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God's Little Soldier
No matter what garb he dons, or the faith to which he subscribes, Zia believes that he is the chosen one, destined to save the world.
Gifted mathematician, stock market whiz-kid, master guerrilla strategist, Defender of the faith, Zia Khan is a man willing to die for his beliefs, and to destroy anyone who comes in his way. Zia Khan is a god's little soldier: a terrorist.
Zia's fate is linked with that of his brother, Amanat, who chooses the middle path. Their lives diverge and their beliefs clash, but both are confronted in their own ways with the dilemmas of faith and betrayal, god and morality.
Crafted with a deft, daring and certain hand, God's Little Soldier is a masterpiece of storytelling. As a literary work, the novel effortlessly combines lyricism and learning, imagination and authenticity; as a modern-day allegory it highlights the dangers of religious extremism of all varieties, and is a profound and unflinching enquiry into the most pressing issues of our time.
Gifted mathematician, stock market whiz-kid, master guerrilla strategist, Defender of the faith, Zia Khan is a man willing to die for his beliefs, and to destroy anyone who comes in his way. Zia Khan is a god's little soldier: a terrorist.
Zia's fate is linked with that of his brother, Amanat, who chooses the middle path. Their lives diverge and their beliefs clash, but both are confronted in their own ways with the dilemmas of faith and betrayal, god and morality.
Crafted with a deft, daring and certain hand, God's Little Soldier is a masterpiece of storytelling. As a literary work, the novel effortlessly combines lyricism and learning, imagination and authenticity; as a modern-day allegory it highlights the dangers of religious extremism of all varieties, and is a profound and unflinching enquiry into the most pressing issues of our time.
554 pages, hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
20 people are currently reading
538 people want to read
About the author
Kiran Nagarkar
28 books147 followersKiran Nagarkar was born in Bombay in 1942. In addition to plays and screenplays, he has written four novels, establishing his reputation as an outstanding representative of contemporary Indian literature. His books are a target of ideological critique due to the hybrid nature of his version of postcolonialism, involving irreverence alongside seriousness.
Nagarkar studied at the Ferguson College in Bombay and then worked as an assistant professor at some colleges, as a journalist and screenplay writer, and, notably, in the advertising industry. He wrote his first book Saat Sakkam Trechalis (1974; Eng. Seven Sixes are Forty Three, 1980) in his mother tongue, Marathi. His bitter and burlesque description of the young Bombayite Kunshank – achieved by means of a fragmented form and rendered in innovative language – is considered to be a milestone in Marathi literature. In his first play Bedtime Story (1978), Nagarkar takes on the subject of modern responsibility by broaching the topic of political crises of the day (for instance the Cuban Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the State of Emergency called for by Indira Gandhi). Due to problems with state censorship as well as religiously motivated restrictions that prevailed over the cultural scene, the play was not staged until 1995. His second book Ravan and Eddie (1994) also met with a hostile response. The story of the childhood of two young boys, one Hindu, the other Christian, from families who live next door to each other yet live in completely different worlds, was criticized both as anti-Hindu and anti-Christian. The fact that Nagarakar chose to write this book and other subsequent writings in English, the language of his education, also encountered objections from his fellow countrymen.
In his subsequent novels, Nagarkar contrasts bigotry and extremism with a tolerance that feeds on doubt and is open to diversity. In Cuckold (1997), this mentality is embodied in a character who looms in Indian historiography. This is the unknown spouse of the famous princess Meera from the 16th century, whose love songs to the God Krishna have passed into popular Indian culture. In God’s Little Soldier (2006), the protagonist, who switches faiths without ever abandoning extremism, stands opposed to his questioning brother. Consistent with the underlying idea of this book as a parable without a message Nagarkar affirms in an interview that we can never stop questioning ourselves, we must bring our convictions out into the light and prove them. Nothing is more dangerous than being too much oneself, being completely sure of oneself, since such a belief will soon develop into an intolerance of others.
