Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

After I read Murakami for the first time last year, I gained a renewed interest in magical realism. The hint of magic, the strong emphasis on an unseen power and more such  ideas had me enthralled. I went on to hoard some more books by Murakami, and I also went on to buy some books by Gabriel Garcia as he is considered a master in this genre.

After much contemplation, I picked up Chronicle of death foretold by him as it is the shortest and somehow I was already overwhelmed by his aura – hence, I decided to pick something short to start with.

Human Acts by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith

Han Kang stirred the literature world last year with her book 'Vegetarian' which went on to win the Booker prize for fiction. Deborah Smith had translated the book from Korean. While the book is still one of the most sold books, Deborah Smith has gone ahead to translate another book by the same author. 'Human Acts', this time, brings to us the reeking stench of civil war between its pages. 

Someone has said: the country where children are happy is heaven on earth. Korea once upon a time was definitely not one. 

Cover page 

The cover page is one of the most stunning ones I have seen this year. The rib cage onto which the bird is sitting is definitely an eye catch. Ocher gives an illusion of happy whereas the rib cage runs a shiver down the soul. 

'Crown publishing' is slowly climbing up to be one of my most loved publishing houses. See: The Lesser Bohemians by Eimear McBride. 

Characters 

There are multiple characters in the book but there is a constant 'you'. 'You' is a fifteen-year-old boy who wants to participate in the civil war against the government but he is too young for the army. The story begins with the narration from 'You' and slowly moves on to his friend whose body is buried beneath a pile of several others. There is an editor, a prisoner of war, a factory girl and the boy's mother. 

All these characters have their own impacts from war. A boy just wants to be useful whereas his mother is unable to let go of the memories of her son. The prisoner shares his own experience of the war and all that he has lost because of it. 

The characters are impactful. They are hard hitting with her their compose. No erupting volcano but just their compose. 

Content 

It is a book about the 'Gwangju Uprising'. The country at the time was a haven for political unrest where children and young men were out in a battle against their own government. Children as young as 12 years of age were being shot and the bodies were thrown on top of another to form a pile and burnt. 

The massacre turned out to be not only brutish but inhuman. 

'No, none of us fired our guns. 

None of us killed anybody. 

Even when he soldiers stormed up the stairs and emerged toward us out of the darkness, none of our group fired their guns. It was impossible for them to pull the trigger knowing that a person would die if they did so. They were children. We had handed guns to children. Guns they were not capable of firing.' 

A platoon of children incapable of firing was razed to the ground within seconds. 

Han kang having lived in the country has seen the impact and the book translated by Deborah smith portrays a psychological picture which is going to be glued on to the blind spot forever. 

The book begins with a boy trying to look on to a procession. It looks like a regular rainy day but it is hardly so. 'The Boy' is out looking for his friend and his sister when. Having searched at all the places he takes up work at the mortuary. He prepares the bodies for those who come to identify their relatives. The gory descriptions leave you a scar. The boy while working wonders 'for how long does a soul linger near their body after death'. 

'The boy's friend' is death already, stuck beneath a pile of other death bodies. He wants to go looking for his friend. 'When they threw a straw sack over the body of the man at the very top, the tower of bodies was transformed into the corpse of some enormous, fantastical beast, it's dozens of legs splayed put beneath it.' The soul remembers his friends and the days gone by. And then he talks about mere bodies now. As bone chilling as this, this part is probably hit me the hardest. 

There are other chapters which are grotesque too. An editor is slapped by a soldier to reveal the information that she has no idea about. She is trying to forget the slaps in her head whereas on the outside it a regular day for her. A prisoner is recollecting his memories from the war. And a mother is remembering her youngest child, wondering if the early death of her husband was a tragedy or a blessing for him. 

The stories span several decades after the uprising portraying its impact on each individual.

The book in its entirety holds a good claim for the Booker too. It is not a war novel. It is a psychological ghoul which will follow you everywhere. This is a book that will change lives! 

Language 

Surprisingly, unlike other Booker winners, Han Kang writes simple prose. Her language is utterly simple. Her craft lies in sentences where psychology and acute aloofness are intermingled. 

Good points 

I had not read any book on the uprising. It was a different topic to have read about. The cover page is hauntingly beautiful. The characters are exceptional. The content is stunning. The writing style is unlike anything else.  

Bad points 

The book is flawless. 

Overall 

'Human Acts' is by far the most beautiful book I have read this year. 

Whom do I recommend this to 

This book is for those who like good informative literature. Those who like diversity are going to like this book too. 

Quotable quotes 

What happens to the soul? How long does it linger by the side of its former home? 

When a living person looks like a dead person, mightn't the person's soul also be there by its body's side, looking down at its own face? 

"Don't you know how shocked I was when people said they'd seen you here? Good grief, all these corpses; aren't you scared?" 

"The soldiers are the scary ones," you said with a half-smile. "What's frightening about the dead?" 

How long do souls linger by the side of their bodies? 

Do they really flutter away like some kind of bird? Is that what trembles the edges of the candle flame? 

If I could escape the sight of our bodies, that festering flesh now fused into a single mass, like the rotting carcass of many legged monster. If I could sleep, truly sleep, not the flickering haze of wakefulness. 

I was startled to discover an absence inside myself: the absence of fear. I remember feeling that it was alright to die; I felt the blood of a hundred thousand hearts surging together into one enormous artery, fresh and clean… 

We will make you realise how ridiculous it was, the lot of you waving the national flag and singing the national anthem. We will prove to you that you are nothing but filthy stinking bodies. That you are no better than the carcasses of starving animals. 

If life was the summer that had just gone by, if life was a body sullied with sweat and bloody pus, clotted seconds that refused to pass, of life was a mouthful of sour bean sprouts hat only served to intensify the hunger pangs, then perhaps death would be like a clean brushstroke, erasing all such hinges in a single sweep. 

