The Virgins by Siddharth Tripathi

Title: The Virgins
Author: Siddharth Tripathi
Publisher: FingerPrint
ISBN: 9788172344542
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4/5

It isn’t easy writing a coming-of-age novel. It is almost treading on dangerous territory. Do you really want to compete with the likes of J.D. Salinger and the rest when it comes to talking about growing up? No matter what the context or the setting, I still believe it is a risky proposition to even consider. At the same time, reading a novel of such a nature can be fulfilling or not for the reader. There will always be the danger of comparison. More so, there will always be that funny moment or instance which you have already read about or experienced. The “newness” then is difficult to look for. I must say that that didn’t happen to me while reading, “The Virgins” by Siddharth Tripathi.

I am wary when it comes to reading a debut writer. Like I say these days, “You throw a stone in the country and chances are it will hit a writer”. There are dime a dozen debut writers but to hold your own is the task that I feel not many can get through. Siddharth Tripathi successfully manages that through his book. The imagery of India as is and as is aspirational is brought out very well throughout the book and that was a major selling point for me. I was hooked from the first word. The book is about “becoming a man” and yet at the same time, it is about what it really takes and means to “become a man”. It is layered heavily, but doesn’t seem like at if you are reading it superficially. It is seething with issues and yet Tripathi makes it all a light read, which I am sure it is meant to be, given the audience.

“The Virgins” is about three friends living in Banaras – Pinku, Bhandu and Guggi. Pinku is a school-dropout, with responsibilities towards his family, dreams of marrying a girl he loves and he is all of nineteen. Bhandu’s life is a mess. His family is not the perfect family and he is also searching his way on the road to love. Guggi is always up to no good and trouble, thanks to his friends as well. Besides this, they have their class 12 exams round the corner and life couldn’t get more exciting. From there on in this small town India, their lives begin and take on a different turn.

The writing is clean and sparse. It isn’t typical of how teenagers become men. It isn’t typical of all the drama that could have been a part of the book and I can only be thankful that it isn’t. There is nothing crowding the book. I must admit that the book does seem a little long; however that is not what gets in the way of the reading experience. What I felt at times was that the book could have been better edited in some places. The sentences are just in place but may be not all the time. The chapters were too fleeting and that should have been taken care of. Besides this, I loved the plot and the writing.

Siddharth knows how to deliver and this is visible through his debut. Banaras almost came to life through this book. The sights, the smells, the traditions, the religious bias, the gossiping neighbors, the uncles and the so-called friendly aunts, all of it was almost like a painting on one big canvas. The book has a lot of soul to it. A lot of scenes will flash through your mind as you read the book. This book makes me want to visit Banaras and experience life there as is and may be even reread the book in the city. A great debut and definitely a must read.

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