Book review – The Virgins

Author – Siddharth Tripathi

Publisher – Fingerprint

Pages – 320

Price – Rs.250

Sneak Preview from the Book –

With six unmarried sisters and a perennially drunk father, Pinku, a 19-year-old school dropout, has only one dream left to marry the plump girl who caught him stealing flowerpots. His friend and confidant, 17-year-old Bhandu, is not faring any better his parents are divorcing, his father has abandoned him, and the American tourist he is infatuated with doesnt even know that he exists. Bhandu and Pinku seek solace in the distracting shenanigans of their friend Guggi a pampered rich brat who can do anything for a thrill. Guggis reckless hedonism lands the threesome in a series of sexpot escapades each adventure weirder than the one before.

But their seemingly innocuous joyride is about to end.

With their Class 12 exams around the corner, Guggi, restless to leave a mark, takes over the schools notorious protection racket in a violent coup. The fallout drags the trio into a murky world of heartbreak, betrayal and bloody vengeance...

My View

When The Tales Pensieve sent the mail for review, my first impression of the book was primarily of an adult comedy. But as I began reading the book, I discovered one cannot judge a book by its cover, or err…even the title!

Far from its name, the book is a cute compilation of silly incidents from the lives of three friends – Pinku, Bhandu and Guggi. The plot is based in the sleepy town of Varanasi, where they still call shopkeepers chacha!

An impressive debut from Siddharth, the book keeps one laughing till the end, as it takes one on a journey to adolescence, where we all had our share of silly, embarrassing moments.

Guggi the brat is never short of notorious activities that invite trouble for the whole gang. Bhandu is the sensible of them, while Pinku, the goat, gets butchered in every silly plan of Guggi. The author keeps you engrossed in this comedy of errors, without making it too much, for he also portrays the trials and tribulations of teenage. The ending scene is somewhat unexpected, but that’s where the author leaves you asking for more.

If you don’t enjoy boy kinda language, the book is not for you, for there are is a healthy usage of slangs and all jokes have a double angle to it, if you get what I mean. I found the choice of names quiet funny (cheeni chacha, bhandu etc.) but considering, it’s the author’s debut, we can let that pass.

About the author – Siddharth Tripathi

Siddharth Tripathi was born in Allahabad and schooled in Banaras. He is a B.E from NIT Trichy and an MBA from MDI, Gurgaon. Siddharth currently lives in Gurgaon and works as a consultant for a business advisory firm. He also writes a blog on music and films. The Virgins is his first novel.

The book was received as part of Reviewers Programme on The Tales Pensieve.