There were two main reasons I chose to read this book. One is that read very few India based or Indian- origin author books in any given year. The other is because the author and I share a name, although that doesn’t mean anything in particular, it’s still a point to note.

The book is not a small one and it took a while to get going, but once it did, it was very engrossing. I had to know what happened and was mildly apprehensive about what I might discover, but the author did not add any embellishments for the sake of shock value, something I appreciated. The style was new as well. The narrative goes back and forth in a symmetric fashion. Every sweep of an older time includes the view point of yet another member of the large cast of people we meet within these pages. This helps us not only meet someone properly but also get a whole other perspective on the events we thought we knew something about.

Our lead protagonist is a shy young woman. Her shyness defines her so strongly that it takes us multiple people’s viewpoint to get how important that fact is for us to know. I will not go into individual people and their tangents because there are quite a few, but none of them are superfluous. Each tangent emphasizes either Malika’s story or provides a window into a time and place in India.

This is a love story as well with some loose ends that hint at a probable continuation while also working well as a separate story.

I got more out of this book than I thought I would but I also thought some of the tangents could have been shorter because I got impatient at times to move back to the original central plot. The size of the book didn’t help that feeling. I will definitely recommend the author and pick up anything else she writes.

I would highly recommend this book to people who want to read a book based in 1970s India.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience

So, I didn't expect to love this novel as much as I did. I went in with a little trepidation that it would be trope-filled and lengthy -- and it definitely was long, but utterly absorbing. It was uneven at times, and I lost my patience a bit with reliving the same timelines where sometimes not much was added, but any time I put it down, I wanted to go back to it. I couldn't tell if the loose storylines at the end were setting up a sequel or purposeful. I think, if the latter, it works well nonetheless (even though the mystery of Jalpari is heartbreaking).

Fear and Lovely by Anjana Appachana is a story set in New Delhi in the 70s. Told from multiple POVs, this is a story of love, longing, and healing. Unfortunately, at 480 pages, it is too long…sigh! Almost never-ending!

Appachana covers various themes, such as mental health, assault, sexuality, morality, perceptions, and societal pressure. She paints a beautiful picture of Delhi from the 70s and 80s. The camaraderie between neighbours, exchanging of dabbas, sharing a telephone connection with people living next door, lives of middle-class families, and their struggles are brought out wonderfully.

The unwavering bond Mallika’s mother has with her tribe is beyond beautiful. Mallika’s relationship with her childhood friends is so pure and strong.

Unfortunately, the narrative style was a huge dampener. I didn’t like reading about the same set of events from varied POVs. Frankly, it was quite irritating. I understand it’s a valuable tool and gives the readers a closer view of each character’s thoughts, fears, and worries. Just didn’t work for me!

Though Fear and Lovely was a dud for me, I wish the author the very best.

I received an advance review copy from Netgalley and Verve Books. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Wordsopedia Rating – 2/5

New Delhi in the 1970s is the backdrop for this engaging story of a family and their trials to make a good life for themselves. The treatment of women and the hiding of mental health issues makes this eye-opening account of India, and especially of the character Mallika and her challenges in this environment.

Pleasant read about friendship and love, family and secrets, set in Delhi in the late 70s and early 80s.
Touching on the role of women, mental health and the political situation, it's a slow but engaging book.