Book review of 2 States: The Story of My Marriage by Chetan Bhagat
When a boy meets a girl, both fall in love. What follows is not the usual “happily ever after.” It is kinda tricky this business. Why? Caste barriers exist between a simple Punjabi boy and a Tam-Brahm girl. Wait, is it only that or more? Get on this roller coaster of a love story, exploring love, resilience, fun, and most importantly, a slice of India, all at once. A review perusing the finer undersides of Krish and Ananya’s brilliant tale of love and the path towards marriage.
2 States: The Story of My Marriage
So, let me start today by telling you a story. Huh. A romantic tale, my lovelies. Doston, kuch romance ka mood hai. Because I had barely discussed a nice, romantic lighthearted book with you guys recently, I thought – chalo, let’s sprinkle some love in everyone’s lives today.
A girl from South India and a boy from North India met, and it wasn’t all hunky dory, easy-peasy, and rosy-posy on the way to happily ever after. Hmm, that is not how it is in this brilliant love story, a fun amalgam of the North and the South, where the story revolves around Krish and Ananya, whose love affair converted to marriage, which is no less than a battle won.
Having come way before we even met “Chennai Express,” the story opens with Punjabi boy Krish meeting Tamil Brahmin girl Ananya Swaminathan in the IIM mess. What follows is the usual fireworks, and with one thing leading to another, these two eventually fall in love. However, things do not appear to be going as smoothly for the two, who have decided to marry for life. Why? Simple. Well, in “the Chennai trysts, LOL. It then moves to Delhi, where it is now Ananya’s turn to try and convince the infamous would-be Punjabi mother-in-law, aka Krish’s mom, aka Kavita. Well, both of these are my favourite parts to read in the book since I feel like I am diving into a slice of life and dousing through the traditions of these places. I could almost smell Ananya’s mother’s strange snacks cooking through, her father’s constant scowl, and the Swaminathan household’s usual melancholy atmosphere. not to forget Ananya’s brother Manju and his gawky geekiness. I could completely fathom Krish’s quandaries, his struggles, and his challenges in trying to please Ananya’s parents. To avoid sounding stereotypical, it is always difficult to persuade a “highly educated,” “well-placed” girl’s parents to agree to an intercaste marriage, especially one as drastically and diametrically opposed as South to North.
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Then there were the “Delhi files,” aka Ananya’s pursuits towards understanding the Punjabi, her “much dreaded” mother-in-law and her idiosyncrasies. What fun! I mean, the tete-a-tete between Kavita and Ananya, the chemistry Ananya shares with his side of cousins during Minti’s wedding, and the way she manages to impress them all was like zip zap zoom! The way she won over the crowd by resolving the bottlenecks in Minti’s wedding and overcoming all issues was incredible. Having finally overcome and won over his side of relatives, I personally felt victorious in this scenario.
Reading through the highs and lows of these two, sailing in the same boats as them, understanding their struggles, and finally reaching that high point when both families agreed. Whoosh, what a feeling it was!
When it comes to writing style, I’ve always said and felt that Chetan and his writings connect very well with Indian audiences because of his ability to connect with them at the grassroots level. Chetan has always identified the emotional needs of any reader and tried to keep his story and his plot in such a way that they are simple, relatable, and, most importantly, believably appealing to the end readers. That is what makes most of his writing such a huge commercial success, especially in Indian markets. Be it the plot, the characterizations, or the style, Chetan manages to carve it all in your mind’s eye so that eventually, at least for me, I could well imagine this one even before the movie adaptation of it was released. I mean, I was already living “Locha-e-Ulfat” in my dreams before Arjun Kapoor jiggled along to its tunes, and yes, Ananya was Alia!
FAQs for the book 2 States: The Story of My Marriage by Chetan Bhagat
Q: Who is the author of the book ‘2 States’?
A: The author of the book ‘2 States’ is Chetan Bhagat.
Q: What is the genre of the book ‘2 States’?
A: The genre of the book ‘2 States’ is a romantic comedy novel.
Q: What is this book about?
A: The book ‘2 States’ is about a couple, Krish and Ananya, who fall in love while studying at IIM Ahmedabad. They belong to different cultural backgrounds, and their parents are not happy with their relationship. The book describes their struggle to convince their families to accept their relationship and their efforts to overcome cultural differences.
Q: When was this book published?
A: The book ‘2 States’ was published on October 8, 2009.
Q: Is the book ‘2 States’ based on a true story?
A: The book ‘2 States’ is inspired by the real-life story of the author Chetan Bhagat and his wife Anusha.
Q: How many pages does the book ‘2 States’ have?
A: The book ‘2 States’ has 269 pages.
Q: Has this book been adapted into a movie?
A: Yes, the book ‘2 States’ has been adapted into a Bollywood movie with the same name. It was released on April 18, 2014.
Q: What is the target audience for this book?
A: The target audience for the book ‘2 States’ is mainly young adults and people who enjoy romantic comedies.
Q: Is the book ‘2 States’ available in multiple languages?
A: Yes, the book ‘2 States’ has been translated into multiple languages, including Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and Telugu.
Q: Is this book worth reading?
A: The book ‘2 States’ is a well-written and entertaining novel that offers an insightful look into the complexities of Indian society and culture. If you enjoy romantic comedies or want to learn more about Indian culture, then it is definitely worth reading.
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I hope you enjoyed reading my book review of 2 States: The Story of My Marriage by Chetan Bhagat.
Adios Amigos!
An internationally accredited book blogger, voracious reader and the founder of Booxoul, one of India’s leading book and lifestyle blogs, Neelam is a person with a penchant for bringing out the best in people. A website designer, a renowned book blogger and a leading creative influencer on Instagram, here is a lady who is candid, closer to life and sensitive to the softest of emotions…
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