Interpreter of Maladies - Review

Summary
(From Goodreads)

Navigating between the Indian traditions they've inherited and the baffling new world, the characters in Jhumpa Lahiri's elegant, touching stories seek love beyond the barriers of culture and generations. In "A Temporary Matter," published in The New Yorker, a young Indian-American couple faces the heartbreak of a stillborn birth while their Boston neighbourhood copes with a nightly blackout. In the title story, an interpreter guides an American family through the India of their ancestors and hears an astonishing confession. Lahiri writes with deft cultural insight reminiscent of Anita Desai and a nuanced depth that recalls Mavis Gallant.

Review

I had bought this book in 2009 and had read it promptly. But after nearly a decade I remembered just a couple of plots.  Though the endings were faint in my memory, it didn't fail to awe and entertain me in spite of it.

All the stories are about Bengalis, who are now Non resident Indians in the USA or in West Bengal.  Every story makes us wonder of the human emotions, in each and every situation.  The first story of a couple dealing with the aftermath of the loss of their child and crumbling marriage moistened my eyes, the second gave me a relief just like Lilia, the third made me judgemental about Mina at first then came sympathy for the woman who will live with guilt all her life.  Some had endings like Miranda's life in 'Sexy' and the marriage of the new couple in 'this blessed house' where they had to live with their decisions.  Three out of the nine chapters are set in India itself.

But my personal favourite was the third and final continent.  It reflected my initial days of marriage in a very similar way, when I had to move to the US.  I now think if my husband had adjusted to me the same way, with reluctance then and with ease now, understanding my every move.  I think this the very nature of arranged marriage we Indians are so accustomed to.

One can easily comprehend the human feelings and emotions of the characters in the book.  No wonder it had won the Pulizer award.  When a full sized novel elaborates and magnifies each and every situation and character, Jhumpa Lahiri has constructed each short chapter close to a novel with characters and plot within a twenty to thirty page limit.  A very light read yet leaves a strong impression.  Read this book and you will not be disappointed, you might even re-read it again!

Waiting for the Mahatma

Summary of the book:

Sriram is twenty.  As a mark of his coming of age his grandmother allows his the pass-book to his savings in the local bank, but Sriram is growing up in other ways, too, and an enchanting and unpredictable girl leads him into the entourage of Mahatma Gandhi.

These are the opening events in R K Narayan's novel.  It is the finest thing he has yet achieved, and his story of the triumphs and tragedies of a raw young zealot in the service of Gandhi is distinguished for its warmth, its humour, its lack of sentimentality and the stamp of absolute truth.

Sriram's evolution into manhood is, for him, strange and bewildering process. Bharati, the girl he worship, is witty, infuriating, capable and, wonder of wonders, condescending to the moonstruck Sriram. Her first loyalty though, is to the Mahatma, a saint blessed with disconcerting common sense, a man whose tragedy is that he is so much greater than his followers. Most of them accept his ideas enthusiastically, and without realising it, pervert them to suit their coarser personalities. Sriram is inspired by Gandhi, but he is too easily influenced by glamorous patriots of the type of Jagadish, a terrorist.

It is a tale of remarkable insight into the upsurge of Indian nationalism as witnessed through the eyes and hearts of Sriram and Bharati, and told with the all genius and compassion we have come to expect from R.K Narayan.

My Review:

I bought this book in 2010 on an impulse.  It had been sitting in my shelves and then my box due to frequent shifting gathering dust and turning yellow due to moisture.  The town of Malgudi with its description looks a great deal like the old Madras though it is described to be some town south of Trichy.  I have seen it and had grown up in a house that was about 200 years old.  So I can appreciate the scenes the author has depicted here.

Mahatma Gandhi also plays a good role in this book.  The author has given many of his preaching by including Gandhiji as a character here.  I some times wonder if the author himself was a volunteer participating in many stagings of Gandhiji.  He has given an elaborate account of their simple but hard life and the enormous sacrifices they made, including their lives.

The book itself is divided into 5 parts.  I had read the first and half the second part swiftly but after the third part a dull pace started settling in.  It was like recounting the freedom struggle only through the eyes of Sriram.  We all know that loves makes us do all kinds of strange things.  Here the protagonist takes part in the freedom struggle just to win the heart of Bharati and to be close to her.  The fifth part was a bit racy but it tested my patience enough to get to the part where Gandhiji gives his blessing for their marriage.  He gives very strict order to the couple get married with or without his presence.  Finally the book ends with Gandhiji getting shot and the rest is history.

