Book Closet

A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo

2010-12-13T15:30:00.001-08:00

Title: A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers

Author: Xiaolu Guo

Fiction: Hardcover

Pages: 304

Publisher: Nan E. Talese

Acclaim: Shortlisted for 2007 Orange Prize for Fiction

Hailing from Zhe Jiang, a province of southern China, Guo wrote several chinese books before writing for the English audience. Originally she wrote several award-winning documentaries and screenplays including her first feature film 'How is your Fish Today' which won the Grand Jury prize at the 2007 International Women's Film Festival. Shortlisted for Orange Prize, this novel is her debut work. Drawing from own diaries she used to keep when she moved from China to London, she paints a humorous, albeit poignant story of a 23 year old Zhuang, a peasant girl from rural china, who embarks on a journey to London to study English.

'I not having life in West. I not having home in West. I scared. I no speaking English. I fearing future'. If reading these broken sentences puts you off, then it might be hard for you get into this book. However, I think thats what makes this book very authentic, though I promise the writing improves gradually. The protagonist of the novel, Zhuang, finding that English people finds it difficult to pronounce her name, calls herself 'Z'. Z's parents sold their land to start making shoes for a living. As per her parents wish, she arrives in London to study English, to earn a diploma from the West. 'Birds have their bird language, beasts have their beast talk. English they totally another species'. Often, frustrations accompany when you begin to learn a new language. It only compounds when you live in an alien country, grappling with the cultural etiquette and language nuances. Especially, try learning Japanese or Chinese, the hardest of all (at least for me). Many times in the past, I have failed miserably trying to learn Mandarin and even during my visits to China, I have never spoken any more than 'Ni hao' and 'she-eh she-eh'. It is interesting to see that Zhuang finds English equally difficult to learn too. 'Chinese, we not having grammar. We saying things simple way. No verb-change usage, no tense differences, no gender changes. We bosses of our language. But, English language is boss of English user'. Often, her observations about the nuances of English grammar are hilarious, at times even astonishing. 'Mrs. Margaret teaching us about nouns. I discovering English is very scientific. She saying nouns have two types - countable and uncountable. You can say a car, but not a rice" she says. But to me, cars are really uncountable in the street, and we can count the rice if we pay great attention to a rice bowl'.

Zhuang find the cultural clashes a bit jarring, even those immigrant Chinese family she lives with, finds her alienated, nervous and scared. Similarly, Zhuang finds them rude, mean and distant as well. No wonder, she comes across like an alien in the Eyes of English. 'The day I arrived to the West, I suddenly realised that I not Chinese. As long as one has black eyes and black hair, obsessed by rice, and cannot swallow any Western food, and cannot pronounce the difference between 'r' and 'l', and request people without using please - then he or she is a typical Chinese: an ill-legal immigrant, badly treat Tibetans and Taiwanese, good on food but put MSG to poison people, eat dog's meat and drink snakes' guts'. A month into her stay, she moves in with an unnamed Englishman, about twice her age, an ex-anarchist, eccentric fellow who makes grotesque nude sculptures that he keeps in the garden at a cinema hall. She struggles to make him understand her feelings, owing to the cultural divide and his bisexual nature. 'Love, this English word: like other English words it has tense. 'Loved' or 'will love' or 'have loved'. Not infinite. It only exist in particular period of time. In Chinese, Love is 'ai'. It has not tense. No past and future. Love in Chinese means a being, a situation, a circumstance. Love is existence, holding past and future. If our love existed in Chinese tense, then it will last for ever. It will be infinite'. She finds her love with the English man eccentric, as much as the language itself. She grapples with many Western concepts like loneliness, privacy, financial independence. Like Zhuang observes 'I think the loneliness in this country is something very solid, very heavy. It is touchable and reachable, easily. In the West, we are used to loneliness. I think it's good for you to experience loneliness, to explore what it feels like to be on your own. After a while, you will start to enjoy solitude. You won't be so scared of it anymore'. I feel strange to be saying this, but I agree that I could relate to some of these issues myself. Back home, you always find yourself in the company of people, sitting and eating together. Festivals, Weddings and Religious ceremonies bring people close, make them happy. In Western World, opportunities for social gathering seldom arise, making us lonely, deprived of family togetherness. Many of Zhuang's observations are shockingly true, some I have wondered myself. 'So woman and man pay half half even when they live together. And woman and man have their own privacy and their own friends. And woman and man have their own separate bank account. Is that why Western couples split up so easily, and divorce so quickly?'

A rural peasant girl struggling to fathom the nuances of Western life is not surprising. Yet, I find it hard to empathize with her one-sided love with the English man, mainly because she has no moral values to begin with. At some point in the story, her lover insists that she should go on an Europe tour by herself to raise her self-confidence, its a pity she hardly gets anything out of her travels. It is disgusting that she longs to be with her boyfriend writing him love letters, while having sexual encounters with strangers. The naivety of her character is seemingly lost in her twisted moral values. Otherwise, it is an entertaining read full of insights into a different culture many Westerners can hardly understand.

Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India by William Dalrymple

2010-12-12T17:28:00.000-08:00

Title: Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India

Author: William Dalrymple

Edition: Hardcover

Pages: 284

Publisher: Bloomsbury UK

William Dalrymple, who has lived in Delhi on and off for the last 25 years, is one of the most eminent historian and travel writers of all times. His books have won several literary prizes and his focus and interests include India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Middle East, Mughal rule and religious aspects like Hinduism, Islamism, Buddhism and Jainism. This is my first attempt at reading Dalrymple and I must confess that I am mightily impressed with his astounding work and the amount of research that has gone into it. 'Nine Lives' is truly a treasure trove of information unraveling some of the myths, legendary practices and religious beliefs, some of which are on the verge of extinct as India is modernizing in a frenetic pace. This gem of a book reveals so many astonishing facts about almost extinct religious practices and deep-rooted traditions still practiced in rural India, that even many Indians would begin to wonder if this is really the country they grew up in. It would be a tough feat for anyone to grapple with the many idiosyncrasies of the past, as the country is so steeped in rich traditions, divine stories and godly practices (both barbaric and non-barbaric). The progress of India in the global sector has seen an astonishing growth over the past decade and India is predicted to overtake Japan as the third largest economy in the world. However, for those who practice the diverse religious traditions and live them out everyday, no economic reforms have been meted out, yet their futures are uncertain as the practices are on the verge of becoming extinct. As more and more software companies sprout like weeds around every corner of big cities luring the younger generations, What will become of those traditions that are handed down by lineage? Will they survive or perish? I am glad some of these complicated issues are addressed here, so at least people can put on their thinking caps as opposed to acting oblivious to the situation. Divided into nine non-fiction short stories, they are narrated by the characters themselves. Dalrymple takes a backseat, gently guiding them allowing themselves to open up. Nothing here is altered or twisted and the stories comes out purely honest and compelling thereby offering an unflinching look at how some of these people are coping with living in the eye of the storm. 'For a while the West often likes to imagine the religions of the East as deep wells of ancient, unchanging wisdom, in reality much of India's religious identity is closely tied to specific social groups, caste practices and father-to-son lineages, all of which are changing very rapidly as Indian society transforms itself at speed.'

Its hard to write a book about India - especially if touches upon religion & sacred beliefs - without talking about sadhus, vedas, monks and monastries. Dalrymple couldn't have had a better subject for his novel, For India, being the cornucopia of traditions, people, culture and topography, fits the bill perfectly. Dalrymple's focus on this book is more of ordinary humans who turn into monks, nuns and in one case, a prison warden who becomes a incarnate deity for just two months in a year. Many of his subjects are quite enigmatic - a former MBA-educated, sales manager with Kelvinator - (a Bombay electricals company), who renounced his worldly desires to become a sadhu and is now trekking up the Himalayan mountains seeking salvation in his half-naked, ash-smeared divine form. Tapan Goswami, a tantric, who lives in a cremation ground near Birbhum in West Bengal, practices spirit-summoning and spell-casting using cured skulls of dead virgins and restless suicides. He is forbidden to speak of his sinister practices by his sons who practice opthamology in New Jersey. Tapan himself is contemplating about living in the West, albeit being an enthusiastic skull-feeder. His enigmatic subjects of the book have led extraordinary lives, driven by an enormous faith and total devotion and it takes an exemplary writer like Dalrymple to shed light on some of these esoteric subjects.

The book begins with 'The Nun's Tale' - fascinating story of a Jain nun 'Prasannamataji', who grew up in a wealthy family in Raipur. Despite having a happy childhood, she turns to an ascetic life soon after puberty. She never doubted her faith in the spiritual path and enjoys practicing it in spite of its rigorous rules. She befriends another nun - Prayogamati, her age and before they knew it, they develop one of the best spiritual connection ever. When Prayogamati dies of sickness, Prasannamataji mourns for the loss of her friend, which is strictly forbidden as a Jain nun, as they are believed to develop indifference to human sufferings. 'Any sort of emotion is considered a hindrance to the attainment of Enlightenment. We are meant to cultivate indifference - but I still remember her'. Prasannamataji atones for her sin by practising 'sallekhana' - starving oneself to death, which is the last renouncement of Jain munis. This is just a heart-wrenching story in itself, but what I found more appealing are the tidbits thrown here and there about Jainism in general. You might find a plethora of books regarding Buddhism, but not many will you find about Jainism. It opened my eyes to a whole different religion and I find their beliefs utterly fascinating! Though Buddhism and Jainism appear to have some similarities, but in reality, there are oceans apart. Jains don't shave their head, but pluck their hair out by the roots, they have to have food given to them without asking and are forbidden to handle money in any way. These differences are just the tip of the iceberg, as Jainism diverge from Hindus and Buddhists in many deep aspects. Jains not only reject the Hindu idea that the world was created or destroyed by omnipotent gods, but also in their understanding of karma. According to them, 'To gain liberation, you must live life in a way that stops you accumulating more karma and you must embrace a life of world renunciation, non-attachment and an extreme form of non-violence'.

'The Dancer of Kannur' story narrated by Hari Das, a 'Theyyam' dancer, takes us into the lives of Dalit caste people of Kerala. Kerala, being one of the most conservative and socially oppressive in India revels in establishing and still practicing a strictly hierarchical society even in Modern India. A lower-caste man such as 'Dalits', if appeared on the same road as that of warrior-caste Nayyar or higher class Brahmins, could be beheaded righteously for such a crime. But, during the 'theyyam' season, the performers are believed to be possessed by gods and even the higher-class people bow their heads and seek their blessings. 'It's the intensity of your devotion that determines the intensity of possession. If you lose your feeling of devotion, if it even once becomes routine or unthinking, the gods may stop coming'. The theyyam tales are abound with tales questioning the limits of acceptable behavior, especially the abuse of power, as the upper castes struggle to keep their place at the top of the caste pyramid and oppress the lower castes in order to do so. As much as Hari Das finds 'theyyam' as a tool to fight against social injustice, he also finds it very demanding and exhausting. Most of the dancers have a low life expectancy as they use strings to tie heavy costumes on which disrupt their blood circulation. Yet what he finds more frightening is the job he returns to after his theyyam performance - that of a prison warden, where thugs from political parties rule the prison and the mere job of the Hari Das is to keep himself safe and alive in that desolate, frightening place. It is heart-warming to see Hari Das receiving utmost satisfaction from being a dancer. 'Theyyam has made me what I am. All my self-esteem comes from this. The rest of the year, no one here would even greet me or invite me to a share a cup of tea with them. But during the season, I am like a temple, if not a god'.

'Daughters of Yellamma' is the story of devadasis - one of the oldest professions in India, tracing as far back as 9th century or even older - as some archaeologists claim to be 2500 BC. Devadasis are women who enter for life the service of god or goddess. though the nature of that service have recently transformed to be working exclusively in the sex trade. In the medieval times, these 'temple women' were necessarily dancing girls, courtesans or concubines - more like nuns, busy with devotions and temple cleaning duties, domestic and personal servants of the temple Brahmins. Some even had honoured and important roles in temple rituals, fanning the idols, honoring them sandalwood paste and jasmine garlands, singing and playing music in the sanctuary etc. Its such a pity that colonial and post-colonial legislation slowly broke the ancient links that existed between the devadasis and temples and forced into prostitution. Like the protagonist of the story, Rani Bai, they are drawn exclusively from lowest castes - usually from Dalit Madar caste and are almost entirely illiterate. 'For the very poor, and the very pious, the devadasi system is still seen as providing a way out of poverty while gaining access to the blessings of the gods, the two things the poor most desperately crave'. It is such a pity that the devadasis have become more of sex workers today, earning pittance for their services and after only a few years, wither and die of STD and other diseases. But, as Rani Bai says 'But, we must continue this work if we are to eat. We have a lot of misery to bear. But that is our tradition. That is our karma. We try to show our happy side to clients to keep attracting them, and put all our efforts into doing a good job'. As far as hopes for the future, she trusts in none other than 'Yellamma', her goddess.

Let me wrap up this review with one last story, that captivated me from the beginning. Its the 'Monks Tale'. 'Once you have been a monk, it is very difficult to kill a man', begins a Tibetan Buddhist monk Tashi Passang. He dedicated himself to religion thinking he would have a better chance of a good rebirth in his next life and have an opportunity to gain Nirvana. Passing his youth as a nomad in the Tibetan plains, he spent his time studying in a now destroyed monastery. But, his ambitions to become a hermit, soon evaporated when Chinese invaded Tibet in 1950s and intended to destroy Buddhism. 'Non-violence is the essence of the dharma. Especially for a monk. The most important thing is to love each and every sentient being. But when it comes to a greater cause, sometimes it can be your duty to give back your vows and to fight in order to protect the dharma'. He temporarily gave up his vows to fight against the Chinese and went to exile when he fled with Dalai Lama from Tibet to India. He spends the rest of his life atoning for the violence he committed by printing prayer flags, making sure every flag is perfect, every word correct and legible. He only feels that whatever happened only increased his faith in god. 'We Buddhists believe in karma, in cause and effect. An action has consequences; we are the consequences of our acts. Perhaps because there was a time in the seventh century when we Tibetans invaded China and tortured the Chinese. so we are suffering this torture now. It is our turn to suffer for what we did in previous lives'. Two other stories I really enjoyed are 'The Makers of Idols' and 'Red Fairy', but I will let you explore on your own what its all about, leaving your curiosity intact. Not only all these stories beautifully told, they provide us a window into their obscure lives, their miseries, hopes and unfulfilled dreams. At the heart of these stories, behind all those beliefs and practices, there lies the misery, a longing for freedom and happiness/enlightenment. A desire to free themselves from all evils, dreadful pasts to either nirvana/happy lives. Their prayers remain unanswered as they pursue their utmost devotion to god or sacrifice their lives or practice worldly renunciation. Aside from rendering their life stories, these characters also drawn upon myriads of tales from the ancient mythology and religion. Stories from Jataka tales, Adishankarar, Buddhism and Tibetan cosmology, and even translated works of famous Tamil poets like Appar, Sundarar are featured in this book for a delightful read. I learnt so much about various religious practices in modern India and the relevant mythical stories through this single book. Clearly, Dalrymple is one gem of a writer and I highly endorse this book for anyone who wish to know more about India and how some of the religious devouts cope with the rapid growth of modernization.

Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed

2010-12-10T12:07:00.001-08:00

Title: Black Mamba Boy

Author: Nadifa Mohamed

Edition: Paperback

Pages: 280

Publisher: Harper Collins

Acclaim: Long listed for 2010 Orange Prize for Fiction.

Now you depart, and though your way may lead

Through airless forests thick with hagar trees,

Places steeped in heat, stifling and dry,

Where breath comes hard, and no fresh breeze can reach -

Yet may God place a shield of coolest air

Between your body and the assailant sun.

- Gabay by Maxamed Cabdula Xasan

'Black Mamba Boy' depicted a grim tale of war-torn North Africa during the period of Second World War, when it was ripped apart under Italian fascists and the British invaders. The hero of the story was a 10 year-old Jama who embarks on a treacherous journey through Northern Africa with the sole purpose of reuniting with his father. Set in the 1930s, the story covered the deserted lands of Northern Africa including Somali land, ploughing through Djibouti, war-torn Eritrea, Abyssinia, Sudan and Egypt - some of these countries were seldom focused in modern literature. The author's exceptional work portraying a lively Somali, decades before the Second World War offered a refreshing outlook (though short-lived) for those minds which always conjured up poverty-stricken, disease-ridden people at the mention of many African nations.

