My Name is Cinnamon
“As I sit here now thinking about myself,
And I don’t remember doing it before,
I want to figure out so much new,
I want to know so much more.”
One Line Review- A coming of age tale of a 13-year-old boy. A story of family and friends. Adorable, heartwarming, uplifting!
My Name is Cinnamon is author Vikas Prakash Joshi’s debut in the world of fiction. Having written for acclaimed newspapers like The Times of India, The Hindu, The Caravan and Sakal Times, Vikas Joshi is a seasoned writer with years of writing experience under his belt. This expertise shines through his fictional debut, a book about a 13-year-old boy called Cinnamon, who is trying to discover his roots and find his place in the world.
The third person narrative, told through Cinnamon’s perspective, is so wonderfully relatable and intimate that the reader views the world through Cinnamon’s innocent eyes and is left awed and humbled at the innocence that comes so organically to children alone.
The story is set in Pune, Maharashtra, with brief glimpses of Kolkata and Nandurbar (a small village in Maharashtra). Cinnamon’s Aai (mother) hails from Kolkata and his Baba (Father) had called Pune his home forever. The culture and heritage of these places play an important role in the book. I experienced the inherent beauty and delectable cuisines of these places with Cinnamon. Even as my mouth watered and stomach rumbled at the descriptions of authentic Puneri and Bangla cuisines, and realised that the food is as much of a character in this book as Cinnamon or his parents!
Rooted in reality, these characters are enchantingly believable and relatable. I felt such camaraderie with Cinnamon and I became a child. I looked on uncomprehending as Aai and Baba dealt with the stress of work and finances. The author successfully creates the persona of the child within the reader; even though I am an adult, I felt more kinship with Cinnamon and the grownups were a completely distinct entity for me!
It is not all fun and games, though. The author has spoken of some socially pertinent themes, like adoption and chronic illness. And done so with zero melodrama or unnecessary theatrics we are prone to witnessing in our mainstream pop culture. There is a definite maturity and openness in the way Cinnamon’s parents communicate to him.
An inkling, perhaps, of the benefits that can be reaped if parents everywhere encourage and indulge in such open communication with their children. It is possible to prepare the young ones for so many of life’s challenges and inevitabilities in a healthy, mature and safe manner. And this is what I have taken away from this book.
The only aspect that I felt needed a bit more space is the subject of chronic illness, a fact revealed almost at the very end. There is foreshadowing to the fact, of course. But it is extremely subtle and too infrequent for it to have the intended impact. Just a few more instances of this foreshadowing would go a long way in paving the way for the final reveal and make it that much more justifiable for the reader.
Cinnamon’s friends also took a backseat in the middle and latter parts of the book. In his circumstances, school friends can be a support system for him. Perhaps a bit more exploration of his relationship with his best friend would add another layer to Cinnamon’s character.
Throughout the book, Cinnamon is surrounded with questions about his roots, his identity, even as the author gives a glimpse to the reader about the uncertainty that lies in this beloved character’s future. But if there’s one thing that I know after I turned the last page of this beautiful book, is that Cinnamon will overcome the challenges in his path because his foundation is rock solid. His family, friends, his teachers and all the other adults in his life are looking out for him. He is loved and cared for, and he knows it. Isn’t this all that we, too, are searching for?
Just as the author Vikas Prakash Joshi says in the book, “Over time, whoever you are and wherever you live, you end up with a small group of people anyway, which is similar to living in a small village. Your friends, family, your husband or wife, office colleagues, college and schoolmates, your neighbours, people you meet on your commute—that’s everyone’s village. If you have these good people around you, isn’t that all you really need in life?”
I recommend this book to everyone who loves contemporary fiction or young adult literature. This is a slice of life story told with love and sensitivity.
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