SIMSIM, GEET CHATURVEDI, Tr. ANITA GOPALAN, LONGLISTED FOR THE JCB PRIZE FOR LITERATURE 2023

A poignant tale of lost love, lost space, and lost time, Geet Chaturvedi weaves a beautiful narrative primarily about the Sindhi refugees after the partition. There is a tattered old book, Basar Mal, Mangan’s Ma, Dil Khush Sambose wallah, and ‘I’ (the unnamed narrator).

Every chapter has an epigraph, an interesting quote from famous books.

‘EACH OF US IS INCOMPLETE IN SOME CORNER OF THE WORLD: AN INFINITE LIMITLESS WORLD THAT IS ITSELF INCIMPLETE, WITHOUT BEGINNING OR END.’

The highlight of the book was Basar Mal, his life being a constant struggle. Basar Mal, an old Sindhi in Bombay now, has left everything behind due to partition, his land, family, and love. He owns a dilapidated library visited by very few people.

Dil Khush, who sells tea and snacks, has a shop close to the library, and it's often crowded.

Basar Mal’s wife, Mangan’s Ma, whom he fondly calls Jalo, is obsessed with cleanliness and washing. ‘

I,’ the unnamed narrator, is a young graduate with an imaginative girlfriend. He frequently argues with his father.
 

The tattered book has its own voice, feeling almost magical like the Simsim. Its stories, whether about death or the Chakwa-Chakwi tale, add colour to the book. One story that made a place in my heart was about a beautiful girl named Neel Sar, drawing parallels between her life and books. The book speaks of its highs and lows, history and politics, life, and death.

‘I AM FOND OF BASAR MAL. I AM FOND OF EVERY PERSON THAT READS BOOKS, KEEPS BOOKS, LOVES BOOKS.’- the book.

Dreams unfulfilled, songs unsung, minds with innumerable thoughts and memories, a broken heart, the story is about impermanence, inconsistency, and vagueness of life. With innumerable quotable quotes, the book is a slow read, but it is worth mulling over and rereading to understand the nuances hidden between the lines.

The translator has done a wonderful job, making it seamless for the reader, as if it were originally written in English.

 

'WHEN PEOPLE WE LOVE CEASE TO BE, WE TRY TO SEEK THEM IN OBJECTS. THAT'S THE REASON WE FALL IN LOVE WITH OBJECTS THE SAME AS WITH PEOPLE. '

 

EVERYTHING THE LIGHT TOUCHES, JANICE PARIAT, LONGLISTED FOR JCB PRIZE FOR LITERATURE 2023

Everything the Light Touches is a fabulous piece of art that I thoroughly enjoyed. Not only does it traverse through history, but it also offers a depth of information and richness in writing. The novel is rife with lush greenery and evokes the smell of wet tree trunks, damp moss, and petrichor, making it feel like a walk through the wilderness. I am so glad to have read it after my friend.

The author experiments with different forms of narratives, adding to the overall appeal. Like Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, the novel contains four stories, each pausing and then being narrated in reverse order. The stories feature Shai in the present world, Evelyn in the 20th century, Goethe, the polymath in the late 18th to 19th century, and Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century All characters are on a quest, travelling and trying to unravel the mysteries of nature. They are all nature lovers.

The book makes us reflect on the apathetic attitude of people towards nature, flora, and fauna. I read somewhere that "Globally, we deforest around ten million hectares of forest every year."

“ALL IS LEAF- GOETHE, THE METAMORPHOSIS OF PLANTS”

The research into the perspectives of Gothe and Linnaeus about the leaf and its relation to a plant was fascinating. While Goethe had a philosophical outlook, Linnaeus, as the father of taxonomy, had a more academic perspective, initiating the modern botanical nomenclature. The arguments and discourses between contrasting ideas, examples, and anecdotes were extremely enjoyable.

QOTD: WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE IN THE WILDERNESS, AWAY FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE? WHERE IS/(WILL BE) YOUR DREAM HOUSE ?

Evelyn is a character that I admired for being a strong and determined lady of the 20th century. While women of that era were expected to marry, Evelyn pursued her botanical acumen instead.

“TO HOLD KNOWLEDGE IS TO HOLD RESPONSIBILITY, AND TO KNOW TRULY IS TO KNOW DEEPLY, TO GIVE OF YOURSELF SO THAT THE KNOWING MEANS SOMETHING MORE THAN MERE WORDS. TRUE KNOWING CHANGES YOU; WE BELIEVE YOU CANNOT GO BACK TO HOW YOU WERE IN THE WORLD BEFORE.”