We needed the national anthem for the same reason we needed the minute's silence. To make the corpses we were singing over into something more than a butchered lumps of meat. 

We mustn't let ourselves become victims. 

But I don't have a map for whatever world lies beyond death. 

How could I tell whether your father's loosening grip on life was something I ought to pity, or to envy?

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Bees have power over death. They are understood to be the halo of life in the melancholy of darkness. Albert Einstein rightly predicted that the entire human population would disappear in four years should all the bees in the world decide to die or get killed. A set of creatures this small possessing massive amount of power over the existence of life on earth gives some important lessons of life to Lily too. This book which brought the author 'Sue Monk Kidd' into the limelight is the story of Lily during the great civil rights movement in United States. The book went on to win a number of awards and was made into a film. 

It turned out to be a great book to come around to reading 10 books this year that I have always wanted to but kept procrastinating.

Cover page 

I am lucky enough to come across an ancient edition of this book in a used book store in my city. This is the hardback edition published in hardback by 'Review'. The cover page features the beehive and some objects that feature in the story. The entire book is purple in color which is the color of the honey when bees start ducking in elderberries. The cover page is rich with content and significance. A dust jacket like this one makes the books beautiful outside. 

The words inside are large enough to read. This is what is most appealing about the book. Especially when the story is great you do not want to deal with small fonts that make your reading troublesome.

Characters 

Lily is suffering from ever present guilt. She killed her mother accidentally when she was four and now she lives on wishing things turned out different, namely her mother not dying, T-Ray loving her just a little bit more and her classmates inviting her to parties that they attended. Lily's dreams of being a professor or a writer. 

Lily is the central character in the book. She is surprisingly strong and hopeful. There are other characters in the book who have their own uniqueness. Every new character that you meet is written with the freshness of the raindrop.

Content 

Lily lives at her farmhouse with Rosaleen and T-Ray.

T-Ray is her family but he hardly feels like it. In the entire book Lily is chasing the ghost of her mother. She is constantly driven by a guilt. The only thing that she thinks about is the hope of an alternate reality. She wants to live in peace and make something out of her life but before that she has to clarify few things. 

So one fine day when she can no longer be with T-Ray she runs away from the house. The story that follows is the series of events that happen to her on the run and living with three African American sisters who may have know her mother in the past. She feels at home with them, but forgets it's hardly so. T-Ray is searching for her. And them comes the real revelation. It may not help Lily but she now for sure knows what her next step is going to be. 

The story is beautiful. Lily is a brave girl and so are others in the story. The tale of bees is interesting too. There is a revolution happening in the background which adds flavor to the saga. 

Language

The story is narrated by Lily. It is a little childish but still too deep. The perspective is quite interesting. The slow transformation of the characters is notable too. 

Good points

The book cover is beautiful. I own a worn out copy but I plan to gift it to a couple of friends who might like it. I am surely going to try and get this edition. The characters are way too deep and there evolution is well seen during the course of the story. 

Bad points 

I was not fully satisfied with the ending. I was expecting something drastic like a bang! But I guess I was wrong in expecting it altogether. The language itself is very calm and surreal. An end with a bang would be out of place. But still….. 

Overall

Overall, I am elated to have reviewed the first book that I have finished in my TBR shelf. I am happy to have read it this year. 

Who do I recommend it to

This books of for literary fiction readers. Those who love strong characters will find it interesting.

Quotable quotes

Someone who thinks death is the scariest thing doesn't know a thing about life.

Knowing can be a curse on a person's life. I'd traded in a pack of lies for a pack of truth, and I didn't know which one was heavier. Which one took the most strength to carry around? It was a ridiculous question, though, because once you know the truth, you can't ever go back and pick up your suitcase of lies. Heavier or not, the truth is yours now.

It is the peculiar nature of the world to go on spinning no matter what sort of heartbreak is happening.

There is nothing perfect...only life.

Sunset is the saddest light there is.

And when you get down to it, Lily, that is the only purpose grand enough for a human life. Not just to love but to persist in love.

There's nothing like a song about lost love to remind you how everything precious can slip from the hinges where you've hung it so careful.

Clisson and Eugénie by Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte, known for his military conquests, possessed an exceptional skill when it came to writing. A man of 26 who had lived to know nothing but war, his entire life, found refuge. And then, 'during the years 1794 and 1795, the period following Napoleon's ventures into literary and political writing, he was to experience the love affair that would inspire the creation of his most ambitious work, Clisson and Eugénie.' Napoleon wrote this part fiction love story but never went ahead to publish it. Later the fragments were found in different parts of the world. Clisson and Eugénie, here, is translated by Peter Hicks and published by Gallic Books London. The book contains a forward and explanatory notes in the beginning and the end, respectively. These help in understanding the background of the story and the mind of the writer. I would like to thank the publisher for sending me the review copy of this book. 

Cover page 

The kindle copy I received does not have a cover page but for the readers who intend to buy a copy for their own personal library will not be disappointed. The cover page contains the image of Napoleon Bonaparte and some silver tassels on the cover. This seems to be the approach all the publications take for historical novels. 

Since this is not a conventional historical fiction I would have loved to see any other approach to the design of the cover. In spite of this, the cover page is a balanced composition. It is appealing visibly.

Characters 

The book is about Clisson, a general who is fascinated by war. The first sentence itself gives away the dark side of the brilliant general, 'From birth Clisson was strongly attracted to war'. The entire book is about the confusing love of life, and fascination with death. This is the plot of the book here. 

Clisson decides to let go of the melancholy in his heart and give himself up to the woman he finds his soul drawn to. During the course of the story Clisson changes from a man looking for a quite and meaningful life to being a soldier without a purpose again. The gradual development of the character is not only interesting but also intriguing. It will keep you wanting to know what happens to our hero who had decided to give up violence once. 

