Scan barcode
A review by michael5000
English, August: An Indian Story by Upamanyu Chatterjee
3.0
Choosing a book from somebody's list of the funniest books of all time is setting up for failure. "English, August," provoked about a dozen barks of bitter laughter from me, but it was also an unpleasant chore to get through. I don't generally think much of the cliche that "I didn't like the book because there weren't any sympathetic characters," but in the absence of a sympathetic character -- or shall I say in the presence of an actively obnoxious character like English, August, Agastya, etc. -- there needs to be some other center of gravity to keep one engaged.
Well, the last fifth of the book is the best; having Agastya turn out to have a talent for administration despite himself, and then to refuse to do anything with it, is a subtle touch. But also a depressing one.
2023: Well, SOMEBODY was grouchy in 2012. I'm bumping it up to three stars on the re-read. Think The Graduate in rural India, with the part of Mrs. Robinson played by a bag of marijuana.
Well, the last fifth of the book is the best; having Agastya turn out to have a talent for administration despite himself, and then to refuse to do anything with it, is a subtle touch. But also a depressing one.
2023: Well, SOMEBODY was grouchy in 2012. I'm bumping it up to three stars on the re-read. Think The Graduate in rural India, with the part of Mrs. Robinson played by a bag of marijuana.