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A review by tamannaashaikh
Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag
4.0
What a little packet of punch! What started out humdrum really ended up being a deep and cutting narrative. There are so many hidden aspects to this small tale.
The plot is quite simple and revolves about a family and their rise from rags to riches. How becoming nouveau-rich changes their life. Whilst this may seem as a really ordinary plot, it’s anything but. Vivek Shanbhag does an excellent job at weaving into the story the aspects of classism, modernism, and feminism in India.
The characters of this story are its stars. They’re very well developed and come to life as we read on. The narrators namelessness sort of implies that he’s every male in india—I really hope not! There are females who bring females down and females who support females. There are women looking for male validation and women who’re not. The inter familial relationships are also very well portrayed: family members supporting one another unconditionally, to the extent that it frustrates a reader like me. Etc etc.
Written the way it is, even with an ordinary plot, we end up wanting to know what happens next. The ending leaves us and our imagination to fill in the blanks.
Definitely recommended short quick fun read.
The plot is quite simple and revolves about a family and their rise from rags to riches. How becoming nouveau-rich changes their life. Whilst this may seem as a really ordinary plot, it’s anything but. Vivek Shanbhag does an excellent job at weaving into the story the aspects of classism, modernism, and feminism in India.
The characters of this story are its stars. They’re very well developed and come to life as we read on. The narrators namelessness sort of implies that he’s every male in india—I really hope not! There are females who bring females down and females who support females. There are women looking for male validation and women who’re not. The inter familial relationships are also very well portrayed: family members supporting one another unconditionally, to the extent that it frustrates a reader like me. Etc etc.
Written the way it is, even with an ordinary plot, we end up wanting to know what happens next. The ending leaves us and our imagination to fill in the blanks.
Definitely recommended short quick fun read.