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An Offbeat Story
India is in transition. The changes are not economic only. There are social, cultural transformations, attitudes and reactions to which vary. In the story, the protagonist drifts into journalism missing out on usual routes of Indian nirvana, IIT, IIM or IAS. He moves from adolescence to adulthood setting up an independent consultancy somewhere along the way. It is not easy to create a steady niche professionally and personally among myriad influences and sometimes fixated ideas of father, mother, brother, girlfriends, wife, married lover and more. The contradictions need to be managed, errors ironed out. Some experiences are expected, others not so calculated. There are mistakes. The journey of life is not easy. There are secrets that cannot be told, expectations not met, events that cannot be controlled. Retaining a bit of spice and humour becomes essential. A pair of dimples that women find irresistible is a relief but only fleetingly. There is happiness in speculative gains due to rising real estate prices. Some things fall in place, others do not.
- GenresFiction
287 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2013
1 person is currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Siddharth Srivastava
8 books11 followersI am an independent journalist and author based in New Delhi covering foreign and strategic affairs, security, politics, defense, business and lifestyle issues.
In a career that has spanned nearly 25 years, I have been correspondent for The Times of India and have been widely published in newspapers and magazines in Asia, Europe and America.
My professional portfolio includes editorial consultant, Siliconeer magazine, Asia Pacific correspondent Interfax, India contributor for Business Times (Singapore), senior writer Asia Times, India editor, Word Security Network, short-term consultant for the World Bank, Oxford Analytica and Control Risks.
My writings have appeared in New York Times, Straits Times, Asia Sentinel, Jakarta Post, Khaleej Times, among others. In March 2010 I was invited by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington to present a paper on Indian Security that has been further published in a book that was released at the New Delhi Book Fair in 2012. I am the author of An Offbeat Story, a reality fiction novel.
In a career that has spanned nearly 25 years, I have been correspondent for The Times of India and have been widely published in newspapers and magazines in Asia, Europe and America.
My professional portfolio includes editorial consultant, Siliconeer magazine, Asia Pacific correspondent Interfax, India contributor for Business Times (Singapore), senior writer Asia Times, India editor, Word Security Network, short-term consultant for the World Bank, Oxford Analytica and Control Risks.
My writings have appeared in New York Times, Straits Times, Asia Sentinel, Jakarta Post, Khaleej Times, among others. In March 2010 I was invited by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington to present a paper on Indian Security that has been further published in a book that was released at the New Delhi Book Fair in 2012. I am the author of An Offbeat Story, a reality fiction novel.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 20, 2014
Siddharth Srivastava, an Indian author, who doesn't travel the most-followed and traditional journeys of a young boy to young man via the crème institutes of the country, in his book, An Offbeat Story, but keeping the essence similar to those typical IIT,IIM stories. It's been very long, since I've read these kinds of books, which I call them "read-and-forget" books! So easy to read and so easy forget those stories. As I said the author might not have portrayed his protagonist as a budding engineer, studying his ass up for cracking the entrance exams, but his protagonist barely makes a mark on his career and still manages to survive in the flow which is going opposite to his direction. His journey from a young pimpled teenager to an ambitious young man is what is portrayed in the book. His love life, his pre-married life, his bliss, his mistakes, his enlightment of so many stuffs, completes the book and the plot!
What I appreciate about the book is how strikingly the author has illustrated about India's changing conditions or rather say deteriorating conditions-especially corruption.
And there's nothing else to talk about the characters, because mostly the protagonist was enjoying his whole life for one and only thing- lust! Lust was in every page! So that sums up..and I couldn't continue reading the book, after reading about his endeavors with Sushmita!
Thanks to the author for letting me have such a pleasurable read!
I don't understand why always the blurb of a book is so different from its plot!!
What I appreciate about the book is how strikingly the author has illustrated about India's changing conditions or rather say deteriorating conditions-especially corruption.
And there's nothing else to talk about the characters, because mostly the protagonist was enjoying his whole life for one and only thing- lust! Lust was in every page! So that sums up..and I couldn't continue reading the book, after reading about his endeavors with Sushmita!
Thanks to the author for letting me have such a pleasurable read!
