Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsIf you don't read this, you haven't read anything. '...You'll turn into his devotee after reading this, at LEAST.'
Reviewed in India on 23 July 2017
And I mean it.
For once I'd just keep aside the fact that I'm Durjoy's lover and be super honest with my words. Please don't mistake this for any kind of puffery.
This was the third book I read of Durjoy's. The first two were- 'Oh Yes I'm Single' (you just won't want to start reading a Durjoy Datta with this) and 'Of Course I Love You'.
Even though Durjoy call himself the worst author time has ever witnessed (trust me, he just lies. Even he knows how good he is at writing books just prefers being coy and modest. Nautanki!) he clearly is not! You don't believe me? Excellent. Read this for yourself.
I have known many people who cringe their nose when I admit Durjoy is my favourite author. They say, ‘Hold on. I mean yes he’s good looking and all but really? He writes shitty books! You ought to be kidding me.’
I think, either these peeps have just read ‘You Were My Crush’ (NEVER read this book no matter how many new covers the book gets. Even I wanted to hate Durjoy but by god’s grace, I came across ‘TTLB’ prior to that) or they like him but they’re afraid to admit because of some hideous norms existing in the world or they’re red jealous of his good looks. (I didn’t even like the way he looked before. I remember he was semi-bald in the author’s picture of the oldest copy of ‘Oh Yes...’ but I still liked that one because the plot was very new to me. And I continued reading him without any inclination towards his looks or his dimples, for that matter of fact).
They be like, ‘I don’t like Indian love stories, they’re so errr.’
No dude. You like it. You enjoy every freaking bit of it. You are just being a desi-firangi-moron who’s balling up in fear of admitting the same!
Okay, I know that wasn’t necessary. (Actually it was)
Coming back to TTLB. I absolutely adore it because:
1) It is real and well written (#understatement)- Honestly I haven’t read a better romance than this written in third person. The characters are credible, dialogues are relatable and situations- sensitive. A perfect book, as I call it. In spite of reading all of Durjoy’s work, TTLB still stands on the top of the rank list. I agree Durjoy has bettered as a writer, his books have become ten times more engrossing than before, vocabulary has improved so much that I need to sit with my phone to look up for meanings, but this... this has a separate place- a position I think none of his future books can reach. It’s his own favourite too!
2) The set up- Believe me you, the book revolves around a hospital room (309, if I'm not wrong. I read it an age back but again you see, every bit of it is afresh in my mind... or heart, I can’t really locate). Yes. A hospital.
Two patients and two doctors. I won’t give you any spoilers because the book deserves a read... a private, indulgent, personal read. YOU FREAKING NEED TO READ THIS.
3) Dr. Arman- The idealistically idealistic idol of a character is this dude. For girls, congratulation, now you don’t have to brainstorm on the topic of ‘What kind of a guy I want’ because he’s cooked up well and prepared for you. Grab him... in the book though (I felt like killing Durjoy for raising my expectation so high). He’s not a chaep, of course, a dude of class and Romeo with higher standards- he parts his hair neatly and you’ll know spikes or chick-haircut isn’t always the hottest (I don't find them hot anyway.) You’ll simply LOVE him.
4) Pihu- Special mention to my clone. I COULD BLOODY PREDICT HOW SHE’D REACT. For instance I started crying before she did, blushed when she was kissed (the... purest (?) kissing scene you’ll ever come across. Ever), thought of speaking exactly the same words before she did... the list goes on.
5) Friendship- Yes unlike in most of his previous books, Durjoy talks about some real to-kill-for friendships here- whether it’s between Pihu and Dushyant or Pihu and Venugopal. It’s just awesome... and touchy.
6) The date- No spoilers (as though I have given none). READ. IT.
7) The last line- ‘... now we are 2-2’. You’ll cry. But for god’s sake don’t be an ass like me and read the last page out of stupid curiosity before reading it as it comes! DON'T DO THAT.
So here are my seven reasons (there are a hundred more, but it would lead to occupation of a lot of space and revel all of the story) why you should read this book. I feel, I owe reading all of Durjoy's work because he gave me such a bible of a book to treasure. I assure you, you'll turn into his devotee after reading this, at LEAST.
Happy reading!
xxx
