PLOT: 3.5/5 CHARACTERS: 3.5/5 WRITING STYLE: 3.5/5 CLIMAX: 4.5/5 ENTERTAINMENT: 3.5/5
‘Travel light philosophy, again?’ asked Ram. ‘In the last few years, I have realized that this philosophy works well for the markets, but not for real life. In real life, however heavy the loved ones are, we need to carry them along.’”
– T. Sathish Long Run: A Paradise Augmented
My Musings
It was almost seven years ago that I read Pulkit Ahuja’s Googled by God, a story that revolved around financial markets. Though I’ve forgotten most of it now, I do remember enjoying the book and giving it a decent rating.
Since then, I have read several books on finance, markets, and financial wisdom, but none that weaves the markets into a fictional story. At least not until I came across T. Sathish’s Long Run: A Paradise Augmented.
But Long Run: A Paradise Augmented is not just a story about financial markets. It has much more to offer to anyone who decides to pick it up. Read on to know more about the book and my review of it.
What to expect?
Expect a book that teaches you a thing or two about life, friendships, love, family, and ambition. Expect a book that combines fast-paced narration, multiple timelines, relatable characters, and a self-help guide all in one. For someone who loves taking inspiration from fictional tales, Long Run surely has a lot to offer.
Also, expect a book that teaches one to never give up and never lose sight of true friends. It can also be hailed as a book that urges you to find that delicate balance between ambition and happiness.
Who can read?
The book is written in a language that can be comprehended by beginner-level readers. However, there are technical jargons, market trends, and financial know-how that would make it a little challenging for those without a stock market background.
The story as it goes
A young Raghu gets into his dream college while also managing to impress the girl of his dreams. Life sails like a smooth ride. Diligent, ambitious, and intelligent, Raghu manages to create many opportunities for himself by the sheer force of his zeal.
Success courts Raghu at quite a young age, and his escalation into the wonderful world of finance is fast and dizzying. But just when Raghu seems to have everything, life throws him a curveball. A fatal accident changes his life forever by leaving him visually handicapped. Not just that, it also snatches away everything that Raghu has worked hard for.
Will Raghu manage to get his success back?
What price he would pay as the cost of his ambition and greed?
Will he be back in the Long Run?
How good are the characters?
In Raghu, Ram, and Anu’s characters, we see great depth and versatility. While Anu and Ram are focused and driven, their success doesn’t demand sacrificing personal relationships at its altar. But, on the other hand, Raghu, a sort of prodigy when it comes to studying and working in the markets, gives in to greed and loses sight of what really matters in the Long Run.
All three teach us major life lessons. Being relatable and working in situations that most young Indians can associate with, comes as a bonus.
What about the writing style?
The writing style weaves different timelines and plotlines into a cohesive whole. The whole thing may take a little while to get into, but once you do, the rides only keep getting better. The overall style is complex yet coherent. One frequently jumps timelines, often after every couple of pages. This adds to the pace, mystery, and intrigue, all of which the book manages to serve in generous doses.
What did I like?
The author writes about the stock markets (especially the decades of the 1990s and 2000s) like someone who revers the markets and worships everything about them. This kind of in-depth understanding and knowledge reflects well in the story and is a boon for any reader who enjoys financial markets and market history.
Also, in the garb of fiction, Long Run: A Paradise Augmented manages to impart some beautiful and relevant life lessons.
What could have been better?
The cover image renders a retro kind of vibe to the book. At the first glance, it feels more like a book about high-end financial fraud or money laundering, or some ugly business-market nexus. It doesn’t gel well with the story that is being told.
Further, the switches between different timelines could have been more streamlined.
Is the climax good?
The climax hits you and hits you hard. There is no doubt that it comes as a surprise but that surprise is also delivered in a manner that renders the reader speechless. And that is saying something!
It all comes down to entertainment
Yes, Long Run: A Paradise Augmented does serve entertainment in generous doses, especially to those readers who enjoy stories of success, comebacks, finance, and other geeky stuff. Coming from an educational background in finance, this was the part that appealed to me the most.
The nascent stages of the Indian markets, the sceptical approach of traditional watchers towards the technological boom, and the way Raghu predicted the bull run and rode high on the resulting success. Also, the way Indian and world markets interacted with each other. Reading all of that was a definite bonus for me.
In the end
In the end, Long Run: A Paradise Augmented narrates the riveting story of an ambitious young man who loses everything just when he had all the success that he ever wanted. It is a story that inspires but one that also warns. Coming with an urgent message on work-life balance and on treading the fine line between personal relationships and greed for success, it is a book that is fast-paced and relatable, serving loads of intrigue, drama, and entertainment.
Pick the book if
You like success stories.
The idea of a book about finance and financial markets appeals to you.
You are looking for a book that offers masala entertainment – love, friendships, drama, and thrill.
Skip the book if
If you are looking for a conventional romance.
If you do not understand financial markets nor are interested in a novel that revolves around them.
Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of Long Run: A Paradise Augmented using the link below.
