Mediocre But Arrogant: Book Review

Book:MEDIOCRE BUT ARROGANT
Author: Abhijit Bhaduri
ISBN: 8187981814
ISBN-13: 9788187981817,978-8187981817
Binding: Paperback
Publishing Date: 2005
Publisher: Indialog Publisher
Edition: 1stEdition
Language: English
Where To Buy: Flipkart

The story of Mediocre But Arrogant is set at the backdrop of Management Institute of Jamshedpur. This is the story of love and life of the main protagonist Abbey, who also plays the role of a narrator. He is too proud to be the student of MIJ. This story deals with how Abbey’s life is transformed in the two years of his management life. His perspective towards life and relationship also changes in the due course.

As the story is set at the time of 1980’s, when the chances of landing a job in management was not as easy as it is now, the bosses and the professors were also arrogant along with some of the students.  In those times there was no internet or social networking, therefore whatever free time students had was with friends rather than by fraternizing online. The writer has also added some love stories along with the main idea of campus recruitment to give it an additional angle.

This novel will let you stick to it because of its realistic characters. Therefore, even though the plot is quite predictable you will definitely feel engaged while reading it and would not want to leave it in the middle. There is a constant back and forth between the present and the past in the first 100 pages of the book, which is quite unwanted and problematic after a point. This becomes rather irrelevant as the characters show distinguished changes in their life in the second half and after some point it seems irrelevant and discontinued with the initial half.

The portion which has to deal with Abbey’s love life and personal relationships is portrayed in a rather confusing manner. The relationships are taken for granted and the characters of the male and the two female protagonists are quite offensive and superficial. On one hand the character of Keya is shown to be very modern as compared to the standards of the 1980’s, she does not have problems with one night stands, she is materialistic, she uses boys to her own advantage, but on the other hand it is shown that she gets too serious for Abbey and feels very strongly for him, which again contradicts her character.

This novel still is able to create the drama and in every chapter writer Abhijit Bhaduri has set his signature style. The plot is quite refreshing and entertaining, the dialogues are good and crisp and the book has a light hearted feel good factor in it, which you would enjoy. But in the end you might have a good time reading it.