Sunday, Jul 14, 2024 08:45 [IST]
Last Update: Sunday, Jul 14, 2024 03:17 [IST]
Author: Lata Gwalani
Publisher: ? Vishwakarma Publication
Lata Gwalani’s Not Before You is the
story of Jaya and her special-needs child, Nikhil, who suffers from a rare
disease that prevents him from sitting, standing, or speaking. It is also about
the sacrifices that Jaya and Suraj (Jaya's husband) have to make while taking
care of Nikhil and the repercussions on their relationships.
Considering the book's theme, I wondered how the
story would be able to maintain reader intrigue till the end, but Ms. Gwalani
does a wonderful job at that. I loved how the story starts with the
perspectives of Jaya, Suraj, and Divya (Jaya's daughter) in the present and
then moves to the past to develop their backstories.
I feel that the narration of the past is the
strongest part of the book. It enables Ms. Gwalani to develop the characters in
detail. The relationship between Jaya, a media person, and Suresh, a yoga guru,
is unique, and the nuances in the bond are excellently portrayed. The
challenges the couple faced at the beginning of their married life are
interesting, and I found myself invested in the story.
The shock of the parents and their families when
Nikhil is diagnosed with the illness and how they cope with that is real and
heartbreaking. And their relief when their second child is declared normal is
so well-written that it brought tears to my eyes. The pacing is also excellent
throughout, and I never felt bored.
The characters are well-developed; they possess
a fair share of flaws, yet they are relatable. Jaya and Suraj, in particular,
are brilliantly written and undergo significant development throughout the
book. I also felt for Divya and her feelings of abandonment. The secondary
characters of Jaya's mother and Mary are also well-written and play significant
roles in the story.
The language, as I expected, is perfect—simple
and lucid, with a sprinkling of delectable wordplay and luscious metaphors and
similes. Ms. Gwalani never disappoints when it comes to delivering
near-flawless prose.
However, during the second half, I felt that a
couple of narrative decisions slightly hampered the overall impact of the book.
One, instead of using the perspective of Death to convey emotions, if it had
been done organically, the emotions would have probably felt more genuine and
resonated even more strongly with the readers. Two, the mother-daughter relationship
needed a proper closure. Ms. Gwalani almost provided that in one scene but
chose not to elaborate. I understand the reason behind that—it was to make the
story more realistic—but I feel it would have been better if she had elaborated
on it.
However, the ending is exceptional. I loved the
twist towards the end, which completes the arc of Suraj beautifully, giving him
purpose. And Ms. Gwalani ties all loose ends well. It is a satisfying ending.
Overall, Not Before You is a brilliantly written
book about an important, sensitive topic. I have to salute the protagonist,
Jaya; she is such a strong woman. As Ms. Gwalani mentions in the book—parents
of special-needs children like Nikhil are superheroes. It was an illuminating
experience to read the book and learn about the challenges parents like Jaya
face in their lives.
I would highly recommend this important book to
all readers. Although 'Prisoners of Secrets' is still her best work, 'Not
Before You' comes a close second.