Sonal Singh On Sonal's Table
Khushboo Shah’s ‘The mildly chaotic world of Chi Kenny’ is dystopian satire punctuated with humour, wit and sarcasm. The book is based on the premise of animals being the dominant species on earth, ruling over humans with an emphasis on the dairy farming industry in India. The book is disquieting and thought-provoking.
The book delves into the ethical ramifications of animal farming but it is an unbiased perspective. Khushboo is impartial on this topic and that definitely leaves the readers with a nagging sense of unease. I believe that was the author’s intent. It was her intent to make us sit up and take note and Chi Kenny, as a character, is the perfect protagonist to induce the sense of disquiet in the readers. He is cute and relatable as he muddles through life before he decides to take action. His realizations, his actions are all brought about in an organic manner as the character’s arc moves slowly but steadily through the book. I loved that.
Things that I found noteworthy –
1. Characters – Well etched with their quirks, their mannerisms and their moods evident in the text. That helps the readers to relate to them. The anthropomorphism has been handled really well. The ghostly narrator is a touch that I deeply admired. Perfect!
2. Research – Impeccable. A lot of research has gone into the book and the text reflects that. The text also reflects the author’s medical knowledge and that adds depth to the story.
3. Language – Chic yet simple. The detailing via the use of adjectives, adverbs and also figures of speech, adds a touch of relief to the heavy topic. Khusbhoo writes satire in a witty, humorous manner and that I believe is the crowning glory of this book.
4. The climax and ending – well captured and I absolutely loved the ending. The book is riveting till the last page.
Things I found cautionary (for others)
1. Graphic detailing – Some of the scenes where torture of homins is described could be a bit graphic for a younger reader base. But they are essential in the book and Khushboo has used restraint in writing them.
2. Characters – This book has many supporting characters and keeping track of those names (although smartly named) can be a bit tedious (or perhaps I should say – ‘mildly chaotic’) for a reader looking for a casual, dramatic read.
I enjoyed reading this book. I recommend it to everyone. The plotline has been handled with an amazing level of depth which satisfies the reader. The writing is clever and I admire the author’s style. She is witty and charming and yet forces one to think. That’s really clever!
