Family Planning: A Novel Paperback – November 18, 2008

Rakesh Ahuja has thirteen children (with one on the way) and a wife whom he is attracted to only when she is pregnant. He is the Minister of Urban Development in the Indian government, but his personal and political clashes are taking their toll. In particular, he's dealing with his immature and moody oldest son, Arjun, and a political coup started by the (on-screen) death of the country's most famous soap star.I have to say that I just didn't "get" this book. Many of the other reviews characterize it as amusing or farcical. I failed to see the comedy in most of it. I didn't understand many of the cultural references, which was largely my lack, but it was still frustrating. The writing was fine, but I was often confused. I think, in large part, due to some of the bilingual references and misspellings. Still, there were some pretty good, memorable lines throughout. Here's my favorite:"He was squeezing his butt to hold in the piss. It appeared, strangely, to work."A little crude, but funny. Though I struggled with this book, I must caution that it may have just been me. I may have completely missed the boat or the point. I might have some mental block that is no fault of the author. Many critics really enjoyed this book. Even for me, towards the end, something kind of reminded me of Cat's Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut. Mr. Mahajan can take comfort in the fact that I don't really "get" Mr. Vonnegut either. If you "get" that kind of thing, this may be the book for you.

A farcical novel about a lack of family planning in all senses, “Family Planning” tells the story of a New Delhi boy trying to start a band while navigating the complications of his huge family. Or maybe it’s the story of a half-deaf politician trying to lead two lives while keeping his dignity at home—and failing. And in the background is the crumbling, corrupt, divided city—which Karan Mahajan knew well before he went off to Stanford to start learning how to write sentences like “There was a twitching in his back, like the awkward flexing of nubs left by torn wings.” Mahajan’s next novel, “The Association of Small Bombs,” is also superb.

I bought "Family Planning" right after hearing an interview with the young author, Karan Mahajan, on NPR. It was an impulse buy based on how intelligent and witty Mr. Mahajan had been in the interview; I was not disappointed. It's a delightful coming-of-age story and very humorous, which is not something I usually associate with tales set in Delhi, India. I'll be watching for more form this promising young man.

I gave up on this book. Too absurd for me and I am lacking in references to life in India, leaving me feeling lost.

Our hero is a politician and father of thirteen - all still at home. I don't know which is scarier: a politician raising his own voter base; or raising thirteen kids. Thankfully, the terror stops there.The fun, however, starts on page one and continues throughout the book. We have family follies and political pandemonium; coming-of-age and first-love; and lots of children.I felt as if Mahajan was sitting next to me telling me the story; the writing was that real and 'friendly'. I am amazed that this is a first book. This being the P.S. edition, we also get the additional material from him in the back of the book.Grab this one if you want to have fun and enjoy a satiric look at part of the life of India.

This book did not interest me at all.

Holly Scudero, a top 1000 reviewer, has a great review from Jan 18, 2009 that is more eloquent and thoughtful than I could ever write. So I want to just add a couple of personal thoughts from that starting point.I read through "Family Planning" in one sitting. Mahajan is a true child of post-modernism; he dissects the incongruity of life with the same finesse of a Camus or a Rushdie. Farce is not for everyone but for those who appreciate dissecting the absurd, this is a royal treat.I am giving this book 5 stars considering also the valiant effort -- Mahajan is a young author and this is his first novel. I look eagerly to his next one.

While I respect Karan for trying to write, this has been one of the most boring books I have come across in a while. Dull, boring, and gave me a headache instead of making the faintest attempt to entertain me. And to think I was excited about buying this, and gave up an evening out to read it. Please save your money (and your time!)

Coming of age novel

Von indischen Autoren ist man ja meist eher Tragisches à la „Slumdog Millionaire“ und Mistrys „Das Gleichgewicht der Welt“ oder epische Familiendramen wie „A suitable Boy“ von Vikram Seth oder "Mitternachtskinder" von Salman Rushdie gewohnt. Dass Inder auch lockerleicht, humorvoll und trotzdem mit Anspruch schreiben können, zeigt „Family Planning“. Hier geht es nicht um die Tragik der indischen Geschichte und Kultur oder das vielfache Leiden, sondern um einen fröhlichen Ausschnitt aus dem heutigen urbanen Mittelklasse-Indien, das eben auch zur Wahrheit des Landes gehört.Geplant wird in dieser Familie allerdings nicht wirklich. Rakesh Ahuja ist Minister in Delhi und beschäftigt sich hauptsächlich mit Flyovers (Überführungen oder Hochtrassen), die das Verkehrschaos der Hauptstadt mindern sollen (und das Stadtbild vieler indischer Städte verunstalten). Sein Politikstil, der nichts mit Ideologie, aber viel mit Klüngeln und Ritualen wie dem Einreichen seines Rücktritts und der prompten Ablehnung des Gesuchs zu tun hat, scheint dem westlichen Leser auf den ersten Blick vielleicht etwas überzeichnet, dürfte aber durchaus symptomatisch für den indischen Politikbetrieb sein. Dreizehn Kinder nennt er sein eigen, zweite Hauptperson des Romans ist sein Erstgeborener, Sohn aus erster Ehe, der von dieser aber nichts weiß. Die Mühen des Heranwachsenden, seinen Platz im Leben zu finden und seinem heimlichen Schwarm näherzukommen (gar nicht so unähnlich den Problemen Jugendlicher hierzulande) und das verkorkste, unzufriedene Leben des Vaters (gar nicht so unähnlich dem mancher Eltern hierzulande) stehen im Mittelpunkt des Buches. Mehr soll hier nicht verraten werden.Da der europäische Leser mit den Herausforderungen der Protagonisten oft aus eigener Erfahrung vertraut sein dürfte, fällt es nicht allzu schwer, sich mit der einen oder anderen Figur zu identifizieren. Indien ist heute eben nicht mehr nur ländliche Rückständigkeit, sondern in den Großstädten hält auch eine gesellschaftliche Moderne Einzug - mit indischer Färbung, aber uns auch nicht ferner als die Probleme amerikanischer High School Kids. Man muss also gar nicht viel über Indien wissen, um das Buch zu genießen, es ist einfach sehr zugänglich.Insgesamt ist dies sicher kein epochales Werk, aber das wohl auch nicht der Anspruch. Hier und da gibt es auch Längen, und vielleicht hätte man aus einigen Figuren noch mehr machen können. Aber es ist rund und unterhaltsam, lässt sich angenehm lesen, bringt den Leser ab und zu zum Schmunzeln. Ich freue mich jedenfalls, dieses hübsche Werk gefunden zu haben. Von dem Autor ist sicher noch einiges zu erwarten. Lesen!

Too much of sex. No plot and not much of a story line. Can't see why other reviewers found it so funny!

The author has to improve his style.