Breakfast of Champions - Kurt Vonnegut

This was my first tentative step into the world of Kurt Vonnegut and despite many warnings on the net (observations by other readers) that this may not be the best book to start with, I enjoyed the book tremendously.
Highly satirical and incisive in nature, 'Breakfast of Champions' provides a striking picture of the bleakness, the purposelessness and self centered life that the American society is so deeply mired in. Although the book is quite old, the observations are still relevant in the current times.
What is good about the book -
A unique narrative style which allows you to breeze through the pages despite the heavy content.
Drawings interspersed through out the story: although they highlight what has already been said in the story, it does provide an interesting angle to the narration.
And of course, brilliant writing.

The story is about two men, (no actually, three people - including the author, who makes an appearance in the book) a science fiction writer (Kilgore Trout) and a well-to-do car dealer (Dwayne Hoobler) who meet in an unlikely circumstances and the interaction leads to the dealer going completely insane. The emptiness of Dwayne's rich but aimless life (a dead wife, a disowned homosexual son, a mistress who is not able to fulfill the lacuna of his life) which sounds all too familiar even at this age. The mindless pollution and insensitiveness towards the environment so as to fill the corporations' already rich coffers seems to have continued from the time of industrialization.
Although pithy and humourous, it is quite bleak and leaves you with an unease that settles down on your sensibilities.
All in all a wonderful book and I am looking forward to the other books by the author.

I would rate this book 4.5/5 (why not 5? well, I don't know why, but I am just not able to do it)

Evening is the whole day - Preeta Samarasan

I am done with the job now. I am so relieved and relaxed. I feel free - probably this is how most prisoners would feel after getting out. I know this is not a permanent option; the realities of life would force me to look into the mirror soon and push me again towards another job, another drudgery.
Till then, let me enjoy.
I am done with J.D. Salinger's 'Franny and Zooey' but I have not really had the time to put my thoughts in order. Instead, I jumped on to Preeta Samarasan's 'Evening is the whole day'.

It is a story of an Indian family caught amidst changing times - occurring within the family relationships, within the society that the family has reluctantly embraced and in Malaysia post colonial departure (although not much of this). The story starts with sending away the maidservant Chellam for committing a sin in the 'Big House'. Each member of the family (Appa, Amma, Uma the oldest-eldest, Suresh and Aasha the little one who sees ghosts in the house and 'knows things somehow') has his/her own personal sorrows, agenda that somehow adds on to the emotional burden that the family bears. In the later chapters one gets to know the nature of relationship shared between Amma and Appa, the underlying tensions and the lack of intimacy. Appa, the ambitious lawyer who wanted to make it big in Malayan politics and make a difference to the society. His wealth, education or his ideals cannot really hide the selfishness lying underneath. Amma, the girl from the lower class who was grateful to Appa for rescuing her from the misery of her aimless life inflicted by the parents, enters the big house only to realize that the disappointments of life here are camouflaged in silk sarees, jewellery, and mindless tea parties. Paati (the grandmother) with her emotional games using her sons and grandchildren against the daughter-in-law. The oldest-eldest girl Uma who plans to leave for America for studies, harbouring anger at the family for having betrayed her trust. And additional ghost characters floating in and out of the story at various intervals.

I found the first half unnecessarily heavy, verbose. It was not very easy to go on with the book considering how slowly the plot moved - the details were too detailed, the descriptions too vivid. The character development of the 'ghost' - a little girl who died earlier in the house feels slightly overdone. It makes the novel a little too clever for comfort. The political unrest of Malaysia as depicted in the novel does little to hold the reader's interest since it seems like a small subplot thrown in as an after thought. However, in the second half the plot picks up pace and suddenly the writing is crisper as if the author suddenly decided to shed the descriptive narration. I enjoyed the plot build-up. The writing in most parts is powerful and holds one's attention - the simple hopes and fears of chellam the maidservant, the manipulativeness of Aasha, are wonderfully captured. One feels sorry for Amma, who struggles till the very end to attain the upper-classiness, in the process alienating her children and husband.

Overall, the book is a good read and I probably would pickup her second book if the author comes up with an other one.

