Showing posts with label literature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label literature. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Eat Pray Love (EPL) begins with Elizabeth Gilbert's admission about un-mendable cracks in her marriage, and her need to get away from the emotional wreck her life has become.
A fiercely independent, yet emotionally fractured Eliza finds herself on a suicidal mission; until, friends intervene and seek professional help for her.
Determined to find meaning to her wayward and unhappy existence, Eliza embarks on a one year journey to find pleasure (Rome), peace (India) and love (Indonesia).
This is all there is to this book.
*****
Having said that, EPL is one of the most well written books of recent times.
*****
Eliza's four month sojourns in Italy, India and Indonesia each, will resonate with every kind of reader.
After John Grisham's The Broker, EPL is another book on Italy, I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Staying across cities like Rome, Naples, Sicily, Venice, Bologna and more - Eliza creates a delectable experience and makes one feel more like a traveling companion, than a reader. This part of the book highlights her gastronomical indulgences and creates vivid and beautiful imagery of all things Italian. Her writing on the food she samples, is a delight for every foodie. It also helps that she is a seasoned traveler; and hence, infuses enough information on Italian people, culture, architecture and beauty - all, in a non clinical (Non Lonely Planet) sort of way.
She follows up Italy with a devotion filled stay at an Indian ashram. This part of her journey is supposed to be more inward looking. Her thoughts on religion and spirituality will draw you in a thoughtful discussion - irrespective of whether you are a believer or a skeptic. Having said this, her emotional upheavals also appear trite, a lot of time. Glorification of one's emotional tragedies isn't something I appreciate. However, I do think she did it with her eyes fixed on landing a Hollywood contract (Yeah, Julia Roberts stars in EPL's Hollywood version to be released later this year).
Eliza's stay in Bali, Indonesia is more of a relaxed and free wheeling vacation. Through this experience, she attempts to find love and companionship. The section also offers a very interesting look at the highly orthodox and suffocatingly structured Balinese society.
*****
EPL offers something to every type of reader - a food extravaganza, a look at a life in an ashram, and interesting tidbits for students of anthropology.
You will find many interesting anecdotes and facts on various people and their habits
I recommend Eat Pray Love - an elegantly narrated memoir.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Image Courtesy: India Uncut
When umpteen visits to Crossword and Odyssey failed to fetch me a copy of My Friend Sancho (MFS), I wrote to Amit Varma, who suggested Flipcart. Rightly so. Shopping at Flipcart was hassle free and quick.
Amit Varma of the India Uncut fame is a journalist-blogger-novelist.
My Friend Sancho is his first novel.
Being a regular at IU, I expected a satire on the watchdogs of democracy or an insider's look at the machinations of the BMC.
Thankfully, Amit didn't consult me for the plot.
For then, I wouldn't have met Abir Ganguly.
MFS is a young Tabloid Journalist, Abir Ganguly's journey through Bombay, Tabloid Journalism, ethics, crime, family, friendship, confusion and love.
A routine, petty crime coverage goes awry and Abir becomes an unwilling party to a police encounter. Later, wanting to do a human-interest story on the deceased, Mohammed Iqbal, Abir meets and befriends his daughter, Muneeza, who shares snippets of their un-eventful, yet loving life together.
Professional Ethics-cum-order from a sly boss-cum the need for masala demand Abir to do a balanced piece, and present a sketch on Inspector Thombre, the man responsible for the wrongful shootout.
Amidst juggling between work responsibilities, dreams of a rich life, and taking potshots at celebrities, Abir sees a delicate relationship form between him and Muneeza.
Will Abir be able to do justice to Mohammed Iqbal, or will he end up supporting the wily Inspector Thombre?
Would Muneeza still be his friend when she realises the truth, or, would Abir have to settle with a lizard as a companion?
Read MFS to find out for yourself.
The book worked for me because of :
- The humour - I thought I was fairly immune to Amit's humour. I was wrong. MFS has plenty of wit and sarcasm that will keep you wanting for more
- The prose - A book works for me, if, it can articulate its idea without me having to refer to a thesaurus often. By that standard alone, MFS is a winner. An easy style, lovely font, frothy read
- Bombay - The unabashed use of the word "Bombay" earned Amit brownie points. I only hope the MNS doesn't discover this !
- Indian Writers - A lot of Indian writers borrow their style from Western authors. They end up disappointing everyone. I am glad Amit didn't succumb to this fad and came up with a cosmopolitan, yet Indian novel
- The Climax - The book ends at the right moment. Amit should strictly avoid a sequel, unless, it offers a more biting humour
- Sex - Yes, a well thought out, humorous, tightly woven and earnest piece of work, doesn't need that one customary page of sex to sell itself. I would have hated MFS if it would have gone the Chetan Bhagat or Manreet Sodhi Someshwar way
It would be interesting to see if Amit can dish out better etched characters, who don't necessarily mirror his own thoughts, the next time around.
For now, Sancho awaits you.
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