One Hell of a Lover - Unni R

 Fiction

Verdict: Read it

As per the usual, this is the first exposure I've had to Unni R. He's a Malayali writer. 

Unni is hailed as a visionary writer. Specifically that he addresses machismo in society and skewers it through his writing. Although to be honest, had the translator's note not mentioned that, I never would have caught it. 

Unni's stories are interesting to read, but take a while to adjust to in terms of style. They wander slowly through different aspects of society. His stories are so wild and fantastical that one struggles to keep up sometimes. 

Read them because Unni's perspective is different. It will give you insight into some of more obscure aspects of Kerala.

~Becky~ 

The Assassin's Song - M.G. Vassanji

Fiction

Verdict: Read it!

M.G. Vassanji is also a new author for me. This novel, internets, is why I pick up books by new authors. Once in a while you find something amazing.

It took me a little while to get into this book. It opens up and shares it's secrets slowly. But the further in you get, the more you must think - especially if you have ever had family expectations or religious doubts. 

Karsan, the protagonist, grows up in a small Gujarati village. His father is a revered holy figure from a small sufi shrine. Karsan is expected to fill his shoes one day and grows up with this expectation on his shoulders. As happens with many children, Karsan grows up and begins to resent the expectations on him. He overcomes his family's reluctance and goes away to the US to study. Granted, it happens through pure chance and good luck, but sometimes small incidents like this can massively change a life trajectory. 

As his mind opens and he is exposed to many different experiences and knowledge than his village, Karsan decides that he is going to turn his back on filling his father's shoes. As expected, this brings about a rather large rift in the family. Karsan never sees either of his parents alive again, and his relationship with his brother, who becomes a Muslim and is chased by the police for circumstances that are never verified. Karsan is able to shuck off the expectations of family and community, but sometimes decisions come with unseen and unavoidable consequences. 

Woven in with this story, is the story of the pir in which their dargah is built for. Stories, lore, and myth surround the pir and follow Karsan through his life and bring him comfort even after he has decided that he won't follow his father's path. Such is the case for many who turn their back on religion and tradition. Many still find comfort from the songs, lore, and community.

So many themes, so much thinking. Definitely a must read.

~Becky~

The Immigrant - Manju Kapur

Fiction

Verdict: Read it

This is the first piece I've ready by Manju Kapur. It was definitely an interesting start.

The story opens with 2 different families - Nina's and Ananda's. Both are well into their 30's and unmarried. Through chance, they end up getting an arranged marriage. Ananda is a dentist who has emigrated to Canada and is constantly looking to remove anything from himself that reminds him he is Indian. Nina is a school teacher. After a lengthy, mail driven courtship they get married and Nina follows Ananda to Canada. The remainder of the novel follows Ananda and Nina as they adjust to each other, the new situation, and life.

I found this novel both familiar and interesting for a few reasons. The familiar: Nina's story is one I've read quite a few other times. A simple, traditional girl leaves her home to be with her husband. She is enamored with the idea of life in the West but has no idea what that means and she ends up lonely and unfulfilled sitting at home. It's tragic and tired, even if it's a common experience. It just made me incredibly sad. 

The interesting: The book addresses some interesting subjects. 1. Ananda suffers from premature ejaculation. This is spelled out and explored in a way that I have never seen in an Indian novel. The author went into male mindset on this too, which was very brave of her. He goes alone to see a therapist about it and over comes the problem, but from then on is obsessed with counting and timing to the point where their lovemaking becomes about his counting and not a connection. The couple is unable to have children. Again, the author delves into the typical mindset of masculinity and how it shouldn't be his problem. Both Ananda and Nina end have affairs that are fun but ultimately unfulfilling. The novel ends with Nina leaving Ananda. The spotlight on arranged marriage and the lack of intimacy that has resulted is very startling.  It's a great example of how you can't just throw 2 people together and expect them to be moving the same direction and truly invest in each other and intimacy. The author also addresses clinging to traditional mindset versus trying to distance as far as possible from that mindset. 

I found the characters relatable and the writing well done. It's not a sunshiny book, and I ended up thinking a lot about the subjects the author included. I felt all of them were good ones to get out in the open. 

Read it!

~Becky~

Firaq Gorakhpuri - The Poet of Pain and Ecstasy: Ajai Mansingh

Non-Fiction

Verdict: Maybe if you have an interest in poets or Urdu

I bought this books because 1: the cover is pretty, and 2: because I thought it was poetry and I'm trying to expand my understanding of poetry. It turned out not to be poetry per say, but a biography. 

