Title: Sorting Out Sid
Author: Yashodhara Lal
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 978-93-5029-691-2
Number of Pages: 332
Price [INR] : 250
Genre: Fiction
Siddharth Agarwal a.k.a. Sid has it all a fifteen-year-long marriage, a bunch of devoted friends, and the chance to be the company’s youngest-ever VP, all at the age of thirty-six.
But, behind the scenes, his life is slowly falling apart, what with his marriage on the rocks, parents who treat him like a delinquent child, and overly-interfering, backstabbing friends. And that’s not even counting the manipulative HR vixen and the obnoxious boss he must tackle in office.
So, when lovely, spunky single mom Neha materializes in his life, she brings into it a ray of hope. But will she cause the brewing storm to finally erupt?
Who said it would be easy sorting out Sid?
I have read Yashodhara’s debut novel, Just Married, Please Excuse which is a hilarious account of life in the first few years of marriage. When I read about the launch of her second book, Sorting Out Sid, I was keen to read it too. I knew that it would be a delightful read.
Sorting Out Sid is all about Sid and the people who have a role in his life… his wife, friends, boss, colleagues, parents. These are the people who force Sid to don various masks in his life –Sid@ Work, Party Sid, Sid Uncle- and behind all these masks, the real Sid is hidden and struggles to come out. Sid’s story is lifelike and realistic. We get to see the slice of everyday life in Sorting Out Sid… broken relationships, people stuck in career rut, friendships and misunderstandings, son-parent relationships, mother-daughter relationship. These are the people all around us who have their failings and imperfections. All these are packaged with the right emotions, sparks and undercurrents.
So does the depiction of different every day situations and next-door characters, read like a sad and a dull story? Far from it! Sorting Out Sid has large dollops of wit and humor along with satire that gives you a lot of laugh out loud moments, many smiles and quite a few chuckles. Weaving a story which addresses the serious issues of life but are masked behind the smiles and laughter, speaks a lot about Yashodhara’s skill as a writer.
In the storyline, there are a few loose-ends and a few twists seemed very rushed. While, all that is ok, what I really wished was to read more about Mandira. I wish her character was explored a bit more. One never gets to know things from her perspective. All one gets to see is the cold treatment or derisive remarks she makes at Sid. The story is all about their relationship which has gone sour, so much so that Sid thinks of ‘replacing her Colgate Toothpaste tube with a tube of Odomos’. But how did that happen? What made their marriage of 15 years (it was mentioned 10 years at another place) fall apart? And what efforts the husband-wife put in to make it work, is simply missing from the story.
Having said that, there isn’t a dull moment while reading Sorting Out Sid. A simple plot which keeps you smiling and laughing till the very end.
Sorting Out Sid is a light, funny, breezy read. A perfect read during a travel or a lazy weekend! Go for it!
Rating : 4/5
The review is part of IndiBlogger / HarperCollins Book Review initiative.
32 Responses
I love books that are laced with humor and this sounds like a book right up my alley. Thank you for the review! ♥
Agree, if a book can make you smile and laugh out loud moments, I believe that’s a super thing to happen! So, a pat on the back of the author! 🙂
Y’know I have been contemplating reading this one since I have been hearing/reading about it for so long now. Your review is great too….must try it, now! Thanks 🙂
You must! I am sure you have a lot of LOL moments too 🙂
Wow Shilpa… you’ve read both the books authored by her! I’d love to lay my hands on both these books sometime soon. Have been hearing a lot of good things about it.
Do check both the books, Bhavya! And the first one, JMPE is apt for the stage of marriage you are in! 😀
You’ve made the book sound absolutely fascinating. Will check it out.
That’s great, Michelle 🙂 Thanks!
I read the first few chapters online and now after your review I think I’ll pick it up. Thanks. I loved JMPE.. that was hilarious. How does this one compare with that?
I feel JMPE is better than SOS 🙂
Heard some very good reviews about this book…. don’t know when I could get hold of this…
Hope it happens soon, Sheethal 😀
Thanks for the excellent review. Will look for this book.
Cool 🙂
YOu seem to read as much as you write! Regularly! How do you keep up?!
Just lucky to have some free time on my hands 😀
Wonderful review it is and I hope I find it amazing too. 🙂
My copy from Amazon has just been delivered home. 🙂
Wow! That’s cool. Enjoy reading SOS, Rekha and do share your review too 🙂
I was in 2 minds on picking up this book, but now with your review I know I will read it some time soon 🙂
Go for it! You will thank me later 😉
Have not read any of her books. Your review has triggered my interest
Do check out both her books in your library, Jayashree! 🙂
Do you get books from Indian authors in your library?
Great Review Shilpa and it reminds me I have so many books in waiting bit I’ve become so lazy these days! Reading block maybe ! 😀
I know, this reading block happens!! A book keeps lying in front of you and you just dont have the desire to pick it up! May your RB vanishes soon, Nabanita 🙂
Sounds like a fun summer read.
Oh yes, it is, Talya 🙂
Sounds like a good read. I should try to get hold of this book. Long time since I read an Indian author.
Looks like you took up some reading challenge too Shilpa 😛 This one sounds like an interesting read.
Won’t be surprised if this book translates into bollywood movie. Like you say, it does reflect real life and we do see many Sid’s around us. Liked your unbiased review,shilpa.
It has the potential to be transformed into a movie, for sure! 🙂
Good review Shilpa! And I agree, Mandira deserved a bit more too . Overall it was a breezy read that made you laugh out every now and then 🙂
Thanks Seeta! Yes, there was so little about her! True, smiles and LOL moments were simply great! 🙂