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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
phoenix49's review
5.0
4 stars for the story, bumped to 5 because of the importance of the novel. I found the format of the novel quite unique, and the writing and plot varied between interesting, plodding, and harrowing - as life during wartimes often is. For this reason, and because it's one of a very limited selection of Nepali writing that has been translated to other languages, I give it 5 stars.
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