SUBJECT: 4/5
WRITING STYLE: 2.5/5
RELEVANCE: 4.5/5
ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 3/5
My Musings
Earlier this year I picked up a book titled “Happiness is All We Want”. It taught me a lot about life in general while majorly focusing on happiness.
While that book was pure non-fiction, the book in focus today is a fiction that attempts to teach us something about happiness.
Read on to know about my thoughts on my latest read, Buddhist Banker.
What to expect?
Buddhist Banker is an easy-breezy read which doesn’t have much to boast of. But even then, what it lacks in terms of the storyline, plot, characters, climax and writing style is compensated by the simple life-lessons that it teaches its readers.
So, while picking this book don’t expect a life-changing novel but expect a simple story that will introduce to the many dilemmas that face the modern generation.
In very simple terms, it is a moral story for adults that will no doubt influence anyone who decides to read it.
Let’s talk about the storyline
Siddharth is a high-flying investment banker whose only god is money. Money is his life, his motivation and unfortunately, the only thing that he cares about.
He doesn’t care if it is earned ethically or unethically. As long as he is minting it, the only thing that he is concerned about is the bottom-line.
Siddhartha’s dreamy world is soon about to shatter. He will soon be caught up in a whirlpool of events that will set him on a path of inner transformation.
This book is the journey of Siddharth from being a man of money to being a man of virtue.
How good are the characters?
There are two ways I would want to evaluate the characters of the book –
(1) the character development itself was average as there wasn’t much visible effort or thought that was put into it,
(2) a few characters by themselves were quite inspiring.
Siddharth, who is also the protagonist of the story, is a guy whom everybody would immediately get invested in (pun intended). He is a guy who is able to evoke feelings from both ends of the spectrum.
The reader might find herself hating him, pitying him and in the end admiring him. He is that “one thing” that makes this book work.
What about the author’s writing style?
Kandarp Gandhi relies on a language that is simple and easy (sometimes rather too simple for a regular reader).
The main focus of the book isn’t on making it entertaining but on making it inspirational.
However, when little to no attention is paid to the other aspects of book writing, the book often becomes monotonous and dull. This is what happens to Buddhist Banker.
Was the climax good enough?
The climax of Buddhist Banker is a mediocre one. The reader is almost entirely able to guess the outcome of the story.
I understand that the story demands such a climax but even then, I would have loved it if the author had included some plot twists or surprise elements towards the end.
What I liked?
Buddhist Banker has a very important lesson for everyone. This becomes especially relevant in times like these when we are so often caught up in the modern-day rat race that we often forget to live and breathe. Even after slogging for days on end, we are not happy.
It’s commendable how in such a short span of time and with the help of such a simple yet profound story, the book manages to influence the reader and guide (if not push) her on the correct path to happiness.
What I did not like?
Apart from the amateurish writing, the book also has a few editing errors which make the readers’ job all the more difficult.
There is a huge scope for character development in this book, which sadly is left unexplored. Certain scenes and actions of some people did not add up logically. Some particular sequences felt out of place and were quite unrealistic.
Summing it all up, there were a lot of places where the book and writing could have used a little help.
It all boils down to the entertainment quotient
My overall experience of reading this book was mediocre. While I did not expect it to be a literary read, I was certainly disappointed with the blotchy writing and plain-jane storyline.
I did enjoy the latter half of the book which is enriching and thought-provoking but it wasn’t enough to make it an entertaining read.
Pick up the book
- If you are looking for an easy breezy read.
- If you are looking for an inspirational read.
- If you are looking for a book that teaches you something about life and happiness.
- If you are a beginner level reader.
Skip the book
- If amateurish writing is not your thing.
- If you are looking for a literary read.
- If you are a regular/voracious reader.
- If you aren’t comfortable with financial jargons and stock market technicalities.
Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of Buddhist Banker using the link below.
