Glitz, Gossip, and Greed: Ong Chin Huat's Harmony Heights Exposes the Underbelly of Opulence

           

"Glitz, Gossip, and Greed: Ong Chin Huat's Harmony Heights Exposes the Underbelly of Opulence"

Harmony Heights by Ong Chin Huat

Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

Harmony Heights by Ong Chin Huat

Authors: Ong Chin Huat

ISBN: 978-9815144512

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Dramedy

Length: 288 Pages

Publication Date: February 2024

Publisher: Penguin Random House SEA

Cover Designer: Chinmayee Samant | Website: chinmayeesamant.com

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/3PRgeva

About the Writer: After graduating from the London School of Economics with a law degree and later called to the Bar in both the United Kingdom and Malaysia, Ong Chin Huat studied History of Art at the British Institute of Florence in Italy. Deciding to pursue a career in journalism, he became the first Chinese person to work at the Hong Kong Tatler as the Social Editor. After a stint as a columnist at the South China Morning Post, he started his own PR Consultancy specialising in fashion and luxury goods. He has been a judge for the Miss Asia Pageant in Hong Kong, Miss Charm de Chine in Shanghai and Mrs.International Global Grand Final in Kuala Lumpur. Currently, he is a freelance writer, fashion stylist and TV Host and has contributed to The Star, Life Inspired, Luxurious Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Design Anthology, Elle and Conde Nast Traveller among others. He hosted a TV Show called ‘Hong Kong High Life’ on ATV Hong Kong as well as a talk show named ‘Driven’ on TheStarTV.com. Voted as one of Hong Kong’s Best Dressed Personalities by the Hong Kong Fashion Designer’s Association, he has met and interviewed everyone from movie stars and business tycoons to politicians and world-class athletes.

Ong Chin Huat (Source: Tatler Asia)

Instagram: @chinhuat_ong

Disclaimer: This review is only intended to initiate discussions. The opinions and views presented in this article are my own and do not reflect anything about the book's author. 

REVIEW

Ong Chin Huat's Harmony Heights takes us on a whirlwind tour of a Malaysian condominium complex. The setting is idyllic – a low-density condo retreat on the outskirts of KL. But beneath the surface of manicured lawns, designer facades, wealth, respectability lurk dysfunctions, deceit, mental health struggles, and a hunger for power.

The novel lays bare the hypocrisy of a society that prides itself on status while rotting from the inside out, where acts of desperation and greed could be seen as personal failings and systemic issues that perpetuate the cycle of disparity. 

The strength of Chin Huat's novel lies in its characters. They're a fascinating bunch, each harbouring secrets that could shatter the illusion of their perfect lives. We've got a cast that's more crowded than a Black Friday sale. We have typical high-society types with closets so deep that you could lose a pair of Jimmy Choos in there and not find them until next season. Here, gossip flows faster than teh tarik at a mamak stall. But then we also get a glimpse of the struggles of the domestic workers and the immigrants trying to make ends meet. And the secrets? Oh, they're juicier than a ripe mango on a hot day. 

Chin Huat throws us into this melting pot of cultures, nationalities, and social classes. There's Jan and Erika, a lesbian couple with their adopted Bangladeshi daughter, and Azizah, a former singer, alongside the wannabe aristocrat Padma and her equally troubled daughter Shivana. Widya, the Indonesian maid, harbours a secret romance with the groundskeeper, Iqbal, who lives with Asperger's. Let's not forget Dr. Desmond, a controlling patriarch who paints a far cry from the image of a respectable doctor. And many more! All with a side of drama that could give any soap opera a run for its money.

From Azizah's battle with menopause and its psychological effects to Padma's ****mania and Shivana's ****mia, Chin Huat paints a vivid picture of individuals struggling to cope with their personal demons. (**** - Mental health issues not mentioned to avoid spoilers.)

The initial chapters meander slowly, like a monsoon breeze. We're bombarded with introductions, each character sketch accompanied by a peek into their past and present woes. Just when you think it can't get any wilder, the narrative explodes around the 100-page mark. Flaws unfurl, secrets spill, relationships combust, and the narrative transforms into a full-blown suspenseful noir.

Despite the meticulously crafted build-up, the resolution is both abrupt and unbelievable. The individual character arcs are conveniently left dangling to readers' imagination. "Harmony Heights" stumbles in its attempt at a grand finale. The climax feels rushed, failing to deliver a satisfying resolution to the multitude of brewing conflicts. 

