Nikita Reviews "Tall man small shadow"

Tall Man Small Shadow by Vipin Behari Goyal

Posted by Nikita Johri at 7:48 PM

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What is Existentialism? 
Why would anyone base his novel on it?
Whats so great about it that anyone would consider making it the core of their book? 

All these and more questions I faced when I took up Tall Man Small Shadow by Vipin Behari Goyal for reading.
Well first of all, I hadn't heard the term "existentialism" before I came across this book and that's one reason why the book appealed to me. The other being the cover where a tall man standing projects a small shadow of a woman. Pretty intriguing..huh..

Tall Man Small Shadow is Vipin Behari Goyal's debut English novel and it keeps the concept of existentialism at the core of the story. The book is primarily narrated by Anupam (his name is disclosed in the later part of the book.) who is happily married to Sulekha and has a daughter, Aalya. Salil is their new neighbor.

Anupam is getting old and he is worried for his daughter's future. He wants her to marry a good man and live happily but is also afraid of his own life after his daughter's marriage. He feels that Aalya is the one who fills the vacuum in his life. She cares for his ailing wife who is unable to do the simple daily chores like cooking, mending, shopping etc. and brings youthful exuberance in their otherwise dull lives. Aalya, who is completing her doctorate under her mentor Seema, is fascinated by Salil from the first instant and is not sure of her feelings for him. Meanwhile she gets into an affair with Seema, who is a lesbian and in a unsatisfying relationship with her husband ,Paul. Seema has had lesbian relations with numerous of her students but still feels a certain responsiblity towards Aalya and doesn't wish to force her into having an affair with her. Salil is fascinated by Aalya's shadow which according to him takes many forms during the course of the story. He had loved a girl in college, Nasrin and when she got married he couldn't bear it and got depressed eventually trying to commit suicide. Later in the novel, after his introduction and friendship with Aalya, he starts understanding that he loves Aalya and that she has taken the place that once Nasrin held in his heart.

But does Aalya also love him or is her fascination to him only skin deep?
If they both love each other then can Aalya commit herself to him and finish her affair with Seema?
Will Seema let go of Aalya so easily if she wishes to finish their affair?

The characterization is very strong and each character has multiple dimensions to their nature. Example, Seema at one point is shown as a reckless, vengeful person who is ready to ruin young, naive girls for their prospective future married lives by luring them into having lesbian relations with her. But at the other time is shown as a good and considerate person when she lets go of Aalya once she tells her about her feelings for Salil.

The story takes different paths with each character having his/her own story to tell and own philosophies to follow. There is the content and deeply philosophical, Anupam who tries to make sense of each occurrence in his life and how it affects the future scenarios. His primary function in the novel is to coin existentialist philosophies for the day-to-day events that take place in his life, which centers on his wife, Sulekha, and their only child, Aalya. Aalya, his daughter is intelligent and wants to excel in her studies but is also fascinated by her neighbor, Salil. Salil is a loner who doesn't want anyone to disturb him and has therefore foregone even a nameplate outside his house. He is obsessed with shadows which transform into many characters to reveal the secrets of life in the story  and is an avid reader with only books as favorable company. He is well read and has his own philosophy for life and the ever occurring circumstances. Sulekha, Anupam's wife is shown as an ailing and sensitive woman who is very punctual about her routine such as her time of tea etc. but otherwise acting as just a witness to daily events with almost no participation. This however, proves a camouflage and she is shown in her true avatar as a strong and intelligent woman and a good planner and manipulator who knows how to achieve what she desires without being too evident about it, in the later part of the book. It is she who bridges the gap between what is socially unacceptable to what is acceptable to ensure her daughter’s happiness. Seema, Aalya's mentor and teacher in college, also has a strong presence in the story as a discontent, unsatisfied wife who is neglected by her husband, Paul and therefore seeks contentment and satisfaction in her work as well as her students.

Although seeming like a simple love story, this book is unlike any other book that I have ever read. Its thought provoking and the narrator deals philosophically with various topics like relations, marriage, life, youth,society, suicide, depression, husband-wife relations etc. leaving the reader deeply affected and forced to question his inbred conceptions to everything he knows about these topics and more. 

