Synopsis: This is the story of Senlem, a young man
struggling with the existential questions of ‘who am I’ and ‘where do I
belong’. All through the story, time and again, he wrestles with the
introspective query of ‘Am I the son of the soil or the son of a father’. As
the story unfolds, Senlem navigates this journey of self-discovery, healing,
forgiveness, finding identity, and eventually in his own words, becoming
‘free’. The realisation of how one defines himself and how society labels an
individual is beautifully navigated via the life of Senlem set in the cultural
backdrop of the Naga hills. Love like This is a ‘love story’ but it is a love
story of life’s forces at work as they flow through creeks and ebbs, chiselling
and cutting through boulders, and ultimately finding resting serenity after the
tumultuous undercurrent of the path to self-reconciliation.
Thoughts on the book:
“I was conceived in sin and born out of wedlock, a lovechild.”
It’s one of the best opening lines I have read in a long
time. The way the narrative begins and how Senlem the protagonist introduces
himself just immerses you into his life wanting to invest your time to hear his
story, to know him better and his journey ahead. As the narrative evolves, it
feels like the story takes on its own course of fluid storytelling with many
chapters having beautifully crafted sentences that are surely a ‘page-turner’.
With each chapter, the descriptions and the story deepen, philosophies creep in
and the subtle inclusion of Naga history, issues of alcoholism, systematic
faults in education, church politics, and the outright questioning of racism
and hypocrisy draws the reader further into the lives of the characters.
Chapters that speak on grief, shattered dreams, hurt,
communication with parents or the lack of it, sacrifice, longing, love, fear of
losing out on life and people you love, along with the ever-constant question
of ‘who am I’ are places where Sentilong as an author shines. These vulnerable
chapters open up the world of the author’s thoughts making every conversation
and the dialogue in the story ever so relatable. The clever use of similes
brings every emotion, sound, action, and situation to life continuing to prove
what a wizard of a storyteller Sentilong is.
Simple subtle ways via which pressing issues and the harsh
realities of the concept of ‘our people’ and ‘outsiders’ not just in society
but also in our churches are sensitively yet strongly presented. These feel
like a mirror which begs the reader to pause and ponder. Senlems journey of
self-doubt up to the very end and the fear of not being ‘good enough’ stems
from his lack of acceptance of self, fanned by the words of society and the
land he called his own. This makes the reader wonder ‘Am I on the same boat?’
The regrets and ‘what ifs’ of the past looming in the story
keep the narrative real and the cyclical aspects of the narration where the
lives of Senlem, his mother, and his grandmother collide all through is
beautifully done. Talking about his mother, the push and pull of this
beautifully complex relationship is one of the most organic ones I’ve read so
far. There is no sugar coating and all the words used to describe this very
relationship are as complex as it can get, woven delicately like a spider’s
web. The controlled storytelling with just the right dose of emotions makes the
characters and the situations believable, not over the top, but rather one with
everyday reality.
Sentilong as an author has improved by leaps and bounds. His
words and the descriptive style of his writing where he’s poured his heart out
also go on to show his trust in his readers. This is by far one of his most
vulnerable books where he navigates the journey of pain allowing the readers to
take a sneak peek into his perspectives on the same. The overarching theme of
identity, belonging, self-acceptance, and the duality of society is woven
intricately leaving the reader one with Senlem’s question of ‘who am I’. To add
to this, the subtle hints of the forthcoming twist left like Easter eggs
throughout the story just present Sentilong’s potential as a storyteller and
his command of word plays.
As a reader, I truly enjoyed the book with all its flaws and
goodness. Sentilong Ozukum is one fine storyteller and this book ‘Love Like
This’ is a testament to the same.
