HOW OPAL MEHTA GOT KISSED, GOT WILD AND GOT A LIFE

Hi all.

If you are looking for a book which makes you smile, sigh and experience anxiety, and later happiness, in small and big issues of daily life, u could find it all in – How opal Mehta got kissed, got wild and got a life.

It’s the story of a girl- Opal, Indian by origin but brought up in USA. A family of Indian doctors, (typical) has worked all through in preparing their only daughter to get into Harvard. The girl was brought up with the feeling that that’s the only ambition of life, and all she does, learns and yearns for is- Harvard.

By the time she has to face her preliminary interview- it being rehearsed again and again, she is all too sure that she would not be rejected. She has an excellent academic and curricular record. Anyone rejecting her would be foolish. But………..as it had to be, the Dean Admissions, instead of asking the usual questions, asks Opal, “what all she does to have fun?” He also asks her about “her friends”. These unexpected- very different from usual questions make Opal baffle and unable to convince the dean. The Dean further suggests Opal to have fun in life, till she comes again for the main interview.

……….The story actually begins now- it has scores of tasks which the family of Mother and father, plan for Opal. There is a beautiful illustrative reporting of all that is planned and put into action- TO HAVE FUN- as suggested by the dean. The family is determined not to let it go that simply. The activities performed by young American girls and guys are put into practice- so as to convince the Dean for admission. Opal faces lots of difficult moments. She feels lonely doing all that of what she is not a part. She is humiliated when her secret is out. She does fall in love too. ………But the complete description of her reformation is very beautifully described.

The best part about this novel by “Kaavya Viswanathan” is that it can be enjoyed by a person of any age. We are reminded of so many people around us who work hard to attain admission in college/ course of their choice. All said and done, I wonder if anybody works as hard as the Mehta’s to put Opal in Harvard.

You must read it to know whether Opal makes it there or not………