Nagarkar was distinguished with the H.N. Apte Award for the best first novel, the renowned Sahitya Award and the Dalmia Award for the furtherance of communicative harmony through literature. He received a Rockefeller grant and was awarded a scholarship by the city of Munich. He lives in Bombay.
Nagarkar studied at the Ferguson College in Bombay and then worked as an assistant professor at some colleges, as a journalist and screenplay writer, and, notably, in the advertising industry. He wrote his first book Saat Sakkam Trechalis (1974; Eng. Seven Sixes are Forty Three, 1980) in his mother tongue, Marathi. His bitter and burlesque description of the young Bombayite Kunshank – achieved by means of a fragmented form and rendered in innovative language – is considered to be a milestone in Marathi literature. In his first play Bedtime Story (1978), Nagarkar takes on the subject of modern responsibility by broaching the topic of political crises of the day (for instance the Cuban Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the State of Emergency called for by Indira Gandhi). Due to problems with state censorship as well as religiously motivated restrictions that prevailed over the cultural scene, the play was not staged until 1995. His second book Ravan and Eddie (1994) also met with a hostile response. The story of the childhood of two young boys, one Hindu, the other Christian, from families who live next door to each other yet live in completely different worlds, was criticized both as anti-Hindu and anti-Christian. The fact that Nagarakar chose to write this book and other subsequent writings in English, the language of his education, also encountered objections from his fellow countrymen.
In his subsequent novels, Nagarkar contrasts bigotry and extremism with a tolerance that feeds on doubt and is open to diversity. In Cuckold (1997), this mentality is embodied in a character who looms in Indian historiography. This is the unknown spouse of the famous princess Meera from the 16th century, whose love songs to the God Krishna have passed into popular Indian culture. In God’s Little Soldier (2006), the protagonist, who switches faiths without ever abandoning extremism, stands opposed to his questioning brother. Consistent with the underlying idea of this book as a parable without a message Nagarkar affirms in an interview that we can never stop questioning ourselves, we must bring our convictions out into the light and prove them. Nothing is more dangerous than being too much oneself, being completely sure of oneself, since such a belief will soon develop into an intolerance of others.
Nagarkar was distinguished with the H.N. Apte Award for the best first novel, the renowned Sahitya Award and the Dalmia Award for the furtherance of communicative harmony through literature. He received a Rockefeller grant and was awarded a scholarship by the city of Munich. He lives in Bombay.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 22, 2008
This one has the expansiveness of Ghosh's Glass Palace. It takes place in four spaces: Bombay India, Cambridge, England, various parts of the US, and Kabul, Afghanistan.
The project is simple enough: can we locate within ourselves a desire to do good that is so pure, so needy, so forceful, that we will do most anything for it -- harm, kill even in the name of that good? Nagarkar wishes to create a character who is steeped with such pure desire but a character with whom, nevertheless, we can sympathize. He does so in part by creating a tension.
Two brothers, Zia and Amanat, represent two aspects of religious conviction: orthodoxy, certainty, doubt-purging versus mysticism, ambiguity, and doubtfullness. The immediate themes are religion, terror, and global political economy. The deeper themes simultaneously ask questions about God, meaning, love, betrayal, and faith.
This is a big book -- full of ambition, wisdom, and a kind of yearning that turns screams into sobbing laughter. There are passages here so funny, so much the raw kernel of life, so fine in mundane pathos, that one cries out to read them aloud to others. One waits for someone to walk by so as to say, "stop, listen to this. Please."
There is a passage in which a sufi saint type dies and gets into heaven. He interrogates God about why he got in, given his less than ethical behavior. He learns that his entry into heaven is God's token gesture, a gesture made to support God's image as a merciful being. The saint takes God to task for his reasoning; why let him in while other sinners are left out? God loses his patience. This is a passage that Kiran read out (among other passages) at the Bookery some weeks back. And I think I would walk a long distance in order to hear him read it again.