I don't understand why always the blurb of a book is so different from its plot!!
February 21, 2016
“A very humorous and entertaining reality fiction Indian novel”
``Siddharth Srivastava is a fantastic writer and his An Offbeat Story is a stunning prequel to the writer he would become. I have liked his writing style which is bold, brave, just not self-pitying, crisp and engaging. I breezed through this book in one day as it is a very quick interesting read. There is never a dull moment in the book and full of hilarious anecdotes. I would recommend it to everyone.'' Thank you Priyanka for reading and recommending...
``An upbeat story that leads you into the mind, heart and soul of a young lad, then a man and then a full grown adult. Many may find themselves in it. I picked it up and put it down only when the last page was done. So go on find yourself in it...'' Thank you Neha.
The following is a review by Shivani Chauhan: http://madhyapradesh.johntext.de/cate...
``Siddharth Srivastava is a fantastic writer and his An Offbeat Story is a stunning prequel to the writer he would become. I have liked his writing style which is bold, brave, just not self-pitying, crisp and engaging. I breezed through this book in one day as it is a very quick interesting read. There is never a dull moment in the book and full of hilarious anecdotes. I would recommend it to everyone.'' Thank you Priyanka for reading and recommending...
``An upbeat story that leads you into the mind, heart and soul of a young lad, then a man and then a full grown adult. Many may find themselves in it. I picked it up and put it down only when the last page was done. So go on find yourself in it...'' Thank you Neha.
The following is a review by Shivani Chauhan: http://madhyapradesh.johntext.de/cate...
September 15, 2014
Yes. This is an offbeat story about Changing India, Corrupt India and Chaotic India. It is offbeat in that it does not narrate, it tells; it does not emote, it appeals. It is a story of many realistic stories constructing the fast-changing face of Gurgaon, the epicenter of modern India, the darling in the book.Ladies like Puja, Sushmita, even Lata come and go.For, the classic love of chasing, surmounting obstacles and winning at long last is passe. In the case of neo-Gurgaon girls, love ,lust and sex happen in rapid succession as there exists no wall between them.(A few scenes reminded me of the photographer-reporter rendezvous in Jackie Collins' Lethal Seductions.But, I do not impute intentions.)The following small sentence sums up the quintessential change that has come forth:"The poor in India are desperate for two things only - food and cell phones,"p.182.
It is written in clean, readable communicative English that mocks, grins, satirizes, etc. See the following:"Sadly,there was no litter at the mall."p.108;"Even, the escalators were working." p.108.
WHERE IT GAINED:Speaking in the first person brings the reader and the writer face-to-face. The communicative, frank and disarming style wins the reader's confidence.
WHERE IT LOST: The benefits of suspense, adventure, the expectations of what-next and the vagaries of chance, luck,and nature etc. which offer the glue to many readers are missing.The problem with such books is that they lack those endearing values of literature which last.
WHERE THE AUTHOR HAS FAILED:The author has not succeeded in generating as much humor from the uncountable use of tongue-in-cheeks, mocks, grins etc. He has not succeeded in bringing the obviously fictional and the overwhelmingly realistic together;the former continued to exist as sweetener, an encasement for the latter.
All said and done, I award this book four stars for its readability and contemporary contents.
I thank Goodreads and the author for this giveaway.
It is written in clean, readable communicative English that mocks, grins, satirizes, etc. See the following:"Sadly,there was no litter at the mall."p.108;"Even, the escalators were working." p.108.
WHERE IT GAINED:Speaking in the first person brings the reader and the writer face-to-face. The communicative, frank and disarming style wins the reader's confidence.
WHERE IT LOST: The benefits of suspense, adventure, the expectations of what-next and the vagaries of chance, luck,and nature etc. which offer the glue to many readers are missing.The problem with such books is that they lack those endearing values of literature which last.
WHERE THE AUTHOR HAS FAILED:The author has not succeeded in generating as much humor from the uncountable use of tongue-in-cheeks, mocks, grins etc. He has not succeeded in bringing the obviously fictional and the overwhelmingly realistic together;the former continued to exist as sweetener, an encasement for the latter.
All said and done, I award this book four stars for its readability and contemporary contents.
