{"id":8668,"date":"2021-04-24T08:41:10","date_gmt":"2021-04-24T03:11:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebooksatchel.com\/?p=8668"},"modified":"2021-04-24T08:41:53","modified_gmt":"2021-04-24T03:11:53","slug":"how-to-kidnap-the-rich-rahul-raina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebooksatchel.com\/how-to-kidnap-the-rich-rahul-raina\/","title":{"rendered":"Review : How to Kidnap the Rich by Rahul Raina"},"content":{"rendered":"
Reading How to Kidnap the Rich<\/em> by Rahul Raina was like being put in a sports car with no seat belt. Rakesh Kumar, the protagonist, gets your attention in minutes. Never does he make you bored as he narrates his life story, from being the son of an abusive tea stall owner, to an examinations consultant who commits fraud for a living. His bustling business attracts the attention of the Aggarwals who want him to take an exam for their good for nothing, glued-to-phone son Rudi. The deal is a golden egg moment \u2014 Rudi becames a star overnight, Rakesh becomes his assistant with a cut of whatever money comes Rudi\u2019s way. Rudi is now a wish-he-was-my-son of the housewives of India. He is charming, sweeps the aunties off their feet, and hoards money \u201cby being the perfect fat little son\u201d in product placements, advertising and reality TV shows.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The plot is outlandish at best. Everything falls in place for the protagonist. Even when things go beyond control, there is a silver lining that he can pull himself up with. This book is best enjoyed without questioning how probable the twists could be \u2014 visas, love, loyalty \u2014 everything is served Bollywood style. There\u2019s kidnapping, behind-the-scenes manipulation to skyrocket the TV show\u2019s ratings, a fabricated past, and even a news flare of a Pakistani allegation. I found myself laughing my way through the sticky mess and close-to-death escapes. The novel mocks the Indian society blinded by caste, TV idols and its obsession with marks. The Indian dream is to be fat and rich \u2014\u201cIf you are fat and Indian, you\u2019re rich. If you\u2019re fat and poor, you\u2019re lying. It\u2019s only the West where the rich are thin, and vegan, and moral.\u201d\u2014 and Rudy has definitely become the Number 1 son of India, thanks to Rakesh.<\/p>\n
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