There are so many more such passages. Often I was torn -- wanting to read passages over and over while also wishing to let nothing get in the way of the unfolding story.
Those of you who have read my tirade against The Kite Runner, know that I have been looking for something, anything that can internalize the Taliban. Kiran mentions the Taliban but in dismissive fashion. Nevertheless, he does internalize what we might call the middle class "terrorist." (By "internalize" I mean finding others' motives, no matter how dispicable, within us.)
While other authors piddle around trying (in the slushy confines of bad faith) to say something meaningful about our current situation -- I would include here most of the North American and European white writers, including those like Rushdie who have recently become white -- Kiran Nagarkar demonstrates double courage: a willingness to take on the ethical issues of our time with a crisp, confident, but infinitely nuanced voice; and a willingness to let his pulse beat as one with the darkest part of the heart of darkness.
I find he has the story telling skills of Rushdie and the genre-breaking tone, voice, and form of Amitav Ghosh. On top of which his ability to sublimate his screams so that they come out as sublime is, I think, unmatched.
I may be going on a bit because I am a bit smitten. If so, let me know. These reviews are revisable. But in the mean time, its on to another one of his novels for me: Cuckold.
God's Little Children is not yet available in North America. I have included the url of Harpercollins India (here it is again:
http://www.harpercollins.co.in/BookDe...
) if you want to order it.
The project is simple enough: can we locate within ourselves a desire to do good that is so pure, so needy, so forceful, that we will do most anything for it -- harm, kill even in the name of that good? Nagarkar wishes to create a character who is steeped with such pure desire but a character with whom, nevertheless, we can sympathize. He does so in part by creating a tension.
Two brothers, Zia and Amanat, represent two aspects of religious conviction: orthodoxy, certainty, doubt-purging versus mysticism, ambiguity, and doubtfullness. The immediate themes are religion, terror, and global political economy. The deeper themes simultaneously ask questions about God, meaning, love, betrayal, and faith.
This is a big book -- full of ambition, wisdom, and a kind of yearning that turns screams into sobbing laughter. There are passages here so funny, so much the raw kernel of life, so fine in mundane pathos, that one cries out to read them aloud to others. One waits for someone to walk by so as to say, "stop, listen to this. Please."
There is a passage in which a sufi saint type dies and gets into heaven. He interrogates God about why he got in, given his less than ethical behavior. He learns that his entry into heaven is God's token gesture, a gesture made to support God's image as a merciful being. The saint takes God to task for his reasoning; why let him in while other sinners are left out? God loses his patience. This is a passage that Kiran read out (among other passages) at the Bookery some weeks back. And I think I would walk a long distance in order to hear him read it again.
There are so many more such passages. Often I was torn -- wanting to read passages over and over while also wishing to let nothing get in the way of the unfolding story.
Those of you who have read my tirade against The Kite Runner, know that I have been looking for something, anything that can internalize the Taliban. Kiran mentions the Taliban but in dismissive fashion. Nevertheless, he does internalize what we might call the middle class "terrorist." (By "internalize" I mean finding others' motives, no matter how dispicable, within us.)
While other authors piddle around trying (in the slushy confines of bad faith) to say something meaningful about our current situation -- I would include here most of the North American and European white writers, including those like Rushdie who have recently become white -- Kiran Nagarkar demonstrates double courage: a willingness to take on the ethical issues of our time with a crisp, confident, but infinitely nuanced voice; and a willingness to let his pulse beat as one with the darkest part of the heart of darkness.
I find he has the story telling skills of Rushdie and the genre-breaking tone, voice, and form of Amitav Ghosh. On top of which his ability to sublimate his screams so that they come out as sublime is, I think, unmatched.
I may be going on a bit because I am a bit smitten. If so, let me know. These reviews are revisable. But in the mean time, its on to another one of his novels for me: Cuckold.
