With Love, Candy

By Archana Amaragandhi

Genre: Novel, Pages: 280, binding: paperback, ISBN No.-978-93-82070-18-4

“The talkative stuffed doll, Candy is frustrated by its inability to verbalize its thoughts. In a non-sci-fi, non-fantasy real world, its uncanny sixth sense still stands handicapped. Seeking words as its medium of expression, Candy takes the readers through Shalini’s contemporary life and complex characters as she grows from a child to an adolescent and adult. This tale revolves around the tangled affections between four youngsters:Bold and daring Shalini with a weakness andcraving for love. An outright and funny Roshan, falling in and out of love by impulse. A conservative Karan who is still two generations behind. An artistic brainer, Priya with confused perceptions of feminism and marriage. Not just the protagonists but every supporting character is as unique as you and me with different principles, perspectives and beliefs, emphasising the fact that this book is more about the people in the story than the story itself. All of them pooled together in a common field and seen through a doll’s eyes that are neutral to all natures and nations would make the reader put his finger on his temple and think twice. A blend of wit with a pinch of lust, while in the side-lines addressing the belief system in India, this story on human irregularities would sink in smoothly just like a spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down. ‘With love Candy’ is a cocktail of a toy story, love story and a canvas of characters, mixed to perfection by Candy and served with love."