Friday, May 16, 2008

The 3 mistakes of my life: review

'The 3 Mistakes of My Life' is actually 'Five Point Someone' part deux. The only difference is, the three 'five pointers' are not in an IIT but strugglers in the real sense of the word - running a small business of their own in Ahmedabad.

The difference is that '3 mistakes' is better designed, better marketed and ready to be snapped up by the now numerous 'Chetan Bhagat' followers.

Fans will not be disappointed. This book has all the ingredients CB is loved and lapped up for. Characters and storyline one can relate to. The small joys and the big frustrations of growing up (which are pretty much common across India).

So I won't discuss the plot - read the book if you like CB style storytelling, keep away, if you don't. What I will discuss is the small stuff which I think Chetan always gets right...

- The ambience of Gujarat and Ahmedabad in particular.
Sample lines like: Gujarat is the only state in India where people tend to respect you more if you are in businesss than if you are in service (v true!) and 'Gujarat is a dry state.. people here get drunk on food'.

- The dynamics of running a business with your friends.
The fact that each individual has his own motivations for going into business.

* Govind is driven by the desire to prove something to himself and to others. He dreams of becoming a big businessman someday,

* Ishaan or 'Ish' is driven by passion. The shop is an excuse to stay close to the thing he loves most in the world: cricket.

* Omi is in it because of TINA (There Is No Alternative). But he gets his uncle to give them a shop on rent cheaply.

So in their own way all three contribute to the success of the business!

- The India style love story.
As with his other books, '3 Mistakes' captures a reality where young people are less likely to make out in bars and discos than on the building terrace. And more likely to enter 'true-close-friendship' while studying maths problems together than at a coffee shop - especially in small town India.

- The feisty small town girl.
Medical entrance exam is just an excuse to escape to an anonymous place. Where your brother won't be standing by to thrash every guy who gives you a second glance.

- The angle of religion which is handled well for the most part.
Govind's impression of the Hindu fundamentalist leader captures what many of us feel when listening to arguments about the need to rise up against thousands of years of injustice: "I was both attracted to him and repelled by him. He had charisma and lunacy at the same time".

- The author appearing into the book as himself.
This is a clever touch which Chetan used in One Night @ the Call Centre as well. Makes him all the more 'one of us'. Weaving in real events like the Gujarat earthquake is the new Big Idea.

What could have been better:
The climax. It felt contrived - as if the author were thinking, "Hey this would surely look good in a movie." Ditto feeling re: the chapter in Australia.

The entire plot around a boy called Ali. I know it was important but it became a little too predictable...

The '3 mistakes' were not really mistakes... After all life is not an exam with right and wrong answers! Some of it is choice and some of it destiny. Of course it is an attractive title...

A couple of other glitches:
If the story was set in 2001-2, surely cellphones were not so very common then? Vidya and Govind smsing incessantly would have been difficult!

And the Gujju term for Ahmedabad residents is not Ambavadis but Amdavadis.

But overall, the book packs enough punch and of course the price is just right (Rs 95). We have another winner. My rating is 3.5/5.

As always, there will be other opinions. More reviews here and here.

An earlier post on One Night @ the Call Centre (Nov 2005)

Also see Chetan Bhagat covered by the New York Times (March 2008)

39 comments:

  1. I am looking forward to reading this book after I finish Kane and Able.The previous two books by chetan bhagat were a treat to read.Probably the most interesting Indian author for me.As you mentioned,the resemblance to real life is what makes it even more interesting to read.
    But,as I've read reviews on other places,they have stated the first two books to be better than this one.
    Also,I was confused to find out that this book was launched in seperate cities on seperate dates which is very weird.

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  2. rashmi, trust me you look good :p i am serious,.. okk..i mean r u suffering? .. whats your problem? i mean why people like you just exist..
    people who believe in contacts and not deeds? .. why dont you hang yourself..call me , if you don't find enough reason to kill yourself

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  3. Never a fan of Mr. Bhagat...one night at the call centre is the only one I've read and wasn't too impressed...yes he gets his basics and facts right...no glaring mistakes there...but I do find his writing a tad amateurish and cliched still...

