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Pyjamas are Forgiving [Paperback] TWINKLE KHANNA
There sitting on that porch, that light-eyed man, a pitta like me, was my ex-husband and that woman whose inner element I was unaware of, unless bitch is accepted as an undiscovered fourth dosha, was his young wife.
In the serene sanctuary of Kerala’s Shanthamaaya spa where food is rationed, sex forbidden and emotions centred, Anshu meets someone familiar and deeply unsettling – her ex-husband. Bittersweet, funny and wise, Pyjamas Are Forgiving confirms Twinkle Khanna as one of our great storytellers.
In the serene sanctuary of Kerala’s Shanthamaaya spa where food is rationed, sex forbidden and emotions centred, Anshu meets someone familiar and deeply unsettling – her ex-husband. Bittersweet, funny and wise, Pyjamas Are Forgiving confirms Twinkle Khanna as one of our great storytellers.
256 pages, Paperback
Published September 9, 2018
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2950 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 518 reviews
September 19, 2018
I have always loved Twinkle Khanna's columns and that is exactly why I enjoyed her first book 'Mrs. Funnybones'. I thought, here was a woman who knows to speak her mind and has a wonderful sense of humor. Her second book 'The Legend Of Lakshmi Prasad' was problematic. Somehow, fiction did not seem to be her forte. When she announced her third book as a novel, I was skeptical about it but excited nonetheless, thanks to the title. As soon as the book was on for pre-order, I placed an order and waited patiently for its arrival. I had started reading another book, but, as soon as this arrived I picked this one up immediately. The cover looked interesting as did the premise. So, what could go wrong?
This is the story of Anshu, our protagonist from Mumbai who is on a 28-day healing retreat at Shanthamaaya Sthalam in Kerala for her sleep issues. This place is an Ayurvedic spa which is over-expensive but does offer good results. Anshu has been divorced from her husband, Jay, seven years ago and is still bitter about it. Jay, is now married to the woman, Shalini, who he left Anshu for. As luck would have it, Jay along with his young wife and lecherous cousin, Lalit, also visit the healing center when Anshu is there. The place also has other guests, Jenna, a young foreigner; Vyacheslav and Afanasy, two Russians on a quest to lose weight; Javed and Anil, a gay couple from Bangalore. The story revolves around all these characters and focuses mainly on Anshu's predicament watching her ex-husband and his new wife every single day.
I have problems with this book on many levels. First, as a mallu. Second, as a bibliophile. Third and most importantly, as a woman and a feminist. The author needs to understand that not every malayalee is a Menon or a Pillai and just because it is a hospital in Kerala, it need not be called 'Thangam Hospital'. Also, meen curry and puttu are not the only things we eat. While the story does start of well, after a 50 odd pages, it terribly goes downhill. I have always admired the author for her wry humor, but using "entry from backside only" while taking about the gay couple is clearly in poor taste. For an author who has always been so articulate, she used the words vagina and penis as well as screw and fuck at least once in the book. While I do not have any problems with the words being used, we are all adults here, I know; the situation in which they are used is totally unnecessary and crass. The ending is abrupt and loose in every sense of the word.
For a woman who has always bravely spoken about prejudice against women and feminism, she fails in getting those traits right in her protagonist Anshu. Anshu married Jay knowing very well that he's a chauvinist and changes herself according to his likes and tastes. He continues to mock her throughout the course of their marriage and she surprisingly is okay with it, even when he compares her to The Joker for wearing red lipstick. Jay leaves her for Shalini, because she makes him feel young and alive. Could this be anymore cliched? While in the retreat, Anshu and Jay begin to have an affair and it almost feels like a tit for tat. Suddenly, his chauvinism and cheating is all forgotten and Anshu actually expects this affair to continue even after they leave the retreat. As annoying as this is, the weakest link in the book is that of Jenna. She's constantly being abused by Lalit, Jay's cousin and he is helping him cover it up. When Anshu learns that Jenna is being abused, the feminist in her comes to the surface and she makes a feeble attempt to fight for her, but ends up being mute in the end thanks to the cajoling of her ex-husband and now lover. The angle with Jenna's fall and hospitalization was totally ludicrous.
What fails the most for this book is, well, everything. Why would patients from a retreat be allowed to go to a cafe called 'Prince' and eat, drink and smoke whatever they want? During a massage, when Anshu is naked, Jay is able to see her in all bare-chested and curly bushed glory (the author's words, not mine) from the outside. For an exorbitantly priced place, you would expect closed rooms for a massage wouldn't you? For a place where sex is strictly forbidden, Anshu sleeps with Jay and Jenna is being raped by Lalit. What kind of a retreat is this? For a woman who knows what being cheated on feels like, how would she feel like doing the same thing to another woman? Also, what was the need to forcibly have a gay couple in the story is beyond my comprehension. It is almost like the author wanted to talk about all the current topics and deliberately added in the homosexuality and #MeToo moment in it. And how does our heroine save the day? With a grey underwear. I am not even kidding about this.
One thing that I never expected from Twinkle Khanna are the cringe worthy dialogues and asinine descriptions. Some of the actual lines from the book are as below:
"I don't care if you have cactus sprouting on your thighs, as long as I can get between your legs" - Jay says this to Anshu and yes, she sleeps with him after this.
"Hard but springy, you know what I mean, like two trampolines bang in the middle of her chest" - Jay telling his ex-wife Anshu about his new wife Shalini's breasts. And yes, she still sleeps with him.
"I should learn from her, about always massaging a man's ego, as much as his penis" - Anshu tells Jay about his new wife.
