A wonderful book. One of the easiest English writer to read among the Classical writaers. Beautiful portrayal of the time, people and attitudes of ear...moreA wonderful book. One of the easiest English writer to read among the Classical writaers. Beautiful portrayal of the time, people and attitudes of early twentieth century Britain perhaps. And The Italians. I read negative comments about this author. You do not be misled for this author or any other, to make an opinion about one before you read him or her.(less)
It is one of the finest works of fiction ever written. That too by a British colonial about India, a colony. I am in the middle of book, where the plo...moreIt is one of the finest works of fiction ever written. That too by a British colonial about India, a colony. I am in the middle of book, where the plot thickens after Dr. Aziz is arrested for molesting a British woman he was guiding to visit some ancient caves. The hypocrisy of the Indians and the British, whenever they interact, is not hidden from the eyes of Forester. And he finds characters who become conduits to spray it in the novel. The distrust is mutual among them. The need for the Colonials to appear in control is because of the deep fear of uprising and rebellion against them, heightened after the sepoy mutiny of 1857, more than sixty years before this novel was written, breaking out among the subjects. The Indians loathe them as much as they do the indians. And there is the wide spread mistrust between the Hindus and muslems. I am not sure when or if I will finish reading this book, as nowadays I can hardly read beyound a dozen pages of a book I really like. This review is for Richard, who wants it from me. This book is in line with the tradition of a great novelist, who can see clearly to have written a book like 'Where angels fear to tread' before this book about India. Unlike Rudyrard kipling, Forester has a capacity to say unambiguously what he feels and you do not have a feeling draining your energy, so vital to carry on with a book, though with gaps in time: if you are being fooled by a writer, while you read Forester.
Even being a colonial he has dealt with his Indian characters at a human level, showing a deeper understanding of them even as compared to some contemporary Indian authors, who dismiss their own people more readily than the colonials ever did. At the same time he illuminates the dual psychology of the people, who mostly are the British underclass of the early twentieth century, for the very reason that they have to live in a country which has nothing similar to their own, while bearing the burden of putting up a stoic face of colonials. With their xenophobia intact, it is a tough job to give the natives an impression that the colonials are serving their best interests. And the anxiety of the closing in freedom movement of India too is not hidden from the author, which complies the accuser British woman to testify against the Indian she accused of molesting her, in the full glare of the court, and answering the probing Indian lawyer defending the accused, something unthinkable in the past. In her heart she knew that she was not harmed in anyway by Dr. Aziz.
Forester's book will survive and will be fondly read even after another hundred years. May be, if and when I finish, this book, I may add or delete something, but as usual, I will return to this book often, looking for some inspiration. I have no ambitions to be noticed for my reviews though, Richard. For I think my writing is more important.
23 October 2012. Finished the book finally. It continued with its knwon pace which is slow but suitable to describe the Indian characters of the time and British colonials among them. The ending was a little unconvincing, as the main male protagonists end up kissing each other, while mouthing their unrestrained opinions about each other, since it was their last meeting and they were aware of it. The Englishman thought that he didn't understand the Hindus well enough, the Moslem thought that his tribe will come from Afghanistan, down to rule India again. But whatever happens the English will remain the friends of India, Aziz thinks. Fielding wonders why the English can't be friends of Indians now, warning dr. Aziz that without English ruling them the India will come apart, indicating that he has started practicing charms instead of medicine. It turned the ending a little disappointing. But it could be credited that the author sensed that another war in Europe will make things impossible to hold the Colony in India for British. Dr. Aziz at least thought so and is waiting to '...drive every blasted Englishman into the sea...' It could not have become a propogandist writing of the colonials even when this book was published, in 1924, as mentioned at the end of it, as other literature became, like that of Kipling. For it clealy saw that Indians were waiting for their Indepencence eagaerly and they want no more to understand the English. What this book couldn't see was how messy Independence will become and how the British institutions would continue to influence the free nations created in their India, through a carefully cultivated native ruling class, which will plunder their country more ruthlessly than the colonials, to migrate their progeny to the West finally. It also had no idea of the rise of German power in Europe and the developments in China. So the failure was double, as it may look by the end of the book. Forster was honest in what he wrote about.
