I recently finished reading A Hundred Little Flames by Preeti Shenoy. I bought the book assuming it would be a romantic novel (and I was proven right, but not in the way I expected). I had not taken the time to read the synopsis or reviews. I wanted the element of surprise, so I chose the book merely by looking at the title.

This is my first Preeti Shenoy book, so I was unsure what to expect. I was not looking for an ultra-cheesy romance but something wholesome and warm. I am happy to report that I got what I needed.

The main character, a young urban male residing in India, is pushed to leave his cozy job in a metro due to unprecedented situations and return to Kerala to visit his grandfather. As my base is in Kerala (Palakkad), this particular bit captured my attention. It played a major factor in my buying the book. How Preeti Shenoy beautifully narrated the ethereal, laidback beauty of a typical village in Kerala won my heart.  

There are many layers to this book. And many lessons. Here are some of my observations:

As most might know, Kerala is an aging state. The youngsters are leaving for better opportunities, while the parents and the elderly are choosing to stay behind. The many anxieties of an old person living a lonely life in Kerala are explained with much sensitivity in this book. It is something I witness whenever I visit home. Apart from my family, my elderly neighbors rush to me when they need help. There is always some mobile phone, gadget, or internet-related issue to be resolved. Their doubts could be as simple as “Will my WhatsApp DP appear to everyone on my contact list? Or only those whom I chat with?” These senior citizens often hesitate to call their children for help. “They will be busy,” they tell me. So they rely on youngsters around them to help with online work like booking vaccination slots during COVID-19, registering an online complaint, etc.

When they fall sick, they usually depend on neighbors to help them reach the hospital. Their children are able to arrive only a few days later, if at all they can. Their stay often does not last beyond a week. “We don’t have any leaves left,” they say. The fact that their children are out of reach might pinch the parents a bit during such pressing times. But they endure it, saying kids should enjoy themselves and life goes on.

As a silent observer, I often see the anxiety written on their faces and their mild helplessness. There’s concern regarding whom to ask for help. I guess, when we age, we all reach such a stage.

All these elements are captured well in Preeti Shenoy’s book – the problems of the elderly. I wonder if she has stayed with a senior citizen for an extended period, as only such people get to experience what an elderly goes through on a day-to-day basis.

Apart from this, I also immensely enjoyed the sweet, poetic love story depicted in the book. It caught me by surprise. The story was delicately told, and the characters were perfectly etched out. A warm romance with many layers, where the couple engages in a striking serenade of comforting words. The book shows how love is not always a straight, perfect line. It can be complex and unpredictable, hurtful even. Yet, love persists. The book captures this complexity brilliantly. It has an old-world charm to it. I am of the impression it would make a great movie.

I would definitely recommend buying the book. It is engaging from page one, and it will hook you into a world that is peaceful, and bright, yet somber and bittersweet all at the same time.