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  4. Recently I met Mr. Chetan Bhagat at his book launch. He seemed 2 b a very nice person. There was a Q/A session where he answered a wide range of queries from his fans. He also obliged 200+ fans and signed their books, including mine!!! I havnt seen any writer (n famous) doing this! He actually admitted that he liked mingling with his readers more than anything else.

    As for the book... 3 mistakes is a CB book mind it! So u have 2 expect a lot of filmi stuff! But a nice story makes it a good read overall. There are places where you'll find CB applying some of his "MBA from IIM-A" learnings in Govind's business. But the Ali angle & their going to Australia was pretty cheeky! Am damn sure he even imagined how it would look while filming it in Bondi Beach!!! :D This book is a bit different in a way that it has more action, more drama & more darker angle (complete with gory murders & fighting scenes). But when you read the whole book, you'll find it is a good one actually. Yes the writing style may seem amateurish to some, but if you have to make a book a best-seller among millions of Indians, you hav got to be amateurish! and CB knows it very well. He cleverly mixes the masala in a way that the common masses can read and enjoy it!

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  5. Well, it surely is alot filmy!
    But nonetheless a good read.

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  6. I was hugely disappointed by this one cuz he lacked sensitivity while handling serious issues like the quake and riots but these are your views and i respect it.
    you can read my review at:
    http://indiawithrupeyy.blogspot.com/2008/05/review-of-three-mistakes-of-my-life.html

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  7. Looking forward to reading this one

    Regards,

    CA Ashish Ahuja, FCA
    A Roaming Blogger and a CA
    Indian Chartered Accountant New Delhi India
    Indian Company Formation Delhi India

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  8. Wasnt the greatest piece of literature but the man has created a market that had turned away from reading completely.. Not something for the Salman Rushdie fans though

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  9. Hi Rashmi, Never read the book yet, but your writeup has set the context! Lets see how good a read this one is. I like 'Five point Someone', it was very simple and made a quick and hilarious read. It was also something that I could relate too. Thanks for your review.

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  10. Hi, first time here,
    nice read... thanks for the valuable update!:) I loved 5.someone... was a real fun read... I'm gonna pick this one up soon!

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  11. Was not too sure whether wanted to read it, but you convinced me as a amdavadi:)

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  12. hey rashmi... know ur amdabad connection and all that... but recently i was on a 2 day trip to ahmedabad and i found that there really is a place called AMBAVADI or what the author calls ambavad...

    so heres hoping that u get ur facts right before commenting...

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  13. Hi ,

    I read the book. was not disappointed , and as said in the review , it's better structured and well marketed. Bcos of the review given over here, i bought the book and read it on a weekend.

    Sanket

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  14. I had high expectations of this book and am happy that it meets those expectations with ease. Just finished the book review at my blog.

    http://chanakyaspeaks.com

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  15. Unlike CB's last wrk this book is not a page turner .Book read and soon forgotten kind.

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  16. this book is good in parts.It somehow becomes a lot violent in the later part especially during the riots but the romance part is well handled.

    Overall a good read but the other 2 were better!

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  17. Anonymous12:34 PM

    Absolutely loved this book! CB once again manages to connect very well, but more importantly, it got me thinking a bit as well. About the whole Gujarat riots thing. The characters are well-defined, and, in typical CB style, he examines the dynamics of friendship. The bit in Australia got a lil bit stretched I think, but overall, way better than 'One night @ a call centre', and in the same league as 'Five point someone' ;)
    Cheers!
    http://www.troopersblog.blogspot.com

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  18. A nice book and a good read. I still believe that his second book wasnt such a phenomenal success - It just sold because it was a CB book - I think it lacked substance. And speaking about your review - Bang on target.

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  19. even i was disappointed with the End. He could have expressed it in a better way. As in, I was surprised to see only 2 pages remaining after the scene at the bank!
    But still, the way he connects the chord with the youth is appreciable. You easily identify yourself with the central character.
    The way he has mixed all those major events happening during the year 2000 shows that enough hardwork has been done!
    CB has the potential to become one of the best fiction authors India has ever seen.

