Book Review: Name Place Animal Thing by Mayank Shekhar

All of us, at some point of time in our life, have played Name Place Animal Thing, no? — the game where the onus is on your memory to list down things in those four categories. That has got nothing to do with the book, though, apart from the fact that the title of the book happens to be the same as that of the game. But there is a purpose behind this — Mayank Shekhar wittily classifies the amusing chapters in this book into these four categories. Well, that marks the beginning.

Renowned film critic, journalist and TV presenter, Mayank Shekhar literally offers a plethora of writings for his readers. Without sticking to any one particular topic or idea, he articulates and shares his thoughts and opinion on a wide range of topics, thus providing a variety. This book, a collection of his “weekly rants, blog posts and commentaries (columns, especially)”, is a highly beguilling book – a book which will archly fascinate readers.

Shekhar’s writing style is magical. By that I certainly don’t mean it is fancy or embellished. The chapters are casually written and he has stuck to a simple writing style, far away from complexity and ambiguity, and that is appealing absolutely. The jocular titles, especially, are dazzling. They just capture the soul and grab attention almost instantly as one goes through.

Shekhar has frankly written on the people we’ve heard about (right from “Himace” bhai to the Mittals to Emran Hashmi, etc.), places (metropolitan cities as well as the uplifting and developing towns), animals (those belonging to the circus we are surrounded by) and the things which have made him go “hmmm… really?”

The chapters are partly serious and partly funny — some will make one chuckle, some will drive one to pause and contemplate, while with some, one will simply agree. ‘Name Place Animal Thing’ has en number of stories of Shekhar’s encounter with different people and incidents’, apart from his analysis and comments. Also, worth mentioning is the illustration, which is trully a cherry on the cake — honestly, as bonny as the writings!

‘Name Place Animal Thing’, by and large, is an extraordinarily remarkable and a perky book one cannot afford to miss!

• About the Author

About Suyash Karangutkar

Suyash Karangutkar is a young, dedicated and an enthusiastic journalist who has a deep interest in National and International Affairs. He is an ardent political spectator who finds politics fascinating. At Spectralhues, he heads the Mumbai team and covers National Affairs & Politics. He also occasionally writes columns for Spectralhues. He can be followed on Twitter @columnistsuyash