The Telegraph says,

” Married But Available (HarperCollins, Rs 195) by Abhijit Bhaduri follows Mediocre but Arrogant and is likely to be followed by Middle-Aged but Active. It is the story of Abbey, an MBA in the Eighties, when MBAs were just beginning to be accepted as god’s greatest gift to the corporate world. The prose is hardly of Booker quality, but the plot could interest a film maker wishing to capture on celluloid the pains and dilemmas of a man the rest of the world calls successful.”

The Telegraph has announced it way in advance that I am not getting the Booker Prize. Uh.. OK… I reconciled to that thought in a heartbeat. It is that bit about the movie deal that distracted me. I will quickly need to figure out how to spend the millions of rupees that come from a movie deal with Bollywood. It is not about greed. But do you think they meant Hollywood is knocking on the door… no seriously because that would be a game changer. i would have start thinking of millions of DOLLARS to spend (after the movie deal, of course)

“Low on heavy fundas and high on humor and a feel-good read.” – Times of India  

“This book is as good as the first if not better. A breezy read about how a corporate fresher deals with a failed marriage, a grumpy golf-addicted boss and a downturn in the company’s fortunes. Emotion, Romance, office politics and comedy make this a real masala read.” Times of India

 Hindustan Times newspaper did this story on dated October 26, 2008 called “We Know What You Should Read This Winter”  where they list Married But Available as a “rollicking powerpoint presentation of growing up presented as a novel.” 

The Hindu newspaper announces the novel as “Made in Heaven Available Now”

Mid Day, Mumbai of 26 Nov 2008 finds the novel, “funny and very real.”  They recommend it as a “must for B-School wannabes“

Educationtimes.com announces it on their website

“Married but Available is Abhijit Bhaduri’s second book. His earlier book, Mediocre but Arrogant is a delightful account of how the two years of doing an MBA in a fictitious business school in the steel city of Jamshedpur, transform Abbey’s life, perspective and relationships. Anyone who has lived in a school or college hostel will be able to identify with the characters of this funny but insightful novel.”

Vignesh writes on his blog,

“This 200+ pages book by Abhijit Bhaduri(HR director in Microsoft India) is a very good read. As the press says it is a good material for a bollywood movie. Lots of twists , handful of heroines and just enough stuff to add spice. The story as such is simple , first 10 years of a MBAs work life , the personal and professional tragedies that he faces and all that stuff. But only god knows how this guy managed to get nearly 4+ girls to like him so much. May be thats why this is a bollywood material.It also doesn’t fail to give a few management fundas like ‘Problems can never be solved , it can only be absolved,resolved or dissolved’ .
I can’t wait to get the other book in the M.B.A series ‘Mediocre But Arrogant’.

A reviewer cryptically called soniachat at Mouthshut.com says,

“This book is a nice read on one of those lazy sunday afternoons and specially if you have been in a B – school – coz certain things are just stay the same in all Business schools.”

Sanjeev says at Goodreads.com gives Married But Available a 4 star rating. He says

“Outstanding read if you want to pick up some wonderful insights on HR from one of the leading HR thinkers in the country.

The story is one that a lot of people will identify with – the insecurities, competitiveness with batch mates, failed/failing marriages, demanding bosses, neglected families etc. It is a story about the ‘corporate types’ from corporate India and wrapped within these threads are Abhijit’s take on HR – the protagonist Abby is an HR practitioner. He works through positions in the factory, to the Chairman’s strategy unit and an M&A situation where he has to handle a large restructuring.
Read it, if you like HR or if you need to understand it OR if you just like a good yarn about somebody who could be you… ”  

To get a closer look at the collage of media clippings and read the stories in detail click here

I have been receiving a steady stream of mails after some of you have finished reading my novel. While the media reviews will happen, I want to know what you felt about Married But Available. What did you like or not about it. Who were the characters you vibed with. Characters you would have loved to meet in real life or maybe there was an uncanny similarity between a character in the novel and someone you know. Have you met people like Capt Sobti, Rascal Rusty, Abbey…? Are you like any of the characters in the novel?

Tell us a little about yourself and paste the review in the comments section below.

I am starting this piece with a review by Sanjeev Roy of Bullzi who claims his role is to “keep the leadership pipeline well oiled”. He starts off with a headline that screams for attention and then shares three things he liked about the novel.

HR Practitioner – Married But Available

No, this is not an ‘innovative’ job posting.
No, there are no mistakes and it says exactly what it was meant to.
Married but Available (MBA) is the second book in the series by Abhijit Bhaduri of the life and times of Abbey (http://www.harpercollins.co.in/BookDetail.asp?Book_Code=2108). In the first book titled Mediocre But Arrogant (yes, MBA and yes, it is a great insight), Abbey gets his MBA in HR from an institute in Jamshedpur. And starts his career at the bottom of the HR pile in a manufacturing company.
This second book is about the first ten years of his work life. Outstanding read if you want to pick up some wonderful insights on HR from one of the leading HR thinkers in the country. The story is one that a lot of people will identify with – the insecurities, competitiveness with batch mates, failed/failing marriages, demanding bosses, neglected families etc. It is a story about the ‘corporate types’ from corporate India and wrapped within these threads are the author, Abhijit Bhaduri’s take on HR – the protagonist Abbey is an HR practitioner.  As he works through positions in the factory, to the Chairman’s strategy unit and an M&A, Abhijit touches upon some key HR issues that are worthy of debate.
1.    Learn the ropes from Ground Zero
-    Abbey, the MBA is posted in a small industrial township, learning people management at the shop floor. He resents it, wants to be in the corporate office and get himself a fancy designation. Sounds familiar? The lessons learnt on the shop floor are absolutely invaluable, that too under the guidance of someone with experience but no degree. Underlines the fact that there is no alternative for ‘Being there and doing that’.
So it is absolutely necessary to be in the trenches to be a general or is that just an old fashioned notion in today’s world of email, best practices and technology?
2.    Incentives can be two edged swords
-    Abbey experiments by incentivising one worker for doing a dangerous job. Workers appreciate his gesture but a deluge of others all performing the same dangerous task follows it. This causes its own problem, as Abbey has to progressively reduce the incentive for the job. What started as a positive exercise rapidly degenerates into a dispute.
If an incentive is being ‘misused’ in spirit but not technically what should be done?
3.    Fairness has to be demonstrated even when you retrench someone
-    Abbey is made responsible for a massive downsizing and restructuring exercise. Despite the bitterness, mistrust and unhappiness this move causes in the factory, Abbey never gives up on communicating clearly and consistently and genuinely trying to help the retrenched workers to rehabilitate.

…and finally if you come across a review somewhere on the net, do paste the link in your comments. Thanks in advance for your help and time.