Instead of a grand, unifying climax, we get a series of individual denouements. The individual resolutions feel underwhelming. The ending is open-ended, not in a way that tantalizes but in a manner that feels incomplete. It's like devouring a seven-course meal only to find the main course missing.

Harmony Heights gets bogged down by its sprawling cast and melodramatic climax. The constant brand-dropping becomes a distraction. It's like the characters are walking advertisements, but it gets a bit eye-roll-inducing after a while.

There's also a nagging sense of missed opportunities. The overarching societal issues teased throughout the novel remain unexplored. Each resident is a potential protagonist, brimming with a backstory and struggles begging to be explored. Honestly, this feels like the first season of a killer show - this gossip rag of a novel deserves a second act! (I can't wait to see where Chin Huat takes things next.) Each book could delve into the lives of a specific character or group, tackling social issues and personal battles with greater nuance. Each book could culminate in a character arc that feels earned, delivering the closure that the sprawling narrative of the single novel lacks.

Despite its shortcomings, the novel has flashes of brilliance. The characters, especially Jan, Erika, Widya, and Iqbal, are endearing and complex. The book is a reflection of life's complexities, and while it may not offer all the answers, it certainly raises some thought-provoking questions. Through its characters, the book challenges readers to look beyond the surface and see the actual cost of fake elitism. It's a reminder that the most dangerous kind of poverty is the one that affects empathy, equality, and justice.

Harmony Heights is a juicy, fast-paced read. It's a peek into the lives of the privileged, the struggling, and everyone in between, reminding us that appearances can be deceiving. Harmony Heights will keep you turning the pages. It's a front-row seat to the greatest show of human nature in all its flawed glory. And trust me, you don't want to miss this spectacle.

Happy Reading!

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Dear Mom by Jigar Prajapati | Confessional Memoir | Book Review

     

Dear Mom: Finding Hope, Happiness and Her by Jigar Prajapati

Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

Dear Mom by Jigar Prajapati

Author: Jigar Prajapati

ISBN: 979-8885036436

Genre: Personal & Confessional Memoir

Length: 168 Pages

Publication Date: 4^th March 2022

Publisher: Notion Press

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/3Gve5zc

About the author:

Jigar Prajapati, a 32-year-old guy, never thought of writing before. But as soon as he finished his first book, a new topic came to his mind. It Must Have Been Love was the first book that he launched in December 2020. The launching of his first book made him confident enough to produce another by creating a time slot from his regular work of Consulting, Engineering, and as a Builder in Ahmedabad.

While the author was writing his first book, his mom was in a very critical health condition. He prayed a lot and tried everything he could do to save her.

The author tried to write the same in his new book, Dear Mom. Writing about the closest person of his life was pretty easy. But when he started, he found so many wrong things that he’d done to his Mom during his life.

This book is the author’s tribute to his mom. It’s his apology to his mom. This book is a memoir of the relationship of the author, his mom, and his family.

Jigar Prajapati

Instagram: @jigar_author

Facebook: Jigar Prajapati

Disclaimer: This review is only intended for initiating discussions. The opinions and views presented in this article are my own and do not reflect anything about the book's author. 

REVIEW

Dear Mom is a confessional memoir written by Jigar Prajapati as a tribute as well as an apology to his mother; the book narrates the psychological state of the author during the flurry of stressful hospital visits when his mother gets hospitalized because of a brain hemorrhage; while seeking forgiveness, the harrowing memories flood back to the author; amongst the portrayal of the average Indian household troubles and how they are dealt with, this memoir confronts the poor state of psychiatry and mental health awareness in the country.

Set somewhere in Gujarat, Dear Mom spans 21 days of the mother’s hospital journey, the narration moving between the past and the present. The book is written in raw conversational language and it mostly comprises dialogues, which complements the simple style. The memoir begins with the brain stroke and the focus is shifted to the author’s lack of acquaintance with the hospital’s nitty-gritty, which a lot of us can relate with. The author acknowledges the privilege of having doctors in the family and resources available for the treatment. 

I would divide this memoir into three parts based on the prevalent themes and/or subjects. Firstly, the hospital experience. No matter how much you prepare for a medical emergency or any unprecedented event, you will be faced with a new, out-of-the-box challenge every time. Regular hospital visits for your loved ones often entail a strong psychological impact especially when you are not able to communicate with them. The author undergoes this experience and emerges with a good change of mindset and manages to keep sanity throughout the major turn of events. 

