The Feast Of Roses

The Feast of Roses
  - Indu Sundaresan

The second book in the Taj Mahal Triology*, continues the journey of Nur Jahan - after her marriage to Prince Salim, through his ascension to the throne of the Mughal empire and the rise in Noor Jahan's power, to the ultimate decline of her fortunes.

The first half is bright, as Salim takes on the title of Emperor Jahangir, their love blossoms, and Nur Jahan increases her influence to eventually become the actual ruler of the empire. Then it gradually becomes darker, as the European powers start coming in, manipulating the Indian kingdoms with deviousness and taking on the Mughal empire, even as Jahangir's health begins to fail. Nur Jahan desperately struggles to retain the power, but is betrayed by her own brother and niece, for whom she had done so much. She tries to influence Khurram, whom she had once showered with much love, but without result.  It ends sadly, as she ultimately loses it all with Jahangir's death - her love and her power.

In this book, as in the first, Mehrunnisa's character personifies beauty, intelligence, and determination, the descriptions are vivid, and the narration is absorbing. However, it wasn't as great as the first one, partly due to the inherent darkness of the story, and in part due to the fact that the depiction of grandeur and intrigues no longer have that novelty factor. It could perhaps have been shorter, to hold up the interest better.

I recommend both the books highly, and definitely suggest reading the second one if you have read the first. I haven't read the third (Shadow Princess), and not inclined to do so anytime soon, owing to the less-than-enthusiastic reviews.

*I wondered why it is called after the Taj - the first two books tell the story of Nur Jahan, and its only the third, which I understand is quite disjoint from the first two, that relates to the great monument. I suspect it is to evoke the romance and interest that the name of Taj can do like no other, and because the concept of trilogies is in vogue.

One year with JustBooks (contd.)

As I completed one year of my membership with the library, I felt quite a fulfilment - I think I have read more than in any other year (and as I mentioned earlier, almost 5 times than I did in last 5 years put together). In last few years (since I started blogging actively), I had a good time gap between books, which I used to ponder and write reviews, particularly (and usually detailed ones) for the books that affected me more. However, in the spree that I had been on, I was too busy reading to find any time to write. So, at this milestone, I set up for myself the challenging task to do write-ups on the books I read (and am reading since). I didnt plan to do reviews for all (there isn't much to write about a Gardener, or Agatha Christie for that matter), or even full-fledged ones for the ones that I did; but even then, it was a daunting task. More so, since it had been quite long since I read many of them. The initial burst of enthusiasm had me working at quite a fast pace, but then I slacked; yet I didnt give it up midway through, and managed to pick up the pace again, for some time at least. Thus, after 3 months, I can look back with satisfaction on write-ups on my 2014 readings - 12 small notes and 6 detailed reviews in all (excluding one that I had done much earlier). And on my way for the 2015 list. 

Read in 2015, so far:

Indu Sunderasan - Feast of Roses
Kavita Kane - Karna's Wife: The Outcast's Queen
Nevil Shute - Pied Piper
L. M. Montgomery - Anne of Green Gables
Upmanyu Chatterjee - English, August
Ann Bashares - Sisterhood of Traveling Pants
Khushwant Singh - Truth, Love And A Little Malice
Roald Dahl - Best of Roald Dahl
Mitch Albom - Tuesdays with Morrie 
James Herriot  - Every Living Thing
Roald Dahl - Matilda
Sue Townsend  - The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole
Rick Riordan - Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief
Shilpa Somaya Gowda - Secret Daughter
Rick Riordan - Percy Jackson - The Sea of Monsters
Fredrick Forsyth - No Comebacks
Joanne Harris - Chocolat

Bought

I had read a couple of them, and liked so much that I decided to buy them. And I am not yet done with all of these, so I am not going to be short of reading material in near future.

