9 to 5 Cubicle Tales – It’s about Life

“If life were predictable it would cease to be life and be without flavor.” –Eleanor Roosevelt

Review by Ms. Ananya S

What was your initial reaction when you heard the Title of the Book?  

My initial thought on the title of the book was that it must be a tale dealing with the corporate world, day to day office life and the protagonist’s struggles through it.

Did you find it meaningful, why or why not?  

It was indeed an extremely meaningful and relatable story, according to me. The incidents and events described are exactly the things that an individual goes through in the journey from college life to work and beyond and the struggles associated with each stage.

What did you think of the writing style and content structure of the book?  

The book contains a very realistic and vivid description of the events that a regular individual goes through in day to day life, which makes the reader feel as though he’s not reading a story but himself living through the events and experiences that the protagonist is going through.

How did the book make you feel? What emotions did it evoke?  

The book enables the reader to be a part of the protagonist’s journey including his success, failures, traumas and triumphs. Since the book is extremely relatable, including the vivid description of events in the protagonist’s life, the reader is able to recall similar incidents from their own life and hence form an emotional connect and bond with the characters in the book.

Which character did you most relate to and why?  

The character that I could relate to the most was the protagonist, Hridaan.

Did the characters seem believable to you? Did they remind you of anyone you know?  

The characters described in the book, created around the protagonist are extremely plausible, persuasive and convincing.

Did the author do a good job of organizing the plot and moving it along?  

The author has done an exemplary job of organizing the plot and narrative. Along with describing the incidents of the protagonist’s life, almost every new chapter has introduction of new characters, which have been aptly introduced at the correct time and have sufficient space of their own and roles to play in the story.

Would you recommend the book to your friend/colleague/family members with similar bookish interests? 

Yes, I would highly recommend this book.

Describe the book using 5 words/adjectives.

  • Gripping
  • Entertaining
  • Sanguine
  • Impressive
  • Profound

If you got the chance to ask the author of this book one question, what would it be? 

I would be curious to know about the successor to this book, in the series.

What do you think of the book’s cover? How well does it convey what the book is about? 

The book’s cover is a pictorial representation of the protagonist’s journey from Pune to Mumbai and then the United States. The cover also has a picture of an office cubicle, which indicates to his corporate life in the first company that he joins.

What was your favorite part of the book? 

For me, the most favourite portion was where the author has described the celebration of events and festivals such as Diwali, New Year, Black Friday etc, once the story shifts to the United States. However, the author’s description of protagonist’s life in the initial phase of joining a new company is also extremely impressive.

Were you satisfied with the story ending? If you weren’t, how would you resolve things differently? 

The story ends on a note that makes the reader curious regarding the backdrop of the succession to this story.

Tell us more about yourself   

Ananya S – I have a background of dentistry with MBA in healthcare, presently working as a Business Analyst at a Healthcare IT company.

Grab a copy of the Kindle/Print version via Amazon. The print version in India can also be ordered from the Pothi (the publisher).