Like expected, the journey was perilous and I was subjected to deaths, torture, violence, hunger, crime and all sorts of atrocious things that happen in the name of war. The vivid portrayal combined with the bloodstained history was quite enough to bring me to tears. Especially, I found the chapters on African history during the colonization heart-wrenching. What I found fascinating were those little snippets of information regarding different african clans. It was so heartwarming to realize how most of the clans worked well with each other, always lending a helping hand when necessary. When Jama travelled through the African landscape, he always found good hearted african people ready to offer him help. Not entirely convincing, but glad to see it happen at least, as a figment of imagination. Though the first half of the book was utterly compelling, I felt that the second half could have been a bit more succinct. Often, I kept wandering off the pages, mindlessly skimming over the lines, struggling to keep my focus on the page. The overly long descriptions and the stale scenarios bored me and I should admit that I expected a bit more fresh content and adventure. However, the story picked up pace towards the fag end, especially the chapter that narrated Jama's adventures on a British ship sent shivers down the spine.

"They rode a lorry together towards Abyssinia. They travelled for five days in the back of the lorry, marvelling at the paradise they passed through; the landscape was a juicy emerald green, with wild mango trees full of frolicking, singing birds, herds of giraffe and zebra gathered around blue watering holes. Jama would have been happy to jump off the lorry and stay in this small heaven but shiftas and patriots lurked amongst the trees and long grass. It was unsettling to see a place so lush, so full of promise without one tukul or any kind of human dwelling."

"To appease the hungry demon in his stomach, seething and cursing from his cauldron of saliva and acid, Jama had fought with stray cats and dogs over leftover bones. He tried to be brave but sadness and loneliness had crept up on him, twisting his innards and giving him the shakes."

Whether it be describing a lush landscape of Africa, or a painful hunger gnawing your guts, Nadifa's writing was rich, luminous and evocative. One particular instance that really gave me the shudders was the time when one of Jama's friend got mutilated by the Italians for stealing food to stave off hunger pangs. I was almost shaking in terror, crying out in pain as I read those horrific passages describing their barbaric acts. Another chapter that really moved me to tears was the last one that described the events that happened aboard a British ship 'Runnymede Park', carrying thousands of Jewish prisoners of war from the concentration camps to be taken to Britain after being denied entry into Palestine. Some of the horror stories refugees ranted during that voyage still kept ringing in my ears long after I finished reading the book.

"a young woman stood up to speak. 'I knew this man in Poland, he was a friend of my father's, he taught Hebrew to my sisters and me. When the German and Polish soldiers came, he saved my life. He hid me in a barrel in his flour mill while the rest of my family were walked to the river and shot. I saw their naked bodies floating down the river. If it wasn't for this man, I would be in that river with them'..."

For someone new to African fiction, Nadifa's book will serve as a window into their culture, clan, war-torn history. Her writing is truly an exemplary work of fiction and something to look forward to in the future. Sometimes, its even hard to believe that its a work of fiction because of her vivid narration. At times, I felt a little squeamish, giddy, unsettling reading her book. This is one story that will surely tug at your hearts' emotional strings, as the author plays with various elements such as grief, love and loss. In a way, thats partly the success of this novel. It drags you into the middle of a sweltering desert in Africa to witness the horrific injustices played out repeatedly in the name of war.

Human Chain by Seamus Heaney

2010-12-09T15:24:00.000-08:00

Title: Human Chain

Author: Seamus Heaney

Genre: Poetry

Edition: Hardcover

Pages: 85

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

"Had I Not Been Awake"

-----------------------------

Had I not been awake I would have missed it,

A wind that rose and whirled until the roof

Pattered with quick leaves off the sycamore

And got me up, the whole of me a-patter,

Alive and ticking like an electric fence:

Had I not been awake I would have missed it,

It came and went so unexpectedly

And almost it seemed dangerously,

Returning like an animal to the house,

A courier blast that there and then

Lapsed ordinary. But not ever

After. And not now.

"Miracle"

-----------

Not the one who takes up his bed and walks

But the ones who have known him all along

And carry him in -

Their shoulders numb, the ache and stoop deeplocked

In their backs, the stretcher handles

Slippery with sweat. And no let-up

Until he's strapped on tight, made tiltable

And raised to the tiled roof, then lowered for healing.

Be mindful of them as they stand and wait

For the burn of the paid-out ropes to cool,

Their slight lightheadedness and incredulity

To pass, those ones who had known him all along.

"Human Chain"

------------------

Seeing the bags of meal passed hand to hand

In close-up by the aid workers, and soldiers

Firing over the mob, I was braced again

With a grip on two sack corners,

Two packed wads of grain I'd worked to lugs

To give me purchase, ready for the heave -

The eye-to-eye, one-two, one-two upswing

On to the trailer, then the stoop and drag and drain

Of the next lift. Nothing surpassed

That quick unburdening, backbreak's truest payback,

A letting go which will not come again.

Or it will, once. And for all.

"Herbal"

----------

Between heather and marigold,

Between sphagnum and buttercup,

Between dandelion and broom,

Between forget-me-not and honeysuckle,

As between clear blue and cloud,

Between haystack and sunset sky,

Between oak tree and slated roof,

I had my existence. I was there.

Me in place and the place in me.

Where can it be found again,

An elsewhere world, beyond

Maps and atlases,

Where all is woven into

And of itself, like a nest

Of crosshatched grass blades?

Earth and Ashes by Atiq Rahimi

2010-12-08T08:10:00.000-08:00

Title: Earth and Ashes

Author: Atiq Rahimi

Edition: Hardcover

Pages: 67

Publisher: Other Press

Translated by: Erdag M.Goknar

About the Author:

Born in Kabul in 1962, Atiq Rahimi was only 17 years old when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. He fled to Pakistan during the war and was granted political asylum in France in 1984. After the end of Taliban regime in 2002, he returned to his home country where he filmed an adaptation of Earth and Ashes. The film was in the Official Selection at Cannes in 2004 and won several prizes. His first novel 'The Patience Stone' won the Prix Goncourt in 2008.

"... these days the dead are more fortunate than the living. What are we to do? We're on the eve of destruction. Men have lost all sense of honor. Power has become their faith instead of faith being their power. There are no longer any courageous men..."

This slim novella begins with a bleak landscape, a torn bridge that connects northern Afghanistan to Kabul, dry river-beds, a dirt track that runs sinuous between the scrub-covered hills leading to a coal mine. An old Afghan man, Dastaguir squats against the railings of the bridge, his eyes fixed on the dusty road waiting to hitchhike a ride to the coal mine. A bundle of dust-covered apples and a stale bread lay beside him. But, what weighs him down is unbearable grief, solitude and loss. As the old man strikes conversation with the benevolent shopkeeper, truck driver and the guard at the post, the readers slowly begin to understand the grave situation he is in. Dastaguir's son Murad left to work in the coal mines years ago, leaving his family with Dastaguir.

"... Over the four years Murad has worked at the mine, you haven’t had a single chance to visit him. It’s been four years since he entrusted his young wife and his son Yassin to you and left for the mine to earn his living. The truth is, Murad wanted to flee the village and its inhabitants. He wanted to go far away. So he left…Thank God he left."

The Russian Army has just bombed his village, reducing it to earth and ashes. Dastaguir's family perished in the disastrous event leaving him in despair. Unable to bear his solitude and grief, he bears a terrible news wondering how to convey it to his son Murad who works in the coal mine. Only a handful of survivors remained - including his young grandson Yassin. But, Yassin lost his hearing during the bombing, though he doesn't know it yet.

"They must've come and taken the voice of the shopkeeper and the voice of the guard... Grandfather, have the Russians come and taken away everyone's voice? What do they do with all the voices? Why did you let them take away your voice? If you hadn't, would they've killed you? Grandma didn't give them her voice and she's dead. If she were here, she'd tell me the story of Baba Kharkash...No, if she were here, she'd have no voice...

Grandfather, do I have a voice? You answer involuntarily, "Yes". He repeats the question. You look at him and nod "yes', making him understand. The child falls silent again. Then he asks, "So why am I alive?"

Written from the perspective of a second-person, the writers invites the readers into the hearts and minds of their bleak lives, the desolate souls who have lost everything in the war. That makes it very powerful, a clever attempt on writer's part for sure. The prose is sparse, poignant, his characters profoundly empathetic. In a meagre 67 pages, the author tries to pack centuries of Afghan history into a slim, bleak novella. It offers no hope only grief, no pleasure just pain. For Western audience its quite an ambitious effort, yet the prose is strikingly beautiful, words sharp as a dagger ready to plunge your heart in deep sorrow. I read this book in one sitting, though I went over it a couple of times to read fragments of text that I really loved. For instance. "You know, Father, sorrow can turn to water and spill from your eyes, or it can sharpen your tongue into a sword, or it can become a time bomb that, one day, will explode and destroy you". I would have liked to see it written more elaborate, complete, but when there is no hope but only grief, what is left to say? When your soul is scorched and scathed, ripped and blasted, what is life to you? What is world to you? You just let it pass by..

"Silence. You watch the rocks and scrub race past. It's not you who are passing them No. It's as if they are passing you. You're not moving. It's the world that's moving. You've been condemned to exist and watch the world pass, to watch your wife pass, to watch your children pass... Your hands tremble. Your heart flutters. Your sight goes dim. You roll down the window of the truck to refresh yourself. The air isn't refreshing. It has become thick, heavy, and black, It's not your sight that has gone dim, it's the air that has grown dark."

Not many novels come out of this war-torn country, such a pity it is. The only other Afghan based novels I have read before are Khaled Hosseini's novels. No wonder I was dying to find out what this novella was all about. If you get past the initial shock of how small it is, you will come to realize that this book is worth its weight in gold . You will truly appreciate the author for his highly commendable work for its not just a story of war, also that of a story about father and sons. Of love and grief. Family and relationships. The power of the story lies in the fact that you feel like a part of it. You are either the accused or the victim. You take a side. You either take the blame, cry in shame. Or You be the victim, weep in sorrow. No matter what, you cry. You grieve. You try to understand. It weighs you down. You fall to the dust, You pray for hope. You become Dastaguir. He becomes you.

Animal's People by Indra Sinha

2010-12-07T13:04:00.001-08:00

Title: Animal's People

Author: Indra Sinha

Edition: Paperback

Pages: 374

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Acclaim: Commonwealth Writers Award winner, 2007 Man Booker Prize Nominee

Dec 02, 1984, Bhopal. It was an unforgettable night permanently etched in our sorrowful memories, scarring many people's lives forever. The Bhopal holocaust which killed thousands and thousands of people, burning many of them alive, is a shameful past we all struggle to forget. Every year, this time around, the TV media, newspaper articles and Internet bring back those horrific events alive again and again.

The Gas Tragedy: Built in the 1970s, the Union Carbide factory jutted through the already polluted skies of Bhopal claiming to make pesticides in an effort to aid the country's green revolution. When the expected green revolution didn't go as planned due to monsoon failures, the authorities decided to shut down the plant. However, no buyers came and the company went on a cost-cutting spree. Workforce halved, safety standards diminished. Minor accidents occurred, a few killings here and there due to gas spill. Despite safety audits, warnings and repeated articles in the newspaper condemning the government's neglect in imposing safety rules, no actions were taken. Safety sirens were permanently switched off so as to not disturb(!) the surrounding neighborhoods. One of the most lethal substances, MIC (methyl-iso cyanate) used during the first world war gas, was kept in huge tanks inside the factory. [Methyl iso cyanate is such a deadly, toxic gas, so volatile that unless kept under freezing temperatures, it can explode and cause catastrophic reactions].

On that fateful night, from inside the Union Carbide factory, what began as a thin plume of white vapor soon morphed into a dense venomous fog, cloaking the night in its devious veil. Nudged by the wind, the fog crept down the alleys, walkways wrapping the shoddy neighborhood, throttling its throat with its monstrous grip. People woke up in the middle of that night, with burning eyes and throat, with flaming lungs. They ran into the streets, coughing and choking, eyes searing with pain, tripping over hundreds of dead people including children. Desperate for their lives, they ran and ran, among many others, including cows and dogs trampling them, ignoring those who just dropped dead. Many struggled to breathe, the gas ripping their lungs apart, gasping for clean air. Over 8000 people died that night and till date the death toll rises over 20,000. More than half a million people remain injured.

The aftermath was catastrophic. People suffered (and are still suffering) eye defects, lung cancer, chaotic menstrual cycles, neurological damages, crippling birth disorders, high cancer rates, diabetes, mental illnesses and much more. Future generations are affected as well. Even as we speak, children of Bhopal are still born with mental illness and physical disorders. The city's polluted waters remains poisonous as the monsoon rains plants poisons deep into the soil which seep into wells and ponds. More than 100,000 people remain chronically ill while they await for any compensation from the government and Dow Chemicals (which later acquired the Union-Carbide factory in 2001). The meagre compensation that was promised perhaps could cover a cup of tea for the rest of their lives. The factory remains uncleaned since neither the government nor DOW Chemicals is reluctant to take up the responsibility. As the nation's biggest scandalous event ever witnessed in the history, the Bhopal holocaust remains a threat to humanity. The apocalypse that gripped the city that night, the terrors they witnessed, the horrific aftermath all comes alive in this heart-breaking novel written by Indra Sinha.

Photo courtesy: Guardian

More pictures in the 'Big Picture' here:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/11/25th_anniversary_of_the_bhopal.html

Indra Sinha, a France-based author, himself went on a hunger strike in 2008 supporting the survivors of the tragedy and the local activists condemning the authorities and accusing the government for letting the DOW chemicals off the hook. He has spent about 5 years writing this novel, many of the accounts drawn directly from the experience of his friends. In many ways, he truly triumphs in bringing back those terrors alive, giving readers an unflinching account of the truth, plunging the readers into a world hardly known. Though considered a fiction, the fabrications remain confined to perhaps the character names as their stories turn out searingly painful and honest as the tragedy itself.

The protagonist of the novel, Animal (a.k.a "Jaanvar" in Hindi), narrates this story as voice recordings using a worn-out 'tape mashin' which he hides in a spider hole, in the dilapidated tower he resides in. "I used to be human once. So I'm told. I don't remember it myself, but people who knew me when I was small say I walked on two feet just like a human being". so begins 'Animal'. Being a victim of the gas attack himself, Animal was barely a few days old 'That Night'. He lost his parents that terrible night and picked up by Ma Franci, a French nun, was normal until he was six. One day, a searingly painful attack on his back twisted his spine and didn't leave its monstrous grip until he hunched forward on all fours leaving him permanently crippled. About two feet from the ground, Animal is hunched, his hands deep rooted to the ground, his legs weak, yet his upper body strong as a body-builder. He could navigate through the crowded alleys in a lightning speed, climb up trees, eavesdrop (a.k.a 'jamisponding' as in spying 'James Bond') behind doors and survives in a human world with his pittance of earnings. He loves Nisha, a daughter of a local musician 'Somraj' and yearns to marry her. Zafar, a local hero, who fights against the injustice by protests, demonstrations, hunger strikes and rallies people against the government and the DOW (a.k.a 'Kampani' as in 'Company') asking them to pay compensation, set up clinics to treat the ill and clean up the factory and the polluted water wells and ponds. Nisha falls in love with Zafar much to Animal's contempt. His attempts to thwart their love, though futile in the beginning, takes a disastrous turn of events. Elli, the 'Amrikan' (American) doctress sets up a clinic to treat the diseased, but the locals refuse her offer suspecting her true motives. The plot revolves around the campaign run by Zafar, the many boycotts, hunger strikes, the war in general waged against the government and the 'Kampani'. But, in many aspects, it is also the story that portrays love, regrets, loyalties, sorrow, revenge and lust.