"Heaven lies between a woman's legs" - Anshu to Jay.
"We have all gone back to take second helpings of our favorite dessert. This is also the same thing" - Lalit to Anshu when he discovers that she's been sleeping with Jay.
"Now, that's a rasgulla I wouldn't mind trying a bite of" - Lalit to Anshu about Jenna.
"They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I say that a beauty is whoever lets you hold her" - Lalit to Anshu about women. Anshu doesn't say anything for this or the above two lines.
"I think I need to train Biwi number 2 to do this now" - Jay to Anshu on cleaning up his mess.
"Last night, she screwed her. Her face pushed against an old armoire, pressing against it with each thrust" - Anshu's own narrative about Lalit and Jenna.
These are just a few examples, the book is filled with many doltish lines like these. With the health retreat setup, there could have been a very interesting story. But with a waif concept stretched beyond its capacity, it falls flat on its face. This book goes to places that doesn't make sense and takes down the story with it. There are superfluous dialogues in the name of humor but they barely evoke a snicker from you. The title makes no sense either. The last page of the book tries desperately to justify it, but only adds to the disappointment.
Verdict: A star for the promising start and set-up. Another star for the very few witty dialogues. Apart from this, please steer clear of this one.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars.
This is the story of Anshu, our protagonist from Mumbai who is on a 28-day healing retreat at Shanthamaaya Sthalam in Kerala for her sleep issues. This place is an Ayurvedic spa which is over-expensive but does offer good results. Anshu has been divorced from her husband, Jay, seven years ago and is still bitter about it. Jay, is now married to the woman, Shalini, who he left Anshu for. As luck would have it, Jay along with his young wife and lecherous cousin, Lalit, also visit the healing center when Anshu is there. The place also has other guests, Jenna, a young foreigner; Vyacheslav and Afanasy, two Russians on a quest to lose weight; Javed and Anil, a gay couple from Bangalore. The story revolves around all these characters and focuses mainly on Anshu's predicament watching her ex-husband and his new wife every single day.
I have problems with this book on many levels. First, as a mallu. Second, as a bibliophile. Third and most importantly, as a woman and a feminist. The author needs to understand that not every malayalee is a Menon or a Pillai and just because it is a hospital in Kerala, it need not be called 'Thangam Hospital'. Also, meen curry and puttu are not the only things we eat. While the story does start of well, after a 50 odd pages, it terribly goes downhill. I have always admired the author for her wry humor, but using "entry from backside only" while taking about the gay couple is clearly in poor taste. For an author who has always been so articulate, she used the words vagina and penis as well as screw and fuck at least once in the book. While I do not have any problems with the words being used, we are all adults here, I know; the situation in which they are used is totally unnecessary and crass. The ending is abrupt and loose in every sense of the word.
For a woman who has always bravely spoken about prejudice against women and feminism, she fails in getting those traits right in her protagonist Anshu. Anshu married Jay knowing very well that he's a chauvinist and changes herself according to his likes and tastes. He continues to mock her throughout the course of their marriage and she surprisingly is okay with it, even when he compares her to The Joker for wearing red lipstick. Jay leaves her for Shalini, because she makes him feel young and alive. Could this be anymore cliched? While in the retreat, Anshu and Jay begin to have an affair and it almost feels like a tit for tat. Suddenly, his chauvinism and cheating is all forgotten and Anshu actually expects this affair to continue even after they leave the retreat. As annoying as this is, the weakest link in the book is that of Jenna. She's constantly being abused by Lalit, Jay's cousin and he is helping him cover it up. When Anshu learns that Jenna is being abused, the feminist in her comes to the surface and she makes a feeble attempt to fight for her, but ends up being mute in the end thanks to the cajoling of her ex-husband and now lover. The angle with Jenna's fall and hospitalization was totally ludicrous.
What fails the most for this book is, well, everything. Why would patients from a retreat be allowed to go to a cafe called 'Prince' and eat, drink and smoke whatever they want? During a massage, when Anshu is naked, Jay is able to see her in all bare-chested and curly bushed glory (the author's words, not mine) from the outside. For an exorbitantly priced place, you would expect closed rooms for a massage wouldn't you? For a place where sex is strictly forbidden, Anshu sleeps with Jay and Jenna is being raped by Lalit. What kind of a retreat is this? For a woman who knows what being cheated on feels like, how would she feel like doing the same thing to another woman? Also, what was the need to forcibly have a gay couple in the story is beyond my comprehension. It is almost like the author wanted to talk about all the current topics and deliberately added in the homosexuality and #MeToo moment in it. And how does our heroine save the day? With a grey underwear. I am not even kidding about this.
One thing that I never expected from Twinkle Khanna are the cringe worthy dialogues and asinine descriptions. Some of the actual lines from the book are as below:
"I don't care if you have cactus sprouting on your thighs, as long as I can get between your legs" - Jay says this to Anshu and yes, she sleeps with him after this.
"Hard but springy, you know what I mean, like two trampolines bang in the middle of her chest" - Jay telling his ex-wife Anshu about his new wife Shalini's breasts. And yes, she still sleeps with him.
"I should learn from her, about always massaging a man's ego, as much as his penis" - Anshu tells Jay about his new wife.
"Heaven lies between a woman's legs" - Anshu to Jay.
"We have all gone back to take second helpings of our favorite dessert. This is also the same thing" - Lalit to Anshu when he discovers that she's been sleeping with Jay.
"Now, that's a rasgulla I wouldn't mind trying a bite of" - Lalit to Anshu about Jenna.
