Penned during the Covid-19 pandemic, Radhika Swarup’s new offering is a heart-warming book about a shared experience that resonates with everyone who has lived through the lockdown. Set during the lockdown in a Delhi neighbourhood, the book is a collection of interconnected short stories.
Characters range from an elderly woman who suffers a fall, to a young girl initiating a book club with her reserved neighbour, to a migrant labourer journeying back to his village as urban work opportunities vanish to a wife remembering the plans she once made with her ex-boyfriend after her husband becomes a workaholic due to the lockdown.
The slow-paced chapters bring on memories of the lockdown, which brought the whole world to a standstill. As one progresses with the book, one can’t help but revisit the horrifying time of being locked in – some with families, some alone; or locked out, like the migrant workers who had no choice but to leave cities when work dwindled. The narratives explore themes of resilience, adaptation, and human connection amidst adversity.
One of the most endearing parts of the book is the little girl, Navya, and her bond with her elderly, grumpy neighbour, Shami Singh. Navya, a voracious reader even for her young age, melts Shami’s heart when she gives the book she is reading to him – insisting that he keeps the book out on the veranda for three days to ‘dis-insect’. Thus begins their book club and our journey, through the neighbourhood via Navya and Shami.
Though the book is titled ‘The New New Delhi Book Club’, you don’t have the entire neighbourhood joining in and it is certainly not a book about book club. But, Shami and Navya are omnipresent, in all stories, in some form – either through a direct or indirect mention or a cameo in that particular chapter.
While one might find numerous books set during the lockdown, with varied tales of love and loss, Radhika’s book stands out for its almost lyrical prose, easy language, and relatable characters that are simple but facing complex challenges. Overall, it’s a quick and poignant read, barring the mention of one death.
Book: The New New Delhi Book Club
Author: Radhika Swarup
Publisher: Tranquebar, an imprint of Westland Books
Pages: 166
Price: Rs 335