Animal is undoubtedly the most beloved character of all. With his crippled body and an orphaned, desolate upbringing, he earns a magnanimous amount of sympathy in the beginning, no doubt. As the novel progresses, the readers will witness his true motives, his yearnings and the lengths he would 'gallop' to, in order to attain them. He is flawed, of course, does despicable things, but his honest reasonings could make you rather hesitant before judging him. He repeatedly narrates that he is an animal, a one of a kind at that. Yet, I could not find someone more human than him in that novel. His shortcomings - a sex maniac, selfish, greedy 'bugger' - though loathful at times, he comes across as a profoundly honest, human being.

Some Western readers might find the pidgin-like style, Hindi-French-Inglis mixed notes, and the profane language a little difficult to get into (though if you had enjoyed novels like 'The White Tiger' by Aravind Adiga, you may not), his scathing observations will suck the readers right in. I adapted to the style rather quickly, enjoyed reading it a lot. All the characters in the novel are totally lovable - Be it the selfless, bold, Gandhi-ist type Zafar who is willing to lose his life for the betterment of his people, or Elli, the doctress who leaves behind her country to fight for the poor and the deceased, the Comical Somraj who lost his voice 'That night' now finding music in the oddest creatures like in the croaking of frogs, fart of an ant (as Animal observes), Nisha, the lovable teenager who treats Animal like a respectable human, even Farouq, the local thug who does the utmost sacrifice for his people, and Ma Franci, the mother Teresa type French nun, who lost her mind after the accident.

Despite Animal's belief that his audience might fail to comprehend their sufferings, his harrowing account of 'That night' and the unspeakable misery that ensued will surely bring the readers down to their knees begging for an end to misery. As I read, tears flowed incessantly, my numbed fingers gripping the pages, sorrowful eyes going over the lines over and over refusing to turn the page. Sinha's triumph not just lies in his ventriloquistic style, but more on his honest depiction of the corrupted political system and blighted lives of the victims. The authorities indifference to the poor and their denial for justice brings forth many questions in the minds of the readers. Aren't all human lives the same? Why does the law stay partial and delay justice to the poor? Why do the politicians succumb to the demands of a foreign company when their own people are dying before their very eyes every day? Is greed so powerful that it can turn a blind eye to humanity, love and grief? Why do the rich treat poor like scums? Aren't we all equal in the eyes of god? Is god truly there? If he is, Why would he let such atrocious things happen? I am burning with curiosity to seek out the answers myself. Yet I remain perplexed for the answers seemed to elude me. The context of the novel is powerful, the characters complex yet endearing. This compelling novel truly deserves the nomination and awards, perhaps even more recognition would have been better. As for me, It will remain one of the best reads of all time. If you like this novel, you might also want to consider reading 'A Breath of Fresh Air' by Amulya Malladi and 'A Fine Balance' by Rohinton Mistry (both I tremendously enjoyed).

After You'd Gone by Maggie O'Farrell

2010-11-28T08:31:00.001-08:00

Title: After You'd Gone

Author: Maggie O'Farrell

Pages: 372

Edition: Paperback

Publisher: Penguin Book Literature

From the blurb:

"When Alice Raike's sisters come to pick her up at the train station, they find her wild-eyed, confused, and insistent on returning to London that very minute. Only a few hours later, they receive terrible news - Alice is lying in a coma after an accident that may or may not have been a suicide attempt. While her life hangs in the balance, Alice's family gathers at her bedside. As they wait, argue, and remember, long-buried tensions rise to the surface. Alice, meanwhile, sliding between different levels of consciousness, recalls her past and the end of a tragic love affair..."

I have to admit that my first attempt at reading this novel was an utter failure. Most often I begin reading my books a little distracted and entirely rely upon the author to pull me into the realm through the plot, style of narration or both. Hence, when the book failed to grasp my interest the first time, I put it down after reading a few pages, perplexed and a little disappointed. Then I wondered if it was my apprehension towards reading new authors combined with worldly distractions that needed to be blamed upon. I decided to give it another try. With a feverish concentration and a wrinkled forehead, I devoted a good amount of time reading the first few chapters of the book and this time around my efforts certainly paid off.

The book follows no chronological pattern, often narrated by various characters over different periods of time. The subjects of her novel often shift back and forth between past and present which might confuse or frustrate the readers at the beginning. However, once the initial premise is well built, the book races through the plot for a nail-biting finish. The story mainly focuses on three women Elspeth, Ann and Alice spanning over 3 generations. Elspeth, mother-in-law of Ann, nurtures Alice more than anyone else. Despite knowing some dirty family secrets, she strives to keeps the family bonds intact. Ann, who never properly loved her husband, remains loyal to someone else. Her adulterous behavior brings out negative emotions and her guilt leads to unpleasant encounters with Alice, which are often hysterical and painful. Alice who was never loved by her mother, comes across as a disturbed child and grows up to be cold and distant with her parents. The choices she makes in her life though poor at the beginning, flattens out eventually when she falls for the man who is a real sweetheart. But her self-doubts and insecurities try to rip apart the beautiful life she created. When she finally gets a grip on, she lost it altogether to fate. Though I didn't like Alice initially, the more I understood where she came from, the more I began to empathize with her.

The author touches upon several sensitive issues like religious clashes and infidelity but her triumph comes from those beautiful prose expressing several emotions ranging from love, loss, grief and self-neglect. She is adept at dealing with complexities of family relationships and it clearly comes through her writing. Especially, the passages describing the agony of grief-stricken Alice, the time when she bawls over the phone narrating her insecurities to her sister, unable to get on with her life, her losses - everything moved me to tears. It almost felt as if I was going through all the grief Alice was experiencing. I had to put down the book and cry for several minutes before moving on. What I really liked about the book was the fact that her characters seemed so real, their emotions not fabricated. Though the story constantly churned out several twists, most of it was predictable and it was not a surprising end altogether. In that way, I found it a little comforting that no more heart-breaks need to be endured. Highly recommended!

Hope and other dangerous pursuits by Laila Lalami

2010-11-18T18:32:00.000-08:00

Title: Hope and other dangerous pursuits

Author: Laila Lalami

Edition: Hardcover

Pages: 196

Publisher: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill

"Tarifa. The mainland point of the Moorish invasion in 711. Tariq Ibn Ziyad had led a powerful Moor army across the Straits and, upon landing in Gibraltar, ordered all the boats to burned. He'd told his soldiers that they could march forth and defeat the enemy or turn back and die a coward's death. The men had followed their general, toppled the Visigoths, and established an empired that ruled over Spain for more than seven hundred years. Little did they know that we'd be back. Only instead of a fleet, here we are in an inflatable boat - not just Moors, but a motley mix of people from the ex-colonies, without guns, or armor, without a charismatic leader..."

Four Moroccans decide to illegally cross the border over to Spain across the Straits of Gibraltar in an inflatable rubber boat with many others. As they set off in their tiny vessel, the "Fourteen Kilometers" they are about to sail, under the cover of the night, might make a difference of night and day in their lives. Alternating between past and present, the novel offers an unflinching account of stories of each passenger who undertakes this journey in hopes of a better future.

Murad - an unemployed university graduate makes his living hustling the streets and serving as a local guide at the 'Tangiers'. A decent job is the only thing that would ascertain his status in the household, after his father's death. Aziz - also unemployed and newly wed works as mechanic, but barely could make ends meet. His illegal emigration is imperative to realize his goal of starting his own business. Halima - a young mother of 3 children, flees her abusive husband and her determination to survive the ordeal makes her more desperate for a new beginning. Faten - an activist of Islamic Student Organization and a university student who repeatedly flunks her exams is now at crossroads after expulsion from school.

The initial part focuses about the dangerous journey itself and the possible outcomes of undertaking one including deportation, arrest and even death. The hunched passengers on the boat gripped with fear, the ruthless sea, broken promises and uncertainties makes a stellar opening for the book. Many of the voyagers are perfectly aware of the imminent dangers, yet their yearning for a better life is so strong they take this journey day after day no matter what. Some make it, some get deported, some just disappeared in the seas altogether. Though it reads fictitious, this still happens everyday at the borders and will resonate deeply with many Moroccan readers. Not much different from what we face at the Mexican-American borders today, isn't it?

The second half of the novel concentrates on the lives of her four pivotal characters before the trip and what brings them together, whether they are successful with the choices they made. Her characters appear so real, you could feel their pain and yearnings. In that process, she touches upon a lot of sensitive issues like the Islamic women's rights, illegal emigration from Africa to Europe, human rights which people in some parts of the world are still battling with today.

Even today, in Asian countries, a foreign education and job opportunities in the West are highly acclaimed and not to be debated about. That might change in the next decade or so, when more economic growth opportunities start moving towards the East and emigrating to the West might lose its appeal among the Eastern population. Yet, as of today, touting the West and all its glory is still prevalent in many cultures and population. The promise of a new beginning itself is worth the risk for many of them. Do they all succeed? Even if they do, what do they lose at the end? And, What becomes of those who utterly fail to make a living, who have nothing but shattered dreams to live with. Would you risk your life or would you rather die in your home land stricken with poverty and hunger. Some of these questions are addressed in these stories and thats what makes it really rich and powerful - the fact that it touches upon several commonalities and current issues. Rich or poor, white or black, regardless of the nationality, we all humans have needs, hopes and dreams - a promise for a better life, a better future. We may or may not succeed. However, life doesn't necessarily follow a rosy path and whatever painful outcomes thrown our way must be endured. This is one such commendable work of fiction that brings you face to face with such harsh realities while making you ponder about human rights, Islamic culture and the East-West relations. Laila is definitely an author to look out for.

The Japanese Lover by Rani Manicka

2010-08-20T17:48:00.001-07:00

Title:The Japanese Lover

Author: Rani Manicka

Edition: Paperback

Pages: 448

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

From the blurb:

“Parvathi leaves her native Ceylon for Malaya and an arranged marriage to a wealthy businessman. But her father has cheated, supplying a different girl’s photograph, and Kasu Marimuthu, furious, threatens to send her home in disgrace. Gradually husband and wife reach an accommodation, and the naïve young girl learns to assume the air of sophisticated mistress of a luxurious estate. She even adopts his love child and treats Rubini as her own daughter – a generous act which is rewarded by a long-wished-for son.

But it is a life without passion, and Parvathi dreams of loving – and being loved – with complete abandon. When the Japanese invade Malaya, in WW2, they requisition the estate. Marimuthu dies and Parvathi is forced to accept the protection of the Japanese general who has robbed her of her home. For the first time, she experiences sexual ecstasy. And gradually, her sworn enemy becomes the lover she has always yearned for”

This book holds a special place in my heart and on my bookshelf, because it came to me as a birthday gift from my dear blog friend Susan Abraham. Susan, a gifted writer and a bibliophile, runs her own blog here. Her irresistible love for books reflects deeply in every one of her posts. She has such a divine gift with words and her thoughts and expressions on books clings to your skin like a sweet fragrant perfume just applied. It had been long since I had read anything Asian, so I couldn't resist myself when she offered me a copy.

As soon as I unwrapped, the first thing I noticed (apart from the new book smell that totally sedated me) was the truly gorgeous cover - a picture of a geisha dressed in a 'kimono' holding an umbrella designed with cherry blossoms. The strikingly contrast colors on her dress, the brilliant red shade of paint on her lips, the long curvy eyelashes entirely mesmerized me and I was rooted on the spot gazing at the cover for several long minutes. When I read the blurb, I was hooked and could hardly wait to finish it. I read it over the next several days, I loved the character names since they were very Indian and it seemed like the right kind of novel for my mood. Also, I was hoping to learn more about the Japanese invasion of Malaya since the novel was set during the WWII period.

Much to my dismay, I walked away feeling rather ambivalent about this book. I liked the book to some extent, don't get me wrong. However, it didn't satisfy my cravings on a deeper level. In fact, I thought some of the characters were not fully developed as I needed more depth in the story to understand them well enough. Parvathi who married the ill-fated husband, was rather submissive, inert. She relied on Maya, her cook, healer and a spiritual being, to make her choices and confront her enemies within. She was too fragile and weak showing no exuberance whatsoever. When She fell in love with the Japanese General, I still couldn't feel the intense love and longing she felt towards her lover. Perhaps because, it was written from Parvathi's perspective alone. It would have helped immensely if the author had included a few love letters or such from her Japanese Lover so the readers can truly feel the intense love she experienced. The book touched lightly on every subject - love, betrayal, spiritualism, WWII but never went indepth on any of these, which left me confused and unhappy altogether. Especially, I struggled to connect with the spiritual aspects of the story, as they seemed to be out of place for me. Having said that, I don't mean to say that I hated the spiritual parts of it, In fact, I loved to read about Maya's take on life as such and I looked forward to reading more as I progressed deeply into the novel. However, it just didn't blend well with the story as it was told.

More than anything, I was a little disappointed that the author failed to brief upon the Japanese reign over Malaya during the WWII. There were bits and pieces to certainly whet your appetite, but nothing more. Certain times, the story almost stalled with long periods of mourning and yearning adding a melancholy tone to it, so be warned. One chapter that I really liked was how the Japanese Lover tied a kimono around her. I had always been inquisitive about how a kimono was worn and my thirst was finally quenched. The gossiping women of the Black Umbrella Club to which Paravathi belonged to, the herbal concoctions Maya brewed to heal her patients illnesses or the temple discovery and reconstruction that took place in the jungle behind Parvathi's mansion utterly failed to pique my interest. Not much focus on Malayan culture, tradition or the Japanese counterpart. Overall, it was just the story of Parvathi, a ceylonese immigrant, getting married to a rich, yet ill-fated business man and finding her true love in a Japanese General. The premise seemed intriguing, promising, but the author failed to build anything interesting upon it. Not a gripping tale, yet a definitely readable book.

The House of the Mosque by Kader Abdolah

2010-08-11T10:29:00.000-07:00

Title: The House of the Mosque

Author: Kader Abdolah

Pages: 436

Edition: Paperback

Publisher: Canongate books

Kader Abdolah, born in Iran, in 1954, joined a secret leftist party that fought against the dictatorship of shah and subsequently against the Ayatollah during which he wrote illegal journals before publishing novels. He arrived in Netherlands as a political refugee. He published his original dutch version of this novel in 2005. It took almost 5 years for the translated version to appear for the western audience. What allured me to this book was the intriguing art on the book cover and the constant buzz about the novel that circulated in the blogosphere. 'Never judge a book by its cover' never applied to me. I always bee lined towards books that had artistic, intriguing and charming book covers. That beguiling little bird on the minaret of the mosque, standing next to the hunched man in front of the TV set, the hordes of faces that peek out of the windows of the mosque, the stylish turbans, unveiled women and the erotic kissing couple on the inside cover almost made me yearning to devour it at the very first chance. When the opportunity surfaced itself last weekend, I swan-dived into this gem of a book and lost myself into a space and time that left me breathless at the end.

Even though the political upheaval during the 1979 Iranian Revolution took the center stage in the novel, the book served as a window to the Muslim culture as a whole. The beautiful renditions from Koran (extracted from various pieces and loosely coupled by the author), the beautiful villages of Iran with its ever cawing crows, and migrating birds with its fascinating feathers that land on the minarets each day, the ever buzzing bazaars run by adept carpet merchants, glass blowers and such, the beautiful women concealing their flesh behind their chador during the day, yet adoringly bold and seducing, the subtle eroticism evoked through the poems and passages, the many traditions and customs of the Iranians, their weddings, funerals, birth and all, no other book could ever come so slightly close to what the author had attempted through this novel. Beginning at the shah regime, the novel would certainly pull the readers deeper and deeper into the dark times of Iranian history, leading up to the revolution and the return of Khomeini and finally to his death.

Aqa Jaan, the head of the bazaar, carpet merchant and the family of mosque, enjoyed a high reputation among his people and was much adored by everyone in the little town of Senejan. He was also the keeper of keys and jotted down major events in his journal. His wife, Fakhri Sadat, helped Aqa Jaan with his carpet business, by designing patterns for the beautiful carpets that were sold worldwide. How she came up with such exquisite patterns was simply a wondrous feat. With a son training for Imam and two wonderful daughters, Aqa Jaan led a peaceful, quiet life. Alsaberi, the imam of the mosque, was weak and inept at the task of leading his people. His Friday sermons were never fiery, but he kept the mosque goers happy with his renditions from Koran and ancient stories. Even though parts of Iran were covertly opposing the shah regime, Senejan plays a neutral role. Nevertheless, Qom (revered as the 'Vatican of East') dissatisfied with Alsaberi, sent Khalkhal, a young imam, to stir things up in Senejan. Khalkhal asked for Sadiq's hand and quickly took over Alsaberi (after his sudden demise) as the imam of the mosque. His fiery friday sermons slowly awakened the people of Senejan from a deep slumber, finally leading up to the riots against the queen, Fariba one day. Khalkhal fled Senejan, leaving Sadiq pregnant only to return with the Khomeini as Allah's judge. He lashed out punishments to anyone who opposed the Ayatollah and times were difficult for everyone, even those who opposed the shah and were in support of the current regime.

