The Soft Target

Amazing book. Very well defined characters and smooth flow of story.

This book is unputdownable.I wanted to employ the word 'amazing,' but did not, because it is nothing in between, it is the extreme form.Verdict: Hope, Knowledge and Guts

Contemporary writing with lots of witty dialogue. Characters are well-developed.

A nice contemporary indian writing. A very unique original story. The story could be made a nice Bollywood movie. I liked the writing.

Thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The plot and writing style are good. I'm waiting for this novel to become a feature film soon!All the best!

Sensitive, tender, bold and inspiring, story of a genius with serious obstacles to overcome who never veered from his principles. A must read with an extraordinary ending. It was uplifting and would make a great Bollywood movie. I can't wait to read this author's next book!

‘The Soft Target’ is a very unfamiliar story about a boy who has been labelled “retarded” by the people around him even though he is a prodigy and is very smart. I don’t think this theme has been brought to light before. The cover is absolutely gorgeous. According to me, it shows Mohan rejoicing his victory in life despite of his life being so difficult and all the brutality he faced in his life.Mohan Mishra is treated the same way anybody who is even remotely different from the society is treated; he is bullied, beat up, and verbally abused. Nobody even bothers to know how he is from inside. He is this super sweet, super intelligent boy who endures all the cruelty people show towards him. But in spite of all the curveballs that God threw at him, he persisted and achieved amazing things in life. All the characters in the book are very well portrayed but Mohan’s characterisation stood out the most. An element that I really really liked in the book was the love and the bond Mohan and his parents shared because Mohan would get bullied and beaten up but he still wouldn’t complain to his parents because he knew that they had problems of their own and didn’t want to burden them. And Mohan’s parents would forget all their problems and fight the world to protect their child, especially his mom.The writing and narration style is just right; it’s not too simple and not too complicated which makes this unconventional story all the more interesting. The author has made the story out to be so realistic; it just shows how much research has gone in this book. The reader is bound to get hooked till the last page, partly because of the style of writing and partly because of the story.

3.7/5A debut book by author Kalyan Nanda, and what an effort. The book plot, and Mohan's unique disability surely raise our interest more to the book.The writing was easy to understand and there are many references used to connect with reader's by talking about Dhoni finishing shot and Sachin's slong shot (mostly in the first half of the book)This will be my first book,where author himself has a talk in his own book. He talks to readers about a certain situation(Dear Readers...).I almost had feeling like "Main Samay hun"(remember ? A man aura used to come in Mahabharat's TV)The friendship between Mohan, Nikhil, Brij & later Revathy was amazing to read about.The main characters were BIG time "flawed", and I loved them because they felt real.I wish the cover was something else, as it doesn't justify the content and deepness of the plot of book.

‘The Soft Target’ by Kalyan Nanda is a book about a boy named Mohan who continually suffers the wrath of God, though no fault of his he continually suffers all that comes his way and challenges God to do whatever he can do to make him suffer, nothing would stop him. Does Mohan win against God?The story begins by narrating the life of Mohan who has a rare disease from birth due to which he cannot speak up his mind, but fully understands everything. In fact, he is very intelligent and always tops his school and college. He even secures AIR 2nd Rank in IIT entrance exam which was held just a week after his parents died in a car accident. After getting admission in IIT Mumbai he meets Brij and Nikhil. Brij comes from a small town named Azamgarh and is filmy and stylish and Nikhil is a rich boy who has all the comforts a person can dream of having but he suffers from stammering problem.Soon, the three find out that they are roommates and form an unbreakable bond. They all understand each other and knows each other’s strengths and weaknesses and they all are for each other in times of happiness and also in times of need. Everything is going smoothly but then there is a twist in the story.Meanwhile, there’s a builder who wants to vacate a plot of land famously known as Dagdi Chawl. The builder i.e. Sunny Tawade would go to any extent to get his way and even kill anybody who comes between him and the land. Our protagonist Mohan is also having some strange dreams about some person who he doesn’t know and is a bit worried about the dreams.The two stories eventually get intertwined and there is a lot of action going on.Will Mohan be able to solve the unsolved mystery of his dream and will Sunny Tawade be able to get his hands on the piece of land that he has been eyeing since long ago? Who is this man from Mohan’s dream? To know more read The Soft Target.My Views:The characters are well written and well developed. I loved Mohan’s character who even after going through so much suffering is all determined to face the world and let God know that he has not lost yet and that he is going to give all the best that he can give. There’s surely a lot that we can learn from Mohan like despite of his disabilities he is all determined to do his best and never give up and face all the challenges that comes in his way.The writing style of the author is very engaging. The language is simple and lucid. Once I started reading the book I was quite curious to know what is happening next and the plots were also somewhat different and the readers would surely be wanting more once the book is over.Overall, I liked the book and would surely recommend the book to those who are looking for something with mystery and crime related novels.