I thank Goodreads and the author for this giveaway.
August 16, 2015
An Offbeat Story by Siddharth Srivastava is an offbeat story in a true sense. Very rarely it happens that the content of the book does justice to the title conceived or the other way round. This work is a proof of a worthy trial.
The author Siddharth is an independent journalist and this adorns him with impeccable writing skill. You will definitely enjoy his book, for his journo style of writing.
The tone and flavour of the story (his verdicts) change as the ladies change leaving impact on his life and his perceptions as well. Perceptions not only about the females but about general topics as well, which surround our lives. Being a journalist requires adept attention to details and this is well depicted in his descriptions and dialogues. They way he sees, perceives, adapts and provides his viewpoint is strong enough to teleport you back to the hours when such incident would have happened.
I recommend this read to all urbane males who feel a bit shy in expressing their care and compassion towards their wives and are, not confident enough to accept their inclination towards the soft partner. Trust me you all will feel relieved on learning this is all natural and acceptance is praise-worthy. Though female readers will not find much to get hold on but then if you are seriously looking something which is not just ‘guns and roses’ and you mean business, then definitely, you gonna enjoy this read.
Source: https://booksnewsindia.wordpress.com/...
The author Siddharth is an independent journalist and this adorns him with impeccable writing skill. You will definitely enjoy his book, for his journo style of writing.
The tone and flavour of the story (his verdicts) change as the ladies change leaving impact on his life and his perceptions as well. Perceptions not only about the females but about general topics as well, which surround our lives. Being a journalist requires adept attention to details and this is well depicted in his descriptions and dialogues. They way he sees, perceives, adapts and provides his viewpoint is strong enough to teleport you back to the hours when such incident would have happened.
I recommend this read to all urbane males who feel a bit shy in expressing their care and compassion towards their wives and are, not confident enough to accept their inclination towards the soft partner. Trust me you all will feel relieved on learning this is all natural and acceptance is praise-worthy. Though female readers will not find much to get hold on but then if you are seriously looking something which is not just ‘guns and roses’ and you mean business, then definitely, you gonna enjoy this read.
Source: https://booksnewsindia.wordpress.com/...
August 26, 2014
I got this book from the author Siddharth through First-reads giveaway and thank him and goodreads heartily.
The book is quite an enjoyable read, for most part. It is the story of a middle class indian boy making it moderately big without a degree from the IIT / IIM or cracking the coveted IAS, with a bit of luck, wit and some enterprise. It traces his life through all his affairs, in adolescence, pre marital and post marital. It details the impact of all the women in his life on him, right from his mother to his girlfriends to his wife to his daughter. There are a lot of parallels between the story and the author's life as can be seen from the start of the book.
The best thing about this book is the irreverence with which the hero talks about the important and unimportant events / people in his life and the nation in general. The pages move fast and the humour is genuine at several places.
The not-so-good thing about the book is the inclusion of several of the author's blogs on things ranging from the father-daughter relationship to corruption in India in each chapter. A few of them are nice and many others are not much so, and, they hamper the flow of the story...
In all, the book is a breezy read. The author's storytelling is good and promises to be more fun in the coming times. I'm eagerly awaiting a full-on fiction from him.
The book is quite an enjoyable read, for most part. It is the story of a middle class indian boy making it moderately big without a degree from the IIT / IIM or cracking the coveted IAS, with a bit of luck, wit and some enterprise. It traces his life through all his affairs, in adolescence, pre marital and post marital. It details the impact of all the women in his life on him, right from his mother to his girlfriends to his wife to his daughter. There are a lot of parallels between the story and the author's life as can be seen from the start of the book.
The best thing about this book is the irreverence with which the hero talks about the important and unimportant events / people in his life and the nation in general. The pages move fast and the humour is genuine at several places.
The not-so-good thing about the book is the inclusion of several of the author's blogs on things ranging from the father-daughter relationship to corruption in India in each chapter. A few of them are nice and many others are not much so, and, they hamper the flow of the story...
In all, the book is a breezy read. The author's storytelling is good and promises to be more fun in the coming times. I'm eagerly awaiting a full-on fiction from him.