Political riots and speeches from the ayatollahs sparked the Iranian revolution and hundreds of people died during the demonstrations. The younger generation of the house of mosque covertly took part in underground movements and soon the 'House of Mosque' family was torn apart. The bloody war with its violent protests rocked the entire Iranian society with the ouster of Shah and installing Khomeini in his place. When the Iran-Iraq war reared its ugly head, the country screamed with pain, terror and violence. Men and women were tortured, humiliated and executed. The story ended with the death of their leader and the people slowly emerging from their dark, horrific days of the past.

The story featured more than a dozen characters which made it rather confusing and difficult to read at the beginning. However, the pictorial representation of the family tree came to my rescue many times. It soon made me realize that it was not just the story of a family, but that of a nation altogether. Like in most Muslim communities, Men had an upper hand in family and business matters and the oppression of women in the society was very obvious. Nevertheless, the oppression gave way to betrayal, extra-marital affairs, violence and more, which in the least was not surprising. Iranians yearned for a better life, a better future, yet when they were bereft of all hope and happiness, they resorted to violence unfortunately. Hundreds and thousands of killings and public humiliations and executions shattered their dreams, hopes and passion. Every passage that described about the violent breakouts and mass killings choked my heart and suffocated me. A lump rose over to my throat and tears rolled down my cheeks as my heart ached in pain. Though it was rather a fictitious extension of a real story, the readers would certainly be able to pull strands of the real life sequences that were skillfully woven into the tale. A pleasant, welcoming digression to this otherwise grim tale were the beautiful surahs (poems) extracted from Koran and some of the contemporary poems. Quite often, I reveled in the beauty of the rich, luscious words, lingering in the moment a bit longer than necessary before moving on to the depressing story. I was simply astounded by the fact that I had remained oblivious to the Islamic culture and history on a deeper level, which was why I feel eternally grateful towards this book. Overall, this would make a great read for someone who wants to know more about the 1979 Revolution along with the historic events that eventually unfolded.

One of my favorite poems from the book:

Eyes that strike your soul like the lash of a whip

And so green that they look like apples

Your eyelashes have stolen my heart.

Your lips speak of justice, but your eyelashes steal.

Now you demand a reward for the stolen goods.

How odd: I, who was robbed, must fence them for

you?

William Henry Davies (1871- 1940)

2010-04-01T16:54:00.000-07:00

William H. Davies - Welsh poet and Writer

Excerpts from 'Songs of Joy and Others'

Leisure

-------

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass,

No time to see, in broad day light,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at beauty's glance
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

Fancy's Home
-----------
Tell me, Fancy, sweetest child,
Of thy parents, of thy birth;
Had they silk, and had they gold,
And a park to wander forth,
With a castle green and old?

In a cottage I was born,
My kind father was Content,
My dear mother Innocence;
On wild fruits of Wonderment,
I have nourished ever since.

In the Wood
---------
I lie on Joy's enchanted ground:
No other noise but these green trees
That sigh and cling to every breeze;
And that deep solemn, hollow sound
Born of the graves, and made by Bees.

Now, do I think of this packed world,
Where thousands of rich people sweat,
Like common slaves, in idle fret;
Not knowing how to buy with gold
This house of Joy, that makes no debt.

What little wealth true Joy doth need!
I pay for wants that make no show;
I pay my way and nothing owe
I drink my ale, I smoke my weed,
And take my time where'er I go.

Songs of Joy

------------

SING out, my soul, thy songs of joy;

Sing as a happy bird will sing

Beneath a rainbow's lovely arch

In the spring.

Think not of death in thy young days;

Why shouldst thou that grim tyrant fear?

And fear him not when thou art old,

And he is near.

Strive not for gold, for greedy fools

Measure themselves by poor men never;

Their standard still being richer men,

Makes them poor ever.

Train up thy mind to feel content,

What matters then how low thy store?

What we enjoy, and not possess,

Makes rich or poor.

Filled with sweet thought, then happy I

Take not my state from other's eyes;

What's in my mind -- not on my flesh

Or theirs -- I prize.

Sing, happy soul, thy songs of joy;

Such as a Brook sings in the wood,

That all night has been strengthened by

Heaven's purer flood.

Fruit of the Lemon by Andrea Levy

2010-03-26T22:29:00.000-07:00

Title: Fruit of the Lemon

Author: Andrea Levy

Publisher: Headline Book Publishing

Paperback: 340 Pages

Accolade: Winner of the Orange Prize for fiction

From the publisher:

Faith Jackson has set herself up with a great job and a brilliant flat share. But life is not that perfect. Her relations with her overbearing, though always loving, family leave a lot to be desired, especially when her parents announce their intention to retire back home to Jamaica. Perplexed, even furious, Faith makes her own journey there, where she is immediately welcomed by her Aunt Coral, keeper of a rich cargo of family history. Her aunt's compelling storytelling unfurls a wonderful cast of characters from Cuba, Panama, Harlem and Scotland in a story that passes through London and sweeps over continents.

I had totally forgotten about Andrea Levy's books until it recently popped up in some book discussions, especially her much touted literary master-piece 'Small Island' which garnered so much prize and attention all over the world. Before I got around to reading 'Small Island', I picked this book, just because it was a tad smaller than 'Small Island' and I wanted to get a taste of her writing first. She didn't betray my expectations. In fact, she swept me off my feet with her beautifully crafted, richly detailed and vibrant story of 'Fruit of Lemon'. From London to Jamaica, Cuba to Scotland, she conjured up beautiful images of the sceneries, of the people and their lives. She intricately wove a web of stories, each vividly imagined and so wonderfully portrayed.

Lemon tree very pretty

And the lemon flower is sweet

But the fruit of the poor lemon

Is impossible to eat

~ Will Holt, Lemon Tree

Her stories, especially from the Caribbean, were so refreshing. In 'Fruit of the Lemon', she took the protagonist of the novel, Faith Jackson, on an unforgettable journey of 'self-discovery' from London to her homeland Jamaica. What was revealed by her Jamaican Aunt Coral was an extraordinary account of Faith's ancestral past which make up the latter part of the book. With a little over a half dozen short stories that spread over the globe, they were golden nuggets, so impressively detailed, wonderfully described and standalone tales that could easily pass off as independent short stories. The family trees that were interspersed throughout the book, which initially seemed superfluous to me, made sense as the novel progressed. No way, I would have been able to keep track of all her characters without that family tree she put together. Even with that I lost myself in the maze as I dug deeper into the book, leaving me a little confused and frustrated. However, Only when I decided to let it all go and enjoy Coral's stories as independent anecdotes, I really began to enjoy the book. What I like about Andrea's writing was how she set up the premise of each story. Her passion and fervor for writing clearly came through her words, the emotions still clinging to the passages even after I moved on. More than the first half which dealt with racism and black immigrants in London, I was captivated by the second half which focused on the stories set against the Caribbean backdrop. Her vivid imaginations of white sand beaches, the women in floral-print skirts swaying their hips to the rhythms of music, the men in panama hat sipping on pineapple rum tantalized me so much, I almost wanted to book an airplane ticket to the Caribbean Islands.

They laid a past out in front of me. They wrapped me in a family history and swaddled me tight in its stories. And I was taking back that family to England. But it would not fit in a suitcase. I was smuggling it home.

The first half of the book that began with the story of Faith Jackson, her work as a dresser in a British Television Company and about her parents who came from Jamaica on a 'banana-boat'. Even though Faith's story set a wonderful preface for what was about to come next, the story did drag a bit when compared to the second half where she traveled to Jamaica to trace her ancestral roots. However, Levy tried to balance it out by generously dousing her prose with witticism and humor, barring the sections that dealt with racialism. Although the story was pertained to Faith and her journey of self-discovery, the importance of belonging that Faith longed for was something many immigrants can identify with. People with disconnected pasts, rooted in an alien country, often grapple with a sense of identity, the belonging, loneliness, discrimination and yearn to be with their own kind. Just like Faith's mother says "Everyone needs to know where they came from", this story was one memorable journey in the right step.

The Writing on my Forehead by Nafisa Haji

2010-03-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

Title: The Writing on my Forehead

Author: Nafisa Haji

Publisher: William Morrow

Hardcover: 320 Pages

Bay Area's notable fiction for 2009 - SF Chronicle

From the publisher:

From childhood, willful, intelligent Saira Qader broke the boundaries between her family's traditions and her desire for independence. A free-spirited and rebellious Muslim-American of Indo-Pakistani descent, she rejected the constricting notions of family, duty, obligation, and fate, choosing instead to become a journalist, the world her home.

Five years later, tragedy strikes, throwing Saira's life into turmoil. Now the woman who chased the world to uncover the details of other lives must confront the truths of her own. In need of understanding, she looks to the stories of those who came before—her grandparents, a beloved aunt, her mother and father. As Saira discovers the hope, pain, joy, and passion that defined their lives, she begins to face what she never wanted to admit—that choice is not always our own, and that faith is not just an intellectual preference.

Several reasons allured me towards this book. First and foremost, it is a family story of a Muslim woman of Indo-Pakistani descent. Second of all, the little attestation on the book cover by one of my favorite writers 'Khaled Hosseini'. I love immigrant stories. Especially, one that involves family history. Having devoted most of my childhood years with elders more than my peers, I am naturally inclined towards stories linked to ancestral history and all. One of my favorite pastimes during adolescence was spending limitless hours of time with my grandma (Dadi). She would trace back our paternal lineage, traverse up the family tree, detailing the lives of our ancestors as much as her brain would allow her to siphon. I used to sit on her lap (or by her side, as I grew up) utterly mesmerized by her animated stories, sometimes exaggerated, at times witty, but mostly entertaining. I beseeched her to repeat several of her tales, relishing the memories, reveling in the past. My favorite story used to be the one about my great-great-great-grandmother, who won an award in the court of a 'Chola' King for astonishing him with a delicious dessert made from 'Shikakai' (a bitter powder mainly used for washing one's hair). I still remember how I used to walk tall and proud, my head up, chest out, heart bursting with pride and happiness, for several days after. Once my thirst for the ancestral history was quenched, her stories were later confined to my dad's antics, birth stories of my uncles and aunt. Even though, no dark secrets or shocking truths were revealed during our conversations, she knew how to hold my attention very well. Having raised more than half a dozen children with a meagre income from Dada, poverty took a central stage in her anecdotes. I had been a hapless witness to hunger pangs, sufferings and misfortunes. Though I felt a little powerless over her past, I acquired knowledge, derived hope and gained strength from it. I offered her hope, a promise, a better future. My knowledge of maternal lineage is comparable enough, thanks to Nani. I was not her favorite grand-daughter, though I never held her against it. We used to talk for hours, mostly about Nana, who died even before I was born. Our conversations were held usually after lunch or nap - me sipping a hot cup of tea and munching on pakoras or biscuits while Nani reclined on the Easy-Chair, her eyes closed as she traveled back in time to a period, a place where she really belonged. Nani used to recount every single anecdote with such interesting details, I almost forgot when and where I was. She used to be very detail-oriented, having kept a daily journal all her life. I learnt much more after her death, when I perused some of her journals. Having said all this, it should not come as a surprise that I got all curious and excited from reading the blurb inside the front cover of this book.

In many ways, this novel is a story about the past, about redemption, about hope. Saira's journey to the past, her quest to know more about her lineage was very similar to mine. She acquired so much knowledge from her Big Nanima and letters and journals from her Dada. It gave her enough strength and confidence to pull her through the adverse times she was about to come across later in her life. More than Saira's own, the story is so richly detailed with many other interesting plots and sub-stories. At times, it was even a little hard to keep track of several characters that sprung out of the novel. However, it only added more interest to the story, rather than diverting the attention from it. I even drew a family tree for 'Saira', just so I could keep my pace up with the novel. My favorite character in the book was, of course, 'Saira'. She is smart, unconventional and thirsty of her past. As an aspiring journalist, Saira always had questions for everyone, especially during the bedtime story sessions with her mom. Her family was deep-rooted in culture and valued family traditions, Saira's American upbringing and career aspirations brought forth conflicts and rifts within the family. She could have chosen an conventional, relatively easy life path like her elder sister, Ameena. But, Saira was strong, carefree, independent and assertive when compared to Ameena.

Saira derived inspiration from her Big Nanima, another one of my favorite characters. Big Nanima, raised in India and Pakistan, remained a spinster, to pursue her studies in London. She worked as a college professor and spent her free time adapting English Literature for Urdu plays. She equipped Saira with enough ancestral history and encouraged her to pursue her career goals, to live a life of her own. I also liked how Big Nanima was careful enough to not push Saira too much towards her freedom and taught her to value her customs and traditions as well. Every person, if lucky enough, will have someone in their family, they look up to. For Saira, it was Big Nanima. It was always welcoming to see positive characters like that. Especially in an oppressed community, where women were mostly confined to wearing 'hijab' and serving their husbands and children at home. Big Nanima instilled so much hope and confidence in Saira. Also, her character was a big asset to the story. Her love for literature was so contagious, she brought a huge smile to my face.

With lots of intricate details added to the main plot, the story itself has enough happenings to make the readers glued to the book. When reading novels, I hate switching back too much between time periods, in general. It somehow interrupts the flow, the rhythm. When I started reading this book, I was a little concerned, since her characters lived all over the place from Los Angeles to London to Karachi. Thankfully, it did not happen here. Her writing flowed effortlessly, at a smooth pace, enabling me to keep my concentration. It was an engaging read, overall. I am sure it will certainly hold interest for anyone with an immigrant past, or second generations, who are caught between two cultures.

Sweetness in the Belly by Camilla Gibb

2010-03-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

Title: Sweetness in the Belly
Author: Camilla Gibb

Paperback: 368 Pages

Publisher: Penguin

Accolade: Trillium Award winner

'Sweetness in the belly' is such a fascinating novel that portrays the life and turmoil of an English-born nurse Lilly who was raised in a Sufi Shrine in Morocco. Her travels take her from Morocco to Harar to London. In an engaging story, the chapters transports the readers back and forth between her life in Ethiopia and London. Lilly's circumstances of upbringing are rather odd. Born to an English-Irish nomadic couple, Lilly accompanies them in their travels. When her parents get killed mysteriously in an alley way, Lilly comes under the loving care of 'Great Abdal', a Sufi philosopher and Bruce Mohammed, an Islamic convert and her guardian. Her life flourishes and blossoms and Lilly relishes learning about the mystical ways of Islam. She memorizes and recites verses from 'Quran' and adapts herself to the Sufi ways in no matter of time.

When a new regime in 1960's threatens the existence of shrines in Morocco, Lilly takes on a pilgrimage to Harar to seek blessings and protection for this is the city that houses the original shrine of the first Islamic muezzin Saint Bilal Al Habash. Her Islamic veil and Quran knowledge fails to mask her white skin and British accent. Labeled a 'farenji', a despised foreigner, Lilly's struggle in gaining a foothold among the Harari's. She is forced to live with Nouria, an Oromo, in a ram shackled house amongst dead cockroaches, goat feces, flies and putrid smell of urine. After much struggle, Lilly gains the affection of Nouria, by helping her with her daily chores. She does laundry, cooking vats of stew and injera, making 'berber' - a fiery cocktail made of chillies and most of all teaching Quran to children. She also witnesses some horrific events like female circumcision. She falls in love with Aziz, a doctor, who himself is an outcast with his black skin and Sudanese upbringing. His radical practices and attitude drew her towards him. Yet, their love is short-lived and the 'sweetness in the belly' is only a fleeting experience. When the Dergue regime rises to power after ousting the Emperor Haile Selassie, she is forced to flee once again to London.