Even though this is pure fiction, sometimes I felt like reading a history book.  The events described in great detail had actually happened when the author was growing up and so it was like he was recounting those events.  I couldn't read past twenty pages at a time and take a break.  The book failed to keep me hooked.  I know there are many books I had enjoyed of this same author during my childhood, but some how this book was a disappointment to me.

How I taught my Grandmother to read - review

How I taught my grandmother to read is a book full of importance for education.  It emphasises on the different aspects of education and how it has changed the life of people the author comes across.  Sudha Murthy talks about education through her experiences with many people, be it her grandmother, Late Dr. Abdul Kalam, her former students, her family and even her teachers.

Each chapter describes her incident or adventures in life where education or values or virtue are the underlying theme.  What is more important is that she sees virtue through education and that is the ultimate form of education.  For every bothering situation, for every debate for every witty question, Sudha Murthy narrates a story and deduces a conclusion or solution from the moral of the story.  This will certainly prove a worthy read for young adults.  They can learn a lot of virtues, values and culture through these stories and her experiences.

Every chapter is worth having a mention but I especially liked the chapters about her teacher Gauramma, how I taught my grandmother to read, the red rice granary which delves a little more into her younger days.

Sudha Murthy, a gifted story teller, is also a people person.  I have always loved to read her work as her English is simple and the story normally tends to grow from her experience with people.  She is a simple person and a philanthropist who has worked the length and breath of this country and has worked with both the intellectual and the uneducated, the rich and the poor alike.

I bought this book thinking it would be a good read for my 10 year old kid.  Though this may be a bit too overwhelming for him, I enjoyed this book thoroughly.  It will be a good read for him in a few years to come.  

Sita - An illustrated retelling of the Ramayana - Review

The famous mythology Ramayana has been told many times by many poets and rishis.  In today's world we get to see the same mythology retold as in the point of view of Sita.  This book also retells about Ramayana but it brings much praise to the female protagonist Sita.  Whenever Ramayana is told, it sings praises of the male protagonists Ram, Lakshman, Hanuman among a few others.  But this book does not retell anything different, does not reflect the emotions of Sita, but just focuses on the part of Sita more and how the events had happened with relevant proofs and references.

The author has given different short stories coined in and they intertwine and set the stage of the story in Ramayana.  These short stories may be introduction to a character or events leading to the particular stage being discussed in Ramayana.  When the author has a fact or reference to be given, he gives it as a table which can be read later too without affecting the flow of the story.  But it is best understood when read taking a break from the story.

The author starts the book with Hanuman describing the events of Ram's life to the great serpent Vasuki.  The book divides into different chapters, which the author calls as Book. 

Book 1 Did you know that Dasharatha had a daughter Shanta who indirectly payed way for Dasharatha to have sons.  So the first chapter discusses the birth of the princess of Mithila as well as the princes of Ayodhya.  It discusses in great deal about the ruler and the rishis than the protagonists themselves.  Sita is still in her young days though the story revolves around her. 

Book 2 starts with the story of Prithu which is very uncommon in our mythology.  Then it moves forward to the war between Vashista and Vishwamithra.  Soon we find the familiar backdrop of ramayana when Vishwamithra requests prince Ram to protect his yagna.  We enter the Bala-Kanda of Ramayana.  The story of Ramayana starts growing from there intertwined with famous stories of rishis and other king who ruled in the past.  It is said Ram and Sita meet before the svayamvar.

Book 3 talks about exile.  How the promise or boons came into being, how Mantharai churned the queen's heart and how Ram with holds the promise of the king are discussed here.  This chapter also talk about how the trio survives in the forest and the interesting rishis they meet.  Meanwhile the boys become men and the girl becomes a woman.  It is shown that Dasharatha, the father of 4 boys had to be kept in a vat of oil till one of them set fire to his body.

Book 4 talks about the events in the Dandaka forest and what led to the abduction of Sita.  The aftermath of the abduction is also discussed here with an interesting titbit that Sita had invented many board games that our children play today.  Also it is said that Sita is the daughter of Ravana.  It was a new fact and explained with various possibilities available to us.

Book 5 introduces the most important character Hanuman.  Hanuman narrates the events that had happened after her abduction.  He then goes on to introduce himself and how Ram has the aid of the vanaras on his side.  Finally Hanuman makes it to Lanka and meets Sita.  When he leaves Lanka, he sets fire to the city leaving it in a shaken state.

Book 6 is all about rescue.  The vanara army builds the famous bridge across the sea.  So when they cross the bridge, the epic battle begins.  Lakshman is wounded and Hanuman saves him with herb Sanjivini.    All of Ravana's brothers and sons are killed and Vibikshana is made the new king of Lanka.  Sita is rescued and passes the test of fire.

