Book Review: Fade Into Red By Reshma K. Barshikar

About the book:

Ayra always wanted to be an Art Historian. She saw herself flitting between galleries, talking Michelangelo and Dali with glamorous ease. At twenty–nine, life has decided to make her an underpaid investment banker juggling an eccentric family, a fading career and a long–distance relationship that is becoming a light-year one. On a monsoon day in June, she is suddenly sent packing from Mumbai to Tuscany to buy a vineyard for a star client. What should have been a four day trip turns into a two week treasure hunt that finds her in the middle of midnight wine deals, dodgy vintners, rolling Tuscan hills, a soap opera family and one playboy millionaire who is looking to taste more than just the wine. Towards the end she finds that the road to true happiness is almost as elusive as that perfect glass of Chianti.

About the Author:

After finishing her A Levels at Bridgine School, Windsor, and getting a BA (Hons) at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, Reshma started her career as a Journalist for India’s national newspaper The Hindu, Business Line but left mid-career to pursue an MBA at the Indian School of Business that led to a  successful career in Investment Banking. After 5 years in Investment Banking she quit her job to travel for two years and visited Europe, China, and the US. She conceptualized the novel during her travels through the Tuscany wine country. She created the eccentric Ms Krishnamurthy, her precocious cat and her dog eat deal environment. Her deep appreciation for the south Indian family dynamic, experience as a freelance journalist and a passion for Italian wine helped create Fade Into Red. Simultaneously she also honed her skills as a Travel Writer and has contributed to India Today Travel Plus, SilverKris, Harper’s Bazaar, Grazia, National Geographic Traveller and The Hindu Business Line. She is also co-founder of the literary blog, The Caterpillar Café.

Connect with the author:

Website : http://www.reshmakrishnan.com/

My Review:

Somehow, the book had me at its cover. It wasn't anything unusual and zany, but it did capture my interest. Now, on to the story. 

Ayra is the protagonist. She wanted to be an art historian, but alas this cruel life, she also has a thing for expensive things. Money can buy happiness, and she ends up as an investment banker, vying for a bonus, with a frustrated boyfriend who competed with her blackberry for her attention. She still harbors an undying appreciation for art. She is crippled at photography. And she isn't confrontational. Then we have the ever-smirking playboy in the picture too.

The situation created has a lot of potential for hilarity, but I got less than I expected. I'd say the author has a gift for creating a plot. And although it eventually descended into a cliche, it was fun while it lasted. Even after so much, we rarely get to read stories of women investment bankers now.

I liked the characters. I liked the setting. I liked the story.

But somehow, somehow (and I am still trying to figure out why) I didn't enjoy the book.

My judgement:

It was a little something different. A one-time read.

Book Links:

 
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Book received under tour at http://b00kr3vi3wtours.blogspot.in