Title: What Mina Did
Author: Geeta Menon
Publisher: Rupa Publications
Publication Date: 2019
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 286
Purchase Link: Amazon
It’s been a while since I reviewed a book on my blog. Head over to my Instagram profile to keep up with mini-reviews of books, which I post regularly. Today on my reviewing table is Rupa Publications’ “What Mina Did” by Geeta Menon.
THE PLOT:
Mina and Neelu are best friends since childhood. Neelu is a steadfast rock for Mina when she goes through a traumatic incident in Bangalore. Soon after, Mina moves to the US, and when Neelu needs her friend the most, Mina is too busy with her own problems to offer support.
The book is the story of two women coming to terms with adult life, and the toll it takes on their friendship.
THE COMMENTARY:
The blurb at the back of this book is radically different from the plot I have outlined here. The title, the cover page design and the synopsis, portray “What Mina Did” as a murder mystery and thriller. However, the actual storyline cannot be classified as a thriller or mystery. For this reason, I was sorely disappointed while reading the book. Had I known I was reading a book about friendship instead of the juicy mystery I was expecting, I might have enjoyed it more. This kind of obvious marketing ploy can put off the discerning reader of today.
“What Mina Did” is a good first attempt at novel-writing. There is a credible plot, it moves at an elegant pace, and the characters are given time to develop and become engaging. The denouement, however, lacks impact.
Further, I felt a strong disconnect in the first and second halves of the book. Mina’s traumatic incident in India, is at complete variance with the romantic struggles that Neelu faces. Perhaps, the two tales could have been written as short stories in an anthology. That medium might have done them justice.
There are far better books that have been written on Indian women abroad (The Namesake); Indian women as mothers and daughters (Difficult Daughters); and even on women as friends (Elena Ferrante’s series). I am aware that it is unfair to compare a first-time author to established writers, but offering benchmarks is my attempt at constructive criticism.
THE VERDICT:
“What Mina Did” is a decent pass-the-time novel. It is not groundbreaking in terms of plot or writing, and it definitely isn’t a mystery novel, as it is portrayed. As a simple treatise on female friendships, I would recommend it as an airport or vacation read- nothing more.
Rating: 3/5
Buy your copy of “What Mina Did” from here
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*I’d like to thank Rupa Publications for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. The post is not sponsored, but it contains affiliate links. When you purchase a copy of the book through my link, I earn a small fee at no extra cost to you. Please support my blog by purchasing through my link!
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Thanks for the honest review , I also like stories which have some suspence or thrill in it.
🙂
I love to read your book reviews because there is something to take away from and as a book reviewer myself I learn certain things of writing from your reviews. About this book, all the reviewers have the same thing to say.
That is so sweet of you to say Siddhi 🙂 I really enjoy reading your reviews too!
Your review are so apt, love reading them.i like the tittle of the book .
Thanks
Looks Interesting to me. I really like the cover image of the book. Thanks for sharing the review about the book I will definitely going to read the book. Thanks!
Hey thanks for stopping by
adulthood does take a toll on friendship, but going by your ratings, I am skeptic about getting this one now
Yes it is avoidable
From the name even i thought it’s a thriller like ” know whatvywhdid last summer”, after reading your review I have tuned my expectations before i i start reading this book.
I follow your mini-reviews on insta maybit be movies, books, places or web-series.
Awww thank you Ujjwal! I’m so glad you like my reviews!
This looks like an interesting book! Becoming adults changes a lot of things and since you said it’s a decent book I’ll try to read it on a Sunday morning!
Sure.. It’s worth a one-time read
Thank you for sharing your honest opinion… I might have picked this book because I love mystery and thriller but I guess it isn’t that amazing… I may get it if I want later…
It’s definitely not a mystery! Pick it up with that in mind.
Hey, even I have this habit to read a book with some preassumption and sometimes I am annoyed when the genre changes. Maybe we should not really think so much and enjoy the book in hand.
Yes that’s true, but then a book should not mislead either!
I would grab this when i am traveling next so that i can utilise time by reading it on the go. Thanks for your honest review.
🙂
Wow very interesting review. Probably one should get it if they travel a lot. Now a days the waiting period at airports can be crazy!
Haha yes!
I love your honest review. While traveling surely love to give a read to this book.
Thank you for stopping by
Seems the book has not much to impress…thanks for your review.
🙂
Great review! Also, I wanted to ask you what are some good novels that I can read while traveling. Genre doesn’t matter to me. Thanks!
Glad you liked it! The last one I read that I loved was “Sacred Games” by Vikram Chandra. It will keep you engrossed and busy for a long time!
hey the book looks great qto go with for all the book lovers nice review ty for sharing…
Thanks for stopping by
I also felt it would be a murder mystery from its title. But it sounds like a friction story.
Yes it’s misleading for sure
I like reading suspense thriller. This book didnt fascinate me much. I might skip reading this one.
Yes it’s skippable
Oh even I thought it to be a thriller by looking at the title & the book cover. Thanks for sharing your honest review.
Glad you liked it!
Thanks for the honest review Noor! I will skip this book because of your rating. Much Appriected work!
Thank you! Glad you found it useful!
I would definitely be very disappointed if I read a blurb like that and found it didn’t keep its premise.An interesting review
Thank you for reading and appreciating!
ImI more into real life based novels or ones with social problems. Fictions are not my thing but i do pick a one-time quick reads for travel. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you liked it!
If it portrays characters in positive
Way I would love to read or just leave it as a timepass
You can read it.. It’s an average book but not bad
I think that the story line and the concept is interesting which could have been made more gripping, but as a first time author, it still looks a good one time read.
Yes it is just a one-time read for people who enjoy reading fiction.
That’s an earnest and a critical review Noor very objectively done, my takeaway is it’s a book on friendship but there too it is lacking somewhere
Thank you Roma. Yes, it’s an average book overall.
I have seen this book on bookstagram. I also thought it’s a thriller. Misleading titles aren’t my favourite
Yes, I find misleading titles so irritating!
A candid and frank review. The first book by the author, seems a good first attempt. It seems a fairly entertaining book especially to read on a flight or during a layover.
Yes sure. Thanks for stopping by.
I don’t read novels much but it sounds like an interesting read. Might recommend this to book-lover people in my circle.
Sure..
What mina did has received mixed reviews and I can see now why is that so. Very well penned review.
Thank you dear.
Looks Interesting read to me. Thanks for sharing the review about the book I will definitely going to read the book.
Thanks for stopping by.
Title suggests that it is a thriller but your review clears the air. 3 on 5 means it is a one time read. Thank you for sharing your review.
Thank you for stopping by!
Thanks for your honest review. I am not a reader kind of person but will surely share this with my friends as the story looks good.
Sure. Thank you for stopping by!
The plot sounds intriguing with crisp storyline. Agree the title give me a thought that it must be a thriller.
Thank you for stopping by!
I read about it on your Instagram and landed here to know more … Looks like a good time killer and will read it during my next travel.
Thank you so much!