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A review by _askthebookbug
NAME PLACE ANIMAL THING by Daribha Lyndem
5.0
• r e v i e w •
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I've never been to Shillong but when I read Daribha's description of it, I could almost feel the nip of cold air and see my breath turning into fog. Name Place Animal Thing is her debut novel but it rarely feels that way because of the cleverness that her words carry. It's impressive how this book which is narrated through the eyes of a child manages to capture the goings-on of the world. D, as the protagonist is called is a young Khasi girl who witnesses certain changes in her City and one can't help but feel nostalgic about his/her own City that now barely holds the traces of what it previously was. These stories are innocent, interesting and also fascinating to those who know next to nothing about this quaint land.
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D, subtly points out the hostility between Khasis and the Dkhars during her growing up years. When Bahadur, the kind Nepali who always assisted others is left stranded due to an unfortunate event, D can't help but wonder about the indifference of her neighbours towards him. It is then that she realises the faint line that separates Dkhars from that of the Khasis. This difference is again cemented when Tommy Lu, a Chinese immigrant from Kolkata who moves to her City to run a successful Chinese restaurant is made to shut down his business because of his inability to pay an insurgent group called Saw Dak. As D grows up, her stories find different points of focus like her Hindi teacher with whom she grew an unexpected pleasant bond with or that of the strange possession of waves of people who believed it to be the work of God. Throughout these stories, one aspect remains constant and it is how D always questioned the happenings around her.
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Albeit few stories carry a sombre tone, it is surprising how Daribha adds her wit in making it easier for the readers to not feel too overwhelmed. I especially enjoyed how nostalgic this book made me feel, be it from the very game the title suggests to revisiting my schooling days. Her humour was a treat to read, making me chuckle often. I definitely recommend this refreshing read and would like to thank @zubaanbooks for the review copy. Here's hoping that @daribhagram writes more books.
.
I've never been to Shillong but when I read Daribha's description of it, I could almost feel the nip of cold air and see my breath turning into fog. Name Place Animal Thing is her debut novel but it rarely feels that way because of the cleverness that her words carry. It's impressive how this book which is narrated through the eyes of a child manages to capture the goings-on of the world. D, as the protagonist is called is a young Khasi girl who witnesses certain changes in her City and one can't help but feel nostalgic about his/her own City that now barely holds the traces of what it previously was. These stories are innocent, interesting and also fascinating to those who know next to nothing about this quaint land.
.
D, subtly points out the hostility between Khasis and the Dkhars during her growing up years. When Bahadur, the kind Nepali who always assisted others is left stranded due to an unfortunate event, D can't help but wonder about the indifference of her neighbours towards him. It is then that she realises the faint line that separates Dkhars from that of the Khasis. This difference is again cemented when Tommy Lu, a Chinese immigrant from Kolkata who moves to her City to run a successful Chinese restaurant is made to shut down his business because of his inability to pay an insurgent group called Saw Dak. As D grows up, her stories find different points of focus like her Hindi teacher with whom she grew an unexpected pleasant bond with or that of the strange possession of waves of people who believed it to be the work of God. Throughout these stories, one aspect remains constant and it is how D always questioned the happenings around her.
.
Albeit few stories carry a sombre tone, it is surprising how Daribha adds her wit in making it easier for the readers to not feel too overwhelmed. I especially enjoyed how nostalgic this book made me feel, be it from the very game the title suggests to revisiting my schooling days. Her humour was a treat to read, making me chuckle often. I definitely recommend this refreshing read and would like to thank @zubaanbooks for the review copy. Here's hoping that @daribhagram writes more books.