Johnny gone down - Karan Bajaj

Image courtesy flipkart

Johnny gone down is the second novel from Karan Bajaj. His first novel was the wildly amazing Keep off the grass.

The book is written a non-linear way, which works here because there are a lot of twists and turns. We are introduced to Nikhil Arya, on a train ride to New Delhi. Along the journey, we get to know tantalising bits about him. He had studied in MIT, in what looks to be another lives. Or, many lives ago. He has lost an arm. He is an expert with arms. He has lightening fast reflexes. He also has the calm sageness of a monk. Nikhil cannot be just you and me. He has lived many lives in one. This we know. How he turned out to be this way is what we are fed along the way.

From MIT, Massachusetts to Cambodia, Thailand, Rio, Minnesota, New Delhi, the story is definitely fast paced. But the transformations are not very well defined. Things happen too easily for comfort. The randomness factor is all pervading throughout the story. We are asked to suspend belief, cut some slack and play along. It may be easy to picturize oneself hurtling through this rabbit-hole at some parts, but at many places we would be lost. There is an element of romanticism in being unpredictable, a maverick, the mercurial. It is with this shade that we read the book and forgive its flaws. We wade through. There isn't much depth to the events and the way things and locations change.

Character development may not be well rounded. We sympathise with Nikhil, we understand his circumstances, we absorb some wisdom and deep thoughts, but this does not sustain. The sequence in Minnesota is quite incredulous. A miraculous second world is spawned effortlessly, as a alternate-reality to our broken and seeking protagonist, as a balm. The ending too is not very promising. One is left pondering about why the novel is named the way it is.

I picked up the book on impulse, to fill a turbulent void, to read through easily, without taxing myself. My thoughts were the last thing that I wanted. I am happy that I did, I was not disappointed. You will not be disappointed too, if you know what exactly to expect. A recommended read when you are looking for something light, and when there are many distractions within and outside.

*I do not own any of these images. All pictures courtesy their respective owners*