Author: Makarand Sathe (translated by Shanta
Gokhale)
Publisher: Penguin Viking
Pages: 237
Price: Rs 399
Publisher: Penguin Viking
Pages: 237
Price: Rs 399
Format: Hardbound
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 7/10
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 7/10
‘The Man Who Tried To Remember’ primarily deals with two things – human
mind and the importance of collective against an individual.
Achyut
Athavale is a renowned economist and a revered public figure. As an aware
social citizen, he has an opinion about everything. He is often invited by institutions
to give lectures. One such lecture leads to riot in the city. Pained by the
turn of events, Athavale decided to spend the rest of his days in an old age
home and to disassociate all ties with his previous life. During his days at the
old age home, he murders a fellow inmate, around the time he has lost his memory for a short period. Achyut admits to his crime, but
people and circumstances around him collectively work towards proving him innocent.
The beginning is interesting. The narrative indicating the gradual loss
of Achyut’s memory is good. The restlessness of the mind has been depicted
quite well, more so with respect to a man who loses his memory for some time and
the way he tries to recollect in a logical manner using certain technique that
he has devised. The narrative moves back and forth in time to guide readers through the
story. In this book, the story is not as important as the thoughts and actions.
Honestly, I don’t fancy such subjects yet I fairly enjoyed the
book. It is a
different kind of story, multi-layered and complex, tipping towards
philosophical.
The cover page is interesting. This book has been originally written in Marathi and the narration clearly shows that English is not the language of conception of
this story. When a book is translated, it rarely transforms. But I am thankful
atleast we are able to read interesting books from different languages through
translations.
If you prefer philosophical books and workings
of human mind, you might enjoy it much more than I did.
I started reading this book but have left after some 40 odd pages. Guess need to go back to it, was finding it too slow :(
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. I found it slow too but I would say it is more philosophical. We are of the category who like things to happen at a fast pace in the book, isn't it? This book is something you read at leisure and ponder about. Besides, I hate leaving a book midway :-(
ReplyDeleteI also hate leaving a book midway but this one is not only slow but as u said philosophical and that is something that I am unable to read. And imagine I had read a review of this book in some newspaper which said that they wished that the book had never ended :(. After reading that I had given it a 2nd chance. Now I need to give it a 3rd chance :(
ReplyDeleteAtleast now you know what you are getting into, so your expectations will be attuned :)
ReplyDelete