Stories with Books

Toppers is an unputdownable thriller novel, set in as usually-non-thrilling place as possible: a school. I remember it as the first book I read in my High School (and to be honest, I had wrongly expected there would be tips and tricks to be a topper here and there – though I’m not disappointed by what lay there). It is one of the best books I’ve ever read by an Indian author. The plot twists are insanely skillful and the story hence is gripping.

          Toppers is about a breakneck competition for a respectable position in a school among a number of students, each having his/her own capabilities, natures and ways of learning (and competing to be the topper). I like how the story contains so many protagonists and very aptly manages to give each of them required time and space.

          As if this competition for topper’s position is not enough, a new character is introduced somewhere before the middle: Ramanujan. Ramanujan is the pinnacle of everything: intelligence, planning, competence … and insanity. Toppers is full of those diverse characters you do not forget for a long, long time: a boy with schizophrenia, a boy who has no problem in self-harm, another who can go to any lengths to keep secure his position. Moral challenges are posed, traps are laid and friends are made and marred frequently.

          And at the end, the story gives a satisfactory payoff by making a full circle and everything settles perfectly. Except for a few plot-holes here and there, the story is gripping and engaging and never fails to impress you with surprises, revelations and well-places humor.