3 Review(s)

Life Less Ordinary chronicles the story of a boy born in a lower-middle-class family in the erstwhile undivided India. He, along with his family, not only witnesses the profound pain of the Partition, it also is a deeply-scarring and traumatic experience, changing their lives dramatically. On reaching India, the family settles down in a nondescript town in their desperate attempt for survival. In a harrowing environment, they start life afresh. The protagonist, Malhotra, grows up in an atmosphere of scarcity. He sets a goal for himself which he gets down to achieve. As he grows, he develops a fiery spirit to follow his dreams and live life on his own terms. During Malhotra’s journey the author vividly shows his internal conflicts and makes him invariably take the road less travelled. The leitmotif running across the book is principled living, even at the cost of putting one’s life at stake. Set mainly in the 1900s, the book captures the essence of Malhotra’s character as a restless soul always propelled by his desire to look for the deeper truth, greater meaning and more fulfilling connections. As a consequence, he devotes the rest of his life for altruistic purpose, where he finds fulfillment. The story is loosely knit around the experiences drawn from the author’s own life. It is a story well told and many readers will see their reflection in it.