The author is a relative of Firaq Gorkahpuri, and he makes it very clear from the beginning that he wishes to clear up misconceptions of the poet. Some of this he does, some of this he reinforces, so it's a little odd. 

Overall, the man behind the poetry struck me as a simple man. Fussy, flawed and normal as any other man. I was particularly unimpressed with his obsession with how he was fooled into marrying a sub-optimal woman in his words. 

It was interesting, as most biographies are, to watch the progress of someone's life and to understand how they ended up how they did. In spite of this not being a poetry book, there's quite a bit of poetry in this book to illustrate the poets mindset. I very, very much liked his poetry. I found myself spending way too much time translating in my head. I wasn't particularly impressed with the translations given, but that may just be a result of my not understanding Hindi/Urdu as well as I wish. 

The book was quite a bit longer than it needed to be, and often circled back to the same content.

Read it if you enjoy Urdu poetry or want to understand about Firaq Gorakhpuri.

~Becky~

The Village - Nikita Lalwani

Fiction

Verdict: Read it!

I haven't read anything by Nikita Lalwani before this, and I loved my introduction to her writing. The Village is about a film crew that comes from the UK (specifically from the BBC) to film a documentary for a series about an open door prison. All the convicts have murdered someone, but have the right to go out and work, so long as they return by evening. 

It's an interesting concept and Nikita Lalwani does a brilliant job of it. Her main character is a woman fighting for professional acceptance and respect, yet is the only one portrayed from the film crew with any humanity. They live in simple conditions with the prisoners. Even being Indian, she is never able to make a connection as people are suspicious of her. The main character makes connections with some of the people, only to have them spoiled later as the film crew manufactures or exploits situations in order to get more "feels" from the shoot. It is rather astonishing how far they can depersonalize the inmates to sell a film.

The main character leaves before the film is done as she can't live with the accusation that she never cared. The whole novel has a very surreal feeling. 

Read it.

~Becky~

Butter Chicken in Ludhiana Travels in Small town India - Pankaj Mishra

Non-Fiction

Read it

I haven't read anything previously by Pankaj Mishra - though he's quite the known and celebrated author. The title caught my eye - as did the stereotyped pictures of India on the cover - because I have an obsession with Punjab lately. 

Mishra's book walks the reader through some of his travels in India - mostly the northern half. The author's biting wit and commentary were quite amusing. India is, at the best of times, chock full of situations that are nothing more or less than ludicrous. Anyone who has spent anytime at all in India realizes this. I especially enjoyed that Mishra's destinations weren't big places. The heart of India isn't in it's big cities and tourist destinations. His skewering of small dirty hotels was especially entertaining. He also touches on some of the backward and bigoted thinking that persists to date in the minds of people who either have not been taught to think bigger and better or simply don't want to. These conversations when overheard can be quite shocking if you are not expecting them. 

It's a bit of a paradox when people travel here. You can't see the real India without moving off the beaten path, but its a hard situation to put yourself in. Anyone coming to India would be too overwhelmed (even the beaten path has been known to overcome the heartiest people) and anyone in India is too busy actually living their life and having a job to wander around in small dusty, backward places. But this is how travelers find themselves and learn about the wider condition. Trains in particular - Sleeper class if you are the sturdiest of the sturdy - are one of the best places I've ever found to observe humanity and exactly who Indians are. 

Mishra's humor moves the reader through mundane and often ridiculous scenarios. It also poses a challenge to readers like me to search out (more than I already have!) places and situations that stretch me and help me further understand the country I choose to live in. 

Read it.

~Becky~

Desert Flower - Waris Dirie

Waris Dirie

Non-Fiction

It's been a long time since I read a good autobiography and Waris Dirie didn't disappoint.

The story opens with her in her childhood and what prompted her to run away from her family in Somalia - an arranged marriage - and her journey after that to become an international fashion model. If nothing else, it's a fantastic story of dreams and impossible circumstances. 

Waris Dirie comes from a very poor nomadic family in Somalia. She is a middle child and had a very close connection with nature. She addresses poverty, nomadic culture, female genital mutilation, toxic relationships, and being a dependent immigrant in a straightforward, humble tone.

Her story is both extraordinary and inspiring. It will inspire you to do better from whatever background you have.

Read it.

~Becky