Then Came the River - Debapriya Datta

Fiction

Verdict: Read It (4/5)

Overview:

This also was a random pick from Bookworm. It is the first novel from Debapriya Datta that I have read.

This is the story of a small tea plantation worker's daughter. She grows up and builds a friendship with a foreign friend. The plot line works through some of their life and the friendship that ensues. 

What I Enjoyed:

It's not often that Indian authors broach the subject of cross-cultural friendships. The mindfulness in which it was done was a very pleasant surprise. I've often said that books from different parts of India have different flavors. Assam and the North East are the two places I truly struggle to understand and identify with. That's not to say I dislike stories from these places, but they are exotic and truly stretch my comprehension of India. The story also gives an honest view of the ups and downs and natural lifespan of friendships. It doesn't paint a rosy picture but rather a realistic one where closeness levels don't always match, friendships peter out, and everything doesn't wrap up neatly like a movie.

What I Disliked:

There were parts of this novel that were slow. Then again, I've found that to be the case in most books I read from the North East and Assam; the rhythm and pacing just work differently. Aside from that, the friendship examination bothered me a bit too. I understand that a character can only tell a story from one side, but as someone coming from the other side of similar friendships, that would have been nice to see as well. 

Summary:

This is an easy novel to read and not too large for comfort. Enjoy the easy pace and the in-depth search of friendship. Read it!

 

~Becky~

 

Taatung Tatung - Vaishali Shroff

Non Fiction

Verdict: Read It (5/5)

Overview:

I believe I picked this book because of a recommendation in the paper. 

Revolving around language in India, this collection of short stories sheds light on some very interesting aspects of different languages that exist in India. 

What I Enjoyed:

The stories are short, but well-written. Covering a variety of different topics, there's something for everyone to learn.

What I Disliked:

There was not much I disliked in this book.

Summary:

I'm a sucker for stories, long and short. Cultural trivia and how things came to be also interest me a great deal. I would recommend this for anyone to read.

 

~Becky~

 

Shut the Lights - Smita Bhattacharya

 Fiction

Verdict: Read It (3/5)

Overview:

Smita Bhattacharya is a new author for me. 

Set in Mumbai, this is a Covid Era mystery that unfolds like one of those plays that has only one set. A servant's child goes missing and it's puzzling how. The children are surly and secretive, the marriage is on the rocks, and COVID is adding a crazy pressure to everything.

What I Enjoyed:

The format was different. You're left guessing a million different ways it could have happened. The author does a good job of keeping you wondering until the very end.

What I Disliked:

Unfortunately, Covid sucked. Big time. I did not want to read a novel about Covid time - I remember it too well and the murder mystery didn't alleviate that. The culprit, and I won't give away who it is, was pretty obvious if you ask me. The response to the culprit was also pretty disappointing. 

Summary:

Murder mysteries aren't really my thing yet I seem to keep finding them in my book stack. I'm not sure anyone wants to revisit covid, even in the form of a good murder mystery. It was well written, but still not my cup of tea.

 

~Becky~

 

The Lives of Others - Neel Mukherjee

 Fiction

Verdict: Read It (3/5)

Overview:

Another Bookworm find this novel is the first one I've read from Neel Mukherjee

This novel covers a great deal about Village Life. It is one of the multigenerational stories that I very much enjoy. 

What I Enjoyed:

As with most multigenerational stories, there is a lot of detail that comes along by chance as you continue to meet characters. The different roles and statuses of children become obvious as the reader understands the structure of the house and the placement of the inhabitants. It's a very crude but accurate commentary about India's obsession with status, even among families. 

What I Disliked:

Because there were so many characters, there wasn't as much effort taken to develop them into well-rounded personalities. Perhaps that was the point, but it feels rather like watching a series of photos go by rather than watching a movie. I am either hit or miss with Bengali authors/writing flavor and this just missed with me. 

Summary:

There are other novels that portray the same themes in a better manner. It's a heavy book to just be a so/so novel, but that's simply my opinion. 

 

~Becky~

 

The City of Good Death - Priyanka Champaneri

Fiction

Verdict: Read It (4/5)

Overview:

Another Bookworm find this novel is the first one I've read from Priyanka Champaneri.

The book opens with a family that has chosen to run a death hostel in Banares. As we come to understand what that means exactly, a long-lost cousin turns up dead, a ghost inhabits the hostel, and the guy who runs the hostel is forced to confront his past. The family he leaves behind, the girl his family told him to marry, and the love he had for his cousin are beautifully woven into the main plot.