Is it about the journey called life? Is it everybody’s quest? Are we still trying to find what we are looking/seeking in life?

It's an easy read, but it's tough to analyse or interpret a book that requires a reread.

A book that is bound to make an indelible impression.

“WELL, I DO WHAT I DO BECAUSE I AM TRYING TO FIND, NOT THE RIGHT ANSWERS, BUT THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. IT IS MUCH HARDER, I THINK BECAUSE WE MUST LOOK BEYOND OUR SO-CALLED AREA OF SPECIALIZATION, AND TRY TO DRAW FROM THE HISTORY OF SIMPLY EVERYTHING THAT MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN FRAMING THE QUESTION. TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTION IS TO LOOK BEYOND THE BORDERS OF BOTANY AND PHILOSOPHY AND ART AND MYSTICISM SUDDENLY, THEY ALL MATTER, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS HAVE.”

FACT: Wettest place in the world: MAWSYNRAM, MEGHALAYA has avg. annual rainfall of 11871 mm.

2nd in line: CHERRAPUNJI, MEGHALAYA has avg. annual rainfall of 11777 mm.

“BECAUSE FOR MONTHS ON END HERE WE GET SLAP BAM BRIEW,” THE BOY EXPLAINED. “RAIN SO STRONG AND LONG-LASTING IT DOES NOT STOP UNTIL IT HAS TAKEN LIVES.”

BLACKOUTS, JUSTINE TORRES

Blackouts is a compelling work of gay fiction. It's a simple yet informative and multilayered read, primarily consisting of dialogues between two friends. The narrative delves into the destruction of queer literature and various related incidents.

Although the author states at the end that everything mentioned is fictional, except for the real people Jan Gay, Zhenya, and a few others, the narrative feels incredibly authentic. The entire book is inspired by the work of queer researcher Jan Gay.

The narrator, an unnamed character called Nene by his friend Juan, is broke and spends his last bit of money on bus fare to arrive at a foreboding place called the Palace to care for his terminally ill friend, Juan. Juan has dedicated his days to compiling information and research on various blackout pages, which are depicted as photos throughout the book. Years before, the two met at a place they were confined to because of their sexual orientation.

The book reads much like a well-researched account. It prompted me to look up numerous facts, poems, and quotes. I read about Jan Gay and Zhenya. Jan's perseverance in documenting her research despite numerous struggles, is really great. The author has resurrected extraordinary figures from the past, crafting a rich, informative, and brilliant narrative.

"I’D LOST PATIENCE FOR NOVELS. I DID NOT WANT TO DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF A NOVEL. I WANTED ONLY ENDINGS, LAST LINES, GOODBYES, AND REUNIONS. I WONDERED HOW MIGHT THINGS END FOR ME; HOW WOULD IT READ, THE FINAL SENTENCE OF MY LIFE? THE VERDICT?”

 

“AND THEN I FELT, OR SENSED, FROM THE PURPLE BLACK OF THE SOUNDLESS SKY, THAT WE WERE IN THE NETHERMOST OPPOSITION OF THE NIGHT WHEN IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE THE DAY WILL EVER BREAK.”

THE DARLING BUDS OF MAY, H.E. BATES

This novella, published in 1958 takes its title from Shakespeare’s Sonnet.

The Larkin family is often seen laughing, having fun, making merry, eating lavish meals, enjoying a variety of drinks, playing, and enjoying nature with joie de vivre. They go on drives eating crips. The fun they have berry picking while relishing them was pleasurable and funny. Pop Larkins is depicted as having a lively nature, caressing and kissing Miss Pilchester, which Ma is aware of and approves of.

“‘WELL, DID YOU KISS HER?’ ‘COURSE I DID.’

‘I THOUGHT YOU WOULD.’ MA SAT WITH THE GUINNESS BALANCED ON THE PRECIPICE OF HER ROLLING STOMACH LIKE A LITTLE BLACK DOLL, AGAIN COMPLETELY UNPERTURBED. ‘DO HER GOOD. MAKE HER SLEEP ALL THE SWEETER. WHAT WAS IT LIKE?’”

I loved the fact that the author highlighted the fact that some people get habituated to a certain phrase or word and tend to repeat it. Pop had the habit of saying ‘Perfick’ and Miss Pilchester said ‘Ghastly’

In the opening scene, the whole family -Pop, Ma, and their six children are in the car eating various flavours of ice cream and crisps. Ma is mostly seen in the kitchen dishing out lavish meals beaming with delight and full of exuberance, trivialising the onerous act of cooking elaborate meals.

QOTD: DO YOU LIKE TO COOK/BAKE? WHAT IS A FAVOURITE DISH THAT YOU LIKE TO COOK /BAKE?

