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wisecat69's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bee_sib's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
princessjulia's review against another edition
2.0
Quite disappointed with this rating because it's my first ever Nepali book and I really wanted to love it and I thought I would but it fell flat.
I just think that the story didn't really feel like a story but lots of snippets of a story instead, the writing was pretty though and it was easy to read and I never felt bored but that might be because I'm Nepali so to me this was almost like a history book during some parts which made it so much more interesting.
I didn't feel much for the main character though of course I feel for him on a humane level, but my gosh the way he spoke about women and viewed women was so gross and creepy. The 'love' story in this book was not even love it was so one dimensional and it just felt like all the women were there to serve the main character's storyline. However, since this is (sort of?) biographical I suppose I can't hate too much since it must have been what really happened.
Politically I don't really agree with the message this book was delivering, I feel like we missed out on a lot of nuance and there was a lot of privilege that created this message as well.
I really wanted to read this in Nepali but I ordered it in English so I feel like I missed out but maybe one day if I get my hands on a Nepali edition I would be willing to reread this. Not sure if I would recommend it, the only reason I would is because it's Nepali like me!
I just think that the story didn't really feel like a story but lots of snippets of a story instead, the writing was pretty though and it was easy to read and I never felt bored but that might be because I'm Nepali so to me this was almost like a history book during some parts which made it so much more interesting.
I didn't feel much for the main character though of course I feel for him on a humane level, but my gosh the way he spoke about women and viewed women was so gross and creepy. The 'love' story in this book was not even love it was so one dimensional and it just felt like all the women were there to serve the main character's storyline. However, since this is (sort of?) biographical I suppose I can't hate too much since it must have been what really happened.
Politically I don't really agree with the message this book was delivering, I feel like we missed out on a lot of nuance and there was a lot of privilege that created this message as well.
I really wanted to read this in Nepali but I ordered it in English so I feel like I missed out but maybe one day if I get my hands on a Nepali edition I would be willing to reread this. Not sure if I would recommend it, the only reason I would is because it's Nepali like me!
prepsa's review
4.0
Sort of love/hate the character. Hate the way the guy treats girls, mainly Palpasa. Love the way he views his work and hometown. I was small when the events described in the book happened so I only had a vague idea of what happened but this book gave me a glimpse of how the situation was back then. I'm also extremely aware of how fragile human life is.
hangmalimbu's review against another edition
5.0
Read the Nepali version. Very very well written regarding how people were affected during Nepalese civil war.
pavram's review
4.0
Palpasa kafe je ona posebna sorta romana koja odbija etiketu i laku kategorizaciju. Elem, ovaj nepalski megahit, što govori podjednako o divnim li ljudima Nepalcima kao što govori Koeljo i sve one gospodje koje pate od multiplih prezimena o nama, roman je koji na jedan atipičan način kombinuje ljubav, umetnost i rat(nu tragediju). Da ne budem sada preveliki autošovinista, kako smo mi nekulturni a Nepalci divni i bajni i čitaju bolje knjige - postoji dobar razlog zbog čega je ovo postao priličan kulturološki fenomen (i naknadno stvorio bar dva kafea istog imena u Katmanduu). To je relevantnost. Nepal je početkom dvadeset prvog veka pretrpeo velike promene, kao poslednja hinduistička monarhija započeo je tranziciju u republiku, pa je, logično jel, usledio i gradjanski rat obojen maoističkim bojama. Taj rat, gerilski vodjen, ostavio je dubok trag na običnog čoveka (kao što kod nas ostavljaju n-ti izbori u rekordno kratkom periodu; patnja je daleko manja, ali sentiment je isti, čovek gleda u pod dok hoda). Prostim rečnikom, ubio ga je u pojam. Kako umetnost preživljava u tim uslovima? Može li se ljubav roditi, ili samo umreti? Živo postaje neživo, tragedije postaju zajednička mesta. Ali, ispostavlja se, možda i ona mogu biti lepa. I na njima se može u miru ispijati kafa.
tbr_the_unconquered's review
2.0
War destroys more than it can ever hope of resurrecting forms the exoskeleton on which this tale is built. Reporter Narayan Wagle paints a portrait of the lush vales of Nepal stained red by Maoist Insurgencies.
