Book Review: "Interpreter of Maladies"

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BOOK REVIEW “Interpreter of Maladies”

Author: Jhumpa Lahiri

Genre: Short Stories

Language: English

Pages: 198

Cost: 295 Rs.

Publisher: Harper Collins

First Published: 1999

Jhumpa Lahiri’s short story collection mainly incorporates the stories about the lives of emigrating Indians. These people struggle to adjust between the Indian traditions they living up with and left behind to move towards entirely different western world. The book reflects the sense of alienations these emigrants feel and how they try to cope with it. And because of that the characters in the various stories not able to communicate with their partners or respective family.

The title story “Interpreter of Maladies” is of a man who works as interpreter for the doctor as doctor does not understand local language. He also works as tourist guide and this story is about when he guides one NRI family. Then there is a story "A Temporary Matter" which is a story of Indian couple who are dealing with miscarriage which drew them apart. Then there are many interesting stories like "When Mr. Pirzada Came To Dine", "Mrs. Sen's", "The Blessed House", "Sexy" and "The Third And Final Continent".

I like the Jhumpa Lahiri’s narration, she explore the psyche of these emigrant Indian characters through simple everyday situations. For a person born and brought up in London, her characterization of Indians is commendable and flawless. Unlike many authors Lahiri write for both male and female protagonist. All the stories are passionate, dramatic, &sentimental and make you heave a sigh at the end.

If I have to rate this book I will give it 8 out of 10.

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Book Review: "Mrutyunjayee"

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BOOK REVIEW “Mrutyunjayee”

Author: Ratnakar Matkari

Genre: Short Stories

Language: Marathi

Pages: 189

Cost: 150 Rs.

Publisher: Mehta Publishing House

First Published in India: 4 October 1983

This is Ratnakar Matkari’s First book I am reading, although he is well known king of short stories in Marathi. People say Ratnakar Matkari owns factory of Short Stories where he creates new stories day in day out. I even heard that he take his job as writer like any other office job. He sits down 10 to 6 and writes a story or so every day.

As for this book it has some good stories, some not so good. This is surely not his best of work. One of my friends suggested that his specialty is Mystery, so next time I should try my hands on that genre. If I have to rate this book I will give it 5 out of 10.

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Book Review: "Jugalbandi"

BOOK REVIEW “Jugalbandi”

Author: Shankar Patil

Genre: Short Stories, comedy

Language: Marathi

Pages: 112

Cost: 90 Rs.

Publisher: Mehta Publishing House

First Published in India: 5 September 1998

Shankar Patil is famous for his short stories based on rural areas. He writes comical farce on life of rural people. Most of his literary work tells the story of rural Maharashtra and this book is no difference. Although Shankar Patil writing rural stories all his life, he always has new stories to tell in his every book. He deals with very serious issues in rural life like illiteracy, alcoholism, farmers troubled life, lack of medical facilities, even infidelities of people but with comical angle.

The title story ‘Jugalbandi’ is dealt with infidelity of a man and how his wife dealt with it. Anyone who enjoys rural stories like me will also enjoy this book or rather all Shankar Patil’s books like me. As through his books we people living in urban areas can peek into rural lives. If I have to rate this book I will give it 6 out of 10.

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"SAKHI"

Book Review: “Sakhi” - Marathi

Author: Va. Pu. Kale

Genre: Short stories

Pages: 183

Cost: 140 Rs.

Publisher: Mehta Publishing House.

First Published: Jan 1994

Va. Pu. Kale is one of the most popular authors in Marathi literature. He is one of those authors whose quotes or quotes of his books are noted down by many people. Most of his books can feature in best selling categories. His books can also be categorized as Travel companion books. I don’t mean he writes about his travel but you can use his book to pass time in boring long and lonely travels. So picking up this book “Sakhi” wasn’t hard for me, especially looking at his track record. Some of his books I read are “Karmachari”, “Mayabazar”, “Cheers”, “Bai, Baiko, Calendar”, “Kahi Khar Kahi Khot”, “Mi Manus Shodhatoy”, “Gulmohar”. Most of these books I enjoyed whole heartedly. Among this list I think “Karmachari” is his best work and it is a Must Read Book by anyone who loves reading.

So I was upbeat about reading Va. Pu. Kale’s next book. But I am little disappointed with this book after finished reading it. It isn’t like his usual work. May be most of his other books are light hearted and this one has little serious tone, and I wasn’t expecting it. In all his other books he always had funny side up in the end; but not in this book. “Sakhi” as name suggest this book is women-centric. “Sakhi” means a female friend.

This book is about females in modern India, who are educated and at par with males. It is about their emotions, their troubles coping up with the world. And how our men dominated society perceive the independent women. As per the book most of the men when see a single women, a widow or without any men’s company, they took her as available object and lust is first thing on their mind. Because of this how females have to sacrifice their innocence and be tuff or give in to people’s lust or find a protective man to survive in the world. Book talks about very sensitive issues in female’s lives. But thankfully it does not present all the men as insensitive animals. This may be because author is himself a male or the book could have gone otherwise.

I won’t say it is Va. Pu Kale’s best work but it is worth a read at least once. May be some of the women might identify with some of the issues. But it is certainly not the entertaining books Va. Pu. Kale is known for. If I have to rate this book I will give 5 out of 10.

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