Tall Man Small Shadow is no leisure read but a very serious book with some well researched points made to liberate the reader and open his mind to controversial scenarios and explanations to life and human behavior. The author has experimented by taking a risk in writing such an unconventional book which deals with controversial topics also and has succeeded in making the reader wait and take notice!

The idea of giving each and every character a voice at some or the other point in the story is refreshingly new and effective though at some places the sudden change in the voice confuses the reader and one has to stop and re read that part to make sense. This could have been taken care of with some more time at editing.
I also felt that the part where Salil engages in a one-night-stand with Nasrin after her marriage just because she requests him for a son was unnecessary and also made me wonder about the point that the author wanted to make by sketching such a scene. 
Why was Nasrin so sure that having physical relations with Salil would surely grant her a son and not a daughter? 
And how was she so sure that having physical relations only once was enough to impregnate her? Also there was no explanation why she didn't go to her husband with her demand. Was he in some way compromised? 

I seriously felt that the story could have done perfectly without it. There was absolutely no reason to include it. Also some grammatical errors present in the book could have been rectified with more editing.

There are ample twists in the story which surprise and keep the reader hooked. I was specially astounded by the ending which was pretty unexpected and will be welcomed by all readers wholeheartedly. A book for the mature and open minded, it is a complex book with multiple layers to it and which are beautifully revealed as the reader progresses with the story. I don't have enough words to explain all that is going on in my mind after reading this book but know this, it is a book that teaches as well as makes us dwell on all our beliefs and morals. 

I give it a 4 out of 5 and a strong recommendation to read and dwell on it.

I was given a free copy by the author, Vipin Behari Goyal and I am very thankful to him for introducing me to this thought provoking book. The review is my personal and honest opinion and in no way influenced.

About The Author:

Vipin Behari Goyal is a Financial Advisor in Government of Rajasthan by profession. His love for books is unparalleled making him an avid reader as well as a prolific writer.
His debut English novel Tall Man Small Shadow based on existentialism was published in July 2013. His prior writings include a travel handbook on “TirthRaj Pushkar” and a collection of Hindi poems titled “Tej Dhoop Ka Safar”. 
He has also dabbled in documentary film making and is the maker of award-winning short film “Mines are Mine”. 
Forthcoming Novels “Maya In Search of Tantric father” and "The old man and the nymph" 
Contact at: viping19@gmail.com

http://njkinny.blogspot.in/2013/09/tall-man-small-shadow-by-vipin-behari.html#more

 

 

Aditi Saha's Review

Tall Man Small Shadow
by Vipin Behari Goyal (Goodreads Author)

Aditi Saha's review

Sep 14, 13

5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: favourites

Read from September 04 to 10, 2013

wow..it is an amazing story..its not actually a series of events..instead feelings of 5 different human beings mentioned..the way the author has mentioned their emotions..actually creates a beautiful love story of 3 different persons..whose lives are entwined in a very beautiful way!!..yes..full of coincidences..being a software engineer..i really loved the character of Salil and his ambitious attitude..and of course who can forget Anupam!!this story will make you pause for a moment and make you wonder that life is indeed very beautiful..yes because through this story the author has taught us that life is very precious and it can be lead in a very beautiful manner by respecting the value of life!! the story is told in a very impressive manner..full of beautiful phrases!!..and the ease and clarity with which the author explains difficult situations and issues of life is really very very impressive!..
Finally recommended to all my friends!!

 

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/692778043

 

Tall man small shadow ***Review by Amrit Sinha

Tall Man Small Shadow - Review

Tall Man Small Shadow provides a philosophical insight into the mysticism of life and existence. The novel is woven around the lives of several characters, who, quite enigmatically, are linked with each other. As a result, the happenings in their lives affect the other threaded connections as well. Vipin Behari Goyal, the author, tries to present a story with this unique concept of existentialism, and succeeds to score high in most parts.

