Till the Last Breath Book Review: Themes, Emotional Depth, Characters, and More

What happens when you take your life for granted? Till the Last Breath by Durjoy Datta is a stirring read, far away from typical romance novels. This story stirs every emotion within and stays with you, allowing you to appreciate your life a little. To be honest, when I first picked up the book, I expected a romantic medical drama, but what I found instead was a heartwarming story that left a lump in my heart. 

Personally, with this novel, Datta moved beyond the usual romance formula and delivered a narrative that is less about love and more about holding onto life when everything seems to be giving up. This contrasting journey of Pihu and Dushyant was nothing but thought-provoking, which left me questioning the fragility of life. I couldn’t stop myself from reviewing this story, and hence, here is my take on the Till the Last Breath book review, which explores characters, themes, writing style, and more. 

A Quick Synopsis of Till The Last Breath (Spoiler-Free!) 

“Don’t we all smile for the pictures we click even on the worst picnics? That’s all I want to do. I want to smile at their last pictures of me.” The quote from Till the Last Breath sums up what the novel is about. Life does not always give a second chance. 

The novel talks about two characters: Pihu, a 19-year-old medical student with dreams and ambitions of becoming a successful doctor, and Dushyant, a 25-year-old, once-promising young man who falls into the spiral of alcohol and drugs after his girlfriend, Kajal, leaves him for a wealthy man.  

While Pihu’s journey is marked by her strength when her nervous system is giving up and she is diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), Dushyant’s life is defined by reckless self-destruction. The pain of heartbreak and his parents’ constant criticism drove him deeper into despair until it resulted in liver damage. 

Both Pihu and Dushyant are admitted to the same hospital room, Room No 509, battling their illnesses. Although there is no love affair between them, the novel successfully portrays a bond formed with the shared battles of illnesses, pain, and hope. 

The novel also presents two other characters: Dr Armaan, who is Pihu’s doctor, and Dr Armaan’s intern, Zarah, who was looking after Dushyant. Both these characters are battling their own past traumas while fulfilling their professional duties, going above and beyond, even risking their medical license to save the patients. 

Till the Last Breath Review: Themes and Emotional Depth

The novel deals with multiple themes, such as abusive relationships, toxicity, substance abuse, hope, life, and death, but what stood out to me were the themes of addiction, abandonment, hope, and denial. 

Here are the themes that I liked the most: 

1. Addiction and Abandonment

Addiction and abandonment are at the heart of this novel. Dushyant had been abandoned by Kajal, even though he himself was responsible, which eventually led to substance abuse. He also suffers from emotional abandonment by his family, which further pushes him into isolation, reinforcing his destructive behaviour. 

Similarly, Pihu, who was surrounded by loving people, faces another kind of abandonment, that is, the loss of dreams and ambitions that she had for her future. Kajal was yet another obsessive character, abused physically and emotionally by Dushyant, yet considering herself responsible for his condition, and torn between her hollow relationships with both Varun and Dushyant. 

2. Hope, Dreams, and Denials 

The novel presents two contrasting characters: Pihu, who is full of life and still holding on to hope despite her critical condition. On the other hand, there is Dushyant, who takes his life for granted and is now completely estranged from all love, pushing himself further into isolation. 

However, complete denial of their condition and their existential crisis makes the narrative real. Despite being a medical student, Pihu clings to the fact that her diagnosis may be wrong and she will recover soon, fighting till the last breath. Dushyant, however, completely avoids taking responsibility for the choices that led him here. 

Thoughts on the Protagonists of Till the Last Breath 

The characters of the novel Till The Last Breath are written beautifully, evoking emotions and sympathy among the audience. Whether it’s Kajal, Dushyant’s ex-girlfriend, Dr Armaan, or Zarah, each character has their own story and past traumas worth reading and analysing. 

Here’s my take on the protagonist of the novel Till the Last Breath: 

1. Pihu 

Character Traits: Hardworking, Intelligent, Hopeful, Full of Dreams and Ambitions of Becoming a Doctor 

Although I liked both the characters, the character of Pihu really stood out to me. The excerpt from the book describes her as a “brilliant nineteen-year-old medical student, suffering from an incurable, fatal disease. She counts every extra breath as a blessing”, which pretty much sums up her character and reflects the hopeful girl she is. The plot builds up and does not simply reveal what she’s suffering from, which is great from a reader’s POV. She self-diagnosed “her disease”, despite her nervous system giving up. 

One emotional incident that really stood out to me is when Pihu was writing her exam; her body froze, she couldn’t move, and her nervous system was failing her. She sobbed and cried, and the emotional depth of this passage evokes sympathy and helplessness in the audience.  

2. Dushyant 

Character Traits: Self-Absorbed, Frustrated, Toxic, Self-Destructive 

Dushyant, for me, was a complex character whose actions were quite unjustified, but that’s what made this character raw and real. When the narrative presents Dushyant, the tone shifts to a sort of frustration and also relies on swear words, but it truly represents what Dushyant as a character was. 

This frustration, in the beginning, is projected on the doctors and his parents. However, by presenting him in this light, Datta showed his transformation. The character arc develops when he realises that Pihu’s condition is fatal; he develops deep regret and stops being selfish, ultimately leading to a softer narrative tone for Dushyant at the end. 

His relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Kajal, is also something that I find complicated. I felt that their relationship lacked the emotional depth, which led to a series of events, and Kajal being more drawn towards her ex-boyfriend Varun for emotional support. Dushyant’s behaviour towards Kajal was not justified, which may force the readers to question his actions. 

Durjoy Datta’s Writing Style in the Novel Till The Last Breath Reviews

Known for his simple and conversational writing style, Datta’s novel Till The Last Breath presents his versatility and evolution as a writer. The writing style in the novel is almost gut-wrenching, written in the third-person perspective, enabling the readers to have an unbiased opinion of characters and judge them through their actions. Although the environment is gloomy, the novel is written in an emotional tone, balancing the moments of hope and existential crisis. 

The language is straightforward, and the entire novel can be read in one sitting. The writing focuses heavily on the psychological and physical struggles, characters’ introspection, and moments of grief and hope. 

Here’s what I liked about the writing style in this novel: 

• Shifting Yet Balanced Tone 
• No Exaggerated Vocabulary or Romance 
• Simple Writing Evoking Pure Emotions 
• High Focus on Characters’ Emotions 

Final Verdict: Is “Till The Last Breath” Worth Reading? 

Yes, the novel “Till the Last Breath” definitely deserves a place in your to-be-read list. The novel doesn’t revolve around a cheesy love story between the protagonists leading to a happily-ever-after; rather, it presents an unconventional bond that is forged through shared trauma, suffering, illness, and the fight to survive. It’s one of Datta’s most unconventional works that stayed with me through and through. 

For me, more than anything, it was a reflection on life. The story has thrown the limelight on the value of being alive, the struggle and the strength of parents to do anything for their ailing child or see them in worsening condition, and the strength and hope of a patient who keeps fighting even if everything seems lost. 

Readers Who Will Love Reading Till The Last Breath: 

• Fans of Unconventional Romantic Tropes 
• Character-Driven Stories 
• Themes of Love, Death, Hope, and Past Traumas 
• Interested in Stories Set in a Particular Setting 
• Emotional Contemporary Fiction

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