The story also focuses on her post-ethiopian life in London, where she longs for a reunion with Aziz, even after 7 years of exile. She befriends Amina, another Ethiopian woman, who flees from Africa when Yusuf, her husband, was taken hostage from a camp in Kenya. Amina's story is heart-wrenching and quite extraordinary as well. As both these women begin their quest in seeking their love and regain their lost lives, they also come face to face with their sufferings, misfortunes and a troubled past. The novel takes the readers as far away as what happens to Aziz and Yusuf thus bringing the story to a perfect closure.

This book was such an engaging read for me. It was not just a story of two struggling women with a troubled past, it was more of a story of Ethiopia itself. African poverty and famine was nothing surprising to me. However, to read about the abysmal living conditions of the poor was such a heart-wrenching experience. Since I was as much a 'farenji' as Lilly, her tragic experiences horrified me. The hardest part was reading about the tribal practices of female circumcision performed on young girls as young as 5 or 6 years old. My heart ached, eyes welled and tears came streaming down my eyes. I was enraged with anger, mad with their superstitious beliefs and customs. Some of the tribal practices were barbaric, especially the infibulation. However, it was astonishing to see how they attribute everything to religion or god. It made me wonder, just like Lilly, if Quran really endorsed the practice of female circumcision. Also, I wondered how much knowledge it really imparted on the people who followed it. For all the recent wars waged in the name of 'jihad', it was illuminating to read about the true meaning of 'jihad' from Quran as an internal struggle for 'purity'.

My knowledge about Ethiopia reached greater heights after reading about many political issues like Ethiopian revolution post, life in refugee camps and prison cells, migration of people from North Africa to the more government-controlled south, deposition of Emperor Haile Selassie and Dergue campaign. Anytime I read about African stories, my heart never failed to swell with gratitude for my American life and its more modern western practices. It made it hard for me to drink my sparkling cup of water, without thinking about the murky brown water the Harari's drink or cook with. That night, my three-course dinner meals kept churning in my stomach, as I pondered about the millions of people who suffered in poverty and famine. I tossed and turned in my ultra-soft mattress, wondering how they slept in rough, patchy floors caked with dirt and mud. It all just seemed so unfair, somehow.

Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid

2010-03-09T21:39:00.000-08:00

Title: Moth Smoke

Author: Mohsin Hamid

Paperback: 246 Pages

Publisher: Picador

Accolade: Betty Trask Award winner, PEN/Hemingway Finalist, NewYork Times Notable Book of the Year

Mohsin Hamid, was highly acclaimed and nominated for several literary prizes for his book 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist'. 'Moth Smoke' is his debut novel.

1998, Lahore. Pakistan had just announced its arrival in the nuclear world in retaliation to the nuclear tests conducted by Indian counterparts. Wild street jubilation broke out in the streets of Lahore, as it became not just a war between two nations, but a war among religions as well. Jobless markets, sluggish economy, political wrath and poverty grabbed and throttled the nation by its neck. In a place where uncertainty and poverty reigns, destruction and calamity took a center stage.

Set in these tough economic times, this novel, a dark and gloomy tale, so eloquently captures the tragic downfall of an ill-fated middle-class young man Darushikoh (Daru). In the opening scene, the protagonist Daru sat crouched in a prison cell having accused of murdering a little boy. Before the readers were given an opportunity to witness the proceedings, the novel back traced in time to the period where Daru began his life as a successful banker smoking occasional joints and partying with rich folks. He earned sufficient enough to afford an air-conditioner and a servant who ran errands and prepared his daily meals. Albeit his associations with the rich, he felt resentful about the chasm between the rich and poor, the corrupted political system and the economic divide that prevailed in the country.

For Daru, destruction first approached him from the workfront. He lost his banker job when he incurred the wrath of one of his valued clients. He struggled to get back into the workforce, but he lacked the right political 'connections'. All the basic privileges he was once entitled to like electricity, telephone, A/C were cut off. His addiction to hash reeled him in and plunged him into a world of complete darkness. Hope came in the form of a woman, Mumtaaz, his childhood friend Ozi's wife. Their common interests led from one thing to another ultimately leading to an extramarital affair. Unfortunately, their love led to a dispute and Mumtaaz was gone. Daru had no one but to turn to Sharad, a drug dealer who had grand plans of venturing into robbing boutiques all around Lahore. As drugs, money and sex sucked him deeper and deeper into the chasm, his doomsday was not far way. He became more of a moth that burnt into ashes when it flickered around the dazzling flames of a candlelight.

The book also presented view points of three other characters - Ozi, the flamboyant childhood friend of Daru, Ozi's wife Mumtaaz and Sharad, a dope dealer cum rickshaw driver. Ozi, Mumtaaz and Sharad played a critical role in the life and fall of Daru and their soliloquies come juxtaposed between Daru's own narration. Albeit providing a holistic view of the situation, their viewpoints made me less sympathetic and more cynical. Each character had their own flaws, unfulfilled dreams and sorrows, yet they all tried to justify their imperfections by condemning the society or political system. Mumtaaz, who claimed to have made false choices in her past, by marrying Ozi and thereby having a child she never wanted, justified her affair with Daru as a sort of respite from her stifing situation. Ozi, a money-launderer, had nothing to complain but his unloving wife. Daru, who constantly whined about the economic divide, thrashed his unpaid servant and lived off of selling hash and heroin to young school children for exorbitant amounts. To top that, he had an extramarital affair with his best friend's wife and puffed his life away into nothingness. In addition to the main story, several other short stories were embedded in them as well. Such as the harrowing tale of Dilaram, who was forced into prostitution and that of Manuucci, the servant whose kidney was stolen and thrown onto the streets. Each of these characters led a pathetic life, irrespective of their financial status. Some characters gained my sympathy, others didn't. Nevertheless, the book is a beautiful, realistic portrayal of a man who made all the wrong choices - by chance or choice.

The Beijing of Possibilities by Jonathan Tel

2010-03-08T15:33:00.001-08:00

Title: The Beijing of Possibilities

Author: Jonathan Tel

Paperback: 185 Pages

Publisher: Other Press

"Beijing is the center of the universe. Ask anybody who lives there. The true Beijinger secretly believes that people living anywhere else have to be, in some sence, kidding".

Over the last few decades, China has witnessed a tremendous amount of growth and industrial progress, in spite of its superfluous population. Today, China is the economic hub of the world and it's strong presence in the global arena is undeniable. Every day, millions of workers migrate to the city to work in the factories under meager working conditions to manufacture and export goods worldwide. To the despairing rural folks, a life in the city offers a ray of hope, sustenance and limitless opportunities.

Indeed, Beijing is a land of dreams. A city bustling with migrant workers, foreigners, pick-pockets, street musicians, pedestrians, businessmen, beggars and whores, who all move in a frantic pace, with a heightened sense of purpose. The factories run 24/7 with its employees working in shifts. The city never sleeps. The busy roads, congested with traffic, makes the air dense with pollution and purpose. To better comprehend the city and the chaos behind it, a story needs to be told. Jonathan Tel strives to do that with not just one, but a dozen of short stories. His stories do not attempt to focus on the cultural revolution or globalization, but rather mundane, yet surprisingly little known, facades of everyday life. Even though most of the short stories in this collection are imbued with a subtle humor, they never fail to bring forth the harsh realities.

The book opens with a captivating story, the 'Year of Gorilla'. A man clad in a gorilla suit makes rounds around the city in his bicycle delivering messages for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, promotions etc. He announces his arrival with a pumping of his chest, then singing songs, before going on about his work delivering one 'Gorillagram' after the other. One day, he witnesses a street robbery and comes to the aid of a middle-aged woman who is about to lose her purse to a bunch of mobs. He is oblivious of the fact that his heroic acts are caught on a cellular phone camera and slowly making its way to the blogosphere. Rumor spreads like a wild fire. Discussion boards springs up all over town and the issue is completely blown out of proportion.

“It is a shame that sticks-in-the-mud are opposing a market economy with Chinese characteristics. The last thing we need is to have a Gorilla barge in every time we shake hands on a deal!” Which led to further criticism, as well as some support of the Gorilla for “preserving Maoist values.” An editorial in the July issue of theBeijing Financial Review referred somewhat obscurely to “Gorillas and their ilk who shoot sparrows with a pearl” in the context of defending the opening up of the mining industry to foreign investment.

Soon, he is arrested, ridiculed and tortured by the police officials questioning his true intentions behind the rescue. Detective Wang scrolled down the Gorilla's file - pages of barely relevant stuff trawled up by a search engine. "So, Gorilla, is it true that you're opposed to the development of capitalist enterprise in China? ... The Gorilla was in the midst of a mob. some wit kept offering him a banana, another taunted him, "Where's your demon-exposing mirror, Monkey King?" He is released, owing to a lack of evidence. Needless to say, Hero Gorilla is never to be seen again. This story, a surprisingly witty composition, is an engaging read and propels the book forward to a glorious start. Though the story is peppered with humor, one cannot fail to understand that not many rural people who come to the city for a better life fulfill their dreams.

'The Book of Auspicious and Inauspicious dreams' is another entertainer about a young couple who moves into an apartment in the Haidian district of Beijing. When they decide to remodel their new place, by tearing down one of the walls, they come upon a rusty old tin containing some souvenirs from the 1960's. The story focuses on the couple's futile efforts as they seek for the owner of these rather odd treasures. The package travels to and fro between the couple and the owner who denies her inheritance. How funny when it finally disappears after stuffing it with a couple of hundred Yuan's in the tin. Money always plays a major role, Isn't it?

Another one of my favorite stories is 'The Unofficial History of Embroidered Couch'. It is witty, hilarious and so damn interesting. Imagine a super-natural match making service that hooks up a modern advertising agency writer with a princess of Ming Dynasty Princess. "A delectable shimmery lightweight bra, combining traditional elegance with the latest hi-tech uplift", he writes. Jonathan does sort of give a hi-tech uplift to the ming dynasty era as well. Though the Ming Dynasty princess lives in a castle, served by eunuchs and maids, she texts messages and takes pictures with her cell phone. Love has no boundaries, you know. When the princess feigns her ignorance on the subject of marriage and love-making, her maid "Mei draws a lavishly illustrated edition of 'The Unofficial History of the Embroidered Couch' out from under the cushion, and she explains to her mistress wha's going on, in chapter after chapter.

Fetching the Fire from the other side of the mountain
The Hungry Horse Races to the Trough
Snuffing the Candle
Releasing the Butterfly in search of fragrance
Letting the Bee make honey
Inserting the Arrow Upside Down
The Black Dragon Penetrates the Cave
Rolling the Pearl Curtain Bottom side up
The Lost Bird Returns to the Wood"

However, their e-love is short lived and they end up in a brawl, after a flurry of exchanging texts and photos. What could have made history as an epic-love story takes a comical twist and a more realistic ending. This story really cracked me up, as I jumped from one chapter to the other like a 'Monkey King'.

'The Three Lives of Little Yu' talks about a middle-aged couple's relentless attempts at adopting a child. Adopting a boy would be beyond their means, so they settle down for a daughter. In 1950's, female off springs are practically given away for free to orphanages or whoever wants them. Miao and Zheng adopt their first girl, 'Yu' by handing over some ration coupons worth five jin of rice. Being a weakling since birth, Yu doesn't survive past toddler hood. The couple adopt again after a decade, only to find their daughter not surviving the 'measles'. Nearly after two decades, girls were still freely given but sold for almost 30,000 Yuan's. The couple pick up their third child at a Beijing market (free of charge, I guess) praying this little 'Yu' will survive. For this despondent couple, who are now in their mid-forties, will third time be a charm? China still strictly imposes the 'One child' rule and prohibits a married couple from entering parenthood until 25. Boys are valued priceless and the fate of the girls are questionable. Adoption is not easy either. Paper works, government rules and exorbitant prices need to be taken care of. On top of that, the pain and suffering that goes with a child loss is insurmountable. This story not only focuses on the depressing aspects of a childless couple, but also is a daring attempt at uncovering the ruthless people who make their lives even more miserable.

'The Beijing of Possibilities' is another deeply touching vignette about a young village girl who obtains a Beijing work permit by agreeing to be a foster mother to a native Beijinger couple. The baby dies prematurely and the girl devoid of hope arrives at the big city to make her ends meet. Working for a telemarketing company as a mail lady, she realizes that the city life is not that promising after all. During one of her usual mail runs, she slips over the ledge of a three-storied building. She lands in a heap of snow and walks unnoticed in a city bustling with people. For life has to move on, no matter what.

"Who can believe in Beijing? Only those who've never been and those who've left; it comes to life in imagination and memory. The smell of Beijing? Smog. Dust. Her sinuses are affected; she has lost that sense. The taste of Beijing? She eats rice three times a day, drinks tea, not much else. The touch of Beijing? Outside boutiques, there are women (immigrants like herself, she assumes) hired to clap, to attract customers. Day and night, sun and rain and snow, the clapping goes on."

I have several more favorites in this collection that I wish I could elaborate. Like the story of a bunch of pick-pocketers from 'The Glamorous Heart of Cosmopolitan Beijing' or the life of a factory-worker who suddenly had to switch working from day to night time shift in 'Santo Domingo'. I purposely left it to the readers to delve into these gems, as I didn't want to give away too much. These little vignettes are highly entertaining, easily readable and a realistic portrait of the modern day Beijing. From Ming Dynasty to Monkey Man, pick-pocketers to street musicians, the stories have something to offer for every curious western reader!

Last but not the least, the book brought back endless memories of our trip to Beijing several years ago. It was such a beautiful and relaxing place to visit when compared to the more polluted, cosmopolitan city of Shanghai. Some people might enjoy the hustle and bustle of city life. Not me. Being the land of 'Forbidden City', where almost 7 sections of the 'Great Wall' that pass close by, Beijing offers more than a century worth of history, picturesque views and a refreshing air. This book will delightfully take you on a tour of Beijing, if not the great walls, at least through the great streets of Beijing. Don't miss.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

2010-03-06T22:21:00.001-08:00

Title: Things Fall Apart

Author: Chinua Achebe

Paperback: 209 Pages

Publisher: Anchor

From the Back Cover:

"Things Fall Apart tells two intertwining stories, both centering on Okonkwo, a "strong man" of an Ibo village in Nigeria. The first, a powerful fable of the immemorial conflict between the individual and society, traces Okonkwo's fall from grace with the tribal world. The second, as modern as the first is ancient, concerns the clash of cultures and the destruction of Okonkwo's world with the arrival of aggressive European missionaries..."

Part One - The story centered around 'Okonkwo', a strong man, who overthrew the greatest wrestler of all times. Okonkwo inherited neither wealth nor title from his father, for his father was quite improvident and wasted his life drinking palm-wine and gathering huge debt. Okonkwo was ashamed of his father, but with his prowess in inter-tribal wars, three wives and two barns of yams, the clan revered him no matter what. His fame even made him a guardian for a young boy named 'Ikemefuna', who came in exchange for a crime committed by another tribal group. Unfortunately, Okonkwo was forced to flee into exile when he inadvertently shot a boy at one of the funeral ritual ceremonies. He left the village with his family to live with his mother's family for the next seven years.

Part Two - Okonkwo mourned and sulked as he spent the next seven years in exile. He had grown to be a respectable man in his clan and gone on to claim even two titles. But, things began to change upon his return. Christian missionaries were slowly gaining foothold in his region educating and converting people of his clan to their religion. Churches, schools and trading stores were built by taking over the land of Ibo people. Government and new laws had replaced tribal gods and tradition. Their rituals and beliefs were insulted and people were threatened to take up the new religion or incur wrath from higher officials. 'Okonkwo' suffered a great deal of pain and desperately wished for freedom for his clan. He gathered leaders in his group and led them into a war against the government. No freedom in the history of mankind had ever been achieved without bloodshed. Pain, suffering and death always paved way for a change. For the Ibo clan that is so laden with superstitious beliefs and age-old tradition, change has to come at a greater price. With a lot of suffering too.