August 29, 2014
The book does justice to the title! 'An Offbeat story' is a well written and engaging book about the various changes happening in India told through the story of a young Indian who proves that IITs and IIMs are not the only ways to success. Though the story might seem a bit off track and filled with unnecessary details at times, it pulls through due to the subtle humor and wit.
Thank you, Siddharth Srivastava and Goodreads for a copy of the book.
Thank you, Siddharth Srivastava and Goodreads for a copy of the book.
March 20, 2015
Very good book. It truly signifies the youth and their mindset about career, family and love. The author has written it in a very realistic manner. An amazing story with amazing writing skills. Thanks a lot Siddharth for sending me this book. Your views and the articles that are shared in this book are very appreciative.
August 29, 2014
Received a free copy from the author, via the goodreads program
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An Offbeat Story is an interesting and quirky story by Siddharth Srivastva. He blends in fiction with reality, family life with national and international events with ease and simplicity. The narrative is pacy and leaves the reader enthralled through out.
_______________________________________________
An Offbeat Story is an interesting and quirky story by Siddharth Srivastva. He blends in fiction with reality, family life with national and international events with ease and simplicity. The narrative is pacy and leaves the reader enthralled through out.
August 20, 2014
It is a must read... Honest... Straightforward..with a great sense of humour. Someone seriously needs an unbiased view to write this kind of book
April 3, 2020
The author has put forward the journey of one’s life in a very entertaining manner. The book illustrated the kind of situations that a young fellow overcomes which influenced his life professionally and personally. Apart from this, the author also discussed about several current burning issues of the society. For instance politics, the country’s transition, social and cultural transformations and alterations, modernization, the stereotypes existing in our community and many more.
The growth and development of an individual in the story is portrayed by the author in a very remarkable way. The book represented the realities of life, the unpredictability of life and the kind of patience and forbearance that one need to have in certain situations. The author’s style of writing is bold and striking.
It was an entertaining and interesting read for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the script which is a mixture of entertainment, reality and humor. I liked the straightforward approach of the author. I felt that the hilarious anecdotes of the book are captivating. Every individual can relate and find himself/herself in the story. The real life situations are described in an exceptional manner. The incidents and happenings that occur in one’s life professionally and personally are certainly influential for me.
Overall, the book is scripted in a very amusing and intriguing manner.
The growth and development of an individual in the story is portrayed by the author in a very remarkable way. The book represented the realities of life, the unpredictability of life and the kind of patience and forbearance that one need to have in certain situations. The author’s style of writing is bold and striking.
It was an entertaining and interesting read for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the script which is a mixture of entertainment, reality and humor. I liked the straightforward approach of the author. I felt that the hilarious anecdotes of the book are captivating. Every individual can relate and find himself/herself in the story. The real life situations are described in an exceptional manner. The incidents and happenings that occur in one’s life professionally and personally are certainly influential for me.
Overall, the book is scripted in a very amusing and intriguing manner.
September 24, 2014
Unattractive cover and illegible writing on the back cover: That should warn you not to buy the book. Inside, it is verbose, the language loaded with errors, a long-winded descriptive and boring diary/ blog with potty fixation, sex fixation...
This is the description of the book "An Offbeat Story" (said to be written by a famous journalist) which I got as a free giveaway from Goodreads.com, the book which has a number of glowing reviews. Are we talking of the same book? I really don't know.
About "An Offbeat Story": Something is off, it should be beaten into shape, and a story may possibly emerge...
Check this out (my comments are in brackets):
P. 21: I have cultivated masseurs in Gurgaon(using potty as manure?), where I am settled with my wife and two kids, who (meaning wife and two kids) do a good job of squeezing my body parts due to the healthy tip that follows.
P. 103: (single sentence making this entire para) Though the barbed wire was deterrence (??) to animals, humans could clamber over them (meaning animals?) when the owners were not around (meaning animals' owners?).
P. 104: Deal settled the sellers of the land were thrilled at the couple of lakhs of profit booked. (Your child will be failed if he/ she uses such sentence construction in school.)
P. 105: The value of land became million times the salary I earned. (Your child will be failed if he/ she uses such sentence construction in school.)
P. 105: I am no votary of undiluted capitalism. Private schools and hospitals can fleece customers. (Consecutive sentences which confuse by contradicting each other.)