Other subjects that are prevalent here are little dysfunctions in an average Indian household and how they are dealt with, and schizophrenia. Most of the family quarrels and troubles are caused by dysfunctions like child neglect by one of the parents, rigid boundaries between gender roles and responsibilities, etc. For me, these two themes were interconnected, which should not be the case. The lack of mental health awareness and the scarcity of resources and the stigma, all lead to the handling of mental disorders like schizophrenia as if it is some familial or social issue to be resolved. The reason could be that these disorders oftentimes manifest in the form of conflicts in relationships. Considering the condition of mental healthcare in India, people mostly resort to google for answers.

A few pages in the beginning and a few in the end perfectly described the bond the author shared with his mother. That was the kind of vibe I expected from the book. However, the book as a whole did not follow the title rather it focused more on the troubles that schizophrenia and the brain hemorrhage attracted. The simple language constrained the author’s expression. Overall, it was a page-turner filled with anecdotes introducing you to the author's family as a character, and familiarizing you with different experiences.

Happy Reading!

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A House Full of Men by Parinda Joshi | A Book Review

 

A House Full of Men by Parinda Joshi

Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

A House Full of Men by Parinda Joshi (Cover design: Sudeepti Tucker)

Author: Parinda Joshi

ISBN: 978-9354227011

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Length: 357 Pages

Publication Date: 8^th September 2021

Publisher: HarperCollins India

Cover Design: Sudeepti Tucker

Cover Designer: Website: platform-mag.com/ | Instagram: @sudeepti.tucker

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/2ZtAiwj

About the author:

Parinda Joshi was born and raised in Ahmedabad and later immigrated to Los Angeles with her new husband where she navigated the challenges of starting life from scratch in an unfamiliar milieu, enriching herself with an MS in computer science, testing her limits and redefining herself. She now resides in Silicon Valley where leads growth analytics for a startup in the fashion industry, is mother to her precocious mini-me, a budding screenwriter, a lover of modern poetry, fitness enthusiast, an avid traveler and photographer and a humor junkie. She is the author of two novels, Live From London and Powerplay. She has also contributed to a short story anthology, The Turning Point: Best of Young Indian Writers, and several online publications including GQ India and The South Asian Times (New York).

Parinda Joshi

Instagram: @parindajoshi

Twitter: @parindajoshi

Website: parindajoshi.com

Disclaimer: This review is only intended for initiating discussions. The opinions and views presented in this article are my own and do not reflect anything about the book's author. 

REVIEW

Hooking its readers from the very first page, A House Full of Men by Parinda Joshi—a contemporary fiction novel, introduces you to its complex protagonist with a complicated past that is weighing her down with anxiety laden with overthinking, misgivings and trepidations. After the demise of her mother some 10 years ago, she takes it upon herself to fill in the void that her mother has left in the Pant household and the lives of her grandfather—‘High BP’, her father—Ravi and her twin & younger brothers—Shamik and Nishant. Maybe because of the deep-rooted patriarchal mindset, she thinks, if not her, who will? Thus, she is the only woman in a house full of men, including a male dog—Bark Twain and a frame of PG Wodehouse in her bedroom.

The novel gains tremendous pace after 100 pages of the establishment of characters and the situation as in where the protagonist stands in her life. The spirit of this book is its characters that are either highly relatable or straight out of your screens that your mind actually associates the faces of actors to these characters. My favourite character is the soul of the Pant household—Kittu’s grandfather, who is portrayed as mostly witty and sarcastic, still the wisest of all. His humour is the best from what I have read recently. The novel, for a significant part, seemed to be inspired by Bollywood and Indian Television tropes, which makes that part completely irrelevant yet funny at its best. 

Kittu’s life is getting rough by day as her relationship is dying and she thinks she has got no one by her side to listen because her family members are mostly busy arguing with each other, and if not, dealing with their own issues. Kittu cares for everyone in the house but because of gender differences, no man of the house addresses or recognises her problems, be it long-persistent anxiety issues with regards to travel or her love life. This leads to Kittu closeting her feelings and emotions and out surfaces her personality that is obsessed with setting things right even if there’s nothing to fix, which makes her a complex character, a blend of pure concern and love for everyone, ambitions, a dozen troubles and unwanted thought spirals. 

Considering the overall story, there are quite many adventures, moments and dialogues that I loved reading. The relationship Kittu shares with other characters in the novel is crafted cleverly to induce a sense of attachment, which readers will happily subscribe to, instantly. The climax and the end are pretty satisfying as the author manages to wrap everything up smoothly. On the other hand, there are some references and details that don’t fit the narrative. Lastly, the author has tried to address the issues of name-calling and bullying. While the author may have achieved the effect she wanted to produce, although a part of it also encourages the internalization of such practices as well as homophobia. The said passages may be intended to be a mirror to the world or to tackle the very subject, but that would be incomplete or unfair unless of course, condemned the right way. 

Lastly, in A House Full of Men, I found a character with whom I could relate at many levels. Illustrious writing style along with some brilliant characters, this novel captures how holding grudges and prejudices can turn you into a different person altogether.

Happy Reading!

Thank you @vivekisms for the review copy!

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Book Review: Sunset by the River by Sameer Saxena | Contemporary Romantic Thriller (2020)

 

Book Review

Sunset by the River by Sameer Saxena

Sunset by the River by Sameer Saxena (cover design: @roughworkk)

Author: Sameer Saxena

ASIN: B08H18J8D5

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Thriller

Length: 174 Pages

Publisher: Flipping Pages (29^th August 2020)

My Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/2FJMBLB

About the author:

Hailing from Jhumka city – Bareilly, Sameer Saxena is currently working as an Assistant Manager in UCO bank, posted in the hilly area of Uttrakhand. He has completed his graduation in Mechanical Engineering in 2013 after which he worked as a teaching associate for two years, before joining the bank.

Sameer wrote short plays for college cultural fests which were played in various colleges. He was the mentor of his college club and actively participated in various college activities like anchoring, paper presentations, and short plays. He was often called by his faculties to write the speeches for them and from there he has taken a step further to write his first novel, “Sunset by the River”, five years back.

Sameer is an active social media enthusiast and writes articles, blogs on a wide range of topics.

Sameer Saxena

Instagram: @authorsameer

Facebook: @sam.saxena13

Twitter: @Author_Sameer

REVIEW

Summary

Sunset by the River by Sameer Saxena – a contemporary romantic thriller, can be seen as an eye-opener for the society we currently live in, where people don’t recognize mental health as essential as physical health, be it for stigma or lack of awareness and resources; at the same time the book –  with its simple, ordinary yet unique and special characters – is a paragon of Indian coming of age romance where the author sets out to tackle some very serious issues such as unethical faith healing, exorcism, challenges for psychiatry in India and so on; incorporating elements of love, laughter, agony, friendship, suspense, and contemporary romance, this book will keep you glued to flipping pages until no page is left unturned as it emanates immense pleasure and a sense of responsibility towards society.

Narration

Sunset by the River is narrated in third-person POV and for once it shifts to first-person POV when it is needed. The writing style is simple and consistent throughout the book, although the tone is exciting at times. The language is again comprehensible and could be read by anyone including beginners. Additionally, Sameer Saxena has succeeded in keeping the suspense.

Location, Setting, and Characters

The story is set in Delhi, Rajasthan and Japan of the years 2018-19. The story starts off in Japan, where Ayaan, the protagonist is working on his dream project. The story hooks the reader as soon as it starts when Ayaan receives several calls from India. Ayaan immediately returns to India and relates the past events of his life to his friend Hiteish before leaving. And so the story unfolds gradually. Ayaan, Monisha – Ayaan’s best friend and colleague, and Tripti – Monisha’s friend form a trio. The location and setting have an implicit effect on the characters, their behavior and it reflects in their lifestyle. Japan – where this ‘sunset’ from the title belongs to – has got one of the beautiful expositions to its account. Besides, there is one more place, which is of crucial importance to the plotline, has been described with extreme care, keeping it as realistic and neutral as possible, leaving it on readers to form an opinion. 

Theme

Contemporary or coming of age romance could be considered as the central theme of this novel. The early career life and college life are portrayed simply, being careful not to exaggerate. The relationships between characters seem natural and quite relatable. Although the author tried not to overplay these ordinary characters there are instances with the cinematic touch, in a good way. There is another theme – mental health care in India – that holds great significance in this novel. It makes you aware of the current condition of psychiatry in India. The book also confronts exorcism and brings it into question for its ethicality, which, in some cases of healing practices doesn’t conform to. They are potentially dangerous and are not in line with ethical principles – autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Moreover, the theme goes on to convey a powerful message that is beneficial in all aspects.

Plot

The first half of the book narrates how the trio gets together as close friends, while the second half is a thriller that conveys the darker truths of society’s wretched perception towards mental illnesses and our mental healthcare system.