The story offers a rich insight into their culture and a greater part of the story revolves around that. The author strives a great deal to educate the readers about their festivals, ritual practices and tradition. I learnt a great deal of information from the first half of the book about this small ethnic group. It was such an enriching experience to learn about their folk tales, songs and delicacies. The readers were introduced to the Ibo clan as law-abiding people with great faith in gods and justice. Any crisis or injustice was called out and a group of leaders discussed (or rather 'whispered') matters to restore peace. Yam, considered the 'King' of corns, was a man's crop and men went to great lengths to sow and reap yams for not only it helped him feed his family throughout the year, but it also earned him a status in his clan. Men claimed titles and proved their valor in wrestling matches. Men, women and children exuberant in joy over Yam festivals and wedding rituals. Men were polite and always broached a delicate subject with the custom of presenting a bowl of Kola Nuts, palm wine and white chalk. Bride prices were negotiated with broom sticks. Men built separate huts (obi) for each of his wives and they all prepared separate meals for him everyday. People relied on rain-makers, village crier, priestess and Oracle, the 'prophesier' whenever there was a need. Superstitious beliefs among the clan were abound and innumerable folk tales and songs enriched the lives of Ibo clan. The story dealt with the good and the bad. Some of their rituals and punishments were downright savage and brutal. Human sacrifices were as common as their animal counterparts. Wives were beaten by husbands and twin-births were considered an omen and were left to die in an 'Evil Forest'.

The narration was so compelling and thought-provoking. Every culture in the mankind is abound with beliefs and customs. Its not surprising to see that in a tribal group. But, where does it lead one to? If a person is bound by his rituals that pulls him backward into savage ways, should it give him a signal, or rather a warning that it's time to rethink and come to terms with what he truly believed in. Should he untie his bonds, shun brutal practices and move forward to a better cause? And, how difficult would that be for an uncivilized bunch of people who are so backward in their ways? With proper knowledge and education, hope can be sown even in the toughest minds and with hope, will come a change. It will come slowly, but eventually will. For change is inevitable.

Common Wealth Writer's Prize Shortlists

2009-02-18T14:00:00.000-08:00

The Commonwealth Foundation today announced the regional shortlists for the 2009 commonwealth writer's prize. The regional winners that emerge from each of the shortlists will be announced on March 11, 2009.

I am really thrilled to see some of my favorites like Uwem Akpan's "Say You're One of Them, Aravind Adiga's "The White Tiger" and Mohammed Hanif's "The Case of Exploding Mangoes" on the list. Aravind Adiga is also nominated for "Between the Assassinations" for Best Book Prize. I hope he wins at least one. Preeta Samarasan's first book "Evening of the Whole Day" made it to the shortlist as well. I've been wanting to read it for a long time, I guess I should move it to the top of my TBR stack now.

African Regional Shortlist:

Best First Book
Jassy Mackenzie (South Africa) Random Violence Umuzi
Uwem Akpan (Nigeria) Say You're One of Them Abacus
Megan Voysey-Braig (South Africa) Till We Can Keep An Animal Jacana Media
Chris Mamewick (South Africa) Shepherds and Butchers Umuzi
Sue Rabie (South Africa) Boston Snowplough Human & Rousseau
Jane Bennett (South Africa ) Porcupine Kwela Books

South East Asia and Pacific Regional Shortlist

Best Book
Aravind Adiga (Australia) Between The Assassinations Picador India
Helen Garner (Australia) The Spare Room The Text Publishing Company
Joan London (Australia) The Good Parents Random House Australia (Vintage Imprint)
Paula Morris (New Zealand) Forbidden Cities Penguin New Zealand
Christos Tsiolkas (Australia) The Slap Allen and Unwin
Tim Winton, (Australia) Breath Picador

Best First Book

Aravind Adiga (Australia), The White Tiger Atlantic Books
Nam Le (Australia) The Boat Hamish Hamilton
Mo Zhi Hong (New Zealand) The Year of The Shanghai Shark Penguin New Zealand
Bridget van der Zijpp (New Zealand) Misconduct Victoria University Press
Preeta Samarasan (Malaysian) Evening is the Whole Day Fourth Estate
Ashley Sievwright (Australia) The Shallow End Clouds of Magellan

Jhumpa Lahiri and Salman Rushdie are among the six contenders for the Best Book in the Europe and South Asia Regional Category.

Best Book Award

Chris Cleave (United Kingdom) The Other Hand Sceptre
Shashi Deshpande (India) The Country of Deceit Penguin
Philip Hensher (United Kingdom) The Northern Clemency Fourth Estate
Jhumpa Lahiri (United Kingdom) Unaccustomed Earth Bloomsbury Publishing
David Lodge (United Kingdom) Deaf Sentence Harvill Secker
Salman Rushdie (United Kingdom) The Enchantress of Florence Random House

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

2009-02-09T18:09:00.000-08:00

Title: Kafka on the Shore

Author: Haruki Murakami

Paperback: 480 Pages

Publisher: Vintage

Translated from Japanese by Philip Gabriel

Winner of World Fantasy Award & Franz Kafka Prize 2006

Reading Murakami is more like an out-of-the-world experience for me. Its like my brain going into overdrive mode forming active neural connections after being exposed to all sorts of wacky stuff. I guess it might be a good idea to read his novels from time to time for a good brain workout. An intriguing plot doused with mystery and weirdness, quirky characters, bizarre events, jaw-dropping moments, perplexing endings could pretty much sum up what you could possibly expect in Murakami books. Initially, I used to feel utterly bewildered at why certain things are left the way it is. I needed a proper closure - or a happily ever after kind of ending - when I read novels. To be honest, I used to feel a little frustrated with his stories. But, an invisible magical bond pulled me towards his books again and again. The more I read it, the more I began to appreciate his books. It made me realize that Murakami was different; his books defied categorization; they were unique; unlike any other. I began to enjoy his style of writing. In fact, the very things that put me off in the beginning is what I am looking forward to in his books nowadays.

Kafka Tamura, a 15 year old boy, flees home in search of his long lost mother and sister. Apart from the essentials for his runaway trip, the only memory he took with him was a photo he found in his father's study. More than he wanted to find his mother and sibling, perhaps, he wanted to escape the dark prophesy predicted by his father. He seeks refuge in a quiet, private library in Takamatsu. He befriends Oshima, the assistant librarian and Miss Saeki, the owner. He spends day after day reading books and working out at the local gym. Another parallel story that runs is that of Mr. Nakata. Having lost his ability to read and write due to a tragic event that happened during his childhood, Nakata now in his early sixties lives off of a pension from the government for the mentally disabled people. He brings in some extra cash as a cat-catcher, thanks to his uncanny ability to converse with cats. During one of his pursuits looking for a missing cat, he meets Johnny Walker, another bizarre character. And what happens between Johnny Walker and Nakata changes his fate forever. He finds himself on the run but not before he makes more weird things happen. With the aid of Hoshino, a truck driver, he leaves town with no idea of where he is heading. Nakata and Kafka's fate are linked to each other and when their paths converge towards the end, as it is bound to happen, more and more unbelievable events begin to unfold.

I couldn't believe what I was reading; And I was propelled by a strong desire to know where the story was heading. I couldn't comprehend where the reality ended and where the fantasy began. Sometimes I couldn't make a head or tail out of it. But, it was hard for me to put down. I don't know if it could get any weirder than this. Fish and Leeches fall from the sky; You meet someone who can talk to cats; Living spirits and ghosts make the most bizarre appearances and do wacky things; his quirky characters walk in and out of dreams like its no big deal; Yet, there is something equally bizarre about this book that drew me towards it. I was totally captivated by the strange plot and I found myself racing through the book. I couldn't wait to finish the novel, but when I did I wanted to read it again. It was totally mesmerizing, utterly perplexing and a purely magical experience!!

My Rating: 4.5/5

Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan

2009-02-02T16:38:00.001-08:00

Title: Say You're One of Them

Author: Uwem Akpan

Genre: Short Stories

Hardcover: 368 pages

Publisher: Little Brown & Company

Life in Africa is not easy. Especially for children. The basic necessities of life like food, clean water, medicine and shelter is hard to come by if you live in Africa. Infant mortality rate is higher than ever. Even if they do survive, malnutrition, hunger, malaria and AIDS threaten their lives. About one fourth of African children don't live to see the age of 6. If they do, they don't go to school, because their parents can't afford the school fees. They live in shanty houses, pick street fights and do drugs. Child labor, trafficking, prostitution are extremely common. They live under perilous conditions fighting off hunger, illness and abuse. Life is merely a question of survival to them. We all know that. At least, that's what I thought. But, no newspaper clippings or video footage in the media prepared me for what I was about to encounter this in book.

Set in war-torn Africa, this book is a collection of five extraordinary stories (two of them the size of a novella) narrated by the African children. In "An Ex-mas Feast", 8 year old Jigana lives in a ramshackle hut with his parents and two siblings outside Nairobi. His mother sends out her younger ones begging for money and the eldest daughter of the household, Meisha (12 years old) turns to prostitution to make ends meet. Jigana's mother could only offer shoe glue (a substance you sniff to kill hunger) for meal after meal as they await Meisha to bring home their Christmas feast. But, What Jigana wants is not a Christmas feast after all. He dreams about going to school. Will she be able to afford his school fees? If she could, what would she have to lose after having lost everything?

Child trafficking in Africa is extremely common. Boys and Girls of very young age are trafficked to wealthier countries like Gabon primarily for labor. The children undergo a perilous voyage in the sea often traveling in unseaworthy vessels. They are smuggled across the borders with and without the knowledge of border patrol. Sometimes, they are even thrown in the sea for a brief period of time to cheat the guards. Often, the children don't realize what awaits them during and after their journey. Once they reach their destination, they are forced to work under brutal conditions without any wages or food. "Fattening for Gabon", the second story, focusing primarily on child trafficking tells the story of a boy who is prepped up for one such treacherous journey. Kotchikpa, a 10 year old boy and his little sister were entrusted in the hands of their uncle Fofo Kpee, after his parents were sickened by AIDS. Lured by the prospect of good wages, he decides to sell them into slavery. And, how they fatten up for their trip to Gabon is what this story is all about. When their uncle reneged on the deal, they get hunted down. And, Kotchikpa had to take matters in his own hands for his survival.

"What Language is That?" is the shortest story of all. It revolves around the religious clash in Ethiopia. Two girls were told not to speak to each other because of their different religions. Houses were burnt by angry mobs and Christians and Muslims killed each other. But, the two girls had to find a way to communicate with each other. After all, they are best friends forever.

"Luxurious Hearses" is another story about the Christian-Muslim conflict, but its even more harrowing than the previous one. Jubril, a teenage Muslim boy, flees from north of Nigeria to the south in one of those luxurious buses. Christians were fleeing the north as they were rounded by Muslims. But, When Jubril (born to a Christian father and a Muslim mother) was threatened about his religious loyalty, he begins a perilous bus journey among a horde of Christians hoping to seek refuge in his father's hometown. He has one hand amputated which he must hide at all cost, and an accent which would give himself away too easily. What are his odds at making to the other side of the country?

"My Parents Bedroom", chosen as a finalists for Caine Prize for African writing, is about the tribal conflict in Rwanda. It is narrated by a young girl Monique, who is born to Tutsi mother and Hutu father. In order to escape the dangerous situation, her mother disappeared one night after leaving her 2 year old baby in the hands of Monique. "Say, You're One of Them" was the last thing she said to them. But, little monique never realized what it meant until a group of hutus came pounding at the door looking for her mother. They eventually hunt her mother down and her father's hutu relatives force him to kill his wife. Will he be a loyal husband or a loyal Hutu?

Each story affected me in a profound way, but the last story is the most heart-wrenching story of all. Luxurious Hearses is a bit dragging and the local slang slowed me down a bit. But, it makes the stories more authentic. I think the author has made a tremendous effort in bringing out the horrors of ethnic wars and its impact on the African children. The stories are depressing, unforgettable yet too powerful. I would love to read more of his books in the future.

My Rating: 5/5

The Age of Shiva by Manil Suri

2009-01-13T07:55:00.000-08:00

Title: The Age of Shiva
Author: Manil Suri
Genre: Fiction
Edition: Hardcover
Pages: 451

1955, India. The political unrest caused by the India-Pakistan partition had barely abated. The country was still recuperating from the loss of hundreds and thousands of Hindus and Muslims who got killed by angry mobs. The lawlessness that prevailed in the country during the Hindu-Muslim riots was seemingly under control, despite the efforts of Hindu and Muslim extremists who were carrying out clandestine operations to implant the seeds of hatred and revenge in people's minds. Thousands of people were still struggling to find abode, after having lost everything.

The story begins around this period when Meera, the protagonist, in her late teens fled Rawalpindi (now part of Pakistan) with her parents and two sisters Roopa and Sharmila. Meera's father had successfully managed to establish a printing business which eventually helped them settle down in Delhi. During her school years, Meera was constantly vying for her parents attention, as they doted on Roopa and swooned and squealed in delight over everything she did. When Roopa fell in love with Dev, a singer from her college, Meera felt it was time to avenge her for all the unfairness she was subjected to. Luck favored her by causing a rift between the lovers and Meera seized the opportunity to marry to Dev, much to her father's disapproval.

While Dev was still heartbroken and sulking about his breakup, Meera struggled to move on with her life. Her mother-in-law's oppressive ways and brother-in-law's covert glances only worsened the situation she found herself in. With her father's help, Meera pulled herself out of this mess, by relocating to Bombay where Dev could pursue his career in music. But, her freedom came at a terrible price. It took more than 5 years for her to finally have her wish fulfilled, to quench her thirst for love. The birth of her son, Ashvin filled the void in her life. She loved him like no mother would love hers. She pampered and protected him from everyone, including Dev. But, where would that blindfolded love lead her? And, what was the price she had to pay then?

The story almost spans over 3 decades and captures all major historic events like the India-Pakistan war, Emergency declared during Indira's period, China war and so on. The writing was so elaborate, painstakingly detailed and exquisitely beautiful. The author shows his adeptness at writing all the way through, but the most astonishing part is the way he has written from the perspective of a female protagonist. Its not easy pulling off something like that and he needs to be applauded for his efforts.

However, the book has many negative characters such as an overbearing father, a haughty sister Roopa, irresponsible husband, drunkard father-in-law, pervert brother-in-law and to top it all a selfish, unforgiving and vulnerable protagonist. I could hardly empathize with any of them and probably that's why I didn't enjoy this book much. Also, the portrayal of a mother's love for her child seems a bit exaggerated, sometimes even unbelievable. To add to that, I wonder how much the snippets from the Hindu mythology would appeal to the western readers either. Compared to his previous novel, this book was a bit of disappointment to me but not quite enough to refrain myself from his future books altogether..

My Rating: 3/5

Almost Single by Advaita Kala

2009-01-08T16:08:00.001-08:00

Title: Almost Single
Author: Advaita Kala
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 288
Edition: Paperback

I do read chick-lit novels. Every once in a blue moon. Perhaps its due to the fact that I get my own share watching Bollywood movies. When it comes to books, I mostly stick to literature, fiction and non-fiction types. However, an occasional chick-lit can do wonders for me. An alluring front cover and an impressive blurb on the back is all I need. And this book just perfectly fitted the bill.

Aisha Bhatia. 29. single. female. India. Upper middle class. Desperately seeking a groom. Well, you get the picture. But, how could it go wrong with a promising start like that? The protagonist just rambles on and on about her philandering boss, sucking job, gay friends, cocktail parties, single women friends and her adventures in pursuit of love and marriage. As far as the story goes, there is nothing more to it. You can probably fit it in a post-it note.

I don't know how it all ended. I never really bothered to finish it. It is noteworthy to mention that the first half of the book had a few hilarious anecdotes I enjoyed. But, the author fails to keep up with her pace in the latter part and it is all downhill after that. However, I won't dismiss the novel as a sloppy piece of work altogether. I just feel that the book appeals to a niche audience and I don't belong there.

My Rating: 2/5

Q & A by Vikas Swarup; Slumdog Millionaire

2009-01-04T11:19:00.001-08:00

Title: Q & A
Author: Vikas Swarup
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 361
Edition: Paperback
Movie: Slumdog Millionaire

My bookshelf is teeming with books of literature, fiction, and non-fiction all neatly stacked waiting to be read. Quite often, I pick one up run my fingers down the spine, weigh the book in one hand, flip through the pages, catch a phrase or two in the process wondering if it should be my next book. Some books get picked up again and again. Some books just gather dust over time. Q & A falls in the second category. I believe I have had it on my shelf for over a year lying untouched. I never thought about it much until one day I ran into a friend who bragged about a movie called "Slumdog millionaire" and how its based on the book "Q & A". It sure did ring a bell. I dashed back home, headed straight to my bookshelf and dusted off my copy of Q & A. With a little over 350 pages, what I once thought would be a boring book turned out to be just the opposite.

