Book Review : Can Love Happen Twice?

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Blurb View:

When Ravin first said ‘I love you…’ he meant it forever. The world has known this through Ravin’s bestselling novel, I Too Had a Love Story. But did Ravin’s story really end on the last page of that book?

On Valentine’s Day, a radio station in Chandigarh hosts a very special romantic chat show. Ravin and his three best friends are invited as guests to talk about Ravin’s love story. But surprisingly, everyone apart from Ravin turns up. As the show goes live, there is only one question in every listener’s mind: what has happened to Ravin?

To answer this question the three friends began reading from a handwritten copy of Ravin’s incomplete second book – the entire city listens breathlessly, unable to believe the revelations that follow.

This highly anticipated novel by Ravinder Singh is an emotional rollercoaster that bravely explores the highs and lows of love.

Review:

And…I’m exasperated with the sequel too. It’s not that I had very high hopes on this one, but I had assumed the second book would be at least at par with the first one, if not better. But (<- this is the word I seem to be using the most while writing reviews on Ravinder Singh’s penmanship!) – I am indeed sorry to assure most readers that this is not worth their money, not even at  84 after discount. The book starts better than it ends. The first few pages promise of a lean potential to carry the plot forward, but every effort turns futile after the valentine’s-day-book-reading-radio-chat-show chapter. The author drags the story along with the same protagonist Ravin from his previous book. Ravin’s depression due to various reasons is an integral part of the plot, but it is executed quite poorly on paper.

The author has etched the other protagonist in this book very shabbily. I feel pity for Simar, who deserved more and better details in the book than being portrayed as an immature and horny girl.

Ravinder Singh had taken much care in sketching out the character of Khushi in his first book, but this time it seems he almost left Simar to the mercy of the readers. There is no clear picture of who or how Simar is, except for the fact that she knows how to ‘butterfly-kiss’. It rains kisses in all the chapters, as if the author is obsessed with his protagonists kissing to express every emotion. Trust me dear readers, it doesn’t work every time. The climax too, seems to be abrupt and forced. If Simar had a change in heart in coming back to Ravin, it had to be written in a much more convincing way.

There’s also bigger dollops of conversations and dialogues in Hindi than the previous book. I still cannot fathom how writing whole sentences in Hindi help in an English novel. The vernacular flavour can be translated in most occasions, if not all. Its easier to put in Hindi sentences than try and extract their essence into English ones. I guess the author chose the easier path.

I still appreciate the humongous effort it takes to write a book and adorn it with finishing touches. Nevertheless, the fruits of such labour might not always be delectable.

My Rating: 1/5

About the Author: 

Image Courtesy: RavinderSinghOnline

Ravinder Singh is a bestselling author. His debut novel I Too Had a Love Story has touched millions of heart. Can Love Happen Twice? is his second book. After spending most of his life in Burla, a very small town in Orissa, Ravinder has finally settled down in Chandigarh. Having worked as a software engineer for several years at some of India’s prominent IT companies, Ravinder has recently completed his MBA at the world-renowned Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. Ravinder loves playing Snooker in his free time. He is crazy about Punjabi music and loves dancing to its beat. The best way to contact Ravinder is through his official fan page on Facebook.

Book Details:

Language: English, Author(s): Ravinder Singh

Publisher: Penguin Metro Reads, Year Published: 2011

Binding: Paperback, Edition: First, Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 9780143417231, ISBN-10: 0143417231

Reviewed For: Self

Amazon Ebook

This review is also shared with Indian Quills Reading Challenge at The Tales Pensieve.