God's Little Children is not yet available in North America. I have included the url of Harpercollins India (here it is again:
http://www.harpercollins.co.in/BookDe...
) if you want to order it.
February 16, 2016
I want my time and money back. I cannot believe that someone who wrote the brilliant Cuckold can write something like this. The book goes on and on and on. It almost reads like a newspaper with all sorts of current affairs thrown in. The characters are shallow, their psychology traced very tardily and evoke no empathy. A lemon!
February 19, 2016
This is surely one of the most pathetic, pointless, moronic books I have read. There is no plot, the central theme of the contrast between extremism and moderation is not explored at all, infact we know nothing at all for why the brothers choose different paths. There r hardly any insights. There r no stories woven with history etc that make for interesting subplots either.
Completed this only as i dont leave books unfinished. Although will give the author's Cuckold a try as friends have rated it highly. Maybe he is a one-book wonder.
Completed this only as i dont leave books unfinished. Although will give the author's Cuckold a try as friends have rated it highly. Maybe he is a one-book wonder.
May 29, 2023
After watching Kerala story reread it. Liked it more.
March 25, 2014
Kiran Nagarkar has taken on a major question of our time -- how to live one's beliefs truly and fully in a compromised and compromising world without becoming one's own worst enemy -- in the form of an epic novel. Nagarkar's character Zia Khan moves from Bombay to Cambridge, Afghanistan, and the USA, and from "good" liberal Muslim to Muslim terrorist to Christian ascetic to fundamentalist Christian fanatic, to tantric zealot as well. In each of these lives, he spreads death and destruction most effectively, but does not find satisfaction. Zia's brother Amanat remains the conventional liberal, modern Muslim concerned with good and evil, but even his actions are less effective and moral than he hopes. Still, Zia's intensity and zealotry are compelling and not without sympathy. Nagarkar, who speaks eloquently and with humor about the dangers of certainty, the value of humor and doubt, has done a masterful job of embodying the modern zealot, or the modern fundamentalist.
By the way, if you have the opportunity to hear Nagarkar, do not miss the chance: I had that privilege some years ago when he visited Ithaca (the community and the College).
By the way, if you have the opportunity to hear Nagarkar, do not miss the chance: I had that privilege some years ago when he visited Ithaca (the community and the College).
October 4, 2019
incredible book
August 20, 2022
ಒಬ್ಬ ಜಿಹಾದಿಯ ಕಥೆ ಅಂತ ಸರಳವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಿ ಮುಗಿಸಲಾಗದ ಪುಸ್ತಕ. ಹೇಗೆ ಜಿಹಾದಿಗಳು ರೂಪುಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾರೆ ಎಂಬುದರಿಂದ ಹಿಡಿದು ಜಾಗತಿಕ ರಾಜಕೀಯದ ಸರಳ ವಿವರಣೆ ಇದೆ.
February 9, 2018
Ich finde es sehr schwierig dieses Buch zu bewerten. Ich hatte mir erhofft ausführliche Beweggründe zu finden die dazu führen, dass sich der Protagonist den unterschiedlichen Religionen anschließt. Das war allerdings nicht der Fall.
Der Protagonist zeigt bereits seit seiner Kindheit einen Hang zum Fanatismus, obwohl (oder vielleicht auch deshalb?) er in einer mehrheitlich sehr liberalen Familie aufwächst. Fast schon sprunghaft wechselt er zwischen den Religionen hin und her. Jesuserscheinungen die ihn zum Christentum bekehren, waren mir etwas schwach fast schon dämlich als Erklärung. Eventuell habe ich auch nicht ganz verstanden was mir der Autor hier mitteilen wollte. Vielleicht deutet es auch daraufhin, dass es vielen Fanatikern eben nur um den Fundamentalismus selbst geht und weniger oder gar nicht um den Grund bzw. die Ideologie, die dahinter steht. Ein passendes Beispiel sind die Nazis die nach dem Krieg zur Stasi gewechselt sind. Oder umgekehrt, Rechtsradikale die vorher linksradikal waren.
