Reading the Chunksters discussion
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A Fine Balance
A Fine Balance
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A Fine Balance - Chapter 4 & Chapter 5
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I just finished ch 6. When I went to college at Western Carolina University, there was an exchange student named Maneck. I had the hugest crush from him. He was from Nepal and the rumor was that he was a royal. Shortly afterward, (this was at least 2 decades ago), I read a small bulletin on the AP News that the royal family had been killed. I always wondered if my prince was there at the time. I cannot help reminiscing of him as I read Mountains.There are many lines that discuss a fine balance. One in particular was a fine balance between hope and despair. I can't look for the actual wording at the moment. Isn't that the same for all humanity? To make you appreciate your life more, you have to overcome burdens.
I hail from the beautiful and serene mountains of North Carolina so I sympathize with Maneck's homesickness for his mountains and I appreciate Mistry's effort in incorporating all the different cultures from India.
What a wonderful character Avinash is. An empathetic friend when Maneck needs it the most. Again (hope and despair).
Lorna wrote: "Tammy I do like that quote, What page is it on?"I am currently in DC at a conference. I googled it and azquotes said p.328. Here is the quote in it's entirety.
...you have to use your failures as stepping stones to success. You have to maintain a fine balance between hope and despair. In the end it’s all a question of balance.
That quote is from Vasantrao Valmik, the proofreader, who Maneck meets on the train to the Hostel.I think the quote is critical to what has happened to the various characters so far. From Dina's husbands death. The rough circumstances for the Lower caste. Manecks father losing an eye, etc. Accept and keep going...
Vasantrao also said this before:
“What can anyone do in such circumstances? Accept it, and go on. Please always remember, the secret of survival is to embrace change, and to adapt. To quote: ‘All things fall and are built again, and those that build them again are gay.’“ quoting Yeats.
Mekki wrote: "That quote is from Vasantrao Valmik, the proofreader, who Maneck meets on the train to the Hostel.I think the quote is critical to what has happened to the various characters so far. From Dina's ..."
Thanks Mekki. I hope it wasn't outside of Chapter 5.
Tammy, in the last section you mentioned that you hoped Ishvar and Dinah get together. While one may hope that Dinah gets together with Ishvar, in Chapter 4 we learn that she seems to prefer looking at Maneck's more studly physique.Western Carolina is in a nice locale. I went to a university which, while not as picturesque, has a good name: The University of Dayton.
Brian wrote: "Tammy, in the last section you mentioned that you hoped Ishvar and Dinah get together. While one may hope that Dinah gets together with Ishvar, in Chapter 4 we learn that she seems to prefer lookin..."Ha Ha! Cool!
I just finished Ch. 5 and am very interested to see how the story is going to bring these people together. Obviously, they have proximity, but there must be something that is going to draw them together in some other way. Dina and Maneck seem to feel some attraction despite their age difference, while Maneck is interested in furthering his acquaintance with the two tailors. Meanwhile, the employer-employee relationship between Dina and the two men is quickly deteriorating. Something must happen to bring them together because she seems to be on the verge of firing them.The backstory of the tailors is truly tragic and although Om can be annoying, I understand his anger--I would be a lot more messed up in his position! Maneck's story is much happier. His biggest problem is that his loving parents want the best for him. I understand his frustration and feel a little impatient with Manec's dad for being so stubbornly set in his ways. He's worried about his business and whether it will be there for Maneck, but he refuses to do anything to save it. He resists doing even the most basic maintenance, like repainting dingy walls or rearranging tired displays. He also refuses to keep up with new trends within his own field, such as popular new products that people will be looking for. You are practically guaranteeing the demise of your business if that is your mindset. It's difficult to feel sorry for him when he's doing it to himself--and his own son. Maneck is very clear about his desire to carry on the family business.
The descriptions of the societal and governmental structure are difficult to take. I can't even imagine living in those conditions--no running water, human waste everywhere, surrounded by such squalor. Indira Gandhi sounds very corrupt from this narrative, but she doesn't seem to have been viewed as such by the rest of the world. In 1999, she was named "Woman of the Millenium" in a BBC poll. The article I read does talk about the widespread atrocities committed during the "State of Emergency" that she declared, which is what is going on right now in Ch. 5. I don't know very much about India at this point in their history, so it is fascinating to get this inside look at it.
Cindy, being voted "Woman of the Millennium" probably doesn't mean that she was popular or wasn't viewed as corrupt, but just that she was the most influential and powerful woman of the time period. She deserves that title as most heads of big important countries were men.
Brian wrote: "Cindy, being voted "Woman of the Millennium" probably doesn't mean that she was popular or wasn't viewed as corrupt, but just that she was the most influential and powerful woman of the time period..."You're right. I doubt there would be too many leaders on a list like that that didn't have some link to corruption! I see that she is still the only woman who has ever been prime minister of India, so that is quite an accomplishment. I would like to know more about what type of ruler she was. The book seems to say (unless I misunderstood it) that she called the state of emergency to avoid facing the negative results (for her) of an election. I need to do some more research!
Yes, do some research, even just reading Wikipedia, It is interesting to get the whole history of Indira G.
We also get a better understanding of the personality of Om and Ishvar. Om seems to be a little hot headed and sometimes Jocular. Ishvar is mission oriented and is constantly tried to keep Om from doing something disastrous.
A few characters to enjoy also, Monkey man and Rajaram stand out...