Book Review: Lost Men by Rajorshi Chakraborti

Title: Lost Men

Author: Rajorshi Chakraborti

Publisher: Hachette India

Pages: 264

Price: Rs 350

Genre: Literary Fiction / Short stories

Rating: 7/10

Format: Paperback

It is a collection of 9 short stories and a novella. It is not a page-turner and is not meant to be. There is no room for frivolity, it demands absolute attention from the reader or you risk missing some finer nuances. I must confess there were times when I re-read certain parts.

‘Lost Men’ is not for everyone. There are no conclusive endings to most of the stories in the book; the reader is left to draw his own conclusions. The book is replete with dark humour, with ordinary circumstances spiraling into situations beyond control. ‘Lost Men’ has its moments when you don’t regret reading it.

The first story Knock Knock itself provides a glimpse of what to expect. A bank employee pursuing a regular couple for formalities looks like a believable, normal situation, which most of us have gone through; but how the story progresses, sets pace and spirals into an abrupt ending, makes you want more of it; but then you are left to yourself to comprehend what might have been of the situation.

The Last Time I Tried To Leave Home is another quirky story, which also can happen to anybody. A person is out to catch an international flight and finds a lot of time on hand to spare. He decides to take a little detour to pass some time, and then one thing leads to another. I found this story, in spite of the narrator’s situation, quite amusing. Half An Hour is another similar story, though the similarity is limited to how an ordinary situation leads to relatable yet bizarre circumstances.

The Good Boy is a personal favourite. It starts with the memory of a friend who committed suicide twenty years ago in strange circumstances. It is about reaching out to close the open chapters of the past.  

The Third Beside Us is another weird story, and so is A Good Dry-Cleaner Is Worth A Story.

Lost Men is about a man trying to deal with the death of his wife. He keeps moving to different places, meeting different along the way. He is always suspicious of what people tell him, looking for motives behind them. Recalling memories of yearning for his wife in the past, he writes, “Until now, during any separation, each night apart had also brought us one day closer to the moment of our reunion; I would go to bed thinking I’d served out another day of my sentence. Now the sentence had no limits; you we're never brought any closer to the day of your release. You just kept falling further away.”

City Lights is about a chance meeting with the childhood family doctor that evokes nostalgia, and also how the narrator finds himself in a place which looks familiar only from the descriptions in a friend’s letter from many years ago.

What I enjoyed most were Viju’s Version and the novella, Down to Experience. Viju’s Version is about a boy / man whose best intentions are marred by his excessively bad luck. A bright, promising school boy has to go through public humiliation in the wake of his innocent though wanton actions which brings much infamy to his school. He isn't let alone even when he grows up. His nature of work leads him to Maoists. The story also has his school teacher’s version, who he runs into a few times during the course of the story, and how she perceives him.   

Down to Experience is a completely different story in terms of background, people and context. It takes a while to get into the world of Ivan, who is central to the story. The story is set in the late 1940s, about a group of people caught in the conflict of different ideologies, issues of trust among themselves, of what they are and what they seem to be, and whether they are writing their own destiny or just playing in the hands of higher powers.    

Personally, I don’t like short stories. I prefer bigger books, the fatter the better. I like to know the characters intimately and spend time with them. This book opened a different kind of writing that was more accommodating of the reader.

Read it if you like literary fiction and fancy unconventional narrative. Here’s an author interview to give you more perspective on the book.    

Review Book courtesy: Hachette India
Image source: Hachette India

Book Giveaway: The Sea of Innocence by Kishwar Desai

Kishwar Desai is the author of the bestselling books ‘Witness the Night’ and ‘Origins of Love’. In both her previous books, she has taken inspirations from topical issues to build fast-paced thrillers. I loved both her books.

I was waiting eagerly for her third book: ‘The Sea of Innocence’

And guess what? I also have 1 copy of the book for Giveaway.

Giveaway copy is sponsored by MySmartPrice Books. MySmartPrice Books offer a smart way to find the best online deal for books.

