THE READING CHALLENGE AGAIN - II

MARCH

Prompt: Cover font is in a primary colour:  

9. The Naxalite Movement in India by Prakash Singh. 

It is not clear who the target reader is for this book. Having lived through the Naxalite period during its waning period in Bihar, I was eager to know more about the movement - the people who led it and the people who were affected by it. I was extremely disappointed- this book just presents the bare bones without a body and soul. It's a tedious read, detailing only the events which comprised the naxal movement.

This author writes, "The worst example of misgovernance in the country, Bihar has been a hotbed of Naxal activities.” Sadly, it is a one sided, lop sided narrative. There is no mention about the economic, social or cultural impact on the life of the people. Bihar was the worst affected  and it is still reeling under its blow. 

"The Naxalite violence which erupted in Singhbhum and Ranchi districts had more serious dimensions. Jamshedpur became a mini-Calcutta and there were instances of attacks on educational institutions, government offices and police pickets...The pattern of events which followed were mainly shaped by Charu Mazumdar, Kanu Sanyal and Jangal Santhal". This is all that the author has to say. The fallout was worse.

Prompt: Found family trope.

10. Himalaya Bound - An American's journey with nomads in India. By Michael Benanav

A truly heart wrenching, five star read about the travails of the Van Gujjars, the nomadic water buffalo herders in the Himalayas who live in the wilderness, never in villages. Their story is narrated by the author, Michael Benanav, a photo journalist, who travelled with them, not as a stranger, but as a friend.

This indigenous tribe spends winters, from October to April, in the low lying rugged range of the Shivalik Hills, stretching across parts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. In the month of March, they pack their entire households onto horses and bulls and hike their herds up to the Himalayas, where they stay until autumn. As snow begins to fall, they return to the Shivalik, often to the very same hut that they occupied the previous winter. 

The author not only recounts the sights and sounds along the route, he also details their hardship and determination in the face of trouble. Their ancient wisdom, their love for nature is unparalleled, the hospitality and the power to take life as it comes everyday.....are remarkable features of their lifestyle. 

The Vangujjars today face the real danger of eviction as this lifestyle no longer appears sustainable. The most important and urgent threat is from the governments, both at the Centre and at the state. The author astutely observes that they have 'copied the western concept of evacuating tribals from their land to create national parks, without carrying out a survey or study of how nature and forests benefitted from their presence and annual migration.'

It is the story of the triumph and resilience of the human spirit - this migration, an extraordinary journey of man and beast. In the face of calamities and uncertainty, they won my respect. And the author my gratitude for bringing their story to me. He is so mindful and respectful of tradition and yet so human and empathetic in his approach to them. 

Prompt: Has an epigraph.

11. Chicken Soup for the Soul - Laughter's always the best medicine. 101 Feel Good Stories.Amy Newmark.

“You don’t stop laughing because you grow old.

You grow old because you stop laughing."

~Michael Pritchard”

Absolutely feel good stories. I chose to read only two a day, I wanted that smile to linger, stretch that feel-good feeling as long as I could! 

Prompt: More than a million copies sold.

12. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller. 

I came across this book at an unexpected juncture in my life. Again, probably it was providence, for books and people, I believe, come into your life only if there is a cosmic predisposition! It was such a poignant story, of love and responsibility, of respect and empathy! I'm so happy I put aside my prejudices towards fiction and read this book. It begins as if it's almost a true story but I know, real love stories respect real responsibilities also. "Loving him was.......spiritual. It was spiritual”. I could so connect with this thought. 

Tell me, does the world really conspire to keep you happy when you want to be so! It all came together for me at a wonderful time, me laying my demons to rest and pleasantly discovering the wonderful facets of my life and personality, which made me feel special! I didn't turn special overnight, did I? Probably I always was special but didn't know it! How empowering, and gratifying! 

My heart too echoes with these words: "Call me if you ever need anything or simply want to see me. I’ll be there, pronto. Let me know if you can come out here sometime— anytime.”

APRIL

Prompt: A standalone novel.