"They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I say that a beauty is whoever lets you hold her" - Lalit to Anshu about women. Anshu doesn't say anything for this or the above two lines.
"I think I need to train Biwi number 2 to do this now" - Jay to Anshu on cleaning up his mess.
"Last night, she screwed her. Her face pushed against an old armoire, pressing against it with each thrust" - Anshu's own narrative about Lalit and Jenna.
These are just a few examples, the book is filled with many doltish lines like these. With the health retreat setup, there could have been a very interesting story. But with a waif concept stretched beyond its capacity, it falls flat on its face. This book goes to places that doesn't make sense and takes down the story with it. There are superfluous dialogues in the name of humor but they barely evoke a snicker from you. The title makes no sense either. The last page of the book tries desperately to justify it, but only adds to the disappointment.
Verdict: A star for the promising start and set-up. Another star for the very few witty dialogues. Apart from this, please steer clear of this one.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars.
February 12, 2021
One of the worst reads of the year 2019. This one got hyped for nothing.
The characters are unbearable.
There is no plot as such.
I picked up this book without any kind of expectations. But yes, I got thoroughly bored just after the first 2 chapters and I had to literally bear the gnawing headache till the last page.
I really cannot accept any of the things portrayed in this book. The characters are totally lame, there is no story to go on with, the characters just don't have anything to do.
The characters are really distant, full of male chauvinists, the females so welcoming to be treated like trash, and who in this age and era go for a soul cleansing treatment of 28 days just to torture your own body having ghee with cow urine just to vomit to cleanse the body , spending too much on this so called program of starving yourself and no such strict rules when it comes to men harassing women there itself from the beginning till the end of this book.
Parts of this book are really racist, dwelling a lot into the colour of skin; body weight is not something to be made fun of and that just too targetting women👎
The pun/jokes do not work at all; rather they turned out to be really insensitive and disgusting.
And the worst character of the book: Lalit. Why do I feel like this book supports rapists/molesters like him?
At least make things clear when things are written about such issues.
And please don't make 52 year old guys behave like teenagers with raging hormones all the freaking time and the same goes for such year old women to lose their minds all the freaking time when they get close to a guy, even if he gets to be the ex husband.
Overall, this was the most disappointing read of the year.
*So many things in this book are so misleading.
I so warn you all not to pick up this book ever.
Nothing was romantic, nothing was uplifting, nothing was good.
It was so damn boring as well.
I was not expecting the book to be this bad as I enjoyed reading the first two books by the same author.
I doubt if I would ever pick up another book by the same author.
*The cover is calming while it is the opposite to the contents.
*The title is a big mockery.
The characters are unbearable.
There is no plot as such.
I picked up this book without any kind of expectations. But yes, I got thoroughly bored just after the first 2 chapters and I had to literally bear the gnawing headache till the last page.
I really cannot accept any of the things portrayed in this book. The characters are totally lame, there is no story to go on with, the characters just don't have anything to do.
The characters are really distant, full of male chauvinists, the females so welcoming to be treated like trash, and who in this age and era go for a soul cleansing treatment of 28 days just to torture your own body having ghee with cow urine just to vomit to cleanse the body , spending too much on this so called program of starving yourself and no such strict rules when it comes to men harassing women there itself from the beginning till the end of this book.
Parts of this book are really racist, dwelling a lot into the colour of skin; body weight is not something to be made fun of and that just too targetting women👎
The pun/jokes do not work at all; rather they turned out to be really insensitive and disgusting.
And the worst character of the book: Lalit. Why do I feel like this book supports rapists/molesters like him?
At least make things clear when things are written about such issues.
And please don't make 52 year old guys behave like teenagers with raging hormones all the freaking time and the same goes for such year old women to lose their minds all the freaking time when they get close to a guy, even if he gets to be the ex husband.
Overall, this was the most disappointing read of the year.
*So many things in this book are so misleading.
I so warn you all not to pick up this book ever.
Nothing was romantic, nothing was uplifting, nothing was good.
It was so damn boring as well.
I was not expecting the book to be this bad as I enjoyed reading the first two books by the same author.
I doubt if I would ever pick up another book by the same author.
*The cover is calming while it is the opposite to the contents.
*The title is a big mockery.
September 11, 2018
A sweet simple story of a woman caught up in her head. Of turmoil that she brings unto herself yet is unable to free herself of the cobwebs.
Her candid nature makes you like her and her foolish misdemeanours make you want to shake her. All the characters create the right amount of emotion in you that they are meant to. Hence the writing enjoyable.
Short and sweet read.
Her candid nature makes you like her and her foolish misdemeanours make you want to shake her. All the characters create the right amount of emotion in you that they are meant to. Hence the writing enjoyable.
Short and sweet read.
January 11, 2019
Though as a couple we are hardcore bookworms, my husband has made a strict rule about book acquisition because of our impulse book buying. The is the reason "Mrs. Funnybones" & "Legend of Lakshmiprasad" I had to read from borrowed copies. So this time I was all set to buy a copy of "Pyjamas are Forgiving". But thanks to our star & our consistent blogging we got our own copy of the book during Mega giveaway of Juggernaut.
Unlike first two books by Twinkle Khanna, this book is focused on a single story or I would say a proper novel. The story revolves around a divorced lady (Anshu) in her forties reached to her 28 days of stay at Ayurvedic ashram. She met her ex-husband along with his wife. Determined to stay in Aashram, Aashu decided to fight her emotions. Then followed the emotional turmoil of Anshu whether she would fall for the same guy again or she would forgive & forget him.
