Review : I don’t wear Sunscreen

Kavipriya, a fellow author sent her debut book to me yesterday for free. The word free is important because that is a depiction of Indian literary scene; the publishers are not doing enough to seek attention from audience. If I were Kavipriya’s publisher I won’t have let her send this book in its current shape to market. I would have worked with her to develop characters she chose to write about.

There are two major high points in Kavi’s Novel. One, her main character (MC) is a plump girl and two, she is exploring a friendship between two girls.  Today’s society is ridden with prejudice about weight loss or unshaped women. So much so even writers are obsessed writing about women who are in good curves. Kavi gets full marks for choosing a character but she has left a lot unexplored. The obese teens (16-21) have difficult time with people, the eating habits and playing habits are constantly under watch or scrutiny.  The obesity has been directly linked to emotional burst and other issues. The reason character falls for Sai, a man of loose morale is also somewhere linked to her confidence and appearance.

Since the novel also explores about friendship between girls, Kavi should have explored two POVs for the work. While the Novel is mostly written from Laksha’s POV, a lot is left unsaid from Pallavi’s POV which is rather unfair to the other character. When other characters have a story to tell about a dead elder brother, family in debt, and is living in Coimbatore with relatives who are not so accommodating, and earning money, there is a lot she could do with the character.

Now, coming to male characters in the book, Sai. I have a strong objection to labeling a character as misogamist. One should prove it before labeling them. The author has failed here. There is no Justice to character of Saurav & Priyanka .

About Laksha’s mother, I would rather not talk about a rape victim. It’s a death to her soul. Clearly, Kavi is too young and naïve to talk about it.

Kavi told a story which will highly engage today’s teens. She uses simple English stays consistent throughout the book.  If I were her I’d further reduce no. of pages and make it affordable to buy.  I would have priced the book between 100-120 bucks. I would have sold more downloads on Kindle.

I hope she grows further in her next book without hurrying with characters. Take your time Kavi, the readers love a good book.

3 out 5