Waiting at the Mountain Pass - Harmandeep Kaur Gill

Non-Fiction

Verdict: Read it.

Tibet and the Tibetan diaspora are rather politically charged topics. While the author wasn't being intentionally political, there were, of course, political topics that were touched upon.

Every culture has its ideas on death. As most Tibetans and displaced Tibetans are Buddhists, Buddhist philosophy informs their views on death. This book examines the philosophies that Tibetans have as they reach the end of their lives and die. The author does a very clinical and research-disciplined discussion on the topics, even while including stories from the Tibetan Diaspora itself. 

Tibet and displaced Tibetans aren't a population that is naturally accessible to me, so this was interesting to read. I enjoy reading different cultural interpretations of life evens as well. The author uses a few different diaspora locations, 2 of which I have been to during my time in India - Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh and Bylakuppe in Karnataka. The author does wander into the reasons for the diaspora and why it deeply affects displaced people. It is a diversion, but one I feel should be discussed more, so I won't nitpick on that.

The author also examines why this process can be a lonely and isolating one for many people, though I believe that's true for many people, not so many stay with family anymore. It's not the most feel-good topic, but it is a universal one. I feel it's a good read if you've read the Tibetan Book of the Dead, or as a pre-amble to that.

I won't comment on my own pre- or post-death philosophy, but there is something uniting about contemplating something everyone must pass through, but no one knows what's on the other side.

~Becky~

The City Under the City - Jeet Thayil

Poetry

Verdict: Confusing Read

As I mentioned a few posts back, this was a very confusing book of poetry. I think mainly because I am not able to connect with this type of poetry. That being said, it wasn't a long or hard read. Check it out if you like Jeet Thayil or confusing poetry. 

~Becky~

Fool Bahadur - Jayanath Pati

Fiction

Verdict: Read it

This was a short little novel with a cute jacket. The story is simple, but you can't help but be entertained. I can't even explain how many simple, middle-class uncles can fit in this character.  Don't expect the Iliad, but you won't be disappointed.

~Becky~

The Elsewhereians - Jeet Thayil

Auto Biographical

Verdict: Read it

I had previously explored a book of poetry from Jeet Thayil that I found extremely hard to connect to. This was an excellent autobiographical story, so I'm glad I stuck with him. 

This book goes through the consequences of a father's (implied) affair and the author's journey mid way though life to find the person that impacted the father so much. It's painful to read in spots, even though the author glosses over most of the emotional fallout that such a decision must have had on his wife and the family.

The story itself is interesting as the author enjoys his adventure. He extends a lot of grace to his family during a very difficult time. There are a lot of weird details that make their way in (lots about tunnels in Vietnam, ghosts). It's not a strictly chronological story, and it jumps here and there in a vaguely forward manner. 

I'm not doing it much justice because it's a convoluted book. Even with that, it's charming, and you want the writer to resolve whatever it is inside him that made him take that trip. 

Read it. Not all families are the same, but family systems often have themes everyone can relate to. It will touch you when you don't expect it.

~Becky~

How To Walk Into a Room - Emily Freeman

Non-Fiction

Verdict: If you need instructions or inspiration

I have had 2 reactions to self-help books. They are either super helpful or not at all useful. I was hoping this would have some practical tips on how to read people better. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

While the author's premises (entries and exits in different phases of life) are accurate, it's more of a common-sense discussion on knowing when you've worn out your welcome, and your entitlement to move into different "rooms" as you move through phases of life. 

Yes, definitely, do that. I didn't find it particularly helpful as this is a lesson I've already been learning and refining for almost 10 years now. The author is more aimed at addressing the guilt and hesitation to move on rather than knowing when it's time. I guess that the transition time isn't static and will be different for everyone, but I didn't find it particularly useful.

I guess this would be helpful for a 20 year old who could use these lessons early rather than learning them like I did at 40. I know that's my personal reaction to it, you'll have to decide if you need to examine this for yourself.

~Becky~

Locking Down the Poor - Harsh Mander

Non-Fiction

Verdict: Read it because certain things need a voice

I'm starting something new - adding covers. Since I love book covers so much, I thought I would share them to maybe inspire you to try something new as well. 

COVID was a life-changing time for people around the world. Governments from all over the world made both good and terrible decisions while trying to keep their populations safe from a virus they neither understood nor were prepared for. India, of course, was no exception. It kept strict lockdown policies at a few points during the COVID pandemic, and this book examines some of the problems with how the government looked at people (particularly how it overlooked poor people and labourers) and how that still affects India today.

Just being honest: books that focus on persecuted populations in India tend to rub me the wrong way. There's a very specific tilting of information on this side of the line, too.  That being said, the effects on people who had little to no resources were real. Therefore, it's important to acknowledge it.  India, of course, has its fair share of crazy politics, and people both love and hate the ruling party - the same one that was there when COVID was happening. I also feel it's quite easy to sit back afterwards and criticise a government or ruling party after all is said and done. It would have been useful as a tool of retrospecting rather than blame.

The book walks step-by-step through some of the difficult results of locking down a poor population - no work, no food, and no way to travel back to villages to at least be with family. As with many other circumstances, the consequences for bucking the rules are harsher for those who are poor or considered less than. 

While the points in this book are definitely valid, Inda doesn't respond quickly to honest valid criticism. The country has been build systems that exists for reasons that are from from humanitarian. Changing these systems becomes impossible when money is the prime motivator and is directly connected with power. This leaves the reader (or at least this reader) hopelessly frustrated at valid points that will be ignored. It's worth the read if you want to see concrete examples of how the government and people in power view the poor in India. 

~Becky~

Neither Night nor Day

Ficton

Verdict: Read it!

This is a collection of stories from Pakistani women. In a country that doesn't value women, forget about their writing and stories; this was a surprisingly well-curated group. I enjoyed each of the stories, though many of them made me angry in my independent little feminist heart. I won't harp on this, but it is there. 

The stories cover a broad range of experiences and emotions. I took the time to savor them and really contemplate how they came to be written. This small book is well worth the time it takes to read and consider if you can find it.

~Becky~

On a Wing and a Prayer - Arun Sarma

Fiction

Verdict: Read it

This is the first novel I've read by Arun Sarma. It kept coming up on Pinterest, so I decided to give it a go. I enjoyed the cover art.

The novel is set in Assam as India moved towards Independence. The north east, especially the rural parts, have their own flavour of life and writing. It turns into a generational story, which I enjoy greatly. 

It took me a while to get into the storyline. The author writes simply, matter-of-factly, and doesn't linger on unnecessary details. The book does get into some communal commentary closer to the end, but it doesn't leave you with any verdict on it. 

Honestly, while the story was well written, it didn't catch my emotions like many other partition books have. It feels intentionally set back from the realities a bit, perhaps due to the rural setting. There are better books on this subject.

~Becky~

Bantering with Bandits - Annie Zaidi

Non-fiction

Verdict: Mixed Bag

I expected something different from this book. Honestly, that's my fault for having expectations. It has a good cover, and I was expecting some stories, or fiction or something rather than journalism, which is what I got.  It was good journalism on an interesting subject, but a bit dry for my tastes.

India has a long and illustrious history of people who operate outside of the law (Thugees, which is where the English term "thug" came from). The book goes into some of the history and badlands of India, with the author going for first-hand encounters and conversations with a dying type of outlaw. As with many bad guys, legends often outstrip reality, and those who lived through those times have a more vibrant memory of them than can be conveyed accurately. 

I found the nostalgia weird. I would have understood if the author came from one such family, but hunting down grandpas to reminisce just seemed like an odd choice to me. The author made a point to bring up being a woman in a man's world and the dangers of her travel.  While this is a completely valid point, it loses a bit of oomph when the author chose to travel places where she was warned not to. This isn't a woman centered thing - if the locals tell you not to go somewhere for pete's sake, there's a reason. You may, as the author did, find perfectly charming helpful people. You also may find yourself in trouble that you can't get out of with no help in sight. May the odds be ever in your favor. 

I'm stuck between supporting the recording of actual historical experiences with the writing in this book I guess. It took me quite a while to get through and while there was a plot, there was also a lot of meandering and pondering that took place too. 

I guess if you're looking for a less sensationalized coverage of thug culture in India, you could do worse than Zaidi's book, but don't expect any wild twists and turns.

~Becky~

Virgin Gingelly - V Sanjay Kumar

 Fiction

Verdict: Read it just because it's weird.

I'm not sure if I'm reaching the end of the non-weird Indian contemporary literature, but a lot of what I've been reading recently is just odd. Not in a bad way necessarily, but either the author is quirky or he's excellent at making his main character quirky. I picked it up because I kept finding it on Pinterest, and the cover is eye catching in an ironic, irreverent way. Much like the writing. 

There's no one main protagonist in this book, it's a collection of motley characters, though that doesn't become apparent until much later, and they're a seem to be related to each other. Maybe not, but it seemed so to me. 

The writing style is definitely different from the mainstream Indian writing in the same way that Tamil movies have their own flavor when compared to Bollywood movies. (Don't come for me, I really enjoy Tamil movies!) 

Because it's a collection of vignettes, there isn't really a story line, just snippets here and there. I enjoyed it much more after I stopped trying to piece it together and make sense. Upon further consideration, what an Indian way of looking at it. 

I guess this novel wouldn't be for everyone, but it is well written and would probably tickle anyone who lives outside of the norm in Chennai where the norm is the only acceptable place to be. I enjoyed it a lot, though it took me a while to read and digest - not a long book, I just struggled to move at the pace the author set. 

Worth the effort.

~Becky~

Selected Short Stories - Rajinder Singh Bedi

Fiction

Verdict: Not the best

If you've read my blog in any capacity for an amount of time, you probably know that I love stories: short, medium or long. But short stories hold a special place for me. It's an art to tell a story well in fewer words. 

I picked this up as I've been hearing about Bedi's (moderate but noteable) contribution to Indian literature. So why not, let's give it a go. 

