The Fragrance of Rose - Book Review

The Fragrance of Rose: Beauty. Dignity. Ambition
By Chirajit Paul
Review By Ila Garg

The Fragrance of Rose, a novel by Chirajit Paul, is published by Srishti Publishers and Distributors. The cover is so apt which shows a girl who is looking in the mirror. The girl has a red rose tattooed on her back. With such an interesting cover, I was sure it would not disappoint me.

Born in Kolkata in 1973, Chirajit graduated from Calcutta University before undertaking training in Chartered Accountancy. After having worked in various capacities across Finance and System domains he is currently associated with a global consulting firm as an Enterprise Application specialist.

Chirajit always had a keen interest in all visual and storytelling art forms and possesses professional certificate in commercial and applied arts. He is an ardent observer of political and social affairs, which often finds reflection in his writing. He prefers to call himself a novelist because his fast paced action packed ideas are often spread across large canvases cutting through geographies, cultures and languages—which he thinks cannot be justifiably captured within limiting word formats. However, he loves to read short stories and wants to do some work in that space someday. He also loves to experiment with his work and is keen to explore into various genres. Chirajit lives in Kolkata with his journalist wife and daughter.

The blurb reads as, “Rinita Bose is an ordinary middle class girl with extraordinary beauty and unmatched aspirations. While chasing her dreams, she comes face to face with harsh realities. That's how she learns the valuable lesson – what most men really want. In a twist of fate, she picks up enmity with a powerful man and flees the city. She switches careers and hides her identity behind the garb of Rose to make a place in Bollywood. She earns money, fame, adulation and success. But love eludes her. She witnesses the darkness of life in a drunkard father, a lecherous boss, a scheming producer and a friend who wants to take advantage. But then there are those that she can rely on in the worst of situations, her friends from childhood who stand by her through thick and thin. Those who don't judge her; just love her unconditionally. Will Rinita be able to find the love she craves for? Or will she be mercilessly crushed for The Fragrance of Rose.”

An ambitious girl named Rinita Bose is the protagonist of this novel. She is beautiful, dignified and a strong character, thus, justifying the tagline—Beauty. Dignity. Ambition. Over the course of the story, she faces a lot of challenges. Being a woman in a patriarchal society adds to her challenges. Soon, she realises how men function and what they want. She flees when she is embittered by a man. She disguises and in due course of her life, she becomes highly successful. The author has given a detailed description of Darjeeling, which acts as an USP for the book. Rom-coms are filled up in the market, but a romance thriller is something new and intriguing.

Writing from the point of view of a girl isn’t that easy for a guy and yet the author did a fairly good job at it. The lucidity of the story is commendable. The description of Darjeeling is very artistically done. The language is kept simple and easy to comprehend for the readers. The punchlines are the strongest point of the narrative.

Who is Rinita, what will happen to her, will she ever find someone she can put her trust in, how the author has balanced romance and thriller, how the author has painted a beautiful picture of Darjeeling are some of the many reasons why you will keep turning the pages to find out what happens in The Fragrance of Rose.

This 240-page book is a light read, especially during travel it can be a good companion. I wish Chirajit Paul all the best for his future endeavours.

Ratings: 4/5

Buying Link: Amazon