ABOUT THE BOOK: From the Publisher’s website:

Goa, south India. A beautiful holiday hideaway where hippies and backpackers while away the hours. But beneath the clear blue skies lies a dirty secret…

Simran Singh is desperate for a break and some time away from her busy job as a social worker-come-crime investigator. And so the unspoilt idyll of Goa seems just the place - white beaches, blue seas and no crime. 

But when a disturbing video appears on her phone, featuring a young girl being attacked by a group of men, she realises that a darkness festers at the heart of this supposed paradise. And when she discovers out that the girl is Liza Kay, a British teenager who has gone missing, she knows she must act in order to save her.

But first Simran must break through the web of lies and dark connections that flourish on these beaches. Everyone, it seems, knows what has happened to the girl but no one is prepared to say. And when more videos appear, and Simran herself is targeted in order to keep her quiet, the paradise soon becomes a living nightmare.

Read more about the book here, and an Author interview here. Here’s the book’s GoodReads page.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

You just need to follow these super- simple steps:

1. Leave a comment at the end of this post if you are interested in this book.

2. You need to ‘ Like’ the Facebook pages of this Blog and MySmartPrice Books. So, please leave your Facebook IDs with your comments.

RULES:

1. Each person can comment only once.
2. The last date of this Giveaway is 15^th June 2013.

3. The winner will be chosen through Random.org.

4. The book will be sent to an address in India only.

5. After the result is announced, the winner must respond with his/her address within 7 days.

So, what are you waiting for? It can't get any more simple! 

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THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED NOW

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Book Review: The Lonely Monarch by Sunil Gangopadhyay

Title: The Lonely Monarch

Author: Sunil Gangopadhyay (translated by Swapna Dutta)

Publisher: Hachette India

Pages: 248

Price: Rs 350

Genre: Literary Fiction / Historical Fiction /Theatre / Translation

Rating: 9/10

Format: Paperback

It took me a while to begin this book. ‘The Lonely Monarch’ by Sunil Gangopadhyay, beautifully translated by Swapna Dutta, was supposed to be about Bengali theatre of the 1920s. I felt I would not be able to relate to it, since I knew nothing about either theatre in general or Bengali theatre in particular. Then I read the ‘translator’s note’, where she herself admits that she “knew very little about the theatre scene in Bengal and even less about the people involved in it”, and yet she was fascinated and enthralled by the book. That did it for me. And I am grateful, I read it.

‘The Lonely Monarch’ is the story of the stalwart of Bengali theatre, Sisirkumar Bhaduri, in the early twentieth century. Although the story is about a real, revered personality from the theatre world, yet this book is not a biography. As the author says, “basing it on facts, as far as possible, I’ve had to fill the available framework with my imagination.”

In ‘the Lonely Monarch’, the author creates a vivid imagery of the old-world Bengal and its theatre world. Sisirkumar Bhaduri, the scion of a declining zamindar family, was enamoured by the world of theatre. When he joined professional theatre, there had never been any actor so highly educated; considering the notoriety associated with it (all actresses came from the red light area). He strongly believed that theatre should be integral to the culture. He worked relentlessly from the beginning of his career to the end to create a culture of refined taste in theatre. He performed in and directed several outstanding plays, which got him adulation from the masses as well as critical acclaim. But he soon realized he was not cut out for working under anybody and started his own theatre company.

The story traces his rise and fall, the many highs and lows of theatre world; his dream of a national theatre to teach acting and theatre to the younger generation; his attempts to refine the taste of the general audience to more tasteful plays, to break away Bengali theatre from the shadows of English theatre and make an identity of its own; to break the stigma around theatre and make it part of the popular culture; and to produce and direct outstanding plays, and not be confined by the money spinners. 

The book also chronicles his tumultuous personal life and his struggle with alcoholism. A man of such extraordinary talent was married to a simple, ordinary girl with no knowledge of poetry and art. Even his attempts to teach her finer nuances of life turned futile because of the orthodox outlook of his parents. Misunderstandings led to her suicide attempt and later her death, which kept him guilt-ridden throughout his life. Later, he found his match in Kanakabati, who was educated and an excellent actress, but he failed to bestow upon her the respect and dignity of being his wife. She died heartbroken.