Ram Mohammad Thomas, an eighteen-year-old boy hailing from a slum in Mumbai wins a whopping one billion rupees in a quiz show "Who Wants to Win a Billion?". Before he could bask in the glory of winning the most coveted prize, he was accused of cheating and arrested. He pleads his innocence, to no avail. A lawyer comes to his rescue and what he recounts with her forms the compelling story of Q & A.

The book has 12 chapters one for each question from the show. In every chapter, Ram narrates an event from his past and ends with a question from the show. By the time you finish a chapter, you would realize that the question is a no-brainer for Ram. In quiz shows like this, the questions increase in complexity as you plow your way through. And since each chapter spins a tale around the question, the events don't follow a chronological pattern..or any pattern at all. This makes it a much more difficult read. I was trying to puzzle several pieces together the whole time, as Ram (the protagonist) goes back and forth in time. The author does seem to realize this predicament, yet the challenge remains.

He touches several topics like Ram's upbringing in a christian home, his experiences from doing odd jobs, his love with a prostitute and such. Some stories are well written. A few rather seem to be forced. But, it was a great effort overall. What I found to be profoundly moving was the day-to-day life of people in Dharavi (a renowned slum in Mumbai). I have seen slums whenever I used to travel by train or bus. But, never up close. Now I begin to understand what life would be like for those people who live on the brink of extreme penury.. what it would be like to line up in queues for everything from water to public restrooms...to spend endless nights without an electricity..to pilfer food from trash bins..to toil everyday for pennies.. to live under appalling conditions. Thanks to Vikas for reminding me how grateful I should feel for the happy and privileged life I lead everyday.

My Rating: 4/5

Now, a little bit about the movie "Slumdog Millionaire". Directed by Danny Boyle, the movie has earned 4 Golden Globe nominations already including the best motion picture - drama. The trailer looks very appealing and hopefully I would watch it someday.

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/slumdogmillionaire/ links to the movie website.

The Death of Vishnu

2008-01-31T23:20:00.000-08:00

Title: The Death of Vishnu
Author: Manil Suri
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 295
Edition: Paperback
Accolade: 2002 Pen/Faulkner Nominee

Manil Suri's latest novel 'The Age of Shiva' is due out in February, 2008. As I await to lay my hands on his new book, I decided to read first his much acclaimed debut novel 'The Death of Vishnu'. In this charmingly funny novel, Suri invites you to meet some very interesting characters living in a 3-storied apartment building in Bombay.

Mrs. Asrani and Mrs. Pathak are neighbors. Not the friendly, harmonious type, but the war-mongering kind. They squabble over frivolous matters and a sense of hatred for each other runs in their blood. To top it all, they had to share a kitchen on the first floor.

Mrs. Jalal, a devoted muslim lives upstairs with her husband and son Salim. Mr.Jalal is propelled by the quest of enlightenment and his eccentric behavior drives his wife crazy.

Kavita (Mrs. Asrani's daughter) and Salim (Mrs. Jalal's son) love each other and they meet clandestinely on the terrace often.

Vinod, a reclusive man, lives on the second floor. He depends on his hard-earned money as a banker, a flat he now lives and the food brought over by his servant everyday for his sustenance. All cooped up in his flat, he whiles away his time, lying in bed grieving over his wife's death.

The story begins with Vishnu, an odd-job man who lives on the landing, lying motionless on the verge of death. The stale chappatis brought over by Mrs. Pathak and the watered-down tea from Mrs. Asrani's house stay untouched, as Vishnu daydreams about his childhood days and a love affair with Padmini, a prostitute. His health is deteriorating but, life goes on around him and the apartment dwellers seem oblivious to his physical condition.

One night Jalal, driven by his quest for wisdom, decides to sleep next to Vishnu on the landing. He has a strange dream where Vishnu, the drunkard, is 'Lord Vishnu', the god and he himself the prophet. Next day, Ganga, the servant, finds Jalal asleep on the landing with a dupatta wrapped around his head. Also, Kavita and Salim had eloped the previous night. Despite the hullabaloo about the missing lovers and the mysterious dupatta wrapped on Jalal's head that night, Jalal continues to rant about his strange vision and why everyone should worship Vishnu, the drunkard. But, Where would all this lead him?

No major story plots or anything here. But, Suri makes it up to you with his engaging characters, vivid narration and an interesting prose that might tickle your funny bone at times. I found myself racing through the pages and thought it was a good read overall.

Author's Note: Manil Suri got his inspiration for the central character of this novel from a man named Vishnu who lived on the steps of the apartment building in which he grew up. Apparently, he died on the same landing he occupied for many years.

My Rating: 3.8/5

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

2008-01-20T21:16:00.001-08:00

Title: The curious incident of the dog in the night-time
Author: Mark Haddon
Pages: 226
Genre: Fiction
Edition: Paperback
Accolade: 2003 Whitbread Book of the Year, Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book

Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old boy, is autistic. He is a keen observer, adept at solving math problems and knows every prime number up to 7057. He attends a school for children with special needs and his pet-rat 'Toby' keeps him company after school. He doesn't like being touched, dislikes meeting strangers (because of the 'stranger-danger' thing taught at school) and won't tell lies (except a 'White Lie'). He abhors anything that is Yellow / Brown, but loves 'Red' color. He won't eat two foods if they touch each other on the plate. His favorite dish 'Aloo Saag', which is yellow, is OK though, as long as its camouflaged with red-dye powder. Witnessing four yellow cars in a row makes it a 'Black Day' (Neither does he eat anything nor does he talk to anyone on a Black Day) and five red cars in a row makes in a 'Super Good Day'. Walking down streets or places crowded with people makes him jittery and he comforts himself by grouching and groaning or doing some mental calculus. He hardly ever ventures out and likes to shuts himself in his house and play on his computer.

One day Christopher walks into his neighbor Mrs.Shears house to find her dog 'Wellington' killed by a garden fork. Troubled by the event, he begins to investigate the murder. Christopher wants to solve the case just like the way he solves his math puzzles. But, his father Ed won't let him get any further. He confiscates the diary he was using to jot down his observations with the murder-mystery case and hides it somewhere. When Christopher searches around the house for his missing diary, he not only uncovers what he meant to find; but also something that he was unprepared for...

Written from the perspective of an autistic child, this touching novel offers a great insight into the world of autism - a place where normal human behavior and emotions have little meaning. Human brain is very complicated as such. And, that of an autistic child is even difficult to comprehend. But, Mark Haddon writes with such beauty and poignancy that I begin to wonder if anyone else could have said it better. With so many wonderful hand-drawn illustrations, this could be one of the rare novels you will ever find. I wonder how I missed such a gem of a novel. Probably, I must have been living in a cave or something ...

My Rating: 4.8/5

Blind Willow Sleeping Woman

2008-01-13T22:24:00.000-08:00

Title: Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman
Author: Haruki Murakami
Genre: Fiction / Short Stories
Pages: 352
Edition: Paperback

Translated from Japanese by Philip Gabriel and Jay Rubin.

I am a short story buff. Just nibble your way through a few pages and you have a perfect little nugget. I never knew about Murakami until I read Lotus' review about one of his novels 'After Dark'. Much intrigued by her post, I picked up his short story collection 'Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman' thinking it might be a wonderful way to break the ice... If you have never read Murakami before, let me assure you. You are in for a surprise!!!

'A Perfect Day for Kangaroos' is a story about a couple who visit a zoo to get a glimpse of a baby kangaroo. That's about it. Nothing more.

In 'Nausea 1979', a guy vomits everyday for almost 40 days. Every time he throws up, he receives a phone call from an anonymous caller who just says his name and hangs up. You think the story is getting somewhere..right? Well, one day the vomiting stops and so does the anonymous call. Now, Who is the caller? And Why or How did his vomiting stop? Only Murakami knows.

In 'New York Mining Disaster', a man meets a woman at a party who tells him she killed someone who looked just like him by throwing him into a beehive. They say 'Good bye' to each other and the story ends there. Then What?? Go figure...

'Where I'm likely to find it' has an interesting prelude, though. A man who lives in the 26th floor of the apartment mysteriously disappears on his way back from tending to his mother on the 24th floor. His wife hires a detective who is determined to solve the mystery. Everyday, he walks up and down the staircase between 24 and 26th floor looking for clues. But, his efforts go futile when soon after, the lady's husband shows up one day (though in an altered state). The sleuth moves on thinking his search will continue somewhere. "A search for something that could very well be shaped like a door. Or may be something closer to an umbrella or a doughnut. Or an elephant. A search that, I hope will take me where I'm likely to find it." The story never reveals how the man turned up all of a sudden or what happened to him.

Even though some stories are just banal, a lot of them are noteworthy of mention. In 'Dabchick', a man with a crumpled envelope in his hands sets out to win a job he desperately needs. After meandering his way through a labyrinth of tunnels, he arrives at the doorstep greeted by a guy in his bathrobe (!!). An eight letter password should get him through the door. And what would that password be? Very interesting story!! 'Chance Traveler' chronicles Murakami's strange experiences & observations and 'The Mirror' is a brilliant story that can scare the heck out of you. 'Sharpie cakes', 'Firefly' & 'Tony Takitani' are some fantastic stories that will keep you riveted to the book.

I must admit some are mundane; some are obscure or even pointless; but some are over the top. May be they are just vague at times, but they are so unique. May be you will go nowhere with it. Or May be you will. I guess that's just Murakami. His stories rely so heavily on reader's assumptions and judgements. May be that's what makes his books interesting. Its a sort of invitation / challenge to leap beyond your creative boundaries into a unique, imaginary realm that's even surreal. Are you up to it?

My Rating: 3.8/5

Happy New Year

2007-12-31T23:41:00.000-08:00

pic. courtesy: www.art.com

Wish you all a Very Happy New Year!! May you discover many more exciting books to read in 2008!!

Also, Today is my blog's first anniversary!!! Yeah!! I started off this blog merely as an online journal where I keep track of the books I read and record my thoughts on it. But then, along the way, I discovered so many other wonderful blogs publishing book reviews and suggestions. Truly, Its been a great experience reading your blogs. And, Thank you so much for all the great reviews.

I want to wrap up my final post for 2007 highlighting some of my latest reads. Due to lack of time, I could only squeeze a few lines for each one.

The Nazi Officer's Wife by Edith Hahn Beer ~ A truly fascinating memoir of a Edith, a Jewess & wife of a nazi Officer and her survival in the labor camp in Germany during WWII.

On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan ~ Ian captures the feelings of Florence and Edward, a young couple, on their wedding night on the chesil beach. Most of the story happens in the honeymoon suite. As the night unfolds, Edward and Florence work hard to conquer their innermost demons. Will their wedding night turn out to be a disaster? or may be they can make it up after all... Not sure if I really liked this one. It had an interesting start but then, it lost me somewhere in the middle...

If Today be Sweet by Thrity Umrigar ~ Tehmina Sethna, a parsi woman, visits her son and his family in cleveland, after the death of her husband. Still coping with the loss of her husband, she now wrestles with the idea of what "home" really means to her. Should she go back to her life in Bombay or should she stay with her son in America? Umrigar is one of my favorite authors and I loved reading her previous title 'The Space Between Us'. I highly recommend this one!!

The Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer ~ Shortly after the Iranian Revolution, Isaac Amin, a local jeweler gets imprisoned by the Revolutionary Guards and is sent to prison. Being a Jew and someone who frequently visits Israel, Isaac was severely tortured and flogged and his chances of survival are slim. He suffers severe mental agony wondering if he will he ever see the outside world. A truly captivating story!

A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah ~ A searingly painful memoir of a young boy whose life alters together when a civil war breaks out. To read what war is like through the eyes of a young boy is so heartbreaking. But, I beseech you to read this great memoir!! Highly Recommended

Mister Pip

2007-11-03T23:28:00.000-07:00

Title: Mister Pip
Author: Llyod Jones
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 256
Edition: Hardcover

"You cannot pretend to read a book. Your eyes will give you away. So will your breathing. A person entranced by a book simply forgets to breathe. The house can catch alight and a reader deep in a book will not look up until the wallpaper is in flames".

Its 1990's. A civil war breaks out in a small tropical island, as the redskin soldiers invade the natives. All the whites flee the island, as the redskins raid the village looking for rebels and kills people who aids them. One White man chooses to stay behind. Mr.Watts. He is also known as 'Pop Eye' (as his eyes appear as if they are about to pop out of his face). On rare occasions, he wears a red clown nose, and pulls his wife, Grace (a black woman), along in a trolley, a sight that usually gathers a crowd of curious onlookers. When the local school teacher flees, Mr.Watts fills in for him. However, he has no teaching skills. He chooses to read aloud a chapter from 'Great Expectations' every day, much to the delight of the school children.

Matilda, a 13-year-old village girl, soon finds herself enraptured by the character 'Pip' and the Victorian England. When she playfully writes the name 'Pip' in the sand one day, the redskins mistake it for a rebel. They torture the villagers either to surrender 'Pip' or incur their wrath. During one of the interrogations about 'Pip', a student blurts out that Pip belongs to Dickens. When the question arises to who Dickens is, they point to Mr.Watts. Now, Its up to Mr.Watts, the eccentric 'Pop Eye', to save the village from impending violence.

Jones' writing is seductive...powerful...magical...He writes with great imagination and flair. His elegant prose will keep you riveted to the book from page one. I didn't get a chance to read all the Booker prize nominees (except Ian McEwan's 'On Chesil Beach'). But after reading this novel, I truly felt sad that Lloyd Jones didn't win the 'Booker'. I beseech you to read this truly enchanting novel.

My Rating: 4.5/5

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Lovely Lotus has awarded me the 'Schmooze Award' . Thank you so much Lotus, You are so kind!

This award is for the bloggers who “effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.”

I would love to pass on this award to Wendy at "Musings of a Bookish Kitty".

Falling Man

2007-10-27T20:50:00.000-07:00

Title: Falling Man
Author: Don DeLillo
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 246
Edition: Hardcover

9/11. The Twin Towers are burning...And then, as the world watched over, horror-struck, the towers came tumbling down... south tower first..then the north..."He heard the sound of the second fall, or felt it in the trembling air, the north tower coming down, a soft awe of voices in the distance." Enormous plume of smoke rapidly engulfed the entire region. "It was not a street anymore but a world, a time and space of falling ash and near night".

Keith, a 39 year-old lawyer, who worked in the Twin Towers, emerged out of the rubble, glass shards jutting out of his skin, ashes coated all over. He appeared at the doorsteps of Lianne, his estranged wife, in a stupor. He carried a briefcase that was not his. It was handed down when he was waiting on the staircase, to escape the burning towers. He forgot to pass it on and now carried it with him. Lianne, a freelance editor, lived with her son Justin, a 7-year-old. Lianne wanted to reconcile their differences, after nearly a year of seperation. But, Keith, a philanderer, proved her wrong once again. When Keith seeks the owner of the briefcase, Florence, he was attracted by her. His affair with Florence was short-lived, however. His interests soon turns to gambling and poker games.

Two parallel stories run along the main plot. One is that of Hammad, a hijacker, who trains in the US to carry out his secretive mission. Second is, Falling man himself. Falling man is a performance artist who stages public stunts (wearing a safety harness tied to his suit) in an attempt to evoke dreadful memories of people falling from the burning towers.

The individual sections of the novel are vividly described. The final chapter is definitely worthy of mention. Hammad wrestles with his emotions on the hijacked plane; the plane hits the tower; and it beautifully transitions into Keith catapulted back and forth as the towers swayed due to the impact. The ending was perfect; beautiful. However, the overall plot fails miserably to engage reader's attention. The characters are shallow, and seemingly disconnected from each other. The prose is fragmented, incoherent and frustrating at times. I won't recommend this book to anyone. Very Disappointing!!

