Tuesday, September 4, 2007

The Witch of Portobello- Paulo Coelho

Hi all.
After reading some of Paulo Coelho books, one doesnt have to think twice"whether to buy a new one or not?" You are bound to experience new and exciting world through his writings.
I was told it was the latest in the market, and i felt great buying it. This is a biography of a character- written in a very different way. Paulo himself says that he researched biographies before writing this one, but later thought to write in a different manner. He has given a first hand experience of different people about their relations, their feelings, their interactions and about their opinions about Athena- the witch of Portobello. The story of Athena, right from the time she was chosen from an orphanage till she gets killed, is described by all her acquaintances in a very interesting, subtle and pictorial manner. Her people include her foster mother, her own mother, her lover, and than husband, the priest of the church, her landlord, her teacher, and than a journalist friend.
Its true that genes of a person have a much greater influence than the environment. Athena, the daughter of a gipsy women, gets the best of English environment, but the influence of her genes is visible throughout. A bright and intelligent beautiful girl, makes an impulsive decision to leave studies and marry her lover and bear his son. Later, the couple start tasting the difficulties of life, leaving them to get divorced. Athena gets acquainted with different people at her changed residence and place of job. She, seeking a deeper meaning of her life discovers the power and influence of dance, where she finds solace. She impresses many others to join her. Athena, involved in the bringing up of her son, gets involved in rejuvenation of the soul, where in she is joined by many. During these sessions, she is visited by a witch/ ghost who tells people about their future. She becomes popular and attracts media as well as church attention.
Somewhere, during the process of taking up this journey of Athena, we are told that in some situations, (when there is anxiety)the soul leaves the body and body ceases to act at all- you are in no position to do anything, to make any decision- especially if the soul moves hell- but if the soul moves to heaven- its a bliss.... And there are also many other instances where Athena discusses the meaning of life with her people . This makes the readers to think deep and find a meaning of their life too.
Its a biography of a character(living or fiction) written in a very unique and interesting manner by this great author.
Another one, worth investing in. I am sure all will enjoy reading it.

Sunday, September 2, 2007

BRICK LANE- by Monica Ali

The book has been shortlisted for the Man BOOKER PRIZE 2003. and the cover too is very attractive. This was enuf reason to buy this book.
Another story of a Bangladeshi women married to a man of her community at England. There is a vivid description of their life style in England. I have had some first hand experience with the life styles of Asians settled(or must i say, unsettled)in England, especially the Muslim community, so i could see a clear resemble here. The author has here described a very simple story of Nazneen, her background, her life indoors, her phinatic and unpractical husband. No where in the story you see love between the couple. There are however no fights, no arguments, no differences too. This is a story of some of those typical women who are born, and live, taking different roles in the society, minus love and care from any relation. But nowhere i read Nazneen complaining about it. It was only my realization. Nazneen, like many of her kinds, has taken up this role supportingly. Just, close to the ending, keeping up with the desires of her daughters, she refuses to join her husband who decides to go back to Bangladesh. She sends him alone, knowing very much that he shall return back.
Monica ALI HAS DONE COMPLETE JUSTICE IN DESCRIBING THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMICAL POSITION OF ASIANS IN ENGLAND. I WONDER WHY PEOPLE STILL WANT TO LEAVE THEIR COMFORTS BACK HOME AND BE THERE AS- OUTSIDERS.
The novel is more of a description of a place and life style, rather than a catchy story. But overall, it was fun reading it. The book has been beautifully bound and printed.
Try reading it!

Shodh- by Taslima Nasrin


Hi All!
I read "Shodh" by Taslima Nasrin. It was a great discovery to read that the author was a qualified doctor....and rest we know about her Lajja- n controversies. The preview about the novel said that the author has, unlike her other novels, tried to revolutionize the concept of marriage in tradition bound society. I was obviously tempted to read a new Taslima...
While reading the novel, i felt as if i am reading a chapter of English literature of class 9th syllabus- the language and vocabulary were so easy that i never once had to pick up a dictionary(which i usually have to do with other novels). The novel has very few dialogues and more of thoughts of the heroine- Jhumar. She has in her thoughts described her life before marriage, followed by her love with Haroon, which was just like any normal love affair. And this physics graduate when marries Haroon, she meets another Haroon, who is poles apart from the man she loved. She adjusts completely. There is not a single mention of husband wife tiffs. Jhumar keeps her thoughts to herself and adjusts to be the very good bahu of the house. Her husband even makes her abort their first child as he doubts that it is a result of before marriage college friends. Jhumar surrenders to that too. Later, Haroon wants a child from Jhumar, and Jhumar makes a conscious effort to have a child of her tenant- Afzal(whom she gets attracted to, and develops some physical relations too- for some days). The boy is born, and Haroon least suspects Jhumar . Jhumar's Position in the household changes; she takes up a job too....and lives (hopefully)happily ever after.
The story is written with the background of a typical Muslim Bengali/ Bangladeshi family. So, there wasnt much new to read about their culture.
When the preview says, Taslima has tried to revolutionize the concept of marriage- i wondered how she intends to do it? Will bearing another man's child ,make Jhumar forget that Haroon had made her kill their own son, or that he did not at all care for her happiness, or that her role as bao of the house expected her to be imprisoned in the house, always? What pleasure did that planning of her to bear another man's son bring to her? She wasnt much in love with Afzal. She loved Haroon all the time, and was very respectful to him, inspite of the fact that there was just no love in the marriage...
I read the novel in two sittings, and kept asking myself- if i m getting any pleasure reading it/.....dint really get any answer....