Book Review: My Name Is Cinnamon by Vikas Prakash Joshi

 

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.

 

Vikas Prakash Joshi is a writer, editor, translator, public speaker and freelance journalist based in Pune. He has been writing for children since the age of 17, beginning with stories and columns in a major urban English newspaper that is read by thousands of people. He writes in English and his non-fiction articles and stories have been translated into 31 languages, both foreign and Indian, and published in 24 countries.

His first children’s book, My Name is Cinnamon, was published by Hay House India. The book was appreciated by people from about 25 countries, as well as from all over India. He has been published in many of the country's leading English publications and won 8 public speaking awards. His hobbies include public speaking, cooking and traveling

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I'd like to thank the author for letting me review the book. I do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading!

* I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.