Ruskin Bond - The Blue Umbrella

Anand Neelakantan - Asura - Tale of the Vanquished

Ruskin Bond - Book of Humor   
Anita Nair - Goodnight And God Bless   
Sandipan Deb - The Last War

Indu Sundaresan - Mountain Of Light

Amulya Malladi - Song Of The Cuckoo Bird
R. K. Narayan - Malgudi Days
Victoria Holt - Seven For A Secret 
Erle Stanley Gardener - The Case Of The Mischievious Doll
Desmond Bagley - Juggernaut 
Alistair McLean - Night Watch 
Nevil Shute - So Disdained

Karna's Wife - The Outcast's Queen

Karna's Wife - The Outcast's Queen

  - Kavita Kane

It was a wonderful idea, to have a closer look at the most noble and tragic hero of Mahabharat, through the eyes of someone close to him, so as to have a deeper insight into his thoughts and emotions. At first I was surprised to learn that Karna had a wife named Uruvi, since what I had known was that his wife was Vrushali. Then I realized from the author's note that she created the fictional character of Uruvi. It was an excellent device, since Uruvi, due to her close connection to the royalty, and her own learning, could present a greater perspective on the events that unfold, than the simple Vrushali ever could. Her interaction with other women, who had a significant role to play in the epic - Kunti, Bhanumati, Draupadi - brings in a richness in this story.

It, however, is an idea, which isn't executed as well as it could have been. One of the most disappointing factors is that this seems to be highly inspired by some of the other popular retelling's, especially 'The Palace of Illusions'. Another jarring aspect is the language - rather too modern for the period, and a little incoherent at times. Yet another was the conflict in the view the author wanted to present, on several things, specially her take on some of the key characters. She has portrayed Duryodhan in a softer shade than most of the retellings do (which works fine for me), but I felt that she fluctuated between depicting him as an inherently evil man, and a soft, misguided soul manipulated by his evil uncle throughout his life. I found Karna's character lacking too. Amongst the incidents that rankled, there is this particular one that takes place at the end of the war - when Pandavas learn that Karna was their elder brother, they want to give him his due - so they go to Uruvi and ask her to come along with them to Hastinapur, and her son to be appointed the heir. At this point, I had to ask - why only Uruvi, and not Vrushali as well - as Karna's wife, didn't she deserve the same respect?

Mini Reviews - IV

Roald Dahl - Matilda
 

I must confess that I still like reading stories meant for kids (with some pre-conditions). They can be meaningful and heart-warming without being complex. I found this one quite entertaining. However, I think that though it is frequently cited as one of the best children's books of all time, I can't really recommend it for children. For the younger children, who would enjoy it, I find it quite unsuitable - it uses a lot of curse words, which I wouldn't want to explain to a child, and the message it could give to their impressionable minds may be twisted around. And I am afraid that the older children, who could possibly have understood it better, may not find it as exciting as a lot of the other series available to them today.

Sue Townsend  - The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole
 

I really failed to understand what made this series so popular. It may have less to do with the difference in age, and more with the difference in culture. I felt that it features all the cliches of the projected "ills" of the western culture - a troubled, self-obsessed teenager, selfish parents, infidelity, broken marriage, casual flings, parents not caring for children and vice-versa .... The only thing that offers warmth is when Adrian really starts caring for old Bert, whom he is assigned to assist as part of his volunteer work. I also didn't find it particularly entertaining; though it was amusing in bits and parts - when Adrian laments for his misunderstood genius or when the Sikh family shows greater patriotic towards their adopted home than the native English.

Shilpa Somaya Gowda - Secret Daughter

This book is written in the format of a series of clips, and the writing is good. The story in itself did not stand out particularly, but it is told well, with some moving descriptions. One reason that the story seemed something of routine was that because I have read a few stories of adopted children, the one that moved me most was the true story of an Indian girl adopted by a family abroad (Daughter of the Ganges). At one point I strongly felt that Secret Daughter may have been inspired by it, down to the name of the adopted child (Asha), and the device of coming back to India (journalism/documentary). It may have been, or perhaps it is a coincidence, since most adopted children are naturally curious to know about their birth parents. At one point I became really apprehensive that it was going to do a logic-defying bollywood-style reunion, and was relieved that it did not.
It is a nice book, though not exceptional. The last couple of chapters I liked best.

Victoria Holt - Seven For A Secret
 

Now, this did not turn out to be as interesting as I expected. I don't know whether it is one of her worse works, or whether her books may not so intriguing to a mature adult as they could be to a school/college student. I read a few of her books way back then, and loved them. I was never much into romances, but found her kind of romantic thrillers quite enjoyable. I didn't find another of her books since then, and was thrilled to find one at Blossoms a couple of weeks back. And I was rather disappointed. It was all too predictable, and the suspense/secret wasn't that good for all the build-up.

