Xanadu by Harshita Nanda – A Book Review

Xanadu by Harshita Nanda is a fictional story whose characters are drawn from real life people. One will never know about it if the author doesn’t mention it in the Author’s Note section.

The word ‘Xanadu’ refers to a place full of beauty, happiness, & wonder based upon Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s description of Shangdu, the summer capital of the Yuan dynasty founded by the Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan, in his poem Kubla Khan.

Questions Raised in Xanadu by Harshita

• Does a family need to be bound by marriage or bloodline?
• Is a real human more important or an illusory idea of one’s social image?
• Is honesty the best policy in today’s world?
• Can death end love for someone?
• One can make love by force, but can one make someone fall in love by force?

What is the book all about?

Harshita’s book deals with what constitutes a family & explores different kinds of relationships in a fictional world comprising stories of two generations. The best part of the book is the juxtaposition of similar situations and their different treatment, which sends the message that every situation is different no matter how similar they look.

Anita loves Derek but Derek marries someone else. Arjun loves Shalini but Shalini marries someone else. Anita & Derek are ready to remain unmarried but will not marry someone else than they love. It looks similar at first glance, but if look deeper, it appears that Anita & Derek both love each other, but Shalini & Arjun aren’t in love on a mutual basis. Arjun loves Shalini but Shalini loves someone else.

Shalini marries the person she loves. Edith also marries the person she loves. But the married life of Shalini & Edith are different.

A father breaks all the ties with his child because he wasn’t happy with the child. There’s also another father who breaks all the ties with his child because he wants a happy life for his child.

A child is sent away but the child wants to live with the parent. In another situation, the child decides to live away from the parent but the parent wants to live with the child.

Such juxtapositions help in showing different Point of Views. The reasons for each character’s behaviour is well depicted. The author intelligently shows what’s going inside the mind of characters and why characters are doing what they are doing in these ‘similar appearing different situations.’

Harshita’s Grip on Psychology & Philosophy

A good storyteller should have a solid grip on psychology & philosophy, as a story is a reflection of life in some way and its characters represent human nature. The following excerpts from the book shows author’s understanding:

Both were so wrapped in their own sorrow that they couldn’t see that the other was suffering too.

Harish was wise beyond his years, maybe due to the trauma of Malathi’s death.

He felt helpless in reaching out to the woman he had loved for so long. And in helplessness, he started hurting. A stronger man would have realised why he was hurting. A stronger man would have tried more to understand….unfortunately, was not strong. His hurt made him mad with rage, and in madness, he started inflicting hurt on people.

Character Development in the Book

There are many characters, and each character has its own story. For example, Shalini is not only the mother of Bhoomi, and Bhoomi is not only the daughter of Shalini. The two have their own stories, and yes, they are intertwined. In the same way, Makhan & Harish are not just father & son, they have their own problems and their own stories. The dog Sheroo has its own story. All these stories are seamlessly woven together. The remarkable thing is that each story is nourished well and has closure.

Narration in Xanadu by Harshita Nanda

The narration is vivid, fluid, & picturesque. First characters are introduced and then their backstory is told. The book is capable of making you nostalgic. The author seems to be pretty good at pulling emotional strings.

The yellow school bus stopped at the end of the lane belching out diesel fumes. Excitedly Bhoomi got down from the bus, and with a quick wave to her friends, she ran eagerly down the village lane. Her pigtails with red ribbons flying behind, and legs pumping strongly, she ran swiftly. As she reached her home, she put her foot on the lowest rung of the iron gate and swung it open. With her bag bumping her back, she ran to the main door, slamming it open.

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Conclusion

Xanadu by Harshita Nanda is a fast-paced novella, which showcases relationships from various angles. It’s a potpourri of emotions as well as food for thoughts. It explores the meaning of family & the possibility of finding xanadu in one’s life. Harshita is definitely a lambi race ka ghoda.

You can download the book from here.