Mohan Mishra is the only child of his parents, who are from a very simple and middle class background, has a peculiar mental problem from birth. While he knows in his mind what to speak, he always ended up saying something else, giving an impression to the listener that either he didnt understand their question or he is blabbering random stuff. His teachers, school mates, even close relatives all bullied him and branding him as mentally unstable, but his parents understood his condition and supported him unconditionally.Inspite of all this negativity around him, Mohan’s mother continues to have undeterred faith in God, which makes Mohan assume that he is God’s soft target. This in turn makes him stubborn to fight any challenge that is thrown at him. Along side runs the story of a corrupt politician and his son, a social worker and a slum. What does Mohan got to do with this socio-political scenario? Is Mohan indeed God’s soft target or is it the other way round, forms the rest of the story.This is a very inspiring story of a boy with a strange mental condition who faces all challenges head-on with sheer grit, self confidence and determination. All the characters in the story have their own beautiful graph and are well developed. The story traces the various stages in Mohan’s life starting from childhood to adolescence, to college days, to his married life. Each stage portrays his happy moments along with the challenges thrown at him and how he faces them in his own way.The author succeeds in weaving an interesting story with the minute details all finally tied up together. All the parallel stories merge in unexpected ways, with the story having equal doses of suspense and emotions. There is never a dull moment in the narration and the reader is kept engaged all through the story till the end.Pick this one for the unique concept, and to enjoy the journey of Mohan, as he aces through life’s ups and downs with the same passion and at the end to be motivated by the message of how any challenge can be overcome if we decide to face it.

Here I am today with the review of a really interesting book. Already from the cover I was very intrigued. The novel in question is titled The Soft Target by Kalyan Nanda.Do you have a moment, God? The search for dialogue with the Absolute has always questioned the human heart. There is the urgency of a relationship, an urgency common to many. Composed of multiple levels of reading, the novel uses irony to highlight all the ills of the world and to denounce the role of men in its destruction.The absolute protagonist is Mohan Mishra who suffers a rare mental illness and is destined to abandon all aspirations. As a child, the boy was despised by everyone, but becoming a great student who could get the right recognition and respect from his parents, but that road closes as his parents passes away and then again his wife.This novel is a male story that has as its protagonist a man who fights for himself and for all that he has lost. A man who starts from scratch and who fights against survival, through a series of obstacles that will not allow him to take giant steps but to suffer and have to earn even the smallest step forward.A struggle that, at the end of a journey full of twists and turns, will be the very foundation of human nature. We are torn apart, forever and ever, by the desire to find a balance between our dark side and a conscience that pushes you to want to do the right thing.Yet from the beginning it is clear that we have before us a out of the ordinary character. Everything is complex and debatable in an era that is described to perfection by the author and leads us to eavesdrop and spy within a context that is slowly destroying.The social aspect is the pride of the novel as there is a continuous alternation of criticisms, and whispers that revolve around the choices of Mohan. And this is why the man decides to roll up his sleeves and do everything by himself. He fills his life with solitary euphony, chained, repeated and insistent notes.Much of the narrative is based on this aspect, which becomes an integral part of the whole story, a true character, with its strengths and weaknesses. The dual morality present in this period manifests itself in all its sadness, corruption and cowardice.On the one hand, people are all fearful of God, modest, ready to pray and to join hands in sign of respect and tolerance. On the other hand, however, everyone is ready to point, criticize, put the sticks in the wheels and destroy you if you do not act as they say.Many are the characters that appear on the scene but none of them can be defined as good or bad. What the author tells us is a great story. The Soft Target is a full and intense novel, which speaks of desires, shocks and breaking points with the ability to excite in its simplicity of words made to speak directly to each of us.In the fluency of the text, there is no lack of profound traits. The text certainly shows the spiritual stature of the author. It is certainly a recommended text, especially in current times, where great confusion and disbelief reigns.For the rest, the style is very fluid and linear, words used are researched without making the reading heavy or demanding. The descriptions are not overly detailed, but not even inexistent, with the right mix that allows a good imagination of events without making you want to skip entire paragraphs to take action.The beginning seemed a bit too rich in characters and jumps from one side to the other, but soon you can become familiar with the world, really well structured with the various characters.The narrative is a journey made of words and omniscient looks that allow the reader to enter completely into the story. The style is fluid, full-bodied, but also synthetic, never disturbing, between the past and the present.