Good points about the book
1. Simple & straight narration style
2. Witty storytelling of author which is her USP
3. Light in content & deep in context
4. Ideal gift for light readers as well as serious readers
We hope to have many more books from Twinkle Khanna. Once again, Thank you so much Juggernaut for providing us review copy in exchange of an honest review. I cannot give less than 5 stars to my favorite English author.
Detailed Review Link - https://chevusread.blogspot.com/2019/...
Unlike first two books by Twinkle Khanna, this book is focused on a single story or I would say a proper novel. The story revolves around a divorced lady (Anshu) in her forties reached to her 28 days of stay at Ayurvedic ashram. She met her ex-husband along with his wife. Determined to stay in Aashram, Aashu decided to fight her emotions. Then followed the emotional turmoil of Anshu whether she would fall for the same guy again or she would forgive & forget him.
Good points about the book
1. Simple & straight narration style
2. Witty storytelling of author which is her USP
3. Light in content & deep in context
4. Ideal gift for light readers as well as serious readers
We hope to have many more books from Twinkle Khanna. Once again, Thank you so much Juggernaut for providing us review copy in exchange of an honest review. I cannot give less than 5 stars to my favorite English author.
Detailed Review Link - https://chevusread.blogspot.com/2019/...
September 14, 2018
The book is narrated by a woman named, Anshu who is in her early 40’s (divorced) and is childless. To take a well-earned break, Anshu is in a Kerala Ayurvedic Shanthamaaya spa, where food is rationed, sex forbidden, and emotions cantered, whilst on her journey to remove 'Dosha,' Anshu is met with a familiar, yet a deeply unsettling sight- her philandering ex-husband, Jay, with his much younger wife, Shalini- who is quite opposite from her, both in physical and emotional term. Initially, Anshu is shocked and feels indignant, but slowly she is ready to balance and accept the sheer emotion of facing her ex-husband who left her for a younger looking woman.
Apart from the daily regime of drinking ghee, to performing the physical discomfort of Yoga poses, Anshu revisits the memory of her broken marriage in the ashram where she and her ex-husband were frequent visitors. As what the author has said in one of her interviews, the book ‘Pyjamas are Forgiving’ is reverse, a flip-book store where you start from the end where you have fallen out of love instead of the beginning. What would that look like?
Read the full review on my blog post: https://bit.ly/2QueNSX
Apart from the daily regime of drinking ghee, to performing the physical discomfort of Yoga poses, Anshu revisits the memory of her broken marriage in the ashram where she and her ex-husband were frequent visitors. As what the author has said in one of her interviews, the book ‘Pyjamas are Forgiving’ is reverse, a flip-book store where you start from the end where you have fallen out of love instead of the beginning. What would that look like?
Read the full review on my blog post: https://bit.ly/2QueNSX
September 13, 2018
"Pyjamas are Forgiving" - Set in an Ayurvedic retreat in Kerala, it depicts the confusion of a woman still deeply in love with her husband. It addresses the fact that Indian women tend to hold on to their roots and beliefs, irrespective of how modern they are. They discount the follies of their loved ones, bend back until they are flat on the ground and trampled all over. But all this at what cost?
Anyway, the book is a good one with Twinkle Khanna's funny anecdotes. Of course, the story is a tad predictable but told in a different way, giving it a fresh feel.
Anyway, the book is a good one with Twinkle Khanna's funny anecdotes. Of course, the story is a tad predictable but told in a different way, giving it a fresh feel.
September 18, 2018
Pyjamas are forgiving is the story of Anshu who went to Ayurvedic Shanthamaaya spa in Kerala to take a break. At Shanthamaaya, There's a strict Routine that one desires to observe to remove their dosha. Her days there have been going best, she met some new people, the days were just fine till One person came to Shanthamaaya which affected her the most. Her Ex-Husband with his young wife. Will Shanthamaaya will be the same for her now? Will the presence of her ex-husband have an effect on her treatment?
Pyjamas are Forgiving, The story is As appealing the name is. The cover tells a lot about the story. The plot of the story is unique and remarkable. The narration of the story is apt. I Cherished the writing style of the author. It's Lucid and Gripping.
This book revolves around Yoga, wellness, meditation, healing and Forgiving. Its a read full of Humor, Friendship, Self-love and Love. A refreshing read with some light, funny moments which will melt your heart. Some moments that will make you cry. The language used by the author is simple and crisp. one can effortlessly relate to the story. The story strongly emphasizes at the spirit of never giving up which is a must in today’s era.
The characters that the author made were Interesting. Each having their own personality. I loved Jenna's and Vivaan's character. They were full of excitement. I adored Anshu's character too. It takes courage to face the cruel world, she happily faced it. Her nature, her take on life, was just different. You may find empathy for her but will also love how she faces each and every situation.
With each chapter, the story keeps on building great. The drama keeps the reader invested in. The Climax of the story is amazing and definitely distinct. The pace of the story is a bit slow. the flow of the story is smooth. At places, it was difficult to connect with the story because of sudden shifting of the plot from Present to past.
Overall it's a wonderful story with a different plot, crisp narration, Interesting characters and with lots of funny moments. It also tells about so many things that are happening in the world right now. A light and a quick read.
Pyjamas are Forgiving, The story is As appealing the name is. The cover tells a lot about the story. The plot of the story is unique and remarkable. The narration of the story is apt. I Cherished the writing style of the author. It's Lucid and Gripping.