Content 

The story is about Clisson, a man who wanted to be happy but found glory instead. The story follows the life of Clisson who is a general. His heart is filled with melancholy. He is looking out for the beauty that life is and finds himself in love with a girl. What follows is a tragic love story. Napoleon Bonaparte was a brilliant soldier who found solace in reading and writing. Clisson and Eugénie is one of the most well known works of his. 

The translation by the publisher is a apt. The background information helps in understanding the story much better, giving the story a context. 

Language

The writing is to the point, short and deep. Many readers like it this way. There is a lot of historical and cultural significance to the story. It is a simple short story no less brilliant than Shakespearean tragedy, this story is well translated by the publishers. 

Good points

The content is creatively enriched. The characters are distinguished. The language is simple and to the point.

Bad points 

The cover page could have been better. There is a lot of explanation in the beginning about the book and the context which may be helpful to some readers while others may dislike it completely. 

Overall 

The book is a brilliant read for those who enjoy tragedies, more so in historical context. 

Who do I recommend this to

This book is for the romance readers who enjoy historical fiction. Shakespeare fans are going to love this short story by another significant identity in the history. 

Quotable quotes 

Like all men, he desired happiness, but he found only glory. 

'Come the morning, this place will be soaked in blood! But as for you, Eugene, what will you say, what will you do, what will become of you? Rejoice in my death, curse my memory, and live happily.'

A dozen damsels we love.

One of the things a bibliophile is guilty of is falling in love with characters who have been brought to life by our favorite authors. While some are irrevocably in love with that ideal man/woman from their favorite books, some others seek inspiration from some memorable characters who give us useful insights on life and the like.

Celebrating the spirit of womanhood this entire month, here is our  pick of our favorite dozen of women straight out of  the books that we absolutely adore. While some are symbols of inspiration and bravery, some others though not extraordinary in the true sense of it still give us life-lessons and  their journey and growth is extremely relatable in the most elemental way.

Jean Louise Finch (Scout)- To kill a Mockingbird / Go set a Watchman

Harper Lee has created a very impacting character in Jean Louise a.k.a Scout. Apart from being a courageous  and curious one, she has an adventurous and humorous side too, which makes her even more appealing to the readers and a definite look-out.

Scout has portrayed, in numerous incidents, that she can definitely take care of herself but her otherwise  romantic streak makes her all the more adorable. A compassionate one too, which we can see in her  behavior towards her father, her small town and her people, Scout has always given me the hope that  no matter what changes in one's life, one should always stay connected to his roots and his self.

Scarlett O’Hara – Gone With the Wind

Life during a civil war calls for choices to be made. These choices define us. While Rhett Butler maybe infamous for the choices he made during the war, he is has decide to love a woman fiercely, and Scarlett doesn’t deserve anything less than the uproar of ‘Aphrodite’ himself. Scarlett is naive. She is spoilt and stupidly in love with a boy who will soon go off to war. Civil wars are not for the ones like her but she is meant to survive it, any which way. Married to three men in her life, she seems to cast a spell. Men seem to fall for her every time she walks past but she craves for only one- The one she can never have. She is strong when she needs to be and a flower when she craves. Scarlett O’Hara is one of her kind.

The author died before she realized she has given a book to be remembered for generations to come. Scarlett was a female lead that everyone anticipated for during that time and the author fulfilled the wish, and how!

Anne Shirley -Anne of Green Gables.

Anne  was introduced to the world in 1908  as the lead of the novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. At the age of eleven, Anne was sent from the Hopetown orphanage to the neighbouring province. Unfortunately, she was sent there by mistake as her sponsors, the siblings duo she ends up living with wanted to adopt a boy to help them on their farm.

Thus begins the journey of this innocent girl who has zeal for life that will make you fall in love with her instantly. She is everything you and I are – quirky, naive, prone to mistakes, and holding on to dreams & working on them tirelessly while growing affectionate bonds with people around her which might be another reason why one can relate to her instantly.

From a naive orphan blending into the town to growing into a fine lady, and her journey all the way, Anne is a lead  in Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne's House of Dreams, Anne of Windy Poplars and Anne of Ingleside. All these books trace the life and journey of this girl which touches one’s heart in the most gentle ways as every phase that is documented in these books is very relatable in the most intimate way.

Margo Roth Spiegelman – Paper Towns

Quentin believes that everyone gets one miracle in their life. While he may not land in outer space or become a pop star, he has Margo Roth Spiegelman living next door, which is his miracle. Margo is an enigmatic character. Her life is filled with epic adventures. She has spent three weeks with a circus and could have been the girlfriend of a bassist of a popular band. Margo reads. She quotes Whitman. She wants to live her whole life like today is the last day. She is a great friend to have. She rains fire on her enemies and leaves her signature after every attack. She might as well be a ninja.

John green is known for his epic characters and this particular book has been no disappointment. Thank you Mr. Green for giving us Margo. We shall always cherish her!

Laila-The Thousand Splendid Suns

 

One of the protagonists in "The Thousand Splendid Suns", Laila is another character that takes us through her journey and how sometimes  accepting the situations we are in, and making the best of it seems to be the best option.

The absence of both of Laila's older brothers, who have gone to war makes her a smart and sensible girl for her age and  fills her with a sense of purpose.

Laila wishes to use her intelligence and education to for the betterment of the world around her. Falling in love with her best friend at the age of 15, she loses him too as he flees the country due to the war. Continuing to lose her loved ones to war, Laila's parents are also a victim of a rocket attack which leaves her wounded after which she is nursed  back to health by a childless couple.