In short, Siddarth follows the footsteps of other Indian authors (some of them famous) who should have never been published. If there is a story or plot inside (not the plots of land he is said to have bought), it is well concealed (like the six-pack abs in a Sumo wrestler).
I could not complete the book.
This is the description of the book "An Offbeat Story" (said to be written by a famous journalist) which I got as a free giveaway from Goodreads.com, the book which has a number of glowing reviews. Are we talking of the same book? I really don't know.
About "An Offbeat Story": Something is off, it should be beaten into shape, and a story may possibly emerge...
Check this out (my comments are in brackets):
P. 21: I have cultivated masseurs in Gurgaon(using potty as manure?), where I am settled with my wife and two kids, who (meaning wife and two kids) do a good job of squeezing my body parts due to the healthy tip that follows.
P. 103: (single sentence making this entire para) Though the barbed wire was deterrence (??) to animals, humans could clamber over them (meaning animals?) when the owners were not around (meaning animals' owners?).
P. 104: Deal settled the sellers of the land were thrilled at the couple of lakhs of profit booked. (Your child will be failed if he/ she uses such sentence construction in school.)
P. 105: The value of land became million times the salary I earned. (Your child will be failed if he/ she uses such sentence construction in school.)
P. 105: I am no votary of undiluted capitalism. Private schools and hospitals can fleece customers. (Consecutive sentences which confuse by contradicting each other.)
In short, Siddarth follows the footsteps of other Indian authors (some of them famous) who should have never been published. If there is a story or plot inside (not the plots of land he is said to have bought), it is well concealed (like the six-pack abs in a Sumo wrestler).
I could not complete the book.
October 11, 2015
An Offbeat Story's tragedy according to me is that it isn't offbeat after all. The best part about the book is the amazing way in which the transition of India has been traced by the author. There are articles which were written by the author at certain points in time which have been placed as the story progresses.
I don't know if I am doing the right thing by posting a review of this as I could not complete reading the book. I tried many times but there was something about it that made me keep it away. There was something missing, because I wasn't tempted to pick it up again. Since I had promised an honest review of the book to the author, I am keeping it.
What I would suggest to the author is that he has a good sense of humour but it seems to have backfired at various instances in the book.
I wonder if 'Sex Sells' was taken too seriously while writing the book. I would like to say that I have read books, wonderful books that have been devoid of it and yet worked!
All books, irrespective of being good or bad, leave behind some part of them with each of us. But then are there really 'good' or 'bad' books? Aren't they all a figment of our view of them? I appreciate the author for taking me on a journey through a lesser known India which has really enriched my knowledge about an India lived in by a person, much before I did! Thank you for that.
Keep writing.
P.S. Star-ratings are not fortune tellers. :)
-Divya Nambiar
Author:
More reviews at critiquenotcriticize.blogspot.in
I don't know if I am doing the right thing by posting a review of this as I could not complete reading the book. I tried many times but there was something about it that made me keep it away. There was something missing, because I wasn't tempted to pick it up again. Since I had promised an honest review of the book to the author, I am keeping it.
What I would suggest to the author is that he has a good sense of humour but it seems to have backfired at various instances in the book.
I wonder if 'Sex Sells' was taken too seriously while writing the book. I would like to say that I have read books, wonderful books that have been devoid of it and yet worked!
All books, irrespective of being good or bad, leave behind some part of them with each of us. But then are there really 'good' or 'bad' books? Aren't they all a figment of our view of them? I appreciate the author for taking me on a journey through a lesser known India which has really enriched my knowledge about an India lived in by a person, much before I did! Thank you for that.
Keep writing.
P.S. Star-ratings are not fortune tellers. :)
-Divya Nambiar
Author:
More reviews at critiquenotcriticize.blogspot.in
September 4, 2014
How about a novel, which is really an Offbeat as it's title suggests. :) :)
Here is my take on 'An Offbeat Story' by Siddharth Srivastava.
http://storageofmind.blogspot.in/2014...
Here is my take on 'An Offbeat Story' by Siddharth Srivastava.
http://storageofmind.blogspot.in/2014...
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews