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SREEDEVI TALKIES
Indulging innocently in primeval adultery and consummate sensuality, the rustic population of Kotta, sandwiched between ancient hills and enchanting backwaters, perpetually trapped in cinematic illusions of Sreedevi talkies; their transition to modernity was replete with disillusionments and disasters. In a saga teeming with archetypal and mythical lore- from Ulysses, Tiresias, Jesus Christ, Ancient Mariner and Kerala's own tryst with Communism- the novel is a lyrical journey into borderless territories of the unconscious, when ghosts let out by the Talkies endlessly ensnare the rustics on the slippery paths between reality and fantasy.
364 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2019
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 4, 2019
Movies are part of the life of any small town be it any part of India. The extinct single screen theaters are now a thing of past in metros. But in small towns they still exist. The book is written around one such small town of Kerala.
Sreedevi Talkies is in small town of Kotta in Kerala. This is a sleepy place and the only thing alive is the talkies. Mythical movies of Gemini Ganesan are a big draw. James Bond Rajan is frustrated and is married to Devika. He doesn’t want the marriage but he has no choice. Even after 5 years of marriage Devika is unmarried and then she strays. There is communist movement, wars, caste discrimination and all.
The canvas is large. Language is beautiful. See the sample of Devika’s sexual union:
“Devika knew that the lips which were drawing out her soul, were not of the James Bond. But she did not feel the need to resist them. She let herself be carried to the crystal palace of mermaids on the oceanic floor.”
The book is nice but takes time to finish. Canvas is large and for north Indians like me it is a bit unknown atmosphere. Good book and is recommended.
Sreedevi Talkies is in small town of Kotta in Kerala. This is a sleepy place and the only thing alive is the talkies. Mythical movies of Gemini Ganesan are a big draw. James Bond Rajan is frustrated and is married to Devika. He doesn’t want the marriage but he has no choice. Even after 5 years of marriage Devika is unmarried and then she strays. There is communist movement, wars, caste discrimination and all.
The canvas is large. Language is beautiful. See the sample of Devika’s sexual union:
“Devika knew that the lips which were drawing out her soul, were not of the James Bond. But she did not feel the need to resist them. She let herself be carried to the crystal palace of mermaids on the oceanic floor.”
The book is nice but takes time to finish. Canvas is large and for north Indians like me it is a bit unknown atmosphere. Good book and is recommended.
September 23, 2019
BLURB:
Indulging innocently in primeval adultery and consummate sensuality, the rustic population of Kotta, sandwiched between ancient hills and enchanting backwaters, perpetually trapped in the cinematic illusions of Sreedevi Talkies; their transition to modernity was replete with disillusionments and disasters. In a saga replete with archetypal and mythical lore from Ulysses, Tiresias, Jesus Christ, Ancient Mariner and Kerala’s historical tryst with Communism — the novel is a lyrical journey into borderless territories of the unconscious, when ghosts let out by the Talkies endlessly ensnare the rustics on the slippery paths between reality and fantasy.
Review:
Sreedevi Talkies by Shaji Karunakaran is an amazing and well written draft. It has been crafted with a great plot line in the city of Kotta where the lifestyle of the people is connected with the theatre of the city and each character is related with the movies played in the theatre. It is amusingly built and sustained as a whole-lot story for the readers.
In this book, the characterization is well scripted and each chapter in this book is wonderful. Though, the author has used a rich vocabulary and the language is heavy, but overall it is a great story.
Reader’s insight :
For this book, after a long time, I was been required to keep a dictionary along with me to well connect with the story, this means that the author has well researched, spent time and energy to actually create this masterpiece and this is a something incredible.
I am glad to get in touch with this book, it has been incredibly awesome and I loved it.
Indulging innocently in primeval adultery and consummate sensuality, the rustic population of Kotta, sandwiched between ancient hills and enchanting backwaters, perpetually trapped in the cinematic illusions of Sreedevi Talkies; their transition to modernity was replete with disillusionments and disasters. In a saga replete with archetypal and mythical lore from Ulysses, Tiresias, Jesus Christ, Ancient Mariner and Kerala’s historical tryst with Communism — the novel is a lyrical journey into borderless territories of the unconscious, when ghosts let out by the Talkies endlessly ensnare the rustics on the slippery paths between reality and fantasy.
Review:
Sreedevi Talkies by Shaji Karunakaran is an amazing and well written draft. It has been crafted with a great plot line in the city of Kotta where the lifestyle of the people is connected with the theatre of the city and each character is related with the movies played in the theatre. It is amusingly built and sustained as a whole-lot story for the readers.