Book 7 is the final chapter of the book.  It is all about the coronation of Ram and the rejoicing of the people of Ayodhya.  Just as everything slides back into place, Sita is sent into exile.  This part discusses about her life in the woods, Rishi Valmiki, the twin boys and her motherhood.  The the grievious part of the depart of Sita, Lakshman and Ram happens, in that order.  Finally the book comes a full circle with Hanuman in the Naga lok.

Read this book with its illustrated drawings of various scenes.  Many parts of the story were replaced with some rare telling of the Ramayana with reference given and the various possibilities of the same plot that are spread worldwide.  One plot would surely be familiar to us. 

Moin and the Monster

via Google

One night, Moin hears a sound under his bed and discovers a monster.  Most boys would long for a pet or a toy but Moin got a monster.  As per the monster's request, Moin draws the monster as the monster sings about itself in a song.  Moin does not understand the lines and literally draws according to the description.  So in the end, the Monster looks rather comical and funny rather than being fearsome.  He keeps the monster a secret from his parents and teachers.

His troubles has just started because the monster likes to sing and eat a lot.  Thus Moin ends up visiting the doctor and taking up singing lessons.  More trouble follows when it follows him to the school and birthday parties.  One day the monster wishes to grow its hair like a diva.  When Moin helps it to grow its hair it becomes a problem and he calls his friend for assistance.  And they decide to cut the monster's hair.  But strangely, the hair cannot be cut and they end up typing it into a bun on either side of its head.  After all these drama, the kids decide that its an alien and try to figure out a way to send it back.  Is the monster really an alien? Did Moin get rid of it? Read the novel to find out.

This is the first of Anushka Ravichandran's novel that I had read.  No wonder people call her the Dr Suess of India.  She has a knack for nonsense poetry that is simple for the children and apt for the situation.  Every situation and every plot is so funny that my kid had a good time reading it.  As for me, I enjoyed the scenes of Mr Kooki and his ramblings at the psychiatrist.  Anitha Balachandran's illustrations of the monster are funny and supports the imagination of the author.

Half girlfriend - Review

When Madhav Jha meets Chetan Bhagat to hand him over a pile of journals, he tells him it belonged to his half girlfriend.  Intrigued, Chetan reads all the journals and calls Madhav to meet him the next day.  The story we read in the consequent chapters are Madhav's narration of his whole life.  At the end, the author add a twist and makes Madhav read his half girlfriend's journal.  Madhav discovers that she is alive and there is scope for him to win her back.  But why the name Half girlfriend?  She is indecisive and doesn't take their friendship to the next level.  But still they are exclusive.. Huh?? Sounds confusing.. read the novel to find more.  There can be no spoilers in this review, because it is a typical film type ending with both of them leading their lives together.  Sometimes I wonder if CB writes novels so that they can be made into films.

Chetan Bhagat has given a good account of the typical college life with a horny hero and a pretty heroine, but that extents to almost half the book.  The next half revolves around Bihar and the typical mindset and standards of the people.  His narration of the rural school is a real eyeopener.  In the sense, how pathetic can the conditions be, without the basic amenities like the toilet.  I appreciate the author for subtly suggesting the various options the administrators can have in developing these rural schools.  Chetan could have handled the story better.  In the final phase it took me a minute to realise if it was Madhav's point of view or Chetan's Point of view.  I am yet to complete Revolution 2020, but I heard that this book makes 2020 book a better one.

The Angry River - Review

Such a short and sweet story by Ruskin Bond.  I bought the book for my kid but was more intrigued after reading the synopsis.  The story starts with a small family on the island, a grandfather, a grandmother and a little girl named Sita.  She had lost her mother when she was young and Grandmother had taken her under her wing.  This monsoon starts early and already the river is swollen.  To add to this her Grandmother has been ill for 3 days now.  So when the river is fast rising, she is left alone in the island as her grandparents leave for the hospital.

Lonely and scared, Sita follows her Grandfather's instruction to stay alive.  But the river is really angry that it uproots the only landmark of the island, the Peepul tree.  When Sita is spending her last bit of her energy hanging on to the tree, she meets a saviour.  Could it really be the Lord himself who has come to save her?  What happens to her family?  Will she ever return to her island again?  Will she meet her rescuer again?  Read this book to find out.

