Book Review: The Sacrifice by Indrajit Garai
The Sacrifice
Series: Volume 1 collection of short stories
Author: Indrajit Garai
Published: August 25, 2016
218 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: July 2-22, 2023
Jessica’s Rating: 3 stars
Book Description:
In this collection, meet:
Guillaume, who gives up everything to protect his child; young Matthew, who stakes his life to save his home; and François, who makes the biggest sacrifice to rescue his grandson.
Jessica’s Review:
The Sacrifice is a collection of three short stories: The Move, The Listener, and The Sacrifice. I could tell this was an earlier written novel of short stories. His writing has improved as I really enjoyed The Man Without Shelter which was published in 2022, and I gave 4 stars to.
I did not really connect with the characters in The Move and The Listener. I was also confused at the book description says that Matthew stakes his life to save his home, but it was not his home. It was a beloved tree he fought for. I did connect with the characters in The Sacrifice. The Sacrifice actually ended too early for me. I wanted the story to continue!
All of the stories have a commonality: The sacrifices that people make for those and the things they love above everything else. Being an earlier work, I think this one could be edited again to be improved upon. It seems that English is not his main language, which could have been some of the problem I had with not connecting to the characters in the first two stories. Do give Garai a chance and see how he has improved over time!
Many thanks to Estelle, a friend of the author who sent me a e-copy of the novel to read in my own time.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Book Review: The Man Without Shelter by Indrajit Garai
The Man Without Shelter
Author: Indrajit Garai
Published: September 5, 2022
119 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: November 2- December 10, 2022
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Lucy, a young lawyer, is on fast track to partnership in her firm. Arnault, a convicted felon, leaves prison after two decades through a piece of evidence in his favor. The two of them come together during a rescue operation at the centre of Paris, and then they go on with their separate lives.
Months later, their paths cross again at a camp for migrants on the edge of Paris.
Jessica’s Review:
Though short, The Man without Shelter took way to long for me to read. This was all on me as I was adjusting (and still am) to working at a new office location with a longer commute. I found myself more tired shortly after the immediate move, but will hopefully become fully adjusted soon. Part of it is also this time change and it getting dark so much earlier! Needless to say, I would like to re-read this one again in a much shorter time! But back to the book:
I enjoyed this novella! The beginning gets straight to the point with Arnault’s sudden release from prison after 20 years! It is listed as a ‘sudden and immediate’ release at 3am, which I had a hard time believing. I can’t see someone being released without any help in the middle of the night. But this start really pulled me in as a reader!
With Arnault’s release, I instantly became “Team Arnault” and rooted for him the whole story! He was released due to DNA evidence and we go along with him as he leaves the prison and tries to start life on the outside. But it’s much harder than expected because he doesn’t even have a current ID and has many issues getting that.
With this novella, Garai shows us a part of Paris that many of those fortunate will never see. We experience the homelessness, migrant camps, despair and violence that some experience daily. In addition to the social elements given, Garai also gives us a legal drama, which I enjoy.
We also have Lucy’s story where she is emerging from scandal in her law firm and gets in over her head while trying to help Arnault. Their two stories come back together and I really enjoyed the ending. It seemed — or maybe it was just this reader hoping — that there will be a continuation to this novella.
I received a copy from Garai’s assistant to read and review in my own time, which I unintentionally did. It was a pleasure to read.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
The Eye Opener: Collection of Short Stories Volume 2
The Eye Opener: Collection of Short Stories Volume 2
Author: Indrajit Garai
Published: December 8, 2017
238 pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 3 stars
Book Description:
In this collection, meet:
Franck, who has to align his desires with his needs;
Nathan, who has to adjust to his constantly changing turf;
and, Cedric, who has to open his eyes to reconstruct himself.
Kim’s Review:
The family of the author offered me this book in exchange for an honest review. Overall, the stories were pretty good. I liked the characters and I looked forward to seeing how each story unfolded. Unfortunately, the writing threw me off. It was very choppy and there were no transition points. I’d be in Cedric’s home and then BAM! next paragraph, he’d be in jail a month later. It was very distracting.
I think if each story was divided into chapters, it would solve the problem. The characters were realistic and I empathized with them easily. I also liked how each story ended on a positive note. Garai did an excellent job of showing how messy life can get, but also how mankind is capable of some good. I would recommend this to people who like emotional stories and even those who like “thinking” stories.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