Laila's idealism and independence are challenged when she decides to marry Rasheed in order to give her unborn child by Tariq a father. The book takes us on a journey of the growth of  this young girl and how the war and the situations she is thrown into, change her. It throws light on how motherhood changes Laila, and how  she is willing to accept limitations  she once would have  mocked. While this character  ranges between varied frequencies which are not necessarily progressive, it shows how in life often the situations we are in bring us down, change our course and make us question every action we take.

Sabina-The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Individuality. That is the perfect description of the character woven by Milan Kundera in his novel "The Unbearable Lightness of Being". Sabina is the one who sees beyond what a common man can see, who perceives notions which the average cannot. Her artistic nature gives her character an added depth that gets to your soul and at the same time leaves you abandoned with her queries about the betrayal hidden behind the concept of idealism.

Every decision she made, and every move  she chose got her closer to her longing for betrayal, or let's say, her longing to not cast away her thoughts to the oblivion existence of idealism. Her journey of and to this spiritual realm, is what got to me.

Jenny – Love Story

Jenny is a commoner. She is smart, witty and passionate. She loves music and despises men who don't. Jenny is everything Oliver with a roman number behind him,  shouldn't fall for. But he does and then begins an epic love saga. Jenny is easily the most loved female character in a love story. She provides the backbone for the entire story and teaches us what love means- never having to say that your are sorry. 

Jenny makes the book a classic and Eric Segal immortalized her.

Katniss Everdeen - Hunger Games Series

Katniss Everdeen here has a great responsibility on her shoulders. She is the sole breadwinner in her family and a life support for her little sister. As a heroine Katniss is very different from other characters that we read about. She is a regular teenager in a dystopian world where she is trying to live by. And one picking changes her life altogether. She is commanded by the fierce instinct to protect her sister. She is brave, she can shoot a bird in the eye and she can fight for survival.

Katniss Everdeen is one of the strongest women in literature. She evolves during the course of the story which makes her all the more interesting. The world of literature owes to Suzanne Collins.

Nancy Drew- Nancy Drew Mystery Stories

She’s the daughter of famous mystery case attorney and it looks like flair for crime runs in the family. This daring 16 year old  has from the very beginning posed a fine  challenge to gender stereotypes as she has to criminals that she goes after.

A University of Iowa conference devoted to Nancy Drew declared that she was a true role model for young girls, citing her 'physical courage' as one particularly positive.She is not just brave, confident and daring but also polite, caring, sensitive and kind. In addition, she is a thoughtful daughter.

Be it tackling situations usually reserved  for her male literary counterparts, or showing her sharp intuitive skills as a crime solver, Nancy Drew is one of those female crime solvers who has inspired the likes of me to fall in love with mysteries and thrillers.  She is a fine mix of characters and traits, and she is portrayed as a girl skilled with auto mechanics as well as cooking, horseback riding, dancing, sewing and athletics.  She is a lead character in the Nancy Drew Series by  Edward Stratemeyer, and remains an inspiration for little girls getting hooked to stories dedicated to her field of interest.

Dominique Francon-The Fountainhead

 

When Ayn Rand introduces and character to her novel, they depict the path the  entire novel progresses through. Dominique, is a dark and mysterious character. Her idea of living, of shielding  herself from being hurt or disappointed and her fear of losing things or people  that make her happy is what intrigued me while reading the novel.

Although the  novel has set a certain frame for the protagonist, Howard Roark (a definite  favorite character again), Dominique's journey to self-discovery eventually  leads the reader to the another exceptional concept behind this novel. From surrounding herself with bitter people and memories so as to keep herself from being hurt if she loses  the people she actually loves, Dominique's ways definitely stand out in this novel, which  has managed to grow around so many other characters.

Hermione Jean Granger - Harry Potter series.

Hermione is a fictional character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.

She is one of the most famous and loved character in this fantasy fiction. A person with in-born magical abilities born to normal humans, she is chosen for her abilities to attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hermione does show us that being smart is not only cool but desirable.

She is everything that we seek in a friend, like when Harry is overwhelmed by the pressure  surrounding him, it is Hermione that never gives up nor does she let her friends give up.It is Hermione that is the constant source of 'we can do this - we can survive'.

Another significant feature is that Hermione is flawed, she is ruthless, casts reckless spells with no remorse  etc but these are the qualities that make her likable and relatable as nobody real has ever been a perfect person. It is not only unrealistic, but unfair, to create the idealistically perfect character and hence it is characters like Hermione that make us realize that every one is flawed, every one makes mistakes and how one must gracefully accept their moments of shortcomings. All in all, she is one of those magical characters who casts a spell on us with not only how extra ordinary she is,  but how truly ordinary she can be which nonetheless does not stop her from being the ideal girl who is our hero (err…heroine).

Arjumand Banu a.k.a Mumtaz Mahal- Taj

Arjumand is the love interest of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, and among many novels, Taj by Timeri Murari is a winner for me. The sheer intensity of this love story set in the royal Mughal household amidst politics, rebellion and greed for power is very gripping.

She is no warrior but a woman to reckon with nevertheless. It always intrigued me to understand how intense could love be, if it manifested itself into a building that is the greatest symbol of love, and it is Arjumand, later known as Mumtaz Mahal who answers my questions.

This pretty lass revolted for love, her faith in love for her Prince even when he is married off is commendable. The determination and dedication with which she loves unites her with her King. The book takes us on the journey of this innocent girl who falls in love with the Prince, waits for him to wed her against the very will of the king , and continues to love him intensely through her lifetime.

She may have never waged a war in the battlefield, but she always accompanied her King to most of his wars, as unpleasant as the conditions would be due to war and also due to her constantly bearing children.

Her journey, all for the sake of love often makes me ponder on the significance of it. Is love truly so consuming that one could go all the way for it? and Arjumand here answers for me, that yes love is all consuming and everything that is done for love, and with love is never an ordeal. Often when one says that behind every successful man is a woman and Arjumand’s life proves this.

