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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
Wish I could have read the original Kannada version! The “earthy” language beautifully expresses traditional thinking and ingrained behaviours. Reading this page-turner I felt complicit and almost another character moving the narrative forward. A good read.
This is a story of a Indian family living in Bangalore that, on the brink of losing what little they have, suddenly becomes wealthy. The new money comes with new problems, in particular, significant changes in the family dynamics that create tensions, resentments, and uncomfortable dependencies. The family has to navigate their new social status, the meaning of work, and the role of money in their lives. The main character is in a fairly constant state of distress about how to handle the relationships among his family members, but is passive to the point of apathetic about it. This is a short book, which means that the author's vivid painting of the characters is all the more impressive. I really enjoyed the prose and the moments of humor (including a long battle against ants and a breakfast that is a call to arms), but the plot is subtle and there were points when I wondered where things were going, if anywhere at all. But then the strangest thing happens: it ends very abruptly and doesn't match the style of the rest of the book at all. It invites us to reinterpret things; or not, it's left to the reader to decide. This book didn't blow me away, but I enjoyed it. It's also the first novel written in Kannada (an Indian language) to be published in America.
The Spice must Flow
"Ghachar Ghochar" takes such an odd turn at the end that you may feel the need to read it again immediately in order to look for the dark thread that runs through it underneath its mostly light and often humorous surface. For me, the ending was at first utterly shocking and seemed as if it was for a different book. But with some thought and hindsight (and admittedly some re-reading) it does make a kind of sense. Readers who like things to be explained clearly may be disappointed.
As described in the book, the title is an invented family saying which is the equivalent of "all messed up", "fouled up beyond all repair", etc. This private joke is used initially about a ball of thread but it becomes an expression to describe the situation of a rags-to-riches family. While the novella is mostly a drama/comedy, there is a hint of noir mystery as well. Saying any more would be a spoiler.
"Ghachar Ghochar" takes such an odd turn at the end that you may feel the need to read it again immediately in order to look for the dark thread that runs through it underneath its mostly light and often humorous surface. For me, the ending was at first utterly shocking and seemed as if it was for a different book. But with some thought and hindsight (and admittedly some re-reading) it does make a kind of sense. Readers who like things to be explained clearly may be disappointed.
As described in the book, the title is an invented family saying which is the equivalent of "all messed up", "fouled up beyond all repair", etc. This private joke is used initially about a ball of thread but it becomes an expression to describe the situation of a rags-to-riches family. While the novella is mostly a drama/comedy, there is a hint of noir mystery as well. Saying any more would be a spoiler.
An interesting novel, which despite its short length has great character developments. In fact, my only problem with this book was that it might have been a tad bit too short. I would have loved to read more about the characters in Vivek Shanbhag's world.
Will have to go back thru and read other reviews for other takes, but I was not a fan upon completion. This is a 2.5 star for me, maybe because it was on audio. Perhaps I should have just read they the thing in one sitting... The story didn’t capture me (I was constantly rewinding), and I’m not sure I picked up on what the ending seems to imply...
Too bad this short work is the only thing by Shanbhag (a former engineer) that is published here in the States. Published in the US in 2017, 2013 in India. He has 8 books of fiction and 2 plays published.
A nouveau riche family in Bangalore (the middle of the southern tip of India), at times I felt like I was reading Dreiser on the rise of Chicago! Not that thick, turgid prose of Dreiser - this pops along at a quick pace. But the description by the First Person narrator of their family's rise to wealth, and how they stay there, and what they do once they have achieved it. And then a nice black surprise at the end, in th last 5 pages or so.
You'll probably need to look up some Indian words while reading - others you will know already.
Really enjoyed, a fun, quick read, with a subtle punch at the end.
A nouveau riche family in Bangalore (the middle of the southern tip of India), at times I felt like I was reading Dreiser on the rise of Chicago! Not that thick, turgid prose of Dreiser - this pops along at a quick pace. But the description by the First Person narrator of their family's rise to wealth, and how they stay there, and what they do once they have achieved it. And then a nice black surprise at the end, in th last 5 pages or so.
You'll probably need to look up some Indian words while reading - others you will know already.
Really enjoyed, a fun, quick read, with a subtle punch at the end.
I enjoyed this very much, a short novel of precise observations on modern Indian family life. Surprisingly dark, I look forward to reading more translations of Shanbhag's books. On that, the translation is fantastic. Srinath Perur has done a beautiful job in this regard.
Well, it really comes together right at the end!
I found out about this book after reading a review from my book friend, PorshaJo, and she generously gifted me her copy to read. So thoughtful of you, PJ, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I was struck by the sparse, to-the-point prose, and coincidentally, I finished Kent Haruf's Our Souls at Night yesterday, which shared a similar writing style of saying more with less. When I got to the end of this novella about unplanned wealth's effect on a family, at first, I was greedy. I wanted the story to continue, but at the same time, the author was able to get the message across in less than 120 pages, so I can be content with that (and maybe another novella with this family at a future date?! :)) I'm looking forward to more books from this author. Thanks again, PorshaJo.