Five Point Someone: What Not to Do at IIT, a Novel

It was fresh, addictive, unpretentious, and hilarious at times.

However, the foul language generously used is not everyone's cup of tea.

On the whole, it is highly recommended. Fun guaranteed..!!

After avoiding it for many years thinking it will be either too fake or too trite in describing a low GPA IIT student (myself being one), I finally decided to give it a shot, found it to be humourous at many places and overall a decent fiction. Though it may sound autobiographical, but it is just a fiction where protagonist and his band are inspired by quite a few characters from student's folklore. It is quite possible that some events, probably embellished, have strong links to author. All the events described in the book are possible, but unlikely they all happened to a single group of students, or even a batch.

One thing that I did not like much was that it was written mostly as sentences spoken by the characters. It was not a big show more problem for myself as I can very easily imagine the buildings, too academic an environment, strict professors, a dearth of girls making department head's daughter a fair but dangerous target. But, I would have preferred if some background images were described well to give better idea of the environment. Good part is that it is very simple English and relatively short book that can be finished in one sitting.
And, book definitely has all the ingredients of a good masala Hindi movie.

Overall a very light fiction and good first attempt by Chetan Bhagat. show less

I first read it a good six years ago and had loved it. I still like it. It is no literary masterpiece and it would be wrong to compare it with one. It is a dime novel through and through and a good one at that. It offers a good, quick read - it is a page turner and keeps you hooked till the end.
Good pieces of literature linger with you even when you have read the last word. This is not one of them. It does not leave any lingering impressions. You do feel a little good and warm when you reach the end.
If you have to while away an afternoon or have a long commute or have to pass a long night or if you have watched the movie pick up this book - it won't disappoint; just don't expect to gain anything from it.

This is the best piece by Mr. show more C and his writing has gone positively downhill with each subsequent work. show less

Exactly like a boarding-school story - the chums, the loyalty tests, the midnight feasts, the always insuffiicent preparation time for the amount of learning expected, the sneaking around, the climactic showdown with authority. Only set at an engineering university. Fast, fun read but crudely written, especially when compared to expectations aroused by the movie.**

Book name- Five Point Someone: What not to do at IIT
Genre-Fiction
Publication Year-2004
Author: Chetan Bhagat
Country-India
Language-English
Book Rating-3.5/5

Let me first introduce you to Chetan Bhagat, the writer of this book!According to new york times, Chetan Bhagat is the biggest-selling English language novelist in India's history. I get introduced myself with him by reading his novel 'The three mistakes of my life'. I was fascinated as well as surprised because I was reading that book and it hardly comes to my mind that I was reading a book which is written in a foreign language. Obviously, I loved his writting style. It is simple, still gorgeous. I have just completed reading his second one and I have to tell, everytime I read his show more books,become a fan of him. And one thing, if you are new English book reader, have some frights of reading English book, then you can choose "Five point someone" by closing your eyes. You will be impressed for sure!

Now comes to the main section! book review!

'Five point someone' is a story of three friends who are from IIT, the best engineering university of the country. These guys are the toppers of their own classes since the beginning of their student life. Well, this top class performance remains untill they are admitted to IIT. IIT was waiting for them with completely different story!

Now,have a look to our characters.Hari,who tells us the story. According to Ryan's language he is kind-hearted, confused, hopelessly in love, physically unappealing, wants to keep his freinds, fumbles in vivas and a guy who wants to be like others. But if you watch him by Neha's eyes, there is something about him, which will attract you!

Alok, who comes from a poor family. His father is paralised and mother has to bear all the responsibilities. His only sister was crossing the marrigeable age for not having enough money. These thoughts always keeps Alok in a pressure that he have to earn money for his family. Among the three, he is more serious in studies than the others.

Ryan, who is a boy you may love! He is good looking, smart, intelligent, having good sense of humor. He is the perfect package as Hari always wants to be Ryan. In professor Veera's eyes Ryan is the brightest student he ever seen in IIT although Ryan is the last boy of his class!Here I have to mention that, Professor Veera is not like the other profs of IIT who judges students by their grades. However, Ryan hates the whole IIT System, which brings the most brilliant student of the country and destroy their brains. He thinks, IIT has no contribution in any kind of invention yet they have the best brains of the country. These kind of reasons induces Ryan to avoid classes, study and making different kind of plans for him and his friends which take some disaster for them.

Well, I have just introduced you to the main characters of this book. It will hardly give you any idea how the book is! There is a sweet love story,emotions which may make you feel cry, lots of fun which may make you laugh when you are alone.Above all, a story of pure friendship which will fascinate you!

I am going to finish this writing after giving you an information. Have you seen "Three idiots"?Well, it's one of my most favourite movie. This movie was based on this novel. But I want to reassure that, Movie and the book has far differences. You will find a little similarities between the two. But I can assure you, if you enjoy the movie, you will enjoy the book more! show less

A WITTY YET BITTERSWEET PORTRAYAL OF THREE FRIENDS NAVIGATING ACADEMIC STRUGGLES, RELATIONSHIPS, AND SELF-DISCOVERY AT AN ELITE INDIAN ENGINEERING COLLEGE.

Like the protagonist, this book is awkward, but for some reason still endearing.