Chapter Eleven - Review

Feeling suffocated within the confines of Udaipur, his past and inconsequential job, Virendra Vikram Singh aspires to be a part of an MNC. However, with dreams having a nasty habit of going haywire, the day he joins his dream company, it files for Chapter Eleven bankruptcy. First of its kind, Chapter Eleven is a bold and honest portrayal of corporate sleaze, dejection, love and self-discovery.

About the Author

His debut novel Flight of the Hilsa was received exceptionally well by the readers and critics alike. No wonder, in no time it went on to become a national best-seller. Amit Shankar, an advertising professional, has worked with some of the biggest advertising agencies, spearheading the communication for global brands. As a Copywriter and Creative Director, he has bagged some of the biggest advertising awards.

You know what a heart is, right? It is an organ that pumps blood and provides us with life. It is vital to our existence, well-being, and survival. Perhaps, it serves as the most crucial part in the human machinery.

Now, moving out of the biological mode, a heart is what nourishes our feelings, emotions and sentiments. We are drawn towards everything that is close to our hearts, as we consider it to be a closet of purity, an inner reflection of our soul. 'Chapter Eleven' by Amit Shankar defines just that. It is a heart-warming tale of an honest man, fighting against the corrupt corporate world around him, which takes you on a ride of soul searching and self – identification. This tale touches you deep, deep within your heart, enticing your shadow, in such a way that you cannot avoid falling in love with it.

In short, this story travels from heart to heart, the former belonging to the author, the latter possessed by the readers.

The plot revolves around VVS, or Virendra Vikram Singh, a Rajput bana from Udaipur, who leaves his seemingly inconsequential job, and his family, in Udaipur and shifts to Gurgaon as soon as he is offered a high paying position in a reputed MNC. He is ecstatic, and thankful to the almighty for having fulfilling his dream of being a part of the slick corporate industry. However, the day he joins, his company files for Chapter 11, which in simple layman term, can be reworded as ‘Bankruptcy.’

The glass façade cracks and the dark truth about corporate sleaze and deception starts tumbling out to flood VVS’s conscience. Soon, he realizes that the shining and fake glitter of corporate world isn't a place for honesty. This leads him to a path of self-realization and retrospection, and changes the person within him.

This is a book that MUST be read by all corporate people (and yes, MUST is typed in bold). This is a book about ethics and work culture, and a story that delves with different shades of the trade. Moreover, this is not a tale of just a single man - VVS, rather it deals with million other people who have often found themselves to be a victim of corporate betrayal and treachery.

The story starts as a light read, with dosages of humor  and it instantly grabs hold of your attention. How VVS manages to adjust to the brighter city - Gurgaon, and his initial experiences in the big MNC will make you smile, and at times, laugh. However, halfway down the book, and the tone shifts towards a graver and more serious perspective of corporate workflow. Though this change of scenario was necessary, keeping in mind the subject that this book deals with, I felt that it dragged the story a bit. Perhaps, for someone with a none-corporate background, those portions might be a bit heavy to flow along with.

However, the last few chapters, and the twist, totally blew me over, and that’s what prompted me to mark this book as a MUST read in one of the paragraphs above. Do pick up a copy, and Amit Shankar’s brilliant storytelling will surely strike a chord with you.

After all, something that can blend with your heart, will always grant you fulfillment.

Title: Chapter Eleven

Author: Amit Shankar

Publisher: Vitasta Publishing

Publication Year: 2013

Language: English

Binding: Paperback

Genre: Fiction, Corporate

No. of Pages: 370

Price: Rs 245

My Rating: 4/5