P.S: The pictures used are either artist impressions or actors immortalizing the characters and are used for representation purpose only!

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

A combination of simple writing and lucid imagination is how anyone will describe Franz Kafka. Most of Kafka’s work is almost autobiographical in nature. In writing pitiful characters without any will to change their life or any throat to voice their opinion, Kafka tries to pen his life on paper. Due to an illness that takes his life, he did not see enough of his success. Metamorphosis is probably the most famous work of Franz Kafka. I will try to describe the book as aptly as I can. 

Cover page

In the book, Kafka described his character as a many-legged creature, with a domed belly and a large body. The cover image is a one shot description of the story inside. The story is about a twenty-something traveling salesman who is turned into a bug overnight. The horrific confusion and the bodily changes are seen in the image. 

Was he an animal, that music could move him so? He felt as if the way to the unknown nourishment he longed for were coming to light.

Characters

The story revolves around Gregor Samsa. Gregor is a family man who takes up a job he does not like only because he can see a future that his family can’t. Gregor has plans for his sister that he adores. He is working day and night to support a family of four, including himself. 

He is quite happy doing so, too, until one morning he finds himself unable to move from his bed. He tries a lot but with no result. 

After some denial and later, submission, he finds himself turned into a multi-legged bug-like insect.  

He thought back on his family with deep emotion and love. His conviction that he would have to disappear was, if possible, even firmer than his sister's. He remained in this state of empty and peaceful reflection until the tower clock struck three in the morning. He still saw that outside the window everything was beginning to grow light. Then, without his consent, his head sank down to the floor, and from his nostrils streamed his last weak breath.

Content

As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.

This, the opening line to the novella, is probably enough to allure anyone to the book. Franz Kafka, a literary genius of his time and beyond, has drawn a parallel to his own life to that of a “dung beetle” as described by his maid.  

Gregor is the sole earning member of his family and the metamorphism affects his entire family. The entire family goes through a slow but visible change. The money to live on had to be earned now.  The content is divided into three parts. Initially they are all surprised then saddened and later try to get rid of the insect because it no longer serves them. 

The book is filled with the dark comedy, pitiful narrative and mental chaos. The content does complete justice to the title since all the changes happen slowly. What moves the reader further is the acceptance of the fate without questions and further spending the life in exile, drowned in his own sorrow, slowly pushing the life out without blaming anyone for it.  

He was a tool of the boss, without brains or backbone.

Language

Kafka’s work of fiction is said to be drawn from his own pitiful life. Therefore, the narration radiates melancholy. Words like “imaginings” portray the classical writing. The content is written in fragmented, short sentences. Hence making it more descriptive and easy to understand. Kafka has an uncomplicated narrating style which most of the readers will admire.

What a fate: to be condemned to work for a firm where the slightest negligence at once gave rise to the gravest suspicion! Were all the employees nothing but a bunch of scoundrels, was there not among them one single loyal devoted man who, had he wasted only an hour or so of the firm's time in the morning, was so tormented by conscience as to be driven out of his mind and actually incapable of leaving his bed?

Good points

The cover is artistic. It portrays the confusion and dark reality of the protagonist. The characters are all evolving. So is the content. The book is an easy read. Narration, again, is heart wrenching! 

Bad points

The book is filled with sadness. Those who like hero-like protagonists or happy ending will not find this one amusing. 

Overall

The book is easily one of the bests have read lately. I already have bought a copy for my keeping. This one adds to my library.

Who do I recommend this to

For the readers who like a simple short book and do not shy away from surreal realism, this book awaits!

Quotable quotes

The door could not be heard slamming; they had probably left it open, as is the custom in homes where a great misfortune has occurred.

“If I didn't have my parents to think about I'd have given in my notice a long time ago, I'd have gone up to the boss and told him just what I think, tell him everything I would, let him know just what I feel. He'd fall right off his desk! And it's a funny sort of business to be sitting up there at your desk, talking down at your subordinates from up there, especially when you have to go right up close because the boss is hard of hearing.”

He had always believed that his father had not been able to save a penny from the business, at least his father had never told him anything to the contrary, and Gregor, for his part, had never asked him any questions. In those days Gregor's sole concern had been to do everything in his power to make the family forget as quickly as possible the business disaster which had plunged everyone into a state of total despair. And so he had begun to work with special ardor and had risen almost overnight from stock clerk to traveling salesman, which of course had opened up very different money-making possibilities, and in no time his successes on the job were transformed, by means of commissions, into hard cash that could be plunked down on the table at home in front of his astonished and delighted family. Those had been the wonderful times, and they had never returned, at least not with the same glory, although later on Gregor earned enough money to meet the expenses of the entire family and actually did so. They had just gotten used to it, the family as well as Gregor, the money was received with thanks and given with pleasure, but no special feeling of warmth went with it any more. 

However, Gregor had become much calmer. All right, people did not understand his words any more, although they seemed clear enough to him, clearer than previously, perhaps because had gotten used to them.

Gregor’s serious wound, from which he suffered for over a month - the apple remained imbedded in his flesh as a visible souvenir since no one dared to remove it - seemed to have reminded even his father that Gregor was a member of the family, in spite of his present pathetic and repulsive shape, who could not be treated as an enemy; that, on the contrary, it was the commandment of the family duty to swallow their disgust and endure him, endure him and nothing more.

It seemed remarkable to Gregor that above all the various noises of eating their chewing teeth could still be heard, as if they had wanted to show Gregor that you need teeth in order to eat and it was not possible to perform anything with jaws that are toothless however nice they might be.

Now, quite apart from the fact that the doors were locked, should he really call out for help? In spite of all his distress, he was unable to suppress a smile at this idea.

