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Summary & Study Guide The Guide by R. K. Narayan
The Guide Study Guide consists of approx. 48 pages of summaries and analysis on The Guide by R. K. Narayan. This study guide includes the following Plot Summary, Chapter Summaries & Analysis, Characters, Objects/Places, Themes, Style, Quotes, and Topics for Discussion.
42 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 11, 2021
The Guide written by the author is a story of Raju. A tourist guide hailing from a small town in South India. He is a charming and a witty fellow who falls in love with a beautiful damsel - Rosy who is married but in an incompatible relationship. The neglect and deprivation of husband's love drives her into the arms of Raju. He discovers her talent and deep passion for dance and becomes her mentor in this love journey and she embarks on path of glamour and fame .
However, a scandal breaks their relationship and he is impeached by the court for committing a forgery and is sentenced to long term in jail. He commences a new journey on his release from imprisonment and seeking a new destination to seek his salvation reaches an unknown village temple which becomes his abode and days are spent in prayers and he becomes an aesthetic.
The villagers are charmed by his benevolence and altruistic attitude and bestow their love and devotion and consult him on personal and issues in their village.
RAJU alias becomes a Saint, and he conducts a penance , when the village is faced with drought and famine. He becomes their saviour and redeems the villagers from the curse or sin and the village is blessed with monsoon .
The villagers are joyous and the miracle of the saint 's divine powers spreads like a wild fire in the country.
An enduring love story when Rosy , who is intrigued by this news and reaches the village to get the blessing of this saint. She is stunned to see her former lover who is adored by villagers flocking to seek his blessings . And she witness his sacrifice and death that leaves her misty eyed.
R K Narayan 's writing is simplicity and elegance which is woven is bound to mesmerize the readers.
A story that is embellished with love and romance and angst and forgiveness. Revelation about human nature to endure unforseen twist in lives. Sometimes leads to manifestation of spirituality and inner peace.
However, a scandal breaks their relationship and he is impeached by the court for committing a forgery and is sentenced to long term in jail. He commences a new journey on his release from imprisonment and seeking a new destination to seek his salvation reaches an unknown village temple which becomes his abode and days are spent in prayers and he becomes an aesthetic.
The villagers are charmed by his benevolence and altruistic attitude and bestow their love and devotion and consult him on personal and issues in their village.
RAJU alias becomes a Saint, and he conducts a penance , when the village is faced with drought and famine. He becomes their saviour and redeems the villagers from the curse or sin and the village is blessed with monsoon .
The villagers are joyous and the miracle of the saint 's divine powers spreads like a wild fire in the country.
An enduring love story when Rosy , who is intrigued by this news and reaches the village to get the blessing of this saint. She is stunned to see her former lover who is adored by villagers flocking to seek his blessings . And she witness his sacrifice and death that leaves her misty eyed.
R K Narayan 's writing is simplicity and elegance which is woven is bound to mesmerize the readers.
A story that is embellished with love and romance and angst and forgiveness. Revelation about human nature to endure unforseen twist in lives. Sometimes leads to manifestation of spirituality and inner peace.
December 20, 2016
In R. K. Narayan's trademark style, this book is a fantastic satire on desire and God men. While it's humour keeps it light, the suspense makes this a page turner.
This is a story of Railway Raju who has humble beginnings but his life takes many turns after he becomes a Guide and takes a beautiful dancer Rosie and her husband Marco and stays with them. He turns into a Celebrity to a Criminal to a God man.
This is a story of Railway Raju who has humble beginnings but his life takes many turns after he becomes a Guide and takes a beautiful dancer Rosie and her husband Marco and stays with them. He turns into a Celebrity to a Criminal to a God man.
March 6, 2020
Guide has been one of my most favourite movies of all times. Its songs, its bulls-eye casting, screenplay, cinematography, wide frame makes it such a beautiful piece of cinema. Raju, in all his frailties, has been an enamouring character…..i marvel how willingly-unwillingly he remained a guide all through his life....
A recent talk about how the movie is different from the book made me want to read the book. This was the first time I'd be reading the book whose movie I had already seen. I always avoid doing this, or the other way…(never watch the movie of a book I have loved)
The book starts where Raju is just out of jail, and wanders by a river side, reflecting on his childhood and how he got himself to where he was that day. Unknown to him, he was on the verge of being turned into a saint, a Swami. The narrative runs in parallel --- one part traces Raju's early life, how he came to manage a shop at the railway station, how his boisterousness turned him into a popular and much sought after guide for the village, its hills, temples, historic ruins; how he met Marco and Rosie and how eventually his entire world turned upside down. The other part dwells in the present, in Raju's conflicts with himself, and his gradual metamorphosis into the village's saint who willy-nilly takes it upon himself to make right everything….