Ruskin Bond's story along with Trevor Stubley's illustrations are a delight.  The artist has made a very apt detail of the situation in the book.  When I think it is good, my kid says the illustrations could have been more like the Cover art.  Maybe.. from a kid's point of view.  Sita's courage, selflessness and maturity are displayed in apt places.  Her friendship with the doll and krishan has been portrayed very well.  It makes the reader wishing and hoping for Sita's safety and happiness.  A child's bonding with their grandparents is very special.  Especially if they are the kid's surrogate.  You feel an empathy for her loss. 

Here is a beautiful illustration of scenes by Amar Chitra Katha, when they have adapted the contemporary classics into comics.

Petu Pumpkin Tiffin Thief - Review

When Venky sir forgets a students name, he assigns them a nickname.  Hence Pushkin is named Petu Pumpkin.  How apt!  He is seen with a load of colourful tiffin boxes trying to board his school bus.  Even after his grandmother has toiled to make an elaborate array of dishes, he still cannot satiate his hunger.  What happens when he has polished off all his tiffin boxes before lunch? Yes.. you guessed it.. He starts stealing his friends lunches too. 

When his hungry friends cannot take it anymore, they form a secret society to deal with Petu.  They try to come up with ideas as to why Petu is always hungry and how to make him stop stealing their lunches.  Were the Awesome Foursome successful with their plan? What happens to Petu in the end?  Read this novel to find out and become nostalgic if you are an adult.

Arundathi Venkatesh has a knack to capture the class room scene with all the mischief and gossip mongering.  My kid had finished the whole book in about a couple of hours.  He was able to totally connect with the plot and had a few good laughs too.  As for me, I felt nostalgic remembering how we used to enjoy.. err hate the classes, share lunch under the big tree, after school talks and many more.  Though this book is aimed for young readers with ease for reading, I would buy its sequel too if my kid is interested.

Diary of a Wimpy kid

Keeping a diary is very sissy according to Greg Heffley.  But its not his fault that his mother bought him this diary.  He doesn't mind it right now because when he is famous he wouldn't have to waste time explaining every event of his childhood.  So we start the story with Greg moving to middle school and he starts to register the interesting events happening to him every day of every month.

But the story flows so smoothly I really didn't count if he has an entry for everyday of every month.  The main characters are his family and his only friend and side kick Rowley.  He does a lot of things for popularity but at last Rowley ends up getting all the fame. 

The deals with everyday struggles and glee of a middle schooler.  Every kid can relate to it, regardless that this story is based in the USA.  There is bullying, bro fight, school skit and the chaoes that ensues, the parenting and best friends through thick and thin.

My kid, 10 years old, is always on the hunt to borrow a Wimpy kid or a Jeronimo Stilton series.  The highlight of this novel is that it has cartoon that makes it a very interesting read for young ones.  Also the way the author has a perceptive of a kid is amazing.  Every small detail he has recorded here is in the eyes of a kid.  I am amazed at his perception, either he has not forgotten his childhood days or he is really good at understanding the kids.

Either way it was very good.  Apart from a few terms like Halloween, grounding it was a easy read for my kid too.  It is unputdownable (if thats a word??) and easily relatable.  I was nostalgic and had many good laughs.  The book is really funny for both kids and grownups as well!

Kittu's Very Mad Day - Review

This book was the winner of the Children's first contest 2016.  A debut novel by Harshika Udasi focuses on empowering the children with disability.  This was the reason I bought this book.  Hats off to the effort.  This is a Duckbill book for the Young readers and my kid is 10 years old, so fits the bill.  Kittu, the boy with the crutches, is a member of the worlds most chaotic family.  They were on their way to the Ajantha and Ellora caves when the mishap occurs.  Kittu is lost and is rescued by an icecream wala named Madhav. 

Kittu is adventurous and will do anything to stay away from his family at least for a day.  He is happy to stay with Madhav and share his meal with Madhav's daughter Mad.  What first starts as a quarrel between Mad and Kittu turns into a beautiful friendship.  Things take a turn and Kittu does the most heroic stunt of his life.  It changes his life forever with his new found confidence and respect.

The story is a good read instilling courage for the differently abled children while others get a glimpse of how hard their lives can be.  I do understand that the story revolves around a North Indian family but some parts have literal translation from Hindi, which could have been avoided.  I mean a good grammar would help kids get their knowledge as well. 

At one point I thought the facts about the skate park was made up.  Because it was too good to be true, and that too in the middle of a very remote village.  But as if the author has read our minds, she gives facts about the park and the non profitable initiative taken up by a German lady Ulrike Reinhard.  The illustrations were good describing the situations where the words has limits.  A good read for young readers who can imagine this story from a kid's point of view.