H : Haruki Murakami & Other Escapes (Book Reviews) #AtoZChallenge2020

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

2017: Haan... Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya Hai

2018: Holidays that were memorable

2019: Henchmen & Policemen in Hindi Films / Bollywood

Catching Up

After a long gap I got sometime today, to write. Also it is the first time in this year, when I am lagging on my reading goals. I should have completed reading my 22nd book this year by now, but I just completed the 21st.  Truly speaking, I am not unhappy about it for two reasons. One, I had a well deserved vacation with my family and I didn't feel like reading during that period. Second, the last book I finished made me think about my life and thus I wanted to stay with the thoughts expressed in that book for a little longer before picking something else up. So I believe December would be all about catching up. 

The three books I am going to write about today are totally different from each other. They belong to different genres, have varied writing styles and cater to sensibilities across the spectrum. 

But there was a commonality I believe. Each book talks about Search. Search for meaning. Search for purpose. Search for your true calling. Search for the killer. Okay! Last one is about a really bad thriller.

Man's Search for Meaning comes highly recommended. And I had huge expectations from it. It is part biopic and part treatise. In the first part Viktor talks about his horrific experiences at a concentration camp and how he survived by focusing on the meaning of his life. In the second part he talks about his takeaways from the time he spent in those camps and gives a theoretical framework of his seminal work in logotherapy. Truth is that the second part of this book was way too technical for me to appreciate it. Also as I have not read much about psychology or psychotherapy in general, I would not like to comment on this part of the book. The first part is fast paced and the author paints a vivid account of his experiences. There are few points in this part which forced me to think about the importance of meaning in life. I have seen the film Life is Beautiful on a similar subject. In comparison the book comes across as tad underwhelming when describing the

horrors of being held captive.

So while the book is touted as highly profound, I would say that it is rather a well chronicled account of life at concentration camps and, as a reader, there is lot to learn from this part of world history. The book ends with following lines which exhort the readers to do their best.

"So, let us be alert - alert in a twofold sense:

Since Auschwitz we know what man is capable of.

And since Hiroshima we know what is at stake."

Chetan Bhagat's latest book is a huge disappointment and I am not one of those readers who dismisses him as an author. I have always believed that he is a good story-teller despite his limitations. He mostly writes about youth and slice of life experiences which are narrated with a light touch and a typical sense of humor. The conflicts in his books are very middle-class and thus as a reader you identify with them. But in his latest book The Girl in Room 105, he tries to switch genres. He attempts a thriller and fails miserably at that. In portions, where he talks about college experiences, conflicts between the girl and the boy and career choices, he does well. But as a thriller he fails to create any tension. The reveal at the climax is not satisfying. And while the book is fast paced, as a thriller it is repetitive and slow. 

Tuesdays with Morrie was an interesting read for me because: 

1. It doesn't belong to any conventional genre of books. It is a true account of two lives but not really a biopic. It is that rare self-help book that doesn't get prescriptive. It is a motivational book but without the standard tropes

2. It deals with intense subjects of illness and death and still remains light and breezy

3. The book is not only about what it says but also about what you think after you read something in it.

While many readers claim that it has helped them re-look at their lives and set their priorities right, I believe that at least I am more aware about the same, even if I am yet to make a change. So the book succeeds in stirring something inside you. It helps you understand life and death better. It makes you more accepting of the inevitable. Out of the three books I read in last few weeks, this one was the best. 

Do share your Search experiences with me in the comments space. 

Which book you would recommend for me next?

February Lites

The month of February went by like a bullet. It was a really hectic period at office and involved some travel. In anticipation of this, I had picked really light books for reading in February. 

Light books for me are those books, which have less than 300 pages and are neatly divided into small chapters. Preferably, fiction. Also, for such busy periods, I prefer subjects that I am familiar with. Not requiring a dictionary while reading is another criterion. 

The three books I read in February and my views on the same follow. Some intellectuals may bash me for some of my choices. And for a change, I would agree to them.

Book 1: Sita - Warrior Of Mithila by Amish

This is Amish's second book in Ram Chandra Series, which is a re-telling of the Ramayana. If you are familiar with his past work, especially the Shiva Trilogy, you would be aware that he modernizes many incidents and concepts from our mythology in his stories, by making his woman characters stronger and men more liberal. Another facet is his strong sense of nationalism in his writings. The concept of modern nation-state India is relevant even in his stories from thousands of years ago. Also, he strongly relies on scientific and technological explanations for, what we assume to be miracles in our mythology. That makes the Gods in his books more human. He continues to do so in Sita, follow up to Scion of Ikshvaku. I believe it is a worthy follow-up.

While the scene setting in the book is laborious, but overall narrative is full of intrigue and politics of that time. Thus, making it a gripping read. I look forward to part 3.

Book 2: Immortal India : Young Country, Timeless Civilization by Amish

This one is Amish's first non fiction book. It is a collection of his writings and talks across several publications and forums. I must commend that Amish comes across as well read and his writings are well researched and backed by data. As you move ahead in the book, it becomes repetitive though. But his core concepts on religion and Indian politics really bring to fore an alternative narrative. His ability to see things from multiple perspectives seem inspired by several other authors, he has read over the years. I find his writings truly liberal and rooted unlike those of many self-proclaimed intellectuals.

His one particular essay on why he writes, was really heartfelt and I identified with it.

But I would prefer his fiction over this book, any day.

                                                     
Book 3: Making India Awesome : New Essays and Columns by Chetan Bhagat                                                                              

I have always liked Chetan Bhagat's fiction books. I know many of you don't like him as an author and may be as a person. I also am aware of, and have often noticed, the mistakes he makes in his books. But then, so do I, when I write. But one thing which I appreciate about his books is, that he is a master story teller. His slice of life stories are simple and identifiable.

But picking Making India Awesome was a big mistake. He writes about well known problems in India and gives over simplistic solutions. The book is written with very little or very poor research. I didn't expect this from an IIT-IIM alumnus. Also, he looks down upon the readers and sounds highly patronizing throughout the book.