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pxr014's review
4.0
I am slowly starting to realize that the Bengali novel is actually rather different from the English novel. This book was incredibly complex; had it been executed just a little bit differently, I think I would have called it inconsistent and a little bit chaotic. As it were, though, Tagore (being Tagore) was actually able to pull this off.
sreesha_diva's review
2.0
Kill me now, because I have not only thoughtlessly dissected a classic here, but also given it a low rating. https://rainandabook.wordpress.com/2015/06/23/chokher-bali-by-rabindranath-tagore/
nafisa_tabassum's review
5.0
Chokher Bali is the most realistic book I have ever read. So many things that you never find portrayed in characters and scenes were drawn lucidly in this book. The contradictions of thought in people, the bittersweet symphony of life, the way emotion seems to rise up in importance at times and their memory dwindles to nothing, how convictions are broken, how people fall in and out of love - everything is so beautifully written here. I don't know about the English translation, but in Bangla, Rabindranath Tagore's writing fully compliments the story and strongly defines the atmosphere. It's almost perfect in technicality albeit a few repetitions of phrases and words.
Spoilers - I guess, morally, you could argue against some of the points. I mean, Asha takes Mahendra again, forgetting every slight to her and the feelings of hate she felt for him. Kinda goes against laws of self-love and self-respect. However, that's exactly what a girl of that age and personality would have done. And forgiveness is beautiful. She would have found forgiveness in her heart and would've loved wholeheartedly again. That's how Bangla society was at that time. - spoilers. Tagore documents nothing but the truth and the plausible. No wonder this is one of his most acclaimed novels.
This book kept me hooked - it's beautifully written; the content's amazing; the story's interesting, plausible and unpredictable; the characters are well developed and very relatable. 5+ HUGE stars, without a doubt.
Spoilers - I guess, morally, you could argue against some of the points. I mean, Asha takes Mahendra again, forgetting every slight to her and the feelings of hate she felt for him. Kinda goes against laws of self-love and self-respect. However, that's exactly what a girl of that age and personality would have done. And forgiveness is beautiful. She would have found forgiveness in her heart and would've loved wholeheartedly again. That's how Bangla society was at that time. - spoilers. Tagore documents nothing but the truth and the plausible. No wonder this is one of his most acclaimed novels.
This book kept me hooked - it's beautifully written; the content's amazing; the story's interesting, plausible and unpredictable; the characters are well developed and very relatable. 5+ HUGE stars, without a doubt.
chandanakuruganty's review against another edition
4.0
" This mark of romance, covert yet uttered, forbidden yet intimate, poisonous yet honey-eyed, proffered yet retracted, made him feel quite inebriated."
Loved the total setup, the characters, the basic plot and the author's narrative on a delicate topic of infidelity in marriage. Amazed by the richness of words used and how delicately the author uses unimaginable analogies to draw our attention to emotions. Only letdown was the ending and I wished there was a happier ending for all the characters (something which Tagore himself acknowledges).
Perfectly fascinating read for anyone going through a reading slump to jump back into the world of never ending & amazing books!
Loved the total setup, the characters, the basic plot and the author's narrative on a delicate topic of infidelity in marriage. Amazed by the richness of words used and how delicately the author uses unimaginable analogies to draw our attention to emotions. Only letdown was the ending and I wished there was a happier ending for all the characters (something which Tagore himself acknowledges).
Perfectly fascinating read for anyone going through a reading slump to jump back into the world of never ending & amazing books!
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