SUBJECT: 3/5
CANDIDNESS: 3/5
HUMOUR: 3.5/5
RELATABILITY: 3.5/5
ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 3/5
My
Musings
I always enjoy books that talk about life and when such books are sprinkled with just the right amount of humour, well, I am in for a treat.
I recently had an opportunity to read a book which tells us tales (fictional and non-fictional) of a woman in her 30s. The fact that the author is a doctor and observes everything around her with a “medically-tinted” view adds to the rich tapestry of musings that the book is.
Read on to know more about my thoughts on Mridula AM’s 30+ Everything: Tales of a Woman in her Thirties, a book that gives us insights into the life of a working woman in her thirties.
What
to expect?
30+ Everything is a short read which mostly comprises of anecdotes, musings, rantings, funny tales and experiences that are born as a result of the author’s interaction with her surroundings.
Expect a generous dose of worldly wisdom, general observations, philosophical musings and well-intentioned gyan that the author selects to share with her readers.
Consequently, also expect the book to be a fun-filled and short read which reads very much like a short fiction or a novella.
What
about the writing style?
The author makes use of a simple language and writes in an easy breezy manner. Her stories are relatable and she has this uncanny ability to establish a connection with the reader right from the very start.
She makes use of a good dose of and sarcasm to spice up her life stories and rantings.
The book is a short read and is further divided into really short chapters of 2 to 5 pages each. This in turns makes it a very fast paced read which can be comfortably done in a span of 2 to 3 hours.
I like how 30+ Everything reads like fiction and is a perfect combination of philosophical musings, comical rantings, minute observations and on-the-go life mantras.
Besides being entertaining, it does teach you a thing or two about life and its many eccentricities.
What
did I like?
The best part for me was how the book constantly shuffles between two contradictory stances – the “devil may care” attitude and the “you gotta face it” attitude.
It only shows how flawlessly human the author’s writing style is. This makes the book all the more relatable because that’s how most people are – constantly shuffling between the two ends of a pendulum.
What
did I not like?
If there is one thing that deserves to be mentioned here, it is that the book could have done with a bit of proofreading and editing. There are a few editing mistakes that somehow manage to dull its spark.
In addition to this, the cover of the book can also do with a makeover. At the first look, it fails to evoke any kind of interest in the reader. dull, bland and visually unappealing.
It
all boils down to the entertainment quotient
In the end, there is a lot that this book has to offer and there is a thing or two to be learned from it. That the book is funny and sarcastic in the right way is yet another feather in its cap.
Also, as stated earlier, it is very relatable and will appeal to at least half of India’s population (all women will eventually turn 30 or must already have) especially those who have a doctor’s degree to their credit.
If not for a few editing mistakes here and there, I would have rated the book 3.5 stars because for me it was surely an amusing read.
Pick
up the book
- If you are looking for a light-hearted candid read.
- If reading about people and their life stories amuse you.
- If you want to know about the life of a woman in her 30s.
- If you are a married woman in your 30s.
Skip
the book
- If you are looking for a literary read.
- If the idea of a 30 something woman sharing her life stories doesn’t appeal to you.
Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of 30+ Everything using the link below.