He also dabbled in movies for money but his heart was not into it. Films appeared too mechanical to him. Moreover, on one hand he was an exceptional actor and director, on the other hand, he never understood the commercial aspects of running a theatre, which always led to his downfall. It disappointed him that neither the government nor the rich of Bengal patronized the Bengali theatre.

There are many references of eminent personalities of those times like Rabindranath Tagore, Saratchandra Chattopadhyay, Satyajit Ray; even the author Sunil Gangopadhyay himself appears in the narrative.

Towards the end of the book, though the country had got independence but his dream of national theatre remained unfulfilled. In his old age, the once-torch bearer of Bengali theatre passed his days in poverty and loneliness, refusing any kind of charity. He just wanted to be remembered as an actor / director of exceptional talent and outstanding caliber.

The book is quite interesting and engrossing. The narrative is fluid and what is commendable is that it never feels like a translation.

If literary fiction is your thing, go for it.

A few memorable lines from the book:

“That’s what real art does to a person. It charms as well as overwhelms.”

“All he had asked for was a national theatre where he could teach stagecraft to the new generation – the nitty gritty of acting, experimenting with new forms of drama – without having to worry about money, the kind of organization that existed in any civilized country in the world.” 

Note: Text in italics has been quoted from the book.

Review Book courtesy: Hachette India
Image source: Hachette India

Book Review: Legacy: Letters from eminent parents to their daughters by Sudha Menon

Title: Legacy: Letters from eminent parents to their daughters

Author: Sudha Menon

Publisher: Random House India

Pages: 272

Price: Rs 399

Genre: Non Fiction / Essays / Letters / Journals

Rating: 9/10

Format: Hardbound

When I first read about this book, I was instantly drawn to it. Distinguished people writing letters to their daughters; the concept appealed to me dearly. It held a lot of potential to learn and be inspired. I was also curious about what lessons or advice these high achievers would pass on to their daughters.

The book lived up to its promise.

I loved the cover page instantly. It has a warm appeal to it. Foreword is by Kiran Mazumdar Shaw. It is inspiring to read her write about her unconventional choice of career, encouraged by her father, and struggle during the initial years as a lady brewer in a man’s world.

Notes by Deepika Padukone and Nandita Das to their respective famous dads, on the insides of the cover, are heartwarming.

The book is quite well-organized. The writers have been featured in the alphabetical order of their names. Each letter is preceded by a note about the person writing the letter, which beautifully sets the mood for the letter and helps the reader relate to the letter in a better way. Each letter is a reflection of the letter writer’s own journey through life, his learnings and values that he or she holds close.

Ajay Piramal, Amit Chandra, Capt. Gopinath, Chanda Kochhar, Deep Anand, Ganesh Natarajan, Jatin Das,, Kishore Biyani, K.V. Kamath, Mallika Sarabhai, Narayana Murthy, Pradeep Bhargava, Prakash Padukone, P.P. Chhabria, Renuka Ramnath, Sanjeev Kapoor, Shaheen Mistri and Zia Modi make the 18 personalities who have contributed in this book to pass on the legacy of learnings, values, beliefs and wisdom, not only to their own daughters but to inspire all the Indian women at large.

Chanda Kochhar thinks adaptability is a great quality to possess, while Captain Gopinath demonstrates by his own life to reinvent oneself constantly; Amit Chandra highlights the power of wealth and how not to get carried away with it, while Kishore Biyani stresses on the importance of people, relationships and human behavior; Mallika Sarabhai advises her daughter to be fearless about what she can do while Shaheen Mistri crafts a beautiful poem for her daughters about empathy and equality – there are several such gems in the book.

Though each letter is a lesson in life-skills, my personal favorites are letters by Captain Gopinath and Kishore Biyani. I was pleasantly surprised at the modern outlook of Mr Biyani when he is perceived as rooted in traditions. He came across as a very open-minded individual who held both his daughters in high esteem for their capabilities. Captain Gopinath’s ability to rise from the ashes every time as a phoenix comes across very clearly. The way he reinvents himself constantly is exemplary for everyone.

What stands out is that each one of them is rooted in their past, stress on the importance of giving back to the society, the need to be there for the family, and shower love and respect on their daughters as independent and capable individuals.

