A Golden Age

     Author                         Tahmima Anam

     Country                       United Kingdom

     Genre                           Historical Fiction

     Publication Date         January 2009

     Pages                           276

    





A very interesting read - that is how I would define this book.

When I picked up this book, I was merely intrigued by the fact that being from the same sub continent, I had never really read about Bangaldesh's struggle for freedom. But it clearly proved to be much more than that! Against the backdrop of a new nation coming to life, this is a story that is packed with history, emotions and the beauty of relationships.

Rehana Haque is a young widow and "A Golden Age" portrays the story of her life and her family. As she is celebrating the coming of home for her two children, the country breaks into a war, sparked by Bangladesh's struggle for freedom. Being disconnected from politics and too involved in her own world, Rehana does not foresee how the war will change her and her children for ever! From someone whose world is limited to ensuring safety for her family, she soon evolves into a tiger mom who would go to any extent to protect her children. And this stands her in great stead throughout the book and particularly in the end!

Tahmima has done a tremendous job in capturing a variety of human relationships: relationship with one's child, siblings, friends and finally a romantic relationship. One of my best parts of the book is Rehana's growing maturity and coming of age; which brings her at the centre stage of the war. During this time, Rehnana also passionately battles with her romantic feelings when she comes in real close contact with someone other than her husband for the first time. And this is best captured through the following quote which truly portrays the hunger, pain and loneliness of her soul:

"In the midst of all the madness, I found the world seemed right for the first time in a very long time. I heard the song of a woman whose voice held a thousand years of sorrow."

What has touched me the most is the end of the book and how Rehana and her love for her children can go to any extent to protect them. What she does in the end left me bewildered and touched; to the extent that I had to go over the same page once twice! Rehana's closing line in the book is a true reflection of this and of the strength of her character:

"This war that has taken so many sons had spared mine. This age that has burned so many daughters had not burned mine. I have not let it."

In short, I will just say that this is a great read and you should surely add this to your bookshelf!











 

Purple Hibiscus

     Author                    Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie

     Genre                     Historical Fiction

     Country                  Nigeria

     Publication Date    October 2003

     Pages                      307






I have this amazing long distance book club with a group of really close college friends and last month was the month of "Purple Hibiscus"; Chimimanda's debut novel.

Set against the backdrop of Nigeria and its military coup, this book explores domestic violence, religion, the urge for freedom and independence and the coming of age of the young 15 year old narrator and protagonist: Kambili.

Kambili and her elder brother, Jaja live a life of utmost discipline and schedule under the strict supervision of their father; who is a highly respected Catholic leader. To the outside world, he is a great man who helps one and all, but for his family he is a strict disciplinarian who very often uses physical violence against his wife and children. In this environment, Kambili has never known freedom, laughter, fun or even the ability to think for herself and make her own decisions.

Life then takes a somersault when the two siblings go to live with their aunt, Aunty Ifeoma and their stay there gets extended due to the precarious military situation in  the country. The contrast in Aunty Ifeoma's home environment from that of her own; is best reflected through the following quotes by Kambili:

"I was just observing a table where you could say anything at any time to anyone, where the air was free for you to breathe as you wished."

"Laughter always rang in Aunty Ifeoma's house, and no matter where the laughter came from, it bounced around all the walls, all the rooms."

Experiencing a life of freedom for the first time, Kambili doesn't know how to behave and she struggles to find her words. Over a period of time, she and Jaja both build warm relationships with their Aunty and cousins and start experiencing a completely new life.

To my mind, some of the key themes of the book are religion and its mask under which "Papa" disciplines his children, the impact of family environment on one's upbringing and more specifically, the impact of domestic violence and the role not just of the perpetrator but also of those around him who allow this to continue. And while its easy to judge the behaviours of others from a distance, its important to note that Jaja and mother's silence did have a significant role in all of this. And what is impressive and worth a mention is the fact that both realised this to a certain extent.

"His eyes are too full of guilt to really see me, to see his reflection in my eyes, the reflection of my hero, the brother who tried always to protect me the best he could. He will never think that he did enough, and he will never understand that I do not think he should have done more."

Silence is also widely used in the book and at some places, it breaks my heart to observe silence where one would wish someone spoke up and spoke against Papa.

The ending of the book with the following quote symbolises the longing for freedom and independence in Papa's absence:

"We'll plant new orange trees in Abba when we come back, and Jaja will plant purple hibuscus, too, and I'll plant ixora so we can suck the juices of the flowers."

In summary, this is a real fast paced book with some great messages at both an intellectual and an emotional level. Chimimanda has done a great job with this, inspiring readers like us and inviting us into her Nigeria!




 

Gone with the Wind

     Author                      Margaret Mitchell

     Country                    United States

     Genre                        Historical Fiction

     Publication Date      May 1940

     Pages                        1031







'Gone with the Wind' has been on my 'to read' list for the longest time; but it is only recently that I finally found the courage and the passion to pick up this 1000 pages plus classic! And it was truly classic! One of my best books of all times...truly enchanting, engrossing and surprisingly fast paced for a classic!

