Book Review: The Man Without Shelter by Indrajit Garai

“He needed to feel at ease with the present to call this spot on the isle his home.”

Indrajit Garai, The Man Without Shelter

Review:

Another interesting work of fiction from Indrajit Garai. I recently read The Bridge of Little Jeremy and despite it being a different kind of story, I enjoyed this one just as much.

Set in Paris, the novella follows Arnault and Lucy. Though they live wildly different lives (Lucy a lawyer and Arnault a convicted felon), they cross paths during a rescue. Years later they enter each other’s lives again. Thanks to DNA evidence, Arnault has been exonerated from his convictions, and Lucy wants to do whatever she can to help him.

Even though there’s a good amount of action in the book, the plot and the writing lean toward a more intellectual side. We get a deep look into the character’s minds and lives as well as a darker glimpse of Parisian life for those impoverished. There’s a lot to unpack in 120 pages. Personally, I would have liked for it to have been a little bit longer given the ending was somewhat abrupt. However, that doesn’t diminish what there is of the story. Looking forward to reading more from this author!

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• We get a deep look at the characters.
• There are a lot of layers and doesn’t shy away from the more unpleasant aspects of life.

What I didn’t like:

• It’s fast-paced for a story with the potential to be a full-length novel. I feel like there’s more we could have seen that would have provided more of an impact for the reader.

Afterthoughts:

Thanks to Estelle for pointing this book out to me! I’m happy to have discovered Indrajit Garai’s works.

Where to buy the book: