The Drop and the Glop


Fiction - Literary
589 Pages
Reviewed on 06/14/2022
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Author Biography

Sanjiv has been a literature student, musician, stage actor, theatre director, and adventurer. He loves the outdoors and has trekked extensively in most regions of the Himalayas. Over the last thirteen years, he has organized the funding of thirteen check dams in remote villages and participated hands-on with the local labor force in constructing these projects. Living and working with simple village folk, he has developed warm respect and admiration for their innate wisdom and rich traditions.
Sanjiv traveled worldwide for his Tourism and IT companies for decades. Several years ago, he rediscovered his love for creative writing and began his labor of love – "The Drop and the Glop." He is working on his next, "The Drop that Got Away."

    Book Review

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

The Drop and the Glop by Sanjiv Saran is an engrossing novel that takes place in a part of the world in upheaval: The India-Pakistan war in 1965 and the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. Against this turbulent period are intertwined lives that will come to define their existence as they journey to discover the fullness of their identities: Yara belongs to a nomadic shepherd tribe. She has all the trimmings of a young and innocent girl, but the war will turn her into a hardened soldier as she joins the Pakistan army. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is the Foreign Minister of Pakistan who rises to become the president of his nation, where he will be facing mounting challenges on both internal and foreign fronts. Vikram is a high school graduate who is treading the path of self-discovery, and as he faces a crucial exam, he discovers the concept of divinity and tries to affirm his belief in Christ.

The Drop and the Glop starts off well and it ends well. Sanjiv Saran fleshes out his characters so clearly that their dialogues read like you are actually listening to the voices of these characters right in front of you. It’s a character-driven story that gives you a feeling of a first-hand experience. Saran has written this story from the heart, the product of his six-month isolation in a Kashmir valley, and continues during the pandemic years. He takes extra caution to present the historical backdrop of his story to give his readers an authentic feel for the plot. At over 500 pages, The Drop and Glop is the sink-your-teeth-into type of novel that will present you with a long but engaging reading activity. It is a heartfelt work of historical fiction that deserves to be read.

Asher Syed

The Drop and the Glop by Sanjiv Saran is a work of fiction that spans the South Asian subcontinent during the political tumult of the 60s leading to the war that involved Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. Saran narrates the story through several first-person accounts covering all manner of daily life, from the simplicity of an American visitor requesting boring cornflakes from a talented cook to the realities of war and depictions of mass bloodshed. The latter are interspersed with narrative changes that include individual vignettes as every moment of the war is described. All of the characters develop throughout the novel, but it is one coming-of-age to womanhood in particular that has the most complex and diverse journey that begins with a militant commitment and culminates in one of love.

There is a lot to unpack in The Drop and the Glop by Sanjiv Saran, partly because of its length and partly because there are so many point-of-view shifts. The action unfolds at a steady pace. I did not expect a fast-paced page-turner and would have been disappointed if the author cheapened the work in that way. Instead, the petals are coaxed open. The women are particularly well depicted in Saran's writing and two of the most compelling, Jenny and Tara, are also the most authentic. Tara can be poetic with lines such as, “Sometimes, I think my Ammi didn’t die. She chose to merge into the river that would carry her to the great Ocean of God.” Saran doesn't shy away from the horror of war but he also does not forget the levity of life. As readers, we can chuckle at some of the acerbic thinking of the characters and delight in it. Overall, this is a good book for those interested in historical fiction with some great moments.

Rabia Tanveer

The Drop and the Glop is the debut novel of author Sanjiv Saran. A narrative on human experiences and how these have the power to change our lives forever, author Sanjiv Saran writes an interesting story that will have you hooked. With the Indo-Pak war of 1965 and the Bangladesh independence war of 1971 in the background, the author brings forth a host of characters who each have a story to tell. In the center of the story are Yara (an innocent young girl from a tribe), Vikram (a high school graduate from New Dehli), and a fictionalized version of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (Foreign Minister of Pakistan). The three of them tell their stories and how the decisions they make change their lives in unexpected ways.

I love how the author divides the story into segments based on years. Each segment reveals a little something extra about the characters and the author’s agenda. It isn’t about war or espionage; it is a simple reflection on human experiences, characteristics, and the decisions we make. Take Vikram’s character for example. A high school graduate who decides to hitchhike and, somehow, he ends up right he needs to be. I didn’t understand the significance of the cover of the novel, but as I finished the novel, I understood why it was vague yet so foreshadowing. In essentially a fictional historical novel, author Sanjiv Saran lets his characters do the talking while readers sit back and enjoy the ride. The pace is fast, the themes are powerful, and the overall story is entertaining. What more can you ask for?

K.C. Finn

The Drop and the Glop is a work of fiction in the historical drama subgenre. It is suitable for the general adult reading audience and was penned by Sanjiv Saran. Set during a period of great change and conflict in India’s history, the book follows a disparate group of characters each on their own journey, set against the backdrop of historical conflict in the 1960s and 70s. As each of the characters faces their destiny for better or worse, the book charts their growth and change in the face of the challenges that the world around them presents at every turn.

I adore historical fiction that takes me to a time and place I’m not familiar with and deepens my understanding of a cultural history beyond my own experience. Sanjiv Saran has an eloquent writing style that brings this period of history to life and keeps it accessible to western audiences who may not be familiar with the history of India. The insight into the conflict given by the different perspectives of people who lived through it is fascinating. Each new character who adds their voice to the story serves to make it an even richer tapestry depicting a complex and nuanced time. The Drop and the Glop tells a gripping story set against a backdrop that dives deeply into a fascinating and important period of world history. It’s a tale that entertains as much as it educates and this is a book that I happily recommend to any reader looking for a drama that will broaden their horizons.