My Name Is Cinnamon

I met the author Mr. Joshi recently in the Facebook group, Readers Forever, and soon, he introduced his book to me. I found the blurb intriguing, so I decided to read it.My Name is Cinnamon is a coming-of-age story of a boy named Roshan aka Cinnamon. It is a sweet, inspiring story about an adopted boy with a rare disease and how he comes to terms with his adoption as he grows up.The plot is simple, and the narrative flows smoothly. Mr. Joshi is a talented writer. The characters are beautifully and deeply etched using narration, dialogue, and actions. I loved how he develops the characters with such care and precision. They are relatable and likable, and they inspired me with their lovely gestures and thoughts. I fell in love with everyone - Cinnamon, his parents, Ai, and the other secondary characters too. I cared for them and wanted them to be happy.Another thing I really liked is Mr. Joshi's sense of humor. It is subtle but effective, and I found myself chuckling a few times, especially in the first half of the book. The only thing I felt Mr. Joshi could improve upon is: how he builds up the emotions of the characters. Sometimes I felt the emotions appear a bit too abruptly.The language is simple and lucid with some cleverly constructed sentences. I did find a few grammatical and punctuation errors, but the writing is good overall. The descriptions are vivid and made me either visit the places or made my mouth water (the descriptions of food). The illustrations are beautiful and complemented the author's solid descriptions of the characters.Overall, My Name is Cinnamon is a simple, lovely book. I enjoyed reading it, and I would recommend it. I feel like encouraging authors who write stories based on unconventional yet heartwarming characters and relationships rather than the usual cheesy romantic fiction or the high-brow, award-winning fiction with utterly unlikable characters. We need more genuine contemporary fiction like this.4.5 stars from my side.

Book: My name is CinnamonAuthor: ViThis book truly lives up to the statement that "People of all ages will enjoy reading this lovely book." From the very beginning, it's hard to believe that this is the author's debut work, given the depth and finesse with which they address sensitive topics like adoption and Usher syndrome.The heartwarming story revolves around Cinnamon, a 13-year-old boy with a unique background, having a mother from Kolkata and a father from Pune, Maharashtra. The author's choice to shed light on adoption and raise awareness about Usher syndrome is commendable, especially for readers like myself who were unaware of this medical condition.One aspect that stood out for me was the way the author beautifully showcased the normalization of adoption without resorting to unnecessary drama. Cinnamon's acceptance of his adoption was heartening, especially considering my personal experience with a similar situation in my family. The openness and support of Cinnamon's parents made his journey much smoother, creating a touching and relatable portrayal.The attention to small details, such as financial struggles and geographic locations, added a layer of authenticity to the narrative, making it more immersive and engaging. I love the titles of every chapter author picked like "Krishna and Karna". Love for food is clearly visible and now I've a very long list of food to try in future.The balance between humor and sensitivity in the storytelling was impeccable, and I truly enjoyed the well-developed characters. The third-person narration style reminded me of V.S. Naipaul's third-person omniscient POV in his masterpiece A house of Mr. Biswas.The author's writing skills, love, and attention to small details were evident throughout, beautifully portraying the characters and scenes in a way that allowed me to visualize the story vividly. I could feel the excitement of Cinnamon, I smiled with him, my mouth watered with him, and a time came when I felt his helplessness and could understand why he wished so. The addition of beautiful illustrations further enhanced the clarity and I appreciated the author's special attention to depicting cultures through customs and food instances.While there were some areas with potential for improvement, such as delving deeper into emotions and exploring Cinnamon's bond with his friends, the lack of real drama when he wished to meet his biological parents didn't hinder my overall reading experience.In conclusion, "My name is Cinnamon" is a great book that delicately addresses sensitive topics, leaving a lasting impression on readers of all ages. It is a remarkable debut by the author, and I look forward to reading more of their works in the future