BOOK REVIEW OF- Then the Door Bell Rang
By- Capri Jalota
· Paperback: 395 pages
· Publisher: Leadstart Publishing Private Limited; First edition (2 August 2017)
· Language: English
· ISBN-10: 9352019504
· ISBN-13: 978-9352019502
THE Plot IN BRIEF-
One fine morning, Jane wakes up and stands upon the ledge of her 18th floor flat in Dubai Marina. Till a few years back, she was everything that would make anyone jealous – beautiful, rich and successful. But then the wheels of time turned. Today, she is miserable and lonely. Would she get over a deception? Can she forgive herself for deserting a friend? Would she ever find true love? Will karma get the better of her or will life give her another chance to correct the wrongs?
Then the Doorbell Rang is about Jane’s roller-coaster journey as she explores the mystical phenomenon called Life.
THE TITLE-
The title is perfect and very apt for the book. I really loved the way the author introduces the word “Door” and the way he has used the words “Bell” and “Ringing” to describe it. The title also gives us a philosophical idea of life. The human ego is the ugliest part of man. We lift up men who only show us darkness, and put down those brave enough to show us the light. Likewise, people engage in darkness when it is light outside, and acknowledge the light only when it is dark. We abandon those fighting for us to cheer behind those fighting against us. And, we only remember good people and God when it is convenient for us, and take them for granted because their doors are always open – only to chase after closed doors and personalities void of substance and truth. The title also provides us with the idea of deception as it tries to comprehend the fact that Mindfulness helps us get better at seeing the difference between what’s happening and the stories we tell ourselves about what’s happening, stories that get in the way of direct experience. Often such stories treat a fleeting state of mind as if it were our entire and permanent self.
REVIEW OF THE BOOK-
The plot is amalgamated with several themes, the first one being loneliness. Jane’s characterization portrays the fact that life is loneliness, despite all the opiates, despite the shrill tinsel gaiety of “parties” with no purpose, despite the false grinning faces we all wear. And when at last you find someone to whom you feel you can pour out your soul, you stop in shock at the words you utter – they are so rusty, so ugly, so meaningless and feeble from being kept in the small cramped dark inside you so long. Yes, there is joy, fulfilment and companionship – but the loneliness of the soul in its appalling self-consciousness is horrible and overpowering.
I had also loved the theme of Time and the way the author had used it to metaphorise Jane’s change in the course of life. Time is an equal opportunity employer. Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day. Rich people can’t buy more hours. Scientists can’t invent new minutes. And you can’t save time to spend it on another day. Even so, time is amazingly fair and forgiving. No matter how much time you’ve wasted in the past, you still have an entire tomorrow.
We have to allow ourselves to be loved by the people who really love us, the people who really matter. Too much of the time, we are blinded by our own pursuits of people to love us, people that don’t even matter, while all that time we waste and the people who do love us have to stand on the sidewalk and watch us beg in the streets! It’s time to put an end to this. It’s time for us to let ourselves be loved. The plot also focuses on true love and the quest to find it.
Apart from the themes I also loved the suspense which was pertaining throughout the plot. It was really thrilling to hunt down the answers to the questions would Jane get over a deception? Can she forgive herself for deserting a friend? Would she ever find true love? Will karma get the better of her or will life give her another chance to correct the wrongs?
If you wish to get the answers of the above questions,
Do buy a copy of the book from
https://www.amazon.in/Then-Doorbell-Rang-Capri-Jalota/dp/9352019504/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1514612187&sr=8-1&keywords=the+the+door+bell+rang
RATINGS-
Overall I would like to rate the book 42 on a scale of 50.
4 stars out of 5
1. Originality of the plot and sub plots- 9/10
2. Net emotions in the story- 8/10
3. Usage of words and phrases-8/10
4. The title, cover and the illustration-8/10
5. The net impact on the readers- 9/10
KUDOS TO
‘Passion is elixir for the soul’ – this is Capri’s mantra for a happy and fulfilling life. He lives this everyday, in everything he does. He developed a passion for writing and plunged fearlessly into it. This book bears the hallmark of his commitment to his passion.
Human behaviours have always intrigued him. He believes that we are a product of both our circumstances and our choices. Whilst circumstances are often outside our control, how we react to them is very much a conscious and voluntary action. And that ultimately shapes not just us but also our relationships. Our choices and decisions define the role we play in the lives of everyone around us. Sometimes, small gestures can make a big difference. It is this thought which he has tried to encapsulate and portray in his first novel.
Capri is from Chandigarh and has studied Management at IIM Ahmedabad. He has worked for over 13 years in reputed organizations like Maruti Suzuki, Tata Strategic Management Group, Fortis Healthcare and KIMS, across India and the Middle East, before he decided to pen his first novel.
Capri is also an avid numismatist with a collection of over 1000 coins from 100+ countries.
Reviewed by-
Sayan Basak
Kolkata
