Blurb View:

In a nation where most women are taught to be submissive at every stage in life, Maya stands out. In a society that finds fault in women for heinous crimes like rape, Maya stands up. Maya and Rajat fall in love while they study at IIT Kanpur, their daughter Sejal only makes the bond stronger even after years of marriage. Life is almost perfect when two petty criminals decide to make her fairy tale life a tale of horror and fear with their intention of molesting her. Will she be able to fight her fate while Rajat is away and save herself and her five-year-old? Will she be able to undo all stereotypes and face the male-dominated society after that fateful night? Will Rajat stand up with her as she decides to battle her fears and take the culprits to their just punishment? Its Never Too Late is a story of every woman who decides to fight her fears and even destiny of every human who chooses the right over the easy of every wife who shoulders all responsibilities of the house and of every mother who is unwavering in her resolve to ensure that her daughter grows up in a safer world.

Review:

Rape. Molestation. Sexual Abuse. Attack. These are the words each woman in India dreads today. Increasing cases every day, rather every hour, creep into our TV channels and newspapers. Every woman is livid each time they go out on the streets. But danger doesn’t lurk only on the streets, it can inch it’s way inside your house too. That’s what happens with Maya, the protagonist of It’s Never Too Late.

In this post-Romance-genre era of Indian Literature, we have a book that touches the most relevant issue in India these days. What does a woman do when she’s alone and attacked inside her own house? How does she protect herself and her daughter? How does she overcome her fear? In the book, Maya has a loving husband Rajat and a pretty little daughter Sejal. She’s a happy woman, bound within the wings of her wonderful family. Snippets from her life are framed into scenes and described to the readers – from her student self at IIT to the wife and mother that she becomes later.

The author has shown maturity in choosing the most sensitive issue of women abuse in her debut novel. Many writers begin with ‘feel-good’ books to be popular with the readers and then catch up on complex matters. I’m glad that the author here wanted to portray difficult situations and emotions in her book. Incidentally, the plot is probably the best factor here. The cover and core idea are interesting and attractive enough for the readers to pick the book.

I have reservations with the simplistic writing though. The first few chapters have a look and feel of Maya’s journal at IIT, rather being the parlance of her meeting Rajat. I didn’t like too many details of IIT and it’s structure, it felt more of an advertisement than a premise. The dialogues could have been a little more personal; at times they seem to be too curt. Editing is again quite a poor show here, there are punctuation errors in the first page itself, followed by generous grammatical and typographical errors.

Read it for the plot, if you may. It will at least help you learn to curb your fears and fight for yourself.

My Rating: 2.5/5

About the Author:

Priyanka Baranwal is a freelance writer, poet and blogger. She is a science graduate and a diploma holder in Teacher Training and Textile Designing. She has been a well-appreciated teacher and has also worked with an NGO in Bangalore. She loves music, literature, writing and travelling. Originally from Mirzapur (U.P.), It’s Never Too Late is her debut novel.

Book Details:

Language: English,  Genre: Fiction/Drama

Author(s): Priyanka Baranwal

Publisher: Srishti, Year Published: 2014 January

Binding: Paperback, Edition: First, Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 9789382665083,  ISBN-10: 9382665080

Reviewed for: Writersmelon

This review is also shared with the Indian Quills Reading Challenge at The Tales Pensieve and the First Reads Challenge at b00kr3vi3ws.

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