The Afflictions by Vikram Paralkar | BOOK REVIEW

Book: The Afflictions' by Vikram Paralkar
Genre : Fiction
Pages : 232
My Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Sickness and Suffering are integral to the human soul"

While reading this book I had a constant nagging sensation that I can't describe this book in one word. This book doesn't fall into a specific label and I spent quite a lot of time searching the synonyms of unconventional, and found few which did resonate with what this book might be described as : eccentric, bizarre, offbeat, unusual!! Yes, this book is actually all these words put together.

It's a collection of short stories (almost a novella) ascribing different maladies. It's presented from a single POV. The story revolves around a librarian who is recruiting a new guy and whilst touring the library, introduces him to this encyclopedia of medical afflictions- this is what the reader (that is you) reads. The book is divided into 7 parts but the general theme is the same: a myriad of afflictions affecting the mind, body and soul.

The writing is eloquent and so breezy with just the right amount of literary finesse and sublime storytelling at its core- you just need to enjoy it.

"It's only a matter of time before the soul is ground to dust, and all that remains is a body in pristine repair, devoid of any vital force to sustain it."

Some popular maladies are re-envisioned and explored in a completely different light with extra fervor. Some felt like an extrapolation of existing ones or an amalgamation of two, whilst others were completely unique fictitious ones.

I liked all the intricate complexities and subtle clues left in between these obscure afflictions- I felt like I was a child deciphering a puzzle!!



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