Title: My name Is Cinnamon
Author: Vikas Prakash Joshi
Publisher: Hay House India
‘My Name is Cinnamon’ is the adventurous tale of Roshan
Rishikesh Paranjape aka Cinnamon, a teenage boy trying to find his roots and
place in the world.
The plotline chronicles Cinnamon’s journey in his search for
his birth parents. His search takes us from the bustling city streets of Pune
to the chaotic city of Kolkata and subsequently to the interiors of Maharashtra
(Nandurbar) where he finds his answers.
On each part of his journey, Cinnamon encounters new people,
new cuisines, and new adventures. With him, readers are also drawn into his
world effortlessly. The story is seasoned well with a generous sprinkle of
humour.
Well-written and tautly paced, Vikas Prakash Joshi’s debut
novel reveals emotional turmoil both through what is recounted and what is not.
He deftly plays the characters against each other. Especially in the case of
Cinnamon’s mothers. There’s severe tension evident between the two during their
interactions and yet their love for their son surfaces together and bridges the
gap between them. This interlacing creates a rich texture that reflects the
complexity of the opportunities and challenges faced by the two in their
respective roles in Cinnamon’s life.
Joshi starts Cinnamon’s story on a light note but subtly
traverses the intricate themes of adoption and the even grave theme of rare
genetic diseases that remain out of the scope of our literature for various
reasons.
Joshi’s passion for and knowledge about the topics he has
chosen to highlight in this novel may or may not be extensive but his story is
a compelling context against which to wrestle with themes of belonging,
autonomy, family, and agency. And by engaging with these complexities and
handling his subject and its characters with empathy, Joshi emerges as a
promising and determined voice.
To sum up, Vikas Prakash Joshi’s ‘My Name is Cinnamon’ is a
book worth reading and discussing.