13. A comma in a Sentence 

by R. Gopalakrishnan.

This book traces four generations of a family, from its roots in the village of Vilakkudi in the state of Tamil Nadu, to its various establishments in Kolkata and Mumbai before reaching the shores of the US and the UK, the natural route of the Tamil Brahmin since several decades. My family too followed the same trajectory and a feeling of deja vu engulfed me as I continued to read the book. 

The life of the author's family had much in common with mine....from an Agraharam to the cities and shores and beyond...so very familiar and similar in the scheme of things. Although I didn't have much first hand information about my great-grandparents, it was satisfying to note that I was able to draw an almost accurate pictures of their life in the Agraharam gleaned from the words of my elders. That which I believed to be the result of guess work, was truly a reality. 

The book was a  good and easy read without being too personal. I read it for the sake of nostalgia. The takeaway from the book was the six identified variables which contribute to human happiness:

i. education

ii. stable relationships

iii. not smoking or alcohol abuse

iv. warm cohorts: siblings, school friends and others

v. exercise and healthy weight

vi. healthy adaptation.

I read about the Grant Happiness Study which followed the developments in the lives of 268 men in the Harvard class of 1937. For seventy-three years the study tracked all areas of their life—physical, social, emotional and professional. This study is the longest ‘quality of life’ research project ever conducted, and it has been presided over since the 1960s by psychologist, Dr George Vaillant.

Prompt: Title is ten letters or less.

14. Leaving by Roxanna Robinson

In a marriage, wanting to leave and being able to leave are two different things altogether. 

In this story, the protagonist, Warren meets his childhood sweetheart and makes up his mind to end his marriage after thirty four years as he believes he and his wife are deeply incom­pat­ible.

But his only child, his daughter Kat tells him, “this isn’t just your marriage. It belongs to all of us. It’s our whole family, our whole life, not just yours.” In my view, it's an extremely wise thought, which I feel should have occurred to Warren. Especially because, these years were spent in acceptance and peaceful cohabitation. It is only after his daughter threatens to cut him off from his life, that he decides to stay back and begin anew. 

This book made me think. Is divorce a Betrayal of the family? Is cheating/ adultery more honorable in this context? How important is keeping a relationship alive, especially one as intimate as marriage? 

The book is interesting only in parts and the story has too many subplots. Most of the times, I felt like putting the book down, but held on as I wanted to know Warren's decision. Also, I think, the characters have not been etched with love, for none of them came across as very likeable. I think that was the weakest point of the book, I was unable to connect me with any of the characters and hence I could not empathize with them. 

Prompt: Explores social class. 

15. My Father Baliah by Satyanarayana.

I read this book at one go.....it was unputdownable! What a memoir! Bursting with faith and determination and buried in them were the seeds to triumph and self realization. The author's father Baliah, is truly an unsung hero; decorated in the well being of his family. To unshackle oneself from the curse of being born a Dalit by sheer dint of thought and hard work....my salute and respect to the great man! 

How strong and steadfast he stood, life's tragedies could neither break him now swerve him from his firm belief that only education could save his family and help them live a life of dignity and respect.

This book is a tribute by the writer, especially to his illiterate father who suffered a double disadvantage,  one of being born in a Dalit family and the other of being illiterate. The son understands and acknowledges the great contribution of his father towards singularly uplifting the quality of their life, from one of poverty to that of prosperity.

Written in simple style, very respectful and conscious of the legacy he carries, the author is, at the same time, proud and conscious of his roots, not ashamed of the background he comes from. There is  also a sense of pride in what the family has achieved in the face of all odds. Therefore this book is more than a memoir,  it is an affirmation of the life and times of his father and his great sacrifice, without which this prosperous family would still have been languishing in the village like others. Thank you Mr. Sathyanarayana, for bringing out this aspect of our society and reinforcing your faith in education.

A Title starts with letter “N”

16. No Orchids for Miss Blandish 

A racy crime thriller, one of the best books churned out by James Hadley Chase. I read this book a second time, as I was traveling. It was as interesting as before.