Book Review: Agraharam by Malli Athreya

Agraharam by Malli Athreya

Available in Kindle edition

While preparing for her MCAT exams and envisioning a future for herself in California, Ananya becomes a recipient of a traditional ancestral house situated in an Agraharam ( a residential colony/street centred around a temple in South Indian villages). The house comes with a mandatory clause that Ananya has to stay there atleast for a period of one year.

Ananya comes to the Agraharam and realises that it's a whole new yet timeless world unto itself. She finds herself the object of everyone's attention, both positive and negative. Before long, she realises that there is only one way to live in peace there - to be seen, in the right way, at the right place amongst the right people.

My parents live in an Agraharam and I visit the place every year. So I could very well relate to the scenes narrated in the story. The Agraharam comes to life with its timeless folklore, the gossip, the houses that seemingly have no boundaries and the people who are enigmatic yet simple, good-natured yet shrewd and trusting yet wary.

The author's style of writing is simply superb, especially the build-up of every scene in limited words that impact deeply. She has woven a lot of mysticism, nostalgia and awe into the story, making it a rich blend of several genres. This is her debut novel but it feels like the work of a pro. The story is based on the daily events occurring in the lives of villagers, yet it grabs and holds on to the attention of the readers. I found myself hastily reading to know what happens next. The lives of the villagers, though simple in their essence, are depicted with a touch of mystery and poignancy.

I cannot recommend this book enough. The author has plans to write more in this series. I am eagerly waiting for the next part. Needless to say, this book comes highly recommended for its unique and mysterious style of narrative and a well-planned storyline that simply keeps you hooked on to it. A must-read, this one!