A Journey of Falling in Love with the Unseen

Have you ever observed people immersed in books during a journey—be it on a train or bus? Witnessed them entangled in the profound depths of a book, expressions changing as stories unfold? I can confidently say nothing quite equals the fervor of that experience. 'I Fell in Love with Hope' is precisely such a book that captivated me during a train journey. A random find from a book street in Trivandrum, chosen out of curiosity sparked by its cover. Alongside other classic literary works, 'I Fell in Love with Hope' found its place in my collection. It was to avoid the tediousness of the journey I started reading it on my way back home in that most beautiful train journey. I've never felt the urge to finish a book so swiftly, aware that my varied facial expressions piqued the curiosity of my fellow passengers.

Through this book, Lancali takes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions. The narrative revolves around three friends on the brink of death, with Hope personified as a character. Lancali guides the reader through the lives of these friends, offering not a tale of hope's superiority but a portrayal of raw human emotions. Readers accompany the friends in their adventures to defy death, mirroring the characters' attempt to reclaim something from its grasp. This story transcends the individual, representing the entire human community grappling with the fear of death, living lives marked by compromises, traumas, yet resiliently moving forward.

The novel evokes tears, laughter, and smiles, ensuring it never leaves you without breaking your heart into bits. Sony, with only one lung, dreams of flying, and Sam, in a poignant moment, pledges to steal a pair of wings from death for her. The mysterious narrator, Sam, who has spent a lifetime in the hospital, receives a promise of a dream from Hikari: “For Sam, I’ll give you a dream.” People, deprived of life's joys, embark on a quest to reclaim something from death. The novel also sheds light on the LGBTQ community, with the female narrator falling for Hikari and 'C' (Couer) falling in love with Neo. The acceptance portrayed in the novel creates a harmonious narrative, devoid of exaggeration or dullness—just the right mix of everything.

Neo lingers in my thoughts days after reading the novel. Sam's words resonate: “…when a writer gives you a gift as precious as their work, they give you their trust, their control, their heart put to paper.” Another beautiful moment unfolds when Sam discovers Hikari is a writer, exclaiming, “You’re a writer,” as if stumbling upon another treasure in the world. This novel encapsulates the essence of life, redirecting our attention to the small joys forgotten amid society's expectations. Love, friendship, books, flowers, dreams—Lancali transports us to a world reminiscent of childhood dreams.

More than spoken words the thoughts are what we see predominant in this work of art. There are moments of realization, of grief, of joy, and of ecstasy as we unwind the complexities of each character we see around. From mere pages each character jumps out into mid-air, into existence, fulfills their journey, and never return. They come alive from the pages, living out their stories, and once they're out, they stick with you, helping you understand the subtleties of their thoughts, just like it happened to me. There’s something so special about this book which made it impossible for me to put it down. It drags the reader along with it in all of its raw emotions and whatever suffering you have kept within the depths of your heart, this book brings it all out. It brought out a broken shell out of me, and fixed it alright. Within each broken character we find shattered pieces of ourselves, of past traumas, of physical injuries, of sorrows that stay deep within. Yes, it’s a tragedy, but if one perceives it not so, then it will turn into a beautifully patterned tale of survival. They wanted to “just steal everything” as Sony puts it. 

And what does it give us? Just shattered and broken pieces of our heart? No. As Lancali says, “I broke the one rule dying people must always follow. I fell in love. I fell in love with a mischievous, sun-eyed boy who became my only joy in such a desolate place.” As we journey through a world filled with despair and uncertainty, we slowly develop a deep affection for something beautiful and fragile: Hope.

Ms. Adithya. S, Assistant Professor of English, Al Shifa College of Arts and Science, Kizhattoor, Perinthalmanna