A review by boxcar
The Lives of Others by Neel Mukherjee

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Very good. Brutal look into a hierarchical, unjust world. An examination of counterrevolutions and their terror: does the initial terror justify it? (justify, probably. does it lead to change, or a perpetuation of the cycle of pain and suffering?) The focus on the family was interesting, acting as a sort of microcosm for society at large, and then it zooms out (in?) to one of the family members trying to fix that “at large”. Can one truly remove themselves from their upbringing? 

The thread of the budding math prodigy was a headscratcher. I suppose his success amidst the abject failure and disaster of his family and surroundings is due to his reluctance to interact with the concrete, with the tangible. By living for the abstract, the theoretical, he was able to escape the pain and cyclical suffocation of the family, of the world. 

okay not much of a headscratcher. This book has multiple narratives which all paint a corner or a portion of the canvas.

Very well written, but unfortunately parts felt like a slog. A slog that I never doubted was worth it, mind you. 

Did I enjoy it? not really, no.
Is it a book made to be enjoyed? I don’t think so.
Did it make me think? Did it open the chest of humanity and show me the heart? probably.

good essay writin material.