It's time for a BOOK REVIEW!!

The Yoga of Max's Discontent by Karan Bajaj
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I first opened this book, (ebook, to be exact) I was CERTAIN I would never be able to finish it. What a shameful assumption. Let me be frank. I have never been to India. I understand ZERO about the Yoga concepts, know nothing of the Yogi, I simply thought my ineptitude would swallow me whole, and I'd have to give up on the novel. Boy. Was. I. Mistaken. And happily so... the next thing I know, I'm staying awake MUCH later than I should, night after night, because at this time of year, I'm so busy, the only time I have to read is when I crawl in bed, for perhaps up to an hour, before my lids crash, and I fall asleep with my Kindle on my face. But here I was, peeking at my phone at 1 a.m., scolding myself for the upcoming morning that begins at 630, like it or not, and then, I continue to read just another page, another chapter, you get it... Here's my summary: (I'll tell you enough, but never so much as to take away from your reading experience)
We meet Max. He is, by definition, a very successful man. A Harvard grad, an analyst on Wall Street, a loving son and brother. An yet... He feels as though something is 'missing' . Max grew up in the Projects in Bronx. His mother worked 2 jobs to give her kids a better life. As a result, there was very little time spent with her children. Max played the role of a punk by day, smoking, cursing, fighting, all to 'fit in' in a place he never wanted to be. At night he studied, all night, to ensure his education lifted him from the slime in which he was growing up. In a random shooting, at 13, he merely lost teeth, but watched his friend Andre's life change in an instant, as a stray bullet takes from him, the ability to walk. In high school he cleans the bathroom in a bar, early before school, then goes home, and erases evidence of the vomit he has cleaned, and then evidence of the cleaning chemicals themselves, in order to emulate his peers, and not stand out. Surviving. Secrets.
Max, the successful man, has just lost his mother. She suffered a lot in the end. He watched her entire life encapsulated in suffering. He becomes obsessed with thoughts about life, death, suffering. A chance encounter (or is it?) with a man on the streets, fuels the flame inside Max, that leads him to India in search of a man, who must answer for him the burning questions in his soul. He is seeking Nirvana. Does it even exist? It must. For if there is life, and suffering, and death, there must be more...
On his journey, he leaves behind his job, his sister, his friend, his comfort, luxuries, everything. He places his faith in the hands of another. No real map, no itinerary, only faith guides him. He tries to go home several times in the beginning, but something will not 'let' him go. The land has a hold on him. It seems although his aching body cries 'stop' , his spirit overrides, and he must continue. He has no idea where he is headed, or whether the Yogi he seeks even exists. But he continues on.
I mentioned I had never been to India. The author wove a tapestry like no other, I was astounded at the beauty before me, a place I had never seen, but was able to experience through words. I was a captive audience. This man found himself terrified and yet more brave than he ever imagined he could be, trusting the land, the elements, his faith, to guide him to the goal he sought. There were so many trials along the way, I imagined he would never make it. (And to what or where was 'making' it, anyway?)
The details in every exchange, with the characters he meets, the elements that nearly break his spirit, over and over, are rich with scenery. I was continuously walked through the tale, a privileged guest, with my own personal guide. The journey was worth every second invested in this novel.
Although the ending was not at ALL what I expected, I found myself immensely satisfied. What a brilliant writing style, what an incredible tale.
I could go on and on about this book, giving you a peek into different experiences within the tale, but, in fact, nothing I say will actually enrich the experience more than reading it yourself. For I, unlike the author, do NOT have the gift of words...
Disclaimer: I did receive a copy of this novel in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. This is my honest review. I am now actively seeking to read any other titles written by the same author, Karan Bajaj. That is how much I enjoyed this novel.



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