We all are the children of the Almighty and he treats all of us equally. However, we are put to tests which challenge our mental stiffness and brittleness. A few of us succumb to their pressure and curse God while there are others who brave against all odds and prove that the target was indeed 'soft.'Mohan Mishra is a differently challenged boy who is unable to speak out his mind. This takes a heavy toll on his well being while the entire society bullies and ridicule him. The kind of condition he suffers from is unique and I am amazed to know and read about it. Despite severe circumstances, this young man smiles through all hurdles and secures a position in the elite institute, IIT Bombay. He comes across Brij, who is a fun element in this book, and Nikhil, who too suffers from stammering and knows the pain of being the subject of society's mockery. Together, these three men live their tough lives at IIT and pass with flying colors. And finally, Mohan gets his wife Samidha entering his life. But would his happiness last long?With a candid and informal writing style, the author has put up a great show as The Soft Target. Mohan's character is inspiring and teaches us to equip ourselves with hope, knowledge & guts to face the odds and ultimately, succeed. His terrible condition never deterred him. True that he loses his faith in God but wasn't it obvious? He was repeatedly taken through the darkness but still, he chose to smile and win. His grit and determination are commendable. The parallel track of the real estate mafia is also brought out intelligibly. Together, the two plots converge to a point where Mohan has to make a choice between him and the higher good. This battle of dilemma brings out the best of him. I liked the lucid language in which the story has been woven. With an interesting plotline and entertaining characters such as Brij, you'd enjoy this book to the fullest. It is highly motivating and engaging. There is love, there are beautiful friendships, wonderful relationships, amazing characters, intriguing presentation of the narrative, and a smooth narration. I liked how the author converses with his readers at certain points in the book. He explains his views very nicely. That one to one engagement makes up for a good reading experience. Also, the wit pervasive in the author's tone gives you food for thought. I was moved by the purity of Mohan's & Samidha's love for she understands him like none. That unadulterated love won me. I also liked the handling of the parallel tracks by the author. He manages to bring them to one point fluently. What I disliked was the climax. Perhaps, I found it way too dramatic and speedy. Samidha's demise was sad that it broke my connection with the story. The final decision of Mohan was also abrupt. I guess I over expected or maybe expected a happy ending. The cover too could have been better.The tile, however, is well conceived. I could relate to the idea behind it by the end of the story. For all the readers out there, I would suggest you give this book a try for it surely has some seriously amazing stuff for your brains and heart.