This book revolves around Yoga, wellness, meditation, healing and Forgiving. Its a read full of Humor, Friendship, Self-love and Love. A refreshing read with some light, funny moments which will melt your heart. Some moments that will make you cry. The language used by the author is simple and crisp. one can effortlessly relate to the story. The story strongly emphasizes at the spirit of never giving up which is a must in today’s era.
The characters that the author made were Interesting. Each having their own personality. I loved Jenna's and Vivaan's character. They were full of excitement. I adored Anshu's character too. It takes courage to face the cruel world, she happily faced it. Her nature, her take on life, was just different. You may find empathy for her but will also love how she faces each and every situation.
With each chapter, the story keeps on building great. The drama keeps the reader invested in. The Climax of the story is amazing and definitely distinct. The pace of the story is a bit slow. the flow of the story is smooth. At places, it was difficult to connect with the story because of sudden shifting of the plot from Present to past.
Overall it's a wonderful story with a different plot, crisp narration, Interesting characters and with lots of funny moments. It also tells about so many things that are happening in the world right now. A light and a quick read.
October 20, 2018
The characters are relatable. It is a quick read that is engrossing. Anshu is flawed but strong and you feel a deep empathy with her. The detox retreat makes an intriguing setting.
September 9, 2018
As Anshu gets ready for a long, therapeutic stay at her favourite Keralan Spa, cozy in the in-house pyjamas....she comes across an unexpected dosha in the form of her charming but dubious ex-husband and his brand new and infinitely beeyotchy wife.
Old memories are revisited, new friends are made, ingrained behaviors clamor for sequels and Anshu sets out on a path of self-discovery which will either debilitate or liberate her.
The author, Twinkle Khanna has a sharp wit, an intuitive grasp on human foibles and the ability to be whackily humorous and thought-provokingly wise in equal measures. The book will resonate with many people who have tried to change themselves to please a finicky, relentlessly critical partner at the cost of their own identity. To recapture that tenuous link of self-approval at the cost of societal and personal fears seems like an onerous task but Anshu is sufficiently brave and adequately flawed to achieve her goals.
A quick read that raises some poignant questions, Mrs.Funnybones' latest is quite engrossing.
Old memories are revisited, new friends are made, ingrained behaviors clamor for sequels and Anshu sets out on a path of self-discovery which will either debilitate or liberate her.
The author, Twinkle Khanna has a sharp wit, an intuitive grasp on human foibles and the ability to be whackily humorous and thought-provokingly wise in equal measures. The book will resonate with many people who have tried to change themselves to please a finicky, relentlessly critical partner at the cost of their own identity. To recapture that tenuous link of self-approval at the cost of societal and personal fears seems like an onerous task but Anshu is sufficiently brave and adequately flawed to achieve her goals.
A quick read that raises some poignant questions, Mrs.Funnybones' latest is quite engrossing.
October 29, 2018
My review in one word: NO.
My review in a few more words: I wanted to like this book. I really did. I like Twinkle Khanna's tweets and her columns, but I guess what you can do in 480 characters you can't do in a book. And here's the thing, the writing isn't the issue. (or maybe it is a little). It's the plot (there was none), the characters (all so effin terrible) and the thought process. I had a constant grimace while reading it and even though it was a very easy read (I flew through it - but you fly through books that lack substance anyway), it's something I would not recommend.
Sorry, Twinkle. Better luck next time.
My review in a few more words: I wanted to like this book. I really did. I like Twinkle Khanna's tweets and her columns, but I guess what you can do in 480 characters you can't do in a book. And here's the thing, the writing isn't the issue. (or maybe it is a little). It's the plot (there was none), the characters (all so effin terrible) and the thought process. I had a constant grimace while reading it and even though it was a very easy read (I flew through it - but you fly through books that lack substance anyway), it's something I would not recommend.
Sorry, Twinkle. Better luck next time.
September 13, 2018
I have always loved reading Twinkle Khanna's columns in The Times of India. This is my first time reading her book and this was a great experience. She writes to the point, giving eye-opening quotes in between which make you think about yourself/life/love and will definitely bring a smile on your face. This story about Anshu and her life was excellently narrated and this is one of those stories which gives you closure when you read the last page. Lovely. Looking forward to reading more books by her!
April 18, 2020
This is third book by Twinke Khanna but it's her first novel the first two were short stories collections. So coming to the novel, the story is simple but different and fun.
We follow Anshu who's in her 40s, is divorced, is childless, runs a pre-nursery school and comes to an Ayurvedic Aashram every couple of years to spend 28 days in peace and to try to recover from her illness. But on the current visit she finds her Ex-Husband with his new wife and cousin in the same aashram.
It is the story of how familiarity can bring people together. How feelings don't die even after the relationships have died. It is about hope, it is about heartbreak. It is about liberation.
Nice attempt by Mrs. Bhatia/Ms. Khanna and I congratulate her on another successful print. Read this and more and keep on reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
We follow Anshu who's in her 40s, is divorced, is childless, runs a pre-nursery school and comes to an Ayurvedic Aashram every couple of years to spend 28 days in peace and to try to recover from her illness. But on the current visit she finds her Ex-Husband with his new wife and cousin in the same aashram.
It is the story of how familiarity can bring people together. How feelings don't die even after the relationships have died. It is about hope, it is about heartbreak. It is about liberation.
