Turning Back Time by Shravya Gunipudi is a mind bloggling novel or rather say collection of short stories compiled up in a fictional way. The use of involvement of the author in disguise of a character named Alia is fantabulous. This book takes you to the old times where there is no technology, just the stereotypical notions.
Cover- The cover of the book is mesmerising as it transports you to the old village times which you might have heard from your grandparents. It is surely a beautiful painting which is taken as a cover of the book. The colour scheme is radiant.
Title- The title is crisp, clear and fulfills the purpose of the book and the author, as it gives us an idea that we are going to be taken in flashbacks. The story dances around the title.
Sneak Peek- When people we love pass away, they only take their presence with them. They leave their memories with us. The story revolves around ‘Alia’, an emotionally distant woman, and how the lives of four elderly strangers impact her own very deeply, bringing about a change in the way she treats herself and those around her. As the clock begins to tick and they each start to die, leaving their stories behind for her to learn from, she finds that the depression and trauma caused by their loss have left with her the gift of a lifetime… Realisation. In the tale of life, death and the ride in between, where there are always mistakes and never second chances, there is only one question. Can you make it through without regrets?
Plot- Well, this book does not have a single plot but many plots. It do have a main plot which focus on Alia who works in an old age home. The others are sub plots or can be said separate plots which include life stories of the characters,highlighted in the book. They are on the verge of their death and the way they delineate their stories is the rest of the plot construction.
Theme- The whole book highlights ‘DEATH’ and the way it affects the people around it. For some death is the ultimate destination, for some its the way to get rid of all the sufferings, for some, it is a divine union with their loved one and for some, its a suffering. The author has phantasmagorically shown this concept using different stories in different ways.
Characterisation- Well, the author has beautifully given space to each and every character by giving them their own set of story to tell and made the link, Alia. Alia is a young girl who is bit unsure about marriage as she is attached to old age home and is not able to find out the reason behind her denial as she is attracted to her fiance but is reluctant to accept his love. Her story moves slowly in parts as she is seen busy listening to others’ stories henceforth, her story takes a halt in between.
Style- The author has used picaresque technique of story telling which is almost long lost these days. Not only this, the use of epistolar technique blended with flashbacks makes is more enthralling. The use of first person narrative with a tinge of third person narrative adds flavour to the novel. The next best segment is the use of impersonal as well personal descriptions. The plot construction is surpassable. In simple words, it can be said that,” this piece is a non fiction mixed with fiction”. The book needs a bit of proof reading but it doesn’t overshadow the unique concept of writing style used by the author. This is ‘Perfecto’ as its her debut novel.
Grab your copies from : https://www.pustakmandi.com/Turning-Back-Time-Shravya-Gunipudi
About the Author
Shravya Gunipudi, a 23 year old CA and CS, has been writing ever since the tender age of nine. Now, more than a decade since her first journey with the pen, she has won numerous prizes for her Articles, Short Stories and Poetry. She was a part of 19 Anthologies with a total of 17 published stories and was recognised as ‘Best Writer of the Year, 2013’ by yourstoryclub.com. She is also the editor of the project ‘The Book of Dreams’, by Numerique Publications.
Shravya wishes to explore her passion both in Finance and Writing. It is her dream to merge her creative side with her analytical one. Writing, she believes, is the best form of expression that calms the mind and frees the soul. Her favourite quote is ‘Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about’.
Her Debut Novel, ‘Turning Back Time’, is now available in stores!
