16 Comments
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Amshula Prakash's avatar

Sorry to inform you that this is not an 'aspirant’s perch on a lower branch'.

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Vikram Shah's avatar

Hahaha 💚💚

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Joonie's avatar

This made me melancholic and somewhat conflicted. Melancholic, because I have been trying to be more analogue (by talking, seeing and meeting people) in making sense of the world, of late. Conflicted, because somehow your words still felt balmy. And finally, I disagree that love is mutual haha.

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Vikram Shah's avatar

Thank you Joonie, this little note made my day!

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Tanuj Solanki's avatar

Wonderful essay, Vikram. I couldn't write this well even if I had a massive improvement spike. And I see why you had a 'hard relate' moment with my note yesterday.

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Vikram Shah's avatar

Thank you so much for reading, Tanuj. Means a lot because I'm inspired by your work (fiction and non-fiction) and the way you've gone about making it happen.

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Resh Susan's avatar

Lovely review! I really enjoyed reading through your well articulated thoughts. I actually read till the very end ( a rarity in these times). Also laughed at a few places (like this —"I’m also more familiar with the denouement when millennials realise they are as mediocre and uninteresting as the people they privately shit-talk"). This review made me miss writing. So I should say you are passing on the beacon of connection you felt with the collection 'Rejection'. Well written!

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Vikram Shah's avatar

Gosh thank you so much for reading. 'I read it till the end' has to be my favourite compliment — it feels hard-earned!

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Gowri N Kishore's avatar

I've never enjoyed a book review more while also walking away with a clear idea of what the book being reviewed is like while also not knowing how any of the stories will end. It's a hard-to-hit sweet spot, Vikram. Thank you.

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Vikram Shah's avatar

Wow, I'm so fired up by your comment, feel like writing more haha. Thank you very much for reading, Gowri!

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Ronak Gupta's avatar

I loved reading this Substack (post?). It even pushed me to read the entire book which I had been meaning to do for a while. I thought it was a blast!

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Vikram Shah's avatar

Thanks for reading Ronak. Yeah, fun! From his interviews and stuff, he sounds really funny IRL and it's cool how he blends the truth bombs with the humour

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Satyajit Rout's avatar

I just read The Feminist and, thanks to you, now know of Rejection. Based on the little of Tulathimutte that I've read, you're bang on pitting his excess against Coetzee's spartan style. Especially when both write in the third person. I'm happy that something triggered you to write this here and your point about your aspirant's perch is ironical. This piece is written with such a clear eye!

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Vikram Shah's avatar

Thank you for reading Satyajit! Means a lot that you liked it. And yes -- the third person thing!! I can't think of third person without thinking of Coetzee

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Rohan Banerjee's avatar

Excellent! 'Actual' writing may be happening elsewhere, but equally, writing anywhere is better than no writing at all.

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Vikram Shah's avatar

Thanks Rohan, always inspired by your discipline and practice!

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