Aber woher kommt dann Fanatismus? Ist es ein angeborener Charakterzug? Oder doch anerzogen? Oder anerzogen, indem die Erziehung unbedingt das Gegenteil vermitteln will? Darauf liefert das Buch keine Antwort, höchstens Andeutungen. Falls es für diese komplexe Fragestellung eine Lösung gibt, ist ein Sachbuch vielleicht eher geeignet.
Der Protagonist zeigt bereits seit seiner Kindheit einen Hang zum Fanatismus, obwohl (oder vielleicht auch deshalb?) er in einer mehrheitlich sehr liberalen Familie aufwächst. Fast schon sprunghaft wechselt er zwischen den Religionen hin und her. Jesuserscheinungen die ihn zum Christentum bekehren, waren mir etwas schwach fast schon dämlich als Erklärung. Eventuell habe ich auch nicht ganz verstanden was mir der Autor hier mitteilen wollte. Vielleicht deutet es auch daraufhin, dass es vielen Fanatikern eben nur um den Fundamentalismus selbst geht und weniger oder gar nicht um den Grund bzw. die Ideologie, die dahinter steht. Ein passendes Beispiel sind die Nazis die nach dem Krieg zur Stasi gewechselt sind. Oder umgekehrt, Rechtsradikale die vorher linksradikal waren.
Aber woher kommt dann Fanatismus? Ist es ein angeborener Charakterzug? Oder doch anerzogen? Oder anerzogen, indem die Erziehung unbedingt das Gegenteil vermitteln will? Darauf liefert das Buch keine Antwort, höchstens Andeutungen. Falls es für diese komplexe Fragestellung eine Lösung gibt, ist ein Sachbuch vielleicht eher geeignet.
May 21, 2018
Zias Reise durch die Religionen Islam, Christentum und Hinduismus ist orientalische Erzählkunst in Reinform. Wunderschöne Sprache (selbst in der wirklich guten Übersetzung), eine fast unendliche Erzählung, die allerlei Fragen aufwirft, ohne sie letztlich zu beantworten, völlige Hingabe an Gott, ohne jedoch in der Wahl der Mittel zimperlich zu sein, im Gegenteil. Das Lesen an sich ist ein Vergnügen, Zias Fazit am Ende eher weniger.
June 1, 2016
What is it that makes the religious (whether it be the evangelical fundamentalist or the religious terrorist) so self-righteous and sure about their interpretation of faith? To the exclusion of diverse manifestations of the way to God? Why the lack of self-awareness regarding their relationship with God?
Had much higher expectations of this book. The beginning really took off, making for very arresting reads. Nagarkar has taken the protagonist through some unusual experiences and raised some interesting questions around purpose and identity. But it went a little haywire in the middle. There are quite a few jarring notes, courtesy some inconsistent or maybe, inadequate characterization and a few awkwardly-phrased sentences. And the end was more than a little random.
Had much higher expectations of this book. The beginning really took off, making for very arresting reads. Nagarkar has taken the protagonist through some unusual experiences and raised some interesting questions around purpose and identity. But it went a little haywire in the middle. There are quite a few jarring notes, courtesy some inconsistent or maybe, inadequate characterization and a few awkwardly-phrased sentences. And the end was more than a little random.
June 13, 2009
Very different from his earlier book Cuckold. But such a fascinating insight into the reasons for terrorism. What struck me the most was the protagonist's reason for turing to terrorism when he says the reason he is a terrorist is not because of a divine dictate but because he needs to protect himself from forces that tempt him away from Allah. That effectively nullfies all religions arguments against terrorism and brings this terrible pre-occupation into the realms of psychology.
But the author's style brought me to my wits end trying to keep pace with the manner in which shifts from one plane to another.
