As Francis Bacon quoted: “Some books are meant to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be digested.” In this context, I would like to add: “There are some books which make you cry, whereas some books, which act as a happy hour therapy for your mind.” I feel Biswajit Banerji’s Happimess is a happiness therapy for all.
In the current Covid scenario where people have started getting depressed by being at home, this book adds peace in the minds of the reader. The tickling 13 stories not only adds humour but also makes the reader feel fresh. The author has made people laugh through its writings which is no lesser than a miracle.
According to the blurb,” Happimess is a collection of naughty stories that make us laugh while constantly poking fun at social peculiarities. Narrated mostly in the first person, the stories center around everyday situations that get oddly tangled up. Once frantic efforts are made to wriggle out, things only get more messy. Flippant and irreverent, the net of satire is cast wide, spanning conspiring home-appliances, outlandish diseases, nosy insurance agents, die-hard hagglers, a botched farewell speech and the like. It is the constant undercurrent of funny disorderliness that serves to spice-up and unite the stories.”
Biswajit has incorporated satirical fiction, mockery in his writing style. His collection of stories is written in first person where he talks about the stigmas of modern society in a satirical way. He is mocking at this kind of society without hurting the sentiments of people.
Further, Biswajit’s writing style reminds me of Alexander Pope’s ‘An Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot’ where the poet talks about his friend but in disguised way he is mocking at the society of his time, especially his fellow writers who used to criticize him. But here, the author has given birth to a new type of writing technique which is an amalgamation of satire, mockery, fun, lyrical.
Talking about the title, he has cleverly chosen “Happimess” which is misspelled form of Happiness. But this title is the beauty of the author who has smartly stole the attention of a person who wants to pick his book.
The author has left an essence of him in some of his stories. Especially, the Bengali innuendoes gives us an insight about his roots. He is a simple man who is trying to reach people using the most genuine ways. He has connected with his audience naturally through his stories. Some of the stories like ‘from Bad to Sordid’; A Matter of Life (insurance) and Death; With Due Respect To’ self respect’ are well constructed stories of day to day paraphernalias which are closely observed by the author. His 13 pieces are a result of well craftsmanship which the author has beautifully bestowed upon his stories.
In nutshell, I would like to say that Biswajit Banerji’s Happimess is a must-read book as it is lighthearted, entertaining, simple and has a literal meaning for the society.
About the Author
Biswajit is a prolific humorist and author of hundreds of bestsellers- all in his dreams. In reality, this is his debut book.
His satirical ramblings, poetry and travel writing have been published accidentally in several literary journals, periodical and websites. For a living, Biswajit serves in a senior position in a leading Public Sector steel unit.
You can buy his from Amazon.in