The characterization is the highlight of this story. Each of the characters have been defined prominently, and have important roles assigned to them in the plot. Anupam is the protagonist who loves to analyse the spiritual meaning of life and existence. He is a deep thinker and tries to comprehend the journey of life, and the meaning of death. Sulekha, his wife, is a quick thinker and an intelligent woman. She is well versed in the art of manipulation and devises strategies that make events appear as mere coincidences.

Their daughter, Aalya, young and beautiful, is a student of research in English Literature. She wishes to pursue her PhD, and is guided by Seema. The student-teacher relationship gradually turns into a deep camaraderie, and they start trusting and confiding in each other. They explore the dimensions of love and relationships, often controversial, but invigorating and relaxing to them.

Seema’s husband, Paul, is a drama director. He is a perfect partner to Seema and caters to all her needs. However, his inability to provide Seema with a child had created a void in her life. Sahil is the neighbor of Aalya. He secretly likes Aalya, but is afraid to delve deep into a relationship with her. The failure of his past love had left him insecure.

Vipin debuts with an unconventional theme and succeeds in presenting the story in an easy and lucid manner. The events flow seamlessly, and the viewpoints presented by different characters for the same event provide multiple dimensions to the plot. You find yourself peeping into the minds of the characters and analyse how they perceive the world around them.

However, the storytelling style often shifts from first person to third person narrative, which again doesn't augur well for the flow that the author had intended. This doesn't hamper much since the story progresses at a regular pace, but to an avid reader like me, this does come out as a chink that should have been rectified during the editing process. Also, there are a few grammatical hiccups which again threaten to stall the pace of the tale, and care should have been taken to eradicate them.

The author tries hard to present his thoughts, and his sincerity and honesty reflect in the words. The novel is short and good for a quick read. However, to truly understand the philosophical ideas imbibed between the lines, you need to read it at a leisurely pace, perhaps only a few chapters at a time, and then replay the events in your mind with your eyes closed. You will find the characters come alive.

http://livinglifegreenspeck.blogspot.in/2013/09/tall-man-small-shadow-review.html

Title: Tall Man Small Shadow

Author: Vipin Behari Goyal

Publisher: Cyberwit.net

Publication Year: 2013

Language: English

Binding: Paperback

My Rating: 3/5

Tall Man Small Shadow | Vipin Behri Goyal | Book Review

Geeked On August 31, 2013

By Sankalpita for Vipin Behri Goyal

PLOT: 3.5/5

CHARACTERS: 3/5

WRITING STYLE: 3/5

CLIMAX: 3/5

ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 3/5

“Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see”

– Martin Luther King Jr.

Shadows are, what one may say, the most miserable creatures of the world; bound by shackles of their owner and at the existential mercy of the light which creates them as per its whims, they are the most forsaken beings.  But then, do we really know the truth, do we see the complete picture or are we merely blinded by the limitations of our ignorant selves. It is this apparent inconsequential part of our existence, that the book explores in detail and which results in this short and sweet story (I would rather call it a novella) of a man matured, a girl blossomed, a lady fulfilled, and an old couple contented.

Anupam is an old man happily living with his wife and daughter when he notices the new man in his neighborhood. Salil, a loner who has nothing but books for his company, is a man matured beyond his years. Aalya the daughter of the jolly hearted old man is a girl who knows what she wants, and how to get it. Currently pursuing her doctorate degree under her guide Seema, she is looking forward to making her mark in the world. Seema, the lonesome wife of Paul, the artist, is anything but content in her marriage. With an indifferent and absent husband, she has no one to mind her emotional and physical needs. The characters interact, involve and keep moving on their erratic haphazard paths but ultimately settle for a less chaotic version of their life, intermingled with the lives of others around them in complete harmony. How do they reach this harmony, this state of bliss? Is it mere coincidence or the ingenious of a cunning ploy? Well, to Sulekha it appears like the payoffs of her craft and prowess. At  a time when she is complacently celebrating the success of her conniving, it is humbly disclosed by her husband (at the end of five years and also at the end of the book) that happy endings in their story have more do with co-incidence than the wife’s perfectly executed planning.