But the author's style brought me to my wits end trying to keep pace with the manner in which shifts from one plane to another.
October 6, 2016
"There is only one god and her name is life. She is the only one worthy of worship. All else is irrelevant". Just this sentence sums up the whole book beautifully. The book traces the journey of Zia through his religious maze of beliefs while a parallel more rational thought runs with his brother Amanat.
This book is another masterpiece by my favorite Indian author. I loved the way he has weaved Kabir's story as a sub narrative in the main story. it's absolutely fascinating how these story spinners manage to tell you so many stories in one novel without losing the essence of the tale. This is a book for keeps, to be read again and again.
This book is another masterpiece by my favorite Indian author. I loved the way he has weaved Kabir's story as a sub narrative in the main story. it's absolutely fascinating how these story spinners manage to tell you so many stories in one novel without losing the essence of the tale. This is a book for keeps, to be read again and again.
July 17, 2014
'there's only one God and Her name is Life. She is the only one worthy of worship. All else is irrelevant'
Nagarkar beautifully brings out the nature of Spirituality and fanaticism. Though the book is lengthy the reader never loses interest in the life of Zia. 'God's Little Soldier' will surely shock the reader. It's highly complex and questions religious beliefs, politics etc. It will leave the reader with many questions and stay with the reader for a long time.
Nagarkar beautifully brings out the nature of Spirituality and fanaticism. Though the book is lengthy the reader never loses interest in the life of Zia. 'God's Little Soldier' will surely shock the reader. It's highly complex and questions religious beliefs, politics etc. It will leave the reader with many questions and stay with the reader for a long time.
January 15, 2013
Kiran Nagarkar is an amazing writer. The most important aspect of this novel is that it makes you think and retrospect about your own belief & assumption. The language used is simply spellbounding & I am looking forward to reading more of Mr.Nagarkar.
July 10, 2015
Why say in 200 pages what you can say so beautifully in 550? No one writes like Kiran Nagarkar and its a shame he is not more well know outside of India.
January 4, 2021
An der Stelle muss ich eine kleine Kritik an den Fischer-Verlag, oder besser gesagt an die Kritiken und Zusammenfassungen, dies sie auf ihren Buchrücken veröffentlichen, loswerden. Dort wird nämlich eine witzigen, satirische Aufarbeitung eines sehr schwierigen Themas, des religiösen Fundamentalismus', versprochen. Dem kann ich so aber nicht zustimmen.
Kiran Nagarkars "Gottes kleiner Krieger" erzählt die Geschichte von Zia Khan, einer verlorenen Seele, die sich durch die Wirrungen des Lebens kämpft auf der Suche nach Sinn und Erleuchtung. Dabei agiert er sehr launisch und neigt stark zur Radikalisierung, egal welcher Religion er gerade anhängt. Das Problem dabei: dieses Buch ist tatsächlich eine Satire, anders kann man es auf Grund der starken Überspitzung nicht bezeichnen, aber es ist in keinster Weise witzig. Gleichzeitig beschreibt Nagarkar verschiedene Grundsätze der Religionen sehr ernst und genau, was bei mir einen eher belehrenden Eindruck hinterließ, welchen ich auf Grund meiner Erwartungshaltung eher nervig fand. Andere Themen, wie die Geschichte zweier sehr unterschiedlicher Brüder oder das Alltagsleben in Indien, die mich persönlich weitaus mehr interessiert hätten, treten dabei leider in den Hintergrund.
"Gottes kleiner Krieger" ist kein schlechtes Buch, wenn auch mit knapp 700 Seiten deutlich zu lange, aber man sollte sich mMn bewusst sein mit was man es zu tun hat. Den Buchrücken des Fischer-Verlags un insbesondere den Rezessionen der "Brigitte" werde ich in Zukunft aber sehr skeptisch gegenüber stehen.
