17, Morris Road

The reading world today hails 17, Morris Road as a nostalgia read where the hook is an empty nester’s journey; but while its all these things readers of Sharma’s work, I know it cant be that simple. For it has the gift of a Fabergé egg—the lure is the beauty of the plot and evocative writing but finally you are stunned by the cunning surprises of the storyline each speaking to all who explore it.I will always hold to what I said the first time I read Sharma —that she brings out the Urdu wali in me. And this time she allows all of us to pontificate on which side of thevo afsāna jise anjām tak laanā na ho mumkin use ik ḳhūb-sūrat moḌ de kar chhoRnā achchhādebate we are. Let me know what you thought?

I just finished 17 Morris Road!I was able to visualize each of the characters. Every single one of them felt real, particularly, Mauna, Ammaji, Shaili and Sukh. The author brings the estate to life with detailed and evocative imagery. The prose is simple and elegant, just the way I love it. It’s a gentle read, and had just the level of conflict in the storyline/ between the characters to keep the reader engaged.

17, Morris road is the perfect read for those rainy afternoons or winter evenings. It’s like a soothing cup of hot chocolate- warm, comforting and funny in the right doses.The characters are well crafted and complex as the author takes her readers down winding memory lanes.The narrative moves at a steady pace as the story unravels taking us to the world of 80s India- simple and unique!The self doubting rambling innermost thoughts of the protagonist Gaya make her seem like a long lost friend- familiar and flawed!Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable read- poignant, emotional and after you finish the book, the characters will stay back with you.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The author writes very well and took me back effortlessly to what life was like in the 80s. It’s such a pleasure to read good English writing that isn’t dripping with cliches or unnecessary stereotypes. Contrary to what the blurb initially suggested, this isn’t a midlife crisis book- more about revisiting a larger than life childhood home and all the characters and memories associated with it. I laughed out loud several times, smiled to myself almost non stop, and finished this book in one sitting.

Parul’s book takes you back to the days when life was simple, yet joyful. For anyone who grew up in Doon in ‘80s, this story will leave you with a longing to revisit and relive all you left behind. The book reminds me of a melodic sonata that you want to listen to again and again. Definitely worth a read. Pick it up.

17, Morris Road is for every soon-to-be empty nester. And anyone else who is at a crossroads or a hiatus - it feeds into that empty feeling that comes with sensing the end of something and wondering what next. It leaves one with the incredible warmth and comfort of not being alone especially when you despairingly thought you were totally on your own.And then the protagonist does the big jump - well into her past and her most formative years. Weaves a magical and languid story with a cast of characters we all know and have lived next to.This book is all nostalgia - it feeds every sense especially one that’s most unexpected - the sense of smell. You can literally inhale every corner of Arbor House, the descriptions are so vivid. Here was a book so timely and cathartic, I will revisit 17, Morris Road again for sure.

Parul Sharma is back and how. After Bringing Up Vasu and Tuki's Grand Salon Chase, Parul returns with this absolute delight of a book, transporting you back to the Dehradun of the past. Nostalgia abounds, as does coming of age woes, teenage love and some absolute brilliant descriptions of place and era. Do read.

I started this book with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised along my reading journey. The writers simplistic and heartfelt words touched the right chords and made me empathize with the characters, especially the feeling of empty nest syndrome and how it makes a person feel without any purpose or motivation.The story delves into the family’s past and present, highlighting how the ancestral home at 17 Morris Road, is a central figure, which holds memories, secrets, and emotional baggage for each charachter. I especially liked how the family members confronted their unresolved tensions and past mistakes. The acknowledgment and acceptance of the inevitable changes that come with time and their personal journeys, lead to the healing of their past traumas. The book captures melancholy with the perfect dose of humour, making it more relatable to readers like me.The book’s portrayal of family dynamics and emotional depth is beautifully depicted by the author. The book basically revolves around the family life and the intimate, everyday experiences of its characters. I personally prefer fast-moving stories, and the slow pacing of the book didn’t appeal much to me in spite of the wonderful storyline and character-driven narrative.

17 Morris road took me back to the 80s. So many forgotten memories were revived. Beautifully written book. Reminded me of many small pleasures and childhood innocence. Would love to revisit Dehradun and hopefully some of the magic still remains!

17, Morris Road is a delightful, little book which effortlessly moves from the present, down memory lane and onto the future. I enjoyed it very much. I thought the characters are very real and their life and setting are very well observed. For me, simple references like Vaisnao dhabas along the Delhi - Dehradoon route brought back happy memories. Description of Dehradoon is very evocative and reminiscent of colonial writers of the past. The author verbalises the mixed feelings of dread and excitement of newly ‘empty-nestor’ parents with a lot of sensitivity, which as a parent of a teenage daughter I could relate with.Highly recommended.