The book, all of 152 pages, is short and can easily be done with in a single sitting (I practically read half of it while in a traffic jam on my way home from office). Leaving the co-incidence and shadow philosophy aside, the book has not much to offer in terms of a strong plot and strong characters. The editing mistakes could have been avoided and the burden of repetitive philosophy shunned. Another thing which may blight your reading pleasure is the frequent change of voices. One instance you are reading Salil’s version and the next Aalya’s and what surprised me most is the fact that this happens in all chapters. With a little more effort and time dedicated to it, the book would have been an outstanding read for the story is both intriguing and crisp. All in all, considering the fact that it rescued me from the awful traffic jam, I would rate it a three out five stars.

 

http://www.bookgeeks.in/entries/general-fiction/tall-man-small-shadow-vipin-behri-goyal-book-review


http://www.artihonrao.net/2014/02/review-of-tall-man-small-shadow-by.html

Tall man small shadow reviews Maria Perry Mohan, Milandeep, Bytes and Banters,Shilpi Dutta

This book is currently available as giveaway at Goodreads.com

If you get a copy write a review and post it here.

Thanks.

Tall Man Small Shadow by Vipin Behari Goyal

By Bytesandbanter

Tall Man Small Shadow starts of very smoothly showing a happy family where the young girl is just about the best possible fir for the handsome guy next door. The chapters are short and crisp. The slow narration is filled with rich imagery which really brings out the cheerfulness in any human being. The introduction to the characters is quite delightful and their emotions and feelings are well portrayed. The author also analyses simple situations through multiple points of view which results in the reader getting a wholesome picture of the effect of any situation on the society.

Gratitude is a way of reducing the importance
of what somebody has done for you

The book is beautifully narrated and touches on many aspects of life. Many traditional beliefs and practices are contested in the novel like homosexual desires and suicides, which are sadly shunned by the society. The author has used these situations quite effectively and sends a positive message to enlighten the reader and develop a mindset to counter these beliefs.
The book picks up tremendous pace at the end and it seems as if the author was in a hurry to just finish it off. There are just too many events to digest in the last few chapters and the placement is quite haphazard. It almost seems that the author has forcefully brought it to a halt to suit the fairy-tale "Happy Ending". However, the last chapter which gives quite a contrasting picture of the wife, Sulekha is eye-opening as it shows how a scheming mind could bring together families (we have seen it breaking families on many saas-bahu serials) and make them all seem like a coincidence. The twist is quite ingenious and should be one of the major selling points of the book.
The plot, though somewhat unrealistic in today's lives, greatly articulates the need for a modernistic approach at dealing with situations as Anupam and Sulekha do. The foreword practically summarizes the entire story and is like a spoiler which lets the reader know what is going to happen. Some of the dialogues are extremely silly and stupid (especially the part where Salil asks Aalya for her shadow which she ponders about like a dumb dodo). There are numerous editing mistakes and grammatical errors, a book which is so descriptive should have been proofread better to prevent such petty mistakes.
Though this 152-paged novel can be read in a single sitting, it should be done so in multiple sittings to truly enjoy and cherish the complexities of life explained through philosophy.
Soumabha Roy Chaudhuri

http://bytesandbanter.blogspot.in/2013/11/tall-man-small-shadow-by-vipin-behari.html#more

Bytes and Banter Verdict :  A Good Read  -  3/5

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Book Review: Tall Man Small Shadow by Vipin Behari Goyal

Tall Man Small Shadow is the debut novel by Vipin Behari Goyal who is an avid reader, an award winning documentary movie maker and a Fiancial Advisor in the Government of Rajasthan by profession. The author tries to explore several existential dilemmas by telling the life story of some complex and inter related characters. He try to make the reader think deeply on the topics of coincidences, human behaviour, kindness and relationships.

