Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Black Ink
Pages: 328
Published: December 2020
Rating: 4.5/5
Buy at: Buy on Amazon | Add to Goodreads
Summary and Story:
Nothing seems to be working for Anviksha Punjabi. Thirty-something, twice divorced (almost), she is forced to move in with her gregarious and over-bearing 67-year-old mother, Smita Punjabi. Someone she is always at loggerheads with.
Looking for a break from both the professional and the personal, she plans on taking a “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” – esque solo trip across Europe. Only to have her mother tag along after much arm-twisting and emotional blackmail. What follows is a journey of self-discovery where old wounds are reopened. Choices and decisions are questioned. Are they able to make peace with each other? You need to read the book to find out.
Review:
Lately, I had been reading emotionally draining books and was looking for a light read. A mother and a daughter, constantly in each other’s hair, and off to travel the world. It was touted as a quirky, funny, and witty family drama with a generous dose of wanderlust. And I was quite eager to read it.
The book primarily revolves around Anviksha and Smita Punjabi. A mother and a daughter who couldn’t have been more different. There are a horde of characters but they all add to the story. The exes, Rudra and Ranvijay. The gal pal/colleague, Nikita. The newfound friend at work, Aakash. A bunch of neighborhood aunties. The cousin. And not to forget the two mutts – Mutton and Bhindi.
The fast-paced book has a linear narrative in the third person. The writing is lucid and witty, and there is rarely a dull moment. It is peppered with the colloquial and the Sindhi language. But that does really not take away from the story.
As a daughter, I could relate to the story and the characters. I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that mom can practically chat up complete strangers, much like Smita Punjabi. Not to mention the idiosyncrasies and the constant “when you are my age”. We have all heard that from our mother, right?
“I wasn’t diagnosed with bubonic plague. It’s just a divorce.”
The author is known to tackle difficult issues through humor in her writing. In between all the fun, there are two important topics that the author delves one. The first is the prevalent stereotypes and the unacceptability of divorce. How an unhappy woman in a bad marriage is considered better than a divorced woman. Both Smita and Anviksha are divorced. They are strong independent characters living on their own terms. And do not shy away from calling a spade a spade.
The other is a conversation on our relationship with our parents. Particularly our mothers. There is a Punjabi adage “Teeyan vaddiyan ho jaandiyaan ne, maavaan jhalliyaan ho jaandiyaan ne“. Roughly, it translates to “as daughters grow, they start considering their moms not polished enough”. As the title “Excess Baggage” suggests, Anviksha considers her mother an unwanted add-on and is always embarrassed by her behavior. Unfazed, Smita ends up teaching her daughter a few life lessons or two.
I enjoyed reading the book. If you are looking for a light pick with laugh-out-loud moments, this is the book for you. You will not be disappointed. And just as the author’s previous “Kanpur Khoofiya Pvt Ltd”, this book too is set to be adapted on screen.
Excess Baggage by Richa S. Mukherjee #BookReview @richashrivas @CindyAnnDSilva @nooranand @bugshieldcloths #BlogaberryDazzle #BohoPonderings Click To Tweet
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla, and generously SPONSORED BY Bugshield Clothing – Enjoy Outdoors More!
About the author
Richa S. Mukherjee is a poet, ex-journalist and an old hand in the advertising industry, all of which she bade farewell to in order to write books about imaginary people. After writing a collection of poems titled A Penchant for Prose, largely for herself, she went on to write her first novel, I Didn’t Expect to be Expecting, a light-hearted take on accidental pregnancy, and Kanpur Khoofiya Pvt. Ltd, a humorous thriller that has been procured for a screen adaptation. She has been a TOI Write India winner, is a blogger and travel writer and contributes to several platforms.
Image by TeeFarm from Pixabay.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a very small percentage of the sale at no cost to you.
February 25, 2021 @ 1:19 am
I loved your review. This book definitely seems a light read. I liked the name and the cover page. Your mentions about mutton Bhindi and Panjabi adage was icing on the cake. Also, I would like to read Kanpur Khoofiya Pvt. Ltd, as I belong to Kanpur. 🙂
March 3, 2021 @ 5:26 pm
Thank you, Alpana 🙂
February 25, 2021 @ 12:35 pm
A light-read review by you Ritu. Must be really good. And being a daughter and having your mom you could have related to it. So much baggage we carry..physical and emotional. Seems like a wonderful book from your review.
March 3, 2021 @ 5:27 pm
Exactly Harjeet. A lot of daughters and mothers can relate to it.
February 25, 2021 @ 4:43 pm
Such an encouraging review, Ritu. Richa is a gifted writer and your review has done full justice to her book.
March 3, 2021 @ 5:27 pm
Thank you, Mayuri 🙂 She indeed is!
February 25, 2021 @ 5:02 pm
Encouraging and great review. But I feel like I’ve read it. I will check it out again!
February 28, 2021 @ 11:56 pm
Such a beautiful review. You have motivated us to read this
March 3, 2021 @ 5:29 pm
Thank you Arti. I am so glad to know that. 🙂
March 3, 2021 @ 5:28 pm
That is great, Monidipa. It is quite a popular read in the community.
