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half_book_and_co's review
4.0
This novel is narrated by a young Tamil woman, a staunch feminist writer, who marries a Communist lecturer. They move to another town, where he takes up a position, but she cannot speak the language. The husband willfully isolates the wife more and more.
When I Hit You is a candid look at domestic violence and rape in a relationship and the difficulties to escape it (even if you have a theoretical framework for what is happening). Kandasamy portrays the violence of a leftist man, who uses "political" arguments to put his wife down (for example does he complain her feminism is a sign of her (supposedly) bourgeois upbringing). The private is political, and the political private, in this novel - in the rawest sense. The writing - which is full of references to literature - is analytical and poetic at the same time. This book stays with you for a long time.
"And how do you justify that your poems can be written, but that I cannot write poems on my marriage?
Once again, a play of words to justify the duplicity. 'Your poems blame me. My poems blame me. There is a difference between the hatred that fuels your poems, and the self-criticism that forms the backbone of mine. Your poems label me and put me in a box, my poems struggle to move past my weakness.' And that is that. In this marriage in which I'm beaten, he is the poet. And one of his opening lines of verse reads:
When I hit you,
Comrade Lenin weeps.
I cry, he chronicles. The institution of marriage creates its own division of labour."
When I Hit You is a candid look at domestic violence and rape in a relationship and the difficulties to escape it (even if you have a theoretical framework for what is happening). Kandasamy portrays the violence of a leftist man, who uses "political" arguments to put his wife down (for example does he complain her feminism is a sign of her (supposedly) bourgeois upbringing). The private is political, and the political private, in this novel - in the rawest sense. The writing - which is full of references to literature - is analytical and poetic at the same time. This book stays with you for a long time.
"And how do you justify that your poems can be written, but that I cannot write poems on my marriage?
Once again, a play of words to justify the duplicity. 'Your poems blame me. My poems blame me. There is a difference between the hatred that fuels your poems, and the self-criticism that forms the backbone of mine. Your poems label me and put me in a box, my poems struggle to move past my weakness.' And that is that. In this marriage in which I'm beaten, he is the poet. And one of his opening lines of verse reads:
When I hit you,
Comrade Lenin weeps.
I cry, he chronicles. The institution of marriage creates its own division of labour."
zellm's review against another edition
4.0
Well written, heartbreakingly blunt and honest, and poetic in its harshness. This was really really well written, with no embellishment or melodrama. The style was beautiful. I felt like the end was less poignant and riveting than the rest of it - it feels like after the escape the book meanders around the point and loses focus. But it is still honest
anuradha_sethu's review against another edition
4.0
Hard hitting account from an observant perspective... The systematic assumption of control makes you shiver... Just to read it makes your blood boil
awhittz's review
challenging
dark
emotional
4.0
Absolutely not for the faint hearted but oof what an incredible story of domestic abuse and survival. Wow.
jayasreads's review against another edition
5.0
Poetic, emotional, powerful. Gripping account of an abusive marriage. I was hooked from the beginning. It was a mad ride, got me mad and sympathetic. Highly recommend, if you like poetic descriptions. Trigger warnings: abuse, graphic violence
aliciaxingram's review against another edition
4.0
Powerful, poignant and poetic. A must read for absolutely everybody and a learning curve for all.
aymareta's review against another edition
5.0
4,5. Escalofriante. Terrible(mente) bello y poético, gráfico, conmovedor.
chaoticbibliophile's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
I am kicking myself for not having picked this up sooner, yet I'm glad I read it at the time I did. Everyone should read this. Everyone. (Not only because of its subject matter; this is great literature.)