Tall man small Shadow is the story of Alya who is doing her research in Literature and of Salil, an IT employee with a past and in love with a shadow. It is also the story of Anupam, Alya's father , who is a loner and sometimes takes up the mantle of the narrater and her mother, Sulekha who is mostly silent and ill most of the times, but reveals to be a lot more than what meets the eye by climax. There is another couple who is integral to the story- Seema, a childless woman who happens to be the research guide of Alya and her husband Paul, a theater personality. Alya and Salil meet up early in the story and an affair develops naturally. Anupam notices it. Parallely she develops a physical relation with Seema, her guide. Sensing the sorrow of Seema, Alya decides to help her and enlist the help of Salil.
I have read a few European existential novels, that of Kafka, Kundera, Camus, Snow by Orhan Pamuk and have got inspired by them in various degrees. In this novel, I could feel a strong influence of Kundera's Laughable Loves, especially in the narration style. In that book protagonists who are very normal people, gets into situations where they are forced to realize unknown facts about life. Writer tries to attempt something similar here with not so good results. I know, pitting a self published debut book against that of a literary giant like Kundera is not fair. So I will try to evaluate its individual merits.
The book is quite simple to read. It is short and all the chapters are just couple of pages long. All the philosophical parts are quite well written. These comes in the parts narrated by Anupam. The problem lies in connecting these nuggets with the story. It is not at all convincing and the twist in the climax negate the whole build up. The story is narrated from the view points of different protagonists. The parts of Anupam is told in first person while others' view points are in third person. I never felt any dire need for such a technique, but it is ok or me as it gave some novelty to the otherwise grim story. The problem is that writer seriously confuses his first person and third person segments a couple of times. Just some good editing could eliminate these issues as well as some typos occuring in regular intervals.
The characters of the book are interesting, but the plot let them down seriously. The situations never get serious and even serious points get trivialised and fails to create an impact like that of sperm donation or lesbianism. Finally I would say this novel has very less to offer for a well informed reader.

 

By Vipin Behari Goyal. Grade: B.

http://diaryofaragingbull.blogspot.in/2013/10/book-review-tall-man-small-shadow-by.html

Review by Milandeep

Vipin Bihari Goyal’s first book of fiction ‘Tall Man Small Shadow’ has lucidly tried to explain the various shades and shadows of human life. It is a love story as well as a philosophical book with multiple narratives. The multiple narrative style works most of the time but sometimes gets confusing when they the POV shifts continuously in the same chapter. The best part of the book is its characters. All of them might not be likable, but they still brim with life and spill over the pages.

Tall Man Small Shadow

It is my debut English novel based on existentialism. Salil loves a shadow which transforms into many characters to reveal the secrets of life. Aalya, his neighbor, is doing research in English literature. Her guide Seema is a childless lesbian. Paul, husband of Seema, is a drama director. I am the protagonist, who coins philosophies for day to day events and my wife Sulekha is the second protagonist who makes coincidences happen with her artful manipulations. Read on to learn what happens when…

The story is about Anupam, an old man who makes money by playing the stock market, his daughter, Aalya, an English literature student, and Salil, a software engineer who wants to start his own company. They live in the same neighbourhood. Salil is not very outgoing and had an unsuccessful love affair with Muslim girl and had tried to commit suicide. When he meets Aalya, he falls in love with her shadow. Anupam likes to sit in a park, under a tree and thinks about the various phases of life with a marked detachment. I think these are the best chapters of the book. It makes you look at life in different a perspective.

There are some parts of the book which looked unnecessary. The author gets a bit carried away when he is describing the relationship of Aalya and her mentor. The story of Salil’s ex-girlfriend, Nasrin, after marriage, also looked out of place. There are some grammatical errors in the book that could have been rectified with proper editing. Even the editor’s foreword, at the beginning of the book, reveals too much of the plot. Anupam’s wife, Sulekha’s confession of how she achieved what she wanted, was pleasantly surprising. However, the last chapter of the book looks like it a Bollywood ending.

If I take an overall view, though, I’d say the story is interesting with some unusual circumstances in the life of its main characters. It made me dwell on all my beliefs and moral values.

