehta is a successful lady. She earns well over a crore in New York with Goldman Sachs. She is into living relationship with one of her colleagues, Debashish, a mean guy yet her boyfriend. Their relationship is so far going good only needs a conversion into marriage.

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    I am late to the party! I know already. One Indian Girl has been one of the most discussed novels in the 21st-century Indian history of English literature, there should be no doubts about this truth which cannot be impugned by any scholar or critic. However, there have been many issues related to the novel that can be (and should be, rather must be) debated vehemently because Chetan Bhagat is ...

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  13. Chetan Bhagat's One Indian Girl: Half woman

    One Indian Girl does asks some poignant questions but Chetan Bhagat doesn't fully crack them. The book is an easy and to some extent fun read but in no way can it be brought anywhere near the sections of woman empowerment or feminism. Grab it, while you wait at the airport lounge.

  14. A Book Review of the Novel 'One Indian Girl'

    It all happens in the flashback of One Indian Girl. The story has technically 3 flashbacks. Radhika decides to resign from the job but her boss offer to transfer her to Hong Kong Office. She agrees as that gives her an opportunity to go away from New York where everything reminds her of Debu. In Hong Kong Office she meets Neel Gupta.

  15. Chitralekha Manohar reviews Chetan Bhagat's One Indian Girl

    A book with no feminist men, and no feminist women either. Chetan Bhagat's One Indian Girl is a polarising book. Reviewers belong to one of two camps: they either want to burn it or they ...

  16. Chetan Bhagat's 'One Indian Girl' is a ...

    Book Name- One Indian Girl Author- Chetan Bhagat Publisher- Rupa Pages- 280 Price- 176. A few chapters into One Indian Girl, I couldn't help but wonder if one should see Chetan Bhagat's new novel as an apology. After all, he did inflict Half Girlfriend, with its undeniable sexism and half-baked female lead, on us.

  17. One Indian Girl (Bhagat)

    Our Reading Guide for One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat includes Book Club Discussion Questions, Book Reviews, Plot Summary-Synopsis and Author Bio. HOME; ABOUT; CONTACT; Search Go . Getting Started ... Book Reviews: Generic Questions: Full Version: Print: Page 1 of 4. One Indian Girl Chetan Bhagat, 2016 Rupa Publications 280 pp. ISBN-13: ...

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    Post read by 16,538 IBC readers. Chetan Bhagat's last novel (perhaps) One Indian Girl has been peddled as 'a handbook for feminists' and 'an improvement over Half-girlfriend' and so on and so forth. Real readers, however, had different reviews for the book. The ones who have seriousness in their reading style have caught the loopholes ...

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    One Indian Girl: Country: India: Language: English: Subject: Feminism: Genre: Fiction: Set in: India: Publisher: Rupa & Co. Publication date. October 1, 2016: Media type: Paperback: Pages: 280: ISBN: 978-8129142146: One Indian Girl is a novel by the Indian author Chetan Bhagat. The book is about a girl named Radhika Mehta, who is a worker at ...

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    One Indian Girl is a novel by the Indian writer Chetan Bhagat published in 2016. This 272 paged book is classified under Young Adult Fiction and Romance Fiction. This book is Chetan's 9th book and 7th novel. The story, as the title implies, is about an Indian girl, Radhika Mehta, an investment banker who works at Goldman Sachs.

  21. One Indian Girl Book Review

    One Indian Girl Book Review "One Indian Girl" is a contemporary fiction novel written by Chetan Bhagat, a prominent Indian author known for his simple yet engaging storytelling. The book, published in 2016, revolves around the life of its protagonist, Radhika Mehta, providing a glimpse into her complex world, relationships, and struggles.

  22. One Indian Girl Review

    Writer: Chetan Bhagat. Publisher: Rupa Publications. Year: 2016. ISBN: 9788129142146. Rating: Buy : One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat. We all know this book's going to be a bestseller - no One Indian Girl review, however good or bad, can change that. One Indian Girl is the first time Chetan Bhagat tells a story from a woman's point of view.

  23. Summary of "One Indian Girl" by Chetan Bhagat

    One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat Book Review. S ure, "One Indian Girl" is a novel by Chetan Bhagat, one of India's most popular contemporary authors, known for his take on the socio-political ...

  24. Book Review: Short story anthology 'The Black Girl Survives in This One

    Ahh, the Final Girl — a point of pride, a point of contention. Too often, the white, virginal, Western ideal. But not this time. "The Black Girl Survives in This One," a short story anthology edited by Saraciea J. Fennell and Desiree S. Evans, is changing the literary horror canon.

  25. Book Review: 'The Black Girl Survives in This One'

    The Black Girl Survives in This One, a short story anthology edited by Saraciea J. Fennell and Desiree S. Evans, is changing the literary horror canon. As self-proclaimed fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Goosebumps, the editors have upped the ante with a new collection spotlighting Black women and girls, defying the old tropes that ...

  26. Book Review: Short story anthology 'The Black Girl Survives in This One

    "The Black Girl Survives in This One," a short story anthology edited by Saraciea J Ahh, the Final Girl — a point of pride, a point of contention. Too often, the white, virginal, Western ...

  27. Lynne Reid Banks, author of The Indian in the Cupboard, dies aged 94

    Fri 5 Apr 2024 02.29 EDT. The author Lynne Reid Banks has died at the age of 94. The novelist, known for writing books including the children's story The Indian in the Cupboard, died of cancer ...