Rating: 3.5/5

Estate of Mind: What a deceptively interesting name

It has been a real long time since I got on to the net and looked around. I can say too much of work and stress in the new job is the only reason. However, I had promised myself that I would continue updating this blog all the time. A failed promise.
Anyway, let me not mope around much. I have not been reading much of late. My orbis terrarum challenge has flown out of the window. 'A Handful of Rice' is still lying around somewhere.
Meanwhile, I went furniture shopping and on the way found this unbelievably great bargain book store. H and I went crazy and ended up buying seventeen books. Of course, it offered good and some downright bad books.
One such book was 'Estate of Mind' by Tamar Myers. The story on the cover seemed nice, so I picked it up. I have never read Tamar Myers before and I didnt know she was popular. It took me all my willpower to finish the book. It is so painful - flimsy storyline, highly irritating smart-alecy main character, and a very annoying style of writing. I read it only because I had to write about this book and warn others not to venture anywhere near the book. I found out later that this book was one of the 'Den of Antiquities' mysteries!! I mean, there is a whole lot more of such books. I cant imagine who would want to read such stories.
The story is about a woman called Abigail who is the owner of antique shop, who finds a priceless painting in a church auction and a bunch of idiots who want to steal it from her. The story is meandering, all the time losing its way in the overly stylized dialogues and the author suddenly realizes she has lost the thread and comes up with more muck.
Anyway, there isn't much to write about this. Please avoid this book if you are smart.
Rating: 1/5

I have started on J.D. Salinger's 'Franny and Zooey'. Will post about it soon.

Struggling with 'Handful of Rice'

Following Kamala Markandeya's 'A Handful of Rice' is proving to be quite a task. It is not an easy read - neither boring nor stupendously exciting. But I am not able to put it aside - I hate doing it to a book unless it is absolutely a waste of my time. And right now, there is a big scarcity of time.

Greed and Delhi Book Fair

Work has been hectic but that is the usual story. The weekend was a different thing altogether. HD and I went to Delhi Book Fair this weekend and loved every moment we spent there rummaging through stalls.
This was my first time and the fair was HUGE. Publishers - international, national and even local had their stalls overflowing with visitors.
I went berserk. Later I realized I behaved just like a greedy kid in a sweet stall, but that's ok I guess.
I got myself twenty books. Hah!

Change in the list

Life this week had been pretty hectic. Joined the new organization and had to go through a week of 'orientation program'. The real job will begin from tomorrow. I started with 'A Handful of Rice' (kamala Markandeya), unfortunately I have not had the time to proceed.
I managed to get a copy of Preeta Samarasan's book 'Evening is the whole Day' but looks like I will have to change my choice of 'Kaddish for the Unborn' - I haven't managed to get it. Landmark seems to be out of stock.
Probably I might have to go for another author. Any suggestions?

Lord of the Flies - William Golding

I finished William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies' yesterday. It is not difficult to figure out why some authors stand out distinctly as compared to the rest of the crowd - Lord of the Flies is a testimony to this fact.

My initial reaction to the story was a stunned silence at the shocking violence and depravity that a human mind is capable of.

The story revolves around a group of British school children (the exact number is never known) who survive a plane crash and land on an uninhabited island. There are no grown ups and this causes merriment initially and the boys form their own method of governance. Ralph is chosen as the chief by the boys and his main aim is to find a rescue ship. Jack, an equal to Ralph has a mind of his own. Piggy is a shortsighted, fat, physically weak but intelligent boy who supports Ralph in his endeavours. Gradually, differences crop up between two main characters Ralph and Jack (who goes on to become a successful hunter and is power hungry ) and slowly the order collapses with Jack building his own tribe and enticing the rest of the boys to join the tribe. The book goes on to describe the incredible evil that crops up from these seemingly normal kids and finally ends in a rescue, depicting the loss of innocence and the ability to believe in goodness of the people.

The book is incredible in its style of narration and the build up of the story. It leaves you with a feeling of helplessness, in that, completely succeeds in hitting home the point.

However, there are loopholes that cannot be so easily ignored. Although it can be excused for being allegorical in nature, certain aspects seem too contrived to be believed - for example, the survival of kids with no adults aboard the plane, the age group of the children (the 'littleuns' being six and 'biguns' about twelve). One cannot really imagine such young children hunting pigs, killing them and roasting the meat (may be I am too skeptical about their capability)

All in all, the story is dark and completely gripping.

Rating: 4/5

Orbis Terrarum Challenge - Accepted!

I was so excited about finding books from different authors and different nations that I went straight ahead and did all my googling keeping my bookshelf in mind. I realized I have many in house from HD's collection which I have not read yet and can be used for this challenge. How lovely.
So, I put up my list now. I dont know if I can finish all of them, but I am starting off today!

The Almond – Nadjma (North Africa)
Breakfast of Champions – Kurt Vonnegut (USA) [COMPLETED]
A Handful of Rice – Kamala Markandeya (India)
Trainspotting – Irvine Welsh (Scotland)
The Life of Pi – Yann Martel (Canada)
Lord of the Flies – William Golding (England) [COMPLETED]
Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert (France)
Evening is the whole day – Preeta Samarasan (Malaysia) [COMPLETED]
Kaddish for the Unborn Child – Imre Kertesz (Hungary)

It is a different story that coming Monday I would busy toiling my butt off in a new job, new environment. I am hoping these books will help me overcome any nasty surprises out there.

Gifts that thrill

The weekend saw us shopping more books - I had promised myself that I would not buy another new book till I finish reading all the books HD's shelf. But it so happened that I could not resist picking up another book ' A Handful of Rice' by Kamala Markandeya, an Indian writer. In addition, Sid presented me with Kurt Vonnegut's 'Breakfast of Champions'. I have never read Vonnegut or K. Markandeya before so I am all set to go. I am delighted when I am gifted with books.

Meanwhile, I am on Lord of the Flies.

UPDATE:

I stumbled upon Orbis Terrarum Challenge quite accidentally and I am in awe of people who have so much of energy, enthusiasm and time to go ahead and take up book challenges. Well, it certainly prompted me to take it up. Only, I dont know if I can finish it.

I am supposed to pick up nine books of any genre/non fiction/anything/ from nine different authors of nine different countries. This challenge was supposed to have started from april to finish by december. But being a late runner that I am, I dont know how I will manage nine books.

I will come up with a list of nine books soon and put it up.

At last some thing to make me feel alive and excited.

Weight Loss - Upamanyu Chatterjee

It has been three long days since I planned to write about the book 'Weight Loss'.
Frankly, I dont really know how to put my emotions down on the page- such rollercoaster ride of feelings forcing me to think and not proceed further. I am not actually surprised because major book critics were stumped by this unusual book so, a mere book burrower need not worry.

Weight Loss is about Bhola and his obsession about two things in life - sex and fitness. Bhola is an intelligent guy who at his ealiest age displays lust towards any human being who otherwise is dispicable/lowest in the social rung/horribly dirty. During his school days, he lusts after his teachers and in college his land lady. His obsession with two lowly people - Titli and Moti, a couple selling vegetables and later assistants of a quack, causes many upheavals in his life. His friends Dosto and Anin are equally crazy. The story tracks Bhola's tragic life via the people who are part of his life.

Firstly, the book is horribly bleak. The situations are completely bizzare, straight out of fantasy land only Mr. Chatterjee was capable of finding. None of the characters save the protagonist's father are believable. The descriptions of Bhola's sexual adventures are, at best, disgusting.
However, the book is immensely FUNNY. I mean humourous. There is no way one can deny the grossness of explicit sexual adventures of the protagonist, but the very absurdity of the situation makes it quite palatable. With the kind of morose subject regarding futility of life, humour is the best weapon to explain it I guess. As an example, I can open any page of the book and find something to smile about - sarcastic, ironic, slapstic, witty.
It makes one wonder about the human nature and the complexity of emotions - at the end of day, I would not be surprised if there is a Bhola hiding somewhere out there behind the facade of a 'respectable' (in the general sense) human being.
It takes a genius to handle such a difficult scenario with such absurd humour and lightness at the same time. Upamnyu Chatterjee is definitely one of the best.
One should venture out to read this book if one has the capability to enjoy the beautiful writing while safely ignoring the ugly details.

Rating: 3.75/5

Next in line

I am in a dilemma about the next book to be picked up. I have Upamanyu Chatterjee's 'The Last Burden' and William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies' and am wondering which one to pick up.
It is all fine with U. Chatterjee's books but I am still reeling from the after effects of 'Weight Loss'. So probably I should try Lord of the Flies.
I am yet to write my impressions of Weight Loss - will do it soon.

Starting afresh

The best thing about starting anew is that one can shed all those bad habits acquired over the period, the taste for adulation and also probably the laziness.
I love the fact that I have cut off all the old ties and have been mum about the new blog. Can you imagine how much of freedom this gives me? I am lovviinnggg it !!!!
The one must thing I plan to do while blogging this time is that I will blog everyday. No matter what... It does not have to be anything profound, witty, sarcastic or even long. I am enjoying this as I write!

I have always wanted to read up lots of books and tell people who cared to listen about how I felt about them... at this point of time, I dont know if people will even get to read (a form of listening, according to me) what I write, but what the heck, I have decided to let go of the habits. So I stick to this.

Another fascinating activity right now is peeking into other book blogs - there are millions of them and way way above in terms of quality and quantity, and I am glad people are so good, gives me hope for myself.

The first step

Every blog has to have a first ever post. In the past I have come out with wittier ones but this time, it is going to be a disappointment to my carefully hidden exhibitionist alter ego.
The idea is to read as many wonderful books (preferrably, cannot help if I end up with not-so-wonderful ones) as possible and share my joys and disappointments upon completion.

I am reading 'Weight Loss' by Upamanyu Chatterjee currently. Will post on it once I am done with it.