Set in the American civil war of the 1860s, Gone with the Wind traces the life of Scarlett O'Hara, a bold and progressive protagonist. Scarlett is shown as a young girl, obsessed with her looks, boyfriends and having a good time but she soon matures into an aggressive and determined woman, hardened by the challenges that life has thrown at her. In the face of the war and its ensuing hardships, she effortlessly comes out of the shell of her protected life and dons an infallible persona, not just for herself, but also to protect her family and friends.

Being strong willed and determined, Scarlett unknowingly explores domains that have traditionally been reserved for men and by doing so, she challenges the very social fabric of the 19th century society. Establishing and running a business independently, working during her pregnancy are only some of the examples of what she does. And interestingly, none of her actions are an attempt to prove her worth as a woman but are merely an effort to earn money and never to be hungry again.

The below quote related to her by Rhett Butler, her friend and foe is quite apt in capturing the essence of Scarlett O'Hara and her personality.

"All you've done is to be different from other women and you've made a little success at it. That is the one unforgivable sin in any society. Be different and be damned ! The mere fact that you've made a success of your mill is an insult to every man who hasnt succeeded. A well bred female's place is in the home and she should know nothing about this busy, brutal world."

Scarlett's relationship with Rhett Butler, a rich but offensive middle aged man is both annoying and endearing. As the book evolves, this relationship matures from one of hatred, to interest, to indifference and finally to love and then to indifference once again. They are both unscrupulous and hence, relate very well to each other. Their ability to be honest with each other without a fear of judgement is the brightest spark of their relationship but unfortunately (to my romantic heart atleast), their love for each other wanes out towards the end of the book; leaving them both alone.

In short, Margaret Mitchell has done a great job in capturing not just the life and travails of Scarlett, the complexity of relationships, the beauty of human emotions but also the history, the war, its impact on civilisation and the desperation of times. One of the purest and most human emotions captured brilliantly through the book is the basic human need for survival and the courage that desire pumps into each of us. Scarlett's recurring quote "I do not ever want to be hungry again" is a great reminder of the same.

I will finally close by saying that reading 'Gone with the Wind' has been a treat like none other. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story packed with history, human emotions and impressive personalities..pick this up and you will not regret it!










 

Being Mortal

     Author                        Atul Gawande

     Country                      United States

     Genre                          Non Fiction

     Publication Date        October, 2014

     Pages                           263





I have recently started a book club with my college friends and this was our first picks. Hence, it was very special to me! Having vaguely heard about this book before, I had never found the courage to pick this up (yes - you need courage to read a book!). But I am delighted to share that this was not only a great read, but also very enlightening and enriching.

 

Written by a medicine professional, "Being Mortal" is an interesting take on Medicine and Mortality. Through his book, Atul Gawande explores the fact that while the scientific advancements in medicine have done a great service by extending human longevity, they tend to make us forget that we are all mortal and life has to come to an end finally. There is a fine line between "fixing" issues, pushing limits and accepting the reality.

"Decline remains our fate, death will someday come" brings this to life very aptly.

Atul further explores the concept of independence and how a debilitating life, one which starts to lose independence is very hard for the aged. The idea of being dependent and losing your freedom is the very premise on which nursing homes are built and there is nothing more depressing than this for the aged.

 

The other key aspect of the book which rings a bell personally for me is that, even in old age, all humans are keen to have a purpose larger than themselves. As life debilitates through age, clinging on to a purpose and a meaning is very important to most, but the constant need of medicine and of old age care to focus solely on safety and health takes away from this purpose. What matters in life changes significantly as one nears the end, but the need for a "purpose" remains equally important or rather, to a certain extent, becomes more important.

Some of my best quotes from the book are:

 

"Medical professionals concentrate on repair of health,  not sustenance of the soul."

 

"We think our job in medicine is to ensure health and survival. But really it is larger than that. It is to enable well being. And well being is about the reasons one wishes to be alive."

In summary, this is a great book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is up for a new and unique challenge!








 

The Blue Notebook

     Author                     James Levine

     Country                   India

     Genre                       Fiction

     Publication Date     2009

     Pages                        205






For me, its very simple. A book that makes me cry stays very close to my heart. And not many books do that. But "The Blue Notebook" did exactly that: it broke my heart and made me literally cuddle up in my blanket and cry. And hence its no surprise that I absolutely loved the book and can't recommend it enough. The only disclaimer would be that it is not for the faint hearted. If you have the courage to face up to a reality unknown to you; then this book is for you!

This is the story of a 15 year old Indian girl, Batuk who is sold into prostitution and slavery by her father at the age of 9. Over time, she comes to terms with this reality, makes the most of it and finds solace in penning down her thoughts in the "blue notebook" . The book, hence, is portrayed as a collection of her writings. The horrific details especially of her being raped and molested make this a very hard but a very real read.

I have particularly enjoyed the language and the style of writing. The deep rooted connotations along with the intriguing language make this book stand apart. The story flows seamlessly between the past and the present and this is another style that particularly interests me. The book is narrated in the language of the 15 year old protagonist, Batuk and she is both dramatic and cynical while being very astute and perceptive in her observations.

To me personally, what is most stark and heart wrenching is that Batuk's father is the one who sells her into prostitution. The disappointment that she feels when he leaves her there for the first time; followed closely by the terror she experiences the first time she is fondled by an "Uncle" are the 2 instances in the book when the beauty and complexity of human emotions are at the peak. Having said that, the resilience of Batuk's spirit is a lesson to all of us. Her fear that she is losing her identity and her thoughts force her to put pen to paper and interestingly; this is what helps her survive.

Some of the quotes from the book that stand out for me are:

"As I observed the depth of my father's weakness, our gazes touched and from him I felt the kiss of inner death"

"Initially, making sweet cake was not something I tried to excel at. I viewed my baking as a means of survival"

"I am a simple baker of sweet cake"

In conclusion, this is one of the best books I have read in recent times and couldn't recommend it enough. The brilliance and the elegance with which the story is told make it hard to believe that this is the work of someone who is alien to the country and this life style. James has done a remarkable job and couldn't be commended enough!

As I leave this book and move on, what has stayed with me  is a fundamental question on how a father could do this to his daughter? I try hard not to judge; but in this instance I can't help but do exactly that...







 

Dear Life

    Author                         Alice Munro

    Country                       Canada

    Genre                           Fiction (Short Stories)

    Publication Date         212   

    Pages                            319







While I love fiction, I have never been particularly fond of short stories. And interestingly, I haven't been able to articulate the reason for this very well even to myself, until recently. And the reason is as simple and basic as the fact that short stories tend to leave me as a bystander. They don't welcome me fully into the centre of the story. This is something that a gripping book easily does and something that I derive my energy and passion for books from!

Hence, despite my reservations as stated above, I voluntarily picked up this book by Alice Munro. Alice Munro is a very well known and award winning author (incidentally, this book has won the Man Booker International Prize)  and since she writes only short stories, I didn't think I had too much of a choice than finding myself in the company of my not very best friends (in the form of short stories).

Unfortunately, as I moved from one story to the other, my experience with Alice Munro and her work hasn't changed my opinion on short stories; but rather only reinforced it.

Having said that, the stories are surely well written and the beauty of story telling lies in the fact that the plot evolves slowly; it almost unfolds with great dexterity. I consider this to be one of Alice's landmarks; not stating the facts at the start of the story; but allowing it to evolve as one traverses through the story. However, there is not too much punch in the stories and there isn't enough novelty in one story from the other. Most stories, while they are emotional and well written, end up being quite similar in their build up and final ending. Being biased as I am towards award winning  books, I tried hard to keep myself entertained from one story to the other, but failed terribly.

Hence, in summary, while to someone who enjoys short stories, this would have been an interesting piece of work, for me, it was nothing out of the ordinary and infact I was left questioning the basic premise due to which I picked up the book - that Alice Munro is supposedly the best story teller of her time.

Yes, that might be harsh but as a consumer and an avid one at that, that's my opinion!





 

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

     Author                           Milan Kundera

     Country                         France

     Genre                             Philosophical Fiction

     Publication Date           1984

     Pages                              305

    




This is quite a different book from what I have read mostly. And a little bit uncomfortable at that. A free flowing, well connected fiction is what typically appeals to me but Milan Kundera's work is surreal, philosophical and pretty disconnected to say the least. Having said that, it is quite intriguing and that is what has stayed with me.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being is the story of Tomas, his wife Teraza, his mistress Sabina and their beloved dog Karenin. As the name explains beautifully, Tomas believes in a life that is light, unattached and unbound. His mind differentiates exquisitely between body and soul and what is infidelity to Tereza is just a way of life and a way of being to him. The enchanting Tereza who strives for something higher in life believes in love and the beauty of chance encounters. As the book evolves, she matures from being hurt and disappointed at his infidelities to accepting it while striving to create a life with him. Tomas, while he enjoys himself with Sabina, truly and deeply only loves Tereza; beyond all physical love.

Some of the quotes which reflect the true flavour of the book are:

"She took things too seriously, turning everything into a tragedy, and failed to grasp the lightness and amusing insignificance of physical love."

"Hadn't he told her time and again that love and sexuality had nothing in common?"

"Her soul had lost its onlookers curiosity, it's malice and pride; it had retreated deep into the body again, to the farthest gut, waiting desperately for someone to call it out"

"Any schoolboy can do experiments in the physics laboratory to test various scientific hypothesis. But man, because he has only one life to live, cannot conduct experiments to test whether to follow his passion (compassion) or not."

Personally, to me this is a book more about philosophical reflections than about anything else. It's different characters and their varying paradigms forces one to suspend moral judgements (something we are all given to) and learn to accept things as they are...in their pure and light form; without taking them too seriously - "The Unbearable Lightness of Being"