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 Tall Man Small Shadow (Paperback) review by Maria Perry Mohan 
                                                   

Tall Man Small Shadow (Paperback)

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Maria Perry Mohan

A Thoughtful Piece of Fiction

A thoughtful piece of fiction. The story revolves around the main character who is the husband and father of a small, modern Indian nuclear family. I don't dare give his name as it isn't revealed until the end of the story. He ponders life, death and everything in between, including the relevance of tradition and the facets of truth. He loves and cares for his ailing wife Sulekha while seeing to his fatherly duty in arranging his daughter's marriage with the proverbial suitable boy. The daughter, Aalya, while working on her doctoral thesis and finding herself attracted to a boy who has come to live in her neighbourhood, is awakened sexually not by the boy but by her professor, an unfulfilled wife. The author's voice is tolerant and neither negative nor condemning. At the same time, after the reader has been lured up the garden path on a leisurely journey, the wheel turn in a full circle and things work out exactly as they should. So the end provides the necessary closure. Written in the Indian style of English, one forgives the little so called errors which are really just typical of Indian English and a little tense jumping here and there, not to mention the fact that sometimes the third person lapses into the first person. The story made sense and the author's voice came through. As a reader, I really don't require any more than that.


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Shilpi Dutta:

My review on the fiction “Tall man small shadow” is my candid opinion and not my judgement about the book since I am nobody to call anything good or bad-

Tall man samll shadow

Book- Tall man small shadow
Author- Vipin Behari Goyal
Story- Protagonist Salil, a lonely software professional stays in a rented apartment in a society of some city(Oops there is no backdrop of the city unless you assume that to be Delhi as the story progresses). Salil, a man of few words, notices Aalya, the beautiful daughter of his neighbor Anupam uncle and Sulekha aunty who are leading a happy retired life. A PhD aspirant in English Literature, Alya looks after her parents and is the apple of their eyes.  With no love interest or messed up affair, a lonely Aalya apparently falls in love with her thesis guide Seema. At 40, Seema, without any child, still looks gorgeous but is devoid of love from her busy husband Paul who is a theater director. In the most unimaginable situation, Seema and Aalya develop a physical relationship, partially to fill up the void spaces of their lives, and partially because they liked each other. At the same time Aalya is attracted towards Salil but never gathers courage to admit her admiration for the handsome boy. Salil is too introvert to speak his heart out while he falls for Aalya’s shadow! Yes, that’s where the novel draws it’s name from.
As the plot progresses,  Salil’s gets over his past with Aalya around him. A successful but sad Seema longs for substance in her life and Aalya helps Seema to bear a fetus in her womb through IVF. Guess who was the sperm donor? Ok, read the book, the obvious would be disclosed to you.
Aalya is a kind person who would do anything to see others happy, and considering her bonding with Seems, this was the best she could offer. Later Aalya marries Salil. The couple belongs to the same caste and their parents arrange their marriage easily, without a single hurdle in their way. The story ends with a surprise twist (in fact the only chapter, basis which the entire plot was framed) and leaves you staring at a blank.
What I liked-

• Length of the chapters- Short and crisp.
• Good uses of metaphors to explain philosophies of life and its complexities
• A positive note in each chapter- You would wish life was as happy as the characters.
• The cover design and the book name- Enticing and creates mystery

What I did not like-

• Multiple narrations. Too confusing. The readers have to guess in the beginning of the chapter, who is narrating. There are first and third person narratives change in every chapter! Sad!
• Slow pace of the story- At times I wished the book had a fast fwd button like a DVD player does.
• Typos and overtly simple language that made it look like a story being narrated by a school child. A novella should have a wise choice of words. Dialogues were silly in many places.
• Characters- Too unrealistic, especially Aalya’s parents (such people exist in fiction only) , Seema (a desperate lesbian), strange character of Aalya who is in love with two different gender people at the same time!!

Conclusion-
The story moves at a slow pace but on the contrary the incidents are quick. The surprise chapter disappointed me. If nothing is coincidence, then why believe in destiny and God? If you can plan anything and everything, where is the faith in supreme power? And that was my thought about the surprise second last chapter.
I would rate the book 2.5 on 5, as in few places the author has very well explained the core complexities of life yet has been repeated a number of times. Character development of the novella could have been better. The book has nothing new to offer in terms of plot or characters. You can still stiffle your way though the book in few hours.

 http://shilp3005.blog.com/2013/09/26/book-review-tall-man-small-shadow/