If It's Monday, It Must Be Madurai

If It's Monday, It Must Be Madurai
  - Srinath Perur

I guess, age is catching up with me - in last few years, I have started reading quite a bit of non-fiction, and even enjoying it! And this happens to be the first travel book I have read (if I discount Nine Lives by Dalrymple, which is more about spirituality than travel).

In the introduction, the author notes that "Serious travelers and certainly travel writers look upon the conducted tour as the lowliest form of travel. ... However, a conducted tour, by definition offers something that solitary travel cannot: other people and the opportunity to know them". And this is precisely how he has approached the group tours, which he started undertaking for magazine assignments. It is a unique and delightful read, where he recounts his travels that cover a range of destinations - both with respect to the location and the purpose, with a diverse set of fellow travelers. He travels with a group of devout people on pilgrimages to Tamilnadu and Pandharpur, with a group of Indian men in search of carnal pleasure to Uzbekistan, with foreigners to the biggest urban slum in Mumbai, with young (and mostly IT) crowd to explore the unspoilt expanse of nature in North-east.

The book is only so much about the places he visits; it is more about the experience, which in this case, constitutes his keen observation of the people he travels with, people he interacts with on the trips, and a commentary on the Indian society in general. Their quirks amuse, their faith moves, and their hope warms you. His observations are highly insightful, sometimes delightfully sarcastic and sometimes sensitive. At times they made me laugh, at others they made me sad about the state of affairs (specially as to how we are destroying our natural and cultural heritage, out of greed and apathy). He observes and some times ponders, but does not pass judgement, and does it all with a touch of humor. (And I am glad he is not inclined to be introspective or philosophical, which is easy to fall into as you write about your travel).

Not all the stories are great though, there were a couple of them that didn't interest me much. But that will not deter me from recommending it.

At times there is a story behind how you come by a book, and this one has a guilty secret of mine behind it - when I see someone reading a book, particularly if engrossed in it, I get curious to find out which book is it. I'm unfortunately not the outgoing kind who would go and ask a stranger about what s/he is reading, so I try to steal a glance. On a train journey, we had in our compartment, a sophisticated lady, clearly not accustomed to traveling by train - during and after the trouble of finding herself a seat, she was immersed in a yellow-green hardbound volume. I finally made out a part of the title - "it must be Madurai", but it sounded so incredulous that I was quite sure I had it wrong. Once back into the realm of net connectivity, I searched for it, and there it was - "If it's Monday, it Must Be Madurai". The romance of the title (with obvious reference to "If it's Tuesday, it must be Belgium", of which I was only vaguely aware), and the great reviews pushed it into me reading list. 

Bhima - Lone Warrior

Bhima - Lone Warrior

  - M T Vasudevan Nair

I became interested in picking this book because of the great feedback I read about the author, and particularly about this book.

The book was indeed very well written, and brought a unique perspective - the perspective of Bheem, who is usually ridiculed for his gluttony and lack of intelligence, known (and used) only for his physical strength. He is often ignored or slighted, but frequently called on for help, specially when the circumstances appear dangerous. 

Most of the other literature and adaptations do not portray him as a person who could have finer feelings - which is one reason why this book is a refreshing change. In this adaptation, Bheem is a sensitive individual, who doesn't quite speak a lot, and his reserved speech that perhaps arises from shyness or inability to express himself well, is misconstrued as stupidity. He is hurt by lack of understanding shown to him by those dear to him, but he is reluctant or unable to display it. His emotions are depicted realistically and wonderfully, his disappointments, frustrations, and regret at abandoning his wives and children.

The other reason I found it interesting was that the story is presented as a story of mortals (perhaps with some special skills), but without divine manifestations, and with some very interesting interpretations.

What I disliked most about it was the portrayal of Draupadi - insensitive and manipulative to the extreme, specially with regards to Bheema (well, since it is his from his viewpoint). As in almost all other interpretations, she is regarded as one of the main reasons for the Mahabharata war, while Kunti is the sacrificing, suffering mother - both of which I am inclined to disagree with.