It is the story of an artist Drishya, a native of the hills who post an abduction by the Maoists begins to see life anew. The plot line begins life as a love story but then proceeds on a path of self discovery for the male protagonist. There is a treasure trove of opportunity here for a writer for like Kashmir, Nepal has a savagery to its beauty. However, while the author does show flashes of brilliance here and there, the overall work was not satisfactory for me. The central issue of state v/s the Maoists is seen through the eyes of a myriad of people : citizens,children,widows,orphans and so forth and the change in perspective is wonderfully captured here. Personally its my thought that the author should have spent more on underlying conflict between the two opposing forces but here the tale branches off into personal tragedy and brings the climax to a very dramatic one.
Translation & editing of this work leaves a lot to be desired. I am not the kind of a reader who would pick up a word and say Aaha you spelled that wrong ! but here the sentences themselves sometimes made no sense at all. It is rather unfair that such a piece of literature could go through translation that wasn't quite up to the mark.
It is the story of an artist Drishya, a native of the hills who post an abduction by the Maoists begins to see life anew. The plot line begins life as a love story but then proceeds on a path of self discovery for the male protagonist. There is a treasure trove of opportunity here for a writer for like Kashmir, Nepal has a savagery to its beauty. However, while the author does show flashes of brilliance here and there, the overall work was not satisfactory for me. The central issue of state v/s the Maoists is seen through the eyes of a myriad of people : citizens,children,widows,orphans and so forth and the change in perspective is wonderfully captured here. Personally its my thought that the author should have spent more on underlying conflict between the two opposing forces but here the tale branches off into personal tragedy and brings the climax to a very dramatic one.
Translation & editing of this work leaves a lot to be desired. I am not the kind of a reader who would pick up a word and say Aaha you spelled that wrong ! but here the sentences themselves sometimes made no sense at all. It is rather unfair that such a piece of literature could go through translation that wasn't quite up to the mark.
hangmalimbu's review
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bookaholic_kp's review
4.0
“There's energy in inner conflict. It drives human beings to search for clarity and resolution, and that gives their lives meaning.”
Palpasa Cafe is relatively short story written by a Nepali Author set during during the height of the Nepalese Civil War. The book may have started of as a romantic novel where the male protagonist, Drishya meets a girl named Palpasa and the two hit it off. But as the story progresses it develops into an anti-war novel.
The story moves on to Drishya journeying through his home town in the midst of the civil war happening in Nepal. In his wanderings back to his rural home area and old village, he slowly discovers the impact of the civil war on its people. In the process of bringing democracy in the country, the political parties have created chaos within the country with manipulating many youngsters and children into fighting the war with state, destroying educational institutions and creating fear among the people. Much of the country is in rebel hands, with daughters coöpted into joining their forces -- in a countryside with little hope for now, as the schools have been destroyed. Throughout the journey he meets people, each with a tragic story on its own due the state of war.
“They were exhilarated by the power guns gave them. But such power brought nothing but devastation.”
However, in his journey , he has the inspiration for his resort. He sees the wonderful potential of the place and in the chaotic state he finds his inspiration is a dream to look forward to -- as, the Palpasa herself - giving birth to idea Palpasa Cafe.
The story line of the novel in the end, honestly to me, was slightly messy and rushed but it really puts into perspective of the world we live in. We live in a world where people believe "violence is justifiable for the greater good" when in state of war.
I read the english translation of the book so maybe there might have been lost in translation. Hoping to read the Nepali version soon
Palpasa Cafe is relatively short story written by a Nepali Author set during during the height of the Nepalese Civil War. The book may have started of as a romantic novel where the male protagonist, Drishya meets a girl named Palpasa and the two hit it off. But as the story progresses it develops into an anti-war novel.
The story moves on to Drishya journeying through his home town in the midst of the civil war happening in Nepal. In his wanderings back to his rural home area and old village, he slowly discovers the impact of the civil war on its people. In the process of bringing democracy in the country, the political parties have created chaos within the country with manipulating many youngsters and children into fighting the war with state, destroying educational institutions and creating fear among the people. Much of the country is in rebel hands, with daughters coöpted into joining their forces -- in a countryside with little hope for now, as the schools have been destroyed. Throughout the journey he meets people, each with a tragic story on its own due the state of war.
“They were exhilarated by the power guns gave them. But such power brought nothing but devastation.”
However, in his journey , he has the inspiration for his resort. He sees the wonderful potential of the place and in the chaotic state he finds his inspiration is a dream to look forward to -- as, the Palpasa herself - giving birth to idea Palpasa Cafe.
The story line of the novel in the end, honestly to me, was slightly messy and rushed but it really puts into perspective of the world we live in. We live in a world where people believe "violence is justifiable for the greater good" when in state of war.
I read the english translation of the book so maybe there might have been lost in translation. Hoping to read the Nepali version soon