Flight Behaviour



     Author                            Barbara Kingsolver

     Country                          United States

     Genre                             Realistic Fiction

     Publication Date            2012

     Pages                              436






An interesting contemporary read is how I would describe this book.

Through this book, Barbara builds the story of Dellarobia - a farm wife, mother of two who finds herself giving up her aspirations when she accidentally gets pregnant at the age of seventeen. Now, many years hence, trapped in a bored, loveless marriage with a husband who refuses to stand up for her or for himself against his overbearing and judgemental mom, Dellarobia desperately seeks reprieve. She wants to find a larger meaning to her existence and the sudden appearance of the magical butterflies on the family farmland provide her this reprieve. She ends up getting a job with the scientist who works on this and is amazed at how much she was losing out in life by not stepping beyond her home to explore the world outside. One thing leads to the other till Dellaboria finds the courage to stand up for herself and do what is best for her.

Interspersed with the story of Dellaboria is the story of the magical butterflies which is due to a possible climate change. The scientists view on global warming and the refusal of the soceity to believe that it bodes any ill are an interesting backdrop to the story.

In conclusion, I would say that is is an interesting read where Dellaboria's character is built as a classic case of a woman who loses herself and her innate desires in the demanding world of marriage and motherhood. And her struggle to get out of it is a lesson to many who find themselves in her position.

While the story is compelling and relevant to our times, unfortunately, for me the book did not build as much an emotional connect as I had expected. Its one of those situations where its hard to exactly verbalise what was missing. Guess thats why books are as much about feelings as they are about cognizance and I wouldnt be inaacurate in saying that while this book had everything to make it an emotionally moving story, for me, it didnt go beyond being just an 'interesting read'.

If you are thinking of purchasing a copy of this book, try out my favorite site: www.lafalafa.com; an online shopping portal which brings together some awesome deals from all large e commerce sites (Flipkart, eBay, Snapdeal and the likes) while also offering additional cash back; which you only get if you go through Lafalafa and shop at any of your e commerce sites!  

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So, do check it out and Happy Reading! 

  

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

     Author                            Ken Kesey

     Country                          United States

     Genre                             Fiction

     Publication Date           1962

     Pages                             320






Set in the 1960s, this book gives the readers an interesting insight into the life at a mental asylum. The main plot of the the book is built around an ongoing and irresolvable conflict between the two protagonists: Nurse Ratched who likes order and control and the patient McMurphy who is a fun loving, spirited and boisterous rebel. McMurphy's refusal to bow down to the almost tyrannical nurse reflects his streak of non conformity and individualism in a world that is mostly defined by rules and authority. 

Ken has done a fine job of showcasing the human dynamics that come to play in any organizational set up. The willingness of the other patients to succumb to the nurse (for fear of consequences), the refusal to support McMurphy in his crazy expeditions and finally the consequent uprising against authority once they see in McMurphy a leader of their cause, reflects how human psyche works. We are all vulnerable and are willing to bow down to authority to protect our selfish interests; unless there is someone who can lead us to believe otherwise. 

While I enjoyed reading the book, my honest submission is that this is a little over rated. I admire McMurphy's spirit and his courage to stand his own but am confused on the final message that the book wanted to convey. 

McMurphy's tragic end to me signifies the crushing of human spirit in the favour of authority. But am not convinced that that is what Ken wanted to leave us with. Thus, I am left wondering whether the sole idea of the book was to convey the struggle between authority and individualism rather than selecting a winner between the two!

If you are thinking of purchasing a copy of this book, try out my favorite site: www.lafalafa.com; an online shopping portal which brings together some awesome deals from all large e commerce sites (Flipkart, eBay, Snapdeal and the likes) while also offering additional cash back; which you only get if you go through Lafalafa and shop at any of your e commerce sites!  

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So, do check it out and Happy Reading! 

Sounder

     Author                        William H Armstrong

     County                        Canada

     Genre                          Fiction

     Publication Date        1969

     Pages                           83
                





I happened to chance upon this book at the library and ended up picking it up more on impulse than design. And really, what makes life captivating is these seemingly insignificant impulse 'purchases'; which start with no expectations and then delight you like rain shower on a particularly hot day!

Honestly, I am not too much of a 'short story' or 'novella' person since I like books to grow on me through their many pages. Thus, my love for this book is limited in that sense. It can never end up featured on my list of favourite books but within it's established limitations, it did a fine job.

This is the story of a black family and the bond that ties them together in a world that is unjust and biased. It's a story of love, family ties, desperation, injustice and yearning. 

What intrigued me immensely about this book is the fact that none of the characters have a name - they are addressed as 'boy', 'mother', 'father' and the like. To me, this is a subtle message from the author that these individuals were really a non entity in a world that was governed by the colour of the skin. The fact that there is no reason shared with the reader as to why the boy's father was incarcerated makes me believe that the family was not worth being reasoned to. The fair skinned looked down upon these African Americans and did not deem it important to afford any justification for their actions against them. It is these subtle messages left to the interpretation of the reader that make this book endearing to me.

The boy's desperate search for his father, his coming of age as a result of his father's disappearance and his yearning to learn to read and write give us an insight into his character; which is heart wrenching. 

A reasonably good 'quick read' is how I would describe this book!

If you are thinking of purchasing a copy of this book, try out my favorite site: www.lafalafa.com; an online shopping portal which brings together some awesome deals from all large e commerce sites (Flipkart, eBay, Snapdeal and the likes) while also offering additional cash back; which you only get if you go through Lafalafa and shop at any of your e commerce sites!  

You could use the link: http://bit.ly/1MJ4Fh5 to shop.

So, do check it out and Happy Reading!