Week 34 - Kim by Rudyard Kipling

[Jenny]

Here's week 34 with Kim by Rudyard Kipling

from the article:

"Kim, Kipling's extraordinarily topical masterpiece, has one of the most brilliant openings in this series: "He sat, in defiance of municipal orders, astride the gun Zam-Zammah on her brick platform opposite the old Ajaib-Ghar – the Wonder Horse, as the natives call the Lahore museum. Who hold Zam-Zammah, that 'fire-breathing dragon', hold the Punjab, for the great green-bronze piece is always first of the conqueror's loot. "
(...)
Kim, engages the reader at three contrasting levels. It fictionalises Kipling's own Indian childhood (...). Second, it tells an adventure story of the kind that became especially popular in the heyday of the British Empire (...). Finally, and most importantly, it unfolds a boy's own story in which, through the trials of the Great Game, Kim will be given greater insight into his divided east-west inheritance.

read the full article here

[[deleted user]]

I've never read this but I'd really like to having read the guardian article. It sounds interesting

[Everyman]

I inherited a deep love for this book. From my father, raised in England, a love for Kipling (I know he's not always politically correct, but I think he's a lot more so than people give him credit for, and he is a fantastic versifier and not a bad poet) and from my mother a love for Kim, a book she read every summer from the time she was twelve until her death.

But I think even without this family tradition (and after all my sister will have nothing to do with Kipling, so it wasn't universal), I love Kim. I'm not sure how many times I've read it, but more than a few, and each time I'm drawn into the excitement, the danger, the adventure, and the wonderful detailed picture of India.

Kipling knew India well. He was born in India, was taken to England when he was 5, then sent back to India to a job there when he was just shy of 17, where he was a school head and curator of the Lahore Museum, where the opening scenes of Kim take place.

In my opinion, Kim fully justifies its place as one of the best 100 Anglo-American novels. I do know some people who don't appreciate it, so it isn't for all tastes, but at least do give it a try, and see if you aren't hooked by the first twenty pages.

[Everyman]

Jenny wrote: "...on her brick platform opposite the old Ajaib-Ghar – the Wonder Horse, as the natives call the Lahore museum.one of the most brilliant openings in this serie..."

That should be Wonder House.

[Jenny]

I blame the Guardian! I am quoting the article and had wondered why they'd call a Museum a horse ;)

[Jenny]

Like Heather, I've never read this, and heard a variety of opinions on it, ranging from people calling it a masterpiece to others disliking it with passionate conviction.

I haven't read Kipling since I was a child, so maybe it's time to give him another try with this novel.

[LauraT]

Also my father loved it. On the contrary I didn't like it - as generally Kiplings writing :(

[John]

Everyman, I couldn't agree more: Kim is brilliant. Kipling shows such understanding of all types of humanity.

Also - of animals. His Thy Servant A Dog (1930), told by a dog called Boots, with its puzzlement at human behaviour and its attempts to do the right thing, is both funny, dramatic, and touching.

[Bionic Jean]

I love Thy Servant a Dog too! I fact I am always surprised by how much I enjoy Rudyard Kipling, particularly his poetry, as I'm sure we'd have had terrible arguments in real life!

Last summer I visited his home, Bateman's, which he loved so much:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/batem...

There's a lot of memorabilia there, and reading the original of the poem "If...." made a big lump in my throat. His Nobel prize is in place of honour. With the money he was awarded for this he had a pond constructed. It's beautiful, but oddly is set flat with paving stones and plants around. I have a feeling Kipling must have had a devilish sense of humour, because his visitors' book contains many entries where he had written FIP (ie "fell in pond") after their names!

I also love the film "My Boy Jack", but it is so hard to watch. It makes me want to shake some sense into the man - but perhaps it is slanted very much one way.

[[deleted user]]

Jenny wrote: "Like Heather, I've never read this, and heard a variety of opinions on it, ranging from people calling it a masterpiece to others disliking it with passionate conviction.

I haven't read Kipling si..."

I might try reading it in July if you fancy reading together? May and June are looking a bit too busy!

[Jenny]

I can't promise I'll make it, but I'll try. I would quite like to read along with you! Just send me a little reminder maybe?

[John]

Lovely stories at Bateman's about how Kipling used to roll up the main room carpets every night and have an hour with the dogs chasing up and down!

[Everyman]

John wrote: "Also - of animals. His Thy Servant A Dog (1930), told by a dog called Boots, with its puzzlement at human behaviour and its attempts to do the right thing, is both funny, dramatic, and touching. "

Do you know his "The Power of the Dog"?
http://www.bartleby.com/364/335.html

But beware. If you can read it without tearing up, you need to get a "humanity check."

[Everyman]

John wrote: "Also - of animals. His Thy Servant A Dog (1930), told by a dog called Boots, with its puzzlement at human behaviour and its attempts to do the right thing, is both funny, dramatic, and touching. "

Do you know his "The Power of the Dog"?
http://www.bartleby.com/364/335.html

But beware. If you can read it without tearing up, you need to get a "humanity check."

[Gill]

Years ago I saw an opera based on Kipling's early life called Baa Baa Black Sheep. He was sent back from India to England and had a horrible time with the people who were meant to be caring for him.

[Bionic Jean]

Everyman - thank you. (I think!) I have kept that.

Gill - This one? It seems to be by Michael Berkeley, and is based on The Jungle Book

[[deleted user]]

Jenny wrote: "I can't promise I'll make it, but I'll try. I would quite like to read along with you! Just send me a little reminder maybe?"

I'll message you nearer the time. Obviously anybody else is welcome to join in.

[Bionic Jean]

I'll look forward to this too, thanks Heather, time permitting :)

[Jenny]

Should we ask Leslie to add it to the readalong list Heather and Jean, or should we make it a spontanious readalong for when we all have the time?

[Gill]

Jean wrote: "Everyman - thank you. (I think!) I have kept that.

Gill - This one? It seems to be by Michael Berkeley, and is based on The Jungle Book"

Can't see the page, maybe cos I'm not in the uk/Europe. But yes that's it. I think it's based on a short story by Kipling, but it had some links to the Jungle Book.

[Bionic Jean]

Sorry Gill. I forgot that. You look as if you're having a great time, by the way :)

Jenny, Heather - do you mind not adding me formally? I'd like to leave it open for just now, as I have two books on my shelves about the Raj already, and wanted to reread one of those this year for my "Around the World" challenge. But when it comes to it, I may fancy Kim more, and join in with you :)

[[deleted user]]

Of course Jean. I never take the list of people for readalongs that seriously anyway, we won't feel offended if you don't join!

[Bionic Jean]

Thanks ;)

[John]

Everyman - thank you for the reference to the poem The Power of The Dog, which I have just read. Since I have just come home from walking the three fourteen-year-old Border Collies - one half blind/deaf, one panting with lung/throat problems, and the third arthritic - it was more than poignant and 'tearing'. Who can forget the feeling when a beloved dog is put to sleep in one's arms? Thank you.

[Everyman]

John wrote: "Everyman - thank you for the reference to the poem The Power of The Dog, which I have just read. Since I have just come home from walking the three fourteen-year-old Border Collies - one half blind..."

You will need to be strong.

[John]

Everyman - yes. I just gave the poem, with no preamble, to my wife to read. Tears in her eyes!

[Leslie]

Kim is on my TBR, and is pretty close to the top (#12 I think). I should get to it sometime this year :P

I read a bunch of Kipling's poetry and some of his short stories last year, and I have a great fondness for several movies based on his writing (The Man Who Would Be King, Gunga Din, Kim, The Jungle Book, etc).