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_askthebookbug 's review for:
The Far Field
by Madhuri Vijay
| Book Review | The Far Field.
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“What I am, what I was, and what I have done—all of these will become clear soon enough.” - Madhuri Vijay.
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Winner of the JCB Prize for Literature 2019, The Far Field instantly became a favourite amongst many readers. Funnily enough, I chose this book without even reading the blurb and perhaps this is why I was always eager to know what would happen next. Although there were many aspects of the book that I truly enjoyed, the narration prevails significantly. It feels almost lyrical and yet simple enough for even beginners to enjoy the story. This being her debut book, Madhuri has already mastered the art of enticing readers through her beautiful vocabulary. People will either love or hate The Far Field. There's no in between. I, for one loved it.
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Shalini is a thirty year old woman from Bangalore whose life is made up of a series of intricate events. If I had any doubt about how I'd come to feel about the novel, it all vanished in the initial pages. Shalini talks about her life as a kid, about having parents who seem distant and occasionally a bit closer. It's evident that most of her story revolves around her eccentric mother, someone whom she adores unabashedly. Many chapters speak about her mother's behaviour, about how she acted without a care in the world which was both appalling and yet fascinating. With a workaholic but kind father and an erratic mother, Shalini recalls all the minute details that made their family slightly different from the rest. Out of all the memories, one sticks out importantly. It is of her mother's unusual friendship with the cloth seller from Kashmir, which went on for months, leaving a lasting imprint on both the minds of her as well as that of her mother. After her mother's death, Shalini decides to find Bashir Ahmed. It is then that she leaves for Kashmir.
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The story truly begins with her arrival in Kashmir. Her stay with the Latief's and the unlikely friendship with that family, goes to show how amusing human relationships can be. Her journey to meet Bashir takes her on many adventures, during which she faces grim reality more than once. It is here that a slightly political aspect creeps into the story considering how the miliants and army personnel have been described. It is no secret that Kashmir has been in the news for as long as one can remember. It is only when Shalini meets the people and has brief encounters with the army, does she realise the gravity of the situation. By keeping aside the political facet of the story for a second, one can notice the manner in which family bonds have been described. There's a bit of everything that makes a family the way it is, be it both good or bad. Her friendship with Amina, Sania and even the tough Khadijah; all these have been beautifully described. There's also a rawness to her attraction towards Riyaz, probably the last thing any one can ever imagine happening. It is important to see that this book of fiction is much more than just a political piece of work. It is much more than Kashmir and definitely more than who's right or wrong.
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I personally loved The Far Field but I'm also aware of the fact that many didn't feel the same way about it. I think the best way to know is by reading it yourself. I highly recommend this. I'm going to remember this novel for the beautiful things it had to say about places and people.
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Rating - 4.5/5.
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“What I am, what I was, and what I have done—all of these will become clear soon enough.” - Madhuri Vijay.
•
Winner of the JCB Prize for Literature 2019, The Far Field instantly became a favourite amongst many readers. Funnily enough, I chose this book without even reading the blurb and perhaps this is why I was always eager to know what would happen next. Although there were many aspects of the book that I truly enjoyed, the narration prevails significantly. It feels almost lyrical and yet simple enough for even beginners to enjoy the story. This being her debut book, Madhuri has already mastered the art of enticing readers through her beautiful vocabulary. People will either love or hate The Far Field. There's no in between. I, for one loved it.
•
Shalini is a thirty year old woman from Bangalore whose life is made up of a series of intricate events. If I had any doubt about how I'd come to feel about the novel, it all vanished in the initial pages. Shalini talks about her life as a kid, about having parents who seem distant and occasionally a bit closer. It's evident that most of her story revolves around her eccentric mother, someone whom she adores unabashedly. Many chapters speak about her mother's behaviour, about how she acted without a care in the world which was both appalling and yet fascinating. With a workaholic but kind father and an erratic mother, Shalini recalls all the minute details that made their family slightly different from the rest. Out of all the memories, one sticks out importantly. It is of her mother's unusual friendship with the cloth seller from Kashmir, which went on for months, leaving a lasting imprint on both the minds of her as well as that of her mother. After her mother's death, Shalini decides to find Bashir Ahmed. It is then that she leaves for Kashmir.
•
The story truly begins with her arrival in Kashmir. Her stay with the Latief's and the unlikely friendship with that family, goes to show how amusing human relationships can be. Her journey to meet Bashir takes her on many adventures, during which she faces grim reality more than once. It is here that a slightly political aspect creeps into the story considering how the miliants and army personnel have been described. It is no secret that Kashmir has been in the news for as long as one can remember. It is only when Shalini meets the people and has brief encounters with the army, does she realise the gravity of the situation. By keeping aside the political facet of the story for a second, one can notice the manner in which family bonds have been described. There's a bit of everything that makes a family the way it is, be it both good or bad. Her friendship with Amina, Sania and even the tough Khadijah; all these have been beautifully described. There's also a rawness to her attraction towards Riyaz, probably the last thing any one can ever imagine happening. It is important to see that this book of fiction is much more than just a political piece of work. It is much more than Kashmir and definitely more than who's right or wrong.
•
I personally loved The Far Field but I'm also aware of the fact that many didn't feel the same way about it. I think the best way to know is by reading it yourself. I highly recommend this. I'm going to remember this novel for the beautiful things it had to say about places and people.
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Rating - 4.5/5.