Book Review: Mahashwetha

Magic recreated!!! This is the third book which I have read by this author & as expected it was a great work by the great author. Again, this is an appallingly simple story which is so close to the real life that you can actually relate to it. This story was written some 15+ years back, but today also it holds so true, leukoderma probably might not be such a big issue these days due to awareness but current issues can ranging from medical issues to social issues or interpersonal relationship issues.

I have seen many people with leukoderma, even in my family, but have hardly given it a thought ever… But can you believe this!!! in today’s world of awareness & communication when I was getting married 6 years back, many of the marriage proposals were not taken forward just because someone in our family had leukoderma…. Mind you they were not my parents or my siblings. At that time I just thought just one ‘bahana’ not to pursue it but after reading it I realised that leukoderma still has social stigma attached to it. Anupama’s [the female protagonist] agony make you realize what it is. to go through all this especially at that time.

It’s a touching story of a courageous girl, Anupama, who suffers from leukoderma just after her marriage. How the hypocritical society, insensitive in-laws and husband obsessed with beauty treat her! Above all, her husband is a doctor who knows it very well that leukoderma is a harmless disease in which a person suffers from a deficiency in the pigmentation of skin. The writer has portrayed various aspects of Indian society – arranged marriages, dominating mother in-law, helpful friends, hypocrite relatives, a cursing stepmother, and worried father of a young Indian girl. I would recommend everyone to read this novel once especially those who are planning to tie the nuptial knot in the coming years. Marriage is a commitment for a lifetime. Make this commitment only if you are prepared to honor it.

“A marriage is a commitment, for better or worse, till death do us part”

This book has affected life of many people. One of such personal experience is mentioned by Sudha Murthy at the end of book where she was invited to an unknown marriage of a girl with leukoderma which was almost broken and then the bridegroom changed his opinion after reading her book Mahashweta. A suggestion from the author herself: "Start reading the book after going through the post-script."

From a social point of view, the language scores. It is so simple that even people with the most basic English skills will be able to understand it; and that is paramount given that the book has a strong social message to deliver (probably the only reason it was written). And the translation ensures that it reaches a wider web of people.

Mahashweta makes good reading and touches the heart. It dispels false notions about one of nature’s cruelties called Leukoderma. It takes the focus away from the external factors of one’s personality and brings it around to internal factors like what the person stands for. More women should read it to find their foothold in the society and overcome dependence on their families or husbands and find identities as individuals. It is only when others know that you can’t be hurt that they will stop trying.

My Rating:    

Keep Shattering...

K

Book Review: If God Was A Banker

Personality clashes, family swings, business flings with secretaries, fun and lethargy at the company’s expense, extravagant dance parties, insomniac business deals, shrewd business intellect, workaholic lifetimes and millions of dollars is what this book talks about.

Sundeep Srivastava and Swaminathan are juxtaposed to project the two sides of a different and difficult profession; retail banking. While Sundeep is aggressive and ambitious, Swami is evenhanded and sensible. Their careers with the New York International Bank zoom meteorically but on different planes. Sundeep is ready for any compromise to get promoted, project and achieve his goals and Swami prefers to go slow and steady adhering to ethics of the profession without being overzealous. The novel unfolds as a flashback of 

Sundeep Srivastava before a crucial trial. The innumerable characters apart from Kalpana, Natasha and Aditya walk through the novel but each one makes an impact on the readers which is the strength of Subramanian’s narration. (In fact, he is also one of the characters in the novel towards the end!). The novel travels from Chennai to Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata to New York and London.

It is a true story of a leading bank that had launched its retail banking in the 90’s.I came to know from the blogosphere that the people who have been talked about are big names in the Financial Services Industry like Survesh Swaroop, PS Jayakumar, Nanu Pamnani, Ashok Dutt, etc. The author himself was part of the happening and close aide of Swami (book name). Also, it was learnt that the author has deliberately changed the story at some places. Sundeep and Natasha getting married, Swami and Kalpana getting married, Ram Naresh based out of Kolkata (he was actually a Delhi guy) are cooked up stories. In real life it is said that they marry different people.

