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57th out of 194 books
—
890 voters
The Hero's Walk
The Hero's Walk, the second novel by Anita Rau Badami, is a big, intimate book, the kind that seldom strays beyond the doors of a single residence. Set in the sweltering streets of Toturpuram, a small city on the Bay of Bengal, The Hero's Walk, which won the 2001 Commonwealth Writers Prize for best book in Canada and the Caribbean, explores the troubled life of Sripathi Ra...more
Published
(first published 2000)
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I liked this one for the most part. Like so many books it begins well and retains a consistency, of characters, plot, narration and language right up to three quarters of the way. Then it seemed as if the author's steady train of thought was interceded by irregular neuronal activity. Which means the author suddenly included an inappropriate twist which the story could easily have done without. Let us attribute it to lack of sleep, or a looming deadline. While it happens to the best of us, this l...more
Dec 17, 2012
Sashi
added it
First of all, I do not know what relevance the title has to the story. However, a very well written story, sometimes funny, mostly poignant, tale of a small child orphaned in Canada. Her mother was Indian who's family severed all ties with when she married a Canadian. Now the grandfather is the legal guardian for the child and how the child copes with new life in India and how he copes with a new grandchild is the story.
The Indian life is perfectly depicted. The librarian who whets the books he...more
The Indian life is perfectly depicted. The librarian who whets the books he...more
I seem to always gravitate towards books about India – there is something very intriguing about the family life, the traditions, richness of the culture, the ties to the Commonwealth – the sights, the sounds and the smells. There is just something "spicy" about novels set in India. The setting is full of action, full of movement and there is so much imbedded in atmosphere, and there is always much to ponder. I think this author has done an admirable job in telling her story. Perhaps as a foreign...more
A beautiful, authentic novel by a young women about a dissolute middle aged Indian man, Sirpathi who lives in a small town, Toturpuram near Chennai. He is a copy writer, and has a dutiful wife, Nirmala, a 40 year old unmarried sister, Putti, a social activist, unemployed son, Arun, and a mean-spirited controlling mother, Ammayya. Sirpathi is a copy editor living in a house that was once grand during his father’s life but not decaying. He has disowned his beloved daughter, Maya, because after get...more
I consider this book one of my sweetest finds. I came across it by happenstance, was mesmerized by the opening, bought it, and quickly disappeared into the plot.
As others have noted, it is a quiet novel, showing the deeper meaning of the word “hero” while dwelling in the still spaces of everyday human moments. One such moment that has become a part of me is the image of Koti, the downtrodden maid, sweeping the courtyard sand into a rangoli—a beautiful pattern to ward off evil. This and similar...more
As others have noted, it is a quiet novel, showing the deeper meaning of the word “hero” while dwelling in the still spaces of everyday human moments. One such moment that has become a part of me is the image of Koti, the downtrodden maid, sweeping the courtyard sand into a rangoli—a beautiful pattern to ward off evil. This and similar...more
So I grabbed this book and thought "Wow, this sounds so familiar and yet I know I haven't read it."
Half way through, I realized I had to read this book in university for my South Asian Literature class.
Good read then, good read now. Apparently not memorable enough though. Heck, I remember having to write an exam on this book, and forgetting half of the characters names. I used so many euphemisms for female and male, I think my teacher just felt sorry for me and ignored the fact I couldn't disti...more
Half way through, I realized I had to read this book in university for my South Asian Literature class.
Good read then, good read now. Apparently not memorable enough though. Heck, I remember having to write an exam on this book, and forgetting half of the characters names. I used so many euphemisms for female and male, I think my teacher just felt sorry for me and ignored the fact I couldn't disti...more
This book was like "Death of a Salesman" set in a coastal Indian city, but by the end Sripathi (the equivalent of Willy Loman) was able to redeem himself and move into the next stage of his life with a measure of grace. The descriptions are incredibly vivid, and I especially liked the wife's character; again, she reminded me of Linda from Miller's play, but she took charge of her situation and buoyed her family members before it was too late. The last twenty pages were especially beautiful with...more
A great read.
About a family living in India who came to disown their only daughter when she chose to marry a man outside of their caste and move to Canada. After 10 long years of separation, the family in India receive a call telling them that their daughter and son-in-law have passed and they will now have to care for their only grandchild with them in India. A beautiful story of a family submersed in tragedy and crisis coming together and finding new meaning in their lives.
Beautifully writte...more
About a family living in India who came to disown their only daughter when she chose to marry a man outside of their caste and move to Canada. After 10 long years of separation, the family in India receive a call telling them that their daughter and son-in-law have passed and they will now have to care for their only grandchild with them in India. A beautiful story of a family submersed in tragedy and crisis coming together and finding new meaning in their lives.
