Stilettos In The Newsroom By Rashmi Kumar

• Book: Stilettos In The Newsroom
• Author: Rashmi Kumar 
• Publishing House: Rupa Publications
• Category: Fiction
• Rating: 3.5/5

Story-in-Short:

 

Get a peek into the life of a reporter and find out what really happens inside a newsroom. Radhika has just landed herself a new job at the newsroom and it is time for her to get a taste of life with the press. She soon gets her first story, makes her first mistakes and is struggling to stay sane as she tries to meet her hectic deadlines. Also, find out how Radhika makes time for her love life in the midst of her busy schedule. The book is perfect for those who want some light-hearted entertainment on lazy weekend afternoons.

In my view: 

 

Newsroom -  a place where several stories delve in throughout the day. But can the newsroom have its own tale to tell? Well, apart from deadlines to accomplish, scratching head while editing and running in and out in search for stories, newsrooms have numerous stories, which take root and grow in. Author and Journalist Rashmi Kumar’s book Stilettos in the Newsroom is all about this! 

Radhika Kanetkar is the protagonist of the story, a journalist, a newbie to be precise, who walks into the office of the newspaper, where she gets her first job, without even the slightest knowledge of the things which happen, apart from news-related work. And, if you are wondering this book targets the scam stories and those related to public outcry, then you are totally wrong. 

Stilettos in the Newsroom targets a whole another segment – the love, fights and triumphs that keep unfolding inside, amidst the constant work and tight schedule. The arrogance and jealousy that build up gradually, the pressures people put over one, the consequences of making a blooper and the varying relationships amongst everyone. 

The book offers a comical story, with an entertaining and intriguing writing style. The pun, the funny moments that the author shares and writes about, takes a reader away from the stress and strain of life to another world of entertaining things. Best are the rules of journalism, at the end of every chapter, stating what the protagonist learns for that particular instance. The book begins fascinatingly, drawing and holding the attention, but it, as a whole, lacks a lot many things. 

The book has got no concrete story, as such, and though it has been written, to me it was more like reading anecdotes from someone’s diary. Then, there are too many characters, and the pace at which the author has penned it down, it becomes difficult to relate, at times. Ironical to the initial pages, where it holds readers, the story, slowly loses its charm and enters the area of monotony, though the chuckle and snigger in the story continues. The climax is too swift and abrupt. The biggest drawback of the book, I feel, is its cover, which is girly and it becomes difficult for males to read it while travelling, and carry it along, though the story has few male characters. 

But over-all, the book has an entertaining narration, something that will leave you chuckling for a while. 

Note: Review copy of the book was sent by the author 

•  You can avail the book via: Amazon, Flipkart, Shimply, Rediff, Crossword,