After lots of books on campus life (Five Point Someone, Keep off the grass and many more..) by IIM alumni, this one concentrates on the corporate lives after passing out of these prestigious colleges. The author goes on and on about the nitty-gritties of sales in banking industry, describing each selling campaign & business operation in great detail. But inspite of the details it is like movie ‘Lagaan’ which was epitomized around cricket but everybody loved the movie. I would admit there are some minor flaws in the presentation of the story, like Swami threatening of resigning from the job if anything happens which he doesn’t like, it never happens like this in real life. But that is immaterial as long as the reader is satisfied with the content and flow.It is, in fact, a good trend that the creative writing bug has bitten many a corporate personnel in recent times. It is all the more enjoyable to read novels based on their personal and professional experience in that chosen area hitherto not explored by writers fully.

All said and done the book was an interesting read and I will recommend it to others as a “Good Read”.

My Rating:   

Shattering keys…

K

Book Review: Dollar Bahu

A simple & sweet story by Sudha Murthy in just 150+ pages which will just keep you hooked on to it till its last page. It is a story about dreams, aspirations, cultures and the simple life.

Story is about a lady called Gauramma, mother of two sons and a daughter. Her first daughter-in-law, Vinutha is a teacher who hails from a lower middle class family. Though she is a kind woman at heart, who is always showering her love and affection for her family, her efforts are overlooked by Gauramma who is in praise of her second daughter-in-law, Jamuna, who is living with her first son, Chandru in the land of 'Honey & Money' - The USA. In blind obsession of ‘Dollar’ and ‘Dollar Bahu’ she fails to see the adverse effect on her son Girish, his wife and the rest of the family due to constant comparison between the two. Then, Gouramma decides to visit her US-based son and daughter-in-law. Once there, she sees how liberating life can be, away from the strict norms that govern Indian middle-class life. But she also begins to understand that mere dollars cannot buy the love and respect that she gets as her due back in India.

Amazing read. Dollar Bahu is not one of the books that may go on to win the Bookers and the Pulitzer awards, but it is definitely a book that will keep you engaged till the end.

Must read - for those who aspire to go to US. Though this book seems to have been written in way past but lot of things mentioned in the book are still prevalent with Indians living in the USA.

Why should you read it?

1. Writing style of author, especially the parts where she explains beauty of a small town Dharwad. Stark comparison between what Gouramma sees at USA with Bangalore.

2. Sweet & simple story with which you can relate easily. Will touch your heart

3. Size of the book – you can just complete it at one go.

Why you might not like it?

1. Story is very predictable, no twists & turns.

2. Character Girish – he has no stand of his own. When author wants to emphasise more on daughter-in-law’s sufferings – this character starts supporting his mother & when author wants to emphasise more on daughter-in-law’s intelligence & her adjusting nature – this character starts supporting his wife.

3. This is a translated book from Kannada. At some places you feel that the dialogues or situations could have been written more effectively.

My Rating:   

Keep shattering keys...

K

Book Review: Ladies Coupe

Ladies Coupe is a collection of six short stories beautifully knitted to form a story. It is a story about six women from different spheres of life and different generations but yearning to seek an answer to a single question – “Can a woman be happy without a man for the complete lifetime?”

Akhila’s story is of 45-year old unmarried lady (protagonist) who wants to live her life alone yet societal expectations don't allow her to. She is awaiting a chance to escape from responsibility of running the home and upbringing of siblings to freedom and wants to live for her own. One day she sets on a one-way journey to Kanyakumari and this is the beginning of a journey of self-discovery and life altering changes. She meets five other women on the train and they pour out their hearts and tell the story their lives to Akhila. (A little strange because how can you do so to a stranger whom you have met just few hours back!!!)

2 of the stories which are a little difficult to digest are of Margaret and Marikozhundhu. Margaret who is married to a Principal of school and is a strict disciplinarian. He was always finding fault with Margaret and that causes tussles in their relationship. She takes a silent revenge by feeding him all the good food in this world and hence a person with perfect built turns into a fatty & slow-moving person who slowly loses control over students in school. And the other story of Marikozhundhu who is raped by a relative of her employer and later in life she ends serving them like a slave giving pleasures to both her employer and employer’s husband.

I personally liked the story of Prabha. One day she realizes that somewhere in process of being a good mother and good wife she has forgotten to be herself and she takes up to learn swimming which teaches her to balance both aspects of life.

Apart from the minor things mentioned above which I didn’t find too convincing this is an excellent read especially for all the ladies as you can connect to this story in one way or the other. Narration of the whole story is great though simple and it leaves a strong impression on your mind. A must for all the readers who love Indian authors.

My Rating:    

Keep shattering keys...

K

p.s. Scheduled this review to be posted on 12-12-12 12:12. Thought I should do this as the combo will now repeat after 88 years :)