Nice attempt by Mrs. Bhatia/Ms. Khanna and I congratulate her on another successful print. Read this and more and keep on reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
September 16, 2018
The setting is etched out well. The relationship between the two sisters and Jay and Anshu was relatable. There are many women who change themselves to fit in better with their partners. A breezy read , finished it in one go
September 21, 2018
In the serene sanctuary of Kerala’s Shanthamaaya spa where food is rationed, sex forbidden and emotions centred, Anshu meets someone familiar and deeply unsettling – her ex-husband.
The story is told from Anshus point of view and my God it was so disappointing and frustrating. You have seen this person who goes on making the same mistakes again and again, who goes after her cheating boyfriend,who is being used by the said boyfriend, who knows she is being used and still she goes after him, like moth to the flame, now tell me would you enjoy reading her story? If yes, read this one. Even then it felt so dull and ludicrous. I expected a protagonist who is strong and fierce, fine 20 pages in , no chance, okay maybe she will be learning from her mistakes, letting go of this burden, half way through, no chance, ok fine maybe there will be some resolution towards the end, I am scrambling through the last five six pages, frantically searching for anything to hold onto. What???
What kind of message is she trying to send out? Continue to be a doormat?
She is not even a good friend for Jenna! And really the only way she could come out halfway from her lust induced blindness to all the people and circumstances around her was when Jenna's life was hanging in balance?! I am not even going to describe the ways in which the place and people of shanthamaya are described, it was very insulting.
Overall the message that this book sends out is not a good one.Not a good read.
The story is told from Anshus point of view and my God it was so disappointing and frustrating. You have seen this person who goes on making the same mistakes again and again, who goes after her cheating boyfriend,who is being used by the said boyfriend, who knows she is being used and still she goes after him, like moth to the flame, now tell me would you enjoy reading her story? If yes, read this one. Even then it felt so dull and ludicrous. I expected a protagonist who is strong and fierce, fine 20 pages in , no chance, okay maybe she will be learning from her mistakes, letting go of this burden, half way through, no chance, ok fine maybe there will be some resolution towards the end, I am scrambling through the last five six pages, frantically searching for anything to hold onto. What???
What kind of message is she trying to send out? Continue to be a doormat?
She is not even a good friend for Jenna! And really the only way she could come out halfway from her lust induced blindness to all the people and circumstances around her was when Jenna's life was hanging in balance?! I am not even going to describe the ways in which the place and people of shanthamaya are described, it was very insulting.
Overall the message that this book sends out is not a good one.Not a good read.
September 11, 2018
Unlike her other two books, Pyjamas are forgiving is a sub-standard, or it was for me. It is a standalone novel set in Shanthamaaya, an Ayurvedic healing spa. The story revolves around the past and present of our protagonist Anshu, who’s stuck in the presence of her ex-husband and his Biwi no- 2, and the quiescent love ignites. Or does it?
** Spoiler Ahead**
You cannot say that this is a love story or a typical sautan drama (the wife and the other woman), but as you’ll progress you’ll get to know that it’s a story about ridding yourself of all the impurities and liberating your soul from all the vindictive demeanours. Twinkle Khanna has made a silent impact for every woman who is considered a mere contraption by the camouflaged masculine species.
How men conceal their obligations with love and use it as a weapon to fulfil their satisfaction. Anshu is in her forties, trying to fix her remnants and engulfed within the labyrinth created by her own emotions and if you are a woman, you’d easily relate to her, no matter what age.
I am giving this book four stars and I think I had a loose ending, it was strong but not strong enough. But yes, you should definitely give it a try, I think it’s a great read.
September 12, 2018
Pyjamas are forgiving is a short and good read. Despite her age, the character of Anshu is very relatable. And the plotline is quite engaging, come to think of it, it has all the makings of a feature film.
June 18, 2019
I absolutely enjoyed reading this hilarious book with so many life lessons. Loved how the story started at Kerala's spa and how the story takes different turns. Twinkle's writing style really impressed me and I am going to read other books by her now.
September 12, 2018
A lovely heart warming read about letting go and making peace with ones troubles!
October 26, 2018
Tedious and Unsatisfactory !!
I really enjoyed Twinkle Khanna's 'Mrs. Funnybones' but her last two books has been extremely disappointing. I don't think her books are for me. The book is set in an ayurvedic spa where Anshu - a divorced woman in her mid-40s meets her ex-husband and his young shiny new wife. The novel mainly revolves around Anshu's roller-coaster emotions upon seeing her ex - whom she has still not gotten over. The book also contains a host of other characters - who are only mildly interesting at best. There is one gay couple, one foreigner, one lecherous uncle - all seem to be thrown in like tokens. The new wife of the ex is conveniently bitchy so that you can take the side of Anshu.
Although the novel is set in an Ayurvedic Ashram with strict rules against sex, alcohol, coffee and smoking, and even Wifi, you see all of them eating meat, drinking, smoking, etc. This was totally ridiculous ! One of the foreigners is also just walking around with a wine bottle in her bag at an ashram!! WTF !!!
I just found the book to be utterly unrealistic. It was unrelatable and almost as if from another universe. There is one incident where Anshu is getting ready for a massage and strips naked before realising that the curtains were not drawn - giving her ex-husband (and few others) a full peak at her (in her own words) "curly bushed glory". This was so painfully impossible to believe. This reminds of those horrendous old movies where the lead hero and heroine just happen to trip and fall lip-to-lip over each other - so convenient. Worse still, her ex-husband comes and comments about this - no not about seeing her naked - but about her bush IN FRONT OF HIS NEW WIFE !!
