To be or not be to wacky, that's the argument

Thu, May 8 02:41 PM

Zafri Mudasser Nofil New Delhi, May 8 (PTI) Wacky titles and contents may sound interesting but such books have spawned more imitative work and might not entice readers who mostly like to gel with the protagonist's actual life or share his or her dreams, feel some authors while for others they do make an impact. "Topics may be at the discretion of the authors but at the end of it, books that connect to the readers sell," says Singapore-based Mainak Dhar, who wrote "The Funda of Mix-Ology", a novel dealing with the contemporary issues facing Indian youth.

"At times, relatively new authors find difficulty in getting publishers. Then the topic and title may come handy," Dhar told PTI.

His book is about a young IIM graduate working in a MNC who finds nothing can prepare him for the stress and drudgery of day-to-day-life. Then he learns mixology, the art of making a good cocktail, and suddenly e discovers he can live a fuller life.

"Thus the title as the protagonist learns to live a fuller life through the fundas of mix-ology," says Dhar. Journalist-writer Shinie Antony, who recently released her book of short stories "Sance on A Sunday Afternoon", says: "Wacky topics are great for non-fiction or humour books.

Some, of course, have done very well like 'Freakonomics' but such books have spawned more imitative work. "With wacky, it is important to be original and deep.

And there is that much more pressure on the author to keep up the wackiness till the end and not to waver in that wackiness anywhere in between." PTI.

RECOMMEND THIS STORY