Book Review : Confessions On An Island by Ayan Pal

This review of Confessions On An Island comes in late and I apologize to the author. However, the

plot of the novel stayed with me much after I finished reading it. On a recent visit to a beach resort to Goa, I had an evening to myself at a secluded beach, and my team was yet to reach. While the hotel guests began to retire and the restaurants begun to fall quiet, I was immediately reminded of the marooned woman protagonist of Ayan Pal’s novel. I feel that is the mark of good writing. If a story is able to intrude your thoughts while you are on a holiday, the author must have written something great.

The blurb is intriguing enough to make you take notice of the book. “An abducted woman trapped on an island is given a chance to escape, provided she tells stories emerging from the stories her intriguing abductor tells her. 

Clueless about why she is being forced to participate in this game of Russian Matryoshka Dolls, the woman, a bestselling author, decides to play along. And therein begins a thrilling tale narrated by an island. 

Of a man and woman consumed by the power of their imagination and truth, even as the stakes are gradually raised. Soon the only way out is in – into the past, heart and mind. 
The island is ready to confess. 

Are you ready for the truth?”

  Even though Confessions On An Island is Ayan’s debut novel, he is no newbie in the world of writing.  I have read his short stories in various anthologies and he maintains the lucid style in this novel as well.
  To write a novel like Confessions On An Island must have been an exhaustive exercise.  I would not divulge much, but the novel travels through various places and each chapter is a short story, knitted through Ayan’s deft narration. Ayan is a great observer and has done in-depth research for this novel. His writing style never bores you and you become a part of the characters, wanting to know more, wanting to know the ‘why’ and ‘when’.
The characters are so real that you actually begin to hate, want to save and get involved in the entire process. I like this bit of the creative process. If the characters are distant and perfect beings, there is no fun in reading. Confessions On An Island scores big on characterization and each character has many layers.
 Confessions on an Island is also a reminder that we now have a fresh voice in Indian writing and I am sure the author has more stories for us on his writing desk.
  The editing by Indrani Ganguly deserves a special mention, and so does the cover.


Is there a sequel in making, Ayan?