Title: Conver-sations - Regarding the Fatalistic Outlook of The Common Man
Author: Kuzhali Manickavel
Genre: Short fiction
Publisher: Blaft Publications
Cost: Rs 495       

Reading Kuzhali Manickavel’s latest short fiction can lead to two outcomes. You may either feel frustrated at one point — because the writing is ridiculous and thankfully, doesn’t disguise sense in absurdity — or, want to be friends with her. We want to be her 3 am friend. We want to dissect Munni badnaam hui with her over a call. This Bollywood song, if badnaam and badam are the same thing, white men with really white legs, funny English and funnier English teachers and marriage — are some of the topics that feature in Conversations - Regarding the Fatalistic Outlook of The Common Man. As is evident from the title, at least one part of it, it’s an anthology of chats between the author and her friends and acquaintances. In short, the book is a trip to madness.