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

I sit in front the computer with a pressure to the paramount, to do justice to a piece of literature which may have been the most accurate of my idea of a modern classic. I am continuously haunted by the possibility of me not appropriately putting my thoughts across about the book that has won India its Man Booker prize in 1997.

Arundhati Roy is an inspiration for all the architects and writers alike. Architects? You may ask. Yes, being an architect myself, I was in awe with her idea and more than hypnotizing realist that she is. I somehow did not get around to read her book, which unknowingly maybe an advantage to me. Now that I am more mature I can appreciate her writing better than I would have before.

That’s what careless words do. They make people love you a little less.

Cover page

I can understand the complexity of creating something of significance for the book that is the very definition of the word. The idea of giving the book a cover that relates to the essence of the writing has well resulted in the book cover. The small village in Kerela is shot in a rectangular frame and wrapped around the book. Apt.

Characters

Rahel and Eshta are two-egged twins. The emptiness in one twin is the only version of the quietness in the other. They fit together like familiar lovers’ bodies. They are meant to be together. In the village of Ayemenem. And, they would have. Had they not indulged in the silly act of leaving the house when Ammu decided that her most loved kids were, in a parallel reality, the heavy chain around her neck.

Ammu is a mother like no other, though she is in love with a man in the night whom her children love by the day.

Velutha is a paravan who has a distinct smell. The smell that all “these” people have. Paravan is as much in love with Ammu, but he is the God of Loss. He can only do one thing at a time. He may be in love with Ammu, but he cannot have her.

The god of small things consists of these characters who are multilayered. They are all governed by the law of love. For not everyone can be loved alike. The characters are distinctive and continuously rolling in a tornado. Because, of course, not everyone can be loved alike.

…the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably. They don’t deceive you with thrills and trick endings. They don’t surprise you with the unforeseen. They are as familiar as the house you live in. Or the smell of your lover’s skin. You know how they end, yet you listen as though you don’t. In the way that although you know that one day you will die, you live as though you won’t. In the Great Stories you know who lives, who dies, who finds love, who doesn’t. And yet you want to know again.
That is their mystery and their magic.

Content

It all began in the days when the love laws were made. The laws that lay down who should be loved, and how. And how much.

Rahel and Eshta are separated after the death of Sopihe Mol. Chako has had them moved to separate places. Estha is the first one to go. In the commencement of the journey, he has lost his voice. Ammu goes on to live in a hotel room where she is collecting enough money so her small family is back together again.

All this while Rahel is being expelled from different schools due to her “misconduct”.

After an eventful stay in Ayemenem village and loving the same man till his last day, as a consequence, they are forced to be separated.

The story picks up when Rahel is called back to the village because Estha has come back. And he wouldn’t speak. Rahel comes back to pick up the pieces and put them together. Doing so, she takes you down the memory lane. The story is being told because it is familiar, that’s what makes it a great story.

Language

Arundhati Roy has a great style of writing. She breaks all the rules of language and does so beautifully. The sprinkled use of compound nouns, Capitalization at different places and layering of stories is what makes the book interesting. The narration is livid. Reading the book is like a fragmented dream, with twitching of limbs and sounds that your heart makes. DUB DUB.

You may take some time to get accustomed to her writing style but will definitely enjoy it as you flip pages.

And the air was full of Thoughts and Things to Say. But at times like these, only the Small Things are ever said. Big Things lurk unsaid inside.

Good points

The cover page is rustic. It is befitting the narration and the story. The characters are remarkable. They are distinct and true to their nature. The story is great! But what takes the cake away is the narration. The fearless dreamy narration of the author is the key highlight of the book.

Bad points

The book took me about a month to finish. Because I liked the complexities that all the characters possess. It may not be pleasant for someone who tires of the lengthy prose.

This was the trouble with families. Like invidious doctors, they knew just where it hurt.

Overall

The book defines a modern classic. I do not believe I did not read it sooner. I read a borrowed copy but I think I will buy a paperback for my keeping too. Especially now that I find it difficult to part with the book!

Who do I recommend this to

This book is for all those who like good writing and complex characters. Some patience would also be appreciated!

Quotable quotes

But what was there to say?
Only that there were tears. Only that Quietness and Emptiness fitted together like stacked spoons. Only that there was a snuffling in the hollows at the base of a lovely throat. Only that a hard honey-colored shoulder had a semicircle of teethmarks on it. Only that they held each other close, long after it was over. Only that what they shared that night was not happiness, but hideous grief.

Only that once again they broke the Love Laws. That lay down who should be loved. And how. And how much.

Perhaps it’s true that things can change in a day. That a few dozen hours can affect the outcome of whole lifetimes. And that when they do, those few dozen hours, like the salvaged remains of a burned house—the charred clock, the singed photograph, the scorched furniture—must be resurrected from the ruins and examined. Preserved. Accounted for. Little events, ordinary things, smashed and reconstitutred. Imbued with new meaning. Suddenly they become the bleached bones of a story.

The way her body existed only where he touched her. The rest of her was smoke.

Ammu said that human beings were creatures of habit, and it was amazing the kind of things one could get used to.

Some things come with their own punishments.

Nothing mattered much. Nothing much mattered. And the less it mattered the less it mattered. It was never important enough. Because Worse Things had happened. In the country that she came from poised forever between the terror of war and the horror of peace Worse Things kept happening.

If he touched her, he couldn’t talk to her, if he loved her he couldn’t leave, if he spoke he couldn’t listen, if he fought he couldn’t win.

Writers imagine that they cull stories from the world. I’m beginning to believe that vanity makes them think so. That it’s actually the other way around. Stories cull writers from the world. Stories reveal themselves to us. The public narrative, the private narrative—they colonize us. They commission us. They insist on being told. Fiction and nonfiction are only different techniques of storytelling. For reasons that I don’t fully understand, fiction dances out of me, and nonfiction is wrenched out by the aching, broken world I wake up to every morning.

