Book Review: The Fragile Thread of Hope

Perhaps what attracted me to the book The Fragile Thread of Hope, by Pankaj Giri, was the poetic title. Add that to the elegance of the cover and it certainly merits a second glance. I appreciated the cover for its obvious simplicity but at the same time, it might have been a better idea for it to be more subtle.

I enjoyed the way the story meandered through Gangtok and because I speak Nepali myself, the lines in Giri’s native tongue were easy for me to understand and identify with. However, some readers may not like the frequent lines in Nepalese. For me, the food and the culture of the Nepalese community are familiar and therefore I quite liked the author’s frequent references.

The Fragile Thread of Hope explores relatable themes of the modern world. There is religion, love, betrayal and guilt set against the background of varied relationships. Each of us can find something that will strike a chord. The characters are human and their ordinary strength is what make them extraordinary and unforgettable.

I am partial to love stories that are well told and enjoy tragic narratives with happy endings. Hence, I found the book quite enjoyable. However, at times the book slanted towards the almost-morbid. Also, I felt that the language could have been better when the author seemed to be trying to force poetic expression into the…