Title: A Tale of Arranged Marriage
Author: Pranav Rao
Publisher: Leadstart publishing
Genre: Culture & Society, Family & Relationship
First Publication: 2021
Language: English
Book Summary: A Tale of Arranged Marriage by Pranav Rao
Ayaan does not wish to get married.
In his late twenties and a product of urban, upper-middle-class society, he’s had a comfortable life. Juggling his time between setting up his new business venture and lounging with friends—and frequent escapades with beautiful women and booze—life seems to be going well.
Until one morning when his life hits a roadblock in the form of his overprotective, authoritative mother who only wants what’s best for her son. And this time, it’s in the form of marriage…arranged marriage.
A reluctant Ayaan gets entangled in the frustrating and exhausting process of meeting women chosen by his determined mother, who refuses to stop till she has what she wants.
Will Ayaan find his perfect match or does the universe have a different path laid out for him?
Book Review: A Tale of Arranged Marriage by Pranav Rao
Everyone has their own idea of what ‘Happily Ever After’ means, and what it means for themselves may differ from what they think it means for others. Arranged marriages are well documented throughout history, with bride and groom often having little choice in their matrimonial destinies. Pranav Rao’s A Tale of Arranged Marriage explores what happens when what you want collides with what your parents want for you. It’s a rare book: smart, funny, honest, and absorbing.
A Tale of Arranged Marriage by Pranav Rao tells the story of one modern man’s journey through the minefield of arranged marriage. Born into an upper-middle-class urban family, Ayaan has a lot going for him: work, friends, and a potential business venture. His life was turned upside down when his overprotective mother rose to the top and asked him to get married to a girl of her choice. Ayaan is enmeshed, unwillingly, in his mother’s frustrating and exhausting attempts to meet the girls to marry. His mother will not stop until she gets what she wants. The course of marriage and happiness will not be smooth sailing for Ayaan.
The most interesting aspect of this book is the initial question that it raises – would you consider an arranged marriage based on the values of your loved ones? The humorous and revealing look at work, family, marriage, and life as we know it, is spot on. The story details Ayaan’s journey of ups and downs over his feelings about this arranged marriage and how his mother has no regard about his feelings. It is such an interesting view of how families set up arranged marriages, as well as why they do it, to some degree.
As an author, Pranav Rao is truly amazing at building strong characters with unique and clear voices. He has a straight-forward writing style that lends itself perfectly to the story. He has the amazing ability to handle some tough issues in a light way without being condescending, rude or awkward about it. The dialogue is crisp and the settings transport you seamlessly. My mind did not have to work to understand the characters or the plot even though both were complex and three-dimensional. It just clicked.
A Tale of Arranged Marriage was first and foremost a strong character-driven self discovery novel. It had a handful of life themes that really wrapped up Ayaan’s journey in a heart-felt and realistic manner. Being the fiercely independent and slightly stubborn protagonist, Ayaan experiences quite an emotionally turbulent journey. What I really liked about Ayaan was that he wasn’t written as this perfect character. He was flawed, just like everyone else. Ayaan’s eccentric mother and her thorough grilling of Ayaan for arranged marriage was interesting.
In my opinion, there are two reasons why you like a book. One, because that book is made of epicness and awesomeness. Second, because you can associate yourself with the main character and you see yourself in him/her. In A Tale of Arranged Marriage, the second reason applies. All in all, I would highly recommend this book as a light and quick read that will make you pause and think as well as genuinely feel.
