Friday, November 21, 2014

Love Lasts Forever - Book Review



Love Lasts Forever
By Vikrant Khanna
Review By Ila Garg

Love Lasts Forever is a novel by Vikrant Khanna (Bestselling author of When Life Tricked Me), and is published by Srishti Publishers. The book has an attractive cover designed by Wasim Helal. The bright green color looks lovely and the wedding rings clearly indicating the romance that leads to marriage. The title is tempting, clearly arousing reader interest – Love Lasts Forever… only if you don’t marry your love. The tag line raises a lot of questions and for the answers, we of course have to turn the pages of this beautifully presented book.

The author, Vikrant Khanna is a sailor by profession and a writer by passion. He lives in Delhi with his family. He is also a keen guitarist who composes his own songs and is adept at cooking. Love Lasts Forever is his third novel.

The blurb reads as, ‘So you think your love can last forever…? Get married!

Eighteen-year-old Ronit falls madly in love with Aisha the moment he meets her at his graduation day from a naval college. He believes he has found his perfect soul mate, and come what may, his love for her will last forever. Seven years later, he gets married to her. Big mistake! A week later, he completely hates her and believes she has turned into a devil.

But his perception about love and life change when he hears the poignant love story of Shekhar, his Captain, on a ship that later gets hijacked by the pirates of Somalia.

As they are left fighting for their lives; they confront if love truly can last forever…? But does it get too late.’

Initial impressions of the book from the title, cover, and the blurb – an endearing romantic novel…! And yes, it lives up to your expectations by giving you just that – pure romance with several twists.

The plot can be summed up in few lines as: The story starts on a ship (almost reminded me of The Pirates of Caribbean). Ronit, the main protagonist and the narrator of this enthralling romance fiction, seems quite interested in his captain’s Shekhar love life. He probes him to tell his story and finally the captain opens up. While he sits listening to his love story (Warning: indeed love is painful), he himself get several flashbacks of his own life; he is reminded of his love at first sight moment with Aisha, their filmy romance, how the love bids finally got married and then it ended in a tragedy when he realized that Aisha is not the same as she used to be before marriage. In the midst of all these events, revolves another plot in which the pirates of Somalia take over the ship and it gets hijacked. Some more twists and turns, bring us to the climax of this book.

The way the author has developed the story is indeed something to look out for. It seems plain on the surface but the plot gets interesting mid-way. The author hasn’t much disappointed the readers much, however there is nothing extraordinary that he delivers. We have ample love stories doing rounds in literary industry! Yet he has managed to write with a difference. Errors are bound to occur when there is so much of intermingling taking place – two love stories, different settings, pirates hijacking the ship, etc.

The 248 page book is a perfect quick read where readers will enjoy reading, and not find it boring. I mainly loved the book because of the plot that is so built up really well. In the scenario where Indian Writing Industry is flooded with writers who seldom know how to write, Vikrant Khanna’s Love Lasts Forever changes the perception. Except for few grammatical and spelling errors, it was pretty much a flawless reading!

The urge to reach the climax, kept me hooked all the time. The language and pace is comfortable for all the readers. A satisfactory work by the author. 

The too many twists in the plot is just one of the reasons you want to keep turning the pages to find out what happens in Love Lasts Forever. To find out whether or not Ronit will be saved from the pirates, why Ronit gets so engrossed in his captain’s life story, will he ever be able to make up with Aisha, is Aisha really changed, does marriage really change people, is love always lost in marriage,; you will have to read the novel.

I recommend this book to all those who love reading romance fictions, to those who love this particular genre, and to those who are looking for something to read during their travel time. Yes, because it won’t take much of your time.

‘Yay’ Factors: The cover, story line, narrative.

‘Nay’ Factors: The climax comes too fast, it could have been more detailed.

Rating: 3/5

This (Unbiased) book review is a part of "The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program". To get free books log on to thereaderscosmos.blogspot.com. Thanks Nimi Vashi for giving me the opportunity to read such a nice book!

Buying Links: Amazon | Flipkart | Infibeam | Landmark | Crossword

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