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.
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
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