Surviving with Inner Strength THE HELPLINE Book Review & Spotlight





BOOK REVIEW : 


The Helpline is a book that made me think of why the author spent so much time writing about this specific topic – suicides? Is he trying to repay a kind gesture or has he visited the empty, mindless horrors within the mind of those who actively contemplate suicide?  I have interviewed the author too and I feel he did a great service to all those lives which can be saved by just sharing and support.

Today when I think back of the girl in my class in XII who committed suicide, I realise her loneliness and wonder how was it that so many students in the class never noticed that she wanted help. Just someone to talk too. I am sure she too must have been shocked to see so many people who came to her house when they heard the news; if only they had spoken to her when she was alive.

 One of the best parts of the book was the many pages devoted to Siddhartha; a boy suffering with Down Syndrome and the main protagonist spends a lot of time with him and many other children like him. What the author has successfully brought out is the unconditional love that he feels and how they too want to be accepted just like the rest of us.

He weaves in the story of these special children along with the downward spiral and hopelessness of his life effortlessly. What I liked is the 100% positive tone for them and I would love seeing many more people sharing his josh.


The Helpline is a love story but a serious one. It moves on its own steady pace but I did find it a bit sluggish in spot or two. The book won my heart for its sensitive portrayal of characters. They are all grey and have shades of being ever so human and not perfect individuals that we all believe ourselves to be!
Yes, No one is perfect; not even me……………

Each one has a few flaws and I liked the personality of Rajesh – his senior the best, I think Rajesh needs to tell his own story because I really identified with his positive attitude and the go- getter spirit.

Another novel about success and struggle against odds…..what do you say Uday?

The short stories in the book are all very meaningful and have a lot of depth. They make me wonder why the author has not published a book with many more such short stories? The Joker was thought-provoking.

The love story between Riya and Samir moves like a typical teenage love story and reminds us of the fact that how much we grow and change with the passing years.

The scene where the author lists out all the books to make a conversation was very interesting; he stacked the books and if you read the titles they went like a story, here read for yourself.
  
“It happened one Autumn.
On the Night of the Seventh Moon.
A Smooth Talking Stranger.
A Beautiful Mind.
Perfect.
It Had to be You.
Where Dreams Begin.
From This Day.
Love Story.
Nobody’s Baby But Mine.
Once and Always.
Dreaming of you.
I am Ok; You are Ok.
Everything is illuminated.
One Hundred Years of solitude.
For Better, For Worse, Forever.
Till Death do us apart.”


The book has a sensitive and meaningful portrayal of Samir and his quest to kill himself. It makes one realise that anything can be a trigger to save a life or to finish a life.

The strongest message from this book is about survival and a positive attitude.

The narration was like a monologue in one or two places but kept the story moving. If the book could have a tighter rein on the editing it would be perfect. Since the main protagonist is also a writer I was quite surprised with the tightly worded, moral oriented stories with crisp sentences; a breeze to read.

I would recommend the book for anyone who wants who thinks they cannot go on or the battle is lost. Tomorrow is another day; let’s fight to see the light.

Pick The Helpline today.


Helpline


by Uday Mane




The Blurb
 Samir is suicidal. Rachael works for a suicide helpline. Fate connects them through a phone call. And so begins Samir’s story of love, longing, errors, regret and a girl who changed his life. As his story reaches its conclusion, Rachael will know the true reason behind his suicidal tendencies. But this suicide helpline is not any ordinary service. There is more to the mysterious and yet so convincing voice of Rachael. As this new mystery begins to unfold, Samir is going to discover three things: 

What is The Helpline? 

Who is Rachael? 
What is Samir’s own identity? 

Every year, several teenagers in India attempt suicide because of failing relationships, dwindling careers, parental pressure or the competitive world. This story is about one such teenager, his early problems and the hurdles to cope with them. This story is about finding hope in the struggle. This story is about fighting for what you believe in and discovering your true identity. This is not a story about falling in love. This is a story of rising from a failed love story.

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Watch It 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD8XW8SJD-k]







Meet the Author



Uday Mane was born in Pune and raised in Mumbai. He works as a marketing professional during the day and a storyteller during the night. He is an avid reader, and loves to collect classic books. 

The Helpline is his debut novel that was launched in March 2014 at the hands of Padma Shri Paresh Rawal.





You can stalk him @
               
                          


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