Beautifully writte...more
This very rich and detailed novel is about the heroism in coping with life's challenges. It describes a family of assorted characters and shows how loss and new circumstances change them. Badami is a very gifted writer; I was struck by how real the characters, especially the main one, Sripathi, seemed. Their thoughts showed an honesty and fragility that emphasized how human they were. A secondary element of this book is the cultural background of life in a small Indian town, but what I really li...more
I was a little intimated by this novel at first because it is set in India and I feel like I know very little about Indian culture. I don't know what I was thinking, because I've read several books by now that have been set in India, and this particular novel was so accessible in its language and story. It's a sad story at its heart, but I think the author conveyed that sadness very well in Maya's daughter - a sadness that also translates as confusion, denial, and anger.
The family at the heart of the story is realistically complicated and a convincing set of characters. I found myself growing more sympathetic with the father as I read, even though at first I found him hard to fathom—so narrow-minded and stuck in his ways. Badami has a real gift for getting readers into characters like him—individuals one doesn't really want to like at first and then, gradually, one comes to sympathize and ultimately cheer them on.
A good read - I found hard to put this book down. A story about a Brahmin Indian family trying to come to terms with the death of their daughter who had disgraced her family by marrying a man outside of their culture. The family struggles to overcome pride, recognize that old customs are not always very realistic (and often very inhumane) and that forgiveness goes a long way to healing relationships.
It wasn’t until about ¾ of the way through this book that I really started to get into it. Unfortunately I didn’t fall in love with any of the characters nor have a particular favourite. The grandmother was by far my most disliked character! I really enjoyed the insight into the Indian culture but found it very hard to relate to their lifestyle.
This book actually made me cry on various occasions and I had to put it down because of it. Ultimately though, by the end of the book I realized that though I could sympathize with the characters I couldn't empathize and really had no feeling towards any of them at all. The final conclusion left me feeling empty and confused, and gave the entire book a bitter taste at the end that ruined the rest of the story.
I REALLY liked this book. I will probably reread it sometime in the near future. There is page after page turned down to mark favorite snippets. The characters in this book are so wonderful. The author manages to do something that most others can't: She has made it clearly understandable how members of this family can love and dislike each other at the same time without turning anyone into a hero or a villian.
The characters are always using the best turns of phrase:
"...You will appreciate this g...more
The characters are always using the best turns of phrase:
"...You will appreciate this g...more
Picked this book up in the local library. Written by an Indi Canadian living in Vancouver by the name of Anita Rau Badami. All the characters are being niceley developed. Crossed cultureal lines. But also discusses the pleasure and pain of family. I am enjoying it.
I really enjoyed this book. It is set in "India", and is so rich in detail, and really gives you an inside look at the people there and how they live. I'm kind of on a kick of wanting to read only novels set in India and this was a great one!
Everyone in this multi-generational family (living under the same roof) is struggling and mostly unhappy. If I had a do-over, I'm not sure I would have read it, but overall it was interesting.
I really enjoy books set in different countries (outside North America). I liked the characters' challenge to move into the modern age. Enjoyed the plot, characters, and writing style.
Jul 29, 2011
Kathleen McRae
added it
Really good book with very well developed characters.It gives an insightful look inside an indian family with traditional values and the changing values of their children.
Read it twice. First time I loved it and it was one if my faves for a long time. Re-read it again a few years later and was not as thrilled with the story.
This book was interesting. I liked to see the types of cutoms the Indians had/and still have. I didnt like the ending very much though, It left alot unresolved.
Slow beginning, dreadful middle, and an even worst end.
The only reason I gave two stars instead of one is because I got to learn a lot about Hinduism.
The only reason I gave two stars instead of one is because I got to learn a lot about Hinduism.
I love this author. She was born in India and raised in Canada and her characters and situations are brought to life with the most beautiful language.
Mar 05, 2013
Ayelet Waldman
added it
I thought I was done with my India phase, but I managed to read another. I liked it okay -- although it wasn't the best of that particular genre.
One of the best Indian novels ever. I was enthralled by the stroing story, the varied characters. Cannot wait to read more from this author.
I liked the characters and couldn't wait to find out what would end up happening to each. I thought they had realistic emotions and interactions with each other which made me want to keep reading. The story was depressing yet uplifting, and had a few really humerous moments.
This book has great sadness, beautiful depictions of India and interesting characters. I really liked this author and will read more of her stuff.
This book was very enjoyable. Not as good as her first book, but I would read anything she writes after these two engaging novels.
One word I would use to describe this book is BORING. I had heard the first part was slow so I accepted that in the beginning. But then it never picked up. The characters weren't likable and there was no plot. Blah.
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Jul 24, 2011 05:26am