What I Enjoyed:

Indians have a penchant for excellent storytelling, and this was indeed an excellent story. The story slowly unwinds, all the way until the end, leaving you contemplating many things along the way. Death rituals fascinate me (I'm an atheist) and the idea of a "Good Death" also was a new one for me. The author effortlessly captures what it looks like for an Indian who doesn't necessarily have the same beliefs but must cater to those beliefs no matter how silly it may seem. The slowly revealed flashbacks are an interesting insight and make the reader wonder how the protagonist appears so....normal. His background is nothing short of traumatic and his brother's death brings that to the forefront, as new trauma is known to do. It also highlighted the distinctly unique phenomenon of family lies that have long-standing consequences that come back out and haunt people. The characters do not seem well-developed at first, but the author has taken the time to unravel them by giving clues about family background as the novel goes on. Indians view trauma and its reappearing effects with a much more natural view than the Western world. It was refreshing to see trauma appear in a book in a non-forced, non fake way.

What I Disliked:

The supernatural element of a ghost rattling pots to make a point was something that was never explained. I'm not usually fond of the supernatural explanation when a simple one might do, but this episode did serve a purpose in the plot, so I'm inclined to excuse it. There were a few spots that dragged a bit, but in light of the entire work, I'm willing to excuse that as well.

Summary:

This was a contemplative read, as is anything that deals with existential matters. Even so, it's an extremely enjoyable read. It's not a tiny book. It will take a while, especially if you take the time to absorb the details and consider some of the non-obvious things the author is trying to say. Read it!

 

~Becky~

 

The Mountain Shadow - Gregory Roberts

Fiction

Verdict: Read It (4/5)

Overview: 

The Mountain Shadow was a surprise find at Bookworm. It's the second novel from Gregory Roberts, following the infamous Shantaram. I read Shantaram as well, so this would be the second novel. As Shantaram was influential in my decision to relocate to India, I definitely wanted to read the follow up.

Lin Baba makes his return appearance to continue bringing us through the life of crime, love, and friendship in Mumbai. 

What I Enjoyed:

Gregory Roberts is a good writer (or has an excellent editor!) and has interesting experiences to share. I think most of the fascination for me was a follow-up for the first novel and to see if his story resonated with mine. While the plot meandered quite a bit, the pacing was good. The characters are well-developed and entertaining. 

What I Disliked:

While I liked the epic romance story with Karla, it got a bit much at times. I also got the distinct impression that Lin Baba thought himself quite the Bollywood hero at times. Not a turn-off exactly, but it was amusing. This novel also had me questioning if anything new was coming to the table, or if the author was simply capitalizing on previous success. Nothing wrong with that of course if the story is good, but the plots were similar enough to make me wonder.

Summary:

If you enjoyed Shantharam, you'll enjoy this as well. It's not a short read, it took me a good amount of time. I personally liked Shantharam better, though it's been so long now I need to go back and read it again. If you've run to India for some reason you might resonate with this novel. Read it!

 

~Becky~

  

Blood Brothers - MJ Akbar

Fiction

Verdict: Read It (3/5)

Overview:

Brief Note: Ironically, I read this before and didn't even realize it until I was making my entry into my list of books read and checking if I read anything from MJ Akbar before. This is what happens when you read too much. I'm going to review it anyway because I don't think I did before.

Blood Brothers is yet another novel that I picked up from Bookworm. I'm not sure what made me pick it up. This is the first book I've read by MJ Akbar

The time just prior to and during partition is well-tread ground for good reason. This book is a multigenerational novel about a family that has moved to Bengal outside one of the famous Jute Mills and how the events unfolded around them during and after partition. They are decently well off thanks to a smart grandfather. The family has influence in the community and helps to avert the community tensions that plagued many other places in Calcutta during partition. 

What I Enjoyed:

The novel is well-written and easy to understand. MJ Akbar does a masterful job of splitting his attention between character development and historical events. While a little out of the ordinary, Akbar managed to find a balance between hope and being believable in terms of avoiding community bloodshed. 

What I Disliked:

I would have liked a little more detail on the family relationships. While the importance of the historical events is undeniable, the effects on families and their relationships can't be ignored either. I felt the father's character development could have gone into more depth. There were a few slightly slow sections.

Summary:

It took me quite some time to finish this novel for the 2nd time. There are very few novels I will voluntarily read twice. I would not read this a third time. That being said, this is a suitable contender for a reader who is not familiar with Calcutta and partition. Read it!

 

~Becky~