I have never been convinced that Yudhisthir was justified to have the title of 'dharmraja', or even fit to be the king, and this story reaffirmed my opinion further.

The Twentieth Wife

The Twentieth Wife

  - Indu Sunderasan

 

This was my first experience with historical fiction (other than 'Memoirs of a Geisha', which I had thought to be an auto/biography earlier), and I think that this was an excellent introduction to the genre.

It is a great saga that wonderfully  weaves the historical facts from the Mughal reign in India in 16th/17th century, into the story of Mehrunnisa - from her birth in tragic conditions in Afghanistan until her marriage to the Mughal Emperor Jahangir and receiving the title of Nur-Jahan.

Nur-Jahan was known for her beauty, intelligence and ambition, and the author has built up the picture gradually and beautifully. She became Jahangir's twentieth and the last wife, and the only one he married for love. After reading this book , I felt that history books have been rather unkind to her, projecting her as a scheming and power-hungry woman. I wonder if this depiction is rooted in gender bias - it is quite evident that she was a force to reckon with; it was, and still is, difficult in our culture to find acceptance for such power being wielded by a woman. However, here the author portrays her in a different shade - she has to struggle against her personal tragedies, she is dejected at times but her inner spirit never dies, she is vulnerable at times, and determined to achieve what she desires, at others.

The book confirms to the facts to a large extent, though it has been quite dramatized and romanticized - but I am not complaining in the least, since that is what makes it so very compelling. I was aware of at least the "highlights" of the story, having read about it in history in school, and a few story books. So it was not the anticipation of what happened next that kept me hooked on to it. Instead it was the way the events unfold in the book, the intrigues and subterfuges, an insight into the thoughts and motivation of numerous characters, and complex maze of relationships between them.

Throughout the history, any contention for a throne has been fraught with greed, hate and blood, and I think that the battles for Mughal throne have been bloodier than most. In this aspect, a story about these times has enough of background "masala" to generate an interest. The author has enriched it by focusing on a parallel politics that goes on in the "zenana", detailing the conventions, customs and culture of the time, and bringing forth the picture of the grandeur, opulence and power that the Mughal royalty lived in.

What I couldn't digest was Mehrunnisa's single-minded determination to marry Prince Salim, right from the age of eight! Seriously, how many eight year olds would dream of marriage to a prince charming (literally!), even in those times, and how many of them will sustain this juvenile fantasy till the ripe old (old as per the times, that is) age of 34! Further, she is said to be attracted to Salim because of his good looks, and later, also because of his sophisticated tastes. But is that enough for an intelligent and mature woman, when there is little that is redeemable in him - he is weak in character, easily influenced, unstable and inconsistent (he even forgets about her for years, and not just once, after professing his unending love), and is addicted to alcohol and opium.
The story is essentially a romance, but the romantic scenes were rather sloppy - in fact they were the only cringe-worthy parts in an otherwise gripping and fast-paced narrative.

Chowringhee

Chowringhee
  - Sankar

Chowringhee was a very interesting read, and quite a different fare from what I usually go for.

It captures the romance of a bygone era, when grand hotels and travel was the privilege of select few. It gives a glimpse of what Calcutta would have been like at that time, though it could have taken place anywhere else. It is as much about the life and workings of a large, popular hotel, as it is about the human nature in general. On one hand is the picture of sophistication and the luxury that the world sees, while on the other is the pain and misery of those who create the facade of this glitz for others, and the shallowness of many of those who live this life of glamor. There is compassion and cruelty, kindness and petty jealousies there are desires that defy all convention and even rational thought, triumph and loss of spirit, rise and decline of fortunes; while the world outside, oblivious and insensitive, goes on.

The story starts slow and sad, and then picks up pace and interest, before coming to a relatively quick, bitter end. It is sensitive, with subtle changes of mood. At the same time, it has a lot of drama - it is like a stage where characters come, and leave after fulfilling their small role in the larger scheme of things. But the end is a little too tragic, and perhaps avoidable.

The Better Man

The Better Man
  - Anita Nair

Overall a nice book, with beautiful descriptions of village life and people. But I was not as captivated by it as I was with other books by her. It was a little slow, and I didn't feel strongly for any of the characters (contrasting against Mistress, where I could empathize with all of the four main characters).