February 26, 2021 @ 6:07 pm
This is the second review of the book that I have come across in as many day! So seems to be a very interesting one to read. This is surely going on my reading list!!
March 3, 2021 @ 5:31 pm
It is indeed quite popular. Do check it out.
February 26, 2021 @ 7:22 pm
I heard so much about this book and also as Vasumathi rightly said, this is the second review of it in a single day. Will surely read it near future.
March 3, 2021 @ 5:32 pm
That is great Suhasini. It is quite a light read.
February 26, 2021 @ 9:21 pm
Really liked the review of the book, it seems like a light read and interesting will surely check it out.
March 3, 2021 @ 5:32 pm
Thank you Manisha 🙂
February 27, 2021 @ 3:19 pm
Interesting review. Would like to grab this one. Mother-Daughter relationships is always wonderful. I would love to read
March 3, 2021 @ 5:33 pm
Thank you Sadvika 🙂
February 27, 2021 @ 5:42 pm
I have always wanted a trip with my mother. Hopefully this year we will plan. This book is sure a motivation for the same:)
March 3, 2021 @ 5:33 pm
Ditto Priyanka 🙂. I cannot wait for the pandemic to end to plan a trip with mom.
February 27, 2021 @ 5:45 pm
I have always wanted a trip with my mother. Hopefully this year we will plan. This book is sure a motivation for the same:) Loved the way you have reviewed it. The title seems pretty catchy
February 28, 2021 @ 2:33 pm
This looks like a fun read. Loved the way you have written.
March 3, 2021 @ 5:34 pm
Thank you Raunica 🙂
February 27, 2021 @ 10:12 pm
I loved your review Ritu, I am surely going to grab this book. I can relate to the storyline and Richa’s writing is brilliant.
March 3, 2021 @ 5:34 pm
Thank you Priyanka 🙂
February 28, 2021 @ 1:12 am
So many bloggers are reviewing this book. I loved your review. I will try to read this book. This kind of storyline seems perfect for movies.
March 3, 2021 @ 5:35 pm
Thank you Abha 🙂
February 28, 2021 @ 12:53 pm
I have seen so many of my blogger friends write the reviews of this book, ‘Excess baggage’ By Richa.S.Mukherjee, and honestly, every time, it craves me more to grab the book soonest. I loved your honest review. This mother-daughter tale has already booked its spot on my TBR.
March 3, 2021 @ 5:36 pm
Thank you Archana 🙂. It is indeed quite popular.
February 28, 2021 @ 5:25 pm
Thanks for sharing this review.. I am n the lookout for a light read cos I just finished a heavy historical read yesterday…
March 3, 2021 @ 5:44 pm
This would be perfect, Shahira. It worked for me after some heavy reading too.
February 28, 2021 @ 5:55 pm
My list of books is increasing by the day. You keep recommending new ones. I will surely read this one next.
March 3, 2021 @ 5:45 pm
I am so glad to read that 🙂
February 28, 2021 @ 9:00 pm
Loved the way u have penned it down !! A nice read for sure …shall grab my copy soon 🙂
March 3, 2021 @ 5:46 pm
Thank you Aishwarya 🙂
March 1, 2021 @ 12:52 am
Just came to know about this book today and tackling serious problems through humour is an art in itself. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful review
March 3, 2021 @ 5:47 pm
Thank you Supriti 🙂. Richa is indeed gifted.
March 1, 2021 @ 8:24 am
A good and detailed review. I will add this book into my list of readings.
March 3, 2021 @ 5:47 pm
Thank you Bhawna 🙂
March 1, 2021 @ 11:27 am
This sounds like a fun book to read Ritu. A mother-daughter relationships with all nok-jhoks seems so relatable and fun. I can’t wait to lay my hands on this book. Adding it to my Amazon Cart.
March 3, 2021 @ 5:48 pm
Exactly Amritha. They are always fun to read.
March 1, 2021 @ 3:46 pm
Absolutely loved this book and one of my best reads this year. Loved how you reviewed it Ritu.
March 3, 2021 @ 5:48 pm
Thank you Sindhu 🙂
March 1, 2021 @ 4:42 pm
I have read lot of reviews on this book. It seems to be very interesting, will definitely give it a read.
March 1, 2021 @ 4:54 pm
Hey that is a wonderful review. Loved your writing style, You defined the characters so well yet did not reveal a bit about the stories. Looking forward to read this book.
March 3, 2021 @ 5:49 pm
Thank you for your kind words, Aishwarya 🙂
March 1, 2021 @ 5:28 pm
This seems like a good read .This mother daughter relationship seems so relatable .
March 3, 2021 @ 5:52 pm
It indeed is, Jyoti
March 1, 2021 @ 11:35 pm
I thoroughly enjoyed the wit and language in this book. It was a great read for me
March 3, 2021 @ 5:52 pm
Ditto. It was a fun read.
March 2, 2021 @ 2:51 pm
Nice review, I would love to read this book. Your detailed write up is a nice trailer to the book. Thanks
March 3, 2021 @ 5:53 pm
Thank you Ruchiraa 🙂