I did read one of the stories, Lajwanti, previously (and I believe saw a film adaptation as well) and enjoyed it. Honestly not many of the other stories resonated much with me and fell flat. I'm not sure if it was the author, or the more classical style. The stories seemed to wander on a bit for me. 

~Becky~

Deras - Santosh K. Singh

 Non-Fiction

Verdict - If North indian Religion and deras interest you

This was a non-fiction that I picked up to help me understand what Deras actually are, as I was researching the Dera Sacha Sauda. It's a non-fiction, and not a particularly quick-moving one. But it does accomplish what it sets out to - it explains Deras and the effect they have on the places they exist in. 

The book focuses on Punjab mainly, but does wander around a bit. The author goes into a few specific examples of Deras, cultures, effects on the locals, and inclusivity and the extra context is helpful.

I'm not a particularly religious person, so beyond the basic knowledge, it wasn't overly helpful or meaningful to me. It may be for a person who subscribes to that type of religious experience. 

Read this if you're interested in expanding your knowledge of religion in North India. Just keep in mind that all Indian religious discourse has an agenda; it's not neutral. 

~Becky~

Night in Delhi - Ranbir Sidhu

Fiction

Verdict: Read it!

This is the first novel I've read by Ranbir Sidhu, and I was very pleasantly surprised. Honestly, I was expecting something a bit more campy, but that was proved false. 

I don't remember what the main character's name is, as it's written in first person, but this novel is about the protagonist, his on-again, off-again, maybe pimp boyfried, and their piece of crap roommate. They go through a few vignets that feature a Delhi with alternate sexual realities. 

I very much enjoyed this novel for a few reasons. I'm pretty open about Delhi being one of the worst places in India to be (and of all the places I've been in my life), and the author has done an absolutely brilliant job of describing the fuck all, dirty attitude that Delhi fosters. The characters were well done and not complex - another noticeable trait one can pick up in Delhi (yes, yes, other places too, don't come for me Delhiites, it's a preference). Some people don't have depth or redeeming characteristics; they're just pieces of shit. Some people have talents and depth that even their families and lovers don't know about. 

What I found especially touching was the simplicity and acceptance of different varieties of love. Temporary loves, long term longing loves, unrequitted loves, the main character manages to cover a lot of bases without judgement.

In a country to fetishizes the traditional hetero normative journey of dating the opposite sex and getting married to have kids, this was a refreshing, normalizing read about letting people love who they want, when and how they want, without shoving it in the reader's face or being preachy about it. Very well done. I'd love to read more from Ranbir Sidhu if the quality is like this.

~Becky~

1Q84 - Haruki Murakami

 Fiction

Verdict: Read it for the challenge

This was the first novel from Haruki Murakami that I've read. I've been hearing a lot of hype around Murakami as a writer, so I decided to try it out.

Dear reader, this was one of the most confusing novels I've ever written. It's definitely a fantasy novel, drifting in and out of reality and never explicitly explaining the main plot line. I'm not going to go through the plot line because watching that unfold is literally the only redeeming feature in this novel.

It was well written and descriptive, but the main character fell flat with me - I couldn't find a thing interesting about her. I kept waiting for a hook or surprise, but just kept running into more confusing twists. It definitely felt like a fever dream. The plot does resolve by the end, but in the most unsatisfying way ever. The story just kind of ends. I wondered what in the world I got from reading it and spending time when it was done. Again, perhaps with this novel, I just missed the whole damn genius. I will try another Murakami to see if it's a style or an intentional choice for this novel. I'm not trying to crap on the author, I'm just so confused.

If you venture in, prepare for confusion.

~Becky~

Weight Loss - Upamanyu Chatterjee

Fiction

Verdict: Eh, if you're a pervert

This is the first book I've read by Upamanyu Chatterjee. There was a lot of hype on Pinterest about it. And the cover is cool.  Perhaps there's a lot I'm missing - like Rushdie - but I don't think so. 

The book follows the protagonist, Bhola, through his lifelong views and experiences with sex. Bhola is bisexual (or anything sexual to be honest), which is refreshing for an Indian novel. It just so happens the next book I'm reviewing has a bisexual protagonist too. Weird coincidence, I guess. 

Anyhow, we follow Bhola's life and experiences. I found it extremely unsettling to see life through this lens, as everything else is portrayed as trivial and not worth depth. His childhood family, college experiences, marriage, future, and even his child come way, way back behind his focus on sex. I kept waiting for there to be a point or plot line, but outside of sex, there wasn't one. It struck me as very, very sad. Either the character has a weird obsession with sex or hasn't engaged much with life in general. Perhaps this is my 80's conservative, US, white upbringing, but sex is a part of life, not all of it. 

The writing was well done. If the author intended to skewer an Indian obsession with sex here, it succeeded for me - I felt disgust for the main character. Again, I can't decide if this is genius or accidental.  I also wasn't sure what to make of Chatterjee's subtle commentary on classism. It was either brilliantly done or horrifyingly normalized. I feel disgust from the fact that it's not at all clear.

I feel there are better portrayals of lower and middle-class lives, sex, and obsessions. I will try another of Chatterjee's books just to satisfy my curiosity about genius or oblivious.

~Becky~