The story is skillfully woven around psychology of Mukundan, a man who is both in awe and terror of his father - a tyrannical man who bullied him throughout his childhood, trying to make him strong as himself, but only succeeding in driving him further and further away from it. While his father holds him in contempt, Mukundan hates his father for the treatment he gave himself and his mother, but at the same time, cannot help being in awe of him seeing how he is both feared and respected by the entire village. When Mukundan is forced to return to his paternal village after retirement, he only has one objective - to prove that he is a better man than his father. But he has to contend with the ghosts of his past, as well as his father, who still seems to hold a power over him. He befriends a painter called Bhasi, who has the gift of healing minds, however he is reluctant to commit himself to this friendship completely. It takes a trap that he easily falls into, one that robs him of the happiness that has come quite late in his life, to make him actually realize his own failings, and the real strength of his father - one that comes from within. The author does not provide a quick and easy solution to his wretched feelings, but leaves him with a realization of his mistakes and attempts to redeem himself.

The character of Bhasi was rather puzzling - it is difficult to understand his devotion to the village he has adopted, and even more so to Mukundan, despite the rebuffs. Although he is a main character, his story felt incomplete.

Long Pending (mini) reviews - III

Ruskin Bond - Room on the Roof/Vagrants in the Valley
It is a beautiful novel of adoloscence and coming-of-age, of youthful innocence and friendship. The story is warm and endearing, and flows at an easy, constant pace. It is tinged with a subtle sadness, borne out of loneliness and hardships of living in small villages in the hills.  I was almost sorry when Rusty has to end his carefree adventures and move towards adulthood, realizing the inevitable business of growing-up.

This is also written in Ruskin Bond's own special style - in first person narrative, simple yet charming language, and with vivid descriptions of people and places. In fact, it is difficult to believe that it was his first novel written at the age of 17!

Alistair Maclean - Golden Rendezvous

Maclean was the one who made suspense thrillers the first of my favorite genres (and it is only in last few years that I started enjoying other genres more). However, in this one, he wasn't at his best. His protagonists are typically highly intelligent and resourceful, and the story line usually borders on believable. But the protagonist in this one is too super-human, and quite a few turns are either predictable or completely defy logic, to make the story quite unbelievable. But it is still edgy, and action-packed, and has dialogs with that sharp wit which I so love about Maclean. Despite its shortcomings, an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.

Jeffery Archer - And Thereby Hangs A Tale
 

I have read quite a few of short story collections by Archer, and found some of them quite wonderful. But I remember that the last one I read wasn't that great, and this one felt like a total waste of my money (bought it at a railway station stall at the MRP). Some of the stories were good, but perhaps only one or two that were really amusing. Most of them were quite a drag, and I trudged through them, only because I kept hoping to come across another good one. Most of the stories were inspired by real-life incidents, so all I can say is - reality is not always stranger (or interesting) than fiction. 

James Herriot - All things wise and wonderful

I bought a copy from a second-hand stall, and what a gem it was! (as opposed to the brand new copy of the Archer's story collection).

I had read a few of Herriot's stories in Reader's Digest magazine editions long time back, and remember loving them - they were warm, amusing and brought forth some wonderful lessons of life. I remember craving to read more, but for many years, I didn't really have much hope. In last few years, I found about his books. But I never saw them at a bookstore, and was reluctant to order online, since I wasn't sure of the format of the book. So, the used copy I found seemed a pretty good deal - it was an original print, and was in quite a good shape even though it was old (and I love old books, as long as the pages are not brittle.)

This is the third book in the series, and covers his training days as a RAF pilot during the WW-II. The general mood is a little dark, quite naturally, due to the context of the war, but it is brightened by the stories from his vet days that are interspersed with those of the training. It frequently happens that a thought or an event will trigger a memory - that is the manner that he has adopted in this book. He is a gifted story-teller, and kept me enchanted through the nearly 400 pages. I love his sense of humor - most of the stories make you smile, and some even leave you laughing silently (though there are some sad ones too). As I read on, I found some stories that I could recall reading all those years ago! And it made me want to read the earlier two books, which I hope would be more cheerful, even more.