The post "Books in Lockdown" was about the three books, that I get reminded of in current dystopian situation we are facing. But they are dark or thought provoking books which might trouble your minds. I won't recommend them for reading during the lockdown. So in today's post, I am going to suggest four books, I read last year, that can help you relax your mind or provide you an escape from dreary thoughts you might be having.
The Wind-up Bird Chronicle By Haruki Murakami
Why is it a great escape?
Because Haruki Murakami has created such an elaborate, screwed up world, that you would be so immersed in it, to notice what is happening in the real world.
Views on the book: Haruki Murakami, yet again creates a world, that is real and surreal at the same time. As a reader, you will be confounded with the on-goings, but will still get a strange satisfaction which is difficult to describe. It is a 600 page epic and can accompany you for the whole lockdown period.
It is the story of Toru Okada and his search for his cat. He encounters strange people, stranger dreams and weird, other-world, experiences on this journey. Meanwhile, his wife also vanishes and then he is searching for his cat and his wife. But it is his search for the answers to his yet unformed questions, and the search for his mental balance / peace that forms the crux of the story. Toru is both the lead protagonist and the narrator of the tale.
While, at the level of each chapter and sub-plot I found the book interesting and within the realm of my understanding, but in certain portions where things get into mystic and surreal zone, I lost grasp of things. I didn't get all metaphors. Some sub-plots are really juicy and interesting, especially the ones that dive deep into Japanese war stories from World War II and the associated Japanese guilt with them.
As it often happens with Haruki's stories, the protagonists are mostly passive, and they are just the medium or the vantage point through which stories are narrated. Toru is that passive protagonist in this book. The real action lies with other characters - both real and imagined. Their plots find closure and are cool. Toru's plot remains open and several things unexplained even at the end. I really liked the story of Creta Kano and her journey from a person who feels pain all the time and then transforms into a person who has no feeling at all and eventually becomes normal. Or the story of Lt. Mamiya who is cursed to live long but has no desire to live. Desire being the key metaphor here, appears as the root of all evil, motif for all sin and cause of all suffering throughout the book. And that is my key takeaway of the book too.
If you once read a Murakami, even if you don't get it, you read him again. That's the power of his writing.
Raavan ~Enemy of Aryavarta By Amish
Why is it a great escape?
Because Amish's modern take on our mythological tales is beautiful and he creates a world, where even villains are not necessarily pure evil. There is no better escape than mythology.
Views on the book: It is a quintessential Amish book - interesting and fast paced. Over the years, I have come to appreciate three things about his writing - his description of battle scenes, his modern interpretation of mythology (even if it means choosing lesser known threads of the epic like Ramayana, the themes of which are related to today's politics and feminism) and the scientific logic (sometimes far-fetched) he uses to make things grounded as there is no place for convenient miracles in his re-telling of these epics.
Raavan, third book in Ram Chandra series, shows Raavan and Kumbhkarna in a humane way and still manages to set them up as formidable villains. That is a great achievement. The back story of Raavan and his childhood love is interesting and so is the tale of Raavan's ascent against all odds.
A better way to read this series is to read it at one go when all 5 parts are out. I have forgotten few things from the earlier parts already.
India Positive - simple takes on India's burning issues (A compilation of new essays and selected columns) By Chetan Bhagat
Why is it a great escape?
Because Chetan Bhagat lives in a bubble and it is a good time to get into that. This book looks at India's future optimistically.
Views on the book: Chetan Bhagat is a master story-teller, irrespective of his command over the language. His detractors, who keep dissing him, still go ahead and read all his books, to diss him again. These are those virtue signalers, who share their opinions on Twitter. At the same time, I would like to admit that his non-fiction work has always been too safe, too middle of the road. And this book also largely remains that. Chetan tries to play to the gallery and keeps the balance in his views keeping both sides on any issue guessing! Though on certain subjects, like Kashmir and OROP, he takes a definite stand. I must appreciate that the simplicity with which he writes on these subjects, can come only after doing a certain amount of research.
Then there are certain essays, where he becomes patronizing or sounds biased or repeats already known facts. May be these newspaper columns, had a deadline. But for a large number of Indians, who don't read anything, and who have limited knowledge of key issues in our country, and still have a lot to say on social media, this book is a good place to start.
The book doesn't enlighten you, but it does make you aware. And I think after his two previous non-fiction compilations, which I didn't like much, this one is a winner, relatively.
Oh, Mind Relax Please! By Swami Sukhabodhananda
Why is it a great escape?
Because throughout my reading of this middling book, I kept wondering that the comma in the book title should have come after the word 'Mind' and not after the word 'Oh'.
Views on the book: I picked this book, because I had heard Swami Ji at few forums and he is a great orator and story-teller. He has his audience captivated and makes them laugh. His oration is energetic and his talks are engaging. But I am sorry to report that the same can't be said about this book though. The heart of the book is in the right place, but it had anecdotes similar to what we get as WhatsApp forwards. The book relies on cliches, that are thrown around by so called 'Life Coaches', who are spreading on Linkedin faster than the the Coronavirus. There are few anecdotes that do stay back though, as they are powerful moral allegories
This book about spiritual lessons narrated through parables, mentions things which are definitely true and meaningful. But my mind feels more relaxed, listening to the chirping of birds, while having a cup of tea. May be I am already the Zen Monk or may be I read the book at a superficial level, as the author had warned me not to in the foreword of this book.
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What are your recommendations for the light / escapist reads, in this lockdown?
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My theme for this year's #AtoZchallenge is Lock-down Blues. I intend to write and talk about how I deal with it, what it inspires me to read or watch or any aspect of it which fascinates me. You can read the theme reveal post here.
Previous Challenges : Letter H
2 comments:
To long to read for me. First post ever which I am choosing not to read. ððĪŠð
Your loss ishwinder ð
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