Being with him made her feel as though her soul had escaped from the narrow confines of her island country into the vast, extravagant spaces of his. He made her feel as though the world belonged to them—as though it lay before them like an opened frog on a dissecting table, begging to be examined.

It is curious how sometimes the memory of death lives on for so much longer than the memory of the life that is purloined. 

Her grief grieved her. His devastated her.

There are things that you can’t do—like writing letters to a part of yourself. To your feet or hair. Or heart.

And there it was again. Another religion turned against itself. Another edifice constructed by the human mind, decimated by human nature.

Smells, like music, hold memories. She breathed deep, and bottled it up for posterity.

People always loved best what they identified most with.

Pointed in the wrong direction, trapped outside their own history and unable to retrace their steps because their footprints had been swept away.

And when we look in through the windows, all we see are shadows. And when we try and listen, all we hear is a whispering. And we cannot understand the whispering, because our minds have been invaded by a war. A war that we have both won and lost. The very worst sort of war. A war that captures dreams and re-dreams them. A war that has made us adore our conquerors and despise ourselves.

As she watched him she understood the quality of his beauty. How his labor had shaped him. How the wood he fashioned had fashioned him. Each plank he planed, each nail he drove, each thing he made molded him. Had left its stamp on him. Had given him his strength, his supple grace.

“Anything’s possible in Human Nature,” Chacko said in his Reading Aloud voice. Talking to the darkness now, suddenly insensitive to his little fountain-haired niece. “Love. Madness. Hope. Infinite joy.”
Of the four things that were Possible in Human Nature, Rahel thought that Infinnate Joy sounded the saddest. Perhaps because of the way Chacko said it.
Infinnate Joy. With a church sound to it. Like a sad fish with fins all over.

When she looked at him now, she couldn’t help thinking that the man he had become bore so little resemblance to the boy he had been. His smile was the only piece of baggage he had carried with him from boyhood into manhood.

Once the quietness arrived, it stayed and spread in Estha. It reached out of his head and enfolded him in its swampy arms. It rocked him to the rhythm of an ancient, fetal heartbeat. It sent its stealthy, suckered tentacles inching along the insides of his skull, hoovering the knolls and dells of his memory; dislodging old sentences, whisking them off the tip of his tongue. It stripped his thoughts of the words that described them and left them pared and naked. Unspeakable. Numb. And to an observer, therefore, perhaps barely there. Slowly, over the years, Estha withdrew from the world. He grew accustomed to the uneasy octopus that lived inside him and squirted its inky tranquilizer on his past. Gradually the reason for his silence was hidden away, entombed somewhere deep in the soothing folds of the fact of it.

What came for them? Not death. Just the end of living.

Biology designed the dance. Terror timed it. Dictated the rhythm with which their bodies answered each other. As though they already knew that for each tremor of pleasure they would pay with an equal measure of pain. As though they knew that how far they went would be measured against how far they would be taken.

Eterlimus by Aziz Hamza

Roman empire has astonished me since I read Julius Ceaser. Therefore when I received this book for reviewing I instantly said yes. This is written by an author from Saudi which further aggravated my curiosity.

History immortalizes both the names of the greats and the tyrants without making a distinction between them.

Cover page

Eterlimus is a story of Rome hence the classical architecture is very much expected in the cover-page. But what really attracted me to the book is the color riot. The book cover is splashed with different shades of red (or crimson?) which subtly describes the anger during the time. There are also buildings on fire indicating an uproar or a rebellion. All-in-all I love the cover-page. I would definitely love to have the book in my collection.

Characters

As the Title suggests, the book is about Eterlimus. He is a pimp in the times of the evil King Tarquinius. Tarquinius has preceded the throne with treachery. Eterlimus is a peace loving master of a pleasure house. He is clever and knows how to avoid unfavorable circumstances using his wit. A perfect character to help overthrow the king.

Content

The Roman empire is in the hands of an evil king who has stepped on the throne by killings hundreds. Eterlimus's family was also murdered by King Tarquinius. Flavius saves the little boy Eterlimus and takes him under his own wings. Eterlimus learns better and does not seek revenge. UNTIL, one of the girls in his pleasure house is brutally assaulted in his pleasure house on Sextus's orders.

Eterlimus, drowned in the idea on revenge, forms a plan which will eventually lead to the destruction of the king. But what he does not know is that it will also lead to the rape of Lucretia. Eterlimus's plan throws more people in fire than he had expected to, leading to his own destruction.

The content is filled with suspense. It keeps you on the edge of the table waiting for the story to unfold. The book is very fast paced. It has got the essence of the Roman empire. It is a treat for people who love a face paced historical fiction.

Discourses, which are mostly wrapped in spurious religious and patriotic ideologies that ignite the enthusiasm of the ignorant masses.

Language

The narration is a bit confusing at times. It is more like a play than a story. It may very well remind you of Julius Ceaser. There is also a mix of tenses at a few places.

Good points

I just loved the cover-page. It is a work of art. It indefinitely puts the book on the map. I was happy with the content, more or less. Language gave a feel of the Roman empire, which is what I was going for.

Bad points

Eterlimus’ love story was not very convincing. I did not find it growing. It felt very shallow. I wish the author had a more planned approach for narration.

The virtuous are among the weakest and quickest to sin.

Overall

The book definitely has more positives than it has negatives. I am looking forward to reading more books by the author.

Who do I recommend this to

I recommend this to people who enjoy history and historical fiction.

Quotable Quotes

when you walk the path of revenge, know that someone will always follow your trail.

If the gods chose Sextus as King of Rome, the worst possible evil will befall it.

