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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
An interesting story of human feelings/behaviors as interpreted through goats.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I usually don't like it when animals are humanized. It somehow feels wrong when morals that are entirely human are enforced upon unsuspecting species such as goats and their stories are told as though they hold the same societal and mental standards. It feels restrictive and somehow wrong.
This book also suffers from this phenomenon. Poonachi, the titular goat has emotions and conflicts that are very human. It feels sometimes that Poonachi can be replaced by a sad orphan like Oliver Twist and the story would be the same. But Perumal Murugan weaves some magic through his words and brings this essential goatness to Ponnachi that elevates the story and makes you fall in love with her. No, Poonachi cannot be human. You can feel very well by where she stands in the pecking order that she is a domesticated animal.
The entire story revolves around Poonachi which brought an interesting perspective and served as a commentary on human society. Poonachi is alternatively considered a curse and a blessing. She is revered as a saviour when times are good. The unnamed couple upon whom she is bestowed consider her their daughter - a daughter-in-law that they think of as a harbinger of everything good. But when things sour up, she readily turns into a vile creature that was inflicted on them to increase their burden in their old age. There is something almost sweet about this transfer of feelings to her. It is only with people who are really close to us that we take the liberty of showing our different moods and the couple do consider Poonachi that and take care of her well. It was especially moving in the parts where Poonachi is lost in a forest. She considers living there by herself but returns to her 'mother' out of a sense of filial love - perhaps this is a commentary on children sometimes choosing to live away from their parents. They do crave the freedom of the forest.
The time when this story is set is vague but it feels like it would be around the 1800s or so. Perumal Murugan has a wonderful way of bringing alive the problems of the time. As mush as Poonachi, this story is also about a drought and the human condition. It is about how the society changes when something huge like a drought occurs and how especially the poor are affected. Of course animals are considered disposable at this time and that fact is brought out very well. The need to hang on to something, some hope or perhaps just a sense of greed is very poignant, as is the ending. I could feel tears welling up in the end pages and if that is not a sign of a successful work, I don't know what is.
A beautiful goat story that is highly recommended!
This book also suffers from this phenomenon. Poonachi, the titular goat has emotions and conflicts that are very human. It feels sometimes that Poonachi can be replaced by a sad orphan like Oliver Twist and the story would be the same. But Perumal Murugan weaves some magic through his words and brings this essential goatness to Ponnachi that elevates the story and makes you fall in love with her. No, Poonachi cannot be human. You can feel very well by where she stands in the pecking order that she is a domesticated animal.
The entire story revolves around Poonachi which brought an interesting perspective and served as a commentary on human society. Poonachi is alternatively considered a curse and a blessing. She is revered as a saviour when times are good. The unnamed couple upon whom she is bestowed consider her their daughter - a daughter-in-law that they think of as a harbinger of everything good. But when things sour up, she readily turns into a vile creature that was inflicted on them to increase their burden in their old age. There is something almost sweet about this transfer of feelings to her. It is only with people who are really close to us that we take the liberty of showing our different moods and the couple do consider Poonachi that and take care of her well. It was especially moving in the parts where Poonachi is lost in a forest. She considers living there by herself but returns to her 'mother' out of a sense of filial love - perhaps this is a commentary on children sometimes choosing to live away from their parents. They do crave the freedom of the forest.
The time when this story is set is vague but it feels like it would be around the 1800s or so. Perumal Murugan has a wonderful way of bringing alive the problems of the time. As mush as Poonachi, this story is also about a drought and the human condition. It is about how the society changes when something huge like a drought occurs and how especially the poor are affected. Of course animals are considered disposable at this time and that fact is brought out very well. The need to hang on to something, some hope or perhaps just a sense of greed is very poignant, as is the ending. I could feel tears welling up in the end pages and if that is not a sign of a successful work, I don't know what is.
A beautiful goat story that is highly recommended!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
It's a good read but i personally found it heading towards a very depressing end. I just cannot comprehend what the writer here was trying to accomplish, it brought me to tears and that's probably what he wanted. Period.
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
I'm not exactly a fan of stories with heavy animal presence. But obviously Poonachi is a story that uses animals to reflect experience and feelings of humans. The writing is masterful and has definitely lived up to my expectation of Perumal Murugan's writing. It's not something I feel deeply connected to but I'll remember it for a very long time. It's a short book that manages to pack in quite a lot. Maybe it's the kind of book that can be reread in different stages of life or every few years.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
For a book about a goats life is was surprisingly deep and political. Was for me a random pick in the library and I am really happy with it :)
Las bókina í þýðingu Elísu Bjargar Þorsteinsdóttur í útgáfu Angústúru.