There are some books that are written so well that you don’t have words to describe them. One among them would definitely be, The Last Song of Dusk by author Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi.
It is an outrageously original novel by a writer of enormous talent. The author has also penned several notable books like The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay & The Rabbit and the Squirrel. The paperback comes with loss, marriage, betrayal, and friendship.
These are mostly the ideal recipe for a contemporary fiction book based in Bombay. The author has given his characters ample heartache. You can find that out, once you are done with the book.
You can still feel the pain in their bodies & souls. It is so well-written that you feel as if the author is telling you about your loss. When you have lost somebody who is near to you, then you can understand what is being conveyed.
The erotic love story happens in Mumbai about a normal family life. Anuradha marries Vardhmaan and relocates to Bombay. Though their lives are moving like any couple, their first child dies.
This causes both of them to lead separate lives. However, they want to give another try at their relationship. They are joined by Nandini, who has her own evil schemes planned for them. Being his debut novel, he managed to make an award-winning one, which is truly incredible.
It may evoke whiffs of all of them, however, the book is nobody’s love child. The book is witty and miserably sad as well. The book runs like a carnival ride, which is typical of Shanghvi’s writing style.
The post-colonial tragedy is not too slow, but just with the right amount of flavour. You do not want to hurry up with the book, otherwise, you may miss out on what the author is trying to communicate with you. The book runs wild with erotica, magical-realist flights, and unravels a fever.
The Indian fiction writer is truly one of those who can weave his magic through literary & Indian writing pieces. When you are inclined to read a book that can throw you off your chair or sofa, then read this powerful book.
The illustrations, though simple, are breathtaking and the characters are spellbound. As you read the novel, you get a feeling that the author is accessible and somewhat smart in his decision-making.
He has beautifully summarized life itself in so much depth through this book. Some readers immensely feel that this work of art should have won the Pulitzer Prize.
About the author
You will be delighted to know that this book is a number one best-seller in India. Moreover, it has received a Betty Trask Award for debut novels in the United Kingdom. He likes to indulge in photography during his free time.
Some of his noted works include The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay, and The Last Song of Dusk, which was one of his first novels and has been translated into 10 languages.
Conclusion
The Last Song of Dusk is a terrifically written book by Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi. The author can enable the readers to see the situation with immense clarity. This feature is there only in a handful of Indian writers. Besides, his prose is such that you can understand the pain of losing somebody who is dear to you. This book is a must-read.
