Book Review: Half Pants Full Pants : Real-Life Tales from Shimoga

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Title: Half Pants Full Pants: Real-Life Tales from Shimoga
Author: Anand Suspi
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary
Pages: 221
Publisher: Hector Beverages India Private Limited

Rating: 4.5/5


Paperboat always sends books and stuff, but what I look forward to are the cute little notes that come along! It adds a personal touch and is truly humbling. Thank you Paperboat for sending me this treasure of a book! I'll get to the review and you'll know what I'm talking about.

Half Pants Full Pants is a collection of childhood reminisces by Anand Suspi (the author), set in the town of Shimoga in Karnataka. The book begins with a short introduction of Shimoga before getting along with the stories. The author shares some unique experiences from his childhood such as inventing capris, making magnets, kung fu with mosquitoes and eating blades. I do not wish to indulge you in detail as it will take away the fun out of it. All I would like to mention is that it takes us back to our childhood days and people born in the 70s and early 80s will definitely relate and give out that nostalgic sigh!

The stories transport us back to the age when they were no attention seeking gadgets at our disposal. And yet, somehow, we never got bored. The era when a five paise had value, when TV was a luxury, when time was utilized, not ignored. Those were some precious times that made precious memories. Life back then, without any luxuries, was actually fun!

Coming to the technicalities, the narration is a heady mix of bluntness with a extra helping of humor. The author has nailed the narration! The book is divided into two parts. Part 1 is Half Pant Tales, which includes experiences as a child, and Part 2 is Full Pant Tales, where stories range from his teenage and onwards. The author has so accurately described the mentality of parents back then and the nitty gritty of our lifestyle, that it has touched a nerve. A nostalgic nerve that gives me the warm fuzzies! 

Half Pants Full Pants is a book about childhood that is a must read for everyone, especially for children today. They may not relate but perhaps this book may help them gain a different perspective about innocence, being stupid and ridiculous, just being ourselves. 

As for the mosquitoes, well, nothing has changed in that respect. We still have to kung fu the suckers despite the Good Knight Advanced and all! But it could surely make for some interesting stories for our grandchildren!

Thank you Anand Suspi for this idyllic peek-a-boo into our glorious past. A definite read!


*** This book was sent to me by Paperboat in exchange for an honest review. ***