The Tudor Wife by Emily Purdy

Anne Boleyn is a historical character that has astonished me, and I am sure many others. After watching different series and documentaries, I was very much obsessed with the Tudor queens, Anne Boleyn especially. When I came across this book in a recent sale I instantly knew learning about the queens from a lady-in-waiting’s perspective is going to be something else! I started reading this book as soon as I bought it. This is definitely a piece of art that anyone interested in the English royalty must read!

‘Your wife I cannot be; your mistress I will not be.’ Those were her words, cold and to the point, like a dagger in the heart.

Cover page

I absolutely loved the cover-page. It has been well thought over and researched. The cover consists of a queen wearing the periodical attire. Very cleverly the artist has hidden the face of the queen and only the ensemble is visible, since the book is about all the queens and not just one. The book title reads—The Tudor Wife. The typography is well thought of. The cover-page in all does complete justice to the story inside. 

Characters

The book is a compilation of the life of all the Tudor queens married to Henry the eighth, except the last one. The person narrating the tales is Jane Rochford, Anne Boleyn’s sister-in-law. All the characters in the queens are parallel to the history and not much change has been done in the name of historical fiction. You will come to love, hate and sympathize with all the queens, such is the writing of Emily Purdy.

There are many other characters that have been brought to live by Emily Purdy.

Content

Vengeance is mine; I shall repay.
–Romans 12:19

The book begins with this verse. This is for Jane Rochford, who dies with the blood of Anne Boleyn and many other in her hand. The book talks about all the queens but last of Henry VIII. Jane is the narrator of the story. Hence all the characters are depicted from her point of view. These are the tales of accession to the throne and the downfall. Each of the queens have been given their due. 

More than half of the book is dedicated to Anne Boleyn, fairly so since she is probably most remembered queen. One chapter is dedicated to Anne of Cleaves. And all that has been said about her is that she was repulsive to the king, so much that he divorced her and adopted her as a sister. Other queens have their fair part in the book, their stories told well.

But things were changing. Though Henry continued to profess his undying love and shower her with gifts, there hung about him brooding air of a man who has grown tired of waiting and is beginning to wonder whether it is really worthwhile…

Language

The narration is filled with guilt, even though Jane talks about vengeance. Jane Rochford definitely feels guilty of the various deaths that are partly on her heads. Therefore in the entire book she is always looking for sympathy and justifying herself. 

The narration is going to get you sympathize and understand each queen and Jane Rochford herself. Where in the entire world she is known as a symbol of jealousy and betrayal, the author will get you to maybe pity her somewhere. 

I absolutely loved the narration. I got to have some beautiful quotes too. So I am happy! 

Good points

The cover-page takes you to the world of royalty right at first glance. This is definitely one of the covers that will compel you to buy the book. 

The characterization is very gripping. Anne Boleyn has been further immortalized by the book. Other queens also get their respective spaces.

The narration is really gripping. You would find yourself wishing that you could read for a living. This one book is going to keep you awake till the midnight. 

Bad points

Where the author got all the characters right, she deviated a lot when she came to Catherine Howard. Catherine has been portrayed throughout as a nymphomaniac child. It sentence itself sounds wrong but yeah. There are also too many details of her encounter which seem to be unbelievable at certain stage.

There are certain passages in the book that feel repeated. The same lines have been said with different words. Which tend to tire you. I mean who liked to listen to the same thing over and over again! 

‘Calais,’ she continued, as if she had not heard. ‘Once a woman surrenders herself to a man, even though that is what he wants to do, he instantly loses all respect for her. Some men are just better at hiding the truth than others, and some do not even bother to try.’

Overall

Overall, I loved the book enough to read few other by the same author. I am now interested in knowing what happens to the Tudor offspring and how Elizabeth succeeds to the throne. Emily Purdy has definitely got me curious. 

Who do I recommend this to

I would recommend this book to everyone interested in the English royalty. Anne Boleyn fans, this is definitely something to watch out for. Someone who loves good narration, this is the book!

Quotable Quotes:

‘Perhaps you look for dead men’s shoes?’ Anne batted her lashes coyly. ‘If any misfortune befell His Majesty you would look to have me!’

Guard your heart, Elizabeth, guard it as if it were your greatest treasures; keep it under lock and key, and be wary of who you let near it, lest you be betrayed. Let no man be your master; be mistress of your own fate instead. Never surrender!’

‘Weep not for us, but for the absence of justice from England!’ Weston advised the crowd as they were led back to their cell in the Beauchamp Tower.

‘No, Jane, you have courage, for you have far greater need of it than I do! You have to go on living, while I have only to die. And someday, Jane, you too will die, and then you will have to answer to God for what you have done. He—in this case, she—who sows the whirlwind must expect to reap the storm. Good-bye Jane.’

A swift slash of silver steel ended Anne’s life. So died the only woman who had ever made a fool of Henry Tudor, challenged and denied him.

In death, poetry, and legend they had all found immortality. And I would be remembered alongside them, my name a byword for jealousy, treachery, betrayal, and lies. I found my immortality in infamy; I has unjustly become one of the villains in Anne Boleyn’s tale, my true innocence blotted out and obscured by bloodstains.

Thanks to Thomas Cromwell, I would always be remembered as “The Red Widow”, with my husband’s blood forever on my hands; whenever people heard my name they would instantly think of lies, jealousy of embittered wives, and treachery.
Yes I had a lot to thank Cromwell for—that is what I thought of as I stood beside the scaffold and watched him die.

‘There is no such thing as love, Jane; it’s just the dream we all aspire to, and the stuff of songs and stories that fuel our hopes and longings. Aye, there is passion, but passion is not love, Jane, though we like to delude ourselves into thinking it is. But it dies quick; it is a flame that flares high, blazes bright, and soon dies, and all we are left with are the cold ashes of memory.’

Even though tomorrow I must die, and Cranmer urges me to clear my conscience so that I mat die shriven of all my sins, of that I will never repent! Vengeance was mine and I did repay!