Botopsy rating: 5/5
Shortlisted for JCB Prize for Literature 2019, this novel depicts a love story and a story about Mumbai. The author portrays Mumbai as a breathing soul narrating its story through the changing relationships of the characters.
It was easy to believe that a mother’s love was unconditional, which made it alright to challenge her, correct her, laugh at her. Fathers were more complicated. Their love, once earned, had to be sustained. It had to be sheltered from the glare of truth.
― Amrita Mahale, Milk Teeth
About the book
- Title: Milk Teeth.
- Author: Amrita Mahale.
- Length of the book: 320 pages long.
- Genre: Fiction/ Romance.
- Theme(s): Nostalgia, Modernisation, Change and Prejudice.
- Trigger Warning: None.
Outline:
Set in the 1990s, this book is the story of two childhood friends, Ira and Kartik who parted ways 11 years ago. After 11 years they meet again on the terrace of their building, Asha Niwas. And on the terrace, a meeting is in progress to decide the fate of Asha Niwas and its residents.
Ira is a relentless journalist and Kartik works at an MNC. Both Ira and Kartik lead secretive life. One trying to push back memories of an ex and the other struggling with their identity. Around them throbs Mumbai, the city of heaving inequities and limitless dreams.
My Review
Plot and Writing:
The plot of this book follows an unrequited love story of Ira and Kartik. But essentially it is a story of lust and much more. I enjoyed the plot and writing. The author takes her time in this book, slowly setting the scenarios for the readers. I was interested and hooked to the book, but till the end didn’t quite get where the plot was heading. And suddenly this book picked up the pace and I was shocked.
Many books fail to provide a suitable ending to their characters, which inevitably weighs down the book. This is clearly not the case for Milk Teeth. Just when you’d feel monotonous, the author presents a different version of events. This will keep you hooked. Finally, the “actual ending” is left to the reader’s imagination—my favorite type of climax.
Characters:
I wonder how the author came up with such diverse characters. With their strengths and flaws, they felt soo real. I was rooting for Ira throughout the book. Also, I should not forget the buildings and Mumbai city when I talk about characters. Because this book is just as much, if not more, about the buildings and the city as it is about the characters.
Final Verdict:
Milk Teeth by Amrita Mahale is an acute and engrossing story. I cannot point out any trait of this book that I did not like. With its beautiful plot and real characters, this book recounts how the city reshaped from Bombay to Mumbai and subtly scorns the class disparity of the 90s. It is an absolute gem!
More books like Milk Teeth:
According to Goodreads, more books like this book are
- Bombay Balchao by Jane Borges
- Paper Moon by Rehana Munir
- There’s Gunpowder in the Air by Manoranjan Byapari
This was my review on the book Milk Teeth by Amrita Mahale. If you have read the book then please let me know how you felt about it in the comments section. Until then, Happy Reading🧡 ~Botopsy
BOTOPSY 