Maupassant's genius at short story writing is on display here. In about twenty five pages he portrays a complete world eclipsed by war and German occu...moreMaupassant's genius at short story writing is on display here. In about twenty five pages he portrays a complete world eclipsed by war and German occupation of France, which is creeping deeper into the country by the day. The characters are universal, for their political, professional and other belongings. While fleeing towards away from the occupying forces, the circumstances bring out the best and the worst in them. The fascinating description of the early cold morning they leave and the events in the countryside, which the natives are deserting likewise, is all there in very few words. Ones heart goes to Boule De suif, who, though a prostitute, has more honor than her companions. The spirit of resistance is lacking in all the rest: the businessmen, politicians and the rest, who have either shifted their business interests and money to England or in the deeper country side. For honor only a prostitute is fleeing. It is one of the greatest short stories of all times. The translator really has done well. Maupassant once again does so much in so few pages that you wonder the over descriptiveness of the prose written during his time was outdated, even in other languages. A great writer values the time of his readers. He was way ahead of his contemporaries at story telling unpretentiously. In a short life he had achieved more than most of them, no wonder. For his writing also entertains to even a new reader. So it is universal.(less)
Nepal is an enigma to outsiders but a new novel opens a stunning window into the country and its society.
The Royal Enigma uniquely mixes fiction and f...moreNepal is an enigma to outsiders but a new novel opens a stunning window into the country and its society.
The Royal Enigma uniquely mixes fiction and fact to tell the epic story of the 2001 assassination of the Nepalese royal family and its ongoing impact on the people of Nepal. Chapters detailing actual events alternate with the fictional life of Nawin, his life a personal mirror on the larger tragic national events. The Royal Enigma tells a real life story in a very different and appealing way.
For years, Nepal was savaged by a civil war. On one side were the King and the democratically elected government (not quite the same thing), on the other side were brutal Maoist revolutionaries who terrorized the countryside. After years of war, one night most of the Nepalese royal family was assassinated. The official story? The Crown Prince shot all of them and then himself because he could not marry the woman he loved. The story most Nepalese believe? The King was assassinated because he was secretly working with the Maoists to destroy the democratically elected government.
The Royal Enigma presents all the known facts and theories behind the assassinations. It is a great novel for anyone interested in real life political conspiracies!
The story of the civil war is paralleled by chapters focusing on the disruption and corruption it brought to Nepalese society. That story is personified in Nawin and his family and friends. He starts as a young man raised in a remote village of Nepal. He leaves his family responsibilities of looking after his step-mother and disabled half-brother, and instead becomes a pharmaceutical salesperson working from Kathmandu. Nawin and the colourful people he meets illustrate traditional Nepalese culture along with the intrusion of outside elements.
The two stories are epic and dramatic, spanning decades. Readers have an open window into how Nepalese people live, whether in city or country. Learn how to prepare a goat for a celebratory feast. Read about the intricate infighting between the King and the democratic government. Be shocked at the brutal attacks of the Maoists, pushing revolution. It is all here.(less)
Rajesh thinks that the city, to which he walks to his job everyday, from a village near Kathmandu, is a different world. He is on a mission one day to...moreRajesh thinks that the city, to which he walks to his job everyday, from a village near Kathmandu, is a different world. He is on a mission one day to bury the dropped-naval of his newly born nephew, on the instruction of his widowed mother, in side the boundry of the Prime Minister's residence at Baluwater. His mother has sensed the possibility that the newly born will be the Prime Minister of the country one day.(less)
What someone from outside thinks of America is not much reported. Naipaul, who grew up in caribbeans to go to England to become a writer, returns to t...moreWhat someone from outside thinks of America is not much reported. Naipaul, who grew up in caribbeans to go to England to become a writer, returns to the USA in his middle-age and meets the people after going to places, to find out what makes the America or the USA of Today. The conflict of races and religion continue to simmer below the surface. The North-South devide of it is so well explored by Naipaul. The transformation from an agrarian to an industrialised nation, from one where the franchise were extended to the Blacks only about half a century back is explained patienlt by the author. While telling their family history orally, the people the author meets have no memory of many long years or a generation. It is disturbing. These social dynamics must be there even today, though Obama is the President of this great nation. Naipaul's book is an excellent documentation of the people he met and the places he went to, in a language which is simple and effective. A book for one who is interested in the history of The USA and is not deluded by selective memories of the people who wrote more on the subject. The critical reviews of this book here prove that Americans are poor in terms of literature. They mostly can not tolerate when they come across a good one about them.(less)
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