It is easy to get intimidated by these stalwarts for their lofty achievements but when they write to their daughters, one gets to know their real, warm personalities and concerns of an ordinary parent.

I certainly recommend it wholeheartedly.

Review Book courtesy: Random House India
Image source: Random House India

Book Review: Why Loiter? by Shilpa Phadke, Sameera Khan, Shilpa Ranade

Title: Why Loiter? Women & Risk on Mumbai Streets

Author: Shilpa Phadke, Sameera Khan, Shilpa Ranade

Publisher: Penguin India

Pages: 280

Price: Rs 299

Genre: Non Fiction / Urban Studies / Women issues

Rating: 10/10

Format: Paperback

“Why Loiter?” is a transformational book. It suggests that women must fight for the unconditional right to access public space. It is surprising how we, as women, have got so accustomed to justifying our presence in the public space that it is now internalized in our systems. 

If we are waiting for a friend on the road, we would rather wait at the bus stop or fiddle with mobile phones, all to imply that either we are waiting for the bus or busy with some important call or message. Why can’t we loiter? Why can’t we be unapologetic about having fun in public space, and also not judged? Quoting from the book “..when there are visible public attacks on women, the discussions inevitably focus on how the women could have prevented it. Clothing is the first target: its length, width, cut and even colour are debated in the blame game of national sexual politics…”

It is a common perception that ‘Bombay girl’ is having most fun. It is a benchmark for almost all women across India, to live life like a Bombay girl. You really sit up and notice when the authors tell you why they chose Mumbai to offer their arguments: “For if this is the standard of access to public space in the country, then perhaps we lack both ambition and imagination.”

This book “draws on the findings of a three-year-long research project, the Gender and Space project that focused on women and public space in Mumbai to demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt that despite the apparent visibility of women, even in urban India, women do not share equal access to public space with men.” The problem is women have accepted their marginalization in the public space.

Here are some standout points and thoughts from the book, which may compel you to read it:

• ‘Loitering’ is considered frivolous. Demonstration of purpose to justify being in public space is important at all times. Even feminists who fight for women’s rights are wary about right to loiter because it will impact the seriousness of their work. 
• Poor infrastructure like lack of or significantly less number of public toilets, toilets which have been insensitively designed and many times closed during nights, poor road lighting, poor transport facilities etc further impacts the usage of public space by women.
• Public spaces should be designed to maximize engagement. “One key obstacle in the good design of public spaces is the assumption of a neutral universal user of space….the ‘neutral’ user is usually male.”
• Fighting for unconditional right to access public space is a larger issue than focusing on crime against women in public space. Because when you focus on the crime, the access for women is further reduced, women start living a more protected and chaperoned life. Because then people start focusing on why you were there in the first place? With whom? Wearing what? Doing what? The struggle against violence and the quest for pleasure cannot be separate things.
• The society is obsessed with controlling women’s movement. But the concern is more about the reputation and family honour rather than their physical safety per se. 
• Supposedly safe places for women like malls or cafes are really private-public spaces and you need to have a certain consumption power to be able to enjoy that space.
• In the global vision of the city, women, old people, disabled, poor and people from certain religion do not feature. It raises questions on rights to citizenship. Why should a city be claimed / owned only by a specific group?
• How we lament flourishing malls and vanishing parks! How our weekends are spent at malls in consumption rather than doing nothing in public spaces. Perhaps that is what global city is all about. Loitering is a threat to that dream global world. You must consume all the time.
• Then who is having fun? Muslim Girls? Rich Girls? Slum Girls? Working Girls? Night Girls? Can Girls Buy fun? Differently-abled girls? Homosexual Girls? Old Girls? The authors have dissected and concluded that no matter what the social status, economic class, age or orientation, their ‘fun’ is always conditional. Nobody is having unadulterated, pure fun.

Of course, there are many more arguments, well-represented in the book. So, read it.

I highly recommend it to every girl, every woman. Read it, if you can. And why only girls? Everyone should read it. It brings forth a strong argument and thought-provoking perspective. And men should also read it to understand how women in their lives negotiate access to public space on daily basis.

Note: Text in italics has been quoted from the book.

Image source: Penguin India