Kiran Nagarkars "Gottes kleiner Krieger" erzählt die Geschichte von Zia Khan, einer verlorenen Seele, die sich durch die Wirrungen des Lebens kämpft auf der Suche nach Sinn und Erleuchtung. Dabei agiert er sehr launisch und neigt stark zur Radikalisierung, egal welcher Religion er gerade anhängt. Das Problem dabei: dieses Buch ist tatsächlich eine Satire, anders kann man es auf Grund der starken Überspitzung nicht bezeichnen, aber es ist in keinster Weise witzig. Gleichzeitig beschreibt Nagarkar verschiedene Grundsätze der Religionen sehr ernst und genau, was bei mir einen eher belehrenden Eindruck hinterließ, welchen ich auf Grund meiner Erwartungshaltung eher nervig fand. Andere Themen, wie die Geschichte zweier sehr unterschiedlicher Brüder oder das Alltagsleben in Indien, die mich persönlich weitaus mehr interessiert hätten, treten dabei leider in den Hintergrund.
"Gottes kleiner Krieger" ist kein schlechtes Buch, wenn auch mit knapp 700 Seiten deutlich zu lange, aber man sollte sich mMn bewusst sein mit was man es zu tun hat. Den Buchrücken des Fischer-Verlags un insbesondere den Rezessionen der "Brigitte" werde ich in Zukunft aber sehr skeptisch gegenüber stehen.
May 6, 2019
"There is only one purpose of life; only one ontological, epistemological, teleological end to and reason for creation: Shit. What you eat, you shit. The more you consume, the more you shit."
Often in life do we come across situations when (material) progress appears meaningless and the only subject that haunts the mind is 'life's purpose'. Now, for want of better word, let us assume this situation to be a moment of introspection. You had gotten into this phase when 'life' hands over to you - God's Little Soldier; and the moment you have read the 556th page of the book you are compelled to think let's do this once more - Not because the book answers the purpose of life literally but it does so metaphorically.
The book is a mix of contradictions in its character and in its storytelling style. It is complete in its literary sense, yet so incomplete in its fictional sense. It does not leave the reader craving for more because the story has immense, yet it bestirs a longing in the reader.
It encompasses pressing issues from lens unknown to the human psyche. It would be my most insincere effort if I would wish to label this book as belonging to one category. It's written in a way that circumnavigates through most of the things that ales human race as a whole. The book tirelessly juggles in various ways but the language makes the book captivating enough. Not a masterpiece, but it is riveting. The book transcends through its storyline effortlessly. It's been knit in a way that you would be compelled to give it a thought repeatedly.
P.S. - Thank you Nagarkar for validating 'Shit' so profoundly. I could relate with the book more. #ROFLOL
Often in life do we come across situations when (material) progress appears meaningless and the only subject that haunts the mind is 'life's purpose'. Now, for want of better word, let us assume this situation to be a moment of introspection. You had gotten into this phase when 'life' hands over to you - God's Little Soldier; and the moment you have read the 556th page of the book you are compelled to think let's do this once more - Not because the book answers the purpose of life literally but it does so metaphorically.
The book is a mix of contradictions in its character and in its storytelling style. It is complete in its literary sense, yet so incomplete in its fictional sense. It does not leave the reader craving for more because the story has immense, yet it bestirs a longing in the reader.
It encompasses pressing issues from lens unknown to the human psyche. It would be my most insincere effort if I would wish to label this book as belonging to one category. It's written in a way that circumnavigates through most of the things that ales human race as a whole. The book tirelessly juggles in various ways but the language makes the book captivating enough. Not a masterpiece, but it is riveting. The book transcends through its storyline effortlessly. It's been knit in a way that you would be compelled to give it a thought repeatedly.
P.S. - Thank you Nagarkar for validating 'Shit' so profoundly. I could relate with the book more. #ROFLOL
March 31, 2024
Das Buch ist nicht dumm, aber auch nicht gut
Read
May 21, 2015I want to read this book because it is interesting
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews