Book Review: Chela by Saurabh Kumar

Title: Chela - The Adventures of Jack and Ty

Author: Saurabh Kumar

ISBN: 9789385440205

Blurb:

Chela: The Adventures of Jack and Ty is in part a tribute to one of the greatest writers and humorists of the twentieth century, Sir P.G. Wodehouse, and a spoof on the fantasy genre where anything and everything can happen at any given moment and time. Jack is a hungry jackal, booted out of his clan for being lazy and incapable of providing for himself. One night while wandering a patch of forest he accidentally steps on the tail of a tiger that is understandably furious at the jackal. The tiger Ty, confronts the jackal with the latter begging forgiveness. The commotion dies down and they soon go their separate ways. Fate, however, brings them together again and they soon realize they are both facing a similar predicament - an acute shortage of food. The two strangers soon become comrades and along with Herbert, a cross between a wolf and a pariah dog, set out on a journey through the vast woodland of Baganpore and beyond in search of food. On the way they face perils aplenty in the form of diabolical relatives, cunning scavengers, a mysterious banyan tree and a lake that isn't what it appears to be.

My Take:

Jack (the lazy jackal), Ty (the coward son of a tiger) and Herbert (the heart-broken cross between a wolf and a pariah dog) have suffered a lot many injustices – hunger, deception, social boycott, harsh vagaries of nature and what not. Each of them had been all of this alone, till one day they become friends & come together to find a way out for their survival. Thus starts the fable of ‘Chela: The Adventures of Jack and Ty’. 

The theme is unique and the book is very well written. The story flows smoothly and perfectly, laden with wit and humour. The author has done a great job through his fantastic story-telling traits. At no point of time did I feel bored or disinterested. Though fables are usually read by a limited set of readers, laughter and fun are infectious, so is this book. It has a universal appeal given that it is a spoof on fantasy genre. The use of language is innovative, so is the plot. Justice has been to the characters and plot, and the theme as well. Hats off to the author for this beautiful book.

Rating: 4/5

Recommendation: GO FOR IT....

Reviewed by Dr Waseem in association with Lab Academia Book Reviewers group.