The Deliberate Sinner - Book Review

Title: The Deliberate Sinner    

Author: Bhaavna Arora

Publisher: Srishti Publishers and Distributors

ISBN: 978-93-82665-20-5

Number of Pages: 148

Price: 120 [INR]

Genre: Fiction

Blurb on the book:

Is there an acid test to gauge the success of a relationship?

Is it right to carry on in an unhealthy relationship with no conjugal bliss, or look for an alternate path?

Rihana is an adventurous and free-spirited girl, until she marries Veer, an eligible bachelor who comes from a wealthy family. While they appear 'happily married', their strong personalities are at odds. Veer, for the most part, is insensitive to Rihanna's physical and emotional needs, straining the relationship and leaving her feeling incomplete.

Caught between the devil and the deep sea, Rihana has to now decide whether to walk out of her marriage and be a victim of society's ridicule, or compromise on her physical needs, which for her are the foundation for a healthy marital bond.

Can they work out their differences? Will Veer give her what she desires, or push her to do something desperate and scandalous?

My Review:

The Deliberate Sinner is a story about 21 year old Rihana who is from an affluent family. She is what every guy desires for! When proposed by Veer, a guy from an equally affluent family, Rihana finds herself in confusion. And before she can think through it, her marriage is fixed with Veer by her parents, who are happy to find a 'suitable' groom whose social status matches with theirs!

The story revolves around her marital life. While she finds herself totally unhappy with Veer, she tries everything in her control to make the marriage work and maintain the so called reputation in the society. A husband who is totally indifferent to her and her feelings, a mother who is more afraid of spoiling her image in the society than worrying about her daughter's happiness and a society which just points a finger at the woman in the end and judges her all the time; Rihana tries to live through it all. But how long can she withstand it?

The author has pictured the present chauvinist society in an effective manner. If a guy does something wrong, then the girl is expected to forgive him and move on like nothing happened. A mere sorry is expected to fix everything! But does the same hold for a girl? If a girl does the same mistake, will the male dominant society over look it? Apparently, no! The author has raised questions on many such issues predominant in our present Indian society. 

The protagonist is a daring woman, who knows clearly what she wants from life. She is ready to stand up for herself and fight for her rights. The language used in the novel is simple and effective. The story flows smoothly in the beginning but is a little bit stretched in the middle and then ends suddenly, with Rihana finding solution to all the problems! There are some cliches in the story like Raj's sudden appearance in the end, which could have been rectified. Also, what I didn't understand is Veer's behavior towards Rihana inspite of her being the epitome of beauty as described by the author.

Here are some of the quotes from the book which I loved:

You have to take the problem head on. Either you die, or you kill your enemy; there is no other way.

The day you stop experiencing pain or pleasure, that very day you would cease to exist.

And in the interlude between birth and death, it's your deeds alone that make the story of your life - either remarkably big or abysmally insignificant.

It is always the unseen which is more consequential than the seen.

The book definitely makes a good read. A perfect dosage of reality is given to the story. Despite of what the cover page suggests, the book isn't totally filled with sexuality; which is used only in relevant areas. The author has done a commendable job by writing about a woman's physical and emotional needs precisely without exaggerating much to make it look artificial. I would definitely suggest this book.

Rating: 3.5/5 starts

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Swathi :)