Although Twinkle Khanna is known for her humour, I really can't say this was funny. Some of her jokes are repeated. The "entry from backside only" - comes even in Mrs. Funnybones, and other stuff like her obsession with those obsessed with Avocados - comes in her columns. She also continues to (as with her previous books) to mock poor English of her characters. This book just did not really have anything new.
Her narration and dialogues are also super weird. At one instance - one of the characters says - "We stopped for tea at a dilapidated restaurant with peeling blue walls...." - Nobody, I repeat NOBODY talks like this !!! The ending of the book was a bit abrupt. She tries to touch upon issues of #metoo - but does a half hearted job of it.
I really enjoyed Twinkle Khanna's 'Mrs. Funnybones' but her last two books has been extremely disappointing. I don't think her books are for me. The book is set in an ayurvedic spa where Anshu - a divorced woman in her mid-40s meets her ex-husband and his young shiny new wife. The novel mainly revolves around Anshu's roller-coaster emotions upon seeing her ex - whom she has still not gotten over. The book also contains a host of other characters - who are only mildly interesting at best. There is one gay couple, one foreigner, one lecherous uncle - all seem to be thrown in like tokens. The new wife of the ex is conveniently bitchy so that you can take the side of Anshu.
Although the novel is set in an Ayurvedic Ashram with strict rules against sex, alcohol, coffee and smoking, and even Wifi, you see all of them eating meat, drinking, smoking, etc. This was totally ridiculous ! One of the foreigners is also just walking around with a wine bottle in her bag at an ashram!! WTF !!!
I just found the book to be utterly unrealistic. It was unrelatable and almost as if from another universe. There is one incident where Anshu is getting ready for a massage and strips naked before realising that the curtains were not drawn - giving her ex-husband (and few others) a full peak at her (in her own words) "curly bushed glory". This was so painfully impossible to believe. This reminds of those horrendous old movies where the lead hero and heroine just happen to trip and fall lip-to-lip over each other - so convenient. Worse still, her ex-husband comes and comments about this - no not about seeing her naked - but about her bush IN FRONT OF HIS NEW WIFE !!
Although Twinkle Khanna is known for her humour, I really can't say this was funny. Some of her jokes are repeated. The "entry from backside only" - comes even in Mrs. Funnybones, and other stuff like her obsession with those obsessed with Avocados - comes in her columns. She also continues to (as with her previous books) to mock poor English of her characters. This book just did not really have anything new.
Her narration and dialogues are also super weird. At one instance - one of the characters says - "We stopped for tea at a dilapidated restaurant with peeling blue walls...." - Nobody, I repeat NOBODY talks like this !!! The ending of the book was a bit abrupt. She tries to touch upon issues of #metoo - but does a half hearted job of it.
September 12, 2018
Nothing great. It is just a two liner story which by the halfway mark, you can tell how it is going to end. If you follow her columns, you will find that most of the jokes have been recycled. If you don't, probably you might find the book to be ok, I am not sure. A bit of #MeToo is thrown in which kind of doesn't fit with the narrative.You can very well take your time before you get to this :)
October 2, 2018
This week on my #shelfie is 'Pyjamas are forgiving' by Twinkle Khanna. If you are looking for reasons to pick up this book, don't read further because I can't give you a single reason why you should. Leave any hope of finding strong, unique women characters that were there in her last book of short stories.
Story: Nothing of significance happens in the first 3/4 of the book. There is a self-pitying, whining narrator with nothing substantial to tell except for her pining for an abusive relationship with her ex-husband. In the last quarter, some events take place which could have salvaged the book but it's too late by then and Twinkle Khanna is out of pages.
Characters: weak, self-pitying, uni-dimensional with the protagonist calling herself a fetching dog, a sinning Eve and her wants a 'bin liner that accepts scraps willingly. And ultimately calls herself a 'forgiving pyjama' (but she is just a sucker who can't take a stand). Get a grip woman!
Narration: repetitive, Chetan Bhagat with a thesaurus. (And gosh, if I hear characters calling each other by names one more time. One more Anshu or Jay. And I will break something)
In short, Ms. Khanna has no story to tell, no characters to share and no message to part. Save yourself sometime and read 'Noni Appa' again.
Story: Nothing of significance happens in the first 3/4 of the book. There is a self-pitying, whining narrator with nothing substantial to tell except for her pining for an abusive relationship with her ex-husband. In the last quarter, some events take place which could have salvaged the book but it's too late by then and Twinkle Khanna is out of pages.
Characters: weak, self-pitying, uni-dimensional with the protagonist calling herself a fetching dog, a sinning Eve and her wants a 'bin liner that accepts scraps willingly. And ultimately calls herself a 'forgiving pyjama' (but she is just a sucker who can't take a stand). Get a grip woman!
Narration: repetitive, Chetan Bhagat with a thesaurus. (And gosh, if I hear characters calling each other by names one more time. One more Anshu or Jay. And I will break something)
In short, Ms. Khanna has no story to tell, no characters to share and no message to part. Save yourself sometime and read 'Noni Appa' again.
October 2, 2018
Complete waste of time, no head no tail of the story. Not even sure about the story so can't review much but it's about the lead character anD her ex husband in some health camp with a host of other characters
May 31, 2023
Unbearable after the first few pages... page number 8, to be precise, was the last one I could read. And then I believed Chetan does have a story to tell. Twinkle doesn't know how to build a story!
March 1, 2020
I loved Twinkle Khanna's debut book and I was looking forward to reading more of her work. I got this book as a gift in Secret Santa and recently I picked it up and finished reading it.
