Title: Maria just Maria 

Author: Sandhya Mary 

Language: English, translated from Malayalam by Jayasree Kalathi

Genre: Fiction 

Pages: 232

Publisher: Harper Perennial (Harper Collins)

Alright so this book looks very intriguing from its cover. A collage of bright impressions (with the mention of a toddy shop too) and the title of course. As you start reading, you realise that Maria is the single most name that is easy to pronounce. Just joking. Actually being a Bengali who has been brought up in the North, most of the names of the characters are difficult for me to memorize because they are typical South Indian names.

Originally written in Malayalam, the translation has been done by the award winning author, Jayasree Kalathi, who currently lives in England.

This is a very different kind of story. Maria, the protagonist has stopped speaking after the death of her grandfather. And this book traces all the incidents happening, leading to this huge life change. Her muteness is not neurological or underlying any pathology but is simply because she doesn't want to speak. 

The story has dedicated chapters on the main characters of the book, how all these shape up over the years or rather generations. From Maria's great grandparents to her ex husband and brother, there is a detailed account of every one and the reader is made thorough with all the life changes that is underwent by her.

Maria is brought up in her grandfather's house, from her childhood and that pretty much explains why she is so attached to him. Her brother is an established doctor practicing in the States, and he is the one who is paying for her mental hospital fees.

The characters are very intriguing. From her childhood dog Chandipatti, who has a substantial role in the story to side characters like Kali and all, there are grey shades to all of them (of course including her grandfather, who's a drunkard; remember the toddy shop illustration on the cover?). Chandipatti is an extremely intelligent dog with some serious powers because he can speak to Maria and think like a mortal. He has to be my favourite character from the book because even if you are not a canine lover, you are definitely going to get impressed by this four legged companion of hers.

What I love about this book are the details. The way each character is etched and described. What I found not so likeable (highly personal opinion) is the myriad of difficult names of the characters. Sometimes I had to go back and forth because the names were a challenge for me to remember and connect.

It's not ordinary story book. The meaning is deep and you will be thinking about the plot way longer after it's finished.

Rating: 3.5/5

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