You may find that it is difficult for one to place 'An Other Tale of Two Cities' in any one single genre. It actually
spans across genres; Love (Triangular Love), Sports (Table Tennis), Young Adult
Achievers, Action and Adventure, Politics (Domestic, International and
Diplomacy), Culture and Tradition (compare and contrast Indian and Chinese
Culture and Modernization) and of course Science, as there is as much science as in a
science fiction, but made simple for everyone to follow. The most important
aspect of the book is that it balances all the affairs very clearly and
without confusion.
While there is enough action, adventure and thrill to keep the reader on a roller coaster ride, the novel is also compelling for it contrasts the characters and cultures; friendship and families; personalities and politics - across two modern rivals that are great civilizations themselves. There is something for every reader and each one's
expectations would be more than fulfilled through out the
book. At the same time, there is excitement and fun at every phase of the
book that the reader can look forward to.
Of course, at the end of the reading, the reader will find Love
and Sacrifice and family life in India to stand out over the rest of the story
lines. The reader will find the characters and the drama etched in their mind
for a long time. The mature conversations between the two close friends Joy and
Li'll'y and how they resolve their love for the same man (Kool); the
conversations at the Bristo Bar at Shanghai between Kool and Li'll'y where
Li'll'y goads Kool and Joy not to give up and to participate in the next 'Games';
the diplomatic stand-off and resolutions of issues between Shastry and Lt. Gen Ping; all of
them would enrich the minds of the readers word by word. If one thought that
the lack of focus on one single genre or two is a negative, it could be the
most positive aspect of 'An Other Tale of Two Cities' and could be the ultimate reason for it's success.
If one who reviews the book wondered what influenced my book, here's a
ready list;
!) A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
!) The Old Man and The Sea - Earnest Hemingway
!) Gone with the Wind - MArgaret Mitchel
!) To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
!) Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
!) Godfather - Mario Puzo
!) Airport - Arthur Hailey
!) A Stone for Danny Fisher - Harold Robbins
!) The Bachelor of Arts - R. K. Narayan
!) Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
!) Possession - AS Byatt
!) The DaVinci Code - Dan Brown
!) The Good Earth - Pearl S Buck
!) The Mahabharata - An Indian Epic
!) Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
... and many more...
I am not comparing 'An Other Tale of Two Cities' with any of
these greats; it's a very different novel with totally different characters and
different settings, written in a different style. But I can sense that that it
will appeal to the readers of the above books. Let us say that if you thought
that most of these books could be brought under a common genre 'Literature',
then 'An Other Tale of Two Cities could be bracketed in that section of the
library, especially for the rich characterizations, the thought provoking
conversations and the positive winning story lines, telling imagination and
flowing narrations, through out.