Mr. Charlton drops by to check on Pop’s tax returns. Mariette, the seventeen-year-old daughter, charms him and lures him away from his mission.
Would the family have lived happily if they were not among nature and in a busy bustling town? Or if they weren't as rich? Or if Ma wasn't as merry as portrayed despite Pop's frivolous nature with other women?


A fun, light, humorous read, which means no harm, a read to get you out of your reading slump even.

MA, WHO LOVED COLOUR, COOKED IN A CANARY YELLOW PINAFORE WITH BIG SCARLET POCKETS AND AT INTERVALS SHOUTED ACROSS THE YARD, EITHER TO POP OR MARIETTE, MR CHARLTON OR THE CHILDREN, OR WHOEVER HAPPENED TO BE THERE, A DEMAND FOR INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT THE MEAL.
‘WHAT SORT OF VEGETABLES DO YOU FANCY? ASPARAGUS? I GOT GREEN PEAS AND NEW POTATOES BUT SHOUT IF YOU WANT ANYTHING DIFFERENT.’
IT TURNED OUT THAT MONTGOMERY WANTED BROWN BRAISED ONIONS, THE TWINS YORKSHIRE PUDDING, AND PRIMROSE BAKED POTATOES.
‘FAIR ENOUGH,’ MA SAID, ‘AS LONG AS WE KNOW.’

JAMES, PERCIVAL EVERETTE

Could this book be on the @thebookerprizes longlist this year?

This is my second book by Percival Everette, the first one being The Trees (Shortlisted for 2022 @thebookerprizes)

I was initially a bit apprehensive to read a book labelled as a ‘retelling,’ but once I started, it was unputdownable. The story happens in Missouri before the Civil War. The story is narrated by the enslaved James/Jim, who is now on the run. He meets Huck, and an adventure unfolds. Their time together on the river-fishing, hiding from the white men who are searching for them, going without food, or shivering with cold makes for a delightful, adventurous read.

What I enjoyed the most was Jim's playful use of language. The part where he teaches black children how to talk to the white tormentors is witty. The grammar is intentionally wrong, yet it conveys the significant themes of fear, injustice, and psychology. Jim’s eagerness to read and write and his thirst for knowledge was moving. The story behind how he obtained a simple writing tool pencil was very touching. He even dreams of philosophers like Voltaire and John Locke, with whom he has debates on freedom.

QOTD: WHAT’S YOUR GOTO MOVIE OR SERIES? WHAT IS A BOOK THAT YOU REREAD?

Parts of the story and many characters are very heartrending, which talk about injustice and torture. Percival was able to give a more real, vivid, and harrowing picture of the scenario of that time. The ending was very different, and many twists to the tale

A masterpiece, a story that gets etched in one’s mind. The whole book makes one think, rethink, and question this complex historical situation of that era and freedom.

Though I read Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn when I was a child, I’m sure James is what will be retained in my mind now.

A must-read, I recommend it to one and all!

Quotes from the book:

“HOW STRANGE A WORLD, HOW STRANGE AN EXISTENCE, THAT ONE’S EQUAL MUST ARGUE FOR ONE’S EQUALITY, THAT ONE’S EQUAL MUST HOLD A STATION THAT ALLOWS AIRING OF THAT ARGUMENT, THAT ONE CANNOT MAKE THAT ARGUMENT FOR ONESELF, THAT PREMISES OF SAID ARGUMENT MUST BE VETTED BY THOSE EQUALS WHO DO NOT AGREE.”

 

 

“IT’S A HORRIBLE WORLD. WHITE PEOPLE TRY TO TELL US THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE JUST FINE WHEN WE GO TO HEAVEN. MY QUESTION IS, WILL THEY BE THERE? IF SO, I MIGHT MAKE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS.”

 

“JIM, YOU WORK THE MULES AND YOU FIX THE WAGON WHEELS AND NOW YOU FIXIN’ THIS HERE PORCH. WHO TAUGHT YOU TO DO ALL THEM THINGS?” 

I STOPPED AND LOOKED AT THE HAMMER IN MY HAND, FLIPPED IT. “DAT BE A GOOD QUESTION, HUCK.”

“SO, WHO DID?” 

“NECESSITY.” 

“WHAT?” 

“ ’CESSITY,” I CORRECTED MYSELF. “ ’CESSITY IS WHEN YOU GOTS TO DO SUMPTIN’ OR ELSE.”

“OR ELSE WHAT?”