The base of the book, the plot, the story, I found fragile- not so strong. The story starts and ends in Kerala's Shanthamaaya spa- an Ayurvedic resort for the rich people from the description of the events in the book. There the protagonist of the book, Anshu, a divorcee in her 40s, meets her ex-husband who came with his wife.
When I was thinking the story would unfold the dark pasts or the twist and turns, it doesn't have any of that. I was hoping the story would lead to self-realization to the protagonist and thus the readers, it lacks there too. Or rather, if it was there, I couldn't get that, honestly speaking.
The story details the routing of the resort (I call it a resort from how it has been displayed in the book) and I was surprised to find how cameras and phones were allowed inside. Anyways, it was for riches.
The book has some cheeky oneliners for which the author is famous for. They were good but not enough to save the book from boredom.
The base of the book, the plot, the story, I found fragile- not so strong. The story starts and ends in Kerala's Shanthamaaya spa- an Ayurvedic resort for the rich people from the description of the events in the book. There the protagonist of the book, Anshu, a divorcee in her 40s, meets her ex-husband who came with his wife.
When I was thinking the story would unfold the dark pasts or the twist and turns, it doesn't have any of that. I was hoping the story would lead to self-realization to the protagonist and thus the readers, it lacks there too. Or rather, if it was there, I couldn't get that, honestly speaking.
The story details the routing of the resort (I call it a resort from how it has been displayed in the book) and I was surprised to find how cameras and phones were allowed inside. Anyways, it was for riches.
The book has some cheeky oneliners for which the author is famous for. They were good but not enough to save the book from boredom.
January 5, 2023
Week 38 book 74
Pyjamas are Forgiving by Twinkle Khanna
Rating: 2/5
Finished reading Twinkle Khanna's latest book. I liked her previous books.
This book was an easy breezy read as usual, and I enjoyed her sense of humour. The setting was different and the plotline was interesting.
However, there was no depth in either the characters or the storyline and the climax completely fizzled out. Thus it was a disappointing read. I prefer her columns/non-fiction.
Pyjamas are Forgiving by Twinkle Khanna
Rating: 2/5
Finished reading Twinkle Khanna's latest book. I liked her previous books.
This book was an easy breezy read as usual, and I enjoyed her sense of humour. The setting was different and the plotline was interesting.
However, there was no depth in either the characters or the storyline and the climax completely fizzled out. Thus it was a disappointing read. I prefer her columns/non-fiction.
September 11, 2018
Don’t waste your time reading this particular book - Twinkle Khanna has written good books in the past but would recommend others to give it a miss
December 19, 2018
Long Story Short: I felt this book is boring.
December 31, 2022
2.5 stars! Witty as always but the story was lacking lustre and a structure!
May 6, 2020
“Pyjamas are forgiving” is the story of a middle aged Anshu battling her loneliness after her husband dumped her for a much younger and prettier wife. She takes refuge in Kerala’s Shaantamaaya Ayurvedic retreat to fight her sleeplessness where a certain Dr.Menon and Dr.Pillai send her through a 28 days process of cleansing and purgation that was meant to reset her body into a path of recovery. The story takes a twist when her ex-husband Jay and his young wife Shaalini along with Jay’s cousin Lalit enters the scene at Shaantamaaya’s otherwise peaceful atmosphere that Anshu had taken refuge in to escape from the gnawing emotional issues that always haunted her post separation.
While the author has managed to pack in a punch with some well delivered humorous statements, few others completely failed to leave an impression. Of course, it is worth mentioning that few lines were chuckle worthy, but if you have read her columns regularly, you know that most of those are re-cycled one liners with a fresh coat of paint.
The initial pace of the story line that made me believe that this was a completely different and better book by the author dropped as I crossed over to the second half of the book and the plot became weaker and weaker as it approached the concluding chapters. The ending is pretty loose – not that it is not good but it could definitely have been better if it had to leave us with a memory of Anshu who won her battles – both with her inner self, and her cajoling ex-husband who was almost always able to use his pretentious love for her to his own gain. Instead, we take away an image of “Poor desperate Anshu!” who despite almost knowing always that it was too good to be true, got carried away by hopes that her husband plans to return to his “Juju”.
As much as we love Mrs.Khiladi and few of her books, we think she should probably stick to writing columns that are short but thought worthy words of wisdom with the right amount of humor blended into it – because here is proof you can take an actor out of Bollywood, but definitely not take Bollywood out of an actor.
Complete review at - https://kindleandkompass.com/2019/06/...
While the author has managed to pack in a punch with some well delivered humorous statements, few others completely failed to leave an impression. Of course, it is worth mentioning that few lines were chuckle worthy, but if you have read her columns regularly, you know that most of those are re-cycled one liners with a fresh coat of paint.
The initial pace of the story line that made me believe that this was a completely different and better book by the author dropped as I crossed over to the second half of the book and the plot became weaker and weaker as it approached the concluding chapters. The ending is pretty loose – not that it is not good but it could definitely have been better if it had to leave us with a memory of Anshu who won her battles – both with her inner self, and her cajoling ex-husband who was almost always able to use his pretentious love for her to his own gain. Instead, we take away an image of “Poor desperate Anshu!” who despite almost knowing always that it was too good to be true, got carried away by hopes that her husband plans to return to his “Juju”.
As much as we love Mrs.Khiladi and few of her books, we think she should probably stick to writing columns that are short but thought worthy words of wisdom with the right amount of humor blended into it – because here is proof you can take an actor out of Bollywood, but definitely not take Bollywood out of an actor.
Complete review at - https://kindleandkompass.com/2019/06/...
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