Imaginary Rain - A novel

by Vikas Khanna

Prerna, a woman now in her fifties, has been running an Indian restaurant in downtown Manhattan for two decades. She is on the cusp of a midlife crisis, and her life indeed unravels when she suddenly loses her son, her lease, and with these, her passion for cooking as well. Caught in the grip of newly awakened emotions, Prerna finds herself confronted by many haunting questions from her past, which take her back to her motherland, India. And so begins an intensely personal struggle that will lead Prerna to forgive herself, escape her past and rediscover her true passion for cooking. This novel is a celebration of life as well as an immigrant's story of survival, forgiveness and moving on.

227 pages, Paperback

Published January 16, 2023

Reviews

[Dr.rashmi Dsouza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Imaginary Rain
Author: Vikas Khanna Genre: literary fiction The book is inspired by Khanna’s grandmother, lovingly called ‘Biji’, but evidently draws from his own experiences as a chef in New York. I love the intricately woven blend of culinary delights and words that bring the creative streak in the author to life. All through the storyline the author intrigues us with a spell that draws us to admire the grit and unending love exuding from the main character prerna. A heartwarming read indeed !

[Monika Deorari · Rating 5 out of 5]

My POV -The Imaginary Rain is a beautifully written and emotionally rich story that explores love, loss, and self-discovery. The book captures the depth of human emotions and the pain of unfulfilled dreams with great sensitivity. I felt deeply connected to the characters and their inner struggles. The poetic language and vivid imagery made the story feel real and heartfelt. Overall, it’s a touching and reflective read that lingers in the mind long after finishing.

[Deepa · Rating 3 out of 5]

a short and sweet book about Prerna and her incredible journey from India to USA of setting up her own restaurant "The Curry Bowl"..and how her little nephew who adores Prerna's cooking and restaurant business becomes a Michelin star chef.
a fiction based on Chef Vikas Khanna's grandmother and his own life

[Disha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and soul touching story. In a competitive world, Prerna follows her heart every day by taking courage and inspiration from her father's teachings and memories.
Although story could have been shorter and writer could have expressed Prerna's feelings and emotions in lesser words.

[Deepak Bagga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant and way more relatable than the last color... vikas's writing has improved substantialy... he literaaly transports you to new york and amritsar.. and you can smell the food cooking in that hole in the wall kitchen..

[DESERT ORCHID · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is nothing unique about this book to be in awe off. A story that's most common among many Indians. Ofcourse the situations might be different.

The writing style is too lame and repetitive and there was no captivating lines to be remembered or to revisit again.

[Ninad Bhangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, feel good book..
Journey of a woman and her relationships with food, family and guilt.
Looking forward to Shabana Azmi movie

[Trisha Ghosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story. A lovely, enjoyable book apt for light reading. The characters- all of them felt so real. Extraordinary story of an ordinary woman. I enjoyed the author's style of story telling.

[Fatima · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot is good and writing is also okay-ish but the execution of scenes is done poorly - could pinpoint some factual errors too - should have been proof read properly IMHO.

[Abhishek Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!