“ELSE’N THEY TAKES YOU TO THE POST AND WHIPS YA OR THEY DRAGS YA DOWN TO THE RIVER AND SELLS YA. NUFFIN YOU GOTS TO WORRY ’BOUT.”

LONG ISLAND, COLM TOIBIN, EILIS LACEY SERIES BOOK 2, OPRAH BOOK CLUB SELECTION

Fast forward twenty years, and Eilis lives in Long Island with her husband, Tony, and her two children. One day, an angry man comes knocking at their door, threatening to leave the baby his wife is about to deliver at their doorstep. He tells Elis that the baby is Tony’s. Unlike any woman who would go ballistic on learning about her husband’s infidelity, Eilis is unperturbed and keeps her cool but tells Tony that she cannot have the baby around her. She decides to go to her mother’s home in Enniscorthy, Ireland, for her mom’s eightieth birthday.

This book is divided into seven parts, and only the first part talks about Long Island. All the other parts are based in Ireland. What transpires in Enniscorthy is the major chunk.

This movie-like, riveting storyline made me yearn for more. The only disappointment was the cliffhanger ending. One always looks forward to a closure, which is amiss.

If a husband cheats, then the wife cheats, will it even out their relationship?

Infidelity is infidelity! That’s it.

What makes a relationship tick?

Can a lady ignore a husband’s cheating and accept his baby from another woman? This reminded me of the Hindi movie Masoom, where Shabana Azmi fights with Naseeruddin Shah over his illegitimate child but finally accepts the child. This still happens, but would a husband ever accept the baby of some other guy if his wife had it?

Eilis leaves Jim Farell in Book 1, Brooklyn.  Jim hasn’t married anybody in all these twenty years and is still eager to meet her when Eilis returns to Ireland. I found this very difficult to accept.

A lot of confusion and too many cross-connections are left to the reader's discretion.

Will there be a sequel to this book? I would love to see all the loose ends tied up. 

BROOKLYN, (EILIS LACEY SERIES, PART 1), COLM TOIBIN, WINNER OF THE 2009 COSTA AWARD, LONGLISTED FOR @THEBOOKERPRIZES 2009

I somehow gravitate towards books associated with @thebookerprizes. The reason I picked this book was that I wanted to read LONG ISLAND, which is the second part of the same series. Brooklyn is a historical novel set in the 1950s.

A pleasant read with a thoroughly captivating storyline that kept me tethered to the book. This is an inspiring account of Eilis Lacey, who is from Enniscorthy, Ireland.

“SHE WAS NOBODY HERE. IT WAS NOT JUST THAT SHE HAD NO FRIENDS AND FAMILY; IT WAS RATHER THAT SHE WAS A GHOST IN THIS ROOM, IN THE STREETS ON THE WAY TO WORK, ON THE SHOP FLOOR. NOTHING MEANT ANYTHING.”

Eilis moves to Brooklyn after being offered a job. She initially finds it difficult, away from her family, all alone, without friends. She misses the food back home. Eilis is focused and hardworking.  Though Eilis gets homesick, she persists and further embellishes her career.

The book is divided into four parts, two parts talk about her life in Ireland and two about Brooklyn. The story while she is in Brooklyn talks about her flatmates, her work at the shop, her college, and her relationship with Tony, the guy she falls in love with. She returns to Ireland upon receiving some sad news.

The narrative was incredibly absorbing and held my attention throughout. The story is straightforward, but the complexity builds up. All the characters are classic, her sweet sister, her loving mom, her empathetic supervisor, her strict house owner, the nasty shop owner, and others too.

“SOME PEOPLE ARE NICE AND IF YOU TALK TO THEM PROPERLY, THEY CAN BE NICER.

I have fallen for this book, and I’m glad I’m reading the next in this series. Now you know my next read!

If you like simple stories or historical novels, then this is a must-read!

 

SOLDIER SAILOR, CLAIRE KILROY, SHORTLISTED FOR WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR LITERATURE 2024

“CHILDBIRTH, LET ME TELL YOU, IS NO JOKE”

What an incredible novel! I absolutely loved it. I’m sure any mother would relate to this story. No one is born a parent. One learns as the child grows. The trials and tribulations of a lady who has just delivered a baby are beautifully captured in this book. Postpartum depression is depicted realistically - some women experience it, others suppress it, and a few might be scorned upon for being grumpy.

 

The titular soldier is this unnamed mother, and the sailor is her son. Tasks that seem simple, such as changing a diaper, putting on a sock, or administering Calpol, are but the real difficulties a mother faces. Claire Kilroy describes these challenges realistically and vividly. I found myself disliking her husband, who not only showed no care but also became irritated when the baby cried.

