Really? They actually decided to bring this book on mainstream stands? That too with Sunny Leone as the selling factor? And guess what, it all just turned out to be (an unexciting) word-porn show after all?
These were some of the obvious questions that started playing in my mind within first 10 pages of the book itself. Titled Sweet Dreams, it was quite self-explanatory that the book would have erotica forming a major part of the story telling. Of course, 50 Shades of Grey has done roaring business across the globe and hence one couldn’t be coy about a ‘desi’ version finding good presence in India as well. Hence, when I laid my hands on this 190 odd page book, I expected something similar from Ms. Leone as well as she ‘authored’ Sweet Dreams.
For starters though, I wondered if beyond her picture on the cover page, was there any real contribution from Ms. Leone. My doubts became even stronger when I didn’t find any note from the author. Now come, in the best and the worst of the book, an author never fails to mention little something about what led to the book. In case of Sweet Dreams, there was no note by author, acknowledgments section, or forward from some known entity.
No, nada!
With good enough indications that this was one was a gimmicky book in the offering, I was further taken aback on realizing that the so-called book was actually an amalgamation of 12 short stories, and not really a novel in the offering. While this was disappointing enough, I started turning over the pages with a hope that there would be something interesting to read.
Guess what, it all turned out to be nothing more than a Mastram jig (those who are reading this review would definitely get the connection) translated in English, and that’s about it. On the same lines as the word-porn which was once a staple pick for train passengers and college students, Sweet Dreams is nothing more than what was quite prominently placed in adult magazines. Now in the times of internet when such stuff is readily available in thousands, and that too for free, it is surprising that the publishing house actually thought it would deem fit to release a book per se and that too on prominent stands.
So what you get to read are some of the quintessential fantasies come alive. There are one night stands, school time crush, lonely divorced women, female boss scenario, adultery and more being brought back into the pages with the usual structure kept intact. Well, one doesn’t mind the basic template but the entire storytelling, scenes, situations and episodes are so much relegated to teenage fantasies that for adult audience, there is practically nothing to offer.
Amateurish in appeal, Sweet Dreams turns out to be disappointing on all counts, be it the (misleading) packaging, target audience, sheer intent, as well as the content.
Price: Rs. 199/=
Rating: *
