Blogchatter Book Review: Patna 80020 by Daisy Bala

 I came across this amazing book through the Blogchatter Ebook Carnival and am glad that I got an opportunity to read it.

Plot: This book explores the dynamics of an upper middle class family based in Patna. The family consists of a father, mother, their 3 daughters and a son. The first two daughters are of marriageable age and the parents, especially the mother is anxious to get them married soon. The elder daughter needs time to get married and you’ll know why when you read the book. The younger daughter can’t wait to get married. The third daughter is a dynamic person and she has very unique characteristics, she’s my favorite character. The son is young, pampered and is a pro of poor jokes. Read on to know how the family fares in complicated and normal situations in their lives. 

What I liked in the book: As soon as I started reading the book, I was immediately drawn into its world. The story is so realistic that despite the fact that it’s based in Patna, every family in India can relate to it. The plot flows very easily and I love the way the story begins with a normal day in the family’s life to a complicated situation to a conflict point to an expected yet well-written ending. I especially liked simple things such as what was being cooked for breakfast/lunch, clothes that they wore and details of the clinic, etc. 

The characters in the story are interesting and they have a nice depth to them. I also liked the mention of dowry and the pressure that the families of a girl child go through in most parts of India. All this is handled very well in the book. 

Overall this is a short and lovely read which definitely has the potential for a sequel. 

What can be improved: For me, the frequent Hindi dialogues were distracting. But, they did highlight the  authenticity of the plot since it’s based in Patna. 

Note: This review is part of the Blogchatter Ebook Carnival challenge. #BlogchatterEbookCarnival #Blogchatter #BookReview