My Rating: 2.5/5

The Attack

2007-10-22T14:25:00.001-07:00

Title: The Attack
Author: Yasmina Khadra
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 272
Edition: Hardcover

Dr. Amin Jaafari works as a surgeon at a local hospital in Tel Aviv. Jaafari, an Arab-Israeli citizen, is apolitical and highly revered by his colleagues for dedication to his profession. One day, a deadly bomb explosion causes havoc in a local restaurant. Atleast 19 were dead, 11 school children among them. Several people sustained many catastrophic injuries. Jaafari slogs his guts out all night at the emergency room saving as many lives as he can. Not soon after he reaches home, he is summoned back to the hospital to verify the identity of a corpse. It was none other than his lovely wife Sihem. What Jaafari finds more devastating is when the police officials deduced that his wife must have blown up the restaurant. She is bearing injuries similar to that of a suicide bomber. Her whole body is reduced to a pulp, except her beautiful face.

Jaafari feels completely befuddled when he tries to fathom why Sihem, his lovely wife, known to be an intelligent and caring woman, would commit such a crime. How could he knew so little about someone he loved and cared about all his life? Did Sihem leave any cues for him to pick up before she chose her destiny? Did she not enjoy a perfect life with him? Was he not a good husband to her? Why would she choose to suffer a horrific death?

At his wits' end, he quits his job and embarks on a treacherous voyage to find out why someone, his wife, in particular, would choose to become a martyr. He travels to Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Jenin searching for answers. Jaafari learns that deprivation of homeland could bring endless suffering and why martyrdom is a better choice for them.

Yasmina Khadra proves once again that he is an adept storyteller. Today, we live in a world where terrorism threatens to endanger our peaceful lives any moment. Hundreds of civilians lose their lives in suicide bombings everyday. Its aftermath is always horrendous. This novel offers a chilling look into a world, of terrorism, only a few people are beginning to understand. Another beautifully written novel!!

My Rating: 4/5

Fire in the Blood

2007-10-19T20:25:00.000-07:00

Title: Fire in the Blood
Author: Irène Némirovsky
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 138
Edition: Hardcover
Publication: Alfred A.Knopf

"When you're twenty, love is like a fever, it makes you almost delirious. When it's over you can hardly remember how it happened. . . . Fire in the blood, how quickly it burns itself out. Faced with this blaze of dreams and desires, I felt so old, so cold, so wise. . ."

Written in 1941, only a part of the manuscript of 'Fire in the Blood' was thought to exist before. Olivier Philipponnat and Patrick Lienhardt, who were commissioned to write Némirovsky's biography, uncovered the missing manuscript amidst other papers Némirovsky had given for safe-keeping to her editor. Originally translated from French by Sandra Smith, the novel is now published nearly 40 years after her death.

Years before the onset of WWII. A small rural village in France is warming up to the chilly draughts of Autumn. Sylvestre (a.k.a Uncle Silvio), a middle-aged man, is back in his hovel, after a lifetime of travel seeking fortune. He enjoys a perfect evening smoking pipe by the fire, while sipping a bottle of warm red wine. Although Silvio relishes his solitude, he treasures the time spent with his cousin Hélène's family. A family reunion brings out some intimate stories of the past. As Hélène and François reminisce about their youth, it turns out that Hélène's first marriage to a sick old man left her with some unhappy memories and François had to wait for years before he took Hélène's hand in marriage. Now, all they wished for their daughter Colette is a happy married life with her fiancé Jean Dorin. But, Colette's heart lies somewhere else. Not too long after their wedding, Jean meets a mysterious death. Suspicion arises; investigation follows; treasured family secrets and betrayals are out in the open; a whole slew of unexpected events slowly unravel. And now, not just Colette, but Uncle Silvio is in the thick of it, too...What started out to be a slow read, raced to the end for a nail-biting finish!

Némirovsky's previous novel 'Suite Française' achieved phenomenal success selling over 1.5 million copies worldwide since its publication in France in 2004. In this novel, she proves her mettle in portraying the complex emotions hidden beneath the many facades. Not a literary masterpiece, but definitely an entertaining story. If you are looking for a quick engaging read, go for it!

My Rating: 3.5/5

2007 Man Booker Prize for Fiction

2007-10-16T22:47:00.000-07:00

Anne Enright was tonight named the winner of the £50,000 Man Booker Prize for Fiction for her novel "The Gathering", published by Jonathan Cape.

According to the Booker prize website, Howard Davies, Chair of the judges said:
"The Gathering is an unflinching look at a grieving family. It’s the bleakness of one woman’s vision, a bleakness rooted in her family, her marriage and the death of her brother".

Born in Dublin, Anne Enright is the author of three previous novels: The Wig My Father Wore (1995), What Are You Like? (2000) and The Pleasure of Eliza Lynch (2002).

For a short Q&A with Anne Enright, click here.

Divisadero, Rockin' Girl Blogger

2007-10-16T21:04:00.000-07:00

Title: Divisadero
Author: Michael Ondaatje
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 288
Edition: Hardcover

First of all, I must bashfully admit that I've never read any of Ondaatje's works before!! And Oh, What a fabulous read it turned out to be...

Set in the 1980s, the story begins with Anna, Claire and Coop living in a small farm in Petaluma, California. Anna's mother dies in childbirth and her father brings home not just Anna but Claire too, another orphan born in the same hospital, to raise them as his own. Coop, a boy in the neighborhood farm, joins Anna's family after his parents were killed in a local violence. Coop works in the farm all day, tending the cows and horses, while the girls swoon over him. Then, the inevitable happens. Anna and Coop fall in love. While Anna and Coop enjoy one of their most intimate moments, her father storms in and launches an assault on Coop. Despite Anna's plea to save Coop, her father, raging with anger, tries to murder Coop. Coop manages to flee and settles down in Nevada to become a gambler. Anna's resentment towards her father forces her to abandon the farm and go to France. She seeks refuge in an old mansion, whose former owner is a famous French Writer named 'Lucien Segura'. Claire makes living as a researcher for a public defender office. The family divides and tears apart. One event alters everything and their paths don't intersect for many years later.

Now, the story comes to an abrupt halt. Halfway through the book, Ondaatje begins a new story, that of a French Writer named 'Lucien Segura'. He recounts Lucien's life history through Anna and how it mirrors her own life in a bizarre way, bringing back memories from the past. As a reader, it bemused me a bit in the beginning, as it all seemed totally unrelated. But, as I continued to read (and reread quite a few times), I could appreciate the sublime beauty hidden in the passages and how the similarities reveals itself in a most beautiful, but subtle way. It proved to be a difficult read at first, but Ondaatje's writing style is so divine and mesmerizing, I began to savor every page and every word. Not too often you come across a work of such calibre. The luscious details, the poetic style and the captivating story could simply leave you awestruck!

My Rating: 4.5/5

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Rockin' Girl Blogger

Guess What, Lovely Lotus has named me as a 'Rockin' Girl Blogger'. Its very nice of you, Lotus!! And, Thank you!

The Sirens of Baghdad

2007-09-23T19:31:00.001-07:00

Title: The Sirens of Baghdad
Author: Yasmina Khadra
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 320
Edition: Hardcover

2003 ~ American Invasion of Iraq. Missiles Dropped. Gunshots Fired. Bombs Exploded. Thick plumes of smoke blanket the sky. It's the end of Saddam's regime. The political repression and the growing insurgency results in hundreds of fatalities. The entire city of Baghdad is burning...

An unnamed young man, the protagonist of the novel, returns to his village Kafr Kafram, as the university of Baghdad shuts down due to the American Invasion. His hopes crushed; his future bleak; his dreams thwarted. His family pride torn apart.

In Kafr Karam, the young man, taciturn by nature, lived on the roof in a remodeled laundry room. He whiles away his time listening to his "tinny radio". The local men meet up at the café to engage themselves in heated arguments about the invasion which may end up in an occasional brawl. However, our young man sticks to his own; He wants no violence, no blood, no fight.

Though Baghdad is going up in flames, the little village of Kafr Karam offers a safe haven to its people. Until one day, When the American troops set foot in their muddy grounds. The village men witness the atrocities of the war first hand. For our young man, a Bedouin, three disturbing events transform his life forever. First, A local village idiot gets killed accidentally by the American troops at a checkpoint. Second, An American missile dropped over a wedding party on the outskirts of the village. But, What pushes him over the edge? When the American troops ransack the young man's home for terrorists and humiliate his father in front of everyone in the family. The young man takes it as an assault on his family honor. In his own words, he says "For Bedouin, honor is no joking matter. An offense must be washed away in blood, which is the sole authorized detergent when it's a question of keeping one's self-respect." and he swears to himself that he should avenge the American troops for their despicable act. He leaves for Baghdad and undertakes several small undercover operations before chosen for the most dangerous mission of all times. Will he accomplish his mission?

The novel offers a chilling look at the life of an ordinary young man who is lured into the world of terrorism and why he chooses to become a martyr. Life altering events happen. But, What makes one choose death over life? The story left me with many questions to ponder over. Like, when people shed blood and lose their dear ones in the name of war, what does it do to them? How does it affect them? And, How do they seek revenge? What lures them into becoming a terrorist or a suicide bomber? Why must anger be washed away with blood and gore? For God's sake, Why wage war? What do you gain after losing thousands of lives?

Yasmina Khadra is a master story teller and I devoured his novel 'The swallows of Kabul'. Here comes his latest work offering a great insight into the Middle eastern culture and the World of Islam. I was so captivated by his writing style that I found it really hard to put down. He narrates the story with such ferocity that it was hard to believe its a work of fiction after all. Highly Recommended!

My Rating: 4/5

Peony In Love

2007-09-11T21:24:00.000-07:00

Title: Peony in Love
Author: Lisa See
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 304
Edition: Hardcover

Not too long ago, I attended the Book Club Event hosted by Sacramento Bee. Lisa See was the speaker. See's enticing speech about her latest book 'Peony In Love' made me want to read the book right away. When I read it I was in for a delightful treat!

'Peony in Love' is based on a true story about three young women who were married to the same man. They were part of a category known as 'Lovesick Maidens,' women who would catch a case of love sickness, waste away and die. Obsessed with the opera 'Peony Pavilion', the lovesick maidens made copious notes which were later published into a book called 'Three Wives Collaborative Commentary on The Peony Pavilion' - the first book of its kind to be published anywhere in the world.

Peony Chen, the protagonist of the novel, is a young 16-year-old girl who grows up in a wealthy family. Confined to the house, Peony's only view of the outside world is through the lookout pavilion in her garden villa. Peony's marriage is arranged with a man she has never seen. On her 16th birthday, her father brings in a small theatrical troupe for a screening of Peony's much beloved opera. Despite her mother's disapproval of the idea, selected scenes from the opera were staged in the garden of the Chen's Family Villa.

In those days, unmarried women should not be seen in public. Hence, Peony watches the opera from behind the screen. Through the little opening she catches the glimpse of a handsome man whom she falls in love with. As Peony suffers from love sickness, she is drawn to the opera and spends all her time poring over it. Eventually, like all the 'love sick maiden', she wastes away and dies. Peony reaches the after world and wanders as a hungry ghost. The story then follows the footsteps of Peony and her quest to unite with the love of her life.

Not having read many Chinese based novels, 'Peony In Love' offered me a wonderful insight into the Chinese traditions and customs. The intricate realm of Chinese after world, Ghost Weddings, Feast for Hungry Ghosts and ancestral worship were some of the fascinating segments of the book. A few pages were devoted to the excruciatingly painful foot-binding custom practiced in ancient China. I really enjoyed reading this novel, even though it was a bit of a drag towards the end. I look forward to reading her bestseller 'The Snow Flower and the Secret Fan'.

My Rating: 3.5/5

The GraveDigger's Daughter

2007-09-08T13:47:00.000-07:00

Title: The Gravedigger's Daughter
Author: Joyce Carol Oates
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 582
Edition: Hardcover

Joyce Carol Oates is quite a prolific writer and touted for her works on rural poverty, sexual abuse, violence, female childhood and adulthood. She has churned out 36 novels so far, averaging two books a year. She has won numerous book awards and nominated for pulitzer prize thrice. 'The GraveDigger's Daughter' is her latest work.

Prologue ~ 1959, Chatauqua Falls, New York ~ Rebecca Schwart on her way back from her factory job was troubled by a stalker who mistakes her as 'Hazel Jones'.

1936, Milburn, New York ~ Rebecca's parents Jacob and Anna Schwart along with their two sons flee Nazis Germany in 1936 to immigrate to the United States and settle in upstate NewYork. Rebecca Schwart, the protagonist of the novel, is born in the boat crossing over. Jacob, a former school teacher in Munich, works as the gravedigger and the cemetery caretaker in Milburn. The Schwarts family were tormented by their past memories and they find no peace in Milburn either. The local townsmen taunt them for being Jews and Jacob despises every single one of them. An unprecedented event upends the family once and for all. Jacob kills Anna and commits suicide not before attempting to kill Rebecca.

Rebecca flees home and marries Niles Tignor and gives birth to Niles Jr. Apparently, Rebecca was not destined for happiness in life. She flees once again from her philandering husband Niles Tignor, when he brutally beats her and attempts to kill her. Rebecca adopts the identity of Hazel Jones and Niles Jr. the alias of Zacharias. As hope and happiness eludes her, she finds herself constantly on the run. Rebecca finds solace in the arms of Niles Jr, who grows up to be pianist.

Rebecca moves on to seek a new beginning, a promising life with happiness and hope. Will she ever find it?

Even after the epilogue, some questions do remain at the end, as some parts of the story were left dangling for the readers to comprehend. An emotional and touching story turned out to be rather a boring read because of the writing style. The prose was very exhaustive, slack and repetitive. I couldn't help myself stifling a yawn now and then. Having won so many accolades, I was curious to discover more of her books. Now, I am skeptical if I would ever pick up her book again! Quite Boring...

My Rating: 2/5

Prisoner of Tehran

2007-08-31T15:57:00.000-07:00

Title: Prisoner of Tehran
Author: Marina Nemat
Genre: Memoir
Pages: 301
Edition: Hardcover

1982. Tehran, Iran. It was turbulent times then. The 1979 Iranian Revolution spearheaded by Ayatollah Khomeini had forced Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran to go into exile. Khomeini was gaining power and had become the Supreme leader and founder of Islamic Republic. Chaos, Killings and Rallies paralyzed the country and protesters suffered horrific deaths under his brutal regime. The ubiquitous political propaganda evoked anger and political outbursts among different cultural groups in Iran. Anyone who spoke against Khomeini was sent to Evin, the notorious political prison, to be interrogated, tortured and executed.

When Marina Nemat, a Christian, then sixteen-years-old, protested the calculus teacher who digressed from her subject to Koran and political propaganda, she was asked to walk out of the class. She did and other students followed. Little did she knew that her actions that day would change her fate forever. Marina was accused of speaking against Khomeini's regime and was sent to Evin with hundreds of others who dared to speak out.

Marina was tormented mercilessly by interrogators to give up names of her friends. Fear and despondency gripped her and she awaited her execution with an overwhelming sense of despair. She was dragged to the execution grounds, blindfolded and about to be shot. Just minutes before execution, her life was spared by the jailer of Evin, Ali. Using his family ties with Khomeini, Ali reduced Marina's sentence to lifetime in prison. But, What was the price she had to pay? Ali confessed that he fell in love with Marina on the first day they met in prison and couldn't imagine a life without her. He forced Marina to marry him. When Marina refused to succumb to Ali's wishes, he threatened to torment her family.

Marina had no choice but to marry Ali. To convert to Islam. But, Will she ever escape from the depths of abyss that threaten to engulf her? Will she ever be able to go back to her family? Will she ever find solace in life after being tormented for years in prison?

What I liked about the book was that it was deeply disturbing and a touching memoir. Her style of writing made the book so compelling. Life in prison has never been a rosy experience for anyone. But, the memories of Evin, Marina shares in this book were horrendous. Her many struggles to hold on to her dignity under severe torture was deeply moving and made me feel sick at heart. I begin to appreciate the many gifts life has offered me so far and what is yet to come. I found this book hard to put down and I highly recommend it!

To listen to the author's interview on NPR, please click here.

My Rating: 4/5