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  21. read 5 point someone and adored it, was a lil disappointed by one night @ the call center, the new one was a lil kiddish, but then a good read away from the business magazines and stuff bout corporate america....:XD

    http://serialmarketer.wordpress.com/

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  22. it is a very hopeless timewaste and bakwas bhagar sarial radhi and useless story
    tell cb to learn how to write books from me

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  23. Friends

    For all those who want this book to be part of your collection.. This is the best time to buy.. Its available for Re 1 only on hindglobal.in...

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thats a very nice review.....well written. Also, I'll surely be checking out jammag.com.

    Kudos
    www.myworldmypeople-ay.com

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  25. Good script for a typical bollywood movie.
    The books lacks the class overall.
    Chetan's same style of writing now sucks.
    The funny part is the title doesn't suit since the mistakes don't look like that glaring mistakes. It was more of luck i think.
    In brief, disappointed.
    --an IITian

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  26. I have read both Books of Chetan Bhagat .....First,I have read his second book and later I have gone through Five Point Someone which was very interesting and funny.

    One night at the call centre tell discusses about the emotions of the people who have different mentalities but are under one roof helping each other......

    I liked Five Point Someone than One night at the call centre....and I havent gone through tne new release "The 3 mistakes of my life" - I have to purchase as soon as possible........

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  27. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  28. I made it my favourite novel I ever read.
    I just loved "One Night @ call center" specially the lovestory, the description of shyam when he see Priyanka(taking abt her nose), Really the whole story touched me.
    I am in Saudi Arab, and want the new book"The 3 mistakes of my life" But I am not getting it here

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  29. uff.. i was waiting for chetan's next from a long time.. atlast he gave one..hey chetan.. ur just amazing.. the 2 books u wrote was like.... just cant express.. it was my story.. he he.. N me dyin to read the 3 mistakes of 'UR' life.. lolz.. i hope i'll get dat in market.. This is Rakshith.. from MYSORE..

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  30. Friends

    Make this book part of your collection at just Rs 1 only.. Place your order right now on www.hindglobal.in

    ReplyDelete
  31. what a crap work of writing. Rashmi you damaged your crediblity by giving 3.5/5. i haven't read wrose book than it. all mellodrama with no convication. look at the ridiculas and contextless line."women had a strange body aroma.they should close it bottle and seel it." cb writes anything but good literature.

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  32. UGHHHH! what areally really bad book!

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  33. seems 2 b a nice read overall. But loved one nit @ call center a bit more.... i agree itz filmy, but the romance part was very well handled which travelled back in time and to the present....somewhat lik mani rathnam's movies. It touched me personally, coz lik shyam, I'm tryin 2 bring back my love 2 life.

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  34. Total nonsense crap is this 3 mistake of my life is all about.....cheap bollywood script nothig else ....irresponsible work of so called responsible writer.i wonder if CB do really think wat crap is he writting actually........nonsense and erotic stuff....total money minded stuff nothing more can b expected frm a IIM grad(:P).... plz use ur brain next tym sir else stop spoiling others.... bad literature no no actually worst i shall say

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  35. Anonymous8:39 AM

    The book was a good read. Quite filmy , but worth reading. enjoyed the stuff

    visit www. preetykaithwas.com

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  36. Anonymous8:42 AM

    The book was a good read. Quite filmy , but worth reading. enjoyed the stuff

    visit : http://www.preetykaithwas.com/

    ReplyDelete
  37. Am a Chetan Bhagat fan.But this time i was a lil dissapointed.I thing it lacked the substahnce of Five point someone.And ofcourse the earthquakes and the riots could have been dealt much more sensitively.On the whole a good reading.You will surely not leave ur couch untill you reach the end...oneliners are hit,a complete bollywood masala.Good but could have been better:)

    Maitabi

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  38. This comment has been removed by the author.

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