Mr. Iyer Goes to War - Ryan Lobo

Fiction

Read it!

This is the first book I've ready by Ryan Lobo. I definitely am looking forward to reading further ones.

This novel is about a South Indian Brahmin who has been sent to Banares to die. It's never clear why nor what's wrong with him - aside that perhaps his family didn't want to care for him anymore. Until the end of the novel, he never seems sick, aside from age related aches and pains. Mr. Iyer goes on a few grand adventures throughout the novel with his friend and faithful sidekick Bencho. I particularly liked Bencho's character and read it as Bhenchod every single time. I'm not sure if that was the author's intent, but it was amusing. Why Mr. Iyer and Bencho go on adventures isn't really clearly explained either. Either he  actually believes he is Bheem out to vanquish Bakasura, or he has dementia. It's not really made clear. The interesting thing about Mr. Iyer is that he seems perfectly lucid and well spoken, except for this one thing. Draw your own conclusions. Iyer and Bencho have run ins with many folks through this religious lense of vanquishing evil, and have the crazy luck that only the genious or insane can boast. It's truly amusing watching Iyer go to war and get through every situation he faces.

Lobo does a brilliant job of pacing and raising the intensity as the book progresses. He also made Mr. Iyer a character you want to cheer for. He's cranky, old, judgy, and annoying. But you like him. Even after you find out that he was an alcoholic and crazy. The book indulges in a wild Philosophical run at the end and in his fevered state, Iyer explains to his love interest that all of the relationships he has now, he has had in many past lives. He finally seems at peace with himself. The characters around him enrich the story. I especially like the landlord character. He's a charicature of landlords of this type, but so well executed it's brilliant.

Another great part of this book is the Banares culture that is going on in the background, juxtaposed by a stereotyped South Indian Brahmin. Who becomes good friends with a low caste cremator and general scamster. It's a whirlwind to read adn take in all the details. 

Read it!

~Becky~

The Unseeing Idol of Light - K.R. Meera

 Fiction

Verdict: Read it for the ending

Finally, a novel in which I have heard of the authoress before! I wrote a blog on Hangwoman before and it is a masterpiece. This novel is quite a different story. I won't say it's bad, but it's definitely a different flavor.

The protagonist of Meera's story is a blind man named Prakash. He's accepted his condition and developed his senses so much that people forget he's blind and that he's more capable at "seeing" than people who actually have vision. He is searching for his wife that disappeared long ago but still lives on as a specter in his mind. His best friend acts as his sidekick in his searches and Prakash has another relationship that he flirts with as he looks. They do find a woman who fits the wife's description, unfortunately, her mental state is not one that allows her to deny or confirm she was his wife. Different people decided that she was or wasn't Deepthi. Her father wants it to be her so badly that he denies reality to insist she is. But Prakash knows it isn't his wife and doesn't let anyone talk him into accepting it just to soothe his need.

The ending isn't all that satisfying in a way that everything is neatly tied up. Prakash ends up searching for the woman in his new relationship. You do eventually find out where Deepthi has been all these years. I won't say it's satisfying, but it does make sense. 

I found the persistant references to blindness, being blind, and being able to use other senses a bit overdone. I'm guessing the authoress either did a lot of research or knew someone who was blind and was attempting to make the reader understand.

KR Meera is an author to be reckoned with. She absolutely knows how to pull her audience in and create a scene. 

Read it!

~Becky~

Lattitudes of Longing - Shubhangi Swarup

 Fiction

Read it

This is the first novel I've ready by Shubhangi Swarup. If we're being honest, which we indeed are, This was another one of those books that I picked up because the cover is beautifully done. 

Lattitudes of Longing is a series of stories that have characters that are interconnected. There's not too much focus on this, but one story blends into the next this way. It's very artfully done. The authoress takes us across India, from Islands in the south that are very tropical, to the mountains in the north, to the plains. Through a variety of customs, cultures, and feelings. 

It took me a while to understand this book. I certainly didn't when I was reading it. While reading it, I got the feeling that I was watching these stories from a distance. There's no intensity, no surprises, no reality. It's all very fuzzy around the edges, just like a dream. I don't mean that as a criticism, it's simply the feeling that I got while reading it. It's actually a hard book to describe well - so just go read it.

~Becky~