This book is a genuine surprise… the concept is near-on unique, as is the approach taken. First, the concept : the book’s title is a reference to the hero being a soft target for God, and how we supposedly overcomes these challenges. Thus the story is a series of situations – all genuine in that they are plausible, for our hero; and the grit he displays, and the support he gets along the way. However, the core of the book blurb – taking on God, is not brought out by the book. Quite the opposite, in fact – as it comes out that God has actually stood by him through it all…

I bought this book- The Soft Target from amazon.in as it was written by my MBA classmate Kalyan Nanda.But, fifteen minutes into the book and I actually forgot the reason for buying the book. It is a fascinating story that keeps u glued to it. (I read it on a train journey and I was so enthralled that I wanted the train to get delayed so that I can complete the book :)It is into fiction but the story, the characters, their lives, struggles, aspirations are so real‘……..Whenever it rains, I want to be a poet’.With friends and love you wished you had too‘……..I Want to be your Café Madras.’And it is soulful‘ …….Sometimes God gives you a peak into what’s going to happen’Written in excellent English it celebrates the simple joys of life like finding one’s name in the train’s passenger list :)And is rebellious at the same time‘……. Baptism by fire had happened.’No, I am not writing anything more because my words can’t truly express how marvelous the book is. You got to read it to experience it.

I just finished this book and I must say, the writer has done an awesome job. This book is must read and It will take me a while to get out of this. I am still deeply involved in this story.. This story will make you cry!! Kudos to Kalyan Nanda who wrote such an amazing story!!

Amazon story

Finally read 'The Soft Target' and here goes my reviewThe Soft Target is the first published work of Kalyan Nanda, a Mumbai based author who has previously written many short stories. Through his writings, his favourite genre seems to be suspense with a predominantly impactful irony contained in the narratives.This particular work of fiction is hugely influenced by his favourite writers, movies, literature, music, cities, characters and experiences. With strong metaphors and eye for detail ‘The Soft Target’ is a story of revolt, freedom, individuality and fighting for oneself against the society, the system and ultimately God.Presented in Bolangir, a distant town in Orissa forwarded to the high society and slums of Mumbai, The Soft Target is a journey of Mohan Mishra a.k.a M&M the protagonist who is diagnosed with a strange mental problem; the only consolation prize being that he is a genius. The story grows as Mohan is orphaned on the eve of his IIT entrance exams and there begins his biggest battle within himself- His fight against God. The trajectory of this middle class boy’s joys and sorrows enfolds like a drug giving him a downer against a high in each situation until he is made to face the ultimate test- a witness in the court of Law against a politico-mafia of the city that never sleeps- Mumbai amidst his new found celebrity status- thanks to the Media trial.Strangely enough, this was the situation that often woke him up in the middle of the night back in Bolangir, IIT Mumbai & it now stood in front of him today when he was the best coder in India with the highest pay package ever from his alma mater. He had to stand for Right vs Wrong and prove to his dead wife that he was not a coward. Succeeding in that Mohan leaves to a place that no one will know, not even his best friends who are his only family left. It takes a little convincing for the reader to envisage that but open ended endings often leave room for questions & more so creativity!The Soft Target treats you with an informal style through the brilliant characterization, picturesque description of places and time as if authored by an artist, the subtle sense of humour with a pinch of satire; the opportune interaction of the author with the readers surely makes it good read away from the romance fad that some IIT, IIM perceived authors have picked out from.

The book has a beautiful way of storytelling, as if the author himself is sitting next to us and sharing his one of the life experiences. Few of the facts shared by him w.r.t. Narcotics Act and the tactics being used in the court-rooms were really something new. However, the best part of the book is the nostalgia we all have of our college days; particularly if it was rather some cross-cultural-boarding. One can easily connect himself to one of those main boys and girls characters in the novel and will see his/her friends in the rest of them. It's an aspiring plot which leaves us with a thought whether we need a God or he needs us for the existence?

Very well written for a first time author. This book is about a boy and his journey. It's not just growing up and career but also about his way of life, his struggles and the ways he has overcome them. Be it the description of Chawls, or the interview of Mohan, the author does not drift from his theme. You will enjoy reading through the simple language that the author chose. Also behind the simplicity you will be able to connect to the story in more than one way.

Simple and interesting - it was difficult to pause till I finished it. Story depicts the iternal fight between destiny and determination - from the streets of a small town to top colleges to corporates to govt. Fast paced without any melodrama! Thank God - not the typical filmy style adopted by most authors. Plain reality with a powerful message hidden beneath.