So what I had already seen the movie and love it? At no time while reading the book did I want to rush through the narrative. On the contrary, its subtle humour and poignant simplicity made me re-read many passages many times over. Without exaggeration, I was gripped by R.K. Narayan’s master story telling right with the opening lines:
“Raju welcomed the intrusion – something to relieve the loneliness of the place. The man stood gazing reverentially on his face.”
And later, “He had had his last shave only two days before and paid for it with the hard-earned coins of his jail life.” See how nuanced is the mention that he served time in prison? That this seemingly god-like man would have committed some wrong? That he had a strong past? The book teems with such nuances…
With R. K. Narayan’s delightful simplicity and vivid imagery, you easily slip into the Malgudi world, into the life and cares of the 1950s’ India. The story you knew all along, while reading, assumes a bigger shape, digs deeper. I pondered how Rosie stayed dissatisfied in everything she set out to do, to be; how Raju, in all his misdemeanours was true to what he loved; how self-effacing he was; and how finally, he responded to an inner calling.
As I closed the book one last time, I marvelled at the beauty of the end. No, it isn’t like that of the movie.
Read The Guide for the love of Narayan’s heart-warming story telling. A forever classic, your loss if you haven’t, don’t….
(P.S: The movie had to be adapted for the world of cinema. To the credit of the directors lie the fact that they kept the story intact. Kudos. Both, the book and the movie remain a classic.)
A recent talk about how the movie is different from the book made me want to read the book. This was the first time I'd be reading the book whose movie I had already seen. I always avoid doing this, or the other way…(never watch the movie of a book I have loved)
The book starts where Raju is just out of jail, and wanders by a river side, reflecting on his childhood and how he got himself to where he was that day. Unknown to him, he was on the verge of being turned into a saint, a Swami. The narrative runs in parallel --- one part traces Raju's early life, how he came to manage a shop at the railway station, how his boisterousness turned him into a popular and much sought after guide for the village, its hills, temples, historic ruins; how he met Marco and Rosie and how eventually his entire world turned upside down. The other part dwells in the present, in Raju's conflicts with himself, and his gradual metamorphosis into the village's saint who willy-nilly takes it upon himself to make right everything….
So what I had already seen the movie and love it? At no time while reading the book did I want to rush through the narrative. On the contrary, its subtle humour and poignant simplicity made me re-read many passages many times over. Without exaggeration, I was gripped by R.K. Narayan’s master story telling right with the opening lines:
“Raju welcomed the intrusion – something to relieve the loneliness of the place. The man stood gazing reverentially on his face.”
And later, “He had had his last shave only two days before and paid for it with the hard-earned coins of his jail life.” See how nuanced is the mention that he served time in prison? That this seemingly god-like man would have committed some wrong? That he had a strong past? The book teems with such nuances…
With R. K. Narayan’s delightful simplicity and vivid imagery, you easily slip into the Malgudi world, into the life and cares of the 1950s’ India. The story you knew all along, while reading, assumes a bigger shape, digs deeper. I pondered how Rosie stayed dissatisfied in everything she set out to do, to be; how Raju, in all his misdemeanours was true to what he loved; how self-effacing he was; and how finally, he responded to an inner calling.
As I closed the book one last time, I marvelled at the beauty of the end. No, it isn’t like that of the movie.
Read The Guide for the love of Narayan’s heart-warming story telling. A forever classic, your loss if you haven’t, don’t….
(P.S: The movie had to be adapted for the world of cinema. To the credit of the directors lie the fact that they kept the story intact. Kudos. Both, the book and the movie remain a classic.)
July 21, 2023
The story was alright, super slow build up, didn’t particularly love the writing style - the way they portrayed women in the book was a little annoying. Language was 7/10 learned new things. Set in an Indian theme so it was fun to read while in India. The only thing that made me finish it was to see if it’d ever get better and live up to the expectation that RK Narayan is one of India’s greatest authors.
February 26, 2022
I think this book was mentioned in an interview with another author in the NY Times Book Review. It was written in 1958 and it you enter another culture reading this. It was sad on many levels and very well written.
There are so many unique characters and varying iterations of the same person - the guide.
Enjoyed this even as it made me a bit sad.
There are so many unique characters and varying iterations of the same person - the guide.
Enjoyed this even as it made me a bit sad.
July 19, 2020
R. K. Narayan is truly a legend. This book brings you the best of him in a subtly humorous style. The plot of the story is riveting till the end.
October 8, 2021
Remember book ❤️
January 3, 2015
A Sarcastic novel which takes us through the life of a normal person living in Malgudi. Through various characters in the novel, R K Narayan gives us a slight glance to different types of people in our society. The story very interestingly depicts how one's life and perspective changes around money and woman.
August 21, 2012
I read the book, not the study guide.
March 27, 2015
A very personal story of an individual reviewing a rather lazy opportunistic life and ...
April 4, 2015
Great Emotions.
Read
March 28, 2016ayye only the last chapters really mean anything. The rest is sort of weird but strong I guess. Have fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2013
marks it as read
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews