Book Review: What Kitty Did
I read all the Nancy Drew titles in the circulating library near my school. Every last one. After which I graduated to Sweet Valley High (and then University?) and, finally, the entire wall lined with Mills & Boons. By then, I was old enough; no need to sneak a peek at Mum’s latest! But of course by then it had lost its forbidden sheen.
My point is, in a room full of might-as-wells, Nancy Drew was first choice. Which conventionally-conditioned young girl doesn’t like moderately-dangerous capers (let’s be honest, it was maybe one notch above Scooby Doo) with a little romance scattered in here and there? What a cool girl. So, obviously, years later, while reading about What Kitty Did, I was reminded of young Nancy’s escapades. Only difference is I’m the cool girl now, and Kitty is this lamo accidental sleuth who at the end of the day just wants one thing and one thing only: a boyfriend.
To be quite honest I enjoyed reading the book — it was like eating popcorn between meals, only the kernels stayed stuck in my teeth for hours afterwards. Firstly the novel is based in Delhi, right? Which, couple of paragraphs about the old part really endeared to me, but come on what is this Devil Wears Prada shit? This friend slash roommate who used to be the slutty party girl but is now devoted to Jesus hence perennially ridiculed by everyone? This hot, aloof guy in very nice pants who sets up a picnic in a garden at night IN DELHI? Matlab, Alicia Silverstone-level cluelessness hai yeh? Speaking of, why is that the personality channeled by the protagonist? She’s the friggin detective, but every time she’s in danger (she mostly just keeps getting knocked out from behind) she’s rescued by one of the big strong men in her life.
See, I wouldn’t ordinarily try to dissect any form of chick-lit — -also I think that term is mildly offensive — but I got worked because the book has its genuine moments. Moments of human blunder and frailty, insightful takes on friendship and even some profound subtext; although this could be my perception and not entirely intentional. But it does. On more than one occasion it made me put the book down and ponder over the lines I had just read and their relevance to my life. That’s an achievement for anybody — to have someone relate to you in a deeply personal way. That’s why I’m pissed that the rest of the book is basically a mashup of desi + American tropes. It could’ve been so much more. 6/10.