In this book, the characterization is well scripted and each chapter in this book is wonderful. Though, the author has used a rich vocabulary and the language is heavy, but overall it is a great story.
Reader’s insight :
For this book, after a long time, I was been required to keep a dictionary along with me to well connect with the story, this means that the author has well researched, spent time and energy to actually create this masterpiece and this is a something incredible.
I am glad to get in touch with this book, it has been incredibly awesome and I loved it.
October 5, 2019
Blurb-
Indulging innocently in primeval adultery and consummate sensuality, the rustic population of Kotta, sandwiched between ancient hills and enchanting backwaters, perpetually trapped in the cinematic illusions of Sreedevi Talkies; their transition to modernity was replete with disillusionments and disasters. In a saga replete with archetypal and mythical lore from Ulysses, Tiresias, Jesus Christ, Ancient Mariner and Kerala's historical tryst with Communism — the novel is a lyrical journey into borderless territories of the unconscious, when ghosts let out by the Talkies endlessly ensnare the rustics on the slippery paths between reality and fantasy.
--------------------------
Review-
I very much like the way writers come up with something unique and meaningful by using simple words.
Sreedevi Talkies talks about a person's life merged up in different characters and with 92 different stories, this book helped me reveal secrets of my inner self. There are things one never knows about himself until and unless someone points out toward it. Author has worked truly hard on getting different things, different feelings altogether in this one single book.
Even though the narration goes slow, this book keeps you along till the end right from the moment you look at its vintage-inspired cover page which takes you back to those old times.
It's a beautiful book and worthy enough to read not just for once or twice but for more.
Overall ratings- 4/5
Narration- 3.5/5
Plot- 5/5
Title- 4.5/5
Cover- 5/5
Blurb- 3.5/5
Characterization- 5/5
Indulging innocently in primeval adultery and consummate sensuality, the rustic population of Kotta, sandwiched between ancient hills and enchanting backwaters, perpetually trapped in the cinematic illusions of Sreedevi Talkies; their transition to modernity was replete with disillusionments and disasters. In a saga replete with archetypal and mythical lore from Ulysses, Tiresias, Jesus Christ, Ancient Mariner and Kerala's historical tryst with Communism — the novel is a lyrical journey into borderless territories of the unconscious, when ghosts let out by the Talkies endlessly ensnare the rustics on the slippery paths between reality and fantasy.
--------------------------
Review-
I very much like the way writers come up with something unique and meaningful by using simple words.
Sreedevi Talkies talks about a person's life merged up in different characters and with 92 different stories, this book helped me reveal secrets of my inner self. There are things one never knows about himself until and unless someone points out toward it. Author has worked truly hard on getting different things, different feelings altogether in this one single book.
Even though the narration goes slow, this book keeps you along till the end right from the moment you look at its vintage-inspired cover page which takes you back to those old times.
It's a beautiful book and worthy enough to read not just for once or twice but for more.
Overall ratings- 4/5
Narration- 3.5/5
Plot- 5/5
Title- 4.5/5
Cover- 5/5
Blurb- 3.5/5
Characterization- 5/5
July 28, 2019
Sreedevi Talkies by Karunakaran Shaji
A very beautifully written and intriguing read. Through Sreedevi Talkies the author has tried to portray indulging stories of people from a small town named Kotta.
There are 92 stories which revolve around the Talkies and connect the movies to the people and their various emotions. The author has painted a borderless picture of reality and fantasy.
It is very interesting to read how a place can connect so many people and over a period of time it becomes an emotion in itself. The end of the story was beautiful. I was overwhelmed with emotions when I finished reading the book.
The language is not very easy so i wont recommend it to beginners.
The narrations are amazing but as the story is based in Kerala, their native language is used in few places.
Definitely recommended of you want to read about developing regions of India.
A very beautifully written and intriguing read. Through Sreedevi Talkies the author has tried to portray indulging stories of people from a small town named Kotta.
There are 92 stories which revolve around the Talkies and connect the movies to the people and their various emotions. The author has painted a borderless picture of reality and fantasy.
It is very interesting to read how a place can connect so many people and over a period of time it becomes an emotion in itself. The end of the story was beautiful. I was overwhelmed with emotions when I finished reading the book.
The language is not very easy so i wont recommend it to beginners.
The narrations are amazing but as the story is based in Kerala, their native language is used in few places.
Definitely recommended of you want to read about developing regions of India.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews