Vijay Kannan Writes...

Vijay Kannan

Vijay Kannan, Senior Trade Analyst, Swedish Trade Commission, New Delhi.

"This one starts off on different plane, literally! For once you start this one; you would never feel like dropping it off. It is so distinctively peculiar in writing style and treatment. As the author gets ready to board his flight to US, it becomes so descriptive that the reader feels as if he is traveling along with the author. Hence, you get a feel of those last minutes before departure, the ‘goodbye’ time, the ‘check-in’ formalities, the take off …you have it all!

There is an amazing detail put into the description of minor customary things that even they become a statutory part of the story itself. For example, the author makes fun of aged Airhostesses of the American Airlines, this jolly banter continuing even as he travels in his forward journey in local US flights.

There is  use of lighthearted sarcasm, subtle humor and few remarks on the socio-political and economic differences between the two countries. This being illustrated through such dialogues,

“

“Post 9/11, everything going to America was being monitored; I was speculating if they could monitor an evil mind!”

“Perhaps he wanted to ask me” why you here and what are you going to do to make America happy?”

I wanted to say, “I was here to rediscover America just like Christopher Columbus did a few hundred years ago!”

Through the initial chapters the readers also gets an idea of how this journey is of great importance to the author and his family. Moreover, he also generates a little mystic about how his life could possibly change in this tour, this being characterized by such statements.

“I craved with a mouthful of sky, what if we could swap our seats as well as our final destinations!
Perhaps, it was destined otherwise.”

“It had taken more than 27 years and 16 hours to make this landing.I let out a relentless sigh of reprieve and liberation,
‘A small step for man… a giant step for mankind!’ “

As we progress further, the readers gets thoroughly fixed into the life of the author in America, his initial days in a hotel, his new apartment, his colleagues and his office life.

From there on, it’s a roller coaster ride which just not ceases to give you a breath until you are on the last page. In between, you feel, you laugh, you cry , you jump and you enjoy every bit of the feeling that the author projects. You actually “Live” each moment. And that I think is the highlight of this very artistically crafted piece of the story.

The author would leave you high and dry at the very last page of this book....you just cant wait for the next part..."whats gonna happen next"....it weaves sheer magic !!

Come on Sumran, give us the next ..."