When a woman chooses to be a mom; it is like she has given up her normal life. Unless she has a support system and an understanding and cooperative husband, it’s a Herculean task. There is no instant fix or universal formula to take care of a baby. Every baby is different, and every situation is different.

"THIS IS LIFE-IS-SHIT DEPRESSION. ALL I DO IS HOUSEWORK AND CHILDCARE AND I’M SLEEP-DEPRIVED AND THINK-DEPRIVED BECAUSE I NEVER GET A MOMENT TO MYSELF, NOT EVEN IN THE TOILET. I MISS MY OLD LIFE LIKE I’D MISS A LOVER. I PINE FOR IT, I DAYDREAM ABOUT LEAVING YOU SO THAT I CAN BE WITH IT AGAIN."

Why are moms constantly complaining?

The sleepless nights, the incessantly crying baby, poor feeding, fussiness, and high fevers—every mom - has faced some or all these situations. How can an exhausted, sleep-deprived mother manage to take care of both her baby and the household?

“I WILL SEE THE CHILD YOU WERE IN THE MAN YOU WILL BECOME”

Despite all the chaos brought by her child, the mother forgets everything else and only wishes to see her child succeed in life. This book highlights the greatness of a mother's love and the sacrifices she makes throughout her life.

The last part of the book was rather moving. This book is truly unputdownable.

I believe everybody MUST read this book!

BROTHERLESS NIGHT, V.V. GANESHANANTHAN, SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2024, WINNER OF CAROL SHIELDS PRIZE 2024

Compelling, impactful, nuanced… I’m running out of adjectives for this book.

“SOME PEOPLE TELL THE STORY ONE WAY, AND SOME PEOPLE TELL IT ANOTHER. DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF THINKING THE DIFFERENT VERSIONS ARE THE SAME; DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF THINKING THE DIFFERENT TELLERS HAVE THE SAME KINDS OF FREEDOM.”

Sashikala or Sashi, while sitting in NY, recalls her time in Jaffna. Sashi, while in school, aspires to become a doctor. Her eldest brother goes missing and thus the title. The story is about Sashi and her family, their struggles, and the unrest due to the Sri Lankan civil war.

The book vividly portrays the horrifying reality of war. In war, safety is elusive, and the line between right and wrong becomes blurred.

Despite being written in simple language, the book delivers its message powerfully. Sashi’s narration makes it read like a memoir, yet it’s an epic tale. The inclusion of Tamil words adds a delightful touch. Sashi’s determination and relentless work ethic are endearing, making her a protagonist to admire. This wonderful feminist novel highlights the struggles of many women and their efforts to raise awareness about the hardships faced by ordinary people.

“A TRANSGRESSION AGAINST A MOTHER IS A UNIVERSAL TRANSGRESSION; WHEN A MAN TREATS A MOTHER KINDLY, HE IMAGINES THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE, SOMEONE IS GETTING UP ON A TRAIN TO OFFER A SEAT TO HIS OWN MOTHER, OR PERHAPS HELPING HER TO CARRY HER SHOPPING FROM THE MARKET.”

One of the most compelling parts of the book is the portrayal of a group of mothers whose collective strength compels the authorities to return their sons, who were taken away by force.

“THIS WAS WHAT OUR MOTHERS HAD WARNED US ABOUT: MEN AND THEIR DESIRES, MEN AND THEIR WILLS, MEN AND THEIR BODIES ENCROACHING ON OURS. IN WHISPERS WE HAD BEEN WARNED OF THE RUIN OF RAPE, HOW IT WAS SOMETHING FROM WHICH WE COULD NOT RECOVER.”

The book arouses indignation for those perpetrators who instigate abductions, rapes, and killings. It is sad to read about the people affected by these.

The family in the novel are avid readers, with brothers recommending books like Mother by Maxim Gorky and Kumari Jayawardane’s Feminism and Nationalism in the Third World.

 

“IN STANDING UP FOR OTHERS WE ALSO STAND UP FOR OURSELVES. THIS COURSE REQUIRES COURAGE, AND NO OTHER IS OPEN TO US”

This is a very interesting, poignant novel which is must-read.

LOVE THEORETICALLY, ALI HAZELWOOD

A theoretical physicist and an experimental physicist meet, and a story unfolds.

It's very romantic, with an enemies-to-lover trope.

People leading a mundane life will get a kick out of reading this book because it’s a fantasy.

People like to escape reality and enter a world where everything good happens and ends in a happily-ever-after.

The STEM-based approach has potential, but the scientific elements could be more cohesively integrated for a more natural and seamless experience.

It’s an easy read, and one can finish it in one sitting.