“Not a single person would tell their boss if they were having a panic attack, or they were feeling depressed, or they were experiencing any sort of anxiety. Because in our society, these symptoms are not considered as diseases; rather they are used slangs to bully."

My Views

When I started reading this book, I didn’t expect so many surprises and shocks. It was a pleasure reading the kind of romance this book captures. The best part about the book is that it’s not at all what you would assume it to be. It is really nice to see debut novelist breaking through numerous cliché romance tropes, which many popular Indian authors fail to do. Also, I commend the choice of subject the author has made to be addressed.

While the main characters were well developed, I felt that there could have been extensive roles to be played by the families involved, particularly Monisha’s character. Again, the length of the book felt short as I expect to see more of these characters and this fascinating story.

Happy Reading!

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Book Review: Shhh! Don't Talk About Mental Health by Arjun Gupta

Book Review

Shhh! Don't Talk About Mental Health by Arjun Gupta

Shhh! Don't Talk About Mental Health by Arjun Gupta

Author: Arjun Gupta

ISBN: 978-1645469711

Genre: Psychology (Non-Fiction)

Length: 203 Pages

Publisher:  (June 28th, 2019)

My Ratings: 5/5

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/2yccA6L

About the author:

Arjun Gupta is a mental health activist. He has been raising mental health awareness through his blog and YouTube channel for two years, after having battled severe clinical depression between 2015 and 2017. Hailing from Hisar in Haryana, Arjun is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Applied Psychology from Delhi University. Supported by the love of his family and admirers, Arjun works to make the world a better place. A world that is sensitive to those battling their own mind.

Arjun Gupta

Follow him on Instagram: @_knightofsteel

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/knightofsteel2017/

Twitter Handle: @_knightofsteel
His Website: https://knightofsteel.com/

REVIEW

Shhh! Don’t Talk About Mental Health is an initiative by author Arjun Gupta for not just spreading Mental Health awareness but with the context of the current situation of Mental Health/Mental Illness/Psychology subject in India. The author also used Yashasvi’s (his) case as an example to make the explanation easy to understand. If you do not belong to the psychological background then this book would help you with an introduction to Mental Health and all the related aspects of it through stories, researches, facts and statistics. The book will answer all your doubts and questions about depression, mental illnesses and collectively about mental health.

The structure of the book is divided into six sections to make the reader understand from history of psychology to the modern-day need of forming a community to stand with those who are suffering from mental illnesses and make the world a better place.

SECTION I

This first section is dedicated to the history of Psychology and that how it began across the various parts of the world. How Mental Illnesses came to the larger picture and how those patients were treated back in time until the 17^th century. There were few revolutionary scientists and activists who made remarkable changes in the subject of psychology.

SECTION II

This section helps you understand what exactly Mental Health is, i.e. the definition of Mental Health. The author has described all the important aspects of the current official definition given by WHO. And also what significant changes need to be done according to the current time.

SECTION III

In this section, the author Arjun Gupta has provided information about identification of the mental illnesses and stages that follows about curing it.

SECTION IV

In this section, the Author talks about why Mental Health awareness is as necessary as it was for AIDS and HIV. There are many people who talk about Mental Health for just the sake of it and inserting words ‘Mental Health’ everywhere is going to make no difference. So, as the author says informed discussions about mental health on a meaningful platform is also key apart from using modern treatments to minimize risks of mental illnesses.

SECTION V

This section was about stigma! The obstacle that stands in the way of mental healthcare that exists globally─ Stigma. How people with mental illness are treated as their sole identity is their illness. How movies, series and media develop stereotypes about mental disorders as patient being just schizophrenic or unstable or violent. Also, there are people who spread misinformation that suffering from mental illnesses is related to being rich or poor. Arjun Gupta tries his best to break such stereotypes.

SECTION VI

In this last section, author discusses the same with Indian context to define problems and proposes many solutions that can help with mental health awareness. Author Arjun Gupta concludes with the story of Yashasvi and how he revived himself after two years of clinical depression.

When I picked this book, I knew it will help me to a certain extent to understand Mental Health. And now after finishing this, I am thankful to the author for I really needed this. As the author said we can make this world a better place that is sensitive to those battling their own minds. Where there is no shame in asking for help. This is the time to know what mental health is and better not led by misinformation in this era of social media. The least we can do as a responsible community is, stand with the patients of mental disorders and treat them with compassion and talk about it.

 Happy Reading!

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