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Title: Good concept, bad implementation
Review: It was the first Paul Mann I read and I don't think I'm going to read another. The concept is novel (no pun intended), but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. For one, the parallels to real life are so thinly disguised, one wonders if this should be called a novel at all. For another -- and this may seem minor to many -- the author doesn't even seem to know the difference between names and surnames, female and male names, Hindu and Muslim names. It can be really irritating for an Indian reader. Besides, there are plenty of loose ends -- how does Rafee manage to get his revenge anyway? While apparently focusing on the 'modern' India, Mann falls back on the stereotype popular in the west: the land of the Kama Sutra, of incredible poverty, of irredeemable corruption. On the other hand, the author's style is racy -- as long as you aren't asking too many questions. It's the perfect book to buy before a long railway journey -- and leave behind in the train.
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