The Way Home

PANKAJ GIRI

Author: Shalini Mullick

Publisher ?: ? Readomania Publishing, New Delhi

The Way Home revolves around three characters—Anya, reeling from the abrupt demise of her elder sister; Neel, lost in the shadows of his overachieving parents; and Roy, grappling with a suffocating food allergy and a recent heartbreak—as their paths cross in Goa. The story is about the characters battling their demons and trying to find their way in life in the company of their newfound friends.

The plot is interesting from the start, thanks to the brilliant introduction of the characters. It is a simple, linear story without many twists, turns, or secrets, yet the strength of the characters ensures that your interest never wanes.

The characters are instantly likable, and they develop beautifully throughout the book, and you feel as if you are growing with the characters. You feel their pain and want them to find happiness. Using sufficient backstories, good dialogues, and an intimate portrayal of their thoughts and feelings, Ms. Mullick fleshes the characters expertly. They have their share of flaws, making them real, but they are good people intrinsically, which makes you want to root for them.

The descriptions are vivid, transporting you to the gorgeous landscapes of Goa. The language is also simple and lucid, with suitable wordplay at the appropriate places. Ms. Mullick uses the third person omniscient POV technique, which is difficult to execute as it is prone to the side effect called head-hopping, where the reader can get confused due to the constantly switching POVs. And unfortunately, I did experience that on numerous occasions throughout the book. Moreover, sometimes, due to the lack of dialogue or action tags, it is difficult to understand who is speaking.

These are minor issues, though, because the story is good, and the characters are lovable. The ending is also well done; all loose ends are tied up, and it brought a smile to my face. I highly recommend this book to readers who like smooth, well-written, thought-provoking fiction.