Bollywood Invasion

by Ricardo Alexanders

[Lynn]

John is a typical teenager who loves listening to music and secretly lusts after a girl at school until his tardiness and lack of concentration lead him into the path of an oncoming bus. He wakes and everyone calls him Raj. He's now in India, it's 1958 and he's a prince!

This is probably the most adventurous book I've picked up this year from a reading perspective. It's an intriguing mix of time-travel, romance and history. Unlike anything I've read before, I enjoyed the inventiveness of the narrative which kept my attention for the duration of the novel. I've purposefully not included any clues about the unexpected journey John/Raj make. This is a novel where diving into the text is the way to go, without any preconceived ideas.

Right from the opening page, I was drawn into John's life. After reading the book blurb, I really had no clue as to how the author would spin his idea and somehow against my reader apprehension it works very well. He's managed to pack a lot into the pages and it flows together beautifully as we follow Raj on an extraordinary life exploration where he finds love, loss and success.

The glossary of terms appears at the end of some chapters, is both useful and very convenient for readers unfamiliar with some of the vocabulary used during the Indian aspect of Raj's life. The use of The Beatles lyrics throughout adds a nostalgic feel.

Overall a wonderful and highly imaginative novel with a broad appeal which contrasts between the past and the present whilst incorporating a fascinating blend of culture and snippets of moments in history.

***arc received courtesy of the publisher via Pure Textuality PR***