| ARUNDHATI ROY The God of Small Things In her first novel, award-winning Indian screenwriter Arundhati Roy conjures a whoosh of wordplay that rises from the pages like a brilliant jazz improvisation. The God of Small Things is nominally the story of young twins Rahel and Estha and the rest of their family, but the book feels like a million stories spinning out indefinitely; it is the product of a genius child-mind that takes everything in and transforms it in an alchemy of poetry. The God of Small Things is at once exotic and familiar to the Western reader, written in an English that's completely new and invigorated by the Asian Indian influences of culture and language. I've read quite a varied bunch of books in my time, but Roy's "God of Small Things' is definitely the first book that comes to mind when you say 'favourite'. I find it incredibly textured. The little word games that the characters play remind me so much of my own youth. I grew up in India, though not in the locale that Roy's book features, and I remeber my childhood games mirroring those that Rahel and Estha play... nictitating, ictitating, titating, etc" I felt every character in the book, whether I loved them or hated them. The sense of little pleasures and ultimate hopelessness that the tale embodies is incredible and feels disturbingly like truth. To me, it is one of the great stories.... one that does not trick you with a surprise ending. If you like texture and description in writing, starve for two days if you have to, but have a pretty copy of this book. I've actually got two copies: one hardbound and one paperback which I keep for my own use, and i actually have one copy that I keep around to lend out to friends that I think will appreciate it. The Algebra of Infinite Justice The Greater common Good It is rare to find such a beautiful combination of prose and protest. The subject is the construction of dams on rivers in India and the effect they have on the people and enviroment. Sounds dry, i know, but Roy magically turns this into a touching living story. This is a very short book, but a very important one. It speaks about things far beyond it's obvious subject, showing the opression of the single by the goverment and role we have in stopping this maddness. The book is a moving narrative of the consortium of World Bank , crooked governments displacing millions of envirofriendly citizens living by the banks of rivers by sanctioning humongous projects to build large dams. The project cost ensures benefits leakages for the people in power , for the powerless displaced it is often a tearing away from roots of a freedom on the banks of a river to a city hovel ,prositution and even bondage. Powerful read. DAS MANOJ Selected Fiction In this collection of twenty-seven short stories, a novelette and a novel, there are many delightful tales, characters and situations to encounter and relish. The stories range from the light-hearted to the sombre. Many are laced with Manoj Das’ characteristic irony. Told with humour and compassion, wit and sensitivity, this collection bring together the best of the works of one of India’s most mature and rewarding writers. ¨ ‘Manoj Das…[will] take place on my bookshelves beside the stories of Narayan….’—Graham Greene ¨ includes new short stories Das's ghosts are people one might like to meet. Das Transports us into a space at once simpler and more entertaining than the world in which we live. The worlds he conjures up are more than welcome in an age of excessive striving after complexity, the direct and chatty writing style refreshing in an era of increased experimentation with language. Hindustan Times, New Delhi The author is an extremely skilled exponent of the short story, weaving the medium with magic and whimsy Deccan Chronicle O J VIJAYAN Legends of Khasak First time when I read this book nearly 15 years back, after the SSLC examiantion, I couldn´t get more insight in to he life. The myths and other imaginatory things were above the ability of a 15 year old boy. After that during the past 15 years I read the book may be 1000 times. Each time when I read I had to think some thing more and more, still each and every time after reading I will be going in to the geometrical lights of the different sights of the diamond. I read the malayalam version of this book "Khasakkinte Ithihasam".This book gave me a nostalgic experience.I belong to the Palakkad district in Kerala,India where the story is based.During one of my vacations I have travelled to that place and I could find all the images described in vijayan's novel there.It was so real.From the moment I arrived at the Thasrak[Khasak] I felt as if Vijayan's Ravi is walking with me and showing me all the places especially the village school.Ravi can be considered as a saint on a pilgrimage to understand the inner meanings of life.In vijayan's other novels also we can find such pilgrimages as Kunjunni in Gurusagaram{infinty of grace} and Chandran in "Thalamurakal" http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/014015647X/qid%3D1013741089/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F0%5F1/104-8636610-3947956 HOME NEXT saslekh@yahoo.com PREVIOUS |
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